114! Rugged Individualism and Waffle Toppings

How do we cure the disease of rugged individualism? And what wouldn’t you put on a waffle? [25:20]

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about the American ideal of self-reliance, the story of Survivor Bias, how hard it is to be a man and ask for help, a framework to decide if something should/should not be a topping, "The Maple Syrup Standard", and Aaron's new waffle iron. They don't talk about the power ranking of breakfast foods: waffles, pancakes, french toast, anyone?

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113! Black Futures Month and The Great Productivity Thaw

How do we move Black History Month forward? And when will "sheltering in work" stop? [27:25]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about the inexplicably truncated history of Black people, Black in 2040, celebrating the great richness of Black-ness today, when jobs make us feel safe, all of our other tethers getting disrupted, and the thaw at work most companies won't see coming. They don't talk about the gaping hole missing a SYLVAIN shout during the credits.

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112! Cutie Corner: Real Talk and Mini Brands

How does cuteness help broach real talk? And why we do think small things are so cute? [15:02]

This week, Cutie Corner! Jess and Designer/Cutie-in-Chief, Nora Mestrich, invent a new segment about all things cute. This time, talking about Disney Pixar's Burrow, lite consumption, seeking "Deep Cute" vs "Superficially Cute", what exactly is a Mini Brand, *the* feta pasta, and knick knacking. They don't talk about the great Kinder Surprise choking controversy.

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111! Your Purpose and UFO Sightings

How does purpose lead us astray? And when is it okay to talk about aliens? [24:22]

This week, Aaron and Joey and Jess talk about Disney Pixar's Soul, fridge magnets, the Princess Diaries Series of novels, the Drake Equation and other UFO/UAP talk, tranches, and the science behind wombats' cube-shaped poop. They don't talk about owls relate to any of this conversation.

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110! 5 Points on Gamestop and the "Stonks" Saga

What's so interesting about Gamestop and this whole "Stonks" saga?

This week, Joey with esteemed and Extremely Online special guests (Cultural Astrologer, Osei Kwakye and Dude-on-Reddit, Adam Hirschberg) talk about THE talk of the town [5:55], the unique opportunity of r/wallstreetbets [12:10], everyone's least favorite: the second wave [19:27], the demystifying power of pop culture [24:10], and the side-effects of stock gambling [30:28]. They don't talk about how the internet probably already thinks this conversation is passé.

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109! Wild Prognostications 2021!

What's to come in 2021?

This week, Wild Prognostications! Jess, Aaron, and Joey make their annual predictions (and explore the "Wilderness" around them): the plant-based schism [5:23], going back to the office [17:19], sit-down frozen breakfast innovation [29:28], the death (or not) of the fucc boi [38:32], the pop wellness holiday [47:15], and the fall of the Eurocentric design blueprint [58:57]. They don't talk about the correct way to eat popcorn—according to Jess, it involves chopsticks.

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108! Geography of Innovation and People Watching

What's the future of unconventional innovation when geography is disrupted? And why is people watching so satisfying? [26:20]

Aaaaaand we're back! This week, Joey and Aaron and Jess talk about San José-sized places, people sharing knowledge, the crosswalk in Downtown Napa, mirror neurons,—A Classic Joey Camire Maneuver—the challenge with ethnography, and Lego Santas. They don't talk about how you can watch what people watch from the comfort of home.

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[Reruns] 88! Meme Metabolism and Internet (Speak) Speeds

Why does culture seem to move so quickly? And how do we keep up with the speed of internet speak? [24:44]

Given the events of this last week and getting back into the new year, one bonus week of reruns from the Nonsense Wellspring!

Again, Joey and special guests Steven Ebert and Nora Mestrich talk about all things speed: B-Boys, being "passé aggressive," being "extremely online," Nora's One Direction blog, and important initialisms. They don't talk about how Extremely Online Cakes now—for a limited time we don't fully know—has a specialty tshirt available on our Bonfire store.

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[Reruns] 83! Getting to Know "Karen" and How We Come Out

Who is Karen and why do we hate her? And what does it mean to "come out"? [28:39]

This week, reruns from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)!

Again, Joey and Aaron and Jess talk about Joey's grandma, overreactions, female stereotypes, pride-washing, otherness, and committing ourselves to fighting shame. They don't talk about how we hope you've been enjoying your break and we'll be back next week!

And please keep sending us your nonsense-thoughts to criticalnonsense@sylvainlabs.com.

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[Reruns] 81! To "Stan" vs "Cancel" and Anger Management

How are cancel culture and stan culture related? And how do we rage in public and in private? [24:55]

This week, reruns from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)!

Again, Joey and Aaron talk about the gentle breezes of Twitter, social currency, fan empowerment, one rude dentist, "angry black men," and escalating a game of work-league volleyball. They don't talk about the origins of "uncomfortable fuddy-duddiness."

Send us your thoughts and ideas criticalnonsense@sylvainlabs.com.

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Original Episode: "81! To "Stan" vs "Cancel" and Anger Management"

107! 2020 Wild Prognostications: A Year in Review

What happened in 2020?

This week, a special end of the year episode! Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about the part where a pandemic ensued, bubbling dangers, a reappraisal of what matters, reluctantly buying all of the cars, the luxury of having a home, and the take Jess still believes is an indisputable slam-dunk. They don't talk about how it's time to submit your 2021 wild prognostications to criticalnonsense@sylvainlabs.com.

Happy happy holidays, y'all!

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106! Subtle Cues and Interpreting Things Charitably

How do you pay closer attention to "the Meta Deck"? And how can we evolve our way of viewing others to include more charity of interpretation?

This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about car singing, listening better, our little mantras, giving grace, Lindy West, and the off-chance Aaron takes a sharp alignment turn. They don't talk about how next week is the return of our 2020 Wild Prognostications?

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105! The Audacity of Telling Good Jokes

What is the role of comedy in setting the boundaries of acceptable speech?

This week, Joey, Cultural Astrologer Osei Kwakye and Grand Comedienne Hannah Jegart talked about saying the funny thing loud, what's allowed when 'the parents' are out of town, the guilt of laughing, more on the Culture Wars, holding on to our hahas, and the Comedian Code. They don't talk about Alex's incredible intro.

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104! A Little Bit of Gratitude: A Special!

How do you make a podcast episode about Thanksgiving in 2020?

This week, a special! Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about the weirdness of this week, the Busyness Olympics, poor mouthing, the logical proofs of gratitude, how to find things to be grateful for, and an extended special thanks. They don't talk about how this week of online shopping frenzy is the perfect time to get your Critical Nonsense merch.

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103! Repairing Life's Leaky Faucets

Which leaky faucet are you going to repair?

This week, Joey and Aaron and Jess talk about Aaron adjusting to Phoenix, Joey fixing his bike, Jess sorting her bead collection, replacements, thank yous, and the mindset of repair. They don't talk about whether any of us have ever actually fixed a leaky faucet.

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102! Six Handshakes: From Pretty BFFs to the Best-Worst Hitmen

This week, another episode of Six Handshakes!

Special guests Alex and Steven join Joey and Jess to talk about the six degrees of separation between Bunny the dog gaining sentience, the paradox of two pretty best friends, a Taiwanese Halloween contest, 🎶an exquisite burn🎶, Birds Aren't Real, and the Ig Nobel Prize. They don't talk about Nora's "Cutie Collection" *enough*.

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101! Zero-Sum Games and Digital Drugs

How do we escape the zero sum game? And what if technology is the drug of the future? [24:20]

This week, Joey and Cultural Astrologer Osei Kwakye talk about horse racing, linked fate, D&D lessons from Joey, Tristan Harris, the motif of the cigarette, and the social dilemma. They don't talk about how Aaron is currently winning the great Critical Nonsense swag race—check out the merch here.

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100?! Unfinished Convos re: Vanilla & Thirst-vertising & Pets

This week, our 100th episode‽

To celebrate, Jess (with Erica Hummel and Ben Vander), Aaron (with Valentine Aseyo) and Joey (with Jillian Camire) continue unfinished conversations we've had on the show. They talk about the canonical form of vanilla, The Chocolate Privilege, so many euphemisms, thirst representation, what dogs get out of the relationship, and living free from judgment. They also talk about the people that have made these 100 episodes possible, with special shouts to our incredible sound engineer, Alex Contell, and our inimitable designer, Nora Mestrich, and last but never least you, our dear listeners, for seeing us through this wild and crazy milestone. They don't talk about waffles.

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99! Free Media and Virtual Family Functions

What if nothing is free anymore? And how should one go about virtual family functions? [21:26]

This week, Joey and Jess talk about the pandemic's advertising fallout, winning subscription models today, our membership ceiling, celebrating Aboo turning 98, a request for Zoom 'Birthday Mode', and hardware shortcomings. They don't talk about when you should stop corresponding age with N+1 individual candles.

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98! Irony Poisoning and Iterative Wisdom

How has irony poisoned the internet and when will it stop? And how are we building iterative bits of wisdom? [21:07]

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about The Office, Pepe the Frog, irony's protective shell, Blaise Pascal, and taking our hats off to the folk at Arts & Letters Creative Co. They don't talk about the color of irony's shell: green....red....blue....

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