7 chapters across the catalog
Malcolm Gladwell's "Revisionist History" podcast featured a segment on 5G technology that critics labeled as a native advertisement for AT&T. The segment promoted 5G as a revolutionary tool for medical data transfer and surgical training without disclosing the depth of the corporate sponsorship.
Malcolm Gladwell 5G Advertisement and Passive Corruption
Malcolm Gladwell's "Revisionist History" podcast featured a segment sponsored by AT&T Business that promoted 5G technology through a scripted conversation with a corporate executive. Critics labeled the segment "active corruption," noting that Gladwell failed to challenge improbable claims about 5G infrastructure and real-time translation. The high-value sponsorship deal is cited as an example of how traditional podcasting is being compromised by corporate interests.
Steve Bannon appeared on Bill Maher's show after being disinvited from the New Yorker Festival of Ideas by David Remnick. Bannon defends his willingness to enter "hostile" media environments like CNN and the BBC to sharpen his political arguments. Malcolm Gladwell is criticized for his "intellectual wannabe" podcasting style, while Bannon asserts that Donald Trump essentially elected himself without the need for traditional strategists.
A moderator at a Bob Woodward event announced his departure from The Slate Group to launch a new podcasting company with author Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell, known for bestsellers like The Tipping Point, is noted for his distinctive NPR-style delivery. The hosts mock the hushed, serious tone often associated with high-end narrative podcasting and public radio.
Malcolm Gladwell, Moral Licensing Theory
Author Malcolm Gladwell discussed "moral licensing" in the context of female political leaders like Julia Gillard and Hillary Clinton. Gladwell argues that once a society breaks a barrier by electing a woman, it often feels "licensed" to subject her to extreme misogynistic vitriol. The hosts dispute Gladwell's claims of "undue scrutiny" toward Clinton.
Stanford Professor Facebook Debate and Second Amendment Repeal
A host recounts a Facebook interaction with a Stanford professor who shared the New York Times editorial and referenced Malcolm Gladwell's "tipping point" concept. The host challenged the professor by suggesting a full repeal of the Second Amendment rather than half-measures, leading to a discussion on cognitive dissonance. The segment explores the legal nature of the Bill of Rights as a restriction on government power rather than a grant of rights.
Malcolm Gladwell, Talent Myth, 10,000 Hour Rule
Malcolm Gladwell's new book, "Outliers," and its promotion of the "10,000-hour rule" for expertise are analyzed. The hosts challenge the idea that talent does not exist, citing examples of child prodigies and rapid skill acquisition. They suggest that the promotion of this theory is part of a "self-esteem movement" designed to downplay natural intelligence and high IQ.
