Mad Men Men

On this week’s Mad Men Men, we dig into “Christmas Waltz.” That's right, it's a holiday episode about money trouble, emotional drift, and people looking for comfort in all the wrong places. But also, it’s one of Season 5’s strangest and saddest turning points. Because let's just say it gives several characters a version of the Christmas spirit they absolutely did not...

On this week’s Mad Men Men, we dig into “Dark Shadows.” That's right, it's the episode where envious smog spreads through the office, the suburbs, and even Thanksgiving dinner! But also, Don starts to feel the elevator walls closing in from every direction. And everyone around him seems newly aware of what he has... If you’re new here, Mad Men Men covers  Mad Men from...

On this week’s Mad Men Men, we dig into "Lady Lazarus." The Season 5 midpoint where Don starts to realize the world is moving faster than he can follow. But also, Megan finally reveals what she truly wants. And Pete mistakes desire for destiny in the most Pete Campbell way possible. If you’re new here, Mad Men Men covers Mad Men from three angles. First, we have a first-time watcher. T...

On this week’s Mad Men Men, we unpack "At the Codfish Ball." The episode centers on dinners, children, in-laws, and professional wins. More importantly, it asks what growing up really means. Usually, it means learning how badly adults can disappoint you. We talk about Megan as her own person, not just Don’s fantasy. We also explore how the episode uses her family to sharpen that point....

“Far Away Places” is one of those Mad Men episodes where the show quietly changes shape. This week on Mad Men Men, we dig into that Season 5 standout. First, the episode fractures a single day into three interlocking stories. Then, it follows Peggy, Roger, and Don as each tries to escape a life that feels unbearable. Meanwhile, Peggy chases professional authority and confronts how lone...

Pete Campbell takes the wheel and crashes straight into an existential pileup in one of Mad Men ’s sharpest, saddest hours. On this episode of Mad Men Men, Jon Negroni, Will Ashton, and Mike Overhulse unpack Season 5, Episode 5, “Signal 30,” directed by John Slattery and co-written by Matthew Weiner and Frank Pierson ( Dog Day Afternoon ). We break down Pete’s slow-motion u...

Don’s fever breaks, but not before Mad Men delivers one of its most surreal and polarizing hours to date. On this episode of Mad Men Men , Jon Negroni, Will Ashton, and Mike Overhulse react to Season 5, Episode 4, “Mystery Date,” directed by Matt Shakman ( WandaVision and Fantastic Four: First Steps ) and co-written by Victor Levin and Matthew Weiner. We break down the episode&rs...

Jon Hamm steps behind the camera for Mad Men Season 5, Episode 3, “Tea Leaves” and the results are…complicated! On this episode of Mad Men Men , Jon Negroni, Will Ashton, and Mike Overhulse react to Betty’s triumphant return. They also talk Peggy’s new hire Michael Ginsberg and Harry Crane continuing to be the worst man alive. We break down the real-life inspiration...

Don’s got shaving cream in the mirror, Megan’s got a mop and a plan, and Lane Pryce is one wallet away from going full American Psycho. It’s A Little Kiss Part 2! And on this episode of Mad Men Men, Jon Negroni, Will Ashton, and Mike Overhulse are breaking down the second half of Mad Men’s bold, chaotic, and deeply handsy Season 5 premiere. This episode also covers the real...

It’s season five, baby! And we’re back with A Little Kiss Part 1 , the two-part premiere that gave us a Zubi Zubi Zoom into Don Draper’s new life. And all the weird vibes that come with it. On this episode of Mad Men Men , Jon Negroni, Will Ashton, and Mike Overhulse reunite to talk about Megan’s infamous birthday serenade, why Pete Campbell continues to be the show’s...

Why put off today when we can podcast about Tomorrowland? That's right, in the Season 4 finale of  Mad Men  (titled "Tomorrowland"), Don Draper faces a turning point both personally and professionally. Big surprise. As Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce struggles to secure its future, Don takes a bold step by taking his secretary Megan to a family trip to California. Meanwhile, Peggy tries to land a muc...

