Play It By Ear | Pop Culture & Social Commentary

In Episode 205 of the *Play It By Ear* podcast, hosts Aric Fiscus, Brady Liming, and Todd Griffin dive into a nostalgic exploration of discontinued breakfast cereals spanning the 1970s through the 2010s. The hosts debate cereal backstories, mascots, strange flavor combinations, and Pop-Tart preparation habits before welcoming live viewers to play the trivia deduction game **"Joke's on Who?"**.---

**Episode Timestamps & Highlights***

**00:00 – Podcast Intro & Technical Banter**The hosts kick off Episode 205, discussing stream setup issues, lighting problems, channel analytics, and a debate over "red jaundice".*

**05:15 – Discontinued Cereals of the 1970s & 1980s**Todd leads a deep dive into retro cereal favorites and bizarre mascots:* **Crazy Cow:** Strawberry and chocolate drink-powder cereal featuring a bull mascot and its appearance in a music video.* **Buck Wheats:** Maple-glazed flakes that lost popularity after switching to honey.* **Baron von Redberry & Sir Grapefellow:** 1970s rival cereals with fruit flavors and star-shaped marshmallow bits.* **Wafflos & Magic Puffs:** Cowboy mascots, waffle flavors, and magic trick box prizes.* **Vanilly Crunch & Freakies:** Cap'n Crunch spin-offs, nautical backstories, and Ralston's iconic monster mascots.* **Ice Cream Cones:** 1986 ice cream-themed cereal hosted by "Ice Cream Jones".*

**21:00 – Tangents: Sixlets, Pop-Tart Debates & Snack Lore**The crew discusses vintage candies, M&M store flavors, dollar store exclusives, air-frying Pop-Tarts, and the best ways to eat frosted pastries.*

**29:10 – Discontinued Cereals of the 1990s**Exploring 90s breakfast culture:* **Rice Krispies Treats Cereal:** Marshmallow-clustered cereal and its long run.* **Hidden Treasures & Sprinkle Spangles:** Filled cereal pockets and Dom DeLuise-voiced genie mascots.* **Cinna Crunch Pebbles & Pop-Tart Crunch:** Bedrock backstories and early pastry-cereal crossovers.* **Nabisco Team Flakes:** The infamous four-grain cereal and vintage promo boxes.*

**45:30 – Discontinued Cereals of the 2000s & 2010s*** **Cap'n Crunch Oops! Choco Donuts:** Sailing down the "chocolate rapids".* **Banana Nut Cheerios & Frosted Mini Chex:** Fruit spin-offs and bite-sized grain variants.* **S'mores, Cupcake Pebbles & Alphabits:** Dessert-for-breakfast fads and urban legends behind discontinued classics.*

**58:45 – Live Trivia Game: "Joke's on Who?"**The hosts and chat audience compete in a 5-clue guessing game across three categories:* **Character Clues:** Cinderella, Snow White, The Grinch.* **Past People:** Grace Kelly, Thomas Jefferson.* **Present-ish Figures:** Doja Cat, Snooki.*

**01:28:00 – Wrap-Up & Milestone Celebration**Final score review, reaching the 1,000-subscriber milestone, and closing remarks.---

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Ever wondered why Brits call it courgette while Americans say zucchini—and who can you identify from a terrible joke? This episode is a fast, funny dive into US vs UK food names plus a round of our “Joke’s on Who” guessing game. After a (very) long break, we’re back with some audio hiccups, nostalgic cereal trivia, a surprising Coconut Coke chat, and a wildly relatable rant about modern-day mini purgatories—then we wrap with rapid-fire rounds guessing famous names from clues and punchlines. In this episode: US vs UK food vocabulary: arugula/rocket, eggplant/aubergine, zucchini/courgette, shrimp/prawns, and more. Confusing classics: pudding, sweets, baked potato, fish sticks, English muffins, fava beans, Coconut Coke + cereal mascots and nostalgic trivia "Soul-crushing modern purgatories”: the DMV, car sales, traffic, self-checkout, and flying "Joke's on Who” guessing game: JFK, Elmo, Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Houdini

Follow/subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and if you laughed even once, leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. #earbudsunite!

Highlights:

0:17-1:03 46 sec

1. Podcast welcome and initial audio issues. To introduce the podcast and address early technical difficulties.

1:03-2:17 1 min 14 sec

2. Returning after four months, greeting listeners, silly phrases. To acknowledge the long break and engage with the live audience.

2:17-8:13 5 min 56 sec

3. Coconut Coke, cereal mascots, and related trivia. To discuss a new drink and delve into nostalgic cereal character details.

