Podcasts about Maximum Fun

The title of Elizabeth Roberts' new book, In Praise of Addiction, is likely to catch your attention, maybe even set off some cognitive dissonance in your mind. But the University of Michigan's Elizabeth Roberts doesn't want you to be unhealthy or take up new habits that can hurt you and others, she just wants you to consider that maybe we haven't been looking at addiction with the clearest of eyes. Why are some substances and habits tolerated and others scorned, their users told by society to abstain and isolated until they do? In her time living in Mexico, she noticed a big difference between people who drank or did drugs to cut themselves off from society versus those who used substances to connect with one another. She offers her analysis on how this was impacted by NAFTA and the War on Drugs in Mexico and puritanism and capitalism in the United States. This is a complicated issue but it's pretty healthy to challenge assumptions and to take a look at how those assumptions came to be established in the first place. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. This weekend we're ready to crown a brand new pair of royalty in WWE– it's Night of Champions and the finale to the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. These tournaments have not been effectively organized however; and no matter what happens or who wins, we have severe concerns. The Main Event: The New Bloodline Ever since Roman Reigns became a world champion once again, the latest chapter of the Bloodline has taken center stage once again. And if you love Roman and his family drama, that's great! But if you're aching for a change in the direction of WWE that is not so great. The Three Count: Danielle put over Lucha Underground's (sort of) return. Lindsey put over Cathy Kelley and (fka) Dakota Kai watching Love Actually on TikTok. Hal put over the obvious. Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Brea and Mallory check in on their 2026 reader goals! Plus, they give advice on talking about distressing books, and recommend books with Black authors. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership! Join us here!Sci Fi Rex for Dads and Husbands   Books Mentioned -  Molka by Monika Kim The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

Marc is Jewish, and Marianne is Catholic. Together with their extended family (and friends!) they celebrate a LOT of holidays. The dispute? When a holiday falls in the middle of the week, as many Jewish holidays do, Marc would prefer to celebrate them on a Saturday night instead, so more of their loved ones can join. But Marianne says no! It's not kosher! Who's right? Thanks to reddit user u/lexfri for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! ---Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

What's better: Comedy or Drama? WE GOT THIS. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinwgt

British-born, LA-based author and illustrator Gemma Correll had a couple of reasons to choose  the motif of an amusement park for her new anxiety book, Anxietyland. One, she loves amusement parks and wanted to be able to write off a Disneyland trip as a research expedition. And also, there are so many great metaphors to be found there like emotional rollercoasters and a worry-go-round. With hilarious candor, Gemma shares her own story about fearing coyotes would eat her pets (there are no coyotes in England), taking endless flights of stairs to avoid elevators, and dealing with alcohol, who becomes a friend but not, ultimately, a good one. Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is, to put it mildly, a skeptic of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication, a form of meds that millions of Americans use regularly with tremendous benefit. He was once on SSRIs, went off them, then became addicted to heroin, and he believes these events are linked. He also believes they cause school shootings and cause harm to developing fetuses. There is no evidence to support this. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat who represents the 6th district in Oregon in the House of Representatives, joins us to unpack Kennedy's latest efforts to curtail SSRI use and availability and what her minority party is doing to answer the threat. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. It's a special bonus conversation in honor of the 3 day weekend; when Lindsey was gone, AAA had El Noche do Los Grandes! It was the blowoff mask vs. mask match the cemented Ludwig Kaiser's popularity in Mexico as the new Americano, returned Chad Gable to his original self and is now a contender for match of the year.  So why exactly was it so great? And what do we expect to happen next? Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

It's trivia with some Very Important People on Go Fact Yourself!  For years Timothy Simons was known for playing the deeply unpleasant character Jonah Ryan on the HBO series “Veep.” He'll tell us what it's like to finally play a nice guy on the Netflix show “Nobody Wants This.” Tim can also be heard on Second in Command: A Veep Rewatch Podcast. Vic Michaelis is an actor and improviser who's a regular presence on Dropout TV. But one of their most proud roles is getting to star in Round and Round; it's a Hallmark holiday movie… and that holiday is Hanukkah. Areas of Expertise: Tim: The TV show “The Wire,” Chicago theater in the early 2000s, and Tiger Woods. Vic: The movie Twister, the 2011 Tony awards, and LEGOs. What's the Difference: Human Beans What's the difference between a humane act and a humanitarian act? What's the difference between soy beans and edamame? With Guest Experts: David Javerbaum: Tony-nominated and Grammy and Emmy-winning writer who co-wrote the opening number to the 2011 Tony awards. Sonja Sohn: Award-winning actor and filmmaker who's known for playing Detective Kima Greggs on “The Wire.” Hosts:  J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: It's always a good time to go to maximumfun.org/joingofact to support this show and get monthly bonus episodes. Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Brea and Mallory rank their favorite and least favorite POVs! Plus they test out ReciproCard and talk about how long they wait to start a new book after finishing the last one. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership! Join us here!ReciproCardSci Fi Rex for Dads and HusbandsChattanooga Film Festival - GrindGlasser Aphantasia Survey Books Mentioned - Westward Women by Alice MartinDead Weight by Hildur Knutsdottir, translated by Mary Robinette KowalThe Great Work by Sheldon Costa Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

