Infinite Infinite Jest Jest

For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice is upon us, and Caitlin and Jenny discuss some Basic Lady ways to pause and appreciate it. Things are only getting brighter now.

Jennity and Caitlin bridge the gap between Halloween and Christmas with ghosts, which are real, whether or not you've had three margaritas.

Jenny and Caitlin extend the most sacred of seasons for an episode-long Basic Witches' Corner.

Happy Halloween! Jenny and Caitlin talk about the worst debate and The Worst Witch, and discover that a game of M/F/K is better than therapy.

We're back! If you want to hear the new book we're not reading, first you have to get through about 20 minutes of Caitlin and Jenny talking about whistles and cinnamon brooms. Welcome to season 3!

Your IIJJ hosts are getting ready for the cinematic event of 2019, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, by recapping their recent viewing of 2014's Maleficent. And it's our season 2 finale, so we say good riddance to Jonathan Franzen and The Corrections. We'll be back in October with season 3, and if you have suggestions for what we should not read next year, let us know!

Jenny has been rewatching Doctor Who, so naturally Caitlin has to ask which character is most likely to tell you to read Infinite Jest. In the penultimate episode of season 2, we request your recommendations for what not to read next, make our second-to-last guesses as to what The Corrections is about, and discuss why Donna is the best companion (don't @ us).

Al Franken is still trash, Wendy Davis is putting on her running (for Congress) shoes, and this week's debates are going to get us all drunk. "The Case of Al Franken" by Jane Mayer for The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

Hickenlooper is a scientist! And other things we learned in the debates. Jenny and Caitlin also discuss what The Corrections might be about.

Caitlin and Jenny might be dating Joe Biden? Who can really say.

Two of our favorite women keep cranking out hits, so we made you a mix tape. Here's Caitlin and Jenny's mashup of Elizabeth Warren policies and Lizzo songs that, like most mashups, no one was asking for.

No new episode this week, but check out Caitlin and Jenny on the most recent episode of Historical Hotties! https://www.historicallyhot.com/episodes/feminists We'll see you soon with a new episode of IIJJ!

Do your homework and find your flannel, because Caitlin and Jenny are ready to talk about feminine leadership in Captain Marvel.

The topic for this week was inspired by a couple of dudes. Jenny and Caitlin promise this won't happen again. "Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo: Feminine leadership can save our planet" by Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo for The Hill: https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/430698-don-cheadle-and-mark-ruffalo-feminine-leadership-can-save-our

Sweet birthday babies, we've got a spoiler-filled Russian Doll episode, so if you have not already watched it all get going. It will take you about four hours. That's only slightly longer than a Marvel movie! Jenny and Caitlin decide who in Russian Doll is most likely to tell you to read Infinite Jest, and, like the 36th birthday that won't end, find themselves trapped in a neverending loop of guessing what The Corrections is about. "Russian Doll, Maniac, The Good Place, and how helping others is also helping yourself" by Sulagna Misra for The A.V. Club: https://tv.avclub.com/russian-doll-maniac-the-good-place-and-how-helping-o-1832822367 "Russian Doll casts men in roles usually reserved for women. The results are brilliant." by Todd VanDerWerff for Vox: https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/2/10/18217363/russian-doll-netflix-review-charlie-barnett-men-women "What Is Russian Doll Actually About?" by Sophie Gilbert for The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/02/many-layers-russian-doll-netflix/581971/

Some people who are not women are running for president, and that's, ugh, FINE. They probably all think you should read Infinite Jest though. Jenny and Caitlin are reluctantly thrust back into complaining about politics, and it's all a lot of BS. All this, plus what The Corrections is about. Your podcast homework is to watch Russian Doll so you can appreciate Jenny's spot on joke about penises and vaginas and choices and holes.

