Take Back the Day

Sam overviews her recent problem solving endeavours including poop spatulas and pods for your ears. While deliberating on friction in our lives and how to remove it, we mention... The incredible Shōgun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dgun_(2024_miniseries)) miniseries. Temu. They really don't need us to link to them. Various Apple products. They, too, seem to be doing fine without our links. The Station Eleven (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_Eleven_(miniseries)) miniseries. • Red Dead Redemption 2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption_2) • The Untitled Goose Game (https://goose.game/)

Our intrepid explorers consider the world's many overlooked and dissapearing organisms, and how to think about changing environments while making more of what is already around us. Along the way, Sam and Simon mention: The Cape Silverside, or "Sukkelvis" fish. Else Bostelmann (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Else_Bostelmann) The Schmidt Ocean Institute (https://schmidtocean.org/) Godzilla x Kong (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14539740/) Last Chance to See (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8696.Last_Chance_to_See) by Douglas Adams Cave of Forgotten Dreams (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1664894/) Survive the Century (https://survivethecentury.net/) The How to Save a Planet (https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet) podcast. All We Can Save (https://www.allwecansave.earth/) Palworld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palworld) Love on the Spectrum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_on_the_Spectrum_(American_TV_series)) Saunas and their associated cold-water shenanigans. You don't need a link. The Boy and the Heron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_and_the_Heron) Vengeance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vengeance_(2022_film)) The Book with No Pictures (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821299-the-book-with-no-pictures)

Games are fun. Work... not so much. Sam and Simon reconnect after many aeons spent not speaking on the internet to talk about games, and why they're fun and important in a way that work isn't and is. Along with other stuff. Things mentioned in this episode: Hearthstone (https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/) (don't you dare click that link). Rabble (https://joinrabble.com/) - for tricking adults in the UK into exercising. The Oatmeal (https://theoatmeal.com/) and Matthew's awesome games, including: Poetry for Neanderthals (https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/poetry-for-neanderthals). Honey Heist (https://gshowitt.itch.io/honey-heist) - be a goddamn bear. FU (https://www.perilplanet.com/freeform-universal/) - The Freeform Universal RPG system. Bouldering (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouldering). Go (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(game)) - games don't get much gamesier than that. Smallworld (https://www.daysofwonder.com/small-world-universe/small-world/) - especially the digital versions on Steam and elsewhere. The story of Monopoly and American capitalism (https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151367036/story-monopoly-american-capitalism) The amazing Dr Nechama Brodie (https://nechamabrodie.com/) Microsoft Excel World Championship (https://fmworldcup.com/excel-esports/microsoft-excel-world-championship/) The Future (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/123163147) by Naomi Alderman Girls of Little Hope (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62825562-girls-of-little-hope?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_20) by Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen Radiolab's mind-blowing podcast on The Interstitium (https://radiolab.org/podcast/interstitium) Acquired, Cautionary Tales, Search Engine, S-town, and other favourite podcasts of Simon's.

Sam and Simon are together in a room, for a change, and discuss the impact of artificial intelligence, existential crises, and a range of other topics. Along the way they mention: The Cope Zine (https://simon.co.za/COPE.pdf) (instructions on how to fold it below) ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/chat?__cf_chl_tk=B07daYor4vLq8_6t4W8A9OJEqUNGVa2ZYBN1RpViGxI-1674117777-0-gaNycGzNFn0) again. Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files on ChatGPT (https://www.theredhandfiles.com/chat-gpt-what-do-you-think/) Francis Fukuyama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Fukuyama) and his theories on the progress of civilisation. Irresistible (https://www.netflix.com/title/81249604) the movie (one of the many things Simon could not remember). Also Triangle of Sadness (https://www.triangleofsadness.film/). The incredible art of Fanie Buys (https://www.faniebuys.com/). Many games. Including World of Warcraft, Don't Starve Together, Mario Kart, Stardew Valley, League of Legends, and other candidates for Sam and Simon to play together. Wingspan (https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/). How to fold a zine: https://annabrones.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/make-a-one-page-zine.jpg?w=700&h=467

From trippy breath work to commanding a robot army, Sam and Simon are getting ready for a super weird future with its various perils. While discussing their battle strategy they mention: The Wim Hof breathing method (https://www.wimhofmethod.com/) ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/), of course. Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less by James Hamblin (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52260482-clean) Building A Virtual Machine inside ChatGPT by Jonas Degrave (https://www.engraved.blog/building-a-virtual-machine-inside/) Midjourney (https://midjourney.com/) Botto (https://www.botto.com/) the autonomous artist. (Thanks for the album art, DALL·E 2 (https://openai.com/dall-e-2/))

Simon reads Sam a poem and our intrepid duo considers the best ways in which to treat our future selves, the tensions that keep life balanced, pros and cons of social media, and myriad other thingies. Along the way they mention: Swan by Mary Oliver (https://www.poetseers.org/contemporary-poets/mary-oliver/mary-oliver-poems/the-swan/) Twitter's impending doom (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595207476936413187) No One Is Talking About This (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53733106-no-one-is-talking-about-this) by Patricia Lockwood Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow) by Gabrielle Zevin Replay (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/341735.Replay?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=4B4rDz35fO&rank=1) by Ken Grimwood Stutz (https://www.netflix.com/za/title/81387962) Breath:The New Science of a Lost Art (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48890486-breath?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=vuoOEaNc2p&rank=5) by James Nestor

