A week of music, media, and misfires.

This week’s review opens with flowers for Outkast and a nod to the raw beginnings of creative genius. From Atlanta basements to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Col reflects on the elemental power of music that stops you in your tracks. George shares a highlight of the week: time with family and a live Pivot podcast taping in Brooklyn—equal parts schlepp and delight.

But not all moments hit the high note. George unpacks his disappointment with Scott Galloway’s performance, likening it to a Greatest Hits loop that lacked freshness. Col adds a quiet critique of Substack’s clunky interface and the auto-renewal trap; both reminders that even good tools need better UX and boundaries. Together, they explore the tension between prolific output and meaningful engagement.

The learning this week is layered: Meta’s leaked revenue projections reveal a troubling reliance on scam ads, while Col dives into the neuroscience of memory and imagination. The episode closes with a poetic reflection on how we remember, and how much of it we simply invent.

One part live show, one part scam ad, one part slippery memory. This week is a study in what sticks and what slips.