Attention — May 21, 2026
What caught my attention on May 21 (5 items).
Kellogg’s: The Disturbing Reason Corn Flakes Exist
How We Got Here with Chris Kohler · 11:34
This podcast episode explores the surprisingly dark and bizarre origins of Kellogg’s cornflakes, tracing them back to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and his Seventh-day Adventist health retreat, the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. Driven by strict religious and moral beliefs, Kellogg viewed masturbation as a severe threat to physical and mental health, prescribing bland vegetarian diets to suppress…
Blockbuster blew $8 billion. We’re still paying for it
How We Got Here with Chris Kohler · 11:37
This episode explores the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Blockbuster, framing it not just as a corporate failure but as a pivotal moment that reshaped the modern economy. The narrative begins with the VCR revolution, detailing how Hollywood initially fought to ban home recording technology, only to later embrace it as a massive revenue stream. Blockbuster capitalized on this shift, growing…
Introducing…. How We Got Here
How We Got Here with Chris Kohler · 11:37
The provided transcript serves as a brief introductory teaser for a new podcast titled “How We Got Here,” hosted by Chris Kohler. In this short clip, Kohler outlines the core premise and thematic focus of the series, expressing his personal enthusiasm for exploring the fascinating trajectories of unconventional companies. The podcast aims to delve into the narratives of peculiar and highly success…
The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI
Podcast – Cory Doctorow’s craphound.com · 11:41
In this podcast excerpt, Cory Doctorow introduces themes from his upcoming book, After AI, using the central metaphor of the “centaur” versus the “reverse centaur.” A centaur represents a human who voluntarily uses technology to enhance their work, retaining agency over how and when to apply it. In contrast, a reverse centaur is a worker conscripted to serve as a peripheral for automated systems…
Comrade Trump
Podcast – Cory Doctorow’s craphound.com · 11:43
In this episode of the Cory Doctorow Podcast, the author opens with announcements about his upcoming international speaking tour and the imminent Kickstarter launch for his new book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI. He then reads an essay titled “Comrade Trump” from his newsletter Pluralistic. Doctorow argues that while Donald Trump’s policies are morally reprehensible and deeply…