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The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3245: Memes | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 1:48 GMT by Houston Public Media
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The Engines of Our Ingenuity: Episode 3245 – “MemeS”
Houston Public Media – September 30, 2025

On the latest installment of The Engines of Our Ingenuity, host David G. invites listeners into a curious corner of cultural science that has become almost as ubiquitous as memes themselves: the study of memes as units of cultural transmission. Titled “MemeS” (a playful nod to the plural form of the word), episode 3245—recorded on September 28, 2025—delves into how seemingly trivial jokes and internet phenomena can reveal deep insights into human cognition, social dynamics, and even evolutionary theory.

1. A Primer on Memes

The episode opens with David providing a concise refresher on memetics, borrowing heavily from Richard Dawkins’ seminal 1976 book The Selfish Gene. He explains that, just as genes propagate by influencing the behavior of organisms, memes propagate by influencing the behavior of people. The discussion quickly moves beyond the original biological framing to the modern, internet‑centric version that has taken on a life of its own.

Listeners are treated to a brief history of meme culture, from the early days of Usenet and the “Doom” text‐based games to the explosive rise of platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. The host highlights a few iconic memes—“Distracted Boyfriend,” “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter,” and the “Nyan Cat” animation—to illustrate how a simple visual or phrase can spread like wildfire, accruing layers of meaning as it goes.

2. Guest Spotlight: Dr. Maya Lin, Cultural Evolutionary Psychologist

A key feature of the episode is a conversation with Dr. Maya Lin, a cultural evolutionary psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Lin has been researching the mechanisms by which memes influence group identity and social cohesion, and she brings a rigorous, evidence‑based perspective to the conversation.

• Why memes matter – Dr. Lin explains that memes act as “mini‑culture” units, capable of shaping norms, attitudes, and even policy debates. She cites a 2024 study published in Evolutionary Psychology showing that certain meme archetypes (e.g., the “Heroic Sacrifice” meme) can predict voting behavior in politically polarized contexts.

• The “memetic engine” – Drawing a parallel to the physical engines the show typically explores, Dr. Lin introduces the concept of a “memetic engine” – the invisible feedback loop between meme creation, dissemination, and mutation. She uses a detailed example of the “TikTok “Renegade” dance” meme to show how each iteration is both a product and a catalyst of cultural change.

• Ethics of meme engineering – The conversation turns to the question of whether it is possible—or desirable—to deliberately engineer memes for social good. Dr. Lin expresses caution, noting that while it’s tempting to “tune” viral content for positive messaging, unintended consequences often arise, especially when memes are co-opted by fringe groups.

3. The Science of Meme Spread

David and Dr. Lin dive into the metrics that allow us to quantify meme spread: virality curves, retweet ratios, and the “memetic half‑life.” They reference a recent Harvard Business Review article—linked in the episode description—about “The Virality Equation,” which posits that a meme’s reach (R) equals the product of its Relevance (r), Resonance (ρ), and Repetition (γ) (R = r × ρ × γ). The formula helps analysts predict which memes are likely to become cultural fixtures.

The discussion also touches on algorithmic amplification. Dr. Lin notes that platforms’ recommendation engines can inadvertently create echo chambers, amplifying memes that fit a user’s existing worldview. She cites an example from 2023 where a meme about “AI replacing jobs” spread rapidly among younger audiences, skewing public perception of automation risks.

4. Memes as Cultural Thermodynamics

One of the episode’s most engaging moments is when David asks Dr. Lin to apply thermodynamic principles to memetics. Dr. Lin explains that just as energy can be transferred or dissipated, so too can meme “energy” be conserved, transformed, or lost. She uses the analogy of a “memetic engine” that converts “raw cultural noise” into structured, meaningful patterns. By measuring the entropy of meme ecosystems, researchers can gauge cultural resilience or volatility.

The conversation ends on a hopeful note: Dr. Lin believes that by understanding memetic thermodynamics, we might one day design better public health campaigns, more effective educational tools, or even more inclusive political messaging—essentially, engines that harness cultural energy for the common good.

5. Take‑away Resources

The episode concludes with a list of recommended readings and resources that listeners can explore if they’re curious to dig deeper:

• Richard Dawkins – The Selfish Gene (link to the audiobook version)
• Susan Blackmore – The Meme Machine (PDF link in the show notes)
• Harvard Business Review – “The Virality Equation” (link to the article)
• University of Texas – Dr. Maya Lin’s Lab Website (link to ongoing projects)

Additionally, the hosts invite listeners to participate in a live tweet‑chat on September 29th at 7 pm, where they will discuss the episode’s themes in real time.

6. Why It Matters

“MemeS” is more than a pop‑culture recap; it’s an entry point into a growing field that sits at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and data science. By treating memes as the engines that drive cultural evolution—much like the mechanical engines that power vehicles—the episode underscores how the digital age is reshaping the very way we think, learn, and act.

As the show’s title suggests, The Engines of Our Ingenuity continually seeks to illuminate the invisible forces that propel human progress. In episode 3245, those forces are memes: the small, often humorous artifacts that, when amplified, can ripple through societies and even alter the trajectory of cultural change. The episode reminds listeners that while memes may start as jokes, their potential impact is as vast as any physical engine—capable of powering new ideas, influencing political climates, and, perhaps, steering humanity toward a brighter, more informed future.

Listen to the full episode on Houston Public Media’s website, or follow the link in the description to the downloadable podcast file. For more behind‑the‑scenes details, check the show notes where David and Dr. Maya share the full transcript and a link to a supplementary white paper on memetic analytics.