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Welcome to This! ... was Digital Watches Are a Pretty Neat Idea. This! is a podcast about all things Douglas Adams, author of the wholly remarkable book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Jeff and Bryan are just these guys, y’know? They have been friends for almost 30 years. Tune in the first Thursday of every month when Jeff and Bryan will examine and discuss his books,  sequels, and spin-offs in all forms of media. HOUSEKEEPING The following are links to all Jeff’s Hitchhiker’s referenced or inspired t-shirt designs… Digital Watches Podcast Panicking Is a Choice Hearing Protection Recommended Ask a Glass State the Obvious Don't Panic The Answer Explained Genuine People Personality Play to Lose Oh No, Not Again Strange Usage of the Word Safe If You Fall, I'll Be There (black design) If You Fall, I'll Be There (white design) Telephone SanitizerDon't Panic (original)

Jeff Lesnik & Bryan Campbell


    • May 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 77 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from This! ...was Digital Watches Are a Pretty Neat Idea

    There Are More Issues: Volume 2, Issue 3 - DGHDA:ASTS

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 35:31


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: A Spoon Too Short by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 2, Issue 3 of the five issues in this series. For a more complete experience, you can view the pages along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/zkt6sDNw7y8This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 2, Issue 2 - DGHDA:ASTS

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 33:22


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: A Spoon Too Short by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 2, Issue 2 of the five issues in this series. For a more complete experience, you can view the pages along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/KSVZNJlAIcsThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 2, Issue 1 - DGHDA:ASTS

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 39:49


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: A Spoon Too Short by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 2, Issue 1 of the five issues in this series. For a more complete experience, you can view the pages along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/7jwbc1bTOcYThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Live on Stage!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 62:50


    Send us a textA local theater company in the Chicagoland suburbs is performing Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, the Play. Once I knew it existed I had to see it. Though the play itself has its disconnects, the performance of the cast was outstanding. Any fan of Douglas Adams needs to see this and should start following a random stranger because you just might end up there.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 1, Issue 5 - DGHDA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 40:30


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 1, Issue 4 of the five issues in this set. For a more complete experience, you can view along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/6cn_wE5WvsYThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 1, Issue 4 - DGHDA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 40:37


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 1, Issue 4 of the five issues in this set. For a more complete experience, you can view along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/23WJc0kntqQThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 1, Issue 3 - DGHDA

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 52:38


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 1, Issue 3 of the five issues in this set. For a more complete experience, you can view along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/hGbWs1GU53AThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 1, Issue 2 - DGHDA

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 45:21


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 1, Issue 2 of the five issues in this set. For a more complete experience, you can view along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/B-yuVSuiNjEThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are More Issues: Volume 1, Issue 1 - DGHDA

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 42:11


    Send us a textOnce again Jeff and Bryan are doing a deep dive into the comic book world. This time they are tackling Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by IDW. This episode will cover Volume 1, Issue 1 of the five issues in this set. For a more complete experience, you can view along with us on our YouTube channel at the following link... https://youtu.be/v-eKt1ICtPgThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Boats, Trains, and Automobiles - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 80:46


    Send us a textJeff and Bryan discuss the second half of the second season of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency from BBC America. And just when you thought it could not get any weirder...This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Boats, Trains, and Automobiles - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 68:18


    Send us a textJeff and Bryan discuss the first half of the second season of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency from BBC America. And just when you thought it could not get any weirder...This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Almost, But Not Quite, Entirely Unlike Dirk Gently - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 81:47


    Send us a textAnd now for more of something completely different. Jeff and Bryan discuss the the second half of the 2016 season of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. They both found it quite a departure from the depiction of the character in the novels.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Almost, But Not Quite, Entirely Unlike Dirk Gently - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 91:27


    Send us a textAnd now for something completely different. Jeff and Bryan discuss the the first half of the 2016 season of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. They both found it quite a departure from the depiction of the character in the novels.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Note Free Reviewing Season Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 53:00


    Send us a textJeff and Bryan look back at season three of the podcast. Jeff also talks about two additional conventions he attended after the recording of the convention episode.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Dirk Gently on TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 94:03


    Send us a textIn December, 2010, the pilot for a Dirk Gently TV series was aired. Fifteen months later, a three episode season was released. Jeff and Bryan explain and discuss these episodes to see how they are interconnected with the books.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Long Dark BBC

