Reverse Jackass

Nick tells the story of a Hungarian dentist in Los Angeles who solved the problem of having an unpronounceable name by simply acquiring a new one from someone standing very nearby.

Evelyn responds with a story about the oddest thing she has maybe-stolen, maybe-inherited, maybe-kept as moral compensation: an ironing board with a backstory. 

Also discussed in this episode: nicknames, second-choice identities, Big Brenda, Little Brenda, and why some names come with more infrastructure than others. 

Should we call it Little Democracy, or Fat Democracy at this point?

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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Evelyn tells Nick about a small-town theatre box office, a mysterious flood of complaints, and the day she and Jill climbed into a baby blue Chevy Astro minivan to investigate one man’s deeply unsettling idea of outdoor art.

Nick responds with a disturbing piece of art from his own collection: a print so effective, so evocative, and absolutely not allowed to hang in the house. 

Also discussed: "bilingual" pronunciation, Grim Reaper couture, questionable John Wayne impressions, and why some things are better witnessed at a safe distance...or even unseen altogether. 

Democracy survives, but only because true art's beauty is in the eye of the municipal complaint department.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Nick tells Evelyn about a recent pickleball outing where a perfectly normal post-game backpack retrieval became a perfect opportunity for him to be bullied...by a small child. And his mom. 

Evelyn responds with high school memories of being perceived as scarier, moodier, and far more alternative than she may have felt inside.

Also discussed: podcast reviews, rejected nicknames, thrifted fabric, sewing camp, and the lifelong risk of trying a look in public. 

Democracy survives, but only because the full moon is still hiding behind the clouds...

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Evelyn tries to mail a simple care package and accidentally enters the bureaucratic backrooms room involving two separate apps (one for customs declarations, and another for tariffs), itemized items and photos, expired QR codes, and the creeping suspicion that walking it to Pasadena may have been more efficient.

Nick responds with his own “this used to be simple” grievance: airports before modern security. There was a time, believe it or not, when people could meet you at the gate, park near the terminal, and apparently be released into the wild with surprisingly low anxiety and blood pressure. 

Also discussed: care-package suspense, one very reusable moron soundbite, Jill’s podcast concerns, and why the Reverse Jackass Podcast will never be your trusted source for breaking news. 

At this point, democracy might be lost in the postal system...

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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Episode 65 of the RJ Pod and we're coming in singing today. Nick tells Evelyn about a brief, highly emotional chapter in his high school track career, where athletic glory, mistaken identity, and one very public solo lap all collide in ways he is still apparently processing.

Evelyn responds with two stories about total exhaustion: one involving noble camp-kitchen labour, and one involving a family celebration that takes a catastrophic turn and is now the content for many of her therapy sessions to this day.

Also discussed: Cabaret, divine nicknames, premarital counseling, and why some life experiences prepare you for marriage whether you asked them to or not. 

Democracy is alive and thriving in this episode, but only because someone made it to the finish line and didn't have diarrhea.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Evelyn tells the story of her sister's childhood emergency, a heroic teacher, a pair of wildly oversized lost-and-found jeans, and the most confident cover story ever built around a school milk contest.

Nick responds with his own childhood prize trauma, and the devastating discovery that sometimes the universe does answer your prayers...kind of. 

Also discussed: CD players, school fundraisers, cereal-box dreams, and why every contest should be legally required to disclose how the prize is actually going to suck. 

BONUS: A special message at the end from a long-time listener!

Does democracy between the US and Canada survive? Possibly...but only because it read the fine print on the cereal box.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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Nick tells the story of a mandatory workplace “team-building” trip that somehow involved a rental van, the cops, kayaking, interpersonal misery, and a much closer look at nature than anyone had requested.

Evelyn counters with the particular horror of back-to-school professional development, tiny desks, forced summer sharing, and one party game that quickly becomes a psychological endurance test for Nick.

Democracy survives this round, but only because it brought cheese and knew the rules. 

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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Evelyn and Nick swap babysitting stories from an era when adults simply looked at teenagers and thought, “Yes, this person can absolutely manage my children, my pets, my household, and several emergencies with no meaningful instructions.”

Evelyn revisits a few formative childcare moments involving farm animals, allergies, questionable movie selections, and one deeply unfortunate holiday popcorn tin. 

Nick counters with a lawn care job that somehow became unpaid infant care, because the ’90s were apparently held together by bad judgment.

Democracy survives, but only because a pre-teen got paid 10 bucks to make sure it didn't burn the house down.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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Nick tells the story of moving into a Chicago apartment, opening the fridge, and discovering a takeout bag so powerful it may have violated several municipal bylaws. Evelyn responds with tales from the glamorous world of student move-out dump diving, where treasure, Tide Pods, and absolute biological horror can all be waiting in the same pile.

It’s an episode about mysterious smells, abandoned leftovers, cursed containers, and why every innocent-looking lid should be approached with absolute skepticism. 

Democracy lives to see another day, but only because nobody asked it to check the downstairs freezer for chicken drumsticks.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

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In this episode, Evelyn shares a family story that accidentally became a running joke for decades, while Nick responds with a tale about a single childhood moment that somehow followed him far longer than anyone intended. Together they explore how families can latch onto one tiny detail and turn it into your entire identity.

Also discussed: show choirs, orchestral catastrophes, emotional scarring, and why some stories become permanent family property. As always, the conversation wanders far from its original destination, which remains one of democracy's most important checks and balances.

TEXT US!...and we'll respond, because that's the kind of people we are.

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Want to get in touch with Nick & Evelyn? 

Email them at [email protected]