Episode 202: Here, After by Joel Kim Booster   This month, Dead Pilots Society welcomes back writer, actor, and comedian Joel Kim Booster, whose pilot Birthright was previously featured on Episode 34. Joel wrote and starred in the hit Hulu movie Fire Island. He was a writer on The Other Two and Big Mouth, and as an actor, you've seen him on Shrill and Search Party.   Joel's pilot Here, After, never actually sold, despite being developed with the companies of Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, and Aidy Bryant. But when Andrew read it, he knew it deserved a place on the podcast.    It is about the unlikely friendship between Ezra, a Gen Z woman trying to make a difference in the world and find her place in it, and Charlie, a caustic, self-absorbed, gay millennial ghost.   Funny, frank, surprisingly moving, and packed with killer jokes, Here, After is a pilot about friendship, purpose, and what happens when a ghost refuses to move on.   The cast for this pilot includes Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island, The Other Two), MItra Jouhari (Digman!, Bigmouth, The Bear), Poppy Liu (Hacks, I Love Boosters!), Charlie Barnett (The Acolyte, Russian Doll), Katherine Bourne Taylor (Bellingham Bay), Lisa Gilroy (Shrinking)   Video of the live table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join.   The next Dead Pilots Society live show is at the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 12th. The show will feature readings of Weekly World News by Michael Colton and John Aboud, and Fan Girl by Claudia Lonow. Go to https://www.elysiantheater.com/ to get your tickets.   And don't forget to check out Andrew's documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at  https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindeadpilots

Tomorrow is Juneteenth here in America, so we're once again taking a listen to Black artists in Eurovision over the years. We're joined by Danielle Radford (Dropout, Tights & Fights) for a second time for this episode, and we've got the perfect way to potentially fool your uncle at the cookout. Jeremy wants to know if anyone's down with the dits and dahs, Dimitry urges you to be his guest, and Danielle wants you to let Black people be mid.  Watch the performances from this week's episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4UJvU9MsRk&list=PLd2EbKTi9fyUv23YAjS1fmSNWZqYNP1MC&pp=sAgC Vote on which themed playlists we should add to our Spotify account: https://forms.gle/qxpM3iy8fVaFQJqb7 Sign up here for your chance to be our listener guest host for our episode all about Irish Eurovision songs. This week's companion playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/30jYQJjvQPOrD0WqFes3a9 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joineurovangelistsEurovangelists is an American Eurovision podcast, made in the US for Eurovision fans worldwide. The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

Michael Sarnoski is forging his own unique path in Hollywood, with projects small (PIG), big (A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE) and somewhere in between, as with his newest film, THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD. Sarnoski's latest stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer and lands in theaters this weekend (June 19, 2026). Sarnoski's creative path -- which has often involved his own unique take on a familar genre or character -- was inspired and fortified as a young man by seeing the work of another singular director taking on a property he loved, and putting his own spin on in: Sam Raimi and Spider-Man, a match made in Marvel Movie heaven. Then, Jordan has one quick thing about all the movies you should see if you loved THE FURIOUS. You can read more at THE ACTION DESK. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinfeelingseen Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production of Maximum Fun. You can watch video editions of our new episodes on our YouTube Channel!Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Erich brings the case against his wife, Allison. When they first started dating, they had a tradition called the "safety kiss." If they were driving anywhere, they would check their seatbelts, secure the dogs, and then kiss each other for safety. They are now expecting their first child. Erich wants to reinstitute the Safety Kiss tradition. But Allison is opposed! She doesn't want to teach her child to be fearful and superstitious. Also: when she kisses Erich, she burps. Who's right? Who's wrong? Thanks to reddit user u/fille_philadelphie for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! ---Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

This is our NEW RELEASE review podcast, ONE HOT TAKE.In Disclosure Day, the details arrive before the explanations, and that turns out to be part of the pleasure.Synopsis:If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?Katie Walsh is a Los Angeles-based film critic, journalist, podcast host, and moderator. She reviews weekly film releases for the Tribune News Service, and the Los Angeles Times, and is a frequent guest host of the Maximum Fun podcast Switchblade Sisters. Her writing has been published in Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Playboy,The Playlist, Nerdist,Slate, The Hairpin, indieWIRE, Women and Hollywood, Town & Country, Movieline, CAP the Magazine, and Nonfics, and she frequently contributes film reviews to KCRW's Press Play with Madeline Brand. She has covered many international film festivals as a critic and reporter, and has moderated dozens of Q&As with filmmakers and actors around LA.Check out Rotten Tomatoes for links to recent reviews.One Heat Minute ProductionsWEBSITE: oneheatminute.comTWITTER: @OneBlakeMinute & @OHMPodsMERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/one-heat-minute-productionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is, to put it mildly, a skeptic of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication, a form of meds that millions of Americans use regularly with tremendous benefit. He was once on SSRIs, went off them, then became addicted to heroin, and he believes these events are linked. He also believes they cause school shootings and cause harm to developing fetuses. There is no evidence to support this. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat who represents the 6th district in Oregon in the House of Representatives, joins us to unpack Kennedy's latest efforts to curtail SSRI use and availability and what her minority party is doing to answer the threat. Then we're joined by journalist Jason Gale, author of the book After Covid: The Health Impacts That Will Last Generations, for an update on the long-term mental health effects of the pandemic's trauma and of long covid. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. Lindsey Kelk is back at last! She'll regale us with tales of her time on tour promoting her alter ego Elle Kelk's newest book Hit or Miss– including how wrestling played a role in her time abroad. The Main Event: The modern versions of King and Queen of the Ring The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments have begun. This is the third year in the rebooted versions of the tournaments that see royalty crowned and sets up the title matches at SummerSlam.  We've had two Kings so far with Gunther and Cody Rhodes; and we've had two Queens with Nia Jax and Jade Cargill. But is this version of a WWE classic working? The Three Count Danielle put over Cardi-B-Hausen. Lindsey put over WWE's little travels around Europe. Hal put over Dom Dom ACTUALLY loving his dad. Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Brea and Mallory discuss whether or not reading is becoming a hobby for rich people! Plus, we solve a book tech problem about the new Libby holds suspension system, and recommend books set in Connecticut. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Sponsors - Storyworthwww.storyworth.com/GLASSES Aura Frameswww.auraframes.com CODE: GLASSES   Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership! Join us here!See Brea's movie in Chattanooga! See Brea's movie in Seoul! Books as Luxury Items   Books Mentioned - Wolf Worm by T. KingfisherA Perfect Hand by Ayelet Waldman A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

