PODCAST · society
Micropolis
by WNYC
Micropolis is an in-depth series that brings into view the unique cultures of New York’s ethnically diverse communities. WNYC reporter Arun Venugopal makes the big, anonymous city just a little bit more knowable.
Episodes
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Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and the Power of Black Protest Music
Beyoncé. Kendrick Lamar. J Cole. Janelle Monae. Pop artists are increasingly speaking out against police violence these days, while amplifying the demands of Black Lives Matter in the process. This is in keeping with the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s, when James Brown, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye...
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New York Artists React to the Primary, and Trump
As New York's primary approaches, many voters are trying to make sense of the 2016 presidential race. For local artists, some want to do more than just understand, they want to influence the outcome of the election. And the candidate who has probably generated the most attention and reaction?...
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Cruz, Trump and the Islamophobia Network
Should the U.S. ban Muslims from entering the country? Is radical Islam bent on taking over America? Ten or fifteen years ago, questions like these were largely relegated to the political fringes. Now, they help define the campaigns of the two leading Republican candidates, Donald Trump and Ted...
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More Than Statuettes, #OscarsSoWhite is About Redefining Power
On the surface, the #OscarsSoWhite campaign and the current boycott of the awards show Sunday night by Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Spike Lee are about one thing: recognition. After all, actors of color want to feel acknowledged for their work, along with directors, screenwriters and…
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Why Political Correctness is So Annoying...and Why it Works
Among the many striking aspects of the 2016 presidential race is this: 'political correctness' is regularly touted as one of our greatest societal evils. But it's not just Republican candidates: 68 percent of all Americans think 'P.C.' is a big problem, according to this Fairleigh Dickinson...
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The Cultural Appropriation Debate, Starring Beyoncé & Coldplay
With their new video for "Hymn for the Weekend," shot in India, Beyoncé and Coldplay stumbled into a controversy that's been centuries in the making: the cultural appropriation debate. When is it okay to borrow from another culture, and when does the simple act of, say, wearing a kimono or Indian...
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Muslim Parenting in an Age of Terror
Beyond all the usual demands of child rearing, Muslim parents in America have their own set of problems. They're more likely to worry about their kids being bullied or called names. In the wake of the Paris attacks, people around the world have tried to make sense of extremist violence. We spoke…
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What Europe's Refugee Crisis Says About America
The Obama administration announced that the U.S. would take in 85,000 refugees next year, including 10,000 Syrians. That's up from 70,000 this year, but still far short of what the nation's taken in during previous refugee crises. In 1980, for instance, the nation accepted nearly a…
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Serena Williams Shows Grace Under Fire, On and Off the Court
For many tennis fans, the story of Serena Williams begins in 2001 at the Indian Wells Masters tournament. While 19-year-old Serena was on the court, facing off against Kim Clijsters, her sister Venus and father Richard Williams entered the stadium — to boos. Venus had pulled out of a match…
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'Fresh Off the Boat' and the Burden of the Ethnic Sitcom
ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat," based on Eddie Huang's memoir of the same name, premiered last week on a wave of hype. This is the first Asian-American sitcom since Margaret Cho's "All American Girl." What took so long? In this episode of Micropolis, we consider the long, fraught history of Asians in...
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Rejected by Religion, Saved by God
When he was 17 years old, Kedar Powell's dad handed him a jar filled with $25 in change and kicked him out of the house. "'This is what you want to do? Bye,'" Kedar recalls his dad saying. "And that's how life started for me." Kedar is gay. His father is Muslim. His mother had already rejected…
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Religious Huckster or Humanitarian?
America has a long history of religious hucksterism — people who have used God to sell everything from widgets to wars. But in a cynical city like New York, Micropolis wonders if that tactic can possibly work. “Hector the Inventor" says he has escaped death three times due to divine intervention....
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A Girl with Down Syndrome Takes Her Place in the Community
Hema Ramaswamy, a resident of Middletown, New Jersey has Down syndrome, but that didn’t stop her from rigorously studying Indian classical dance and mythology for years, and giving a grueling solo performance before hundreds of friends and family members. This loving portrait of Hema affirms the...
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PR Expert to Muslims: Face Your Haters
For those in the business of Muslim P.R., 2014 has been a pretty rough year. In the wake of ISIS beheadings and movements like Boko Haram, Americans increasingly believe that Islam encourages violence more than other religions. This, despite research from the conservative Manhattan Institute that...
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A War on Christmas? Not in New York City
The “War on Christmas” has become a perennial rallying cry on Fox News and conservative talk radio. But in multicultural New York City, even non-Christians who don’t celebrate Christmas get a kick out of the holiday spirit. Micropolis talks to The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi, New York Times…
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The Hare Krishnas Are Back, Thanks to Occupy Wall Street
Nihal Kajjam remembers the precise moment when he encountered the Hare Krishnas in New York. He was wearing jeans and a black Megadeth t-shirt and was walking near the statue of Gandhi, in Union Square. And then he heard a small group of people dressed in saris and traditional robes, chanting —…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Micropolis have?
Micropolis currently has 16 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Micropolis about?
Micropolis is an in-depth series that brings into view the unique cultures of New York’s ethnically diverse communities. WNYC reporter Arun Venugopal makes the big, anonymous city just a little bit more knowable.
How often does Micropolis release new episodes?
Micropolis has 16 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Micropolis?
You can listen to Micropolis on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Micropolis?
Micropolis is created and hosted by WNYC.
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