Silent Generation

Ep. 92: Adult Contemporary

Adult contemporary is a radio format and marketing category originally created by Billboard magazine. It has encompassed many genres, starting with easy listening in the 1960s. What could be considered adult contemporary changed over the decades as genres like rock and roll and electronic music grew older, and older listeners found their sounds more palatable. But what does “adult contemporary” mean, and why do the songs that get grouped into the category appeal to adults so much?
 
This week’s episode of Silent Generation focuses on adult contemporary music in the 1990s and 2000s. Joseph and Nathan begin by outlining the history of the radio format before discussing the common features of adult contemporary songs. They then review the music of U2, Vanessa Carlton, The Verve, Zero 7, Ivy, and After. The episode concludes with a discussion of what happened to adult contemporary, focusing on why the radio format no longer has a distinct sound. 
 
Links:
Adult Contemporary Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/…
Adult Contemporary Music Guide: What Is Adult Contemporary? 
The Adult Contemporary Billboard Chart
When Rock Bands Become Adult Contemporary (part 1)  by Eduard Banulescu
90s Adult Contemporary - Totally 80s and 90s Recall
Clocks by Coldplay
Beautiful Day by U2
A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton 
Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
Destiny by Zero 7
Disappointed by Ivy
Deep Diving by After
Most craziest American Idol contestant ever, Mary Roach
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere
The Story of 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton
White Chicks (2004) - A Thousand Miles Terry Crews Scene
The greatest songwriting theft of all time - David Hartly
Ivy Talks Making the Seminal Y2K Dreampop LP ‘Long Distance’ by Myke Dodge Weiskopf
Meet After, the L.A. Duo Making Y2k-Inspired Pop That Feels Like Right Now by Jeff Ihaza
You’re deep diving - @aftertheband
Gen X Soft Club - CARI page
List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2025
Adult Contemporary 100 week of 11/09/2025
Where Have All the Adult Contemporary Artists Gone? - Daniel Montoya Jr. 
 
Artwork:
U2 at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, Summer 2000
 
Recorded on 11/12/2025

Ep. 91: Fraternities

Prior episodes of Silent Generation have focused on secular social movements that emerged around the turn of the 20th century. Fraternities technically predate this era, but they occupy a similar niche, and Joseph shares an important connection to them as a former fraternity brother. Why did they first emerge, and why do universities continue to tolerate them on campus? 
 
This week’s episode of Silent Generation addresses those questions. The boys begin with a survey of the history of fraternities and related groups (social fraternities, professional organizations, secret societies, and fraternal orders). They then discuss commonalities between fraternities, the architectural characteristics of fraternity houses, the prevalence of hazing and hazing deaths, and the 1978 sex comedy Animal House. 
 
Links:
Fraternity by Alexandra Robins
The Founding of the North-American Fraternity and Sorority System
Fraternity and Sorority
Mies van der Rohe’s Forgotten Frat House Design Is Resurrected and Repurposed by Lauren Moya Ford
The Sorority Quad at Northwestern University by Fran Becque
Join HOTEL KAPPA for PC ‘25! - #RushTok
IN DG WE TRUST: Empowering Community Engagement - #RushTok
Lorax - #Sorority - #RushTok
Mr. Bobinsky Halloween Costume Tik Tok Video
It's Time for Congress to Ban Fraternities—Sororities, Too by Matt Robinson
Here’s how much more money you could make just from joining a frat by Yoni Blumberg
Why Colleges Tolerate Fraternities 
Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life (2024)
My son was blindfolded, led to the basement and left to die on a couch by Ruth Bashinsky
Animal House (1978)
Gay History of Men’s Fraternities
Image archive of the Theta Chi chapter at Penn State University
 
Artwork:
Theta Chi of Penn State - Spring 1988 Initiation 
 
Recorded on 11/5/2025

Ep. 90: Cryptids [TEASER]

Full episode available on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration
The field of cryptozoology emerged in the mid-20th century as people began to investigate sightings of mysterious creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster using pseudoscientific methods. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by theorizing that cryptozoology emerged as a way for the United States and other Anglosphere countries to generate their own folklore. They delineate why it is a primarily American phenomenon, pointing to the country's huge swaths of undeveloped land. They then discuss several famous cryptids such as Bigfoot, Mothman, the Michigan Dogman, the Flatwoods Monster, the Loch Ness Monster, and Thunderbirds. They conclude with a discussion of how paranormal media “slopified” cable television in the early 2010s, and how the rise of AI has made photo and video evidence of cryptids even less believable. 
 
