Against Better Judgement

Episode 31: Elon Musk Buying Twitter, and our Masters Champions Dinner Menus Apr 25, 2022

After covering some of the lighter, more tawdry details of the Depp/Heard divorce proceedings, Jeff and Nate discuss one of the unlikelier folks entangled in that mess; Elon Musk....and more importantly his potential purchase of Twitter......and the guys break down what their Master's Champions Dinner menus would look like. Is the Augusta National kitchen staff familiar with the culinary stylings of Betty Crocker? Well, they are now.

Episode 30: Farewell Coach K, Crossing the Line in Comedy, and Dream Golf Foursomes Apr 07, 2022

This episode, Jeff and Nate bid farewell to one of the all time great sports villains (or heroes depending on where you stand) in Coach K.....then after the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident at the Oscars, we wonder where the line is in comedy and how far is too far (20:00)....finally, we pick who will join us to create our ideal golf foursome (36:08).....will a swimsuit model be paired with one of the great spiritual leaders of our lifetime? Does Jeff even care if these people actually play golf? Stick around and find out.

Episode 29: Online Outrage and Compulsive Hypocrisy, and the Ideal Couples Trips Mar 24, 2022

We lament/celebrate (depending on your point of view) a Vanderpump Rules breakup, and wonder if Pete Davidson could fill Buzz Aldrin's space boots.....then we break down how online outrage really impacts celebrities who cross certain lines, and wonder why we aren't more collectively outraged about bigger picture issues along the same lines.....finally we figure out our ideal destination and activities for couples trips, and quickly catch up on Oscar contending movies.

Episode 28: THE RETURN!!!! TV Catch-up, Spousal Gift Giving, and New Year's Resolutions Mar 10, 2022

We are BACK! ABJ returns with news on the ABJ family and our schedule going forward….after some travel highlights, we check in on some of our favorite things we watched during our hiatus; like Yellowjackets, Station Eleven, and 1883…..how to get and how to not get gifts for your spouse…..and we check in on how we’re faring with our New Years resolutions. Back with lots more content for 2022!!

Episode 27: Succession, Bourdain Documentary: Roadrunner, and Soup Season Nov 08, 2021

After a brief review of Pete Davidson's ever-expanding resume, it's time to dig into the return of Succession; what makes this show so appealing to some, but not to others.....next we break down Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain....and finally we rank our top five favorite soups. Is chili a soup? Is Pete Davidson taller than Cousin Greg? Is Paul Giamatti really into......that?? We're not sure...but we'll try to find some answers.

Episode 26: Elizabeth Holmes, Britney Spears, and Halloween Do's and Don'ts with Lauren Sabo Oct 26, 2021

Jeff and Nate celebrate the return of Succession and lament the engagement of Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian....then they're joined by their illustrious friend and ABJ General Counsel Lauren Sabo to discuss the Elizabeth Holmes trial, and what it says (if anything) about women in seats of power in business....they also dig into the Britney Spears conservatorship case....the evolution of standup comedy....and some do's and don'ts for Halloween costumes and Halloween candy.

Episode 25: Squid Game, Jon Gruden, Kyrie Irving, Spooky Season and Pumpkin Everything Oct 15, 2021

Jeff and Nate break down Jon Gruden's idiocy and hubris, and Kyrie Irving's latest confounding off court situation.....next they weigh in on ubiquitous pumpkin flavoring, and some of their favorite scary movies.....finally the dive deep into Netflix phenomenon Squid Game; what worked, what didn't, and what even they'd choose to compete in if their life depended on it.
Vaccine mandates....sending nudes at work....confronting Michael Myers....competing against an enormous motion sensing doll.....plenty of questionable decisions are under review this week.

Episode 24: Ryder Cup Recap, The Manningcast, Crisis at the Border, and Favorite Sidekicks Oct 03, 2021

We're all over the road on this one....Jeff and Nate recap a thrilling US blowout win in the Ryder Cup....dig into the Manning brothers Monday Night Football broadcast and what it means for the future.....try to find a path forward with the immigration crisis at the Southern border....and pick their favorite sidekicks; real and fictional. So many topics, but only one question remains: Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules?

