The Bad Take

Episodios

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  #22 On Nolan’s Odyssey 02.08.2026 53m

  Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s ancient epic is all anyone’s talking about these days. So much so that it even managed to spurt us out of retirement. We are back. Sort of. With our own spicy take on the biggest movie of 2026.Show notes:Thamara’s review of The Odyssey: https://thamara.co.uk/notebook/2026/08/the-odysseyHimal’s review of The Odyssey: https://himalkk.substack.com/p/nolans-odyssey-audacious-but-ultimatelyThe IMAX ‘Blimp’: https://www.filmaesthete.com/2025/11/19/nolan-and-hoyte-van-hoytema-test-game-changing-imax-blimp-system/The IMAX camera mirror system: https://ymcinema.com/2026/07/03/the-odyssey-imax-blimp-mirror-system/Aeneid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeneidEmily Wilson’s review of The Odyssey: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v48/n14/emily-wilson/an-uncomplicated-manMary Beard on The Odyssey: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/jul/20/the-odyssey-nolan—mary-beard-stateside-podcastXenia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenia_(Greek)Oppenheimer shot in 57 days: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/oppenheimer-shot-57-days-cillian-murphy-pace-insane-1235672356/McCarthyism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyismEmily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey: https://www.emilyrcwilson.com/the-odysseyRobert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_(Robert_Fagles_translation)E. V. Rieu’s translation of The Odyssey: https://archive.org/details/TheOdyssey/mode/2up
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  #21 Sri Lanka in Crisis: Is the Political Elite Doomed? (with Rajni Gamage) 05.06.2022 30m

  In this episode, joined by Rajni Gamage, we discuss the nature of elite politics in Sri Lanka in the context of the current crisis. We explore what scope there is for a new politics of solidarity and social transformation through the people's protests and the shifts in elite politics this would entail. Rajni is a politics researcher based in Colombo. She holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Queensland.  Rajni is on Twitter at @Rajni_Gamage Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: thebadtake.com/episode21 Credits: Soundtrack -  Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw Background image - Nazly Ahmed on Flickr
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  #20 A Matter of Words (with Carmen Aguilera-Carnerero) 29.02.2020 1h 3m

  On this episode, we're joined by linguist Carmen Aguilera-Carnerero based in Granada, Spain. She was in Sri Lanka for some months last year, studying extreme speech online. She has also studied graffiti and "wall art" in Spanish and other European cities. This is a deep dive into her findings. Carmen Aguilera-Carnerero is a lecturer at the University of Granada (Spain), a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right and co-editor of the academic journal GRETA. Her area of study is Linguistics, and she has explored the syntax and sematics interface in her pre-doctoral phase and the Critical Discourse Analysis of Cyberdiscourse in her post doctoral stage (from 2013). Her areas of interest primarily are the articulation of hate speech online (specially in social media) with cyberislamophobia (both in text and image) and online racism in Sri Lanka in focus. Carmen has also worked in products of subculture and their subversiveness via linguistics and semiotics such as graffiti. Carmen is on Twitter at @Carmenable. Special thanks to our Patron Uditha Umesh for making this episode possible. Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: thebadtake.com/episode20 Support us on Patreon and get exclusive extras: thebadtake.com/patreon Credits: Soundtrack -  Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw Background image - Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
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  #19 Planet Hunting (with Mahesh Herath) 31.01.2020 1h 16m

  On this episode, we're joined by Sri Lankan astronomer Mahesh Herath who made headlines last year when he discovered not one but two exoplanets - no big deal - in a remote corner of our galaxy. We talked about his rigorous research process and the future of space exploration technologies among other things. Mahesh Herath is a research scientist attached to the Arthur C Clarke Institute of Modern Technologies (ACCIMT). His discovery of two extra solar planets (exoplanets) orbiting a distant star has put Sri Lanka’s footprint on the map of space research. Mahesh Herath read for his degree in physics at the University of Southampton, UK and then went on to do his master’s in space science at KU Leuven in Belgium. The course of study included spacecraft engineering, space law and statistics. Mahesh is currently reading for his MPhil in planetary astronomy at the University of Colombo. Mahesh is on Twitter at @MaheshHerath5. Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: thebadtake.com/episode19 Support us on Patreon and get exclusive extras: thebadtake.com/patreon Credits: Soundtrack -  Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw Background image - Alexander Andrews on Unsplash
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  #18 Demystifying AI (with Nisansa de Silva) 31.12.2019 1h 28m

