Heavy Bored

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 9th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Social media culture–Intelligence as a joke–Phil Dunphy in the hospital–Mitch perpetually coming out as gay–Jump the shark plotlines–weak writing vs over explaining–guest stars–and more!

Recorded: 4/12/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4dIfIwn

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4tFzG03

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail 

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@catenjoyer81 https://x.com/catenjoyer81

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 8th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: A return to form in season 8–Cam and Mitch as Laurel and Hardy–Phil Dunphy getting electrocuted–Manny explaining wokeness–Marxism coming into any workplace depiction–the women's march–guest stars–and more!

Recorded: 3/29/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4u3qt1I

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4tFzG03

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail 

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@catenjoyer81 https://x.com/catenjoyer81

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and scholar, Steven Powell, to talk about his award-winning biography of the American crime writer James Ellroy, Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy. Topics include: Crime fiction–mystery in novels–the work of writing a biography–scholarship around crime and noir–and more!

*LINKS*

*Buy the Books*

Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy by Steven Powell: https://amzn.to/417Xltj

James Ellroy: Demon Dog of Crime Fiction by Steven Powell: https://amzn.to/3NAElQU

Conversations with James Ellroy by Steven Powell: https://amzn.to/4sWIMV6

The L.A. Quartet by James Ellroy: https://amzn.to/4smkFPP

More Books by James Ellroy: https://amzn.to/4uLUUtS

Read Steven Powell!

https://venetianvase.co.uk

Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail 

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@EllroyReader https://x.com/EllroyReader

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 7th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Therapy culture becoming full-blown in 2015–Cam losing screen time and plotlines–Phil Dunphy and the ducks–Manny suddenly being insecure–politics coming into jokes–guest stars–and more!

Recorded: 3/15/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4u3qt1I

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4tFzG03

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail 

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@catenjoyer81 https://x.com/catenjoyer81

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the 5th part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s turn toward the confessional mode–using family in poetry–redundant poems–––sisters fighting–Glück’s Ararat–and More!

Recorded: 3/7/2026

*LINKS*

*Buy the Books*

Louise Glück: Poems 1962-2012: https://amzn.to/4rgzW39

Proofs and Theories by Louise Glück: https://amzn.to/4lf8ph8

More Books by Louise Glück: https://amzn.to/4sEE9ix

Walking to Martha’s Vineyard by Franz Wright: https://amzn.to/4liDuR5

More Books by Franz Wright: https://amzn.to/4aZG9Mg

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail 

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 6th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: The beginning of woke in the culture–Haley becoming more important to the show–Cam’s many rivals–changing tone of the writing–explaining as dialogue–Manny losing his spark–guest stars–and more!

Recorded: 2/28/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4u3qt1I

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4tFzG03

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: [email protected]

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@catenjoyer81 https://x.com/catenjoyer81

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew is joined by freelance editor and spicy take appreciator, Sam Fakahany, as the pair go into Ottessa Moshfegh’s hit novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Topics include: censorship–Ottessa’s reputation–Publishing industry–literary “it girls”--Art hoes–art cowards–lit bros–DFW–Substack–the new literary world–and more!

*LINKS* 

*Buy the Books*

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh: https://amzn.to/4rabW1X

More Books by Ottessa Moshfegh: https://amzn.to/4aQGi3n

Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: heavyboredpodcast [at] gmail

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 5th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: The changing language of 2013–the wedding–the gay marriage moment–great sitcom writing–the split in the writers room–guest stars––Phil, Cam, and Jay carrying the show–and more!

Recorded: 2/15/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/46I9CaN

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4tFzG03

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: [email protected]

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@catenjoyer81 https://x.com/catenjoyer81

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittsadt is joined by author Brad Kelly of the Method and Madness podcast, in a discussion of his latest novel, The Earthen Dark. Topics Include: men in fiction–the cultural shifts in literature–soliciting agents–self-publishing game plans–why is sci-fi so irresistible–ancient archetypes–and more!

Recorded: 2/3/2025

*LINKS*

*Buy the Books*

House of Sleep by Brad Kelly: https://amzn.to/3ObW0y8

The Earthen Dark by Brad Kelly: https://amzn.to/46F64pI

It by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/4tp6s5A

More Books by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/4r3bYJn

The Squimbop Condition by David Leo Rice: https://amzn.to/4r1J6kP

More Books by David Leo Rice: https://amzn.to/3OtMrKZ

Crowbar by Andrew Edwards: https://amzn.to/4a5UK8v

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Subscribe to Method and Madness for FREE! https://www.madmethodpod.com/podcast

Contact us: [email protected]

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@bradkelly https://x.com/bradkelly

@madmethodpod https://x.com/madmethodpod

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 4th season of the ABC hit sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Jay and Gloria have a baby–classic sitcom gags–Phil Dunphy looks to the camera–guest stars–the birth of online wokeness in the culture–and more!

Recorded: 2/1/2026

*LINKS*

*Watch the Show*

 Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4aHSG70

*Buy the Books*

Modern Family: The Untold Oral History by Marc Freeman: https://amzn.to/4rjtqcF

Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored 

Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/

Contact us: [email protected]

Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706

Follow Us!

Twitter: 

@heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod

@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt

@BazillionPlus https://x.com/Bazillionplus

Instagram:

@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/

@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplus

TikTok:

@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast

YouTube:

@heavybored  https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored

@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips

*when available, we use affiliate links*