Hosted by John Siracusa and Merlin Mann.
John Siracusa and Merlin Mann try to figure out exactly how they got this way.
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#49: Celebrity Outreach Program
April 5th, 2017 · 111 minutes
This week kicks off with John analyzing Merlin’s various mouth noises, self-styled music cues, and personal sound effects. Both hosts get songs stuck in their heads. John lays a trap for Merlin, and Merlin shares an important new dream with the Ancient Bird.
At length, your hosts get a little meta, with follow-up on things Merlin still hasn’t w…
#48: Slim Pickings in the Terrarium
March 23rd, 2017 · 151 minutes
This week kicks off with John talking about the new Zelda game alongside thoughts on what it takes to keep a franchise great.
In follow-up, John addresses online angst and agita about the recent discussion of Arrival.
Next up, Merlin gets his time in the barrel as John disabuses him of his self-styled situation as "the dumb one." Merlin …
#47: Now I Dream in French
March 7th, 2017 · 124 minutes
Merlin admits to almost watching something on TV and encourages John to talk him out of buying a new laptop. John has concerns about dander diamonds, and Merlin briefs John on the mechanics of modern version control.
This week’s first topic is self-driving cars and how soon they’re likely to be ready, as they say, for prime time. John canni…
#46: Some Form of Ballast
February 23rd, 2017 · 110 minutes
This week, things open with a shockingly thorough discussion of chickens that somehow pivots to Costco caskets, TV buying decisions, Merlin's increasingly strange pronunciations, and John’s reluctant agreement to become a cron job.
Follow-up covers John finding those charts about global living conditions and Merlin finally figuring out how to …
#45: The Blood is Normal, Right?
February 8th, 2017 · 111 minutes
This week starts off ignominiously, with John and Merlin both not remembering several things. Merlin proposes The File Card Effect, and John knows not to be too smart when searching Google. John celebrates the proper use of Title Case, while Merlin frets over wearing his memories down to a nub.
Mini-topic this week is Merlin’s latest fraught…
#44: Assistant Manager Material
January 26th, 2017 · 131 minutes
This week, it doesn't take long to get deep in the stack on texting people in the same room, John's take on pound-sign hashtags, and the location of Merlin's missing meat.
The mini-topic this week is tattoos. Specifically, why Merlin has developed such strong feelings about tattoos, plus John's vision of a world free of theoretical tattoo …
#43: Pack Mule with a Checkbook
January 12th, 2017 · 117 minutes
This week, John won’t talk about his job, Merlin has jury duty (yes, again), and your hosts do some follow-up on documentaries. The disappearing of classic episodes of older PBS shows is lamented.
The main topic this week is Dad Stuff. Dad Jokes, Dad Hats, and Dad…everything. In particular, when did Dad Jokes become a thing, and exactly w…
#42: The Punching in Me
December 22nd, 2016 · 100 minutes
This week, Merlin introduces John to a thriving culture of internet busybodies. What happens when we’re only ever exposed to people who look or think like we do? What would we do with free access to an all-you-can-eat Fun Dip buffet?
In follow-up, John learns about “Bay Lake,” but badly confuses his celebrity folk heroes. Around a YouTube serie…
#41: Jingling Keys
December 15th, 2016 · 180 minutes
This week kicks off with some contentious claims that Merlin is a crammer and John is a monster. Merlin reminds John that he is out of his depth, and John remembers things. Also, some brief talk on Apple router alternatives and learning to tolerate morning notifications.
Lots of follow-up on Free Will, including thoughts on Heisenberg, tail-c…
#40: Slippery Slope to Dr. Manhattan
December 1st, 2016 · 113 minutes
This week, John has follow-up from Jason the Ranger regarding the weird smell in his house.
Next up, your hosts have a few quick thoughts on the recent presidential election and the extent to which convincing voters that citrus fruits are bipeds might have changed the outcome.
The main topic this week is Free Will. While Merlin has co…