Links:What is a cryptid?CryptomundoThe Cryptid Zoo: Satyrs (or Fauns) in CryptozoologyOn the Track of Unknown Animals by Bernard Heuvelmans The Discovery of the Okapi, Part 1Backwoods HorrorThe Maryland Snallygaster: Devil of Racist Politics by Jake SeboeThe racist roots of Maryland’s mythical Snallygaster monster by Julie Scharper Patterson-Gimlin Film HD 60fpsThe Mothman Prophecies by John A. Keel The Mothman Revisited - Unsolved MysteriesEpisode 14: Chicago Tales - Otherworld podcastEp. 113: The Michigan Dogman Pt. 1 - Otherworld podcastEp. 114: The Michigan Dogman Pt. 2 - Otherworld podcast#70: Flatwoods Monster - Cryptonauts podcastFlatwoods Monster - Cryptid WikiThe Flatwoods MonsterThe Cryptid Collector’s TrioScooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster (2004)Thunderbird - Cryptid WikiMonsterQuest (2007-2010)Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real (2004)The Truth is out there” the Alan Champagne Morro Bay Disappearance by Katya Cengel
 
Artwork:unknown
 
Recorded on 10/29/2025

Ep. 89: Witch House

Witch house is a music genre and internet aesthetic that emerged in the late 2000s as bands combined occult imagery and sounds. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by noting that it was the very first internet aesthetic, with the earliest example being the 2005 blog Runawaytoday. They then talk about common witch house aesthetic elements such as horror, “the woods,” and occult symbols (particularly inverted crosses). The conversation then shifts to music, with a survey of several witch house bands such as SALEM, Pictureplane, CRIM3S, and Crystal Castles. The episode concludes with discussion of witch house’s legacy and what it was trying to express. 
 
Links:
Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/witch-house/ 
witch-house.com
Witch House - Aesthetics Wiki
OG Witch House Spotify Playlist
True Witch House Only Spotify Playlist
Sick by SALEM
Trapdoor by SALEM
Better Off Alone by SALEM
Goth Star by Picturplane
Hyper Real by Picureplane
Salt by CRIM3S
Pumpkin Pumpkin by Zombelle
Runawaytoday (2005)
GODBLESS - Untitled (2008) by Ponyboy
Guest List: Best of 2009 by Tyler Grisham
Got any witch house? Why I'm on the genre-mongers' side | Music by Tom Ewing
https://www.blairwitch.com/ 
Making of The Blair Witch Project— From a $35k Budget to $250 Million Box Office Phenomenon
The surprising evolution of hipsters in the 2000s - Brad Troemel
Alek Morgan’s Facebook page (NVRMND archive)
Witch House Band Iceberg Infographic
Witch House Music History
Lana del Rey/ Jack Donoghue Cook County Penitentiary photo
SALEM: The Midwest's Most Wanted (Documentary)
This is the CRIM3S Biography Tik Tok video
CRIM3S SQUATT RAVE
@Rourotfan
Rou Rot and Alice Glass
MTV CRIBS: pictureplane gives a tour of Rhinoceropolis
shout out to male producer female lead witch house duos Reddit post
Witch House: The Ghostly Genre of The Music Industry by Clara C. Steemer
Which house for witch house? Pictureplane’s goth beats are taking flight by P. J. Nutting
Witch House: An Intro To The Microgenre That Influenced Everyone From Tyler, The Creator To ASAP Rocky by Kyle Garb
The Occult Genre Known As "Witch House" - Pad Chennington
Whatever happened to witch house? by Al Horner
 
Artwork:
Mexico City’s Dark Electronic Music Project Ritualz Releases Dual Video Premiere for “Nothing” and “Testify” by Alice Teeple
 
Recorded on 10/22/2025

Ep. 88: Privately Owned Rail

The United States once had the best public transportation system in the world. Private companies built subway, elevated, interurban, trolley, and long distance train lines with passenger service in mind. But as the automobile rose in popularity, ridership declined, and the country’s transit systems eventually became publicly run.
 
But what made privately owned rail during that era so great, and what does modern private passenger service look like? On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by detailing some of the things that were better about the Chicago ‘L’ 100 years ago: more stations, more express service, and better frequency. They then talk about Brightline and JR Railways before examining how those companies invest in real estate to increase profits. The episode concludes with a discussion about privately owned freight rail and how Class I railroads are poorly managed. 
 
