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Subtitle: Temperature is the enemy of glass. John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer. Then they talk about a new thing they've both independently started using a lot. Links and Show Notes: John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer. Then they talk about a new thing they've both independently started using a lot. Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenza...
Subtitle: “I am the oven now.” Merlin shares his Large Appliance Results. (Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026) Links and Show Notes: Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Get a Job - The Silhouettes (1957) Dip dip dip dip dip dip dip… “…and that’s my trick.” Clemenza teaches Michael how to make sauce in The Godfather. 10 Apple TV...
John's new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children. Links and Show Notes: John's new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children. Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Merlin's toot: "I may have figured ...
Subtitle: You can’t yell at math. A quick check-in on whether or not the machines are helping. ( Recorded on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 ) This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Incogni : Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DIFFS with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: A quick check-in on whether or not the machines are helping. Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : S...
Subtitle: The beginning, the beginning! The dog-blaming continues, and John has updates on the social component of arc raiding. Links and Show Notes: The dog-blaming continues, and John has updates on the social component of arc raiding. Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Get 20% off annual membership until the end of 2025! Dog ...
Subtitle: Everybody starts out with the same quarter. After some Follow-Up on phone dimming and naked swimming, John discusses a video game with some unusual—and possibly unintentional—social mechanics. Links and Show Notes: After some Follow-Up on phone dimming and naked swimming, John discusses a video game with some unusual—and possibly unintentional—social mechanics. In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss the first two episodes of Prur1bus (Apple TV, 2025). You can sign up ...
Empty Nest Results. ( Recorded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 ) Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with some quick Follow-Up on Merlin's hot phone and how our ancestors' brains dealt with Lead. For a main topic, John's kids have left for college, so what kind of changes has he noticed so far? ( Recorded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 ) Credits Audio Editor/First Chair Saxophonist : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get...
Subtitle: Merlin can still smell the slide oil. TiVo: The Exit Interview. Links and Show Notes: John leads us through the TiVo Exit Interview. In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss Alien: Earth (FX, 2025). You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program. ( Recorded Tuesday, July 22, 2025 ) Credits Audio Editor/First Chair Saxophonist : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : St...
Subtitle: “Periscope up!” Main topic is the various voices in our heads. If the technology existed to expose the workings of our interior world, what do we imagine it might look like? Links and Show Notes: John has Follow-Up on naked swimming as well as an update on his mystery beep. Merlin is increasingly concerned about his Lead, but it's a little late for that now. The main topic is the various voices in our heads. If the technology existed to expose the workings of our interior world, what d...
Swimming naked in school and thinking about Lead. Links and Show Notes: In Follow-Up, listeners share their experiences with Swimming Naked in School . Won't someone please think of the pool filters? Merlin recalls that distant summer he attended swimming and trampoline camp—albeit in an admittedly non-nude context. Next up, John does his level best to give updates on his finished room. Space is required for something called "blocking." Merlin confesses that he can't really identify where that b...
Subtitle: This is where the tractors go. John shares the results of some fascinating recent polling on TV obstructions and chewing gum swallowing. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Vitally : A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Factor : Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code diffs50off Links and Show Notes: John speculates about a reference, then Merlin sings like Paul Simon f...
This episode delves into various personal experiences and philosophies, starting with collapsible storage bins and the "comma problem." A recurring segment on "Stop Blaming the Dog" highlights human responsibility in kitchen fires despite appliance recalls. The hosts then discuss vacation results, with John enjoying dietary freedom on his Long Island trip and Merlin revealing deep-seated childhood trauma from beach experiences, emphasizing the different ways families shape children's perceptions and coping mechanisms for potentially unpleasant environments.
John and Merlin review the Billy Joel HBO documentary, discussing its 'bloodless' narrative and the complexities of subject-controlled biographies, especially concerning his band's treatment and recent new song. The conversation also delves into diverse topics like hypothetical 'scarf cannons,' the importance of proper gun safety, and Merlin's philosophy of focusing on process over product in creative projects. Personal anecdotes about music influence, Mac OS X history, and a surprising childhood connection to Billy Joel's former manager add further depth and humor.
The hosts kick off with John's breaking Flophouse news, leading into a discussion of a Warhammer 40k mini-episode and file conversion challenges. Merlin then delves into John's meticulous, mostly manual workflow for creating custom chapter art for ATP specials, exploring the balance between automation and perfection. Finally, Merlin attempts to persuade John to watch the new Billy Joel documentary, examining the artist's enduring appeal, Long Island identity, and connection to Hicksville's culture.
Merlin and John explore the intricacies of language, from the pronunciation of foreign words like "Das Boot" and "Cannes" to the subtle creep of Britishisms into American English. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Merlin's experimental use of ChatGPT, including custom shortcuts for productivity and the humorous, often wildly inaccurate, "facts" the AI generated about John's food preferences. This leads to a philosophical discussion on the trustworthiness of AI, personal tolerance for inaccuracy, the Gell-Mann amnesia effect, and the ethical considerations of using AI for tasks ranging from casual learning to legal citations and medical record summaries.
