12. Kasha Patel Discusses Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady

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This week’s guest brings sci-fi to You, Me and An Album! Kasha Patel -- a science writer for NASA Earth and stand-up comedian – chose Janelle Monáe’s The Electric Lady as our album to discuss. Kasha talked about her work with NASA, the role her oldest brother played in shaping her musical tastes and, of course, all of the things that make The Electric Lady one of her favorite albums.

You can reach Kasha on Twitter at @KashaPatel, and also by email at [email protected]. You can also find her science comedy and stand-up routine videos on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/kashablanca.

Kasha’s TEDx talk on the science of science comedy is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu7yQIlJLUw.

Note: Between 1:06:00 and 1:08:00 and then again after 1:16:00, you will hear a scratching sound in the background. That is one of our cats, George, asking to be let in to the “podcast studio.” Sorry for the distracting noise, but he is super cute.

1:07 Kasha joins the show

1:42 Writing for NASA means learning some cool things and some depressing things

4:26 How did Kasha become a science comedian?

6:24 What Kasha likes to listen to

9:04 Why Kasha chose The Electric Lady for this episode

12:53 Al and Kasha try to figure out if they should leave certain tracks out of their discussion

14:13 The link between Isaac Asimov and Janelle Monáe

17:11 Does The Electric Lady have a linear narrative?

22:17 Which tracks from The Electric Lady are her favorites?

28:21 Suite V requires multiple listens

Track-by-track breakdown (selected tracks):

30:19 Suite IV Electric Overture

31:43 Givin Em What They Love

41:15 Q.U.E.E.N.

43:29 The Interludes

48:00 Electric Lady

49:19 PrimeTime

51:05 We Were Rock n’ Roll

52:20 Dance Apocalyptic

55:52 Look Into My Eyes

58:23 Suite V: Electric Overture

58:47 It’s Code

1:01:59 Ghetto Woman

1:07:40 Sally Ride

1:12:54 Dorothy Dandridge Eyes

1:15:16 What An Experience

1:18:13 Are Janelle Monáe’s other albums worth checking out?

1:19:34 How Janelle Monáe came up with the artwork concept for The Electric Lady

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