Love Triangles, Fortnite & Being Open-Hearted | Celine Song

The World Cup, Tarot Cards & Star Wars Toys | Brenda Cullerton

Matt Buechele breaks down the World Cup coming to America, the shared confusion of getting to MetLife Stadium, and why international visitors keep looking at American food like it's a science experiment. He also takes on primary election season, campaign spam, and the annual transformation of abandoned storefronts into political headquarters nobody asked for. Then he sits down with writer, actor, and internet icon Brenda Cullerton for a conversation about New York in the 1970s, accidentally building a creative life by following curiosity instead of a plan, and why making things with people you like is still one of life's greatest pleasures. Along the way, they get into writing copy for Star Wars toys, tarot cards, stand-up comedy, social media brain rot, the surprising upside of living rich and dying poor, and whether America is actually getting dumber or if we're just filming it more. Topics : Writing star wars copy in the seventies Being the secret voice of darth vader Living in a ninety-five dollar studio Why remote work is a virtual prison The value of peaking late in a career Navigating nyc fashion and elitism Handling creative rejection and hubris The terror of bad tarot card readings  Chapters: 00:00:00 Brenda Cullerton paid $95 a month for a studio in Gramercy Park 00:03:48 Writing for Darth Vader and Office Habits 00:10:03 Politics and Common Sense 00:15:12 The Approachable Coastal Elite 00:20:49 Handling Creative Criticism 00:25:46 Rejection and Artistic Failure 00:30:31 Birthday Drama and Boundaries 00:35:24 Tarot Readings and Curses 00:40:30 NYC Mayor and Local Politics 00:43:45 The Strait of Vermouth and Geography 00:48:54 Modern Education and 80K Tuition 00:55:17 Summer Predictions and Closing FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ [https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/]   ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot [https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot]   FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ [https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/]  ►TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell [https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell]  ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Knicks Fever, TikTok Tours & Buying the Good Rice | Fumi Abe

Matt Buechele celebrates the New York Knicks' historic Finals comeback, the return of civic pride to New York City, and why a basketball team might be doing a better job bringing Americans together than just about anything else right now. Then he sits down with comedian Fumi Abe to talk about growing up in Ohio after immigrating from Japan, the strange economics of stand-up comedy, touring with TikTok stars, marching band humiliation, cross-country crushes, and what happens when a comedy writer suddenly starts making enough money to ignore parking tickets. They also get into late night TV, social media fame, upstate New York, and why the true sign of success might just be buying the expensive rice. Topics: Life as a touring stand-up comedian Writing for James Corden in Los Angeles Performing on Fallon and Colbert Internet viral culture changing comedy  Secrets of late night TV writing Creating comedy inspired by everyday life Hot takes with Fumi Abe Making it big on the internet Chapters: 00:00:00 Fumi Abe’s viral podcast clip story 00:05:45 Touring revenue and quitting writing jobs 00:11:30 Performance of wealth in LA and Upstate New York 00:17:15 Making internet jokes work on a comedy stage 00:23:00 Growing up in Ohio and high school sports 00:28:45 Being an organic folk drummer in Brother Goose 00:34:30 Leaving music business for the comedy grind 00:40:15 Navigating social media and getting older fans 00:46:00 Experience writing for James Corden in LA 00:51:45 Stand-up sets on Fallon and Colbert 00:57:30 Comedy writing process and the urologist bit 01:03:15 Predictions for self-driving cars and airplanes FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ [https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/] ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot [https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot] FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ [https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/] ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell [https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell] ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Kareem Rahma Built an Empire with Subway Takes | Kareem Rahma

