Growing up as a black woman in rural Appalachia wasn’t easy. She was different, and she was bullied. But punk rock saved her, and helped her form her own identity. Chris interrupts her Snapchatting at the start of the call, which leads to a discussion about their experiences with social media around the election.

This episode is brought to you by Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com), Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Adam and Eve (www.adamandeve.com code: STORIES), and Texture.

Join guest host Samm Levine as he sits down with actor Kevin Rahm (Mad Men, Lethal Weapon). Kevin chats about how choosing drama as an extracurricular activity may have lead to his career… but in the end it all comes back to cheerleading camp.

Comedian David Huntsberger co-hosts this week with Randy and Jason to welcome long-time showfriend Beth Hoyt back to the County. They discuss the benefits of a one-way Mars trip before getting into Stories. David brings tales of a long-distance sandwich seeker and a drug smuggling cop, and finally, the Sklars listen to an ethereal voice message from Tilda Swinton.

This episode is sponsored by Texture (www.texture.com/sklar).

Comedian Jo Firestone joins Chris and Gary for this week’s dream analysis, tackling mysterious coded messages, robots who love flowers, and shark eyes! But tensions run high as details of Gary’s “training” begin to come out.

Go to www.casper.com/dreams and use the offer code “DREAMS” for $50 off your next mattress purchase.

Photo by Eric Michael Pearson.

2016 is almost over. Yes the endless, rotten sh*t hurricane of a year that took away

Bowie, Prince and Florence Henderson and gave us Trump, Harambe and the Zika virus is finally drawing to a close. 

So, to give this b*tch a proper viking funeral, Jack O’Brien is joined by Cracked’s Cody Johnston, Daniel O’Brien and Alex Schmidt and comedian Caitlin Gill to review our culture’s year-in-review process. 

They’ll also shine a much needed light on some of the more overlooked stories from the year. For example, two-headed sharks keep appearing in our oceans and no one knows why. Even all the world’s Bond villains are like, “don’t look at us, we thought that was you.” And Kim Kardashian! It feels like she’s been on every magazine cover for the last 35 years and this year she got kidnapped at gunpoint and it barely raised an eyebrow. What is going on!?

To wrap up the conversation, Jack and company share some of their favorite cultural things from the year and report from the future with a preview of our 2017 year in review.

Footnotes:

Article: Yahoo’s Top Search Terms in 2016: https://goo.gl/iD9lvm

Video: Kanye Cancels Show And Slowly Floats Away: https://goo.gl/P0rOQq

Article: The Guardian: Google, Democracy and the Truth About Internet Search: https://goo.gl/GtOx4J

Video: Senator James Inhofe Brings a Snowball to Senate: https://goo.gl/f3gSeP

Article: The Telegraph: Russian Scientists Besieged By Pack of Polar Bears: https://goo.gl/SWGXaY

Article: National Geographic: Two-Headed Sharks Keep Popping Up and No One Knows Why: https://goo.gl/DF725J

Article: Slate: Texas GOP Rep Louie Gohmert Will Save Us From Gay Space Colonies: https://goo.gl/vax51L

Instagram: @major_hoolihan: https://goo.gl/OMdJQh

Video: Samantha Bee: Eddie Eagle: https://goo.gl/LfLgtI

Video: Samantha Bee: Trump Can’t Read: https://goo.gl/pl1Hi9

This episode is brought to you by LifeAfter podcast, Harry’s (www.harrys.com code: CRACKED), I.T. is Greater Than Sci-Fi podcast, and Loot Crate (www.lootcrate.com code: GIFTING15).

Comedian Jo Firestone joins Chris and Gary for this week’s dream analysis, tackling mysterious coded messages, robots who love flowers, and shark eyes! But tensions run high as details of Gary’s “training” begin to come out.

Go to www.casper.com/dreams and use the offer code “DREAMS” for $50 off your next mattress purchase.

Photo by Eric Michael Pearson.

Franklin Leonard (The Black List) is no stranger to great stories. He founded The Black List, which has helped hundreds of Hollywood’s most popular unproduced screenplays get made into films. Franklin joins Travon to talk about becoming obsessed with the Hamilton cast album, feeling gobsmacked by the show’s ambition, and why he wants Michelle Obama to run for president. Plus, he and Travon tackle “Right Hand Man.” 

This episode is brought to you by Sock Club (www.sockclub.com code: hamilton) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/first).

You know, it’s been a long time since checked in with Otok, Flower and Krom. How is their quest going?

Credits
Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Otok Barleyfoot: Nick Baer
Krom the Fingarian: Mark Logsdon
Flower: Brooke Breit
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

This episode is brought to you by Cards Against Humanity and Loot Crate (www.lootcrate.com code: GIFTING15).

Another year, another special Comedy Bang! Bang! Best of Countdown with Scott and Paul F. Tompkins. Scott and PFT countdown numbers fifteen through twelve of the Best CBB episodes of 2016 and number four of the Best CBB Live episodes of 2016 as voted by YOU listeners. Stay tuned for Pt. 2!

This episode is brought to you by Huawei (www.huawei.fit/comedybangbang) and Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/bangbang).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes grownups (children get out of here!) to this week’s episode of Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special return guest is actress Maria Thayer of truTV’s Those Who Can’t! They chat about the time Maria’s primary caregivers let her down, the two different Berenstain Bears/Berenstein Bears universes, and the Lowly Worm. Paul is then joined by Stephanie Courtney, Colleen Smith, and Chris Tallman, to improvise a story set in A Fast Food Restaurant Kitchen In An Alternate Universe. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

LOS ANGELES! Spontaneanation records its 100th episode LIVE at Largo on Saturday, January 7th! Be there for boring your future grandchildren purposes! Tickets: bit.ly/SPONT100

This episode is brought to you by Smartypants Vitamins (www.smartypantsvitamins.com/PFT) and Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: PFT).

Writer/director/actor Charles Rogers joins Ronna & Beverly to chat about the ins and outs of his show Search Party on TBS, having hippie parents, his first movie Fort Tilden, and much more. Happy Holidays!

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

Comedians Kaitlin Fontana and Jim David join Negin to talk about Russian hacking, Rex Tillerson and their Christmas traditions. They also revisit a mortifying and newly ironic debate moment from Rick Perry. Plus, should Democrats ditch identity politics?

Walk the red carpet along with Paul, June, and Jason for the 2nd ANNUAL HOWDIES!!! They’ll be giving recognition for Best Paul Intro Line to Best June Theory and everything in between from Gooby to The Boy Next Door. Tune in to find out who will win and stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com promo code: BONKERS).

Bishop Michael Curry is the leader of the Episcopalian church, and as we head into the new year, he’s here to tell us how the teachings of Jesus just might help create change.

This episode is brought to you by Children International (www.children.org/give).

Actress Mandell Maughan joins the Sklars on this week’s Sklarbro Country. Randy and Jason discuss Raiders punter Marquette King’s celebrating penalties and a white power pistachio girl during Takes, and Mandell talks about getting cast in Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and the story of her first audition. Quick Hits brings a soccer fan with a meat flinging problem and a forgetful boxer, and Kris Kristofferson calls in to share his Himalayan holiday plans with the Sklars.

This week Bryan discusses parenting Sherman, while Erin shares her nightmare visit to a craft fair. Also, Sofía Vergara is knee deep in a custody battle with her ex over frozen embryos and Susan Olsen, of Brady Bunch fame, was fired from her radio show after tongue-lashing her most recent guest with homophobic slurs. What would Carol Brady think? Plus guest David Mills is here to discuss punctuation, post-Brexit London, and his time working on “Florence Foster Jenkins”. Follow David on Twitter @davidmillsdept

The boys talk with Nai Palm, the lead vocalist of Hiatus Kaiyote. They make really smooth music. This is Hannibal writing in the 3rd person. I don’t want to do it any more. We had a good time talking about music and people and life and juice. Check out Hiatus Kaiyote. Their last album is great to cuddle to. I’m not an excellent interviewer. Tony is very excited during this one and it shows. Thank you to our sponsors for tolerating the nonsense.  

This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep (www.helixsleep.com/RAMBLER), Seeso (www.seeso.com promo code: RAMBLER), and SeatGeek (promo code: RAMBLER).

Tasting Chicago with Joe Mantegna.

This episode is brought to you by Harry’s (www.harrys.com code: PARDO), Mott & Bow (www.mottandbow.com code: PARDO) , and Soothe (www.soothe.com code: NEVER).

Please enjoy the second Earmovie of Season 3, “Monsters of Mary Shelley” written by Ian Simpson. It stars Joanne Froggatt, Tom Riley, Chike Okonkwo, Scarlett Byrne, Tom Stokes, Tommy Flanagan, and David S. Lee.

This episode is brought to you by Seed & Spark (www.seedandspark.com/blacklist) and Scribnos.com.

Katie and Brian head to the White House and sit down with Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama. Not only is Jarrett a guiding voice in the Obama administration, but she has also been friends with the President and First Lady since they were an engaged couple in Chicago in the early 1990s. Jarrett discusses managing her work and friendship with the President, her emotions since the election and why she has hope for the Affordable Care Act’s future. Plus, Brian talks with White House visitors from across the country.

This episode is brought to you by Sock Club (www.sockclub.com code: COURIC), Aspen Ideas to Go podcast, Omaha Steaks (www.omahasteaks.com code: KATIE), and Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/couric).

Actor Lakeith Stanfield joins Kevin and guest-host Omar Dorsey this week to serve up some holiday Denzelishness. They dissect Denzel’s advantages over Casey Affleck in an acting competition before Lakeith shares his experiences working on the hit show “Atlanta.” We hear how the show captures the spirit of the city before Lakeith shares his Top 5 Denzel Movies, and finally, expectations are laid for the release of Denzel’s “Fences.”

This episode is sponsored by Sock Club (www.sockclub.com code: DENZEL), Harry’s (www.harrys.com/denzel), and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/denzel).

Christmas time is here, and its up to Charlie Brown (Armen Weitzman) to save the holidays by directing the annual Christmas Podcast for Mike Mitchell, Amanda Sitko, Mookie Blaiklock, Matt Besser, and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Will Charlie find the tolerance to keep Christmas cheerful? Does Pig-Pen harbor alt-right tendencies? Will Santa bring Sally the dildo she asks for? Tune in to find out!

This episode is sponsored by Foot Cardigan (www.footcardigan.com code: IMPROV).

Actor/writer Joshua Walker returns to join Andrew this week to talk about the Ohio legislature moving to ban abortion as early as 6 weeks after conception, having Republican friends, on campus Trump fans saying they need safe spaces, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

On a special Hard Boys investigation, Mark & Pete track down the anonymous 400 lb. New Jersey hacker (Charlie Sanders) that Donald Trump claims leaked the DNC’s emails. In between sips of liquified meat, this mysterious man will reveal secrets about Putin, his own body, and the future of America that will make you question everything you thought you knew.

The boys take some time to reflect on 2016’s Pistol Shrimps action. The beautiful and sonorous Josh Dean joins the discussion.

The Shrimps on Twitter: @pistolshrimpsbb
The Shrimps on Instagram: @thepistolshrimps
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @shrimpsradio
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Instagram: @pistolshrimpsradio

Matt Gourley on Twitter and IG: @mattgourley
Mark McConville on Twitter and Instagram: @markmcconville

Two more murders in Boston bring the total to 7. The Strangler continues to elude investigators through the winter and spring of 1963. Then, in June, New York police find the body of sixty-two-year-old Zenovia Clegg in a Times Square hotel. She had been strangled, using a scarf tied in the Strangler’s signature bow. The NYPD quickly catches Clegg’s killer, a drifter from Maine named Charles Terry, and one legendary detective there, Tom Cavanagh, begins to suspect that he has arrested the real Boston Strangler. But the Boston PD doesn’t seem to care. Host Portland Helmich traces Cavanagh’s life-long pursuit of evidence supporting his theory, and reveals the surprising details of Charles Terry’s life that seem to confirm his guilt.

This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/stranglers), Audible (www.audible.com/stranglers), Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/stranglers), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/stranglers), Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories, and A Crime to Remember on Investigation Discovery.

Parenthood changes people. Beauty guru Jane Marie gives tips on how to (mostly) accept the new you. Plus, an exciting update with a mom whose post-baby change prevented her from singing karaoke. To join the conversation, go to longestshortesttime.com!

This episode is brought to you by Aeroflow, Third Love, Olive & Cocoa, Toca TV, and Yogi Teas.

Writer and actor Dave Holmes joins Howard and guest co-host Ele Woods for this week’s Who Charted.  Dave talks about his new book “Party of One” before they dive into iTunes’ Top 5 Songs during which we hear stories of buying Phil Spector’s Christmas album on the streets and Dave’s trip to the premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey. Howard proposes color-coded video streaming services while the gang counts down the Movie Chart, and Engineer Stard shows off his tour look during Two Charted.