Nancy and Sarah celebrate with a new intro, a new look, and mutually fulfilling pop quizzes. Also discussed: Diego Luna, the Weather Underground, Steve Kornacki tracks the pope, and we love weddings!
Regarding the new theme - I don't like it. I don't think I ever will. I've been trying to work with it for the last half-hour. I'm a professional - I can rise above it - but honestly, it's a struggle. The old theme, Girls Talk by Dave Edmunds, was perfect. It had everything. Now it's Bel Air by Old '97s, and it's like trying to make a sandwich with tiny bits of bread that just fall apart the second you touch them. I mean... what's the point? But it's fine. It's fine. I'm moving on. I'm rising above it. I'm a professional.
Ha! That actually reminded me of when Blocked and Reported changed their theme tune - listeners hated it so much that Katie and Jesse switched back after just one episode. Luckily, I think it was a library track, so no Spotify death threats involved. That whole mini-meltdown was floating in my mind, hence the silly tone. Funny how attached people get to theme music!
Congrats on 3 years. I discovered your podcast very recently as a long-time listener of Taibbi and Lee Fang (from ep. 193). I would strongly support a Taibbi appearance, whether or not it pisses off your other fans (TBH, especially if it does).
My mother was British, loved movies and David Lean was her favorite (or should I spell that favourite) director. He must have had a thing for Sir Alec Guinness who he used for decades (all the way back to Great Expectations). My favorite is Billy Wilder. I think his most underappreciated film is The Fortune Cookie.
Thanks for the shout out as an OG subscriber. I have loved every episode and the First Sundays.
I’ve been listening since July 2022, this was my first paid subscription- money well spent! Happy anniversary!
With all the wedding expense talk I feel compelled to note paper showing the more $ spent on a wedding, the more likely a divorce. Anyone got any anecdotal examples?
For guests can I suggest Sarah Ditum? She’s British and has written an interesting book on fame and the naughties which I think Sarah in particular would enjoy.
Happy anniversary! I knew that the answer to one of Sarah’s questions was the Oscars slap, because I remember eagerly listening to both of you talking about it (before Smoke ‘Em was official, i guess). I don’t much care about Hollywood, but I found your discussion so refreshing.
Nancy & Sarah, or is it Sarah & Nancy -- I had to listen to this twice, because - just because!
3 years -- a great milestone. I do remember the poprocks ending...thank you for including it at the end.
Love the new artwork. I'm neutral on the new intro song but hopefully it will grow on me.
People to have as a guest:
- Arnold Kling -- as I've already mentioned! ;-)
- Brian Lamb - creator of one of my favorite TV series - C-SPAN's Book TV. One of the best interviewers ever. I would ask him more about the authors he's interviewed, and is still doing, more than about the creation of C-SPAN.
- David Burge @iowahawkblog - one of the best follows on Twitter/X. Says he's going to do a book about #DavesCarIDService
- Ann Bauer - she's been on before. Maybe talk about Minnesota, which sounds like a governing disaster (hi Tim Walz!) similar to the coastal elite states (CA, OR, WA, NY)
- Larissa Phillips - she's been on Unspeakable and now writes for Free Press -- I'm happy to be a paid subscriber. Great story and I love what she is doing on their farm in upstate New York.
- Jennifer Sey -- continues to point out the number of natal males who continue to compete in female sports categories -- some people continue to think this is a trivial category, but it's not as small as you think.
- I would second Kmele Foster - I am a paid TFC subscriber but feel I don't hear enough from Kmele.
- Matt Taibbi - not going to annoy me at all, and Walter Kirn and Amanda Fortini would also be fine
- Geena Davis - I mostly don't read celebrity autobiographies, but I sometimes make exceptions for actresses I've had a crush on -- this one is titled "Dying of Politeness" and it's fun. She's smart and articulate.
- almost anyone you've previously interviewed, except maybe Don McNeil ;-)
re: Don McNeil and pushing back as an interviewer -- reference Brian Lamb above and also TFC -- often it's best to just let the guest talk so you can see and hear what they are really like - and let the listeners make their own decisions. I'm not going to critique you for insufficient pushback (unless there is really stupid stuff, e.g the Moon landings were fake, etc.)
Even though you didn't do a 2nd Anniversary episode, you did do a 100th episode celebration, which would be close to 2 years if you were averaging once a week, but I see that was November 2023, so more like 1 1/2 years. But this one makes up for that.
