Not a Huge Fan

Obligatory MAGA Teen Takes

Friend of the show Mike Nieman joins Isaac and Charles for the state-mandated discussion of the MAGA Teen/Native American drummer confrontation. Nobody understands why everybody cared so much about this encounter. Are we doomed to years of everything getting Rashomoned to death?

Also discussed: whether Charles is an impossibly difficult person, Isaac's infamous Robin Williams post, and the importance of keeping a list of enemies.

Pearl Jam Wrote a Song About Bugs

Mattio Martinez returns to talk with Charles and Isaac about the "imperial phase:" the segment of certain artists's careers when they are at their critical, commercial, and cultural peak. More interestingly, the show focuses on the post-imperial phase, where the artist feels most free to create but almost always ends up making something weird.

Examples cited: Garth Brooks' alter ego Chris Gaines, the films of Steven Spielberg from AI onwards, and whether Kanye has exited his imperial phase.

Also discussed: Mattio's drag experience and his distaste for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Articles:

Wikipedia on the imperial phase - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_phase

FT on the end of incrementalism - https://www.ft.com/content/12ab216c-1587-11e9-a581-4ff78404524e

Louis CK Shot the Parkland Kids

The holiday hiatus is over and the show is back! Hot news updates: Isaac is reading Harry Potter for some reason and Charles was almost bumped off a comedy show in London. Comedian Mattio Martinez makes his return to the podcast after two years away!

This week's topic: the recent argument over Louis CK's alleged new, mean-spirited comedic tone. Is this actually new or is it just that the lens on him has shifted since his predilections were revealed? Was CK's public persona legitimate or just a faked creation to advance his comedy career?

Also discussed: Isaac's distress at being called a skinny fat, why it's such a turnon to be desired, and whether the era of alpha males is over.

Buzzfeed call for podcasts: https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/podcast-suggestions-2019

A Very Fresh Movie Episode

In a Not a Huge Fan first, it's a movie episode about films that actually came out this year! Isaac loves the press-bashing of The Frontrunner and hates the quipping of Halloween; Charles dismisses the flag controversy surrounding First Man and is annoyed by the uneven qualities of A Star Is Born.

Also discussed: the "build a cult" business model of modern gyms, the destruction of Hollywood via quipping, and finding a term for mountain climber groupies!

Please note: this is our last episode of 2018! New episodes to return in January 2019. In the meantime, please enjoy our very robust back catalog or hang out in our forum: http://nahf.boards.net/

When Listeners Attack: Forum Edition

It's listener feedback time! Isaac and Charles read through message board posts from ShadyLady, Heather and more! Controversial guest Cameron Johnson has stirred up lots of reactions and his two recent appearances on the show are closely examined. Post your own thoughts at http://nahf.boards.net or email us at notahugefanpodcast@gmail.com

Also discussed: does Charles behave differently around female guests? Is the media actually the people's enemy? And why did so many 90s bands have a disastrous album after a megahit?

Cucks Love Beto

The 2018 midterms are over and it's time to debrief! Charles boasts that his California ballot proposition recommendations mostly passed. Isaac thinks the election was boring and that fewer people should be allowed to vote. Isaac and Charles both hate Ted Cruz, are annoyed by the hype around Beto O'Rourke, and like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Also: Isaac provides a shocking hot take on the presidential contenders for 2020 and more!

You're Probably Being Racist on Grindr

Controversial guest Cameron Johnson (@CameronJAwesome) is back! This week the topic is racial discrimination on dating apps, and how some platforms like Grindr are attempting to combat it.

How much of who you're attracted to is innate and how much is cultural programming? Why do people post discriminatory statements in their dating profiles?

Also discussed: gay mouth kissing, Cameron's collection of awful messages from men, and why straight men love looking at Grindr.

Grindr's Kindr story: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/after-sexual-racism-accusations-gay-day-app-grindr-gets-kindr-n912196

Cameron's documentary: https://mic.com/articles/113174/here-s-what-never-to-say-when-dating-a-gay-black-man#.fgII6oPU0

Minisode: Voter Identity Politics

Guest Sam Bivins describes his time canvassing for Democratic Congressional candidate Katie Hill, while Charles promotes Congressional candidate and Green Party member Kenneth Mejia to Isaac and Sam.

Then: a brief look at identity politics w/r/t voter ID laws. Are these laws racist? Is citing dogwhistling just attempted mind reading? Isaac thinks voter ID laws are good! Charles and Sam think they are bad! It gets heated.

2018 California Ballot Proposition Voter Guide

90 minutes of the craziest, edgiest conversation you can imagine: discussing the 11 ballot propositions on the 2018 California ballot. It doesn't get any wilder than this!

Sam Bivins joins Isaac and Charles on a rollicking adventure through the world of direct democracy. From the crazed bond-issuing housing perversions of Prop 1 to the decadent egg-cesses of Prop 12 (get it?), we've got the ultimate Not a Huge Fan guide to voting in California. And if you don't live in the state and all this is meaningless to you, there's a special treat for you (not really).

Minisode: Whisper Fry

A tasty podcast morsel in preparation for our California ballot proposition megasode later this week! Joining the show is repeat guest Sam Bivins.

In this minisode we read listener email about the Kavanaugh episode, plug our new retro listener discussion forum at http://nahf.boards.net, and Isaac issues a correction demanded by his father!