Overview of How Long Gone 994 with Chris Black & Jason Stewart
This episode is a fast-moving, highly conversational catch-up centered on Chris’s chaotic travel from L.A. to New York for Fashion Week, which turns into an absurd airline saga involving a smoke alert, an emergency landing in Albuquerque, a long delay, and a very on-brand series of complaints, jokes, and airport observations. From there, the hosts pivot into New York social life, fashion/event coverage, tech commentary, food habits, and a few listener-friendly announcements about upcoming appearances and shows.
Key Story: The Albuquerque Flight Disaster
What happened
Chris recounts a Delta flight from LAX to JFK that had to divert to Albuquerque after smoke was detected on board. The hosts speculate that the likely culprit was someone vaping in the bathroom, but the plane’s actual issue was more serious: smoke detectors in both the back of the plane and the cockpit were triggered, and the crew could not determine the source.
Why it became such a mess
- The aircraft was large and old enough that the airport lacked the equipment to fully inspect or unload it.
- Amazon’s cargo-handling facilities were eventually used to remove luggage and access the plane.
- Passengers were stranded for hours, with the flight repeatedly delayed before finally taking off late at night.
- Chris and the other passengers spent the delay eating in Albuquerque and forming a temporary “pod” of stranded travelers.
A memorable side plot
Chris describes an especially chaotic Uber ride in Albuquerque with a minivan driver who appeared to have leftover Mexican food sitting in the back, which she denied ownership of despite the obvious evidence.
New York Fashion Week, Events, and Social Drift
Fashion Week atmosphere
The hosts talk about how New York is buzzing during Fashion Week, the U.S. Open, TIFF, and other overlapping cultural events. Chris describes the city as packed with public-facing, stylish, and highly recognizable people.
Event roundup
Chris recaps a long night of stops around the city:
- Gallery visits
- The Celine x Reebok event
- A Target design activation at the New Museum
- Willie Chavarria x Ugg-related appearances
- Dinner at Lovely Day
Observations from the scene
- Lots of celebrity- and fashion-world overlap
- Some guests are very accessible; others, like Andrew Garfield, are described as completely unapproachable
- The hosts marvel at how much attention certain figures get, especially Owen Teale/“Owen Steele” compared with major Hollywood names
Tech Talk: Foldables, Wearables, and Surveillance
Foldable iPhone skepticism
Chris and Jason discuss the rumored foldable iPhone and agree it feels oversized, unnecessary, and expensive, even if the closing action is satisfying. They note:
- It’s likely too costly for most people
- Samsung has already been in the foldable market for years
- Most people probably don’t need that much screen real estate
Apple Watch “live rewind”
They also react to a new Apple Watch feature that can transcribe or “rewind” what was said in the last 15 seconds nearby. Their takeaway:
- It feels useful in theory
- In practice, it sounds like more surveillance normalization
- It could be handy for arguments, meetings, or catching people misquoting each other
Privacy and data anxiety
The conversation broadens into:
- Surveillance culture
- Data extraction
- The idea that most people have already given up too much personal information
- The increasing normalization of devices that listen, record, and transcribe everything
Food, Habits, and Tiny Lifestyle Debates
Eggs at lunch
A surprisingly detailed segment makes the case that more restaurants should serve eggs all day, especially hotels and classic New York spots. They favor:
- Soft scrambled eggs
- Breakfast-for-lunch flexibility
- Restaurants like Cafe Mogador as the ideal example
Popcorn and seasoning
Chris shares his popcorn method:
- Avocado oil
- Stovetop popping
- Simple salt
- A seasoning called Spike, which he describes as an old-school herb blend
Apples and pickles
More minor but amusing tangents include:
- Chris saying he doesn’t really like apples or apple juice
- Talk of apple peelers/skinners
- Discussion of pickled vegetables and gut-health trends
Notable Cultural and Industry References
Celine x Reebok
The Reebok collaboration is discussed as more wearable in person than expected, especially the faded/off-white colorways. The price point is also debated, with the hosts landing on it being expensive but not absurd for the audience.
Target design history
They joke about Target’s long history of designer collaborations and the branding theatrics around the activation, including Target-themed cookies.
Jerry Suu and Daniel Arnold
Chris praises photographer Jerry Suu and compares his cult following to that of Daniel Arnold, noting that both have unusually devoted fans for photographers.
Muse and the Instagram handle joke
The hosts also laugh about Mark Zuckerberg taking the Instagram handle “Muse,” which they find funny because Muse is a band with a very specific and somewhat polarizing fanbase.
Announcements and Upcoming Appearances
Live / public events mentioned
- Jason DJing at the Swan Room at Nine Orchard on Friday, Sept. 11
- Toronto Community Wines on Saturday, Sept. 12
- The Ghanies on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Racket in New York
- Pusha T on the podcast the following Monday
Closing note
Chris says he’s running on very little sleep after the travel ordeal and plans to recover with under-eye masks, editing time, and whatever else the city throws at him next. The episode ends in classic How Long Gone fashion: exhausted, funny, self-aware, and packed with random-but-specific observations about modern city life.