Otherppl with Brad Listi: Books & Culture

Latest Episodes:

976. Jessa Crispin Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Jessa Crispin is the author of What Is Wrong With Men: Patriarchy, The Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything, available from Pantheon Books.

Jessa's other books include Why I Am Not a Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto, The Dead Ladies Project, and My Three Dads. She is the editor and founder of The Culture We Deserve as well as host with Nico Rodriguez of TCWD weekly podcast. In 2002, she launched Bookslut.com, one of the first and most treasured literary websites of the era; it ran for fifteen years. She is originally from Lincoln, Kansas, and currently lives in Philadelphia.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

975. Geoff Dyer Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

Geoff Dyer is the author of the memoir Homework, available from Farrar, Straus, & Giroux.

Dyer's other books include The Last Days of Roger Federer, Out of Sheer Rage, Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It, Zona,See/Saw,and the essay collection Otherwise Known as the Human Condition (winner of a National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism). A fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dyer lives in Los Angeles, where he is a writer in residence at the University of Southern California. His books have been translated into twenty-four languages.

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Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Will Show You My Body Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Volume 49 of Brad & Mira For the Culture...Mira accidentally names her PTSD "Darrell"...a complete recap of the Bezos-Sanchez wedding in Venice, Italy...the proud tastelessness...the spectacular tackiness...Leo tries desperately to hide...Brad's Fashion Corner..and more...

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

974. Lynn Steger Strong Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Lynn Steger Strong is the author of the novel The Float Test, available from Mariner Books.

Lynn's other novels include Flight, Want, and Hold Still. Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Harper’s Bazaar, Los Angeles Times, The Paris Review, The Cut, New York Magazine, and elsewhere. She teaches writing at Princeton and Columbia University.

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kirsten, 40, Pen and Ink Artist Jun 29, 2025

Show notes

Character Study, Vol. 16. 'Character Studies' is a new series on the podcast featuring interviews with 'civilians'—ordinary adult humans of all ages and backgrounds, talking with Brad about their lives, anonymously.

In Vol. 16, a conversation with Kirsten, 40, a pen and ink artist from Pittsburgh, PA.

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foam Party with My New Stepdad Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Volume 48 of Brad & Mira For the Culture...fast zombies with erect penises...Jeff and Lauren take Venice...foam parties, Gatsby parties, the ritual humiliation of elites...Emma Thompson's prostate crusade...Scarlet Johansson can't stop mouth-kissing her gay co-star...and more...

***

⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

973. Jess Walter Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Jess Walter is the author of the novel So Far Gone, available from Harper Books. It is the official June pick of the Otherppl Book Club.

Walter is the author of seven previous novels, including the bestsellers The Cold Millions and Beautiful Ruins, the National Book Award Finalist The Zero, and Citizen Vince,winner of the Edgar Award for best novel. His short fiction, collected in The Angel of Romeand We Live in Water, has won the O. Henry Prize, the Pushcart Prize and appeared three times in Best American Short Stories. He lives in his hometown of Spokane, Washington.

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca, 35, Human Being Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

Character Study, Vol. 15. 'Character Studies' is a new series on the podcast featuring interviews with 'civilians'—ordinary adult humans of all ages and backgrounds, talking with Brad about their lives, anonymously.

In Vol. 15, a conversation with Rebecca, 35, a human being from Richmond, Virginia.

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Little Horny Pop Star Who Could Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Volume 47 of Brad & Mira For the Culture.

In this sleep-deprived yet fully charged episode, Brad and Mira dive into a chaotic mix of meditation-induced existential crises, protest politics, the cultural significance of Sabrina Carpenter’s new album art, and the strange allure of Scrotox. They discuss the absurdity of performative wokeness, the hypocrisies of pop culture outrage, and why no one actually cares about what scrotums look like. Along the way, they cover:

The perils of insomnia and overmeditating
LA protest sign culture and property damage politics
Angry Adam's transformation into Anguished Adam
Jack Black at a protest—and the ethics of celebrity selfie requests
IKEA cosplay and River’s obsession with big-box stores
Sabrina Carpenter's new record (Man’s Best Friend), her controversial album art, and what it really says about sexuality and pop culture
Feminism, purity politics, and whether women need to tailor their art for dumb men
The supply-and-demand logic of porn and whether Gen Z is too scandalized by sex
The Bravo show The Valley, Zach Wickham’s scrotox procedure, and the aesthetics of Botoxed balls
The ethics of kink in pop culture and why Mira thinks a Bugs Bunny in drag is more sexually provocative than Sabrina Carpenter
Kanye West's recent stint in rehab and cryptic tweets about no longer being a Nazi

It’s raw, unruly, and refreshingly unfiltered—exactly what you’ve come to expect from Brad & Mira.

Sabrina Carpenter – singer, subject of album controversy
Taylor Swift
Jennifer Lopez
Britney Spears
Madonna
Jack Black
Paul Newman
RFK Jr.
Pete Doherty
Phil Donahue
The Meat Puppets
The Minutemen
Gigi Allen
Kanye West
Bianca Censori – Kanye’s wife
The Balance Clinic – rehab facility in Spain
The Valley – Bravo reality show
Zach Wickham – reality star, known for his hairline and scrotox
Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute – Vanderpump Rules alumni
Seal – singer of Kiss from a Rose
Minecraft: The Movie
Otherppl podcast
Newman's Own
The Painted Turtle Camp, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp

Reconsider your opinion on Sabrina Carpenter. Is she offensive—or just doing clever branding?
Think about your relationship with porn. Does it affect how you interpret art or interact sexually?
Google Zack Wickham’s hairline. You will not be disappointed.
Watch The Valley if you dare.
Make a protest sign that says “Scrotox for All.” Then burn it.

“Jesus Christ liked to have his hair pulled by Mary Magdalene, I believe.” – Brad
“It’s like when Bugs Bunny is in drag.” – Mira
“He kind of looks like a scrotum with Botox in it.” – Mira, about RFK Jr.
“If you really want to provoke people, you should be pissing on the album cover.” – Brad
“Porn didn’t invent choking. People wanted it, so porn delivered.” —Mira

***

⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

972. S. A. Cosby Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

S. A. Cosby is the author of the novel King of Ashes, available from Flatiron Books.

Cosby is a New York Times bestselling writer from southeastern Virginia. He is the author of All the Sinners Bleed, which was on more than forty Best of the Year lists, including Barack Obama’s, as well as Edgar Award finalist Razorblade Tears and Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Blacktop Wasteland. He has also won the Anthony Award, ITW Thriller Award, Barry Award, Macavity Award, BCALA Award, and Audie Award and has been longlisted for the ALA Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence.

***

⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc.

Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Listi’s email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices