This week, John critiques Merlin's online editing skills, which leads to a discussion of coding conventions. Merlin, in turn, critiques John's propensity to murder a joke by telling it in weird bullets. Next up, we learn that Merlin has (**finally**) watched _The Game_ all the way through, which leads to a spoiler-heavy dive into this terrific 1997 David Fincher film. (Note: Please listen for the spoiler horn, then skip from `00:16:21` through `00:40:47` if you haven't watched the movie yet.) Fi...
Jan 14, 2016•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 17
This week, John and Merlin start out by exploring the challenges of sleep and AppleTV. Next, John probes Merlin about why exactly he’s so interested in remembering and recording his whackadoodle dreams. We learn, for example, that _Permiso_ delivers 3 to 5 surprises per day. Finally, Merlin interrogates John about why he dislikes and avoids scary movies.
Dec 17, 2015•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 16
This week, your hosts cover TV buying decisions, the legacy of Star Wars, thoughts on holidays, and how to not end up raising Dudley Dursley.
Dec 03, 2015•2 hr 54 min•Ep. 15
This time out, John and Merlin start with a consideration of parenting advice and (surprise) the _Star Wars_ prequels. Then, the wardrobe is opened for a discussion of _clothing_. What your hosts choose to wear and why, and how best to telegraph the desire to be a non-combatant in the fashion race. Merlin encourages listeners to give John _a virtual makeover_.
Nov 19, 2015•2 hr 53 min•Ep. 14
This episode, John and Merlin have a spirited debate on netspeak and emoji talk (🤕👹😭), then address the Wonderful World of Disney (World), including what makes it great and what keeps it relevant.
Nov 05, 2015•3 hr 36 min•Ep. 13
This week kicks off with some further discussion of salad and the video game, Destiny, and then proceeds into some talk about the current TV season and the state of late-night programming. The centerpiece of the episode is a lot of talk about _travel_, focused on the myriad reasons your hosts find it so terribly difficult. Observations on helplessness, motion sickness, money, and the titular "Hobbit tendencies" emerge. Things conclude with a meditation on _introversion_: what it means to have it...
Oct 22, 2015•3 hr 40 min•Ep. 12
This week, the boys return for Season Two. Things kick off with a clandestine follow-up discussion of evolution based on an unreleased episode of a different podcast. Don't ask. The ball really gets rolling when John ruefully updates us on the stressful state of renovations to his house—and how his quest for quality collides with whatever passes for quote-unquote craftsmanship today.
Oct 08, 2015•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 11
This final episode of Season 1 kicks off with some fascinating FU on [Clever Hans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans) and proceeds into a listener question about John's feelings about "faith." Finally, the boys settle into a detailed exploration of "Merlin's world of music." From AM radio (through a pillow speaker) to abortive accordion and trombone lessons to impersonating Pete Townsend through the Bacon Ray years. The episode concludes with some updates regarding the future of the prog...
Sep 24, 2015•3 hr 57 min•Ep. 10
In this penultimate episode, John and Merlin start with a discussion of salad and some followup on _Destiny_ (John can't even believe he forgot Xur). This week's main topic focuses on the many aspects of being a "late bloomer." From secondary sex characteristics and serial social prickliness through figuring out how to be in a family and studying the anthropology of the opposite sex.
Sep 10, 2015•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 9
This time around, John and Merlin talk about time-shifted media releases, corporate speak, and Dave the Marketing guy. For the main topic, John educates Merlin about the first-person shooter game, "Destiny." Merlin feels overwhelmed, while John says we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg.
Aug 27, 2015•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 8
This week, John and Merlin do some follow-up on John's picky eating and his family's failures at meal planning. Both men cop to loving soup. Also some updates on Destiny. Then on to the _big_ topic: how does John's mind work, and how did he get that way? (Recorded July 17, 2015)
Aug 13, 2015•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 7
This time kicks off with Merlin's torpor, then continues with FU on miscrediting _Synecdoche, NY_, recommendations on the making of _Fury Road_, and an extended meditation on the social psychology of web commenting. Then on to the scintillating topic of the week: _food and cooking_. In which we learn that your hosts and their families are both/all screwed up **and** hopeless in different ways. All involved are, as they say, _chopped_. Merlin is weird, but not bulimic; John is picky, fretful, and...
Jul 30, 2015•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 6
This week, the boys kick things off with some followup on Merlin's bad media viewing habits, some incomplete homework, and more on the "tells" in *Total Recall*. The remainder of the episode is dedicated to a spoiler-heavy look at *Mad Max: Fury Road*. If you haven't seen it, treat yourself to a cinema viewing as soon as you can. John and Merlin's world is blood and fire.
Jul 16, 2015•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 5
This week, after John derides Merlin's terrible media viewing habits, the boys share their affection for divisive films and revisit the spectacle of "Hell in a Cell." For this week's primary topic, John probes Merlin's spotty history with video games, then sketches out the current console landscape. Merlin is assigned preliminary homework to start catching up.
Jul 02, 2015•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 4
This week, John and Merlin finally set themselves to the task of beginning to argue about their differences. After a look at their feelings about reviews (and review culture), John takes Merlin to task for his stance on the 1999 film *Fight Club* (and *Fight Club* culture). Then, things conclude with a passionate debate on the societal impact of sports (and sports culture).
Jun 18, 2015•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, John and Merlin discuss the origins of the show, including their contrasting approaches to authority, conformity, and contrariness. Also, Merlin credits John with helping him become less horrible, and John deposes Merlin about his year in military school.
Jun 11, 2015•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 2
In this inaugural episode of Season 1, John and Merlin begin framing the conversation on exactly *how they got how they are*. From the dungeons of Usenet to the dragons of roving bullies, origins are explored, awkwardness is catalogued, and differences are provisionally reconciled.
Jun 03, 2015•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 1
