“Social atomization” is a term that sounds like science fiction. It could be the title of a 1950s B-movie where a mad scientist vaporizes a dance party. But when sociologists use that term, “social atomization” is a complementary set of shifts you might have noticed lately: more loneliness, less societal trust, and an increasing feeling that nobody’s got your back. What does it mean if that’s happening to all of us? How can that happen without anybody intending it? And can that impact everything from your personal health to your national government?

On this episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt sits down with Jason Pargin (who writes for the site as David Wong). They’ll explore why prior generations with rampant crime (!), Richard Nixon (!!), and the music of disco (!!!) feel better off and more cohesive than we do today. We’ll also take one step back and look at the awful reasons why some people are talking about this in the first place. And if we all stick together and trust each other, we might see a few ways out of this predicament.

Footnotes: http://www.cracked.com/podcast/how-loneliness-epidemic-snuck-up-us-with-jason-pargin/

Gilbert and Frank (aided by guest co-host Michael Weber) pay loving tribute to some of the artists and performers we lost in 2018, including John Mahoney, Barbara Harris, Tab Hunter, Margot Kidder and Bill Daily as well as former GGACP guests Ken Berry, Will Jordan, Charlotte Rae and Chuck McCann. Also in this episode: Laverne DeFazio makes good, Jerry Van Dyke breaks through, Burt Reynolds turns down 007 and Connie Sawyer opens for Sophie Tucker! PLUS: Marty Allen, war hero! The last surviving Munchkin! The magic of Ricky Jay! The villainy of Hal 9000! And Gilbert remembers his dear friend James Karen!

This episode is brought to you by BlueChew (www.bluechew.com code: GILBERT).

Actor and improviser Matt Walsh (Veep, UCB) joins Scott and Traci Reardon to interpret the poster of Matt’s new film Under the Eiffel Tower and talk about Traci’s new documentary. Then, up-and-coming filmmaker Allen Woody stops by to talk about his directorial debut. Plus, everyone plays a game of Riddle Me This!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/BANGBANG) and Capterra (www.capterra.com/BANGBANG).

Cookbook author Julia Turshen sits down with Cameron to discuss being a serious kid, bringing a bag of potato chips to a party, and queer food.

This episode is sponsored by Pact (www.wearpact.com code: QUEERY) and Homesick Candles (www.homesick.comcode: QUEERY).

Writer and humorist David Sedaris feels apprehensive about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.

David sits down with Conan this week to talk about the perks of having a colonoscopy, backhanded compliments, being honest about your family, and how to dispose of old tumors. Plus, Conan and his assistant Sona respond to a listener voicemail regarding a wax museum conspiracy.

Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (323) 451-2821.

For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens (www.athleticgreens.com/conan), Kendra Scott (www.kendrascott.comcode: CONAN), ButcherBox (www.butcherbox.com/CONAN), Campaign Monitor (www.campaignmonitor.com/CONAN), Fracture (www.fractureme.com/CONAN), Hair Club (www.hairclub.com/CONAN), Mizzle+Main (www.comfortable.afcode: CONAN), and Capterra (www.capterra.com/CONAN).

Paul, June, and Jason are in-studio to discuss the 2018 romantic comedy Little Italy starring Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen. They talk about the stereotypical Italian accents, the hair dye, the rain soccer game, the Luigi character, and everything else in this bonkers movie.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/BONKERS) and Black Tux (www.blacktux.com code: BONKERS).

Subscribe to Unspooled with Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson here: http://www.earwolf.com/show/unspooled/

Check out our new website over at www.hdtgminfo.com!

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Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

@PaulScheer on Instagram & Twitter

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Jason is still not on Twitter

Emmy Award winning producer & creator of Will & Grace, Max Mutchnick, joins Matt & Dave this week to reveal how Will & Grace really got back on the air, hosting President Bill Clinton at his house and a memorable encounter with Kevin Spacey. Plus, meeting his husband at a drag show, loneliness, and getting hit by the gay hammer.

This episode is sponsored by Robinhood (www.homophilia.robinhood.com), Blinkist (www.blinkist.com/HOMO), and Blue Chew (www.bluechew.com code: HOMO).

The plot thickens as we catch up with Phillotson, out in search of the truth about Sue.

