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Quantum Conversations

Quantum Conversations

by Niusha

Society & Culture

Season 2

S2 Ep 2 OF SWOOSHES, SNAKES & SIRENS: PART 2

In this episode of QC, my guest and I continue our conversational dive into symbols and mythological figures and how these have been co-opted (some might say, hijacked) by brand names, organizations and even political movements. We discuss the ancient origins of these symbols to better understand their truer meanings and the long-standing imprint they have on our collective consciousness. SOME LINKS TO REFERENCES FOR THIS EPISODE: https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/medusa-mosaic-in-turkiyes-burdur-reopens-for-visitors-after-winter-break/news https://www.thecollector.com/who-is-the-ancient-gorgon-medusa/ https://windswaves.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/hidden-from-view-the-medusa-myth-from-ovids-metamorphoses-to-peter-paul-rubens/ https://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Gorgones.html https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377531699_Was_Medusa_a_Priestess_of_Athena_On_Ovid_Metamorphoses_4794-803 https://medium.com/@sfoster_16117/the-caduceus-origins-and-symbolism-of-the-staff-with-serpents-8d7412db32dc https://www.caduceusmedicalgroup.com/for-patients/legend-of-caduceus/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus https://mythopedia.com/topics/asclepius https://mythopedia.com/topics/hermes https://thegoodlifefrance.com/the-origin-of-french-gargoyles/ https://www.northstargallery.net/blog/2020/10/about-gargoyles-grotesques https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/gargoyles-0012253 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hippocratic-oath https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/topics/greek-medicine/index.html https://journals.lww.com/jpbs/fulltext/2015/07001/things_you_don_t_learn_in_medical_school__caduceus.13.aspx https://scarletarosa.tumblr.com/post/636502518079340544/ningishzida-mesopotamian-god-of-the-tree-of https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/swastika-origins-001312 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29644591 https://www.navajorug.com/blogs/news/whirling-logs-motif https://hyperallergic.com/933272/why-native-artists-are-reclaiming-the-whirling-log/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Tetraskelion https://buddhastoneshop.com/blogs/news/buddha-swastika Suggestions or queries? Email us at: QuantumConvos@proton.me

S2 Ep 1 OF SWOOSHES, SNAKES & SIRENS: PART 1

QC is back with a brand new season 2! In this episode, our host and a special guest, explore some mythological figures through their more well-known and ubiquitous company logos. How is it that we can instantly recognize the brand's that have co-opted the iconography and yet know so little about the ancient origins and stories behind them? Grab a cuppa as we dive into a topic that really deserves its own podcast. Some references and suggested further readings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melusine https://blogs.bl.uk/european/2015/10/the-tale-of-m%C3%A9lusine.html https://www.maerchenatlas.de/miszellaneen/marchenfiguren/melusine/ https://www.istitutomarangoni.com/en/maze35/community/hear-the-sirens-the-untold-story-behind-the-starbucks-logo https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-siren-on-your-starbucks-cup-was-born-in-7thcentury-italy https://www.colorado.edu/classics/2018/06/19/sirens-ancient-greece-and-near-east https://vaulteditions.com/blogs/news/discover-how-ancient-symbolism-influences-contemporary-graphic-design-five-examples-you-will-definitely-know Nike Goddess Overview: https://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Nike.html Nike Goddess : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_(mythology) *For more info about the Nike company origins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc. https://crfashionbook.com/culture-a35217668-true-story-versace-medusa-head/ https://sublimista.it/gianni-versace-pietrificato-dallo-sguardo-di-medusa/ https://www.thecollector.com/who-is-the-ancient-gorgon-medusa/ https://www.historydefined.net/the-tragic-story-of-how-medusa-became-a-monster/ https://windswaves.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/hidden-from-view-the-medusa-myth-from-ovids-metamorphoses-to-peter-paul-rubens/ https://www.thecollector.com/temple-artemis-corfu-medusa-head/ https://www.timetravelrome.com/2024/08/17/roman-villa-of-casignana-in-calabria-and-its-mosaics/

Season 1

S1 FINALE: THE LOOKBACK EPISODE

In this Season 1 Grand Finale episode we take a look at the genesis for this podcast, the somewhat long and winding road it took for us to get here and why the show's creator decided focused on certain kinds of topics. We'll also take a look at what we've learnt in the process and hint at some possible topics and themes for Season 2! So grab yourself a cuppa, have a listen and maybe you'll want to have your own...Quantum Conversation!

