That Sounds Like A Lot with Matt Buechele

Matt kicks things off with his take on Shane Gillis’s SNL monologue, the state of comedy, and his growing suspicion that America has developed a soft spot for mediocrity. Then acclaimed novelist Catherine Lacey joins the show for a conversation about the strange power of fiction, adapting her novel Pew into an opera, and her adventures writing a comedy film. Catherine reflects on turning 40, her writing process and what keeps her coming back to the page. Plus, ghostly encounters in Mexico, her favorite books and why she hopes the Southern accent never disappears. Chapters: 00:00:00 Shane Gillis monologue and modern comedy mediocrity 00:04:12 Catherine Lacey and reading the New Yorker fiction podcast 00:08:18 Book promotion, writing as a job, and stage anxiety 00:12:30 Airplane hijackings and writing a novel about real crime 00:16:30 Tupelo upbringing, religious kid, and early writing ideas 00:20:45 Shakespeare camp, boarding school, and granddad's savings 00:25:30 Religion in fiction and adapting Pew into an opera 00:30:45 Writing plays, a new novel, and pivoting to comedy 00:35:10 Grad school workshop memories with top journalists 00:39:45 Personal exposure in novels and bad TV interviews 00:44:15 Learning Spanish, crying in class, and the limits of foreign humor 00:48:15 The power of fiction and foreign author recommendations 00:53:10 Political splits, ghosts in Oaxaca, and southern accents  Topics: Hermit crab writing process and novel drafting isolation Book tour burnout versus working commercial kitchen shifts Childhood evangelical upbringing in Tupelo Mississippi Shakespeare camp experience with teacher Shaq Van Duzen Hardware store savings funding boarding school education Historical perspective on 1970s Mexican plane hijackings Adapting the novel Pew into a French opera libretto Co-writing a feature comedy screenplay in Mexico City Unlearning New York stress and turning 40 in Mexico Why life is not personal, philosophy in literary fiction FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot   FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/   ►TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell   ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Buechele reflects on the state of American politics, the temptation to give in to doom and gloom, and why he still feels hopeful about the future. Then Matt sits down with Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, the youngest woman serving in Congress. She talks about her Iranian-American family, her work at the United Nations, and the war in Iran. They discuss sanctions and internet access for Iranians, the fight to regulate AI, and the growing backlash against data centers. Yassamin also explains why she thinks Americans need to get more involved in peaceful protest, what Democrats could do if they win the House in the midterms, and why election integrity matters. Plus, Matt and Yassamin make predictions about which pop star might run for Congress, the next big bachelor party destination, and whether Taylor Swift will win an Oscar before Tom Cruise. Chapters: 00:00:00 Rep. Yassamin Ansari on youth in politics and serving in DC 00:04:48 Flight anxiety, Global Citizen Festival trauma, and congressional voting 00:09:02 Iranian heritage, parents fleeing revolution, and American democracy 00:13:31 War with Iran, foreign policy decisions, and military intelligence 00:18:02 Impact of sanctions, internet access, and target limitations 00:22:39 Epstein files, White House situation room, and government oversight 00:27:06 Congressional accountability, subpoena power, and holding leaders responsible 00:31:31 AI risks, data centers, and global technology regulation 00:36:08 Public activism, city council pushback, and fighting voter apathy 00:40:48 Midterm election strategy, election integrity, and youth voter turnout 00:45:04 Unwinding from DC politics, book recommendations, and daily schedule 00:49:49 Scottsdale nightlife, pop culture predictions, and Taylor Swift tour  Topics: Serving as the youngest woman in Congress at age 34. Political career as an Iranian-American Democrat. Mother fleeing the 1979 Iranian revolution. Fragility of civil rights and American democracy. US foreign policy, sanctions, and military action in Iran. White House transparency regarding intelligence and foreign conflicts. Government accountability and the Epstein files cover-up. Existential risks of unregulated artificial intelligence. Local environmental impacts of AI data centers on water and power. Youth political activation and grassroots protest movements. FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/   ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot.  FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/   ►TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell   ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Buechele goes to a sweet sixteen and gets a front-row seat to the strange world of teenage birthday parties, complete with photo booths, the Cupid Shuffle, and an alarming number of boys with the same haircut. Then Matt sits down with Emmy-nominated writer and comedian Nimesh Patel to talk about becoming a dad, turning down a $120k comedy gig in Saudi Arabia, and his complicated relationship with money. They discuss how Chris Rock saw Nimesh perform and, three months later he was writing for the Oscars, followed by a year at Saturday Night Live. Nimesh also talks about his new Netflix special Buy the Dip, political comedy, crowd work, family group chats, and finding ways to make people laugh about complicated subjects without talking down to them. Plus, Matt and Nimesh make predictions about AI comedy festivals, celebrity advertising, and if the Knicks players will visit the White House. Chapters: 00:00:00 Nimesh Patel’s Netflix special Buy the Dip and economic anxiety 00:05:01 Comedy in Louisiana and examining political divides 00:10:02 Political