14:27-50:303 6 min 3 sec

5. US vs UK food names: flour, arugula, baked potato, sweets, pudding. To compare and contrast different food terminology between the US and UK.

50:30-72:27 21 min 57 sec

6. US vs UK food names: eggplant, English muffins, fava beans, fish sticks, shrimp, zucchini. To continue the comparison of food names, highlighting more differences.

72:27-75:1 12 min 44 sec

7. Recap of food name differences and audience engagement reminder. To summarize the previous segment and encourage listener interaction.

75:11-117:37 42 min 26 sec

8. Soul-crushing modern purgatories: DMV, car sales, traffic, self-checkout, flying. To share relatable experiences of frustrating modern-day situations.1

17:37-127:36 9 min 59 sec

9. Game: Jokes on Who - guessing JFK. To play an interactive guessing game with the hosts and audience.

127:36-139:50 12 min 14 sec

10. Game: Jokes on Who - guessing Elmo, To continue the guessing game with a character.

139:50-155:22 15 min 32 sec

11. Game: Jokes on Who - guessing Paul McCartney. To play another round of the guessing game with a present-ish person.

155:22-172:11 16 min 49 sec

12. Game: Jokes on Who - guessing Amy Winehouse and Houdini. To conclude the guessing game with two more rounds.

172:11-174:422 min 31 sec

13. Game wrap-up, next episode, and podcast outro. To conclude the episode and provide information about future broadcasts.

An unexpected day off turns into an unexpectedly thoughtful (and hilarious) episode. In Episode 203 of Play It by Ear, the hosts kick things off with a warm welcome and a quick catch-up—then dive into the “serious part,” unpacking how easy it is to judge people without knowing what they’re dealing with. Just when it gets a little too real, they flip the switch into pure fun, complete with a cheeky Taylor Swift moment and a reminder to follow along on social.

A surprise day off and where the conversation goes from there. Why judging others’ circumstances is almost always missing key context. The intentional tone shift from deep to delightfully unserious. A playful Taylor Swift mention you’ll hear coming (and still laugh at). Social media plugs, banter, and classic Play It by Ear energy. If you’re into laughs with a side of perspective—and you care about podcast growth and podcast growth SEO—hit follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

Highlights:

0:18-1:08 50 sec

1. Podcast Welcome and Host GreetingsThe hosts welcome listeners and introduce themselves, setting a casual tone.

1:08-3:37 2 min 29 sec

2. Initial Snow Day Discussion & Decision-MakingThe hosts discuss snow conditions and the difficulty of school cancellation decisions.

3:37-7:37 4 min

3. Public Complaints on School Cancellations. The conversation shifts to public reactions and the complexities behind school closure decisions.

7:37-11:07 3 min 30 sec

4. Multifaceted School Cancellation Issues. They explore broader impacts of school closures, including student meals and teacher reporting.

11:07-15:364 min 29 sec

5. Transition to Lighter Chat & Podcast Promotion. The discussion lightens, welcoming guests and promoting podcast platforms.

15:36-27:20 11 min 44 sec

6. Vegetable Bracket: Beets vs. Pumpkin. The first vegetable bracket matchup is introduced, debating preferences and appearance.

27:20-39:03 11 min 43 sec

7. Vegetable Bracket: Green Beans vs. Cherry Tomatoes. The second matchup sparks discussion on bean types, tomato classification, and cooking.

39:03-50:56 11 min 53 sec

8. Vegetable Bracket: Sugar Snap Peas vs. Kohlrabi. The hosts delve into pea varieties and the unfamiliar kohlrabi's appearance and taste.50:56-61:4210 min 46 sec9. Vegetable Bracket: Sweet Peppers vs. Hyacinth Beans. This matchup introduces toxic beans and leads to a discussion on sweet peppers and pickles.61:42-70:228 min 40 sec10. Vegetable Bracket: Purple Potato vs. Carrot. The discussion explores unusual potato colors and preferences for cooked versus raw carrots.

70:22-82:03 11 min 41 sec

11. Vegetable Bracket: Broccolini vs. Sweet Potato. The hosts debate broccolini's structure and various sweet potato dishes and preparations.

82:03-96:41 14 min 38 sec

12. Vegetable Bracket: Lettuce vs. Cucumbers & Pickles. This segment covers lettuce as a utility vegetable, cucumber burps, and a detailed discussion on pickles.

96:41-106:53 10 min 12 sec

13. Vegetable Bracket: Hot Peppers vs. Swiss Chard & Summary. The final vegetable matchup is debated, followed by a summary of the bracket winners.

