Advertise on podcast: Critical Nonsense

Why is observation so powerful?  This week, Jess and Joey talk about particle physics, quarks, the emergence of consciousness and the breakdown of the bicameral mind, Santa, personal identity, and sportsball. They don’t talk about a Semi-Charmed Life.  references  Somebody's Watching Me Schrödinger's cat Charm and strange Hawthorne effect

What are the things that best represent the United States of America to you?  This week, Jess and Joey talk about dentures, cultural preferences, all-you-can-eat buffets, shared things, Super Soakers, and Shark Tank. They don’t talk about white supremacy, sexual predators or gun violence.  references  The New York Times: Welcome to My Museum of America Mashed: The Untold History Of All-You-Can-Eat Buffets Flowbee Last Week Tonight: Gas Station Drugs

What is actually worth waiting in line for?  This week, Jess and Joey talk about froyo, pacing, theme parks, the TSA, the corruption of the Lightning Pass, and underwear. They don’t talk about line dancing.  references  Corrections Department: Gerry Rafferty Plato's Allegory of the Cave

What should I be affraid of, the robot or the people?  This week, Jess and Joey talk about AI != robots, human extinction, Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, biological weapons, societal collapse, neuroticism, and increased persistence. They don’t talk about happy things.  references  corporeal AI 2027 AI Expert Tells Bernie: “The Humans will be Discarded” The AI Researcher Who Just Quit Anthropic Says It’s ‘Crunch Time for Humanity’ P(doom) Israeli infiltration of an Iranian nuclear archive Corrections Department: How the three laws of robotics from Isaac Asimov (not Philip K. Dick) impact AI Anthropic: Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026

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?

What happens when something you liked becomes Important?  This week, Joey and Jess talk about "Mr. Brightside", Nirvana, Adam Duritz, Owl City, and ennui. They don’t talk about Keisha Cole.  references  Glorious Indie Rock and Roll "God Only Knows" "Mr. Brightside" Grantland: "The Loneliness of the Alt-Rock Anniversary" Apple Insider: Apple's iOS 7 sounds crafted by Owl City creator Adam Young Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World "Fireflies"