The Absurdists

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Why does bottled water have an expiration date? In this episode of The Absurdists, Marlo Anderson shows up with a list of everyday absurdities he has been observing (observe the absurd!), and he and Mary Murphy start working their way down it. First up: we now pay gadgets to watch us sleep. Mary admits her sleep-scoring ring started telling her how tired she should feel, which leads to privacy fine print nobody reads, step-count competitions and the ring camera videos we all binge.

Then it’s standing in line to stand in line, from amusement parks to the jet bridge, TSA PreCheck and Clear lines that are getting as long as the regular one, water bottles with expiration dates, fake cobwebs and plastic reindeer on office buildings (plus a pitch for a National Day tree), terms and conditions nobody reads, a unit of measurement named after a horse, and the nine-minute snooze button.

Along the way: carpet in airports (and the Portland carpet people photograph their feet on), “new and improved” screwdrivers, juice-box ambushes, apologizing to furniture, decaf coffee, the indoor sky at the Venetian and the birds at the Sphere, tip screens on a cup of coffee you poured yourself, the relative who turned free lemons into free lemonade, resume paper, “going up?” on the ground floor, measuring success by how busy we are, and packaging you need a pry bar to open. They only make it through half the list.

The Absurdists, where logic takes a back seat. Season 2, Episode 3 with Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy.

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Why does the mask rule disappear the moment you step onto the jet bridge? In this episode of The Absurdists, Mary Murphy joins Marlo Anderson from Las Vegas, hoarse and fighting COVID (yes, really), and picks the topic: the absurdities of travel. It starts with the mask police on a nearly empty plane and six-foot floor markers that end right where everyone squeezes onto the jet bridge.

From there it’s a tour of everything strange about flying: the passenger who summoned the captain during a delay, the bag of chips that took over a cabin, egg salad that sails through security while a bottle of wine doesn’t, cheesy baby handprints on a good suit, and why airlines still hand out hot coffee in turbulence (Mary makes the case for sippy cups for adults). Then it’s TSA PreCheck versus Clear, cutting the line with an escort, and boarding groups A through F.

Along the way: Mary’s first cruise, why a road trip beats flying, LA traffic and the CBS job Mary turned down over the commute, a “shortcut” to Reno that took all day, road trip oddities and national parks, and where buses rank on the list.

The Absurdists, where logic takes a back seat. Season 1, Episode 6 with Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy.

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What do you do when the urgent care is closed for lunch in the middle of your emergency? In this episode of The Absurdists, Mary Murphy tells Marlo Anderson about her not-so-urgent care adventure: doubled over in pain, she is told the doctor is about to go to lunch and she should come back in an hour. Then the pharmacy is dark when she gets there because, yes, they went to lunch too.

That sets off a rant-filled hour about customer service in an instant world. Marlo walks into a Waffle House and is told it’s “not known for waffles,” the two wonder whether anyone has ever expected crackers at Cracker Barrel, and Mary makes the case for the Hash House in Las Vegas, where the waffles hang off the plate. Have same-day delivery and smartphones raised our expectations too high? And what does the word urgent even mean anymore?

Along the way: the modern-day cable guy window (“we’ll call you back”), Seinfeld’s rental car reservation, why nobody complains about standing in line now that we all have phones, a friendly “howdy” in Austin, who actually uses their blinkers, COVID travel rules that stopped at the jet bridge, buying a car by committee, fast food that isn’t so fast anymore, Chick-fil-A’s “my pleasure,” parking lot stalkers and a birthday party parking fiasco. Plus a brand-new business idea: Not So Urgent Care.

The Absurdists, where logic takes a back seat. Season 2, Episode 2 with Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy.

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Warning labels exist because somewhere, somehow, someone actually did that. Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy explore the outrageous warnings, bizarre instructions, and ridiculous disclaimers hiding on everyday products. From fishing lures and frozen pizza to Superman capes and garden hoses, they uncover the absurd product labels that make you laugh, cringe, and wonder what on earth happened.

