Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - “Kooky Tantric” (w/ Robyn)

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

In the words of one of the greatest pop stars of all time, “Fuck a app!” (except whichever one you use for podcasts). Robyn joins us to talk her upcoming, stellar album “Sexistential.” Topics range from the tantric kookiness of the writing process, covering your own songs, and the age-old question: Would you eat your baby? Lived-in experiences with Max “Just a Guy” Martin and the idea of nostalgia being lethal. And of COURSE Robyn gives a cool answer to The Question in the form of a Neneh Cherry song. So come take a warm auditory bath like the song “Honey” IDTSH’s on Close Friends etiquette. Well-lit intercourse. Being early to hating Elon and all the men and boys who are withOUT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Look over there. Wow. Is that culture? Yes. Oh, my goodness. Wow. Las cultureistas. Ding dong.

Las Culturistas calling. Did you know, I was having, like, such a reflective day today because, like, just going through the Uvra. we've had so many formative memories with our guest music In fact, I remember the very first time I ever even heard about our guests was way, way back, and then it feels like truly, like, throughout the eras,

there's always been that moment. Yeah, yeah. Because this is a true, like, defining artists of our time who gives something, like, every few years comes back out and is like, don't forget. We, I surely never have. We dropped acid upstate and listened to Honey. I told our guests when I met them backstage at Radio City.

It was so intimate. By the way, that was an epic performance. Oh, my God, it was so amazing. I'll never forget this. Our guest and David Byrne. It was an amazing. It was an amazing. Let's talk about it.

But real quick, I just want to say, like, I came out of the bathroom. You were sitting alone in the green room. And then you were like, hi. And I was like, immediately. I was like, I can't do this. can't do this. This is too much. And then I word vomiting and I was like, so I was in a K-hole two summers ago. And what healed me was Ariana Grande be all right. And when I got into bed, I got into the covers and just looped honey the album for about like six hours straight. And it saved me. This is not the first time you have been flabbergasted that a celebrity is in front of you. And you said, I was in a K-hole. And this is like the second or third time I've heard of him saying that. He doesn't even like frequent. Don't be concerned. No, don't be concerned.

It's not, I don't have a substance problem. Famous thing that people with non-substance problem say. And I have really good news for everyone. She's here. The album is called Sexistential. That's what I was going to say was the good news. That's the good news.

Fuck a app in the words of our guest. And driver makes her horny. She reveals this on the album. We've heard it, by the way. Sorry, I know that's going to make y'all feel some type of way. But we've heard it and you got to wait. Our friend has heard it. Giotolentino has heard it.

And I'm sure because she's writing. She's writing about our guests. Let's just get into it because it is truly an honor for our first guest of the year to be like it's beyond one and only, but the one and only. Robin! Come on. I'm so happy to be here. Oh, this is like a joy for us. No, it's a joy for me.

Thank you. telling me all these sweet things, my heart's wasting. We haven't even begun. I feel so complimented. Complemented. Is that how it's... Absolutely. Because I could see the face crack when I was telling you about my K-hole. And you were like, I don't know what to say to this guy. What's your memory of that? No, I loved it. I thought you were being so vulnerable.

We're often vulnerable here. Our acid trip was also you. I truly appreciate it. I know that I'm so happy I could help you out. And I feel the sincerity in that. But it was like, I laugh about it now. But like, I mean, that song is so, you know, important, the title track of Honey. And I feel like, I feel like I really admire how you just took up the space with that album to be, to have the sensuality with your production and your vocal. And then now to understand that you are fulfilling a societal need to, like, bring us back to the fucking club. Yeah.

And like, I want to start this. you by asking, what was this intention? Why this album? Why? Start from the ground up with a song like dopamine that you've had in the bank for 10 years. Yeah. Well, I mean, I felt like I was on a spaceship, like I'd been floating around in space, totally lost, going through very existential things. And I was crashing back into the atmosphere of the earth and like kind of back into myself and that's what I wanted it. That was my picture of what the album was going to be, just this feeling of like impact and a dust of emotion, a cloud of emotion just rising up and not having to explain too much

and then just letting it settle and I wanted there to be layers in there and lots of things for people to come back to and relate to, but also this like very just high impact, strong like force. Yeah. And that's where I was in my life. Yeah. And so that's what came out of my body. I had a son. Yeah, you birth

existential. Also had yeah, lots of things to write about. Yeah, absolutely. But the album's not about my son. It's about maybe the time before. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, what I loved about, like, you recently said that you feel like it's your life's purpose to remain horny.

Yes. And to keep driving towards. horniness. By the way, I deeply feel that. I feel that. You're amongst friends. And so I would describe the album as a horny little album. I mean, like, I think... A horny little slutty album. It's a really slutty album. And I do

feel like we do need those reminders, you know, to go out because I do think like, I don't know, maybe this is like a boring thing to say because it's so obvious, but we are isolated. We do need reminders to go out and dance and like low-key touch each other. Totally. And you also describe horniness as not just about.

being sex about being curious. Yes, exactly about being curious about having the time and space to feel pleasure and to enjoy my life and to have that not have been taken away from me by stress, by politics, by just the world going crazy. So it's like it's an act of resistance, but it's also just like fun and how I would want my life to always be if I can. It's a luxury and no pressure. Like, if you're not horny, that's okay. That's fine. But again, it's not necessarily about sex. Which is kind of like, it's kind of freeing.

You know what I mean? Like, it's like, it's not like we're not putting pressure on anyone to go out there and go crazy. But it's like whatever it means to you is emboldening. Totally. It's like how you approach anything, I guess. Be horny for life. Be horny for life. I love that.

Horny for life. Horny for life. In every sense, like, be horny for the duration of the time you're on this earth. Exactly. And then be, have a sexual drive towards like the things in this world as much as you can. Yes, be tantric. Like let things like build and feel exciting and not rushed. Yeah.

But kind of like pleasurable at the same time. Was tantric like the process? Was that like you and Klaus like being like let's get like cookie? No, what that's a terrible word. No, I like it. Okay. I mean to equate tantal. Tentric, like the tantra with kuky tantric could be a whole vibe.

You know what I mean? It's kinky. It's kinky. No, me and Klaus were not getting kinky. To be clear. Yes, but we've been, you know, we've been so close for so many years and in this weird way we don't, well we see each other sometimes in our personal life or like without outside of the studio as well, of course. course, but, but it's mostly just him and me, like just exposing ourselves to each other over and over and over again for like now, what is it, like 20 years.