It's Pride Month and it simply wouldn't do to not honor the many trailblazing queer artists and their allies that helped push Eurovision forward to greater inclusion and acceptance. We're joined by the UK's own Eurovision superfan and international drag queen, Kiki Babs, to talk about several iconic moments in the Contest's LGBTQI+ history that deserve a little more time in the spotlight. Jeremy appreciates a little intersectionality, Dimitry reveals you don't have to like a song to be an ally, and Kiki wants to be part of that world. Follow Kiki Babs and Candy Venom on Instagram. Watch the performances from this week's episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i87Vm2BOXL4&list=PLd2EbKTi9fyXKd6AdYbGdWD6z5Aj3P6b9&pp=sAgC Vote on which themed playlists we should add to our Spotify account: https://forms.gle/qxpM3iy8fVaFQJqb7 Sign up here for your chance to be our listener guest host for our episode all about Irish Eurovision songs. This week's companion playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wzUPCEHHYOH2R0XDpKe7N Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joineurovangelistsEurovangelists is an American Eurovision podcast, made in the US for Eurovision fans worldwide. The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

The director of DINNER IN AMERICA and CAROLINA CAROLINE has a secret, but it's not hidden under a giant papier maché head. He's spent much of his life as an avid home recorder, generating thousands of songs. There's a direct line between that background and the earworm musical climax of his DINNER IN AMERICA. And when he saw 2014's FRANK, a quirky little movie about a band with no interest in stardom giving their all to recording an album, he saw something familiar in a way he'd never seen on film before (and as a former sensitometry major, he knows a thing or two about film!). Then, Jordan has one quick thing about --- yes, it's finally out! -- THE FURIOUS.   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinfeelingseen Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production of Maximum Fun. You can watch video editions of our new episodes on our YouTube Channel!Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Movie of the Year: 2006Slither The Slither Podcast Brings Body Horror to the 2006 BracketThe Slither podcast episode unleashes the first true horror movie on our Movie of the Year 2006 bracket. After opening the season with Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, the Taste Buds trade metafiction for meteorites. Consequently, things get slimy fast. Ryan, Mike, and Greg welcome producer and festival programmer Drea Clark to dig into James Gunn's gleefully gross directorial debut. Together, the panel asks whether a movie full of alien slugs deserves a deep run in the bracket. Above all, they ask whether Slither has more on its mind than exploding deer and tentacled husbands.About the FilmSlither is a 2006 science fiction horror comedy written and directed by James Gunn. A meteorite crashes outside the small town of Wheelsy, South Carolina, carrying an alien parasite. The parasite infects wealthy local Grant Grant, played with squirming brilliance by Michael Rooker. Soon, Grant transforms into a tentacled monster, and slug-like creatures spread through the town. Meanwhile, police chief Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion) and Grant's wife Starla (Elizabeth Banks) try to stop the invasion.Universal released the film on March 31, 2006. Notably, it flopped at the box office, grossing under $13 million against a $15 million budget. However, critics largely embraced it. Roger Ebert praised its Troma-loving spirit in his RogerEbert.com review, and the film became a cult favorite on home video. In addition, it launched the directing career that eventually gave us Guardians of the Galaxy and the new DC Universe.Guest Panelist: Drea ClarkThis week the Taste Buds welcome Drea Clark, a true film industry polymath. Drea co-hosts Maximum Film! on the Maximum Fun network, the long-running movie podcast she shares with film critic Alonso Duralde. Furthermore, her credentials behind the scenes run deep. She has served on the Sundance Film Festival programming team, led narrative feature programming at Slamdance for over a decade, spent ten years with the LA Film Festival, and curated Geena Davis's Bentonville Film Festival. As a producer, her features include The Last Time You Had Fun, Lake Los Angeles, and No Light and No Land Anywhere, the latter executive produced by Miranda July. In short, few guests are better equipped to judge a scrappy genre debut from a first time director.James Gunn as a First-Time FilmmakerBefore Slither, James Gunn was a writer with a strange resume. He cut his teeth at Troma on Tromeo and Juliet, then wrote the live action Scooby-Doo movies and the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake. Consequently, Slither arrived as his first chance to direct his own material. The panel debates what the film reveals about Gunn as a filmmaker. Specifically, they trace the DNA that later shows up in Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, and Superman. The needle drops, the found family of misfits, and the sincere heart under the gross-out gags all start here. Moreover, Drea brings a programmer's eye to the question of how debut features signal a