I Think Less of You Podcast

We’re back! But who knows for how long… summer is rough, y’all.

We are going to have a few more weeks of spotty posts based on summer schedules, but are happy to be here today talking UK politics, World Cup, beach vacations, and more.

Should have another post up this week, things might get spotty around the 4th and then mid-July.

Thanks for being here and as always we’d love any and all comments here on substack - and if you’d like to do a subscriber live sometime? Let us know below.

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Today we talk a major political scandal, a friend, Spencer Pratt, Lee being open to being bought by companies, and more.

Worth reading from Lyndsey, published early this morning:

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This one is kind of all over the place… we recorded at night so some of us were a bit more chaotic than normal. (Some of us being me.)

The tweet Lee references about a random man in Los Angeles yelling at Hasan Piker over his dog abuse:

At the end of the podcast we make a little plea: leave a comment! We hear that you’re listening, but comment here - let’s get a chat going!

This helps us be seen by the algorithm, but also makes us feel a lot less like we’re talking to an empty wall, which we would probably still do to hear ourselves talk, but is decidedly less fun.

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Its the first podcast of summer, so a little programming note, as it were - both of our kids are out of school for the summer (and Courtney is mid-moving across the country in August chaos) - so we might only have one episode some weeks. Apologies!

To check out Courtney on the Walk ins Welcome episode with Bridget Phetasy (so so so much fun to do!) find it here:

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This one is both political - in we’re talking Massie - and the church sense, as we switch to Orthodox drama. We’re not really diving into religion on this though, just outlining a major scandal that took place last week and the reaction/fallout from it on twitter.

We recorded this before Massie lost, but he kept things as classless as we expected last night.

The second part of the podcast, we dip into a scandal that is mostly online, but starting to work its way into Orthodox (and many Catholic) churches - the tradbros - and specifically, a major scandal that erupted on twitter last week with the digital stoning of a woman who wrote an article about how young people in the church, mostly converts, are having problems finding spouses and dating - and quickly devolved to an incredibly dark scandal.

For a rundown on the controversy that ran through Twitter orthodoxy, I recommend these posts (this is not an endorsement of any of the authors, just good accounts of what exactly happened):

If you’re curious about the article that kicked it all off, you can find it here:

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I annoy Lee (and likely, each and every one of you) with my weird Eurovision obsession on this one, before we go into Chud the Builder, schizo podcasters on the right and why the left is never asked to answer for their bad actors, and onto Childrens tv shows, natch.

A little Eurovision background: Eurovision started in the 1950’s to bring unity to postwar Europe - and now is sort of a cultural powerhouse to try to make a small dent internationally. Some countries go for patriotic songs, some go for popular songs, some go for ballads (which I don’t talk about, but there are a number of great ballads like Poland’s Alicja, I just am not a ballad person), theres a lot of EDM, and some cheesy pop songs.

The song I want to win (and won’t)… Israel’s Michelle:

The Croatian women’s ballad about Turkish enslavement of Slavic women:

The UK’s (ghastly) entry (that has more words in German, curiously, than Germany’s):

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Give us your TV/movie recommendations for movie club! Comment below… especially if you have any favorite episodes of the Hills, since I am going to make Lee watch a few episodes.

The Metallica take on Zorba the Greek in Athens I mentioned…

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We’re both back to normal recording conditions for a really fun discussion about a small town in Nevada and why Lee wants Microsoft to take over a dying resort; how we both love art deco; whether Courtney is a snob; and other foolishness.

