Sonic Midlife

About Sonic Midlife

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

Publisher

Zach Gibson

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jul 2024

Latest episode

22 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

27 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Mar 2026

   Episode 27 - The Guys Keep Marching On

   Cool new music, George Saunders love, midlife fridge and pantry staples, John Mulaney, Time Crisis, and Andor are among the topics discussed by our heroes: Zach Gibson and Jeff Poole.

2. 

   21 Feb 2026

   Episode 26 - Your Format Preferida

   Your favorite podcast pros are back at it, discussing new albums from The Format and Joyce Manor, as well as early 80s punk. They also discuss the novels Butcher's Crossing by John Williams and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Some recent kitchen successes are shared, including Zach's favorite homemade Indian dish and Jeff's preferred brand of refried beans (pun intended). Lastly, they go over recent YouTube and documentary faves, The Adam Friedland Show and Secret Mall Apartment.

3. 

   8 Jan 2026

   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.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Sonic Midlife

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.