Imagine if you were to suffer an accident that causes a facial scar. How would you feel about yourself? You're the same person inside but your face provokes strong reactions from those you know and assumptions from those you don't.
In this pod, VC2 producer Tristan Anderson meets people who have been glassed in the face on a night out and how it has changed their lives.Imagine if you were to suffer an accident that causes a facial scar. How would you... more
Do you forget people's face? Do you have trouble recognising people? You may be sufferring from face blindness, also known as Prosopagnosia. It's like dyslexia, but with faces instead of letters. This condition was only discovered ten years ago, and it's estimated that as many as one in fifty of us may have it to some degree.
In this pod, we tell the story of Alanna Maltby, a 27 year old phd student, who only recently was diagnosed with face blindness by Brad Duchaine, the director of research at the Prosopagnosia Research Center at UCL
Alanna tells us how the condition affects her life and how she manages to cope. Brad Duchaine takes us through what they know (very little) and what they don't know (a great deal) about the condition.Do you forget people's face? Do you have trouble recognising people? You may be... more
American's prescription drug rise has rapidly increased with each passing year. From hyperactivity to mood swings, there's a pill for it. In this pod, we explore the necessity of such drugs, and compare the ideals of eastern and western medicines.American's prescription drug rise has rapidly increased with each passing year. From... more
Lively radio presenter Adam Ferrari discovers the ups and downs of not sleeping for five whole days...Lively radio presenter Adam Ferrari discovers the ups and downs of not sleeping for... more
NeuroCranial Restructuring is a new procedure that involves manipulating the skull in order to provide a variety of healthy and cosmetic benefits. In this pod we visit the clinic of Dr. Dean Howell, the doctor who invented the procedure. We follow three patients as they go through NCR treatment and witness the effects of this alternative medicine cure-all.NeuroCranial Restructuring is a new procedure that involves manipulating the skull in... more
Jaz Halloran needs a fitness intervention. In this pod, VC2 Producers Leah Nelson and Jay Grandin take Jaz on a deep dive into DIY fitness programs on DVD in an attempt to give them a fair assessment and to find the right match for their unfit friend...Jaz Halloran needs a fitness intervention. In this pod, VC2 Producers Leah Nelson and... more
Euthanasia in France has recently caused a lot of debates. Euthanasia is illegal, but doctors have still performed the procedure, and there is a big right to die movement. Some people who can afford it travel to Switzerland, where euthansia is legal, to choose to die.
We'll hear the story of 29 year old French twins who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis and support the right to die movement in France. We also hear from legislators, doctors and others involved in this movement.Euthanasia in France has recently caused a lot of debates. Euthanasia is illegal, but... more
Through performances from his Edinburgh Fringe Festival show "International Women of Mr E" and observational filming we discover the story of Jonny Woo, a performer and socialite who's party lifestyle led to complete organ failure and put him in a coma. He's recovered to tell a tale of a fall from grace far removed from the tabloid headlines about binge culture.Through performances from his Edinburgh Fringe Festival show "International Women of... more
A look into the emerging field of fat studies and the fat is healthy movement. In this story, VC2 follows some young fat-is-healthy activists as well as academics who are spearheading the movement to legitimize fat studies as a legitiimate field of study.A look into the emerging field of fat studies and the fat is healthy movement. In this... more
Presenting part 1 of Pain in the Ass. 5 years in the making, Pain in the Ass is the short film version of Ben Morrison's long-running one-man-show about the lighter side of Crohn's Disease. Told through photos, videos, and Morrison's signature narration, Pain in the Ass is the funniest short film about severe intestinal disease, ever.Presenting part 1 of Pain in the Ass. 5 years in the making, Pain in the Ass is the... more
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control has found that diabetes is on the rise in the U.S.Recently, the Centers for Disease Control has found that diabetes is on the rise in... more
In this brief glimpse into life in Beijing, VC2 producer Elise Potaka profiles Song Mei Mei, a young, female fitness instructor who works as both a personal trainer and a pin-up model for one of the cities largest gyms. The pod touches on both Song Mei Mei's career in China's burgeoning fitness field and the effect the upcoming Olympic games have had on the industry.In this brief glimpse into life in Beijing, VC2 producer Elise Potaka profiles Song... more
An e-card service is offering greetings with a "unique" messsage - to let your sexual partners know that they might be infected by an STD.An e-card service is offering greetings with a "unique" messsage - to let your sexual... more
Thanks to Ryz0n for his response to the pod "Cystic Fibrosis Emcee" about a young DJ and the deadly illness that inspires his music. Watch this webcam and then check out the pod at http://current.com/items/89408701_cystic_fibrosis_emceeThanks to Ryz0n for his response to the pod "Cystic Fibrosis Emcee" about a young DJ... more
According to researchers at UCLA, all those hours you might spend roaming the Internet may actually be good for your brain.According to researchers at UCLA, all those hours you might spend roaming the Internet... more
Maybe the Caveman were on to something. Karney Hatch shows us that their diet, unsullied by artificial flavors and high fructose corn syrup, might be just the thing.Maybe the Caveman were on to something. Karney Hatch shows us that their diet,... more
Citizen Aim is a 27 year old emcee in Yuma, Arizona who might literally rap his last breath. That's because he's expected to die from Cystic Fibrosis by age 35. Diagnosed with the fatal chronic illness as an infant, Citizen Aim is amongst the 70,000 people worldwide living with this death sentence sometimes referred to as '65 Roses. In this pod, by vc2 producer Carlos Aguilar, Citizen Aim talks about his disease, his treatment, and how his recovery themed songs are an inspiration others suffering from the disease.Citizen Aim is a 27 year old emcee in Yuma, Arizona who might literally rap his last... more
The next time you peel a banana, just stop and think for a second. What has had to be sacrificed for the pleasure? The environment...local people's health....workers rights? The chemicals that are sprayed on the banana are so poisonous that they not only damage the environment but seriously threaten the banana picker's health. And even then they don't earn enough to live on, they are among the poorest in the world. Workers are prevented from forming unions to demand better pay and working conditions. Every time we eat a banana produced under these conditions we are supporting exploitation of the poor and environmental destruction.
In this pod we see the hard work, the sickness, the prohibition of unions, through living with the workers. We see the relations with the plantation owner, the lack of healthcare, the backbreaking work, the worries of feeding a family, or repairing the house. The day to day grind of poverty. This pod will show the reality of what is sacrificed every time we eat a banana that isn't fairly traded.The next time you peel a banana, just stop and think for a second. What has had to be... more
When Adele was born they couldn't tell if she was a girl or a boy. A series of childhood genital operations 'corrected' her into a boy but as she grew up it became apparent a mistake had been made. Now at 29 Adele is trying to transition into a woman, only to find she belongs somewhere in between. 1 in 2000 babies are born like Adele and she asks if it isn't time to make room in our society for more than two genders.When Adele was born they couldn't tell if she was a girl or a boy. A series of... more
A recent study found that high exposures to chemicals found in plastic water bottles could be harmful, but the FDA says otherwise. Who do you believe?A recent study found that high exposures to chemicals found in plastic water bottles... more
