Middlebrow

Dan and Brian discuss community, keeping a mood diary, Sora 2, AI alibi, Taylor Swift's artistry, Riyadh Comedy Festival, Tilly Norwood, Friend, Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, Chase Infiniti's internet history, neo-westerns and Woody Allen's fiction novel. Subscribe to our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Middlebrowpod

Alex Sujong Laughlin is the creator and host of the Try Hard podcast and co-owner of Defector Media. She is also the co-creator of the popular Normal Gossip podcast. We dive into Defector's profit-sharing model, internal company memos, Normal Gossip, SEC sorority life, secret handshakes, self-learning via Youtube, romaine lettuce, Ithaca and Zach Braff.

Dan and Brian discuss Happier Grocery, men's style icons, sitting straight, 9/11 in-flight announcement, Charlie Kirk's influence, Robert Redford, Waymo, Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Mark Ronson's book launch party, an incredible home in the North Fork, Brimfield Flea Market and Shakers.

Zoe Dubno is a writer whose debut novel Happiness and Love is out now. Her work has appeared in Granta, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian and elsewhere. We dive into galleys, reading at bookstores, dad-first marketing, Townes Van Zandt, horny bar/bat mitzvah season, Happiness and Love, autofiction, phone thiefs, celebrity book clubs, #justiceforelizabethgilbert and male beauty standards.

Gus Heagerty is a comedian, theatre director and actor who has cultivated a rabid online following for his hyper-specific characters. We dive into tales from the J.Crew retail floor, theatre fellowships, James Lipton and the art of the interview, Marin County, red light masks, Williamstown Theatre Festival, crisis pr teams, Shakespearean acting and Elizabeth Gilbert.

Emil DeRosa is a comedian, writer and dear friend of the podcast. He is also one half of The Ben and Emil show. We dive into the formalities of consuming your friend's work, Bruce Springsteen, the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce industrial complex, fancams, US Open drama, vertical mini dramas, Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle, Kpop Demon Hunters, AI companionship and the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

Liana Finck is a cartoonist, illustrator and regular contributor to The New Yorker. We dive into conference room culture, Dunkin Donuts, art inspired by loneliness, 2x speed podcasts, self-help books, friendship dynamics, her shaky line style, God and the surrender to laughter.

Dan and Brian discuss Marc Maron, a defense of performative men, delightful soap dispensers, Taylor Swift's podcast appearance, Jeff Bezos's James Bond, Wallpaper USA 400, friend stealing, Ardor by Matthew Gasda, the talented Mr. Joseph Awuah Darko, clout ssri, cultural villains and a study on perfectionism.

Theodore Bouloukos, dubbed 'a secret weapon of independent cinema' by The New Yorker, dives deep into the nuances of taste, style, and the cultural landscape. He discusses the evolving role of influencers in acting, critiquing the erosion of etiquette and luxury in society. Bouloukos shares his thoughts on modern clothing trends, the dilution of artistic standards, and the consequences of algorithm-driven content. With a rich perspective on authenticity and the art world, he advocates for meaningful engagement over superficiality.

Dan and Brian discuss Bushwick, Maine culture, "high trust society", Ben Shelton, US Open's reality dating show, Sydney Sweeney's ad, snack abstinence, TruFru, Together, Franco brothers, The Naked Gun and Outdoor Voices.