Feedback with Ira Madison III

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• Natan Last: Who Has Time for Crosswords? (Not Joyce Carol Oates) 16.07.2026 1t 6min

  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 Intro04:39 Discovering Crossword Construction with Natan Last06:52 Publishing a New York Times Crossword at Sixteen12:20 How Crosswords Changed With Pop Culture17:10 Editors, Constructors & Finding Your Voice21:11 Ira Becoming a Crossword Clue27:16 Writing for The New York Times vs. The New Yorker30:04 Editorial Choices and the Politics of Clues35:35 The Surprising History of the Crossword Craze42:01 Building the Next Generation of Crossword Solvers44:29 Learning From Will Shortz48:24 AI, Authorship & the Future of Crosswords53:21 Writing Longhand, Toni Morrison & Creative Process58:42 Rap, Poetry & the Joy of Wordplay1:02:21 Favorite Crossword Clues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Anna Peele: Can You Make Love Island Without Destroying Lives? 09.07.2026 1t 10min

  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 III04:50 From Vanity Fair Feature to Writing 'Enter the Villa'06:51 Ariana Madix, Producer Manipulation, and Islanders' Well-being07:49 The Psychological Impact of Love Island09:22 Racial Diversity Across Bravo's Reality Shows12:20 Auditioning and Diverse Casting in the Villa14:49 Love Island Fandom Backlash, Subreddits, and Online Discourse17:54 Which Love Islander Would Anna Cast in 'Cats'?21:11 PPG's Response to Anna’s Book23:36 Dissecting Rob’s Gameplay on Love Island and Traitors26:08 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the Future of Dorit Kemsley30:16 Ira Was Blindsided on Fox’s Reality Competition, 'The Floor'35:10 Reality Show Set Rules and Misconduct40:48 The Changing Stakes of the Contemporary Celebrity Profile41:47 Revisiting the Infamous 2015 Miles Teller Esquire Interview44:02 Profiling Charli XCX and the Brat Era51:11 Securing the Elusive Bianca Censori Interview55:21 The Nostalgia and Identity of Classic Men's Magazines01:02:22 Nancy Jo Sales’ Legendary Leonardo DiCaprio Profile01:10:03 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 02.07.2026 56min

  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 III02:17 Critics Soraya McDonald and Juan Ramírez on Theater03:38 Award Seasons, Broadway Revivals, and Artistic Merits09:21 The Evolving Conversation Around Colorblind Casting14:49 Identity, Representation, and the Commercial Stage25:46 Stage-to-Screen Adaptations and Modern Audiences28:42 Artistic Risks, Budget Constraints, and Regional Ecosystems33:16 Classic Playwrights, Tennessee Williams, and Henrik Ibsen37:57 The Public Theater’s Romeo and Juliet as Border-Crossed Lovers44:48 Pink, Live Hosting and The Tony Awards 47:30 Jukebox Musicals, Missy Elliot, and Pop Music Icons49:40 Vocal Mastery, Carmen Hip-hopera, and Historic Opera53:41 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? 25.06.2026 1t 11min

  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 III03:53 Audie Cornish on Interviewing and Meaningful Conversations08:12 What Makes a Great Culture Podcast?15:36 Navigating Reddit, Bluesky, Threads, and Today’s Internet21:08 Reality Television’s Influence on Modern Communication28:42 Online Identity and the Rise of “Main Character” Culture35:15 Journalism, Trust, and the Value of Thoughtful Reporting44:18 Reading Habits, Books, and Discovering New Writers50:27 Longform Writing, Attention Spans, and Media Consumption56:17 The Social Reckoning, Tech Culture, and Modern Storytelling01:02:45 Public Figures, Power, and Our Fascination with Tech Leaders01:08:30 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 18.06.2026 1t 1min

  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 Bravo07:31 Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix join the conversation08:34 Summer House Discussion14:55 Bandwagon Culture20:36 Dissecting The Artist's Way24:41 The New York Liberty Experience28:22 West Wilson, Beta Blockers, and the appreciation for Kyle Cooke40:05 Their podcast partnership with Higher Ground45:31 Food in movie theaters and the smashburger agenda48:12 Love Island USA Season 8 Discussion55:45 July Leos vs August Leos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Bring Back Gatekeeping with Jay Jurden 18.06.2026 1t 5min

  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 III01:18 Ira’s Summer Reading Recommendations09:40 Jay Jurden Joins the Conversation13:00 Discussing One Battle After Another and Movie Culture20:32 Theo Von, Road Rules, and the Evolution of Reality TV23:07 Internet Culture and the Incentives Behind Viral Opinions24:41 Expertise, Commentary, and the Rise of Online Hot Takes32:00 Comedy, Accountability, and Public Criticism35:50 Audience Responsibility, the Role of the Comedian, and Dave Chappelle40:15 Homophobia & Transphobia in Stand-Up Comedy49:27 Comedy in the Age of YouTube and Podcasts53:42 Conspiracy Culture, Modern Comedy, and Jack Harlow57:23 Miley Cyrus and the Art of Reinvention58:54 Podcasting Today: Theo Von, Andrew Schulz, and Media Influence01:03:50 Closing Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Introducing: Feedback with Ira Madison III 04.06.2026

  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.