Wow. And having, not fallouts, but periods where we don't necessarily want to be with each other and then coming back to it. And we, I think why we get along is also because we have the same work ethic. We like to work a long time on things and make sure. we like it and we don't have a problem with that. And so tantric is definitely a part of it. There's this like we're both okay with it not being comfortable all the time,

which I think is also, it has to be that way in order to get to the good stuff. I think you have to be uncomfortable, be able to become uncomfortable with each other. There's a push-pull. Yes. Like, it's so interesting that you see that as like part of the tantra of your songwriting, right? It's like, I think you were talking recently about how like the songwriting process is not necessarily like fun. No, exactly. It's like it's really hard and labored and like, you know this.

Yeah. Well, sometimes it's like, you hear artists talk about how like, oh, this happened very quickly and that's how I know it's good. But that's just a certain process that someone might have. I mean, usually I'm like, oh, can't be that good. Right, right. Like you're like, what's the catch on this song? Yeah. Yeah.

Maybe. Yeah. sometimes it happens quickly Yeah Yeah Do you have an example of like a song That did happen very quickly And maybe you were like

I don't know But you didn't touch it And then ultimately it was what it was Dancing on my own I was I don't know why I spiritually felt like That must have come through like In a channeled way It was kind of a channeling thing

Yeah And sometimes it does happen With every heartbeat happened that way too But I feel like There are like years or at least months Of something Leading up to that moment And then sometimes you

you just click in and you're able to just get it out in one go. Yeah. But then dopamine took 10 years and, you know, it's so different every time, I think. Yeah. But I guess when you're acting, I mean, I think actors and comedians are just so good at it. Maybe sometimes better than musicians because you have to be vulnerable. You have to try things and you have to make yourself, like you have to be able to be ugly and we aren't all those things to get to the thing.

Yeah. And sometimes when I get into studio with musicians that are really great but not comfortable with that, it's harder, right? Yeah. Well, with music, I feel like you can take your time to discover. Yes. Whereas, like, when you're an actor or a comedian, like, you have to, like, be able to at least perform discovery. And so that discovery, I often feel like it's like it's sometimes better to not look at any lines until right before so that they can feel really fresh. Well, you don't like being prepared.

Exactly. I don't want to be prepared. It's what that is. But like for you, it's like to hear that dopamine took 10 years, it still feels like something that's very like organic. Even if it felt like at times arduous or like you were like, I don't know if that's ever going to come to fruition. But I know I have it in the back pocket. Like it still feels like a new song. Exactly.

And to get to that point, like you know you might have something that is supposed to feel that way. Like you know that there's something in there like, oh, we could get to this point where I feel. totally natural and organic. But it might not start out that way. And then it's like you have to find it as if it was the first time. You can't fake it and like pull out the arpeggio baseline one more time and just like slap it on there. Like it has to be created from scratch and really intentionally made again, I think. Was it called dopamine all 10 years?

Did the title change? Yeah, no. No, the title was so good. The chorus was there from the beginning. I mean, there were all these amazing people involved in it too. It was Kloss and Taya Cruz. Yeah, wow. Taya Cruz.

Yes, the chorus is written by Taya Cruz. So I think, you know, it's this thing of deciding, like, how to deal with, like, this little gold that you know you have. Where to place it. Wow. Just to, like, return to dancing on my own for a second because I feel like on this podcast, Lascaulte Dresda, if you're going to be here, we have to give dancing on my own. It's moment. And this is why. Because when you, we went to go see you at Barclays, and we just talked about.

this concert on our Rachel's Senate episode because it was when we were like recreationally ripping use and poppers at the time and thank God we were because... I enjoyed that episode so much. Thank you for listening. Rachel will love that. But I remember like when you play dancing on my own at the show,

it was so clear in that moment that that is like the defining anthem for us. Like there's a few songs that feel like that. I would actually call I Love It by Charlie XX and I kind of pop another one of those. When she did that song at the sweat tour, I felt the same way. Whereas afterwards, I remember you just like received for like quite a while all this love that was flying at you from the audience. And I feel like the question that I feel like, you know, the basic question would be like when did you realize that this song was that or how does it feel that this song is that?

But I want to ask you is what is your dancing on my own? Like, what are your defining pop anthems? Like, I want to know. Well, I mean, God, it will be Purple Rain. Yes. It's our Purple Rain. Keep going. Oh, wow.

But it didn't, I hope you could feel that because it was true. I mean, it's a release. Wow. I mean, if it makes you feel that way, then I'm super happy. I think Purple Rain has this, like, also this tantric thing, right? You want to come back to it and you want to feel the thing again. and I think small town boy

with bronze kid. Oh my God. Wow. When he goes into that high note in the beginning it just makes me want to cry. Yes. I get this sense

and let me, I'm guessing here, but I think probably were you a Whitney fan? Yes, of course. I feel like there's like her anthemic stuff. But also Mariah.

Mariah is just the best. A lot of Mariah when I was 12. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of trying to hit those high notes. Yeah, right. It never happened. Do you have a favorite Mariah?

It's a hard one to say. You know which my favorite Mariah is, but that's just because I love the original song as well. I can't live if living is a while. Without you, by no, man, God. Yeah. She really just, that was already a brilliant song, but she just made it something else.

It was amazing when that came. With the live MTV. TV session with her hair. Yes. Oh my God. Yeah. She's the queen of like, oh, I know you know this song in one way and I'm going to live just rip it up.

Like the other day there was on my algorithm, I was scrolling by and there was this unbelievable video of Mariah and Whitney recording when you believe from the Prince of Egypt. They finally get together. Exactly. Exactly. But also the way Mariah handled her whole thing and like how funny she is and the intelligence of her. Yeah.

It's really entertaining. Yes. I mean, is it fair to say that you are, I love that, I love that you did this. There's a track on Existential, Blum My Mind, which is like, it is like you covering yourself, but it's just a redux of a track of the same title. Mm-hmm. It was the third album, right? Yes.