On this episode of The Absurdists, Marlo and Mary take absurdity to new heights—literally. Broadcasting as a simulcast with The Tech Ranch, the duo dives headfirst into the story of astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who blasted off for an 8-day mission… and stayed for nine months.

What began as a technical demonstration aboard Boeing’s Starliner became a real-life Gilligan’s Island of the cosmos. From drinking recycled sweat and urine (yum?) to surviving on rationed mac and cheese and damp towel showers, Marlo and Mary explore what happens when cutting-edge tech meets absurd real-world glitches.

But it doesn’t stop at the stars. They venture into:

🚀 Space survival, coffee withdrawal, and sharing your space station with strangers
🧠 The blurred line between AI brilliance and tech absurdity
🤖 Drones with flamethrowers, vibrating forks, and cows in VR headsets
🔋 The electric future—will AI choose to power itself or your A/C?

Plus, hear about CES 2025’s most hilariously unnecessary inventions (looking at you, moving desk lamp), and learn whether your pet rock really needed air holes.

Whether you’re a geek, a nerd, or somewhere in between, this episode reminds us that technology, like life, is best enjoyed with a laugh.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

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Welcome to our latest deep dive into the wonderfully weird world of absurdity! In this episode of our absurdist podcast, “Curtains, Curses, and Coded Chaos: An Absurdist Odyssey,” hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson explore an eclectic mix of theater superstitions, digital mishaps, and offbeat cultural quirks that redefine what it means to be truly absurd.

The episode kicks off with a journey into the mysterious traditions of the theater.

Not all absurdity lives on stage. Our hosts also shine a light on the quirks of modern technology:

At its core, this episode is a celebration of the absurd in both art and life. The conversation moves seamlessly from traditional theater rituals to the unexpected glitches of modern technology, encouraging listeners to find humor and meaning in every mishap. Here are a few reasons why this episode is a must-listen for lovers of the absurd:

Are you fascinated by the absurd? Do you find humor in the inexplicable rituals and unexpected mishaps of everyday life? Then this episode is tailor-made for you. Dive into the world of theater superstitions, digital miscommunications, and everything in between on “Curtains, Curses, and Coded Chaos: An Absurdist Odyssey.”

Listen now and join our community of absurdists who revel in the chaos of creativity and celebrate the quirks that make life so unpredictably delightful.

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Welcome back! After a holiday hiatus, Marlo and Mary dive into the bizarre, funny, and often dark origins of common expressions we use every day. From “raining cats and dogs” to “kick the bucket,” this episode explores the fascinating history behind these sayings and how they’ve evolved over time. Along the way, you’ll hear hilarious banter, personal anecdotes, and even a discussion about buttering up deities!

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

Fun Highlights:

Why Listen?

Catch This Episode Anywhere You Podcast!

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Numbers: we use them to measure time, count calories, and set speed limits. They’re supposed to bring order to the chaos of life—but what happens when numbers get a little too absurd? In this laugh-filled episode of The Absurdists, co-hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson unpack the bizarre world of numbers with stories so ridiculous, they’ll have you checking your calculator twice.

Mary kicks things off with a story about the Baker’s Dozen. Why 13 instead of 12? Turns out, bakers in medieval England had good reason to throw in an extra loaf (or donut). If they shortchanged customers, they’d face severe penalties, from public ridicule to fines—so to be safe, they’d toss in a bonus baked good. Marlo chimes in with his own vision of modern bakers yelling, “Fine, take 13, just don’t sue me!” A sweet deal, if you ask us.

Imagine cruising down a road, only to see a speed limit of 29 mph. Why not 30? Mary and Marlo explore these bizarre laws, pointing out places where 29, 31, or even 8 mph speed limits exist. Marlo jokes, “Is there some mystical traffic safety wizard who insists on prime numbers?” Whatever the reason, they agree—these signs are as confusing as a pie chart on a pizza box.

