Podcast N.38: Record Stores Are Never Coming Back

As one of the many Americans who feel crushed by vanishing work, I’m not so quick to point a finger at a villain in this story. The idea of making something “great again” has always felt like a reductive sentiment that conveys a distinctly backward motion. It boils down to this: record stores are never coming back. The sooner we accept that fact, the quicker we can get on with it. It’s more about accepting that nothing stays the same (whether we like it or not) and being open and willing to change, grow and progress.

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Podcast Episode N.37: Watch Snobs, Dressing with Dignity and Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka

In this episode, I respond to some readers’ reactions to an article about a new affordable automatic tool watch that resembles similar watches on the luxury spectrum. I also share a few anecdotes about how dressing with a sense of occasion served me very well. The last segment is about what Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka meant to me as a young boy.

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Podcast N.36: Leaving NYC, Dog Attacks and My Funny Cousin Kathryn

In this episode, I follow up on the insane feedback from a post I wrote last week about leaving New York. The comments and anecdotes that readers have shared have been absolutely incredible. I had no idea that so many people had experienced the same thing. It’s comforting to know you’re not alone and that the world won’t end if you leave New York City.

Last week, my dog Lenore was attacked by a vicious English bulldog. It was scary. She required minor surgery and an overnight at the vet, complete with sutures, staples and the dreaded Cone of Shame. And on Monday night, I witnessed another dog attack that fortunately ended with all parties intact. My patience for irresponsible dog owners who don’t know their dogs, don’t have control of them and refuse to have them neutered is below the basement.

Finally, I attended the New York premiere screening of my cousin Kathryn Hahn’s new movie “Bad Moms.” While it’s a light, easy and fun summer comedy, the real treat is Kathryn. She possesses an unteachable and unlearnable gift that makes her the one you want to be watching on the screen. She steals every scene.

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Episode 34: A Morning Reflection on Contentment

In this mini-episode, I take a few under-caffeinated minutes to describe a feeling that comes over me every morning while I have my coffee. The feeling probably occurs to me for about two or three seconds, and it can be summed up in one word: contentment.

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Episode 33: Quoted in The Wall Street Journal and Appreciating a Little Analog in the Digital Age

In this episode of the podcast, I share about the distinct pleasure of being quoted in The Wall Street Journal this past weekend in an article about non-iron dress shirts. In the first paragraph, you’ll learn that I loathe non-iron dress shirts and that I apparently “sniff.” (And if you scroll down to the comments section, you’ll see the added bonus of one reader calling me an “arrogant twit.” How does he know me??) Read the article.

Also in this episode, I share my appreciation of some of the old-fashioned things. As much as I love technology and fully embrace our digital age, there are certain aspects of my life that remain decidedly analog.

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Episode 32: The (De)Valuation of Work

Over the past twelve years as a freelancer, I’ve watched client budgets shrink more and more, whittling down to fees that come with higher expectations for less and less money. At the end of the day, it adds up to more work for barely livable wages. In this episode of the podcast, I “open a vein” about my personal experience with how good work is valued or, perhaps more accurately, devalued today.

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Episode 31: Golden Globes and Golden Years

Say what you will or feel what you feel about Ricky Gervais. I care not, unless, of course, you love his brand of raw and honest humor as I do. I think he did a brilliant job performing his emcee duties in his unique “if they’re thinking it, say it” way at this year’s Golden Globes. For telling the brutal truth, hitting it all where it lives and ending the broadcast with “That’s it. We’re out of time. From myself and Mel Gibson: Shalom,” he won and earned the #ZeroFucksGiven award hands-down.

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Episode 30: Jessica Jones and Other Trouble in Hell’s Kitchen

In this episode, I talk about Jessica Jones, a great new original Netflix series that is also part of the Marvel universe. Like its terrific “brother” show Daredevil, it takes place mostly in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, in the wake of the alien invasion incident from The Avengers.

Speaking of Hell’s Kitchen, I was recently sentenced to a day of community service after being stopped on Ninth Avenue by NYPD for making a rolling stop through a red light on my bicycle. In the interest of safer streets in the city, NYC has implemented an initiative called “Vision Zero,” which I wholly support with its interest in safer streets for everyone. However, ticketing bicyclists is an exertion of energy and resources toward the wrong target, in my opinion.

I’m also putting the finishing touches on my December 2015 Spotify playlist for your enjoyment.

Thanks for listening!

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Episode 29: A Fun Week in Entertainment Media, A New Fall Tweed and Puppy Rearing

This past week was a fun week in home entertainment media with the Democratic Debate and its send-up on SNL, the announcement of Bill Murray’s Christmas special on Netflix and Amy Schumer’s HBO Comedy Special.

On a sartorial note, I got a new fall/winter tweed from J.Crew. The new jacket is a replacement for a beautiful Harris Tweed I got last year that just hasn’t worked for reasons I explain in the episode.

I also catch up on the latest with my new(ish) puppy Lenore and how it’s been with a second dog in my life.

Listen:

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