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Critical Nonsense (SYLVAIN)

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Explore every episode of Critical Nonsense

Dive into the complete episode list for Critical Nonsense. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–50 of 100

Pub. DateTitleDuration
20 Jun 2023226! Collective Vibes00:24:58

Do you believe in the idea that collective vibes could exist, and are we fully entering into a new vibe? 

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about the debt ceiling battle, the Writers Guild of America strike, AI, not sitting idle, Lucy Lawless, and pasta. They don’t talk about cowboy pasta. 

references 

26 Jun 2023227! Tendies00:26:56

Why are we all suddenly calling these chicken "tendies"? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about children's food, compression, self-deprecation, cutification, Big Chicken, and expressivity. They don’t talk about brekky. 

references 

03 Jul 2023228! Patriotism and Empanadas00:27:42

What is patriotic? 

This week, Jess, Aaron, and Joey talk about American Democracy, fusion foods, the spirit of the thing, beer holding, the cronut, and empanadas. They don’t talk about pastechi. 

references 

12 Jul 2023229! Attractiveness00:27:54

How important is attractiveness? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about self-rating, the butt phase, dating apps, dating profiles as brand strategy, TMI, and hotties. They don’t talk about teratophilia. 

references 

24 Jul 2023230! Unexpected Audiences00:31:54

How should we think about things that are created that wind up being more beloved by audiences that weren't the original target? 

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about Bluey, Pixar, Adult Swim, Married With Children, Patricia Richardson, and drag queens. They don’t talk about Left Eye. 

references 

31 Jul 2023231! Finding Empathy00:41:45

Where might we find more empathy for each other? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about etiquette, niceties, deplaning, consideration, the inverse crush, and villains. They don’t talk about Brother Bear. 

references 

07 Aug 2023232! Contradiction00:40:29

How do we deal with contradiction? 

This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about Björk, Barbie, G-strings, Elf on a Shelf, multiverses, and compartmentalization. They don’t talk about Green Day. 

references 

14 Aug 2023233! Gamifying Sleep00:36:47

What things that we need should we be gamifying? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about not getting enough sleep, PokĂ©mon, mixed expertise, incentivized behavior change, Duolingo, and eating. They don’t talk about superconductors, no matter how badly Joey wants to. 

references 

21 Aug 2023234! Reconsuming Content00:34:17

This week, Joey and Jess talk about Chuck Klosterman, Bluey (again), the Mona Lisa, High Fidelity, Kafka, and Shakespeare. They don’t talk about Slick Rick. 

references 

28 Aug 2023235! Conceiving History00:36:34

How do we wrestle with history? 

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about rote learning, putty, history as study vs. history as culture, stories, empathy, and erasure. They don’t talk about the history of Play-Doh. 

references 

06 Sep 2023236! Life Decisions00:31:53

What things should we be leaving up to chance? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about the expectation of rightness, hiring, outsourcing decisions, smart coins, Level 5 Engineers, and proposing. They don’t talk about DJ Screw. 

references 

11 Sep 2023237! Names00:29:12

What's in a name? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Cher, dysmorphia, name commonality, De'Coldest Crawford, permutations, and nick names. They don’t talk about Major Danger. 

references 

18 Sep 2023238! Procrastitivity00:29:38

In what ways is procrastitivity useful ... or not? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about procrastination styles, Maya Angelou, procrastavoidance, urgency, anxiety, and Éric Ripert. They don’t talk about The Soul of an Octopus. 

references 

25 Sep 2023239! Honesty00:34:19

What is the role of truth and how should we think about how it's changing? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about misinformation, wallets, the replication crisis, journalism, radical candor, and trust. They don’t talk about the word "cap." 

references 

02 Oct 2023240! Justice Thresholds00:36:20

Where does your justice threshold rest? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Lana Del Rey, LEGO, the arenas of justice, the TSA, Aaron's personal space, and taking umbrage. They don’t talk about the Molecular Lego of Knots. 

references 

09 Oct 2023241! The Goldilocks Zone of Weird00:21:20

This week Aaron and Joey talk about the importance of making space for weird. They don't talk about being normal and forgotten or weird and remembered.

