Stranger Things Theories, Spotify Wrapped, & Michigan Misery | Midlife Crisis Ep. 35

This week on Midlife Crisis, Adrian and Jeff jump into the annual Spotify Wrapped debate—is it still fun or officially played out? They predict their top artists (Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Mac Miller) and react to Spotify’s rumored price hike, sparking talk about subscription fatigue. From there, the duo unpacks Oxford’s 2025 Word of the Year, “Rage Bait,” using it as a lens to examine online outrage culture alongside runner-up trends like “aura farming” and “biohack.” The conversation veers into wild territory with a viral breakdown of DNA data storage, before touching on the upcoming Netflix Diddy documentary, questioning how nonstop coverage impacts real public accountability. TV and sports drive the back half of the episode: a spoiler-light review of Stranger Things Season 5 (Vol. 1) covers the emotional Episode 4 moment with Will, fan nitpicks, and theories about Vecna and the Mind Flayer, plus notes on the Dec. 31 theatrical finale and other December watch recommendations like Zootopia 2, Wake Up Dead Man, and Fallout Season 2. Adrian also shouts out Wale’s new album before Jeff unleashes his NFL overreactions, debates Justin Jefferson’s impact, and processes Michigan’s heartbreak loss to Ohio State while celebrating Michigan basketball’s rise to #3 nationally. The episode closes with personal “What Hurts/Feels Good” check-ins, brainstorming a potential Midlife Crisis Tough Mudder team, and a chaotic 5v5 Villains Draft featuring legends like Darth Vader, The Joker, Thanos, and Voldemort, perfectly capturing the show’s blend of humor, pop culture, and millennial chaos.