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 64:14


    Send us a Text Message.Jeff and Bryan discuss Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, the follow up radio drama to Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective agency. Both seemed to agree that simplifying the story for this medium actually improved it. This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Holistic Phase

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 48:25


    Send us a Text Message.Twenty tears after the novel was published, BBC Radio 4 turned it into a radio series. Jeff and Bryan discuss this version of Douglas Adams' story and how such a complicated plot can be reduced down to sound effects and dialogue.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    The Salmon of Doubt in The Salmon of Doubt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 56:16


    Send us a Text Message.Jeff and Bryan finally finish their discussion of the last quarter of the Salmon of Doubt which contains the unfinished novel Douglas Adams was working on at the time of his death. If you thought the first two Dirk Gently novels were bizarre, just wait.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Three Cons in a Row

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 105:47


    Send us a Text Message.It is that time of year again where Jeff and Bryan get to go to comic and entertainment conventions. This year there were three conventions in three consecutive weeks. Once again they will tell about all the fun and excitement that was had.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Don't Pick It Up, Pick It Up, Pick It...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 101:16


    Jeff and Bryan discuss and try to figure out why what is happening is happening in the second Dirk Gently novel, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    The Fundamental Interconnectedness of All Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 104:56


    Brush up on your early 19th century English literature before reading Dirk Gently's holistic Detective Agency. Jeff and Bryan got more than they bargained for tackling this book. Hear what they think and how they pieced together this intricate plot.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Three Quarters of The Salmon of Doubt

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 59:29


    The Salmon of Doubt is the title of the unfinished third Dirk Gently novel or the Sixth Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novel depending on who you talk to and when you talk to them. It is also the title of a curated collection of writings published after the death of Douglas Adams. The aforementioned Salmon of Doubt is contained in this volume. We will not be discussing it. We are going to talk about most everything else in the book except it. But do not fear. We will circle back to it in a few episodes.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Introducing Jiffy Kneelers and Barnacle Blimp - LCtS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 79:18


    Jiffy and Barnacle... I mean Jeff and Bryan are taken on a  journey to the far corners of the Earth to learn about some of the most endangered animals in the world as they discuss Douglas Adams' novel Last Chance to See.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Peter Jackson Is Smaller Than I Thought

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 62:09


    This time, Jeff and Bryan are taken on a  journey to the far corners of the Earth to learn about some of the most endangered animals in the world as they discuss the BBC TV program Last Chance to See. It again features Mark Carwardine. But this time he is accompanied by Stephen Fry.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    I Don't Remember Arthur Driving a Blue Volvo Estate

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 74:15


    Jeff and Bryan unknowingly strayed outside of BBC Productions and were surprised when they listened to Apocryphal Phase, a Planet Skaro production. This six-episode serial tested the limits of their endurance, tolerance, and patience.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    All Praises To Dirk Maggs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 85:46


    Jeff and Bryan discuss Hexagonal Phase, the sixth installment of the BBC radio series. This one is based off the book ...And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer. Jeff and Bryan both agreed that this story benefitted greatly from a severe abridgement. They also give all the credit to the writer who adapted this story for radio.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Loose Ends

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 90:04


    Jeff and Bryan clean up some loose ends as they look back over season 2. They also talk about how they discovered they do not actually have "every word" of the novels memorized as well as they thought they should.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    ... And Another... And Another Guide Note

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 87:15


    This is the second half of the discussion Jeff and Bryan had about ...And Another Thing, Eoin Colfer's addition of a 6th novel in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    ... And Another Guide Note

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 100:38


    This is the first half of the discussion Jeff and Bryan had about ...And Another Thing, Eoin Colfer's addition of a 6th novel in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 3, Issue 3 - LtUaE

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 51:20


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 3, Issue 3 of the Life, the Universe, and Everything comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 3 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/WxVtB4quUusThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 3, Issue 2 - LtUaE

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 54:00


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 3, Issue 2 of the Life, the Universe, and Everything comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 2 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/6sZUE6gFPdIThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 3, Issue 1 - LtUaE

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 60:04


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 3, Issue 1 of the Life, the Universe, and Everything comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 1 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/EDZKBArL3f0This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Un-Con-Ventional - Independence Day Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 31:25


    Bryan tells of the experience he had at FanEXPO Philadelphia and tells his own story involving a raffle ticket. The prizes were so nice, very tasteful, and he was sure to like them.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    This Is 42

