How Did We Get Weird with Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer

This week, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome General Hospital star and legit member of Gen Z, Eden McCoy!! Vanessa asks Eden her burning General Hospital questions, like when they swap a new actor into a role how does Eden act like things are normal? Vanessa also gets Eden and Jonah's reaction from the show's memorable cameo from Colonel Sanders (who is apparently really goot at texting?) Plus, Eden recounts her childhood days of being a Saturday Night Live superfan and Vanessa leads Eden to say that she was part of Eden's favorite cast. They also get into the many ways that SNL and GH are actually similar—and in a special edition of CHANGE.DORK, the three of us review several Gen Z-related petitions that are totally gnarly, bro. In other words, you will definitely stan this dank glow up of a classic HDWGW segment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today you are in for a real treat because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by our friend the hilarious Mark Proksch (The Office, Better Call Saul) who is as friendly as he is funny. We discuss what it's like to grow out of things as a child, Mark's current doughnut preferences and learn the origins of the term "goppy." We also get deep into the story behind Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser, a character of Mark's who made the morning TV talk show circuit as a yo-yo expert who couldn't actually yo-yo, and we talk about the various reactions he got from news crews once they realized they weren't in on the joke. Plus, we parlay this conversation into a broader discussion about local morning shows and learn that Good Morning America's roots lie Jonah and Vanessa's hometown of Cleveland. Finally we play a thrilling round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate church etiquette, if commercials should be interrupted by the Emergency Broadcast System and why cars are so expensive if you only go to one dealership and don't do a ton of research. Yo-yo better check it out!! Check out "K-Strass Video on KQTV" to further understand Mark's talents! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Break out your best bonnet and riding boots because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by comedian/actor/musician Tim Heidecker to discuss the pastoral drama series, Little House on the Prairie. Along the way we discuss Tim's job a la creperie, watching sitcoms made for adult as kids in the eighties and our respective senior superlatives. (Jonah and Tim were most radical/unique while Vanessa won every other one.) We also get in depth about the "explosive" finale of Little House on the Prairie and the possible tax ramifications of this unexpected narrative turn. We also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we discuss petitions advocating for the return of the original Wonka bar, liberation for high school vending machines and should Metallica play the Super Bowl Halftime show? (You'll have to listen to find out, but Vanessa really doesn't think so.) Don't forget to check Tim out on the Two Tims Summer Tour as well as his upcoming performances with The Very Good Band, both of which are coming to your town soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to rumble because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by hilarious comedian, writer and actor Max Silvestri! What's in a name? Apparently a lot. Jonah discusses how he was almost named Max and why he thinks he would have been a completely different and more confident person if he had Max's moniker. Max also discusses his various adolescent aliases while Vanessa reveals that she was almost named after a Bob Dylan song. The three of us also discuss the allure of eighties action movies and, of course, WWF Wrestling. Max elaborates on what it was like to witness Wrestlemania 10, why he related to Shawn Michaels and Bret "The Hitman'' Hart and recounts how the WWF eventually got body slammed by that cute panda from the World Wildlife Fund. As if that weren't enough, we also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we discuss Randy "Macho Man" Savage's legacy, if the return of Diet Cherry Coke is worth our precious digital ink and should there be an actual videogame modeled after The Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1999 video for "Californication"? You'll have to listen to find out!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s new episode we are thrilled to kick off season 3 of HDWGW with our friend Lance Bangs!! We’re talking about everything from the time Lance and his wife Corin Tucker took the Bayer siblings to dinner and Jonah almost had a panic attack, to Lance’s work on Jackass and the recent George Harrison video he directed that Vanessa got to be in. Plus, we reminisce on the days of watching tv shows and films during school and Lance introduces the Bayer siblings to the incredibly bizarre “educational” short film Cipher in the Snow and we all have a lot of thoughts. Finally, in a round of CHANGE.DORK we discuss whether a fandom summer camp is possible and how much Vanessa thinks it would cost! Want the answers to both? You gotta check it out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we prepare for season 3 (yes, you heard that right!), we would love to stroll down memory lane with our forever iconic guest, JEWEL! In the meantime, rate and review the podcast and stay tuned for new episodes starting June 26th on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network. -- To celebrate Vanessa's birthday we are joined by a very special guest: JEWEL! That's right, we caught up with the acclaimed singer, actress and author to discuss the era before Starbucks where coffee shops were places to see live music and maybe even see Jewel demo songs that would go onto be nineties radio staples such as "Who Will Save Your Soul?" and "Foolish Games." We also discuss Jewel's career journey from a living on a remote homestead in Alaska to becoming a household name, Vanessa and Jewel's mutual love of Cyndi Lauper, how Jewel was able to channel her trauma into lasting art and how she came up with her own mental health curriculum by channeling her own "bunny nature." Finally we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about The Body Shop, Dutch Apple Pop-Tarts and other nostalgic things that Jewel is a very good sport about discussing with us. Be sure to check out Jewel's new album Freewheelin' Woman and the other incredible work she does at jewelneverbroken.com and notalonechallenge.org . If you're looking to be as entertaining as you are inspired, you will not want to miss this episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast we are joined