Caitlin and Jenny get Sass(e)y, develop a new project for Robin Wright, and predict that Nancy gonna Nancy. The West Wing Weekly's gender-swapped West Wing: http://thewestwingweekly.com/episodes/003

If corporations are people they should at least try to be good people. Seriously, lots of The Good Place spoilers. Just watch it. Links: "The Tortured Soul of William Jackson Harper" by E. Alex Jung for Vulture: https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/william-jackson-harper-the-good-place-interview.html The Bloodhound Gang, "The Ten Coolest Things About New Jersey": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vZXPDBlOCc

While Caitlin is in Iowa for...reasons, she and Jenny discuss their intentions for the new year and try to guess what The Corrections is about.

Is this a good title? Because we came up with some others, just in cases: Infinite Eight Is a Lot of Legs Jest Infinite I Hate Uncle Jaime Jest Infinite Hey That's January Jones Jest Infinite Chock a Block Full of Condoms Jest Infinite Jenny Always Cries at the Exact Same Moment in the Montage at the End Jest Infinite Say It's Carolers Jest Infinite Just In Cases Jest Infinite All Just Episodes of The West Wing Jest Infinite If You Can't Say It At Christmas Jest Infinite That Dido Song Jest Infinite Emma Thompson Deserves Better Jest Infinite Let's Go Get the Shit Kicked Out of Us by Love Jest Infinite How Joni Mitchell Taught Us All How to Feel Jest Infinite That's Claudia Schiffer Jest Infinite That's Claudia Schiffer Get IT Cause He Mentioned Her Earlier in the Movie Jest Infinite Wait How Do They All Know Each Other Jest Infinite LAURA LINNEY FFS Jest Infinite No One's Ever Going to Shag You If You Cry All The Time Jest Infinite Let's Get Pissed and Watch Porn Jest Infinite I Said I'm Not Hungry Jest Infinite HE CALLED HIM DAD Jest Infinite Christmas Is All Around Jest Infinite Mister Bean Tried to Stop Snape Jest Infinite All I Want For Christmas Is For This Movie to Age Better Jest Infinite Why Did You Cut The Lesbian Principal Storyline Jest Infinite Jenny and Caitlin Remember Even Every Detail of the DVD Bonus Features Jest Infinite Lower Back Tattoo Means Your Maid is Probably DTF Jest Infinite Table...It's the Same Jest Infinite Do You Ever Do Weddings I Wish You'd Asked You To Do This One Jest Infinite Being Prime Minister I Could Just Have Him Murdered Jest Infinite Oh It's The Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Other Line Jest Infinite It's a Self-Preservation Thing, Carl Jest Infinite Who Do You Have to Screw Around Here to Get a Cup of Tea and a Chocolate Biscuit Jest Infinite Is Brexit Because Billy Bob Thornton Tried to Steal Teresa May's Girl Jest Infinite David Beckham's Right Foot Jest Infinite David Beckham's Left Foot Jest Infinite You Turn Out to be the Fucking Love of My Life Jest Infinite So, Where'd You Meet Jest Infinite To Everyone Who Thinks That Was Porn They Don't Do That Much Lighting Prep for Porn This Was a Classy Movie They Were Stand-ins For Jest

Caitlin and Jenny give Basic Lady tips for keeping your chin up during the dark times (in all senses of the phrase), Jenny reviews...all of the Netflix Christmas movies?, and we guess what The Corrections is about this week! Enjoy the last night of Hanukkah, kids!

Caitlin and Jenny are so fuckin' grateful for Nancy Pelosi, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Franzen making an ass out of himself. And a slight correction: Caitlin references the Alanis Morissette song "Thank You" but was actually thinking of "Unsent." Jonathan Franzen's 10 Rules for Novelists (republished in LitHub): https://lithub.com/jonathan-franzens-10-rules-for-novelists/?fbclid=IwAR2XGkFzmuNppcNyKCoGq66B7G06YzzwB2ugAwj3RfVExkCatXBtH5f-nX4

Jenny and Caitlin wipe out while trying to surf the blue wave.

New season, new schedule, same great taste! Jenny and Caitlin study for midterms, celebrate Axe-culin-UT, wonder about secret rapists, guess what The Corrections is about, and more in episode 48 of Infinite Infinite Jest Jest.

