Topic: Graduation

"Austin the Pool Guy" contributes to the show, leading to a discussion about family histories of heart bypass surgery. Dvorak reflects on his own recovery and the differences between private insurance and Medicare. Austin also celebrates his daughter Marley's high school graduation and requests "baby making karma" for the community.

Graduating students at NYU viral video showcase highly specialized and abstract "concentrations," such as "the performance of self," "care politics," and "queering and decolonizing theater practice." The hosts argue that these degrees leave graduates "unhirable" in the traditional economy, potentially fueling the demand for Universal Basic Income (UBI). The segment critiques the modern university system for prioritizing social mechanisms over practical skills like engineering.

The "Good News" segment features Rhett Hepler, a Virginia high school student who saved his father's life by performing CPR after a heart attack. The father was able to recover in time to attend his son's graduation ceremony. The show concludes with a preview of a "Best of Climate Change" special, which will revisit the origins of global warming narratives from early episodes.

The University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony due to ongoing student protests and safety concerns. Observations are made regarding the early end of the academic year at some institutions, with negotiations continuing at Columbia University to clear encampments before mid-May.

The "Good News" segment features Grace Chimchak, who walked across the stage at Ferris State University with her newborn baby just days after giving birth. The story is presented as an inspiring example of motherhood and perseverance, though the hosts also critique the modern hospital trend of scheduled C-sections.

The latest graduates of the No Agenda PhD program are officially welcomed into the Society of Learned Persons. Graduates include Anonymous, Anthony Trusnik, Jake, Ronald Lafferty, and Mustang Racer. Listeners are directed to noagendarings.com to order their physical rings, which come with a certificate of authenticity and sealing wax.

The final graduation ceremony for the "Society of Learned Persons" is held for the episode's PhD recipients. The hosts provide instructions for obtaining No Agenda rings and sealing wax. They reiterate the show's mission to "hit people in the mouth" with media deconstruction.

A discussion about the "furry" community arises, referencing a conversation with Megyn Kelly regarding Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's policies on public performances. The hosts defend the community as generally harmless while noting the presence of furries at an Evergreen State College graduation. One of the hosts claims to be a "furry expert" due to the number of producers from that community who support the show.

A high school senior in Colorado unsuccessfully sued her school district for the right to wear a Mexican-American flag stole at graduation. The hosts compare this to "furry" graduations at other colleges and label the student a "noodle girl" for her litigious approach. The segment ends with a brief mention of a UN YouTube channel claiming that natural disasters are "sexist."

A series of donations from Associate Executive Producers are read, including contributions toward future knighthoods and baronies. Listeners provide feedback on previous segments, including a correction regarding a "misgendering" incident and a request for graduation karma. The hosts discuss the "Roundtable" and the various rewards for high-level supporters.

A study by Professor Paul Zak at Claremont Graduate University suggests that administering testosterone to Democrats can cause a "red shift" toward more conservative political views. The research explores the link between hormone levels and social behaviors. The hosts discuss the implications of this study regarding gender roles and political identity.

Dame Melody is graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization. The achievement was celebrated by the Duke of America's Heartland, who noted the clearing of homeless encampments near the university quad ahead of the ceremony.

The Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health addressed the graduating class of 2021, thanking families for their emotional and financial support. Observers noted the Dean's use of informal language, such as "you did good," as a potential sign of declining academic standards at the prestigious institution.

Christina Thomas is knighted as Dame Christina Judoka of Penn Woods. She discusses navigating the "liberal paranoia" of the university system while pursuing her graduate degree. She requests coffee and ramen for the No Agenda roundtable in honor of her interests in judo and exploring Pennsylvania's forests.

Meghan Markle released a video message addressing the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, speaking to high school graduates in Los Angeles. Markle apologized to the students for the state of the world and encouraged them to use their skills for rebuilding society. The hosts criticize the speech as being out of touch with the reality of suppressed communities.

The hosts read notes from top donors, including Derek Winkie, who donated a portion of his anticipated stimulus check. They discuss the impact of lockdowns on the high school class of 2020 and process a knighthood request for Cole Candler, who called out a former colleague in his note.

Cliff Stoll discusses his experience giving a TED Talk, explaining his "moving target" strategy of jumping around the stage to keep the audience engaged. He recounts being told to compress an hour-long presentation into 18 minutes, which he achieved by simply talking faster. Stoll jokes that he learned in graduate school to speak quickly so people wouldn't realize he wasn't saying anything of substance.

A graduate student donor describes the "cesspool of Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS) in academia and thanks the show for providing a sane alternative. Details are provided for upcoming meetups in Seattle, Washington, and Arlington, Virginia, with the latter already seeing high registration numbers.

Generation Z is entering the workforce with unique "side hustles" that provide them with independent purchasing power. Platforms like Patreon and Etsy allow young people to monetize hobbies and skills quickly on the internet. Experts argue that brands often underestimate the financial influence of this demographic, who are about to graduate from college and enter the mainstream economy.

Helen Trejo contributed a donation in honor of David Arulanis's birthday. She shared observations from her five years in the Ivy League system, including graduate school, noting the global perspective and specific research methodologies taught within elite educational institutions.