Hey there.
Shankar here.
Back in January 2017, we released an episode called Pedestals and Guillotines.
It explored an interesting paradox of human behavior, our love hate relationship with people at the top of the social hierarchy.
Why are we so drawn to the rich and powerful?
And what is it that makes us so excited when they fall from their perch?
So much has changed in the world since we worked on that episode.
But as a long election season in the United States winds to a close, we found ourselves reflecting on this episode and what it says about the transience of power.
We hope you enjoy it.
Welcome to Los Angeles, the celebrity capital of the world.
It's a city that conjures palm line boulevards, sprawling mansions, luxury cars at the center of all the glitz, Hollywood movie stars aren't the only ones here.
Star gazers are drawn here, too, like paperclips to a magnet.
Point your attention to the left, because we are seeing Beverly Hills for the first time on the left hand side.
Wow.
Some big houses down there, right?
With the muse act blaring, a handful of people on a celebrity tour peer out their van, hoping to glimpse the homes of La's rich and famous.
The guide points out Gwen Stefani's house and a clump of bushes behind which she claims is Quentin Tarantino's home.
She pulls up near Katy Perry's compound.
Do I have any Katy Perry fans aboard?
Fireworks.