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16 Oct 2023242! Unlocking the Fifth Gait00:27:08

Where haven't we unlocked the fifth gait?

This week, Jess and Joey talk about Icelandic horses, Stardew Valley, Japanese craftsmanship, molecular gastronomy v. farm to table, biohacking, and "the source code." They don’t talk about how galloping is an elongated canter, because we only just found this out.

references 

23 Oct 2023243! Sourcing Criticism00:20:27

Where are you sourcing your criticism? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about critics, movie reviews, Dan Gilbert, unintentionally laxative candy, mind bleachers, and overcorrecting. They don’t talk about criticizing nonsense. 

references 

30 Oct 2023244! Pet Parenting00:41:20

How much is too much, and how far do you take it for your pets? 

This week, special guest Amanda Medina joins Joey and Jess to talk about chicken tenders/tendies (again), dogs in baby-carrying apparatuses, therapy, working dogs, diets, and parenting. They don’t talk about pet chickens. 

references 

09 Nov 2023245! Childhood Independence and Mental Health00:29:07

How do we loosen the reins? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about latchkey kids, parenting, protectiveness, perfectionism, social narrative, and lawnmowers. They don’t talk about driveways vs. parkways. 

references 

19 Dec 2023246! Inventing New Sports00:32:01

Thank you for the love and support you've shown us in light of Alain's passing. If you want to make a donation in Alain's memory, his family suggested they be made to the following organizations: 

Typically, we close the year with our Wild Prognostications year in review, instead, we just wanted to leave you with a light-hearted episode to counter the heaviness with a bit of whimsy. 

When did we stop inventing sports? 

This episode, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Cher, sports, spectators, Esports, cyberwarfare, and The Ocho. They don’t talk about the Techno Parrot. 

references 

16 Jan 2024247! Wild Prognostications 2024 + 2023 Year In Review!00:46:59

How did our predictions play out in 2023, and what's to come in 2024? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess serve a combo platter of Wild Prognostications, reviewing nogs past from Episode 206 and progging forward into the new year. They talk about influencers, chickens, stuffies, egg nogs, algae, and AI hardware. They don’t talk about quail eggs. 

references 

25 Jan 2024248! Correcting People00:31:18

When is it okay to correct someone? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about Vander-ism, otaku, pedantry, language, Ryan-ing, and comments sections. Thankfully, they don’t talk about the Oxford comma. 

references 

30 Jan 2024249! Goodhart Overhang00:36:33

When should we change the target? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about SATs, grade inflation, games, goals, dating, and wine. They don’t talk about French Kiss. 

references 

05 Feb 2024250! Aquariums00:29:18

What can we learn about reality from aquariums? 

This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about Barbie, virtual reality, augmented reality, Sphere, interactivity, and raccoons. They don’t talk about Phish. 

references 

13 Feb 2024251! Rituals00:39:40

Why do people love rituals so much? 

This week, Jess, Aaron, and Joey talk about medicine, Lunar New Year, habits, disease, leg washing, and flossing. They don’t talk about Jane's Addiction. 

references 

26 Feb 2024252! Obscure Analogies00:21:15

Is it better to be a nerd with your analogies and attempt to be right, or is it better just to be relatable? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about Mister Rogers and his (boring) neighborhood, The Big Bang Theory, nerds, the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon, linking things, and the Ig Noble Awards. They don’t talk about Lewis Skolnick or Gilbert Lowe. 

references 

04 Mar 2024253! Teaching Agency00:27:54

What's our responsibility to teach agency for the next generation of workers? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about Scandinavian Swimmers, in-flight wifi, lawnmower parenting, consent, waffles and ice cream, and pipe cleaners. They don’t talk about ABBA. 

references 

11 Mar 2024254! Dopamine Culture00:32:06

How do we survive dopamine culture?