Yes. It's true. And like I talk about that because it's truly, especially if you listen to both those songs back to back, you're like, oh my God, this is. is just such a trip and like this is sort of recontextualized now. I don't want to give it totally away. But like that is such a cool like refracting of like your old work, old quote unquote as in like past work into something that feels again like extremely current. That makes me very happy. I mean I always loved the song. It was on an album that I released before I started my label. So it was in this

kind of forgotten category and it was never really a single and I think it's a brilliant song in me and also what happens when you have a kid is you just don't have that much time I don't want to say that's the reason but I was like looking back at because I had all these other old songs for the album and so I was like this might be the time where I get to do a cover of my own song and I always wanted to and then we rewrote it so that it's about the present time now it's more. about cute aggression, I think. Yeah.

When you love someone so much, you want to hurt them. Yeah, like you have a tantrum towards them. Like, definitely. Yes. Do you want to eat your baby? Yeah. No, no, no. There's this thing where, like, people want to like,

do you want to eat your baby? Oh, sorry. Eat your baby. Eat your baby. Yes, I want to eat. His cheeks. I know. His butt cheeks too.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. I always want to eat the baby's leg and foot. Yeah. Like every part. Doe. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Good stuff. Yeah. This cannibalism is like totally innocent. It goes away as the baby gets older. Does it though? That's up to you. Let us know, I guess.

I hear from people that doesn't. Like, it's still like you want to do it to your 20 year old, but it's going to be not. How old is your baby? Soon to be four. Soon to be four. Okay. So this was like, soon to be four. So this was four years ago.

But I wonder because you just collaborated last year. with Charlie X-E-X or I'm not sure when you did the 360 remix. Yeah, it was right before the album, her album was released. It was like six months before or something in the summer before it was released. And she was in Sweden and she texted me and she was like, I want to do this remix with you and Jonathan with Young Lean. And I just thought it was like the best idea ever.

It's so sick. And of course it came from her because she's brilliant. And, you know, I had no. idea what she was doing. We hadn't been in touch for a while. And I just thought with crash, she was just, you could tell she was getting into her zone. She was just, she was ramping up this like perfect storm of emotion and like expression and she was so sure of herself. And I was like, yeah, I just want to hear what you're doing. And she played some stuff and she said, oh, I think it's about, you know, I think the album's just about female relationships and how, you know,

how complicated it is. And I was like, that's so interesting. And I think she's, she wanted us to write something and I was just like I didn't even know how to put myself in that position because I just love her so much like I could never even like think about how to find like a like a like a conflict like I was trying like trying to get into it and then we did the remix as well and we we wrote some other things and um it was so fun to talk to her and and and have like some time with her before it all happened yeah see her. in that moment. I feel like you guys must have like so much in common that very few people have in common too. And the reason why I ask about like when your son or your, you know, was born,

like she talks so much. She ruminates so much on that idea as well. So I wonder like what you were thinking when you heard that. Did she? No, she totally inspired me to go and to be personal, to be more personal than I had ever been with my own lyrics and to be specific to not shy away from being very defined about what it is you want to say. Yeah. I think the subject matter was already there, but just kind of like how she approached it and how she was so vulnerable and tough at the same time.

Yeah. But it's true. We always, I think, connected on that. And I think with Jonathan as well, like we have that experience of being, like, you know, just doing it on, like, different levels and in different worlds from, like, a very young age. Right. And it's funny.

for me it's it's beautiful because I don't really know if I've shared that experience with people artists my own age. I feel like I can relate to Charlie and like her generation in a different way than my own. It's clarifying if it's coming from you know something that is a little bit outside of yourself. Yeah. Or there's some level like layer of remove there where you're like oh she's ruminating on parenthood in this very deep vulnerable way on her. in her music, I can also be a reverent in the way that she's a reverent.

I feel like Sex is Central, a title track. Definitely. It's just, it's an id. It's, it's so funny. It's like you, like, you even have this moment where it's like,

your doctor confuses Adam Driver for Adam Sandler. I'm glad. Yes, you got it. It's so, it's so, but it's like, that is, it's a true story.

It's a true story. I feel like, I feel like you, you haven't been this funny since Robin since the first indie since the first Konichiwa Records album. Yeah, it's true. Or silly. Or silly. I think both.

Yeah. It's silly, funny, cookie. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tantric. You know what I mean? I'm so happy that you feel that way because I wanted it to be that way. And I told Klaus, I was like, we have to write a rap about IVF and he was like, oh. He was like, no, let me look up what that means.

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Actually, he's one of those really equal, like, Swedish man. He's been at home with his kids. Yeah. So he can relate, I think, but maybe not to the IVF part. Of course. I had the, the sexistential was like, you know, it was like the joke title of the album for a really long time.

And then I was like, that was just going to be existential. And then I was like, we have to write a song called Sextessential. Oh, that's how it came through. Yeah, and it was like the last song we did. So it was like a very free space where, you know, we could go deeper. into the things that we had already been talking about. Right. And then it gets littered.

It's one of the standouts. But then like the words existential gets littered in other, like, and blow my mind. Yeah. Or and talk to me, I think. I love talk to me. Is that you the official second single? Yes. Love it.

Yeah. It's going to come. Oh, it's going to come. Well, it was out today. It's out today. It's out today. So this is coming out a week from today. So it's been out a week.

It's been out. You're late. It's out. You're out. It's out already. I want to ask how many songs is Max Martin on, on, on this? On two? Two?

Yeah. So that must be a very long relationship. Oh, yes. That's the longest one. But very sporadic in the sense that we've only really worked together on three, four songs, like two on my first album. One on the body talk release and then two, no, five songs. Yeah, Max Martin is a very sincere, very smart and sensitive person. He always gets depicted as this machine who has a strategy and, you know, is like almost

like a robot. In a way, it is like working with AI because it's so fast. And I think that's like, that that is the inhuman kind of thing about him that it's so like the problems like solving is so quick. He knows his math. Oh yeah. Yeah. But it's not a, it's not a formula. It's like real sense of melody and like. It's experience. It's experience. Exactly. But you know, him and Claus went to the same class in the same music school. Wow. Yeah. In Sweden. So then, so like, I mean, this, I feel like, you know, you are such a part of Max's story. Mm-hmm.

And like, I think that is, I don't know, I think that must be a really interesting thing to like just track mutually your, your, your pathways like in this business that has changed so much. You know, when I came here, I was like, oh my God, this. kind of building and this kind of like office hallway and my hair today. And the mint. It's very what? It was like I was coming back into like a record company building in 98. Wow. And I was like, you know.

Well, we are A&R and we are gonna, we are, this is a signing meeting for us. We're interested in you. Can you get, um, a Wu Tang member? Yeah, yeah, yeah. We actually probably could. Riz is in the bad. Can we get a Wootang member? New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever.

I am Matt and I'm Joel. We are from the How to Money podcast and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyong Kuali. I'm Hurricane de Bolu.

It's a new year, and on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that, or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health, and how the world around us affects our overall health.

We talk about all the ways to keep your body and mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, this is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the mailroom podcast. Each January guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken?

But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught the name. In a powerful two-part conversation, we discuss why men aren't. emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others. Guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion.

If you want this to be the year, you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike Delocho, host of Sacred Lessons.

This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship

with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotia on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLaurocha and start listening on the free IHeart radio app today. I feel like the story of Max Martin is obviously understanding pop music

and creating pop music as we know it today in many ways, but also understanding artists. Like what he gets from and what he's able to channel from someone like Taylor and someone like Ariana, you know, go over, this is just recent and you throughout the years. Like I feel like he really helps to, not define artists because artists define themselves,

but hone in and make specific and therefore, like, sometimes even make funny what an artist can do because they have like a bit that they can keep coming back to. You know what I mean? And like, that's, I guess, where like the reheating your own nachos comes from when people saying about certain people. It's like, no, this is just my style.

Yeah, exactly. It just happens to be like the biggest one over the year, the one that's like dominated all the two. charts for so long, but it is actually really personal and. Yeah, I got to, I got to meet him once. Yeah, how's that? It was so interesting because it's like you're saying, like, I was expecting this like larger than life, like very methodical, precise person. But he's lovely. Yeah. But we, we went to go see Spam a lot with Ari. Yeah. And he's just like, easy going, wonderful, nice kind, like, chill person. And I was like, this is, and I didn't say this to him, but I was just like,

This is, it's like you said, it's like, it's not what his portrayal is as like this prolific songwriter and hitmaker. It's like, oh, he's, he's a, not to reduce it, but he's a guy. He's a guy. You know? No, totally. And in a great way, he's a guy. Yeah. And he's, he actually has something like, almost like grace.

Yes. He has grace. Like, he will go deeper and, like, find the, like, you're saying, like, the real meaning behind that artist and what they're trying to say. and he will go for like the higher kind of ground I think and he kind of has, you know, he has good morals. He hired new really amazing, beautiful female producers like Elvira who worked on Alison Ray and, you know, he's like making good decisions with his legacy. Yeah.

But then he's also, you know, when I worked with him the first time, like he was this young person who was just so ambitious and really wanted to work. win. That's also a part of it. And he is obsessed with statistics and he will like, you know, he, he, it's, it's amazing to see someone with that much success and it doesn't, like, he really goes at it as if he's trying to win like the first time every time. Yeah, it's really amazing. Hungry. Yeah. Hungry still. Yeah. I mean, the deeper meeting behind, the, the, the way he finds deeper meaning, like, I feel like you have a sense of what your deeper meeting is. You don't have to share it with us, but I feel like it's so interesting that you've, in the past, said things about, like,

oh, I wanted to sort of have an inflection point after dancing on my own. I didn't want to be known as, like, the heartbreak musician necessarily. And you said recently, I think on Zane, Lowe, you were like, nostalgia is like a perilous thing. Yeah. Like a lethal thing. But what I loved about the Brooklyn Paramount set list was that, like, it just wove in, like, your full discography so beautifully. And then you sang. And then you sang. And, but I, but what I loved about the Brooklyn Paramount set list list was, uh, was that, was that, uh, was that, was that, was that was that was that was that was that. It just wove in, you sang show me love for the first time in like, what, like 10 years. The great arrangement of it too. So it's like, I wonder like what your relationship is now to like the way you, not

nostalgia, but the way you look back on your own work. I look back on the first album and maybe the second one as well, which is like a lot of sympathy and love for, you know, a situation I was in. It was. You were young. It was insane. Yeah. It was really trippy to come from Sweden into like, like, you know, like, you were young.

culture that I thought I knew because I grew not grown up with it and then realizing how lost in translation you are sometimes as a European in America, especially if you, if you don't know the culture. Right. And little things like, like how America is very divided, I think, between like children and grownups. And I was still a teenager and just finding myself like in this very kind of, you know, you're in a kind of a separated world.

Right. In a very adult industry. In a very adult in the 90s. Yeah, when there was nothing. No one was, no one even would know how to ask if you were okay. There was no me too. Yeah, exactly. It was like, yeah.

I would say that, you know, being a pop star, teenage pop star is like a lethal, it's a lethal situation and it can really get you. Well, yeah. And I, but I was prepared in the sense that, you know, safe haven back home. And I don't know. What was the question? The question was, how do you, but this is actually dovetails perfectly into something else that I want to ask you about.

And then we'll ask a good question. We talked about nostalgia. As a perilous thing. But I don't know. Maybe you want to go somewhere else. Well, no. I mean, finish the thought. I'm so sorry.

I didn't mean to cut in. No, not at all. I don't even know what I was saying. I think nostalgia is dangerous. Yeah. But I think, you know, playing show me love is not, doesn't feel nostalgia. I mean, of course it's nostalgic, but in the good sense. Yes, yes.

That there's something that's real and that's a part of people's lives. And that's not for me to have any opinion. about, you know, and I love the song. Right. Yeah, and you're not singing it as the teenage version of you. You're singing it as you now and therefore it's a different song in a way. And is that, did that speak to the choice to arrange it the way you did? Yes.

There you go. Because it brings out the softness of it and the beautiful melody and you can hear what's there. That's maybe, you know, timeless or whatever. Yes. I think, I think what nostalgia, what makes nostalgia lethal, as you're saying, is that it is, um, treating the past as like aspirational. Yes, exactly. And that's never what you want to be. It's an illusion also.

It's like, oh, we got to go back to this better time. Just a thing that's over. Depressing. Yeah. That's like, I'm sorry to make it about this. It's like a fascist idea. Yeah. We got to go back to like the way things were.

Yeah. You know what I mean? So, like, but you like you already know this like deep down. But I want, but the thing I want to like dovetail into is like, I think you maybe don't get enough credit for being, for inventing the notion of like an independent pop star. I think like going and making your own label or just putting out your music like your own way. Now it's like indie pop is such a thing, right? Yeah. But I feel like you, I feel like you don't get enough credit for that. That you really modeled this thing, even for someone like Charlie who like knows,

oh, I'm going to do like one for me, one for them. And the one for me thing is the most is the thing that brought her her most success, I would argue, with Brad. Totally. Like that was supposed to be like, that was supposed to break away from Crash where she was like, you know, fulfilling the contract for the label, doing like what a pop traditional pop star album would look like. But I feel like you've kind of blueprinted out this thing

for a lot of people, which is like you can do it on your own terms. Yes. And I feel like I hope you get that sense now as we're like all coming together once again to like celebrate Robin. Oh, thank you. That comes your way.

