Max is still off with the kangaroos and the kookaburras, but Sean and Pierce got together to talk about the changes they’ve made to try to be more eco-conscious about food storage, etc. They talk about why reducing and reusing are every bit as important as recycling and share some small steps they’ve taken that might work for you too. Then Pierce apologizes, as always, and Sean shouts out a surprisingly timely movie he just saw for the first time. MUSIC: “Comfort Zone” - Partner Hosted on Acast....
Oct 02, 2018•38 min
Kevin joins the pod this week, and the gang is talking about a person who found that a movie he purchased on iTunes had disappeared from his computer. Turns out he didn’t really buy it, he just “bought” it. Why is “buying” something digitally different from buying something physically? And more importantly, who stands to benefit from that difference? MUSIC: “Rock the Reaper” - Bat Fangs ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: You Don't Own the Music, Movies or Ebooks You 'Buy' on Amazon or iTunes (Lifehacker). Yes...
Sep 25, 2018•36 min
Are memes an improvement on the way we express ourselves and communicate with other humans? That’s the question Pierce brings to the table this week, and Sean, Max, and Kevin are here to discuss subtlety, sincerity, and internet trolling. MUSIC: “Universal Sound” - Tyler Childers ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Highly Questionable - Papi Handshake Fake Out Compilation (YouTube) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 18, 2018•36 min
Max moved for work, and that means he has a new commute. That sparks a conversation about commutes, how moving out to the suburbs affects other people, and a new way to think about the elusive concept of work-life balance. MUSIC: “I Can’t Do Without You” - Clarence Carter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 11, 2018•34 min
Pierce joins Sean in Charlottesville this week to talk about "The Suitcase," the episode of Mad Men (Pierce's favorite TV show) chosen at No. 2 in The Ringer's list of the 100 best television episodes of the 21st century . They talk about the parallels between the Don-Peggy relationship and the iconic Liston-Clay fight that features prominently in the episode, whether Don is the worst manager ever, and of course, the iconic line: "That's what the money's for!" MUSIC: "Nervous Young Inhumans" - C...
Sep 04, 2018•44 min
Well, we blew it. The third time may be the charm, but my granddaddy always taught me is that the 136th time is the one where things go haywire on you. We had some technical issues that forced us to scrap this week's pod, but we'll see you right back here next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 28, 2018•43 sec
Another year, another Restaurant Week. Restaurants roll out fixed-price menus that give eaters a taste of their offering at a reduced price. Seems like a great idea, right? So...why does Sean hate it so much? We're delving into the difference between price and value , how the atmosphere in a restaurant changes during Restaurant Weeks, and the beauty of appreciating luxury and picking your spots. MUSIC: "Organ Donor" - DJ Shadow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 21, 2018•37 min
It's long been in the works: a classic It's Pretty OK "questions pod." (Best?) friend of the pod Kevin joins the gang to answer questions about his love for heavy metal music. How did he first get into the genre? What should new converts listen to? And what the fuck is... crabcore ? MUSIC: "Whiskey in the Jar" - Metallica Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 14, 2018•44 min
Oh snap, Max is back! He joins Pierce and Sean for a discussion of MoviePass, which certainly appeared to be failing last week ( NOTE: Since we recorded this, MoviePass announced changes to the service which would limit users to three movies per month in exchange for keeping the price at $9.95 per month and removing certain restrictions on what movies/showtimes are eligible). How has it changed moviegoing in 2018? And what will we do if it goes away? MUSIC: "Heat Wave" - Snail Mail Hosted on Aca...
Aug 07, 2018•41 min
Well, I guess technically it actually is our first rodeo...because Pierce went to a rodeo! What are headers and heelers? Are rodeo clowns really a thing? And who has the best rodeo name? All of these questions are answered and more. MUSIC: "Smoking's For Quitters" - Thin Lips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 31, 2018•36 min
Pierce and Sean have a very involved conversation about sandwiches. What makes a sandwich great? Why are tomato sandwiches so good? And what are their favorite sandwiches? MUSIC: "Fire" - Special Explosion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 24, 2018•37 min
Pierce just finished reading Please Kill Me , an oral history of the meteoric rise and fall of punk rock in the 1970s in New York and London. This week, he and Sean are talking about oral histories. Why are they so effective as a storytelling device? And why don't we see more of them? MUSIC "Midway" - Bad Bad Hats ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Meet Me in the Bathroom Is the First Great History of New York’s 21st Century Rock Scene ( SPIN ) Blue Chips:An oral history of Shaq, Penny, and the Orlando Magic’s...
