Length: 60 minutes
Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monumental/id1709713467?i=1000646871775
Ashley C Ford is the host of this podcast. The name caught my attention when looking through podcasts to listen to. In the recent past there has been a lot of discussion about monuments and several monuments have been removed, so I wanted to see how this podcast addressed the issue.
The episode I listened to was Bringing Monuments Home. It focused mainly on the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery Alabama. I felt like the episode was too long and would have been better served as three separate podcasts.
The beginning focused more on how designers create monuments and how abstract art seems to be in fashion currently as Ford notes “Whatever you bring to the space becomes what the space is about.”
Next was the meat of the podcast documenting Fords trip to Montgomery. There are several clips of interviews with people associated with the monument.
Finally there is the third segment that addresses technology and monuments. It discusses Apps like Kinfolk that will allow you to visit a spot and see an AR (augmented Reality) image of a monument that has never been built.
If each segment had been its own 30 podcast I probably would have been interested in listening more but as a 1 hour podcast it didn’t capture my attention and make me want to listen again. I will not be adding this podcast to my library.
For 45 minutes Alexander rode in a helicopter while receiving a crash course on the historic sites of New York City. The ability to hover in the air while moving 110 miles per hour was surreal. He began to wonder if perhaps he had died on the battlefield and was now in some level of the afterlife. Everything was too extraordinary to believe.
As they were nearing the conclusion of their flight Alexander examined the topography below with a general’s eye.
“Where are your city’s defenses?”
“What are you talking about?” Sammy responded.
“What would prevent an invading army from laying siege to your city?”
“No one would ever invade us.”
“Such hubris makes it likely at some point.”
“The oceans protect us from our enemies and Canada is our ally. It would never happen.”
“Fascinating. I bet I would find a way to do it.”
“But why would you want to.”
“It is my destiny to create empires. This city would have to be conquered and rolled into my empire.”
“The United States Army is too powerful. You would never stand a chance.”
A half dozen battle plans were floating through his mind.
“I think I could do it.”
“Who are you?” Sammy asked.
“I already told you. I am the great king ...