This week, Aaron, Joey and Jess talk about neurotransmitters, The Good Place, Sheryl Crowe, Wall-E, Type 2 fun, and the mortal sins. They don't talk about the important nuance of the many antihistamines for all you allergic people out there.

references

18 Mar 2024255! Crying00:26:35

What are the rules about crying in public? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about benchmarking emotions, psychic tears, showing your belly, laughter yoga, pickled sadness, and ... farts. They don’t talk about Mary. 

references 

26 Mar 2024256! Finding the Right Answer00:26:02

Why are we always searching for the right answer?  

This week, Jess and Joey talk about gray spaces, equifinality, value judgments, hiring, multifinality, and quantum physics. They don’t talk about the Alignment Theory.  

references  

03 Apr 2024Progress Report: Awaiting the Eruption00:18:19

This week, a takeover! Joey shares his latest edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: Awaiting the Eruption: Innovation Strategies for a Post-ZIRP Era.

For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.

08 Apr 2024257! Sports Scandals00:29:02

Why is cheating in some places treated differently than cheating in other places? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about fairness, tribalism, insider trading, meritocracy, winning, and wallpaper. They don’t talk about Pete Shelley. 

references 

18 Apr 2024258! Cringe Aversion00:23:33

What happens if we're all deathly affraid of the cringe? 

This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about pain, yips, shame, fremdschĂ€men, the Apple Vision Pro, and Michael Jordan. They don’t talk about Gracious K. 

references 

23 Apr 2024259! The Trend-Mill00:38:11

What does this "trend-mill" mean, what does it say about us as people, and how bad is it, really? 

This week, special guests Claire and Chloe join Jess and Joey to talk about the mob-wife aesthetic, accessibility, TikTok, blueberry milk nails, social networks vs. social media, and Trader Joe's totes. They don’t talk about why the combination of peanut butter and jelly is a gotdamn abomination. 

references 

29 Apr 2024260! Tree Timebombs00:40:43

Why should we be concerned wth generationally slow timebombs? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about trees, the Bradford pear, city planning, Barcelona, pilot programs, and the candy bowl theory. They don’t talk about Cameo. 

references 

09 May 2024261! Neighborliness00:35:51

How has neighborliness changed in the past five years? 

This week, Aaron and Jess talk about lost dogs, trash pandas, the pandemic, masking, isolation, and marble runs. They don’t talk about the McFeelys or Cousin Mary Owl. 

references 

16 May 2024262! The Bowl Generation00:32:46

How are we using bowls? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about diversification of delivery methods, quick-serve restaurants, slushies, mush, ratios, and salads. They don’t talk about Prince. 

references 

24 May 2024263! Stinky Fish and Mayo00:31:27

How does one deal with being an acquired taste? 

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about stinky fish, mole vs. mayonanaise, blue cheese, safe spaces, leadership, and sandwich lubricants. They don’t talk about surströmming. 

references 

28 May 2024264! Art in the City00:26:07

Why don't we have more public art? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about toy poodles, graffiti, sidewalk chalk, murals, face painting, and sandals. They don’t talk about ESPO. 

references 

05 Jun 2024265! Rules of Thumb00:40:26

What types of folk knowledge or rules of thumb do you live by? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about cheating at science fairs, sleep, the rule of threes, tenets, the How I Met Your Mother pause, and concavity. They don’t talk about what Werner Herzog's thumb tastes like. 

references 

11 Jun 2024266! Aging Well00:34:08

How do we age right? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about aching, supplements, cognitive decline, Tom Brady, LeBron James, and the future. They don’t talk about Alphaville. 

references 

18 Jun 2024267! Digital Poltergeists00:33:15

How do y'all deal with your digital poltergeists? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about search results, the endless repository of stuff, digital cleanup, emails, collateral distraction, and friendly ghosts. They don’t talk about warlocks. 

references 

27 Jun 2024Progress Report: Automating Our Instincts00:08:21

This week, a takeover! Aaron shares his latest edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: Automating Our Instincts: How AI Can Be Embraced Rather Than Feared By Creatives.

