The Tokyo Olympics are helping us survive lockdown

Published: Aug. 6, 2021, 12:05 a.m.

Week two of the Tokyo Olympics is a healing balm on our lockdown-chapped souls. Peter Bol’s heroic run in the 800m final unified Australia; Simone Biles made a comeback in gymnastics to snatch bronze on the balance beam; New Zealander Ruby Tui’s post-match BBC interview served energy and light. Who are the 'strangest’ women in music, and what makes them strange? Melbourne writer Lesley Chow puts words around the ephemeral pleasure of pop music in her new book, You’re History: the Twelve Strangest Women in Music.   Along with the Tokyo Olympics, BL is obsessing over the ‘nerd Olympics’ otherwise known as Australian Survivor. Meanwhile BW is tickled by the HBO limited series, The White Lotus. Also: a horny farewell to Twitter Fleets; YouTube bans Sky for a week; all the ways we love to be insulted with free stuff. Show notes: You're History: The Twelve Strangest Women in Music: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/youre-history-9781913462314 Ruby Tui's BBC interview: https://twitter.com/JoCurrie/status/1421045933156884483?s=19 Mike White: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/mike-white-on-money-status-and-appearing-on-survivor Sky's YouTube ban: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/04/sky-news-australia-purges-several-videos-from-youtube-after-ban-over-covid-misinformation