This week’s main topic covers teaching kids about technology_ When, how, and what should young students learn about computers at school? How far have things come since Merlin’s Business Administration class and the lectures John suffered on RAM vs. ROM? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Harry's : Use code DIFFS at checkout to claim your free trial set and bonus post-shave balm. Mailroute ...
Nov 16, 2016•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 39
The main topic this week has Merlin probing John’s thoughts on the idea of a thing being “wrong within normal parameters.” John calls someone a “super doof,” and both hosts share their strategy for not ending up on a desert island. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Harry's : Use code DIFFS at checkout to claim your free trial set and bonus post-shave balm. Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Get a free trial and 10% off, for th...
Nov 01, 2016•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 38
The main topic this week is whether we’re living in a simulation (and how we’d know it). This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. HelpSpot : The most comprehensive and flexible help desk software around. Get 10% off with the code DIFFS. The Nuisance Committee : Please stay tuned after the show for a special message about the 2016 election. Links and Show Notes: This week, John and Merlin reminis...
Oct 18, 2016•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 37
The main topic is solo parenting. Facing The Shoe Crisis, thrice ruining the dinosaur eggs, and finding yourself in a Staples line that’s literally not moving. Is fear and anxiety really such a smart and time-tested motivator? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week’s follow...
Oct 04, 2016•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 36
The main topic this week is "magic and superstition." What delights (or angers) your hosts in a magic show? Why can't Cardini get rid of those cards? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Hover : Simplified domain management. Use code SAUCE to get 10% off your first purchase. Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. HelpSpot : The most comprehensive and flexible help desk software around. Get 10% off with the code DIFFS. Links and S...
Sep 21, 2016•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 35
The main topic this week is high school reunions. Or, at least it starts out that way. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. HelpSpot : The most comprehensive and flexible help desk software around. Get 10% off with the code DIFFS. Links and Show Notes: This week, Merlin figures out what's weird about John, and John declares Merlin to be a clique mixer. John and Merlin are both pretty good at...
Sep 06, 2016•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 34
The main topic this week is ratings and reviews. John talks about how he drinks eagerly from the fire hose of product recommendations as well as sharing his perspective on how he thinks about his epic OS X reviews in retrospect. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Hover : Simplified domain management. Use code THEFUTURE to get 10% off your first purchase. Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week ope...
Aug 25, 2016•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 33
The big topic this week? Sauce. More specifically, John walks us through how he cooks, stirs, and deploys delicious spaghetti sauce at scale. A general discussion of cooking practices reveals that Merlin is probably America's greatest microwave wizard. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Eero : Blanket...
Aug 09, 2016•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 32
The main topic this time is 'Evolutionary Biology'. John runs through some common misconceptions, and widespread errors of analogies. Merlin candidly admits that he still doesn't really understand what he doesn't understand. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Hover : Simplified domain management. Use code PERMISO to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week we open on John struggling to jump through the hoops to get verified on Twitter. This leads to...
Jul 28, 2016•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 31
This week's main topic can be roughly called, "my part of the couch." More specifically, why are your hosts so piqued about how hard it is to have nice things—let alone their own things—in their respective households? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week kicks off with Merlin ranting about his mixed feelings about spoiler warnings, and, as usual, John assumes ...
Jul 14, 2016•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 30
The main topic this week is The Future. Merlin can't contain his fascination and admiration with how John's rationality and long view of history has colored and redirected his own conceptions about what the future holds. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, for the lifetime of your account. Ministry of Supply : Dress smarter. Work smarter. ...
Jun 30, 2016•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 29
The main topic is repping, a pickup of the frequent theme of a program Merlin does with Another John. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Ministry of Supply : Dress smarter. Work smarter. Use ‘diffs’ for 15% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week starts with a vigorous dive into the X...
Jun 16, 2016•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 28
Things really kick into high gear as your hosts finally (FINALLY) go toe-to-toe on the hot topic of iOS app quitting. Why Merlin is so mad at John and why John insists Merlin is still wrong. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Backblaze : The unlimited, native backup solution for your Mac and PC Links and Show Notes: This week opens with John's meditation on pronunciation, accents, and the gradual disappearance of America's once-diverse tapestry of vowel sounds. This someho...
Jun 02, 2016•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 27
The main topic this week explores how a young John first began measuring the parameters of the world. How can we tell if something is true? Are Bigfoot, telekinesis, and space travel each really a thing? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, for the lifetime of your account. Links and Show Notes: This week starts with some updates on Merlin’...