  Joined by subject expert Nisansa de Silva, we bust some myths about AI and its applications, while exploring the challenges in AI development and the inevitable social, economic and political implications it poses. Nisansa de Silva is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Oregon. His research interests are in the area of Artificial Intelligence, specifically, in the sub-domains of; Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, and Data mining. Nisansa is currently on study leave from his position of lecturer at the Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Moratuwa. He is a polymath of sorts and has a wide range of interests including history, philosophy, linguistics, mythology, pop culture and classical music. Nisansa is on Twitter at @NisansaDdS. Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: thebadtake.com/episode18 Support us on Patreon and get exclusive extras: thebadtake.com/patreon Credits: Soundtrack -  Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw Background image - Brett Jordan on Unsplash
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  #17 Fidel off the Field - In conversation with Andrew Fidel Fernando 22.11.2019 1h 10m

  We caught up with sports writer Andrew Fidel Fernando for a chat on his first book, the well received travelogue Upon a Sleepless Isle. Andrew is a prolific sports writer with a penchant for incisive analysis of all things cricket. He is also a historian and travel writer, and his new book Upon A Sleepless Isle has been well received both here and abroad. He is on Twitter at @afidelf Andrew's book, Upon a Sleepless Isle, is available in select bookstores, Takas.lk and Amazon. Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: thebadtake.com/episode17 Support us on Patreon and get exclusive extras: thebadtake.com/patreon Credits: Soundtrack -  Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw Background image - Ashwin on Instagram
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  #16 At The Movies: Hollywood Ramblings 03.11.2019 36m

  This edition of our At the Movies episodes is a somewhat belated discussion on Tarantino's latest outing and legendary filmmaker Martin Scorcese's remarks on the MCU. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://thebadtake.com/episode16 --- Music used in this episode: Vanilla Fudge - You Keep Me Hangin' On (© WMG on behalf of Atco) Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #14 Major Throwback - '90s Pop Culture in Sri Lanka 26.06.2019 1h 24m

  From Doo Daruwo to Soora Pappa, from Rookantha to Bathiya & Santhush, the 1990s saw an unprecedented boom in popular entertainment in Sri Lanka that defined an entire generation. This is a look back at the glory days. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://thebadtake.com/episode14 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #13 Catching up on Twitter 11.06.2019 31m

  We're back after a bit of a hiatus. So much has happened since you last heard from us. Particularly on the online space. This is a brief look at what's been going down. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://thebadtake.com/episode13 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #12 Cosmic Musings: Are we living in a simulation? 20.04.2019 33m

  Are we living in a simulation? The idea is not a new one. It's been a sci-fi staple for years. But more and more scientists are taking it seriously. This is an attempt to understand the implications of this question. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-12-cosmic-musings-2-are-we-living-in-a-simulation-d43d41612865 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #11 Cosmic Musings: Where are all our neighbors? 18.02.2019 45m

  Given the sheer number of stars in the universe – over 200 billion in our galaxy alone, in a universe of two trillion galaxies – chances are, we are not alone. And yet, we have yet to see a shred of credible evidence for life outside our little cosmic corner, let alone intelligent life. The silence is deafening. Are we really alone? --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-11-cosmic-musings-1-where-are-all-our-neighbors-1b7534fd1405   --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #10 Congested 29.01.2019 45m

  "You're not stuck in traffic. You are traffic." So goes the adage. But is that always true? What explains the bumper to bumper traffic jams we find ourselves in almost every day, slowly driving us all insane? Is there a solution in sight? This is our attempt to answer some of these questions. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-10-congested-2844ac2023d9 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #9 A Conversation with Ajay Kamalakaran 31.12.2018 1h 23m

