Critical Nonsense

What if nothing is free anymore? And how should one go about virtual family functions? [21:26]

This week, Joey and Jess talk about the pandemic's advertising fallout, winning subscription models today, our membership ceiling, celebrating Aboo turning 98, a request for Zoom 'Birthday Mode', and hardware shortcomings. They don't talk about when you should stop corresponding age with N+1 individual candles.

references

How has irony poisoned the internet and when will it stop? And how are we building iterative bits of wisdom? [21:07]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about The Office, Pepe the Frog, irony's protective shell, Blaise Pascal, and taking our hats off to the folk at Arts & Letters Creative Co. They don't talk about the color of irony's shell: green....red....blue....

references

How do you deal with allergies you don't have? And what makes a great game? [20:48]

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about allergy empathy, personal matters of (food) intolerance, so many other creative culinary ideas from Aaron, Crash Bandicoot 4, watching our older brothers play games, and a bit of overflow of Jess's fascination with esports. They don't talk about how you should send us your alternative food favorites to [email protected].

references

How do you break away from mental models that aren't doing you any good? And what's next after Blands? [33:32]

This week, Joey and Aaron and Jess talk about the move from ADHD to VAST, positive psychology, hiring based on luck, "your new Bland Identity," pelotons and Peloton, and design monoculture. They don't talk about how we, Sylvain Labs, are ourselves a certified B Corporation...

references

This week, a special episode!

Jess and sound engineer—and Fake Ad mastermind—Alex Contell talk about the ads' origin story, what makes Alex sweat, Joey and Aaron's predilection for improv, that time Jess recorded the show sitting outside the door to the studio, and the special thanks we always miss. They don't talk about how "Hamster Hands" turned into to "Hamster Hams."

What has given hip-hop such staying power compared with other genres of music? And what makes new words last? [29:07]

This week, Joey and special guest Mujtaba Hameed talk about the 4 elements of hip hop, Drake, "the belt," the bouba-kiki effect, the word panties, and the best acoustic shapes. They don't talk about how Muj's brother felt about all the shade thrown this episode.

references

How do you go about finding yourself in the content you consume? And how are we going to live next year? [30:58]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about the lasting effects of Will & Grace, capital C Critique, two asian women from Queens, the concept of the "15-Minute City," remote working adjustments, and a few silver linings. They don't talk about the activities schedule at Camp Camp.

references

Why don't we have public intellectuals like we used to? And why do we need so much mint? [27:58]

This week, Joey, Jess, and special guest Ilana Bondell talk about Vidal vs Buckley, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brené Brown, menthe: the ultimate collaborator, how Wintermint isn't even mint, and Ilana's great mint conspiracy theory. They don't talk about whether mint chocolate chip ice-cream is better white or green.

references

Why isn't everyone in love with Sharknado? And why do we crush? [30:11]

This week, Aaron and Joey and Jess talk about B-Movies, a Sharknado notes slam poetry reading, soap operas, the "crush vessel," crushing pain, and #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday). They don't talk about Jess's now defunct girlband, called Next Crush.

references

Why is Thirst-vertising such a thing right now? And how are superheroes adapting to 2020? [22:06]

This week, Aaron, Jess, and luminary guest Dylan Fowler talk about risqué instagram advertising, WAP, Porn Hub's data analytics team, Watchmen, the idea of "protection," and She-Ra. They don't talk about the now defunct Isaiah Mustafa Voicemail Message Downloader site that left us far too soon.

references