Links:
The Lost Subways of North America by Jake Berman 
New York Subway Operator Life 1980s vs 90s vs Today
chicago-l.org
Ridership Reports - Performance metrics - CTA
Why Chicago's Express Train Isn't Really Express - Car Free Keith
Car 553
First new private rail passenger service in over 100 years by Terry Spencer and Daniel Kozin
Killer Train by Brittany Wallman, Aaron Leibowitz and Shradha Dinesh
Killer Train Podcast
Brightline rolls out expanded services from Orlando to Miami by Jaclyn Harold
High Speed Rail in Florida and the History of Brightline - Alan Fisher
Brightline West
Las Vegas doesn't have a purpose anymore as the designated area for American vices
How Japan Builds Suburbs That Don't Suck - Car Free Keith
Why Japanese Railways Win - Wendover Productions
Japan Kept A Train Running For Years Just For One Girl, The Inspiring Story Will Move You by Nikhil Pandey
Should Amtrak be Privatized? by Car Free Keith
Katrina: Come Hell or High Water
Freight Rail Overview - US Department of Transportation
How America's Largest Railroads are Ruining our Supply Chains - Alan Fisher
US rail companies grant paid sick days after public pressure in win for unions by Steven Greenhouse
 
Artwork:
Jamaica Ave El
 
Recorded on 10/12/2025

Ep. 87: Civil Servant Culture [TEASER]

Full episode available on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration
 
“Civil servants” are employees of the municipal, state, or federal government. Within cities they often live in far-flung areas that are colloquially referred to as “police neighborhoods" or “firefighter neighborhoods.” The tendency of civil servants to live amongst each other has caused them to develop a distinct set of customs and norms that can be described as “civil servant culture.”
 
On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by discussing whether civil servants constitute their own subculture or social class. They then talk about the symbols they use to identify one another such as thin line flags, punisher symbols, and regional accents. They then survey the areas that civil servants tend to cluster in Chicago (Beverly/ Mt. Greenwood, Garfield Ridge/ Clearing, and Norwood Park/ O’Hare) and NYC (Staten Island, Breezy Point), before concluding with a discussion on the differences between public facing and administrative civil servants.
 
Links:
Residency Requirements for City Employees by Connie M Hager
Mayoral challenger outlines plan to ease police staffing shortage by Fran Spielman
The thin blue line: The history behind the controversial police emblem by David Hernandez
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Thin Line Flags Infographic
First Responder American Flag, 3 x 5 Feet
Man walking to every CPD station to raise awareness for police mental health
The Punisher Skull - 99% Invisible 
Italian cop in NYC
Infographic: Where Cubs and White Sox Fans Live
City Active Employees: Map and Census Data
Hey Jackass’s 2025 homicide map
"Cop neighborhoods" in NYC?
Why is there no outrage over the Breezy Point Cooperative?
Burn After Reading (2008)
Toward a Theory of Street-Level Bureaucracy by Michael Lipsky 
Bangladeshis Build Careers in New York Traffic by Jodi Kantor
How Stereotypes of the Irish Evolved From ‘Criminals’ to Cops by Livia Gershon 
Cops Rarely Pull Over Drivers In Their Own Neighborhoods, Data Shows. Motorists In Black Neighborhoods Aren’t So Lucky by Pascal Sabin
Chicago’s first firefighters entrance exam since 2014 draws diverse pool, but rules have changed by Fran Spielman
 
Artwork:
ThrowbackThursday: Weekly Garbage Service - Eltham District Historical Society
 
Recorded on 10/5/2025

Ep. 86: Finance Bros

In 2017 a new uniform emerged for men employed by the financial industry: fleece/ puffer vests, dress shirts, slacks, and dress shoes. The unadorned look was first documented by the Instagram account Midtownuniform, and it became the signature outfit of “finance bros.” Finance bros are the latest “corporate subculture” to come out of Wall Street, but they are far less fashionable than previous corporate subcultures like Yuppies. 
 
On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by delineating the elements of finance bro fashion before speculating where trends in casualization might lead things. They then note that “quants” (quantitative analysts) have even lower professional standards for their appearance. Amongst other things they discuss how finance bro fashion began to bleed into politics in the 2020s, how finance bros fueled the “bowl slop” trend in fast casual dining, and how the vulgarity of Finance Bros was depicted on Succession. 
 
Links:Finance bros Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/finance-bros/ MidtownuniformThen and Now: Wall Street Power Dressing by Pierre Schermann/ WWDFleece Is In Full Bloom by George Chinsee/ WWDThe Patagonia vest endures in San Francisco tech circles, despite ridicule by Bobby AllynPatagonia Is Refusing To Sell Its Iconic Power Vests To Some Financial Firms by Katie Notopoulos
Four lads in jeans meme“Deal Sleds” wtf is a “Quant”... (finance bro + autism)The House Painters by Gustave Caillebotte Who wears the power sweater vest better? Democrats or Republicans? by Marni PykeAlpha Dads at their Son’s GameAlpha Dads at the Hardware Store"Be white collar, the money is insane" meme‘Chipotle boys’ are rampant in NYC — and even the burrito chain has commented by Brooke SteinbergChipotle Boy Bowl' Promo Is Aimed at Finance Bros - Business Insider by Dominick ReuterWhy fast casual chains like Chipotle, Sweetgreen, and Cava are losing their freshness by Dominick ReuterThe Executive Coloring BookEvery Finance Bro 
 
