Kevin Dorff and Seth Morris join Matt Besser this week for scenes about finding Michael Jackson on Dark Facebook, pitching bold new snack ideas, and taking a ride with your imaginary pal Hillary Clinton. Later, they explore the legal battles of tubular surf musicians and follow a nurse who needs to see someone die.

A sneak peek of “Katie Couric,” coming to Earwolf on July 28th! Join us for candid unscripted conversations as Katie and her co-host Brian Goldsmith take a trip to the Capitol and visit with Senator Al Franken; talk with Bob Costas about why he loves the Olympics; and hear why Jonathan Weisman quit Twitter. Subscribe now and you won’t miss a thing. And don’t be shy, leave us a voicemail at (929) 224-4637.

Amanda Fun Buns Lund takes on Team Captain Maria Blasucci in Round 1 of the Pistol Shrimps Radio: Summer Masters Mini-Golf Tournament.

The Shrimps on Twitter: @pistolshrimpsbb
The Shrimps on Instagram: @thepistolshrimps
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @ShrimpsRadio

Matt Gourley on Twitter and IG: @MattGourley
Mark McConville on Twitter and IG: @MarkMcConville

This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon and Blue Apron.

Joel Stein has always wanted to live a passionate life — but even though he’s successful, famous, and has a lovely home life, Joel’s doesn’t truly feel alive. A psychiatrist even told him he’s dead inside. In Episode 1 “What’s Wrong with Me?” Joel tries to fix his life, one episode at a time. In episode one? He deals with intimacy, and his porn habit, with help from Tim Ferriss, Dan Savage, and his wife Cassandra.

Use Promo Code WRONG to hear the entire series of What’s Wrong With Me on Howl FREE for 1-month.

Donald Trump’s wife Melania (Grace Parra) and her manservants stop by Hard Nation to explain how she became genetically flawless, and tell the story of the time her husband rode a bus. Also: Gary Hargrove (Devin Field), a former Al Gore staffer, reveals secrets that drive Pete into a nervous breakdown.

This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate.

For most of his life, comedian W. Kamau Bell assumed his single mom never had sex after she made him. Today, he gets the real story. To join the conversation about this episode, go to longestshortesttime.com!

This episode is sponsored by Hooked on Phonics, Alarm.com, Icon Undies, Fit Organic, and Zappos.

Allison Raskin joins Andrew to talk about if it’s racist to drop a class for not understanding the teacher’s accent. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This episode is sponsored by Harry’s.

Every time James Altucher is in a social situation he asks himself, “What am I going to learn from this conversation?” Bringing that attitude to every encounter he comes across is the beginning of a mental exercise regimen to strengthen his “question asking muscle”. Listen on for more tips from Stephen and James about how they cultivate their curiosity throughout daily life and endless interviews.

This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon.

Comedian and actor Jon Gabrus joins Howard and Kulap for mid-summah charting on this week’s Who Charted! Jon answers a question from a listener and Howard rails against outer space while they list the #1 iTunes Songs of Different Genres. Then, during the Movie Chart, they dive into conversations about super-group team-ups and sailing for Pokémon. Finally, Engineer Brett hops in for a special Oculus Summah listening experience and Howard reads a camp letter from a summah past during Two Charted.

Do you find yourself getting irrationally mad when you’re cut off by the car plastered in bumper stickers warning about the danger of contrails? When you’re walking on a sidewalk and there’s a group of people in front of you, do you want to run them over with a snowblower because they’re arranged in such a way that it’s impossible to navigate around them? When there’s someone in a coffee shop talking loudly on their phone, do you want to plunge them and their stupid conversation to the bottom of the Mariana Trench for the rest of time?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’re not being an asshole, that’s just evolution baby. Apparently we’re hard-wired to think people are jerks and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.

To commemorate the arrival of ‘Difficult People’ season 2 on Hulu, Jack O’Brien, Josh Sargent and Alex Schmidt discuss the scientifically proven ways humans are just awful–from our bad driving habits to the cognitive bias that proves why stupid people think they’re smart. Trust us, it’s not you, it’s them.

Footnotes:

– David Dunning: We Are All Confident Idiots: https://goo.gl/yclkfl

– Cracked: 6 Scientific Reasons People Drive Like Assholes: http://goo.gl/gk4s

– Cracked: 5 Scientific Reasons You’re a Bad Employee: http://goo.gl/X5SD

– Cracked: 6 Obnoxious Behaviors That Make You Better at Your Job: http://goo.gl/eorSF6

– Cracked: 5 Logical Fallacies That Make You Wrong More Than You Think: http://goo.gl/XtQGF

– Robert Sapolsky – Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: https://goo.gl/Ji7S4G

– Watch Difficult People on Hulu: http://goo.gl/ZHNQpt

– Difficult People on Instagram: https://goo.gl/lLva2S

– Difficult People on Twitter: https://goo.gl/TBdkeD

– Difficult People on Facebook: https://goo.gl/fHma0d

A lot of people call up and share stories from their past. But today we are very much living in the present. It’s almost like we’re experiencing this caller’s life with him as it is happening. All aboard the SEPTA train.

