Feedback with Ira Madison III

Natan Last: Who Has Time for Crosswords? (Not Joyce Carol Oates)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:22 GMT

Crossword constructor Natan Last joins Ira for a conversation about taste, culture, and the surprising power of play. They discuss how crossword puzzles shape the cultural canon, why every clue has a point of view, and what it means to create work that reflects your own voice. Natan also revisits the moment he made Ira a clue in The New York Times crossword. Plus, they get into AI, the COVID game boom, and why making a crossword is a lot like creating the perfect mixtape.

00:00 Intro

04:39 Discovering Crossword Construction with Natan Last

06:52 Publishing a New York Times Crossword at Sixteen

12:20 How Crosswords Changed With Pop Culture

17:10 Editors, Constructors & Finding Your Voice

21:11 Ira Becoming a Crossword Clue

27:16 Writing for The New York Times vs. The New Yorker

30:04 Editorial Choices and the Politics of Clues

35:35 The Surprising History of the Crossword Craze

42:01 Building the Next Generation of Crossword Solvers

44:29 Learning From Will Shortz

48:24 AI, Authorship & the Future of Crosswords

53:21 Writing Longhand, Toni Morrison & Creative Process

58:42 Rap, Poetry & the Joy of Wordplay

1:02:21 Favorite Crossword Clues

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Peele: Can You Make Love Island Without Destroying Lives?

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

This week on Feedback, Ira sits down with Vanity Fair contributing editor and author Anna Peele to unpack her new book, Enter the Villa, and dissect the cultural phenomenon of Love Island. Together, they break down the show's psychological impact and question if a show this consuming can be made without destroying its stars' lives. They also discuss the art of the celebrity profile, including Anna's infamous 2015 Miles Teller interview that terrified a generation of publicists.

00:00 Welcome to Feedback with Ira Madison III

04:50 From Vanity Fair Feature to Writing 'Enter the Villa'

06:51 Ariana Madix, Producer Manipulation, and Islanders' Well-being

07:49 The Psychological Impact of Love Island

09:22 Racial Diversity Across Bravo's Reality Shows

12:20 Auditioning and Diverse Casting in the Villa

14:49 Love Island Fandom Backlash, Subreddits, and Online Discourse

17:54 Which Love Islander Would Anna Cast in 'Cats'?

21:11 PPG's Response to Anna’s Book

23:36 Dissecting Rob’s Gameplay on Love Island and Traitors

26:08 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the Future of Dorit Kemsley

30:16 Ira Was Blindsided on Fox’s Reality Competition, 'The Floor'

35:10 Reality Show Set Rules and Misconduct

40:48 The Changing Stakes of the Contemporary Celebrity Profile

41:47 Revisiting the Infamous 2015 Miles Teller Esquire Interview

44:02 Profiling Charli XCX and the Brat Era

51:11 Securing the Elusive Bianca Censori Interview

55:21 The Nostalgia and Identity of Classic Men's Magazines

01:02:22 Nancy Jo Sales’ Legendary Leonardo DiCaprio Profile

01:10:03 The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henrik Ibsen was a Gaggy Queen with Soraya McDonald and Juan Ramírez

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

This week, Ira is joined by theatre-obsessed culture critics Soraya McDonald and Juan Ramírez for a post-mortem conversation about the Tonys and the recently concluded theatre season in New York. Juan is the Chief Critic at Theatrely and Soraya was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism. The three share some bourbon and pull back the curtain on everything Broadway and Off-Broadway. They discuss what makes colorblind casting work (and when it falls flat) and why Henrik Ibsen was a gaggy queen. Pour yourself a drink before you watch this recap… and get ready to be gagged a few times.

00:00 Welcome to Feedback with Ira Madison III

02:17 Critics Soraya McDonald and Juan Ramírez on Theater

03:38 Award Seasons, Broadway Revivals, and Artistic Merits

09:21 The Evolving Conversation Around Colorblind Casting

14:49 Identity, Representation, and the Commercial Stage

25:46 Stage-to-Screen Adaptations and Modern Audiences

28:42 Artistic Risks, Budget Constraints, and Regional Ecosystems

33:16 Classic Playwrights, Tennessee Williams, and Henrik Ibsen

37:57 The Public Theater’s Romeo and Juliet as Border-Crossed Lovers

44:48 Pink, Live Hosting and The Tony Awards

47:30 Jukebox Musicals, Missy Elliot, and Pop Music Icons

49:40 Vocal Mastery, Carmen Hip-hopera, and Historic Opera

53:41 Closing Reflections on Dream Revivals and Nightmare Revivals

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audie Cornish: Is It a Good Interview or a Good Edit?