May 19, 2016•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 26
The main topic this week is—wait for it— drugs . In particular, the listener is treated to an epic tour of the "four toadstools" that mark Merlin's journey with the forbidden pharmaceutical wild side. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week opens with some followup on the ownership of Star Wars and the zero-sum game of ugly corporate distribution battles. John vi...
May 05, 2016•3 hr 21 min•Ep. 25
Things kick off with a discussion of Star Wars. In particular, there is extensive discussion of your hosts’ preferences regarding fan restorations of the original trilogy. Next, the spoiler horn fires off for a detailed examination of The Walking Dead. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, for the lifetime of your account. Casper : Because e...
Apr 21, 2016•2 hr 43 min•Ep. 24
The main topic is sense of humor . How, where, when, and from whom did the boys learn what make them laugh? How come British things seem extra funny? Why does Lisa need braces? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week, things kick off with a lively discussion of ASMR, furries...
Apr 07, 2016•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 23
This episode focuses on cars and driving. First, there's the automobiles that their families did or didn't drive and why. Then, John educates Merlin on the evolution of car design. This leads to more personal thoughts on their early days of driving. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs ...
Mar 22, 2016•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 22
This week's main topic is meeting your heroes. Who do you wish you could meet and why? John marvels at Merlin’s comfort with his many celebrity connections, and Merlin gives some handy tips on not acting like a total creep. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: This week kicks off with some depressing follow-up on Merlin’s stove and his concern that John might think he’s...
Mar 10, 2016•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 21
This week's main topic is 'trust your mechanic'. How to survive working with the experts who diagnose and fix your problems. John's not a Dead Kennedys fan, and Merlin's just so irrationally mad about the state of his oven. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% o...
Feb 25, 2016•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 20
This week, John and Merlin talk about the value of exposing yourself to new or uncomfortable ideas, before moving on to their main topic: how and when to recommend things to other people . This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Squarespace : Build it beautiful. Use code ‘DIFFS’ for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: This week, John and Merlin start out by talking about the value of exposing y...
Feb 11, 2016•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 19
The primary topic this week is names and naming. Merlin struggles in vain to pronounce John's name to his satisfaction, John reveals his middle name, and the boys dive deep on the lore, reality, and complexities of how both people get their names. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Build it beautiful. Use code ‘DIFFS’ for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: This week, John ruthlessly critiques Merlin's Google Docs style, followed by a tentative announcement about ...
Jan 28, 2016•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 18
After a discussion about The Game, which Merlin has finally watched all the way through, the boys tackle the topic of jobs. They discuss what they did or didn't learn from them, and how their younger work lives shaped their future employment choices. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace : Build it beautiful. Use code ‘DIFFS’ for 10% off. Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and...
Jan 14, 2016•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 17
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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Making Light : Craft a daily ritual to focus on what matters most. Get $5 off your first order with the code 'DIFFS'. Squarespace : Build it Beautiful. Use code DIFFS for 10% off Links and Show Notes: This week, John and Merlin start out by exploring the challe...
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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, for the lifetime of your account. Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code ‘DIFFS’ Backblaze : Online backup made easy, fo...
Dec 03, 2015•1 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... This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Audible : Get yourself a 30 day free trial by singing up at http://audible.com/diffs Igloo : An intranet you'll actually like, free for up to 10 people. Squarespace : Build it Beautiful. Use code DIFFS for 10% off Links and ...
Nov 19, 2015•1 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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Casper : Because everyone deserves a great night sleep. Get $50 off with the code 'DIFFS' Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, for the lifetim...
Nov 05, 2015•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 13
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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Cloak: Stay safe online with a super-simple VPN. Get 20% your subscription plan by visiting getcloak.com/reconcile. Igloo : An intranet you'll actually like, free for up to 10 people. The Freelancer’s Guide to...
Oct 22, 2015•2 hr 40 min•Ep. 12
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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: The Freelancer’s Guide to Escaping Taxes, by Andrew Carroll Igloo : An intranet you'll actually like, free for up to 10 people. Mailroute : a secure, hosted email service for protection from viruses and spam. Go to mailroute.net/diffs for a free trial and 10% off, fo...
Oct 08, 2015•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 11
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. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Dash : Create beautiful dashboards with a few clicks. Sign up now to get one free private dashboard. Harry's : An exceptional shave at a fraction of the price. Use code DIFFS for $5 off your first purchase Hover : Simplified...
Sep 24, 2015•2 hr 57 min•Ep. 10