career to come.Sex and Violence on the Slither 2006 PodcastSlither earns its R rating with enthusiasm. The Taste Buds tackle how the film weaponizes both sex and violence, often in the same scene. Grant's infection plays like a grotesque infidelity story, and the alien's reproductive plans push body horror into genuinely uncomfortable territory. However, the violence stays cartoonish enough to keep the comedy alive. The panel asks where Gunn draws that line, and whether the bathtub scene, the barn scene, and that infamous bursting body still shock today. Ultimately, the conversation lands on a bigger question. Does the film use its excess for a purpose, or is the excess the point?Is Slither an Allegory?Every great monster movie smuggles in a meaning, or so the theory goes. Therefore, the panel puts Slither on the couch. Is the film an allegory for toxic marriage, with Grant's transformation literalizing a controlling husband? Is it about small town conformity, as a hive mind absorbs an entire community? By contrast, maybe Gunn simply loves slugs and explosions, and the search for subtext misses the joke. Drea, Ryan, Mike, and Greg each stake out a position. Nevertheless, the debate keeps circling back to Starla, whose arc gives the film its surprising emotional weight.TriviaNo Movie of the Year episode is complete without Trivia. This week's round digs into Slither's production and its B-movie family tree. Expect questions about the practical effects, the casting, and the film's connections to Troma legend Lloyd Kaufman, who cameos in the movie. Additionally, the segment tests whether the panel can untangle Slither from the movies it lovingly rips off, including Night of the Creeps and Shivers. Play along and see if you can outscore the Taste Buds.Dream Blunt RotationNew season, new games. In Dream Blunt Rotation, the panel assembles the ultimate smoke circle from the world of Slither. Which characters make the cut, and which get left outside the garage? Mayor Jack MacReady seems like a chaotic invite, while Bill Pardy might be the chillest hang in Wheelsy. Meanwhile, the conversation drifts toward the cast and crew themselves. Listen to find out who earns a spot in the rotation and whose vibes get vetoed.Awards and RecommendationsThe episode closes with Awards and Recommendations, the segment where the Taste Buds hand out honors to the film's cast, crew, and creatures. Nominees this week range from Michael Rooker's fearless physical performance to the effects team behind the slugs. As a result, expect passionate cases and at least one baffling pick. The winners stay a surprise, so you will have to listen for the results. Afterward, the panel shares recommendations for what to watch next if Slither leaves you hungry for more horror comedy.Why Slither Still MattersTwenty years later, Slither looks like a turning point hiding in plain sight. It kept practical creature effects alive at a moment when Hollywood was abandoning them. Furthermore, it proved that horror comedy could carry real emotion, a balance Gunn has chased ever since. The film's box office failure also tells a story about 2006 itself, a year when audiences ignored a future superstar director. In practice, the Slither podcast episode asks the question this whole season exists to answer. Does cult status and influence make a movie a contender for the best film of 2006? Listen and judge for yourself.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Movie of the Year: 2006 — Intro, Part 1Movies of 2006: The Bracket RevealTristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull StoryAll Movie of the Year episodesFAQ: Slither Podcast and FilmWhat is this episode of the Slither podcast about?Ryan, Mike, and Greg debate whether James Gunn's Slither deserves to advance in the Movie of the Year 2006 bracket. Guest panelist Drea Clark joins to discuss Gunn's debut, the film's sex and violence, and its possible allegories.What is Slither (2006) about?An alien parasite crash-lands near the small town of Wheelsy, South Carolina, and infects a wealthy local named Grant Grant. He mutates into a tentacled monster while slug-like creatures take over the town. A police chief and Grant's wife fight to stop the invasion.Who directed Slither?James Gunn wrote and directed Slither as his feature directorial debut. He later directed the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and now co-runs DC Studios.Who stars in Slither?The cast includes Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, Gregg Henry, and Tania Saulnier, with a small role for Jenna Fischer. Full credits are on IMDb.More Questions from the Slither 2006 PodcastWas Slither a box office success?No. The film grossed under $13 million against a $15 million budget. However, strong reviews and home video sales turned it into a cult classic.Is Slither a remake?No, but it wears its influences proudly. Gunn openly drew on Night of the Creeps, Shivers, The Blob, and the Troma catalog, where he started his career.Who is the guest on this episode?Drea Clark, producer, festival programmer, and co-host of the Maximum Film! podcast on Maximum Fun.Why does Slither still matter?It launched James Gunn's directing career, championed practical effects, and perfected the horror comedy tone that countless films have imitated since. The Slither podcast episode makes the full case.

