Dead Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose [#139]

Plus, a unifying theory of the United States, and behind-the-scenes of casting Blue's Clues.

Is this real? I sure hope so.

What a news alert.

Hello from Sinus Infectionlandia,

Was forced to cancel a trip to New York this month because the pressure between my ears is so intense that I feared compounding the issue with altitude changes. I think I’ve been going a little too hard lately anyway. Netflix is a Joke Fest was happening in Los Angeles and we caught standup from Sheng Wang, Morgan Jay,¹ and Ali Wong, all inside of two days. Other excellent comics, like Andrew Lopez, opened for these folks, and so my belly laugh meter is high even if my energy tank is on empty.

Reading

One theory for understanding American history (and its present). Asking the news media to get things right isn’t the same as being in the tank for Biden. JD Vance is “the walking embodiment of a party that’s devolved into full-on farce.” The online everything store Temu, explained. Related: Gen Z is unprecedentedly rich. Tracking fashion industry emissions is tough, but Lululemon’s apparently DOUBLED. Falling out of love with therapy. Why kids don’t read for fun these days (this hurts my heart). Following Elon Musk’s descent into the online fever swamp distills his ideology. Phony AI authors and their work are showing up everywhere, from entertainment publications, to the LA Times. Why Challengers had that Applebee’s scene in it. The wholesome story of how Steve became the original host of Blue’s Clues.

Werk Werk Werk

Our podcast production house, Reasonable Volume, started a lil’ podcast recommendations club (like a book club) on the socials, so that our co-founder Rachel and production coordinator Percia can offer you a way to discover shows and episodes you may not have heard yet. Follow us on Instagram or TikTok.

I’m on the latest episode of Normal Gossip from Defector, hearing about an anonymous real tangled story of tech founders, Web 3, and a creature with whom I have a tragic history. This was super fun.

Next month I start co-hosting Forever 35 with Doree Shafrir, as longtime co-host Kate Spencer retires from the show. But first I taped a “Meet Elise/passing-the-baton” episode with outgoing host Kate and remaining host Doree, coming next Wednesday. Kate and I kept bringing everything back to our love for Costco. And Doree and I already have a lot of fun interviews lined up for summer so I can’t wait to get started.

Also, I’m writing stuff. More on that in future dispatches.

IYKYK

Watch and/or Listen

Dead Eyes, the podcast about one actor’s quest to find out why Tom Hanks fired him 20 years ago from HBO’s Band of Brothers. This was a huge pandemic listen for a lot of folks but I just got around to it, and holy crap, I’m ADDICTED. I think I’ve gotten through 14 episodes in the last four days.

The Idea of You was fun! The end may have been an all-too-predictable way out, but no one is complaining. The film broke Amazon studio's viewing record for a rom-com, with over 50 million views in the first two weeks since it debuted.

Coming Up IRL

Our celebration of AANPI Heritage Month continues, with a book event for Flawless x Where I Belong, a new book from therapists Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon about embracing Asian American identity. We’ll be at Vroman’s in Pasadena on May 23, at 7pm. May 23 is also the one year birthday of FLAWLESS!!! Support it by ordering, telling folks about it, or giving it online reviews. Getting to become an author has been a huge privilege, opening up unexpected and trajectory-changing new opportunities and connections. I have met or connected with so many of you IRL because of this book, so I just want to thank you again for how you’ve shown up for it, and me, and the ideas inside.

And a reminder I started a Bookshop.org collection of all the books I’ve read in 2024 so far, so we can read together and you can support independent bookstores with a purchase. Check it out. Have you read a book recently that you can’t stop talking about??? Leave us a note in the comments so all of us can learn about it.

Until next time,

E

1. I’ve seen Morgan Jay three times in LA now, and he’s about to embark on a world tour, so if you haven’t see him live yet, get out there to catch my favorite crowd-working musician comedian.