No Bad Ideas

We're back! And we return with two classics NBI genres of bad idea. First, Gabriel brings us an Am I The Asshole post about overbearing mothers during wedding planning, but definitely not in the way that you think. We turn it into a trippy, hallucinogenic virtual reality experience gone wrong where the path to emotional truth is paved with simulations. Then Sarah brings us a tale of technology on airplanes going wrong in a seemingly harmless but very strange way, and we, of course, turn it into an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. 

Plus: the multi-channel silent disco, hacked Alexas, interrobangs, a very specific set of circumstances, and Season 2 of The Rehearsal.  

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2 

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Our apologies for the slight delay on this week's No Bad Ideas, but we think this one's worth the wait. Zach  has secured his NBI hot seat in an exciting new spot and we're all ready to turn to some terrible ideas into okayish pitches! 

We start with Mr. Valenti who has an Am I The Asshole post that separates the cats from the dogs and the healthy relationships from Break Up With Him Already ships. We take it and concoct a (somehow) sillier and more arbitrary conflict that will make or break a relationship. Next, Sarah offers up an instagram ad for a very specialized service and for a very targeted demographic, but we turn it into the next hit CW show about an isolated town in Alaska in want of some spiritual guidance but with plenty of washboard abs. 

Plus: Great Uncle Wildemar, the definition of coquette, the Kristen Bell of today, a lot of forbidden fruit, and a fun couples activity for Tom Holland and Zendaya. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1 
Idea #2 

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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It's finally the end of the summer! We celebrate with a flight, a fistfight, some fast food, and body swaps!

In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings the story of a mid-air flight between a plane's pilot and co-pilot. The gang turns it into a gritty, Martin McDonagh-esque suspense theater play about a situation doomed to blow up at just the wrong moment. Then, Zach horrifies Sarah and Gabriel with a story of little kids working at a McDonald's. The team pitches a new Freaky Friday-style story about adults and children swapping bodies and learning heart-warming lessons. 

All of that, plus: the Gods of Maximum Comedy, bars that are underground, the gritty Cabin Pressure reboot that we were all waiting for, a better boxing match, and our collective Sauron eye. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Zach is out again this week but we’ve pulled in not one but two (three if you count the doggo that trotted up to Sarah’s mic) of our favorite people in podcasting: Victoriocity’s own Jen and Chris Sugden!

First, Gabriel brings us a tale of an aspirational identity swap and we turn it up and add a bunch of twisty layers that culminate in a cross-country road trip to the lights of Vegas. Next, Sarah offers up a particularly silly idea from congress and we turn it into this summer’s next action-packed disaster movie, with trees… on the moon! Then we chat with them about the origins of their podcast Victoriocity, how they work as writing partners, and the refining process to bring an episode from idea to a script in the studio.

Plus: that Midlands energy, 8-10 scientists and politicians in charge of The World, a very grizzled Bruce Willis, pulling a Christopher Nolan and heavy-handed metaphors.

For more top-tier comedy from the Sugdens in your life, check out Victoriocity and follow both Chris and Jen on Twitter!

Today’s Bad Ideas™:

Idea #1

Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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We have something new for you today! Mostly because we couldn't stop talking about it off mic and we all happened to be in the same room for once, we decided to jump into our NBI hot-seats to talk about how we would adapt stories from The Lord of the Rings if an eccentric space-loving billionaire threw lots and lots of money at us to do it.

Tolkien lore spoilers abound, so take care if you happening to be reading The Silmarillion, but no spoilers for the actual Rings of Power TV show. 

Plus: Bad luck for Anne Boleyn, Orly's fee, Time's Square at 5pm on a Thursday, a smokin' Sauron, and the dark weird forest of interesting turns. 

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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The show's original trouble troika is back together with the triumphant return of Zach Valenti this week! And we do have trouble here at NBI HQ: 

First, Sarah brings us an unusual problem plaguing the great city of Venice and we turn it into the story of a father looking out for his sons who accidentally finds the thrill of a lifetime. Then Zach offers up a typical tale from the world of Venture Capital and we create a story of temptation at scale, and whether a small-time schemer can play in the big leagues. 

Plus: Dad Bod Law, Fight Club Act 2 energy, Fight Club Act 3 energy, beeping Calzones, and some apologies to Australia.  

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Zach is missing this week, but to make up for it we have the honor of hosting a returning champion in the No Bad Ideas arena: Eli Barraza, creator of The Far Meridian, returns! 

We can certainly use the help, as in the first idea, Gabriel presents a criminal's desperate attempt to evade the police, and we turn it into both a horrifying and heartwarming tale of a man who needs to embrace his inner-bear, but not the way that you think. Then, Sarah offers up what is perhaps the weirdest billboard to ever grace Toronto, Canada and we turn it into a the story of a man who will sell or borrow almost anything to escape an evil curse, even if it means getting a little cheesy.  

Finally, we talk with Eli about The Far Meridian Season 3 (no spoilers), the origins of the series and how it has evolved, the joys and challenges of monologues, how to focus on characters (and vibes), and even more. 

Plus: the worst version of Build-A-Bear, the magic powers route, the musical horror genre, the most bemused Catholic priest ever, and a live recreation of Paddington 2. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2

To check out The Far Meridian, you can visit their website and their crowdfunding page for Season 3, or listen to the show wherever you cast your pod. You can also find Eli on Twitter. 

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Today on No Bad Ideas: Florida men! Manliness! Puns! Conspiracies! Father-son treasure hunt teams! And special guest star Chris Dole!

In our first bad idea, Gabriel presents a Key West tradition: the Ernest Hemmingway lookalike contest! The squad tries their best to turn it into a story about a camp where men (and one intrepid woman) are sent off so they can learn to be more like the legendary writer. Then, special guest Chris Dole bring us the story of a father-son treasure hunting team who claims the FBI is hiding a cache of gold from them. The team works together to turn it into a heartwarming, inter-generational story about a family discovering the most valuable thing in the world. (Gold, it's gold, gold is the most valuable.)

All of that, plus: Blackspire mountain, crime scenes, ghosts, entertainment industry insider news, and enormous quantities of alcohol. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2

For more of Chris Dole's work, check out Arden and the upcoming My Big Score. 

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Today on No Bad Ideas: priests! Exorcism! Cooperation! People getting fired! And more!

Sarah brings us a story about how demand for exorcisms are going through the roof! The gang turns it into a film about how an overworked set of priests reaches out to the leaders of other religions to help them meet a small town's hunger for exorcism. Then, Zach brings us the tale of a company that is trying to automate and outsource other company's firing needs. The squad spends some time coming up with the 2022 remake and update for 2009's Up in the Air. 

Plus: harried montages, the Powers-That-Be, the A-Men, arthouse plays, and being-laid-off consultants. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Sarah returns this week and starts us off with a healthy dose human pettiness, and we turn a legislator's quest to eradicate ghosting into the tale of a teenager suddenly gifted with the power to right wrongs and how they deal with that in a completely reasonable and not-at-all tyrannical way. Then Gabriel brings us a wedding proposal that has absolutely everything, and we move this couple's special day to an island destination that definitely doesn't have demons, no demons, just really enthusiastic puppets. 

Plus: Incredible 'Who Hurt You' energy, Jason Segel's next rom-com, attempted puppet theft, slight mental breaks, and the autocratic despot of Whereverdonia. 

Today's Bad Ideas™: 
Idea #1 
Idea #2 

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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