Overview of How Long Gone with Chris Black & Jason Stewart
This episode is a loose, fast-moving conversation packed with pop-culture commentary, celebrity gossip, sports talk, and the hosts’ usual back-and-forth about fame, taste, and internet discourse. Chris checks in from East Hampton while Jason reflects on travel, events in L.A., and a recent weekend in London, and the episode jumps between everything from Kareem’s media run to Dua Lipa’s wedding, Phoebe Bridgers’ no-phone tour policy, and why sports fandom makes people act irrationally.
Main Topics Discussed
Celebrity and entertainment news
- Kareem’s publicity push is a recurring joke: the hosts note how active he’s been promoting projects and awards campaigns, especially now that “new media” is Emmy-eligible.
- They riff on J.Lo’s viral comments about New York identity and how celebrities often create controversy by saying things that are perfect for clicks.
- Sean Penn comes up as one of the last truly defiant celebrity figures—someone who either seems furious at Hollywood or is in a war zone, with little in-between.
- Ariana Grande’s recent appearance sparked concern online, and the hosts discuss how fan discourse around celebrity bodies often crosses into unhealthy territory.
- They also talk about Robert Smith / The Cure and younger fans getting outraged without context, especially around songs like “Killing an Arab.”
Dua Lipa’s wedding and celebrity event culture
- The hosts discuss Dua Lipa’s wedding to Callum Turner in Italy, including:
- the alleged disruption to a small town,
- rumors of venue secrecy and media misdirection,
- and the aesthetic details, like the bookshelf-heavy decor and wedding fashion.
- They compare celebrity weddings to the polished, curated style seen in other high-profile unions and speculate about how Taylor Swift might stage something equally extravagant if she wanted to.
Phoebe Bridgers and concert phone bans
- A major discussion centers on Phoebe Bridgers’ decision to require no phones at her shows, using Yondr-style pouches.
- The hosts debate whether this is:
- a smart way to improve the concert experience,
- an anti-social but worthwhile move,
- or something critics are unfairly calling classist or exclusionary.
- They argue that the real complaint is less about access and more about people losing the ability to post and signal attendance online.
- Their takeaway: the policy is a real challenge to modern concert culture, where the social-media flex often matters more than the live experience.
Sports, fandom, and irrational loyalty
- The episode spends a lot of time on New York sports culture, especially the Knicks.
- Chris and Jason debate why people become so emotionally invested in teams that do not materially affect their lives.
- They concede that sports can be a powerful bonding mechanism, especially among strangers or people from different backgrounds.
- They also discuss:
- Wemby as a generational talent and a source of representation for tall guys,
- the appeal of rooting for individual players who feel deserving,
- and how sports fandom can turn people into “pick-me” spectators who want the camera on themselves.
Random culture and internet tangents
- The hosts detour into a surprisingly detailed discussion of rabbits vs. hares, after trying to figure out a slang term for a male “snow bunny.”
- They also mention:
- Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Fat Joe traveling together on a private jet while connected through Knicks fandom,
- Tina / “Tina users” and drug slang,
- and a found pill in a London hotel that turned out to be blood pressure medication, not anything recreational.
Key Takeaways
- The episode is driven by commentary on public image: who gets criticized, who goes viral, and how much of celebrity life is just strategic noise.
- Phoebe Bridgers’ no-phone policy is treated as a meaningful cultural test: can audiences accept a better live experience if it means giving up the ability to document it?
- Sports fandom is portrayed as both ridiculous and deeply human—a force that creates community, but also irrational behavior and identity performance.
- The hosts repeatedly return to the idea that online culture rewards outrage and performance more than context or nuance.
Notable Bits and Running Jokes
- “Kareem don’t give a fuck” becomes shorthand for a celebrity who knows how to turn controversy into momentum.
- Sean Penn is described as a “baseball mitt with hair,” which the hosts clearly mean affectionately.
- The idea of a “snow buck” gets introduced and then corrected via a rabbit/ hare fact-check spiral.
- They joke that Taylor Swift’s wedding music choices could be absurdly high-profile, but likely won’t be as cool as fans imagine.
- The conversation about NYC sports fans and pick-me behavior becomes a broader critique of modern fandom and self-branding.
Housekeeping / Closing Notes
- The episode ends with a merch fulfillment update: some orders were delayed due to distributor issues, some buyers will receive bonus items, and some customers will get refunds or replacements via DM.
- The hosts also read multiple sponsor spots for TaskRabbit, Squarespace, ShipStation, Quince, and Smith’s, keeping the episode firmly in the familiar How Long Gone ad-supported format.