Society & Culture

Supercontext: an autopsy of media

by Christian Sager and Charlie Bennett

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Latest episodes

Con Limón

September 30, 2026 · 2 hr 1 min

Hellbender's 1997 album was the final and little-known release by a group of young men who would go on to do plenty more than punk rock. So why did it get a remastered re-release 25 years later, and why is it still Chris's favorite record?…
The Killer

August 28, 2026 · 2 hr 25 min

This 2023 Netflix movie directed by David Fincher was either a stunning technical tour-de-force or a slick bit of over-processed product. (Maybe it was both.) We talk about how the filmmakers paid attention to every detail of this visceral…
Ice Cream Man

July 31, 2026 · 2 hr 4 min

This horror anthology launched in 2018 and has been lauded for its storytelling, genre experimentation, and charming nostalgia, while dealing with violence, sadness, and the constant human struggle between good and evil. We talk about the…
Deadwood, Season 1

June 26, 2026 · 2 hr 43 min

This revisionist Western is a mix of fictional and historical narratives about how law, society, and America came to South Dakota in the late 1800s. We talk about how the show's creator, David Milch, got from Ancient Rome to the Dakota…
The Problem With Music

May 29, 2026 · 2 hr 6 min

In 1993, our late, lamented hero Steve Albini wrote this gross and profane takedown of the music industry, and we've been thinking about it ever since. We try to follow the evolution of Albini's attitude about how music is distributed…

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Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century

April 3, 2026 · 2 hr 31 min

This 2007 concept album by The World/Inferno Friendship Society, inspired by screen actor Peter Lorre, is just one piece of the larger performative project that was the life of Jack Terricloth. We talk about the band, the album, the…
The Magic Christian

March 6, 2026 · 2 hr 34 min

This 1969 anarchic film comedy was based on a Terry Southern novel and championed by Peter Sellers, but it seemed to mark the start of a decline for both their fortunes. We take on Chris's favorite movie, and try to get to the bottom of…
Something Is Killing The Children

February 6, 2026 · 2 hr 54 min

This horror comic has achieved surprising success despite its gore and all the dead kids. We talk about the comic's creation and promotion, and we ask "Is this all about trauma? Why aren't people talking about that?" Interested in the…
I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

January 2, 2026 · 2 hr 32 min

This sketch show mixes surreal humor, cringe comedy, and an everyman lead performer to craft an exploration of anxiety, status, and societal fear that still manages to make its audience laugh with joy. We talk about how and why the show…
The VALIS Trilogy

December 5, 2025 · 3 hr 6 min

The novels VALIS, The Divine Invasion, and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by legendary science-fiction author Philip K. Dick comprise the unofficial VALIS trilogy. Published between 1978 and 1982, these books use psychedelic imagery…
Ambient 1: Music For Airports by Brian Eno

November 7, 2025 · 2 hr 15 min

This 1979 instrumental record is considered the beginning of ambient music by many of its listeners. We unpack Eno's intentions behind the function of such music, while considering his goal of provoking his listeners to contemplate their…
An American Werewolf in London

October 3, 2025 · 2 hr 18 min

This 1981 horror/comedy film has achieved cult status within the film buff community, built the mold for horror comedies, and completely traumatized Charlie in his youth. Despite the controversies around its creator, it has become ripe for…