The Culture We Deserve Obligatory Best and Worst of the Year Episode
Jan 1, 2026
Nico and Jessa dive deep into the best and worst cultural moments of the year. They tackle everything from a masculinity crisis to AI’s encroachment on culture. Their discussion covers the overproduction of content, the commodification of bodies, and the challenges facing museums. As they dissect films and books, they highlight standout works like 'One Fight' and Jessa's path-breaking book on masculinity. Tune in for sharp critiques and hopeful artistic reflections that promise better cultural futures ahead!
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Episode notes
Masculinity Debate Lacks Nuance
- The podcast argued the manosphere discussion suffered from shallow, class‑blind coverage in mainstream outlets.
- Jessa released a book addressing masculinity, expecting debate but noting discourse resistance to nuance.
Humiliation As An Omen
- Jessa and Nico joked about public humiliations of figures like Andrew Tate and Jake Paul as cultural omens.
- Jessa promoted her book as a remedy for men's confusion and invited readers to a study group.
AI Reveals Cultural Subconscious
- AI outputs reveal people's subconscious cultural fantasies and minimal imagination in surprising ways.
- Reading AI-generated content becomes a crude proxy for reading minds and cultural desires.