Tasteland

This week features Josh Zoerner, founder of Night Gallery, known for his unique clothing designs and collaborative projects. He dives into the creative process behind the book 'Notes,' which showcases spontaneous iPhone notes. Josh reflects on the emotional ties to music and memory, revealing how nostalgia shapes artistic identity. The conversation also touches on the contrasting creative approaches in fashion and literature, as well as the significance of unique merchandise that carries personal history. Humor and anecdotes enrich their engaging dialogue.

In this engaging discussion, writer Mike Pepi, author of 'Against Platforms: Surviving Digital Utopia,' dives into the complex realities of digital platforms and techno-utopianism. He critiques the belief that tech can solve societal issues and explores the unintended consequences of a tech-driven world. Pepi highlights how AI is reshaping labor and creativity, potentially deepening inequality. The conversation advocates for pluralism and innovative thinking in envisioning our tech-powered future, encouraging a more human-centric approach to civic engagement.

Join writer and researcher Greta Rainbow, known for her work in the Los Angeles Review of Books, as she delves into the changing landscape of food journalism and the rise of finance influencers in media. The conversation highlights the impact of technology on creativity and personal identity, alongside the evolution of alternative literature in digital spaces. Greta shares insights on privacy, the importance of daily habits, and how online communities shape cultural production. It's a thought-provoking look at navigating the complexities of our digital lives.

Emily Sundberg, creator of the popular business newsletter Feed Me, joins the hosts to dissect the concept of specialness in our tech-dominated world. They delve into how modern communication, particularly texting, influences our intimacy and emotional connections. Emily also discusses the growing challenge of maintaining personal authenticity while scaling content, and the crucial balance between creativity and truth in the media landscape. Their conversation reveals deep insights into how societal changes affect our perceptions of meaningful experiences.

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