Way Too Interested

My New Podcast: AI FOR HUMANS

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Hi everyone!

Hope y'all have been doing good in the two years since I last updated this feed with a podcast.

I *adored* doing Way Too Interested and I'm so thankful to all of my guests but at the time it turned out to be too much for me to do on a weekly basis. However, I'm not giving up on the idea of doing it again in the future!

For now, I'd like to introduce you to my new podcast "AI For Humans" which I make with my old pal Kevin Pereria. The two of us worked on G4's Attack of the Show together and have stayed friends ever since.

"AI For Humans" is a podcast about helping normal humans examine and understand the new and ever changing world of generative AI. We attempt to be your guide and demystify a lot of what is happening in that space.

The show is weekly and we're already on episode 25 and I think you might like it!

If not, we'll the download was free.

You can find AI For Humans on all podcast platforms, socials and at our website. Links are below!

Apple Pods: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-for-humans/id1682409647

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FId0qPP5SldltQTgVFTxq?si=9c2c2ccd152a4819

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCghJTNTO9kcDeUFXMuSDGLQ

Web: aiforhumans.show

SNEAKER CULTURE with Heather Anne Campbell and Michael Sykes

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of Way Too Interested, writer/comedian Heather Anne Campbell, the co-host of the gaming podcast Get Played, talks with Gavin Purcell about her obsession, sneaker culture. Heather also talks about how she started doing live comedy when she was 14, why she no longer believes her interests and hobbies are totally in her control, and why her podcast — formerly known as How Did This Get Played? — moved away from "bad" video games.

Then, Heather and Gavin are joined by Michael Sykes, sports reporter for USA Today and writer of the independent newsletter The Kicks You Wear. Michael talks about how sneakers helped him break into writing about sports, how the broader culture around sneaker culture went mainstream, and how to preserve your kicks for as long as possible. Plus: How the shoe industry changed all of collecting with the "drop" release model, and the story of the sneaker drop that literally caused a riot.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Heather on Twitter @heathercampbell

Subscribe to Michael's newsletter, The Kicks You Wear

FLY FISHING with Paul Bae and Stan Ulanski

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of Way Too Interested, screenwriter and "The Black Tapes" creator Paul Bae talks with Gavin Purcell about his obsession, fly fishing. Paul also talks about his circuitous path to being the creator of a hit podcast, why his grandmother flew into a rage upon being told that he had become a comedian ... and the time his stand-up comedy nearly went down in flames in front of some of his idols.

Then, Paul and Gavin are joined by James Madison University professor emeritus Stan Ulanski, the author of several books including "The Science of Fly-Fishing." Stan talks about how one should start fly fishing, how to improve at it, and where he would go if he were given an all-expenses paid fishing trip to anywhere in the world. Plus: Paul tells the story of a solo fishing trip that made him fall in love with Redding, California.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Paul on Twitter @MrPaulBae

Read Stan's books, including The Science of Fly-Fishing

THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SEX with Dr. Eleanor Janega and David Halperin

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of Way Too Interested, medievalist Dr. Eleanor Janega talks with Gavin Purcell about her current obsession: The conceptualization of sex. She explains how her field of study has been distorted in the popular imagination, how medieval people thought about sex, and the surprisingly similar way modern internet communities are talking about it now.

Then, Eleanor and Gavin are joined by David Halperin, the Distinguished Professor of the History and Theory of Sexuality at the University of Michigan; he talks about the differing philosophies of sex offered by thinkers like Plato, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Sigmund Freud, and how societies — in both classical and modern times — have drawn lines between "acceptable" and "unacceptable," or "natural" and "unnatural" types of sex. Plus: How definitions of gender, eroticism, and virility have changed over time.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Eleanor on Twitter @goingmedieval

Read David's books, including How to Be Gay and Gay Shame

INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS with Anil Dash and Dan McNichol

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of Way Too Interested, writer/podcaster/Glitch CEO Anil Dash talks with Gavin Purcell about his fascination with America's interstate highway system, which started with his father — a civil engineer given a "genius visa" to immigrate from India to help build America's highways and bridges. Anil also talks about his personal history with technology, "living in the future" as a kid, and how the "information superhighway" of the internet is similar to actual highways.

Then, Anil and Gavin are joined by journalist and former White House appointee Dan McNichol, the author of The Roads That Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System. Dan explains how President Dwight D. Eisenhower's vision for a nation crisscrossed by highways became a reality, the negative impact highways have had on various communities, and our present battles over infrastructural issues, such as 5G, broadband internet, and high-speed rail in California.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Anil on Twitter @anildash

Read Dan's books, including The Roads That Built America

CREEPYPASTA with Chuck Wendig and Lucia Peters

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of Way Too Interested, author Chuck Wendig talks with Gavin Purcell about the many types of apples you've never tasted, the state of Twitter in 2022, and his obsession with creepypasta, an online cousin to urban legends. Chuck also talks about the real-world impact of these spooky tales and how they have evolved in the transition from 4chan to Tumblr to TikTok.