Jul 17, 2018•38 min
This week, an experience Pierce had with someone taking pictures of their food for the 'gram sparked a conversation about photography at concerts, rules to live by, and the importance of being good to your fellow humans. Sean closes the show by raving about the movie he saw on the 4th and lamenting how we don't make them like we used to (role models, not movies). MUSIC: "Here's Your Future" - The Thermals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 10, 2018•38 min
Pierce and Sean typically record on Sundays, but decided to wait until Monday this week in case anything wild happened in NBA free agency. Boy, were they right to wait. LeBron is a Laker! They talk about the move, the other dominos that might fall next, and what LeBron's legacy in L.A. will be. Oh, and they indulge in a little Kobe hatred. Or maybe a lot. Let's just say that Kobe Bryant will not be appearing as a guest any time soon. MUSIC: "Basketball" - Kurtis Blow Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Jul 03, 2018•45 min
Happy wedding season, y'all! This week, Sean and Pierce are talking about gift-giving. Is giving gifts actually inherently selfish? Are there times when it makes more sense to not give a thoughtful gift that demonstrates how much you value a friendship? And why are we still committed to wedding registries instead of " first apartment registries ?" MUSIC: "Mixer" - Nap Eyes ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: The economic case against Christmas presents (Vox) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Jun 26, 2018•37 min
This week, Pierce has finally finished James Joyce's epic Ulysses . Why does he seem 6% more of a pretentious ass than he did before? And are there other things that make people behave that way? He and Sean discuss. MUSIC: "Near to the Wild Heart of Life" - Japandroids Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 19, 2018•35 min
Good lord, we're getting old. Pierce was in Charlottesville for the weekend of his 5th college reunion, but he wasn't exactly enthused about doing reunion stuff. He and Sean talked about why, and spent a few minutes celebrating the life of Anthony Bourdain. MUSIC "Not Losing Sleep" - Thin Lips ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Anthony Bourdain Was Remarkable Because He Possessed Qualities That Shouldn’t Be (The Root) How to Live, According to Anthony Bourdain (Munchies) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy ...
Jun 12, 2018•39 min
This week, Pierce and Sean are talking about sports—specifically, about comparing athletes from different eras. There's not that much that's actually similar about Michael Jordan and LeBron James: different positions, different styles of play, different body types, different rules enforced by the referees, you get the picture. So why is everyone so hung up on which one of them is the G.O.A.T. ? And is there a better way for us to celebrate transcendent athletes? MUSIC "Six Wave Hold-Down" - Hot ...
Jun 05, 2018•41 min
None of the guys have seen Solo: A Star Wars Story . But that's not stopping them from comparing the new installment in the Star Wars universe to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and asking the big question: Is Han Solo cool...or is Harrison Ford cool as Han Solo? MUSIC: "Tea-Soaked Letter" - Anna Burch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 29, 2018•36 min
Pierce, Sean, and Max are all in the same room this week to talk about lateness. What is "fashionably late?" Are there different rules for when you should arrive to dinner as opposed to a party? And why does punctuality seem to become more of a priority as you get older? MUSIC: "Acetone" - Vundabar ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Where to Waste Time Online (Lifehacker). A Frighteningly Accurate Analysis Of Mario Kart's Politics (Kotaku) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 21, 2018•35 min
Monday morning, the Supreme Court offered a landmark decision when it struck down a 1992 federal law prohibiting sports gambling in the United States. Now that it's up to the states to decide, Sean and Pierce talk about sports betting and their visions of what a legalized, regulated gambling industry might look like. MUSIC: "Turn It Up" - Bat Fangs ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: The Lottery: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) (YouTube). The life (and near-death) of bad-boy chef Matty Matheson ( Toro...
May 15, 2018•35 min
This week, a recent episode of Slate Money sparks a discussion about WeWork, the trendy "co-working" company that is bringing the office lifestyle of Silicon Valley to a bustling, millennial-heavy metropolis near you. Could the gang see themselves working in a WeWork space instead of, say, working at a coffee shop? And what level of lunacy would be required for them to dive into WeLive , which applies the same ethos to...your apartment? MUSIC: "How Simple" - Hop Along Hosted on Acast. See acast....
May 08, 2018•38 min
Sean and Max are feeling a little rough after a weekend in Nashville, but they're pulling themselves together to talk to Pierce about an encounter Sean had with someone using FaceTime in public. As always, Pierce apologizes. And the show ends with a discussion of the first time that a college student trying to eat fruit has been a bad thing. MUSIC: "Quarrel" - Moses Sumney ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Rotting fruit mistaken for gas leak causes campus evacuation (The Takeout) Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
May 01, 2018•36 min
This week, the guys are talking about recipes—namely, the kind you find on food blogs. You know, the kind with 2,000 additional words of personal commentary before you even get to an ingredients list? Why are we so put off by this? And just as importantly, why do we let it slide in other forums MUSIC: "Die Hard" - Acid Dad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 24, 2018•35 min
Pete Wells, the New York Times restaurant critic, wrote a column last week titled " The Ice Cream Sundae Must Be Stopped ." It sparked a bit of an argument, so Kevin joined the pod for a discussion about dessert in restaurants and whether they should be addressed with the same creativity as the rest of the menu. As always, Pierce apologizes. And Sean and Kevin talk about increasingly absurd sub-genres of heavy metal. MUSIC: "Ice Cream Man" - Raekwon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Apr 16, 2018•47 min
This week, Pierce and Sean are talking about Atlanta . The most creative and original show on television somehow managed to keep topping itself with its last two incredible episodes: one full of cringeworthy hijinks, one heavy with horror and dread. They talk about why they love the show so much and why it's so hard to compare it to any other show on TV. As always, Pierce apologizes. And Sean closes out the show with some words about local radio—specifically, the WTJU Rock Marathon . MUSIC: "Mis...
Apr 10, 2018•41 min
It's less than a week into baseball season, and we already have a high-profile dustup over the "unwritten rules" of the game. The guys discuss the lunacy of having such an extensive parallel code of etiquette in a sport that has black-and-white, zero-sum outcomes and a well-defined set of actual rules pertaining to gameplay, and why it's different from the social contract we abide by in our everyday lives. Then, Pierce apologizes for how he comes across, and Sean shouts out a great new album. MU...
Apr 03, 2018•36 min
It's been a week, so the gang is finally ready to talk about what happened to the Virginia basketball team in its historic NCAA Tournament loss to 16-seed UMBC. With an assist from Kevin, the group therapy session turns into a discussion of underdogs, how expectations change when your team wins, and whether or not Jim Boeheim is actually good now that he's come to Tony Bennett's defense. As always, Pierce apologizes for something, and Sean shouts out print newspapers (yes, this is still 2018). M...
Mar 26, 2018•42 min
No, it's not our last episode. Sean is out this week, so Max and Pierce are talking about retirement, which seems like this big, looming thing that inspires dread in a lot of people...but does it need to be? Or should we maybe just be looking at it a little differently? MUSIC: "(I'm) Like a Rolling Stone" - Titus Andronicus ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Oh, the Places You'll Go...One Day (It's Pretty OK). The Richest 10% of Americans Now Own 84% of All Stocks ( Time ). Good news: Coffee and tea are appar...
Mar 20, 2018•37 min
This week, the guys are talking about the way we support artists. Is buying an album on iTunes better than streaming on Spotify, and is there a way that's even better than that? What about going to concerts and buying merch? And how does this relate to tipping at restaurants and coffee shops? As always, Pierce apologizes. Then Sean shouts out a podcast (duh) and Pierce defends his choice for the best non-holiday "holiday" of the year. MUSIC: "Jungleland" - Bruce Springsteen ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: ...
Mar 12, 2018•46 min
