Words That Make Us
Two teachers from very different cultural backgrounds share their thoughts on the power and impact of words in shaping our identities, beliefs and experiences. Each episode focuses on a different word and through a range of readings, poems and texts the pair explore how these words have had an impact on their thoughts, emotions and actions.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 01, 2024
Tuesday Oct 01, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Betrayal”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of betrayal whether in relationships, in a relation to one’s country of oneself. They discuss statistics about cheating from different countries as well as how it is regarded in stoicism, the Quran and the Bible. There is poetry from different eras and perspectives too!
Countries with highest infidelity rate:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/infidelity-rates-by-country
Is it emotional cheating?
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/emotional-cheating
Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy
https://genius.com/Carol-ann-duffy-medusa-annotated
Betrayal in the Quran
https://submission.org/friday_betrayal.html#:~:text=Those%20elements%20might%20be%20summarized,and%20be%20among%20the%20truthful.
We Who Are Your Closest Friends by Phillip Lopate
https://poets.org/poem/we-who-are-your-closest-friends
Dictionary Definition
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/betrayal#:~:text=Betrayal%20means%20%22an%20act%20of,someone's%20trust%2C%20possibly%20by%20lying.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betrayal
Betrayal in the bible
https://renew.org/betrayal-in-the-bible/
Betrayal in Shakespeare
https://nosweatshakespeare.com/blog/top-shakespearean-betrayals/
Famous cases of betrayal in history
https://www.voxnews.al/english/histori/25-tradhtite-qe-ndryshuan-rrjedhen-e-historise-i18600
https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-10-most-ruthless-betrayals-in-all-of-history/vidkun-quisling
Judas Goats on Galapagos Islands
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/on-the-galapagos-the-betrayal-of-judas-goats
Farewell, Ungrateful Traitor! John Dryden
https://allpoetry.com/Farewell-Ungrateful-Traitor
Sonnet 142 by William Shakespeare
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56226/sonnet-142-love-is-my-sin-and-thy-dear-virtue-hate
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Sarcasm”, or should we say wit? Humour? Verbal irony? Listen to them as they discuss the nuances in these terms all while reading poetry, research and some (soft) science and statistics.
Culture and Social Status
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0163853X.2023.2252695#abstract
A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burthen to their Parents, or the Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick by Jonthan Swift
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm
Psychology of Sarcasm
negatives
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/and-running/202012/behind-the-scenes-sarcasm
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/what-sarcasm-means.htm
positives
https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/02/09/a-psychologist-explains-the-irresistible-appeal-of-sarcasm/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/may05/sarcasm
https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/why-sarcastic-people-are-more-successful.html
Sarcastic TV characters
https://www.storypick.com/hurting-your-stomach/
A Rational Anthem by Ambrose Bierce
https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/rational-anthem
Not Waving but Drowning By Stevie Smith
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46479/not-waving-but-drowning
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 10, 2024
Tuesday Sep 10, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Trees”. Listen to them as they discuss the fascinating mechanisms trees use to grow and survive. What are the oldest trees in the world? Which countries have the most trees and which countries are planting and cutting down trees? How do trees appear in religion, culture and literature? All these questions (and many more) will be answered.
When Autumn Came - Faiz Ahmed Faiz 1911-1984
https://poets.org/poem/when-autumn-came
Be by Nizar Qabbani
https://blogs.transparent.com/arabic/nizar-qabbani-the-tree/
The tree of life in Bahrain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life_(Bahrain)
Oldest Trees in the world
https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/oldest-tree-in-world
Deforestation in Syria:
https://syriadirect.org/under-the-axe-the-fall-of-daraas-forests-and-fruit-trees/
Dragon Blood tree on the island of Socotra
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/12/saving-dragons-blood-island-refused-let-tree-die-out-socotra-yemen
Poplar Trees are Happiest – by John Russell McCarthy
https://woodlandtrust.tumblr.com/post/690916023263789056/poplar-trees-are-happiest-john-russell-mccarthy
Plant a trillion trees
https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/trillion-trees/
Tree statistics
https://www.morfo.rest/article/top-30-forested-countries
Alternative search engine
https://www.ecosia.org/?https:/www.ecosia.org%3Ftt%3D2044ca88%26tt%3D2044ca88%26gad_source%3D1&tt=2044ca88&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvW2BhDyARIsADnIe-LLHIog-ZQyQyYZpGApzW-nhZ8RU7MHLLlAPYJ5XN2jR-fQU7bwbFoaAjUYEALw_wcB
When Great Trees Fall Maya Angelou
https://poems.com/poem/when-great-trees-fall/
On Marriage (from The Prophet) by Gibran Khalil Gibran
https://poets.org/poem/marriage-3
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Patience”. Listen to them as they discern one type of patience from another. Can one be stoically patient in one context and impatient in another? Is patience always a virtue? What can we do when we feel impatient? What have poets from different cultural backgrounds got to say about patience?
