Middlebrow

Jeremiah Stone, co-owner of Wildair and Bar Contra, has redefined New York's dining scene with his innovative culinary approach. In this engaging conversation, he shares his thoughts on the often-overlooked art of desserts and the dynamics of securing restaurant reservations in NYC. He humorously discusses evolving meal trends and the unique challenges faced by pastry chefs. Jeremiah also reflects on the balance between culinary creativity and the pressures of customer preferences, providing insight into his experiences with restaurant critics and team meals.

Dan and Brian discuss the fall of TED and pop psychology, dressing up for standup audiences, Sundance film inspo, jury duty avoidance tactics, Madonna at the Comedy Cellar, Ramell Ross’s Nickel Boys, Randall’s Island, new right wing influencers and DeepSeek. 

Alex Hartman, creator of the viral meme account 'Nolita Dirtbag,' chronicles the absurdities of the 'coastal elite'. We dive into Bryan Johnson's quest for immortality, buying things from social media ads, the future of office spaces, sneaky musicals, memes as art, and the enduring mystique of Chet Hanks.

Dan and Brian discuss David Lynch, actually reading Playboy for the articles, Jamie xx UK bangers, buzzy downtown restaurant Bridges, NYPD tow pounds, movie laughs and Zuck's masculinity crusade.

Avery Trufelman, a compelling podcaster and host of Articles of Interest, takes us on a journey through fashion's role in self-expression. She dives into the generational divide, reflecting on millennial and Gen Z identities. Avery shares insights on the emotional ties we have to our clothing and explores the impact of social media on our style choices. With humor, she recounts the awkwardness of reunions and the complexities of writing about fashion. Plus, she hints at her upcoming book on the Antwerp Six, promising more insightful content!

Dan and Brian discuss American creature comforts, digital detoxes, Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, Sally Rooney's Intermezzo and our favs of 2024.

Dan and Brian discuss famous sightings at an experimental play, A Real Pain by Jesse Eisenberg, Spotify's plot against musicians, moral panic around celebrity infidelity and our ins and outs for the new year.

Harry Krinsky, host of the Nothing But Respect podcast, brings his eye for NBA culture and deep appreciation for good hangs to Middlebrow. We explore how media training killed sports personalities, the death of public social media engagement, the myth of run clubs, third spaces and recurring matches on online dating apps.

Noelle Perdue, porn historian and writer, traces the evolving boundaries of obscenity. We explore the definition of porn, algorithmic influences to our desire, tradwives, old playboys and fetishes.

Dan and Brian discuss the online footprint of today’s assassins, stress addiction, Disclaimer on Apple TV, coffee shop zoom calls, Luna Luna, Dutch Bros and America’s disappearing middle taste.