Why The Shards?

What happens when the dark, seductive world of Bret Easton Ellis meets the glossy, meticulously crafted universe of Ryan Murphy? In this episode of Why Are We Like This?, we dive into The Shards—a story of beautiful people, beautiful places, drugs, sex, violence and the loneliness hiding underneath the veneer. But our conversation quickly becomes about something much bigger: the loss of childhood, the consequences of growing up too soon, and what happens when young people are left to navigate the world without the guidance they need. We explore why we're often drawn to the very things that make us uncomfortable, whether disturbing art can expand our empathy, and how our own experiences create the “keyhole” through which we see the world. For Jarrod, Bret Easton Ellis's work also hits closer to home, opening a conversation about alienation, self-destructive choices, finding chosen family, and the difference between perpetuating our wounds and healing them. Because maybe the reason artists keep revisiting uncomfortable places isn't because they're stuck there. Maybe it's their process to process. And maybe that's why we stay curious. 🎙️ Send us a quick "Fan Voice Mail" with this link! Download this and future episodes of our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, and anywhere else to find your favorite shows. You can search Why Are We Like This? and please be sure to subscribe, and/or write a review if possible to help build our show. Have an idea for a future episode, or want to join us for a conversation? Send us a message with the link above!