Severance

Severance

Author: Aaron Giovannone February 15, 2025 Duration: 20:10

After an update on our writing — Aaron is trying to choose what novel to write next, Naomi is busy with editing and ghost-writing projects — we discuss the Apple TV thriller Severance, focusing on its intriguing sci-fi premise and character-driven narrative. Severance presents a world where people undergo a procedure to become unaware of their outside lives during their workday, essentially becoming a different person, with "outies" having no memory of their "innies", and vice-versa. We discuss how this concept raises issues about identity and resonates with anyone who dislikes their job. We examine the show's setting, the ominous Lumen company, and its cult-like corporate culture centered around its founder, Kier, as well as the personal reasons that led the main character, Mark, to join the severance program. We love Severance and eagerly await every new episode, but we wonder about the challenge Severance faces in sustaining its central mystery and whether the show can provide a satisfying payoff. We reference some of our other favorite TV shows that had this problem, such as Lost and Battlestar Galactica. 

Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone 
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There's a particular warmth to the conversations on Sweater Weather, hosted by Canadian writers Aaron Giovannone and Naomi K. Lewis. Think of it as the audio equivalent of a long, thoughtful chat on a comfortable couch, where the topic just happens to be the shows, films, and books that shape a national identity. This husband-and-wife duo moves beyond simple reviews, weaving personal reflection with cultural analysis to explore both the iconic and the overlooked in Canadian storytelling. Their discussions are smart and often very funny, finding the cozy heart in everything from beloved CBC classics to under-the-radar indie films and literary gems. Listening feels like being included in a great conversation between two people who genuinely love this stuff, dissecting what makes Canadian pop culture distinct without taking it all too seriously. Whether you have a deep nostalgia for CanCon or are just curious about the stories from north of the 49th parallel, this podcast offers a welcoming, insightful space to reconsider what we watch and read. You'll find yourself noticing new layers in familiar favorites and discovering hidden treasures, all through the lens of two writers who know how to talk about art with both expertise and affection. It’s that specific blend of casual and clever that makes Sweater Weather such a consistent listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 61

Sweater Weather
Podcast Episodes
#21—The Kids in the Hall (Full Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Sweater Weather Live! in Calgary, Tues. Nov. 22 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#28—The Tom Green Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:33
In episode 28, we revisit the antics of shock comic Tom Green. In the early nineties, Green rose to local Ottawa fame with a rap album, a radio show, and a program on public-access television. In 1998, The Tom Green Show…
#27—The Sweet Hereafter, feat. Abdul Malik [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
Screenwriter Abdul Malik (Peace by Chocolate, CTV's Transplant) joins us to talk about Atom Egoyan's 1997 film, The Sweet Hereafter, one of Canada's most celebrated movies and the pinnacle of the Toronto New Wave moment.…
#26—Are You Afraid of the Dark? feat. Tasnuva Hayden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:20
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#25—The Rehearsal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:20
From high school improv with Seth Rogen in Vancouver, to a spot on the CBC classic This Hour Has 22 Minutes, to his Comedy Central series Nathan For You, Nathan Fielder's comedic vision has expanded from silly, semi-crue…
#24—Generation X [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:14
Today we're talking about the novel that named a generation. In 1991, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Vancouver author and visual artist Douglas Coupland became a sleeper hit, an objet d'art that no stu…
#20—Degrassi Junior High (Full Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:03
We'll be back with a new episode next week, but in the meantime enjoy this content from behind the paywall, our FULL episode on Degrassi from earlier this summer. --- Aaron and Naomi talk about the classic teen drama Deg…