The Chosen One
Summary
Host PJ Vogt investigates how Wikipedia selects its iconic anatomy images, specifically the "most viewed penis" on Earth. Interviewing veteran editor Lane Rasberry, the episode explores the rigorous, often contentious editorial process behind these choices and the site's role as a global sex education resource. The discussion also touches on the risks faced by editors in restrictive regimes and the cultural debates surrounding representation and censorship on the platform.
Topics discussed
Intro: Request for Japan travel voice memos
Sponsor: Odoo business software
Sponsor: Rocket Money budgeting app
Listener question: Who is the Wikipedia penis?
Sponsor: LabCorp On Demand health tests
Sponsor: Matic cleaning robot
History of Wikipedia and its open editing model
Interview with Lane Rasberry, Wikimedian in Residence
How Wikipedia editors select the lead image for 'Penis'
The 'Human Penis' page and global interest in anatomy
Wikipedia as a source for sexual health education
Debates over representation and minority anatomy images
Censorship, age restrictions, and editor safety
Persecution of Wikipedians and the value of open knowledge
Sponsors: Vanguard, Notability, and Quince
The mystery of the single-contribution uploader
The history of the Wikipedia penis image from 2001 to 2012
Criteria for the current image: neutrality and average appearance
Outro: View counts, credits, and sign-off
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