Ruin My Life

We're sorry we were gone. But look:

On a rare, brand-new, never-before-heard episode of Ruin My Life, Jason takes Kelsey on a walking tour through the nightmare landscape of Stephen King's dark imaginarium. There will be twists, turns, thrills, chills, spills, and maybe even... a few laughs? All this and MORE as Jason and Kelsey discuss the 1985 short story collection SKELETON CREW.

This week Kelsey and Jason discuss a podcast on their podcast. Kelsey introduces Jason to The Off Menu Podcast with James Acaster and Ed Gamble, where they interview a guest about their dream meal. Tune in for some meta analysis of what make a good podcast, info on Jason's lifelong war against the British People, Apps and Zerts, and Israeli Lasagna. For more of our work check out: The Misery Loves Company and Musical Theater Deathmatch

"Another old lang syne..." Jason and Kelsey discuss HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON, how it reflects on the year that was, and how it might offer a bit of hope for the year to come. Be sure to check out: The Misery Loves Company and Musical Theater Deathmatch

Join Kelsey and Jason as they celebrate the holidays this year. This time, Kelsey introduces Jason to the holiday sensation that's sweeping the nation, Christmukkah and through it the early aughts television show The OC. Join us for well thought out speeches about feeling seen in media, stay for pitch time to hear about shows ranging from Disney+ newest Star Wars spinoff Grand Admiral Thrawn Smokes Weed to The Six, the 2021 version of The OC set in Toronto (all apologies to any offended Canadians and/or Star Wars fans). Be sure to check out: The Misery Loves Company and Musical Theater Deathmatch

Kelsey and Jason are back at it yet again, bringing you a classic collection of 'off-the-dome' riffs and musings on two seminal films released within six months of each other at the dawn of the century: GET OVER IT and SHRIEK IF YOU KNOW WHAT I DID LAST FRIDAY THE 13TH. What's that you say? You'll have to speak up; I can barely hear you over the cold, bitter wind blowing through the branches outside my window. Ah, I see. You don't believe there could be any credible connection between a lightly absurdist Shakespearean teen comedy and the literal bargain-bin version of the SCARY MOVIE franchise. You probably think this is all a bit frivolous, I suppose -- an excuse for two amateur podcasters in their early-30's to talk about a pair of dumb movies they were both obsessed with in high school? Maybe it's just because it's that time of year, but the idea that there could be a deep and fascinating vein of similarities running between these two movies seems almost... frightening. Well, in that case, you'd better keep the candle burning late tonight, my friend. Yes, I think you should. In fact, take every precaution. Lock your doors, close your windows, and whatever you do, don't go out alone. Listener beware... you're in for a SCARE!

Kelsey takes her first dive into the classic cartoon that's as old as we are, The Simpsons. Bree Rody guests to school us on why the first season is so important and good.

Once again: we're back! Jason and Kelsey are joined by Sarah Sheppard as the three of them examine the hottest media property of late 2019: THE MANDALORIAN!

Kelsey introduces Jason to the delightfully brainless TASKMASTER and Jason once again struggles to understand the existence of the British panel show.

Super Pitch Time continues! Jason and Kelsey are further subjected to the maniacal whims of Executive Producer Sarah Sheppard a.k.a. "The Game-Master" as she forces them to pitch project after project to a shadowy (and possibly fictional) Netflix producer.

In these trying times, Ruin My Life is here for you -- for a limited time only, all episodes now contain 100% more Pitch Time. Kelsey and Jason are joined by their executive producer Sarah Sheppard as they expand their most popular (and only) recurring segment into an ongoing series of indeterminate length. What bizarre and convoluted pitches will our heroes present to Netflix in hopes of scoring a triple-digit development deal? Tune in to find out!

Kelsey and Jason are BACK with their first-annual Passover extravaganza! Jason attends a (virtual) Seder for the first time and Kelsey (finally) watches UNCUT GEMS! Also, there's a bunch of stuff at the beginning about collective trauma and social isolation. It's all very cool and we're doing fine!!

Special guest Emily Merrick stops by to give Jason and Kelsey a good scare (or not) with America's favorite pseudo-metafictional horror series: I SCREAM, you SCREAM, we all SCREAM for the SCREAM movies! We said 'Scream' four times because there are four movies! SCREAM 3 UNDERRATED

Jason makes Kelsey watch the iconic horror movie The Shining, it goes well. Topics include: Stephen King adaptations, more movies Kelsey hasn't seen, Leftist readings of The Shining, Stanley Kubrick death conspiracies.