This episode is sponsored by Seat Geek, Stamps.com, and Squarespace.

Join Kevin as he sits down with actor James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek, Varsity Blues). James chats about his notorious first Conan appearance, causing chaos at his hometown mall, and never landing that Corn Pops commercial.

This episode is sponsored by Casper Mattresses.

After a disastrous game of competitive golf, an interested QOD party asks James how to not lose it all during clutch moments. Will out mystery questioner be able to improve his or her game using the wisdom James pulls from chess, business, and relationships? And why isn’t Stephen chiming in with help on this topic?

This episode is sponsored by Allstate.

After passing homeless people on her way to school each day, 9-year-old Khloe Thompson launched her own charity, Khloe Kares. She joins Deanna & Emily to talk about what inspired her to help vulnerable women in her community. Plus, Khloe shows off her incredible musical talent. For more information about Khloe Kares go to www.khloekares.com

Actor/comedian/writer Allison Raskin joins Andrew to talk about if you can be racist against your own race and promposals. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

Musician Amir Yaghmai joins Jensen and Matty to talk about doing music for Red Dead Redemption, Bloom That app, Hunter x Hunter, Schoolboy Q’s “Blank Face LP,” Aphex Twin’s “Cheetaht2” EP, how we were late on the second season of UnREAL, and many more things you should know about.

This episode is sponsored by Jack Erwin.

Hayes and Sean invite the three Great Debates, Dave King, Steve Hely and Dan Medina, into the studio to engage in some of their famous debates from their podcast and tell Hollywood stories.

Stand-up comedian and writer Jerron Horton joins the Bros to tell about his journey from sports into stand-up and how he met his sugar momma at Ruby Tuesday. Daniel Van Kirk brings stories about a man who charged a police officer at a fast food joint and another Thai toilet snake. Plus, we hear a very special voicemail from D.R. Tuttle.

This episode is sponsored by Legal Zoom, Touchofmodern, and Howl.

Actor Dave Franco (21 Jump Street, Now You See Me, Neighbors) joins Josh this week to about his latest teen techno-thriller film Nerve.

Watching movies like ‘Speed’ and ‘The Negotiator,’ you get the sense that talking a bad guy out of a hostage situation is a lot like being a Jedi. A little, “these aren’t the droids your looking for,” here, a little (insert witty line) there, and bam, you’re making out with the foxy bank teller back at HQ by happy hour.

Now if that were true, we’d all be hostage negotiators, right? But the job isn’t that simple. It’s much more passive than we think and involves a lot more teamwork than just one man walking into a building with only a bullhorn and his gut instinct.

To learn what we all get wrong about hostage negotiators, Jack jack is joined by Chris Voss; author, professor and former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI. They discuss how teamwork and active listening are two of the most important parts of the job, and then Chris explains how hostage negotiation skills can be used in business and in real life.

Make sure to buy tickets to our next live podcast taping where we get heavy and talk about the afterlife, maaan! What if there’s no heaven and hell and we’re all just a hologram inside the mind of an ancient computer simulation? What if the Zoroastrians were right and it doesn’t matter how good you are in your life, you just have to cross a rickety bridge guarded by two four-eyed dogs to reach eternal salvation?

Join Jack, Dan, and Michael on Saturday, July 16th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles as they try to figure out what it all means. They’ll be joined by comedians Casey Jane Ellison and Ramin Nazer to discuss their favorite afterlife scenarios from movies, sci-fi and lesser-known religions.

This episode is sponsored by Harry’s, The Bouqs, and Spotify.

Tickets are only $5 and available here: https://goo.gl/yvf76j

Footnotes:

Chris Voss: Never Split the Difference: http://goo.gl/yCKrnz

Daniel Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Thinking Slow: https://goo.gl/GoGs3a

The Atlantic: The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence: http://goo.gl/MjOC5N

Cracked: 4 Aspects of Hostage Situations Movies Didn’t Prepare Me For: http://goo.gl/1wvR1h

David Foster Wallace: This is Water: http://goo.gl/XMEqj

New York Times: Quiet Fixer in Donald Trump’s Campaign: http://goo.gl/BcQQsH

Steve Agee (New Girl, The Sarah Silverman Program) joins Paul, June, and Jason in-studio to get to the bottom of important questions that popped up while watching 1991’s Mannequin Two: On the Move. What’s the deal with department stores? Do mannequins have genitalia? And finally, where does the butt start? Plus, we hear the inception of a new Mannequin sequel that is done right.

