Middlebrow

Dan and Brian discuss American creature comforts, digital detoxes, Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, Sally Rooney's Intermezzo and our favs of 2024.

Dan and Brian discuss famous sightings at an experimental play, A Real Pain by Jesse Eisenberg, Spotify's plot against musicians, moral panic around celebrity infidelity and our ins and outs for the new year.

Harry Krinsky, host of the Nothing But Respect podcast, brings his eye for NBA culture and deep appreciation for good hangs to Middlebrow. We explore how media training killed sports personalities, the death of public social media engagement, the myth of run clubs, third spaces and recurring matches on online dating apps.

Noelle Perdue, porn historian and writer, traces the evolving boundaries of obscenity. We explore the definition of porn, algorithmic influences to our desire, tradwives, old playboys and fetishes.

Dan and Brian discuss the online footprint of today's assassins, stress addiction, Disclaimer on Apple TV, coffee shop zoom calls, Luna Luna, Dutch Bros and America's disappearing middle taste.

Tony award-winning playwright David Adjmi (Stereophonic) explores the creative aftermath of success. We chat about the tensions between artistic authenticity, creative ambition, and the weight of accomplishment.

Dan and Brian discuss friendsgiving as a concept, the millennial concert going experience, Paul Mescal and Denzel in Gladiator 2, Sunset Blvd on Broadway, Hauser and Wirth's restaurant and Rafa's retirement.

Dan and Brian discuss being personality hires for a J.Crew campaign, juggalo aesthetics, unicycle guys, becoming Joe Rogan of the left, virtual queues and the genius of Christian Marclay's 'The Clock'.

Designer and NYU media studies professor Ruby Thelot investigates the cultural dynamics of online spaces. Through his research, we discuss the act of being online, forms of gatekeeping, the Drake academic symposium and ways to become a better hater.

Dan and Brian discuss halloween costume effort, diversifying racism, Sean Baker's Anora, the truth about Blue Zones, Malcolm Gladwell-isms, testosterone replacement therapy and Hey Dude shoes.