It's Pretty OK

This week, with Max on the road, the gang borrows (co-opts? steals?) a prompt from one of Sean’s group texts and debates the ultimate starting 5 from the Tony Bennett era of Virginia basketball. That’s right, it’s a sportsball one. MUSIC: “Nice Guys” - Beach Bunny ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Samer Recognized A Fart Online (Defector) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is talking about one of its favorite pastimes: beer. How has your alcohol consumption changed over the last year? And how would it change if you could get free Coors Light (or a similarly cheap beer) for life? MUSIC: “Beer” - Reel Big Fish ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Blame Game EP by Beach Bunny (Bandcamp) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is all together again, and they’re talking about animated movies and TV shows. Believe it or not, they’re not just for kids anymore — although maybe they never were in the first place? And does that justify Pierce’s attempt to watching nothing but animation for the entire month of January? It probably doesn’t. MUSIC: “Louie Louie” - Toots and the Maytals Hosted on Acast. See ac...

This week, Max’s yuppy-tacular shopping trip sparks a conversation about modern brands like Allbirds and Warby Parker that have expanded from online-only businesses into brick-and-mortar retail. What are these brands selling you (apart from shoes and glasses, obviously), and how is it different from what, say, L.L. Bean is selling you? MUSIC: “Heat of the Moment” - Asia Hosted on Acast. See acast....

This week, Pierce talks to Sean and Kevin about a New Yorker article on the rise of Substack, the email newsletter platform that has become one of the preferred homes for writers jumping ship from existing media properties. They discuss what makes a newsletter an enticing proposition for a reader, who is using these platforms to publish content, and whether or not you can get rich on Substack (as...

NOTE: We recorded this episode before the rioting in D.C. on Wednesday. This week, the gang talks about movies. Well, not just movies, but also the movies. How is stuff like Warner releasing all of its 2021 movies to HBO Max going to affect the world of cinema? And do you even want to go back to a movie theater when it’s safer? MUSIC: “Romance” - Wild Flag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

This week, Sean is out and the rest of the gang is talking about how to avoid some of the stress of holiday shopping. MUSIC: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” - The Beths Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a blog post about how Japanese people keep fit simply by walking sparks a conversation about how we choose where we live and how the way cities are laid out influences that decision. MUSIC: “My Iron Lung” - Radiohead ADDITIONAL MATERIAL I’ve Seen a Future Without Cars, and It’s Amazing ( The New York Times ) Lego Version of Hokusai’s Iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Kottke.org)...

When the Max is away, the sports fans will play, and this week, Pierce, Kevin and Sean discuss the reaction to ESPN.com’s pre-NBA Draft profile of top overall pick Anthony Edwards, in which the former Georgia star said that he’s “still not really into” basketball and would ditch the sport to play football if the NFL came calling. MUSIC: “Living the Dream (Cuttin’ Grass version)” - Sturgill Simpson...

This week, the gang is talking about when things are just plan bad…and when they’re maybe so bad that they’re actually kinda good? Nicolas Cage movies, Pitbull, The Room , the Fast and the Furious cinematic universe, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , and the 2020 NFC East are all up for discussion. MUSIC: “Open Wound” - Bacchae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! The gang talks about snow days, which are the best, and why it’s important not to lose them. MUSIC: “Jokerman” - Daniel Romano’s Outfit ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Robert Durst Should Win Every Emmy - John Mulaney (Comedy Central on YouTube) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a conversation that starts with the question “is Thanksgiving turkey bad?” becomes a discussion of “performative holiday meats” — the big show-stopping centerpieces of family holiday gatherings since the beginning of time. MUSIC: “New Face” - Forth Wanderers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Pierce has a wild idea for a new local business, which gets the gang talking about the phenomenon of “shopping local” and “shopping small,” which, when you think about it…actually aren’t the phenomena, really. MUSIC: “Lifeline” - A.G. Cook ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Phone Tones ( Twenty Thousand Hertz ) Photos: Touring the Andouille Trail, with an ice chest and an appetite (NOLA.com) Hosted on...

This week, the gang wanted to talk about anything besides the election, so they watched the classic Simpsons episode “Marge vs. The Monorail” and the “classic” Family Guy episode “Da Boom” and talked about them. MUSIC: “Long as I Can See the Light” - Creedence Clearwater Revival ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: An Oral History of “Marge vs The Monorail”, the Episode That Changed “The Simpsons” ( VICE ) Hosted...

This week, the gang is talking about our little travel rituals: the places you love to go when you go somewhere. Are they as narrow as “I always go to this coffeeshop when I’m on the road,” or can they be more expansive than that? Hell, do they even have to take place in the same destinations? MUSIC: “Mono No Aware” - Great Grandpa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about what makes for good sports announcers — and perhaps just as importantly, what makes for bad ones. MUSIC: “Boomer” - Bartees Strange ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: “ The [COMPRESSED] History of Mastering “ and “ The Loudness Wars ” (Twenty Thousand Hertz) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang (minus Kevin) is talking about the virtual concert experience. What’s it like to try to experience a band live without actually being live and in person? And is that something that should stick around once venues (whichever ones make it through the pandemic :( ) reopen? MUSIC: “Seasons (Waiting on You)” - Future Islands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

This week, the weather is cooling down and the gang is talking about a versatile and utilitarian food: chili. Are there rules to chili? Beans or no beans? Meat or no meat? Or should everyone maybe just calm down and have a good time? MUSIC: “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love” - Van Halen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about “over-the-top” and streaming video services that have multiplied like rabbits in the last few years, making it increasingly harder to cut the cord without actually paying more than you used to in cable’s heyday. Will they advocate for a little scheming? You’ll have to tune in to find out. MUSIC: “T.V. Eye” - The Stooges Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

This week, Pierce is concerned that physically going into a store and leaving without buying something is a bad thing when there’s a pandemic raging on outside. Is it bad for him? Is it bad for the businesses? The gang talks him through why he’s probably doing just fine and discusses the need to support small businesses in whatever way you can during this time. MUSIC “I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus”...

This week, the gang is talking about buying cars and why buying a used car may be surprisingly difficult right now. MUSIC: “Blockbuster Night Part 1 (Instrumental)” - Run the Jewels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max is on the road, so Pierce, Kevin and Sean discuss one of the main things they ever talk about: sports. This week, as Kawhi Leonard barrels toward maybe winning a second consecutive NBA championship, they talk about what does (or doesn’t) make an athlete a superstar – and why baseball is particularly ill-suited to developing stars. MUSIC: “The Reasons” - The Weakerthans Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Santa comes early on the streets of Boston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is talking about dealing with customer service in the age of COVID and why it’s good to build relationships with local businesses. MUSIC: “I’m Amazed” - My Morning Jacket Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, scheduling recording sessions around dinner time leads the gang to a discussion of what the “right time” to eat dinner is and where the stereotypically American timing might have come from. MUSIC: “Meet Me in My Heart” - Video Age Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.