Dictionary Definition
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/patience
The Patience of Job
https://www.gotquestions.org/patience-of-Job.html
Types of patience:
https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/dam/az/PDF/2020/covid-19-toolkit/Patience.pdf
Stoicism as a way to learn patience
https://www.stoicsimple.com/stoicism-as-a-way-to-learn-patience-acceptance-be-calm/
Laughter and Tears IX - Kahlil Gibran
https://www.poetrysoup.com/famous/poem/laughter_and_tears_ix_21303
On his Blindness by John Milton
https://www.owleyes.org/text/on-his-blindness/read/text-poem
The marshmallow experiment debunked
https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/new-study-disavows-marshmallow-tests-predictive-powers/
Most patient animals in the world
https://learningmole.com/most-patient-animals-in-the-world/
Top 10 most patient countries
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/top-10-most-patient-countries
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cross-country-variation-in-patience?tab=table
https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2019/0729/Why-wealth-and-patience-appear-to-go-hand-in-hand
Exposure to disaster causes impatience
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-today-exposure-disaster-impatience-children.html
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Light”. Listen to them as they discuss how light is perceived in different cultures. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how does it affect us? How did ancient peoples explain the sun and other light-related phenomena? Some great poetry awaits you!
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
Silver by Walter de la Mare
https://allpoetry.com/poem/8494557-Silver-by-Walter-de-la-Mare
The light triad
https://www.simplypsychology.org/light-triad-personality.html#:~:text=The%20light%20triad%20consists%20of,narcissism%2C%20Mechiavialinism%2C%20and%20psychopathy.
Myths about Aurora Borealis
https://www.nathab.com/blog/fifteen-native-tales-about-the-northern-lights/
Light and darkness in Romeo and Juliet
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/how-does-shakespeare-use-light-and-darkness-in-romeo-and-juliet
A World of Light - Elizabeth Jennings
https://www.kidsworldfun.com/learn-english/poem-a-world-of-light.php
Near death experiences and light
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-near-death-experiences-reveal-about-the-brain/
Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amenouzume
Bread, Hashish and Moon by Nizar Qabbani
https://allpoetry.com/Bread,-Hashish-And-Moon
Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas
https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Doubt”. Listen to them as they discuss the useful and not-so-useful manifestations of doubt. They discuss Impostor Syndrome and why it might be more prevalent in females than in males and talk about ways to alleviate self-doubt and its negative impacts. They have some powerful poetry for you too.
How to overcome self-doubt:
https://eugenetherapy.com/article/overcome-self-doubt/#:~:text=However%2C%20when%20it%20becomes%20debilitating,self%2Ddoubt%20later%20in%20life.
Descartes on doubt:
https://philife.nd.edu/descartes-meditations-doubt-everything/
Doubt in Islam:
https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/8377/having-doubts-about-allah/#:~:text=Having%20doubts%20in%20Allah%20Almighty,a%20sign%20of%20one's%20faith.&text=The%20above%20two%20narrations%20cleary,or%20evil%20due%20to%20them.
Freethinker by Robert William Service
https://www.poetrysoup.com/famous/poem/freethinker_11000
If by Rudyard Kipling
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if—
My Doubt by Jane Hirshfield
https://poets.org/poem/my-doubt
Still I rise – Maya Angelou
https://groundedafrican.com/2023/01/25/still-i-rise-maya-angelou/
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
After a short summer break, Rama and Tony are back with you with a new episode on this episode of the topic of “Water”. Listen to them as they discuss the different effects of water on us as humans. They discuss the many ways water has been used in different analogies attempting to describe the human experience. How does water feature in Christianity and Islam? What do stoics and mystics say about it? And of course, how does water feature in Shakespeare’s writing, especially Hamlet? How much water are we using for our different purposes and how does water scarcity threaten to affect us?