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

This week on Feedback, Ira sits down with journalist, Engagement Party co-host, and NPR icon Audie Cornish for a conversation about interviewing, internet culture, and what makes a great conversation actually work. Together, they unpack the ingredients of a successful culture podcast, the ever-changing social media landscape (from Reddit to Bluesky to Threads), the evolution of the Heated Rivalry fandom, and the ways reality TV has reshaped how we communicate. Plus, Audie shares why asking the right questions is an art in and of itself.

00:00 Welcome to Feedback with Ira Madison III

03:53 Audie Cornish on Interviewing and Meaningful Conversations

08:12 What Makes a Great Culture Podcast?

15:36 Navigating Reddit, Bluesky, Threads, and Today’s Internet

21:08 Reality Television’s Influence on Modern Communication

28:42 Online Identity and the Rise of “Main Character” Culture

35:15 Journalism, Trust, and the Value of Thoughtful Reporting

44:18 Reading Habits, Books, and Discovering New Writers

50:27 Longform Writing, Attention Spans, and Media Consumption

56:17 The Social Reckoning, Tech Culture, and Modern Storytelling

01:02:45 Public Figures, Power, and Our Fascination with Tech Leaders

01:08:30 Closing Reflections on Curiosity, Media, and Better Conversations

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Don't Idolize Greta Gerwig with Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix join Ira for a conversation straight from their group chat. In just one episode, they cover Summer House, Love Island, bandwagon culture, self-improvement books, movie theater snacks, the surreal experience of moving their podcast to Higher Ground Audio, and, in the process, becoming Michelle Obama's newest nieces. Plus, as always, plenty of extremely online opinions.

01:45 The Connection Between The Knicks and Bravo

07:31 Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix join the conversation

08:34 Summer House Discussion

14:55 Bandwagon Culture

20:36 Dissecting The Artist's Way

24:41 The New York Liberty Experience

28:22 West Wilson, Beta Blockers, and the appreciation for Kyle Cooke

40:05 Their podcast partnership with Higher Ground

45:31 Food in movie theaters and the smashburger agenda

48:12 Love Island USA Season 8 Discussion

55:45 July Leos vs August Leos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bring Back Gatekeeping with Jay Jurden

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In the very first episode of Feedback, Ira Madison III is joined by comedian, actor, writer, and friend Jay Jurden. Together, they dig into the current world of comedy, how conspiracy theories spread over the internet, and the surprising reason Jay loves West Village girlies (not including you, West Wilson and Amanda Batula). And of course, they're getting into the Summer House of it all. We're so back!

00:00 Welcome to Feedback with Ira Madison III

01:18 Ira’s Summer Reading Recommendations

09:40 Jay Jurden Joins the Conversation

13:00 Discussing One Battle After Another and Movie Culture

20:32 Theo Von, Road Rules, and the Evolution of Reality TV

23:07 Internet Culture and the Incentives Behind Viral Opinions

24:41 Expertise, Commentary, and the Rise of Online Hot Takes

32:00 Comedy, Accountability, and Public Criticism

35:50 Audience Responsibility, the Role of the Comedian, and Dave Chappelle

40:15 Homophobia & Transphobia in Stand-Up Comedy

49:27 Comedy in the Age of YouTube and Podcasts

53:42 Conspiracy Culture, Modern Comedy, and Jack Harlow

57:23 Miley Cyrus and the Art of Reinvention

58:54 Podcasting Today: Theo Von, Andrew Schulz, and Media Influence

01:03:50 Closing Thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Feedback with Ira Madison III

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

After a year off, Ira is back on the mic. Feedback with Ira Madison III is a weekly pop culture digest unpacking the stories, internet obsessions, and debates lighting up your group chats. Joined by friends and cultural tastemakers, Ira dives into entertainment, politics, media, and the increasingly online world that's reshaping how we think, argue, and stay relevant. New episodes every Thursday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.