When is a review worthwhile?
This week, Aaron and Joey talk about IGN, reviews as entertainment, trust and authority, tribunals, and RuPaul's Drag Race. They don’t talk NHL '98.
references
Wikipedia: IGN
American's Test Kitchen The Best Non-Stick Skillets (Subscription Req'd)
NPR Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour
What is the best way for you to use the hours of the day?
This week, Jess and Aaron talk about sleepiness, international travel, school start times, physical harmony, empathy, and small talk. They don’t talk about kākāpōs.
references
The New York Times: What’s Your Sleep Type?
American Psychological Association: Schools shift as evidence mounts that later start times improve teens’ learning and well-being
How are you using your relationships to discover yourself?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about the Johari Window, observation, employee reviews, dudes not knowing about dudes, blind spots, and centipedes. They don’t talk about Professor Joseph Harrington at Wharton.
references
Human Relations Training News: 1961 published article on Johari Window
What is the best use of writing?
This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about organizing mental chaos, description, recall, process vs. idea, songwriters, and formal logic.
references
Go With Elmo Lovano: Why Linda Perry Gave ‘Beautiful’ to Christina Aguilera
The New York Times Magazine 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters
Song Exploder: Episode 61: Courtney Barnett “Depreston”
How do you identify with your instincts?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about storking, gut instincts, the Ship of Theseus, entity, background signal processing, and birds. They don’t talk about Uptown Girls.
references
What are you looking forward to during the new summer of Silliness?
This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Scary Movie 6, Street Fighter, existential dread, edge lords, Dave Chappelle, and 702. They don’t talk about NASCAR.
references
What happens when something you liked becomes Important?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about "Mr. Brightside", Nirvana, Adam Duritz, Owl City, and ennui. They don’t talk about Keisha Cole.
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What happens if the Internet dies?
This week, Joey, Jess, and Aaron talk about One Internet, Poob, attribution, destinations, AI Porn, and knowlege creation. They don’t talk about Fela Kuti.
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When was the last time you felt destabilized in a safe environment?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about dad jokes, child entertainment strategies, comedy, silliness support, two-legged stools, and butt pats. They don’t talk about Sô Yamamura.
references
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology: How fathers and mothers make their children laugh: Associations with the security of parent-child attachment relationships by Sabrina Schmiedel, Jean-François Bureau, Jessica Turgeon, Audrey-Ann Deneault, and Ariane J. Gauthier
NPR: Bowen Yang invited Tina Fey onto his podcast. He's still dwelling on what she said
The Giggles Are Coming by Christopher Eliopoulos
Tactile Communication, Cooperation, and Performance: An Ethological Study of the NBA by Michael W. Kraus, Cassy Huang, and Dacher Keltner
Steve Nash – high fives, fist bumps, and pats on the backside
When is it okay to hate the player, not the game?
This week, Jess and Aaron talk about The Traitors, Chevy Chase, Kobe Bryant, villainy, Timothée Chalamet, and Omarosa vs. New York. They don’t talk about the late, the great, The Diabolical Biz Markie.
references
How should we learn beyond school?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about framing work as learning, human observation, vocational training, osmotic learning, pen and paper, and the wheel. They don’t talk about Simple Machines Records.
references
What fictional characters should we be shipping today?
This week, Aaron and Jess talk about soap, fan fiction, Back to the Future, ensemble shows, reading the book vs. seeing the movie, and reimagined universes. They don’t talk about Such Great Heights.
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What's to come in 2026?
This week, Wild Prognostications returns! Jess, Aaron, and Joey make their predictions for the new year, discussing privacy as luxury [3:28], the romance resurgence [4:28], Avengers Doomsday flopping [13:29], paper as a smart signal [16:35], bird pets [18:31], medical research breakthroughs [24:51], and an existential AI employment crisis [27:42]. They don't put respect on Birdman's name.
references
What you doing and what you sharing?
This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about battle rap, knitting, crochet, LitRPG, world building, and not finishing. They don’t talk about Fraggle Rock.
references
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Another Dimension of Us by Mike Albo
Pretty Pretty Boys from The Hazard and Somerset Mysteries by Gregory Ashe
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
ACOTAR aka A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
When is the right time to actually?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about corrections, status, intent, virtue, asymmetric information, and confidence intervals. They don’t talk about Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
references
How far would you be willing to go to experiment with your health?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about peptides, biohacking, Silicon Valley libertarian culture, Bryan Johnson, exercise, and salt. They don’t talk about The Gelfling.
references
Confirmations Department: Yes, Tears for Fears
Food & Wine: Morton vs. Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt: What’s the Difference?
Why do we keep using short-form video?
This week, Joey and Jess talk about dopamine culture, friction, flow state, floating, smoking, and green juice. They don’t talk about cannolis.
references
How do you dress for success?
This week, Aaron and Joey talk about fashion plates, professionalism, drag, archetyping, navigating differences, and respect. They don’t talk about Rufio.
references
Economic Policy Institute: The CROWN Act
Everyday Feminism: You Call It Professionalism; I Call It Oppression in a Three-Piece Suit
This week, Aaron, Jess and Joey revisit their 2025 prognogs from Episode 296. They talk about the micro social media surge, cynicism, platform madness, informed styling, blockbusters, weaponized compliance, non-apocalyptic runaway AI moments, and our AI overlords. They don’t talk about eggprogs.
references
America's Test Kitchen: How to Make the Absolute Best Eggnog
Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Podcast: Conan Blames Jason Bateman For His Dad's Death
The New York Times: Gonzo Fans Have Made ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ Into a Global Blockbuster
Bloomberg: OpenAI's Nvidia, AMD Deals Boost $1 Trillion AI Boom With Circular Deals
The Food Lab: How to Roast the Best Potatoes of Your Life (paywall)