So There!

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Hosted by Gary Doyle and Tom Keramidas, two advertising executives from Chicago, “So There!” attempts to plumb the depths and solve the mysteries of the inexplicable human behaviors we witness every day – from elevator irritants to commuter misbehavers to men who loiter nude in locker rooms for hou…

Gary Doyle and Tom Keramidas


    • Jul 1, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 58 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from So There!

    Episode 58 - The Handicapped Stall Is My Happy Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2023 24:21


    Tom and Gary regale their global listenership with tales of terrible summer jobs, overly descriptive ads, and yet more discussion about bathrooms. Plus a truly epic viewer mail submission.

    Episode 57 - "Listen To 'So There!' LISTEN TO IT!!!"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 26:41


    Gary and Tom assess public-bathroom-stall behavior, people who like to be close to other people, nonsensical car taglines, places where you feel like a total schmuck, and their never-ending bafflement with advertisers that use nouns as verbs. Plus they plumb the depths (or lack thereof) of the Scott's "Scot" guy.

    Episode 56 - "It's Ford Truck Month, Mr. Loaf"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 36:13


    In a wide-ranging pod, Tom and Gary tackle months that only exist in advertisers' minds, song lyrics that are more meaningful than you think, inane tag lines for cars, disturbing waiter behavior, Tom's magical shoe-size-guessing ability and more.

    Episode 55 - "Angie/we can't say we never tried/to find a good plumber"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2023 28:39


    Gary and Tom assess the Oscar best picture nominees, exploding fist bumps & other advertising tropes that need to die, TV weathercasters who fancy themselves God, and more.

    Episode 54 - A.I. Loves "So There!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2023 33:02


    Tom and Gary share a glowing review of the pod (and Tom) from a robot. Plus they assess the dreaded spinning iPad of tipping, company names formed from two words mashed into one, and odd Facebook-friend connections.

    Episode 53 - Happy Holidays From the "So There!" Cabin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 37:15


    From the north woods of Minnesota, Tom and Gary tackle advertisers' ongoing usage of nouns as verbs, why Burger King ads in fact don't rule, excessive holiday light decorations, maudlin montages, why Snickers no longer satisfies, and more. Literally!

    Episode 52 - It's Only Worth It If You Enjoy "So There!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 31:12


    Gary and Tom assess nonsensical tag lines, the trend of consumers singing in commercials, Facebook humblebrags and various other annoyances. Plus some stellar mail from listeners, and a free ad idea for the nonexistent American Grape Board.

    Episode 51 - "I'm A Doctor, And I Will NOT Drink Mr. Pibb Dammit!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 27:36


    Tom and Gary plumb the depths of Mr. Pibb, why pirates talk the way they do, puzzling workplace-bathroom behaviors, and more adland-language tomfoolery.

    Episode 50 - It's The Big Five-Oh!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 60:25


    We never thought we'd make it this far (and neither did you), but here we are. In this very special episode, Gary and Tom broadcast live from Party City in Vernon Hills, where they go on and on about advertisers' continued misuse of words, annoying songs that get stuck in your head, and much more. Plus special contributions from guest legends Pete Stacker, Chris Plansker and John Binder!

    Episode 49 - Embrace The Hole

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 30:50


    Tom and Gary assess AT&T's spokeswoman Lily, our Oscar picks and why people will do anything a parking sign says. Plus a disturbing interpretation of the Air BnB logo.

    Episode 48 - Few Things In Life Are More Exciting Than Ads Set In Space, Or Explosive Diarrhea In A Porta-John

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 25:01


    In this pre-Super Bowl episode, Gary and Tom assess the oddness of State Farm commercials, Big Game ad tropes, and words only used on football broadcasts. Plus Tom's befuddlement at graffiti (as well as Gary's fear of it), and actual evidence of people who enjoy our pod.

    Episode 47 - Season's Greetings From The So There! Cabin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 25:04


    Gary & Tom deliver holiday cheer from the north woods of Minnesota in the form of million-dollar marketing ideas, advertising's odd use of nouns as verbs, irritating celebrities, and Christmas songs they decree to be bad or good, for goodness' sakes.

