Proxy with Yowei Shaw: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Presenting: An Evil Man (from Little Devils), Plus a Year-End Recap
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Host: Yowei Shaw
Guest: Jasmine Bayomi, Host and Co-Creator of Little Devils
Podcast Information:
Proxy is an emotional investigative journalism show hosted by Yowei Shaw, focusing on unique personal challenges and emotional conundrums. The podcast distinguishes itself from traditional therapy by providing listeners with relatable stories and insights through investigative storytelling.

1. Introduction & Year-End Recap

Timestamp: 00:37 – 03:43

Yowei Shaw opens the episode by reflecting on the approaching New Year, dismissing typical resolutions as part of the self-improvement industrial complex but expressing a personal affinity for setting ambitious goals, even if failure ensues. This year, however, she chooses to pivot from forward-looking resolutions to a retrospective celebration of Proxy's journey.

• Personal Journey:
  Yowei recounts her experience of being laid off from her previous NPR-hosted show while reporting on layoffs, which ironically led to her own job loss. Despite this setback, she persisted by independently producing a three-part series on the emotional toll of layoffs and initiating Proxy as her comeback project.

• Support & Gratitude:
  She highlights the crucial support from her Patreon members, which sustained the production team and kept the show alive during its developmental phase. Yowei expresses heartfelt thanks to her supporters, emphasizing that their contributions were pivotal for the existence and continuation of Proxy.

• Season One Development:
  During the summer, the team focused on developing the first season of Proxy, concurrently producing pre-season content to maintain listener engagement. Yowei mentions creating a four-part series exploring why Proxy's conversations resonate so deeply, alongside reporting on themes like polarization and support groups.

• Upcoming Season:
  Looking ahead, Yowei teases an exciting first season filled with "juicy emotional conundrums" such as estrangement, breakups, and band dynamics. To allow more focus on season one, Proxy will share episodes from other insightful podcasts and conduct interviews with their creators, including Jasmine Bayomi.

2. Introduction to Little Devils and Jasmine Bayomi

Timestamp: 03:43 – 04:44

Yowei introduces Jasmine Bayomi, highlighting her as the host and co-creator of Little Devils, a podcast that delves into the nuances of human judgment and curiosity.

• Jasmine's Background:
  Jasmine explains her tendency to make quick, superficial judgments about others, often questioning behaviors and appearances. Yowei humorously reassures listeners that Jasmine wasn’t judging her personally when they first met.

• Show Premise:
  Little Devils involves Jasmine interrogating her snap judgments by engaging directly with the individuals she's critiqued, seeking to uncover the stories behind their seemingly annoying traits. Yowei praises the show's premise for its blend of curiosity, gentle mischief, and its necessary interrogation of preconceived notions.

3. Story: "An Evil Man" from Little Devils

Timestamp: 04:44 – 43:09

Jasmine Bayomi narrates the story "An Evil Man," exploring themes of superstition, family legacy, and personal belief systems through the character Endre.

• Encounter at Friendsgiving:
  Jasmine recounts meeting Endre at a Friendsgiving party, where his hesitant and fragmented speech piqued her curiosity. "I thought you were gonna be super extroverted and super confident," Jasmine notes, highlighting Endre's inner conflict.

• Endre's Superstitions:
  Endre shares his deep-seated superstitions rooted in his family's history. From a young age, he was taught that words and actions could influence the universe in significant, often negative ways. This belief system was reinforced by a childhood incident where a joke led to a fall, convincing him of the tangible consequences of verbal expressions.

  • Notable Quote:
    Endre (09:03): "I am an evil man."

• Family Legacy:
  The narrative delves into Endre's family background—musicians fleeing Hungary post-1956 uprising who settled in Switzerland. His grandfather's band endured bureaucratic challenges, ultimately finding asylum through seemingly serendipitous luck tied to their musical fame. This history instilled a belief in the fragility of fortune and the potential for superstitions to impact reality.

  • Notable Quote:
    Endre (26:54): "Our founding moment was built on these luck."