Artwork:#Finnhall
 
Recorded on 9/22/2025

Ep. 85: Father Figures [TEASER]

Full episode available on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration
 
On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan talk about father figures in their personal lives and in society more broadly. The episode opens with a discussion of familiar archetypes such as coaches, scout leaders, teachers, and bosses. The boys also note that children sometimes latch onto “parasocial father figures” like Mr. Rogers and Hank Hill in the absence of real-life ones. They then share observations about “daddy issues” (the negative traits that emerge in the absence of father figures) before deliberating whether daddy issues and mommy issues can arise independently of one another. 
 
Links:
"Friendly Guy in a Pub" starter pack meme
Sweet middle aged vietnamese ladies calling their customers handsome boy meme
Various memes about the lunch lady calling you sugar
Look Me In The Eyes (Air Jordan ad)
The Joy of Six: US athletes' pushy parents by Les Carpenter
The Slap (2011)
Japanese adult adoption
Best of Jenelle & Barbara (Part 1) | Teen Mom 2
The Jenelle Evans Dating Timeline - A Visual Guide
Big Brother Big Sisters of America - History That Spans More Than A Century
The Making of a Misogynist: How Andrew Tate inherited his father's toxic beliefs by Claudia Cockerell
 
Artwork:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417990409147457395/ 
 
Recorded on 9/14/2025

Ep. 84: Rest Stops w/ Madeline Rupard

Nothing expresses the aesthetics of infrastructure as clearly as American rest stops. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Nathan is joined by artist and professor Madeline Rupard, whose paintings “consider the American landscape” and frequently depict rest stops. They begin by defining what constitutes rest stops (fast food chains, gas stations, motels, and plentiful car-oriented infrastructure) before surveying their aesthetics. Amongst other things they discuss how the history of rest areas differs from that of service areas, how America’s first transcontinental highway (the Lincoln Highway) was financed through private sources, how Buc-ee’s lures in customers with spacious and clean restrooms, and how Eden, Idaho is home to a spectacular Garden of Eden themed rest stop. 
 
Links:
Madeline Rupard - Instagram Page
Luxurydeptstore - Instagram Page
https://www.madelinerupard.com/ 
Passages / Madeline Rupard
An Interview With Madeline Rupard
The sky at grocery stores meme
The European mind can’t comprehend this meme
The Real-Life Places Along Route 66 that Inspired Cars
Before Route 66: The Story of America’s First Highway
restareahistory.org
Daniel Everett - Instagram Page
What Internet Memes Get Wrong About Breezewood, Pennsylvania by Amanda Kolson Hurley
Breezewood, Pennsylvania Is Not What You Think It Is by Classy Whale
A “lost” photo set of sorts…
Traveler’s Oasis “Garden of Eatin’” in Eden, Idaho
The Store (1983)
Nonstandard - A Documentary (2025)
Why our buildings lost their soul by Pearlmania500
 
Artwork:
Photograph provided by Madeline Rupard
 
Recorded on 8/30/2025

Ep. 83: Infrastructure Aesthetics

The aesthetics of infrastructure are often treated as an expensive afterthought, noticed and appreciated only by artists. But can it even be beautiful to begin with? On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by discussing the four primary ways that infrastructure achieves beauty: engineering and design, paint, public art, and disguise (as is the case with stealth towers). Amongst other things they discuss how it is cringe when infrastructure is made to look like public art, how redesigned streets with painted bike/ bus lanes are a rare instance of society becoming more colorful, how many people assume that hostile design choices that impact homeless people are aesthetic ones, and how infrastructure built by the Works Progress Administration incorporated ornamentation and vernacular architectural traditions. 
 
Links:
Around the Antenna Tree by Lisa Parks
A Prehistory of the Cloud by Tung-Hui Hu
How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World by Deb Chachra
Rust: The Longest War by Johnathan Waldman
The Danger of Minimalist Design 
A Visual History of the British Telephone Box by Nick Sturgess
The Hand by Jiří Trnka
Places & Traces
'Ridiculous' Blue Seats Face Buildings, Don't Attract Shoppers, Critics Say by Mina Bloom
Ampelmännchen
Hall of Waters
 
Artwork:
Glenn Jackson Bridge aerial
Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
 
Recorded on 8/24/2025