Sonic Midlife

Zach Gibson
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Welcome to Sonic Midlife, where hosts Jeffrey Poole and Zachary Gibson embark on a journey through the rich and diverse worlds of indie rock, literature, film, television, sports, and food. As public school teachers in their 30s and 40s, Jeffery and Zachary bring a unique perspective to their discussions, blending insightful analysis with relatable experiences and a dash of humor. Expect a mix of passionate debates, heartfelt recommendations, and personal anecdotes as they explore the creative

  1. 8 JAN

    Episode 25 - Albums of The Year (2025) featuring old pal, Ryan Earl Ward

    In Episode 25, Zach and Jeff lock in their Best Albums of 2025, talking through the records that mattered most this year — the ones that held up, rewarded repeat listens, and stayed in rotation long after the hype faded. Jeff runs through his albums of the year, spotlighting releases from Fust, Bill Fox, SG Goodman, Kyle M, and billy woods, and why each one rose above the rest in 2025. Zach counters with his own favorites, including Geese, Cameron Winter, Japanese Breakfast, Jeff Tweedy, and Wednesday — artists whose records defined his listening year. The guys are also joined by their friend and old college pal Ryan Ward, who brings his own perspective and favorites to the conversation, including standout releases from Ty Segall and US Girls. Along the way, the episode drifts into books that didn’t make the cut — including Demon Copperhead and The Horse — and a broader conversation about quitting books, trusting your taste, and letting go of cultural “shoulds.” As always, there’s plenty of meandering about what they’ve been watching and listening to, and what actually earns your time as the year winds down. A year-end episode about attention, commitment, and the records that made 2025 worth remembering.

    1h 32m

  2. 13/12/2025

    Episode 24 - Such Great Heights, Sharp Pins, and the Spurs & Thunder

    This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground after their extended hiatus. This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground — including plenty of sports, because that’s just part of the deal. Zach talks about the return of The Format, Kyle M’s Christmas EP, and Chris DeVille’s Such Great Heights, while also declaring that all food kind of sucks… except what he’s hoping to eat in San Francisco over Christmas. He also recommends the BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me, a reminder that history can be smart, funny, and not homework. Jeff brings Sharp Pins (filed somewhere between the Beatles, Guided by Voices, and Big Star), dives into N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, and highlights Roadfood.com’s Northwestern Steakhouse. The conversation naturally turns to the NBA, with extended talk on the Spurs and the Thunder — expectations, vibes, and why watching young teams actually matters. Music, books, food, and sports — all mixed together the way they usually are.

    50 min

  3. 10/09/2025

    Episode 23 - Dad Rock, Nationalism, and Mel Gibson

    Jeff explores the debut Lucky Cloud – Foreground from Chicago’s Chet Zenor, dives into Elif Batuman’s The Idiot and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, grabs a pupusa burger, and streams Patriot on Amazon Prime. Zach spins Credit Electric and Dean Johnson, eats Mexican hotdogs, and celebrates the return of PTI from summer break. There's even some Mel Gibson discussion — all in the latest episode of Sonic Midlife.

    36 min

  4. 25/08/2025

    Episode 22 - 2nd Annual College Football Preview Feat. Ben Martone

    Zach and Jeff dive into fresh sounds from Ryan Davis & The Road House Band and Greg Freeman before trading book notes on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Wait Till Next Year and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot. Food talk centers on dumpling tomato salad with chili crisp vinaigrette and mussels with pasta, while screens are filled with Chernobyl and the Locked on Sports Today podcast. Special guest Benjamin Martone joins for a wide-ranging college football preview—highlighting unforgettable Key & Peele skit names, the wildest BYU roster, new quarterbacks, shifting conferences, and bold playoff predictions

    1h 35m

  5. 24/07/2025

    Episode 21 - The Gospel of Bon Iver w/special guest, Bryce Woodhouse

    Jeff starts us off with Bill Callahan’s “The Mackenzies,” a quiet epic that opens wide with repeated listens, and Reporter, Seymour Hersh’s gripping memoir that’s part history lesson, part investigative masterclass. He also reflects on the humble joys of focaccia. Zach brings Bright Eyes’ “1st World Blues” to the table—a political ska-tinged anthem that feels like Desaparecidos on a beach vacation—and recommends Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green, a deeply personal and wildly informative takedown of global apathy. We also weigh in on QT’s brisket sandy, Cal Raleigh’s dinger parade, and American Movie. Then we’re joined by our college friend Bryce Woodhouse to rank the Bon Iver discography, celebrate the rise of Mk.gee and Dijon, and learn what goes into his latest culinary experiment: homemade lactofermented hot sauce.

    1h 26m

  6. 18/07/2025

    Episode 20 - Ann Arbor to Chicago

    Zach returns from Chicago with a full stomach and fresh takes on Small Cheval, Lou Malnati’s, and The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. Jeff takes us to Ann Arbor for a Zingerman’s run and dives into Kiwi Jr.’s Chopper and Jonathan Franzen’s Crossroads. The guys dig into Paul Westerberg’s underrated Suicaine Gratification, swap thoughts on Ken Burns: Baseball and The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, and Jeff recommends the podcast How Long Gone, featuring guests like Hamilton Leithauser, Panda Bear, Mark Hoppus, Bon Iver, and This Is Lorelei.

    40 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    Episode 19 - Life's Peachy for Myke Olsen (feat. Pizzaiolo Myke Olsen)

    The gang is joined by very special guest Myke Olsen. They discuss the novels of Willy Vlautin as well as their favorite doughnuts. They don't think you should leave as they laugh it up about the wonders of Friendship and Tim Robinson. To cap it off, they dive into all things pizza with Myke, being the owner of downtown Mesa, Arizona's Myke's Pizza.

    1h 43m

  8. 20/05/2025

    Episode 18 - Hotdog!

    In Episode 18 of Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff go deep into Bob Dylan’s late-era classics—from Time Out of Mind to Tempest—arguing they stand tall next to his most revered work. They also spotlight some standout new music, including the dreamy alt-country debut from Echolalia, the fuzzy indie rock of Toronto’s Casper Skulls, and Underneath by Floodlights, a record built for fans of The National and Spanish Love Songs. On the reading front, Zach brings The Horse by Willy Vlautin and The Bad Guys Won (a deep dive into the wild 1986 Mets), while Jeff reflects on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and On Trails by Robert Moor. The duo also talk summer foods (BLTs and hot dogs), shout out the Never Ending Stories podcast on Dylan bootlegs, and catch up on the NBA Playoffs and The Rehearsal. It’s an episode that swings from baseball chaos to Radiohead-tinged country—just another week on Sonic Midlife.

    52 min
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About

Welcome to Sonic Midlife, where hosts Jeffrey Poole and Zachary Gibson embark on a journey through the rich and diverse worlds of indie rock, literature, film, television, sports, and food. As public school teachers in their 30s and 40s, Jeffery and Zachary bring a unique perspective to their discussions, blending insightful analysis with relatable experiences and a dash of humor. Expect a mix of passionate debates, heartfelt recommendations, and personal anecdotes as they explore the creative

Information

  • Creator
    Zach Gibson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Zach Gibson
  • Show Website
    Sonic Midlife