Episode 23: Ryder Cup Excitement, Murder Mystery Fascination, Burger Talk, and World Historic Moments Sep 24, 2021

Jeff and Nate get fired up for the Ryder Cup and wonder why golf can't always be this fun....they discuss the Gabbie Petito case and America's fascination with murder mysteries....they break down their favorite types of burgers; ingredients, condiments, preparations and all....and finally pick the world historic moments they'd most like to be present for. Steve Jobs was such a visionary, he knew the impact Dwight Eisenhower would ultimately have on Eva Longoria.......just listen it'll make sense later.

Episode 22: Bad Gambling, Texas Abortion Law, Restaurant Seating, and Retirement Jobs Sep 15, 2021

Jeff throws down the gambling gauntlet on himself and apologizes to Nate for jinxing his favorite team's best player....we cover the news of the Texas abortion law....kick around the idea of our favorite style of restaurant seating, what works and what doesn't.....discuss a critical update in the world of snacks and fast food.....and decide what our ideal retirement gig would be.....if you're a fan of Pringles, high top tables, or jokes at Mitch McConnell's expense, this is the pod for you.

Episode 21: JR Smith Back to School, Baseball Check-In, and Best Live Music Memories Aug 27, 2021

Jeff and Nate wonder what JR Smith's housing situation and class attendance will look like as he enrolls at North Carolina A&T....Check in on Major League baseball, and discuss it's issues with marketing its product.....and run down some of their favorite live music memories, and what makes a great show for them. Who will history remember as the better supporting act: Kendrick Lamar, or John Stamos? Only time will tell.

Episode 20: Grab Bag...20 Years in Afghanistan, Kevin Durant, US Womens Basketball, and All-Time Great Duos Aug 13, 2021

Jeff and Nate discuss Larry David's un-invitation from the Obama's party, and the Cuomo debacle in New York....then look back at 20 years of US military presence in Afghanistan (11:36)....Kevin Durant's ascension into the pantheon of all-time greats (24:45)....the MLB/Barstool Sports headlines (31:57)....the dominance of US Women's Basketball (38:45)....and their all-time favorite duos; real life, fictional, and culinary (43:48).

Episode 19: Barack's Birthday Bash, Simone Biles, Mandatory Vaccinations, and Andrew Cuomo Aug 06, 2021

Jeff and Nate discuss the backlash to the Obama's birthday party on Martha's Vineyard....the news of private businesses in some cities requiring proof of vaccination....the many layers of the discourse around Simone Biles and mental health in sports.....and the disaster surrounding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. All that, plus hot takes on rodeo and archery.

Episode 18: Olympics Action, Wedding Season, Celebrity Couples, and Favorite Sports Movies Jul 30, 2021

Jeff and Nate recap some early Olympics action....discuss wedding season and what it means to be men of the cloth (12:45)....with JLo and Affleck back in the news, they list their favorite celebrity couples (33:35)....and finally, rank their favorite sports movies (49:55). Mental health in sports, online ordinations, conscious uncoupling, and era inaccurate sports equipment in film....it's all on the table.

Episode 17: Giannis Takes the NBA Throne, Morikawa's British Open Win, Olympic Anticipation, and the Restaurant Wish List Jul 23, 2021

Jeff and Nate sing the praises Giannis Antetokounmpo's performance and the Bucks NBA Finals win....marvel at Colin Morikawa's command as he takes home the Claret Jug (13:39)....they recap some recent travel to the West Coast (18:35)....take a brief detour to wine country to discuss their favorite wine tastings (23:45)....discuss their most anticipated Olympic events (39:40)....and finally, select their most desired and aspirational restaurant destination (54:18)...prepare for in-depth discussion of not one, but TWO different types of deep fried poultry.

Episode 16: Nichols vs Taylor, Pippen v Jackson, Billionaires in Space, and College Athlete Compensation Jul 15, 2021

Jeff and Nate recap their Fourth of July celebrations and talk about their ideal bbq plates.....react to the Rachel Nichols/Maria Taylor/ESPN controversy.....break down Scottie Pippen's recent accusations towards Phil Jackson....discuss what we could or should expect from billionaires ventures into space....and debate what college athlete, past or present, would more benefit from the new NCAA NIL laws....warning: several shots taken at the people of Chicago for their choice in condiments.

