John Siracusa and Merlin Mann try to figure out exactly how they got this way.

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Merlin Mann

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John Siracusa

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    Latest Episodes

    #23: A Sprite Man

    April 7th, 2016 · 130 minutes

    The main topic is sense of humor. How, where, when, and from whom did the boys learn what make them laugh? How come British things seem extra funny? Why does Lisa need braces?

    #22: Jericho Turnpike

    March 22nd, 2016 · 135 minutes

    This episode focuses on cars and driving. First, there's the automobiles that their families did or didn't drive and why. Then, John educates Merlin on the evolution of car design. This leads to more personal thoughts on their early days of driving.

    #21: Throg the Important Caveman

    March 10th, 2016 · 118 minutes

    This week's main topic is meeting your heroes. Who do you wish you could meet and why? John marvels at Merlin’s comfort with his many celebrity connections, and Merlin gives some handy tips on not acting like a total creep.

    #20: Stove Vigilance

    February 25th, 2016 · 94 minutes

    This week's main topic is 'trust your mechanic'. How to survive working with the experts who diagnose and fix your problems. John's not a Dead Kennedys fan, and Merlin's just so irrationally mad about the state of his oven.

    #19: Four Toes

    February 11th, 2016 · 118 minutes

    This week, John and Merlin talk about the value of exposing yourself to new or uncomfortable ideas, before moving on to their main topic: how and when to recommend things to other people.

    #18: It's Devastating

    January 28th, 2016 · 112 minutes

    The primary topic this week is names and naming. Merlin struggles in vain to pronounce John's name to his satisfaction, John reveals his middle name, and the boys dive deep on the lore, reality, and complexities of how both people get their names.

    #17: Don’t Touch the Banana

    January 14th, 2016 · 132 minutes

    After a discussion about The Game, which Merlin has finally watched all the way through, the boys tackle the topic of jobs. They discuss what they did or didn't learn from them, and how their younger work lives shaped their future employment choices.

    #16: Ancient Bird

    December 17th, 2015 · 126 minutes

    John probes Merlin about why exactly he’s so interested in remembering and recording his whackadoodle dreams. We learn, for example, that Permiso delivers 3 to 5 surprises per day.

    #15: Emotional Swimsuit Season

    December 3rd, 2015 · 114 minutes

    This week, your hosts cover TV buying decisions, the legacy of Star Wars, thoughts on holidays, and how to not end up raising Dudley Dursley.

    #14: Children's Shoes

    November 19th, 2015 · 113 minutes

    This time out, John and Merlin start with a consideration of parenting advice and (surprise) the Star Wars prequels.

    Then, the wardrobe is opened for a discussion of clothing. What your hosts choose to wear and why...