If you’ve ever heard about things like mammoths being found in permafrost, you may have an image in your head of what that looks like. But you might be wrong! So let’s talk about what permafrost really is, why it’s so important, and why you should care about it.
Hosted by: Reid Reimers (he/him)
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“Put moral formation at the centre of your society”
David Brooks’ speech was challenging and thought provoking, calling for us to reassess what we think cultural renewal looks like and to reconnect to our spiritual roots.
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Reserve your 1st edition copy of our new book, The Best of Our Inheritance.
Pre-Order open until March 14, 2025: https://www.arcforum.com/store/p/the-…
With the return of the ARC Conference this February, we are launching our first book — a work that encapsulates the values and ideas that shape ARC’s mission. The Best of Our Inheritance brings together fifteen of the sharpest minds of our time to make a bold case for remembering the values of our civilisation. From Barry Straussʼ account of the Classical Tradition, Ayaan Hirsi Aliʼs personal reflections on the values of the West and its Christian roots to Nigel Biggarʼs chapter on human dignity and Joseph Laconte’s call to the artists, reading this book will give you a tangible vision for civilisational renewal.
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David Brooks is a bestselling author, columnist for The New York Times, and a contributor to The Atlantic. He is also a commentator on The PBS Newshour. His latest book is How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.
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Go deeper with ARC Research. Read reports, articles, and academic papers underneath our talks – all pointed towards advancing education, promoting research, and developing ideas about the keys to human flourishing and prosperity. https://www.arcforum.com/research-papers
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Ever wondered if tarmac and asphalt are the same thing? You’re not alone! While people often use the terms interchangeably, they actually have distinct differences in composition, durability, and usage. 🚜
In this video, we’re diving into the history of road construction—from John Loudon McAdam’s revolutionary tarmacadam technique to modern asphalt’s superior strength and weather resistance. 🌍
Why did tarmac fall out of favor? What makes asphalt the go-to material for highways and runways today? And why do we still say ‘tarmac’ at airports when it’s mostly asphalt or concrete? 🤔 Watch this video!
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Dive into the explosive second chapter of Rio’s Carnival history, where samba becomes a weapon of joy, resilience and political control.
🔥 What you’ll uncover:
🥁 The Birth of a Revolution: How musicians in Rio’s Estácio neighborhood reinvented samba with the surdo (its throbbing heartbeat) and the mischievous squeal of the cuíca—crafting a rhythm so infectious it conquered Brazil via radio waves.
🏫 From Streets to Schools: Discover the visionary Ismael Silva and his crew, who traded boring ranchos and violent blocos de briga for peaceful parades, birthing the first samba school, Deixa Falar. Learn why they called it a “school”—and how icons like Mangueira and Portela turned Carnival into a dazzling, competitive art form.
🗞️ Carnival Goes Corporate: When a sports journalist (yes, really!) organized the first samba contest at Praça Onze, the stakes exploded. Newspapers sponsored schools, rivalries burned, and the city soon saw Carnival’s tourism potential.
🇧🇷 Dictators, Nationalism, and Co-Opted Joy: Under Getúlio Vargas’ regime, samba parades were stripped of their afro-rebellious edge, forced into militarized precision with themed floats, regimented alas, and nationalist propaganda. But could the spirit of the streets ever truly be tamed?
🎭 Babylon Meets Brazil: Explore the paradox—how Vargas’ fascist-friendly rules collided with Carnival’s ancient DNA of chaos and role reversal. For the poor, winning the parade wasn’t just glory; it was a fleeting taste of power in a society stacked against them.
🔔 Subscribe + hit the bell to follow the series! Drop a 🥁 in the comments if you’re Team Samba-Chaos or Team Parade-Precision—and let’s debate!
📚 Hungry for more? As mentioned, dive deeper with historian Fábio Freitas’ brilliant work @fabiosfreitas84.
Carnival in Rio isn’t just a party—it’s a war danced in rhythm. 💃🕺✨
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Let’s discuss the etymology of the body from “head” to “toe”. Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.
👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?
🍎 What did we originally call our Adam’s apple?
🍆 How did our naughty bits get their names?
These questions answered and many more in a body-positive episode of Words Unravelled.
👕 OUR NEW MERCH 👚
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads…
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads…
👂LISTEN: https://podfollow.com/words-unravelle…
or search for “Words Unravelled” wherever you get your podcasts.
EDITING: Martyn Williams
==LINKS==
Rob’s YouTube channel: / robwords
Jess’ Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris
#etymology #wordfacts #English
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msamba 