Shows
Electric EnthusiasmSpaceballs - This Movie Is SO DUMB. So What Makes It Such A Classic?Mel Brooks' cult classic parody of Star Wars is dumb, yes... but Katie argues that it works so well for four main reasons - and she is happy to tell you all about them.
So dive in with us and get surrounded by assholes.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2023-06-0149 min
Electric EnthusiasmAliens - The ULTIMATE 80s Action Movie?Aliens is not only an EPIC 80s action movie it's also explicitly feminist and anti-capitalist. Alex argues that it is James Cameron's masterpiece and (heresy!) better than Ridley Scott's Alien.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2023-05-151h 00
Electric EnthusiasmWeird Al - The King Of The Nerds (And The Accordion)Katie was doomed by her parents to nerdiness from an early age, when they subjected her to a steady diet of Weird Al Yankovic. But there's much to be enthusiastic about in his decades-long musical career, including:
How being parodied by Weird Al is bigger than winning an Emmy
How he took first dates to see his own movie
His complete and utter niceness
Also, THIS IS EPISODE NUMBER 50!!! That's CRAZYCAKES!!!
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2023-04-1952 min
Electric EnthusiasmWednesday - What Exactly Makes This Show SO GOOD?Is it the costumes? The visuals? Jenna Ortega? That dance scene? Christina Ricci?
Alex has never seen a single Addams Family movie or TV show episode. He doesn't particularly like Tim Burton and he's not a fan of high school drama. So why did he love Wednesday, Netflix's new hit show? Let's see if we can figure it out.
BTWs include Parks&Rec, Brooklyn 99 and Fred Armisen.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2023-01-1248 min
Electric EnthusiasmTim Minchin - The Nerdiest, Most Boring MegastarTim Minchin wants to be "the Boring Keith Richards." But while this red-headed Ozzie's homelife may be boring his musical comedy is anything but.
In this episode Katie gets to show Alex some highlights of Minchin's career and it is AWESOME!
BTWs include Hallelujah and assorted nerdiness.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2023-01-0644 min
Electric EnthusiasmTaylor Swift - From "Just A Pop Star" To Revolutionizing The Music IndustryTaylor Swift is more than just a pop star - she has changed the music industry in some really interesting ways.
Katie is not a real Swiftie but she is very enthusiastic about the savvy way Taylor Swift has controlled her career and media image and how she takes no bullshit from nobody.
BTWs include copyright law and who has the worst fanbase.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-12-1544 min
Electric EnthusiasmKate Bush - Happy Witchy Feminine Musical Genius And BadassKate Bush's song Running Up That Hill made it to #1 in the UK, 37 years after it was released when they used it in Stranger Things.
Alex has been a fan of Kate Bush since the 80s and when a listener suggested we do an episode on her, he got to research her and find out just how awesome she is.
BTWs include drag queens vs. evil Disney queens.
Get more links and information or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-12-0936 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Amen Break - Why Do These 6 Seconds Of Dirty Drumming Appear In 6,000 Other Songs?You may not have heard OFF The Amen Break - but you've definitely heard it. This 6 second drum solo is the world's most used sample and appears in 6,000 other songs - from Slipknot the Futurama theme.
Alex shares the fascinating history behind The Amen Break, how it was discovered, what makes it so good and why copying other people's stuff in your art is a good thing actually.
In the moment of meta Katie talks about 2 new mottos that she believes are essential to enthusiasm:
1: It's OK to make mistakes2022-11-0347 min
Electric EnthusiasmParasites - Beautiful And Gross And EverywhereParasites are everywhere - in us and on us and on animals as well. And our guest Pikka Jokkelainen is very enthusiastic about them and even finds them beautiful.
Learn all about these fascinating life forms and especially about Toxplasma Gondii - a parasite you (or your cat) might very well have right now!
BTWs include:
Can parasites change our behavior?
Where to get your Parasite merch
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-10-2643 min
Electric EnthusiasmM - Fritz Lang's Groundbreaking Movie And "F*ck You" To NazisOf all the movies movies Katie was forced to watch when she studied cinema - this is the one she's actually enthusiastic about. M is a 1931 movie by German director Fritz Lang that revolutionized the art form.