• Conflict Between Beliefs and Rationality:
  Endre struggles between his ingrained superstitious beliefs and the rational worldview of his German peers. His father's continued adherence to these beliefs collides with Endre's desire to fit into a more skeptical environment, leading to tension and fear of "jinxing" positive outcomes.

  • Notable Quote:
    Endre (21:07): "If I just kept it in me, I didn't tell anybody. And then somehow, boom, I let the..."

• Climactic Resolution:
  Faced with his father's urgent pleas to change the URL of his YouTube series to avoid invoking evil, Endre grapples with guilt and fear. Ultimately, he decides to comply, partially to alleviate his father's suffering and perhaps subconsciously honor his family's legacy.

  • Notable Quote:
    Endre (28:16): "I did feel better then. I didn't want it."

• Emotional Aftermath:
  The decision brings a sense of relief but also leaves Endre contemplating the balance between honoring his heritage and forging his own path. The story concludes with Endre acknowledging the ongoing struggle between his heart and mind, influenced by his family's superstitious past.

  • Notable Quote:
    Endre (32:40): "It's a great feeling to know. Okay."

4. Themes and Discussion

Timestamp: 43:09 – 32:34

The episode explores several intertwined themes through Jasmine's narration and subsequent discussions:

• Intergenerational Beliefs:
  Endre's beliefs are a direct inheritance from his father's and grandfather's experiences, illustrating how family history can shape individual worldviews.

• Superstition vs. Rationality:
  The tension between Endre's superstitions and the rational approaches of his peers highlights the struggle many face in reconciling inherited beliefs with modern societal norms.

• Grief and Memory:
  Endre's adherence to superstitions serves as both a coping mechanism and a way to keep his deceased father alive in his consciousness, reflecting on how individuals navigate loss and memory.

• Personal Agency vs. Legacy:
  The narrative delves into how much one's upbringing and family legacy influence personal decisions and beliefs, questioning the extent of individual agency.

• Catharsis and Letting Go:
  Endre's final decision to change the domain name symbolizes a cathartic release, allowing him to move forward while still honoring his past.

5. Conclusion and Future Directions

Timestamp: 43:09 – 46:23

Yowei wraps up the episode by promoting Jasmine Bayomi's Little Devils and encouraging listeners to support both shows via Patreon. She highlights upcoming content for Proxy, including exclusive bonus episodes that delve deeper into emotional inquiries and feature interviews with engaging storytellers like Jasmine.

• Support and Engagement:
  Yowei emphasizes the importance of listener support for independent podcasts, detailing the benefits of Patreon memberships, such as ad-free episodes and exclusive interviews.

• Closing Thoughts:
  Drawing parallels between Endre's story and common human experiences, Yowei reflects on the relatable aspects of fear, belief, and the struggle to balance personal and inherited ideologies. She underscores the value of understanding and compassion in navigating these emotional landscapes.

• Future Episodes Tease:
  Yowei hints at future discussions on meritocracy, restorative justice, and more, ensuring listeners have much to look forward to in the coming season.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Yowei Shaw:
  "I love looking forward. I love setting impossible goals for myself and not feeling too bad about failing." (00:37)
  "This season is full of bangers. We are getting into all kinds of juicy emotional conundrums." (03:43)

• Jasmine Bayomi:
  "I am a judgy person in the sense that I make very quick, superficial, quick judgments about people." (04:02)
  "I'll explore the unseen, the flaws, the struggles, mistakes, and beliefs that haunt each one of us." (05:14)

• Endre:
  "I am an evil man." (09:03)
  "Our founding moment was built on these luck." (26:54)
  "It's a great feeling to know. Okay." (32:40)

Final Thoughts

This episode of Proxy masterfully intertwines a year-end reflection with an in-depth exploration of another independent podcast, Little Devils. Through Jasmine Bayomi's compelling storytelling and Endre's poignant personal journey, listeners are invited to contemplate the profound impact of family legacy, belief systems, and the delicate balance between honoring the past and embracing the future. Yowei Shaw's gratitude towards her supporters and her anticipation for the upcoming season add a heartfelt layer to the episode, making it both informative and emotionally engaging.

For more insights and to support both Proxy and Little Devils, visit Proxy's Patreon and Little Devils' Patreon.