It's Pretty OK

We’re firmly planted in tomato sandwich season, but this week, the gang is talking about #vanlife. What possesses certain people to convert passenger vans into roving residences? How does that relate to the “tiny house” trend? And what does the Britpop band Pulp have to do with any of that?

MUSIC: “Common People” - Pulp

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This week, the guys celebrate the USWNT’s World Cup victory, argue over the value of “doing nothing,” apologize for wardrobe choices, and recommend immersing yourself in history when you get the chance.

MUSIC: “Cadaver Sniffing Dog” - The Mountain Goats

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This week, a recent Slate Money segment sparks a conversation about independent bookstores. How are they managing to compete in the age of Amazon, and when is it maybe a good idea to forgo maximum efficiency and slow things down a bit?

MUSIC: “SUN RA” - Jamila Woods

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Slate Money: “The Tweak a Little Harder Edition” (Slate)

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This week, Sean and Pierce are talking about drafts. No, not first drafts or cold draft beers. These are sports drafts, which are excellent for teams and their fans. But are drafts maybe bad for players? They examine who benefits from the draft system and what could be done as an alternative to empower young players while still preserving the joyful insanity of the NBA offseason.

MUSIC: “Fake Empire” - The National

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Abolish the Draft (New York)

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This week, Max’s new transportation habit starts a conversation about the dockless bike/scooter craze. What problem are they trying to solve? Whatever happened to just walking places? Why is Sean such a grumpy old asshole? And who’s that whimpering in the background? (It’s special guest/co-host Harriet the dog, that’s who!)

MUSIC: “Scream“ - Stef Chura (Note: Sean incorrectly identified her label as Polyvinyl; she records on Saddle Creek)

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It’s getting to be summertime, so summer reading is the topic. We all seem to enjoy reading and the summer, so what was it about combining the two that caused so much dread for our adolescent selves?

MUSIC: “Right Place Wrong Time” - Dr. John / “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” - Geto Boys

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This week, the discussion turns to perhaps Max’s favorite activity of any given week: bar trivia. Why is it such a ubiquitous way for young folks to spend their time? And is Pierce too competitive for it to be fun?

MUSIC: “Old Man” - Stella Donnelly

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This week, the gang is talking about movie theater etiquette. Why does it seem like it’s getting worse?

MUSIC: “Capacity” - Charly Bliss

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Game of Thrones has finally reached its much-anticipated end, but we talked about the show last week, so we’re not going to do that again. Instead, we’re talking endings…namely, why we’re so invested in them.

MUSIC: “Harmony Hall” - Vampire Weekend

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There's only one episode left of Game of Thrones, but it's possible you missed that in the storm of criticism about the way that the eighth season has unfolded. This week, the gang digs into that criticism, the fan-theory economy, whether showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss deserve the flak they're getting, and whether this phenomenon is amplified by Game of Thrones's unique circumstances (FINISH THE BOOKS, GEORGE).

MUSIC: "Returning to the Fold" - The Thermals

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: On Smarm (Gawker)

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