Modern Wisdom Episode #857 - Ryan Long: DEI Wars, Trump's Bible & The Masculinity Vote

Host: Chris Williamson
Guest: Ryan Long
Date: [Insert Date]
Duration Covered: 00:00 – 1:51:11

1. Introduction

Chris Williamson welcomes Ryan Long, a comedian, writer, and filmmaker, to discuss the current cultural landscape filled with humor, politics, and societal trends. They set the stage for a deep dive into topics ranging from DEI backlash to bizarre online trends and the impact of American politics on global media.

2. Creativity vs. Hard Work & Type A/B Personalities

Key Discussion: Ryan and Chris explore the limitations of hard work in fostering creativity, especially for Type A individuals who often correlate success with relentless effort.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Long [02:13]: "Hard work, you can't always just hard work your way out of a problem ... adding creativity into that is even worse."
• Chris Williamson [04:32]: "But you've usually, a lot of times you've maxed that out."

Insights:

• Creativity often requires mental rest and restructuring rather than sheer effort.
• Type A personalities may struggle to adopt strategies that prioritize creative thinking over productivity.
• Ryan suggests that Type A individuals benefit from "restharder than me," emphasizing the need for relaxation to stimulate creative connections.

3. DEI Backlash and Corporate Response

Key Discussion: The conversation shifts to how companies are retracting their support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives due to right-wing pressure, leading to a "not gay enough" or "too gay" dilemma.

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Williamson [24:05]: "Companies are either getting in trouble at the moment for being too gay or not gay enough."
• Ryan Long [25:29]: "They were just like, if you want to get a lot of clicks."

Insights:

• Major corporations like Toyota, John Deere, Harley Davidson, and others are scaling back their DEI efforts to appease backlash.
• This rollback creates an environment that is not fully inclusive, as highlighted by the backlash from platforms like Pink News.
• The tension exemplifies how companies navigate the increasingly polarized social climate, often prioritizing short-term public relations gains over long-term inclusivity.

4. Bizarre Trends in Online Pornography

Key Discussion: Ryan Long introduces unusual trends in pornography, such as adult breastfeeding porn in India and tickling porn among Japanese men, discussing their cultural underpinnings and societal implications.

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Williamson [37:37]: "In India, Google searches for breastfeeding porn are higher than anywhere else in the world."
• Ryan Long [42:05]: "Japanese men have recently become obsessed with tickling porn."

Insights:

• These trends may reflect deeper cultural dynamics, such as the role of overbearing maternal figures in India and the childlike cultural elements in Japan.
• Ryan posits that certain fetish trends may act as "gateway drugs" leading to more extreme content.
• The discussion highlights how cultural norms and societal pressures can shape and manifest in unexpected ways within online communities.

5. Impact of Algorithms on Content Consumption

Key Discussion: The duo delves into how algorithms influence the type of content users consume, often perpetuating extreme or sensational material to maximize engagement.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Long [34:14]: "The algorithm's like, oh, that's your shit. So it's like that's all you get now."
• Chris Williamson [54:52]: "The algorithm moves your preferences, it nudges your preferences to make you easier to predict."

Insights:

• Algorithms not only predict but also shape user preferences, creating a feedback loop that can limit exposure to diverse or nuanced content.
• The emphasis on engagement metrics like view duration leads to an overabundance of sensational and repetitive content.
• Both agree that breaking free from algorithm-driven content requires conscious effort to diversify information sources.

6. Stand-up Comedy and Creativity

Key Discussion: Ryan Long and Chris Williamson discuss the challenges comedians face in maintaining creativity while adhering to audience expectations and the algorithms that favor volume over quality.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Long [08:04]: "If you want to have 10 ideas every day, they're not going to be good or they're going to be borrowed."
• Chris Williamson [53:25]: "Do you think that you're trying to make someone like you?"

Insights:

• Comedians must balance generating a high volume of content with ensuring each piece maintains a high standard of quality.
• The pressure to produce frequently can stifle genuine creativity, as comedians may resort to recycling or borrowing jokes.
• Effective comedy relies on a few standout ideas rather than a plethora of mediocre ones, aligning with Ryan’s experience of spending extensive time refining jokes.

7. Politics and Media Influence

Key Discussion: The conversation navigates the complexities of American politics, particularly the Trump campaign’s media strategy, the role of mainstream media endorsements, and the polarized political environment's impact on public discourse.

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Williamson [66:08]: "If someone comes up to you on the street asking invasive sex questions, don't be so quick to brush them off. You might just end up interviewing a president."
• Ryan Long [72:05]: "Polymarket gives a 4% chance that he'll eventually join the Hawk Tour."

Insights:

• Media strategies are increasingly reactionary, capitalizing on the Trump phenomenon to drive engagement even as it may not contribute to substantive political discourse.
• Mainstream media outlets like The Atlantic and Scientific American make rare endorsements that reflect broader media pressures rather than genuine shifts in ideology.
• The rise of “undecided” voters is questioned, suggesting many of them might be unregistered or apathetic rather than truly undecided, impacting campaign strategies.

8. Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Key Discussion: Ryan and Chris reflect on the evolution of culture, the cyclical nature of trends, and the importance of maintaining authenticity and creativity in a hyper-commercialized and algorithm-driven world.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Long [86:38]: "Friend grandmother treatment is gay best friend. That's basically what you're trying to position yourself as."
• Chris Williamson [53:25]: "How can you make this queue look longer?"

Insights:

• The "barber pole" analogy illustrates how societal layers attempt to mimic higher statuses, perpetuating ongoing cultural cycles.
• Maintaining authenticity requires navigating societal pressures and resisting the urge to conform purely for popularity or engagement.
• The importance of leaving audiences with a strong, memorable end aligns with the "peak-end rule," enhancing the overall impact of any performance or interaction.

Notable Discussions and Anecdotes

• Advertising Breaks: Various product endorsements like AG1, True Classic, and Magic Spoon are interspersed throughout the episode, offering listeners promotional information.
• Comedy Insights: Discussions on joke structure, audience engagement, and the psychological aspects of comedy performance.
• Cultural Observations: In-depth analyses of how specific cultural trends emerge and their broader societal implications.

Conclusion

In this episode, Ryan Long provides a multifaceted exploration of modern societal dynamics, from the constraints of Type A personalities on creativity to the intricate dance companies perform in response to DEI backlash. The conversation extends into the bizarre realms of online pornography trends and the pervasive influence of algorithms on content consumption. Through the lens of stand-up comedy, they dissect the challenges of maintaining originality in a crowded digital space. The discussion also critically examines the state of American politics and its entanglement with media strategies, highlighting the polarized environment that shapes public discourse. Ultimately, the episode underscores the importance of authenticity and thoughtful engagement in navigating an increasingly complex and superficial cultural landscape.

Listeners who missed the episode can catch up on Ryan Long's latest comedy special and explore more insightful discussions on Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson.