Origin Stories

Jordan Ritter Conn is a journalist, a senior staff writer at The Ringer, and the author of American Men, a reported book that follows four men over the course of several years as they grapple, in different ways, with the same question: what does it mean to be a man in America today.

In this episode, he talks to Matthew about how American Men came together, from reaching out to dozens of potential subjects to narrowing in on the four men at the center of the book. He describes the level of access required to tell stories that are both deeply personal and broadly representative, the challenge of getting people to open up over long periods of time, and the process of shaping a large body of material into something cohesive. He also reflects on how his approach to writing has evolved, and what it means to better understand what he’s actually good at.

“I do think with any kind of talent there’s a ceiling. I know that I have a ceiling on my talent,"" he says. ""But I do think I’m getting a little bit better at maximizing that.”
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz are the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba, the cult-favorite children’s show that first premiered in 2007 and went on to redefine what kids television could look and sound like. Blending music, art, and a DIY sensibility, the show drew in not just children, but parents, musicians, and artists who saw something new in what Jacobs and Schultz had made. Now, nearly two decades later, the show has been revived with Yo Gabba GabbaLand! on Apple TV+, bringing a new generation into that world.

In this episode, they talk to Matthew about how a creative partnership that started with skate videos and homemade projects eventually led to Yo Gabba Gabba. They describe the early days of experimenting with cameras and editing, the transition into music and performance, and how their experience as new parents reshaped the kind of work they wanted to make. They also reflect on the scrappy process of building the show from the ground up and what it took to get people to see their vision.

“We shot a little demo of it. It’s super low budget. You had to have a really deep imagination to go like, I get it,” Jacobs says. Schultz adds: “No one was more surprised than us that it went to Nickelodeon. That was never the intention.”

To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & ⁠Youtube⁠. Have a question, guest recommendation, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sam Fragoso is the host of Talk Easy, the long-running interview podcast known for its intimate, deeply reported conversations with artists, activists, and public figures. Since launching the show in 2016, Fragoso has built a reputation for interviews that feel less like promotion and more like genuine exchanges, shaped by extensive research and a clear editorial point of view.

In this episode, he talks to Matthew about the differences between written and audio interviews, why podcast conversations can feel more revealing, and how trust is built with guests. He also reflects on what it takes to create an environment where people are willing to open up, and how his approach has evolved over time.

“I’m taping for the listener,” he says. “I’m thinking about someone in their car, at home, walking their dog and going, is this going to land?”

To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & ⁠Youtube⁠. Have a question, guest recommendation, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joshua Hunt is a correspondent for GQ and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications including The New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair. He previously worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters, reporting from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
His latest piece, “What Ozempic Taught Me About Style and Self-Worth,” documents his decision to start taking the weight loss drug and the ways that experience reshaped his sense of identity, style, and self-perception.
In this episode, he talks to Matthew about how the story came together, why he wanted it to go beyond a straightforward account of weight loss, and how he approached writing something deeply personal while still treating it like a reported piece. He also discusses his writing process and how he thinks about structure and rhythm. “Every word, every sentence, every paragraph has to really be earned,” he says. “If you don’t, readers can tell. And that’s the stuff of nightmares.”
To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & ⁠Youtube⁠. Have a question, guest recommendation or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Julie Cohn is a journalist, screenwriter, and Tony Award–winning theater producer whose work spans film, stage, and audio. Her reporting has appeared in outlets like The New York Times and The Daily, and on Broadway she and her sister Marion co-founded The Cohn Sisters, a Tony-winning production company behind shows including Stereophonic, Suffs, Cabaret, John Proctor Is the Villain, and Just For Us. Her latest project is The Redefector, a ten-part investigative podcast about the strange Cold War case of KGB officer Vitaly Yurchenko, who defected to the United States in 1985 before unexpectedly returning to the Soviet Union.
In this episode, she talks with Matthew about how she first stumbled onto the story while researching another spy project, the unusual challenges of reporting inside the secretive world of intelligence, and why trust becomes the central currency when you're trying to report on spies.
“If your source trusts you, they’ll recommend you to another source who trusts you. It’s like a very slow-motion domino. Your flashlight gets a little bit wider every time you meet someone new in the story.”
To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & ⁠Youtube⁠. Have a question, guest recommendation or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.