Sonic Midlife

Cool new music, George Saunders love, midlife fridge and pantry staples, John Mulaney, Time Crisis, and Andor are among the topics discussed by our heroes: Zach Gibson and Jeff Poole.

Your favorite podcast pros are back at it, discussing new albums from The Format and Joyce Manor, as well as early 80s punk. They also discuss the novels Butcher's Crossing by John Williams and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Some recent kitchen successes are shared, including Zach's favorite homemade Indian dish and Jeff's preferred brand of refried beans (pun intended). Lastly, they go over...

In Episode 25, Zach and Jeff lock in their Best Albums of 2025 , talking through the records that mattered most this year — the ones that held up, rewarded repeat listens, and stayed in rotation long after the hype faded. Jeff runs through his albums of the year, spotlighting releases from Fust, Bill Fox, SG Goodman, Kyle M, and billy woods, and why each one rose above the rest in 2025. Zach count...

This week on Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground after their extended hiatus. This week on Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground — including plenty of sports, because that’s just part of the deal. Zach talks about the return of The Format, Kyle M’s Christmas EP, and Chris DeVille’s Such Great Heights , while also declaring that all food kind of sucks… except what he’s...

Jeff explores the debut  Lucky Cloud – Foreground  from Chicago’s Chet Zenor, dives into Elif Batuman’s  The Idiot  and Benedict Anderson’s  Imagined Communities , grabs a pupusa burger, and streams  Patriot  on Amazon Prime. Zach spins  Credit Electric  and Dean Johnson, eats Mexican hotdogs, and celebrates the return of  PTI  from summer break. There's even some Mel Gibson discussion — all in th...

Zach and Jeff dive into fresh sounds from Ryan Davis & The Road House Band and Greg Freeman before trading book notes on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Wait Till Next Year and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot . Food talk centers on dumpling tomato salad with chili crisp vinaigrette and mussels with pasta, while screens are filled with Chernobyl and the Locked on Sports Today podcast. Special guest Benjamin Ma...

Jeff starts us off with Bill Callahan’s “The Mackenzies,” a quiet epic that opens wide with repeated listens, and Reporter , Seymour Hersh’s gripping memoir that’s part history lesson, part investigative masterclass. He also reflects on the humble joys of focaccia. Zach brings Bright Eyes’ “1st World Blues” to the table—a political ska-tinged anthem that feels like Desaparecidos on a beach vacatio...

Zach returns from Chicago with a full stomach and fresh takes on Small Cheval, Lou Malnati’s, and The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. Jeff takes us to Ann Arbor for a Zingerman’s run and dives into Kiwi Jr.’s Chopper and Jonathan Franzen’s Crossroads . The guys dig into Paul Westerberg’s underrated Suicaine Gratification , swap thoughts on Ken Burns: Baseball and The Clubhouse:...

The gang is joined by very special guest Myke Olsen. They discuss the novels of Willy Vlautin as well as their favorite doughnuts. They don't think you should leave as they laugh it up about the wonders of Friendship and Tim Robinson. To cap it off, they dive into all things pizza with Myke, being the owner of downtown Mesa, Arizona's Myke's Pizza.

In Episode 18 of Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff go deep into Bob Dylan’s late-era classics—from Time Out of Mind to Tempest —arguing they stand tall next to his most revered work. They also spotlight some standout new music, including the dreamy alt-country debut from Echolalia, the fuzzy indie rock of Toronto’s Casper Skulls, and Underneath by Floodlights, a record built for fans of The National a...

This week, Zach and Jeff are joined by their old college friend and resident NBA sage, Ford Thunder Erickson. The three dive into the heart of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, breaking down the best first-round matchups, offering bold predictions, and asking the big question: is OKC right on time or ahead of schedule? Off the court, Zach reflects on the quiet emotional power of Japanese Breakfast’s music, a...

In this episode, Jeff and Zach dive into the lush landscapes of indie rock, starting with Hamilton Leithauser’s This Side of the Island and quick recs featuring Japanese Breakfast, Palmyra, Perfume Genius, and Deafheaven. They discuss Kyle M’s The Real Me and unpack the deeper meanings behind the sound. On the reading front, Zach explores how history is weaponized in Jason Stanley’s Erasing Histor...

In this episode of Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff are joined by fellow teacher and cycling enthusiast Vincent Serrani for a wide-ranging conversation covering music, books, food, and public policy. Zach dives into Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter, while Jeff reflects on Superviolet - Infinite Spring . In the reading corner, Zach shares his thoughts on Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and Je...

