18 Comments
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Ira Madison III's avatar

Also something I neglected to mention — sometimes it’s simply a reflex from having been a journalist. Mentioning you have a friend in something you’re discussing feels like “full disclosure.”

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Nicole's avatar

I actually thought it was cool when you said you were friends with Andrew Chapelle because I have been following him on social media since Hamilton opened in 2015 and you knowing him in real life was like some kind of parasocial relationship bingo for me.

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Laura's avatar

I love hearing when you have a friend in a show or something a friend is doing! It absolutely makes me more interested in said show, etc.

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Kristin DiMento's avatar

same! Also they are people and your friend and you are celebrating them!

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Paula Guerra's avatar

Imagine not bragging about your friends. What kind of life is that. People are so boring.

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Denean's avatar

“I don’t see myself in everything I love, but I love it because of how it makes me feel.” Also re friends, a friend of mine made Arya Stark's sword (Needle) for the show. You bet your backside that I tell people about it because I'm proud of my friend.

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Tell the Bees's avatar

One thing about those tables... they turn!

Thank you for the shout out, I stand by it- so many of these people online are getting angrier, more siloed, and more lonely and they can't seem to connect the dots that their attitudes and defensiveness are keeping them this way. There's a difference between light, fun shade and cursing people out in Instagram comments for hours and they get mad when you point that out...

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FQ's avatar

I agree. And it seems like so many people think something sounds funny in their head, but it just makes them sound like an asshole. They hear Ira and Louis banter on the podcast and think they can just join in. But Ira doesn’t know the poster like that.

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Lisa Kholostenko's avatar

Exactly!!!

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Katie Morris's avatar

This is a weird comment to leave in some ways, but as someone who also often feels the need to “prove” belonging in social situations, I really relate to what you expressed! So…relatable! 😂 As a listener for 8 years, I LOVE hearing about your friends and recently I thought, “oh my god Ira is an amazing friend for promoting his friends’ work” like that is a generous and loving thing to do!

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Kayleigh Donaldson's avatar

“antisocial people get online and scream about how they don’t owe anyone anything, and then wonder why they don’t have friends or a community. These are not people who are fun or engaging.”

Oh man, there's an entire thesis to be written on this weird modern trend of spinning scolding isolationism as some bastardised form of "self care." It really does feel like a lot of people want their anger to be some kind of activism or have a point to it beyond its own bitterness. Leave that crap to your Reddit account.

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Karyn's avatar

“Relatability makes people demented and those people usually have bad taste!”

Good god this line slaps so hard

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Cassandra's avatar

So interesting, people’s perceptions of themselves and others. I have always (since Daily Beast, I think??) described you as “a great writer I follow” and later “one of my favorite writers who also has a podcast called Keep It.” You been da bomb!

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Lisa Kholostenko's avatar

I do this all the time working in TV for all the same reasons you mentioned! It’s a community thing - you’d do it working in an industry without “famous” people too. It just sounds more name-droppy to some because colleagues happen to be in high visibility projects. I love knowing your friends!! Never stop

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AJ Marechal's avatar

really loved this 💜

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James Benton's avatar

I think it is amazing that you have such a great network of friends. It is rarer and rarer these days, so keep at it. Not that you need the encouragement, but ignore the haters, especially the ignorant ones. No one is forcing them to listen anyway!

Side question, how often do you count Louis among your friends? Does it depend on the day :)

Your friendship is the main reason I love the podcast. You're the Butch and Sundance of gay, entertainment podcasting.

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Liza's avatar
7dEdited

Yess Ira! I love hearing about all of your friends on the pod, and people can stfu

Also great larger point about people over-identifying with celebs/media/etc. criticism is dying and that is why

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Elizabeth C Hamblet's avatar

When you and Louis love a movie or TV show I didn’t, I assume I got it wrong and need to try again. 😉 I love the podcast; my friend and I constantly text each other about it. You keep us up on the culture! But we’re still confused about how you are younger than we and know the 80s references. 🤔 Now - how do we get Louis to watch housewives so you can discuss them on the show?

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