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.

references

• Elle: People react on Twitter to Soul

• Also, that Roger Ebert synopsis. But also, watch it!

• Quartz: "The Misappropriation of Corporate Purpose"

• Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

• '"The Princess Diaries" is a Meg Cabot literary classic—there are 10 in all, but at least read Book 1 through Jess's personal favorite, Book 3.

• SETI

• Lights in Charlotte and the blue light in Hawaii and some kinda something in LA

• Thanks science for explaining how wombats poop cubes

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.

references

• r/wallstreetbets and the story about DeepF–ingValue. And WSJ's interview with him. Did we mention this exchange from and then about Ja Rule?

• This joke

• CNN on the battle against the elite and WSJ with their take on what lead to the second wave

• Google Trends "short squeeze"

• NPR: The Eddie Murphy Rule

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.

references

• Plant-based: at Dunkin, Impossible Foods news, and for more on "Lab Meat"...

• Office: BBC on the Great Remote Work Experiment

• Breakfast: NYTimes with proof of our collective Breakfast Rut, Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, Savorly breakfast turnovers: the hot item at Costco, other freezer meals, and Jess's sister-in-law's pro-tip: bake-at-home croissants

• Fucc bois: Urban Dictionary's definition...

• Wellness: COVID's mental toll, Variety on a COVID 3rd wave's impact on media and entertainment,

• Design: MABEO furniture, Yinka Ilori, and Architectural Digest on Afrofuturism

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.

references

• Berkes, Enrico and Gaetani, Ruben, "The Geography of Unconventional Innovation". July 19, 2019. Rotman School of Management Working Paper No. 3423143.

• Psychological Science: The Neuroscience of Empathy

• Psychology Today: The Expert's Guide to People Watching

[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.

references

• The Japanese Cake meme

• "Angry Baby" aka the Crazy Baby meme

• The Spaceman meme (more on it here), riffing on the pale-blue-dot moment.

• Calendar of Memes

• The "Yeet" vine Steven referenced

• Ben Thompson's Stratechery on "The TikTok War"

• "Damn Daniel"

[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.

references

• Original Episode: "83! Getting to Know "Karen" and How We Come Out"

[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.

references

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!

references

• NY Post: The raging psychopaths of Silicon Valley

• Used car sales are, big surprise, way up.

• Protest violence....

• CNN: "Home Sales are Still Surging"

• So many ways to defend the Pantry Porn prog:

  • From Food Network's, Eater's, and Bon Appetit's guides to apps like Supercook: the art of cooking from the pantry.

  • Ideas from the NYTimes of how to stock your pantry and keep your fridge organized. Also the NY Post.

  • More dream pantry ideas from Reader's Digest and Real Homes and this Aussie mom

  • Food52: "Here's What's Inside Ina Garten's Quarantine Pantry"

  • Some hot pantry goods: from olive oil to ramen to (what else) vanilla

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?

references

• HBR: "How to Brief a Senior Executive"

• "The School of Life: An Emotional Education" now on our Bookclub reading list.

• A little on "umbrage" at play at work

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.

references

• Bill Burr SNL "Calling Out White Women"

• "Daniel Cameron is a b*tch"

• Black activist comedian, Dick Gregory

• Dave Chappelle's Mark Twain Prize Acceptance Speech and 8:46, his special about the murder of George Floyd

• Joe Rogan and Tim Dillon, and Joe Rogan and Carlos Mencia beef

• Chris D'Elia getting cancelled

• Ali Wong telling it like it is

• It's not too late for your Critical Nonsense Holiday swag

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.

references

• Mac G

• A Cal study on the power of gratitude to improve your mental state

• Is it Yanni or Laurel? Blue and black or white and gold?

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.

references

• The Progress Report Weekly / Edition 017 ¾ "On Repair" from Joey

• Check out "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" from the Nonsense Bookclub.

• Have you seen the Cutie and Vintage collections of Nonsense Merch, now available?

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*.

references

• The Critical Nonsense "Cutie" and "Vintage" Collections dropped today! Get your first-edition merch this week before it's gone.

• "Bunny realizing she's fixed" and catching up on Bunny's saga.

• If you haven't seen, here's Koko the Gorilla.

