Critical Nonsense

What happens when everybody loves something and you don’t? This week, Joey and Jess talk about sci-fi, curation, Rotten Tomatoes, autobiographical characters, leaving room for surprises, and fame. They don’t talk about Sweet Pickles books. references Hyperion by Dan Simmons The Expanse series Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 

Is listening to a book the same thing as reading it? If so, why? And if not, why not? This week, Jess and Joey talk about audiobooks, purity testing, locked-in mode, ADHD, lectures, and celestial orbs. They don’t talk about Mychal Threats. references Reading Rainbow Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Matt Dinniman Variety: Peacock Gives Series Order to ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ TV Series From Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door, Chris Yost 

How do you know if something's going to be good to eat by looking at it? This week, Jess and Joey talk about grilling, cheesesteaks, coffee, the burden of knowledge, authenticity, and mangoes. They don’t talk about Drunken shrimp. references Air Bud Smithsonian: Why Did Van Halen Demand Concert Venues Remove Brown M&M’s From the Menu? NYT Cooking: Bowen Yang Teaches Matt Rogers How to Cook Mapo Tofu Maillard reaction 

When is there too much branding? This week, Aaron, Jess, and Joey talk about Arctic Glacier, private equity, Bala Cynwyd, apps, Sonic pellets, and water ice. They don’t talk about Redd Foxx. references Zootropolis 2 Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania How to Make Clear Ice at Home What Exactly Is Philadelphia's Beloved Water Ice? 

When is a review worthwhile? This week, Aaron and Joey talk about IGN, reviews as entertainment, trust and authority, tribunals, and RuPaul's Drag Race. They don’t talk NHL '98. references Grape Lady Crimson Desert MOUSE: P.I. For Hire saros roguelike Wikipedia: IGN IGN Reviews American's Test Kitchen The Best Non-Stick Skillets (Subscription Req'd) NPR Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour Step Brothers 

What is the best way for you to use the hours of the day? This week, Jess and Aaron talk about sleepiness, international travel, school start times, physical harmony, empathy, and small talk. They don’t talk about kākāpōs. references The New York Times: What’s Your Sleep Type? Morningness-Eveningness Questionaire [PDF] BBC: The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps' Timeshifter jet lag app American Psychological Association: Schools shift as evidence mounts that later start times improve teens’ learning and well-being Bobby Day - Rockin' Robbin Seal - Fly Like An Eagle 

How are you using your relationships to discover yourself? This week, Joey and Jess talk about the Johari Window, observation, employee reviews, dudes not knowing about dudes, blind spots, and centipedes. They don’t talk about Professor Joseph Harrington at Wharton. references Johari Window Human Relations Training News: 1961 published article on Johari Window 

What is the best use of writing? This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about organizing mental chaos, description, recall, process vs. idea, songwriters, and formal logic. references Billie Eilish on Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Explosions in the Sky The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place Go With Elmo Lovano: Why Linda Perry Gave ‘Beautiful’ to Christina Aguilera The New York Times Magazine 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Song Exploder: Episode 61: Courtney Barnett “Depreston” 

How do you identify with your instincts? This week, Joey and Jess talk about storking, gut instincts, the Ship of Theseus, entity, background signal processing, and birds. They don’t talk about Uptown Girls. references The Origin Of Consciousness In The Breakdown Of The Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes Six Thinking Hats Ship of Theseus Haggis 

What are you looking forward to during the new summer of Silliness? This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Scary Movie 6, Street Fighter, existential dread, edge lords, Dave Chappelle, and 702. They don’t talk about NASCAR. references Hey Dude Scary Movie 6 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Charo Street Fighter Norm Macdonald in Back From Hell: A Tribute to Sam Kinison The Best of Sam Kinison Live Stand Up Comedy Dave Chappelle vs Josh Johnson Scary Movie 6 is making that one joke Stop! That! Train! Coyote vs. ACME Final Destination Bloodlines Can you repeat that?