Sociology Ruins Everything
Episodes
Legend Tripping
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is legend tripping? Is it truly about finding ghosts and cryptids, or is it a ritual designed to create unbreakable social bonds? This mo...
Trust
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year, listeners! This month's episode deals with trust. When we think of trust, we tend to place this issue within the realm of psycholo...
Social Robots
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The season finale of Sociology Ruins Everything explores the intersection of robotics and reproductive labor, highlighting the potential risks of depl...
Civic Engagement
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You pay your taxes, you vote, and you follow the laws. Does that make you a good citizen? If you said yes, according to a 2019 Pew Center Research sur...
Wildfires
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can a sociology podcast say about fire? This episode delves into the social and cultural dimensions of fire and the institutions that have change...
Puppetry
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This month, I want to tell you a story about Concord Park, a suburb of Philadelphia. Concord Park was intentionally designed to combat the systemic fo...
Unaccompanied Migrant Youth
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sociologist Stephanie Canizales joins the podcast to discuss the complex realities unaccompanied migrant youth face, the factors that lead them to emb...
Furniture Poverty
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Places are unique to us. We become attached to them. And when you ask people to name a place that means a lot to them, there’s a good chance they’...
New Season of Sociology Ruins Everything!
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how sociology impacts everything you know? Get ready to have your mind blown as I, Matt Sedlar, explore the hidden sociological forces...
Sociology Goes on Strike
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Collective action is the most effective way to bring about social change because it allows people to pool their resources and efforts to achieve a com...
Sociology Ruins Reality TV
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you reality TV says a lot about the world around us? I'm sure you're skeptical, but hopefully, this episode will convince you that real...
Sociology Ruins Silence
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Not many people realize institutions and society regulate silence. The noise in our lives, both external and internal, is actually controlled by laws ...
Sociology Ruins Conspiracy Theories
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are some wild theories about the Denver International Airport. But is it really the headquarters of the Illuminati, guarded by the demonic statu...
Sociology Ruins Improv
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of season one, I enlist the help of Ruth Yamamoto, PhD and certified improv instructor, to explore the role improv can play in im...
Sociology Ruins Bullying
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do we identify bullying and how do sociologists in particular study this phenomenon? This episode looks at the infamous Slap to examine whether bu...
Sociology Ruins Trauma
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The world is a mess, so let's talk about trauma. In this episode, I examine trauma in its many different forms and the ways social structures can crea...
Sociology Ruins Don't Look Up
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does Adam McKay's 2021 disaster film Don't Look Up say about the current discourse over climate change? In this episode, I talk with Nik Janos, A...
Sociology Ruins Marriage
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is marriage? What are the origins of marriage? What does it mean today? For this episode, I'm joined by Shannon Davis, associate dean for Faculty...
Sociology Ruins Housing
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I head to California to explore why there isn't enough housing and what the state and activists are doing about it. Joining me are Ne...
Sociology Ruins Private Equity
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably heard the term private equity, but you might not know what it does. This episode looks at how private equity is embedded in our everyd...
Sociology Ruins Witchcraft
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode looks at what we think of witches and witchcraft and how historically these concepts have been used for political and social repression. ...
Sociology Ruins "Normal"
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're hearing a lot about the return to "normal" after the COVID-19 pandemic, but what is "normal"? And should we return to "normal" when that's what ...
Sociology Ruins Roller Skating
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I explore roller skating -- its history and the role of the rink as a cultural institution. To explore this topic, I am joined by Ala...
Sociology Ruins Action Movies
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How are action movies shaped by our national identity and do they, in turn, reshape our personal identity? I'm joined by pop culture critic Chris Klim...
Sociology Ruins Objectivity
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is the media part of civil society? Have political actors weaponized objectivity? Does anyone actually get Soylent Green references these days? All th...