...And We're Back.

And the Gift Bag Goes To...

This week, on Press Pass, we dive into: * The baffling attempt to rename Petaluma’s north-of-Washington district as... The Now District (yawn). My superior alternative? NoBo—because every cool district name needs two syllables and a vowel. * There is more shit in an Oscar gift bag than you can possibly imagine. * A candle that smells like an artist’s studio. (Because who doesn’t want their home to reek of linsneed oil and existential dread?) Special Feature: Micro MinuteBrought to you by Computerland, this episode’s Micro Minute takes us through Hollywood’s evolution in special effects—from rubber-suited B-movie monsters to CGI marvels. Get in Touch * Subscribe to Press Pass: dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com] * Explore my cinematic universe: dhowell.com [https://dhowell.com] * Follow me on the socials: @DaedalusHowell (If you can spell it, you can find me.) * Leave me a rant via voicemail: 415-763-0070 * Or just email me: dhowell@dhowell.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Rat Sandwich

Welcome to Press Pass, the only podcast legally classified as cultural loitering. I’m Daedalus Howell—one of an infinite number of monkeys typing for your enjoyment. If you’re into arthouse werewolf flicks, pulp modernist noir, or the last of the great alt-weeklies, you’re in the right place. In This Episode: * The Field Mouse Factor – A deep dive into a bizarre PR crisis from Wine Country’s past, where a deli’s rat-related debacle spiraled into media chaos. Lesson learned? Sometimes the best PR strategy is saying nothing at all. * My Favorite Press Release – A recent survey claims Stanford-to-Google is the ultimate career path in California. But where’s the love for artists, filmmakers, and musicians? Is finance and tech the only dream left? Let’s discuss. * AARP at the Movies – How the organization for retired folks has become an unexpected player in Hollywood, bringing top-tier talent to its Movies for Grownups awards. * Coming in This Week’s Press Pass – Screen Size Matters: From Scott Galloway to David Lynch, media pundits weigh in on how vertical video and shrinking screens are changing cinema. Subscribe at dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com]. Sponsor: Want to reach an audience that actually still reads? Become a Press Pass sponsor—details at dhowell.com/media-kit. 📢 Listen, Subscribe & Read: * Press Pass is available wherever you get your podcasts. * Read the newsletter every Friday at dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com]. * Follow me and find links to it all at dhowell.com [https://dhowell.com]. 👀 Next Time on Press PassMore media absurdities, cultural musings, and sharp-witted commentary. Stay tuned. 💡 Final Thought:Simple Minds almost passed on The Breakfast Club soundtrack because they didn’t write Don’t You (Forget About Me)—but they recorded it in three hours, turned down the publishing, and still became U.S. superstars overnight. Their only regret? Not putting it on their album that year. The 40th-anniversary reissue just fixed that. What will you fix on your reissue? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Celebrity Auction

Press Pass – Ep. 1: The Things We Leave Behind Be careful what you leave behind when you die. It might end up in a celebrity auction. Welcome to Press Pass, the podcast spinoff of your favorite Substack newsletter. I'm Daedalus Howell—author, auteur, journalist, and one-man media brand—bringing you sharp, irreverent commentary on culture, media, and whatever lands in my inbox. In This Episode: Miss Lonelyhearts & Media Meltdowns — With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I plug my upcoming riff on Nathaneal West’s Miss Lonelyhearts and its eerie parallels to modern media. Catch the full piece this Thursday on Press Pass (subscribe at dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com]). My Favorite Press Release — This week’s PR gem comes from Julian’s Auctions, featuring "historical" items from Clinton, Gore, Dan, Obama, and Zuck. Sponsor — This episode is brought to you by ComputerLand, reminding us that while word processors won’t make you a great writer, they do cut down on scissors and glue. To become a sponsor, request a media kit via dhowell@dhowell.com [dhowell@dhowell.com]. 📢 Listen, Subscribe & Read — Press Pass is available wherever you get your podcasts. Read the newsletter every Thursday at dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com] and subscribe! Follow me and find links to it all at dhowell.com [https://dhowell.substack.com]. 👀 Next Time on Press Pass — More media absurdities, questionable auctions, and insights from the mezzanine. Stay tuned. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

...And We're Back.

A brief re-introduction as I wade back into podcasting. — DH This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dhowell.substack.com [https://dhowell.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]