Hi folks, Welcome to That Tracks, a Podcast where we break down the latest news about the Train barreling down the rails towards us! In this complicated and ever-changing landscape we exist in, we know that there can be a lot to digest about our impending head on collision with a train, and we're here to help you parse that information!
In this week's episode, we'll lay the groundwork for understanding exactly what the Train is and how it got here. We'll deep dive into the history of the American railway system, and discuss the impact that history has on us today as we sit right here on these rails.
But before we get into that, let's take a moment to shout out our Patreon. We wouldn't be able to produce this show without the support of listeners like you. If you become a Patreon, you will unlock all kinds of extras each episode, from our notes to an extended version of that week's episode, and you'll get to interact with us, your resident rail-heads, where you can ask us questions, and you can get them read on the show! Like this one, from Paul Smith:
"Hey guys! Very excited about this new show you're doing. I've been following you all since your days microbloging about how hot the pot seemed to be getting! Anyway, my question is this: So what advice do you have for others who are stuck here on the rails with you? I've been reading a lot recently, and this idea of 'getting off the rails' keeps coming up, but wanted to get your input! Thanks again, look forward to the show!"
Thanks, Paul! Listen, we've felt the same way as you before as well. It's a very tempting idea to simply 'get off the rails', and it's a great idea in theory! We have nothing against this notion, but what about everyone else on the rails? That's where this idea falls apart for us. At best, all you're doing is getting off the rails yourself, and leaving those who can't simply get off the rails behind. So think about your fellow rail sitters before you fall too deeply into this "off the rails" ideology! Hope that answers your question!
Now, on with the show...
It would be even more accurate if they were sitting beside the tracks talking about the people about to be hit by the tracks, and never once talking about where the train came from, how the tracks got there, or how the people about to be hit by the train got on the tracks to begin with. The end of each episode they spend a few minutes using therapy language talking about how they personally were impacted by watching people get hit by the train but never anything more than that. They do this weekly for years and years never changing anything. Once in a while they have a guest who is getting hit by the train and they let the guest share their experience but never dive into it, and the following episode they talk to the person tying people to the tracks without ever actually saying that's what they're doing.
I feel like this podcast already exists actually
It does. It's every podcast about the current state of American Politics from a liberal perspective. The reason that they are on the tracks, is because they're also going to get hit by the train, but they've been sitting for so long they can't even imagine getting off the tracks.
"We need court reform!" they say as the sound of the train horn rings louder and closer than ever before.
