Ever since the invention of the written word, there have been moral panics about how new technology corrupts our brains. But now — as the richest companies in the world pour billions into an all-out war for eyeballs — something very different is happening. So we talked to the author of a new book, "The Sirens' Call," about why a satirized nerd on MSNBC is an ideal authority on how Silicon Valley is exploiting the human condition. Plus: the significance of spam, the Cocktail Party Effect, HammerKing75, a court of Infinite Jest, the piglet advantage... and a hot take from Socrates.Get Chris Hayes' book, "The Sirens' Call": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719661/the-sirens-call-by-chris-hayes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is TikTok the one social-media platform that makes you feel good, or is it an algorithmic wasteland of culturally insignificant content? Are we partying hard enough? And was the pre-Taylor Swift version of Travis Kelce actually hot? Plus: second-person IG love letters to your child, a boombox-holding panda/dog... and the tragic end of Party City.Further content:Americans Need to Party More (Ellen Cushing)https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/01/throw-more-parties-loneliness/681203/Subscribe to "Casuals with Katie Nolan"https://www.youtube.com/katienolanSubscribe to "The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny"https://www.youtube.com/@minakimes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Fleming, a PTFO death correspondent, dives into the fascinating intersection of death and sports fandom. He discusses the rise of cremation and the popularity of team-branded urns, alongside whimsical practices like scattering ashes at sports venues. The emotional journey of fans, such as Edna honoring her late husband at a racetrack, highlights the deep bonds formed through shared passions. Fleming's insights reveal how memorials not only commemorate loss but also celebrate life, illustrating the enduring connection between fandom and friendship.

Deyra Barrera, a Mariachi singer with a powerful voice, gained fame after being featured on Kendrick Lamar's GNX. She shares her journey from performing at quinceañeras to captivating audiences at the World Series. Deyra discusses the cultural significance of mariachi music and her dreams of a Super Bowl performance. She reflects on the challenges women face in the industry and highlights the emotional connections forged through music, celebrating community ties and the resilience needed to succeed.

The future of our live TV viewing habits is ever-evolving: Every week, it seems, there's a new bundle. A new "skinny" bundle. A new merger. Is the media industry ready to help us find all the games we want to watch? Will there ever be one sports streaming service to rule them all? David Samson, John Skipper and Pablo pour one out for the streamer that would have included games from ESPN, Fox Sports and Turner Sports — and look ahead to what's next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Jerry Jones become such a good actor on Landman? Why do people love video games with such bad graphics? And what does it take to be elite in a group chat — or to abandon one? Plus: Bob Kraft's bikini audition tape, Rust Belt Strip Club Enthusiasts, Goldeneye in a bathroom stall, the Bryce Young of texting, the face of the Vanderbilt party scene and active snore simulation.Further content:Jerry Jones Gives Monty Life Advice (Paramount+)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crja9fuQyXMVideo Games Can’t Afford to Look This Good (Zachary Small)https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/arts/video-games-graphics-budgets.htmlThe Agony of Texting With Men (Matthew Schnipper)https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2025/01/men-texting-men-loneliness/681076/The Domonique Foxworth Showhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn3nHXu50t5wnTIdJOdFIA9wxAHHq2LEl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Nolan, a renowned sports media broadcaster, joins lifestyle writer Lawrence Schlossman for a fragrant adventure. They embark on a blind smell test featuring an array of celebrity scents, from Taylor Swift's perfume to a bizarre 'Parfum de Mayonnaise.' Expect laughter as they hilariously evaluate these fragrances, connecting scents to personal memories and playful anecdotes. The duo also humorously compares David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo's aromas while critiquing the sheer absurdity of celebrity marketing in fragrances.

Nick Wright and Kevin Wildes, co-hosts of "First Things First," dive into the hilarious world of sports predictions and the accountability that comes with them. They ponder the embarrassment of being wrong and debate whether rankings really matter. With witty banter about aging athletes, they touch on the iconic Sam Darnold and the emotional weight of fame in sports. Expect laughs as they explore the nuances of celebrity and the best words in sports discourse, all while celebrating the delightful absurdities of their industry.

The culture war around a tiny population of competitors may have led to the re-election of Donald Trump, who says nationwide bans on Day One aren't complicated. But biology is complicated. And David Epstein — greatest sports science reporter in America, author of The Sports Gene, writer of the Range Widely newsletter — did the research, so that the suspicious and/or sympathetic among us don't necessarily have to. Turns out, there are solutions upon which fact-based humans can agree, in case studies from childbirth to high-jump junk, college volleyball to Olympic boxing, nature to nurture... and nipple.**Link on The Sports Gene: https://davidepstein.com/david-epstein-the-sports-gene/Link on Range Widely: https://davidepstein.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is an infamous basketball ad that keeps going viral as much for its cringe-worthiness as the mystery of its simple message: "sportsmanship." But correspondent Zach Schwartz embarked on a two-and-a-half-year quest to meet the anonymous actor who's gotten dunked on by Twitter for more than a decade. Now, he helps us untangle a web of links from March Madness to Madison Avenue; a Supreme Court justice to a secretive billionaire; and the Dalai Lama to Damian Lillard (who agreed to go on the record). And we learn the true meaning of "perseverance" in the process.For more Zach Schwartz, you can visit his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@zach_schwartzAnd special thanks to Goodnight, Texas for blessing this episode with their hit song, "The Railroad": https://youtu.be/1sp33WgVWMA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices