Canal Street Dreams: "Creating the New York We Want"
Podcast: Canal Street Dreams
Hosts: Eddie Huang, Natashia Perrotti
Guest: Matt Starr (Co-founder, Dream Baby Press; Creative Strategist, Substack)
Date: January 20, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode brings together hosts Eddie Huang and Natashia Perrotti with Matt Starr—multi-hyphenate creative force behind Dream Baby Press and a key player at Substack. The trio dive into the story of indie literary events, the renewal of New York’s creative spirit, their journeys in therapy and vulnerability, and the blurred lines between professional passion and personal growth. The conversation is lively, honest, and full of both laughs and real talk about art, making community, and how “DIY” culture is being revived in NYC.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Personal Updates, Astrology & Energy for 2026
- Matt describes starting 2026 with renewed energy after a tough 2025, highlighting the feeling of a literal and metaphorical new chapter.
- [00:17] “I woke up January 1st and it just, like, felt. Everything just felt cosmically better.” – Matt
- The group riffs on being Capricorns, with jokes about the "boss" energy and a light astrology roast.
- [01:02] “You’re a Capricorn. You’re definitely like a ringleader. You, like, are in charge of things. Can be bossy. I think it’s good.” – Eddie
- [01:52] “They call Capricorn…Big Daddy Saturn. So it’s like dad energy.” – Natashia
2. The Origin Story of Dream Baby Press
- Matt details his shift from conceptual art to co-founding Dream Baby Press with Zako after a personal and professional burnout during the pandemic.
- [03:13] “I was put on earth to tell better stories about older people in America. That is all I thought about for four years.” – Matt
- The founding moment: poetry readings in a Village gay porn shop, 200 people showing up, rooted in the themes of vulnerability and eradicating shame.
- [06:38] “We gave the guy some shekels…200 people showed up. It was mostly erotic. In the beginning…just like writing about the things that made me feel shame.” – Matt
3. On Shame, Therapy & Relationships
- Matt and Eddie share their personal experiences with therapy, discussing how finding the “right” therapist can be unexpectedly transformative.
- [08:55] “I really believe that communication and vulnerability is the way to get rid of shame and basically fix every issue in every relationship.” – Matt
- [10:19] Eddie recounts his own slow journey to vulnerability—seven years in therapy to process trauma and eventually deepen his relationship with Natashia.
- They discuss couples therapy, and how openness at home (sometimes TMI) renders traditional therapy unnecessary for them.
- [11:10] “We do a lot of therapy together in our house without a therapist. But our whole thing is, nothing should be shameful.” – Natashia
4. Dream Baby Press & The New York Art Scene
- Eddie credits Dream Baby Press events for reigniting his feeling for NYC and inspiring his move back from LA.
- [14:26] “When I saw you coming out doing things for independent writers inside of a Burger King…you’re subverting everything that’s whack about New York right now.” – Eddie
- Matt reflects on the juice of DIY culture, hosting readings in “saddest” places like Sbarro in Penn Station and boxing gyms, finding joy and community in overlooked spaces.
- [17:25] “It was just like, we were having so much fun. Like, it really…was like the inner child was, like, really getting to play.”
- [21:05] “Nobody’s too cool to be in a Burger King…it levels the playing field. There is a real sincerity.”
5. Substack: Culture, Hustle, and Matt’s Role
- Discussion on Substack’s appeal: no gatekeepers, creators can be themselves, but it’s a true time investment.
- [23:11] “It does take a lot of time…about 20 hours. It’s not like Instagram.” – Eddie
- [23:50] “If you follow the thing that you love to do…it will work out.” – Matt
- Matt’s new position as Creative Strategist at Substack, allowing him more creative freedom (events, food, politics, celebrity, etc)!
- [27:10] “I get to just spread my wings across the company and just…go crazy.” – Matt
6. Influence, Community, and Memorable Nights
- The hosts recall key moments where Dream Baby events provided much-needed joy and laughter after personal hardships.
- [30:40] “That was the first good night we’ve had in five months.” – Eddie
- Anecdotes from a wild Dream Baby charity auction: friends passing out, influencer dates gone awry, and the camaraderie and chaos of the night.
- [31:13] “I just saw the eyes go back, and I was like, he’s dead. Oh, he’s there. He’s deadly.” – Matt
7. Rapid Fire: The Greatest Substacks
- Eddie puts Matt on the spot to choose between his favorite Substacks in a “GOAT bracket”:
- Final answer: Otessa Moshfegh’s “Otto” Substack is the winner.
- [36:59] “The correct answer: It’s Otissa. The number one sub stack in the world.” – Eddie
- [37:12] “Doesn’t matter, because her fucking advice…whatever she feeds to the world, I’m so grateful for.” – Matt
8. Literary Influences, Masculinity & Humor in Art
- Endearing mutual fangirling over Otessa Moshfegh (and Bukowski), the power of writing about shame and ugliness, and finding humor in pain.
- [39:13] “You just have to avoid watching the interviews and readings on YouTube, you know, because I did that one time, and I was like, oh, no, no, no, no.” – Eddie
- Matt admits to being drawn to both masculine energy (sports, WWE, Tyson, Kobe) and all things rom-com, creating a unique artistic identity.
- [40:10] “It’s Tyson and it’s like rappers and it’s like the WWE—and it’s like, I need that masculinity…to sustain the art right now.” – Matt
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- [05:45] “Ever since I’ve met you…Your style esthetic to me is really Leonard Bernstein at the Black Panthers.” – Eddie (about Matt)
- [14:26] “You’re subverting everything that’s whack about New York right now.” – Eddie, on Dream Baby Press
- [21:14] “Nobody’s too cool to be in a Burger King…it levels the playing field.” – Matt
- [23:50] “If you write about the thing that excites you…if you follow that, it will work out.” – Matt
- [36:59] “The correct answer: It’s Otissa. The number one sub stack in the world.” – Eddie
- [39:33] “Bukowski gives you permission to find humor in the most horrible things.” – Matt
- [40:10] “It’s Tyson and…WWE… I need that masculinity to sustain the art.” – Matt
“Inside the Episode” – Key Timestamps
- Matt Starr’s Yearly Reset / Capricorn Energy – 00:17–02:09
- Dream Baby Press Origin / Artistic Purpose – 02:11–05:45
- Therapy, Shame, and Vulnerability – 07:37–12:05
- DIY New York & Creative Spaces – 14:26–18:50
- Making Poetry “Punk” and Sincere – 17:25–21:14
- Substack: Culture & Hustle – 23:11–24:36
- Matt’s Promotion and Creative Role at Substack – 24:52–27:37
- Memorable Auction Night / Community in Chaos – 28:55–33:01
- GOAT Substack Bracket – 35:06–37:12
- Literary Influences & Masculinity in Art – 37:51–40:46
Tone and Language
The conversation is candid, irreverent, and affectionate. Eddie and Natashia keep it playful but probing, while Matt is game to be the “vulnerable guest” but never precious about himself. Mature artistic talk flips into banter about trauma, therapy, and even hair care (“Is it a wig?”). Colorful language and inside jokes mark the tone as creatively charged but always real.
Conclusion & Takeaways
This episode is a celebration of doing things for the love, building community from the ground up, and keeping art and independence at the center. Dream Baby Press and Substack both serve as case studies for “making the New York we want”—authentic, imperfect, inclusive, and always kind of wild. If you ever doubted that the city (and its art scene) could feel DIY, radical, and sincere again, this conversation will give you hope.