Do you know what you want to do with the rest of your life? Well the good news is nobody really knows. You’re not alone! The bad news is you were supposed to know by age 13 or so. And if you didn’t know back then, society’s been watching you flail around ever since. We’re a nation of human beings, facing more change and “economic anxiety” than ever before. And if you look close enough, you’ll realize the answer to that problem has a lot less to do with border walls and coal jobs, and a lot more to do with welcoming immigrants, encouraging adaptability, and rethinking our entire educational system.

On this week’s podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Jason Pargin (aka David Wong) and Kristi Harrison, to point out our ongoing national crisis of mis-preparation derailing the lives of America’s teenagers, middle-aged parents, and everybody in between.

East Coast! The Cracked Podcast is coming to you! The Cracked Podcast will be a part of the Now Hear This podcast festival in New York, taking place September 8th-10th. For $20 off your ticket, head to NowHearThisFest.com and enter code ‘CRACKED’ at checkout.

West Coast! Pack an extra life, some elixirs and a poke ball. The next live Cracked Podcast is Saturday, August 12th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Alex Schmidt asks Michael Swaim, Adam Ganser, Monika Scott, Mike Drucker and Christian Ramirez, “what is the best video game universe to live in?” Tickets are $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/WCKg8f

*Extremely Michael Caine Voice* Master Wayne, now that it’s August, it’s Christopher Nolan month on Cracked Movie Club. Join hosts Tom Reimann and Abe Epperson for crazy behind-the-scenes stories, philosophical fan-theories and jokes – lots of stupid jokes – about Christopher Nolan’s filmography, starting with The Prestige: https://goo.gl/saER6v

To hear the newest episode each and every Thursday, search for Cracked Movie Club in your podcast app of choice or click here to find it on Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/fQ2o72

And if you were really hurting for more Cracked podcasts, we have great news for you. We’re proud to announce our newest podcast venture, Cracked Gets Personal. In this 10-part miniseries, Cracked’s Robert Evans and Rick and Morty’s Brandon Johnson are adapting some of Cracked’s most popular Personal Experience articles into an audio-documentary. Hear what it’s like to live a day as a heroin addict, a garbageman, and rural ER doctor. The first two episodes premiere on Wednesday, August 16th and you can subscribe now by searching for Cracked Gets Personal on your podcast app of choice or clicking here to find it on Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/Q1bFap

FOOTNOTES

Article: Cracked: 6 Facts That Will Clear Up Your Confusing Life: https://goo.gl/vL8M9f

Article: Cracked: 5 Reasons You Hated School (That You Were Right About): https://goo.gl/PSH13C

Book: Tony Wagner & Ted Dintersmith: Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era: https://goo.gl/LXNPZN

Video: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Coal: https://goo.gl/f75xiG

Article: Washington Post: If Trump restricts skilled immigrants, the U.S. could lose jobs to other countries: https://goo.gl/kWJWmp

Article: New York Times: Rural Areas Brace for a Shortage of Doctors Due to Visa Policy: https://goo.gl/7UHTja

Article: Washington Post: U.S. faces 90,000 doctor shortage by 2025, medical school association warns: https://goo.gl/6pKpbB

Article: Fortune: Technology will replace 80% of what doctors do: https://goo.gl/2yP1eY

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CRACKED) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/CRACKED).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone who can hear his voice on this week’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is This American Life host and producer Ira Glass! They chat about what memory from Ira’s childhood he wishes he could change, not getting the point of drinking alcohol until he turned 30, and becoming involved with the rerelease of The Adventures of Chickenman. Paul is then joined by Little Janet Varney, Jean Villepique, and Craig Cackowski, to improvise a story set in Jury Deliberations. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

Paul F. Tompkins will be in Detroit this weekend for the Detroit Improv Festival! Check out DIF’s full schedule to see when PFT and some of your favorite Spontaneanation improvisors will be improvising!

http://www.detroitimprovfestival.org/schedule.html

This episode is brought to you by RiffTrax (www.fathomevents.com/RiffTraxDoctorWho), Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: PFT), Leesa.com (www.leesa.com code: PFT).