    Episode 46 - Behold The Splendor That Is My Driveway

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 28:25


    Gary and Tom ruminate on Thanksgiving, the Arby's "We have the meats" guy, and people who feel the need to light up their driveway, trees and home exterior at night. Plus a tribute to Gary's late father-in-law.

    Episode 45 - We Could Not Be More Baffled By Man Bras

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 36:48


    In the latest installment of Conversations With Legends, legendary karaoke performer and Philip Michael Thomas charmer Anne Ramsburg joins Gary and Tom in assessing men who wear sports bras, the oddness of airline neck pillows, the unwritten rules of karaoke and how people hyperbolize absolutely everything!!!!

    Episode 44 - Wild Dogs Cry Out In The Night For "So There!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 26:11


    Tom and Gary tackle the peculiarities of Olympic swimming, anthem television commercials, what life might be like at Gary's dream agency, and delusional little bike people who dress like Lance Armstrong.

    Episode 43 - Not Even Mad Men Wore Top Hats and Galoshes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 29:55


    Tom and Gary celebrate Father's Day by reflecting on their issues with PBS pledge drives, coworkers' odd compulsion to send all their emails at 5 pm, and why certain neighborhoods have no sidewalks. Plus an unusually thoughtful viewer mail submission.

    Episode 42 - The Solo Album Review

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 33:39


    Ad legend Bob Akers renders a verdict on whose solo-album podcast was better, Gary or Tom's. Neither emerge unscathed -- but there is one unanimous victor. So there.

    Episode 41 - Gary Doyle's Tragic and Triumphant Celebrity Encounters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2021 43:39


    In his solo episode of the pod, Gary talks about the many celebrities he has met and interacted with over the course of his lifetime, from Barack Obama to Bruce Springsteen to Jerry Seinfeld and many, many more. Plus stick around until the end to hear about Gary's epic humiliation by Florence Henderson of "The Brady Bunch".

    Episode 40 - Tom Keramidas: All By Myself

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2021 25:50


    Tom flies solo and ultimately crashes. But not before some quick stopovers to visit out-of-control tipping, golf course disc jockeys, and a giant fight he once had with...Gary Doyle.

    Episode 39 - Flim-Phlegm

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 29:38


    Even though Gary Doyle is sick, he's very sick, he and Tom rise above to offer their thoughts on March Madness ads, various cyber irritations, and ad ideas they would graciously gift to Weight Watchers and Nissan if so asked. Plus: they tease their eagerly anticipated upcoming solo album project.

    Episode 38 - It's Laughter And It's Loving I Disdain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 34:50


    Tom and Gary tackle their neighbors' peculiar lawn decorations, the unwrittten rules for men who wear professional sports jerseys, the brilliant bafflement of Progressive commercials, and emasculating car experiences.

    Episode 37 - It's Time To Get Dicked!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 29:00


    In a potty-mouthed episode of “So There!”, Tom and Gary gift a genius ad campaign to Dick’s Sporting Goods. We also tackle Steve Nicks (not literally), Q-Anon, people named F----, overcompensating bicyclist-avoiders, neighbors we do and don’t like, and recycling bafflement.

    Episode 36 - A Christmas gift even better than two new GMC trucks!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2020 36:35


    In a Christmas Day stocking stuffer for their 12 listeners, Gary and Tom volley "I Decrees" and "I Wonder Whys" back and forth like two aging tennis players. Plus viewer mail!

    Episode 35 - "Nobody has a sixth finger, some people have four fingers" and other observations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020 28:30


    In their latest ramble-fest, Tom and Gary talk about their Covid-testing adventures, ad campaigns that flummox them, the tyranny of "right?", and useless things people spend money on.

