901. - David Cho

Summary of 901. - David Cho

by Chris Black & Jason Stewart / Talkhouse

1h 5m•February 4, 2026
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Overview of 901. - David Cho (How Long Gone)

This episode of How Long Gone (hosts Chris Black & Jason Stewart) features longtime guest David Cho. The conversation is a freewheeling, wide-ranging chat that drifts between personal anecdotes (Grammy party/club DJing), social-media behavior and platform culture, small-product launches (Postcard app), celebrity encounters, cultural hot-button items (SmartLess controversy, the Epstein/J1 material), AI use cases, food and nostalgia, and sponsor plugs. Tone is casual, irreverent and anecdote-driven — a typical conversational “hanging out” episode rather than a tightly structured interview.

Key topics discussed

  • David Cho’s public profile and social strategy

    • Cho explains he focuses on building real-life community (a “human run club”) rather than chasing follower counts.
    • Discussion of adjacency and why audiences gravitate to familiar, peer-level personalities.

  • DJ/party anecdotes and Grammys recap

    • Cho and hosts recount DJ sets, opening sets (VTSS, Charlie XCX/Charli XCX involvement), celebrity guests (Anthony Kiedis, Leonardo DiCaprio mentioned), and backstage moments.
    • Reactions to contemporary DJ/party culture: setlists, crowd responses, and “festival” DJing.

  • Social media behavior and platforms

    • Block/“brick” device talk (purpose-built device/apps that disable social media).
    • Platforms mentioned: Instagram, Twitter/X, Tumblr, Reddit, LinkedIn — with takes on why different platforms attract distinct user types.
    • Frustration with artists repeatedly updating songs on streaming services (e.g., Fred Again.. example).

  • Current pop culture controversies and media

    • SmartLess (pod) episode with Charli XCX: breakdown of why that ep drew criticism (surprise format, awkward guest-host dynamics, questions about kids).
    • Conspiracy and documentary culture (Epstein/J1 discussion): how public exposure mixes with misinformation and the normalization of extreme narratives.

  • Celebrity culture and moral separation

    • Conversation about separating art from artist (Kanye/Ye referenced; evolving feelings about previously admired artists).

  • Product and project updates

    • Postcard app soft launch: a list/map tool to save and share places (restaurants, spots) and to convert saved items into mapped lists; Substack/paywall integrations discussed.
    • Cho and hosts describe practical use-cases (travel lists, city guides, embedding Instagram/TikTok posts).

  • AI usage and boundaries

    • Practical uses of AI seen as Google replacement for quick answers; pros/cons of paid tiers; ethical/therapeutic concerns (therapy via ChatGPT, potential harms).

  • Food, nostalgia, and personal anecdotes

    • Conversation about fast food memories (Wendy’s Frosty, McDonald’s breakfast), movie-theater popcorn etiquette, and restaurant habits.
    • Tennis, real estate minor tangents (pool vs tennis court), and social-splitting-bill anxiety.

Notable quotes & highlights

  • David Cho: “I’m a human run club.” (Describing his community-first approach over follower count.)
  • On celebrity adjacency: “So close to us… people want to hear somebody who feels comfortable speaking to us on a peer level.”
  • Chris Black’s bio line joke: “Allergic to the BS.” (Self-deprecating sign-off moment.)
  • On artists updating songs repeatedly: “You should be allowed to update a song on streaming services, but there should be a penalty.” (Frustration about changing masters/features.)

Main takeaways

  • Community trumps follower vanity: Cho emphasizes in-person relationships and community-building over social metrics.
  • Modern culture is messy: celebrity controversies, streaming updates, and documentary “drops” fuel both real accountability and conspiratorial/overblown takes; the result is frequently chaotic and confusing.
  • Practical tech/product utility wins: Postcard’s mapping/list features are pitched as a time-saver for people who curate places; small tools that automate tedious curation tasks can be high-value.
  • AI is useful but not a complete substitute: Hosts use AI for “Google-style” answers and practical tasks but remain cautious about handing over deeper responsibilities (therapeutic roles, full personal automation).
  • The episode is more vibe and banter than deep reporting — it’s ideal for listeners who enjoy personality-led, anecdotal conversation.

Sponsors, products & links mentioned

  • Quince (clothing sponsor)
  • Squarespace (websites and SEO)
  • Postcard app (postcard.app / postcard.inc) — soft launch; mapping and saved-lists features
  • CarMax (sell a car)
  • Hilton (hospitality)
  • McDonald’s (breakfast promo)

Who should listen

  • Regular How Long Gone listeners who enjoy long-form banter among friends.
  • People curious about DJ/cultural party life, social media habits, and light tech/startup talk.
  • Anyone interested in candid celebrity anecdotes and conversational pop-culture commentary.

Quick action items (if you liked the episode)

  • Try the Postcard app (postcard.app) if you catalogue restaurants/places or create travel lists.
  • If you want more: follow David Cho or check past episodes with him for similar conversation threads (community, music, LA culture).
  • Tune in to How Long Gone for more cross-topic, personality-driven episodes.

(Conversation is intentionally loose — plenty of sidebars, jokes, and mid-episode sponsor reads; this summary captures the main beats without every asides and tangents.)