• The original pretty best friends TikTok and the Mulaney and Kroll tweet.

• Perfectly ordinary Halloween costumes.

• The Qcumber tweet. Also: Birds Aren't Real.

• Shod and Freud.

• These hitmen won the Ig Nobel Prize. And good for this professor for his Hula Hoop win.

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.

references

• Zero-Sum games

• Chinatown Restaurants Unite. (Also, Send Chinatown Love.)

• The Verge: Quibi is shutting down.

• An audio docuseries from the NYTimes: "Welcome to the Rabbit Hole"

• Pursue Pharma pleading guilty re: OxyContin

• A playlist for bineural beats

• The Center for Humane Technology

• Read Jaron Lanier's "Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now"

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.

references

• The Fall 2020 "Nonsense Collection" is here. Merch for the first time ever. Shipping worldwide.

• The original Vanilla episode from August 2019, Part II: "Aging Professionally and Vanilla Bias"

  • Jess cannot more highly recommend Spice Trekkers for your spice and vanilla bean needs

  • Former BBC writer Tim Ecott's "Vanilla" is a (not-just-Jess-exaggerating) GRIPPING read, if you're interested.

  • The battery powered by vanillin

  • Vanilla fraud: like Steele v Wegman's or the vanilla adulteration problem

  • Florida, the next vanilla agriculture hotspot?

  • Dear Smitten ice cream, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN NYC?

  • Check out Ben's Sunday newsletter (we're on episode 100 but he's on newsletter 270. W O W.)

• The original Thirst-vertising episode from August 2010, Part I: "Thirst-vertising and Superheroes Today"

  • Valentine's company, Matador Meggings: leggings for men!

• The original Pets episode from November 2018, Part II: "Board Games and Pets"

  • Werner Herzog's "Happy People"

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.

references

• How the New York Times flipped their business model to subscription-first

• "What's New in Publishing?"

• If you haven't heard of it, check out Patreon

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....

references

• NYTimes: "What is Irony Poisoning?" and an extended commentary

• Demi Adejuyigbe, Tyra, etc, etc.

• David Foster Wallace and Joey's love of sh*t

• Know Your Meme: "If I had more time, I would've written a shorter letter."

• "We don't know what we're doing, but we've done it a thousand times."

97! Other People's Allergies and Great Games

How do you deal with allergies you don't have? And what makes a great game? [20:48]

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about allergy empathy, personal matters of (food) intolerance, so many other creative culinary ideas from Aaron, Crash Bandicoot 4, watching our older brothers play games, and a bit of overflow of Jess's fascination with esports. They don't talk about how you should send us your alternative food favorites to criticalnonsense@sylvainlabs.com.

references

• A super super easy voting plan resource. We had to.

• From Netflix's Rotten, "The Peanut Problem"

• CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT: it's actually Miyoko's, like the Chef, not Mykonos like the Greek island. And this is the vegan mozz about which Aaron was waxing poetic. Thank you, Alex.

• Jess's bookclub (is this a thing?) recommendation: "Pie for Everyone"

• The bosses from Bayonetta.

96! After ADHD and Bland Brands

How do you break away from mental models that aren't doing you any good? And what's next after Blands? [33:32]

This week, Joey and Aaron and Jess talk about the move from ADHD to VAST, positive psychology, hiring based on luck, "your new Bland Identity," pelotons and Peloton, and design monoculture. They don't talk about how we, Sylvain Labs, are ourselves a certified B Corporation...

references

• From ADHD to VAST

• Bloomberg calling out bland brands

• Bland Guidelines: from Vikki Ross, Mellor&Smith, and Grace State

• In Bill Burnet''s "Designing Your Life" TEDx at Stanford, he shares the story of Zappos CEO's luck-based hiring strategy Jess recounts on the show

95! About the Fake Ads... : A Special!

This week, a special episode!

Jess and sound engineer—and Fake Ad mastermind—Alex Contell talk about the ads' origin story, what makes Alex sweat, Joey and Aaron's predilection for improv, that time Jess recorded the show sitting outside the door to the studio, and the special thanks we always miss. They don't talk about how "Hamster Hands" turned into to "Hamster Hams."