Nancy -- you talked about having a "place on the world" -- Meghan Daum talks about this, without mentioning, in her new book - "The Catastrophe Hour".
re: making bread and yeast -- it's magic - think about the humans who were making bread thousands of years ago, who didn't know what yeast was and whether what was happening with dough would kill you/make you sick/be wonderful.
re: "stop burning your dead" --- this gets me thinking -- burial vs. cremation, and Meghan Daum brings this up in her latest book.
Nancy -- growing seeds indoors -- 3 years ago I moved from living in a high-rise to a typical suburban home -- and now I am starting seeds indoors and figuring out when to put seedlings outdoors, and I realize that I never would have thought I would find this interesting. Currently my main concern is when and where to put these seedlings outdoors so that the deer don't eat them up.
re: "Bridge Over the River Kwai" -- oh my. Saw this as a teenager and still love it. Watched it recently and it holds up.
The advantage of Substack Live is that it's live, and that's also the disadvantage. I've watched a few and I'm neutral on it -- maybe I've watched more later on. Overall, I don't think this is great.
Angela A #1 paid subscriber - congrats!
Happy 3rd! There were some times in the summer of '22 when I was afraid y'all were not going to last, but -- HERE YOU ARE!
Oh dann. Was no expecting to hear my name while listening to one of my favorite podcasts while shopping at Whole Foods. Happy Anniversary ladies!
You deserve the recognition.
Congratulations from a three-year supporter 👍🏼🎊 who loves to hear these “ girls talk!!” Eagles! Those were the days.
Regarding the new theme - I don't like it. I don't think I ever will. I've been trying to work with it for the last half-hour. I'm a professional - I can rise above it - but honestly, it's a struggle. The old theme, Girls Talk by Dave Edmunds, was perfect. It had everything. Now it's Bel Air by Old '97s, and it's like trying to make a sandwich with tiny bits of bread that just fall apart the second you touch them. I mean... what's the point? But it's fine. It's fine. I'm moving on. I'm rising above it. I'm a professional.
Spotify sent us 97 emails telling us to take down "Girls Talk" or be dragged immediately to jail, alas... - NR
Ha! That actually reminded me of when Blocked and Reported changed their theme tune - listeners hated it so much that Katie and Jesse switched back after just one episode. Luckily, I think it was a library track, so no Spotify death threats involved. That whole mini-meltdown was floating in my mind, hence the silly tone. Funny how attached people get to theme music!
Awwww...love you two forever!!! I agree with Thomas Chatterton Williams. He was my entry point to Fifth Column --Paloma Media--Nancy--Sarah. ❤️🍹🥳💐
I just started reading Veronica by Mary Gaitskill. Wow! She can write vivid characters. I wonder if she does podcasts?
She does indeed!
Love you two!!
Congrats on 3 years. I discovered your podcast very recently as a long-time listener of Taibbi and Lee Fang (from ep. 193). I would strongly support a Taibbi appearance, whether or not it pisses off your other fans (TBH, especially if it does).
Agreed. He sometimes sounds like a bullfrog croaking, but his content is true journalism.
My mother was British, loved movies and David Lean was her favorite (or should I spell that favourite) director. He must have had a thing for Sir Alec Guinness who he used for decades (all the way back to Great Expectations). My favorite is Billy Wilder. I think his most underappreciated film is The Fortune Cookie.
Thanks for the shout out as an OG subscriber. I have loved every episode and the First Sundays.
Happy Anniversary and thanks for the shout out. I look forward to our next get together (and to renewing my subscription.)
I’ve been listening since July 2022, this was my first paid subscription- money well spent! Happy anniversary!
With all the wedding expense talk I feel compelled to note paper showing the more $ spent on a wedding, the more likely a divorce. Anyone got any anecdotal examples?
For guests can I suggest Sarah Ditum? She’s British and has written an interesting book on fame and the naughties which I think Sarah in particular would enjoy.
Just ordered Sarah D's book. Thanks for the reco -- SH
Happy reading!
Why I listen: “I recently did Substack Live. One was about baking. One was about sociopathy.” A beat never was skipped.
A boy never forgets his first podcast. (Blushes and sticks big toe in sand.)
Happy Anniversary!!! Thank you for putting the Pop Rocks content in. :D
Happy anniversary ladies, from one of the OG's
And Fatso was one of my mother's favorite movies. Seriously.
