Best Randomly Generated Thought Podcasts (2025)

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308! Disavowing Your Creative Outputs 32:39

4d ago32:39

32:39

How do you approach reclaiming or disavowing your creative outputs that you don't love? This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about Smithee-ing, TV edits, résumé writing, Spike Jonze, sportsball, and the DC Universe. They don’t talk about Cordwainer Bird. references "God of Wine" Alan Smithee on IMDB Spike Jonze Charles Barkley The Room Spread your…

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307! Imagination Resolution 29:53

10d ago29:53

29:53

How good is hi-res for our imagination? This week, Aaron and Jess talk about smoothing, the boundless powers of creativity, Smell-O-Phone/Vision, imagination reconstruction, gaming, and nurturing our sense of play. They don’t talk about NHL 98 on Sega Genesis. references The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Why It's SO Hard to Find a Game You ACTUALL…

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306! Being Seen 39:41

17d ago39:41

39:41

How do we make people feel seen? This week, Joey, Jess, and Aaron talk about the burden of eyes, privacy, showing, acknowledging, surprise parties, and social anxieties. They don’t talk about the Talking Heads. references Dreaming about Cranberries, sans muffin. Revisiting Critical Nonsense 302! Thought Bottling Critical Incident Stress Debriefing:…

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304! Tools 25:45

1M ago25:45

25:45

When do we tool or not tool? This week, Jess and Joey talk about rules aversion, AI, devil hamsters, banana slicers, tool expertise, and simplicity. They don’t talk about gaffer tape. references Inc.: After a Tragedy, a Year of Magical Thinking for Sylvain Arc weldingBy SYLVAIN

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303! Being Spoiled 36:36

1M ago36:36

36:36

What do you think makes us spoiled? This week, Jess, Joey, and Aaron talk about The Lululemon Index, air travel, gender-based differences, hard work, Warren Buffett, and shrooms. They don’t offer any spoiler alerts. references The Mycelium NetworkBy SYLVAIN

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Random number generator [FREE bonus episode] 1:50

1M ago1:50

1:50

Join the show's Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries FOR FREE to listen to this episode. You'll also get monthly updates, quizzes, and access to a community of fellow Program listeners at no cost. You can upgrade to a paid membership at any time to get bonus episodes and ad-free listening for as little as $3/mo. Get bonus content o…

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Progress Report: To Follow or Not to Follow 7:14

1M ago7:14

7:14

Bonus episode: A takeover! Aaron shares his latest edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: To Follow or Not to Follow. For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.By SYLVAIN

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302! Thought Bottling 25:30

2M ago25:30

25:30

How should we start bottling things up? This week, Joey and Jess talk about undesired thoughts, Nietzsche, folk wisdom, Marie Kondo, baggage, and forgetting. They don’t talk about the Young "Black" Teenagers. references perseverate Improving mental health by training the suppression of unwanted thoughts…

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301! Hibernation 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

When did we start calling it hibernation and when did hibernating start being a thing? This week, Jess and Joey talk about lux, vitamin D, dopamine, socialization, Groundhog's Day, and disgust thresholds. They don’t talk about the late, great Roy Ayers. references You need more lux.By SYLVAIN

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300! Random Nonsense Generator 0:31

2M ago0:31

0:31

This week, Jess, Aaron, and Joey celebrate 300(!) episodes of Critical Nonsense by revisiting random episodes. They talked about 121! The Coming-Out Gauntlet and Thick Conversations, 75! Top 3 Things Not to Do in Quarantine, with Clarissa Pharr, 170! Weirder Inspiration, and 158! Buttresses, Tethers, and Grunts. They don’t talk about the Rota Fortu…

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299! Corn 14:14

2M ago14:14

14:14

What are the things that we should be treating like corn that's better than corn? This week, Jess and Aaron talk about potatoes, clothing overabundance, plastics recycling, concrete, eating fruits and veggies, and pomegranates. They don’t talk about the International Adult Conspiracy's creamed corn agenda. references Theme Songs with Candy CBS Sund…

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Progress Report: The State of Wellbeing 11:31

2M ago11:31

11:31

Bonus episode: A takeover! Claire Choi shares her latest edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: The State of Wellbeing: Are We Unwell? For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.By SYLVAIN

