Headed to her first chemotherapy treatment after a recent cancer diagnosis, this young woman is naturally a little stressed and nervous. However, spirits are soon lifted in a call that includes stories of haunted apartments, puns and a doctor’s note to party.

This episode is brought to you by Merge Records (www.mergerecords.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/beautiful), Adam and Eve (www.adamandeve.com code: STORIES), and RXBAR (www.RXBAR.com/stories code: STORIES).

Jensen and Matty do a special Host Only episode to talk about a special cameo in the film Peter Rabbit, Rich Brian, Monster Hunter: World, how we were late on Paddington, and many more things you should know about.

Musical improv veteran Eliza Skinner joins Zach and Jess this week for a new meet-cute musical with all the ups and downs of true love, plus a girl named Melissabeth. With songs like “Let’s Be Sister Wives”, “(Gotta Have) An App That’s Passed”, and “A House & A Man”, you won’t feel complicated about loving these tunes. 

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: OFFBOOK) and Leesa (www.leesa.com/OFFBOOK).

Tony Hale returns to the Chat Show with kindness, hilarity, and ZERO dark secrets…

Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Barbara Barrie (“Barney Miller,” “Breaking Away”) sits down with Gilbert and Frank for a look back at her early days in live television and shares her recollections of working with everyone from Tony Randall and Jack Klugman to James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. Also, Jack Weston gets fresh, Madeline Kahn toughs it out, Richard Mulligan saves the day and Barbara and Art Carney bomb in Chicago. PLUS: “Shock Corridor”! The original Alice Kramden! The comic genius of Danny Arnold! Robert Duvall enters “The Twilight Zone”! And Gilbert (once again) roasts the late, great Abe Vigoda!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/GILBERT) and SeatGeek (Download SeatGeek app and enter promo code: GILBERT).

Film critic Russ Fischer joins Amy to kick off Oscar Movie Month with a musical showdown from 1965. First, Amy and Russ talk Best Picture winner “My Fair Lady,” noting Audrey Hepburn’s physical expressiveness, director George Cukor’s use of freeze, and standout songs. Then, they break down “Mary Poppins,” touching on its technical achievement, its depiction of the suffragette movement, and the exuberance Julie Andrews brought to the titular role. Should “My Fair Lady” or “Mary Poppins” enter The Canon? Cast your vote on the Earwolf forums now!

This episode is sponsored by MUBI.

We’ve formed a council to help run Hogsface, and invited Momo the mouse with human strength, Jak Vorpal and the Singing Sword.

Credits:

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Jak Vorpal: Sean Kelly
Singing Sword: Erica Elam
Momo the Mouse: Erin Keif
Tomblain Belaroth: Steve Waltien
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Chris Rathjen
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban
Audio Assistance: Jason Knox
Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz

Monty Python once taught us the following neuroscience: “The human brain is like an enormous fish. It is flat, and slimy, and has gills through which it can see.” That obvious bullshit is obvious bullshit. It’s also not much sillier than our own daily treatment of our brains. We know the human brain needs calm, care, and interaction with other humans. So why don’t we give that to our gilled head-fish?

On this week’s episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt sits down with Jason Pargin (aka David Wong) to rediscover brains and the humans carrying them around. They’ll get into why this is the era of bombarding our minds with Snapchats, sleeplessness, and incomplete friendships. They’ll explore the fundamental feedback loops that make us seek out bad habits. And they’ll pick out how you can be aware of your own mental health needs, even if our wider culture wants to trick you into forgetting all about them.

Footnotes: https://goo.gl/nmGrMf

Professional podcast guest Whitney Cummings joins Scott to chat about pranking Chris Klein during her time on Punk’d, nervously lying to John Goodman on the set of the new Roseanne, and her new film The Female Brain. Then, professional luger Barry Big stops by to cleanse his mind before competing in the Winter Olympics in order to wear the gold medal at the grocery store. Plus, professional chef Danny Trejo Jr. drops by to not talk about his dad and instead talk about some of the appetizers he has brought to the studio from his garage.

This episode is brought to you by Fred Armisen: Standup for Drummers, Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG), Warby Parker (www.warbyparker.com/bangbang), RXBAR (www.RXBAR.com/bangbang), Audible (www.audible.com/Stinker).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone to a very special 150th episode of Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is singer/actor/writer/director Nathan Lee Graham! Nathan chats about what’s the best thing to find underwater, what prompted the decision to learn how to swim at 30, and wanting to be the first gay villain for Marvel. Then, they are joined by improvisers Shaun Diston, Carl Tart, and Tawny Newsome, to improvise a story set at a United Airlines Flight One Way LA To Duluth. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/PFT) and MVMT Watches (www.mvmt.com/PFT).

Presenting “Pet Helpers” by Eliza Skinner. When a plan to scam people into buying pet insurance for the Rapture goes awry, it’s up to Mimi (Eliza Skinner) and her roommate Jane (Jessica McKenna) to figure out what’s going on and maybe save the world. Featuring Eliza Skinner, Jessica McKenna, Erin Whitehead, Paul F. Tompkins, Paul Scheer, Jared Logan, and Bryan Cook.

Comedian/writer/actress Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens) joins Paul, Jason, and guest co-host Jessica St. Clair to discuss the 1992 science fiction action film Freejack. Recorded live in New York, they talk about the spiritual switch board, faberge eggs, and the true meaning of “Freejack.” Plus, we get a special 3rd Opinion from June from Montreal!

This episode is brought to you by Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks on TruTV and SeatGeek (Download SeatGeek app promo code: BONKERS)

Check out new HDTGM merch over at https://www.teepublic.com/user/howdidthisgetmade

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

You can see Jason, June, and Paul in The Disaster Artist in theaters now.

Paul’s new comedy Drive Share is available on Go90. Paul can be seen on A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later, Opening Night, and Veep. You can see June and Paul on NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU. June stars in Grace and Frankie on Netflix, as well as Lady Dynamite alongside with Jason.

Jason can be seen in The Good Place, The House, The Lego Batman Movie, How to Be Single, Sleeping with Other People, and is still indeed in The Dictator.

The hilarious Patti Harrison joins Matt and Dave this week to talk all about her favorites (Finding Nemo! The Comeback! Black Mirror!), dating art bros, and being “ambushed by kindness” by her (first real!) boyfriend. Plus Dave gives Matt his birthday gift and Patti talks about her adventures on Words with Friends.

Fazeelat Aslam (Saving Face) and Katie Halper (The Katie Halper Show) join Negin to break down Trump’s first State of the Union. They also debate the merits of the Democratic speeches in response to SOTU— all five of them! Lastly, the panel tries to make sense of the FBI memo madness.

This episode is sponsored by ModCloth (code: FAKE15), HelloFresh (code: FAKE30), and Ellevest.

Casey is down with the flu this week (RIP Casey) but Danielle is joined in her own nook by actress and New Jersey apologist Deanna Russo who gives us new insight into the garden state and the garbage people who inhabit it. Plus Bitch Sesh favorite Nicole Shabtai graces us with our biggest investigative piece yet, she was BOOTS ON THE BOAT at PK’s 50the birthday party and she has tales to tell!!!!

Also Danielle’s husband Matt Besser stops by to reclaim his honor in light of his controversial lingerie purchase. It’s a jam packed episode that is sure to win us our first Pulitzer!!   

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/HOUSEWIVES), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/HOUSEWIVES), and Rent the Runway (www.renttherunway.com/unlimited).

Living in the moment with Milana Vayntrub.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: PARDO), Harry’s (www.harrys.com/PARDO), MVMT Watches (www.mvmt.com/NEVER), and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/NEVER).

Comedians, actors, and married couple Kurt Braunohler and Lauren Cook join Sarah and Susan to talk about the ending part of Okja, Anne of Green Gables, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Whitney Houston singing “I Will Always Love You.”

This episode is sponsored by Of a Kind (www.ofakind.com code: CRYBABIES) and ThirdLove (www.thirdlove.com/CRYBABIES).

Andrew Mason, CEO of Descript, joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. Andrew details his new “audio word processor” Descript, and explains how it grew from his previous company Detour. The three also discuss the Andrew’s startup-themed album, and advantages of spending less time on the internet.

This week, Bryan shines a light on the Publix grocery store chain’s refusal to cover HIV-preventative drugs for their employees as well as their history of discrimination against gay people. Then, Erin shares U.S. Senate candidate Courtland Sykes’s insane rant about Women’s Rights. Later, guests Kate Berlant and John Early swing by to read a note they wrote to their neighbor while on shrooms before getting into acting school rejections, formative pieces of art, and first orgasms.

This episode is sponsored by Away (code: SHADE), MVMT Watches, and TomboyX (code: SHADE).

Musical guest and Grammy nominee K.Flay joins improvisers Eugene Cordero, Paul F. Tompkins, Seth Morris & Matt Besser for this week’s improv4humans! K.Flay performs songs off her latest album “Every Where Is Some Where” that inspire scenes about a cafe where people tell their sex stories, a gargoyle who can’t turn to stone, and a BDSM sub who can’t be pleasured by jerks. Plus, girls’ night gets ruined by a tag-along boyfriend and a narrator gets sent into homes to accompany one of the first TV shows.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (code: IMPROV) and MVMT Watches.

Actor Noah Segan returns this week and joins Matt to discuss his role as Kid Blue in the 2012 film Looper. Noah talks about how he ended up in the film, the origin of his nick name “Kid Blue” which existed before the film, and the story behind dropping his gun while twirling it. Plus, we hear about the incredible makeup work that went into Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s transformation into Bruce Willis.

This episode is brought to you by Mubi (www.mubi.com/WasThere).

Comedian Jamie Loftus (The Bechdel Cast) joins Andrew to discuss the 2018 State of the Union address, Cleveland Indians finally retiring the Chief Wahoo logo, the NY Times Op-Ed on Stephen Miller, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

Comedians Gary Richardson (SNL) and Eleanore Pienta (Cocoon Central Dance Team) join Jo & Manolo to play listener-created games with callers. 

Games played: Corey Haim-show, Hodag Hoedown, and Hebrew or “Hey, Bro!”: A Cross-Cultural Deceptive Pronunciation Game

Bestselling “Fire & Fury” author Michael Wolff (Adam Frucci) stops by Hard Nation, willing to burn any bridges and destroy his personal relationships to offer Mark & Pete some juicy stories. Wolff tells us how Steve Bannon smells and his dream of infiltrating Netflix, before he and Mark engage in some “locker room talk.” Meanwhile, Pete just wants to protect the mice…

Comedian. actress, writer and producer Little Esther (Alone Together) joins Howard and Kulap for this week’s Who Charted! Esther explains how she found her way to a show on Freeform plus the best way to get your Vitamin D while helping the gang count down the Top 5 Tastemaker Albums. Then, we’re treated to a dog-focused Movie Chart, and Howard gives an update on the Mole Man as well as hiking pet peeves on Two Charted.

This episode is sponsored by SeatGeek (code: CHARTED).

The one and only Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) joins Jess and Zach LIVE for a new alternate-universe musical filled with orphans, fireman, Tom Cruise, and the most expensive restaurant in the world: Subway! With songs like “Why Do People Like Sports?”, “Underground Bettin'” and “Recipe for Disaster”, you’ll need a Code Red to cool off from the heat of these songs! Plus, stay til the end for a very special live cast and crew q&a!

This episode is brought to you by Modcloth (www.modcloth.com code: OFFBOOK15).

A man narrates his stroll though a Wal-Mart. As he peruses the aisles, from guns to kitchen appliances, the discussion ranges from philosophical to farcical.

This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/beautiful) and Zola (www.zola.com/STORIES).

Dr. Dennis Denton (Nick Kroll) aka the depressed dentist from del Rey joins Marissa and Listler to talk about his worst nightmare of witnessing his parents burn alive. We also hear about his celebrity patients including Leonardo DiCaprio, Harry Potter, and Kurt Cobain before getting into “What’s Cheesing You.” Plus, Dennis speaks on raising himself alongside the Dogtown boys in Manhattan Beach during “Spotlight On.”

This episode is brought to you by RXBAR (www.rxbar.com/womp code: WOMP) and Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/WOMP code: WOMP).