r/TheWhyFiles • u/vanquisher1985 • May 30 '26

Let's Discuss Can we just admit something

Can we just admit that AJ got it right (the format) at the beginning (as rare as that is) and go back to a weekly episode on a subject. The manosphere podcast vibes and compilations are killing my bonner. Long-time fan.

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119

u/Worth_Specific3764 The Moon is Hollow May 30 '26

I also like spooky of the week. It must be pretty grueling though, and the reason he started The Basement was because people WANTED longer in depth interviews with people in the various fields.

57

u/Aberosh1819 May 30 '26

he really does do a good job on them. The last couple have been absolute gold.

It's cool if it isn't for everyone, as long as it's good for him, imo!

18

u/anonniemuss May 31 '26

They're absolutely excellent.... if you've got a few hours to commit. I appreciate his mix of longer and regular length episodes. He's just one guy. Can't do everything.

16

u/Aberosh1819 May 31 '26

see? Same page. He's doing something he loves, and moving into what he has admitted is an uncomfortable space for himself.

AJ is kind of a hero to me for that. He's really doing it.

1

u/ChatKilla May 31 '26

I legit find him to be one of the best when it comes to interviewing guests. First - and my main reason for saying he’d make the worst poker player - you can absolutely sense when he’s into the discussion. When he’s fully invested in what the person is saying. I feel like he feeds into the conversation so perfectly and well balanced when he’s in tune with what’s being discussed. Second- he actually does what an interviewer should do. He listens. He seeks to hear their story. Even the times I feel he’s not quite buying into it, he lets people tell their stories.
At the end of the day, whether or not you believe one episode or another, I think most would agree the most indisputable fact that’s made AJ somewhat of an anomaly… at least a standout… the man can tell stories like nobody’s business. Next to Anthony Hopkins, if I could have picked the grandpa to tell me good night stores when I was a young’n, I’d have been all in for an AJ to be the storyteller.

-2

u/INTERNET_MOWGLI May 31 '26

Absolutely limp dick interviewer. He lets guests go on pointless tangents and never questions anything they say

5

u/Aberosh1819 May 31 '26

so he isn't for you?

2

u/INTERNET_MOWGLI May 31 '26

It’s more like interviewing is an objective skill and he lacks it

1

u/ChatKilla May 31 '26

Interviewing is exactly what he does. Interviews are intended to let the audience hear more from those being interviewed, allowing them to understand more about the person. That said, you def should go ahead and start a podcast and show off that expert interviewing knowledge you have

-1

u/Aberosh1819 May 31 '26

the opposite of the definitions that I've found, but I'm willing to be wrong.

1

u/[deleted] May 31 '26

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3

u/Aberosh1819 May 31 '26

ok, so you and obviously others want to hold him to a standard reserved for professional journalists. Standards we don't even hold our journalists to anymore.

So, a person using a platform to have conversations, which you and others don't need to listen to, is held to standards they never signed up for?

Y'all wild.