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298! Desire Paths 31:16

3M ago31:16

31:16

Where are other places where desire paths would be relevant when not talking about sidewalks? This week, Joey and Jess talk about friction, grocery store layouts, Norman doors, incentives, breaking templates, and shopping districts. They don’t talk about sneckdowns. references The Bushwhackers Norman Door Do you celebrate sneckdown season?…

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297! Sick Responsibilities 38:45

3M ago38:45

38:45

What's the best way to get sick as an adult? This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about historically un-sick parents, hyper-individualistic cultures, COVID, community health, personal comfort vs. social responsibility, and rest. They don’t talk about Mudhoney. references Los Angeles Disaster Support Masterlist Mother Jones: Wildfire Smog Is Deadly…

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296! Wild Prognostications 2025! 43:55

3M ago43:55

43:55

What's to come in 2025? This week, Wild Prognostications returns! Jess, Aaron, and Joey make their predictions for the new year, discussing micro-social media [3:30], platform madness [6:52], nihilistic design [13:10], weaponized compliance [18:32], graphic realism pivoting to novel gameplay [24:05], dressing up [30:38], blockbuster novels [33:15],…

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295! Hybrid Work 2.0 40:02

3M ago40:02

40:02

How do we respond to the competing incentives of hybrid work? This week, we revisit our conversation from Critical Nonsense 290! Hybrid Work, this time with special guest and workplace design leader Amanda Stanaway of ERA-co. She joins Joey and Jess to talk about belonging, productivity, the corporate Kool-Aid, burnout, human connection, and hammoc…

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294! Friend Breakups 29:20

3M ago29:20

29:20

Why would you break up with your best friend? This week, Joey and Jess talk about para-romance, frenemies, communication styles, emotional proximity, work relationships, and boy and girl bands. They don’t talk about Whodini. references Oprah: Should You Really Break Up with That Friend? Black Love: How to Grieve Women Friendships That No Longer Ser…

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[Reruns] 251! Rituals 40:03

4M ago40:03

40:03

Why do people love rituals so much? This week, a rerun from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)! Again, Jess, Aaron, and Joey talk about medicine, Lunar New Year, habits, disease, leg washing, and flossing. They don’t talk about Jane's Addiction. references twitterpated Yale School of Medicine: Phenylephrine, a Common Decongestant, Is Ineffective, Sa…

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[Reruns] 248! Correcting People 31:40

4M ago31:40

31:40

When is it okay to correct someone? This week, a rerun from the Nonsense Wellspring (archive)! Again, Jess and Joey talk about Vander-ism, otaku, pedantry, language, Ryan-ing, and comments sections. Thankfully, they don’t talk about the Oxford comma. references Otaku Corrections Department (because of course): Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the…

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293! 2023 Wild Prognostications: A Year in Review! 40:24

4M ago40:24

40:24

How did our predictions play out in 2024? This week, Aaron, Jess and Joey look back at their prognogs from Episode 247, discussing AI hardware, energy optimism, Scarlett Johansson, AI slop, EV, algae-based biofuels, the gelatin market, and wide shoes. They don’t talk about Jamie Foxx. references Wired: "Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft C…

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Free trial period (3rd instalment) 28:52

5M ago28:52

28:52

Nine strangers are taken hostage. Some will be exchanged in a prisoner swap. Others will be sacrificed. They need to decide who will be who. This is the third out of three instalments. Listen to the full episode ad-free by supporting the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries Visit programaudioseries.com/35-free-trial-period-…

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292! Sci-Fi 23:42

5M ago23:42

23:42

What kernels of truth are there in sci-fi content today that can maybe predict what our smart technological futures will look like? This week, Jess and Joey talk about retrofuturism, the Otis elevator, all things Dymaxian, AI, post-scarcity society and ship names. They don’t talk about our dystopian present. references Christmas in Connecticut Otis…

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Free trial period (2nd instalment) 19:50

5M ago19:50

19:50

Nine strangers are taken hostage. Some will be exchanged in a prisoner swap. Others will be sacrificed. They need to decide who will be who. This is the second out of three instalments. Listen to the full episode ad-free by supporting the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries Visit programaudioseries.com/35-free-trial-period…

