The Envy League
Have you ever been so obsessed with something, it made you wish you thought of it first? Welcome to The Envy League, the show that turns jealousy into creatives ideas of your own.
Each week, join me, Matthew Doherty—your creative partner and resident envy expert—plus a rotating cast of guests as we obsess over everything in pop culture that makes us ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” We unpack why certain things make us feel something, riff out loud, and show you how to turn envy into big ideas of your own.
Whether you’re in a rut, questioning if you’re creative enough, or just chasing your next creative high, this is your secret society where envy becomes your creative superpower.
Admissions are open. Class is always in session. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
New episodes drop every other Tuesday.
The Envy League
How to Create a Name People Will Never Forget
Ever hear a name so good it made you feel something you couldn’t explain?
Welcome to The Envy League — the podcast that turns jealousy into creative ideas of your own.
In this episode, host Matthew Doherty explores the craft, chaos, and envy-fueled obsession behind naming and why the best names make you feel something before they even make sense. From Labubus, Voldemort, and Gestrals in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Sweetgreen, The Hunger Games, and his own naming conventions in his YA Fantasy Novel Nimbus and the Beast Within, we unpack how the perfect name isn’t just clever and made with puns, it’s emotional architecture.
Matthew breaks down how to use sound, rhythm, emotion, portmanteaus, worldbuilding, and linguistic tricks to land names that feel like they’ve always existed even if you just made them up.
Whether you're naming a novel, a new character, a tech startup, or just the group chat, this episode unpacks how creative envy turns into unforgettable names that stick in your head and live rent-free.
So hit play. This one’s got your name on it.