THE WAIT IS OVER! Jason and Kelsey return from their winter hiatus with special three-time returning champion guest Morgan Stewart, who is here to teach them (and all of us) a little bit about stalwart college rock progenitors, THE PIXIES. Listen to The Misery Loves Company Podcast @ mlcpodcast.com

In this, our 4th Holiday episode, Andrew Favaloro and Sarah Sheppard come on to ostensibly discuss Andrew's Advent Calendar of Christmas Media. It goes off the rails a little from there. Topics include: Ruminations on the baby new year, Thomas the Tank Engine, a new take on the Die Hard Debate, and spiked hot cocoa. https://adfav.github.io/advent2020/

In the stunning conclusion to their two-part exploration of the life and times of O.J. Simpson, Jason and Kelsey discuss 'The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story'.

In the first of a two-part series, Jason and Kelsey discuss the masterpiece of documentary filmmaking that is Ezra Edelman's OJ: Made in America.

Jason and Kelsey are BACK to explore the outer limits of pain, friendship, and the delicate intermingling of fantasy and reality, and oyu know what that means: it's an episode about NATHAN FOR YOU!

What was intended to be a discussion of the 1999 comedy film, Dick, turns into the Kirsten Dunst Appreciation Hour. #GiveKirstenDunstAllTheAwards

Special guest Erin Resnick stops by to discuss THE VAMPIRE DIARIES in a conversation that touches on topics like fandom disputes, extended universes, and the future of television -- but mostly revolves around which vampire is the hottest. It's Damon, by the way.

In this special THIRD ANNIVERSARY episode, we go back and try to re-do our first unreleased episode. Jason makes Kelsey watch Richard Kelly's sophomore feature, Southland Tales, and we discover that it might make less sense than it did 3 years ago.

Jason and Kelsey discuss the hit musical HADESTOWN in an episode featuring bad theater, socialism, fan casting, good theater, and takes so nuclear they could melt the very sun itself. Come for Kelsey's enthusiastic review of a genre-defying theatrical achievement, stick around to hear Jason read off a list of leftist podcasts.

We wrap up our exploration of the Mission: Impossible series with the superior half: Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, and Fallout. Three movies that ask: How can Tom Cruise out Tom Cruise Tom Cruise and also probably almost die?

In part one of our Mission: Impossible deep-dive, Jason inducts Kelsey into the nearly-incomprehensible world of the Impossible Mission Force and the one man who somehow ends up at the center of all their operations, Ethan Hunt -- or, as most people know him, 'Tom Cruise.'

Kelsey introduces Jason to one of her favorite authors, Mary Roach, through the grossest of her books, 2013's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. It gets far more philosophical than expected. Conclusions include: Life is precious, go to therapy, and poop is important. Content Warning: Gulp contains a fair bit of (scientific) content about literal shit, so this podcast includes that as well, this is your heads up.

Join Jason and Kelsey on a deep-dive into the world of 90's alt-rock kings/perpetual disappointments/ageless trolls Weezer. Listen as they explore the band's deep lore and Jason makes a truly incendiary argument.

Kelsey introduces Jason to British songstress Paloma Faith. They discuss her four albums, her eclectic musical style, the Tony-award winning musical Hadestown, and Samuel L. Jackson. It makes sense, we promise.

Jason and Kelsey discuss I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE, the sketch comedy show that's taking the internet by storm -- or it was three weeks ago, at least. But it's still funny! We promise!

Jason and Kelsey continue their journey into the Home Box Office's very unofficial war trilogy with The Pacific. Listen for nuanced criticism of the war movie genre, but also for Rami Malek thirst, we're versatile like that.

In this special supplemental episode, Jason unironically ruins Kelsey's life by forcing her to endure FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD, the latest and unquestionably the worst entry into J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World.

Kelsey turns the HBO prestige television tables on Jason as they venture into HBO's unofficial war trilogy starting with David Simon and Ed Burns Iraq War Mini Series, Generation Kill.

The tension between Jason and Kelsey finally comes to a head as they face off over the ending of The Leftovers! Also featuring a guest appearance from the Ghost Of Queer Representation.

Part 2 of 3 of our series on The Leftovers and we are deep in spoiler territory here. Go watch the show and then come back and FEEL with us about it. Because in the words of Jason, "you don't think about The Leftovers, you FEEL about it."