Ah, the dreaded Friday the 13th. Mary dives into the surprisingly modern superstition (first recorded in the 1800s) that has made hotel elevators skip the 13th floor and brides shiver when a wedding lands on this date. With roots often traced to Norse mythology, the Last Supper, and sheer human paranoia, it’s no wonder Marlo quips, “If 13’s so unlucky, why don’t bakers just skip it?”

The duo takes a hilarious detour into the world of decimal disasters. Did you know the famous story that Popeye’s love of spinach came from a misplaced decimal point (making spinach look ten times richer in iron) is itself a myth? Popeye’s creator actually credited vitamin A, but the cartoon still turned spinach into the superhero of vegetables, reportedly boosting sales by a third and cementing Popeye’s biceps into cartoon legend. Mary muses, “How many kids had to suffer through spinach dinners because of a math error?”

Marlo then pops open the can on soda sizes—specifically, 12 ounces. Why not 10? Why not 13 (lucky or not)? The pair unravels the quirky history of the 12-ounce can, rooted in imperial measurements and packaging efficiency. “Twelve might sound random,” Mary jokes, “but it’s perfect for making you feel bad when you finish one and immediately want another.”

If you’ve ever dropped a cookie on the floor and yelled, “Five-second rule!”, you’re not alone. But Mary and Marlo dig into the science that debunks this age-old tradition. Turns out, bacteria don’t care about time limits—they’re faster than you reaching for that fallen French fry. Still, Marlo stands firm: “I’ll take my chances for a donut.”

From base-12 math (why do clocks use it but schools don’t teach it?) to marketing’s love for prices ending in $0.99 (“It’s practically free!”), this episode takes you on a whirlwind tour of number absurdities. Mary and Marlo even poke fun at unusual holidays tied to numbers—because why shouldn’t March 14th (3.14) be a day to eat pie?

If you love numbers, hate math, or just want a reason to laugh at the silly systems humans invent, this episode of The Absurdists is for you. Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson keep things light, funny, and endlessly entertaining as they unravel the numerical nonsense all around us.

Find us at wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Stay absurd!

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Remember when Darth Vader said, “Luke, I am your father”? Or when Captain Kirk would regularly say, “Beam me up, Scotty”? Well, prepare to have your mind blown – neither of these iconic phrases was ever actually said in their respective franchises. Welcome to the fascinating world of the Mandela Effect, where our collective memories don’t quite match up with reality.

The term “Mandela Effect” was coined in 2009 by Fiona Broome when she discovered that many people shared her false memory of Nelson Mandela dying in prison during the 1980s (he actually passed away in 2013). This phenomenon occurs when large groups of people share the same incorrect memories of past events or details.

Scientists studying false memory through the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm have found that our brains often fill in gaps with what we expect to hear or see. This explains why we might collectively misremember details in ways that seem to make more sense to us.

These shared false memories have become so ingrained in our culture that they often overshadow the original versions. Take “Beam me up, Scotty” – while never actually said in Star Trek, it’s become the go-to phrase for referencing the show and appears on countless pieces of merchandise.

The Mandela Effect reminds us that human memory isn’t like a video recording – it’s more like a collaborative storytelling process where our brains fill in details based on context, expectations, and collective cultural experiences. This doesn’t make our memories less valuable; it just makes them more interesting!

The next time you’re absolutely certain about a quote, detail, or fact from popular culture, you might want to double-check – you could be experiencing the Mandela Effect. And remember, as Darth Vader never said, “Luke, I am your father”!

Want to hear more fascinating discussions about the unexpected and absurd? Tune in to The Absurdists, where we explore the weird and wonderful aspects of our world that make life interesting.

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Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy dig into the most absurd accidental messages ever sent: the "big cucumber" text to a professor, a pharmacy that kept emailing about a cat's prescription, a cat that sent the CEO a banana bread recipe, a printer that only printed "Hello," an office lunch thief that turned out to be raccoons, autocorrect disasters, and the lawyer stuck behind a cat filter in court. Plus Mary's blue velvet season and bathroom graffiti that says "Toy Story 2 is okay." The Absurdists, where logic takes a back seat.