by... no one! That's right, on this episode Jonah and Vanessa are reminiscing about the phenomenon of going to shoe stores as a kid and trying on shoes the old-fashioned way. We also discuss real-life current shopping experiences at malls, the time Jonah accidentally wore Vanessa's Doc Martens to school and are Vans just cooler versions of Keds? We also get deep into the history and demise of the Reebok Pump, although we still aren't sure if they actually do anything other than look cool. But that's not all. We also play a round of a game called CEO TAKEDOWN: THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT, where we examine some statements made by Foot Locker's CEO about online shopping versus going to the mall to try on shoes and explore if the company has enough "runway" and "brand awareness" to offset the inevitable demise of mall culture. (Spoiler alert: Jonah doesn't think so although he would consider a leadership position on the company's board of executives should that opportunity become available.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are thrilled to be joined on the podcast by the hilarious writer and actor, Jeremy Beiler who you might know as the co-creator of Vanessa's incredible Showtime series I LOVE THAT FOR YOU. On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa and Jeremy reminisice about writing sketches together on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE when they weren't hunting down snacks in other departments of 30 Rock in the early morning hours. We also do a collective deep dive into one of the most unhealthy kids foods of all-time, Lunchables! Did you know that they had a short-lived spin-off called Brunchables? Sorry, but you do now. Finally we play a nostalgic round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where Jonah wishes he could experience the joy of shopping for concert T-shirts using tiny pictures tucked away in magazines, Vanessa recalls using wooden shoe stretchers as a painful childhood toy and Jeremy makes a very convincing case for bringing back the color teal. So break out your shark's tooth necklace and let's get into this! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast we are so incredibly thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning musician Aimee Mann! Vanessa recalls the first time that the Bayers worked with Aimee on their old web series and how Jonah got so nervous about a joke they'd written he had to walk out of a taping with her to regain his composure. The three of us also discuss, you guessed, Scholastic Book Clubs and the sheer joy of getting a bundle of books delivered onto your desk by your homeroom teacher as a kid. We also discuss the brilliance of a perfectly crafted young adult novel, Aimee's experience working at the first Newbury Comics and talk about that time she and husband Michael Penn experienced the cultural phenomenon known as Four Loko. Finally, we play a captivating round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we review petitions for bringing back dessert-flavored gums, producing a proper physical release for the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES soundtrack and Snapple's not-so-memorable line of Elements drinks. Was Aimee a vocal advocate for Motorhead back in the day? You'll have to listen to this episode to find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fans of the Marvel Universe, "How I Met Your Mother" and Canada rejoice because this week we are joined by actress and all-around great person, Cobie Smulders! On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa discusses why one of the greatest nights of her life was spent watching THE BODYGUARD at Cobie and Taran's house, Cobie gives us the sweet details about the Tom Cruise holiday cake and Jonah recalls his teenage fascination with Steven Seagal. Even though Cobie grew up without cable television in a rural part of the Canadian outback, she did have access to a little show called SAVED BY THE BELL and we discuss how it informed Cobie's perception of the United States and teenage life in general. To bring things full circle, Cobie also recounts the time that she met Mark-Paul Gosselaar as an adult... and had a very different experience than Vanessa did. Finally we play a powerful round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we review petitions about a "How I Met Your Mother" reunion, bringing back chicken noodle soup at Tim Horton's and, finally, the three of us try to give a definitive answer of the age-old question: Is lasagna technically cake? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome our friend, the hilarious little sweetie Kenan Thompson!! We're talking SNL nostalgia, Nickelodeon nostalgia, classic rock nostalgia and everything in between. Plus, we get into the craze around the legendary Bo Jackson, including the "Bo Knows" campaign, and his arch nemesis Brian Bosworth aka "The Boz" and Jonah's obsession with the 1991 action fiilm "Stone Cold." Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN that has us asking society to please show some respect for meteorologists. What's up with that? You'll have to listen to find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by an absolute legend: The First Todd aka their dad. Join our hosts on an audio journey that sees them finally getting the answer to childhood questions like why did they have a refrigerator full of Gyros for a full year of their adolescence, how close was their dad to buying a Dunkin' Donuts franchise and what do you do with a freezer full of sundaes? As you might guess, this food-centric episode sees our dad bemoaning the demise of McDonald's highly popular (and portable) Snack Wrap and explaining why Wendy's take on the fast food menu item doesn't live up to the hype. Todd also fills us in on a charitable and delicious promotion by Wendy's called the Wendy's Frosty Key Tag which allows him free Frosty Jr. 