Erin is a writer, music critic, teacher and raconteur. Ryan doesn't know anything. So Erin Explains things to him. And we all grow from the sharing. Topics are drawn from the culture we see around us - music, ideas, tv, movies, food, you name it...
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Erin and Ryan offer more dubious analysis of episodes 4 & 5 of PLUR1BUS, and throw in a bonus review of BUGONIA to boot! The explore how the show plays with authorship, narrative, and the audience’s role in shaping meaning. They revisit theories about AI allegory, Barthes’ “death of the author,” and what Carol’s rigid storytelling instincts reveal about creative control. From Shakespeare’s “bad quarto” to Agatha Christie nods, they trace how fragmented texts mirror audience-driven interpretation. The duo digs into hive-mind symbolism, the unsettling “Carol, please” scene, that mysterious milk, and the arrival of a sharp Uruguayan character who challenges Carol’s hero narrative.
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28 Nov 2025
Erin Explains: Why Would Anyone See Oasis in 2025?
Bonus! This was our original premiere episode this summer. Enjoy Erin breaking down why Oasis’s 2025 reunion tour exploded in popularity—despite the band being only moderately big in North America in the 90s. She points to Gen X nostalgia, the rarity of earnest, album-driven rock, and the craving for a shared monoculture moment. Fans interpret the tour in wildly different ways, from anti-“woke” fantasies to genuine male bonding over sing-along anthems like Champagne Supernova. Oasis also did what fans wanted: they played the big 90s hits. Erin shares her own ticket-scramble, defends Liam Gallagher’s voice, and notes that North America is finally getting the full UK-stadium Oasis experience—even if the Toronto venue was terrible.
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28 Nov 2025
Erin Explains: Music and the "51st State"
In this episode of Erin Explains, Erin digs into Canadian patriotism, CanCon rules, and what Canadian music actually is in a moment when there is talk of the US “annexing” Canada. She rethinks how we define Canadian music, looking beyond global hits and exploring the MAPL Rule, Indigenous genres, Black Canadian music, and Quebec’s diverse Francophone scene. Erin argues that real support means listening locally, buying merch, showing up to shows, and pushing for stronger public funding. She also shares her go-to discovery tool: the Polaris Prize shortlist, a reliable gateway into new and diverse Canadian artists.
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21 Nov 2025
Erin Explains: Pluribus
Erin and Ryan dig into Vince Gilligan’s new series Pluribus (yes, Plur1bus) with the insane enthusiasm of two longtime Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul obsessives. They unpack the show’s mix of sci-fi weirdness, dark comedy, and social commentary — from hive mind as AI allegory to big questions about individualism, colonialism, loneliness, and why women’s anger still freaks people out. They highlight key early-episode moments, Rhea Seehorn’s incredible performance thus far, and all the little bits and pieces that make possibilities for the rest of the season super exciting. A sharp, funny conversation for anyone who loves New Mexico and much as Erin does or is searching for Pluribus reviews, reactions, and theories. Check out the video version on YouTube at Erin Explains Stuff.
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20 Nov 2025
Erin Explains: No Mind's Eye
Erin and Ryan explore aphantasia — the inability to visualize images in the mind. Erin explains what life is like with no “mind’s eye,” how it shapes memory, reading, and imagination, and why fantasy worlds don’t appear for her at all. Ryan shares his hyperphantasia experience, offering the opposite perspective of how his mind creates vivid, detailed mental imagery. Together, they compare how differently people think, remember, and process stories. A fast, fascinating look at how differently our brains can work — plus how to find out if you might have aphantasia too. Where do you fall on the visualization spectrum? Check out the video of the episode on YouTube at Erin Explains Stuff.
Are You Aphantasic? Take the test: https://aphantasia.com/study/vviq (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkdjeXZYaUhJWXQ0Q3VMSGdULUtOQzRDTzctZ3xBQ3Jtc0trUllaRTlxNURnQVo4b0VGQk5LOENGQy0xcDBubDc1U2lYaXR3ZFZWcGN2dHg5aDRvSEs3aHlDeDFDYm1FMzlkNFVRV2pUZl9yY2h0YlJySG9YU3JKR1BvUlAtbjBWeGc2ajF6ZHAyR3hUclcwVml4MA&q=https%3A%2F%2Faphantasia.com%2Fstudy%2Fvviq&v=bdPtPhX8Njo)
New Yorker article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0R6VmZyWWhXSTNBbXRvRWs2SFpReUM1WXBNZ3xBQ3Jtc0trQXNFb05tbVY4WWhxa3pVYlFCLXdSWUI1QkVFLUZNUWVfQ25ZbkxLNVU4TUV4dkdwUkNqWDJad1FGWFJ3OVRIVWJSSmhZUnZaQTlXX3B4V01JcTNtSXFjTDVNNzRIRExPZ3RJanBaY3M3X2VpeHV6NA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newyorker.com%2Fmagazine%2F2025%2F11%2F03%2Fsome-people-cant-see-mental-images-the-consequences-are-profound%3F_sp%3D7f063d21-0570-4234-92da-11c8e75563a9.1762717257827&v=bdPtPhX8Njo)
What is aphantasia? https://aphantasia.com/what-is-aphant... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWJkaDRPeHZxcF9rbXo3cDVJMVNJaTA5Q0RrUXxBQ3Jtc0tucThUTXk1c2luUTV2RmZGaDJKaGVFUXZaWGg1dmpyQk5zTU1Vd0NGZXJhS25TSlRXeVNHSVowNVlvX3NLN3o1eUpQd2tmQk9Xamo5b0JLUGtkZzQ0Z2xiUzZxc0RsRW81TktCblJxbkFNVW1oV1FQRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Faphantasia.com%2Fwhat-is-aphantasia&v=bdPtPhX8Njo)
Reddit: / aphantasia (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVBGMFRLbHZ6WE92alh4Q2JOaTd1RUhicnVuUXxBQ3Jtc0ttYlN1MWJsOU02LU0zNzlnWlByc1BGcmFyV18tUnFpTE9TVUtvbEJobFN5ZnNXd21Rc2F6YmEyQnpPRlBQUDItcTVFZ29jQUM2Q1RMWVFWSkdBQWhFVEgtTWRrSkhQeG0tREpMSFRRcWRLRmNHc2JWcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FAphantasia%2F&v=bdPtPhX8Njo)
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