John and Merlin delve into the historical "Markdown Wars" and the importance of semantic HTML, contrasting presentational and structural web design with humorous takes on deprecated tags. They then shift to a lively discussion on inescapable smells in shared environments, from pungent microwave meals to the infamous "poop cruise," and the social etiquette surrounding them. The episode concludes with John recounting his daughter's high school graduation, reflecting on the logistical chaos, the value of candid photography, and the bittersweet transition as a parent.
John's Prom Results and Merlin's Camping Results. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: TRMNL : Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only. Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Lisa’s First W...
On goals and accomplishments. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. P : The water reminder and hydration app. Links and Show Notes: After some great Follow-Up on "Allentown" and The Apparatus , your hosts talk about goals and accomplishments. In this month’s member bonus episode, John talks about playing Marathon (again). You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more ...
John and Merlin explore the meaning behind Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and humorous international zipper euphemisms. They discuss the intricacies of YouTube engagement and the fascinating, ever-growing "Apparatus" in Merlin's neighborhood, pondering its purpose and questionable engineering. The hosts also share insights into kids' intuitive tech learning, generational divides in tech literacy, and various peculiar public behaviors.
This episode delves into Merlin's personal struggles with chronic depression, exploring how he finds "wholesome tech wins" by letting go of ego and using ChatGPT for practical problem-solving, such as fixing headphones and NAS devices. The discussion also weaves through the difficulty of attributing famous quotes, the concept of the Mandela Effect, and the evolving nature of AI's capabilities, from conversational troubleshooting to maintaining "great success" lists across threads. The hosts reflect on the subtle art of podcast editing and the importance of acknowledging small victories for mental well-being.
Subtitle: Consider the Banana. Stop blaming the dog. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Yawn Email : Tame your inbox with intelligent daily summaries. Start your 14-day free trial today. Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with a second episode in which John has to force a context transition, then Merlin commiserates about how bad apps and institutions can be. In Follow-Up, Merlin...
This week, your hosts talk about ChatGPT's new image generation abilities. And in this month's member after show, John and Merlin talk about the Netflix show, "Adolescence." This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Yawn Email : Tame your inbox with intelligent daily summaries. Start your 14-day free trial today. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it ...
Subtitle: Merlin thinks John doesn't understand the whole point of the exercise. This week's topic: Kids & Driving This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with some Donkey Kong Follow-Up that leads to a fair amount of vintage video game nostalgia. Merlin has a new Thing It Took Him Too Long to Realize, but John seems determined to deny him any ki...
Stephen and Myke dive into 'reverse secret weird things,' exploring personal quirks thought to be unique but are surprisingly common, especially in the age of the internet and social media. The conversation then shifts to the nuanced experience of 'cooking alone' and managing household tasks, highlighting the often-unseen emotional labor and decision fatigue involved in family life. They discuss the differing approaches to food preparation, scheduling, and personal projects when unconstrained by others, touching on the value of personal space and the hidden challenges of domestic responsibilities.
Subtitle: Merlin is pretty sure Jason Mantzoukas is the voice of the booger. The main topic this week was almost The Big Game. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: The main topic this week was almost The Big Game. ( Recorded on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 ) Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : St...
Subtitle: He’s our special little guy. Merlin tries a new way of writing online, and John thinks about what it really means to own your web presence. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Pika : Start your happy blog. Get 20% off Pika Pro with code DIFFS20 Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Merlin tries a new way of writing online, and John thinks about what it really means to own your web presence...
This week's topic: The Simpsons Kitchen Gag. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: This week's topic: The Simpsons Kitchen Gag . Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Spin the Choice | King of the Hi...
Subtitle: Everything becomes crab. Updates on match cuts, the college ranking racket, and some historical perspective on t-dropping. Links and Show Notes: Follow-Up brings updates on match cuts, the college ranking racket, and some historical perspective on t-dropping. The main topic is kind of hard to pin down, but it might come down to a word choice on a website. Making it an ideal topic for this program. In this month’s member bonus episode, there's some more discussion of scrobbling and medi...
Merlin introduces a new segment, and John shares Application Results. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist : A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Merlin introduces a new segment, and John shares Application Results. ( Recorded on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 ) Credits Audio Editor : Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance : Kerry Provenzano Music : Merlin Mann The Suits : Stephen Hackett , Myke Hurley Get an ad...
Subtitle: It's free real estate. John has a new project and Merlin has a new Thought Technology. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code DIFFS. Links and Show Notes: John has a new project and Merlin has a new Thought Technology. It is, admittedly, early days for both projects. In Follow-Up, listeners share advice on avoiding YouTube spoilers and John figures out why his brain thought " safflower ....
