Jason Toney
@misterjt.bsky.social
Data & insights in Streaming media; WNBA; NCAA wbb; nwsl; tv; music; books; los angeles
Went to see Little Simz at the Palladium and got checked by the city. Maybe LA nightlife is fine, and I just got old.
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.
misterjt.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Went to see Little Simz at the Palladium and got checked by the city. Maybe LA nightlife is fine, and I just got old.
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.
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.
misterjt.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
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 and Día de los Muertos brought deep thoughts on remembrance, resistance, and what it really means to love L.A. 💀🕯️💙🤍
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.
misterjt.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Halloween and Día de los Muertos brought deep thoughts on remembrance, resistance, and what it really means to love L.A. 💀🕯️💙🤍
After Game Five, a woman claimed she'd come to her first pro sports event just for Caitlin Clark. Then we dug deeper. #wnba
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.
misterjt.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
After Game Five, a woman claimed she'd come to her first pro sports event just for Caitlin Clark. Then we dug deeper. #wnba
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.
Mostly, I'm like Venus Williams in 2025: thanks for the subsidized healthcare.
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
misterjt.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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.
Mostly, I'm like Venus Williams in 2025: thanks for the subsidized healthcare.
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.
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.
misterjt.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
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.
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...
misterjt.com/2025/07/19/w...
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!
misterjt.com
July 20, 2025 at 3:31 AM
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...
misterjt.com/2025/07/19/w...
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...
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.
misterjt.com
July 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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...
NPR Tiny Desk Content Winner Ruby Ibarra at The Regent: protest-delayed, joy-delivered.
We got a little hyphy.
#livemusic #dtla #LosAngeles
We got a little hyphy.
#livemusic #dtla #LosAngeles
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
misterjt.com
July 2, 2025 at 7:17 PM
NPR Tiny Desk Content Winner Ruby Ibarra at The Regent: protest-delayed, joy-delivered.
We got a little hyphy.
#livemusic #dtla #LosAngeles
We got a little hyphy.
#livemusic #dtla #LosAngeles
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.
But my city is in crisis.
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.
misterjt.com
June 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
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.
But my city is in crisis.
Hi, I'm doing some writing for the DC Jazz Fest this year. First piece up now!
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...
www.dcjazzfest.org
May 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Hi, I'm doing some writing for the DC Jazz Fest this year. First piece up now!
"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."
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.
misterjt.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
"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."
Our friend is gone—and that truth still takes my breath away.
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.
misterjt.com
May 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Our friend is gone—and that truth still takes my breath away.
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?
Am I a blues man now?
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.
misterjt.com
May 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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?
Am I a blues man now?
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.
He is the friendly fool, and I think that's genuine, even though it often means messy political takes.
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.
www.nytimes.com
April 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
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.
He is the friendly fool, and I think that's genuine, even though it often means messy political takes.
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?
TL;DR: It's a big hit. Will this be your second or third screening this weekend?
Sinners Shakes Up Hollywood: Box Office Success Explained
Explore the box office success of Ryan Coogler's _Sinners_, a groundbreaking film challenging Hollywood norms.
misterjt.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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?
TL;DR: It's a big hit. Will this be your second or third screening this weekend?
Want to feel inspired? Spend some time with Civic Tech people and interested citizens. The attendees at this morning’s @datadonuts.la event were hopeful that we can still do good things despite their efforts being under assault by the current administration.
Data + Donuts LA
Changing local government from the ground up.
datadonuts.la
April 25, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Want to feel inspired? Spend some time with Civic Tech people and interested citizens. The attendees at this morning’s @datadonuts.la event were hopeful that we can still do good things despite their efforts being under assault by the current administration.
I look around and notice the gray in performers’ beards, the wrinkles on their foreheads, the stories about kids turning eighteen, and events from the previous century. I should feel my age, but that’s not the dominant emotion.
Celebrating Madlib: A Night of Music and Community at Echoplex
Experience the heart of hip-hop at The Echoplex: a tribute concert for Madlib that unites generations through music and community support.
misterjt.com
April 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I look around and notice the gray in performers’ beards, the wrinkles on their foreheads, the stories about kids turning eighteen, and events from the previous century. I should feel my age, but that’s not the dominant emotion.
After the first Final Four semifinal, Ryan Ruocco threw to Elle Duncan’s show. However, our feed ended in the ESPN OTT app, and a static image appeared. As a long-time ESPN+ subscriber, I found this frustrating. New subscribers attracted by the NCAAW tournament might feel even worse.
Your Event Has Ended
Sports subscribers intentionally come for their favorite sport, team, or a specific game/match/event they find significant. Once that need is satisfied, it’s easy for them to unsubscribe. SVODs con…
misterjt.com
April 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
After the first Final Four semifinal, Ryan Ruocco threw to Elle Duncan’s show. However, our feed ended in the ESPN OTT app, and a static image appeared. As a long-time ESPN+ subscriber, I found this frustrating. New subscribers attracted by the NCAAW tournament might feel even worse.
A hodgepodge of thoughts about Juju's knee
What it takes
What does it take to return to a sport you love, especially when it has also caused you immense suffering? The physical demands are one aspect; the mental challenges are another. How tough must you…
misterjt.com
March 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
A hodgepodge of thoughts about Juju's knee
It’s the first anniversary of my father's death today. As clouds, cold, wind, and rain arrived in Los Angeles last week, so did melancholy.
A Morning with Kevin Toney and Friends
Tears aren’t easy for me, but this sadness is worth crying over.
misterjt.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
It’s the first anniversary of my father's death today. As clouds, cold, wind, and rain arrived in Los Angeles last week, so did melancholy.
Sorry, Trojans, I can’t help it. I’m rooting for y’all to get to the Natty. I’m rooting for the banner to get raised in Pauley.
Bleed blue
Fandom is illogical but this is true: I bleed blue and gold.
misterjt.com
March 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Sorry, Trojans, I can’t help it. I’m rooting for y’all to get to the Natty. I’m rooting for the banner to get raised in Pauley.
I would consider myself fortunate to lead a life that echoes just a fraction of the good accomplished by John Lewis and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
misterjt.com/2025/02/26/f...
misterjt.com/2025/02/26/f...
Fortunate
What do I do with this good fortune? How can I repay the sacrifices made by those who had so little and gave so much?
misterjt.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I would consider myself fortunate to lead a life that echoes just a fraction of the good accomplished by John Lewis and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
misterjt.com/2025/02/26/f...
misterjt.com/2025/02/26/f...
"In 1955, courageous protester Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a Montgomery bus. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. organized a boycott that forced the city to desegregate public transportation. However, there's a major problem: none of this actually happened."
Primary Sources: Everything You Know About the Montgomery Bus Boycott Is Wrong
You probably learned the kinder, gentler version of the economic protest that defined the Civil Rights Movement. Here is the real story.
www.contrabandcamp.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"In 1955, courageous protester Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a Montgomery bus. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. organized a boycott that forced the city to desegregate public transportation. However, there's a major problem: none of this actually happened."
"If the online right of the first Trump administration was an unstable blend of Facebook credulity and 4chan nihilism, the Soy Right is an unbearable mix of Reddit corniness and Twitter self-satisfaction."
maxread.substack.com/p/soy-right-...
maxread.substack.com/p/soy-right-...
Soy Right ascendant
The return of Gamergate
maxread.substack.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
"If the online right of the first Trump administration was an unstable blend of Facebook credulity and 4chan nihilism, the Soy Right is an unbearable mix of Reddit corniness and Twitter self-satisfaction."
maxread.substack.com/p/soy-right-...
maxread.substack.com/p/soy-right-...