For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.

01 Jul 2024268! Predicting the Future00:21:28

How do we predict the future? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about polling, phone phobia, targeted advertising, e-mail compartmentalization, stacking ambiguity, and Airheads. They don’t talk about nomophobia. 

references 

11 Jul 2024269! Being a Champion00:36:16

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokić, celebrity, debates, and Caitlin Clark. They don’t talk about Simone Biles' 10,000 crystals. 

references 

15 Jul 2024270! How We Argue00:29:30

How should we be arguing? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about argument realms, Theranos, Steve Jobs, facts vs. feelings, and band names. They don’t talk about Monarch of a Great Kingdom. 

references 

22 Jul 2024271! Feelings00:24:42

How do we decide what feelings matter? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about Inside Out 2, compound emotions, cognitive development, sonder, motivations, and sandwiches. They don’t talk about Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. 

references 

29 Jul 2024272! Generational War00:29:27

How does one engage in a generational war? 

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about Millenials, marketing demographics, being an afterthought, the policing of cool, Sambas, and othering to in yourself. They don’t talk about Billy Idol. Or Les Gilbert. 

references 

06 Aug 2024273! The Olympic Stroboscope00:30:25

What can we learn about the state of entertainment when we look through the Olympics Stroboscope? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about the The Rottening, Summer Olympics, streaming platforms, culture wars, sports bodies, and shared viewership experiences. They don’t talk about artistic swimming. 

references 

12 Aug 2024274! Science Tourism00:35:06

How do we make more science tourism happen? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about scientific pilgrimage, CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, inspiring awe, Dolly the sheep, and particles. They don’t talk about the six flavors of quarks. 

references 

19 Aug 2024275! Musical Turn Ons00:45:27

What turns your ears on? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Detroit, groove, algorithms, Clyde Stubblefield, sampling, and flow states. They don’t talk about the late, great Biz Markie. 

references 

26 Aug 2024276! Fridgescaping00:38:29

What does fridgescaping tell us about ourselves? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about weirdly shaped foods, bookshelves, trad wives, gelatin molds, cluttercore, and gallery walls. They don’t talk about Jello Biafra's fridge. 

references 

03 Sep 2024277! Innumeracy00:29:21

How do we do math learning better? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about numeracy, literacy, discrete math, Carl Sagan, Cleopatra, and sushi. They don’t talk about Frank Ocean. 

references 

10 Sep 2024278! Jazzing00:36:28

What can jazz teach us about making stuff together? 

This week, Aaron and Jess talk about mistakes, improvisation, leadership, asking questions, saltine crackers, and Tori Amos. They don’t talk about girls that eat pizza but never gain weight. 

references 

17 Sep 2024279! Abstraction00:28:18

What is your comfort level with abstraction? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about math, the transitive property, cookbooks, slang, strange attractors and chameleons. They don’t talk about cake math. 

references 

23 Sep 2024280! Phone Bans00:34:52

How do we know if we're doing the right thing for potentially the wrong reasons? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about The Anxious Generation, social media, polio, experimentation, modes, rodents, and sesame paste. They don’t talk about Yusei Kikuchi. 

references 

03 Oct 2024281! Bicycle Innovation00:26:58

Can we learn about coming up with creative ideas from bikes today? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about bike infrastructure, dad wagons, folding bikes, stacked bikes, e-bikes, and mobility mixes. Oddly, they don’t talk about Bike Kill. 

references 

07 Oct 2024282! Spontaneous Brilliance00:30:21

How do you do spontaneous brilliance? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about pressure, boredom and safety, theatre, peopling, jewelry making, and Quiplash. They don’t talk about combustion. 

references 

15 Oct 2024283! Medical Serendipity00:19:35

How many things are we surrounded by that have use cases that we're not thinking about? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about Ozempic, Cialis, blockchain, invention, solar panels, and pessimism vs. optimism. They don’t talk about chainsaws. 

