Jeff explores the debut Lucky Cloud – Foreground from Chicago’s Chet Zenor, dives into Elif Batuman’s The Idiot and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, grabs a pupusa burger, and streams Patriot on Amazon Prime. Zach spins Credit Electric and Dean Johnson, eats Mexican hotdogs, and celebrates the return of PTI from summer break.

There's even some Mel Gibson discussion — all in the latest episode of Sonic Midlife.

Zach and Jeff dive into fresh sounds from Ryan Davis & The Road House Band and Greg Freeman before trading book notes on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Wait Till Next Year and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot. Food talk centers on dumpling tomato salad with chili crisp vinaigrette and mussels with pasta, while screens are filled with Chernobyl and the Locked on Sports Today podcast. Special guest Benjamin Martone joins for a wide-ranging college football preview—highlighting unforgettable Key & Peele skit names, the wildest BYU roster, new quarterbacks, shifting conferences, and bold playoff predictions

Jeff starts us off with Bill Callahan’s “The Mackenzies,” a quiet epic that opens wide with repeated listens, and Reporter, Seymour Hersh’s gripping memoir that’s part history lesson, part investigative masterclass. He also reflects on the humble joys of focaccia.

Zach brings Bright Eyes’ “1st World Blues” to the table—a political ska-tinged anthem that feels like Desaparecidos on a beach vacation—and recommends Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green, a deeply personal and wildly informative takedown of global apathy.

We also weigh in on QT’s brisket sandy, Cal Raleigh’s dinger parade, and American Movie. Then we’re joined by our college friend Bryce Woodhouse to rank the Bon Iver discography, celebrate the rise of Mk.gee and Dijon, and learn what goes into his latest culinary experiment: homemade lactofermented hot sauce.

Zach returns from Chicago with a full stomach and fresh takes on Small Cheval, Lou Malnati’s, and The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. Jeff takes us to Ann Arbor for a Zingerman’s run and dives into Kiwi Jr.’s Chopper and Jonathan Franzen’s Crossroads. The guys dig into Paul Westerberg’s underrated Suicaine Gratification, swap thoughts on Ken Burns: Baseball and The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, and Jeff recommends the podcast How Long Gone, featuring guests like Hamilton Leithauser, Panda Bear, Mark Hoppus, Bon Iver, and This Is Lorelei.

The gang is joined by very special guest Myke Olsen. They discuss the novels of Willy Vlautin as well as their favorite doughnuts. They don't think you should leave as they laugh it up about the wonders of Friendship and Tim Robinson. To cap it off, they dive into all things pizza with Myke, being the owner of downtown Mesa, Arizona's Myke's Pizza.

In Episode 18 of Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff go deep into Bob Dylan’s late-era classics—from Time Out of Mind to Tempest—arguing they stand tall next to his most revered work. They also spotlight some standout new music, including the dreamy alt-country debut from Echolalia, the fuzzy indie rock of Toronto’s Casper Skulls, and Underneath by Floodlights, a record built for fans of The National and Spanish Love Songs.

On the reading front, Zach brings The Horse by Willy Vlautin and The Bad Guys Won (a deep dive into the wild 1986 Mets), while Jeff reflects on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and On Trails by Robert Moor. The duo also talk summer foods (BLTs and hot dogs), shout out the Never Ending Stories podcast on Dylan bootlegs, and catch up on the NBA Playoffs and The Rehearsal.

It’s an episode that swings from baseball chaos to Radiohead-tinged country—just another week on Sonic Midlife.

This week, Zach and Jeff are joined by their old college friend and resident NBA sage, Ford Thunder Erickson. The three dive into the heart of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, breaking down the best first-round matchups, offering bold predictions, and asking the big question: is OKC right on time or ahead of schedule?

Off the court, Zach reflects on the quiet emotional power of Japanese Breakfast’s music, and Jeff takes us through a whirlwind night of live shows with Bob Dylan, Graham Hunt, and Liquid Mike. On the reading front, the guys discuss Jesus & John Wayne, exploring white evangelical politics, masculinity, and militarism—and Jeff adds Among the Bros to the mix, offering a sharp look at frat culture and privilege in the American South.

Plus: a rice plate from Queen of Pho, a visit to Bravas, and all the stuff Ford’s into these days.

In this episode, Jeff and Zach dive into the lush landscapes of indie rock, starting with Hamilton Leithauser’s This Side of the Island and quick recs featuring Japanese Breakfast, Palmyra, Perfume Genius, and Deafheaven. They discuss Kyle M’s The Real Me and unpack the deeper meanings behind the sound.

On the reading front, Zach explores how history is weaponized in Jason Stanley’s Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, while Jeff ponders the absurdities of modern labor with David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs.

Also up for discussion: Bob Dylan’s enduring weirdness on stage, Parker Posey appreciation, the unsettling brilliance of Severance, The White Lotus, and some comfort food talk—from QuikTrip breakfast croissants to Jeff’s latest sourdough batch.

In this episode of Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff are joined by fellow teacher and cycling enthusiast Vincent Serrani for a wide-ranging conversation covering music, books, food, and public policy. Zach dives into Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter, while Jeff reflects on Superviolet - Infinite Spring. In the reading corner, Zach shares his thoughts on Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and Jeff discusses All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob.

The duo also talk food—Zach gets into pozole, while Jeff introduces the Tim Tam Slam, a chocolatey sensation. Meanwhile, Zach has been watching Dirt by Huckberry on YouTube, and Jeff is looking forward to baseball season, along with deep dives into Nathan Fielder and Adam Curtis.

Vincent joins the conversation to share his experiences with cycling and the public policies surrounding it, as well as his latest interests in music, books, food, and podcasts.

Buckle up for a ride through music, literature, food, and a bit of urban policy—this one’s got a little something for everyone.

In this episode of Sonic Midlife, Zach recaps the MJ Lenderman & Wild Pink show in OKC and dives into new music from Head North, Cameron Winter, and Frog, while Jeff highlights Rosie Tucker’s Utopia Now!. On the literary side, they discuss John Langan’s The Fisherman, Claire Vaye Watkins’ Battleborn, and Leslie Marmon Silko’s Almanac of the Dead.

They also cover pozole, the Whole Foods hot bar, and the Eagles' beatdown of the Chiefs, plus a look at Once Upon a Time in the West and Bill Walton’s Back From the Dead.