Blamo!

Jon Klassen makes children’s books, but this isn’t really a conversation about children’s books.

Jon recently won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (one of the biggest honors in children’s literature), and we start there before getting into what makes his work so compelling in the first place.

We talk about why he leaves space for readers instead of explaining everything, how kids are smarter than we often give them credit for, the value of ambiguity, and why making work for yourself is usually the only way to make something honest.

And of course, we get into running, menswear, Studio Ghibli, Maurice Sendak, creative insecurity, and the weird pressure of trying to make good work over and over again.

Jon's acceptance speech

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Joe Wengert is a comedian, writer, and actor whose work spans Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Onion, and Big Mouth. But this conversation isn’t really about comedy.

Joe joins me to talk about getting older, making new friends, becoming a parent, and the strange process of trying to hold onto who you are while continuing to grow. We discuss his new animated series Kevin, co-created with Aubrey Plaza, why game nights matter more than ever, the terror of becoming a hat guy, and how a night guard can become an unexpected symbol of middle age.

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It's Die, Workwear!

Derek and Peter take a break from their Wardrobe Series to chat with Matthew Gonzalez, a Southern California native who made his way from an alterations room in Irvine to London, Huntsman, and eventually his own bespoke tailoring business on Savile Row.

Matthew’s work sits at a fascinating crossroads: classic American style, British tailoring tradition, and the realities of making clothing for people today. The conversation gets into his path through the trade, what makes tailoring feel American without becoming costume, the romance and economics of Savile Row, why bespoke still matters, and how the best clothes are shaped not just by rules, but by the person wearing them.

https://www.matthewgonzalez.co.uk

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Singer-songwriter Alex Amen joins me to discuss his debut album, Sun of Amen.

The first time I heard the record, I couldn’t believe how young he was.

Not because the music sounds old, but because it carries a level of patience, craftsmanship, and emotional weight that feels increasingly rare (especially now!) Alex and I discuss the disappearing influence of regional culture, studying the great songwriters, recording live to tape, and how tradition can serve as a foundation for creating something entirely your own. 

We also talk about clothes, Patagonia, Texas style, California dirtbag lore, The Beatles, parenting, and the lifelong pursuit of finding your voice.

BIG TUNES AND BIG FITS!

End Song is "Diamonds" from the Debut LP, Sun of Amen

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The Wardrobe Series continues, and this time the budget gets tight.

With just $1,000 to spend, Derek and Peter attempt to rebuild a wardrobe from the ground up—making hard choices about what matters, what can wait, and where to stretch every dollar.

The result is less about shopping and more about priorities. What are the pieces you actually need? Which ones earn their place? And how much style can you really buy on a budget?

Plus: the Met Gala, menswear rabbit holes, and a few recent obsessions.

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