In this episode of Sonic Midlife , Zach recaps the MJ Lenderman & Wild Pink show in OKC and dives into new music from Head North, Cameron Winter, and Frog , while Jeff highlights Rosie Tucker’s Utopia Now! . On the literary side, they discuss John Langan’s The Fisherman, Claire Vaye Watkins’ Battleborn , and Leslie Marmon Silko’s Almanac of the Dead. They also cover pozole, the Whole Foods hot...

This week on Sonic Midlife , Jeff and Zach reveal their favorite albums of the year in a highly anticipated countdown. Along the way, they discuss the timeless brilliance of Bob Dylan, the lasting impact of The Killers, Steven Hyden’s book There Was Nothing You Could Do , and the quirky charm of Simon Rich’s Glory Days . Plus, they serve up hot takes on pizza, soup, and the comedic legacy of SNL a...

In this special year-end episode of Sonic Midlife , Jeff and Zach are joined by certified public librarian Christina Matekel-Gibson (Zach's wife!) to discuss their favorite books of the year. From literary gems and thought-provoking nonfiction to can't-put-down novels, this conversation is packed with recommendations for every type of reader. Tune in for spirited discussions, insightful takes, and...

This week on Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff go live with a breakdown of the upcoming 12-team college football playoff, analyzing matchups and making bold predictions. Then, they countdown their favorite non-Christmas Christmas songs —tracks that aren’t about the holiday but still bring a touch of yuletide magic. The duo also shares what they’re reading, rounding up literary gems to add to your list...

This week on Sonic Midlife , Zach and Jeff blend the worlds of music, books, food, and sports into a rich conversation. They explore Father John Misty’s bold new album Mahashmashana alongside the labor-inflected melodies of Workers Comp - S/T (think The Velvet Underground meets Guided by Voices, with a country twist). On the literary front, Zach reflects on the spiritual journey of Herman Hesse’s...

In Part 2 of our Bright Eyes journey, we pick up where we left off, diving into Conor Oberst’s expansive catalog, starting with the  A Christmas Album  and continuing through  Five Dice, All Threes . Along the way, we explore Oberst's solo projects, reflecting on his evolution as a songwriter and the themes that define his work. Sean Poole returns to join Jeff and Zach for this deep dive, sharing...

In Part 1 of our Bright Eyes journey, Sean Poole joins us to reminisce about college days at Little Caesars and to launch into an exploration of Conor Oberst’s iconic discography. We cover every release from  A Collection of Songs  to  Lifted , tracing Oberst's evolution and lyrical genius, while also discussing the impact of both Desaparecidos albums along the way. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we...

Episode 7 of Sonic Midlife kicks off with Jeff’s deep dive into the BFF Festival, where he caught performances from an incredible lineup including Home is Where, Pinback, Foxing, American Football, Fiddlehead, The Dismemberment Plan, Algernon Cadwallader, Cap’n Jazz, Braid, Jawbox, Built to Spill, Unwound, Mannequin Pussy and Sunny Day Real Estate. If you’re a fan of emo, post-hardcore, and indie...

This week on Sonic Midlife , Jeff and Zach serve up a wild platter of music, books, and, of course, the best cheeseburgers they’ve ever tasted! They dive into albums like Lift to Experience’s apocalyptic concept record The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads and Being Dead ’s Eels. Zach brings his thoughts on Tommy Orange’s Wandering Stars , touching on generational trauma and addiction, while Jeff’s got a...

In this episode of Sonic Midlife , Zach dives into MJ Lenderman’s latest tracks and Wall of Eyes by The Smile, while Jeff takes a nostalgic look at the 90s radio rock inspired albums, discussing Supercrush’s Sodo Pop , Webbed Wing’s What’s So F***ing Funny? , and Last Day On Earth by Slumped. On the literary side, Zach shares his thoughts on Hank Aaron’s autobiography, I Had a Hammer , while Jeff...

In Episode 4 of Sonic Midlife , Zach, Jeff & old college pal, Thome mix music, books, and football as they dive into their latest discoveries and predictions. Here’s what they’re talking about: Jeff's Highlights: PACKS - Melt the Honey : A slacker guitar pop album full of nutritious hooks, with a Honey vs. HFCS analogy. Book Recommendations : Mexikid by Pedro Martin and the Front Desk seri...

Sonic Midlife Episode 3: Wayne Bass, College Football, Classic Albums, and Celebrity Homes In Episode 3 of Sonic Midlife , Jeff, Zach & Professor Wayne Bass cover a wide range of topics, from college football dynamics to cultural deep dives. Here's what's on the agenda: The Cowboys' Sultan of Squat : Jeff introduces a new patio music classic  Dashboard Confessional’s album Dusk &am...