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291! Cultural Beige 35:36

5M ago35:36

35:36

What do we do with Cultural Beige? This week, Aaron and Joey talk about cultural homogenization, algorithms, local commerce, international culture, outliers and Charli XCX. They don’t talk about Christian Bale or J. G. Ballard. references Empire Of The Sun "Walking On A Dream" Empire Of The Sun "Alive" @ The Hollywood Bowl 11/23/24 Sabrina Carpente…

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Free trial period (1st instalment) 21:31

5M ago21:31

21:31

Nine strangers are taken hostage. Some will be exchanged in a prisoner swap. Others will be sacrificed. They need to decide who will be who. This is the first out of three instalments. Listen to the full episode ad-free by supporting the show on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries Visit programaudioseries.com/35-free-trial-period-…

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290! Hybrid Work 25:44

5M ago25:44

25:44

Why haven't we figured out hybrid yet? This week, Jess and Joey talk about remote working, cost structures, collaborative tools, individual flexibility, speaker microphones, and body language. They don’t talk about sensory processing issues and how they impact in-person productivity. references Yegor Denisov-Blanch on software engineering productiv…

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289! Mind Wine 42:08

5M ago42:08

42:08

What varietal of mind wine are your grapes lately? This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about pattern breaking, the restorative power of boredom, bird brains, pajama day, the productivity mindset, and seizing rest. They don’t talk about when Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. references Feng Shui Modern by Cliff Tan B…

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288! Living Forever 39:05

6M ago39:05

39:05

Why are we so obsessed with trying to live forever? This week, special guest Chandler Saunders joins Jess and Joey to talk about adult superlatives, aging, the soul, compounding experience, afterlife FOMO, and aging reversal. They don’t talk about Irene Cara. references Piaget's 4 Stages of Cognitive Development Explained Ray Kurzweil Ship of These…

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287! Concert Rage 27:02

6M ago27:02

27:02

What is it about certain settings that just piss us off? This week, Joey and Jess talk about Maggie Rogers, live concerts, the unflustered mom, road rage, cycling, and liminality. They don’t talk about mosh pits. references Maggie Rogers The Unflustered Mom: How Understanding the Five Anxiety Styles Transforms the Way We Parent, Partner, Live, and …

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Progress Report: The State of Youth 10:19

6M ago10:19

10:19

Bonus episode: A takeover! Kristy shares a recent edition from SYLVAIN’s Progress Report newsletter: The State of Youth: A New Paradigm for Growing Up, written by Chief Strategy Officer Chris Konya. For more from SYLVAIN's Progress Report, see progressbysylvain.co.By SYLVAIN

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286! Finding Financial Security 32:01

6M ago32:01

32:01

What's the best way to unlock a sense of financial security in all of us? This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about voting, the economy, financial insecurity, the post-scarcity world, unequal distribution, and intergenerational trauma. They don’t talk about A$AP Rocky. references Werewolf Bar Mitzvah The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Agatha Throug…

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Ep. 329: The Tables Are Turning and It's About Time 27:07

6M ago27:07

27:07

It’s the eve of the 2024 election, with just about 36 hours to go until the polls close, and Michael Moore is feeling… honestly… pretty damn good. And who knows — if we keep our foot on the gas and Get Out the Vote until the polls close tomorrow (Tuesday) night, he believes we just may wake up Wednesday morning feeling… well… pretty f**king great. …

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Stories of Denial, Despair, and Devotion 16:19

6M ago16:19

16:19

A collection of didactic micro stories from the far future. Presented with Decoders' commentary. Visit programaudioseries.com/34-stories-of-denial-despair-and-devotion for full transcript, credits, and list of references. Join the show's Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/programaudioseries FOR FREE and get monthly updates, quizzes, and access to a…

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285! Changing Our Minds 24:30

6M ago24:30

24:30

What happens when your mind changes? This week, Joey and Jess talk about nuclear power, Three Mile Island, solar power, the Overton window, abortion, and tokamaks. They don’t talk about Eddie Kendricks. references Hemingway on bankruptcy The Three Mile Island accident Overton window TokamaksBy SYLVAIN

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Ep. 328: “I’M NOT JOE BIDEN” Prove it. Please. 45:15

6M ago45:15

45:15

With just two weeks left until the election, Vice President Harris still won’t clearly say what she’ll do differently from Biden to end the U.S. taxpayer-funded slaughter of Gaza’s civilian population. Every poll shows the American people want a ceasefire now. If that’s what the people want, and you want to be their president, why won’t you support…

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