Jon Ronson is a well-known author, journalist, and podcast host who launched the podcast “Things Fell Apart.” This podcast is an honest and unfiltered look into the state of the world from Jon’s perspective. He tackles some of our time’s most challenging and complicated topics, from politics to culture and society.
Through conversations with guests from all walks of life, he provides an in-depth examination of the most complex issues facing humanity today. In this blog post, I will explain the comprehensive review of this podcast.
About The Things Fell Apart Podcast
The podcast was written and presented by a British journalist, Jon Ronson and produced by Sarah Shebbeare. The podcaster Jon Ronson has set off to track down the real people at the heart of America’s most vicious culture wars. From sex education to gay liberation and legal abortion, Jon seeks to understand how we can learn from these clashes. Through intimate conversations, we hear from both sides of the debate to gain insight into the experiences and passions that drive these issues.
Reasons To Tune In To The Podcast
One of the best aspects of the Things Fell Apart Podcast is the host, Jon Ronson. He is a critically acclaimed journalist and author, bringing his wit and expertise to the weekly podcast. He is a great interviewer who can ask insightful questions and draw out exciting stories from his guests.
Jon Ronson’s unique blend of wit and intelligence makes him an ideal host for the Things Fell Apart Podcast. Whether interviewing a famous actor or talking to a scientist about the latest technology, Jon always finds exciting stories. As a result, the show is informative and entertaining, making it one of the best podcasts available today.
Things Fell Apart is divided into different episodes exploring various topics. In each episode, Jon Ronson dives into a specific story to uncover its truth and the human truth behind it. The format of this podcast is engaging, educational and entertaining.
Additionally, the podcast features an array of fascinating guests from various walks of life. Jon Ronson speaks with different personalities in his podcast, from everyday people to celebrities. Through conversations with those people, Jon can piece together a narrative and uncover facts that otherwise may have been unknown.
My 5 Favorite Episodes From Things Fell Apart Podcast
Let’s take a deep dive into the 5 best episodes of this podcast by Jon Ronson.
Ep. 4 Believe The Children
The fourth episode of the Things Fell Apart podcast explores the conspiracy theory that cabals of Satanists were secretly preying on children and polluting the culture in the mid-1980s. This caused a ‘Satanic panic’ where people became paranoid about these supposed cults. One unsuspecting young woman from New Jersey was even wrongfully accused of being part of the conspiracy. The episode profoundly delves into her story and the consequences of this mass hysteria.
Ep.5 A Scottish Jewish joke
In 1988, software designer Brad Templeton uploaded a joke onto an early form of the internet. The mark was in poor taste and sparked an uproar. Thus, resulting in him becoming the first person to be publicly shamed for something they did online. This experience led to the creation of the modern-day rules and standards of the internet that many of us live by today. The incident highlighted the power of the internet, even in its early days, to amplify content and spread it across a vast audience.
Ep.6 Many Different Lives
In the 1970s, a little girl growing up in America discovered a different way of living that changed the face of feminism in the 90s and beyond. She identified as gender non-conforming, shunning traditional gender norms and embracing her own individual identity. Her story not only challenged our understanding of gender roles and relationships but also inspired a new word – “intersex” – to describe someone whose physical sex characteristics do not fit traditional definitions of male or female.
Since the British culture wars, conservative and liberal voices have used this term to create a schism. By boldly expressing her truth, this little girl opened up a world of possibilities for individuals of all genders to express their own identities without judgement.
Ep.7 A Secret Room Behind A Fake Wall
The seventh episode of Things Fell Apart, “A Secret Room Behind a Fake Wall,” tells the story of a prank played by a Hollywood actor in 2017 that backfired and had unexpected consequences. Unfortunately, the ripples of this prank were still felt even four years later when the actor became embroiled in the Capitol insurrection of January 2021. It is a fascinating story of how a seemingly innocent joke can have far-reaching implications.
Bonus Episode. How Things Fell Apart, with Jon Ronson and Louis Theroux
How Things Fell Apart, with Jon Ronson and Louis Theroux, is a bonus episode of the podcast where Louis Theroux interviews Jon Ronson about the making of the series. During their conversation, they discuss the various Culture Wars battles throughout the series, Jon’s storytelling methods, his broken arm, and how they both deal with difficult interviewees when they both hate conflict.
They also discuss how they put old rivalries to bed and why Jon turned his hand to television after two decades in print journalism. It’s an interesting conversation between two friends and fellow journalists, and it provides valuable insights into the making of the series.
Unfavourable Aspects Of The Podcast
The Things Fell Apart Podcast has been met with mixed reviews from its listeners. While some find the stories entertaining and the premise intriguing, others have been disappointed.
The biggest complaint is that the stories lack depth and feel more like ‘spats’ than real wars. Furthermore, the serious tone of the podcast can be a bit of a turn-off. The podcast tries to impart some sort of wisdom to the listener. The lack of an apparent premise and an overarching message or takeaway overwhelms many people. If the podcast’s creators wanted to really engage their audience, they needed to provide a clearer storyline. They also needed to provide a more tangible lesson at the end.
Final Thoughts
The Things Fell Apart podcast with Jon Ronson was honest and unique listen. It’s important to have conversations about our society and the many issues that affect it, and this podcast does just that. I appreciated how Jon Ronson was in talking about his experience, and I could feel his genuine interest in helping to bring light to these topics.
He had some great insights; while some cases weren’t always comfortable to discuss, we needed to hear them. On the other hand, this podcast also has some drawbacks like poor editing, lack of engagement etc. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this podcast.
