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Though traditional Thanksgiving food might be boring, these Turkey Day podcasts sure aren’t. Hana Saad Student Writer Thanksgiving is officially upon us! It is a busy time of year for sure, with everyone rushing to complete final projects and study for exams amidst general holiday busyness, but I urge you to find the time to listen to one or two of the podcasts. In the spirit of Julianne’s article about cake, make your listening experience a relaxing one. Light a candle or something and put on your comfiest clothes. Settle on the couch with a steaming cup of tea, cocoa or coffee. We all deserve a break. Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or not, here is a list of podcasts about Turkey Day that are sure to delight.
Variety
“Thanksgiving, Part 1: Sage wisdom (with Demi Adejuyigbe)” from “Home Cooking” This delightful episode is hosted by Samin Nosrat (author of the cookbook “Salt Fat Acid Heat”) and Hrishikesh Hirway (creator of the podcast “Song Exploder”). This episode is warm, friendly and emblematic of everything a perfect Thanksgiving Day makes you feel. The hosts answer questions from the audience, giving tips about how to prepare the perfect dinner and inspiration for unique vegetarian recipes that take on the flavors of fall. Guest Demi Adejuyigbe joins to detail his baking adventures in quarantine. Although this episode is a year old, it is still a wonderful thing to listen to, especially on a rainy day. You’ll find yourself smiling as the joy and happiness of the hosts and their guests is palpable. “Episode 10: Thanksgiving” from “Hidden Brain” The holidays can be a stressful time, es-
pecially when food and family are involved. Is it even Thanksgiving if someone isn’t arguing at the dinner table or acting weird about the latest family drama? This episode helps you figure out ways to enjoy the holiday even when challenges crop up at family gatherings. They bring in research from social sciences, like psychology, to explain why people get into arguments over intense topics. There are a variety of different studies covered in the episode that offer helpful tips for keeping your calm at holiday gatherings. Host Shankar Vedantam will help you calm down with his gentle tone and sciencebased tips that are sure to give you relief in a stressful time. “Why Thanksgiving?” from “American Ritual: Exceptionalism” Most people should know that the history of Thanksgiving is not the one so sweetly told in the Charlie Brown stories. This podcast breaks down the history of Thanksgiving and how the myth of Thanksgiving that schoolchildren hear across the U.S. is an attempt to erase the reality of the relationship between colonial settlers and the Indigenous people of the U.S. This conversation features artists from Third Space Collective, which aims to reimagine what America could be like through “deep listening, shared acts of renewal, and true Democratic collaboration.” The show notes also list the variety of sources that they drew from in their conversation, with many articles that are definitely worth the read to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving. This is just a tiny sampling of the podcasts available on your favorite streaming
November 15, 2021
courtesy Radiotopia This podcast was first released in September 2020.
courtesy Third Space Media This podcast is now on its second season.
platforms about Thanksgiving. A simple search reveals dozens of episodes, from cooking shows to true crime stories. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of Thanksgiving, you just might find an interesting podcast to help you get through the holiday.
Holiday gift guide to start making your list
courtesy Public Domain Pictures It’s the perfect time to start compiling your gift list and getting ideas on what to gift others.
Buying or asking for gifts can be stressful, but this guide can give good ideas for any need or person in your life. Myranda New Student Writer With the holiday season just around the corner, your mom may have started asking what’s on your Christmas list. Or maybe you’re trying to come up with gift ideas for the other members of your family and your friends. Either case, gift giving can be tough, especially as you grow older, and it seems like you already have all that you need. I hope this holiday gift giving guide takes some of that stress away. Starting with the basics, I know that no one was too excited to be gifted socks as a
kid, but as an adult, that is a great present to open. Socks and clothes are so much more exciting as an adult to unbox. You could get socks with animals, plants, reindeer or one of a hundred other things on them. Getting new shoes is also always fun, either a nice pair of sneakers or some boots that you’ve had your eyes on. Pajama sets could be the perfect gift to wear the night after Christmas, and there’s nothing better to sleep with than a weighted blanket. Especially for college students, weighted blankets are great to begin easing anxiety. It also wouldn’t be a 2021 holiday gift guide without mentioning squishmallows, the stuffed animals taking the world by storm that come in all different shapes and sizes. Moving on to the kitchen, I know that I’ve had my eye on a mini Keurig for my dorm room, and last year for Christmas, my family gifted me the microwave that’s now in my dorm. Air fryers also make great gifts