's for a full year for a one-time $2 donation to charity. Finally we introduce a new segment called TODD TALK where we get our dad's "hot takes" on food items he such as Peter Pan peanut butter, Pierre's Ice Cream and A1 Steak Sauce. So run, don't traipse, to this incredible new episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the podcast we are joined by actor and comedian Tony Hale, who you might recognize as Buster Bluth from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT or Gary Walsh from VEEP. We caught up with Tony while he was on location in Rome to discuss the culture of buffet restaurants (and the anxiety it instilled in Jonah as a kid), Vanessa's four months as a cruise-ship comedian and Tony's experience shooting the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT pilot two decades ago on a boat, we mean, ship. We also discuss Tony's favorite childhood and current chain restaurants, the familiarity and nostalgia of fast food and hanging out at the mall back when Banana Republic had a safari vibe. We also play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate if charities should be sending potential donors free stamps, if it's inconsiderate to stand up at a Bob Seger concert and give our takes on some office drama when it comes to feeding birds during business hours. Make sure to check out Tony in the upcoming Netflix series THE DECAMERON and if you see him, buy him a slice of pizza from literally anywhere. It truly does not matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we stop being polite and start getting real with comedian, writer and podcaster Hari Kondabolu! We reminisce about our internships: Vanessa's time at the Oxygen network and Sesame Street, Hari's time as a "Clintern" for Hilary Clinton and Jonah's days interning in the music department at the production company behind this week's topic: MTV's THE REAL WORLD! Together, the three of us reminisce about the groundbreaking reality show, our favorite memories from the early seasons, how the show mirrored our culture—and Jonah gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse about working the front desk of Bunim/Murray Productions in fear of an appearance by Puck! Finally we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate the difference between bedspreads and quilts, the trend of false advertising when it comes to fast food commercials and why there aren't enough greeting cards for super specific events. Hari's new comedy special VACATION BABY is now streaming for free on YouTube and the companion album (EXTENDED) VACATION BABY is available on Bandcamp. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Break out the Manic Panic and Doc Martens because this week we dig deep into nineties fashion with musician Alicia Bognanno aka Bully. We talk about our experiences taking foreign languages in high school, respective anxiety dreams and the year Jonah and Vanessa took a French class together despite the fact that he was two grades ahead. We also dig deep into the history of belly button rings, discuss whether they're making a comeback and share other piercing stories from our adolescent years. Finally, we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about now-defunct mailorder catalogs ranging from Carvin Guitars (Jonah) to Delia's (Vanessa) as well as those Best Cuts catalogs where you could pick out your future hairstyle (Alicia). Did Jonah actually visit the NYU school of dentistry and have college kids work on his teeth in order to save money? You'll have to listen to this episode to find out—and while you're at it you should also pre-order Bully's upcoming album LUCKY FOR YOU, which comes out on Sub Pop Records on June 2nd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We could not be more excited to welcome our close personal friend to the podcast this week: Musician and actor, Jason Isbell! You've heard him talk about his '59 Les Paul but have you heard Isbell break down the difference between dry snacks, snacks that are a test of class and snacks that are a proof of class? Plus, from transporting Kudos bars to Handi-Snacks, we talk about the benefits of Jason's proto-grunge ensembles of cargo pants and flannel shirts. We also discuss why so many heavy metal musicians are nice people, Jason's real-life encounters with members of Metallica and Pearl Jam and what it was like being raised by teenage parents and lots of grandparents in Alabama. As if that weren't enough, we finish up with a round of CHANGE.DORK where we weigh in on important petitions regarding Primus signature guitars, Georgia Gold vs Hot Chicken at KFC and if a collaboration between Isbell and John Mayer is in the works. (Spoiler alert: It isn't.) Be sure to check out Jason's new documentary RUNNING WITH OUR EYES CLOSED which is now streaming on HBO Max and pick up his latest album with the 400 Unit, WEATHERVANES, when it comes out on June 9th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on HDWGW, we are joined by actress and comedian Jenny Slate to discuss everyone's favorite plush toy that resembled a sleeping bag: POPPLES! We discuss the difficulty but satisfaction of putting the popple back in its home, the curious nature of celebrity poppels and the recent cartoon reboot of the celebrated brand. We also discuss Jonah's cool new GQ hat, embarrassing encounters while buying ice cream and why there's few feelings on Earth better than receiving a free Bluetooth speaker. (No mugs, please.) Finally we play an inspired round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we go "battlezone" about lawnmowers, discuss how you should treat your bicycle when parking it outside a Subway Restaurant and debate whether magazine coupons belong to you or to the library where you're reading the latest issue of People. The results just might surprise you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Break out your skate deck and board shorts but this week on the podcast we are reminiscing about skateboard culture with Vanessa and Jonah's old friend, Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World. From being too afraid to drop in on half pipes to the Bones Brigade and hoverboard rumors, we reminisce about what it was like to try to pull off tricks before the existence of YouTube. Plus, Jonah and Jim talk about the time Jonah traveled to Europe two decades ago to write a feature on the band during their first U.K. tour, Vanessa recalls her own run-ins with the celebrated rock band and we get the scoop on how much control Jimmy Eat World had for the video for "Lucky Denver Mint," which essentially served as the trailer for the 1999 film "Never Been Kissed." (Spoiler alert: The band didn't have any.) Finally, we play a round of change.dork where we discuss why the Florida Panthers should most definitely keep "Sweetness" as their goal song. #SaveSweetnessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By popular demand, this week we have another music video-themed episode, however this time it's dedicated to Vanessa's picks of her favorite music videos from her childhood and adolescence. In that spirit we tackle the extended cut of Paul Abdul's classic video for "Rush, Rush" and discuss the time that Vanessa had a conversation with Keanu Reeves about making it. We also delve into the dramatic video for Bon Jovi's power ballad "Always" and Jonah recalls the time that Richie Sambora snubbed him because he wasn't in a band playing at Madison Square Garden. (Still not bitter about that, Richie.) We also dig deep into Soundgarden's psychedelic visual companion to "Black Hole Sun" and Jonah gives a little love to Metallica's austere