Comedian Joe Mande joins Scott to talk about his new special “Joe Mande’s Award-Winning Comedy Special” on Netflix, his social media stunt where be bought his followers, and the 2017 NBA Draft. Then, Jesse “The Mind, Body, and Soul” Ventura has been released from the plug bag to talk about his new show “Off the Grid.” Plus, Morpheus, The Dream Lord is back with an agenda to help fix Joe’s troubled dreams.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG), Black Tux, and Leesa.com (www.leesa.com code: BANGBANG).

We meet a gnome named Aprel and learn several important lessons about friendship.

Credits:
Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Aprel Füls: Asher Perlman
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

Film editor Alan Scherstuhl of Village Voice/LA Weekly joins Amy this week for a Dolly Parton double-hitter! They pit Dolly’s 1980 landmark comedy “9 to 5” against the classic 1982 film “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Amy and Alan assess Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds as the epitome of the ultra-feminine and ultra-masculine, the historical significance of each film, and Dolly’s unique comedic chemistry with her co-stars in both pictures. Plus, we hear about how “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” plays with the idea of hypocritical politics and what “9 to 5” reveals about how much the workplace has evolved for women. Which Dolly Parton film will enter The Canon? Cast your vote on the Earwolf forums now!

This episode is brought to you by Casper (www.casper.com/canon code: canon).

Cameron sits down with comedian Rhea Butcher to discuss being wives, growing up in Akron, and gender identity.

HDTGM All-stars Andrea Savage (I’m Sorry) and Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder) joins Paul and Jason to discuss the 1987 action thriller Hard Ticket to Hawaii. Recorded live from Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles, they talk about serious conversations in hot tubs, blowing up skateboarders with bazookas, throwing nunchucks, and getting messages in sandwiches delivered by a sushi restaurant.

This episode is brought to you by Brigsby Bear, Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BONKERS), and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/BONKERS).

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

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

Paul’s new comedy Drive Share is available on Go90. Paul can be seen on 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 House, The Lego Batman Movie, How to Be Single, Sleeping with Other People, and is still indeed in The Dictator.

Sound the air horns! Welcome back to Hey Misters DJ with your hosts DJ Backsplash (Jessica McKenna) & DJ Crown Molding (Zach Reino)! It’s the podcast that defends the art form of DJ-ing and brings on the best DJs in the game to ask them about their craft. This week they are joined by internet famous DJ Zalander from Croatia to talk about the inspiration behind the songs “Dunk the Monkey,” “I Must Get to the Toilet,” and “Title of this Track.” Plus, Traci Reardon stops by to offer her Twitter followers DJ advice in another edition of “Help Me, Rhonda.”

This episode is brought to you by Modcloth (www.modcloth.com code: LAPKUS) and Texture (www.texture.com/LAPKUS).

It’s about Tom! Stay tuned tomorrow for the full podcast.

Dylan Marron (Conversations with People Who Hate Me) and Joel Kim Booster (Comedy Central) join Negin to discuss staffing shakeups at the White House, the psychology of online trolls, and Trump’s new plan to cut legal immigration by half. Plus, why the Trump White House has serious echoes of ShondaLand.

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

Get ready for HOMOPHILIA with Dave Holmes & Matt McConkey! The show where LGBTQ celebrities get grilled on what they’re loving, and who they’re loving. Premiering on Friday, August 11th!

Danielle and Casey are as troubled as Captain Fred watching the NY skinny girls get MES-SY in Mexico. From Ramona and Bethenny’s naked drunk pool cry to Sonjas private parts on parade it was a glorious episode. The girls also dig into OC, Deko and Mama Joyce 2 (Lydia’s mom). Much like the restaurant, the women refuse to be quiet.

This episode is brought to you by Rent the Runway (www.renttherunway.com/Unlimited code: HOUSEWIVES).

Subscribe now to Cracked Gets Personal; the first two episodes drop 8/16!

Kathy Doyle, senior director of audio for Macmillan Podcasts and the long-established Quick and Dirty Tips Network, joins Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den. The three discuss the creation of QDT, from its humble beginnings with Grammar Girl, to being featured as airline entertainment. Kathy also details the creation of Tor Labs and their first podcast, the science fiction audio drama “Steal the Stars.”

This week’s Politically Re-Active finds our hosts meeting up with legendary political comedian Lewis Black, and getting some important questions answered. How did he become “The King of Rant”? What’s making him rant right now? From his early days yelling at walls, to his current “fan rant” driven tour, Black let’s us in on his creative process.

Black has been making regular appearances on The Daily Show since the show began over two decades ago, and he weighs in with a unique perspective on each host.

Of course, with three political comedians in the kitchen, the conversation simmers around the many recent blunders from the current administration, and one lost opportunity for Mario Cantone. The icing on this conversational cake? Lewis Black is a socialist. This episode has lots to unpack, but again, we not only have two, but three political comedians to doing the unpacking.

If you’re feeling the love (or even if you’re angry) then catch Lewis on his fall Rant, White and Blue tour. Grab your tickets at www.lewisblack.com. You can also follow Lewis on Twitter at @TheLewisBlack

And don’t forget we have new t-shirts! Visit podswag.com/pr or podswag.com/politicallyreactive. Both work! To get the latest updates on us follow us on Facebook at Politically Re-Active and Twitter @PoliticReActive and send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks!

Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s project check out wkamaubell.com.

This episode is sponsored by Lyft (www.lyft.com/REACTIVE) and Boll & Branch (www.bollandbranch.com code: PR).

Producers of Stitcher Premium series Pen Pals, features Earwolf favorite Seth Morris in a new episode of the CBC series LOVE ME, an original podcast about the messiness of human relationships. In this episode, we hear a murky relationship between a man, a woman and the fungus that lives in the woman’s knee. Plus, a recipe for heartbreak!

Christopher Nolan month begins on Cracked Movie Club!

Magic. Obsession. Fake beards. David Bowie. 2006’s The Prestige is everything you could want from a Christopher Nolan movie, in that it’s a wildly entertaining film whose logic collapses upon repeat viewings. Made just after Nolan had hit the big time with his 2005 Batman reboot Batman Begins, The Prestige pits Hugh Jackman and Cristian Bale against each other as rival magicians in turn of the century London, competing over who can do a superior version of the same trick. Based on a sci-fi/horror novel of the same name, it’s arguably one of Nolan’s most narratively effective films, as well as a showcase of Michael Caine’s formidable ability to deliver expository dialogue in a way that doesn’t feel ridiculous.

This week, Tom and Abe are joined by comedian and co-host of The Bechdel Cast Jamie Loftus as they discuss the film’s creatively repeated themes of obsession and duality, the odds of two twins both being super into magic, and Jamie’s mission to wipe all magicians from the face of the earth.

This episode is brought to you by Phil (www.phil.us/CLUB).

Actor, director, and screenwriter Josh Radnor joins Sarah and Susan to talk about Defending Your Life, Ram Dass’ letter to Rachel, and “Mercy” by Max Richter.

This episode is brought to you by Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/CRYBABIES).

Making out with Rachel Quaintance. (This previously released Players Club episode was recorded on July 20, 2017.)

This episode is brought to you by Bombfell (www.bombfell.com/PARDO) and Harry’s (www.harry’s.com/PARDO).

Paul Rust, Danielle Schneider, and Craig Rowin join Matt Besser for this week’s improv4humans! They take suggestions that inspire scenes about an anti-hypochondriac, terrible baby nurse candidates, and carving your name into a whale for love. Plus, the Budweiser family takes brand loyalty extra seriously when ordering drinks, and tourists on a nature trail stick their fingers in the mouths of the wildlife.

This week, Erin shares stories from her wedding and Bryan gives out his latest movie ratings. They break down Trump’s transgender military ban piece by piece to explain how its even more heinous than you thought. Plus, they discuss the treatment of Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski after they took a stand against the new health care legislation. Then, Erin talks with actress and writer Morgan Walsh about her innovative new tea product 10th Avenue Tea.

This episode is sponsored by ModCloth (www.modcloth.com code: SHADE) and Southern New Hampshire University.

Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn join Andrew to discuss the Trans military ban, Trump saying police officers should hit suspects, The Mooch, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

The Diving Horse

Chandler’s Chicken Farm

The Dog Lady 2

Benton Vs The Laundromat

Caught With Pants Down

Recruiting The Prisoners

Officer Monahan’s Farewell Party

Orphans Annie And Sandy