Episodes

Episode 302: Mark Ronson, Young Fathers, ‘War Fries’

Photo Credit: Press Here Publicity

This week: Mark Ronson makes a new Macarena, dissects the many roles of a modern-day music producer… Writer Amelia Gray imagines a world of competitive grieving… Scottish hip-hop artists Young Fathers – winners of the Mercury Prize for Best 2014 British Album – deejay a deep dinner party… The Posts return with gripping advice … Rico steels himself to eat “war fries” in Amsterdam… Rain facts keep falling on our heads…. Spam reaches its first inbox… And lots more!


Amelia Gray - 'Avocado Who?'

Icebreaker

Writer Amelia Gray tells perhaps the bleakest knock-knock joke in history. She learned it from a 5-year-old.


South Dakota's New State Slogan

Small Talk

Richard Lawson, columnist for Vanity Fair, mulls over South Dakota's new state slogan, which is (kind of) a jab at Mars.


Opening Pandora's Inbox: The Birth of Spam

A History Lesson With Booze ®

Back in 1994, two Phoenix-area lawyers hit upon a new way to advertise their legal services: auto-send thousands of emails to chat groups. Hear about their recipe for spam, and then check your inbox for a custom cocktail.


Young Fathers Share a Soundtrack for Thinking and Drinking

Soundtrack

The Mercury Prize-winning artists craft a soundtrack for a very deep dinner party.


Mark Ronson Schools us on 'Uptown Funk,' Producing Hits

Guest of Honor

The musical mastermind chats with Brendan about working with Amy Winehouse, discovering Keyone Starr, and producing the "Macarena of 2015."


Amelia Gray Imagines Competitive Grieving

Eavesdropping

Pen/Faulkner Award finalist Amelia Gray reads a dark new parable from her new collection "GUTSHOT."


A Crash Course on The Netherlands' 'War Fries'

Main Course

"Amsterdam Foodie" Vicky Hampton gives Rico the skinny on a local favorite: "war fries." It's condiment carnage.


Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning. Courtesy of The Emily Post Institute.

The Posts Tackle Tea Troubles and Facebook Birthday Burdens

Etiquette

Etiquette scions Lizzie Post and Dan Post-Senning return to the show, bearing advice about bread-breaking and birthday-wishing.


Cynthia Barnett Drops A Little Rain Knowledge

Chattering Class

Environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett showers us with facts about precipitation, like why it always "pours" when it rains, and how our prune-y fingers may have been an adaptation to cope with a wetter world.


Built To Spill – 'Never Be The Same'

One For The Road

The Idaho-based indie rock band recently released their eighth album "Untethered Moon" on April 21. The group is currently out on a U.S. tour with upcoming dates in Austin, Minneapolis and Chicago. Take a listen to a single off the album, "Never Be The Same."