Some cover songs honor the original.

Some reinvent it.

And some… should never have happened.

In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas dive into the wild world of surprising cover songs — from jaw-dropping reinventions to baffling musical decisions that leave you questioning everything.

From Austrian brass bands covering Queen to Dolly Parton’s unexpected take on Led Zeppelin, from Aretha Franklin redefining “Respect” to Pat Boone doing metal (yes, really), this episode explores what makes a cover brilliant, pointless, or painfully unlistenable.

Along the way, they debate originality, musical theft, vocal range, tempo shifts, and whether slowing a song down is sometimes all it takes to transform it completely.

Because sometimes the cover becomes the classic.

🎵 Featured Artists & Covers Discussed

• Queen & unexpected orchestral/brass reinterpretations
• The Beatles and iconic reimagined versions
• Prince vs. Sinéad O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U”
• Gloria Jones & Soft Cell – “Tainted Love”
• Elvis Presley & Willie Nelson – “Always On My Mind”
• Big Mama Thornton & Elvis – “Hound Dog”
• Simon & Garfunkel vs. The Lemonheads – “Mrs. Robinson”
• Otis Redding & Aretha Franklin – “Respect”
• Elton John’s “Rocket Man” (…and the strangest cover you’ll ever hear)
• Dolly Parton’s take on Led Zeppelin
• Van Halen and unexpected blues origins

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

After talking about how difficult it is to find content we truly love, we stumbled on something fun and engaging: the Apple TV+ series Drops of God. The show blends history, adventure, and the art of wine — and in its second season, it travels to Georgia, often considered the birthplace of winemaking. That sent us back to an earlier episode where we explored the origins of wine and Georgian wine culture.

Running through this episode is one of the great mysteries in wine history: is there such a thing as the greatest bottle of champagne ever made? Many believe the answer is Veuve Clicquot’s legendary 1811 “Comet Vintage.” The problem is obvious — wine isn’t supposed to survive that long. And yet, against all odds, the debate was settled.

This episode tells the story of wine’s greatest treasure hunt — and how history, chance, and science collided in a way that shouldn’t have been possible.

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Why do we keep rewatching The Office, MASH, or Frasier…
when we have access to everything?

In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas unpack why finding content we genuinely love feels harder than ever — despite unlimited streaming platforms, endless podcasts, and infinite algorithms promising the “perfect” recommendation.

From media overload and algorithm fatigue to nostalgia, originality, and the pressure to like what everyone else loves, this conversation explores how abundance has quietly made connection harder — and why comfort content keeps winning.

Along the way: cat-hair microphones, awkward rooftop parties, homemade wine disasters, Larry David moments, and the existential cost of infinite choice.

🧠 In This Episode

• Why unlimited choice actually makes content harder to enjoy
• Media fatigue and the psychology of too many options
• Why algorithms optimize engagement — not meaning
• How originality gets buried in a sea of sameness
• Why most podcasts (and shows) don’t stick
• Comfort TV vs. discovering something new
• Why we bail on movies faster than ever
• The difference between loving a topic and loving a personality
• Why reboots rarely recapture the magic
• How nostalgia becomes emotional refuge

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Why does Groundhog Day feel so unsettlingly familiar?
Is déjà vu a glitch in the brain… or something more?
And why do so many of us feel like life itself is stuck on repeat?

In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas dive deep into the origins of Groundhog Day, the science and psychology of déjà vu, and the enduring cultural impact of the Groundhog Day movie — from ancient pagan rituals to modern neuroscience.

Along the way, they explore time loops, memory misfires, precognition myths, Bill Murray trivia, and what it really means to live the same day over and over again — metaphorically or otherwise.

Because sometimes it’s not winter that won’t end… it’s the patterns we keep repeating.

🧠 In This Episode

• Where Groundhog Day traditions actually come from
• Pagan festivals, harvest rituals, and early weather prediction
• Why Punxsutawney Phil became the groundhog
• The real science behind déjà vu (and what it is not)
• Different types of déjà vu you’ve probably never heard of
• When déjà vu is harmless — and when it’s not
• Why déjà vu happens more when you’re young
• The brain’s “fail-safe” against false memories
• Groundhog Day the movie as sci-fi (not just comedy)
• Time loops, memory, free will, and personal change

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Why do tiny annoyances feel like personal attacks?
 Why does your brain hijack reason the moment stress hits?
 And how do the calmest people in the room always seem to win?

In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas explore the psychology, biology, and social dynamics behind staying calm under pressure — from fight-or-flight brain chemistry to modern trigger culture, road rage, customer service meltdowns, and why humor might be your secret weapon.

Along the way: scarves in heatwaves, wine confessions, plastic meal rants, SEAL-team decision science, and the surprising power of just… breathing.

Because in a world engineered to provoke you — calm is a competitive advantage.

🧠 In This Episode

• Why the amygdala hijacks rational thinking under stress
• Fight-or-flight vs. freezing — what your brain is really doing
• How hormones influence anger and emotional regulation
• Why modern media is designed to keep you triggered
• The biological cost of chronic stress on your health
• Why the calmest person becomes the leader in any room
• Breathing techniques used by Navy SEALs
• How slowing your speech de-escalates conflict
• Humor as a pressure-release valve
• Practical tools for emotional control in daily life

⚙️ Actionable Takeaways

• Box-breathing method for instant nervous-system reset
• The “72-hour perspective flip” for stress reduction
• Verbal labeling to reduce emotional intensity
• How pausing before reacting changes outcomes

🎧 About The Jocular Pugilists

A sharp, funny sparring match on culture, psychology, technology, and human behavior — equal parts insight and irreverence.

⭐ Support the Show

If this episode helped you stay calmer:

• Share it with a friend
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify
• Email your praise or complaints: [email protected]

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

In this episode, Phil and Tomas move from their usual lighthearted banter into a thoughtful discussion about New Year’s goals and the motivations behind them. They explore intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the challenge of balance, and how changing cultural and secular norms have reshaped what drives people today. Drawing on personal experience, they reflect on coming from modest beginnings, what success means now, and what truly motivates each of them. The conversation ultimately turns inward, leaving listeners with a simple but powerful question: what truly makes you happy—and why?

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

What happens when science starts reversing aging?
 Harvard geneticist David Sinclair says human cells can be de-aged. AI and robotics are accelerating medical breakthroughs. And suddenly, living to 120… or far beyond doesn’t sound like science fiction anymore.

In this episode, Phil and Tomas dive into the shocking reality of longevity science — and the wildly unpredictable future it creates for society, money, careers, relationships, and even boredom itself.

Along the way, they also discuss IKEA bed assembly trauma, wine-cork dad jokes, robot surgeons, self-driving planes, and whether eternal friendship is a blessing… or a curse.

Because if life is no longer short — what’s the point of anything?

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Most movie sequels are disappointing. Some are unnecessary. A few actively damage the original. So why do studios keep making them — and why do we keep watching?

In this episode, Tomas and Phil dig into the strange math of sequels: why most fail, what patterns doom franchises, and why repeating what worked the first time almost never works again. But it’s not all doom and cash grabs. They also celebrate the rare moments when a sequel doesn’t just match the original, but expands it — counting down and debating some of the greatest follow-ups ever made, including The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, Terminator 2, Spider-Man 2, and more.

If you’ve ever argued about whether a sequel was necessary — or secretly think Part II was better — this one’s for you.

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Tipping used to be about service. Now it’s everywhere. Tomas and Phil break down how gratuity lost its meaning, why digital prompts make it worse, and how a once-elite custom became mandatory for everyone—whether you can afford it or not.

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

On Christmas Day, we’re revisiting our very first Christmas episode.

Recorded years ago but still very much in the spirit of the season, this re-release finds Tomas and Phil talking through the origins of Christmas traditions, the stop-motion holiday specials that permanently rewired our brains, and what actually makes a gift meaningful (even when the shopping hasn’t happened yet).

It’s reflective, nostalgic, a little rambling in the best way — and a reminder that Christmas isn’t just about what’s under the tree, but the stories, rituals, and small moments we carry forward year after year.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Jocular Pugilists.

Let us know what you think.

Email Phil or Tomas at:

[email protected]

And check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com