“ROGUE Brits: The Orthobros”, on The Observer’s Slow Newscast, looks at the growing revival among young men who view the Russian Orthodox Church as their gateway to salvation, structure, and solace. Jay Fraser, a man in his twenties from a small town in Scotland, comes from a middle-class family and has a decent job. He spends a significant amount of time online. This episode serves as a digression from the main story presented in the previous episode, “Rogue Brits: Fighting for Putin”, which examined the phenomenon of young Brits’ joining the Russian war effort.
“The Orthobros” focuses on online influencers who represent a subsection of the manosphere. Emphasising male pride, the power of tradition, and a Christian conservatism that appeals to young men such as Mr Fraser, many are drawn towards the Orthodox Church and beyond. Ultimately, Mr Fraser finds himself ensnared in Putin’s web, partly through his initiation into the Church. We learn how he transitions from bread and wine to bodies and blood.
For fans of the True Crime podcast genre, on Revisionist History, “The Alabama Murders, Part 1: The true Church” is the first instalment of a seven-part series that documents a murder orchestrated by a former preacher, and the circumstances that led to it. Produced by Pushkin Industries, and presented by the writer Malcolm Gladwell, the series explores the uncompromising nature of the Churches of Christ denomination in the United States. After the preacher is discovered to be having an affair, he faces a lack of mercy; he is shamed, excluded, and treated like a monster. This chain reaction propels him further down a dark path that takes, ultimately, a fatal turn. The story unfolds with Mr Gladwell’s characteristic deadpan style and insightful reporting.
If you’re in the mood for something lighter, take a walk — or perhaps a flight — on the wild side with Alan Carr. Still riding high after his success on The Traitors, (TV, 30 January), Mr Carr is everywhere. His podcast, Life’s a Beach, features a candid conversation with the broadcaster Carol Vorderman. The podcast deals with travel and holidays with the stars, and this one is spicy. It is not for the easily offended; they reminisce about their friendship and explore Ms Vorderman’s love for adrenaline — ranging from fast cars to non-traditional relationship structures, as well as celebrity family holidays and her time impersonating the singer Cher. It’s a riot, but a Certificate 15, I would say.
Tim Harford recounts the contentious history surrounding the humble sewing machine, including the battle for its patent and the many claims to its invention. He introduces us to the man who ultimately thought that he had it all sewn up: Isaac Singer. This story unfolds in “Liar, Bigamist, Brute: How Isaac Singer liberated women”, an episode of Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford.
As Singer outmanoeuvres the competition, his odious character is revealed. Fortunately, not everyone in this narrative is cut from the same cloth. Nevertheless, we learn how the sewing machine became, inadvertently, a tool for women’s empowerment. Maybe it was he who, in the end, was stitched up.