If you've ever listened to Robyn Hitchcock's music, you know that it can get pretty surrealistic. Some might say divinely bizarre and eclectic. Others might just say weird. All of that's fine with the London-born, Nashville-based artist, who has been putting out music on his own and with The Soft Boys and The Egyptians for half a century. Robyn says he's very happy to be in touch with a world beyond the view of the average human and enjoys communicating that world to the rest of us. Part of it has to do, he says, with being pretty solidly on the spectrum and seeing that not as a hindrance but an opportunity. He tells us about such matters as feathery Mexican serpent gods, polka dot shirts, the lives of Syd Barrett and Roger Barrett, and his partnership with his wife and record label head Emma Swift, who was on our show a few months ago. Our host John Moe is a big Robyn fan and wrote five introductions to this episode. If you want to skip them (and you'd be really missing out), the interview itself begins around [12:13]. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. This week we're joined by our old pal Daron Jackson! For years he worked with WWE Studios, working alongside the monolith to create works with wrestling that you may have seen on Netflix and Peacock. Before we catch up with him, we're going to talk about the AAA show that featured the culmination of Los Grande Americanos– Chad Gable has lost his mask and is back to being himself. We'll talk about what the best way to reintroduce himself would be. Plus, Clash In Italy happened! Brock Lesnar beating Oba Femi was a rough patch for sure; and it was weird seeing Gunther take a loss; but we also got to see the best match of Jade Cargill's career and Sol Ruca win the Intercontinental Title. The Main Event: A is for Armbar Daron is not just a fan of wrestling, he is now a published author. He's written a new children's book for all the little marks in your life: "A is for Armbar" The Three Count Danielle put over Rhea and Charlotte buddies. Daron put over R-Truthers. Hal put over Matt and Chelsea not in Epcot. Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Go Fact Yourself has a step-by-step plan for entertaining trivia! Stacy Keanan is best known for her work on the sitcoms “Step By Step” and “My Two Dads.” As part of her podcast, Keanan and Lakin Give You Déjà Vu, she's watching the former show for the first time. She'll tell us about that and what it's been like transitioning to a new career… as a state prosecutor. Drew Lynch is a comedian who broke through on “America's Got Talent.” He'll tell us how he thought he won before the show even got started. Plus, we'll learn about how he developed a stutter that didn't derail his stand-up career – it helped it flourish. Areas of Expertise: Stacy: Dog breeds, podcasts about shows I don't watch and outdoorsy stuff I don't do, and hot sauce. Drew: The Indianapolis Colts football team, Neil Simon plays, and Pokémon. What's the Difference: Rocket Man What's the difference between a rocket and a missile? What's the difference between an astronaut and a cosmonaut? With Guest Experts: Jake Anthony and Matt Marr: The voices behind the Reality Gays podcast Dwight Freeney: Hall of Fame NFL player and Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts. Hosts:  J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: It's always a good time to go to maximumfun.org/joingofact to support this show and get monthly bonus episodes. Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Brea and Mallory tick off another box on the 2026 Reading Glasses Challenge: try a reading app or gadget. They test out Pagebound! Plus, they give advice on what to do when your library's resources are cut and recommend indigenous fiction. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Sponsor - ZocDocwww.zocdoc.com/GLASSES Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm   To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!  Join us here! Pagebound ReciproCard Books Mentioned -  I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig The Wardrobe Project by Emma Edwards The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline The Peacekeeper by B.L. Blanchard Earthdivers by Stephen Graham Jones and Davide Gianfelice Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

We're now three weeks from the excitement of Vienna and crowning a new winner, so now what the heck do we do? Well, one of our favorite guests, the President of OGAE Ireland, Frank returns with some advice and to discuss Amsterdam's Het Grote Songfestivalfeest, aka, The Big Eurovision Party. Both Dimitry and Frank attended last year's celebration, so if you're needing a Eurovision fix, we've got you covered. Jeremy's dreaming of both heaven & earth, Dimitry asks where are you of certain acts in the broadcast, and Frank discusses his new religion.  Watch the NRK broadcast of Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2025 here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t95XTMX2JGMIZQhXrpdK88Qkm5LkOfGW/view Watch the Dutch broadcast of Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2025 here: https://npo.nl/start/serie/het-grote-songfestivalfeest/afleveringen/seizoen-4_1 Fill out the EBU's Eurofan Voice 2026 survey and let them know what you're thinking: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91094056/Eurofan-Voice-2026 Vote on which themed playlists we should add to our Spotify account: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LdUKjw9GdNMfZUp1AKVY6lQ5QCeL2wZySp2ZbOsWicQ/edit This week's companion playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GZkyJYPQmgmTzshgvsESt Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joineurovangelistsEurovangelists is an American Eurovision podcast, made in the US for Eurovision fans worldwide. The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

Chandler Levack is another of the current class of talented Candian ladies directing fresh, original cinema. Her latest is MILE END KICKS (starring Barbie Ferreira)…and, at the same moment, ROOMMATES, a Happy Madison film starring Sadie Sandler. And she memorably broke onto screen with festival darling I LIKE MOVIES. She joins Jordan to give us a fresh look at our show's most relatable multi-hyphenate, Greta Gerwig. Chandler tells stories inspired by the desire to revisit her own history, and the result (like FRANCES HA or LADYBIRD for Gerwig) is somehow universally relatable.  Then, Jordan has one quick thing about a little movie that could called Blind Cop 2 (read her feature about it from The Action Desk!) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinfeelingseen Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production of Maximum Fun. You can watch video editions of our new episodes on our YouTube Channel!Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Dying to see Judge John Hodgman live? We have the episode for you! We're flashing it back to our live show, ROAD COURT in Los Angeles. Join Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn for the most unhinged, off-the-cuff, wild live show - that also dispenses pure, unadulterated JUSTICE. We are excited to release this never-before-seen episode from our bonus feed to all of our listeners. NIGHT COURT is coming to the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA on June 11th! That's right, New Englanders, you have a chance to experience the all-new live show from Judge John Hodgman at a venue near you. Get your tickets here: https://coolidge.org/events/judge-john-hodgman-night-court Thanks to reddit user u/zabraxuss for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! ---Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

