Rollie & Nicole Answer Your Questions [Patreon Preview]

Why do America’s trains suck? What was your worst sketch? Can I have $10? In this very special episode, Rollie and Nicole answer some hard-hitting questions from the listeners and a few special guests…

Listen to the full episode on our Patreon 

Corrections

• This episode mentions lobbying efforts by Southwest Airlines to prevent the construction of high speed rail in the state of Florida. Those documented lobbying efforts, however, related to opposing the construction of high speed rail networks in Texas, rather than Florida (Wanna get away?). Florida’s high speed rail hopes were instead dashed by then-governor, Rick Scott, who in 2011 rejected billions of dollars from the federal government on offer for the development of a high speed rail network. Scott and his wife, as a complete coincidence, would go on to invest some of their personal wealth in a fund with links to privatized high speed rail development in Florida. All aboard!

Sources & Citations

• 350.org Responds to Announcement By Countries to Triple Nuclear Energy. (2023). 350.

• Alciatore, David. (2013). Is a Pool Ball Smoother Than the Earth?. Billiards Digest. [PDF Download]

• Vartabedian, Ralph. (2022). How California’s Bullet Train Went Off the Rails. The New York Times.

• Mythbusters: The Truth About Amtrak’s Legal Right to Preference. (n.d.) Amtrak.

• Jaffe, Eric. (2015). Southwest Airlines Hasn't Decided Whether or Not to Oppose Texas High-Speed Rail. Bloomberg

• Vartabedian, R. (2019). High-speed rail route took land from farmers. The money they’re owed hasn’t arrived. LA Times. 

• Albalate, D & Bel, G. (2012). The Economics and Politics of High-speed Rail: Lessons from Experiences Abroad. 

• Fast Tracks: A Comparison of High Speed Rail in China, Europe and the United States. (2013). Journal of Transportation Technologies.

Episode Credits

Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben Boult

Hosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole Conlan

Executive Producer: Ben Boult 

Post-Production: Jubilaria Media 

Researchers: Carly Rizzuto, Canute Haroldson & James Crugnale

Art: Jordan Doll 

Music: Tony Domenick 

Special thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense Center

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