It's Pretty OK

This week, the gang returns to discuss the way that certain parts of the restaurant experience — namely, the parts that have to do with choosing and ordering your food — have changed in the last year. Are QR-code menus contributing to the destruction of human interaction? Is any of this going to change back? And is Sean really going to rag on his dad for having a tough time reading menus in poorly-lit restaurants?

MUSIC: “Back That Azz Up” - Juvenile (feat. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne)

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: It’s over: ‘Vax That Thang Up’ is 2021’s song of the summer (The Verge)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about the proliferation of hip hotels that cater to a younger crowd. How are they different from traditional stalwart hotel chains, and does that say anything about a shift in travel priorities?

MUSIC: “Black and White” - The dB’s

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: “I’ve got tequila on my foot”: It’s last call for Whitlow’s in Clarendon (The Washington Post)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang takes up an incredibly important topic: What’s the difference between something like avocado toast and an open-faced sandwich? Is it the dumbest podcast we’ve ever done? Probably! But also maybe not. You’ll have to listen and determine for yourself.

MUSIC: “Cheeseburger in Paradise” - Jimmy Buffett

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Reporter spends 15 hours in a Mississippi Waffle House as punishment for finishing last in fantasy football (Twitter)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang (minus Sean’s appendix!) gets together to talk about Uber/Lyft, Airbnb and food delivery companies pivoting to profitability. What is the “millennial lifestyle subsidy,” and should anyone actually be surprised by it?

MUSIC: “Maybe Your Baby” - Stevie Wonder

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Farewell, Millennial Lifestyle Subsidy (The New York Times)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kevin, Pierce and Sean are talking about a Sports Illustrated exposé on pitchers using foreign substances to doctor the ball and get a better grip. What are the parallels to the steroid era? And why does MLB keep stepping on rakes it could easily just pick up?

MUSIC

“Divorce Song” - Liz Phair

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

“This Should Be the Biggest Scandal in Sports” (Sports Illustrated)

Crushed from Religion of Sport (Apple Podcasts // Spotify)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about “lifetime sports,” the kind of activities that you can do even after your athletic prime has passed. Why do some of them seem to be so expensive, and are there more easily accessible options? Also, Pierce apologizes as usual — only this may be the most off-the-rails apology yet.

MUSIC: “Welcome to Earth” / “Bad Feeling” - Cobra Man

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: LeBron James’s Agent Is Transforming the Business of Basketball (The New Yorker)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kevin brings an article from The Atlantic on MasterClass, the “educational” phenomenon that allows you to buy access to video tutorials from luminaries like Aaron Sorkin and Stephen Curry. Who is the target audience, and is this a good idea at all?

MUSIC: “Generic Song About You” - Disheveled Cuss

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:

What Is MasterClass Actually Selling? (The Atlantic)

Bomani Jones and Spencer Hall talk Stevie Wonder on The Right Time: Apple Podcasts // Spotify // YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang talks about good old-fashioned home drinking — or maybe more accurately, Old Fashioned home drinking. They explore how cocktails carry a special brand of nostalgia that beer and wine may not be able to match, and Sean and Pierce reminisce fondly on one specific night at one specific bar in DC.

MUSIC: “Two Characters in Search of a Country Song” - Country Westerns

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is talking about the things that make a backyard into a luxurious paradise. Are you a hot tub guy? Maybe you’re the king of the grill/smoker. Or maybe you just want to kick back and watch some TV while getting some fresh air. There’s something for everyone!

MUSIC: “The Lemon Song” - Led Zeppelin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the gang is talking about sports gambling now that sportsbooks are open for business in Virginia. Why is it probably a good idea to decouple sports betting from casinos? And how does ESPN’s Marvel-themed NBA broadcast from a few days ago factor into things?

MUSIC: “Lake Erie” - Wild Pink

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.