Ronna, Bryan & Erin kick off their Throwing Shoscar miniseries by discussing the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Spike Lee’s period cop drama BlacKKKlansman, and 18th-century royal comedy The Favourite, plus a bonus look at Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? And Oscar Karaoke!

To hear more Throwing Shoscar, just go to stitcherpremium.com and use the code “OSCARS” for a free month of Stitcher Premium!

Cam and Rhea talk travel, Tempe and Tampa. Sets from Allen Strickland Williams, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Palascak, Julia Hladkowicz and David Gborie.

Guest host Benari Poulten is joined by Fake the Nation regulars Christian Finnegan and Leah Bonnema for Negin’s final show away on maternity leave. Topics include Roger Stone’s recent indictment, if anything can be done about America’s desensitization to violence and the polar vortex’s place in the discussion of climate change. It’s funnier than it sounds.

Paul & Amy fly over 1975’s countercultural touchstone One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest! They discuss how the film strays from Ken Kesey’s novel, discover how Milos Forman caught actors in unguarded moments, and ask whether R.P. McMurphy or Nurse Ratched really had the right of their struggle. Plus: Matt Walsh (Veep, Under The Eiffel Tower) tells us about his time working in a psych ward.

Next week we kick off our miniseries looking back at the films of 2018, with an episode focusing on blockbusters! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo by Kim Troxall.

This episode is brought to you by Palm (www.palm.com).

Patrick Noth, Alexandra Dickson, and Sebastian Conelli join Matt Besser this week for improvised scenes about making a bold fashion statement on the first date, a romantic chicken coop fantasy, and a family dispute over prophetic dreams. Plus, a football game turns a boy into a man, a couple goes shopping for a merkin, and the military implements child-rearing punishments into its combat regimen.

Radical business plan changes! Fights with strangers! All that and more on a brand new Throwing Shade! Bryan talks us through the racist and homophobic violent assault on actor Jussie Smollett, the declaration by misogynist blogger Roosh V that liking butts is unacceptable, and the first openly LGBTQ+ duo at the US Figure Skating Championship. Plus, Erin discusses the latest mass shootings, what the perpetrators have in common, and why it all points to gun control being absolutely a women’s issue.

And make sure to check out Deeper Shade of Shade on Stitcher Premium, where Bryan and Erin interview their favorite friends of the show. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/shade and use promo code ‘SHADE’.

This episode is sponsored by Miss Grass (www.missgrass.com code: SHADE), Baked By Melissa (www.bakedbymelissa.com/SHADE code: SHADE), and Calm (www.calm.com/SHADE).

Renay Richardson chats with Lex from across the pond, detailing her experiences working for several audio production companies (but not the BBC!) — and how it led her to found Broccoli Content. With a goal of tackling the lack of opportunities for minority talent both in front and behind the mic, Renay shares insights on how the entire industry can better embrace diversity. Then, the two talk about company consolidation and whether mergers and acquisitions in the podcast world are ultimately good or bad for podcasters.

This episode is brought to you by On Deck Capital (www.ondeck.com/WOLFDEN).

Scott, Paul and Lauren discuss spankings, drugs and scary commercials. For their featured segment, the gang plays Hey Fred Schneider, What Are You Doing? and High-Low There.

This episode is brought to yo buy Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/THREEDOM).

Beating the buzzer with Gary Gulman.

This episode is brought to you by MVMT Watches (www.mvmt.com/NEVER), LightStream (www.lightstream.com/PARDO), and Robinhood (PARDO.robinhood.com).

Comedian Little Esther (Alone Together) joins Ali and Erin to talk about boy problems, Last Comic Standing, oat milk, deaths at Disneyland, Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Peanut Butter, how they were late on Hating M. Night, and many more things you should know about.

Today Jon & Lauren sit down with writer and actor John Levenstein to go through his extensive IMDB page! They talk about his colorful childhood in Greenwich Village, working with Joan Cusack and the Lawrence brothers, and why Nick Kroll is a great emotional actor, plus get into Baskets and his new podcast John Levenstein’s Retirement Party.

Recorded live in Chicago, Curtis Shaw Flagg (Laugh Factory Chicago) joins Andrew and Tawny to discuss if it’s racist to pronounce things in their native tongue, Colonel Sanders dancing with Mrs. Butterworth, and much more. Plus, Edgar Momplaisir & Jacquis Neal of the Culture Kings podcast stop by to settle their feud with Andrew & Tawny with Alex Kliner (The Supergroup) as the moderator. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This episode is brought to you by Flatiron School (www.flatironschool.com/YO).

