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Anne Levine Show

Anne Levine Show

By: Anne Levine and Michael Hill-Levine
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Funny, weekly, sugar free: Starring "Michael-over-there."

© 2025 Anne Levine Show
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Rewatch, Relearn, Remember
    Oct 7 2025

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    A stuffed sloth looming over I‑5, five yaks crashing a middle school lunch, and a python weaving through a drive‑thru might sound like pure chaos—but this hour uses the absurd to reset our senses before we face something heavier. We start with a frank rewatch of Urban Cowboy: a glittering soundtrack wrapped around characters we can’t love, and the sharp dissonance that creates. We trace its DNA into Landman, talk about how live music at Gilley’s gave the film grit, and then shift to Muriel’s WeddingToni Collette’s brave transformation and the way friendship stories carry more power than most pep talks. Along the way, Conan Without Borders gets its due, from Cuba’s warmth to the surreal Larry Bird moment in Israel, and we unpack SmartLess, where Bateman, Arnett, and Hayes spin friction into laughter and reveal how chemistry is crafted, not luck.

    The middle stretch is playful and pointed: the mystery of the giant sloth above I‑5, yak TikToks and school mascots, a misprinted lottery ticket that paid out big, a GTA 6 meltdown powered by a confusion of reality, and the reality of animal control versus internet bravado when a python shows up at a burger window. We even talk boundaries and consequences after a disturbing retail incident, and why public spaces demand vigilance - and cameras. These stories aren’t throwaway—they’re a lens on how we navigate surprise, risk, and responsibility in everyday life.

    Then we turn toward October 7 and the Nova Music Festival memorial now in Boston. We describe the exhibit’s design—cars, bullet‑scarred tents, bracelets, phones—and why it insists on witness over spectacle. We say the names we have, note proof‑of‑life reports including American hostage Edan Alexander, and repeat a simple truth: these are civilians. Fatigue is real, but so is the possibility of return and renewal; history holds examples of people who endured captivity and still built meaningful lives. The ask is modest and urgent: visit the exhibit if you can, keep a light on, and don’t let memory be replaced by the scroll.

    If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with one thought you won’t forget—what should we keep saying out loud?

    Find our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447251562357065/

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    1 hr
  • Science Walks Into A Bar
    Sep 30 2025

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    A ballet clip sent us spiraling back to Kate Bush, and that simple scroll unlocked a bigger conversation: how we hear things differently with time, and why owning your work can change the arc of your career. We start with Wuthering Heights—divisive, daring, unforgettable—and trace a line to Stranger Things, music rights, and the long shadow cast by Bittersweet Symphony’s publishing battle. From there, we jump to the art of rewatching: The Sixth Sense still stuns, Groundhog Day still comforts, and Tootsie still snaps. The question isn’t “have you seen it?” but “what did you miss the first time?”

    We also check our current screen obsessions. The Morning Show hooks us again, Slow Horses proves that grime can be genius, Survivor and Amazing Race return with big personalities and bigger locations. Along the way, nostalgia turns tactile: ice‑cream truck jingles, fresh stroopwafels in Amsterdam, and the waxy heft of an Edam or Parmesan wheel—especially when $20,000 in cheese goes missing. That sets up a surprising economics lesson: what a wheel weighs, why age matters, and how a couple of crates can become a headline.

    Then the animals take over. A parrot “witness” in Argentina, a Swiss self‑driving car locked in indecision over a cow, a Chilean dog who steals a soccer ball and the show, and a small‑town chicken running for mayor with “cluck the system” on every lawn sign. We round things out with nursery rhymes that aren’t as sweet as they sound, a suitcase of garlic bound for Transylvania, and a light‑speed thought experiment that bends time to zero for a photon. It’s funny, thoughtful, and packed with stories that make you want to rewatch, relisten, and reread with new eyes.

    If this mix of culture, science, and mischief hits your ears right, tap follow, share with a friend who needs a rewatch nudge, and leave us a quick review—what classic are you revisiting next?

    Find our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447251562357065/

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    1 hr
  • Radioactive Bananas
    Sep 23 2025

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    The boundaries between human connection and artificial intelligence are blurring in ways we never imagined. Today we dive into the fascinating world of human-AI relationships and the profound emotional attachments people form with their digital companions.

    Have you heard about Travis, who married his AI chatbot Lily Rose? Or "Faeight", whose relationship with her bot Griff has become so intense that even her human friends acknowledge it? These aren't isolated incidents – they represent a growing phenomenon where people find meaningful connection, support, and even love through artificial intelligence. When software updates change these bots' "personalities," users experience genuine heartbreak and grief, revealing just how real these relationships feel.

    For many, particularly those with social anxiety, ADHD, or autism, AI companions provide a safe space to practice conversation and emotional regulation without fear of judgment. Yet this raises critical questions about ethics and regulation. After disturbing incidents like a man allegedly being encouraged by AI to attempt assassination, platforms have implemented safety guardrails that often disrupt the very connections users have formed.

    Our own experiences with smart home devices are becoming increasingly personal – from assistants that now address us by name to AI that adapts to our speaking versus typing styles. As Anne observes, "The problem with mankind is mankind" – our technology simply mirrors what we create and input. This reminds us of the importance of maintaining our connection to the natural world, whether through hugging trees or simply walking barefoot on grass to stay grounded.

    Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of technology, humanity, and the unexpected spaces where they intersect. What's your relationship with AI? We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

    Find our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447251562357065/

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    1 hr
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