*SUBSTACK PREVIEW* Performative Intelligence

Summary

Throwing Fits: SUBSTACK PREVIEW Performative Intelligence

Episode Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: James Harris & Lawrence Schlossman

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Episode Overview

In this Substack preview, James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman return to the studio for an off-the-cuff discussion blending their signature irreverent humor with takes on menswear, lifestyle, performativity, and personal vices. The hosts riff on everything from J. Crew’s stumble with AI-generated marketing to their latest fit checks and nicotine experiments, exposing the ever-more-performative nature of male tastes and personas in the digital era.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcome & Setting the Tone

• The hosts introduce the episode with self-aware banter about their podcast’s influence and exclusivity of premium content on Substack.
• James Harris: “We are joined by one half of one of the 101 podcasts that changed the way we listen... Welcome to the weekly run of the boys.” (01:00)

2. J.Crew’s Performative Flub with AI

• Lawrence alludes to J.Crew’s botched use of AI imagery in a recent campaign, teasing a deeper dive later in the episode.
• Playful tone about how artificial intelligence intersects awkwardly with traditional brand storytelling.
• Lawrence: “Shame on you.” (01:27)

3. The State of the Zeitgeist: Everything Is Performative

• The hosts reflect, with irony, on how even the most mundane daily actions (like fit checks, caffeine choice, or nicotine intake) become acts of performance or branding in the current zeitgeist.
• James, joking: “Everything is performance wear... when you’re as performative as we are, everything is performance wear.” (10:58)

4. Fit Check: The Weekly Ritual

Lawrence’s Fit (01:35 – 02:59)

• Clark’s Wallabies
• Reese’s socks
• Vintage Levi Silver Tab jeans
• Maximum Henry belt
• Hanes beater
• Throwing Fits cut-and-sew shirt (their first-ever design)
• Homage hat (reference to the movie Heat)
• Rolex on the wrist, wedding ring, and a chrome pinky ring

Notable moments:

• Discussion about their first cut-and-sew shirt:
  • “This was the maiden voyage.” – Lawrence (02:06)
• Movie references:
  • Banter about Val Kilmer in Heat and unrealistic firearms scenes versus John Wick and Wanted.

James’ Fit (08:27 – 11:50)

• Echo Collective “Hey Dudes” mules
• Amazon socks
• MF Pen (Danish denim)
• Literary Sport merino performance T-shirt (“Because my whole life is a performance”)
• Our Legacy overshirt

Notable quotes:

• On the performance tee:
  • “My whole life is a performance, because I’m just performative out here.” – James (10:57)

5. Nicotine, Health & Rituals

• Lawrence reveals he’s giving up Celsius energy drinks due to potential heart health concerns, debating which vice to keep.
• James, gifting Lawrence 24mg “Bags” (nicotine pouches) from Greece, marvels at the strength and branding.
• Digestible, humorous exploration of addictive habits within friend groups.

Best Exchange:

• James: “Glad you picked nicotine because they got you a little present from Greece, bro.” (04:29)
• Lawrence: “This is 1,000% going to singe my gums.” (05:44)

6. Euro Footwear & Collabs: Echo Collective vs Camper

• James reviews Echo Collective’s sub-line shoes and the brand’s collaborations with designers like Kiko Kostadinov and Bianca Saunders.
• Light ribbing on Euro “trash” brands and their surprising quality/price points.
• Conversation veers into the difference between Echo and Camper in contemporary footwear trends.
• “They’re like the Euro trash final boss, Echo.” – Lawrence (08:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I need to get my blood pressure under control. I got to pick, right? Nicotine or Celsius, and I’m choosing…” – Lawrence (04:14)
• “Bags, dude. Let’s map out this week’s amazing destinations and travel tips.” – Lawrence, segueing from nicotine bags into faux travel banter (06:04)
• On Bianca Saunders/Echo loafers:
  • “They were like, the color of, like, jizz.” – James (10:01)
• “When you’re as performative as we are, everything is performance wear.” – James (10:58)

