12 chapters across the catalog
A BBC segment revealed that participants in a study often scored AI-generated poetry higher than works by William Shakespeare, citing perceived "emotional quality." Poet Paul Muldoon participated in a test where he had to distinguish human-written verse from AI imitations. The results suggest that AI has become proficient at mimicking human sentiment by processing vast amounts of existing literature, leading to concerns about the "synthetic content" loop.
Esther Perel suggests that the solution to the current global crisis is to experience "collective trauma collectively" through poetry and allyship. The hosts interpret this as a form of social engineering designed to keep people in a state of emotional dependency. They link this rhetoric to the "oversocialized but undereducated" nature of modern political movements.
A "humor segment" tests whether the hosts can distinguish between real audio and AI-generated voices. The clips feature Hillary Clinton reading from her book "What Happened," including a poem about the 2016 election. The hosts conclude that while the voice is real, the stilted delivery suggests Clinton did not write the text herself.
The hosts test ChatGPT live to investigate claims of political bias in its responses. While the AI previously reportedly refused to write positive content about Donald Trump, the live test produces poems for both Trump and Biden. The Biden poem is noted for its overly laudatory tone, describing him as a "leader sent from the heavens above."
Abigail Haynes Poem and Berkeley Work Culture
Producer Abigail Haynes submitted a poem reflecting on the challenges of 2020 and the current climate of lockdowns and vaccine passports. Haynes, who works at UC Berkeley, described a culture of fear among colleagues regarding the virus. The poem was read on-air with musical accompaniment, serving as a "conspiracy therapy" session for the audience.
Apple MacBook Touch Bar Reveal and Finger Snapping
During the reveal of the new Apple MacBook Pro with a "Touch Bar," employees at the Apple campus reportedly snapped their fingers instead of clapping. The hosts compare this behavior to 1950s beatniks at a poetry slam. This brief tech update is followed by a mention of a Reuters poll showing that half of Republican voters would reject the election results if Hillary Clinton wins.
A 14-year-old student from a private school in Atlanta gained national media attention for a slam poetry piece titled "White Boy Privilege." During a CNN interview, the student credited a school course called "Race, Class, and Gender" for his awareness of social hierarchies. The hosts analyze the clip as an example of modern educational trends focusing on self-loathing and systemic guilt.
Donations from across Canada and the US are acknowledged, including a "sack of sevens" from Nevada. A host shares a story about finding a "rain stick" during a move to Austin, which coincidentally preceded a heavy rainstorm in the middle of the Texas summer.
A producer has published a collection of "No Agenda Poems" on Amazon Kindle titled "Poems That Hit You in the Mouth." Adam reads two selections from the book: "Slave" and "Cracking the Pot to Buzz the Kill." Half of the proceeds from the $2.99 e-book benefit the show.
Al Gore Global Warming Poetry and Christmas Blizzard
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the Christmas Eve 2009 episode by discussing a massive blizzard hitting the Midwest. They mock the concept of a "global warming blizzard" and recite a dramatic poem attributed to Al Gore regarding environmental collapse.
Al Gore Poetry Reading, Harry Smith, and Megalomania
Al Gore recited an original poem about climate change during an interview with Harry Smith on CBS, which reportedly left the host visibly moved. The poem, featuring imagery of "Neptune's bones" and "acid seas," is criticized as an example of Gore's megalomania and sensitivity-posturing. Plans are discussed to create a "No Agenda" version of the reading featuring laugh tracks and sound effects to mock the performance.
Al Gore is featured in a CNN clip reading a poem he wrote about the climate crisis, which he claims was distilled from 28 pages of text. The poem includes imagery of "Neptune's bones" dissolving and "acid seas." The hosts mock Gore's delivery and compare his behavior to that of a cult leader like L. Ron Hubbard.