Jameela Jamil is an actress, activist, and host who joins Jonathan to talk about a wide array of topics, including how she landed the role of Tahani on The Good Place, the importance of loving yourself, dispelling shame, using her various platforms for good, the struggles marginalized people face, and more.

Find Jameela on Instagram @jameelajamilofficial, and on Twitter @jameelajamil

Check out the I Weigh site at https://www.iweighcommunity.com/ and on Instagram @i_weigh.

Find out what today’s guest and former guests are up to by following us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN.

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

Check out Getting Curious merch at PodSwag.com.

Listen to more music from Quiñ by heading over to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.

Comedians and hosts of Culture Kings podcast Jacquis Neal and Edgar Momplaisir join H. Michael Kre to count down the latest pop culture charts! We’ll hear Billboard’s Top 200 Albums as they discuss the proliferation of Drake and the Hamburger Helper mixtape. Later, the gang helps Jacquis plan his wedding ceremony during the Movie Chart before delivering a brief regional wrestling history plus the freshest new tracks with a hand-selected batch of piping Hot Picks.

This episode is sponsored by Robinhood (www.CHARTED.robinhood.com) and BlueChew (www.bluechew.com code: CHARTED).

The forever extraordinary and gainfully employed Constance Zimmer tells Kevin what kind of sweet hell she’s been through along her path.

This episode includes: a double-headed red dildo, binders full of sperm, epilepsy, addiction & rehab. But most importantly, it’s about an inspiring mom who’s been through a whole heck of a lot to support and protect her family.

This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL) and eero (www.eero.com/BEAUTIFUL code: BEAUTIFUL).

Multi-hyphenate comedian, musician and more Seán Cullen joins Zach and Jess live at SF Sketchfest for an all new nautical musical packed with mermen, prophecies, the HMS Daddy ship and more! With songs like “The Enemy is Everywhere”, “Jam & Bricks” and “Blow Megalodon Blow”, you’ll want to call your mom* (*us) and say thank you for this ep! 

TOM SCHARPLING and THE DOUGHBOYS come to the studio and get tricked by The Boys.

This episode is sponsored by Indochino (www.indochino.com code: HANDBOOK) and Quip (www.getquip.com/THEBOYS).

Please enjoy this special WOMP It Up re-release! Wompler & Listler return to introduce the world to Mike the Janitor (Paul F. Tompkins) as he looks back at all the great times he’s had in his 1st year at Marina Del Ray High! Mike tells us about how running into Marissa at the Grove led to his position at the school, the time he spent overseas fighting for his adopted country, and his Christmas tradition with his wife. Plus, everyone defines what makes an expert dancer during “Listler’s Love Lockdown.”

Start spreading the LU’S!!!! Hahaha!! Casey and Danielle are finally on Broadway!! Well. Broadway adjacent, but WHO THE FUCK CARES?!?! Joined by the disturbingly magnetic Andrew Rannells and the only normal person to ever be on reality TV, Gregg Bennett- they cover it all. And by all we mean how to suck a monkeys a**hole. It’s a powerful, beautiful night of THEATRE. Secial guest stars abound, namely one up and comer…Paul Wilson.

This episode is sponsored by BLDHN (www.bldhn.com code: HOUSEWIVES), The Real Real (www.therealreal.com code: REAL), and Daily Harvest (www.dailyharvest.com code: HOUSEWIVES).

It’s the Carl Alarm! W-EAR The Wolf’s #1 morning drive-time show with your hosts Carl Tart  Latina Nina, Ronnie on the Radio, and Intern Patrick!  This may be their first week of syndication but they’re still spinning the hottest records, answering listener call-ins, hitting the streets with with everyone’s favorite “Carl Caught You” segment, and sitting down for an in-studio interview with RnB bad boy Johnny Tables.

Sponsored by OnStar

This week, Earwolf’s “Yo, Is This Racist” hosts Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome take over for Negin. They’re joined by Joel Kim Booster (Big Mouth) to find some unexpected sympathy for TSA workers affected by Trump’s shutdown, rage about the trans military ban and discuss the melange of scandals surrounding the Oscar nominees.