In this episode, Arielle and Gabe speak with Andrew Bertaina, the DC-based author and professor, whose most recent book, Ethan Hawke & Me , explores his love for the Richard Linklater trilogy and how his appreciation for the Before films has expanded with time and new life experiences. We talk about the unique power of the films we grew up with and why revisiting films can be just as impactful as watching them for the first time. Links: Buy the book Andrew’s website The Theory of Receptivity...
Nov 03, 2025•46 min
In this episode, Arielle and Gabe discuss Derek Thompson’s article, “The Anti-Social Century” and what it means to watch TV in a time of increased loneliness. We discuss online discourse, fractured viewing patterns, doomscrolling, the joys of discussing the TV shows we love, the power of small talk, and strategies for how we can engage video content in more meaningful ways. Get full access to Together, Alone at www.watchingtogetheralone.com/subscribe...
Apr 11, 2025•45 min
Arielle and Gabe discuss how streaming culture, social media, and the shift back to movie theaters, shaped how they experienced art and culture in 2024. Tune is for our top TV shows and films of the past year and what we are most excited to see in 2025, as well as some glimpses into what Together, Alone will tackle in the new year. Get full access to Together, Alone at www.watchingtogetheralone.com/subscribe...
Jan 07, 2025•36 min
In this episode, Arielle and Gabe speak with Greg Dember, the Seattle-based author and musician, whose recently released book Say Hello to Metamodernism: Understanding Today’s Culture of Ironesty, Felt Experience and Empathic Reflexivity explores how culture that combines the ironic and the sincere has been captivating us for the past twenty years. We talk about the unique power of the “dramedy” and why shows like The Bear have been so successful in making us laugh and cry, as well as what the f...
Oct 21, 2024•35 min
Alonso Duralde is a film critic, podcaster, and author. His most recent book is Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film . The book covers more than a century of LGBTQ+ history in film, beginning with an Edison Company test reel. We talk about this history, Alonso’s research and writing, and his work as a critic in print, online, and on podcasts. We also spend a few minutes talking about one of the movies highlighted in the book, The Last of Sheila . Links...
Aug 29, 2024•40 min
Discussed: Higher education, pop culture, nostalgia, Gen Alpha, Gen Z, Millennials, Elder Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, Kyle Chayka’s Filterworld, empathy, generation gaps, wisdom, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, history, cultural context, teaching, learning, feminism. We’re thrilled to share our conversation about teaching pop culture with cultural critic and senior lecturer Eileen G’Sell . We discuss Eileen’s fascinating essay on how algorithms are shaping young people’s understanding of culture,...
Aug 01, 2024•51 min
Discussed : Artificial intelligence, creativity, algorithms, human skills, expertise, trust, journalism, education, efficiency, hope In this month’s conversation, Arielle and Gabe talk about the way that AI is increasingly used in a variety of fields and how we can continue to value and embrace human creativity in this time of profound technological change. Get full access to Together, Alone at www.watchingtogetheralone.com/subscribe...
Jun 28, 2024•37 min
Discussed : The White Lotus , opera, gothic literature, aesthetics, ingenues, hotels, Mike White, beauty, sadness, sexuality, desire, Madam Butterfly In this month’s conversation, Arielle and Gabe welcome guest critic Dustin Friedman to discuss how Season 2 of The White Lotus embraces a gothic literary tradition, the show’s thrilling sensuality, and whether or not Daphne is a tragic heroine. Dustin Friedman is Associate Professor in the Department of Literature and affiliated faculty in Women’s,...
May 29, 2024•40 min
Discussed : International films, audio mixing, closed captioning, Swiss movie theater policies, The Boy and the Heron Who says no one reads anymore? Netflix reports that 40% of viewers watch with subtitles or closed captioning. Younger viewers , especially, say text-on-screen is essential. The growing comfort with subtitles may now be contributing to a rising interest in (and appreciation of) international cinema , with movies in languages other than English faring well at the box office and at ...
Mar 22, 2024•23 min
Discussed: Nathan for You, The Rehearsal, The Curse , cringe comedy, reality TV, The Office , shows you try to get your friends to watch This month, we talk about the work of Nathan Fielder and how it relates to reality TV. Through the shows Nathan for You , The Rehearsal , and The Curse, Fielder has moved from parodying the genre to exploring its ethics. The shows are uncomfortable and odd at times, but are also consistently funny. We discuss what’s real, what’s fake, and whether the shows are ...
Feb 22, 2024•27 min
Discussed: Foe , I’m Thinking of Ending Things , literary adaptations, interiority in fiction, the filmmaking process We’re thrilled to share our conversation with novelist Iain Reid , whose bestselling novels I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Foe have both been adapted to film. We discussed the choices that writers make when translating for different mediums and audiences, as well as the specific challenges that come with translating introspective texts. And we discussed his experience co-writi...
Jan 23, 2024•27 min
We’re trying something new on Together, Alone . In the past, we’ve had a monthly conversation about a show, movie, or YouTube video, written out like a chat in a messaging app. This month, we invited a guest and we thought it would be a great occasion to post audio of our conversation. We’ll do this each month, sometimes with a guest, sometimes the two of us. If you have guests you’d love to hear us talk to, or shows/movies you’d like us to watch and discuss, please let us know. Our guest this m...
Dec 21, 2023•56 min