    Episode 34 - A Conversation With Legends

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 58:29


    Tom and Gary welcome advertising titans Ned Crowley, Global Chief Creative Officer at mcgarrybowen, and Bob Akers, Global Professor of Advertising at Loyola University. Ned and Bob tackle such topics as the whys of our declining listenership, celebrity humiliations, flossing, recycling, rectal bleeding, and whether a bug (unlike a man) has a soul.

    legends advertising ned loyola university global chief creative officer
    Episode 33 - Let's All Pandemic And Summer Terrifically

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 24:28


    Gary and Tom discuss the more pressing matters of our time, including the persistent use of nouns as verbs in ads, and the inexplicable popularity of signs on homes. Plus the return of I Decree, and a cry to help So There!

    Episode 32 - This Could Be A Game Changer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 25:45


    Gary and Tom double down about sign-language translators, the true meaning of Independence Day, and a reality TV show idea that will make someone very rich.

    Episode 31 - Fecal Disasters We Have Known

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2020 29:07


    Gary and Tom tackle bathroom-stall fails, the apparent magnetism of Trident gum, our love theme if we had one, and the fact that, through it all, we are in this together. Plus: the triumphant return of "Meat Boat"!

    Episode 30 - Tom and Gary Get Serious and Real

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 26:02


    In a misguided attempt to boost their listenership, Tom and Gary morosely tackle the most urgent issues of this strange time we're in, like what celebrity we wish we were friends with, what to say to a dead person on Facebook, and what the hell is an Acura. Plus mouth trumpet!

    Episode 29 - This Is How We Shelter

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 31:25


    Tom and Gary return to enhance the place where you shelter and calm your Covid-19 nerves with an invitation to come bathe in the healing light of “So There!” The water’s warm – climb on in the tub.

    Episode 28 - The Restaurant Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2020 34:55


    Gary, Tom and a very special guest expert on the topic pontificate about everything involving restaurants, and what eats at them about the whole experience.

    Episode 27 - Things that Make You Die a Little Inside

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2020 27:42


    Tom and Gary talk about the things that slowly kill them, and all of us: insidious mobile-provider messages, the unpleasantness of grocery-store pleasantries, Super Bowl ads. Plus we offer flaming-hot Oscar takes, viewer mail and an intriguing preview for an upcoming episode.

    Episode 26 - A Holiday Singalong From the So There Cabin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2019 24:05


    Gary and Tom return to their rustic one-bedroom cabin deep in the Minnesota woods, with a very special guest: Jane from New Jersey. Jane treats us to some singing of hers, while we torture Jane with some (air quotes) “singing” of ours.

    Episode 25 - The Filibuster Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2019 66:27


    Tom and Gary test your patience and your endurance with a very special extended-play episode of the pod. We decree you will love it, unless you don’t.

    Episode 24 - The Truth Hurts, Unless it Means A Free Domino's Pizza

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2019 22:44


    On the eve of the 2019 NFL season, Gary and Tom tackle would-be player nicknames and tearjerker football movies. Plus: the intriguing relationship of the Sonic guys, and viewer mail.

    Episode 23 - Viewer Mail From All 6 Of Our Viewers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 19:09


    In the most explicit "So There!" episode yet, Gary and Tom field mail from our small but witty and engaged listenership. Also: interstate observations, backpack women and how in the end, we all end up on the Mongolian side.

    Episode 22 – Stalking the Elusive LiMu

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 21:43


    In which Tom and Gary discuss the maniacal branding of the Liberty Mutual advertising, people who spit on the street, puzzling TV-commercial tropes and the existential humiliation of outlet malls. Plus a teaser of a very special upcoming episode.

    Episode 21 - It’s Been a Cold Spring, But It’s Warm Where You’re Touching Me

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2019 23:26


    It’s been months since our last pod, but this will make it well worth the wait: awkward karaoke songs, whining about wine, pretentious city pronunciations and thoughts on those inane Matthew McConaughey Lincoln commercials.

    Episode 20 - Flatulence Force Fields And Fat Guys On A Frozen Lake? Freak Yeah!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2019 22:17


    Gary and Tom reveal trenchant truths about the Oscars, fake farms, Wisconsin, and gastro-intestinal distress at 40,000 feet.

