Still Up All Night

Positive Cynicism (Co-host)
The Positive Cynicism podcast explores a number of topics affecting society. I co-hosted several episodes that related to media and popular culture.

Positive Cynicism Episode 65: Judging the Past Through the Eyes of Today
Episode Description: Should the past be held to the standards of today? That’s the topic Chad Smart and Travis Yates tackle in this episode. Chad and Travis jump all over history to discuss how attitudes and societal norms have to be taken into consideration when looking at the past. As society advances and things that were once deemed okay are now viewed as wrong, instead of demeaning the past, should use the situation as a teaching moment. For those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Positive Cynicism Episode 69: Feeling Nostalgic
Episode Description: From the simple pleasures of our youth to the yearning for how things used to be, what is the driving force for nostalgia? Not only in our personal lives but in the pop culture realm of entertainment. Everything old is new again. From movie and television remakes to “toys” being geared more for collectors than kids, there is a growing sense that nostalgia and name-brand recognition matter most.

Positive Cynicism Episode 74: Pop Culture Randomness
Episode Description: In this episode Chad Smart and Travis Yates take on a random assortment of topics. Chad and Travis “spin the wheel to make the deal” with topics chosen at random. Neither knows what topics are on the wheel so each spins provides a surprise.

Positive Cynicism Episode 82: A Tribute to Corey Haim
Episode Description: As a fan of 1980s cinema, March 10, 2009, was a dark day. That was the day former teen star Corey Haim died. In this episode of Positive Cynicism Chad Smart and Travis Yates pay tribute to one of their favorite actors. From his early roles in Firstborn and Lucas to the classic films made with Corey Feldman.

Positive Cynicism Episode 91: Time to Reboot
Episode Description: Inspired by the awesome YouTube series “Cobra Kai,” this episode of Positive Cynicism was originally set to discuss recent film and television reboots and revivals. Unscripted conversations though have a way of taking on a life of their own. While Chad Smart and Travis Yates start off talking what shows they’d like to see brought into the modern day, the conversation moves to a discussion about shared experiences related to media.

Positive Cynicism Episode 95: Sports and Role Models
Episode Description: Why do we as a society value athletes and celebrities as role models? Is this idolization warranted or unjust expectation? On this episode of Positive Cynicism, Chad Smart and Travis Yates examine how athletes with discipline or criminal records get rewarded with new contracts. How fans still cheer for athletes despite their off-field antics and try to determine if fandom trumps individual actions. Before getting into the main discussion, the hosts discuss the recent death of baseball player Bill Buckner and if it’s disrespectful to bring up his World Series error as a notable aspect of his career.

Positive Cynicism Episode 99: Looking Back at 1999
Episode Description: July 2019 on the Positive Cynicism podcast is all about celebrating the 20th anniversary of 1999. The first episode examines the social events of the year as well as events of the ’90s as a whole that led to 1999. In a bit of shocking revelation for Chad Smart, the 90s saw the rise in cynical attitudes. Travis Yates helps break down sports, music, and politics to reason out how and why cynicism rose to popularity and if there are any ways to swing the level back to the positive side.

Positive Cynicism Episode 106: Hunting for Answers
Episode Description: Does an artist or a company have a moral responsibility regarding the content they release to the mass public? Universal Pictures recently canceled the release of the motion picture “The Hunt” due to mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. In this episode, Chad Smart and Travis Yates discuss their opinions on Universal’s decision and if it’s a serious regret or a face-saving measure. From there the conversation turns to Hollywood’s fascination and society’s acceptance of violence over language or sexuality.

Introducing

Introducing is a podcast that introduces lesser-known pop culture gems you might not have heard of. A “Finer Things Club” of rare popular culture.

The Fantasy Fixers

The Fantasy Fixers was a weekly fantasy football podcast part of the Pro Football Network Podcast Network. The program offered fantasy advice in a light hearted fashion, rife with topical issues and pop culture takes.

The Fantasy Fixers Podcast Clip: End of Year Coaching Changes (12/31/19)
Clip from 12/31/19 episode of The Fantasy Fixers, as heard on Pro Football Network. Travis Yates and Dennis Sosic are back together again to discuss the fantasy implications of coaching changes at the end of the 2019 NFL season. Listen to the full episode here.

The Fantasy Fixers Podcast Clip: The Return of Andy Dalton (11/26/19)
Clip from 11/26/19 episode of The Fantasy Fixers, as heard on Pro Football Network. Travis Yates and Dennis Sosic discuss “Red Rifle Redemption” aka the fantasy implications of the return of Andy Dalton to the Bengals lineup. Listen to the full episode here.

The Fantasy Fixers Podcast Clip: How Many Leagues Are Too Many? (10/29/19)
Clip from 10/29/19 episode of The Fantasy Fixers, as heard on Pro Football Network. In their Halftime Huddle segment Travis Yates and Dennis Sosic tackle the question, “How many fantasy leagues are too many?” and discuss if they play for money, bragging rights, or just fun. Listen to the full episode here.

The Fantasy Fixers Podcast Clip: Who Do You Love? (9/24/19)
Clip from 9/24/19 of The Fantasy Fixers, as heard on Pro Football Network. Travis Yates and Dennis Sosic offer statistical analysis on players they’re high on after three weeks of the NFL season in the popular “Who Do You Love?” segment. Listen to the full epsiode here.