We're not known for blowing smoke on Mad Men Men, but I guess we can make an exception for this penultimate episode of the season! That's right, we're back to discuss Season 4, Episode 12, titled "Blowing Smoke." Which finds the old gang at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce scrambling in the fog of losing Lucky Strike. As usual, we recap the episode, give our analysis, and reference the director/writer...

The Chinese Walls are coming down for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce this week as we dig into Season 4, Episode 11. That's right, Mad Men Men is back for another dive into how Don Draper is the absolute worst at balancing professional and personal relationships, plus how desperation truly drives all of us. As usual, we recap the episode, give our analysis, and reference the director/writer/actors’ c...

Fittingly enough, we're on our hands and knees begging you to give Mad Men Men a chance. Just don't hit us over the head for it. That's right, this week we're talking about Season 4 Episode 10 of Mad Men , titled "Hands and Knees." As usual, we recap the episode, give our analysis, and reference the director/writer/actors' commentaries as well as Mad Men Carousel by Matt Zoller Seitz. In case this...

We're podcasters, not astronauts, so give us some slack if we don't shoot for new heights with "The Beautiful Girls." A Mad Men episode with ample hijinks and comedy mixed with dramatic workplace sexism and Don Draper constantly disappointing the women in his life. Because, well, this is Mad Men . And the Mad Men "Men" never know what's going on... In case this is your first time digging into our...

A thing like that, we managed to get to "The Summer Man" before the end of the summer. That's right, this week we dig into the eight episode of the fourth season of Mad Men , in which Peggy is on "fire" and Don faces his toughest nemesis yet: sobriety. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, someone who only watched...

Want us to talk about "The Suitcase," widely considered one of the greatest episodes of any television show ever? Well, that's what the podcast is for! That's right, this week we dig into the seventh episode of the fourth season of Mad Men . And listeners, it's a knockout. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, som...

Many have said that Mad Men Men is the cure for the common podcast. That's right, this week we discuss and analyze 'Waldorf Stories,' the sixth episode of the fourth season of Mad Men . And we're planning on going on a bender even if we don't win an award for this. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, someone who...

It's ok Don, Mad Men Men doesn't have a budget for a commercial, either. That's right, this week we're getting into 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword,' the fifth episode of Season 4. And we don't need a "gift" from you the listeners, as you just being our listeners is plenty gift enough. Just don't invite us to any sleepovers anytime soon. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, w...

We at Mad Men Men know a little something about being the rejected podcast. That's right, we're talking about Season 4 Episode 4 this week, directed by the one and only John Slattery A.K.A. Roger Sterling! If you have any criticisms, be sure to write half a sentence on your typewriter and then throw the paper out. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from th...

This week on  Mad Men Men , we venture back out to sunny Los Angeles to visit our old friend Anna Draper and get some decidedly NOT good news to ring in the new year. But at least Don gets to stay in his Lane. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, someone who only watched the show once while it was airing, and a s...

This week on  Mad Men Men , it’s Christmas in June as we discuss “Christmas Comes But Once a Year,” the second episode of Season 4. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, someone who only watched the show once while it was airing, and a superfan who watches excessively instead of having a functional social life. Di...

This week on Mad Men Men , we kick off Season 4 with “Public Relations,” which is pretty much a pilot type of episode smack dab in the middle of the whole series. In case this is your first time digging into our podcast, we recap  Mad Men  from the perspective of a first-time watcher, someone who only watched the show once while it was airing, and a superfan who watches excessively instead of havi...

Special guest Jeff Swystun, an actual Madison Avenue advertising veteran, joins us to discuss the Season 3 finale of Mad Men ! Often praised as one of the best episodes of the entire series, we're far from closing the door on new tidbits, trivia, and ideas to unpack in this exciting season closer. Discussion Points: How characters in Mad Men balance their personal and professional challenges, part...

Turn off the TV and listen up! We're back for another episode of Mad Men , this time unpacking "The Grown-Ups," the penultimate episode of Season 3. SHOW NOTES 00:00 – Introduction 03:27 – The JFK Assassination 08:59 – The Grown-Ups as a title 11:00 – Characters Regressing and Pete's anxiety 17:46 – The Loss of Innocence 22:23 – Peggy's Roommate 24:41 – TV and the JFK Assassination 30:02 – Editing...