You've gotten iconic podcast host and the SyFy dubbed "Queen of Game of Thrones" Joanna Robinson's analysis of television and film on Vanity Fair and The Ringer as well as her many popular podcasts such as "Trial By Content" and "The Ringer-Verse" but you probably haven't heard her recount how the Indigo Girls was an important part of her musical development as a teenager? On this episode we get "Closer To Fine" with Joanna, dig into her favorite comfort shows as a kid and explore how she was able to hone her analytical abilities when it comes to decoding the messages behind your favorite shows. (Pro tip: It helps to read books.) We also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we debate the merits of the Liberty Mutual insurance commercials (not a sponsor), discuss if televisions should be allowed in the common areas of dormitories and Vanessa fills us in on her obsession with the musical merits Skyrizi's "Nothing Is Everything" commercial. From cappuccinos at Lilith Fair to the cultural impact of My So-Called Life, this episode is a certain to become a viral sensation. Don't forget to pre-order Joanna's book McU: The Reign Of Marvel Studios, which she co-wrote with Gavin Edwards and Dave Gonzales, coming out on October 10th!

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This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend and actress/comedian/podcaster Casey Wilson to talk about Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet"! Wow, wow and wow! Casey and Vanessa discuss how in love they were with Leo AND their desperate attempts to talk to him, both as children and adults! Plus, Jonah and Vanessa talk about meeting Claire Danes and/or Jared Leto from the spiritual companion tv show of "Romeo + Juliet" which everyone knows is "My So-Called Life"! We also dig into the iconic "Romeo +Juliet" Soundtrack- where would we all be without The Cardigans' song "Lovefool" after all??? Plus, Vanessa talks about the one time she was thrown a surprise party (spoiler alert: She did not like it!... until she saw there was a cookie cake) and in a rousing game of YES/NO-STALGIA we say no thank you to the return of platform flip-flops, and much more!! So love us, love us, say that you love us and listen to this incredible episode!!

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Get ready to dive purse first into this week's podcast because we are thrilled to be joined by comedian, drag queen, actor and activist, Bob The Drag Queen! You might know him from his memorable appearances on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "We're Here," but did you know that he and Vanessa are pretty much best friends now? Plus, on this episode we all get real about social etiquette: What to say if you don't remember someone, how to react if someone tries to shame you for not remembering them and the do's and don'ts of how to act if you want to be Bob The Drag Queen's friend. Bob also brings out Vanessa's fierce alter ego "Bitchy Vanessa," talks about his background in stand-up comedy and tells a very memorable story about how some social cues lead to a misunderstanding with a very big star. The three of us also get nostalgic during our segment BACK TO THE PRESENT where we discuss the Carvin guitar mail order catalog, Fisher-Price karaoke toys and the rise and fall of the PT Cruiser. Don't forget to check out Bob The Drag Queen on tour with Madonna on the Celebration Tour starting this fall!

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You may know Danny Pellegrino as a screenwriter, New York Times bestselling author or host of the "Everything Iconic" podcast, but did you know that he's from the suburbs of Cleveland just like the Bayer siblings? On this episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, Jonah and Vanessa dig deep into the suburban memory well to discuss controversial Burger King closings, sneaking into Solon Cinema and the fuzzy moral area that surrounds "tasting" bulk candy. Danny also takes us on a deep dive into his childhood and adult obsession with Happy Meal Toys, the emotional impact that comes with being able to attain something that seemed impossible as a child and our favorite fast food marketing mash-ups. We also play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we discuss the lack of physical copies of the White Pages, why some people are not fans of cellphones/social media (we get it) and if there's any situation where it's OK to take up two parking spaces. You'll definitely want to listen to this iconic episode and share it with everyone you know! AND be sure to pre-order Danny's new book "Jolliest Bunch Unhinged Holiday Stories," which is out on October 24th.  

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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. 

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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! 

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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. 

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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!!

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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!

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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. 

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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! 

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