The co-hosts dive into the resurgence of smoking, exploring its allure and social implications. They reflect on how media shapes personal beliefs, navigating the balance between meaningful engagement and content overload. Colorful anecdotes link art and emotion, while they share favorite media that evokes strong feelings. A humorous beer review segues into a playful discussion about dogs, showcasing their vibrant rapport and eclectic tastes. Join them for laughs, insights, and a splash of nostalgia.

For this Christmas Day episode of Tasteland, Daisy and Francis are reaching into their sack of questions sent in by you, the listeners. Gas station orders, apple picking, hypergamy and more.00:00 Seasons Greetings and Gas Station EatingsOverrated or Underrated04:33 Restaurants and Queueing Culture10:00 Alo Yoga, Working For Yourself, Baja Blast11:07 The M Train, Apple Picking, Annie Ernaux13:17 Hypergamy and The Cast of Challengers15:01 Talking About Your Mental Health and Accidental Bronson17:01 Flats: The Shoe and the Wing, Post Post Alt Lit18:45 Parasocialailty and Legal Weed22:12 Cured Meats and Long Meals24:58 Dune 2 and IMAX 29:12 Natural Fibers and Karl Ove Knausgård 34:00 Watching Soccer and Works in Translation 36:00 Fernet and Coke, Metro North, Randomly Texting Your Friends Other Mailbag Questions 39:24 Today's Breakfast and Fit Check

Josh Citarella is an artist, writer, podcaster, and researcher who is best-known for his work researching online Gen Z political extremism. He’s the founder of Do Not Research, a non-profit artist community. He’s currently a dozen episodes into Doomscroll, an in-person video talkshow exploring online culture and politics.Email your questions to tastelandpod@gmail.com to be featured in our upcoming mailbag episode.Doomscroll: https://www.youtube.com/@doomscrollpodcastJoshua: https://x.com/JoshuaCitarella00:00 Contribute to the Mailbag01:03 Introducing Joshua and His Work03:30 The Modern Genres of Accelerationism08:38 Joining Destiny on the Bridges Podcast13:50 What is a Contrarian Status Quo Defender?17:19 Redesigning Social Media to Model the Post Office22:54 The Increasing Uncertainty of Contemporary Storage27:02 The Need for a 21st Century Envelope30:11 Not Identifying as a Journalist35:57 The Role of the Manifesto in Gen Z Political Identity42:57 The Political Drift Over Time49:03 The Growth of Doomscroll

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by DJ, producer, founder, renaissance man Trevor McFedries. Email your questions to tastelandpod@gmail.com to be featured in our upcoming mailbag episode. 00:00:00 Ask Tasteland 00:03:41 Introducing Trevor McFedries 00:07:26 The State of Social Media and Creator Payouts 00:13:08 The Impact of Current Events on Social Media 00:18:57 Populism and the Search for Common Ground 00:24:36 The Nature of Violence and Change 00:31:14 Techno-Optimism vs. Techno-Pessimism 00:37:04 Network Spirituality and the Tech Community 00:46:04 The Gold Rush of Content Creation 00:50:02 The Search for Meaning in Content Capital

This week Francis and Daisy are joined by longtime magazine writer and sports gambling expert, David Hill. Read David's piece, Sportsbook Nation: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/sports-betting-law-draftkings-fanduel-1235158334/David's website: https://www.davidhillonline.com/00:00 Introducing David and His Work 05:15 The Rise of Sports Betting 10:08 The Evolution of Betting Markets and Technology 16:42 Regulatory cChallenges and Consumer Protection 21:12 Advertising and Market Competition in Sports Betting 27:30 The Dynamics of Online Gambling 35:25 Is Profitability a Priority for Sports Betting Companies 42:48 The Tax Implications of Being a Bad Gambler 44:42 Chasing the Steam: Strategies in Sports Betting 45:37 There's More to the Story 51:36 The Future of Online Gambling