Becoming the Ocean by Khalil Gibran
https://bradwcarr.medium.com/becoming-the-ocean-fb17376975ad
Stoicism on Water
https://www.beststoicquotes.com/blog/on-digging-deep
Global market for bottled water
https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/non-alcoholic-drinks/bottled-water/worldwide#revenue
Top 10 countries with freshwater resources
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/top-10-countries-with-freshwater-resources-1537440475-1
Industries that consume most fresh water
https://2030.builders/world-water-day/
“Water” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52342/water-56d230b9c3194
Types of water use:
https://watercycle.byu.edu/blue-green-and-gray-water-use#:~:text=Blue%20Water%20deals%20with%20human,quality%20issues%20or%20excessive%20heat.
How much water does it take to make a pair of Jeans?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ckr93c
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Stationery”. Listen to them as they discuss what stationery items mean to them as teachers. There are some interesting facts and statistics about stationery that might surprise you. What are the most stolen items of stationery? Tony also reads you poetry about stationery which we hope you enjoy!
Stealing stationery from work
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180524-the-psychology-of-stealing-office-supplies
https://yougov.co.uk/economy/articles/21708-what-are-britons-stealing-work
https://www.furniture-work.co.uk/blog/post/13-eye-opening-statistics-about-theft-in-the-workplace
The history of pencils (and other stationery)
https://inkymemo.com/unknown-facts-stationery-tricks/
Pens Are Better Than Pencils by Dan Brown
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pens-are-better-than-pencils/
Most expensive pens:
https://www.executivepensdirect.com/blogs/fun-stuff/the-ten-most-expensive-pens-in-the-world
History of BIC biro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_Cristal#:~:text=The%20 BIC%20 Crystal%20(stylised%20as,billionth%20sale%20in%20 September%202006.
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Lying”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of lies people tell and why we lie. Which nations lie more than others? Which gender? Should one always be honest and what are the most common lies people tell?
Which country lies the most
https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/the-most-dishonest-country-is
https://nypost.com/2015/11/16/the-most-dishonest-country-is/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6875219/Australia-ranks-list-dishonest-countries.html
Why Children/teenagers lie or want to lie
https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/behaviour/common-concerns/lies#:~:text='white%20lie'.-,When%20do%20children%20start%20lying%3F,more%20at%204%2D6%20years.
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/restoring-families/why-do-teenagers-lie/#:~:text=Teens%20Lie%20More%20Than%20Any,get%20away%20with%20it%20more.
The most common lies
https://www.lawyersmutualnc.com/blog/the-20-most-popular-lies-we-tell-every-day
White Lies by NATASHA TRETHEWEY
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58265/white-lies
Sonnet 138: When My Love Swears That She Is Made of Truth
https://www.poemhunter.com/william-shakespeare/
8 of History’s Most Destructive Lies
https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/05/8-historys-destructive-lies/
Stoicism on lying
https://dailystoic.com/its-about-what-you-do-and-dont-do/
Shakespeare and Lies - the 7 degrees of lying
https://noshitshakespeare.tumblr.com/post/140859299194/the-seven-degrees-of-lying-in-as-you-like-it-by
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Football”. This episode was recorded during the European Championship and it spurred a conversation about why men are generally more enthusiastic about football than women. How is women’s football doing in terms of equality, support and funding? What is the Mohammad Salah effect. They discuss their findings on the history of the game and some interesting facts. There’s poetry, too!
Why more men are interested in football than women:
https://time.com/4322947/men-women-sports-evolution/
Psychology of football supporters - need for identification/belonging:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-fandom/202302/why-football-fans-get-so-emotional
https://neurosciencenews.com/fan-emotion-brain-25236/
‘We See You’ by Carol Ann Duffy:
https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/carol-ann-duffy-womens-football/
Shakespeare on Football:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1S1GnZzSNft0WpBRK92bW8T/back-of-ye-net
https://nosweatshakespeare.com/blog/shakespeare-beautiful-game/
Stoic response to fandom:
https://modernstoicism.com/stoicism-sports-and-fandom-an-exchange-by-tim-lebon-and-greg-sadler/
The Mohammad Salah effect:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/can-exposure-to-celebrities-reduce-prejudice-the-effect-of-mohamed-salah-on-islamophobic-behaviors-and-attitudes/A1DA34F9F5BCE905850AC8FBAC78BE58
If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:
wordsthatmakeus@gmail.com