references 

21 Oct 2024284! Flat Power Distance00:25:34

What do we do about power distance? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about organizational hierarchy, Geert Hofstede, authoratative leadership, omakase, decision-making, and Mr. Oizo. They don’t talk about Flat Stanley. 

references 

28 Oct 2024285! Changing Our Minds00:24:30

What happens when your mind changes? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about nuclear power, Three Mile Island, solar power, the Overton window, abortion, and tokamaks. They don’t talk about Eddie Kendricks. 

references 

04 Nov 2024286! Finding Financial Security00:32:01

What's the best way to unlock a sense of financial security in all of us? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about voting, the economy, financial insecurity, the post-scarcity world, unequal distribution, and intergenerational trauma. They don’t talk about A$AP Rocky. 

references 

08 Nov 2024Progress Report: The State of Youth00:10:19

Bonus episode: A takeover! Kristy shares a recent edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: The State of Youth: A New Paradigm for Growing Up, written by Chief Strategy Officer Chris Konya.

For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.

12 Nov 2024287! Concert Rage00:27:02

What is it about certain settings that just piss us off? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about Maggie Rogers, live concerts, the unflustered mom, road rage, cycling, and liminality. They don’t talk about mosh pits. 

references 

19 Nov 2024288! Living Forever00:39:05

Why are we so obsessed with trying to live forever? 

This week, special guest Chandler Saunders joins Jess and Joey to talk about adult superlatives, aging, the soul, compounding experience, afterlife FOMO, and aging reversal. They don’t talk about Irene Cara. 

references 

26 Nov 2024289! Mind Wine00:42:08

What varietal of mind wine are your grapes lately? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about pattern breaking, the restorative power of boredom, bird brains, pajama day, the productivity mindset, and seizing rest. They don’t talk about when Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. 

references 

02 Dec 2024290! Hybrid Work00:25:44

Why haven't we figured out hybrid yet? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about remote working, cost structures, collaborative tools, individual flexibility, speaker microphones, and body language. They don’t talk about sensory processing issues and how they impact in-person productivity. 

references 

11 Dec 2024291! Cultural Beige00:35:36

What do we do with Cultural Beige? 

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about cultural homogenization, algorithms, local commerce, international culture, outliers and Charli XCX. They don’t talk about Christian Bale or J. G. Ballard. 

references 

16 Dec 2024292! Sci-Fi00:23:42

What kernels of truth are there in sci-fi content today that can maybe predict what our smart technological futures will look like? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about retrofuturism, the Otis elevator, all things Dymaxian, AI, post-scarcity society and ship names. They don’t talk about our dystopian present. 

references 

06 Jan 2025[Reruns] 248! Correcting People00:31:40

When is it okay to correct someone?

This week, a rerun from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)!

Again, Jess and Joey talk about Vander-ism, otaku, pedantry, language, Ryan-ing, and comments sections. Thankfully, they don’t talk about the Oxford comma. 

references 

31 Dec 2024293! 2023 Wild Prognostications: A Year in Review!00:40:24

How did our predictions play out in 2024?

This week, Aaron, Jess and Joey look back at their prognogs from Episode 247, discussing AI hardware, energy optimism, Scarlett Johansson, AI slop, EV, algae-based biofuels, the gelatin market, and wide shoes. They don’t talk about Jamie Foxx. 

references 

13 Jan 2025[Reruns] 251! Rituals00:40:03

Why do people love rituals so much?

This week, a rerun from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)!

Again, Jess, Aaron, and Joey talk about medicine, Lunar New Year, habits, disease, leg washing, and flossing. They don’t talk about Jane's Addiction. 

references 

21 Jan 2025294! Friend Breakups00:29:20

Why would you break up with your best friend? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about para-romance, frenemies, communication styles, emotional proximity, work relationships, and boy and girl bands. They don’t talk about Whodini. 

references 

29 Jan 2025295! Hybrid Work 2.000:40:02

How do we respond to the competing incentives of hybrid work? 

