Sonic Midlife

Episode 27 - The Guys Keep Marching On

Cool new music, George Saunders love, midlife fridge and pantry staples, John Mulaney, Time Crisis, and Andor are among the topics discussed by our heroes: Zach Gibson and Jeff Poole.

Episode 26 - Your Format Preferida

Your favorite podcast pros are back at it, discussing new albums from The Format and Joyce Manor, as well as early 80s punk. They also discuss the novels Butcher's Crossing by John Williams and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Some recent kitchen successes are shared, including Zach's favorite homemade Indian dish and Jeff's preferred brand of refried beans (pun intended). Lastly, they go over recent YouTube and documentary faves, The Adam Friedland Show and Secret Mall Apartment.

Episode 25 - Albums of The Year (2025) featuring old pal, Ryan Earl Ward

In Episode 25, Zach and Jeff lock in their Best Albums of 2025, talking through the records that mattered most this year — the ones that held up, rewarded repeat listens, and stayed in rotation long after the hype faded. Jeff runs through his albums of the year, spotlighting releases from Fust, Bill Fox, SG Goodman, Kyle M, and billy woods, and why each one rose above the rest in 2025. Zach counters with his own favorites, including Geese, Cameron Winter, Japanese Breakfast, Jeff Tweedy, and Wednesday — artists whose records defined his listening year. The guys are also joined by their friend and old college pal Ryan Ward, who brings his own perspective and favorites to the conversation, including standout releases from Ty Segall and US Girls. Along the way, the episode drifts into books that didn’t make the cut — including Demon Copperhead and The Horse — and a broader conversation about quitting books, trusting your taste, and letting go of cultural “shoulds.” As always, there’s plenty of meandering about what they’ve been watching and listening to, and what actually earns your time as the year winds down. A year-end episode about attention, commitment, and the records that made 2025 worth remembering.

Episode 24 - Such Great Heights, Sharp Pins, and the Spurs & Thunder

This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground after their extended hiatus. This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground — including plenty of sports, because that’s just part of the deal. Zach talks about the return of The Format, Kyle M’s Christmas EP, and Chris DeVille’s Such Great Heights, while also declaring that all food kind of sucks… except what he’s hoping to eat in San Francisco over Christmas. He also recommends the BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me, a reminder that history can be smart, funny, and not homework. Jeff brings Sharp Pins (filed somewhere between the Beatles, Guided by Voices, and Big Star), dives into N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, and highlights Roadfood.com’s Northwestern Steakhouse. The conversation naturally turns to the NBA, with extended talk on the Spurs and the Thunder — expectations, vibes, and why watching young teams actually matters. Music, books, food, and sports — all mixed together the way they usually are.

Episode 23 - Dad Rock, Nationalism, and Mel Gibson

Jeff explores the debut Lucky Cloud – Foreground from Chicago’s Chet Zenor, dives into Elif Batuman’s The Idiot and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, grabs a pupusa burger, and streams Patriot on Amazon Prime. Zach spins Credit Electric and Dean Johnson, eats Mexican hotdogs, and celebrates the return of PTI from summer break. There's even some Mel Gibson discussion — all in the latest episode of Sonic Midlife.