Are you ever... Taking it in. Thank you. Are you ever surprised when a certain an artist, because I feel like Gracie Abrams is like when you listen to her music, like it's a totally different genre than you might think. But she, was it she that invited you to perform with her?

Yes, she did. Where was this, Glastonbury? No, it was Chicago. Oh, yes, yes. What's the big festival? Lola Paloza. That's what it was. No, she invited me and she was so sweet. Yeah, she's the best. And I got to do dancing on my own. and, you know, anyone that gives me that love, it's like, very big compliment. It's always amazing.

Well, we would like to ask you the central question of our podcast. So, and I bet you are the answer to this question for many people. But, Robin, what was the culture that made you say culture was for you? This defining, whether it's pop culture at large, movie, song, a specific moment, something in the environment that you can look back and say, I'm probably me due in large part to that. I think I have to say Buffalo stands with Nanny Cherry. Wow. You know, being like 10 years old and then hearing raw like sushi for the first time.

I remember it was like summer break. I was playing cards with my friends in the country house. And we were just playing this album over and over again. And we all knew that she was Swedish. Yeah. And that her real last name is Carlson. Just like mine. And I was just like, that's amazing.

If she's Swedish, I can also be that way. You know, like this kind of really sexy and powerful, playful energy. And it was pop music and it was made for me. It was not made from my parents. It was for a new generation. And it was mixing. It was undefinerable. It was like New York and Sweden and London.

And it was in her language as well. And the things that she was saying was so empowering. Yeah. And vulnerable. Just man child, like being so critical about, like, toxic masculinity, but also saying, like, no money, man. Can we ma la her? Yeah.

She was so real. Yeah. And speaking to ideas that had not been spoken to. in pop music or maybe even music at large. Like it just didn't feel like this was area we had tried before. When I think about Sweden, I think when a lot of people think about Sweden, I've only been once to Stockholm, but I went to like the museum of pop music and it's really an Abba and Eurovision museum.

But is the culture like you mentioned obviously this song and this album, but is the pop music culture as long as you can remember, was it that thick in the air? like the way that like they say LA is Hollywood and you know this like people have their industries like is it very thick in the air like the pop music thing I think it is now I don't think it was right

I was little I think we were still a very you know I don't know what this word will mean to people here but like it was you know Sweden in the old days so there were only two three TV channels wow you know we had maybe four radio stations, no commercial radio yet.

No way to find like American music. You have to go to the store for import CLPs or CDs. Like it was not easy to be concerned or into popular culture. Yeah. When I was a teenager, you really had to work for it. Wow. So in that sense, no. But then when I started working, which was so early, you know, all the people that I

was working with was, you know, maybe 20 or like sometimes even 30 years older than me. And then, you know, I got in touch with, you know, like a more connected part of Stockholm, which was like, I don't know, like, you Juan Rink and Jonas Oakhlund and these like more commercial directors that had been traveling and working outside of Sweden and, and the cardigans and, you know, all these other like Swedes that were connected to. to the outside world, but nobody in my age had that network. It was much later that it happened for like my generation. But now I think there's so many young musicians and artists in Sweden

that really feel supported by the legacy of the music. And of course, like Abba is, you know, the year zero, year one for everybody. And then kind of, you know, Max Martin, of course. and all these producers that are now creating popular culture all over the world. It's like I guess we're like the third or fourth biggest music export country in the world. That makes a lot of sense. I mean, I feel like it's always like, whenever you heard an artist went to Sweden, you're like, oh, here we go.

Here we go. Where did she go? She was spotted where? Like, I remember it's like, I remember years ago, like Kelly Clarkson, they were putting her second album together and they felt like, like she didn't have a full album. So they sent her to Sweden. They sent her to Max.

And then she had since you've been gone. Right. And it does feel like there's... Oh, what a song. Since you've been gone, the best. It's insane. Yeah, that's like one of those. Yeah.

And I remember that's like one of the ones that will last. And it feels like Max does hand you that every few years. Totally. Or more. He still does. Yeah. Yeah. And he's still into the songwriting like he will...

He's not producing that much anymore. He'll leave it to the younger producers. that he's like in there like and still writes a lot. I feel like a lot of people don't really realize how it works. Like what a real producer really does? You know what I mean? So when you have a concept or an idea or a strong urge and you go to Max, like there, what exactly is that?

What happens then? I mean, it's different every time. But this time it was, I had this beginning of a song would talk to me. and me and Oscar worked on it a little bit and then started producing it together and then Max came in and did his thing and heard what I was thinking for the course and he was like, yes, you should go there

and then he kind of left me with this riddle. He was like, but just think about these chords and that kind of transition melodically da-da-da-da. And he just left and then I solved it when he was away because of the instruction he gave me. So this kind of like, I don't know,

Andy Warhol way of working maybe. Like, you know, like he will see it and he'll give instructions. Sometimes he will write as well. He wrote things on the other song we did and on Talk to Me as well. But it's very, very smart.

It's very intelligent, very good the way. So when we talk about producing, really, I think, a better way to explain it for people that don't really get it is really what they're doing is directing you, right?

Like, he gets a lot of credit as, like, an amazing vocal producer because of the ways in which he's brought new vocal stuff out of artists. He certainly did with a, like, you can actually mark, like, you can see, like, there was someone,

like, Ariana says, I think, with break free, or was that Zed? That was that. But, like, what he did was, he was like, I really need the straight tone singing for this kind of song. It's like, working with a producer

as, like, a vocal director. Oh, yeah, no, he gave Ari that direction, yes. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think people don't realize that it's like that's what that job is. The way Britney sings on the first album is really like her singing.

Like the way Max wants her to. Yeah. Yeah. That kind of coup. He kind of did the demos. I mean, she's an amazing singer. Yeah, she is. He did the demos like the babe, a bit. Like all the demos are him doing that.