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Main show begins/Introductions | 01:00 | | J.Crew AI mention | 01:22–01:27 | | Movie/fashion banter (Heat, fit check) | 01:34–03:15 | | Energy drink health chat / Nicotine gifts | 04:03–06:04 | | “Bags” branding & Euro discussion | 07:04–08:14 | | James’ fit rundown & Euro footwear culture | 08:27–10:57 | | Performance wear/philosophical note | 10:57–11:50 |

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Tone & Style Notes

• Self-deprecating, brash, and conversational—banter is both thoughtful and playfully idiotic
• Frequent pop culture and movie references serve as in-jokes and cultural shorthand
• Irony about personal branding and performance, but also genuine camaraderie

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a classic example of Throwing Fits’ blend of insider menswear talk, lifestyle confessions, and sardonic humor about cultural trends. Whether deconstructing the performance of everyday masculinity or breaking down sneaker and shirt histories, James and Lawrence keep things refreshingly unserious, even as they touch upon issues (health, marketing, self-image) that are deeply current. If you’re interested in where fashion, vice, and the modern male ego collide, this is a lively, memorable taste.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This podcast is supported by the RealReal. Meet Christine. She loves shopping. And this is the sound of fashion overload. Too many fabulous things, not enough space. So Christine started selling with the RealReal.

[Christine]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Christine]

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[Podcast Host]

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[James Harris]

We are joined by one half of one of the 101 podcasts that changed the way we listen. Lawrence Schlossman and myself. The other half of one of the 101 podcasts that changed the way we listen. James Harris. Welcome to the weekly run of the boys. Yes, this is real. With today's full episode Only available on.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Www.Throwing fits.com we are part of the pantheon.

[James Harris]

Before we get into J Crew posting AI Sloppily dobbly.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Shame on you.

[James Harris]

Stumbling into a player's box of the US Open. And now everything is performative. Let's get into a fit check.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Okay.

[James Harris]

What are you wearing?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Lawrence, welcome back, bro. We are in the studio on the mics. I am wearing Clark's wallabies on the feats, man. Reese's socks. Vintage Levi silver tab jeans. The belt is maximum Henry. The beater is Hanes. The shirt is an old throwing fits cut and sew.

[James Harris]

An oldie but a Goldie Classic second ever shirt. Yeah, right.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Second. First.

[James Harris]

First.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

First ever shirt.

[James Harris]

The overshirt.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I think this was the. This was the maiden voyage.

[James Harris]

Yeah. Pre tariffs.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah. It really matches so well with the J Crew vans. But I just couldn't bring myself to.

[James Harris]

When you posted those. Was that. Did you tag it? AI generated or no, I was the.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Artist so I didn't have to tag it. I was the one who created artist. I created that. That pov top down, yo.

[James Harris]

I was just inspired to like put on the vans with some jeans masterpiece.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

The. The. The saddest part about this whole thing. And we'll get into it. This fiasco is that I. I do like the sneaker.

[James Harris]

The feet Asko. Feet are ass, bro. Okay. Moving on to the panties.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Moving. The panties are skims. Moving on up. The hat is a. And after that homage to a little movie called Heat.

[James Harris]

What's. Maybe what is.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

It's about. It's about a crew. And this crew. They're good.

[James Harris]

Oh, yeah.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Rolly on the wrist.

[James Harris]

One last job.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

That. Nope, that's not one last video. Every heist movie does have a one last job.

[James Harris]

I'm putting together a crew window. Can I just see? How can I just say this guy.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

You've never seen Heat, right?

[James Harris]

Of course I've seen Heat.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Okay.

[James Harris]

I'm going to out myself as a fucking whatever. People want to think about me when I watch the Val Kilmer, like, reloading the rifle that, like, they now teach it, like West Point or whatever. Yeah. I'm like, is that. Is that that good? Like, I can't tell. Is that really like that? Like, is that how you retreat?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

John Wick did it better.

[James Harris]

No, not even that, bro.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

You just think that it's not smooth.

[James Harris]

Well, what's the movie with Angelina Jolie where she makes the bullets? Spit. That's sick.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Wanted.

[James Harris]

Yeah. And James McAvoy or whatever.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Chad, is this real? Bending bullets. Yeah, you could do that for sure.