clip for "The Unforgiven," which is a little too dark for Vanessa's taste. Whether you're a fan of Vitalogy or Vibeology, there's something for everyone on this Bayer-centric episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? "Rush, Rush" (Extended Version) by Paula Abdul Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxJAxF-3a38 "Always" by Bon Jovi Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMwcO6_hyA "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg "The Unforgiven" by Metallica Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckom3gf57Yw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode we are thrilled to welcome the hilarious Carmen Christopher!! Not only do Carmen and the Bayer siblings participate in a Matthew McConaughey impression showdown for the ages, which includes Jonah's impressive Kermit-the-Frog-doing-McConaughey, but Carmen and Vanessa get into their time doing comedy in Chicago including when Carmen saw Vanessa audition for SNL! Plus, we talk about those anxiety-provoking school dances and how Jonah "hated" them but seemed to go to a lot of them, how Carmen would roll up to them looking cool in his Girbaud jeans, and how Vanessa never knew if anyone would ask her to dance, but ultimately took her rightful place as Prom Queen senior year. A true must-listen, folks!! Check out Carmen Christopher in NYC or LA. Get your tickets below: New York City - April 7 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/574649982567 Los Angeles - April 24 - https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/carmenchristopherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listeners, you're in for a treat this week because we are joined by comedian, actor and writer Brian Posehn. We discuss Brian's formative years and how he managed to befriend both metalheads and popular kids in high school, even if that was way less dramatic than it is in John Hughes movies. We also discuss how he got his start in comedy, his current reality television picks and the time Vanessa forced all of her friends to watch an episode of "Say Yes To The Dress" when they were trying to be social at a party. For our topic, we get deep into the history of NERDS candies and its many offshoots including Nerds Rope, Nerds Cereal and Big Chewy Nerds. Finally, we play a spirited round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we try to get to the bottom of several complaints from some pretty unreliable narrators. But take it from a RELIABLE narrator, this episode is a must-listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined on the pod by comedian, writer and actress Patty Guggenheim, who you might recognize from her iconic role as Madisynn King on She-Hulk: Attorney At Law! Patty discusses her time bonding with Vanessa over Zoom as they played a game that Jonah still doesn't understand called Mafia, we discuss the origins of the term "Schnecken" and Patty's favorite hometown foods. We also reminisce about the phenomenon of the wearable personal stereo known as POCKET ROCKERS and the fact that both Patty and Vanessa owned the minicasette of Tiffany's version of "I Think We're Alone Now." Plus, we marvel at the wide variety of artists who allowed their music to be licensed to what was essentially a toy and the fact that Jonah didn't realize that their theme song was a Creedence Clearwater Revival hit that was retooled as a catchy jingle. Last but not least, we play a game of CHANGE.DORK where we review petitions about knee-high Converse sneakers, official high school anthems and a polarizing opinion on string cheese etiquette.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on HDWGW, we could not be more excited to be joined by legendary comedian, acclaimed actor and our podcast network boss, Will Ferrell! On this episode, you'll hear Vanessa and Will trade behind the scenes stories about Saturday Night Live, we discuss Will's childhood love Monopoly and how Monopoly money and played into his career at SNL and so much more! Plus, Will regales Jonah with his stories about growing up with the members of Rage Against the Machine and we talk about Will's favorite childhood show, Scooby-Doo. Finally we play a thrilling round of Change.dork where we all weigh in on if school desserts should be mandatory, the pros and cons of Velcro shoes and if the next Batman should in fact be Will Ferrell. Once you hear his audio audition, we dare you to say otherwise!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We could not be more thrilled to hang out with Sub Pop recording artist King Tuff a.k.a. Kyle Thomas to discuss his favorite childhood game "Uncle Kyle's House," which consisted of a magical world he created inside of his parents' old suitcase. Jonah and Vanessa also discuss the secret door that lead Kyle to the sewers beneath Kyle's childhood home, collectively speculate about the plot to the film "City Slickers" and discuss what other movies were seemingly on a loop during our formative years, ranging from "Haunted Honeymoon" to "Adventures in Babysitting." Finally we play a spirited round of "Back To The Present" where we lament the demise of Flinstone's Push-Ups, the Friendly's Wattamelon Roll and the time-honored tradition of free coffee at grocery stores, an experience that could only be made more transcendent if it were lamp-lit. So zip yourself up in your fave suitcase and check out this hilarious ep, and the new King Tuff album "Smalltown Stardust" out now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by musician Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) to discuss how he defied the odds and instead of quitting piano lessons like we did, became a professional musician who wheeled a sticker-covered piano onto the stage of the Warped Tour and has became a well-respected musician who admittedly never really uses music theory. Vanessa and Andrew also finally reconcile a long-standing dispute about Andrew not emailing her back when she reached out to him as a complete stranger to talk about their shared cancer diagnosis and Jonah admits that he recently pulled a similar move when he was diagnosed with his own type of leukemia in 2019. We also play a special version of CEO TAKEDOWN: SOMETHING CORPORATE edition where we debate the Ok Go/Post Cereal controversy, the "Pepsi, Where's My Jet?" documentary and our complicated thoughts about A&W Root Beer's mascot. Be sure to check out Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness' new album "Tilt At The Wind No More" when it comes out on March 31st, just don't email him to tell him your thoughts because he probably won't write you back! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For our first ever in-person podcast, this week Jonah and Vanessa are joined by a bonafide musical and pop-culture legend: "Weird Al" Yankovic! Vanessa runs her own song parodies from college by our guest today to get his feedback, we dig deep into the history of Weird Al's favorite cereal and present him with a very special gift. Along the way we also talk about his favorite cartoons from growing up, his tour rider snack situation and what goes through his mind when he's onstage singing his hit song parodies to audiences all over the world. Finally we play a game of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we get everyone's take on the return of mood rings, Pizza Hut's New Yorker pizza and Vienetta Ice Cream. You've heard plenty of interviews with Weird Al before but has anyone else asked him about Black Flag or Kudos bars? Terry Gross look out, we're coming from your job! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast, Jonah and Vanessa are back with another one-on-one episode to stage an in-depth discussion of Guns N' Roses' classic nineties video trilogy of "Don't Cry," "November Rain" and "Estranged." In the process Jonah recalls the time their mom took him to see Guns N' Roses with Skid Row in 1991 on the "Use Your Illusion Tour" (where he used dried blood as a fashion accessory), Vanessa's childhood fascination with Stephanie Seymour and, seriously, what was the deal with that dolphin? We also discuss the time that Jonah interviewed Slash, our favorite moments from the aforementioned videos and the time the Bayer kids saw GNR together in Cleveland in 2006 and were kicked out of the backstage area just moments before the band took the stage. Judging by this timeline we are overdue to see the band again soon, so if any of the members are listening to this podcast please feel free to reach out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast we are joined by our friend, musician Rachael Cantu! Rachael stopped by the podcast to talk about how she has a lot in common with both of the Bayers. Among other topics we discuss our mutual friendship with the vastly underrated band Limbeck, message board culture, our "bad kid" moments as teenagers (straight-edge kids can be a bad influence, too) and the time Jonah missed seeing Sublime at a tiny club in Cleveland because of his weeknight curfew. We also dig deep into our favorite movie soundtracks ranging from Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" to "Empire Records" and Vanessa gives her take on what we'll call "Sugar Ray fan mentality." Finally we play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we tackle deep dish pizza chips, the Frasier reboot and the return of McDonald's Peppermint Mocha coffee drink. If you're not content listening to all this incredible content, frankly we don't know what to tell you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode the Bayers welcome the hilarious, sweet and immensely talented Sam Richardson! Listen to Sam and Vanessa reminisce on their Chicago comedy days and try their best to breakdown popular improv form The Harold. Plus, they improvise what Jonah's dream was last night! They also talk nostalgic action-packed shows from Thundercats to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and how Sam is always ready to morph into a Power Ranger the instant they need him. Whether you're on the planet Rafcon, Thundera, or Earth, this wildly funny episode is a must-listen!!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode the Bayers welcome the bestselling author, writer, actor and most importantly friend, Jessi Klein! They're talking local papers and the rare honor of being featured in them, and Jessi reveals her guest starring role on Sesame Street as the winner of her school's spelling bee! Also, the trio discuss the ongoing mystery of how ice cream is made aside from in the ice cream machine that always sabotages people on cooking shows, as well as the mystique of the Snoopy Sno-Cone machine. And speaking of toys, they also ask the age-old question: has anyone ever gotten a rock tumbler to work? Plus, they talk about the early nineties fixation with American flag etiquette and how Jonah really didn't care for it, and they brainstorm some pretty epic ideas for seasonal flags. Check it out!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vanessa and Jonah wish you all a Happy Holidays and listen to one of their favorite episodes with dear friend of the pod, Beck Bennett. Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-did-we-get-weird-with-vanessa-bayer-and-jonah-bayer/id1586365658 -- In this seminal episode, Jonah and Vanessa sit down with the incomparable Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) to discuss his love for Lean Pockets and other cultural touchstones from the past. They also delve into the infamous lore that Jonah and Vanessa's dad is, in fact, the first person to ever be named "Todd." Spoiler alert: Vanessa is a great wedding guest and she just might come to your party if you invite her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast we are joined by the Bayers' longtime friend, solo artist and the frontman of the band Motion City Soundtrack, Justin Courtney Pierre, to reminisce about CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE books. We discuss why this book series was the most interactive entertainment a kid could find in the 1980s and how it encouraged creativity in a way we didn't fully comprehend at the time. Along the way we dig into formative childhood memories, why Jonah rebelled against pencil grips to write in a way that has never once interfered with his life and Vanessa's guess-and-check chemistry class controversy that has led her on a decades-long campaign against a certain high-school teacher's reasoning. We dig deep into the new Dunkin Donuts' inferior new rewards program on a segment called CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF and explore how corporate profits and diluted coffee go down even smoother than a Peanut Butter Cup latte. We also talk CEO culture, frequent flyer point strategies and the slippery slope of stoichiometry. If you're looking for a podcast where the coefficient equals tons of laughs plus psychological insights, you've come to the right place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We could not be more psyched to be joined this week by New York Times bestselling author, podcast legend and Vanessa's "Ibiza" co-star, Phoebe Robinson! On this incredible episode we talk about how the three of us all grew up in the same suburbs of Ohio and our favorite hang-outs, reminisce about our favorite shops to hit at the local mall and talk about how our teenage fashion choices were informed by our developing sense of identity. We also dig deep into the history of Sketchers shoes and the controversy surrounding their "Shape-Ups" shoes that almost