Uh-huh. It's really, yeah, you're right. He's very into the sounds of things too. It doesn't really, it might not be about the word. It might more be about the vocal. or like the vowel or like where the consonant hits but I think with him

it's more consular but it's still songwriting but it's more conceptual now but a lot of producers are you know a producer is still like the person who's making the sound right on the record and I think that's also what he used to do

yeah right just now he's like a little bit bird's view maybe more executive I guess yeah but I feel like you I feel like your voice is so precise That's what I've always loved about the quality and the timbre is that it's clean isn't the right word.

It's just, it's perfectly matched with like a Swedish sensibility in a way of like making music, which is that it's like right on target. And one of my favorite episodes of Song Exploder is your episode about Honey. Yeah. Where you do like, so good. It's like the initial track of it was on the girls episode.

Yeah. And then just the evolution of it, just the way it becomes just this, warm, expansive songs. It's so beautiful. And I feel like the way that you are, the way that you're occupying all this range between like a warmth

and then like a dryness and dopamine where you're like, we're just singing about, we're building from the ground up this, this idea that like it's just a chemical thing. Yeah. You know, like that is, I think those are the perfect bookends for me like in the recent discography. So anyway.

That's great. I think both of those songs, both dopamine and honey, what they do have is they have a lot of rhythm in the words. They throb. There's a lot of like conversational lyrics and conversational like, almost like talking singing in them. And I really enjoy that. I still get lost in honey.

I will put a honey on a flight. Yes. And I will, it feels like I'm taking a bath. Yes. And I will fall asleep to it and then I'll come back. I'll wake up again and I'll fall back asleep. Perfect. It's, it's, for years I've done this.

It's kind of like, that's perfect because the feeling, you know, when you have a nap in the day? Yes. When you're like in that in-between state and your body feels weightless. Yeah. That was what I was trying to find when I was writing it because I was in a kind of a bad state myself. A K-hole? No, you're not to tell us. But like a very long one.

Like a depression. It's more like a depression. Depression, depression. Depression. And I was trying to find my, my, my, my, so actually, yeah, like, in a way, like, find my way out of a bad spot. Yes. And I couldn't see it.

So I had to kind of, like, create it. Yep. So I'm really happy to hear that that still happens for you. Because it happens actually for me, too, and we play it live. Now I'm like, wow, it feels really good. Is it your favorite, is it the one that you play where you're like, I think this song is my favorite one? I'm feeling myself.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. Totally. Yeah, I feel like that's gotta be true. Yeah. I'm proud of that song. You must listen back and be like, I really am, Robin.

I'm not going to agree with that. I feel that feels cheesy, but yeah, it's a good song. Yes. Did you love playing the Brooklyn Paramount? What a cool space that is. I love playing New York. Yeah, New York is the best. I just love playing here.

Yeah. Brooklyn Paramount, slanted, banked floor. So it's a good view for everybody. It's a good view for everybody. in the back. Yes. And the sound is good. The sound is good, although they need to, you know, fix their fire alarm thing.

Oh, wait, was it going off? Did something go off? Yes. No. I'm happy you said it. First song. Now they will. Two minutes in, we were like in the peak of missing you. Fuck. And then like all sound disappears and I just had to go off stage for like 10 minutes. But then we came back on like and we did it so that we started right where we ended. Oh, nice.

So it was like right in the middle. It was like, But we came back on, it was like, rah. Oh, perfect. It was a good, it was a good, yeah, it turned out. The building next door did burn down, though. The fire alarm was real. Oops.

Sorry. Wait, this is a weird question, but what's your relationship to adrenaline? Oh. Well, adrenaline is like necessary evil, I think. I'm so used to it because it's being nervous, right? Yeah. You still get nervous. Yeah, I still get nervous, but I can define it more now as an adrenaline rush.

And I know I recognize it. And when you go on stage, you, I mean, you both know how that feels. And when you do something over and over again, after a little bit at least, you get used to. If you stay on it, you get used to that feeling and you can kind of handle it. Yeah. And use it and write it. Yeah. I almost asked it because I feel there's so much adrenaline in your music.

and there's so much, like, you know, tension, but release of tension, and that speaks directly to adrenaline. Yeah. And so I was, like, looking at you and I was like, I wonder if she's ever jumped out of a plane. Oh. I would never jump out of a plane. So that's what I'm saying.

No, like, I'm not an adrenaline. Junkie. Definitely dopamine, but that's so much nicer. I mean, adrenaline is not so nice. You're right. But they speak to each other. They come always hand in her. Yeah.

Like little friends coming together. Exactly. I think adrenaline is like maybe like that's a really cool thing to do a bit of blocker because you can kind of then you can experience where you're supposed to land after the adrenaline. Right. And I think like handling that first, you know, five minutes of the show is about just managing the adrenaline until it's like until you're settled in. Exactly. And just kind of imagining that place because if you go on the adrenaline, and you'll just start doing, yes, it feels good to go with the energy,

but usually that's when you're like screaming a little bit too much. Yeah, exactly. You're not in control of your artistry and your instrument because it got out of hand. Yes, and also what happens in a band. I don't know if it's the same thing with other people when you're doing comedy. It's like you, when you go too hot, it's like you lose each other a little bit. And if everyone pulls back, it's like you can hear each other. And then there's like a good feedback loop instead of like the crazy one.

Yeah. Like we've got to manage this thing that's like a little bit outlying and we got to pull it back down. Yeah. Or something. Totally. I mean, I feel like I feel like the awareness of it though is the helpful thing. And that's like even like you writing a song called dopamine. The reason I asked if it was still called that 10 years ago is because I feel like the word has a new sort of like balance to it.

It got really en vogue for us over the past like few years. And I was so excited about that. I was just so like, wow, this word. feel it. It's like so relevant. Is that not the right word? No, but it's so true. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I felt that 10 years ago and that's why I held on to it. And I, you know, I don't know if it's, it's not so good for the world that we're still in that space. But I think we are because of social media. And I think, you know, the dopamine hits that we're getting everyone is more aware of what addiction is now, which I think is a great thing. But it's also because everyone has to be aware of it,

because everyone is addicted. Yeah. Yep. And so, yeah, the song is more relevant now than it was 10 years ago, which is cool. That's really cool. No, I do think so because when I listen to that song, I go, yes, it is like demystifying this thing. And it demystifies even the addiction of like being on our phones. Whereas, like, I think there is this like bigger movement now of just everybody kind of being like, oh, let's, that's, let's put that in another room.