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 47:55


    Jeff and Bryan have scoured the Internet looking for answers about the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. Here is what they found. And what could be a better episode to talk about the number 42 than episode 43?This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 2, Issue 3 - RatEotU

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 64:54


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 2, Issue 3 of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 3 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/WodfSIDMAnkThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues - Volume 2, Issue 2 - RatEotU

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 56:45


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 2, Issue 2 of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 2 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/5m3RJfckWwUThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 2, Issue 1 - RatEotU

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 57:14


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 2, Issue 1 of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe comic book. Well, actually it is Volume 1, Issue 1 but I hope you understand the reasoning for wanting to renumber them for the podcast. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/Sb5dcMio52sThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 1, Issue 3 - HHGttG

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 60:24


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 1, Issue 2 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comic book. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/bQcf7PwfILwThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 1, Issue 2 - HHGttG

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 57:38


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 1, Issue 2 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comic book. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/m0Fv83oggcgThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    There Are Issues: Volume 1, Issue 1 - HHGttG

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 58:16


    Jeff and Bryan look at, describe, and discuss Volume 1, Issue 1 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comic book. Here is a link to this episode in our YouTube channel where you can see what they are seeing... https://youtu.be/OpG6xo842gQThis has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Little Tidy or Big Happy, a Bow Nonetheless - Easter Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 35:12


    The final eleven and a half minutes of Quintessential Phase flipped everything on its head. So much so that Jeff and Bryan decided to devote an entire episode to it.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    A Little More and a Little Less at the Same Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 58:12


    Jeff and Bryan discuss Quintessential Phase, the fifth installment of the BBC radio series. This one is based off the book Mostly Harmless. Unlike the first two radio series, which were original productions, this one, like the third and fourth, is adapted from the existing material. Jeff and Bryan will discuss and debate this adaptation... until the end where they had to hit pause and digest what they just heard.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Questionable Answers to MH - St. Patrick's Day Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 58:15


    It has been  said about this series of books that it can be inconsistent and contradictory. Like they did after The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, and So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, Jeff is going ask Bryan to clarify some of the questions he had after reading Mostly Harmless.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Temporary Reverse Bloody-­Whatsiting - MH Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 67:25


    Jeff and Bryan continue their discussion of Mostly Harmless, Douglas Adams' fifth and final novel in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    *NSFW* Squirrel Stories - Valentine's Day Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2023 79:24


    Since we needed a bonus Bonus Episode and Random, Arthur, and Ford were approached by squirrels with offerings in the forest and since my brother, John, and I REALLY like telling our squirrel stories, here is an episode of squirrel stories. In the tradition of our previous Valentine's Day Bonus Episode, like The Guide, Mk. II, we have no filters and have not censored our language and the dirty jokes fly.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Get a Beach House - MH Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 72:41


    Jeff and Bryan begin their discussion of Mostly Harmless, Douglas Adams' fifth and final novel in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Playing It Safe - New Year Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 39:31


    In 1986 a short story called Young Zaphod Plays It Safe was included in a charitable book titled The Utterly Utterly Merry Comic Relief Christmas Book. Jeff and Bryan discuss this piece of political satire and try to determine if it includes some comic relief or if it is utterly relieved of comedy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    In a Quandary - Imagine That

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 66:15


    Jeff and Bryan discuss Quandary Phase, the fourth installment of the BBC radio series. This one is based off the book So Long and Thanks for All the Fish. Unlike the first two radio series, which were original productions, this one, like the third, is adapted from the existing material. Jeff and Bryan will talk about different explanations to explain the unexplainable.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    Questionable Answers to SLaTfAtF - Christmas Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 52:43


    It has been  said about this series of books that it can be inconsistent and contradictory. Like they did after The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and Life, the Universe and Everything, Jeff is going ask Bryan to clarify some of the questions he had after reading So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    The Fourth Book of the Trilogy - SLaTfAtF

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 79:34


    Jeff and Bryan discuss So Long and Thanks for All the Fish,  Douglas Adams' fourth novel in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to Poetry - Thanksgiving Bonus Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 48:57


    Jeff and Bryan present and discuss the poetry that appears and is mentioned in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series of books. They even attempt to interpret Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz's torture poem that was read to Arthur and Ford. All this leads up to a special reading of a poem written by Douglas Adams when he was 17 years old.This has been a Froods for Thought production.

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