led to the company's downfall. Finally, we play a powerful game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we celebrate the legacy of local newscaster Ramona Robinson, debate if aesthetics are more important than doctors when it comes to hospitals and explore if the world is truly made up of—as one disgruntled Plain Dealer reader puts it—"crooks and liars." In a universe of unlimited podcasts, this is a conversation that cuts through all of the fluff and proves why Phoebe is a truly podcasting legend as well as a very cool friend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gabe Liedman is not only the sweetest person on earth, but this writer, producer and actor is also our amazing guest on this week's HDWGW! We talk about hair inspirations, from Vanessa and Gabe's admiration of Claire Danes in "My So-Called Life" to the previously unknown influence a teenager with a Jason Newsted haircut that Jonah saw during his childhood had on his style trajectory. Of course, we also discuss our love for Manic Panic hair dye, which runs as deep as our respect for its creators. That's not all! We dig into our celebrity doppelgängers and reminisce about independent record stores, ranging from Cleveland's Record Revolution to Philadelphia's Zipperhead. Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate if the government is conspiring against literacy by banning light bulbs, hear about how perfume impacts one very judgmental Plain Dealer subscriber's experience at Playhouse Theatre and play a subgame called LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN: BATTLEZONE that pits millennials against seniors and features some of the most condescending attitudes we've ever heard on this podcast... and that's saying a lot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You've heard Claudio Sanchez sing about fantasy worlds as the frontman for Coheed And Cambria but have you heard him pontificate on a dish known as Chicken Rondelet? Get ready for that, plus we talk about Claudio's experiences playing Nintendo on the way to school, dig into the history of the Potato Skin (and Tato Skins) and recall some of our favorite commercial jingles of the eighties. We also discuss Jonah's doppelgänger as painted by Pablo Picasso, the time Claudio bought musical gear from the voice of Folger's coffee crystals and lovingly recall the days of COD (Cash On Delivery.) Finally, the three of us play an action-packed round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we debate the merits of Hocus Pocus 2, Van Leeuwan's Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice cream and hair scrunchies. If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out Coheed's latest album "Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind" and Claudio's new comic series "My Brother's Blood Machine." Who knows? If you're lucky, you might even be able to buy a dragonfly-branded scrunchie at an upcoming gig. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this very special holiday edition of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, Vanessa and Jonah recount some of their favorite Thanksgiving memories from controversial food choices to taking the Bolt Bus to Philly and the complex family dynamics at play each November. We also discuss the most overrated and underrated sides, give an update on new parade floats and wonder why Wonderbread is still relevant. We also explore the history of the pumpkin spice latte and riff on millennial slang. As if that weren't enough, we close things out by introducing a special segment called CEO TAKEDOWN: THE TURKEYS COME HOME TO ROOST, where we examine the actions of CEOs from Butterball, Nestle and General Mills to decide which one of them needs to be taken down a notch. While they're on their ski lifts reviewing their record profits, we'll the ones getting the last laugh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To celebrate Vanessa's birthday we are joined by a very special guest: JEWEL! That's right, we caught up with the acclaimed singer, actress and author to discuss the era before Starbucks where coffee shops were places to see live music and maybe even see Jewel demo songs that would go onto be nineties radio staples such as "Who Will Save Your Soul?" and "Foolish Games." We also discuss Jewel's career journey from a living on a remote homestead in Alaska to becoming a household name, Vanessa and Jewel's mutual love of Cyndi Lauper, how Jewel was able to channel her trauma into lasting art and how she came up with her own mental health curriculum by channeling her own "bunny nature." Finally we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about The Body Shop, Dutch Apple Pop-Tarts and other nostalgic things that Jewel is a very good sport about discussing with us. Be sure to check out Jewel's new album Freewheelin' Woman and the other incredible work she does at jewelneverbroken.com and notalonechallenge.org . If you're looking to be as entertaining as you are inspired, you will not want to miss this episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by musician and comedian Whitmer Thomas for a very fashion-focused episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? We discuss the difficulty of finding cool jeans in rural Alabama, how the film TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY influenced Whitmer's aesthetic and why fingerless gloves were his accessory of choice. We also discuss Jonah's denim journey from JNCOs to Girbaud and the way that Vanessa's creative use of yarn as a form of budget hair extension helped our mom land a job at the Jewish Community Center. We also discuss Whitmer and Jonah's mutual love of punk and hardcore music, the time Vanessa educated the band Underoath on Bar Mitzvah culture and the time that Whitmer's mind was blown apart by discovering the existence of American Apparel retail stores upon moving to Los Angeles during their heyday. We also play a spirited found of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we debate the ethics of lowlifes stealing golf clubs, gentlemen filming doo-wop concerts and doctors favoring pharmaceutical reps over patients. To quote the Terminator, we hope that Whitmer can say, "I'll be back [on the podcast]" again very soon! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of today being Halloween, we thought we would reminisce about some of our favorite Halloween memories from childhood costumes to shaving cream hijinks. We also discuss the condescending nature of giving out healthy snacks (don't be this person), Vanessa talks about having a dance recital at the famed Orange Jubilee and we explore why a chain buffet restaurant with fluorescent lighting is Jonah's equivalent of a haunted house. We also discuss feeling pressured to dress up for Halloween parties, people who get very into decorations and the time we replaced our American flag with a pirate flag at a childhood home (amazing, this was not Halloween-related.) We also dig into a holiday-fueled round of change.dork where we discuss petitions that make a case for giving students the day off after Halloween, wearing costumes to school and making Halloween fall on the last Saturday of October every month regardless of what our calendar or the Farmer's Almanac wants us to believe. Whether you're dressing up as a friendly ghost or an embittered CEO, you'll find something to boo-lieve in on this episode of the podcast. EXCLUSIVE: Change.org petition to make Jonah Bayer a notable alumna at Orange High!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You've seen comedian and writer Adam Conover break down important topics on his hit TV shows "Adam Ruins Everything" and "The G Word With Adam Conover," but his intellectual expertise also extends to nostalgia. On this episode of the podcast, Adam tells us about the video games he played on his graphing calculator in school, his his indie rock/funny folk music band and why he hopes no one listening to this podcast will ever hear it. We also dive deep into the educational television series Square One Television, Vanessa and Jonah reminisce about Ben Affleck's memorable role in "Voyage of the Mimi" and we trace the career traject of the vocal group Rockapella from Carmen Sandiego's house band to Folgers instant coffee fame. Finally, we play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we debate the merits of Cinnabon-flavored cereal, the return of Taco Bell's Enchirito and the rebooted Teletubbies. If you're looking for a podcast that's entertaining as it is educational (especially when it comes to the properties of the number nine) look no further, podcast listener! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week the Bayers are joined by bestselling author, Dan Ozzi whose book "Sellout" comes out on paperback tomorrow! To celebrate we reminisce about the time Dan had a VIP experience with Jonah and his parents at a New York Yankees game (thanks to Vanessa and Lorne Michaels) and which corporations have the best snacks, ranging from free Luna bars at Dan's ex-employer VICE to the time he loaded up on free desserts at Google. From there we get into our topic, where Dan compares his job working at a Toys "R" Us on Staten Island to Jonah's experience of working at a Kids "R" Us in suburban Ohio. It turns out Dan's job was like a Coen Safdie brothers movie with Simpsons figurines while Jonah's job was more like a movie directed by a very boring director that ends with him getting fired for playing a Tori Amos song on the local news. Finally, we play another round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we debate if the United States are Un-united, discuss how littering with garbage is different than littering with language and recap the basic tenets of tipping for those Cleveland Plain Dealer readers who feel that working at Pizza Hut for minimum wage is a job that you should be grateful to have. Did we mention Dan's book is coming out in paperback? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we welcome lead singer of "Lamb of God" our friend Randy Blythe! We talk about everything from Indiana Jones movies to real-life encounters with Keanu Reeves, like when Vanessa recently talked to him for twenty minutes about his star turn in the Paula Abdul "Rush Rush Video" (uh oh are they best friends now?) plus Randy and Jonah try to teach Vanessa the difference between punk and metal, concert etiquette and much more. We also dive into the classic Old El Paso taco kit and how the seasoning still holds up today. And we get into the allure of Boboli and Digiorno pizza, which made you feel you were really making the real stuff/delivery! We also discuss classic family recipes like chicken tetrazzini, noodle kugel, and Jonah's ultimate favorite: orange juice (according to our Grandma). And we play another exciting game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" that covers texting at dinner, holding the door at post offices, and radio stations playing Christmas music around Thanksgiving. If you miss this episode you might get a visit from Krampus, and if you don't know who that is, you will learn from this episode- obvi it's a must-listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's impersonation-heavy ep, the Bayers are thrilled to welcome their friend, the hilarious Jay Pharoah!! Jay and Vanessa reminisce about SNL impressions they did based on their childhoods and some celebrity impressions they did later on (speaking of- who does a better Denzel Washington- you'll have to listen to find out!) The Bayers and Jay also talk about a fave show from growing up, Nickelodeon's "Doug" and Jay and Vanessa are so proud to learn what their tv son is up to today: winning a Daytime Emmy! ("tv son" is kind of nuanced in this instance but again, ya gotta listen to find out how!) Plus, in an exciting game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" they all debate new moves being made by The History Channel, how transparent restaurant commercials need to be, and whether texting your parents is a sufficient way to communicate. You're gonna love this ep so much you'll be saying "Alright, Okay!" for the rest of the week (AGAIN, this might not make sense now, but that's why you have to listen!"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's new episode, Jonah and Vanessa welcome fellow Ohio native and host of Spotify's "60 Songs That Explain the 90s" Rob Harvilla to the podcast. They revisit their senior projects, which included organizing record bins, helping the community, and surfing the Internet. Jonah and Rob reminisce about their time working together at Alternative Press, including towers of promo CDs and their reviews of up-and-coming bands. Don't worry, they were nice and honest! Vanessa showcases her amazing Fred Durst impression as they navigate which song Limp Bizkit was known for performing. They discuss tablature music and their grunge band rankings, which leads to a discussion about their parents' collection of records from all genres of music. True Colors, Prince, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross and much much more. All this talk really gets the Bayers thinking about getting a record player. Sponsors, are your ears open?! We end the pod with a round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan?" where they review the Plain Dealer for complaints among the Greater Cleveland area including cable networks going to hell, unrealistic expectations of punctuality, and school deficit politics. You will not want to miss this music-filled episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are excited to welcome writer, actress and comedian Julie Klausner to the podcast, who you may know from her popular Hulu series "Difficult People," her podcast DOUBLE THREAT with Tom Scharpling and/or her brand new podcast ASK JULIE! on the Forever Dog Plus Network. We discuss with Julie the many similarities between the films "Singles" and "Reality Bites" (including highlights from both soundtracks), dissect "Empire Records" and "So I Married an Axe Murderer" (GWAR discussion included) and reminisce about the time Vanessa introduced Jonah to Eddie Vedder and he said Vanessa was cool. We also revisit one of the most dangerous toys of the nineties aka the Pogo Ball, and explore their unorthodox commercial campaign which for some reason featured a giant monster hand trying to destroy the universe? Then we round things out with our viral segment "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan?" where we scan the Plain Dealer from a decade ago to find out what Clevelanders were complaining about, from smoking in casinos to extreme couponers. Unlike a Pogo Ball commute this podcast moves fast, so don't forget to don protective gear before listening. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly took a break from playing arenas with My Chemical Romance to talk to us about what it was like being a latchkey kid in the suburbs of New Jersey during the "Home Alone" era of parental supervision. Along the way we also discuss the time Geoff and Jonah's screamo band, United Nations, were sued by the actual United Nations; the fine line between art and absurdity; and Geoff's memories of his first-period chorus class. We also discuss how Jonah stayed at Geoff's childhood home nearly two decades ago for work and recall Vanessa's cherished childhood cat, Pumpkin. Finally. we play an inaugural round of a new segment called "CEO TAKEDOWN" where we look at three CEOs who have made headlines lately and determine which one needs to be taken down a notch. If you're a fan of "the system" you might not enjoy this podcast because this one is for the true punks and outcasts, not the Wall Street billionaires or corrupt cookie corporations who thrive on conceit and complacency. (You know who you are.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Well the sun is gonna surely shine this week because we are joined by star of the sitcom "Blossom" and friend of the Bayers, Jenna von Oy! On this episode, Vanessa fact-checks the bizarre direct message (and probably fictional road trip) that lead to her friendship with Jenna, we learn about the unlikely relationship between "Blossom" and "Seinfeld" and deconstruct Jenna's experiences doing commercials in the '90s which ranged from Kool-AId to Members Only to Quilted Northern. We also dig deep into the era's fashion—and what could accentuate a hat with fabric flowers attached to it more than crimped hair? (Unfortunately, crimping wasn't so easy for those of us with curly hair.) Finally, we discuss her co-star Joey Lawrence's "Nothing My Love Can't Fix" music video and play an insightful round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we explore misguided opinions on marketing, economics and junk mail. Also, be sure to check out and donate to Jenna's wonderful new project at https://www.thecassandraproject.net. If you'd like to learn more about The Cassandra Project please follow the links below: Website: TheCassandraProject.net Instagram: @CassandraProjectFilm Twitter: @Cassandra_Films Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandraprojectfilmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's late August and that can only mean one thing: Back To School! In this this special episode, Vanessa and Jonah recall their visceral memories from that time which include picking out the perfect school supplies, shopping for the previous year's hottest fashions at Marshalls, and the oh so important task of planning an outfit for the first day of school. We also get deep into our former high school's current website on our new segment "Congratulations, You Played Yourself" and make a compelling argument for why Jonah should be included in the "notable alumni" section alongside Vanessa, former HDWGW guest JD Samson (Le Tigre) and, amazingly, the original bassist for Filter who would probably tell Jonah, "Hey man, nice shot" when it comes to his chances for inclusion. We also discuss how wild it is that high school class presidents have a lifetime appointment and our dad chimes in with his own personal history when it comes to the McDonald's Snack Wrap and its enduring influence on the fast food franchise. If you DON'T listen to this episode, well, then congratulations, you played yourself (meaning you should listen).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's new episode Jonah and Vanessa welcome the delightful Bridger Winegar to dig deep into the world of spooky games like "Light as a Feather Stiff as a Board" that haunted them as kids. And did you know there were several films inspired by the game "Bloody Mary"? It seems no one did. Plus, Bridger and Vanessa recall their days of being interns in late night tv and the various ways they humiliated themselves. And a lively game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" has them debate whether kids in commercials are cute or annoying? Finally, we ask the question, is Bridger the first person to ever be named Bridger like The Bayer's dad Todd? You'll have to listen to find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast we are joined by our friend, the truly hilarious actor and comedian Paul Brittain, who you might know from "Saturday Night Live," "Trophy Wife" or a sketch based on "Three Men And A Baby" back in Chicago many years ago that Vanessa is still obsessed with. In that spirit, this episode includes Vanessa and Paul recounting their halycon days of cutting their teeth in the Windy City comedy scene, us all reminiscing about the way that seemingly carefree sitcoms used to tackle serious issues and Jonah being impressed that Paul saw the post-hardcore act Hum back in the nineties. For the main event, we recall the convenience of the print version of TV Guide and the frustration of the endlessly scrolling TV Guide channel, the story of which we hope is someday made into a made-for-TV movie (meta). We also play a captivating round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we discuss grocery store etiquette, loud television commercials and whether baseball players should charge kids for their autographs. We dare you to find another podcast that covers everyone from Mario Lopez to Mike Hargrove, but if you do, we might just buy your ticket to a charity spaghetti dinner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.