Middlebrow

Dan and Brian discuss the pope, jacked Ralph Fiennes, Chelsea gallery shows, The Masters, nepo athletes, 4dx film screenings, Salone del Mobile, Athens and European reservation systems. Athens Recs  Shops: Hyper Hypo, It's a Shirt, Mouki Mou, Phaon Food: Seychelles, Taverna Oikonomou, Ouzeri lesvos, Wine is Fine  Galleries: Michael Werner, Breeder Gallery Stay: Ace Hotel Athens

Liza Treyger, standup comedian, is all about curating good energy on and off stage. We dive into stage animals, Law & Order: SVU, going out until 6am, Soulcycle, crowdwork, luck, her new Netflix special and being out on ideas.

Dan and Brian discuss romance audiobooks, the case against shorts, protein intake levels, Netflix's Adolescence, Mr. Beast's newest venture, ai voice models, Atelier Jolie and The White Lotus.  

Noah Johnson, Editor in Chief of Highsnobiety, has quietly shaped what you've worn over the past decade. We dive into projecting hobby expertise, being a menswear grim reaper, the exquisite corpse era of fashion, Substack, foodie culture, A24 as an adjective and Evan Kinori.

Dan and Brian discuss Playboi Carti's I Am Music, Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17, probiotic sodas, entrepreneurial killer instincts, Samuel Beckett, yonder pouches, innovative restroom solutions and Anne Imhof's DOOM.

Moss Perricone, writer for Saturday Night Live, knows how to craft a good joke. We dive into open mic Stockholm Syndrome, how being too stylish can signal fiscal irresponsibility, onboarding at SNL, pitch superstitions and the 50th anniversary special.

Wyna Liu, NYT puzzle editor and writer of the popular Connections game, crafts puzzles that provoke both anguish and joy. We dive into her personal morning game rituals, puzzle cruises, NYT games lab, the mechanics behind a good board and the beauty of applying constraints to our own lives.

Dan and Brian discuss high fashion podcast collabs, The Razzie Awards, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Koch brothers, architecture salaries, posthumous recognition, Tony Tulathimutte's Rejection and dumb phones.

Dan and Brian discuss return to office productivity, the false promise of invisalign, country cottage cosmetic industries, New York uber ratings, New Yorker humor pieces, LA art fairs, Tim Cook swag, Timothee Chalamet's earnest acceptance speech and Delmonico's.

Dan and Brian discuss the spirit of LA being alive and well, chasing winter, mumblecore films, traveling through SFO, Hollywood accounting, flight risks, jury duty on a shoplifting trial, RFK Jr and the SNL 50th anniversary.

Jeremiah Stone, chef and co-owner of Wildair and Bar Contra, has shaped New York's downtown dining culture. We dive into breakfast routines, the underappreciated art of dessert, insider tips for restaurant bookings, critics, Noma's true influence in fine dining, Kitchen Confidential 2.0, and the pressures of staff meal.

Dan and Brian discuss the fall of TED and pop psychology, dressing up for standup audiences, Sundance film inspo, jury duty avoidance tactics, Madonna at the Comedy Cellar, Ramell Ross's Nickel Boys, Randall's Island, new right wing influencers and DeepSeek. 

Alex Hartman, creator of the viral meme account 'Nolita Dirtbag,' chronicles the absurdities of the 'coastal elite'. We dive into Bryan Johnson's quest for immortality, buying things from social media ads, the future of office spaces, sneaky musicals, memes as art, and the enduring mystique of Chet Hanks.

Dan and Brian discuss David Lynch, actually reading Playboy for the articles, Jamie xx UK bangers, buzzy downtown restaurant Bridges, NYPD tow pounds, movie laughs and Zuck's masculinity crusade.

Avery Trufelman, podcaster and host of 'Articles of Interest,' unpacks how we express ourselves through what we wear. We dive into the rise and fall of millennial excellence, Wikipedia editor tryouts, a case study for anonymous bullying, our personal style journeys and her upcoming literary debut.

Dan and Brian discuss American creature comforts, digital detoxes, Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, Sally Rooney's Intermezzo and our favs of 2024.

Dan and Brian discuss famous sightings at an experimental play, A Real Pain by Jesse Eisenberg, Spotify's plot against musicians, moral panic around celebrity infidelity and our ins and outs for the new year.

Harry Krinsky, host of the Nothing But Respect podcast, brings his eye for NBA culture and deep appreciation for good hangs to Middlebrow. We explore how media training killed sports personalities, the death of public social media engagement, the myth of run clubs, third spaces and recurring matches on online dating apps.

Noelle Perdue, porn historian and writer, traces the evolving boundaries of obscenity. We explore the definition of porn, algorithmic influences to our desire, tradwives, old playboys and fetishes.

Dan and Brian discuss the online footprint of today's assassins, stress addiction, Disclaimer on Apple TV, coffee shop zoom calls, Luna Luna, Dutch Bros and America's disappearing middle taste.

Tony award-winning playwright David Adjmi (Stereophonic) explores the creative aftermath of success. We chat about the tensions between artistic authenticity, creative ambition, and the weight of accomplishment.

Dan and Brian discuss friendsgiving as a concept, the millennial concert going experience, Paul Mescal and Denzel in Gladiator 2, Sunset Blvd on Broadway, Hauser and Wirth's restaurant and Rafa's retirement.

Dan and Brian discuss being personality hires for a J.Crew campaign, juggalo aesthetics, unicycle guys, becoming Joe Rogan of the left, virtual queues and the genius of Christian Marclay's 'The Clock'. 

Designer and NYU media studies professor Ruby Thelot investigates the cultural dynamics of online spaces. Through his research, we discuss the act of being online, forms of gatekeeping, the Drake academic symposium and ways to become a better hater.

Dan and Brian discuss halloween costume effort, diversifying racism, Sean Baker's Anora, the truth about Blue Zones, Malcolm Gladwell-isms, testosterone replacement therapy and Hey Dude shoes.