In this episode, Robert and guest Austin Train (a stand-up comedian and longtime friend) discuss Absolute Advantage, an economic theory concerning the superior productivity of individuals or nations in specific industries. The conversation shifts rapidly from Adam Smith’s "invisible hand" to the "mortal jealousy" inherent in the comedy world, exploring the dynamics of "fairy godmother" mentors and the struggle of the "door guy" hierarchy at The Comedy Store. They traverse the "grimy" underbelly of Los Angeles, recounting visceral memories ranging from Robert’s childhood walk past the scene of River Phoenix’s overdose to the surreal isolation of Austin’s pandemic lockdown, where he watched a homeless neighbor smoke meth in a recliner on Christmas Day. Topics range from the "performative" nature of Oscar-bait films like The Post and the decline of Joe Rogan from a supportive peer to a "gullible" cog in the "propaganda machine", to the personal toll of addiction, highlighted by Robert’s "sombrero" phase of cocaine use. They conclude by examining the "diminishing returns" of drug use and the tension between the "solitary" nature of the creative process and the demands of parenthood.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In the thirteenth episode, Robert and guest Matthew Simmons discuss Immanuel Kant’s philosophical theory of absolut, which is a theory regarding the limits of reality and the necessity of looking at the world through specific frameworks like substance and cause. The conversation moves fluidly from the "terror and beauty" of the Kantian sublime to the gritty reality of Robert’s "eating disorder" and the anxiety-inducing guilt of wasting food instilled by his mother. They examine the complex nature of empathy as a form of "double consciousness," questioning whether true understanding of another is possible or if it merely leads to a "pathway to relativism". Topics range from the "waste of time" glory of World of Warcraft and Counter-Strike to the "mundane bullshit" of AI replacing creative arts instead of household chores, and they explore concepts like the "benality of evil" in nature and the "violence" of digital surveillance where the "objective" data profile usurps the subjective self.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.

In this special 9+ hour twelfth episode, Robert is joined by fimmakers Matthew Rocca (Bullets, Fangs and Dinner at 8) and Brian Patrick Butler (Friend of the World & Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea) for a discussion on the absence paradox, a concept that explores the tension between the existence and non-existence of objects. They delve into the philosophical implications of this paradox and its relevance to our understanding of reality. And after the discussion, they share their lists of the 20 best movies of the 21st century.

You can find Matthew's IMDB HERE and Brian's IMDB HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON CROSS THEORY, EMAIL crosstheorypod@gmail.com.

ALL ARE WELCOME. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE SELLING.