views, family, and dealing with media chaos 00:15:01 Fatherhood, playing basketball, and mental resets 00:20:01 How Chris Rock discovered Nimesh Patel in a Brooklyn bar 00:25:01 Writing for Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update 00:30:01 Pitching sketches at SNL and learning industry lessons 00:35:01 Navigating political comedy during the Trump era  00:40:01 Nimesh's new Netflix special and handling the family group chat 00:45:01 Audience behavior during stand-up shows and comedy craft 00:50:01 AI comedy festivals, polymarket, and celebrity endorsement deals 00:52:57 Predicting the New York Knicks White House visit  Topics:  Chris Rock discovering Nimesh Patel Writing for Saturday Night Live First Indian writer in SNL history Turning down $125k for a show in Saudi Arabia Fatherhood and financial ethics The strategy behind crowd work Highlights from Buy the Dip special Economic anxiety and supply chains Media capture and political debates Celebrity ads and sports betting FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/   ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot  FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/  ►TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell   ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Buechele spots Zohran Mamdani riding his bicycle through the park with four guys in suits, kind of like The Sandlot, but with city government. Then he sits down with filmmaker, writer, director, and producer Jonah Feingold to talk about his new movie Busboys, starring Theo Von and David Spade. They chat about Jonah’s childhood obsession with Hook, his internship with Hans Zimmer, his love of 1940s comedies, and why he decided to stop waiting for Hollywood to give him permission to make things. Plus, Matt and Jonah make predictions about the next You’ve Got Mail, the future of dating shows, and never working with AI actors. Chapters: 00:00:00 Directing Busboys starring Theo Von and David Spade 00:03:22 Navigating dyslexia and reading classic books for writing 00:07:38 Finding inspiration in 1940s screwball comedies 00:13:00 Script writing process and leather notebook hierarchy 00:16:38 Childhood obsession with Captain Hook and character costumes 00:20:02 Analyzing Disney World Imagineering and fandom culture 00:24:21 Interning for Hans Zimmer and observing famous directors 00:29:01 Collaborating with film composers on custom character themes 00:30:33 Landing the job to direct Busboys for Hulu 00:36:37 Independent filmmaking hustle and securing brand sponsorships 00:41:02 Launching Romantic media brand and pitching new scripts 00:46:15 Movie predictions and modern rom com reboots Topics:  Jonah Feingold on directing Busboys Interning for composer Hans Zimmer Writing scripts with dyslexia Influence of 1940s screwball comedy Pitching and financing indie films Working with David Spade and Theo Von Creating character themes with music The reality of Hollywood spec deals Building the romantic media brand Disney World design and fandom culture FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/   ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot   FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/   ►TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell   ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/ ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/ ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social #KeepTheMeterRunning #SubwayTakes #NewHollywood #SmallTownMayor #LateNightFuture #WriterVsCreator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/ ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Buechele rants through the escalating Iran conflict, Operation Epic Fury, the collapse of Spirit Airlines, and why it suddenly feels like Americans are paying more for everything while somehow getting the bolted-down lawn chair version of life. Then he sits down with comedian Jay Jurden to talk about accidentally wandering into the Ralph Lauren mansion on the Upper East Side, the changing comedy landscape, internet masculinity, growing up queer in Mississippi, and why suddenly every man in his 30s seems to be on Propecia. Topics: - Luxury fever dreams - Consumerism vs. longevity - The "death of expertise" - The manosphere pipeline - Captive audiences and "murder world" death machines. - Men’s maintenance era - Crypto is chlamydia - Pixelated sexual awakenings - The mandatory metropolitan draft - Remarkable vs. Relatable - The "Sheriff of the C-Train" - Aging and persistence - Comedic predictions CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Operation Epic Fury and the Spirit Airlines Rosary 00:06:33 The Vacation Tax: Mississippi Parents vs. London Weddings 00:13:45 The Death of Expertise: Why Vibes Ruined the Skillset 00:19:30 Being Remarkable vs. Relatable: The Magician's Craft 00:26:03 The Mr. Beast Pipeline and the Rise of Aggrieved Youth 00:32:30 From AOL Chatrooms to the Mandatory Metropolitan Draft 00:39:01 American Ninja Industry: Holding onto the Next Career Grip 00:45:30 Commercials for Opinions: Readjusting Post-2020 Expectations 00:52:42 Crypto is Chlamydia: Captchas and Investment Red Flags 00:58:45 The Men's Maintenance Era: Propecia and Aging Gracefully 01:04:36 Luxury Grievances: The Delta One TSA Disaster 01:11:30 The Accidental Boomer and Predicting the First Queer NBA Star That Sounds Like A Lot is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions and Port Royale in partnership with Vox Media and AND Media. Music by Matt Buechele. FOLLOW THE SHOW ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsoundslikealot/ ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatsoundslikealot FOLLOW MATT BUECHELE ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattbooshell/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattbooshell ►Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mattbooshell.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices