On Being "Culturally Determined": A Conversation with Culturally Determined Host Aryeh Cohen-Wade

The reason for Aryeh Cohen-Wade’s presence on our show is at least twofold. I fell into being a regular listener to his show Culturally Determined which for at least a year was a show on the bloggingheads site. I am always, as an aesthete, and some other identities as well looking for culture that reflects or at least is congenial to my sensibility. The usually young guests he would have on did discuss politics a lot but always appeared to do so from an awareness of aesthetics. Then there is Aryeh's approach to interviewing which always knowledgable and culturally connected to the guests but which had a bit of self effacing shyness which I find to be the most welcome approach in our particular moment. He is respectful of his guests and his attitude always seems to draw out the guests in ways that would never be possible were he to be  slick, aggressive or wear his considerable learning on the sleeve. I sensed he had a strong literary background, in particular one memorable episode with a Philip Roth biographer, and it turns out that he did - which to me is far more important a criteria for a show in which politics often comes up than, say, a political science degree. The world of the internet and social media being what it is, I reached out to him and was only too happy to do this episode. In keeping with a consistent theme on our show both "high and low" things are discussed from popular movies to more obscure books. His show gives me immense hope for the future: that literary values will continue to have a place, while at the same time in communication with things most popular and trending. I hope not only that you enjoy our episode but to gain Aryeh Cohen-Wade many more listeners. Aryeh Cohen-Wade’s Bio An editor, podcaster, and writer with over a decade of experience in digital media. He hosts the podcast "Culturally Determined," and his writing has been published in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Slate, the Weekly Standard, and the Washington Examiner. He is adept at writing and editing for the web, print, newsletters, and social media. Social Links to Aryeh Cohen-Wade’s Works Culturally Determined on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culturally-determined/id981282353 Personal website: https://aryehcw.wordpress.com/ Link’d In You Tube Twitter Spotify