At one point I bring up a Fallout cookbook I forgot to text Lee, here it is:

AI produced show notes:

00:00 - Community quirks: waving stories and neighbor interactions00:45 - Comparing social norms in California, Armenia, and the East Coast01:55 - The psychology behind waving and local community behaviors04:20 - Visiting and preserving iconic roadside attractions and casinos06:30 - The fantasy of revitalizing Prim Valley as a Fallout theme park09:00 - Corporate opportunities: How Microsoft or other giants could buy and develop12:10 - The cultural significance of American roadside attractions like Wall Drug and Waldrück15:05 - Nostalgia and obsession with abandoned Nevada resorts and their lore16:45 - Gaming culture: Fallout universe and its connection to real Nevada landmarks19:00 - How to navigate luxury travel upgrades and what that entails21:00 - The decline of Vegas gambling perks and the new luxury landscape23:00 - American culture icons: diners, roadside attractions, and the American way26:00 - Upcoming entertainment: Netflix’s Ray Gun and the preservation of retro art deco design30:00 - Conversations about exploring Americana through city trips and architecture34:00 - Movie theater pet peeves and the joys of independent cinemas44:00 - The importance of cultural relics and their role in American identity50:00 - The impact of economic changes and the future of entertainment landscapes55:00 - Final thoughts on the importance of preservation, nostalgia, and creative visions for abandoned places

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Sorry for a bit of weird lag here, Courtney was in Boston preparing for a move… hope you enjoy this deep dive on Spencer Pratt’s reality past thanks to Courtney’s esteemed role as this podcasts Reality TV Historian.

* The early Hollywood and reality TV career of Spencer Pratt and his villain persona

* Spencer Pratt’s recent run for mayor of Los Angeles and his motivations

* The influence of Hollywood’s interconnected family ties, especially the Kardashians and David Foster

* The staged nature of reality TV shows like The Hills, Laguna Beach, and their production tactics

* The political landscape in Los Angeles, including the candidates’ backgrounds and ongoing issues like the Palisades fire

* Armenia’s current political climate, Macron’s charm offensive, and the destruction of Armenian cultural sites

* The historical background of the American Revolution, Boston’s political egos, and national pride

* Canadian citizenship laws and the benefits of multiple passports

* Societal debates around marijuana legalization, mental health, and the cultural shifts in drug policies

* The influence of Japan on Orthodoxy and religious spread in East Asia

* Lighthearted local tales and humorous banter about Boston, tea parties, and family adventures

AI Generated Timestamps:

00:00 - Spencer Pratt’s entry into Hollywood and reality TV villain roles02:08 - The staged nature of reality shows like The Hills and Laguna Beach05:12 - Spencer Pratt’s shift from reality star to political candidate06:25 - His background in political science and unique campaign commercials07:39 - Fire rebuilding issues in Los Angeles and Spencer’s motives for running08:51 - Overview of Los Angeles mayoral race and candidates09:35 - Fire history, urban planning, and the Western wildfire crisis10:58 - Spencer Pratt’s life post-reality TV, spiritual pursuits, and animal bonding12:05 - His TikTok hummingbird obsession and campaign symbolism13:12 - Controversy over Spencer’s residency and voting rights in L.A.14:14 - Local noise, lawn care, and city life contrasts between East and West16:16 - Speculation on Spencer’s potential election and Hollywood satire17:11 - The tangled history of Los Angeles’ water supplies and urban myths18:37 - The appeal of celebrity in politics and potential memes19:37 - Reflection on the history of Boston, the Boston Tea Party, and American Revolution myths22:40 - Personal stories about living in Boston and local history explorations29:49 - Canadian citizenship laws, opportunities, and family roots33:11 - The societal impact of marijuana legalization, mental health concerns, and drug laws37:24 - Cultural attitudes towards alcohol, moderation, and societal norms39:14 - Armenia’s current geopolitics, Macron’s visit, and cultural ties with France42:49 - Historical context of Armenian genocide recognition and global awareness44:07 - World War II history, Holocaust awareness, and international responses45:42 - The spread of Orthodoxy in Japan and Christian outreach in East Asia46:36 - Closing thoughts on historical narratives, city life, and family stories

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This week we’re talking the lighter parts of the weekend, including the Substack Correspondents Party and the aftermath of a brawl that started at the party.

Sorry for the language in these tweets/videos, but at least it’s not coming from me? - C

Some of the Michael Tracey fight fun from his friend, Justin Robert Young as mentioned in the podcast (sorry, the clip doesn’t play because I am the boomeriest of elder millenials):

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