It's Pretty OK

This week, the gang is talking about what "luxury" means in a time when things that were once the sole domain of the rich and powerful — like having someone drive you around in a car that is not a taxi — are so attainable that they almost feel mundane. MUSIC: "Welcome to My Island" – Caroline Polachek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang attempts to tackle a question that's been asked an awful lot in the last few years: Is rock music dead? Of course, it would probably be useful to have some idea what rock is in 2023, and that seems to be a practically unanswerable question. MUSIC: "Hard Times" – Paramore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is talking about New York 's list of rules for contemporary society (h/t to Kottke.org for blogging about it first ). How much pizza is the appropriate amount? Is it okay to send work emails after midnight? And how silly is it for these "rules" to be emanating from such a narrow/particular segment of the population anyway? MUSIC: "Stove Lighter" – Camp Cope ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:...

This week, the gang is talking bulk shopping. That's right, it's an episode about Costco, so grab your giant shopping carts and get ready for a 55-gallon drum of podcasting! I'm sorry, I'll never write something that stupid again. (I will probably do it again next week.) MUSIC: "Wet Dream" – Wet Leg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a new study sheds some interesting new light on the environmental lifecycle of coffee — and also raises everyone's hackles by making yet another tired appeal to the role of personal responsibility in solving the climate crisis. MUSIC: “Hunger for a Way Out” – Sweeping Promises ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Here’s how your cup of coffee contributes to climate change (The Conversation) Hosted...

This week, the Sports Bois are together again to do something we've definitely never done in the history of this podcast. That's right, we're talking about MVP awards and what they mean. Okay, fine, we've done this before. Like, kind of a lot. But this time, the catalyst is different: the extremely likely possibility that Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is going to win his third consecutive NBA MVP aw...

This week, the SPORTS BOIS™️ are together to talk about the phenomenon of time-wasting in sports — how it differs from soccer to basketball and baseball, if there's anything that can be done about it, etc. MUSIC: "College Try" – Futurebirds ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: "'I Can’t Speak!': The Craziest Game in Darts History, Explained" ( ESPN Daily on Apple Podcasts) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

This week, the gang gets together to talk about J. Crew and the phenomenon of the store where things are always on sale, as well as why it seems like the quality of your clothes is worse now (hint: because it is). And a new face takes over the trivia contest! MUSIC: "New Shoes" – Paolo Nutini ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Your stuff is actually worse now (Vox) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

This week, the gang says goodbye to 2022 and rings in 2023 with a discussion of the growing phenomenon of "nostalgia tours" pegged to musical anniversaries. And of course, the thrilling conclusion to Rolling Stone Rock Music Trivia for the year. MUSIC: "E.M.I." – The Sex Pistols Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy holidays! This week, the gang gets together to talk about gift-giving in the time when, as they put it, "everything is a subscription." Is gifting someone a subscription to a service basically just the same as giving a gift card? Or can it still be a thoughtful expression of care for a friend/family member? MUSIC: “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24” – Trans-Siberian Orchestra ADDITIONAL MATERIA...

This week, we're all on the edge of our seats to figure out what Pierce meant when he texted the gang that he had recently joined a "new" "social" "media." MUSIC: "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" – Sufjan Stevens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang gets together to talk about Christmas lights and whether most people are performing up to Pierce's standards when it comes to decorating for the holidays. (Hint: They aren't.) MUSIC: "Once in a Lifetime" - Talking Heads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week (definitely not back in October), the gang got together to talk about a blog post about “good coffee” and the places that purport to sell it. Are we pro-snobbery? Anti-snobbery? Or are there maybe different gradations of snobbery, some of which are okay and some of which aren’t? You’ll have to listen to find out. MUSIC: “Doobie Ashtray” – Devin the Dude ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Good Coffee I...

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! The gang gets together this week to talk about the way that learning has changed now that not only are they not in school anymore, but videos seem to have overtaken books as the way to get yourself some new knowledge. MUSIC: “Get Over It” – OK Go Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about revisiting the entertainment products that previously brought you joy, and why coming back to a book again doesn’t necessarily feel the same as rewatching a movie or a TV show. MUSIC: “Record Collection (feat. Simon Le Bon and Wiley)” – Mark Ronson & the Business Intl ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: The Crypto Story (Bloomberg Businessweek) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

This week, the gang is together to talk about collections of physical media — especially DVDs. Strap in! MUSIC: “Training Montage” – The Mountain Goats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Max off the board this week, the rest of the gang gets together to talk about why sports drafts — the NBA draft in particular — hold such a strong allure. MUSIC: “Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” – MUNA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whatever it is, let’s taco bout it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang gets together to discuss hot tubs, which Sean derisively refers to at one point as “human broth” but which were a fairly significant part of Max’s search for a new place to live. I feel like that’s probably enough for you to know in order to decide whether or not this episode is for you — not unlike hot tubs themselves. MUSIC: “Always Rhyme” – Homeboy Sandman Hosted on Aca...

Sean is gone this week for a reason that may or may not have something to do with Hard Mountain Dew, but that’s not going to stop the rest of the gang from convening to talk about cooking routines. What are the things that you make a point of only eating out at restaurants (or things that you only eat at home)? And can trying cooking some of those things at home ruin the special-ness of the restau...

This week, the gang gets together to discuss whether the sports rivalry is still alive and well, particularly in professional sports in the U.S. How much of the seeming fade of these bitter rivalries is due to changing attitudes among new generations, and how much is dumb stuff like fantasy football and the ubiquity of legal sports gambling? And why do the greatest sports rivalries often have so l...

This week, the gang talks about putting (or not putting) a TV in your bedroom. What goes into that momentous decision? Also, Sean gets irrationally angry about an audiobook he listened to, and as always, Pierce apologizes. MUSIC: “Hurricanes and Hand Grenades” – Jason Isbell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Sports Bois™ convene to talk about the phenomenon of pregame shows, particularly for football. Two important notes: 1) This was recorded before College GameDay actually went to Boone, NC, which produced (among other things) this phenomenal intro video voiced by Wright Thompson. 2) Thanks to frustrating Skype connection stuff, the crosstalk/awkward pause conundrum is worse than usual...

This week, the gang gets together to talk about the ways that the sports industry is changing, especially the introduction of Saudi oil money in the form of the new LIV Golf tour. And we get the most harrowing edition of “Pierce Is Sorry” yet. MUSIC: “9 to 5” – Dolly Parton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang gets together to talk about a phenomenon they’ve all experienced in the last two years: the remote house tour. MUSIC: “Hangover Song” – MJ Lenderman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.