    Episode 19 - Super Bowl, or Stupor Bowl, Amiright?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 26:24


    Even with one of them in a diminished mental state, Tom and Gary still deliver the Super Bowl ad review against which all others shall be judged. Also, a loving “So There Redux”, and a bundled up “I Wonder Why”.

    Episode 18 - Feel Alive, Because Man Has A Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2018 23:03


    Tom and Gary return from their two month hiatus with trenchant, witty observations on the many inane advertisements populating the airwaves at this time. Also: I Wonder Why, a condor, and a particularly thoughtful and observational viewer mail.

    Episode 17 - Stick Your Hand Into the So There! Grab Bag

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2018 25:37


    In this, the 17th and most free-wheeling episode of the pod, Gary re-asserts his creative leadership, while Tom points out that Gary still uses a feces-fouled phone. Plus, the history of thermo-nuclear fusion, the truth about how women dress, and annoyingly truncated words.

    Episode 16 - You Give Us 26 Minutes, We'll Give You The World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2018 26:01


    In an episode filled to the brim with fascination, Tom, Gary and special guest and foremost global expert Sara Wolfson explore the influence of "So There" on China, Great Britain, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, Mexico and Italy -- just a few of the countries where we have listeners. Plus, why we might or might not eat a cat, a piece of very special celebrity viewer mail, and a three-way version of "I Decree".

    Episode 15 - Karaoke Commandments and Arby's Embarrassments

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2018 19:41


    In typically disjointed fashion, Gary and Tom somehow link the non-existent sax solo in "My Sharona", belligerent Arby's cashiers, and asexual neck massages. Plus: uncontrollable, involuntary laughter!

    Episode 14 - Our Favorite Fatwas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2018 20:31


    In today's pod, Tom and Gary ruminate on those who deserve the sentence of death, and proven Metra ticket-paying-avoidance gambits. Plus "So There" redux!

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    Episode 13 - Prevnar 13: Distant Sun or Anal Leakage Pill?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2018 19:25


    Today, Gary and Tom delve into the insane price discrepancy between women's and men's haircuts, jowly automobile-dealer spokesmen, and bizarre names for pharmaceutical drugs. Plus viewer mail, a potential transgender-person social experiment, and a theremin!

    pill anal leakage distant sun prevnar
    Episode 12 - The Games of the Tom and Gary Olympiad

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2018 25:27


    In perhaps the most inane episode of the pod, Tom and Gary talk about the numerous competitions they’ve had over the years. Plus Tom’s fear and loathing of his neighbors, songs about directors, and viewer mail.

    Episode 11 - Making People Uncomfortable is a Good Gambit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2018 19:35


    In the latest and perhaps shaggiest episode of the pod, Tom and Gary ruminate on their fear of artificial intelligence, intolerable exit-row behavior, and squirm-inducing elevator gambits. Plus listener mail!

    Episode 10 - It's a Blue Christmas at the "So There!" Cabin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2017 20:51


    What begins as a heartwarming Christmas edition of the pod goes off the rails into risqué territory, as Tom and Gary discuss reindeer sex, Sybaris and share provocative viewer mail. Plus: odd smells we like, the abject humiliation of Lexus “December to Remember” commercials, and signs you’re overdoing your Christmas lights.

    Episode 9 - Optimized To Leverage Maximum Organic Equity

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2017 18:14


    As the end of the year approaches, Gary and Tom are inspired to pose the big questions: why are all the words people use to sound smart three syllables? When did sponsorships on sports broadcasts become so gratuitous? Are emery boards manly? And what should one never say when one says they’re sick? Also: more things we would decree if we were king.

    Episode 8 - Ghosts Are Real, And So Are the Big 3 of Semi-Involuntary Expectorations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2017 19:22


    In the latest episode of the pod, Gary and Tom babble aimlessly about showoff-y bilingual local newscasters, how Halloween became National Streetwalker Day, and why the yawn is the most benign expectoration of them all.

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