OF TRAINS, TELEGRAPHS & TEMPORAL QUIRKS

Our idea of regulated time comes down to two major inventions of the mid 1800s. In an effort to streamline and make things more efficient, how did everything become more complex and full of quirks? Is there a way to embrace a more natural temporal rhythm? Listen in to QC's storytelling hour, filled with fascinating histories, intrigue, money, power and a bit of mayhem. Some of the references cites and/or sourced in this episode: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/standardising-time-railways-and-electric-telegraph https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/180-years-of-railway-time/ https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/how-railroads-standardized-time-in-the-us/ https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Observatory,_Greenwich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Observatory https://medium.com/@maham.saleem/the-1884-time-war-trains-time-zones-tensions-d841f59d245d https://www.thoughtco.com/atlantic-telegraph-cable-timeline-1773793 https://www.gbps.org.uk/information/rates/inland/telegrams.php https://newatlas.com/last-telegraph-message/28314/ https://www.richmondfed.org/-/media/RichmondFedOrg/publications/research/econ_focus/2018/q2/pdf/economic_history.pdf https://valentiaisland.ie/history_culture/transatlantic-telegraph-cable/ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cable-great-transatlantic-cable/ https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1139780043/what-is-time-physics-atomic-clocks-society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Meridian_Conference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunication_Union https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/exclusive-itu-failed-says-former-policy-chief/ https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/400990-reigning-in-uns-little-known-international-telecommunication-union/ https://www.timeanddate.com/time/time-zones-history.html https://www.timeanddate.com/time/aboututc.html https://www.timeanddate.com/time/leapseconds.html https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/axial-tilt-obliquity.html https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/the-ever-changing-planet-why-is-earth-suddenly-slowing-down/articleshow/93449558.cms?from=mdr https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/08/03/do-we-need-the-first-ever-drop-second-a-new-wobble-by-earth-caused-the-shortest-day-since-records-began-say-scientists/ https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/earths-pole-is-shifting-heres-how-it-can-affect-us-and-our-planet-55030-10-08-2023 https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/your-obsession-with-time-management-is-slowly-killing-you-science-says.html https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-diminishing-returns-of-calendar Royalty-free sound bites & effects courtesy of Pixabay (many thanks indeed!) and Alitu's Music Library.

THE HISTORY OF 2 SLEEPS & THE ARTIFICE OF SAVING TIME

The practice of 2 sleeps, also known as biphasic sleep isn't some newfangled practice. It's ancient and research has shown it has existed throughout the world. So what changed and why is it worth rediscovering? Could this be a healthier sleep pattern for some of us? And, how does this forgotten habit converge with a major turning point in history and the continued vexing practice of changing times twice a year? Some references cited and/or sourced in this episode: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/09/health/sleep-history-wellness-scn/index.html https://www.news-medical.net/news/20170517/History-of-sleep-what-was-normal.aspx https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/biphasic-sleep https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4763365/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4720388/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/28/eu-daylight-saving-british-summer-time-greenwich-mean- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/daylight-saving-time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/permanent-daylight-saving-time-pros-cons/index.html#section-pros-CN19wgKTlX

SLEEP, INTERRUPTED.

Poor sleep is a globally widespread problem which can be attributed to a whole host of prevailing attitudes about sleep not to mention the impact that all our tech paraphernalia has on our circadian rhythm. In this episode, we'll look at some of the factors and why there's little being done to meaningfully help improve our collective lack sleep. We'll also take a sneak peek at how differently some of our ancestors once slept and how this might have left a residual imprint on some of us today. Some references cited and/or sourced in this episode: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7272128/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561068/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6473877/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0110825 https://ehtrust.org/key-issues/cell-phoneswireless/screens-and-sleep/ https://www.ecosa.com.au/blog/post/cant-sleep-lets-talk-about-low-frequency-emfs.html https://healthmatch.io/blog/too-many-of-us-are-sleep-deprived-and-its-become-a-crisis https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/08/how-modern-life-gets-in-the-way-of-sleep-chronic-insomnia https://www.theguardian.com/society/gallery/2013/mar/29/electrosensitivity-technology-killing-us-photographs https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sleep-deprivation-epidemic-health-effects-tired-heart-disease-stroke-dementia-cancer-a7964156.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608227/ https://www.nature.com/articles/srep14914 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IARC_group_2B https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232228353_Pineal_Melatonin_Levels_Disruption_on_Human_Due_to_Electromagnetic_Fields_and_ICNIRP_Limits https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2019/20190307-philips-global-sleep-survey-shows-we-want-better-sleep-but-only-if-it-comes-easily.html https://emfscientist.org/ https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/09/health/sleep-history-wellness-scn/index.html https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvjgztX_Uo3ZDZBBW_t11ha4s7MYbWsTl

I RAVE. I RANT. I CAN'T. (THE QC GRUMBLE SESSION)

In this episode, we spill the beans on some of observable, everyday behaviours that vex and perplex us. We'll ask, are these daily annoyances and constant micro-aggression connected to "bigger picture problems"? What might these be and how could they be better addressed or channeled? Join us as we endeavour to have a productive rant! Some optional readings related to this episode: https://www.ao-world.com/2019/08/27/uks-first-mobile-phone-slow-lane-created-for-distracted-walkers/ https://www.eatthis.com/news-looking-phone-while-walking/ https://exploringyourmind.com/the-smartphone-zombie-staring-at-your-phone-while-you-walk/ https://qz.com/489041/study-its-okay-to-use-your-phone-while-walking-down-the-street-but-not-at-dinnertime https://medium.com/@almightypress/how-clickbait-is-destroying-journalism-aae1b635361d https://www.onlineoptimism.com/blog/youll-be-shocked-by-how-much-content-marketing-can-learn-from-clickbait/

BULLSH*T JOBS AND WHY THE WORK MODELS FAIL US

In 2013 Prof. David Graeber's published his viral, online essay "On the Phenomenon of Bullsh*t Jobs". A little over a decade later, this still seems resonant. We'll consider how a skewed ideology of values is entrenched in our social conditioning and how it is masterminded by the entities running the current economic paradigm. We'll ponder what it might take to shift our mindset and push back against the prevailing system of our work culture. References cited and/or sourced in this episode: https://strikemag.org/bullshit-jobs/ https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-bullshit-job-boom Also recommended: https://www.smh.com.au/public-service/the-modern-phenomenon-of-bullshit-jobs-20130831-2sy3j.html https://www.vox.com/2018/5/8/17308744/bullshit-jobs-book-david-graeber-occupy-wall-street-karl-marx https://charleseisenstein.org/books/sacred-economics/ Sacred Economics: A Short Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEZkQv25uEs https://www.thephilosopher1923.org/post/beyond-bullshit-jobs https://davidgraeber.org/articles/the-bullshit-job-boom/ https://www.britsoc.co.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2023/august/many-people-feel-they-work-in-pointless-bullshit-jobs-research-confirms/ https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/work-life-balance-busy-2058921-Apr2015/ https://evonomics.com/anything-working-less-not-solve/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/04/work-more-less-quality-of-life https://www.positive.news/economics/10-arguments-shorter-working-week/

HOW WORK MAKES US MISERABLE: ON TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENTS

In this episode we'll explore toxic work environments, why so many of us are miserable in the workplace, what's being said (and what isn't) about this ongoing issue, why the Great Resignation hasn't gone away and why it'll take a whole lot more than "experts" and beanbags in offices to change things. Some references cited and/or sourced for this episode and other related readings: https://www.businessinsider.com/toxic-workplaces-culture-work-leadership-social-culture-2022-9 https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/career-transitions/202110/are-all-workplaces-toxic-these-days https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/talent-acquisition/toxic-culture-top-reason-people-quit https://itbrief.com.au/story/tech-workers-stuck-in-toxic-company-culture-to-walk-away https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2022/06/01/toxic-work-culture-is-the-1-factor-driving-people-to-resign/ https://www.predictiveindex.com/blog/toxic-work-environments-15-signs-of-workplace-toxicity/ https://sifted.eu/articles/employees-switching-job https://sifted.eu/articles/toxic-workplaces https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/30/economy/great-resignation-uk-australia-europe/index.html https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/05/25/no-end-in-sight-for-the-great-resignation-as-inflation-pushes-workers-to-seek-better-paid- https://www.lepaya.com/blog/the-great-resignation-europe-2023 https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/future-of-the-great-resignation https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/08/nearly-50percent-of-people-are-considering-leaving-their-jobs-in-2024.html https://fortune.com/2024/05/09/people-thinking-about-quitting-jobs-great-resignation-redux/ https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/why-every-leader-needs-to-worry-about-toxic-culture/ https://www.fearlessculture.design/blog-posts/the-always-on-culture-is-harming-your-company-why-it-needs-to-go https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/18/whats-wrong-with-the-way-we-work

ON BURNOUT & WHY IT MATTERS

Burnout seems to be increasingly on the rise. There are countless articles and studies on its detrimental impact but most of the advice falls on deaf ears in the workforce and studies offer little more than lip service. Is it possible that the real, underlying issues on burnout are being purposely ignored? And, if so, why? Some of the references cited and/or sourced : https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/well/live/burnout-work-stress.html https://euagenda.eu/upload/publications/untitled-178342-ea.pdf https://europeanstudiesreview.com/2022/04/25/a-look-at-european-legislation-designed-to-prevent-burnout/ https://www.wired.com/story/overemployment-work/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/04/21/11-signs-of-professional-burnout-and-ways-to-overcome-it/ https://www.betterup.com/blog/signs-of-burnout-at-work https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642 https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/publications/Schaufeli/481.pdf https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244017697154 https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/2018/burnout-workplace-review-data-and-policy-responses-eu