Lectures on Tap - "The World Cup: Hive Mind, Fandom, & Collective Delusion"

Ever wondered why you’d hug a sweaty stranger in a pub because a 22-year-old in Qatar kicked a ball into a net? Or why your heart rate spikes more for a VAR decision than for your own performance review? Welcome to the 90-Minute Hive Mind.

Join us as sports business expert Professor Gina Antoniello strips away the jersey to reveal what’s actually happening to your brain during the World Cup. Moving past basic “sports talk,” she’ll dive into de-individuation—the psychological phenomenon where your sense of self dissolves and you merge into a national collective. From the primal “Olé” to the paralysis of a penalty shootout, discover why the World Cup isn’t just a tournament—it’s a temporary, high-definition insanity we willingly share.

Gina Antoniello is a sport culture expert, social justice activist, and Academic Director & Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport, with over a decade of experience in professional sports, including leadership roles with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets.

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