[James Harris]

Bend it like Angelina.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah. The documentary wanted with James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angeline Jolie. Right. Rolling on the red wedding ring on the finger. Wife and the pinky chrome on the other hand. James, what do you wear?

[James Harris]

What are you sipping on, bro?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Oh, just Lower east side hydro flask full of Lower east sides finest. I'm retiring the Celsius.

[James Harris]

Why? Your heart. You have a heart arrhythmia?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I think I might. I don't want to get into it because it's too real. I need to go to the doctor. I just. I just know that I have my blood pressure needs. I need to. I need to get my blood pressure under control. And I'm just like the Celsius shit. And if I'm doing, I got to pick, right? Nicotine or Celsius, and I'm choosing.

[James Harris]

That's funny because I'm glad you picking nicotine because they got you a little present from Greece, bro. Oh, great catch. Great catch.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Right.

[James Harris]

I got you the bags with the.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Z. Arctic freeze, 24 milligram. The best is that on this milligram, this easy to read circular diagram. There's still two more slots to make this stronger.

[James Harris]

So.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

What? See how it's four out of six.

[James Harris]

Oh, I could have gotten you the 36 milligram, maybe sent you to an early grave.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Jesus.

[James Harris]

An. Sorry, an earlier grave.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I would do one of these for the bit. I just might throw up. No.

[James Harris]

What are those right now?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

So six and a half.

[James Harris]

But six and a half is, like, low.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

No, it's like, it's. It's literally two out of four in terms of like an American scale.

[James Harris]

This is.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

This in Europe. This is for children.

[James Harris]

When you start running on fumes with the current six and a half, pop in a 22 for.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I mean, I just.

[James Harris]

Should we just.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Let's just do a little smell test. This is. This is going to be so strong.

[James Harris]

I do love also that it's just called bags, because now you don't.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I mean, it smells good.

[James Harris]

It's grease. Grease. There's a hair in here. Ew, dude.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it'll. I'll put it in for. I'll put in for like five minutes, but then it's gonna need to come out because it's gonna hurt.

[James Harris]

Really? Are you.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I was doing a sexual innuendo. No. Yeah. Well, this is 1,000% going to Singe my gums. I'll do it when this is. When this fall. When this. When this falls off and the nicotine.

[James Harris]

Is out, I'll switch over.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

But yeah, I'm gonna do. I'm doing no Celsius.

[James Harris]

And now you don't even have to call the guy because you got bags already. They're fucking gonna juice you up.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Thank you for this fucking canister of just juiced bags, dude. Let's map out this week's amazing destinations and travel tips.

[Will]

Honestly, Will, I didn't plan any trips, but I did switch to T Mobile with their new Family Freedom offer.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

That's not the itinerary we're following.

[Will]

Well, I'm departing from AT&T and embarking on a new journey with T Mobile. They paid off my family's four phones up to $3200 and gave us four new phones on the house.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Bon voyage.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

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[Lawrence Schlossman]

Nick. Yo, even it says like, so obviously the branding is bags, but then it's just like 22 premium nicotine bags with a Z again. They're like really leaning into it in Greece. Do they think that's how we spell bags in English maybe?

[James Harris]

No, I think it's a cool branding thing.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Super. Like, like boys only.

[James Harris]

Yeah. The 89 year old Nona at the, at the cigarette stand was very like. It took me a minute to like be like, no, no, no. Bat.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

No, no. Well, first of all, Nona's Italian.

[James Harris]

Whatever.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah, okay. Thank you so much. Dude, this will be a disaster in, I don't know, T minus 15 minutes.

[James Harris]

I didn't know if 22 was like. Because what do you normally do?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

20. First of all, it's 24.

[James Harris]

Okay. Damn.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

What do I normally do? I, I like to, I like.

[James Harris]

What's the highest you've seen in person?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

The highest, the most I've done was when we were in Milan. I was, I was chewing on 15 milligrams. 16 milligram bags. Yeah. And I, it made me feel like absolute dog. This is considerably more milligrams.

[James Harris]

If you don't want them, give them back to me because I have friends that'll definitely.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I mean, how about this?

[James Harris]

Want to hit that bag?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

I'll, I'll, I'll do. I'll pop a bag on Pod. I'll throw up for everyone. And then you're gonna give them to Chris.

