Feedback with Ira Madison III

This week, Ira sits down with writer, cultural critic, and TikTok commentator Josh Lora (@tellthebeees) to unpack the cultural forces shaping what we watch, read, and obsess over online. They get into Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the internet’s growing fixation on masculinity, and why TikTok has turned beauty, loneliness, and dating into a warped competition. Along the way, they debate the state of BookTok, the death of counterculture, and whether reality TV needs a little more mess. Plus, Josh explains the Harry Jowsey lore and why you absolutely do not need to watch Let’s Marry Harry.00:00 Ira Madison III Introduces the Episode04:21 Josh Lora Joins Ira: Christopher Nolan & The Odyssey07:40 The Odyssey, Identity & Representation12:05 Christopher Nolan’s Fascination With Masculinity20:45 Masculinity, Guilt & the “Great Man”24:29 Interstellar, Spider-Man & Male Loneliness32:29 TikTok, Beauty Standards & Online Culture41:09 Daria, Punk & the Death of Counterculture46:55 Celebrity Fandom & the Rise of Stan Culture52:58 BookTok, Reading Culture & DNFing Books56:06 Why Internet Culture Is Getting Darker01:06:41 Reality TV, Netflix & the Death of the Reality Star

This week, Ira sits down with entertainment journalist and Bravo expert Gibson Johns to unpack how covering The Real Housewives and the broader Bravo world evolved from a guilty pleasure to a full-blown media ecosystem. They get into the blurry line between commentator and fan, the Bravo fan impact, and whether reality stars are performing for podcasts and social media as much as they are for the cameras. Along the way, they revisit unforgettable Housewives moments, recall a silly BravoCon confrontation, and hear why Gibson is all in on Love Thy Naders. 0:00 Nene Leakes Is Back: Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th Review8:50 Gibson Johns Joins the Show10:45 How Gibson Went From Bravo fan to Bravo Journalist 15:29 Critic or Interviewer? Where Gibson Fits In21:50 Andy Cohen's Soft Spots + Caller on Janet & Jason 28:09 Fan Hypocrisy & Has Feedback Gotten Too Powerful?33:23 Constructive Criticism & Performing for the Discourse38:50 Franchise Identity & When a Show Becomes "About the Show"44:41 Hulu's New Reality Shows47:53 Threads Discourse Has Gone Feral50:12 Ira's Apartment Fire Cameo on RHONY: In the City52:27 Gibson's Coverage of the Osefo Drama55:43 Caller: Kelly Bensimon & the Carl Radke Question59:47 Ex-Housewives Spinoffs & Social Capital1:04:39 The Men of Southern Charm1:08:34 Caller: Who Is Rhode Island's Villain?1:12:05 Rapid Fire: Bravo Superlatives1:14:35 Lindsay Hubbard on Threads, Jules & Closing Bits

New York nightlife isn't dead—you just haven't talked to Connie Fleming and Lina Bradford. The nightlife legends join Ira to swap stories about Madonna's Club Confessions, the golden age of MTV, drag's evolution into performance art, Fire Island, club etiquette, and the music that keeps the dance floor alive. Plus, they settle some nightlife debates—including the right time to leave the afters.0:00 – Intro6:04 – Madonna's Club Confessions NYC10:05 – Connie Fleming: Working NYC's Legendary Club Doors14:21 – The Art of Curating the Perfect Nightlife Crowd17:32 – Drug Culture in the Clubs21:05 – Boy Bar, Drag, Fashion & NYC Performance Art26:13 – Before TikTok: The Lost History of Club Documentarians29:20 – Fighting for LGBTQ Rights Then—and Now32:21 – When Queer Life Moved From the Dark to the Light39:46 – Fire Island, Inclusion & Finding Community47:42 – Listener Call: Biggest Misconceptions about Connie and Lina53:52 – The Music That Still Moves Them58:11 – Connie's First Night at Basement1:00:54 – Are Phones Ruining the Club?1:04:20 – Connie and Lina's Friendship Story1:06:32 – Social Anxiety & Club Etiquette 1:10:13 – Listener Call: When Should You Leave the Afters?

As a birthday treat to himself, Ira lands one of his dream interviews: A conversation with the iconic Deidre Hall, longtime star of Days of Our Lives. In celebration of 50 years since beginning her tenure as Days’ Dr. Marlena Evans, Deidre digs into all things daytime television, from her many on-screen deaths and revivals, her turn on Hacks, to everything you ever needed to know about finding your best lighting in every photo. Plus, Ira stuns Deidre with his seemingly unending recall for Days’ multitude of plot lines.00:00 Welcome to Feedback with Ira Madison III01:02 Becoming Marlena Evans and 50 Years on Days of Our Lives05:17 Life as a Soap Actor06:36 Working with Writers and Creating Iconic Storylines09:11 Her Twin Sister's Unexpected Soap Opera Career12:04 Soap Deaths, Fan Outrage and Bringing Characters Back15:16 Favorite Storylines: Possession and The Salem Stalker25:13 How Budget Cuts Changed Days of Our Lives27:39 Celebrity Fans and Connecting with Viewers31:18 Daytime TV's Legacy34:16 Ensemble Storytelling, Favorite Castmates, and John and Marlena40:12 Rivalries, Friendships, and Playing Marlena Today43:09 Acting Advice and Guest Starring on Hacks45:45 Future Crossovers, Dream Roles, and What's Next47:11 Why Marlena Will Always Be "Doc"

This week on Feedback, Ira sits down with former Harper's Bazaar editor Chrissy Rutherford and fashion commentator John Villa to break down what's happening in the fashion streets. From the magazine covers that still make them stop and buy to why celebrity style feels increasingly uninspired, they unpack the trends, tastemakers, and internet personalities shaping fashion today. Plus, they get into Timothée Chalamet, newsletters, Sex and the City, and why, if you want to make it in fashion, you have to go outside.00:00 The Odyssey and Nolan's Greatest Hits04:47 Summer Time Do's and Don'ts with Chrissy and John10:07 Shein, 7 Jeans, and Every Brand in Between16:57 Magazines vs. Influencers22:25 Magazine Editors & Iconic Covers31:44 Queer Fashion & Heated Rivalry37:01 Press Tours, Timothée Chalamet & Celebrity Fashion47:01 The Reality of Celebrity Styling50:15 Influencer Culture vs. The Fashion Industry59:04 FWD JOY, Newsletters & Building a Brand01:02:46 Knicks Jerseys... It's Still That Deep01:06:48 Carrie Bradshaw & Knowing Your References

Crossword constructor Natan Last joins Ira for a conversation about taste, culture, and the surprising power of play. They discuss how crossword puzzles shape the cultural canon, why every clue has a point of view, and what it means to create work that reflects your own voice. Natan also revisits the moment he made Ira a clue in The New York Times crossword. Plus, they get into AI, the COVID game boom, and why making a crossword is a lot like creating the perfect mixtape.00:00 Intro04:39 Discovering Crossword Construction with Natan Last06:52 Publishing a New York Times Crossword at Sixteen12:20 How Crosswords Changed With Pop Culture17:10 Editors, Constructors & Finding Your Voice21:11 Ira Becoming a Crossword Clue27:16 Writing for The New York Times vs. The New Yorker30:04 Editorial Choices and the Politics of Clues35:35 The Surprising History of the Crossword Craze42:01 Building the Next Generation of Crossword Solvers44:29 Learning From Will Shortz48:24 AI, Authorship & the Future of Crosswords53:21 Writing Longhand, Toni Morrison & Creative Process58:42 Rap, Poetry & the Joy of Wordplay1:02:21 Favorite Crossword Clues