So many of the tricks and techniques you see in nearly all modern movies were first used in this one. And you can find the whole movie on YouTube so get watching :)
BTWs include:
Nicolas Cage
How to fake being a silent movie pianist
Trolling Nazis
Find more information and links or leave a comment at...2022-10-1449 min
Electric EnthusiasmRRR (Again) - Our Reactions and Your CommentsOur episode where Katie introduced Alex to the EPIC Indian action movie RRR got SUPER popular, so here we follow up on the reactions, share the best comments and hear what Alex thought of it once he got to see it.
BTWs include:
The Hayes Code
The different ways Brits and Americans pronounce Rs
A dance challenge is issued
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-10-0535 min
Electric EnthusiasmKoyaanisqatsi - The EPIC 80s Movie With No Actors, No Plot And No DialogueImagine a movie with no plot, no characters, no actors, no dialogue, no narration, no stunts, no CGI, no special effects and no sound - only super minimalist music. HOW is this movie not a complete boring train wreck?
In this episode, Alex shares his love for a groundbreaking 1980s movie that is utterly beautiful and fascinating and which has inspired so many other works including Madonna music videos, Zach Snyder's Watchmen and the Grand Theft Auto video game.
BTWs include:
Death of the author
German expressionist cinema
Citizen Kane
How NOT to eat...2022-09-2949 min
Electric EnthusiasmOrcas - Smart, Playful, Awesome And MisunderstoodOrcas are awesome and Katie is ready to give you all the reasons why - including their intelligence, playfulness and understanding of fluid dynamics.
BTWs include: What Orcas are called in Danish, should we call them "killer whales" and (obviously) Free Willy!
In the Moment Of Meta we officially announce the 10th enthusiandment.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-09-2339 min
Electric EnthusiasmTove Jansson – Moomin Trolls And Anti-FascismThe Moomins are nothing but cute, cuddly, innocent kids’ stories right? Wrong!
And the creator of the Moomins, Tove Jansson, was just a kids’ writer, right? WRONG! She was also a novelist, poet, painter and all-round badass and Alex shares 5 reasons why you should be enthusiastic about her,
BTWs include queer erasure, dancing and lesbian cottage core.
In the moment of meta Katie talks about saying “YES!” to new adventures.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-09-0740 min
Electric EnthusiasmMad Max Fury Road – This Movie Should Not Work… So Why Is It SO AWESOME?How does this movie even work? A 70-year old grandpa and his wife make the most insane, over-the-top, high octane action movie EVER? Alex has a theory: It works only because EVERY element of it is insane.
This completes our trilogy of episodes on maximalist movies that started with Everything Everywhere All At Once and RRR.
BTWs include feminism, Aliens and Mel Gibson.
In the moment of meta Katie talks about being enthusiastic about your hobbies when you also get paid to do them.
Get more information and links or leave...2022-08-3152 min
Electric EnthusiasmTrixie Mattel - The World's Hardest-working Drag QueenOf all the drag queens in all the world, Katie loves Trixie Mattel the most and in this episode you’ll hear a ton of reasons why you should be enthusiastic about her too. Including her insane work ethic, how funny she is and of course her long-standing partnership with Katia.
BTWs include:
Makeup
Lying to the media
Staying friends in showbiz
What Katie wants for her birthday
Moment Of Meta
In the moment of meta Alex gives some tips on how to be enthusiastic about your job. Yes – it’s possible!
Get mo...2022-08-2346 min
Electric EnthusiasmRRR - The Epic Indian Action Movie That Goes ALL-IN on EVERYTHINGRRR (Rise, Roar and Revolt) is a brand-new Indian movie that has Katie VERY enthusiastic because of the insane action, the crazy high energy and the men’s fashions. Just don’t talk to her about whatever it is the women are wearing!
It is a HUGE blockbuster in India and worldwide and you can see it on Netflix right now – but first listen to this episode to hear exactly how awesome it is.
BTWs include:
What is Tollywood and why is it different from Bollywood
Why you should watch RRR with British people
In t...2022-08-1741 min
Electric EnthusiasmBees - Fuzzy, cute and essential for our survivalBees? Yes, bees! They’re cute, they give us honey and without them we wouldn’t have food. And as all of our listeners probably know by now… WE LIKE FOOD!
Learn how bees communicate through dance and pheromones and how they’ve evolved into the perfect pollinators for all of the plants we rely on.
In the Moment Of Meta, we review the 9 enthusiandments we’ve proposed so far:
Don’t yuck someone else’s yum!
Any topic can be fascinating when presented with enthusiasm.
Make sure to share your enthusiasms enthusiastically (you are not too mu...2022-07-1440 min
Electric EnthusiasmTubular Bells – The BEST 70s Album You Haven’t HeardAlex LOVES this classic album by Mike Oldfield although it has no songs, no lyrics and no singles. Instead it has 49 minutes of genre-defying, beautiful, challenging and utterly innovative music. So what’s so great about it and how did something this weird become a huge hit?
BTWs include:
Peaking too soon in life
Why horror movies suck
How to diss someone in morse code in your music
Musical marmite
In the Moment Of Meta, Katie talks about why we shouldn’t just look for consent – we should be enthusiasm detectives.
Get more inform...2022-07-0742 min
Electric EnthusiasmEverything Everywhere All At Once - The Weirdest Coolest Funniest Everythingest Movie EVERSTOP! Please do no to listen to this episode before you've watched the movie. Seriously. We mean it! The movie is SO GOOD but it's even better if you go in not knowing ANYTHING about it. So go watch it now and then come back here and se why this is Katie's new favorite movie.
We will say that it includes Michelle Yeoh in the role of her life! And nothing else.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-06-2754 min
Electric EnthusiasmWeird Animal Mating Habits - Do It Like They Do On The Discovery ChannelMost species have sex but some have found VERY innovative, funny, strange or just downright bizarre ways of doing it and for some reason, Katie knows a LOT about this weird world. So does Jo, an animal keeper and trainer and our first ever repeat guest.
Learn why giraffes drink pee, what terrifying shape a duck's penis has, why anglerfish males are the ultimate clingy boyfriends and much more.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-06-2244 min
Electric EnthusiasmElla Fitzgerald - From Street Child To First Lady Of JazzWhat a voice. What an incredible musical talent. She came out of total poverty and a life as a Manhattan street child. Ella Ftizgerald – the greatest jazz singer ever?
Hear how she got her greatest hit that time she completely forgot the lyrics to Mack The Knife in Berlin.
BTWs include Chick Webb, racism, Marilyn Monroe and Alex’s new favorite expression for something really quiet.
In the moment of meta Alex talks about letting go of enthusiasms.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.
2022-05-1949 min
Electric EnthusiasmLise Nørgaard - Writer, feminist and UTTER BADASSLise Nørgaard is a bad-ass Danish journalist and author who discovered her superpower (writing) and has used it tirelessly to promote women’s rights and social justice.
She also created Matador, the best Danish TV show EVER, and (maybe most importantly) had a pastry named after her.
BTWs include implanted memories and swing dancing.
In the moment of meta Alex Katie shares a story of how she used enthusiasm to defuse an online feud.
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-05-1145 min
Electric EnthusiasmBody Disposition - Wanna Be A Tree When You Die?We hate to break it to you, but you are going to die. What do you want people to do with your corpse?
The most popular options in the west, cremation and burial, are both terrible for the environment, so in this episode Katie talks about better methods for body disposal.
BTWs include capitalism and cannibalism.
In the moment of meta Alex talks about enthusiasm for… pigeons?
Get more info and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-05-0548 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Ig Nobel Prize - The Nobel's Funnier, Dorkier CousinEveryone knows about the Nobel Prize but the Ig Nobel Prize is WAY funnier and dorkier. It is given out for science that "makes you laugh and then makes you think."
The science it awards is cool but the annual ceremony held at Harvard is the funniest thing ever. Especially how they weaponized adorable 8-year old girls to stop speakers from going over time.
BTWs include bee stings, kidney stones and how to hide gold from Nazis.
In the moment of meta Alex talks about enthusiasm for... pigeons?
Get more info a...2022-04-2749 min
Electric EnthusiasmSteven Universe - Awesome Songs And Healing SpitKatie brings you some more Hopepunk For Squishy Marshmallows. This adorable kids’ cartoon has superheroes, great songs, healing spit and tons of gags. It also subverts masculinity and promotes queer normativity.
BTWs include Florida’s “don’t say gay” law.
In the moment of meta Alex issues a new challenge.
Get more info and links or leave a comment at https://electricenthusiasm.com/steven-universe/.2022-04-2045 min
Electric EnthusiasmRollercoasters - Puke, Screams, Fear And... Fun?Rollercoasters are scary. And there's an arms race between theme parks to come up with bigger, faster and wilder rides every year. So why do we love them?
Alex talks about the history, the technology and the fandom of rollercoasters and explores the intersection of fun and fear.
BTWs include puke and syphilis.
In the moment of meta we follow up on last week's challenge: Get a magazine about something you don't normally care about and find something cool in it.
Get more info and links or leave a comment at...2022-04-0755 min
Electric EnthusiasmHamilton - Hip-hop History Of The American RevolutionHow can you not love a hip-hop musical about the American revolution where all the founding fathers are played by people of color???
Katie is not just a fan of Hamilton - she is self-proclaimed Hamiltrash. In this episode she talks about what makes the music so great (obviously!) but also about the huge cultural impact that the show has had.
BTWs include Tom Waits, Encanto and the KGB's hilariously failed attempt to blackmail the president of Indonesia.
In the moment of meta Alex issues a challenge to Katie and all listeners.
2022-04-0147 min
Electric EnthusiasmTom Waits - The Weirdest Human In Showbiz"Is Tom Waits for real?" That is the question that pops up when you google him. In this episode Alex gushes over the weirdest man in showbiz and tries to get Katie to appreciate his music, his acting, his life and his voice. That last one is an especially hard sell.
Also: THIS IS OUR 25TH EPISODE!!! Not bad for a couple of hosts whose strengths do not include things like perseverance, planning and general sticktoitiveness.
BTWs include artists who play a persona and why Shrek 2 is the best sequel of all times
...2022-03-2252 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Jewel Box Revue - The First Ever Mainstream Drag ShowThis stage show presented 25 men performing as women and one woman MC dressed as a man. It started in 1939 and made drag mainstream with high production values and incredibly talented performers.
But most of all: Meet Stormé DeLarverie, MC of the revue and the butch lesbian whose scuffle with police was the spark that ignited the Stonewall riots. The word badass doesn't even begin to cover her.
BTWs include:
Why the "Mr." in front of the performers' names was SO important
The Stonewall Rebellion
How men wearing women's clothes will surely lead to the d...2022-03-1449 min
Electric EnthusiasmBioshock - Our Grossest Episode YetBioshock is much more than a computer game, it's also a cracking story, a philosophical exploration of free will and a devastating critique of libertarianism. It's also gross, scary, intense and a buttload of fun to play. Alex would know, he's played it for well over 200 hours.
BTWs include:
What is art and what is not
Exploding cans of... human droppings
The intense competition to be the dumbest US congress member (Watch out for the Gazpacho police!)
Each host's favorite Cards Against Humanity card
In the Moment Of Meta, Katie celebrates how humans fixed the...2022-03-0853 min
Electric EnthusiasmMarine Animals - Meet The Gods, The Goddesses And The Assholes Of The SeaGuest enthusiast Jo Gudman Rasmussen shares her passion for all kinds of marine animals from nudibranchs (giggle!) to whale sharks.
Alex has all his dreams shattered when he learns that sea otters are NOT adorable - they are in fact the assholes of the ocean.