Episode 15: Jon Rahm's US Open win, NBA Playoff Parity, Ranked Choice Voting, and Waffle House Jun 28, 2021

Nate and Jeff discuss how they (unsurprisingly) celebrated recent special days with their favorite fast foods....dive into Jon Rahm's US open win last weekend.....the current parity and superstar shortage in the NBA playoffs.....ranked choice voting and how it could improve American politics.....and finally, the Waffle House, another fine longstanding institution that's part of the fabric of our nation.

Episode 14: Farewell to the Kardashians, Welcome Back Gossip Girl, and Sports Data & Analytics Jun 19, 2021

Jeff and Nate discuss the series finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and anticipate the HBO revival of Gossip Girl....then they welcome the first ever guest on the pod, NFL Director of Football Data and Analytics, and decades old friend Mike Lopez (11:14), to discuss how data has changed the way we look at sports.....it will be more interesting than it sounds, guaranteed, or this pod is free......come for the sports analytics, stay for the A-Rod bashing and Katie Holmes gossip.

Episode 13: Fauci's Emails, Jon Rahm and Naomi Osaka's Withdrawals, and Celebrity Athletic Events Jun 11, 2021

Jeff and Nate react to the release of Dr Fauci's emails (5:45)....examine how Jon Rahm and Naomi Osaka's odd withdrawals were handled (16:51)...weigh in on the latest equine controversy (32:30)....wonder what to make of the Logan Paul v Floyd Mayweather spectacle (38:10)....and make their pics for the celebrity athletic events they'd most want to see (44:35).....can Barack actually get to the rim? Is any putt inside 6 feet a gimme for Trump? What really happened with Costner and Ripken.....wait, actually, we're not getting into that one.

Episode 12: Movie Night with 'Tenet' and 'Another Round', and Historic Dining Companions Jun 01, 2021

Jeff and Nate start by recapping what passes for an exciting Memorial Day weekend at this point in life.....then they invert and catch the bullet while diving deep into the film 'Tenet' (8:00).....next they search for the perfect blood alcohol content with a discussion of 'Another Round' (29:11).....and finally, carefully select their ideal historical figures as dining companions (42:00).....we get up to some stuff.

Episode 11: Phil Mickelson's Rejuvenation, National Service, Bill Gates Playing Defense, and Dream Skills May 25, 2021

Jeff and Nate recap the excitement of Phil Mickelson’s rejuvenation and win at the PGA Championship….discuss how to incentivize people to devote more time to community service….wonder why so many people in power aren’t getting out in front of their scandals…..debate what would be their most coveted physical skill to acquire…and stare in awe at the mastery of Melinda Gates’ PR team.

Episode 10: Super Leagues, Ghost Kitchens, Driverless Cars, and Social Media Bans May 13, 2021

Jeff and Nate celebrate the reinvigorated passion between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez....they bemoan the woes of home ownership and adult responsibilities, and marvel at the dubious, consequence free career of Bob Baffert...then they open up the grab bag with topics like Sports Super Leagues (10:17)...the concept of Ghost Kitchens, and how they're changing food delivery (18:53).....Driverless Cars, how close are we to them being common (28:02).....and finally, Trump's social media ban, and how we look at these platforms and their standards (35:40). One bit of free advice: watch where you urinate in a stable....some poor animal could end up being cancelled.

Episode 9: Caitlyn Jenner and Celebrity Candidates, Elon Musk: Genius Tech Bro, and Big Box Vaccination Sites May 05, 2021

Jeff and Nate recap the Kentucky Derby (3:50)....discuss Caitlyn Jenner's run for Governor of California, and the concept of the Celebrity Political Candidate (10:12)....dissect the rise of the Genius Tech Bro on Twitter (30:00)....and finally debate what Big Box retail chains would make the best vaccination sites (41:17).