106:53-134:00 27 min 7 sec14. Fight or Flight" Game: Scenarios 1-5: The new game is introduced, covering scenarios like line cutting, spoilers, backhanded compliments, loud phone calls, and gym grunting.

134:00-152:35 18 min 35 sec

15. "Fight or Flight" Game: Scenarios 6-7 & Outro: The final scenarios on double-dipping and grocery line etiquette are discussed, concluding with podcast wrap-up.#earbudsunite!

Due to technical difficulties we only had one topic on this episode. Todd took us through a topic on random food rankings.

Rock toys with Transformer energy, mutant farm-animal commandos, and lawn darts that should never have existed—welcome to the most absurd Gen X toys ever made.

In Episode 201, we battle through a few technical hiccups and then dive into hilariously baffling vintage toys and collectibles, from Rock Lords and GoBots to gross-out classics like Madballs and Garbage Pail Kids—plus a “Today I F***ed Up” (TIFU) double feature that goes from Christmas pudding regret to a surprisingly deep Santa misunderstanding.

**In this episode:**

- The weird lore and even weirder names behind **Rock Lords** (yes, transforming rocks)

- **GoBots** vs. Transformers vibes and other vintage toy line oddities

- **Barnyard Commandos**: Rambo-style mutant farm animals that feel like a lost cartoon pitch

- Gross-out nostalgia: **Madballs**, **Puppy Puddles**, and more

- **Garbage Pail Kids** and **Wacky Packages**—art, satire, and valuable collectibles

- The unintentionally terrifying **Baby Alive** doll and other questionable “kids’ toys”

- Truly dangerous throwbacks like **Jarts** lawn darts and the **Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab**

- A tangent into holy grail Gen X toys, podcast platforms, and celebrity crushes

- **TIFU stories**: overdoing Christmas pudding and taking Santa way too literally

Follow/subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and if this made you laugh, leave a quick review to help more Gen X toy nerds (and TIFU fans) find the show. #earbudsunite!

Highlights:

0:06-6:14 6 min 8 sec

1. Podcast intro, technical issues, and absurd Gen X toys. To welcome listeners, address initial technical glitches, and introduce the main topic of discussion.

6:14-15:39 9 min 25 sec

2. Discussion on Rock Lords: baffling transformer-like rock toys. To discuss the first category of absurd toys, focusing on their concept, names, and potential lore.

15:39-20:57 5 min 18 sec

3. Rock Lords lore continued, and Gobots as Transformers knockoffs. To further explore the Rock Lords' world and compare them to other toy lines like Gobots.

20:57-26:26 5 min 29 sec

4. Barnyard Commandos: Rambo-like mutant farm animals. To discuss another absurd toy line, its concept, character names, and potential TV series.

26:26-35:06 8 min 40 sec

5. Gross out toys: Madballs and Puppy Puddles. To introduce the "gross out" toy category with examples and a tangent on wiffle balls.

35:06-53:09 18 min 3 sec

6. Garbage Pail Kids and their predecessor Wacky Packages. To discuss these satirical trading cards, their artwork, and valuable collectibles.

53:09-58:48 5 min 39 sec

7. Baby Alive doll: unintentionally terrifying and dangerous. To discuss a doll known for its unsettling features and safety concerns.

58:48-1:06:42 7 min 54 sec

8. Jarts: dangerously negligent lawn darts and related injuries. To discuss a toy banned for its danger, share personal anecdotes, and debate proper form.

1:06:42-1:11:48 5 min 6 sec

9. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab and celebrity crushes. To discuss a truly dangerous vintage toy and then transition to a tangent about celebrity crushes.

1:11:48-1:20:18 8 min 30 sec

10. Lindsay Wagner's missed flight; podcast platforms and holy grail toys. To share an interesting celebrity anecdote, promote the podcast, and discuss highly coveted Gen X toys.

1:20:18-1:22:53 2 min 35 sec

11. Introducing Todd's topic: TIFU (Today I F***ed Up)To introduce the next main segment of the podcast, explaining the acronym.

1:22:53-1:31:48 8 min 55 sec

12. TIFU story: eating too much Christmas pudding. To share and discuss a humorous TIFU story about overindulging in Christmas pudding.

1:31:48-1:49:59 18 min 11 sec

13. TIFU story: taking Santa literally and its psychological impact

This is our 200th Episode in our 5th year! Live from Sardinia Perk Coffee Shop we do our show before an audience. Enjoy as we do a retrospective along with new topics!

Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 199 is a full-on comedy buffet: live show news, chaotic food takes, and a wildly addictive party game that spirals in the best way.

