Podcast Summary: SWWP #31 - 'Together', Chance's Comeback, Offset's Therapy Rollout

Host: Julian Delgado
Date: August 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Something Wrong With The Podcast, Julian Delgado dives into "something wrong with the culture" by examining the summer’s horror films, self-titled and introspective rap albums (with a focus on Chance the Rapper and Offset), therapeutic healing, and the ways technology and celebrity culture intersect in everyday life. With his trademark candid, insightful, and jocular style, Julian weaves cultural critique with moments of personal vulnerability and advice.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Movie Review: Together (00:35–06:05)

• Theme connection: Opens with a rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire’s "Fantasy" to set the mood for togetherness, tying it to the movie "Together".
• Together Review:
  • Directed by Michael Shanks (his first big directorial film).
  • Stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie. The plot involves a couple in a small town who are forced by a supernatural force to physically fuse together.
  • Julian’s verdict: Positive overall. "It was a good movie. I enjoyed it." (03:21)
  • Critiques:
    • The ending felt lacking, which Julian notes is a common horror trend.
    • Monster reveal was "odd in terms of the makeup and the execution… just kind of sucked the life out of the film." (04:16)
  • Cast chemistry: Real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie bring authentic tension to an otherwise troubled on-screen relationship.
  • Compares Together with Weapons: "Weapons not even close… Together is a good film." (05:12)
• Broader horror appreciation: Excitement for upcoming films, including "Good Boy," a horror movie told from a dog's perspective.

2. Self-Titled Albums & Artistic Maturity (06:06–12:45)

• Offset’s Rollout:
  • Mentions Offset’s album "Kyari" and his therapy-themed promotional trailer.
  • Explores why self-titled albums are rare in film but significant in music.
    • "When you do a self-titled album, in an artist’s career, it’s supposed to be an anchoring moment… a sign to show maturity and change." (09:18)
• Hip-Hop and Therapy:
  • Hopes Offset’s "therapy rollout" is authentic and not merely performative marketing.
  • "Hip hop, that community at large, would greatly benefit from therapy and the tools that come along throughout that process." (10:41)
  • Analyzes Offset’s public relationship with Cardi B, the scrutiny of cheating scandals, and how public perception doesn’t account for personal complexity in relationships.

3. On Relationships, Status, and Love (12:46–19:53)

• Don’t fixate on financials: "Never look at the financial status and well-off situation of your significant other as the right reason in which you should stick it out, bro." (15:51)
• Debunks gendered expectations around domestic labor and loving gestures, referencing online jabs at Halle Berry ("That’s not the role of any woman.") and Taylor Swift’s passion for baking not being about money but joy.
• Personal anecdotes:
  • Flowers as a romantic gesture: "I buy flowers for myself because I don't have a significant other." (18:22)
  • "Everybody's different. Everybody should go to therapy." (19:01)
• Wraps with: "Directors can start naming movies after themselves. I hope Offset addresses some real shit on this album." (19:10)

4. Chance the Rapper’s Comeback: Starline (19:54–28:54)

• Personal Connection: Reminisces about living in Chicago during "Coloring Book" era—"Chance was the mayor of that city." (21:00)
• Review of Starline:
  • Listened during a treadmill session—"I'm on the treadmill like all the sexy girls at the gym." (22:17)
  • Calls the album a triumphant return: "This might be the best summer for rap since the legendary 2016 run. And Chance sticking the landing on his comeback makes it even sweeter." (23:25)
  • Favorite tracks highlighted:
    • "The Negro Problem": “A clear examination of generational trauma and the black identity… Chance does such a really good job of dealing with such heavy topics and wrapping it in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or, like, corny.” (24:13)
    • "Letters": Explores religion, the Black experience, with digestibly complex subject matter.
    • "Drapetomania" (feat. Baby Chief): A heavy beat and fun, playful bars.
    • "Gun in Your Purse": “We love a Thug verse… It was great to hear Thug again.” (25:48)
  • Critique: "A little too long… we're in the era of smaller projects... But let him put out 18 songs." (27:32)
  • On the comeback: “Welcome back, Chance. I actually really want to go to your tour… What a great way to reintroduce yourself to an audience.” (28:30)
• Memorable quote: "I love the opening line on the album... The Boy who Lived. It was just like, what a great way to reintroduce yourself to an audience." (28:49)

5. Celeb Sighting & New York Anecdotes (28:55–33:27)

• Dines out in NYC; mistaken identity: Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams spotted, confused Paul with Pedro Pascal.
• On Gracie Abrams: “God, that girl is beautiful. And she’s in her own right. A very successful musician… her dad is J.J. Abrams… What an amazing offshoot of nepotism.” (32:00)
• Praises New York’s late summer, proud to stay in the city: "I'm a New Yorker through and through... This is it. I'll sweat it out in my apartment. I'll sweat it out outside." (33:09)
• Classic “big mop boys” moment: loving share plates and mopping up food with bread.