Episode 8: The BBC documentary "Can't Get You Out of My Head", and the Top Five Road Trip Snack Rankings Apr 22, 2021

Jeff and Nate break down filmmaker Adam Curtis' documentary Can't Get You Out of My Head (3:52); a wide reaching look at how people act as voters, consumers, and members of society, and what it says about our past, present, and future......and they rank their top five favorite road trip snacks (52:00)....its important to have some salty and some sweet. In snacking, in life, and in documentaries.

Episode Seven: The Masters, Big Ticket Sporting Events, and 15 Minute Cities Apr 13, 2021

Jeff and Nate recap the Masters, breaking down the big winners and losers....next they dig into the idea of big ticket sporting events, what attracts us to them and what interests them the most (8:24)....they examine the idea of the 15 minute city, what it means for tourists and residents (25:30)...and finally, in a massive hypothetical leap, they pick their ideal city and sport to be a young professional athlete (37:43).
For next week's show, we'll be covering the documentary Can't Get You Out of My Head, which can be found here: https://youtu.be/MHFrhIAj0ME

Episode Six: MLB vs Georgia, Kevin Durant's DMs, and Top Five Cocktail Rankings Apr 06, 2021

Jeff and Nate discuss Major League Baseball's response to the new Georgia voting laws and what it says about how businesses operate in the ever-changing social climate of 2021 (5:06)....they dig into Kevin Durant's social media spat with Michael Rapaport, and his use of problematic language that has put him, like other athletes in the past, on trial in the court of public opinion (19:18)...and finally, they rank their top five personal favorite cocktails, and opine about the perfect cocktail for different situations (29:30).

Episode Five: Universal Basic Income and Andrew Yang, Favorite Documentaries, and Kardashian Roommates Mar 29, 2021

Jeff and Nate discuss the concept of Universal Basic Income and the appeal of non-traditional political candidates and ideas (5:00)....they break down the rise in popularity of documentary films, and throw out some favorites (32:30)....and lastly, with the final season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians upon us, they review the guys who have passed through the Kardashian orbit and break down the ladies as potential roommates (49:10).

Episode Four: Sports Betting, Post COVID Travel, and Fast Food Rankings Mar 22, 2021

In this episode of Against Better Judgement, Jeff and Nate discuss how sports betting has gone mainstream and gained greater social acceptance in recent years (4:30)....they evaluate their to-do lists for post COVID travel, and wonder how others will approach theirs (24:31)....and they dive DEEP into the world of fast food; favorite menus, items, and the ever evolving battle for chicken sandwich supremacy (36:25).

Episode Three: One year of Lockdown, Mad Men, The Royals, and March Madness Mar 15, 2021

In the third episode of Against Better Judgement, Jeff and Nate look back on how they've stayed entertained at home for a year of lockdown, and break down one of their favorite shows: Mad Men.....they discuss the recent news from the British Royal Family and discuss the outdated concept of the monarchy in 2021.....and finally dig into some of their favorite March Madness moments.

Episode Two: Tiger Woods, Nomadland, and the Vanderpump Parent Draft Mar 08, 2021

In the second episode of Against Better Judgement, Jeff and Nate examine the on-field and off-field legacy of Tiger Woods, the recent HBO documentary and the coverage of his recent car accident......discuss the beautiful, thought provoking new movie Nomadland, and what it says about America and what we value in our lives.....and finally, examine the field of Vanderpump Rules cast members to identify who would make the best parents. Intellectually stimulating topics all around.

The Premier: Anthony Bourdain, Zlatan vs LeBron, and Vaccine Influencers Mar 03, 2021

In the first episode of Against Better Judgement, Jeff and Nate begin their podcast journey by paying homage to Anthony Bourdain....discussing Zlatan jabbing at LeBron and the intersection of sports and politics....and wonder if a celebrity could motivate more Americans to be vaccinated.

Preview - Critical Questions Part 2 Mar 01, 2021

A brief look at some of the essential questions we'll be digging into on the pod. All matters foreign, domestic, and gastronomic.

Preview - Critical Questions Part 1 Feb 28, 2021

A brief look at some of the essential questions we'll be digging into on the pod. All matters foreign, domestic, and gastronomic.

Preview Feb 28, 2021

Welcome to Against Better Judgement, where Jeff and Nate dig into the deep, superficial, profound, and asinine details of life and leisure.