This week, we revisit our conversation from Critical Nonsense 290! Hybrid Work, this time with special guest and workplace design leader Amanda Stanaway of ERA-co. She joins Joey and Jess to talk about belonging, productivity, the corporate Kool-Aid, burnout, human connection, and hammocks. They don’t talk about hard-boiled eggs. 

references 

05 Feb 2025296! Wild Prognostications 2025!00:43:55

What's to come in 2025? 

This week, Wild Prognostications returns! Jess, Aaron, and Joey make their predictions for the new year, discussing micro-social media [3:30], platform madness [6:52], nihilistic design [13:10], weaponized compliance [18:32], graphic realism pivoting to novel gameplay [24:05], dressing up [30:38], blockbuster novels [33:15], and a runaway AI crisis [36:56]. They don’t talk about supervillain Daniel Dumile. 

references 

10 Feb 2025297! Sick Responsibilities00:38:45

What's the best way to get sick as an adult? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about historically un-sick parents, hyper-individualistic cultures, COVID, community health, personal comfort vs. social responsibility, and rest. They don’t talk about Mudhoney. 

references 

19 Dec 2022203! Phase Shifts00:37:36

How do we identify phase shifts, and how do we deal with big changes that are happening much more quickly and in a punctuated fashion? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about going into work, social media, college, Web3, loose flaps, and vanilla. They don’t talk about math. 

references 

18 Jan 2023204! 2022 Wild Prognostications: A Year in Review!00:39:57

How did our predictions play out in 2022? 

This week, Aaron, Jess and Joey make a belated review of their prognogs from Episode 156, discussing the low-rise jeans revival, the stabilizing housing market, rollerskating and black culture, crashing crypto, the gap-year micro-trend, and dreaming pants. They don’t talk about nightmare snuggies. 

references 

23 Jan 2023205! Video Game Film Adaptations and Male Friendships00:48:00

What makes video-game-to-film adaptations so damn hard to get right? And how do men make friends? [24:57] 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about world building, gaming IP, media properties, masculinity, love, and social infrastructure. They don’t talk about Whodini. 

references 

30 Jan 2023206! Wild Prognostications 2023!01:17:28

What's to come in 2023? 

This week, Wild Prognostications (finally) returns! Joey, Aaron, and Jess reunite in person to make their annual predictions for the new year. They talk about the impending demise of influencers [4:31], a rise in video game super-franchises [19:18], extreme-weather clothing [35:00], chickens as the new unicorns [51:05], checkers [59:11], and a seismic shift in dating [1:03:17]. They don’t talk about the Chicken Unicorn. 

references 

08 Feb 2023207! Competence, Constitution, and Control00:36:52

What are the things you are competent and interested in but constitutionally not disposed to engage with? And how do we deal with not ever being in control? [21:40] 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about jazz piano, The Trifecta of Making Things Happen, The Overachiever's Dilemma, facilitators of fastidiousness, expectations, and purpose. They don’t talk about The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Joy Division. 

references 

15 Feb 2023208! The Exquisite Euphemism Corpse00:48:44

What do you think are the right places to deploy euphemisms, or should we abandon them altogether? How harmful is it to use euphemisms, and why not err on their side just in case? And, if we took all the euphemisms off the table, what do we do with language next? 

This week, Joey, Jess, and Aaron try out a new Exquisite Corpse segment where they pass along a conversation to each other one thought at a time. They talk about tech layoffs, pooping and peeing, the Space Shuttle Challenger, unreceptive audiences, buying used cars, the joy of playing with language, and protective speech. They don’t talk about exquisite jorps. 

references 

22 Feb 2023209! Defining Cool00:35:16

What is "cool"? 

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about kinetic energy, Obama, privilege and power, nerds, Blackness, and fish sauce. They don’t talk about Freestyle Fellowship. 

references 

01 Mar 2023210! Metering Confidence00:31:09

What's the best way to encourage people to own their confidence and speak their minds? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about flatness, self consciousness, modeling vs. metering, explicit conversations, confidence intervals, and pants-pants. They don’t talk about Julie Andrews. 

references 

06 Mar 2023211! Question Asking00:44:51

How do you ask a good question? 