The hosts kick things off with an Episode 200 (and live show) announcement, then dive into what Europeans (and other non-Americans) find bizarre about American food—before closing with multiple rounds of “Say It” that will have you yelling answers along with them.

• Episode 200 + live show announcement, plus classic banter (including the infamous “dog tonsils” bit)
• American foods foreigners can’t stand: chili toppings, Kraft Singles, Cheez Whiz, Hershey’s, root beer, Mountain Dew, and more
• Portion-size culture shock (Cheesecake Factory, Arby’s Thanksgiving sandwich, and other “why is it so big?” moments)
• Taco night critiques, Vienna sausages chaos, and processed “cheese product” debates
• Deep dish pizza discourse and fast food quality comparisons (including Canadian complaints)
• The Hall & Oates hotline: an instant mood reset
• Game time: “Something X that Y” with ridiculous prompts, surprising answers, and a dream interpretation

Follow/subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and leave a quick review to support the show and help with podcast growth SEO.

Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Highlights:

3:31-12:38 9 min 7 sec2: Banter: Dog Tonsils, "67" Joke, and Movie References. The hosts engage in lighthearted banter, discuss a recurring "dog tonsils" joke, and share movie references.

12:38-18:01 5 min 23 sec3 Main Topic Intro: American Foods Europeans Dislike. leading to a discussion about chili toppings.

18:01-27:28 9 min 27 sec4: Discussion on Kraft Singles and American Cheese. The hosts debate the nature and appeal of Kraft Singles, their use in grilled cheese and omelets, and their role as dog pill hiders.

28:46-35:54 7 min 8 sec 5: Criticisms of Hershey's Chocolate and American Soda. The segment covers non-American disdain for Hershey's chocolate and corn syrup-laden sodas, with a brief mention of poutine.

36:20-43:26 7 min 6 sec 6: Debate on Cheez Whiz and "Cheese Product. "The hosts discuss the controversial nature of aerosol cheese and processed cheese products, comparing them to artificial fruit flavors.

43:26-53:13 9 min 47 sec 7: Foreigners' Views on American Portion Sizes. An Australian listener criticizes excessive American portion sizes, leading to examples like Cheesecake Factory and Arby's Thanksgiving sandwich.

57:32-66:43 9 min 11 sec 9: Discussion on American Taco Night and Vienna Sausages. The segment critiques typical American taco preparations and delves into a bizarre recipe involving Vienna sausages, mustard, and spray cheese.

66:43-74:19 7 min 36 sec 10: Debate on Root Beer and Cinnamon Roll Frosting. The hosts address foreign dislike for root beer and American cinnamon roll frosting, defending their cultural food preferences.

74:19-85:37 11 min 18 sec 11: Criticisms of Deep Dish Pizza and Fast Food Quality, The discussion covers non-Italian views on deep dish pizza and Canadian complaints about the quality of American fast food chains.

85:37-92:20 6 min 43 sec 12: Discussion on Mountain Dew and Cincinnati Chili. The hosts react to criticisms of Mountain Dew's sweetness and debate the polarizing nature of Cincinnati chili, comparing Gold Star and Skyline.

92:20-100:01 7 min 41 sec 13: Canadian Fast Food and Capri Sun Nostalgia. The hosts briefly revisit Canadian fast food quality and reminisce about the challenges and experiences of drinking Capri Sun pouches.100:01-

136:50 36 min 49 sec 14 Game: "Something X that Y" - Multiple Rounds. The hosts play a game where they must provide answers to prompts like "Something dangerous that has great value" or "Something big found in the couch cushions," including a dream interpretation.

