12 Comments

I read this as "Ron Johnson" and hoped you'd push him on the "vaccines giving people AIDS" thing.

Expand full comment

I hope Jon can patch things up with Graham. I think Graham gets very emotional about stuff, and acts daft, the Gamergate thing was an indicator of that. I don't see any evidence that he's any different or more "extreme" than JK Rowling. I agree that there are some genuine transphobes among Gender Criticals, but Graham isn't one of them, he probably has more trans friends than all of us put together. Let's also make it clear that there are also a huge amount of trans people who are also Gender Critical! I also have friends on both sides of this divide, and I understand Jon's point of view, there's really too much anger and not enough listening in the debate.

Expand full comment

When they originally released this, I didn't check out Ronson's podcast. After listening to this interview again, I decided to check it out and I'm absolutely hooked. Anyone know if this was just a "one and done" podcast or if he is going to do a season 2 (or something similar)?

Expand full comment

If you're jonesing for some other Ronson productions, he did two Audible originals, one of which Moynihan mentions in this interview: The Last Days of August. The other is called The Butterfly Effect.

Both are ostensibly about the porn industry, but not so much that it's gratuitous in any way.

The Last Days of August is very much in the same vein as Serial--working out all of the details leading up to the major event, told from many point of views. It also builds heavily upon his wonderful--and oft-mentioned on the pod--book, So You've Been Publicly Shamed. I'd go as far as calling it a companion piece.

Expand full comment

Yes, it was a superb series - can't get enough of Jon!

Expand full comment

Listening to this podcast, and the 'A Secret Room Behind a Fake Wall', I couldn't help but think of a great book I once read named 'The Day of the Locust' by Nathaniel West about Hollywood in the 1930's. It's an interesting read about the unique people who came to Hollywood to become stars, and the loneliness and sadness experienced by those who take their shot at fame (and fail to do so). I wonder if Moynihan the Mench has come across his book, and his thoughts about it if so.

Expand full comment

Can you guys do an entire series on how annoying John Avlon is?

Expand full comment

There’s merch???!!!

Expand full comment

So immediately after they talk about never saying “a writer CALLED...” Ronson drops an “a priest called...” Old habits die hard, haha. Great episode though. It’s always a treat hearing Jon. I need to dig deeper into his world of stuff.

Expand full comment

1) isn't it Jon Ronson's birthday? And 2) i just shared the episode about the pro life movement and then you share this... *Squints eyes* which of these was the reason you posted it today?

Expand full comment

Anyone figured out if there is a DM feature on substack? Or is there a subscriber only email address?

Expand full comment

Just the email address that’s in the “about” page.

Expand full comment