9 chapters across the catalog
De-douching Ceremonies and Centennial Birthday Wishes
The hosts perform "de-douching" ceremonies for new donors and read a series of handwritten letters. A special 100th birthday wish is sent to a listener's mother, Alberta, and the segment highlights the multi-generational appeal of the program across "flyover country."
Cursive Writing Styles, Social Security Disability Struggles
A 71-year-old donor's handwritten note prompts a discussion on the history of cursive writing, including the Palmer Method and distinct French longhand styles. The donor describes her struggle to get Social Security disability approval for her daughter and the health impacts of pharmaceutical drugs. The hosts reflect on the difficulty of navigating government bureaucracy for families in need.
Family Legacies, D-Day Veterans, and Longhand Writing
Donations in honor of grandfathers who served in World War II lead the hosts to share their own family histories involving D-Day and the Pacific Theater. A listener's letter also sparks a brief debate on the terminology of "longhand" versus "cursive" writing.
Producer Donations and the Importance of Penmanship
The hosts thank various producers for their financial support, including Keith McColpin and Amanda Rosette. A discussion on the decline of longhand writing and penmanship ensues, with the hosts encouraging younger generations to develop a unique and professional signature.
A donor suggests that all show notes should be written in longhand, while another analyzes the "emotional tone" of John Dvorak's newsletter using a LIWC calculator. Producers from Moscow, Dublin, and Assen are thanked for their contributions. The hosts emphasize the wide geographic reach of the "No Agenda" community.
International Donors and the Point Five Club
Donations arrive from Luxembourg and Connecticut, with one producer proposing the creation of a "Point Five Club" for those donating half of the $666 amount. The hosts struggle to read a longhand note from a donor in Norwalk, Connecticut, leading to a discussion about the decline of handwriting skills among millennials.
Longhand Letters, Podcast Audio Engineering Standards
Maury Stone of Stowe, Vermont, sent a $200 donation via a longhand letter, requesting that the hosts stop discussing cell phones. The hosts discuss the technical aspects of their audio production, emphasizing a "flat" waveform for consistent mobile listening. They contrast their ambient sound with the "dead" studio sound typical of NPR.
6969 Donations and the Benefits of Paper Checks
The hosts acknowledge a series of $69.69 donations and discuss the advantages of sending paper checks over using PayPal to avoid fees. Baroness Tanya of Manhattan sent a longhand note with her check, prompting a discussion on how cursive writing acts as a form of encryption against machine optical character recognition (OCR).
16-Year-Old Donor, Longhand Letters, Welsh Sysadmin Loss
A 16-year-old listener sent his first-ever check along with a longhand letter, explaining he chose to donate his summer internship earnings to the show instead of the Red Cross. The importance of maintaining the skill of writing in longhand is discussed. The segment ends on a somber note, offering "karma" to the show's Welsh sysadmin whose mother recently passed away from cancer.
