Critical Nonsense

When is communicating emotion bad for your health? And what is the culture of airports? [20:15]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about sharing feelings, outrage, asking for what you need, "non-places," “Business Men,” and Geert Hofstede. They don’t talk their big dreams for the future of airports.

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Do we own anything anymore? And when does dissecting culture ruin the magic? [18:44]

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about ebooks, High Fidelity, the access business model, "where magic resides," reruns, and nuggets. They don't talk about Nuggs.

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Why is ghosting a thing? And why are we so obsessed with secret menus? [18:18]

This week, Joey and special guests Steven and Nora talk about the three kinds of ghosting, 'the first few dates,' rejection, Starbucks orders and soda jerks, Panera's hidden menu flop, and Emma Chamberlain. They don't talk about their favorite secret menu items (they're secret, after all.)

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This week, a special episode!

Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk in lightning-round fashion about random events since the top of 2019: the Keanu Reeves renaissance, Billy Porter's style explosion, the black hole photo, the end of Game of Thrones (with no GoT spoilers, but serious Lost spoilers), paper straws, and Zion Williamson's exploding shoe. They don't talk about many other big things that happened in 2019 which are less fun but definitely important.

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How do we deal with business trends like radical candor? And what values do we communicate through sports? [19:12]

This week, special guest Muj, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about "the chasing mentality," "psychological safety," a bunch of other jargon, cricket, Lebron vs. Jordan, and personal optimization. They don't talk about all of the business trends (so please send us some of your favorites!)

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Why are we afraid of rewiring our brains? And why do we all smell like sticks? [15]

This week, special guest Hannah, Joey, and Jess talk about the first seasons of Chuck, Victor of Aveyron, neuroplasticity, the local train through Brooklyn, Hwyl, and Septimus Piesse's contributions to perfumery. They don't talk about the many other ways Piesse changed the perfume industry.

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How do we make Pride better? And what kind of self-promotion isn't gross? [22:49]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about the Pink Dollar, "seeing rainbows," authenticity, The Wingman Phenomenon, the fear of the snakeoil salesman, and pop-up ads. They don't talk about how the title of this episode is the title of our yet unwritten, smash-hit mashup memoir: a composite of Joey and Aaron's personal stories and pop-cultured Jane Austen motifs.

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Why are we bad at self-care? And why can't we sleep? [17:07]

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about self-diagnosis, golfing, mani-pedis, hyper-productivity, napping, optimal sleeping temperatures. They don't talk about the superlative punning of pursuing "the American Dream."

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What is the relationship between compassion and creativity? And why are we so petty? [17:57]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about perceptiveness, the Crisis Text Line, geniuses, "Wig Gate," "spreading," and rounding on Venmo. They don't talk about whether the types of people who round are the same as the people who turn off read receipts.

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Why do I have to turn my hobby into a hustle? And how can mid-tier cities seize their moment? [14:47]

This week, special guest Katie, Jess, and Joey talk about making cheese, intrinsic value, sock embroidery, late-night food, park culture, and "the Goldilocks Zone." They don't talk about how there is a great controversy over the birthplace of the pupusa.

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A sample of Jess's sock embroidery.

Bon Appétit calling Richmond "America's Next Great Restaurant-Obsessed Town"

The pupusa.