136:50-150:11 13 min 21 sec 15: Game Conclusion and Episode 200 Promotion

In Episode 198 the hosts continue a discussion centered around a customized 16-team single-elimination tournament featuring the "Worst Chores." The hosts consider factors such as danger, disgust, inconvenience, and personal experiences to determine rankings. Following the tournament segment, the show transitions into a new interactive game called "Change My Mind," where the hosts rank annoying or inconvenient scenarios and attempt to persuade each other to alter their rankings through debate and humor. Topics range from everyday minor annoyances like running out of toilet paper or hiccups to more specific issues such as the worst place to have explosive diarrhea and the annoyance of stubbing a pinky toe or experiencing "all-day swamp ass." The hosts engage in spirited discussions about these rankings, often mixing personal anecdotes with playful teasing.### Highlights - [00:06:00] 🧹 Introduction of the "Worst Chores" tournament with a 16-team bracket focusing on distasteful household tasks. - [00:10:20] 🚫 Discussion on the dangers and disgust factors of cleaning gutters versus other chores like changing closets and washing dishes. - [00:45:00] ❄️ Debate between shoveling snow and installing an air conditioning unit, weighing physical risk and inconvenience. - [01:00:00] 🌿 Pulling weeds versus cleaning the shower: a tough matchup that highlights physical strain and personal dislike. - [01:18:00] 🎲 Introduction of the interactive game "Change My Mind," where hosts rank annoying scenarios and debate their choices. - [01:50:00] 💩 Heated arguments about the worst places to experience explosive diarrhea, including planes, buses, and job interviews. - [02:05:00] 🤕 Ranking and discussion of minor inconveniences like stubbing a pinky toe, all-day swamp ass, and backsplash while pooping with humorous banter. Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 197 is the beginning of a bracket-style competition to determine the “worst chore,” where the hosts debate and seed 16 common chores based on their onerousness and unpleasantness. The discussion covers chores like cleaning gutters, setting the dinner table, raking leaves, handwashing dishes, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, cleaning the grill, pulling weeds, cleaning the shower, dusting, and more. Throughout, the hosts share their individual experiences, grievances, and humorous takes on these chores, with occasional side discussions about family memories, vintage household equipment, and quirky cultural references such as nursery rhymes and old-fashioned customs like darning socks or using corn cobs in outhouses. Highlights[55:00] 🧹 The “worst chore” bracket begins, with cleaning gutters seeded as the number one worst chore.[01:00:30] 🚽 Debate between cleaning toilets and changing closets reveals different perceptions of chore difficulty.[01:13:00] 💩 Christmas decorations vs. picking up dog poop sparks a surprising debate on which is worse.[01:27:00] 🍂 Raking leaves vs. handwashing dishes leads to a heated discussion about the usefulness and annoyance of each.[01:42:00] ❄️ Shoveling snow vs. mowing the lawn highlights the physical toll and safety concerns of snow removal.[02:06:00] 🌿 Pulling weeds vs. folding laundry—pulling weeds wins as a far more dreaded task.[02:22:00] 🎶 Nostalgic debate over the lyrics of “I Went to the Animal Fair” closes the show with humor and camaraderie.Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 196 starts with the hosts diving into a nostalgic food-themed segment. Todd introduces lists of popular 80s and 90s foods making a comeback, sparking a lively discussion. Dunkaroos are revisited with debates about chocolate versus vanilla icing and the small size of the icing compartment. The hosts reminisce on other nostalgic snacks like Fun Dip and Nutella, sharing personal anecdotes on how these treats were consumed. The conversation includes a critique of snack packaging design, such as the impractical shapes of the cheese compartments in crackers, showing consumer frustration with inconvenient product design.The segment continues with discussions about frozen snacks like Dippin' Dots, which are praised for their novelty but criticized for their BB-like texture that can get stuck in teeth. The hosts humorously suggest new utensils and marketing ideas to improve the eating experience. Bagel Bites are compared unfavorably to pizza rolls based on texture and burning tendencies, illustrating how food form factors impact usability and enjoyment.Uncrustables are highlighted as a beloved yet rarely consumed treat, with preferences for slightly frozen versus fully thawed versions sparking debate. The hosts impart “bread prophylactic” knowledge to avoid jelly leakage, showcasing their detailed food insights.The nostalgic journey continues with cereals, noting that Golden Grahams and Cocoa Puffs are resurging in popularity, though opinions on their taste vary widely. The hosts recall vintage commercials and discuss the evolution of flavors and texture, with humorous side notes on cereal consumption habits.The podcast then shifts gears into a fun interactive segment titled “Word Teasers,” where the hosts challenge each other to interpret British, Irish, and Australian slang phrases. This game adds a cultural and educational dimension to the show, featuring terms like “posh,” “gas man,” and “bee’s knees,” providing a playful exploration of language differences and idiomatic expressions.Highlights[04:19] 🏈 Bengals’ season woes reveal leadership and motivational gaps.[15:31] 🍪 Dunkaroos’ comeback sparks debate on icing flavor and portion size.[30:59] 🍦 Dip and Dots’ unique texture offers novelty but practical challenges.[38:32] 🥪 Uncrustables’ ideal consumption temperature debated among hosts.[42:03] 🥣 Golden Grahams and Cocoa Puffs cereal nostalgia and taste preferences.[01:29:29] 🎲 Engaging language quiz with British and Australian slang adds educational fun.[02:03:46] 📢 Podcast’s push for social media growth highlights community importance.Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!