Dan kicks off 2026 by lighting Dry January on fire and warming his hands over the flames. In this year-opening episode, he makes the case that voluntarily quitting booze for a month is less about “wellness” and more about public performance, misplaced guilt, and punishing yourself for having enjoyed December like a normal human.

Along the way, Dan digs into why Dry January culture has become weirdly smug, why mocktails are not a personality, and how the beverage industry somehow survived thousands of years without a wellness calendar telling it when to behave.

On the happier side of the ledger, Dan reveals one of his newest LA obsessions: Yakun—a low-key, deeply comforting restaurant that’s quickly worked its way into his regular rotation. He also shares an update on his upcoming mystery novel, A Cheesesteak to Die For, including where the manuscript stands, what’s changed since the last draft, and why 2026 is shaping up to be a very good year for Philly-flavored crime.

Dry January skeptics, food obsessives, and mystery readers: welcome back. The year is officially underway!

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