Jason Toney

Intentionally Offline: Choosing Real Life Over the Algorithm As AI and algorithmic feeds blur reality, reflections on social media and digital culture fatigue and the quiet freedom of choosing offline life.

When every feed makes you work harder to figure out what’s real than to enjoy what you’re seeing, the simplest response is to look up and walk outside.

We loved be on the receiving end!

Exploring MONUMENTS: A Journey Through History and Memory Explore the impactful exhibition 'MONUMENTS', reflecting on Confederate statues and their complex meanings in today's America. Join the conversation.

If you're in LA between now and May 3rd, you should see MONUMENTS @mocart.bsky.social

Perhaps the most consequential art exhibit on display in the country right now.

It certainly moved me.

misterjt.com/2026/01/04/m...

The Timeless Art of Sending Holiday Cards and Letters Discover the importance of sending heartfelt holiday cards and handwritten notes in a digital age. Personal touches matter more than ever.

Maybe I'm a dinosaur, but I still send physical holiday cards

Transforming My Last.fm Data for Intentional Music Listening Explore my yearlong music listening journey, analyzing genres, moods, and playlists to enhance intentional listening beyond streaming algorithms.

music + data = me nerding out a lot over the last two weekends

Jason Toney's top albums of 2025

Jason Toney's Top Music Genres of 2025

Jason Toney's Top Music Artists of 2025

Jason Toney's Top Songs of 2025

In the last year, I've listened to over 5200 artists, 9800 albums, and spun over 41,000 tunes.

Tidal is my digital music provider.

I collect my listening data via last.fm and I categorized over 50% of my listening (defined as tracks played) with genres, descriptors, moods, and modes myself.

Rebuilding Through Music: A Scaffolding Year in 2025 Explore how music shaped my scaffolding year in 2025, from hip-hop to jazz, fostering resilience and creative growth.

I'm not on Spotify anymore, but 'tis the season.

If last year was survival mode, this one was reconstruction.

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Rediscovering Adventure: A Night Out in Hollywood A night at the Hollywood Palladium reminds me to embrace friction, trust the creative process, and show up for joy — even on a random Tuesday.

Went to see Little Simz at the Palladium and got checked by the city. Maybe LA nightlife is fine, and I just got old.

Dance Like No One’s Watching Again Discover the power of joy and self-expression through dance in this reflective piece on embracing happiness and authenticity.

A couple of weekends ago, we were in Memphis celebrating with family, and somewhere between the blues and the barbecue, I realized I hadn’t danced enough.

Halloween 2025 and the Spirits of Los Angeles A Halloween reflection from Los Angeles that bridges costumes and community, Día de los Muertos altars and immigrant stories, art and activism.

Halloween and Día de los Muertos brought deep thoughts on remembrance, resistance, and what it really means to love L.A. 💀🕯️💙🤍

Why the WNBA is an Inclusive Community for Every Fan Join the excitement of the WNBA as fans connect and celebrate community, including newcomers discovering the joy of women's basketball.

After Game Five, a woman claimed she'd come to her first pro sports event just for Caitlin Clark. Then we dug deeper. #wnba

Labor Day Reflections: Returning to Work in a Changing World I’m working again. Please don’t clap. This is a candid reflection on job searching, human connections, and the dignity of work in modern America

I suppose Labor Day is a good time to reveal that I'm working again.

Mostly, I'm like Venus Williams in 2025: thanks for the subsidized healthcare.

De-lurking to say that it makes me so upset (and feel ancient) at the number of black millennials who don't understand this movie.

Monica's true love is basketball! They both have to work through their parents' gendered BS! By the end, Q is a supportive partner who takes the caretaking role!

Finding Clarity: Why 'It's Been A Minute' Is My Go-To Podcast Discover why Brittany Luse’s _It’s Been A Minute_ is my go-to podcast for navigating digital culture without drowning in online noise.

I want less noise and more clarity online. It’s Been A Minute with Brittany Luse has been my shortcut. 20 minutes, no brain rot.

Must-Have WNBA All-Star Merchandise You Can Buy Online Explore must-have WNBA All-Star merchandise from shoes to shirts and collectibles, perfect for fans looking to shop online now!