What's the Best Battery? WE GOT THIS. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinwgt

There is no Tom behind TOMS Shoes. It's short for “Tomorrow's.” There is a Blake, however. Blake Mycoskie founded the company in 2006 under the model that for every pair sold, a second pair would be donated to children in the developing world. TOMS took off, which meant years of constant work for Blake, traveling the world telling the TOMS story, and ultimately getting burned out and selling the company. Despite all the snowboarding he could now do, Blake found himself without purpose and lonely (all his friends worked at the company he just quit because those were the only people he had time to see.) His mental health crashed. He became depressed and anxious for the first time ever, considered suicide, and traveled the world trying every kind of treatment he could find. In the end, getting off meds that were wrong for him and good therapy helped him find the core wound that had been driving him all those years and set out to address it. Blake Mycoskie has a new podcast, No Magic Pill, about how people seek to solve their problems. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

This week, our friends Gareth Gwynn and Josh Gondelman join Dave for some seagull voice acting, cryptid PR training, and barber shop themed cocktails. Josh Gondelman would like to plug The Nightly from Hatch, his stand up special Positive Reinforcement, and his Substack and would like to recommend I Want to Burn This Place Down by Maris Kreizman Gareth Gwynn would like to plug I'm So Not Over It and his Edinburgh Fringe show Cyril and recommends Sound Heap here on Maximum Fun. And finally Dave is on Bluesky! Find us on Instagram! Written by Riley Silverman and John-Luke Roberts, recorded at MaxFun HQ in Downtown LA, and produced by Christian Dueñas and Laura Swisher. Join the MaxFun fam: maximumfun.org/join   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinwaters

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. This week we're joined by the incomparable Mark Gagliardi! He's Hal Lublin's podcast partner on “We Got This with Mark and Hal.”  Mark recently got married and decided to celebrate his honeymoon in the best possible way: attending a pro wrestling show. He and his wife attended Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico City. He'll tell us how everything from the stars to the setting to the audience helped him understand professional wrestling at last.  The Main Event Lucha is a big part of wrestling, including the biggest wrestling companies in the world. With Mark now exposed to the value of Lucha first hand, we're going to take a look at the Luchadors of the past and present, including Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Penta and more. The Three Count Danielle put over Cody Rhodes flavored ice cream. Mark put over Titán and his grand Titánes. Hal put over Matt Cardona spotting Chelsea Green in person! Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for  Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Brea and Mallory reveal the secrets of talking about books on the internet. Plus, they solve a problem about a page falling out of a book you borrowed, and recommend ocean-centric books for an aquarium book club. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses   Books Mentioned -My Monster Boyfriend edited by C Spike TrotmanIt Wasn't Meant to be Perfect by Gaelynn Lea Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall Beasts of the Sea by Iida Turpeinen, translated by David Hackston Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

We're decked out in our red carpet finest for our podcast's official awards ceremony: the Eurovangies! It just wouldn't be the end of the Eurovision 2026 season without some new awards, some old favorites, and even a listener postcard or two. Jeremy demands justice for Latvia's second place artist, Dimitry's stumping for his man Boy, and Oscar tells us we all need to Pray.  Watch Kautkaili's "Te un tagad" at Supernova this year on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmdfpyip0CQ  Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joineurovangelistsEurovangelists is an American Eurovision podcast, made in the US for Eurovision fans worldwide. The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

In her third feature (Saccharine, in theaters now and on Shudder in July), Natalie Erika James tackles themes of obsession, disordered eating, and queerness. And while the two movies are VERY different (one a psychological horror, the other a quiet, BAFTA-winning drama), those are all themes Saccharine shares with My Summer of Love, Pawel Pawlikowski's 2004 film that introduced the world to Emily Blunt. Then, Jordan has one quick thing about Jane Schoenbrun's upcoming Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, which just premiered at Cannes. If you or someone you care about is struggling with an Eating Disorder, you can get help by calling the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Hotline at 1-866-662-1235 for advice and emotional support. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinfeelingseen Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production of Maximum Fun. You can watch video editions of our new episodes on our YouTube Channel!Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Trish flushes soup down the toilet! But her friend, Marlow, wants to stop Trish from ever flushing food ever again. Trish says this is a perfectly reasonable way to dispose of soup! Who's right? Who's wrong? NIGHT COURT is coming to the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA on June 11th! Have a dispute that you can't settle? No dispute is too small for the honorable Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn! Submit your cases directly to the court at: maximumfun.org/jjho Thanks to reddit user u/ironymaiden_ for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com! Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/JJH It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee!---Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