BTWs include: Quitting your job to follow your enthusiasm, the fly named after RuPaul and how to eat a still-living octopus (hint: chew it REALLY well).
Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-03-0153 min
Electric EnthusiasmOlympic Weightlifting - First you clean it, then you jerk itAlex LOVES weightlifting but Katie is completely uninterested in sports. Will he manage to infect her with any of his enthusiasm? Hear about the athletes who do it and the drama, the poetry and the history of this niche sport.
It's also probably the most corrupt sport in the world and is trying to go clean after decades dominated by a man who was almost cartoonishly evil.
But how can you not love a sport where the two lifts are called the snatch and the clean and jerk.
In the moment of meta Katie reveals...2022-02-2254 min
Electric EnthusiasmChinese New Year - 3 Full Weeks Of Food And TraditionsGong hei fat choy! Or 恭喜发财 if you prefer. It's Chinese New Year and we dive into all of the great traditions around it, including what to eat, what to wear, who to give money to and why you should NOT get a haircut.
With guest enthusiast Sarah Chua.
In the Moment Of Meta we talk about how to be hopeful and enthusiastic about the future.
Get full show notes and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-02-1548 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Wayfarer Series - Hopeful Sci-Fi For Squishy MarshmallowsThe Wayfarer Series is a trilogy of four(!) science fiction novels by Becky Chambers - and Katie's all-time favorites. They are a great example of Hope Punk, i.e. works that make you feel positive and optimistic about the world.
In the Moment Of Meta we introduce a new enthusiandment: You don't have to be an expert in X to be enthusiastic about X. There's also a corollary: But usually, diving into a topic only deepens your enthusiasm.
Get links and more information or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2022-02-0835 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Vorkosigan Saga - The EPIC Book Series by a Sci-Fi GrandmaIn this episode Alex talks about his absolute favorite sci-fi book series, The Vorkosigan Saga by American writer Lois McMaster Bujold.
This series is thrilling and creative but so is a lot of other science fiction. What really sets it apart is how progressive and ultimately hopeful Bujold's books are. That and the amazing characters.
BTWs include Hope-punk, vegan gravy and the world's longest running sci-fi series which started in 1961 and is still going strong.
In the moment of meta we talk about sharing your enthusiasm fully with no shame.
Visit e...2022-01-3149 min
Electric EnthusiasmChristmas Food - Traditional Weirdness From Around The WorldFood is amazing and Christmas is amazing – so it just makes sense that Christmas food is all kinds of amazing!
In this episode Alex and Katie team up to talk about their favorite seasonal dishes plus also weird Christmas foods from all over the world.
BTWs include traditions, commensality and Slovakian bathtub carps.
We keep the theme going In the moment of meta and talk about being enthusiastic about eating (as opposed to being ashamed about it).
Get links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2021-12-2249 min
Electric EnthusiasmBilly Strayhorn - The Unsung Hero Of JazzEveryone who knows jazz knows Duke Ellington. But did you know that many of the Duke's most famous songs were actually written by a gay black musical prodigy called Billy Strayhorn?
In this episode Katie celebrates the life and music of Strayhorn who received little recognition (or even money) for his work but who still lead a "lush life."
BTWs include the Baader-Meinhoff effect.
In the moment of meta we share a tip on how you can use enthusiasm to meet new people.
Get the links for this episode or leave...2021-12-161h 06
Electric EnthusiasmPiet Hein - Poet or pirate? Why not both!Piet Hein was a Danish philosopher, mathematician, designer, poet and all-round smart cookie who did amazing work in both science and arts. Be warned: This episode has POETRY!!!
BTWs include Piet Hein (the awesome pirate) and why Danish is the worst language.
In the moment of meta, Katie talks about closing feedback loops and proposes a new enthusiandment: Thou shalt always tell your friends what you like about them.
Get the show notes and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.2021-12-0951 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Art Of Drag - Blowing up gender in STYLEDrag is not just men dressing as women - it's a playful and enthusiastic art form that messes with our preconceived notions of gender and identity.