Missing #WNBAAllStar for the first time in years 😭 but the merch? Still fire. Here’s what I might cop from the comfort of my couch.
misterjt.com/2025/07/19/w...

Music, Magic, and Resilience in 2025 Explore the vibrant music and culture of Los Angeles amidst its challenges, celebrating resilience and unity through sound and community.

Started writing about music, ended up writing about LA, loss, and the magic that holds us together. The best of 2025 (so far): misterjt.com/2025/07/08/2...

Another time-honored tradition falls into the wastebasket

Ruby Ibarra and the Power of Joyful Noise in Downtown LA A live music report from Ruby Ibarra’s DTLA show—delayed by protest, reenergized with resistance, and rooted in the joyful noise of the immigrant community

NPR Tiny Desk Content Winner Ruby Ibarra at The Regent: protest-delayed, joy-delivered.

We got a little hyphy.

#livemusic #dtla #LosAngeles

Bluesky is not beating the allegations

How Lalah Hathaway’s VANTABLACK Helped Me Hear My City Amid unrest in Los Angeles, Jason Toney reflects on Lalah Hathaway’s VANTABLACK and how deep listening reveals what the city is truly saying.

What I see on my street is beautiful, as Los Angeles often is. Birds chirp. The sun shines. The jacarandas are in bloom, littering the sidewalks with purple petals. Neighbors walk their dogs and babies. I could be deceived into believing that life is normal.

But my city is in crisis.

Exploring Jazz: A Journey Through Culture and Expression Explore the essence of jazz and its profound impact on culture and creativity through insights from leading artists and thinkers.

The version on my blog, if you want links with your words

What Does Jazz Mean to You? By Jason ToneyIn Late March of this year, the Mellon Foundation hosted a virtual symposium called American Jazz, American Culture. Elizabeth Alexander, president of the foundation, moderated the conve...

Hi, I'm doing some writing for the DC Jazz Fest this year. First piece up now!

The ticket price narrative was only relevant for resellers. The idea that a majority of fans are only here for Caitlin (or Angel) is nonsense.

How to Enjoy the WNBA Beyond Online Distractions Explore how to enjoy the WNBA beyond social media and avoid toxic online discourse while celebrating the game's vibrant culture.

"Just because the barbarians have broken through the gate, that doesn’t mean we have to cede our ground. I walked away from SXSW, but I’m not giving up on the WNBA. It’s my home. It’s our house."

Honoring Shannon Mahoney: A Life of Fierce Joy and Purpose Remembering Shannon Mahoney: a fierce spirit of joy and activism. Honor her legacy by sparking joy and fighting for what’s right.

Our friend is gone—and that truth still takes my breath away.

Discovering the Blues: Embracing Truth and Life's Joys Discover the powerful connection between life and the blues in 'Sinners'. Explore themes of resilience, joy, and deep musical roots.

The surreal montage “Magic What We Do” awakens the lead vampire’s interest in Sammie in the movie and stirs something deep in me. I’m weaving across genre, time, space, and race as I reckon with my relationship with this powerful music.

Am I a blues man now?

Theo Von Dismantles the Interview Show (Gift Article) The comedian and podcaster is one of the defining conversationalists of media’s new MAGA-friendly mainstream. But he can be harder to pin down, politically and culturally, than his bro-cast peers.

Back when I had TikTok on my devices, I would regularly get sucked into a Theo Von rabbit hole: clips of him talking to black celebrities or other people lip syncing his Theo-isms.

He is the friendly fool, and I think that's genuine, even though it often means messy political takes.

I'm on firefox. Maybe it looks good in the app.

this renders funky #onhere

Sinners Shakes Up Hollywood: Box Office Success Explained Explore the box office success of Ryan Coogler's _Sinners_, a groundbreaking film challenging Hollywood norms.

Last weekend's hemming and hawing about Sinners' success is probably moot now, as it races to $100M by Sunday and potentially $200M in domestic box office overall, but I still wanted to look at the numbers.

TL;DR: It's a big hit. Will this be your second or third screening this weekend?