SOLVED! SAMPLE! #30 - Everything is Ugly: How Convenience Killed Beauty—And How We Can Bring It Back

SOLVED! SAMPLE! #30 - Everything is Ugly: How Convenience Killed Beauty—And How We Can Bring It Back

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics December 30, 2025 Duration: 26:07

Air Date: 12-23-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

  • Ch. 1 - Why everything is so ugly these days

  • Ch. 2 - The story of "Millennial Gray" and how our personal spaces are impacted by beauty

  • Ch. 3 - How government intervention and regulation does (and could) impact the beauty in our surroundings

  • Ch. 4 - How beauty impacts sustainability as well as our very important feelings of belonging

  • BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: Why people around the globe are unhappy despite increasing wealth and progress

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REFERENCES

Why Do All Fast Food Chains Look Like Boring Gray Boxes Now? - Delish

How Did The World Get So Ugly? (YouTube video) -Sheehan Quirke

Why Millenial's Have No Taste (Youtube video) - Answer in Progress

Trump executive order mandates classical architecture for federal buildings, discourages brutalism - CNN

'We're doing arch': Trump says his plan for DC's answer to the Arc de Triomphe is moving forward - The Independent

Zoning Incentives Mandate Private Developers Create Public Open Space - Sustainability

The Impact of Architectural Guidelines on Shaping Our Cities - Plusurbia

The most sustainable building is one too beautiful to tear down. - Lloyd Alter on Substack

Building, Beauty, and Belonging - The Public Discourse

BACKSTAGE:

The Psychological Reason You Can't Seem to Stay Happy - Very Well Mind

The world has gotten richer — so, why aren't we happier? - Vox

EXTRAS:

"Palaces for the People" by Eric Klinenberg

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Best of the Left #1758 - "Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools"

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Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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