Yeah I don't like this kind of navel gazing. I find this to be offensive, particularly because I listen to their podcast a lot (and others).
Podcasts have largely replaced music for me because of the very things he cynically criticizes in this piece.
First of all I don't think podcasts are 'anti-intellectual'. Sure there are downsides to the medium, but more importantly I've learned ALOT more than I would have had I been listening to the TOOL album for the 100th time. Podcasts bring up a topic, give a brief sometimes humorous overview, then I take that and go learn more about it through other methods (reading ect.). I know a lot more now than I did before listening to podcasts for daily news/politics/sports.
Second I'm sure there are some loonies that do legitimately believe Brace is their best pal. Most people I argue do not. If I met Brace on the street I wouldn't approach, let alone pretend to be his 'best pal'. Brace is an entertainer that I happen to find funny and agree with on. That's it. He's no different from people's fandoms for any other medium. No Brace, being a podcaster doesn't make you special in this regard. Please get over yourself. The other thing is as a Marxist you should understand the societal structure that leads to this modern isolation problem. People aren't becoming anti-social because of podcasts, some people turn to podcasts due to the isolated structure we live under. I work a very isolated job, it's very lonely, but it's what I need to do. Just listening to podcasts helps me stay sane. I would never pick a podcast over real socializing.
Third I think this whole piece is very demeaning and misses the whole point just so Brace can self flagellate 'man this job I work is stupid and anyone listening to me is stupid. No I won't come to your birthday party and go get a life. By the way sign up for the $20/month Patreon so I can continue to jerk myself off and give y'all the middle finger for your support.' as far as mutual resentment goes I think it's a one way street. I think he's just using this as justification for being resentful for the people that make his cushy privileged job possible. The only way I feel that way towards him, or other podcasters, is when they are openly hostile to their fans or flaunting their wealthy privileged lifestyle. I don't say anything to them though, I'm sure he's cherry picking critical comments and painting the whole fandom as that.
Like idk what Brace is looking for here. If being a podcaster sucks so bad and you're oh so resentful for the people that fund your lifestyle then just quit. Boo fucking hoo go apply to a dead end crushing retail job like 80% of the country. Join the very vermin you despise so much or STFU.

You and I have two different standards for self respect and tolerance for elitist classist nonsense.