Welcome to Season Two! Caitlin and Jenny go back to school with a glossary of IIJJ vocabulary (you're gonna want to take notes). There will be a test, but no book report, as we have a new book to tell you not to read! Listen to the end, don't be a little mitch. "‘Something has actually changed’: Women, minorities, first-time candidates drive Democratic House hopes" by Elena Schneider in Politico: http://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/11/white-men-democratic-house-candidates-813717?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=00000164-1d49-ddf2-ab76-5d4d4f440000&nlid=630318 Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma: https://twitter.com/maybealexislost/status/1038958514604068866

Jenny and Caitlin celebrate their romantic podcasting anniversary by exchanging Magi-style gifts, playing their favorite games, and revisiting the podcasts that never were. For the last time (in its regular format without very special reasons to bring it back), hear what Jenny thinks Infinite Jest is about and what Caitlin thinks Infinite Jest *should* be about. See y'all in a month with our new book to not read!

Caitlin and Jenny have recorded over 44 episodes of Infinite Infinite Jest Jest, so what are they doing now?? Going to Disney World! Plus, an announcement and request for listener feedback as we casually segue into Season 2 of IIJJ! This isn't episode 45 because that number is tainted now. See you at episode 46!

Jenny and Caitlin fend off some counter protestors, find the wage gap, and watch a cartoon about your Aunt Shira and her sidekick He-Man. Devereaux Peters's twitter thread on why she doesn't play men one-on-one: https://twitter.com/MsPeters14/status/1016406511529091072

It's too hot to come up with a description. It's too hot for the Oscars to be making up dumb new categories for us to get angry about. It's never too hot for Caitlin and Jenny to not read Infinite Jest.

Caitlin and Jenny plan for the future and travel to the 2020 Democratic National Convention where there isn't a dick in sight, but there is a ton of Big Dick Energy. J/K, that's some toxic body-shaming patriarchal bullshit. Bring all your energy to this week's Infinite Infinite Jest Jest! "How Big Dick Energy Explains Modern Masculinity" by Alex Abad-Santos and Constance Grady: https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/6/27/17506898/big-dick-energy-explained

Get out your new microphones and—what's that? You don't have a new microphone? That's okay. You can come sit next to us and use ours. It even comes with UV protection. Jenny sees Hamilton, FINALLY. Caitlin gets some Nutmeg State shame off her chest. Jenny debases herself with puns. Caitlin literally yells at James Comey. Most important, we learn something—multiple things can be true at the same time—all without once reading Infinite Jest.

Caitlin and Jenny discuss a new feminist icon, movie recommendations, and disgusting sodas and the disgusting CEOs in charge of them (and lots of disgusting possible pronunciations of said soda). Plus what Infinite Jest is about!

Put on your Infinite Best because we have company! Jenny and Caitlin's Infinite Guests are a couple of fellow Gemini friends who joined to discuss how we're coping with the Infinite Mess we live in, which astrological sign is most likely to tell you to read Infinite Jest, and the same-sex dating equivalents of straight white boys telling girls to read IJ. We know it''s July now but just indulge us. It's a June Gemini Jamboree!

Join Jenny and Caitlin for a Very Special Episode of Infinite Jest. Online shopping, LOTS of drink recipes, a recitation of the Starbucks menu for some reason?, a cameo from Caitlin's spouse (last heard as background noise in Episode 1), a culinary journey for Jenny, a pep talk from Caitlin, some (surprisingly intelligent, given the circumstances) thoughts on the state of the world and Chris Hardwick, and, eventually, what Infinite Jest is about.

Jenny and Caitlin experience breakfast-related struggles, test some babies, and ponder what Infinite Jest might be about. CONTENT WARNING for this episode: there are some in-depth discussions of mental health and suicide. If this will be difficult for you to hear, you may want to skip this episode for now, or skip from about 17:54 to 34:35. Resources: Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/ Preventing Suicide (for Family Members and Caregivers): https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Preventing-Suicide

