Naked Cowboy Economics

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Election Day crackles through the studio as we kick off with a Springsteen surprise and a reminder to vote, then veer into the strange economics of spectacle: The Naked Cowboy, busking myths, and why consistency can out-earn talent in the right crossroads. From there our patience runs out on Halloween creep—medical shows in silly glasses, twenty-five-foot skeletons, and the rising pressure to celebrate everything—and we make a bold proposal: move Christmas to February. Spread out travel, light up the darkest weeks, and let December hold the cozy romance that’s already in the air.

Film fans, we go deep. Punch-Drunk Love isn’t a quirky rom-com; it’s a Paul Thomas Anderson gem with a meticulous score, magical realism, and an astonishing Adam Sandler performance. Then we jump to Caught Stealing, Darren Aronofsky’s dark, funny, off-kilter New York set piece from 1998, with Austin Butler leading a stacked cast. It’s a love letter to pre-9/11 city grit, where violence colors tone rather than hijacking the story. We unpack what makes these films linger: rhythm, restraint, and the courage to stay weird.

Back at home, birds take over the narrative. A man accidentally wears a pigeon for a week. A crow forms a committee and turns a scarecrow into a hangout. We admire animal intelligence, plan a neighborhood lawn mower parade, and share a smart fridge horror story involving a faulty door sensor, a curious cat, and way too much soda. We also spotlight AI’s new tug-of-war in schools, a Florida “olive oil” fiasco that wasn’t, a heartfelt recommendation for Percival Everett’s James, and a candid take on SNL’s forced sketch endings. We close by honoring composer Adrian Sutton, whose work illuminated theater and memory.

If you smiled, argued with us, or added a movie to your queue, tap follow, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review—what holiday would you move, and which film did we sleep on?

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