Sam and Simon explore identity, how we change ourselves for each other, and what it means to push for making things better while appreciating the way things are. It's complicated. Along the way they mention: Adventure Time! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Time) Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (https://www.netflix.com/watch/80209608) Morning Pages (https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/) Ann Patchett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Patchett) Clarkson's Farm (https://www.amazon.com/Clarksons-Farm-Season-1/dp/B095RHJ52R) Wilding (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38891828-wilding) by Isabella Tree The Jamison Valley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamison_Valley) How Wolves Change Rivers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q&t=1s)

Sam's robotic brain and Simon's tin heart contemplate practices such as writing, running, meditating - or antyhing else that curiously calls you to do it for its own sake - and what these commitments mean and ask from us as they curiously make their way into the other parts of our lives. Along the way they mention: Return to Oz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Oz) Google Keep (https://keep.google.com/) Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) Notion (https://www.notion.so/) Shoe Dog (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27220736-shoe-dog) by Phil Knight Jim Rogers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rogers) Born to Run (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6289283-born-to-run) by Christopher McDougall Eat and Run (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13202092-eat-and-run) by Scott Jurek, Steve Friedman The Hardrock 100 (https://hardrock100.com/) The Dreamachine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine) DeepDream (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepDream) Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_%26_Andy:_The_Great_Beyond) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow) by Gabrielle Zevin

What gives things value, and how much should we be worried about that? Sam and Simon discover that everything is rubbish, and along the way mention: Veblen goods (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good) A lot of garbage things that don't deserve extra attention here Cryptotrunks (https://cryptotrunks.co/) Cryptokitties (https://www.cryptokitties.co/) Sir Digby (https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1uZAJh47f/) Vaccines: A Measured Response (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc) Google Keep (https://keep.google.com/) Semiphemeral (https://semiphemeral.com/) 📼 Bo Burnam

Prolific heat-thieves Sam and Simon talk about keeping shit together on this sixtieth episode of Take Back the Day. Things mentioned in this episode: Radiolab's Kleptotherms podcast. (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/kleptotherms) The Overstory by Richard Powers. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40180098-the-overstory) Sam's crazy productivity system (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/productivity-isnt-doing-all-the-things/) (subscribe to her newsletter too). Simon's silly ZARP website (https://www.zarp.cash/). Survive the Century (https://survivethecentury.net/) climate-change game. The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53968436-the-secret-to-superhuman-strength). Moss (https://moss.earth/en/home/) and their crypto carbon credits.

When do we self-sabotage? How do we break out of cycles? Can we form new habits? Why did Sam choose to move to a frigid, muddy island off the coast of Europe? We ponder all these questions and more in this episode of Take Back the Day, and along the way we mention: Steven Pressfield and the War of Art (https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/). Mr. Ferriss (https://tim.blog). BF Skinner and his superstitious pigeons (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bf-skinner-the-man-who-taught-pigeons-to-play-ping-pong-and-rats-to-pull-levers-5363946/). Atomic Habits by James Clear (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits). Ira Glass (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Glass). How to With John Wilson (https://www.hbo.com/how-to-with-john-wilson). Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake (https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life).

Yo yo yo. It's another episode of Sam and Simon Speak on the Internet™, bitches! In this episode they touch on: The stupid US elections. Simon's stupid book (https://www.amazon.com/Math-We-Trust-Bitcoin-Cryptocurrency-ebook/dp/B07C7TPXMD). Sam's amazing book (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/books/). M O N E Y . Behavioural.... economics (https://xkcd.com/1894/)? Vanguard (https://investor.vanguard.com/corporate-portal/). Sam's newsletter (https://www.likeafuckinggrownup.com/) (sign up!). Satrix MSCI World ETF (https://satrix.co.za/products/product-details?id=33) (it's a thing you can invest in). Sam's thing she loves: Geocaching (https://www.geocaching.com/play). Simon's thing he thinks is pretty cool: Wave Accounting (https://www.waveapps.com/).

Sam and Simon are making new things, and talking about it on the internet. Some of the things they mention along the way: * Notion (https://www.notion.so/) * Super (https://super.so/) * Product Hunt (https://www.producthunt.com/) * Our friend Lauren (https://laurenbeukes.com/) ♥ * Dr. Bronner's - All-One! (https://www.drbronner.com/) * Gumroad (https://gumroad.com/)

Sam and Simon discuss the contents of their bug (or go) bags and what's needed to survive the apocolypse. They also discuss our incredible ability to make things normal, and how careful we have to be about what we allow to become regular things. Stuff mentioned in this episode: The Good Place (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4955642/) The Prepared (https://theprepared.com/) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386162.The_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy) Radiolab's Atomic Artifacts (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/atomic-artifacts) episode Survival biscuits? Lettuce (https://lettuce.money/) Hedonic Adaptation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_treadmill) Our sun entering a 'solar minimum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_minimum)' period Susan Sontag (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Sontag) Highland 2 (https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/) word processor Microsoft Fluid (https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/19/21260005/microsoft-office-fluid-web-document-features-build) 🤯

Sam and Simon are extremely locked-down, and explore what this is teaching them. Some of the things mentioned in this episode: The Sims (https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims) (yes, yes, we know) Devs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devs_(miniseries)) Tiger King (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_King) (yes, yes, yes) Quibi (https://quibi.com/) Dungeons & Dragons (https://dnd.wizards.com/) Fiona Apple's new album (https://open.spotify.com/album/0fO1KemWL2uCCQmM22iKlj). One World: Together At Home (https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/connect/togetherathome/) Some Good News (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug) with John Krasinski Hamilton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)) Second Life (https://secondlife.com/)

Sam and Simon had a conversation on the internet after a very long time of not doing so. They examine the reality of this crazy alternate timeline the world has slipped into where sentient cheetohs seemingly run the galaxy and staying at home to play video games all day is sanctioned. Some of the cool, cool things we mention in this episode: * Don't Starve (https://www.klei.com/games/dont-starve) * Fireside (https://fireside.fm/) and Zencastr (https://zencastr.com/) * Daniel Defoe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoe) and his [A Short Account of the Progress and Effects of the Plague ...](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37281399-a-short-account-of-the-progress-and-effects-of-the-plague-which-prevail?ac=1&fromsearch=true&qid=UBSVEPLXXZ&rank=3)_ * Matthew Barge (https://www.instagram.com/mbarge) * Houseparty (https://houseparty.com/) * Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/) and Zoom (https://zoom.us/) We'll probably talk on the internet again.

Sam and Simon have started a business! With EACH OTHER! It's made them contemplate the joys of tiny ambitions, tiny spaces, and caring about tiny problems.Also howzit, American friends. Y'all okay over there? Things seem pretty bleak. We're sending cuddles.Things we talk about in this episode:Being an entrepreneur is 90% doing adminBusiness science is astrologyThe few things Simon can't live without: Levis 510s, Superga sneakers, and his Samson Go MicSam Harris talking to Scott Adams about TrumpThe Nintendo SwitchHow the US Army uses Sci-fi movies to recruit peopleUlysses, Sam's favourite writing app, and iBooks AuthorThe Economy, an economics textbook for the 21st CenturyThe trailer for Blue Planet II “Motivation consists not of massive bursts of inspiration but instead finding joy in little everyday activities.” — @dailyzen on Twitter

Sam and Simon kick off the year from a wuthering height (Cape Town summer is hella windy, yo) to discuss their intentions for 2017, and their best discoveries from 2016. Simon also tells us why he's planning to build himself a remote cabin in the woods (with high-speed broadband).Discussed in this episode:Tim Ferris discussing his end of year ritual to focus on the things that actually matter, and making "not to do" lists.Scott Adams, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big.Freakonomics Radio podcast, A still fascinating 2011 New Yorker profile about that billionaire vampire, Peter Thiel.The (like, only) good thing South Africa did in the 80s: voluntarily dismantled our nukes (probably for terrible reasons, but still).And our favourite things of the year:Two fascinating DAO projects: Wings and BitNation.Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Overture.Adventure Time.Glorious Trainwrecks.Twine.The Hamilton musical.bell hooks, Feminism is for Everybody.

We think 2016 could've tried harder. Disheartened as we are, this episode looks at the up and downiness of a strange few months, and whether the world is really getting stupider. We also manage to talk about some productivity stuff. Charlie Brooker’s yearly ScreenwipeEven Kanye is mentally beleagueredLe Tigre.The Village SquareAlain de Botton's plan for secular churchesThe World Until Yesterday by Jared DiamondTom Waits stopped drinking a long time agoSushi Go! (the board game)Exploding Kittens & Bears vs Babies (the other board games)Google PhotoscanModernist poetry in generalRefly EditorCollaboration on Keynote"The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that, 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'.” -Isaac Asimov

Simon and Sam talk about all the things Pokemon Go can teach us about life, why you should  beware of weird unlabelled food products, and the virtues of deliberately exposing yourself to things that are bad for you.Plus! Hear our friend Jono Hall reading out a bit of his short story, first published on our Medium collection, Drippy Fun Times. Send us your stories too!Things we talk about on this episode:How it's weird when old Apartheid generals give you PokeballsThe Dresden Files - an RPG that makes real life more fantasticalThe Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris - which, fuckit, we still think is kinda smartThe Lean Startup by Eric ReisRuss Fujioka's fun article about Pokemon and MillenialsThe 2014 April Fool's Day video from Google that gave us a sneak peak of Pokemon Go without us realisingThe Code: Numbers, Shapes and Predictions - a documentaryI'm a Strange Loop by Douglas HofstadterGabriel Weinberg's excellent list of Mental ModelsThe strange subreddit, "Insightful Squirrel Men"The NSFW subreddit, "Library Girls"Minitel, France's version of the Internet before the Internet was a thingThe Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber BUT DON'T READ ANY BLURBS JUST READ THE BOOKMoney From Nothing by Deborah James