Then, Chuck and Gavin are joined by creepypasta expert Lucia Peters, the author of Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark. Lucia further explains exactly what makes something creepypasta and discusses some famous examples, including Slenderman, the Elevator Game, and "BEN Drowned." She also looks ahead to the future of the internet-driven genre, which has already made the leap to mainstream films and video games.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Chuck on Twitter @chuckwendig and read his bestselling novel, The Book of Accidents

Read Lucia's work at The Ghost in My Machine

BROADWAY with Cliff Bleszinski and Hunter Arnold

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Cliff "CliffyB" Bleszinski, the lead designer on the "Gears of War" video games, talks with Gavin Purcell about his years in the gaming industry, how he discovered a passion for the theater in high school, and his main obsession outside of games: Broadway. This passion led him to become a co-producer of the hit show Hadestown, which won eight Tony Awards in 2019.

Then, Cliff and Gavin are joined by theater producer Hunter Arnold, whose credits include Hadestown, Kinky Boots, and Dear Evan Hansen. Hunter talks about how he decides what to produce, why he never knows if a play is going to be a hit, and a game he plays with a fellow producer: Describe the plot of a hit musical with the worst elevator pitch ever.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Cliff on Twitter @therealcliffyb and on Instagram at @dudehugetank

Follow Hunter on Instagram at @huntercarnold

KOTA IBUSHI with Spencer Hall and Chris Charlton

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Sports writer and Channel 6 co-founder Spencer Hall, formerly a contributor to SBNation and the founder of Every Day Should Be Saturday, joins Gavin Purcell on today's podcast to talk about his obsession with Japanese wrestling! And specifically, Spencer is way too interested in one athlete from the New Japan Pro Wrestling circuit: Kota Ibushi, who Spencer describes as both "the greatest wrestler alive" and also the answer to the question "what if Michael Jordan had just done Space Jam for 10 years?"

Then, they're joined by Chris Charlton, who announces Japanese pro wrestling in English for NJPWWorld.com. Chris explains how Kota has bridged the gap between old and new fans of the sport, what makes him so compelling, and his humble ambitions to become God.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Subscribe to Spencer Hall and Holly Anderson's Channel 6

Follow Chris on Twitter @reasonjp

POKER with Aaron Dworkin and Phil Gordon

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Performing artist, social entrepreneur, professor, and author Aaron Dworkin joins Gavin Purcell on today's podcast to talk about his obsession with poker! He also talks about how diversity has defined his life and passions, and how he uses a "lottery test" and a "death test" to decide what new projects to pursue.

Then, they're joined by star player and commentator Phil Gordon, who explains how newbies can improve their poker game, why physical "tells" are overrated, and why "emerging players" such as Aaron should consider getting into a version of the game called Pot Limit Omaha, or PLO.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Learn more about Aaron’s nonprofit, The Sphinx Organization

Read Phil's books, including the Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em

THE SUPPLY CHAIN with John August and Peter S. Goodman

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Today, on an unusually topical episode of Way Too Interested, screenwriter and Scriptnotes co-host John August joins Gavin Purcell to talk about how his experience selling a custom deck of playing cards — the Writer Emergency Pack — awakened him to the complex and fascinating world of the supply chain. He also talks about his writing habit and the thing he misses most in the current supply chain crunch: Caffeine-free Coke Zero.

Then, they're joined by the New York Times' global economics correspondent, Peter S. Goodman, who explains what exactly the global supply chain is, how it arose, and why everyone should have ordered their Christmas presents yesterday. Plus: Who's making money when supply ships aren't moving, who's pain are we not hearing about, and which industries are most affected by a disruption to the normal rhythm?

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Listen to John's podcast, Scriptnotes

Read Peter's writing in the New York Times

MOSS with Helen Rosner and Annie Martin

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

New Yorker staff writer Helen Rosner joins Gavin Purcell to talk about how visiting Japan awakened her interest in moss, why "at least three-quarters of my job is internet stalking," and why we focus too narrowly on careers when we talk about our passions.

Then, they're joined by Annie Martin, a.k.a. "Mossin' Annie," a moss expert from North Carolina, who talks about how she began planting and rescuing mosses, her favorite species, and how she acquires new moss. She also explains how mosses reproduced ("the X-rated part"), why they're so versatile, and how to cultivate moss in your own environment.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Helen on Twitter @hels

Learn more about moss and consult with Mossin' Annie

RUBBER STAMPS with Tim Schafer and Roberta Sperling

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Way Too Interested, video game designer Tim Schafer (Psychonauts, Grim Fandango) joins Gavin Purcell to talk about his obsession with rubber stamps. They also discuss how Tim got into game design and how his young mind was blown by the digital "rubber stamp" tool on early Macintosh computers.

