The Recombobulator Lab

Jason is tardy because of bacon. Chris accuses Jason's Vodka O cocktail of being boring without a name and suggests a few potential suitable labels.

Jason and Chris talk about where the name Ben Buckler comes from. Jason drives Chris to drink before providing updates on his environmental research and the shark alarm at Bondi beach going off. Chris updates Jason on the latest in his world, including participation in his second all-remote trial.

The two discuss how websites have changed over the years before Jason explains how Australians pronounce "Buoy" before informing Chris that Australia picked the wrong vaccine. Chris lays out Oregon's "vactation" schedule before Jason quizzes (AKA slaughters)  Chris on colonialism.

The show ends with Jason translating a ridiculous English phrase into Japanese.

Jason starts by discussing his escapades with Vodka O and then describes an exciting new project he is involved with that feeds the homeless and gets restaurant owners a tax break.

Then Chris quizzes Jason on recording artists before going to interview Sonic Boom writer Peter Ames Carlin.

Peter describes his experiences shadowing Bruce Springsteen for the bestselling book Bruce and then discusses his latest work, Sonic Boom, about the incredible run Warner Bros. Records had with their unusual strategy of finding the best talent and helping the artists get opposed to replicate the sounds and style of previous hits. 

Jason describes something Chris has never heard of before, the "pre-hangover" and chronicles how he got a prescription for vodka from his Doctor.

Chris then quizzes Jason on different forms of government which turns out to be far more fun and entertaining than it sounds.

Then the two interview award winning Broadway Producer, Sam Levy about his disagreement with Jason than compulsory voting and bi-partisanship are inherently good while getting in a story about Tom Hanks.

Chris gives Jason a quiz on conspiracy theories, and then the two answer the first listener question of 2021, "Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?" 

The two then interview retired Clinical Psychologist and Past President of the American Society of Trial Consultants, Doug Keene, Ph.D.  

Doug drops some wisdom about the structures and motivations at play and then shares a way to talk to people you care about who have a very different view of truth than you do.

Chris quizzes Jason over six of the most amazing predictions in history and then get into the heart of their 2021 predictions episode with Futurist and Organizational Systems Trailblazer Tom Osdoba.

After sharing their predictions (and hopes and dreams) for 2021, Chris and Jason share their plan for the podcast in 2021--including inviting the listeners to tell them what topics to cover and who to interview in 2021.

Jason & Chris explore some strange facts about Christmas and then turn to their first interview segment on the show.

Few understand the dynamic of being around people who believe what they want to be true, regardless of the evidence, more than Dale Scott. Dale was a Major League umpire for almost 4,000 games. In his interview with Chris & Jason, he talks about:

Recognizing when someone's heart, not their head, is running the show.

How to handle conflict with someone convinced they are right.

The problem with being convinced you're right.

His experience umpiring with the MLB in Australia.

Being the first major sports official in America to come out.

And of course, a few good stories about what probably looked different on television than what actually happened.

Jason and Chris share some GOOD NEWS! in America and Australia, leading to a 4 question quiz about diseases that used to pose a terrible threat to humanity that are now under control or altogether eradicated in the United States & Australia.

The two then interview each other over some of the best and worst they have seen, experienced, and participated in leading organizations and running businesses.

After Jason returns from a trip to the largest monolith in the world--Uluru, Chris gets a report, leading to a discussion about the 5 largest monoliths on the planet.

Jason asks Chris about jury consulting in America and how the American justice system differs from the UK/Australian system.

The conversation shifts to propaganda within democracies and their inhibitors such as the previous USA "Fairness doctrine" and their contributors, large well funded private media empires. In the process, the "Illusion of Truth" effect is discussed.

Jason and Chris discuss the different sports preferences internationally and then dive into a new segment--GOOD NEWS! They then transition to some of the terrifying threats to humanity and some exciting developments to address them.

Jason gets quizzed by Chris on what percentage of people believe false things. They then discuss what psychological phenomenon allows this to occur and then discuss the bizarre nature of Australian real estate?!