Let's put the phone in like the closet. Yeah. Like it's not in my bedroom anymore. And I'm like the last person. I mean like, no, you're not. You're a pioneer of this. People do not sleep with the phone on the other room, even if they're saying. I'm like, I can't.

Now it's like it's dangerous. I feel like my body is registered. Like the adrenaline kicks in where I'm like, I got to put this away. But I hope you don't feel this way about falling in love. Oh, no. That's so sweet. I don't think he does. No, no.

Oh, that's so nice. What makes you ask that? Because I think there's almost this like, at least on my feed, there's this like aversion to falling in love. You think it's because you think it's because of something societal or do you think people are just? Something societal where we're like afraid of losing control. We're like always decoding our physical responses to. It's like we're not taking it seriously because it's just a chemical substance. It's just a chain reaction in our body.

and like being in love is stupid or, you know. It's also hard. I mean, like, I think that's another part of it is it's like we are increasingly living in a time when things can be really easy. Yeah. And relationships and love is never going to be easy. It's easy to just write it off. Yeah. You can't AI it.

Yeah. You can't cheat it. Mm-hmm. There's like a decline in the feeling of awe. Yeah. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? Yeah.

And I truly, I truly, I feel that whenever I listen to you, but I think when we went to the Barclays show in 2019, I certainly felt that poppers notwithstanding. Like, it, like, the poppers are the problem. And, like, when, like, the curtain drops in the honey show, or was it the curtain, like, a veil? Yeah. Like, that's, like, I'll never forget that. Like, that's awe. I'm like, oh, my God, I'm experiencing this with a bunch of other. people. I do want to say this before we go to I don't think so honey. Like I think there's something a little bit. I know we all love nightlife here and like going out and going to the club.

Yeah. Something about the club is a little like, uh, it's not totally clicking right now because everyone's there for a different reason. Either you're there to listen to music or to connect your friends or you're there to like fuck and that's okay too. Or you're there to do drugs and that's fine too. But it's just we're all there for different. Like the organizing principle there is a little bit scattered. And like, I don't know because I don't go out anymore. No problem. That's just how it is. now where I'm like, oh, like, yeah, like I've been out like a few times in the last couple months and like they've been fine, but there's no, there's, there hasn't been like a sublime thing of like, oh my God, I had the best night out dancing and that's very much attainable and that happens all the time. But I will say going to a concert,

everyone's there for more like, oh, it's true. We have a mission. We have a mission. We're there to enjoy a performance. Right. And then we all leave going like, that was amazing. Wow, that's great.

You know? That is cool about going to live shows. I agree. Do you still go to live shows? I do. I love going to live shows. Can you talk about some that have been like... Well, I wish I could give you like five examples, but I'm just, I'm a single working mom.

So I don't have... But that much time, but I went to see Catrielle and Paco Maroso. Do you know that band? No, but we're going to check that out. Yes, you should. That was amazing. Yeah. Very all over the place, but that's their thing.

Yeah, good. That's like the only thing I've seen lately. Yeah. But I recommend it. Yeah. Okay, good. Yeah. We will source.

New year, new goals. And in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to money podcast. And every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Dr. Priyanko Wally. And I'm Hurricane de Bolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insights.

You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health, and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey there, this is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two-part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others.

Guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion. If you want this to be the year, you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. A new year doesn't mean erasing who you were. It means honoring what you've survived and choosing how you want to grow. It means giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike Dolorotcha, host of Sacred lessons. This podcast is a space for men to talk openly about mental health, grief,

relationships, and the patterns we inherit, but don't have to repeat. Here, we slow down, we listen, we learn how vulnerability becomes strength and how healing happens in community, not in isolation. If you're ready to let go of what no longer serves you and step into the year with clarity, compassion, and purpose, sacred lessons is your community. Sacred Lessons is your companion on your healing journey. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLerich on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike Deloosa and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today.

It's never, for I don't think so, honey. It's time for I don't think so, honey. And this is our one minute segment where we just come in and we just tear something up in pop culture. Not necessarily because it did anything wrong, but it's just not its day. and regrettably I will I will start okay this is Matt Rogers I don't think so honey

his time starts now I don't think so honey gay guys on close friends asking do you want me to take you off yes or no it's a trap it's a trap you are the one

that should be discerning about your close friends list you look at it and you curate it it is your close friends list I'm sure this also happens heterosexual as well people are like

do you want to keep looking at my butt it's like if now you yes, no, maybe. It's like now there's a complex. Before it was just, we were all on our close friends like in a vacuum where, yeah, sometimes I'm scrolling and whoop, there's

your whole body and that's just something that we're all engaging in and entering into an invisible contract that is Instagram. But now you've made it an actual contract that I have to check boxes on? 15 seconds. No, take the onus off of me and put the anus

back there if you want it. I, by the way, I'm always going to say yes, keep me on. Five seconds. Even if I'm bothered by it, I want to be on it, because then I'd feel left out. And that, I don't think so on it. And that's one minute.

Oh, my God. That was... Wow. Very, very good. It's my second one of the year. We're cooking. We're cooking. But you know what I mean?

It's like, sometimes it's just like, like, and you know what... Bless everyone out there sharing. But it's just like when you ask, it's like, no. I don't know. I'm never going to turn it down. I don't ever say no.

I'm happy to be included. Yeah, yeah. You always got to like. You always got to be generous with that. Yes. Yes. Are you active on Instagram? I am, yeah. Are you on a lot of gay guys close friends? Yes.

I bet you are. That happens, yes. You're seeing a lot of like mirror selfies. Ainses. Yeah. Of course. What do they allow on close friends is my mind-boing? It's the body part we all have in common.

It's beautiful. Yeah, it's a beautiful thing. Everybody poops. Yes. It's actually rural culture number six. We all have an anus in common. That's a pluribus. That's the pluribus I don't want.

That isn't a pluribus. I don't know what it is. Okay, so food for thought, everyone. By the way, like, again, keep me on. But just, I guess hide that one close friend's story for me. Do you want me still be here? It's like, putting me a break. We already knew you were thirsty. Now you're being thirsty for this answer?

Please. But if you're trying to be respectful, that's good too. All right, Bowen-Yang, you ready? Yeah. This is Bowen-Yangs. I don't think so, honey. His time starts now. I don't think so, honey.

having sex with the lights off, turn them on, show me. I can't see. I want to see. It's not about, don't, no need to be self-conscious. We're already, we're already at that stage. There's no need to be shy.