Yes, the episode is about a rock singer but it's also about any of us who grind away for the benefit of our work and the detriment of ourselves. The sudden cancellation of the band Sweet Pill's extensive tour promoting their sophomore album Still There's a Glow came as a shock to fans and the press. But it makes total sense given that singer Zayna Youssef had been working herself into the ground with writing, recording, designing merch and album covers and backstage passes, and everything else she could think of to make her band an even bigger success than what their first album brought. Some things she didn't do: be kind to herself, give as much are to herself as she did the new album, or savor the success they had already had. The result was a mental and physical crisis point, a running out of gas on the part of the whole band that made them slam the emergency brake on the prospect of going out on a long tour and working even harder. In a very candid and often very funny interview, Zayna tells us how things got to this point, what she's learned about the grind that can lead to better outcomes down the road, what her new album is ultimately about, and how the now-rescheduled tour will be different. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. There's been a bit of a change in WWE recently– the matches on RAW have been longer and of noticeably higher quality. The cards for the upcoming PLEs (more on that later) are particularly stacked. Dare we say that TKO has released its vice grip on the booking team after WrestleMania failed to live up to standards? We can only guess? In fact, the only thing that's dampening the optimism is the fact that Brock Lesnar made is short-awaited debut to continue his program with Oba Femi.  The Main Event Aside from the wrestling ring and every item that's involved in a match being converted into a sponsorship, the surest sign of WWE's big business era is their PLE strategy. This is the latest evolution in their monthly shows that used to be known as PPVs. So let's start with a look back.  The Three Count Danielle put over Effy's new merch! Julian put over the Street Profits time off. Hal put over the Triple H absolving anyone who didn't stand for Hogan's tribute. Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Brea and Mallory talk about their most anticipated books for May and June. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book!   Sponsors - GreenChefwww.greenchef.com/50GLASSES CODE: 50GLASSES   Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!https://maximumfun.org/joinglassesBook Banning Bill PDFBook Banning Bill Info   Books Mentioned -Odd Man In by Stephen WhynoAccumulation by Aimee Pokwatka   ALL BOOKS FROM MAY AND JUNE HERE!! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

Episode 200: Valley Heat by Christian Duguay   This month marks the 200th episode of Dead Pilots Society, which feels like a real milestone for a show that requires considerably more coordination than a couple of people just turning on microphones and talking. Every pilot episode means finding a pilot, assembling a cast, and putting together a live reading, so reaching 200 episodes feels genuinely significant.   While this is the show's 200th episode, it's also the 118th dead pilot the podcast has brought to life so far. For the occasion, we wanted something special, and this month's pilot more than fits the bill: Valley Heat, written by Christian Duguay. Andrew has previously called Valley Heat (another Maximum Fun show) one of the greatest achievements in podcasting, and after connecting with Christian last year, learned that a pilot version of the podcast existed. After much persistence, Dead Pilots Society finally got the chance to stage it live at the Elysian Theater. Set in Burbank's Rancho Equestrian neighborhood, Valley Heat captures the bizarre rhythms of suburban life in a way that's both deeply specific and completely unhinged. For anyone discovering Valley Heat for the first time, this episode may be the perfect introduction.   The live reading also features many of the recognizable voices from the original podcast appearing onstage in person, making for a uniquely surreal experience. The cast includes: Christian Duguay (Plantman & Blondie, The Dress Up Gang), Kevin CamIa (Fallout), Mike O'Connell (DTF St Louis, Patriot), Merrill Davis (Comics Unleashed, Time Out Comics to Watch), Emily Maya Mills (Key and Peele, Orange is the new Black), Matt Braunger (stand up), Chris Garcia (WTF, This American Life, Scattered), Beth Stelling (Netflix, HBO Max comedy), DeMorge Brown (Destroy All Neighbors)   Video of the live table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. And don't forget to check out Andrew's documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at  https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindeadpilots

Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn are clearing the docket this week with guest star Rachel Reid, author of the Game Changers romance novel series that spawned the viral television sensation, HEATED RIVALRY!  Rachel joins us in passing judgement on all things romance-tok, like: what's a better trope, friends to lovers or enemies to lovers? What's the weirdest romance-novel trope she's ever read? And what's a good entry-level romance novel to convince your judgemental book group? Also, Rachel shares what it was like to “come out” as a romance novelist to her parents, her favorite young adult book series (hint: it was for kids who love responsibility), and which famous major-league hockey players have brought up HEATED RIVALRY to her in real life. Plus: a sneak preview of the next book in her Game Changers series!  NIGHT COURT is coming to the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA on June 11th! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Have a dispute that you can't settle? No dispute is too small for the honorable Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn! Submit your cases directly to the court at: maximumfun.org/jjho Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

What's the best Mall Store? WE GOT THIS. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinwgt

This episode of the show is about America, ultimately. We're joined by Cristina Jimínez, author of the memoir Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear into Pride, Power, and Real Change and MacArthur genius grant recipient for a discussion of mental health in the immigrant and undocumented immigrant communities in light of events like the ICE surge, 9/11, and January 6th. Cristina fled Ecuador with her family when she was 13, landed in Queens, and, despite a lot of complicating factors having to do with legal status, went to college and graduate school. She was one of the founders of the advocacy group United We Dream, was a key player in the passage of DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and was awarded a MacArthur genius grant. Cristina talks about the anxiety and depression that hangs heavily in vulnerable populations and also why she's actually incredibly optimistic and hopeful, even in these seemingly bleak times, because of how citizens responded to ICE in Minnesota. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Go to maximumfun.org/jointights to become a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you'll earn great gifts and help this show continue. After a brief respite from WWE, the full crew is BACK! With a discussion of BackLASH! There seems to have been a bit of a response to the reception of WrestleMania with this latest PLE. Each of the matches was actually given a lot of time which means that more stars got time to shine– that includes our beloved Danhausen.  He'll earn tons of praise before more love is piled onto Oba Femi, Jacob Fatu, The Street Profits and so many more.  But all of this good wrestling cannot overshadow the recent cull of the company's talent, including several notable names like Kairi Sane and Zelina Vega. The Main Event After more than ten years as one of the WWE's most bankable acts, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have left the company. Big E's status as a part of the PLE preshow seems to still be secure as he enjoys retirement. But the New Day as we know it is no more. The Three Count Danielle put over Danhausen's Celebrity Nice/Evil Index. Lindsey put over Finn and his former mates. Hal put over the previous influence of TKO Keep up with this show all week long on instagram, tiktok and bluesky. This show was produced by Julian Burrell for Maximumfun.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/jointights

Go Fact Yourself is ready to burst with trivia! Erinn Hayes is an Emmy-nominated actor known for comedies like “Children's Hospital” and dramas like “It's Not Like That.” One of her favorite parts of her job is getting to work with great colleagues; and a lot of that started with performing improv at Disney's California Adventure. Jordan Carlos has written a new book intended to help his fellow cis straight men with their relationships – Choreplay: The Marriage-Saving Magic of Getting Your Head Out of Your Ass. He's also written for “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” and he'll tell us how that culminated in him getting to write a joke for the White House Correspondent's Dinner. Areas of Expertise: Jordan: The move Rear Window, the New York City grid system,and market bubbles (especially the Dutch tulip bubble). Erinn: Low-allergen cat breeds, Jelly Belly jellybeans, and the movie Romancing The Stone. What's the Difference: What a Dump What's the difference between a dump and a landfill? What's the difference between a toilet and a commode? With Guest Experts: Professor Anne Goldgar: USC's chair in European history and author of the book Tulipmania: Money, Honor and Knowledge in the Dutch Golden Age Kathleen Turner: Actor whose decades-long career includes iconic films like Romancing the Stone. Hosts:  J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: The MaxFun Drive is over, but it's always a good time to go to maximumfun.org/joingofact to support this show and get monthly bonus episodes. Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Brea and Mallory tick off another box on the 2026 Reading Glasses Challenge: give an author a second chance. Plus, they test out Briarwick candles, and give tips for when you space out during audiobooks. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book!   Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!www.maximumfun.org/joinBriarwick Candles   Books Mentioned -  Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman The Perilous Deep by Karl Bell Cloud Nine by Fearne Hill Halo by E.M. Lindsey Love Him Desperate by E.M. Lindsey White Cat Black Dog by Kelly Link The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses

Ben and Grayson have a weekly movie night with their friend group. When the movie ends, the group watches odd videos they discover on the internet. This extra viewing has led both Ben and Grayson down a public television rabbit hole. Ben found the Pennsylvania public television game show THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME. He says it's a perfect public television quiz show. But, Grayson says the game play in the Keystone State is weak. The Maine PBS show SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW MAINE is a much better game show. Who's right? Who's wrong?  Thanks to reddit user u/TurduckenEverest for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Have a dispute that you can't settle? No dispute is too small for the honorable Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn! Submit your cases directly to the court at: maximumfun.org/jjho Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

What's the best lane on the highway? WE GOT THIS. Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinwgt

I'm pretty sure you've been in this situation: you're in a group setting of consequence and importance. Maybe it's at work, maybe in school, but something is on the line. In that place are people different from you. They're of a different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and you begin to worry about how you are being perceived. Are you an individual in everyone's eyes or are they seeing you for the group you represent? Does your behavior match the stereotype that exists for people like you in the eyes of these other folks? Claude Steele, distinguished social psychologist, calls this churn in his new book, Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome It. He says it can have an effect on your mental health, particular in the areas of depression and anxiety. Steele explains the fascinating research and experiments that led him to explore the idea of churn and offers ideas on how to stop feeling it and establish yourself as an individual. Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun. Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com! Hey, remember, you're part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org. Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group.  Help is available right away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joindepresh

Is giving a "bouquet of asparagus" the same as giving a bouquet of flowers? How much screen time is too much on a flight? Is quiche good? All this and more, recorded live from Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon! If you're in LA or Brookline, catch JJHO: NIGHT COURT LIVE! Don't miss out. For LA tickets on 5/15 click here, and for Brookline tickets on 6/11 click here. Thanks to reddit user u/lovegiblet for naming this week's case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!   Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes and more. Memberships start at just $5 a month. Just tap here!

Happy MaxFunDrive 2026! We wanted to share a short clip from this year's bonus content to help give an idea of what's on offer if you become a member. We had a blast chatting with Janet Varney, and if you like what you hear you can you can go to MaximumFun.Org/Join to get access to the full thing, plus TONS of other bonus content from the last 16 years we've been on the network. We're celebrating through May 1st with bonus goals and daily livestreams on YouTube, so follow us there and on Instagram, or check our website to stay up to date on everything we have planned! Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmbmbam