Feedback with Ira Madison III

Debut authors Bobuq Sayed (No God But Us) and Kyle Carrero Lopez (Party Line) sit down with Ira to talk about the myth of "queer utopia," nightlife as never just escapism, and a shared disinterest in writing books about the obvious villain. Kyle and Bobuq also discuss refusing to leave their politics, their work, and everything else consuming their minds at the entrance of the club. Because for Bobuq and Kyle, the dance floor was never a break from reality… but where they go to feel it most intensely, among strangers and familiar faces. Turns out the club was never just for dancing.00:12 Alix Earle & the Literacy Crisis03:36 Structuring Poetry Collections 07:19 Gatekeeping in the Publishing World 12:58 Writer Burnout and Self-Care14:33 Writing Before the Pregame25:20 Unpacking the Queer Utopia 32:53 Literary Inspirations 37:38 Dream Parties41:19 Encounter with Assata Shakur 45:03 Book Launches & Nightlife Friendships 51:40 Advice for Debut Authors

Jessel Taank is here, and she has some things to clear up! She joins Ira to discuss the fan reaction to her on the latest season of The Real Housewives of New York City. They get into her feud with Carole Radziwill, the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy drama, her infamous Dorinda Medley fashion showdown, and her complicated relationship with Erin Lichy. Plus, Jessel reveals her plans to play matchmaker for Ira. 00:00 — Intro01:43 — Jessel Taank Joins06:18 — RHONY Fan Backlash07:40 — Erin & Setting Boundaries14:17 — Race & RHONY15:05 — Carole Radziwill & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy19:47 — Dorinda & the Bubble Dress24:03 — RHONY Friendships & the New Cast33:36 — Fashion PR & Personal Style41:04 — Matchmaking44:27 — RHONY Zingers & Confessionals

Chris Black is everywhere and doing everything — co-hosting the podcast How Long Gone, building his American essentials clothing line Hanover, writing a memoir, and hanging in the DJ booth with Charli XCX's husband. He joins Ira to talk about his taste and how he developed it, from the 90s Atlanta hardcore scene that exposed him to life beyond a white, middle-class, suburban childhood, to the current "say yes" era he's living in — all while juggling sobriety, marriage, and still wanting to be in bed by ten.00:00 Taylor Swift Released New Music03:40 Chris Black joins Ira06:46 Writing Retreats & Isolation10:45 Books, Memoirs & Reading15:48 Manhattan vs. Brooklyn Living20:46 90s Hardcore Punk Roots24:48 The Value of Gatekeeping27:58 Managing a Band, TRL & MTV Nostalgia30:45 Video Podcasts vs. Audio34:37 His GQ Column & Bravo's Southern Charm36:42 Developing Taste via Magazines38:31 Launching Hanover Apparel40:16 Curation & Photography43:48 Ultimate Pop Diva Mount Rushmore53:29 Fantasy of Living Abroad

Marlon James joins Ira Madison III for a conversation about his new novel The Disappearers (which has been shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize), growing up in Jamaica, and the pop culture that shaped him. They get into Marlon’s complicated relationship with his own past, how Prince, Heathers, and ’90s grunge gave him a vocabulary, and why he wants readers to enter the world of his books on his own terms. If you haven't picked up a copy of The Disappearers yet... run, don't walk.00:00 Ira Madison III Ranks the Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist04:33 The Disappearers & Writing His Most Personal Novel07:56 Growing Up Queer in Jamaica12:12 Prince, Pop Culture & Queerness20:19 How He Writes & Gets Out of the Way32:17 How Pop Culture Shapes His Writing37:13 Jamaican Patois & Writing on His Own Terms45:15 Queer Sex, Shame & Writing50:14 Revenge, Trauma & Literary Perspective52:25 What Marlon Wants to Disappear From Literature56:58 Writing Multiple Perspectives01:06:22 How He Knows When a Book Is Finished

We’re talking lights, camera, action with writer, director, and Ira’s book club bestie Shatara Michelle Ford. They talk about Ford’s latest feature, Dreams in Nightmares, the real cost of funding their first indie project, and how to make ambitious work without waiting for Hollywood’s green light. Plus, Shatara breaks down what they learned working with director James Gray on Lost City of Z and the moment on set that made Shatara fall in love with Robert Pattinson's acting.00:00 Welcome to Feedback03:12 Ira and Shatara Reunite07:38 Queen Elizabeth and The Black List13:42 From Test Pattern to Dreams in Nightmares26:24 Shatara’s Directing Process33:08 Learning From James Gray40:31 Robert Pattinson and The Lost City of Z43:46 Making a Black Queer Road Movie49:30 Richard Brody and Dreams in Nightmares51:13 What’s Next for Shatara?

This week on Feedback, Ira sits down with playwright Max Wolf Friedlich, whose Broadway hit "Job" went from a scrappy sleeper to a show so in-demand that Hugh Jackman could barely get a ticket. Max opens up about the realities of creating a Broadway banger, what it's been like following up with his new play "The Holes", and the unlikely origin of his theater career — a LARPing summer camp at age nine. Plus, a little on looksmaxxing, slam poetry, and creating social cachet in supporting art.0:00 Rachel Cusk's Life of M & the Natalie Portman Rumors2:52 Introducing Max Friedlich & His New Play The Holes6:16 How Job Became a Viral Broadway Sensation9:10 Max's Early Social Media Career12:24 NYC Celebrity Theater Culture and Writer Anonymity16:59 The Origin of The Holes: LARPing Camp & an 8th-Grade Assignment24:14 Max Relives His Slam Poetry Days28:49 Avoiding a "Job" Sequel: Controversy, Honesty & the Mental Toll of Broadway33:32 Tech Bros and Social Cachet in Supporting the Arts40:24 What Theater Teaches Men46:29 Celebrity Scandal Nostalgia, NYC Food & Comfort Movies52:08 Indie Film & Theater Influences: Jane Schoenbrun, Passing Strange & The Seafarer58:46 Screens on Stage, Fan Encounters & Quitting Social Media1:07:08 Internet Outrage, Dolly Parton & Looksmaxing Culture1:14:18 Robert Pattinson Producing The Holes

Phoebe Robinson is here, and she has thoughts! She joins Ira for a conversation about pop culture, comedy, and saying exactly what you think. They get into Phoebe’s viral wig rants, the strange state of celebrity podcasts, and why she wants people to stop treating pop culture commentary like the news. They also discuss Phoebe's return to stand-up, and what it really means to be in your "Rich Auntie" era.Buy tickets to Phoebe's Feral and Fired Up! Tour: https://www.phoeberobinson.com/00:00 Ira Talks About Dolly Parton02:48 Phoebe Robinson’s New Book, “Rich Auntie”05:37 Friendship, Boundaries, and Getting Older06:53 Writing Books and Finding Her Voice13:27 The Evolution of Podcasting Since “2 Dope Queens”18:01 Phoebe’s “Wig Rants” and Sharing Opinions Online24:00 Why She Doesn’t Have an Opinion on Everything28:06 Creating Her Own Opportunities31:44 The Responsibility of Comedy37:49 Creating Tiny Reparations Books41:07 Advice for Becoming a Better Writer46:36 Giving Artists More Time to Create48:30 Pop Culture, “The Valley,” and What She’s Watching52:26 Problematic Celebrity Crushes54:00 The Worst Things She’s Spent Money On55:45 Books, London, and Lady Gaga57:28 Why Men Should Read More Fiction01:01:13 Do People Actually Read the Books They Post Online?01:04:14 Book Covers and “You Can’t Touch My Hair”01:05:19 Phoebe’s Dream Podcast Guest

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