#3 Jessica M. Goldstein: The Absurdity of Office Culture, Nostalgia, and Tech Billionaires
The Everygirl Book ClubShow Notes
Jessica M. Goldstein: The Absurdity of Office Culture, Nostalgia, and Tech Billionaires
The Everygirl Book Club hosts an interview with debut novelist and journalist Jessica M. Goldstein about her novel Retro—a speculative time-travel novel that kept us hooked from the moment we first read the synopsis—discussing “the sickening pain of nostalgia,” escapism, and why female friendships and platonic love are undervalued. Goldstein shares formative childhood reads and describes her affinity for vintage media and film craftsmanship. She explains building Retro’s grounded speculative world—an office-run time-travel agency using a Metro-like system—while setting clear limits, blending satire with serious themes of debt, corporate power, moral responsibility, modern dating, and the need to stay present. Goldstein also reflects on moving from journalism and McSweeney’s satire to speculative fiction, and on crafting an emotionally open ending meant to spark debate.
Chapters 00:26 Why Retro hooked us 01:15 The books that shaped Jessica as a writer 04:12 Developing her love of vintage media 10:37 Nostalgia and escapism 15:42 Building Retro's world 21:46 Offices are actually so weird 32:19 Moving from Journalism to Fiction 36:35 Laughing at reality 44:59 The nostalgia trap 46:58 Choosing hope amid uncertainty 53:57 Friendship as a lifeline 01:02:36 Balancing humor and heart 01:08:12 On the importance of staying present
Books Mentioned Retro Alice in Wonderland The Wizard of Oz The Phantom Tollbooth Peter Pan Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels Yesteryear
Movies Mentioned Dog Day Afternoon The Red Shoes Before Sunset Clueless Independence Day Argo Forrest Gump Coco You've Got Mail When Harry Met Sally Sinners One Battle After Another La Chimera The Wolf of Wall Street
TV Shows Mentioned Euphoria Severance Party Down
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