Then, they're joined by Roberta Sperling, a.k.a. Rubberta Stampling, the editor and owner of the website and magazine Rubber Stamp Madness. She explains the history of the publication, the creative diversity of the stamp enthusiast community, and how stamps became art themselves, as well as tools for creating art.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Tim on Twitter @Timoflegend

Subscribe to Rubber Stamp Madness

ANIMAL NAVIGATION with Zito Madu and David Barrie

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Way Too Interested, writer Zito Madu joins Gavin Purcell to talk about poetry, being a voracious reader, and his interest in how animals like homing pigeons and monarch butterflies navigate around the world.

Then, they're joined by David Barrie, the author of the books Sextant — about human navigation — and Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way. Barrie explains what we know and don't know about the topic and shares some mind-blowing examples of animals who can navigate far better than modern humans.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Zito on Twitter @_Zeets

Read David's book, Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way

WOLVES with Dani Fernandez and Garrick Dutcher

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Actor and writer Dani Fernandez joins Gavin Purcell to talk about the deep connection she feels with wolves, and how the symbol of the wolf has guided her through personal and mental health challenges. Then, they're joined by the research and program director of the non profit Living with Wolves, Garrick Dutcher, who talks about the inaccurate stereotypes about wolf conservation, harmful stereotypes that misrepresent the dangers posed by wolves, and what to do when camping in their territory.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Follow Dani on Twitter and Instagram @msdanifernandez

Follow Living With Wolves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DEEPFAKES with Rex Sorgatz and Henry Ajder

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Writer and web designer Rex Sorgatz (The Encyclopedia of Misinformation) joins Gavin Purcell to talk about his obsession with deepfakes, why he's less worried about them now than he used to be, and why he believes a dead actor will win an Oscar someday. Then, deepfakes and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder joins to explain whether we should be worried about deepfakes — and how much — and to talk about "shallow fakes," revenge porn, and the perverse way the existence of deepfakes has affected our perception of real media.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Read Rex's book, The Encyclopedia of Misinformation: A Compendium of Imitations, Spoofs, Delusions, Simulations, Counterfeits, Impostors, Illusions, Confabulations, Skullduggery, Frauds, Pseudoscience, Propaganda, Hoaxes, Flimflam, Pranks, Hornswoggle, Conspiracies, and Miscellaneous Fakery

Learn more about Henry's work and research

BIBLE STORIES with Felicia Day and Dr. Malka Simkovich

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Actor and writer Felicia Day (The Guild, Embrace Your Weird) joins Gavin Purcell to talk about her obsession with religious mythologies and, specifically, the origins of Bible stories. Then, they're joined by Dr. Malka Simkovich — the director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago — to talk about the historical origins of Jews, Jesus, the canonical Bible, and more.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Read Felicia's book, Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity

Read Dr. Simkovich's book, Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories that Shaped Early Judaism

PUZZLES with Roy Wood Jr. and Steve Richardson

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show, Roy's Job Fair) joins Gavin Purcell on the first-ever episode of Way Too Interested to talk about his obsession with jigsaw puzzles. Then, Stave Puzzles co-founder Steve Richardson joins to talk about the handmade wooden puzzles that Stave crafts for jigsaw enthusiasts.

Please follow or subscribe to Way Too Interested in your podcast app of choice! And if you liked this episode, then tell a friend to check it out.

Also ...

Follow Gavin on Twitter @gavinpurcell

Listen to Roy's Job Fair, a podcast that explores the human condition through the prism of employment

Learn more about Stave Puzzles, "the Rolls Royce of wooden jigsaw puzzles"

What is Way Too Interested?

Gavin Purcell / LightningPod — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0400

About the show

Way Too Interested is a new podcast where we talk to interesting people and ask them about a subject they’re currently obsessed with outside of their everyday lives. Then, the two of us talk to an expert in that subject matter and do a deep dive.

It’s a show about curiosity, discovery, creativity, and, most importantly, pursuing those little things that get stuck in your brain & end up being way more fascinating than you ever expected.

About Gavin Purcell

Gavin Purcell is an Emmy-winning showrunner, writer, and producer who's worked in television and digital media for over twenty years at places like The Tonight Show, Hulu, and Vox Media.

At some point along the way, he discovered his secret power: the ability to become fascinated with nearly anything.

After years of producing talent, Way Too Interested is his first attempt at being talent himself, which gives him hives just thinking about it.

He lives in Los Angeles with his family but you can find him most easily on Twitter @gavinpurcell.