6. Tech Critique: Instagram Map (33:28–35:55)

• Introduces Instagram’s new location-sharing feature, compares it to Snapchat’s map.
• Blunt response: “Fuck you, Instagram. The last thing people want… is tracking data and giving up more location.” (34:18)
• Advises listeners: "I would highly, highly suggest that you turn it off because it is invasive and they're already getting all the data they need out of you." (35:30)

7. Wild News & Reflections on Relationships (35:56–38:55)

• Reads odd news: A Kentucky woman trashed her ex’s car with glitter, salt, and more damage. “The crazy thing is like, what did he do? Is that wrong of me to ask?” (36:51)
• Humorous aside on premeditated glitter use: "To go out and purchase, like, a tub of glitter, no one just has that handy unless she's, you know, like a grade school teacher."
• On love gone wrong: “Tell you who does not belong together. Infused as one. As one. This Kentucky woman and her ex.” (37:35)

8. Brief Political Bits (38:56–41:07)

• Brushes past Trump and Zelensky banter.
• Notes Gavin Newsom’s new Trump-like social media strategy: “His approach to social media has just become Trump. So he’s doing everything in all caps and speaking in Trump tone, which as a bit, very funny.” (39:37)
• Observes public reactions to JD Vance and Gavin Newsom’s old photos, highlighting how lineage and “nepo baby” discourse mirror each side.
• “I’m just very curious to see how that plays out in the long run.” (41:01)

9. Reflections on Therapy and Self-Improvement (41:08–end)

• Personal update: growing his hair out, therapy progress ("I think I've hit a turning point for the better.").
• Insightful perspective on therapy: “In therapy… there’s no light switch or aha moment. It’s very much a matter of committing, understanding, and identifying the change you want to make, and then seeing for yourself… how that decision makes you a better person.” (43:22)
• On breaking habits: “It's not a matter of… a switch went off. I just put my foot down and said, okay, this is it… I am making that daily commitment…” (44:25)
• Final advice: “Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to commit and challenge yourself… That’s my message for this episode. We’re all in this together. Challenge yourself. Stick with it. Love you all.” (45:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nothing wrong with the pussy. Nothing wrong with the pussy. Nothing wrong with the pussy." (00:01) [opening Earth, Wind & Fire riff]
• "'Everybody fucking cheats. That's not the problem. So many guys cheat. But it's different when you're under that microscope...'" (11:14) — On celebrity relationships
• "Chance does such a really good job of dealing with such heavy topics and wrapping it in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or, like, corny." (24:58)
• “Fuck you, Instagram. The last thing people want and the last thing that makes people feel safe is tracking data and giving up more location.” (34:18)
• “Don’t be afraid to commit and challenge yourself... We’re all in this together.” (45:37)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:35–06:05 – Together movie review
• 06:06–12:45 – Self-titled albums, Offset, therapy in hip-hop
• 12:46–19:53 – Relationships, money & gestures, societal expectations
• 19:54–28:54 – Chance the Rapper’s comeback, album review
• 28:55–33:27 – Celebrity sighting, summer in NYC
• 33:28–35:55 – Instagram Map, privacy concerns
• 35:56–38:55 – Kentucky glitter break-in story, musings on love
• 38:56–41:07 – Political bits: Trump, Zelensky, Newsom, JD Vance
• 41:08–end – Therapy, personal growth, episode close

Final Thoughts

Julian’s signature mix of humor, vulnerability, and cultural critique shines in an episode that spanned horror films, hip-hop maturity, and the push-pull of healing in public and private life. He urges listeners to embrace change, seek therapy when needed, and avoid letting tech companies further erode privacy—leaving us with a rallying, “We’re all in this together.”