Every Tuesday best friends Jason Alexander and Peter Tilden are joined by experts, newsmakers and celebrities in an attempt to find answers to the things that make us go…"Really? no, Really?” We invite you to join us, subscribe and even suggest topics, as we search for the answers to life’s most baffling, intriguing, confusing and annoying questions

Harvard is teaching a course on…Taylor Swift? Yes! Harvard University, the one in Cambridge, Massachusetts has a new course about T-Swizzle whose Eras Tour has earned over 1 billion dollars so far. And whose latest album just broke multiple streaming records within hours of its release. Really, no Really!
Our initial reaction was to poo-poo the Harvard course because we happen to be congenital born poo-poo-ers. But when we investigated the course syllabus, we found it fascinating, and an easy A it’s not.
Jason and Peter have enlisted the talents of Professor Stephanie Burt -who teaches the Taylor Swift course at Harvard - to not only discuss her class, but to also take a closer look at the woman, her music, the music industry she has upended and her rabid fan base, the Swifties.
Professor Stephanie Burt is the Donald and Catherine Loker Professor of English at Harvard University and has published various collections of poetry and a large amount of literary criticism and research. The New York Times has called Professor Burt "one of the most influential poetry critics of her generation".
You’ll also hear how Jason and Peter gave Taylor a job, way back in the day. Really, no Really!
IN THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>How Prof. Burt sold Harvard’s Administration on doing a Taylor Swift course.</li>
<li>Is Taylor Swift just about skewering her x-boyfriends?</li>
<li>Do you have a Hermeneutic Friendship with Taylor? And what does that even mean?</li>
<li>Does Taylor use “lects”? And what does that even mean?</li>
<li>How Swift’s social media consciously builds and deepens community with her fans.</li>
<li>Taylor Swift’s success: amazing business acumen or smart consultants?</li>
<li>The songs a Swift novice should listen to first.</li>
<li>GoogleHEIM: Quiz: Who sung it - Taylor Swift or the Sex Pistols?</li>
</ul>
***
FOLLOW PROFESSOR BURT: <a href="https://twitter.com/accommodatingly">X</a>: @accommodatingly
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/notquitehydepark.bsky.social">BlueSky Social</a>: @notquitehydepark.bsky.social
Podcast: <a href="http://teamupmoves.com/">teamupmoves.com</a>
***
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Really? no, Really?

Harvard’s Taylor Swift Course -What You’re Really Learning!

This episode attempts to answer the question… “Are airlines putting dangerous planes into the sky?” Recently, a Boeing 737 Max 9 had a door plug blow out at 16,000 feet, creating a gaping hole that sucked out, among other things…the shirt off the back of a startled teenager. Really, no Really!
That incident (along with a few others) reminded us of that <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.netflix.com/title/81272421&ved=2ahUKEwj06JaBiL2FAxUkgIQIHWgqDzgQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3CSSsbMZpxvie5HD6N85Nq">Netflix documentary</a> exposing the egregious decline of Boeing, a once great American manufacturer. 2023 was considered a travel nightmare for many and 2024 looks to be no better with shortages of air traffic controllers, pilots, and planes.
To enlighten us about the current state of air travel, Jason and Peter invited CNN’s, always entertaining - aviation expert and correspondent- Richard Quest. Richard has interviewed every major airline executive and covered the crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
IN THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>Aviation’s surprising “Do Not Pair” list!</li>
<li>Safest seat on the aircraft is…?</li>
<li>Ailine pilot statistics you hope aren’t true.</li>
<li>Richard breaks down why Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 & Lion Air Flight 610 went down and what’s changed.</li>
<li>Why airlines outsource critical maintenance overseas.</li>
<li>What happens when a plane depressurizes at 35,000 ft?</li>
<li>Are pilots being pushed to the breaking point?</li>
<li>True/False: Water and ice on an airplane are safe to drink?</li>
<li>Is it possible to be sucked out a broken window?</li>
<li>“Sully” Sullenberger’s genius!</li>
<li>Jason’s favorite Seinfeld plane episode.</li>
<li>GoogleHEIM: How far can a commercial airline glide without engines?</li>
</ul>
***
FOLLOW RICHARD QUEST:
<a href="https://twitter.com/richardquest">X</a> @RichardQuest
Quest Means Business, airs weekdays at 3pm ET / 12pm PT on CNN International
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Flight-MH370-Missing-Malaysian-ebook/dp/B00ZQH2VPY">Pick up Richard’s book</a>: 'The Vanishing of Flight MH370: The True Story of the Hunt for the Missing Malaysian Plane'
***
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CNN’s Richard Quest: Is Airline Safety Declining?

