The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum

Writer and essayist Jacob Savage, known for his viral piece 'The Lost Generation,' dives into the challenges faced by millennial white men in fields like media and academia. He shares his disappointing journey from Princeton to Hollywood, emphasizing the impact of recent diversity initiatives. Jacob discusses evolving hiring practices, personal accountability, and how exclusion has influenced political trends and mental health among his peers. Their conversation raises questions about artistic loss and the changing landscape of creativity, sparking a critical dialogue about societal shifts.

Mike Pesca, a journalist and podcaster known for hosting The Gist, delves into the complexities of the creator economy, discussing challenges in discovery and monetization on platforms like Substack. He shares insights about the outrage culture that often propels success and evaluates Bari Weiss's recent controversy with CBS News. Their conversation touches on the evolving media landscape, including debates over diversity and representation, and how statistics can mislead narratives about white millennial men in the industry.

This week, I talk with author Lili Anolik about her book on two writers whose lives overlapped in ways that were both unlikely and (in retrospect) inevitable. One is Eve Babitz, the exuberant chronicler of 1970s Hollywood. The other is Joan Didion, whose notoriously "cool," exacting style defined a particular vision of Los Angeles and helped make her one of the most influential writers of the last century. The two writers are often framed as opposites, but in Didion & Babitz, Lili explores how they shared similar burdens of the times–burdens around creativity, ambition, and modern womanhood. If you enjoy literary gossip, this interview is for you. Our conversation includes some surprising and, at times, uncomfortable details about Didion's marriage, her relationship with her daughter, and her lingering feelings from an early romance with Noel Parmentel, a roguish figure who helped her start her career and introduced her to her husband, John Gregory Dunne. If you're among the devoted Didion faithful, you may hear things you didn't expect. If you're new to Eve Babitz, consider this your introduction to one of the great hidden figures of American literary life. Guest Bio: Lili Anolik is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a writer at large for Air Mail. Her work has also appeared in Harper's, Esquire, and The Paris Review, among other publications. She is the creator of the podcast Once Upon a Time… at Bennington College. Her latest book is Didion & Babitz, published by Scribner.

Writer and editor Thomas Beller joins me to discuss his new essay collection Degas at the Gas Station. The essays trace his experience of fatherhood through the landscapes of his own childhood, including the early death of his psychoanalyst father and Tom's later return—wife and children in tow—to the very Manhattan apartment where he was raised. We talk about some of the fundamental conflicts of personal writing, including the ethics of writing about your children and even your ambivalence about parenthood. We also discuss why some writers feel trapped inside the genres that come most naturally to them, how the literary sensibility of The New Yorker shaped the styles of generations of writers, and how Tom is feeling about New York City these days. The episode was recorded on the morning of November 4, Election Day, and Tom talks about why he's voting for Zohran Mamdani—and why he thinks some of my early writing relates directly to Mamdani's platform. Guest Bio: Thomas Beller is a long time contributor to the New Yorker and the author of several books including Lost in the Game: A Book about Basketball, also published by Duke University Press; J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist; and The Sleep-Over Artist. A 2024-25 Guggenheim fellow, he is a founding editor of Open City Magazine and Books and Mrbellersneighborhood.com, and Professor and Director of creative writing at Tulane University.

Sarah Haider, a writer and former co-host, reunites with Meghan Daum to dive deep into today's culture wars. They tackle the shocking Charlie Kirk shooting and the rise of anti-Indian hate online, shedding light on diaspora dynamics and troll farming. The duo also explores the implications of AI on creativity and societal shifts, discussing the controversial 'great feminization' thesis. With humor and candor, they navigate the complex intersection of personal experiences and broader social issues, including Sarah’s recent journey into motherhood.

Dr. Sally Satel, a practicing psychiatrist and policy expert, explores the critical issues surrounding mental health care. She discusses the challenges in treating severely mentally ill patients and the complications of civil commitment laws. Diving into the tragic case in Charlotte, she highlights systemic failures in mental health responses. Sally advocates for modern long-term care facilities—neo-asylums—while critiquing current harm reduction policies. Her insights on the political dimensions of mental health are both alarming and eye-opening.

Ben Appel, a provocative writer and commentator, dives deep into his memoir, exploring the complex relationships within identity politics after his escape from a strict Christian upbringing. He shares insights on the moral policing within queer spaces, questioning the rise of representation over excellence. Ben discusses the consequences of dissent in activist circles, including lost friendships and social blacklisting. He advocates for embracing gender-nonconforming kids without pushing medical interventions, challenging the narrative surrounding gender issues today.

Dr. Sunita Puri, a palliative-care physician and author, dives into the intricacies of end-of-life care. She highlights how palliative care extends beyond hospice, emphasizing meaningful conversations about treatment and life's goals. Exploring tough questions, she advises on navigating family decisions and addressing common regrets patients face. Sunita sheds light on the increasing cases among younger patients and even tackles the ethics of DNR tattoos. Ultimately, she reframes death as a sacred event, promoting clarity and compassion at life's end.

Helen Andrews, a senior editor known for her sharp cultural commentary, dives into her thought-provoking essay 'The Great Feminization.' She explores how feminine social norms have permeated institutions like academia and journalism, reshaping workplace dynamics. Andrews tackles the implications of agreeableness in professional environments, discussing its role as a social virtue and a potential liability. She also questions the effectiveness of women's initiatives in STEM fields and emphasizes the need for diverse workplace styles to foster truth-seeking and innovation.

Join Olga Khazan, a staff writer for The Atlantic and author of 'Me, But Better,' as she delves into the complex world of personality change. She discusses the Big Five personality traits and shares her personal journey with neuroticism and introversion. Discover the nuances of behavioral change, the impact of childhood on personality, and how anxiety ties into our social lives post-pandemic. Olga also explores the politics of personality and reveals insights on how to navigate self-care without retreating from social connections.