[James Harris]

We're gonna come back next week and be like, I need more. No more bags. Oh look, I booked a one way ticket to Greece.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

He dipped into a bag and look at that. His whole life is falling apart. He's addicted. Shocker. Okay, what did you wear? Thank you so much.

[James Harris]

I'm glad that that's will be the first time that's happened. Yeah, you're welcome. Okay. I'm wearing my newest premium. Hey dudes. From echoslada and Echo Collective collected with K's.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Are those mules?

[James Harris]

What is this? Yeah, Echo Collective. You know it? Yeah, yeah, it's like, it's from the, the big ass brand Echo, which I don't know where they're from.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

It's like, it's just a Euro trash brand.

[James Harris]

Where's.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

They're like the, they're like the Euro trash final boss Echo. I. I mean they have stores in like American malls and it's like hot. It's like high end Euro trash company.

[James Harris]

They're Danish. Oh, really? They honestly put out some kind of shit. I'm not gonna lie.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Well, with the way that footwear trends are now, I think that if you got like, mainline Echoes, which I don't. Again, I don't think they're cheap. I think it's like a quality product that, you know, is comfort.

[James Harris]

They were stored in Soho and. And Blake had a. A magazine by release party there. And I was looking around, I was like, what the.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Well, the New York flagship probably has a whole wall of the collective, right?

[James Harris]

I don't think so. I don't think so. Collective stuff is. Okay. So collective, it's a. I guess like a. A little sub business within the Echo Danish umbrella that they partner up with, like, smaller brands.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

No, Kiko's done it for sure.

[James Harris]

Kiko. Kiko has done it. I think Kiko's, like, maybe more involved, like a higher level than just like a collaborator. And they provide a lot of, I think, the materials. And then also, I'm sure re other resources to just like, get collaborative shoes out there. They did Bianca Saunders and I. And I had some Bianca Saunders, like, nurse ass loafers. Like, Moon shoes.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Were they white?

[James Harris]

They were like. They were like, the color of, like, jizz.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

The full. The phlebotomy twos.

[James Harris]

Yeah. And I was like, these are sick. And I wore them zero times.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Where do you still have them or do you get rid of them at a bazaar or something?

[James Harris]

I think I still have them. Okay. But. But these are. I mean, these were flow. And I was like, I. And I don't know. They're so comfortable too.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

They are 1000% UN dudes with a little bit of heft. I always get camper and Ekko confused. Maybe Kiko was at camp. He was.

[James Harris]

Kiko was a. Kiko is. Or was a camper for sure.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Okay. Either way.

[James Harris]

Ekko Collective with a K. With 2Ks only 2 not.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

They're missing the crucial one. Thank God.

[James Harris]

In this regard. Yeah. Jesus.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Maybe crucial is the wrong word.

[James Harris]

Yeah, it is. The socks are from Amazon. The denim is from mf. MF Penham. That's what I'm calling them.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

That's not bad.

[James Harris]

MF Penn. Shout out the Danish homies. The shirt. The T shirt is literary sport. Oh, it's a performance tea. You know, because my whole life is a performance. Because I'm just performative out here.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

You're an athlete.

[James Harris]

Yeah, everything. Yo. When you're as performative as we are, everything is performance wear.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah. Let me hit the hem. Oh, that's like fully stretched.

[James Harris]

That's a gym, but it's like a merino. So it's not like. Yeah, it's not like a super synthetic natural fibers. Yeah, sort of like self clean, breathable. But again, when your size cleans when you're as. It's like wool.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

But. But the pit, you got to still wash it, right?

[James Harris]

Oh, I'm gonna watch. I'm just saying, like the super synthetic stuff will like trap body smell like a, you know, what's his name?

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Danish bag?

[James Harris]

No. What's the guy? Steven Glanberg.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Yeah. Who's eating Lunchbox.

[James Harris]

But when you're as performative as we are, everything's performative. Where performance wear the borrowed shirt is our legacy. The Iowan. Check.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

Okay.

[James Harris]

Dusty color wave picked up in Stockholm from Shout Out Elsa and okay, cool. The homies of the shop sound like.

[Lawrence Schlossman]

A folk music duo.