for the family due to the vast number of recipes that can be made with them. I’m also a big fan of mini waffle makers and egg cookers seen at Target and Kohls. If you want to look into something extra special for your parents, try a cast iron pan, a dutch oven or a number of Pampered Chef products to make cooking easier. For entertainment, there are numerous gift ideas ranging from books and movies to workout gear. Look into a yoga mat or weights to really dedicate yourself to that workout routine you’ve been trying to stick with all semester. While you’re working out, you could have a himalayan salt lamp on in the corner of the room for some ambiance. Or maybe for some family fun, ask for a puzzle, card decks or board games. The game aisle at Target is very long with tons of fun options whether you want something deeply involved or just for fun. For the scholarly learner in your life, look up the Goodreads Book of the Year lists and consider getting some of those novels. They’re on the best books list for a reason. Some beneficial technology investing could be in a Smart Watch to track all sorts of health-related things or getting a tablet or iPad. iPads are helpful for taking notes in class, organizing your schedule but also for simply watching television. Printer ink could also be a great gift to ask for due to the price tag, and stationary sets always make for something fun to open and use throughout the year. Sometimes part of gift giving is the mystery behind what it could be, and for some gifts, the mystery can last long after the holidays. By getting subscription boxes, the gift giving can continue all year round. There are subscription boxes for all sorts of
things, from Book of the Month club where you get a new hardback book every month to Ipsy where you get new makeup. If you research subscription boxes, there’s going to be one for all tastes. Magazine subscriptions are also fun if you have a specific company in mind, like “National Geographic,” “Good Housekeeping” or “Popular Mechanics.” Scratch off posters are exciting and come in all different types, from yoga poses and vacation destinations to movies and books. Maybe someone doesn’t want a physical gift, but an experience instead. Gift cards are a great way to start. There are gift cards for favorite restaurants, shops and entertainment destinations. The movie theater or roller rink would be great places to get gift cards for. Also look into spas and nail salons for those in your life who need to take a break. Getting an AirBNB trip in order or a hotel room for the weekend could also be fun to give everyone a break in a new location. Of course, I must mention that we have one of the best places to get gifts right here on campus. The University of Tulsa bookstore is an amazing place to get clothes, accessories and collectibles for everyone in the family, while also asking for some things for yourself. You could ask for a sweatshirt or pajama pants. There is a wide assortment of baseball caps, beanies, stuffed animals, scrunchies and drinkware. During the holiday season, the bookstore begins selling ornaments and stockings. It may seem daunting at first to begin drafting your Christmas list or theorizing what to get others, but these are some great places to start. Every gift is special and will look beautiful wrapped up with a bow under the tree. Happy holidays!
The five best Christmas movies to watch this season As we head into the most sentimental time of the year, nothing sounds better than curling up with a holiday classic. Zach Short Managing Editor 5. The Green Knight I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this movie. I have, however, read the poem a couple times and can confirm that this is one of the best stories to enjoy during Yule. They say that Charles Dickens started the trend of Christmas ghost stories, but this beautiful poem fell upon ears centuries before he was born. I hear the Dev Patel adaptation has a bit more lewd content than the original written work, but if anything remains of the themes on willpower and composure, the movie certainly suffices. Any iteration of this piece should do the trick for a holiday selection. 4. Eyes Wide Shut The last work of a legend, this film saw director Stanley Kubrick die before the theatrical release. If you plan to watch any of these with family though, make sure it isn’t this one. The whole movie explores topics of infidelity and marital contentment with graphic nudity and sexual imagery. I would definitely recommend mentally preparing yourself for a movie like this: it does not af-
fect the palate lightly. The Christmas aspect seeps through in the setting, which adds to the theme an interesting nostalgic feel that makes the movie read like a modernist masterpiece. This one takes some maturity, but it is a solid choice. 3. Batman Returns The second of the Tim Burton Batman films, and arguably the better of the two, is an often forgotten Christmas classic. With the holiday providing the means of the first scorn to send the villain, the Penguin, on a spiral toward iniquity, a bittersweet atmosphere forms around the holiday as a centerpiece. One of the most memorable images (and definitely one of the most fitting for Burton) comes at the end of this film with penguins carrying their dead caretaker into the water. If you’re looking for a superhero movie to watch this year, this is the one for you. 2. Edward Scissorhands Hot take: this is one of the most beautiful films ever created. I have no qualms about double dipping and taking two Burton movies for this list, especially as this movie is so different from his take on the Batman universe. The pastel world he creates screams suburbia and the collective crime of the town against the protagonist makes for a semi-sweet, melancholy ending that makes its viewers appreciate their loved ones just a bit more. I love this movie with my whole heart and would suggest it to anyone for a holiday film, no matter their taste.
“Edward Scissorhands” is a fantasy and romance movie.
1. Rocky IV Easily the greatest Christmas film and perhaps the greatest film in general of all time, the fourth contribution to the Rocky film franchise never ceases to amaze. The Italian Stallion becomes the poster child for American patriotism as he seeks to go into the Soviet Union and beat their machine of a boxer. The premier himself, modeled after
courtesy 20th Century Studio
premier of the time Mikhail Gorbachev, presides over the match from a darkened seat that looms over the ring like the superpower over a multitude of developing countries and neighbors. Rocky trains in Siberia during late autumn to fight Ivan Drago in this Christmas Day fight. I could watch this movie every day for the rest of my life.