  This week, we're joined by journalist turned author Ajay Kamalakaran based in Mumbai, India. He talks about, among other things, his latest work, a short story collection centred around a remote island in Russia. Ajay Kamalakaran is a writer and journalist based in Bombay, India. He is currently a columnist for the Malayala Manorama, one of the most widely read publications in India. A veteran on Russian affairs, he was the editor of Sakhalin Times in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from 2003 to 2007. He has also been a columnist and editor with Russia Beyond The Headlines, an international multimedia publication, based in Moscow. Ajay on Twitter: @AjayKamalakaran Ajay on Facebook: Ajay Kamalakaran Buy Ajay’s book, Globetrotting for Love and Other Stories from Sakhalin Island on Amazon, or contact us at thebadtake [at] gmail [dot] com (if you’re in Sri Lanka.) --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-9-a-conversation-with-ajay-kamalakaran-621a5b84042a --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #8 Firing Squad (with Chav and Thimal Gajadeera) 25.12.2018 45m

  An unfortunate incident involving a political argument that quickly escalated took Twitter by storm a few days ago. Tempers flared and one of the parties ended up losing their job as a result. Joining us today are Chav and Thimal Gajadeera to discuss the ethical and moral implications of this. Thimal Gajadeera describes himself as a perennial law student with an interest in politics and poetry. He is on Twitter at @ThimalG. Chav is a programming language pony by day and everything else by night. He’s on Twitter at @chav_. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-8-firing-squad-e84006aba667 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #7 At the Movies: Talking Movies with Dilina Amaruwan 14.12.2018 1h 2m

  This week, we're joined by writer and pop culture connoisseur Dilina Amaruwan Pathirage. We pick his brain on what's hot (and not) at the movies and take a walk down memory lane on Sri Lankan cinema's golden years. Dilina Amaruwan Pathirage is a writer at Roar Media. He has a BA in Teaching English as a Second Language and has extensive experience in feature writing, content creation and writing for online media. He also been involved in video production during his stint at Yamu.lk, having being featured on a few videos of his own. Dilina is a self-confessed film buff and a pop culture enthusiast. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-7-at-the-movies-again-with-dilina-amaruwan-8ce79064cea7 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  Bonus Episode: Back from the Beaches 01.12.2018 35m

  The Bad Take is back after a month's silence. On this episode we have a chat about Thamara's holiday in Indonesia. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/bonus-episode-b008426653d --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #6 On Digital Demons 26.10.2018 1h 22m

  Social media is all around us, controlling so many aspects of our lives. For a lot of us, it's a useful way to stay connected, to stay up to date on what's going in the world. But like with all things, too much of it cannot be a good thing. This is a deep dive into the ills of social media. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-6-on-digital-demons-1e58056e75c5 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #5 On "Radicals" & Social Justice 08.10.2018 19m

  In the Sinhala-speaking corner of the internet, the word 'radical' has come to mean something negative, not unlike pejorative terms such as 'SJW'. This is an attempt to make sense of this politically loaded word as it applies to the Sri Lankan context. --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-5-on-radicals-social-justice-826f9d40fe3b --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw
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  #4 On Bus Music 30.09.2018 47m

  It's cranky, it's raw, you know it when you hear it. And whether you like it or not, 'bus music' is here to stay. On this episode we explore the fundamental characteristics of the famed Lankan musical genre with connoisseur Indika de Silva. --- Indika de Silva is a lecturer in IT at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University in Suriyaweva, Hambantota. He has been a double bass player since 1995 and was a part of the Sri Lankan National Youth Orchestra a while ago. He's has a pronounced interest in Sri Lankan 'bus music' in general, and calls himself a fan. He is also a huge geek, and is the proud owner of an expansive library of comics, graphic novels, and other memorabilia. Indika can be found on Twitter at @saintgif. --- Show notes: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-4-on-bus-music-2b5032369dc8 --- Disclaimer: We don't own the copyrights to any of the songs played in this episode. They are played off YouTube, purely for reference purposes.
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  #3 At The Movies: Moviecrush 23.09.2018 1h 20m

  With no preparation at all, we sat down to have a chat about the movies we have enjoyed. The conversation flowed with great ease, and we veered a little towards books and TV shows, too, naturally. A fun exchange it was, so we decided to revisit the movie theater again soon. We hope you’d enjoy this first installment for now! --- Show notes for this episode, including links to everything mentioned: https://medium.com/the-bad-take/episode-3-at-the-movies-62fb1dada3d7 --- Soundtrack: Downtown Funk by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/UYBJQkvLTIw