Matt Buechele breaks down why tiny indie films with names that sound like shuttered strip clubs are suddenly beating massive studio franchises at the box office, and why audiences seem increasingly desperate for something that doesn't feel focus-grouped to death.  Then he sits down with Kareem Rahma to talk about building Subway Takes into an internet institution, the weird economics of making things online, arguing with commenters, country-house dad life, late night TV's future, and the challenge of making meaningful art while still paying the bills. They also get into New York, burnout, family, and Kareem's political philosophy: if you want to be rich, be rich — we'll take care of the rest. TOPICS COVERED: Keep the Meter Running with Kareem Rahma Shooting on NYC trains Why creators need security From digital creator to producer Viral burnout and fame Future of late night on YouTube Will digital creators win Emmys A one billion dollar wealth cap CHAPTERS: 00:00 Kareem Rahma on shooting Subway Takes 04:40 Filming with security and getting recognized 09:20 Building the New Hollywood in New York 14:00 Why the digital creator label is frustrating 18:40 Fame and the dream of being a one hit wonder 23:20 Comparing traditional late night to YouTube 28:00 Why digital shows need brand deals and ads 32:40 Dealing with viral comments and internet culture 37:20 Personal life and providing for family 42:00 The Socialist Capitalism political party idea 46:40 Running for mayor and 2028 election predictions 51:20 The future of awards and driverless cars in NYC FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ [https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/] ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot [https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot] FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ [https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/] ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell [https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell] ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social] #KeepTheMeterRunning #SubwayTakes #NewHollywood #SmallTownMayor #LateNightFuture #WriterVsCreator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Tonight Show, New York & Standup | Alexandria Love

Matt Buechele breaks down the New York Knicks making the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, the terrifying possibility of a Manhattan championship riot, and the upcoming UFC fight on the White House lawn featuring a lineup that feels suspiciously close to a county fair sponsored by Monster Energy. Then he sits down with comedian and writer Alexandria Love to talk about surviving late night TV, sharing a tiny office at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, New York slowly turning you into a louder person, comedy partnerships, sports betting apps, Taylor Swift discourse, and trying to build a creative career while the entertainment industry melts in real time. Topics Covered:  Working for the Tonight Show and being in writer’s room Moving from Oakland to LA and surviving the industry How professional friction builds career skills. Why late-night TV feels like the Titanic. Revisiting the bits that didn’t make the air. Predictions for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Deleting dating apps and modern dating. The rise of AI therapists and digital habits. Oscars: Michael B. Jordan vs. Timothée Chalamet Chapters: 00:00:00 NYC culture and meeting Alexandria Love 00:05:00 Writing for the Tonight Show and After Midnight 00:10:27 Career advice: how professional friction builds skills 00:16:14 The future of the late night TV industry 00:21:00 Stand-up comedy vs. digital content production 00:27:16 Taylor Swift’s new album and pop culture review 00:32:42 Career transitions: from law school to comedy 00:38:53 The reality of living in New York vs. Los Angeles 00:44:17 Behind the scenes: the Tonight Show writer’s room 00:51:50 2026 predictions: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce 00:57:27 Dating app trends and deleting the Feeld app 01:02:07 Oscar predictions: Michael B. Jordan vs. Timothée Chalamet #AlexandriaLove #ProfessionalFriction #ComedyWriter #TaylorSwiftHotTakes #ModernDating #JordanVsChalamet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Love Triangles, Fortnite & Being Open-Hearted | Celine Song

Matt Buechele breaks down Trump’s mysterious $2 billion “slush fund,” why no trustworthy operation has ever used the phrase “slush fund,” and the growing trend of college graduates booing AI commencement speeches delivered by men who look like they own underground bunkers in New Zealand. Then he sits down with filmmaker Celine Song to talk about modern masculinity, internet identity, vulnerability in art, adapting The Seagull in The Sims 4 on Twitch, and their shared addiction to Fortnite and other deeply time-consuming video games. Topics covered:  Personality tests, identity, and labels Social skills and meaningful connections “Past Lives” misinterpretations  Heroic masculinity and men behaving well  Challenging the trope of male characters as lazy or villainous  Consent culture vs. rape culture  The pandemic and creative transitions  The haenyeo, elderly Korean free-divers Addictive personalities and gaming culture  Writing, directing, and acting  Chapters:  00:00:00 Critiquing AI obsession and modern tech culture 00:02:53 Celine Song on astrology and Virgo personality traits 00:05:48 The importance of reading the room and social skills 00:09:10 Vulnerability and open-hearted communication 00:14:00 Why "Past Lives" is not a love triangle movie 00:15:47 The problem with internet film discourse and movie reviews 00:17:35 Depicting heroic masculinity and men behaving well in cinema 00:22:57 Historical context of consent culture and generational decency 00:30:00 The impact of the 2020 pandemic on theater and playwriting 00:37:00 Directing Chekhov’s "The Seagull" inside The Sims 4 00:43:20 Hardcore gaming: Fortnite, Elden Ring, and addictive creativity 00:54:40 Movie franchise predictions and voice acting careers FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ [https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/] ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot [https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot] FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ [https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/] ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell [https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell] ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]