Katie - who is about to do drag herself for the first time - shares the history of drag, the most iconic performances and which seasons of RuPaul's drag race to avoid.
BTWs include best drag names, backronyms and why there is nothing more fake than reality TV.
In the moment of meta Alex proposes a new enthusiandment: It's OK to be enthusiastic about something that is...2021-11-3043 min
Electric EnthusiasmHallelujah - The Prettiest (And Most Abused) Song In The WorldThis amazing song took 7 years to write and was then roundly ignored. Only after a cover version and the untimely death of an artist did the song finally become popular.
Since then, Leonard Cohen’s masterpiece has been covered at least 300 times and was used in The West Wing, Scrubs, Watchmen, Shrek and much much more. Everybody treats it like a sad song, but it’s not – Cohen’s intention was much more joyful.
BTWs include death of the author, communication in relationships and ice cream chords.
Get the links and show notes or leave...2021-11-2349 min
Electric EnthusiasmCynthia and Hatsune - Fictional women who became realCynthia Gaba was a celebrity in 1930s high society in New York. Hatsune Miku is a singer with a global fan base who has even gone to space. But here's the twist: Cynthia was a mannequin and Hatsune is 100% digital!
How did two women, who are clearly not "real" in the traditional sense, become so successful and what does that say about the nature of celebrity and even of reality? What is real?
BTWs include William Gibson's 1996 novel Idoru which predicted Hatsune Miku, men who fall in love with fictional women, Thor Ragnarok and ragging...2021-11-1648 min
Electric EnthusiasmUltramarathons - Extreme running and the nutcases who enjoy itMark Dowds was out of shape and nearing 40 when he discovered ultra-marathons and has now run several dozen of them.
Mark tells us what it's like to run 50km (or more!) in steep terrain and challenging conditions, the extreme emotions you experience and how he maintains his enthusiasm for both training and competing.
BTWs include Guinness, gummy bears and the monarchy.
In the moment of meta Katie gives three tips for how you can enjoy being bad at stuff.
See the full show notes and links or leave a comment at e...2021-11-1039 min
Electric EnthusiasmCosplay - Going Hard With Hot Glue And A DreamOur guest in this episode is Agent Colbert, a very enthusiastic cosplayer who's known for her vintage aesthetic, rocking Agent Carter and the marvelous Mrs. Maisel cosplays but she has also done everything from Ty Lee from Avatar the last Airbender to Velma from Scooby Doo.
Learn what it takes to cosplay, what it's like to go to conventions with 1000s of other cosplayers and how to find out what character you should cosplay as!
BTWs include perfectionism, badass Asian women and The Lake Wobegon Effect. Also - The Muppets!!!
In The Moment...2021-11-0237 min
Electric EnthusiasmNiels Bohr - The man who played dice with the universe... and wonAlex gets his hometown pride on and celebrates the life of fellow Copenhagener Niels Bohr, who revolutionized physics twice over. He may be the smartest person in physics... and he was definitely the nicest!
Hear about Bohr's epic feud with Einstein (drama!) and get a (very short) intro to the weird and freaky world of quantum physics. It will blow your mind.
BTWs include: Nerd humor, the world's smartest cat and dead people. So many dead people.
This episode was co-written by FDC Willard.
In the moment of meta we talk...2021-10-2856 min
Electric EnthusiasmDune, the novel - 1000 times better than the movie(s)Now that Villeneuve's Dune movie is finally coming out in America, it's time for Alex to try to convince Katie to read a book that is notoriously long and complex... but ultimately so worth it.
Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time. It was written by American author Frank Herbert, and came out in 1965, over 50 years ago, but contains themes and ideas that make it relevant to this day.
This episode has NO SPOILERS for either the book or the movie.
BTWs include: What Tolkien thought of Dune - Connections...2021-10-2042 min
Electric EnthusiasmCha Chaan Teng - Hong Kong's Bizarre East/West Fusion DinersIn this episode we talk food and that gets Katie REALLY excited as she shares her enthusiasm for Hong Kong's Cha Chaan Tengs - cheap informal diners that serve a bizarre but delicious Asian take on the western food that the British served in their restaurants.
