Velvet Vices

In this special bonus episode, Jackson and Taylor test new microphones and tell each other about their recent obsessions. Taylor talks about the new app ReelShort and its minute-long soap operas. Jackson shares his newfound infatuation with Björk and her music. They also talk about their excitement for Agnostic B*tch Autumn.

Chapters

00:00 Sound Check

01:38 ReelShort

15:50 Diving into Björk

31:37 Agnostic B*tch Autumn

In this episode, Jackson and Taylor explore the concept of cultural decay, discussing its manifestations in microtrends, music, social media, and the loss of underground culture. They reflect on the impact of societal changes on culture and the pervasive sense of nihilism among their generation. They also cover current topics such as the 8 year old who drove to Target and the Titan wreckage. Their song this week is "September" by Earth, Wind, & Fire.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

6:03 The Target Diva

11:13 Submersible Wreckage

19:57 Defining Cultural Decay

01:02:15 Nihilism

Jackson and Taylor discuss this year's VMAs, reflecting on iconic performances and the current state of pop culture, touching on Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and more. They then transition into an analysis of episodes 3 and 4 of Chimp Crazy, a follow-up to their previous episode. They talk about Tonia Haddix, Alan Cumming, Tamara and Buck, and more. Their song of the week is "You're Invited" by The Dare.

Resources discussed from PETA:

Captive Primate Safety Act ⁠https://support.peta.org/page/54963/action/1?locale=en-US⁠

Other ways to help

⁠https://headlines.peta.org/chimp-crazy-take-action/ ⁠

Timestamps

00:00 VMAs and Pop Culture

18:48 Chimp Crazy Episodes 3 and 4

Jackson and Taylor discuss the struggles of running out of storage, their Labor Day weekends, Hawk Tuah's new podcast, the films "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "About Time", and Katy Perry's appearance on Call Her Daddy. Their song recommendation this week is "Diet Pepsi" by Addison Rae.

Timestamps

00:00 Storage Trouble

12:15 Bad First Date

28:34 People Watching in Southampton

32:40 Facebook AI-Generated Dating Profiles

37:07 Hawk Tuah's Podcast

41:12 Teaser for Next Week

43:50 "The Time Traveler's Wife" & "About Time"

01:03:15 Katy Perry on CHD

01:13:07 Addison Rae's "Diet Pepsi"

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4C4bxlqd90Wiuozp1Cf4q7?si=I_R7fV2hSf69BNS-MNWSjw&pi=u-QjrtFyO3StC_

The hosts discuss the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy and share their thoughts on the various aspects of the story. They discuss figures such as Connie Casey, Tonia Haddix, PETA, and more. Their music recommendation this week is Dignity by Hilary Duff.

Jackson and Taylor discuss various anti-heroes in literature, film, and TV shows, starting with characters like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and Rebecca Bunch from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. They explore the complexities and flaws of these characters, highlighting how they reflect real human struggles. They also discuss the relatability of anti-heroes and the tendency to empathize with characters who make mistakes. The conversation touches on the psychological aspects of these characters and the portrayal of mental illness in shows. Overall, they argue that anti-heroes are compelling and engaging because they mirror our own internal struggles. They also discuss Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Pearl from the movie Pearl, Frank Gallagher from Shameless, and Tony Soprano from The Sopranos. Their song this week is "Suburban House" featuring Lana Del Rey by Holly Macve.

The co-hosts discuss the aesthetics of nostalgia, focusing on the 90s and early 2000s. They discuss various nostalgic aesthetics, such as McBling, liminal spaces, backrooms, and childhood memories. They also touch on the resurgence of 2000s nostalgia in music and pop culture, the nostalgia associated with listening to Taylor Swift's album Red, their appreciation for vintage aesthetics such as Frutiger Aero. Jackson and Taylor discuss the "demure" trend and their nostalgia for different aesthetics and cultural moments from their childhood and teenage years. They reminisce about their love for emo and scene fashion, including black bedrooms, silly bandz, and MySpace aesthetics. They also explore the music, movies, and TV shows that defined their youth, “Duvet” by bôa, early 2000s pop music, Sex and the City, and Jennifer Coolidge's iconic roles.

Chapters

00:00 Setting the Topic

02:12 The Allure of Nostalgia and the Feeling of Melancholy

08:16 Reviving the Aesthetics of the 2000s on TikTok

20:10 Desire for Flip Phones

25:19 The Nostalgic Allure of the Fall Season

39:39 Frutiger Aero and Design Trends

52:44 The Dislike for Minimalism

55:47 Emo Scene and Personal Style

58:43 MySpace and Social Media

01:04:57 The Good Year of 2016

01:11:30 Nostalgia for Carrie Bradshaw

01:14:58 The Power of Nostalgia

01:19:07 Embodying Jennifer Coolidge

01:20:03 The Impact of Nostalgia

In their 13th episode, Jackson and Taylor discuss various topics, including the effects of Mercury retrograde, weird signs from the universe, updates on Amberlynn Reid, and they answer the "36 Questions to Fall in Love". Finally, they talk about the Canadian rock band, The Beaches.

Timestamps

00:00 Mercury Retrograde

03:25 Amberlynn Reid Update

13:33 "36 Questions to Fall in Love"

59:35 The Beaches

In this conversation, Jackson and Taylor discuss the recent drama surrounding YouTuber Amberlynn Reid and her relationships. They cover the timeline of events, including Amberlynn's previous girlfriend Wifey, the introduction of Valentine, and the most recent girlfriend, Tommy. They also touch on the controversy surrounding Tommy's previous partner and the involvement of other individuals. The conversation highlights the intense scrutiny and online drama that Amberlynn is experiencing and the potential impact on her future on YouTube. They also touch on topics such as the skepticism surrounding everything and drama with her exes. At the end, Jackson and Taylor discuss "Guess featuring Billie Eilish" by Charli xcx.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:36 The Boring Era is Over

01:16 The Importance of Side Characters

02:21 The Mystery of Wifey

06:43 The Introduction of Valentine

12:31 Threats of Leaked Photos

14:50 Amberlynn's Potential Decision to Quit YouTube

21:26 Tommy's Controversial Past

30:47 Speculation and Scrutiny: Amberlynn's Relationships

35:26 Ambergeddon

49:25 "Guess featuring Billie Eilish"

51:11 Kamala is Brat

Jackson and Taylor discuss the book Rouge by Mona Awad. They explore themes of family, beauty, identity, cults, and more. They also discuss the surreal and experimental nature of the book, comparing it to the works of David Lynch and cross-analyzing it with Awad's other work. Finally, Jackson and Taylor discuss their thoughts on joining a cult.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Jackson's Injury

04:53 Introducing Rouge by Mona Awad

13:45 Analysis with Spoilers Begins

19:52 The Tom Cruise of It All

49:11 Would We Join a Cult?