This week we're talking worker-owned media with people from three of our favorite worker-owned publications — Defector, Hell Gate, and 404 Media. They're very transparent about what it takes to run a modern, subscription-based media business — it's a great conversation.This is from our live pod earlier this month in support of the National Writers Union's legal fund for media workers. You can still donate here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-us/fundraising/donate-to-the-media-freelancers-legal-fund00:00:00 Introducing guests00:04:30 The Business of Worker Owned Media00:06:30 The Biggest Trials and Errors of Being a Founder00:11:19 The Media Landscape's Monetization Uncertainty00:19:13 The Future of Public Funding for Local News00:21:59 The Diverse Ad Tolerance of Audiences00:28:56 Audience Taste Shift Post Election00:35:37 The Messaging Behind Different Payment Options00:43:52 Making Editorial Choices as a Writer-Owner00:50:02 Saturation in the Creator Economy00:59:24 Transparency and Accountability in Worker Owned MediaQ&A From Audience01:02:02 Content Creators Creating Competition?01:06:09 The Value of Print Media01:11:08 Expanding Ownership to Readers01:13:34 Final Thoughts

Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Eater, Resy, and Blackbird, has been a transformative force in the hospitality industry. He discusses the evolution of restaurant criticism, emphasizing the shift from anonymous critiques to influencer-driven transparency. Leventhal also dives into the future of dining experiences and how blockchain technology could revolutionize customer loyalty and payments. The conversation touches on the importance of spontaneous dining adventures and introduces Blackbird's initiatives to enhance restaurant workers' benefits.

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by Lauryn Menard, CEO and co-founder of Gob, a compostable, plastic-free, mycelium-based earplug company. Gob: https://www.gob.earth/ Tickets for the NWU event: https://dirrrt.fyi/paywriters 00:00 Introducing Lauryn, Gob and its Mission02:03 The Concept of Friction in Modern Consumerism06:20 Designing with End-of-Life in Mind11:32 Scaling Production and Sustainability15:07 The Role of Tesla in Green Marketing19:38 Navigating the B2B and B2C Landscape22:26 Branding and Marketing Positioning26:19 Innovations in Mycelium Materials29:34 Supply and Demand in Mycelium Production34:15 The Identity of a Founder in the Bay Area38:27 The Future of Sustainable Products44:17 Envisioning the 22nd Century49:01 Exploring New Biomaterials51:05 Teaching Biomaterials and Student Innovations

This week, Daisy and Francis welcome journalists Teddy Brown and Emily Shugerman. Teddy recently covered Zyn and its masculine political symbolism for the New York Times, while Emily explored direct-to-consumer women’s health brands for The Guardian.Teddy's article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/style/zyn-nicotine-pouch-masculinity.html Emily's article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/30/birth-control-contraception-branding-abortion-roe-v-wade?CMP=share_btn_url 00:00 Introducing our guests01:48 Exploring Masculinity and Political Symbolism in Zyn06:04 The Role of Brands and Marketing in Masculinity08:58 Cultural Associations and Gender Dynamics of Zyn11:52 The Impact of Online Communities and Vernacular16:15 Election Context and the Masculinity Crisis19:04 Conclusion and Future Considerations21:01 The Impact of Zyn, Vaping and Tobacco Trends23:21 Women’s Health and Direct-to-Consumer Brands29:23 The Role of Marketing in Women’s Health35:34 The Challenges of Accessing Healthcare40:53 The Intersection of Healthcare and Consumerism45:50 Conclusion

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by graphic designer David Rudnick to discuss the evolution of album covers, digital solipsism and the imagery behind Megalopolis. Tickets for the event: https://dirrrt.fyi/paywritersDavid's Strelka talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ejp4AvetSA00:00:00 Introducing David Rudnick and his work 00:01:10 Raising Funds for Freelancers and Worker-Owned Media 00:03:40 The Future of Journalism and Media Impartiality 00:08:52 Exploring the Intersection of Literature and Graphic Design 00:10:33 David's Journey to Ghent and His Studio Practice 00:18:03 The Value of Small, Sustainable Design Studios 00:24:58 The Evolution of Album Art in Design 00:28:14 The Impact of Digital Primacy on Visual Culture 00:37:17 The Dangers of Cultural Solipsism and Customization 00:46:22 Exploring Architectural Narratives in Film 01:03:09 The Myth of Immortality in Storytelling 01:09:11 Confronting Death in Modern Society