Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
"But if you could trick them into thinking that patriotism is like. - It's protecting your fellow citizens. - Yeah. - Protect your fellow citizens and I think tapping into the war mentality, like war really." — Akash
"So what we've done is brilliantly tapped into rebellion to get people to do the least rebellious thing, right? Which is-- - Isn't there a company?" — Unknown Speaker
"The virus wants you to do this. The virus is praying off your need for social contact. It's praying off your need for connectivity." — Unknown Speaker
The episode begins with a lighthearted discussion on cultural appropriation, touching on historical hygiene practices and the concept of stealing the "best cultures." This segues into a humorous observation about one participant's avocado toast, sparking a debate about cultural identity and the fluidity of racial and ethnic classifications. The conversation then shifts to the perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, with participants speculating about different strains and the validity of celebrity diagnoses.
A significant portion of the discussion delves into the nature of fundamental scientific concepts like electricity and oxygen, questioning the commercialization of resources that seem to be naturally occurring. This leads to an exploration of Benjamin Franklin and his role in discovering electricity, with humorous and speculative theories about his motivations and potential hidden activities.
The latter half of the episode focuses on the concept of rebellion in American culture. The speakers analyze how this ingrained trait is leveraged in marketing and how it can be used to influence behavior, particularly in the context of public health mandates during a pandemic. They discuss strategies for framing public health measures as acts of rebellion or patriotism to encourage compliance, contrasting this with more authoritarian approaches. The conversation concludes with a humorous attempt to manipulate Americans into quarantining by appealing to their rebellious spirit, framing it as a patriotic duty to protect fellow citizens.