STOP WASTING YOUR BREATH -- and download this episode about the series that gives "cult TV show" a whole new meaning: The Leftovers! In this episode, Jason introduces Kelsey to the unbelievably grim and depressing first season. But in, like, a fun way.

Kelsey and Jason are taking back Christmas! In this post-Christmas/pre-New Years liminal space episode, Kelsey gives Jason the gift of Emmylou Harris' 1979 Christmas album, Light of the Stable. Jason gives Kelsey six episodes of American Dad, and together they take the Christ out of Christmas.

This is it! Sarah Sheppard (ANDREW, NINJA WARRIOR) returns to help Kelsey and Jason work their way through HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, a weirdly convoluted road-trip/war-movie mash-up about the end of childhood and the inevitability of death. Please enjoy this super-sized episode as the Harry Potter era of the podcast comes to an close, and if your name is David Hohwald, please direct all comments to ruinmylifecast@gmail.com. NOTE: this episode contains major spoilers for the "plot" of HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD beginning at 33:45, so if you want to #keepthesecrets, just skip to 38:40.

While Kelsey was overseas, Jason was joined by Sarah Sheppard (executive producer of RUIN MY LIFE, co-host of ANDREW NINJA WARRIOR) in a viewing of Harry Potter prequel film FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM. If you would like to know how it feels to watch a movie with Jason and Sarah, or if you want to hear an extremely baffled dissection of the movie's alleged plot, just press 'play' on this special bonus episode at the very beginning of the film and let the good times roll. NOTE: this commentary was recorded before the release of FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD and therefor does not touch on many of the questions raised by that film. That's a discussion best left for another episode.

Stephanie Walker returns to the show to help us dissect HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, wherein Harry Potter once again finds a very helpful book and learns about the life of Tom Riddle. Complete with bookended facial injuries, sick blade moves, and the greatest clap-back in the history of the wizarding world.

In the fifth installment of our limited series event thing, we chat Order of the Phoenix with David Hohwald. We try a new summarization technique (to great effect!); we discuss the macroeconomics (or lack thereof?)of the wizarding world; moody teenage emo Harry is the best Harry, all the other Harrys can ho home.

Jason and Kelsey are joined by returning guest, Katie Warden, who guides them through the very lengthy fourth and middle installment of the Harry Potter Septology. Highlights: Large swaths of time devoted to S.P.E.W. We all stan Alastor Moody. A debate: Is Bill Weasley cool?

Podcaster extraordinaire Meghan Griffin joins Kelsey and Jason for a long, strange trip through HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, perhaps the most widely-beloved book in a series that many have called 'fairly popular.' NOTE: the recording of this episode was plagued by technical issues both minor and major, let's say because of a Dementor or a Boggart, or something. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Kelsey and Jason are joined by special first-time guest Tara Nadolny for a lovingly in-depth retelling of HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, complete with critical analysis, burning questions, and an unnervingly long debate over whether or not muggles are inferior to wizards. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE: this is one episode you don't want to miss! What? No? Yeah, you're right. Even as I was saying it, I was like, maybe not.

Jason and Kelsey discuss HARRY POTTER & THE PHILOSOPHER (SORCERER?)'S STONE on the first episode of their prestige-format multi-part limited-event maxi-series.

It's the Ruin My Life 50th Anniversary Spectacular! Jason and Kelsey take a look back at the previous 50 episodes and provide updates on some of their favorite topics.

Kelsey takes Jason on a metaphorical voyage through TRAVEL MAN, a television program about the non-metaphorical voyages of British comedian Richard Ayoade.

EGHCK! Jason takes Kelsey on a trip through the life and times of the 21st century's premiere drug-rap virtuoso, Pusha T, then tries to answer an age-old question: what's beef?

Kelsey brightens Jason's life with the musical stylings of Audra Mae, singer-songwriter extraordinaire and creator of American fiction's most unforgettably charming rapscallion, Jebediah Moonshine.

The once and future guest Morgan Stewart returns to spread the gospel of The Monkees' 1968 psychedelic career-killing cult film HEAD. What follows is an hour-long conversation about the 1960's counter-culture, the sad trappings of fame, and the limits of post-modernism. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Jason makes Kelsey a mixtape and tries to explain the sublime genius of singer-songwriter Mike Doughty. Alas, as the songwriting team of Pasek and Paul famously put it, words fail -- but, like, that's why we've got music, man. Listen to the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrgeWoAUk1H3EPABOaOvVHRj5-LXSZN-b

Kelsey and Jason take a trip down south to attend the 144th Kentucky Derby! And then it rains. A lot.