Fame! That mystical quality that often leads young stars to crushing downfalls, addiction, financial ruin, even personal tragedy. So, is it better to become famous later in life, when you hopefully have the wisdom and experience to handle it?
For one Tennessee housewife and in-home jewelry salesperson Leanne Morgan, success didn’t happen till her late 50s. That’s when her incredible talent, perseverance and whit enabled her to go from playing small comedy clubs, to arenas, landing a Netflix special, and getting the part of Reese Witherspoon’s big sister in her upcoming comedy with Will Ferrell!
When Peter saw Leanne perform, it evoked memories of comedic timing reminiscent of Joan Rivers. When Jason caught her stand-up act, he immediately fell in love. And apparently, he’s not the only one. Her first YouTube comedy special reached - over 50 million views! Really, no Really!
And we’re happy to say Leanne is joining us to talk about her special brand of Southern-inspired comedy and what it’s like to hit it big… later in life.
IN THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>How a woman peeing on a couch led Leanne to a her successful career in comedy. Really!</li>
<li>Dealing with kids leaving home, beagles’ buttholes and menstrual mishaps.</li>
<li>Popcorn tubs, hernias & plantar fasciitis aka, date night at a Journey Concert!</li>
<li>Learning what a table read is with “little” Reese Witherspoon & Will Ferrell.</li>
<li>Talking about family in your act-even when they don’t want you to!</li>
<li>What it’s like for Leanne to ‘make it’ in her late 50s.</li>
<li>GoogleHEIM: The top 10 things you SHOULD NOT DO…If you don’t want to look old (#10 is controversial)</li>
</ul>
***
FOLLOW LEANNE:
Netflix Special: Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman
<a href="https://www.leannemorgan.com/">Website</a>: LeanneMorgan.com
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leannemorgancomedy/">Instagram</a>: @LeanneMorganComedy
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@leannemorgancomedy?lang=en">TikTok</a>: @LeanneMorganComedy
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LeanneMorganComedy">YouTube</a>: @LeanneMorganComedy
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/leannemorgancomedy">Facebook</a>: @Leanne Morgan
<a href="https://twitter.com/LeanneComedy">X</a>: @LeanneComedy
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-World-Unexpected-Curveballs-Beautiful/dp/0593594398/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HXU6VSY259PY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.A9LiMWfqgcr5wp8F7jGC0qDn53C4mON5B-LkH0QWeYo0--Y7rk7GLECNCkjsDIc5L6elL8GfxEyWtSUbpiF9-26iN2I03MlY4YOHEHqLqQOdsmSS2PXDbJMtCrl8mgiQehyRjQwry_O7ywejY7P3HtlrHG9zVj9dFfXkv_Lwu7xsVVBXzKhScOjCWBhRyhst7O8k6cVjMEfEL9YnJkhH3jCr1960gB5US2Uv3F6VZ7US-H1hbD6Lw5phTsfz_PjXULLO0e5J-OhBjcSYPTxFir4Xf5VnXSL87ARjKRhQdhQ.GrCz6N0zKDodY86f9p5WHy4vz9uto6r4wFclZy-JYTE&dib_tag=se&keywords=What+in+the+World&qid=1712331651&sprefix=what+in+the+world%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-1">Pre-Order Book</a>: “What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings”
Watch her on Amazon Prime’s forthcoming feature, You’re Cordially Invited, alongside Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon.
***
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Comedian Leanne Morgan: From Housewife to Fame at 57!

As celebrities bask in their own fame, they are frequently offered exceptionally lucrative endorsement deals, often worth obscene amounts of money. But as this trend has grown over the past decade, many of the deals seem to be encountering significant problems!
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wine brand may take a hit due to their acrimonious divorce. Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy and more) reportedly lost 18 brand partnerships due to assault allegations. And Adidas’s billion-dollar deal with the controversial Ye (formerly Kanye) may end up costing them over a billion dollars…Really, no Really!
So, is it worth hiring a well-known star to create awareness for your brand or has it now become a recipe for disaster? To help find the answer, Jason and Peter invited Mark Haas to join them. Mark is the CEO of The Helmsman Group which helps brands navigate the world of consumer-packaged goods and he’s helped over 200 new product platforms enter the commercial market— representing more than $2 billion in sales over the last decade.
IN THIS EPISODE:
<ul>
<li>Would you buy a Jason Alexander rum called “No Rum For You”?</li>
<li>What makes a celebrity and a product the right fit?</li>
<li>The amazing story of how Don King committed Michael Jackson to do a Pepsi commercial without his permission.</li>
<li>The one thing Samsung DIDN’T want to hear from celebrity endorser LeBron James.</li>
<li>Do celebrities really need to enjoy the brands they’re shilling for?</li>
<li>How celebrities get involved with food and alcohol brands.</li>
<li>The quality of the product or the veneer of the celebrity, which is more important?</li>
<li>The difference between Ryan Reynold’s remaking the gin market vs Orson Wells selling wine form a chair he’s clearly been sitting in for quite a while.</li>
<li>Jason pitches products that don’t have a celebrity endorser…yet!</li>
<li>GoogleHEIM: More brilliant Jason Rum ideas!</li>
</ul>
***
FOLLOW MARK:
<a href="https://helmsmangroup.com/">Web</a>: HelmsmanGroup.com
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/helmsmangroup/">Instagram</a>: @HelmsmanGroup
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HelmsmanGroup">Facebook</a>: The Helmsman Group
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/helmsmangroup/">LinkedIN</a>: Helmsman Group
***
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