Happy anniversary! I knew that the answer to one of Sarah’s questions was the Oscars slap, because I remember eagerly listening to both of you talking about it (before Smoke ‘Em was official, i guess). I don’t much care about Hollywood, but I found your discussion so refreshing.
Nancy & Sarah, or is it Sarah & Nancy -- I had to listen to this twice, because - just because!
3 years -- a great milestone. I do remember the poprocks ending...thank you for including it at the end.
Love the new artwork. I'm neutral on the new intro song but hopefully it will grow on me.
People to have as a guest:
- Arnold Kling -- as I've already mentioned! ;-)
- Brian Lamb - creator of one of my favorite TV series - C-SPAN's Book TV. One of the best interviewers ever. I would ask him more about the authors he's interviewed, and is still doing, more than about the creation of C-SPAN.
- David Burge @iowahawkblog - one of the best follows on Twitter/X. Says he's going to do a book about #DavesCarIDService
- Ann Bauer - she's been on before. Maybe talk about Minnesota, which sounds like a governing disaster (hi Tim Walz!) similar to the coastal elite states (CA, OR, WA, NY)
- Larissa Phillips - she's been on Unspeakable and now writes for Free Press -- I'm happy to be a paid subscriber. Great story and I love what she is doing on their farm in upstate New York.
- Jennifer Sey -- continues to point out the number of natal males who continue to compete in female sports categories -- some people continue to think this is a trivial category, but it's not as small as you think.
- I would second Kmele Foster - I am a paid TFC subscriber but feel I don't hear enough from Kmele.
- Matt Taibbi - not going to annoy me at all, and Walter Kirn and Amanda Fortini would also be fine
- Geena Davis - I mostly don't read celebrity autobiographies, but I sometimes make exceptions for actresses I've had a crush on -- this one is titled "Dying of Politeness" and it's fun. She's smart and articulate.
- almost anyone you've previously interviewed, except maybe Don McNeil ;-)
re: Don McNeil and pushing back as an interviewer -- reference Brian Lamb above and also TFC -- often it's best to just let the guest talk so you can see and hear what they are really like - and let the listeners make their own decisions. I'm not going to critique you for insufficient pushback (unless there is really stupid stuff, e.g the Moon landings were fake, etc.)
Even though you didn't do a 2nd Anniversary episode, you did do a 100th episode celebration, which would be close to 2 years if you were averaging once a week, but I see that was November 2023, so more like 1 1/2 years. But this one makes up for that.
Nancy -- you talked about having a "place on the world" -- Meghan Daum talks about this, without mentioning, in her new book - "The Catastrophe Hour".
re: making bread and yeast -- it's magic - think about the humans who were making bread thousands of years ago, who didn't know what yeast was and whether what was happening with dough would kill you/make you sick/be wonderful.
re: "stop burning your dead" --- this gets me thinking -- burial vs. cremation, and Meghan Daum brings this up in her latest book.
Nancy -- growing seeds indoors -- 3 years ago I moved from living in a high-rise to a typical suburban home -- and now I am starting seeds indoors and figuring out when to put seedlings outdoors, and I realize that I never would have thought I would find this interesting. Currently my main concern is when and where to put these seedlings outdoors so that the deer don't eat them up.
re: "Bridge Over the River Kwai" -- oh my. Saw this as a teenager and still love it. Watched it recently and it holds up.
The advantage of Substack Live is that it's live, and that's also the disadvantage. I've watched a few and I'm neutral on it -- maybe I've watched more later on. Overall, I don't think this is great.
Angela A #1 paid subscriber - congrats!
Happy 3rd! There were some times in the summer of '22 when I was afraid y'all were not going to last, but -- HERE YOU ARE!
Sometimes I listen twice too! OMG I feel so seen. And I've been thinking about alternating old-new, working through from the very beginning.
:-)
Not a bad idea. And it's worth relistening to her TFC appearance as well -- #354, April 23, 2022.
I'm on episode 2 now and how did I forget their discussion about doing the splits??? In the context of America's Girls. ❤️
I forgot that, too! Much find again. -- SH
and all those uncredited appearances when Matt calls her "the drinks fairy!" so cute.
big old 97's fan here. change is always tricky, but i like that one.
some guests i'd like:
razib khan (he hasn't been on, has he?)
mary roach
amanda knox
gerald posner
miranda july
& jonah goldberg would be a great guest, i agree.
Yes Miranda July!