Jenny and Caitlin renew their pledge to never read Infinite Jest, reclaim Canadian pronunciations, and remind everyone that Bill Clinton is trash. Links: "Mary Karr Reminds the World That David Foster Wallace Abused and Stalked Her, and Nobody Cared" by Whitney Kimball in Jezebel: https://jezebel.com/mary-karr-reminds-the-world-that-david-foster-wallace-a-1825799769 "A cat gave birth under this man's bed, but it wasn't his cat — and his Twitter thread is a must-read" by Jessica Booth in Hello Giggles: https://hellogiggles.com/news/man-found-cat-birth-under-bed/ "Bill Clinton Says He Does Not Owe Monica Lewinsky an Apology" by Brian Naylor for NPR: https://www.npr.org/2018/06/04/616769504/bill-clinton-says-he-does-not-owe-monica-lewinsky-an-apology?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180604

Caitlin and Jenny are back and hope you didn't forget to not read Infinite Jest while we were gone! We've got a lot to catch up on this week, but the Cliff's Notes version is: Michelle Wolf, Jessica Walter, Chrissy Tiegen, and Mary Karr are national treasures. You'll also hear some Basic Lady tips, what we think Infinite Jest is about, and lots of loud exasperated sighs. Relevant Links: "Basic Lady" by Allen Toussaint: https://youtu.be/tkGSAIOGU58 "'Arrested Development': We Sat Down With The Cast. It Got Raw." by Sopan Deb in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/arts/television/arrested-development-netflix-interview-jeffrey-tambor.html Square Foot Gardening: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening Michelle Wolf freaking nails it: https://youtu.be/DDbx1uArVOM

Spring is the season for Basic Ladies but May Day is the most Basic day of them all. Jenny and Caitlin provide some Basic Lady tips, discuss the feminist news of the week, and will still stop at nothing* to figure out what Infinite Jest is about. *Will stop at reading Infinite Jest. Jenny talks about Hocus Pocus in this episode but she actually means Practical Magic but never realizes it so just KEEP THAT IN MIND. We're taking a little break until June, but in the meantime check out Caitlin's guest appearance on The Lemon Grove podcast: https://soundcloud.com/merylhathaway/caitlin-cushman Discussed in this episode: Brett Connelly attempts to give a young Capitals fan a hockey puck, is thwarted by the patriarchy: https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/985660146037788675 "This Year's Other Two Pulitzer Finalists on Losing to Kendrick Lamar" by Marissa Martinelli in Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2018/04/pulitzer-finalists-michael-gilbertson-and-ted-hearne-on-kendrick-lamars-win.html "8 Classic Overnight Oats Recipes You Should Try" on the Wholefully blog: https://wholefully.com/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/

Caitlin and Jenny report live from their Earth Day holes to bring you reluctant apologies to Baby Boomers, enthusiastic apologies to Beyonce, and some uncomfortable subconscious feelings about Seth Meyers. Do your part today to destroy humanity and save the planet.

The hair! The clothes! The music! The problematic men who refused to acknowledge their privilege and instead abused their power at the expense of marginalized groups! Jenny and Caitlin revisit the men of the late 20th century through a #metoo #timesup lens. Plus: what is Infinite Jest about this week? "What About 'The Breakfast Club'?" by Molly Ringwald in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink&source=gmail&ust=1523922795321000&usg=AFQjCNE_9na-2WqTqWy0KfrFToAIJmLrtg "Monica Lewinsky: Emerging from 'The House of Gaslight' in the Age of #MeToo" by Monica Lewinsky in Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/monica-lewinsky-in-the-age-of-metoo This American Life episode 526 "Is That What I Look Like?" (featuring Molly Ringwald in Act Three: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/526/is-that-what-i-look-like

We mustn't dwell -- no, not today. Not on this, the 24th annual observance of Rex Manning Day! Will AJ confess his love for Corey? Will Lucas get back the $9,000 he stole from the store? What will Mark name his band? Join Jenny and Caitlin in 1995, when no one knew the Run/Hide/Fight protocol for surviving an active shooter, and record store employees went straight for the fourth tactic, Sarcasm. Your IIJJ hosts analyze the classic film Empire Records in the only way they know how: by discussing which character is most likely to tell you to read Infinite Jest.