Totally agree. Let's just, trust me. I'm into it. Even if it's, even if it's not that great, it's still, bad sex is still pretty good. Yes. You know what I mean?

Keep it. It doesn't have to, I'm not saying blast it like this. 30 seconds. Doesn't have to be overhead. It can be a little bit ambient. It can be a little, you know, nightlight there, a little. Totally.

It can't be like a nurse's office, a doctor's office. I'm not saying keeping, I'm not saying clinical. I'm just saying like, I want to see a little bit. I want to see it all. I want to see it all. 15 seconds. Yeah. You know, having steps the lights off, I get that it's a preference for some.

I, I want to, I want to be able to grow up around in the light. Five seconds. Totally. And that way we're just, we're sitting. ourselves up for success for some accuracy and precision. And that's one minute. I couldn't agree with you more, Boen Yang. I also feel like, you know, you're there to have sex with that person.

You're not there to have sex with the idea of a human form. A mound. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. I just think seeing it is very sexy. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah.

100%. Yeah. Okay. Are you ready? Yes. This is Robbins. I don't think so, honey. All right.

This is going to rip. I know it. Robbins time starts now. Okay, I don't think so, honey. Well, I always hated Elon Musk. You know, I always hated him. Same, actually. Way before it was, like, cool to hate him.

Yes, yes. Because there was a time where there wasn't cool to hate him. But you know when I... A small, I don't know, man. I didn't think about him that much at least. But you know what happened? For me, I started hating him when he put a Tesla into space with a David Bowie song on it. He actually shot a car into space.

As if there wasn't like enough shit floating around. 30 seconds. Okay, so this is the thing. I think there should be democracy in space. Yeah. There should be democracy on Earth too. Yes. Yes.

Which we really maybe don't even have at the moment. But the fact that anyone or any like commercial company can decide what to do with like natural resources and also do tacky things. Tachy. Like sending a stupid fucking car into space. Five seconds. That's also dangerous for people. Like think about the astronauts that are like up. They're in like the international space station

and they don't really know what's going to hit them or whatever. Like I just think it's like, can we all just like have a vote on whoever gets to do anything? And that's one minute, but keep going. Because I honestly like I so agree almost everything he does now makes my skin crawl. Yeah. And what really bugs me like it was just a core thing of what you said

is when any old person thinks that just because a song is out there and you could you can stream it or buy it, that you can use it for your bullshit. Yeah. Yeah. The fact that he, like, the best song in the world. And he put it like on his, just to sell cars. What was the song?

Was it Life on Mars? It was Space Odyssey. Oh, it's Space Odyssey. Oh, it's, okay. David Bowie. Like. No. That's not what he was talking about.

Whatever you think, no. No. No, exactly. Whatever you think, you can't talk about David Bowie. No. Exactly. He would turn in his grave. You're right.

It's not safe for the people who are up there. You're an astronaut doing, working your whole life to be an astronaut. Yeah. All of a sudden, fucking model Y comes barreling towards you. Exactly. With an iPad for a fucking dashboard? You know what I mean.

No way. No way. What's the name? I didn't know he did that. No, he did that. What's the name of what? It's just because he's done so many of the stupid shit. What's the name of an amazing movie with brown beautiful woman?

It's lost in space. She's twirling around. Oh, gravity. You know. Sandra Bullock as brown beautiful woman. It would ruin the movie. It was like the Tesla coming. Like fake doll and like a David Bowie song.

Ew. That movie is truly amazing. That is amazing. She is so brilliant in that. But I also think we should hit on Jeff Bezos. I mean, 100%. He also did that. He went up in space.

And then he came down and he put out on whatever social media. He was like, now I realize that we really have to protect this beautiful pearl in the universe. I'm like, okay. So you had to like destroy the human race. Yep. Like destroy the environment. Yeah, too late to protect. To go up so that we all could have you realize this thing that everyone else understands.

Read a book. Nobody else had to do that to get that this is important. Now that I've cut off my leg, I realize it'd be better to have two. Yeah. Shut up. But also it's not your leg. It's everybody's leg. It's everybody's leg.

Oh my. It's the one leg we share. all these guys are missing something. Like that line of billionaires that was behind Trump when he was inaugurated. Yeah. They're all they are without. Yes.

They're without. They are without. Everything. I think that there are so many people who are without in some way, not necessarily the way they are without. I do believe they are without souls and also like a function that like an empathetic, function. But I think that there is an idea that that is in some way aspirational because

it helps you be the best capitalist. If you don't care, then you're going to be the most successful because you didn't care to begin with. So you're not going to have any checkpoints. Well, they don't. And you might find that you might have stand that person, but suddenly you're realizing, oh, wait, you do have an emotional checkpoint. And that's good, but you are too late. You are too late. And it is fucked up. And you. should feel bad. And it's okay that people feel bad. Yeah.

I will also say that. Everyone being like, oh, I have buyer's remorse with the Trump thing. I used to stand ill on. Now I don't know. Feel bad. Feel bad. It's fine.

It's fine. This is just to revive what of Matt's old catchphrases, which was precious one, you're without. Precious one, you are without. You are without. It's a way to give empathy, but let people know. Let people know that they're lacking. Precious one, you are without.

Who's not lacking is our guest. Or us now. that we're going to have a new album soon. Yeah. And all your work, which is so important to us and so important to anyone who loves music. I'm telling you, like, it's just so cool for us to be able to say that we have platform that you would want to come hang out with us on. Like, it's truly one of the moments of the podcast that we're like, I can't believe

that it's come this far. You're just the best. I love you, guys. I love you for having me on here. I listen to you all the time. That's so wild. And I'm so happy that you're safe. all of this to my face.

Yeah, we love you. Love you, Robin. Okay, well, we end every episode with a song. And if you do me right, I'm gonna do it right by you. And we keep it tight. I'm gonna confide in you.

Let me tell you mind and it would be time for that too. No, I don't think my key was that weird. It was great. It was great. Thank you. He's always dragging me from my key. No, it was great key.

I just, it was too high for me. So it was wrong. It was wrong. Bye. Lass Culture East is this is the production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and Iheart Radio podcasts. Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen-Yang. Executive produced by Anna Hosnier and produced by Becker-Ramos. Edited and mixed by Doug Bain.

And our music is by Henry Kiberinski. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices that are still high and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right. Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence.

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