The Curated Culture

I had a dream about Elon Musk. Then I recorded this episode.

I recently sat down with fellow Michigander and impossibly cool comic artist Katie Cook at Motor City Comic Con! We talked about how she got her start in comics, how she never falls out of love with art, and the time she almost died (not really)...

This episode was birthed from a recent conversation with my wife. Sometimes the people you love the most can cut you deepest. But it's not always out of spite... Ironically enough, it can sometimes come from a surprising source.

Where were you when you found out the feel-good story of Thanksgiving was a lie?   This week, we explore the erosion of trust in every major institution we were brought up to have unwaivering trust in. Government, media, medicine, and education have all played their own direct roles in cultivating mistrust. 

Nobody gets handed a career in comics — you either find a door or you build one. Victor Dandridge built one, got thrown into the fire his very first time moderating a celebrity panel, and somehow came out the other side with a reputation that even comic legends had to respect. This episode is about what it actually looks like to grind your way into an industry that wasn't expecting you. Vantage In...

We explore a very polarizing subject this week: Can a billionaire truly be ethical? In order to explore this, we looked at how people even become billionaires, the advantages of a system that allows billionaires to exist, and yes... we talked about Taylor Swift.

You use this technology every single day. Your computer. Your phone. The internet. Video games. Even artificial intelligence. But most people have no idea that some of the most important breakthroughs behind modern technology were created by Black innovators whose names were never centered in the story.

Some people think everything is a conspiracy. I happen to think people like to monetize ignorance. 

From performative vulnerability to clickbait news and fake corporate "community," the internet turned real life into a stage. This episode breaks down why everything feels scripted, sponsored, and emotionally engineered. We're not bitter — we're just paying attention.

Technology is faster, smarter, and more powerful than ever—but somewhere along the way, it lost its personality. This episode is a nostalgic deep dive into the flawed, chaotic gadgets we loved anyway, and why innovation used to feel braver, messier, and way more human.

Everyone keeps saying DEI is "bad," but nobody can explain why without sounding scared. In this episode, I break down what DEI actually is, why "reverse racism" is a myth rooted in entitlement, and why fairness suddenly feels like punishment to people who were never tested before. If the idea of equal access makes you uncomfortable, this conversation might explain why.

In this episode, I break down Micron's shift toward AI, why "smart business decisions" keep making consumer tech worse, and how rising prices and stagnant upgrades are the logical outcome of corporate incentives. This isn't a rant — it's a diagnosis of how we quietly adapted to a system that no longer requires regular people to matter.

Everyone feels off right now, but maybe we're not depressed — maybe we're misaligned. This episode breaks down burnout, creator frustration, and how to find momentum without pretending life isn't heavy.

This week, I sat down with RAE Comic's TJ Sterling and Ade Heru from Giant Killer Press to discuss their latest collaborative project, 'Musa: Lion Of Mali.'    Back the Kickstarter: Musa Lion Of Mali

Hi. It's been a minute. 

Originally recorded in 2022, here's a quick convo between me and the LEGENDARY (argue with ya Mama) Adam Cole!

In this episode from the vault, Rob sits down with Ernie Hudson (Yes, THAT Ernie Hudson) to talk about a show he was starring in at the time, growing up in Michigan, and more! There's also an eerie foreshadowing about returning to the Ghostbusters franchise LONG before it happened!  

It's not you, it's us. We're taking a little breakskie, but not permanent, and you'll still get classic episodes every MONDAY! Check out the episode for full deets! See y'all soon!

This week, we dive into Apple's Fall "Awe-Dropping" event and why the company may not actually be announcing the revolutionary product they always promise. We also break down how deficiencies in quality control have ruined the dependability of games, fueling the Stop Killing Games movement. And Rob shares how Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls , the Battlefield beta, and RoboCop Rogue City helped him fa...

This week, Rob gets real about turning 40—digging into what it means for his life, his creativity, and the kind of content creator he's destined to be. He also takes you inside his trip to Port Huron for the very first Ozokucon, a brand-new comic con bringing fresh energy to Michigan's convention scene.

Not every "mistake" is innocent. Some are choices we don't wanna own. This week, we'll dive into the psychology, scandals, and BS behind why people call bad choices mistakes — and what it takes to stop hiding behind a word.

Part two of our conversation with Mike Nazarian! Check it out and make sure to go follow and support his show: The Realistic Sustainability Podcast

This week, we have sustainability expert and friend of the show, Mike Nazarian, joining us!  Rob and Mike take a trip down memory lane, discuss why facts still matter, and share the merits of kindness!

Tired of feeling overworked, underpaid, and one email away from flipping your desk? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive deep into why so many people hate their jobs. We talk stagnant wages, toxic work culture, and why billion-dollar companies still treat employees like disposable batteries. Plus, we explore how the 4-day workweek might just be the mental health revolution we've been begging...

He was the face of pro wrestling, the hero of a generation—but behind the bandana was a man steeped in ego, manipulation, and flat-out racism. This week, we expose the truth about Hulk Hogan: from his rise as the industry's biggest star to the sex tape scandal, racial slurs, family implosion, and failed redemption arc. No sugarcoating, no nostalgia pops—just the raw, uncomfortable truth about the...