About Turning Out
Hi! Turning Out is a place to talk about building a personality out of pop culture — movies, songs, internet videos that I refer to as “something I read” during therapy.
About Eric Webb
I’m an Austin, Texas, native and a national award-winning pop culture critic, arts & entertainment journalist, editor, and film programmer. My work has appeared in Backstage, Eater, Austin American-Statesman, USA Today, Business Insider, Texas Highways, The Barbed Wire, and more publications. I’ve served as a programming associate for SXSW Film and TV Festival (2024 and 2025). I can’t parallel park on the first try. I was on “Jeopardy!” when I was 12 years old.
You can find more of my work here, and you can talk to me here.
What’s Turning Out mean?
First thing: Whenever I’m asked to explain why I’ve built a life around film, TV, comics, music, and the like, I say that pop culture taught me how to be a person. (I’m only asked this when I apply for jobs I don’t get.) It’s a hyperbolic thing to say, but I think it’s kinda true.
Second thing: I get swept up in my emotions sometimes and convince myself that life has stalled out. Nothing left to see. Wherever I’ve found myself, my goofy ass believes, that’s the last stop. During one of these spin-outs, I told my friend Ciara that I didn’t like how my life had turned out. She replied, “Life is still turning out.”
So: Turning Out.
Also: It sounds gay, and I like that.
Why subscribe?
If you like what I’m writing and want to see where it goes, please subscribe! Turning Out will deliver a new post to your inbox every Tuesday.
Weekly issues of Turning Out are free to read. If you’d like to help a freelance writer out, you can become a paid subscriber for just $5 a month. You’ll get occasional exclusive posts and a special “thank you” at some point during the year.
Also … tell a friend.
Follow the playlist
I add songs featured in the newsletter to The Official Turning Out Playlist on Spotify. Follow it here.
