Not A Huge Fan

Dave Chappelle released a new Netflix special and everyone has lots of opinions, including our two guests: the listener-despised Josh Denny and Cameron Johnson. Will they be redeemed? Discussed on this episode: why society gives a pass to making fun of Asian people, whether Chappelle has transitioned from being a thought leader to being a reactionary, word reclamation, Louis CK, Nanette, and much more!

Everybody loves a good cult story, and today's episode takes a look at two both published in New York Magazine along with returning guests Matt Wilstein and Adi Gordan. First up is "The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence," by Ezra Marcus and James D. Walsh (https://www.thecut.com/2019/04/larry-ray-sarah-lawrence-students.html). It's the story of a group of college students who fall under the increasingly-bizarre influence of one of their fathers, and who end up forming a small cult based around his teachings. Next up is Kera Bolonik's "The Most Gullible Man in Cambridge," about a college professor who becomes involved in a bizarre love triangle that literally makes him lose his house (https://www.thecut.com/2019/07/bruce-hay-paternity-trap-maria-pia-shuman-mischa-haider.html). Also discussed: whether anyone could be susceptible to a cult, how powerful is pity PLUS Adi Gordan tells possibly the worst story we've ever heard. Matt Wilstein's podcast The Last Laugh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-l

Isaac and Charles welcome back The Last Laugh's Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) and comedian Adi Gordan (@adigordan). Previous guest Bridget Phetasy mentioned some issues with things that were said and done during a prior appearance and the show presents them for discussion. Was something offensive said, or was it taken the wrong way? ALSO: Code-switching, how to deal with sober guests, how Matt deals with awkward guest questions, and whether it is necessary to treat female guests differently than male guests. Matt Wilstein's podcast The Last Laugh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-laugh-a-daily-beast-podcast/id1456474041

Journalist and podcaster Matt Wilstein (@MattWilstein) joins the show along with comedian Adi Gordan (@adigordan), neither of whom are ever introduced by the extremely unprofessional hosts of the show. This week: an out of left field comment by Unpopular Opinion host Adam Tod Brown raises the question about whether voting for Trump automatically makes one "alt-right." Also discussed: Charles's abandoned Abandoned Podcast Podcast, whether white Christian people are underrepresented in American society, why white right-leaning journalists are rare, the reality of left-wing vs. right-wing violence, PLUS: hot endorsements and predictions for the Democratic primary race. Check out Matt Wilstein's podcast The Last Laugh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-laugh-a-daily-beast-podcast/id1456474041

Not a Huge Fan always asks the hard questions and we don't shy away from this one posed to our returning guest Bridget Phetasy: between Dave Rubin, Glenn Beck, and Ben Shapiro, who smells the best? The answer may surprise you (probably not)! Bridget's experience on all these right-leaning shows led to her an interesting conclusion about what they're not talking about that their audience needs. Also discussed: the weird stuff right wing shows sell, the goth kids of the IDW, and the ways white guys got soft!

Returning guest Bridget Phetasy is many things: a comedian, a writer, and a political commentator! But what she's best known for is her Twitter, and today she provides woefully Twitter-inept Isaac and Charles with some tips on how she leveraged her tweeting skills into a fulltime gig. Also discussed: Isaac was touched by a gay man, Charles is bad at improv, and how not saying the words you want to say makes you want to say them more! Bridget's Twitter: @BridgetPhetasy

Isaac recently attended both VidCon and Comic-Con and provides a report. VidCon was weird, Comic-Con was sad, neither said good things about American culture in 2019. The big question: what is the future of entertainment for tweens obsessed with YouTube stars? Also discussed: the futility of waiting in lines, our future of endless comic book characters, and why we've decided our art must create nostalgia instead of surprise.

Isaac and Charles welcome to the show Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy): comedian, podcaster, writer, and Twitter gadfly. XXXTentacion is dead but he's getting comedians cancelled! We talk about Dina Hashem's joke and why there isn't always intellectual honesty in the standup community. Did Dina deserve the backlash because of her background? Does comedy have a future? Or will it just get crushed by the perpetually offended? Also discussed: the hilariously sad New York Times article about podcasting, who exactly is The Slump God, and why applause is so bizarre. Complex.com article about Dina Hashem and her joke: https://www.complex.com/music/2019/07/dina-hashem-xxxtentacion-joke NYTimes podcast story: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/style/why-are-there-so-many-podcasts.html

Another round of the hottest takes imaginable! Abortion! The death penalty! Whether Jared Kushner is attractive! And more!