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about 5-cent vs. 25-cent questions, tempo, performance question-asking, prioritizing curiosity over confidence, checking for clarification, and signposting. They don’t talk about Gang Starr. 

references 

13 Mar 2023212! Feelings00:28:57

How do we navigate the tricky feelings? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about whistling, the Circumplex Model of Affect, anger in the workplace, navigating of negative spaces, being a squeaky wheel, and heightened emotional points. They don’t talk about Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. 

references 

20 Mar 2023213! Pondering Pettiness00:37:43

When or how or where are the places that we should be deploying pettiness and feel okay about it? 

This week, Joey, Oliver ... er ... Aaron, and Jess talk about petty/offense pairings, berms, feedback loops, Karens, The Pettisphere, and FAFO. They don’t talk about Jemelle Hill. 

references 

27 Mar 2023214! Packing00:34:33

Why are we so bad at packing? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about reducing travel expectations, The Uniform Project, embodying different personas, punting decisions, efficiency, and shoes. They don’t talk about Kevin. 

references 

03 Apr 2023215! Success00:42:25

How should we approach success? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about whales, personal comparison, persistence hunting, gender dynamics, emotional labor, and lunch prep. They don’t talk about fairyfly hearts. 

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10 Apr 2023216! Reflection00:30:16

How do we reflect? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about rumination, perseveration, internal monologues, employee reviews, radical candor, and feedback. They don’t talk about "2000 Seasons."

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17 Apr 2023217! AI Centaurs00:35:18

How do you feel about centaurs and what centaurs do you want to be? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about ChatGPT, Garry Kasparov, workplace production, individualistic augmentation, the Chinese zodiac, and mitochondria. They don’t talk about manticores. 

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24 Apr 2023218! Pop Music Solos00:37:35

What do you think is going to be the next musical instrument solo in pop music? 

This week, Aaron, Jess, and Joey talk about sax solos, the digitization of music, musicianship, sonic genre markers, Ice Spice, and background music. They don’t talk about Raphael Ravenscroft. 

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01 May 2023219! The Cake Renaissance00:31:14

What does cake tell us about now? 

This week, Jess, Aaron, and Joey talk about Cake Boss, Duff Goldman, Instagram cakes, Julia Child, wedding cakes, and enlightenment. They don’t talk about Daniel Craig. 

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08 May 2023220! Graduation Advice00:39:47

What do I know? 

This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about not having all the answers, amoebic sponges, career archs and karma, graciousness in success, recognizing your value, and being dumb. They don’t talk about low-performing assholes. 

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15 May 2023221! The Genuine Maybe00:33:13

How do you summon The Genuine Maybe? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about the Confidence Interval, curiosity, viewquakes, the gender norms of being assertive, rightness, and openness. They don’t talk about Björk. 

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22 May 2023222! Watching Things00:39:57

What are you watching right now and why? 

This week, Aaron, Jess, and Joey talk about SpongeBob, YouTube shorts rabbit holes, RuPaul's Drag Race, the NBA Playoffs, Alan Wake, and bikinis. To the Sunbathing Angel's dismay, they don’t talk about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

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30 May 2023223! The Familiar Unexpected00:31:59

When was the last time that you experienced something familar unexpected? 

This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about mochi, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, chord progressions, rollercoasters, Warrior Cats, and Doppler radar. They don’t talk about The Lloyd Dobler Effect. 

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05 Jun 2023224! Optimism00:31:03

How should we feel about optimism? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about genetics, pessimism, risk aversion, oxytocin, hugs, and butt pats. They don’t talk about why cats like butt pats, though. 

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12 Jun 2023225! The Year of DnD00:33:45

What have you learned in one year of playing DnD together? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about Dungeons & Dragons, body doubling, Type 1 and Type 2 Fun, hobbies, forks, and the Metaverse. They don’t talk about the D&D All-Stars. 

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