Naomi and Aaron discuss the excellent HBO comedy Hacks, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbender. Also, we chat about Canada geese attacking university students, Ken from Barbie being Canadian because he's played by Ryan Gosling, Hacks as wish fulfillment for creative types, the challenge of making standup comedy funny in fiction, and Calgary’s variable air pressure. Sweater Weather podcast website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com/sweater-weather-podcast   Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/   Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity Aaron on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aarongiovannone.bsky.social Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com

Naomi and Aaron talk the haunting HBO drama, The Last of Us, which just premiered its second season, starring the terrific Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay. We also have a heart-to-heart about the Canadian Happiness Index, Aaron's pitch to the CBC for a Letterkenny-meets-Red Dawn prestige show, Naomi waiting for news about her novel, fake deadlines in the publishing industry, seeking recognition, our limited experience playing video games, and seeing Banff and Calgary and other Canadian places pop up in The Last of Us. Sweater Weather website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com/sweater-weather-podcast   Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/   Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity Aaron on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aarongiovannone.bsky.social Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com  

In this episode of Sweater Weather, we kick things off with jokes about Mark Carney’s bestselling book and Mike Myers flaunting a Canadian Tire shirt on SNL, exploring what a truly "made in Canada" store might stock. But the heart of this episode is our revisiting This Hour Has 22 Minutes, the Canadian sketch comedy mainstay that's been running on the CBC since 1993. We reminisce about its edgy allure in our teen years, when it felt like must-see TV. Naomi loved Mary Walsh’s fearless Marg Delahunty, who ambushed politicians with Xena-inspired flair. Then we chat about the current cast’s antics—especially Mark Critch’s Trump and Chris Wilson's Pierre Poilievre impressions. We consider This Hour's liberal tilt, and we muse on how political comedy can make leaders seem like good sports, for better or worse.  Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850   Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis   Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity

In this episode, we kick things off talking Amazon's sale of "Canada as a 51st state" merchandise and the strong opinions it has generated among famous Canadians, as well as some questionable examples of Canadian Content available on Amazon Prime. But the main focus of our discussion is the British mini-series, Adolescence, which  centers around a 13-year-old boy accused of a serious crime.  We'll discuss the series' unique cinematic style, filmed as a single take to create a sense of relentless tension . We will also delve into the challenges parents face in understanding their children's lives in the digital age. Adolescence actually reminded us of Degrassi for its intention to educate about the secret experiences of "kids today."   Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850   Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis   Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity        

In this episode of Sweater Weather, Aaron starts off by telling some jokes about the Canadian election: Who would fictional Canadian characters vote for? What should you do now that the GST on first homes is gone? Naomi laughs politely. Then we talk about Canadian Bacon, the 1995 film from director Michael Moore, starring John Candy, Rhea Perlman, and Alan Alda, a satire about an American president who declares war on Canada to boost his approval ratings. We liked many of the film's gags poking fun at Canada and Canadian stereotypes, but the real focus of the film is US culture and politics, using Canada as kind of liberal fun house mirror to reflect back to itself a more conservative America. Of course, it's what you'd expect from the famously liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who only ever made one fictional film, this one. Whether you like the movie or not, the satire turned out to be shockingly prescient, given what's going on in 2025, with a Trump-led trade war against Canada that has inflamed nationalistic sentiment on both sides of the border. Despite all the goofs and gaffs, Aaron found the film oddly disturbing for the dark picture it paints in which everyone is either evil or an idiot, while Naomi didn't seem so put off by that. To be fair, Aaron also napped through the middle third of the film, so he couldn't have been that disturbed. We hope this episode of Sweater Weather doesn't put you to sleep--unless you listen to podcasts in bed while trying to drift off to dreamland. In that case, bon nuit, and enjoy! Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone  Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850  Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/  Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee  Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis  Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com  Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone  Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone  Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/  Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone  Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity

In this episode of Sweater Weather, we’re chatting about the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company. From its astonishing roots in Canadian history to its role as a shopping haven for generations, we’re sharing our personal memories about wandering the aisles as teens, breaking up with bad boyfriends in the food court, and scoring those legendary (and somehow, perpetual) 70% off sales. Could this episode be the the very last BAY DAY ever?! Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850   Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis   Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity

In this episode of Sweater Weather, we chat about the iconic TV series Mad Men, exploring its themes, characters, and why it might just be the "Great American Novel" of television. We kick things off with some personal writing updates—Naomi is deep into ghostwriting and editing, while Aaron has written about 20,000 words of a novel he hopes will end up being very short.  But the real focus is on Mad Men, which Naomi recently rewatched and Aaron experienced for the first time. From Don Draper’s enigmatic charm to Peggy Olson’s groundbreaking journey, we dissect the show’s portrayal of the 1960s, touching on gender roles, workplace dynamics, and the cultural shifts of the era. We also discuss how Mad Men masterfully weaves historical events—like the moon landing and the Civil Rights Movement—into its narrative, making it a rich portryal of American life during a transformative decade. We debate the complexities of Don Draper as an anti-hero and how the show balances his anti-heroic flaws with his undeniable charisma. And of course, we can’t resist talking about that finale—Don’s journey to self-discovery and the creation of one of the most famous ads ever. Somehow, it’s both a moment of redemption AND the perfect ad campaign. So pour yourself a whisky from your office liquor cart, light up a Lucky Strike, and join us for a fun chat about one the best T.V. shows of all time.   Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850 Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity

In this week's episode of Sweater Weather, we discuss what constitutes The Great Canadian Novel. After sharing our personal writing updates—Naomi's ghostwriting projects and Aaron's progress on a comedic novel—we tackle the complex question of national identity in literature. We explore how Canadian literature often defines itself in opposition to American culture, and we examine why Canadian writers tend to focus on the "marginalized" (according to one of our sources) rather than the powerful elite. From Margaret Laurence's The Diviners to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, we debate which books might claim the title of the Great Canadian Novel while considering the legal, cultural, and regional challenges that make a definitive Canadian novel so elusive. Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850   Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis   Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity

In this episode of Sweater Weather, Aaron and Naomi kick things off with a chat about their writing projects, genre expectations, and how different types of thrillers evoke distinct emotions. They discuss the balance between entertainment and edification in storytelling and what makes a book emotionally immersive. Then, they shift gears to talk about The Wild Robot, the Oscar-nominated animated film based on the bestselling middle-grade novel. We discuss how Roz, a robot stranded in the wilderness, learns to care for a gosling and forms a cooperative society with the island’s animals. Along the way, we tackle big questions: Do emotions make someone human?Does this story reflect the Hobbesian idea of the social contract? And why did Naomi expect a more "realistic" take on robot-human interaction? Anyway, it was a fun, cute movie, and we hope you enjoy our episode. Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850   Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/ Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis   Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/ Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity  

After an update on our writing — Aaron is trying to choose what novel to write next, Naomi is busy with editing and ghost-writing projects — we discuss the Apple TV thriller Severance, focusing on its intriguing sci-fi premise and character-driven narrative. Severance presents a world where people undergo a procedure to become unaware of their outside lives during their workday, essentially becoming a different person, with "outies" having no memory of their "innies", and vice-versa. We discuss how this concept raises issues about identity and resonates with anyone who dislikes their job. We examine the show's setting, the ominous Lumen company, and its cult-like corporate culture centered around its founder, Kier, as well as the personal reasons that led the main character, Mark, to join the severance program. We love Severance and eagerly await every new episode, but we wonder about the challenge Severance faces in sustaining its central mystery and whether the show can provide a satisfying payoff. We reference some of our other favorite TV shows that had this problem, such as Lost and Battlestar Galactica.  Sweater Weather podcast (Video): https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone  Sweater Weather podcast (Audio): https://pod.link/1547081850  Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/na.oh.mee  Naomi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiklewis  Naomi’s website: https://www.naomiklewis.com/  Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.giovannone  Aaron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aarongiovannone  Aaron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronGiovannoneAuthor/  Aaron on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aarongiovannone  Aaron on X: https://x.com/SincerityCity  Aaron’s website: https://www.aarongiovannone.com