We did it live! Isaac and Charles put on a live version of the show as part of a larger event called The Podcast Party. Its quality is reviewed, along with that of the other live podcasts. The audience was offended! Actual listeners showed up! And more! Also discussed: listener email, how to date while sober, and who was mean to Isaac in the green room. Our Podcast Party episode (skip to 17:19 if you just want to hear us): https://soundcloud.com/podcastpartypodcast/ep-10-the-bechdel-cast-ethnically-ambiguous-not-a-huge-fan-ram-on Podcast Party YouTube channel (our episode isn't up yet but this link will be updated as soon as it is): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CrD2NQPfrIhpeSNzDDjKQ/videos Charles gives Heather online dating advice: https://soundcloud.com/heather-marulli/my-bumbled-get-it-love-life-with-charles-disney

A look at the Carlos Maza vs. Steven Crowder contretemps from a few weeks ago. Steven Crowder regularly made fun of Carlos Maza using hateful language, Maza complained to YouTube and asked for Crowder's content to be removed; YouTube declined to remove his videos but did demonetize them with the proviso that links to the sales of a t-shirt had to be removed. Who was more wrong: Maza, Crowder, or YouTube? Should YouTube have the right to kick people off its platform? Is YouTube even a platform at this point? Is Steven Crowder more unfunny than Carlos Maza is annoying? Also discussed: the collapse of Vice, the inherent instability of the ad-based model, how to deal with Silicon Valley companies that gobble up all of their competitors, and who can use reclaimed language. Elizabeth Warren's tech monopoly plan: https://medium.com/@teamwarren/heres-how-we-can-break-up-big-tech-9ad9e0da324c

This week we're looking at the recent New York Magazine article "How Many Bones Would You Break to Get Laid?" by Alice Hines, with special returning guest Peter Megler. Incels are going to a Midwestern doctor for cosmetic surgery: new jawlines, neck implants, and giant testicles. Are men on incel forums actually physically unattractive or suffering from deeper internal issues? PLUS: Who has it hardest getting laid? What did incels do before the advent of the Internet? AND some very helpful advice from decidedly non-incelish Isaac Simpson, Charles Disney, and Peter Megler. New York Magazine article: https://www.thecut.com/2019/05/incel-plastic-surgery.html

Some episodes are timeless! Some do not age well! We will let you decide which is which as the show takes a look at the recent dustups triggered by 90s memories Chris Kattan and Moby telling tales about their relationships... or maybe not! Peter Megler joins the show to discuss why two people can have such different impressions of what happened between them! Also discussed: Isaac's hatred of babies, Charles's desire to slap babies, and why hot teachers have sex with their teenaged students.

A special look at some of the worst kinds of "woke" advertising along with guest Peter Megler. We look at all the classics, including the infamous Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad, Gillette's take on masculinity, and Burger King's exploration of issues completely removed from its core business. Why are corporations now chiming in on progressive issues?

A listener requested a lightning round of hot takes on a variety of topics and we oblige along with Heather Marulli. Topics include: Pete Buttigieg, Confederate statutes, trans suicide rates, climate change, plummeting sperm counts and more! Note: opinions expressed do not reflect the actual opinions of anyone on this podcast.

Bri Hunter from the Faster, Better, and In Heels podcast joins the show again for a discussion on Avengers co-director Joe Russo's collapsing downtown Los Angeles restaurant Simone, stemming from a recent article in LA Magazine. Isaac thinks this is another in a series of stories on female failures, while Charles believes it's just another bit of ongoing hubristic mismanagement. Also discussed: disturbing breakfast cereal advertising, why people stan so hard, and Isaac's Kanye West dreams. LA Magazine story about Simone: https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/simone-jessica-largey-departure/ Our appearance on FBIH: https://fasterbetterandinheels.com/episode-7-maxi-pads-macho-makeup-most-popular-v-highest-rated-feat-nahf/ Our appearance on Succotash: http://succotash.libsyn.com/succotash-clips-epi191-0

Extremely successful comedian Heather Marulli joins the show to celebrate the anniversary of her attack at the hands of crazed listener Dave of Kentucky. Charles reads feedback from a variety of other listeners including Rob in Texas, ShadyLady, and many others. Isaac is annoyed that we are wasting time on this and Heather has brought along a crystal. Also discussed: were Isaac's friends Heather's true enemies all along? How does everyone feel about Phish? Who wants to hear a raceplay episode?

Lauren Madden and Bri Hunter from the Faster, Better, and In Heels podcast join Isaac and Charles for a discussion on California's SB-826, which requires large, publicly-traded companies headquartered in California to increase the number of women on their executive boards over the next few years. Is such a law helpful or merely demanding a destructive quota? Also discussed: Hinge messages, why male porn actors are paid so little, and the drawbacks to gender-skewed workplaces. FBIH Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faster-better-and-in-heels/id1457935091

It's a show about old Hollywood vs. new Hollywood with actual Hollywood person Toby Louie to provide some informed insight. Steven Spielberg recently launched what was perceived as an attack on Netflix. Is it because he's in bed with Apple or simply wants to preserve the theatrical experience? Does theatrical releasing have a future? Does Netflix? Also: where did all the mid-budget films for grownups go, is there a truly great Netflix TV show or movie, and the terribleness of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom.

Listener favorite Heather Marulli is back to explore why we're so societally weird about suicide and death. The episode begins with everyone's favorite bit: reading horrendously self-aggrandizing social media posts shared in the wake of tragedy. Then: why are people so unhappy? Is mental illness internally real or a reaction to a broken world? PLUS: "Elephant mourning," spiritual impoverishment in the US, how to ACTUALLY help someone who might be suicidal, and the benefits of transcendental meditation. Yes, this episode sounds like something created by people into crystals. Only 1/3 people talking is into crystals!