The Way We Dream

Our dreams can haunt us: literally. Recurring dreams about failing tests or running late are a common occurrence, but what are we to make of them? And are there hidden meanings in our dreams? Paleolithic hunter-gatherers may have painted their dreams onto caves, Julius Caesar's wife envisioned his assassination in a dream, and major works of art and music have been inspired by dreams. But with the scientific revolution came a different view of dreams, one in which they were dismissed as merely a meaningless biological reaction. Today, researchers are challenging that age-old assumption and finding new evidence that dreams are a vital way human beings process the world. In this episode, Sidarta Ribeiro takes us on a journey through the history of our understanding of dreams.

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from Throughline

Society & Culture

Gabrielle Union Finally Knows What's Important

It took a long time for Gabrielle Union to realize she had the wrong idea of success in Hollywood. That idea came from growing up in Nebraska, in white spaces, where she often embraced a role as 'the Black friend.' But in Hollywood she grew to reject those roles. Now her priorities are her own, and she's learned hard lessons about what to pay attention to — and what to ignore.

NPR

from The Limits with Jay Williams

Society & Culture

Kacey Musgraves

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves plays our game called, "O, Say Can You See." Three questions about national anthems. She is joined by panelists Maz Jobrani, Helen Hong, and Emmy Blotnick.

Kelly Manno/Kelly Manno

from Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Comedy

Metabucks: Microsoft offers $69 billion to buy Activision Blizzard

Microsoft just announced its intention to buy video game developer, Activision Blizzard, for almost $70 billion. This has some people speculating about Microsoft's future metaverse aspirations.

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from The Indicator from Planet Money

Business