Overview of Chris & Jason (Talkhouse)
In this episode, Chris Black and Jason Stewart riff on the realities of adult attention spans, why they prefer reading over most TV, how phone use has warped modern life, and the pleasures of low-stakes cultural observations. They also spend a big chunk of the episode promoting upcoming How Long Gone events, especially the debut of the Ghanies awards in New York and a Toronto DJ takeover, while weaving in their usual mix of fashion, tech, and food talk.
Main Topics Discussed
No-guest episode energy
- The episode opens with a rare one-on-one format after a guest falls through.
- They joke that these “blank slate” episodes can be better because there’s no pressure to prep around an interview.
- They also revisit their long-running theory that rappers are hard to interview remotely and are much better in the room than on Zoom.
Reading vs. TV, movies, and short-form content
- A major thread is Chris’s attempt to rediscover reading as a pleasurable habit.
- Jason argues that if a book isn’t working, you should just abandon it instead of forcing yourself through hundreds of pages.
- They compare this to TV and film consumption, noting that even when people enjoy a show or movie, they often barely remember the plot afterward.
- Chris frames it as a choice between books and reels, with very little interest in the middle ground.
Phone addiction and theater etiquette
- They estimate that a huge percentage of people cannot sit through a long movie without checking their phone.
- Jason admits he checks the time in theaters and uses that as a kind of game to track runtime.
- They joke about whether anyone truly turns their phone off anymore, or just leaves it on airplane mode / battery-save mode out of habit.
- This turns into a larger riff on modern attention span and how little uninterrupted focus most people have left.
Tech frustrations and brand loyalty
- Chris complains about Apple’s new charging brick shape and how it doesn’t always fit well in airplane seats.
- Jason suggests simpler third-party replacements would solve the problem, but Chris insists on staying loyal to Apple.
- They also discuss charging pads, which Jason flatly rejects as suspicious or “red flag” territory.
- The conversation expands into a nostalgic comparison of old and new Apple hardware, foldable phones, and the tactile satisfaction of older devices like flip phones and early Samsung foldables.
Seat belts, cars, and Bill Simmons
- The duo riff on Bill Simmons’s public anti-seatbelt stance, which they find funny precisely because it’s absurd.
- They compare it to old driving myths and macho behavior around safety.
- This turns into a broader joke about status, masculinity, and people disabling beeping seatbelt reminders in their cars.
“Handsome,” “female,” and dating language
- A listener-like anecdote leads to a discussion of whether women can be called “handsome.”
- Jason and Chris unpack the word’s etymology and conclude that, in its older sense, it can work as a compliment.
- They also debate phrases like “my partner” and “I’m pregnant” when said by men, mocking the awkwardness of modern relationship language.
- The segment ends with a joke-y neologism: “happy bitch, happy sitch.”
Food, travel, and regional snacks
- They talk about:
- Poutine as a heavy, deeply indulgent Canadian comfort food.
- Spice bags in Dublin: a late-night, bagged fry-and-chicken snack with curry sauce.
- Fries in a bag with seaweed/furikake at Tolo in New York.
- The food discussion becomes a mini-tour of their obsession with salty, messy, highly specific regional snacks.
- They also briefly mention Japanese seasoning products and the joy of discovering unusual furikake.
Event Announcements and Promotions
The Ghanies
- They officially announce the Ghanies, their new award show in New York City.
- Date: September 15
- Venue: Racket in Chelsea
- The event will feature:
- An all-star house band led by Brad Cook
- Special performances
- Several awards/categories, including playful ones like Fake Chef of the Year
- They say the show is already close to sold out and encourage listeners to grab tickets while available.
- They clarify it will not be livestreamed, but clips will likely be posted afterward.
Toronto DJ event
- They also tease a September 12 event in Toronto at their old favorite spot, North.
- The vibe sounds like an outdoor, wine-forward block party / DJ situation.
- Chris says he’ll be there as well, and they hint at local food and drink activations.
Dublin trip
- Jason mentions he’ll be in Dublin later in the month and plans to hunt down a proper spice bag while there.
Sponsor Read Highlights
The episode includes several sponsor spots, with the hosts keeping their usual comedic tone:
- Dart Collective — wedding/event DJ service with actual musicians and vinyl DJs
- ShipStation — shipping platform for businesses
- Superpower — at-home blood biomarker testing and health tracking
- Square — POS and business platform
- Tiny Health — gut health testing across life stages
- BetterHelp — online therapy, with a shoutout to their review page
Notable Takeaways
- Chris and Jason are especially dialed into the cultural shift toward shorter attention spans and low-effort digital consumption.
- They both clearly prefer physical presence, whether that’s for interviews, concerts, or even the vibe of a DJ set.
- The episode’s core energy is less about a single topic and more about their ongoing worldview: smart, cynical, highly specific, and funny about the absurdity of modern life.
- The big practical takeaway is simple: buy tickets to the Ghanies if you can.