This episode is sponsored by Now Hear This Podcast Festival, Loot Crate, Blue Apron, and Casper Mattresses.

WATCH Filthy Preppy Teen$ on the FullScreen App today! Get yourself a BB-8 “What Is Its Mission?” T-shirt or Tote Bag over at http://howdidthisgetmade.bigcartel.com/ Set your DVRs for Party Over Here, a new FOX sketch comedy show from The Lonely Island and Paul starring Nicole Byer, Jessica McKenna, and Alison Rich. It airs Saturdays at 11 pm. People of the internet: Watch Paul in Fresh off the Boat on ABC. Awhile ago, Paul and Rob Huebel did a comedy special on a 60 foot glass bus that traveled around LA. Now you’ll be able to see it. Go to https://itun.es/us/3M4J9 now to buy it! You can also see Jason and June in Lady Dynamite on Netflix! Also, check out June in Grace and Frankie available on Netflix, and in all the episodes of NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU for free, and Jason in The Dictator (he’s still in it!).

It’s goblin day at the Minotaur again and we’re joined by the Goblin Queen herself! She’s very approachable!

Credits

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp

Chunt: Adal Rifai

Usidore: Matt Young

Fibro Myalgia, the Goblin Queen: Kelsey Kinney

Alabaster Camerdan: Tommy Maranges

Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen

Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi

Editor: Ryan DiGiorgi

Theme Music: Andy Poland

Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban

Audio Assistance: Jason Knox

Production Assistant: Garrett Schultz

This episode is sponsored by Cards Against Humanity.

Comedian extraordinaire Aparna Nancherla joins Scott on this week’s Comedy Bang! Bang! to talk about the last letter she wrote, how would she revise the government if she could change any law, and  some of the topics she covers on her new stand-up album “Just Putting Out There.” Then, amateur sports critic Ming arrives to tell us about his favorite sports and songs from The Cranberries. Finally, financial advisor Doug Gropes hastily advises Scott on how to prepare for his retirement.

This episode is sponsored by HBO’s Vice Principals, Stamps.com, Leesa.com, Sweet As Honey by Jennifer Beckstrand, and Now Hear This Podcast Festival.

Writer/comedian/actor Allison Raskin joins Andrew all this week to answer some racism questions. Today they discuss a nail salon being called “American Nails.” Be sure to call us at (323) 389-RACE to ask if anything is racist.

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes all who enter a room (especially at Jury Duty) to this week’s episode of Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special guest is singer/actor/writer/director Nathan Lee Graham! They chat about what job Nathan would permanently erase from his timeline, how he handles being recognized on the subway; and Paul and Nathan institute the Tyler Perry Residuals Challenge. Paul is then joined by Maria Blasucci, Matt Gourley, and Tawny Newsome to improvise a story set in Paris. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano! 

The next live edition of Spontaneanation happens Saturday, August 6 at Largo at The Coronet! Join Paul & Eban as they welcome improvisors Dan Ahdoot, Tim Baltz and Tawny Newsome, and special interview guest Desmin Borges from You’re The Worst! Tickets are on sale now!

Check out the first episode of the brand new Earwolf show Fake the Nation! Hosted by Negin Farsad, Fake the Nation is all the comedy about politics without any of the politics about politics. Every week Negin and a cast of her funniest, smartest and most politically astute friends gather ‘round the political roundtable to break down the news, make you laugh, think, and deliver a gut punch to the American political system. 

Check out the first episode of the brand new Earwolf show Fake the Nation! Hosted by Negin Farsad, Fake the Nation is all the comedy about politics without any of the politics about politics. Every week Negin and a cast of her funniest, smartest and most politically astute friends gather ‘round the political roundtable to break down the news, make you laugh, think, and deliver a gut punch to the American political system. 

This week, Devin and Amy pit “Boogie Nights” against “There Will Be Blood” to determine which Paul Thomas Anderson film deserves a place in the Canon. They dissect Mark Wahlberg’s “everyman” sexuality and discuss what about PTA makes his actors do their best work during their take on “Boogie Nights.” Then they dig into “There Will Be Blood,” during which they praise the contrast between Paul Dano and Daniel Day-Lewis and examine the duality of Daniel Plainview’s final words. Head to the Earwolf forums to cast your vote on which movie should be inducted into the Canon!

Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead and Josh Zepps (We the People Live) join Negin Farsad for this inaugural episode of Fake the Nation. They talk about Hillary’s ideal running mate (Beyonce, obvs), whether Microsoft’s Clippy is anti-Semitic and, because Josh’s Australian accent is close enough to a British one, we talk a lil’ Brexit. He pledges allegiance to the Queen!

This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon.

Ana Marie Cox used to live and work in Washington, D.C., covering politics – until it got too dangerous for her. In today’s episode, she tells David why.

This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com, The Great Courses, and Crown & Caliber.