Summary of 894. - Chris & Jason

Overview of How Long Gone — Episode 894: Chris & Jason

Chris Black and Jason Stewart record from the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya after performing at the Sky Blue Sky festival. The episode mixes festival recaps (live sets, guest sit-ins, onstage covers), travel and flight anecdotes, conversations about tipping and all‑inclusive culture, reflections on social media nostalgia (the 2016 revival), reactions to recent pop‑culture moments (SNL, Joe Rogan clips, Ben Affleck/Damon commentary, ASAP Rocky), and broader cultural commentary about public behavior, streaming culture, and the attention economy. There are recurring reminders to check on friends’ mental health and several sponsor spots woven through the episode.

Key topics discussed

• Festival life and live moments

  • Sky Blue Sky festival highlights: performances with Katie (Waxahatchee), Jake (M. J. Linderman), Eric Slick; covers of Lemonheads and Gin Blossoms; live podcast in the hotel lobby.
  • Onstage dynamics: guests sitting in, collaborative spirit, Chris singing (self‑deprecatingly) and crowd reactions.

• Travel, tipping, and all‑inclusive culture

  • Tipping practices at all‑inclusive resorts, paying with cash abroad, interactions with resort staff, and anecdotes about shared experiences (house party, Quarter Sheets cakes).

• Plane stories and public behavior

  • Chaotic flight with a disruptive family; reflections on how people avoid confrontation today and prefer filming over intervening.
  • Broader point: social norms have shifted—less public self‑policing, more online shaming or content capture.

• Pop culture and media reactions

  • 2016 nostalgia trend: why it’s resurfacing and what it means culturally (scraping the “resi bowl” for content).
  • Joe Rogan clips with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon — praise for their articulate take on AI/streaming business.
  • ASAP Rocky on SNL: observations about live performance staging, punk/skate aesthetics, and authenticity.
  • “Heater Rivalry” / D‑Squared runway: discussion about influencers/models, authenticity and the short lifespan of manufactured fame.
  • Controversial internet/streaming figures: how creators monetize controversy and the danger of amplifying harmful speech for attention.

• Mental health & community

  • Multiple reminders to check on friends, and a sponsor tie‑in recommending BetterHelp.
  • A recurring theme that music and live shows are healing and communal.

Notable insights & quotes

• On modern bystander culture: “We’re more inclined to film it than to help.”
• On nostalgia trends: the 2016 revival is like “scraping the resi bowl” — reusing existing cultural content because new content feels expensive or risky.
• On fame/streaming: manufactured or rapid fame has a short runway; controversy-driven attention often cannibalizes long-term respect or artistic legacy.

People, places & performances mentioned

• Artists & Festival: Katie (Waxahatchee), Jake (M. J. Linderman), Eric Slick, Jeff Tweedy / Wilco (mention of Spencer Tweedy), Lemonheads & Gin Blossoms covers.
• Venue / Event: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya; Sky Blue Sky festival.
• Brands / People in conversation: Dart Collective (wedding DJs), Quarter Sheets (cakes), D‑Squared (fashion), Joe Rogan, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, ASAP Rocky.
• Misc: references to airport/airline experience (Delta biscuits/Biscoff), Al Roker lime‑on‑Biscoff anecdote.

Sponsor mentions & promo details

• Dart Collective — wedding/event DJs (contact: michael@dart-collective.com).
• Squarespace — free trial: squarespace.com/howlong; use code howlong for 10% off.
• Rocket Money — manage subscriptions and bills: rocketmoney.com/howlong.
• ShipStation — 60‑day free trial: ShipStation.com with code howlong.
• BetterHelp — therapy platform: betterhelp.com/howlong (10% off).
• Normal Gossip podcast Season 9 plug.

(Note: these were read as ad spots in the episode; check current offers on sponsor sites.)

Main takeaways

• Live music and festivals remain powerful communal experiences — they heal and reconnect people in ways social media cannot.
• Social norms around intervention and public behavior have shifted dramatically; people increasingly choose to record rather than help, which has cultural consequences.
• The attention economy rewards extremes and controversy; creators who build careers on provocation risk short, volatile runs unless they diversify and deliver substance.
• Mental health matters — host reminders and sponsor tie‑ins emphasize checking on friends and considering professional help if needed.

Recommendations / action items from the episode

• If you’re planning an event, consider hiring Dart Collective for musician‑driven DJs.
• Check your subscriptions and finances using Rocket Money; consider ShipStation if you run e‑commerce fulfillment.
• If you’re struggling emotionally, consider trying BetterHelp or seeking professional support.
• Tip well when traveling in all‑inclusive resorts; small cash tips still matter to staff.
• For festival fans: seek out live videos or guest sit‑ins from Sky Blue Sky (artists mentioned are likely on social feeds).

Closing note

The episode is a mix of festival joy, travel chaos, cultural critique, and humor. Chris and Jason balance celebratory moments about music with skeptical takes on internet fame and social trends, while continually circling back to the idea that music and community are enduring remedies in a noisy digital world.