Hear about the pineapple buns that contain zero pineapple, the deep fried peanut butter french toast and Katie's mom's favorite midnight snack: macaroni soup.
Katie even gets Alex to make some Hong Kong milk tea and try it on the show... hear how he likes it.
BTWs...2021-10-1355 min
Electric EnthusiasmSwing Guitar - Preserving A Legacy With Enthusiasm (And Spite)Jonathan Stout is incredibly enthusiastic about preserving the legacy of swing guitar and honoring the people who created and developed the genre.
Swing music is amazing but real swing music that actually sounds like it did in the 30s and 40s is depressingly rare these days. Modern jazz musicians tend to look down on swing jazz and even when they do try to play it, they don't do it right and it ends up sounding more like modern jazz.
Jonathan is a band leader and guitarist specializing in pre bebop jazz guitar. He leads eight...2021-10-0745 min
Electric EnthusiasmAvatar The Last Airbender - The Cartoon That Will Save The WorldAvatar The Last Airbender is on paper a kids cartoon show... but it's also so much more than that.
Over three seasons it tells a story that is poignant, thrilling, funny and - above all - hopeful. Pretty good timing of Netflix to get it onto their service in 2020, just when we all needed a dose of positivity.
Hear all about this amazing show, including:
A redemption story that beats even Kylo Ren.
Uncle Iroh's life lessons.
Kickass female characters.
What kind of bender Katie and Alex would each love to be... but what...2021-09-2937 min
Electric EnthusiasmModesty Blaise - A 1000 Times Cooler Than James BondModesty Blaise kicks as much butt as 007 but she does it with way more style and way less borderline rape.
Meet the coolest action heroine of the 60s who began her adventures in newspaper comic strips before making her way into novels and some shockingly bad movies.
Hear about how feminist and modern the stories are for their time (or any time), including sex positivity, nudity and consent-based sex and how incredibly rare and awesome it is that Modesty (a woman) was the clear leader and Willie Garvin (a man) was her faithful follower (not...2021-09-2140 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe Banjo - Loud, Fun And... Sexy?People have a LOT of misconceptions about the banjo and often dismiss it as the instrument of hillbillies or rednecks. But did you know that it's an instrument with a huge history and tradition that can be both loud, fun and... sexy?
Our guest enthusiast in this episode is Daniel Rodrigues, a Portuguese jazz musician living in Copenhagen where he plays in several different jazz bands and he is VERY enthusiastic about the banjo.
Daniel takes us on a journey of the banjo, that includes:
Why it's the most fun instrument
How to find...2021-09-1525 min
Electric EnthusiasmJosephine Baker - The Most Interesting Woman in the WorldSinger, dancer, entertainer... but also civil rights activist and spy for France during WWII. Josephine Baker truly is the most interesting woman in the world.
Hear all about her amazing life, including her cheetah that would often escape its leash and (encouraged by the audience) menace the band and how she adopted 12 children of different races to form a "rainbow tribe".
BTWs include:
Celebrity nicknames
Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction"
The Trial of the Chicago 7
In our Moment Of Meta, Alex talks about one of the "commandments of enthusiasm" (or enthusiandments as he insists...2021-09-0942 min
Electric EnthusiasmHarpo Marx - The Happiest Nudist In HollywoodHarpo Marx (of the Marx Brothers) was a genius of physical comedy but, maybe more impressively, he was a nice and fun person who lived a truly happy life.
Raised in a poor Jewish family on Manhattan and thrown out of school (literally) in 2nd grade, he still ended up living an incredibly interesting life and becoming friends with people like George Gershwin, George Bernard Shaw and Salvador Dali.
Hear about his most epic pranks and about his occasional nudism. Harpo could (and would) turn any boring situation - like a game of golf...2021-09-0948 min
Electric EnthusiasmThe trailerGet a taste for the wonderful world of Electric Enthusiasm, a brand new podcast started by two easily excited enthusiasts.2021-08-2502 min