Caitlin and Jenny Just Do Stuff in this long-overdue defense of Sean Penn. We just really feel he's gotten a bad rap, you know? He's probably a great writer and we are very supportive of all the enabling he's received as a mediocre white man. Their divorce was probably the only mistake Robin Wright's ever made, in our opinions. Is it clear enough yet that this description is an April Fool's joke? Because Jenny can't bring herself to type one more sentence like this. "His Misogyny Lacks Imagination: Poets Critique Sean Penn's #MeToo Poem" by Sara David for Broadly: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/paxayz/sean-penn-poem-critique-me-too-bob-honey-who-just-do-stuff

Hey there, snowflakes! If your spring is off to a snowy start too, you might want to spend some time with Jenny and Caitlin for an activity-packed episode of Infinite Infinite Jest Jest. Get some inspiration for your Infinite Jest crafts, and play a game of M/F/K (IIJJ style). Stay warm, stay basic, stay away from Jim Cantore.

Take a break from all the hoops and courts and nets and other basketball things to join Caitlin and Jenny for a discussion of women in leadership positions at colleges and universities (spoiler alert: there aren't a lot!) and what Infinite Jest is about this week.

It's election season again! Let's spring forward into another episode of Infinite Infinite Jest Jest. Caitlin and Jenny discover that time is a flat circle, Garth Brooks invented brunch, Ted Cruz invented hypocrisy, and tortellini is the worst. They also slouch against some fireplaces and enter the world of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries to solve a most dire case: Which character is most likely to tell you to read Infinite Jest? They solve this one in heels.

March forth into a discussion about ethics and morals. Will Delta and Penzey's Spices wind up in The Good Place? Will Caitlin and Jenny run out of things they think Infinite Jest is about? Happy Grammar Day, friends. "Are You There, God? It's Me, The Good Place" by Laura Turner https://theoutline.com/post/3327/the-good-place-religion-theology?zd=5&zi=dxuv5upu&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=thinking%20about%20God&utm_campaign=OOR%20-%202.9.18 That Evian baby dance commercial: https://youtu.be/DEduV4t2-Wc

We hear you. Jenny and Caitlin have a listening session. They learn about Marjory Stoneman Douglas and her Everglades, open their minds to a new generation of "Florida Man," follow teens on Twitter, and refuse to underestimate Robin Wright's range. Links: New York Times article on Marjory Stoneman Douglas: http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/03/magazine/the-lives-they-lived-marjory-stoneman-douglas-don-t-mess-with-her-wetlands.html Parkland teens Twitter list: https://twitter.com/sarah_in_ny/lists/inspiring-young-voices John Mulaney stand-up clip: https://youtu.be/l3466z8Xsf0 Parable of the Sower: http://www.powells.com/book/parable-of-the-sower-9780446675505/?partnerid=44520&p_wgt Picture of Douglas with her cat: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Marjory_S_Douglas_Friends_photo.jpg

Put on your dancing socks and your skating shoes as Jenny and Caitlin piss off more of their international listeners by trying to speak German. Also just a note that though this episode discusses toxic masculinity, bullies, and Jenny's years in Broward County Public Schools, we recorded this a couple of days before the shooting at Douglas High School. We'll be addressing that next week. Stay strong, South Florida.

Chocolate and flowers are okay, but your Valentine might like something hand-made. Caitlin and Jenny got crafty with some unique ways to occupy your time when you're not reading Infinite Jest. Origami hearts folding instructions: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-hearts.html Papier-mâché piñata instructions: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-a-paper-mache-pinata-1252617 The Outrage: https://www.the-outrage.com/ Rebecca J. Carlson: http://rebeccajcarlson.com/index.html The Journal of Extraneous Scientific Topics: http://rebeccajcarlson.com/jest/ Arthur Crudup bio: http://msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/arthur-crudup

Caitlin and Jenny have some ideas for how the men in their lives can spend their time, instead of spending it telling everyone to read Infinite Jest. Join us for a discussion about male allies, including the ones working at County General Hospital. (ER is on Hulu now!)

Today is a holiday in IIJJ Land, and we want to celebrate with you!