Together, Alone Podcast

We’re thrilled to share our conversation with cultural critic Eileen G’Sell on her first book of nonfiction: Lipstick. We discuss the many meanings behind the iconic object and how attitudes towards lipstick are shaped by time, culture, and, of course, the TV, films, and music videos we grew up with. Get full access to Together, Alone at www.watchingtogetheralone.com/subscribe

In this episode, Arielle and Gabe speak with Andrew Bertaina, the DC-based author and professor, whose most recent book, Ethan Hawke & Me , explores his love for the Richard Linklater trilogy and how his appreciation for the Before films has expanded with time and new life experiences. We talk about the unique power of the films we grew up with and why revisiting films can be just as impactful as...

In this episode, Arielle and Gabe discuss Derek Thompson’s article, “The Anti-Social Century” and what it means to watch TV in a time of increased loneliness. We discuss online discourse, fractured viewing patterns, doomscrolling, the joys of discussing the TV shows we love, the power of small talk, and strategies for how we can engage video content in more meaningful ways. Get full access to Toge...

Arielle and Gabe discuss how streaming culture, social media, and the shift back to movie theaters, shaped how they experienced art and culture in 2024. Tune is for our top TV shows and films of the past year and what we are most excited to see in 2025, as well as some glimpses into what Together, Alone will tackle in the new year. Get full access to Together, Alone at www.watchingtogetheralone.co...

In this episode, Arielle and Gabe speak with Greg Dember, the Seattle-based author and musician, whose recently released book Say Hello to Metamodernism: Understanding Today’s Culture of Ironesty, Felt Experience and Empathic Reflexivity explores how culture that combines the ironic and the sincere has been captivating us for the past twenty years. We talk about the unique power of the “dramedy” a...

Alonso Duralde is a film critic, podcaster, and author. His most recent book is Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film . The book covers more than a century of LGBTQ+ history in film, beginning with an Edison Company test reel. We talk about this history, Alonso’s research and writing, and his work as a critic in print, online, and on podcasts. We also spe...

Discussed: Higher education, pop culture, nostalgia, Gen Alpha, Gen Z, Millennials, Elder Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, Kyle Chayka’s Filterworld, empathy, generation gaps, wisdom, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, history, cultural context, teaching, learning, feminism. We’re thrilled to share our conversation about teaching pop culture with cultural critic and senior lecturer Eileen G’Sell . We discu...

Discussed : Artificial intelligence, creativity, algorithms, human skills, expertise, trust, journalism, education, efficiency, hope In this month’s conversation, Arielle and Gabe talk about the way that AI is increasingly used in a variety of fields and how we can continue to value and embrace human creativity in this time of profound technological change. Get full access to Together, Alone at ww...

Discussed : The White Lotus , opera, gothic literature, aesthetics, ingenues, hotels, Mike White, beauty, sadness, sexuality, desire, Madam Butterfly In this month’s conversation, Arielle and Gabe welcome guest critic Dustin Friedman to discuss how Season 2 of The White Lotus embraces a gothic literary tradition, the show’s thrilling sensuality, and whether or not Daphne is a tragic heroine. Dusti...

Discussed : International films, audio mixing, closed captioning, Swiss movie theater policies, The Boy and the Heron Who says no one reads anymore? Netflix reports that 40% of viewers watch with subtitles or closed captioning. Younger viewers , especially, say text-on-screen is essential. The growing comfort with subtitles may now be contributing to a rising interest in (and appreciation of) inte...

Discussed: Nathan for You, The Rehearsal, The Curse , cringe comedy, reality TV, The Office , shows you try to get your friends to watch This month, we talk about the work of Nathan Fielder and how it relates to reality TV. Through the shows Nathan for You , The Rehearsal , and The Curse, Fielder has moved from parodying the genre to exploring its ethics. The shows are uncomfortable and odd at tim...

Discussed: Foe , I’m Thinking of Ending Things , literary adaptations, interiority in fiction, the filmmaking process We’re thrilled to share our conversation with novelist Iain Reid , whose bestselling novels I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Foe have both been adapted to film. We discussed the choices that writers make when translating for different mediums and audiences, as well as the specific...

We’re trying something new on Together, Alone . In the past, we’ve had a monthly conversation about a show, movie, or YouTube video, written out like a chat in a messaging app. This month, we invited a guest and we thought it would be a great occasion to post audio of our conversation. We’ll do this each month, sometimes with a guest, sometimes the two of us. If you have guests you’d love to hear...