Nani? The Sickos are talking about anime? Masaka! But I assure you: it's true! Quinn Welsh-Wilson joins as co-Sicko to get Tom back up to speed, discussing Twelve Kingdoms, Apothecary Diaries, Shangri-La Frontier, Log Horizon, Lazarus, and the first new anime Tom has watched in ages, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Turns out anime is the same as ever: it fucking sucks but also is so good. Confounding stuff.

The Sickos are tea sandwich guys now. We made, ate, and reviewed 11 insane sandwiches with such inexplicable ingredients as "onion, mayo, and parsley," "radish, butter, and parsley," and "salami, mayo, and grapefruit." It sounds like these would suck ass but tea sandwiches are bugged and somehow roll back around to being great. Listen to our sicko sandwich journey.

Featuring Sicko homie Dylan filling in as the second Sicko

See all eleven sandwiches and watch us try a particularly deranged one in this "teaser video" https://youtu.be/9kgQ7Fo07TQ

Patrick Cosmos goes guesto mode! We discuss his new album Future National Sports, how weird it is to self-promote independent art in hell times, the idiotic appeal of being a vinyl guy, and what it's like to constantly have to go to physical therapy all the time. Also, Joe's here for this one. I know we said he was going to take a break. He is. He just took a break from the break. Get Patrick's music at veryimportant.lawyer

Folks, we have been trying for ages to get enough raw material for a classic posting episode but it just isn't happening. The well is dry. The thing about the posts is that now, they suck ass. Everyone is stuck in a rhetorical quagmire, nothing new is being introduced into the ecosystem, and the freaks who previously provided goofy spectacle are now very scary as they are all now allowed and encouraged to publicly engage in Nazi thought. We hate it! Thanks to Cohen Edenfield for being this episode's guest co-Sicko!

Hello Sicko fans.

If you are a dedicated listener you know that for a long time Joe has been struggling with chronic pain due to a hip impingement and labral tear. Basically his shit is so fucked up and it hurts all the time, and the only solution is a lot of physical therapy, which does not really solve the day-to-day pain issue. 

If you have experienced chronic pain, especially pain that can peak unexpectedly and without warning, you know that it makes it extremely hard to plan things. When you hurt all over, the kind of extended mental focus that was once effortless can become a huge energy drain. Unfortunately that's sort of where we're at right now. Joe has a lot on his plate and his family and career are obviously always going to take priority over this show, and we have to be honest and recognize that he's currently in a place where he simply does not have the capability to do Sickos stuff. He's at the point where trying to play through the pain is only going to hurt him more. 

We always talk about how the point of Anime Sickos is to be fun for us, and all our decisions are meant to keep it fun. Right now for Joe it has become a stressor that either makes him guilty about having to cancel recordings, or else eats up critical focus that is better spent elsewhere. I go into this detail just so you understand this is not a decision we make lightly, and one that has full support from both of us. 

So, what does that mean for the show? First, I'm going to take some time off, probably a week or two. Then we are going to come back with a selection of guest co-hosts similar to when Joe was out on paternity podcast leave. After a month or two of that, we'll see where we're at. The show WILL go on--it won't be the same without Joe, but I also don't want to stop doing it! And Joe is not quitting--when he is stronger and has more focus/stamina he will return. We just don't know when that will be, so until then we'll make do. 

I am probably going to keep the Tom's Record Club show going on the Patreon. I totally understand if some patrons want to cancel their pledges or if listeners are not as interested in the show now. Joe is like the funniest guy who ever lived and is much funnier than me. The thing that makes this show so special is the dynamic between the two of us. I totally understand if a version of Anime Sickos without that dynamic doesn't appeal to you. But I will keep da fire going regardless. 

I thank every Sicko fan who sticks with us. Please send your love and support to Joe da God. He deserves the best and is instead beset by fucking terrors and torments and it's not fair. If you want to throw Joe a few bucks directly you can go to https://ko-fi.com/joeandersonm. 

Writer, homie, and genius Josh Watkins goes guesto mode. We celebrate Josh's return to Chicago after four years of grad school, discuss the highs and lows of working in a bookstore (sometimes people write fanfic about you where you are a pony), and explain why Josh can't be allowed to touch a smartphone or video game. This guy is one of the all time guys. The vibes on this one are simply stunning

Writer and comedian Dan Sheehan goes guesto mode again! Dan is about to crowdfund Who's A Good Boy: The Game Where Dogs Can Sin, a comedy card game with art by Julia Glassman, and he's here to tell you why it kicks ass and deserves your grubby dollars. Plus, we discuss how we hate the computer and the putrid posts within, and Joe shares all his wisest fatherhood tips as Dan awaits his first child!

Check out Who's A Good Boy at dogscansin.com

Joe becomes mentally healthy forever as we curate a therapeutic gaming curriculum designed to provide him with the maximum concentration of vital gaming nutrients such as "dig big hole," "upgrade town," "low-stakes grind" and more. Follow this curriculum yourself and you too will develop a perfect brain

Featuring discussions of: SteamWorld Dig 2, Digseum, Donkey Kong Bananza, Slime Rancher 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Siralim Ultimate, Dungeon Encounters, Animal Well, Blue Prince, Webfishing, Terranigma, Hades 2, and more

The most important thing in the universe is to chill and hang and vibe. If humanity is chilling then the utopian society must inevitably follow. But the man hates to see you chilling. We discuss this phenomenon and share our tips to ensure your chilling is at maximum effectiveness.

Thanks to Cohen Edenfield for playing Jigsaw in our great intro sketch

The Sickos go on and on about the classic 1982 spoof show Police Squad. Its film version, The Naked Gun, is much more successful and well-known, but the TV sitcom original is where this kind of humor shines brightest. As appreciators of comedy, the Sickos really go nuts over the craftsmanship on display. What a show!