Retreat. Advance. Can fighting bring us closer together? This episode of the Human Angle podcast tells the story of how a community boxing club joined Stanford literary scholars to explore the push and pull of intimacy and closeness in our lives. Special thanks: East Palo Alto Boxing Club (http://epabc.org/) Music: "Look Up Often" by Inquisitor (https://soundcloud.com/inquisitormusic/look-up-often?in=inquisitormusic/sets/lo-o-k-up-o-ft-e-n)

From "furry creatures in drag" to wild animal activism, two Stanford historians talk about the evolution and social implications of human-animal relationships. Music: "Look Up Often" by Inquisitor (https://soundcloud.com/inquisitormusic/look-up-often?in=inquisitormusic/sets/lo-o-k-up-o-ft-e-n) Subscribe in iTunes U (bit.ly/humanangle_itunesu) or visit us at http://www.humanangle.org Photo Credit: Corrie Goldman

Eating is one of the most basic parts of our lives, but is it really so ordinary? Two Stanford scholars talk about the fascinating cultural processes tied up in our food, from the ground to our bellies. Music: "Look Up Often" by Inquisitor (https://soundcloud.com/inquisitormusic/look-up-often?in=inquisitormusic/sets/lo-o-k-up-o-ft-e-n) Subscribe in iTunes U (bit.ly/humanangle_itunesu) or visit us at http://www.humanangle.org

From novels, comics and latino rock to Batman with a luchador mask, literary scholars Ramon Saldivar and Frederick Aldama discuss how popular culture helps make us who we are. Plus, a special trip to a comic book store with the founder of Latino Comics Expo! Special Thanks: Mission: Comics and Art (http://www.missioncomicsandart.com/) Music: "Test Drive" by Zapac (ccmixter.org/files/Zapac/26047) Subscribe in iTunes U (bit.ly/humanangle_itunesu) or visit us at http://www.humanangle.org

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Stanford literary scholar Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht join us to talk about the beauty in sports and why they can turn us into fanatics. Subscribe in iTunes U (bit.ly/humanangle_itunesu) or visit us at www.humanangle.org