In Search Of An Argument – Blue Gene
If you suffer from Ah Choo Syndrome (yes, that is a real thing) and/or want to know why Beth has trouble with math or Jim is such a bad dancer, Shelly Cummings has the answers for you. In this episode Shelly performs another tour-de-force exploration of the infinite landscape of human genetics.
Shelly Goes Canine
Famously, Marilyn Monroe once sang that, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” But after listening to this episode of the podcast one might think it is more accurate to say that, “Dogs are a girl’s best friend.” Longtime cat fancier Shelly Cummings recently switched teams and acquired her first dog. She discusses the joys of dog companionship in detail with Peggy and Beth, both long-time cynophilists.
International Women’s Day
John Heintz leads the group in a discussion on International Women’s Day inspired by a Washington Post article. The writer highlighted that women have left the workforce so rapidly during the pandemic that woman participation is as low now as in 1988. President Biden called this loss of women in the workforce a national emergency.
The gang considers the pandemic’s disproportionately negative impact on women, the significance of women’s day in the US and abroad, the impact of closed schools, balancing child care and work at home, unequal pay for women, celebrations of the day around the world, the United Nations’ role in the day and its mission, the day’s changing significance, attitudes toward the holiday and Peggy and Beth’s suggestion that women get cards and gifts to celebrate.
The Great Outdoors
Beth Shannon leads a discussion about the joys of the great outdoors. She and John and Peggy and Shelly talk about a variety of activities they enjoy that involve communing with nature. Jim does not.
Give His Regards to Broadway
WKRP in Podcastland
Jim, John, Peggy, Shelly and Beth are joined by returning guest Richard Tobin. They each pick a favorite recording from the decade of greed, the 1980s and talk about why they love it. Jim pays homage to Dr. Johnny Fever, the zonked out DJ from the cult sitcom, WKRP In Cincinnati.
That Was The Week That Was
The Gang of Five has a very long discussion centered on the momentous events of the week of January 4, 2021, focusing on 1) The insurrection at the Capitol; 2) The Democrats’ victory in the Georgia Senate runoffs; 3) The questions regarding vaccination efforts in the United States.
Special Episode on the insurrection
Jim Gentile and John Heintz discuss the mob that stormed the capitol building of the United states in an apparent attempt to halt the process of certifying the election of Joseph Biden and Kamal Harris as President and Vice-President respectively.
2021 Vision
The Gang of Four is now the Gang of Five as Beth Shannon formally and officially becomes one of the co-hosts. She joins John, Jim, Peggy, and Shelly in looking back at 2020 and looking forward to 2021 with the assistance of several of the podcast’s favorite guests and listeners.
Big Tech Hunting
Recent antitrust litigation initiated against Facebook and Google has raised anew the question of how best to regulate Big Tech. John and Jim plunge head first into this very large and controversial subject and begin a conversation that may require many future episodes to resolve.
No Kidding
Three extraordinary women – Peggy Bennett, Shelly Cummings, and Beth Shannon – discuss the individual circumstances and life choices which led in each case to their not bearing children. Each of them has a unique and interesting story to tell this episode offers them the chance to share their narratives and explore their feelings on the topic of motherhood.
T.O.M. Thumb
In this episode the Gang of Four talk about the matters at the forefront of their thinking. Peggy is all about football. Shelly is all about new glasses. John is all about Christmas cookies. Jim talks about the death of his former boss, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD).
We love Paris
I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
- Cole Porter
Jim, John, Peggy, Shelly, and frequent guest, Beth Shannon, all agree (for once) with Cole Porter. They share their experiences of that city, which vary from Shelly’s first visit just before the pandemic began to John’s time living there for several years.
T.O.M. Turkey
In this episode John is thinking first and foremost about the Attorney General of Indiana seeking to take a case to the Supreme Court regarding a same sex couple seeking to enforce parental rights. Jim followed up on John’s challenge from the last episode and researched comparisons between various countries responses to the pandemic.
Thanksgiving Surprise
In a year where many people have had to forego their usual Thanksgiving plans due to circumstances beyond the control of this podcast, John, Peggy, Shelly, and Jim convene via the miracle of Zencastr to engage in a rambling tour de force that covers the entire oeuvre of In Search Of An Argument. The Gang of Four rambles through a discussion of this year’s Thanksgiving plans and past year’s Thanksgiving memories, with side trips to politics, psychology, history, and personal idiosyncrasy. This episode was conceived of on the spur of the moment, recorded in the heat of passion, and edited not at all.
The Gene Genie
In response to listener demand (and by that we mean a single listener) we offer a Shelly-centric episode focused on the new frontiers of genetic experimentation. Beth Shannon returns as a special guest to participate in the discussion as to whether or not different specific examples of genetic manipulation are either cool or creepy. Predictably enough, a generous portion of the episode veers off toward a consideration of the relative traits of our own Redheaded League - Peggy, Shelly, and Beth.
Major T.O.M.
In the latest Top Of Mind only episode, the fearsome foursome discuss a wide range of topics that are on the forefronts of their individual minds.
The Red and The Blue
At 8 p.m. on November 4, 2020, approximately 24 hours after most polls closed in the United States, Jim, John, Peg, and Shelly, joined by their special guest, Beth Shannon, discuss the election. At the time of their discussion, it was still unknown who the next President of the United States would be. Notwithstanding the lack of certainty they had a far-ranging and serious discussion about the implications of the contest.
Tops Only
This is no longer an experiment! The Gang of Four returns once more to do a shorter podcast episode consisting only of the Top of Mind segment. in the discipline of trying to maintain order and structure proves to be difficult to sustain but somehow total chaos is avoided.
