If you turn on the TV or scroll through Facebook for any short period of time, it seems like we’re consumed with fear. There’s always a new airborne virus or a new piece of legislature destined to sink the country into Purge-like anarchy, not to mention the sharks, snakes and spiders that have been trying to kill us for millennia.

It’s easy to place the blame on media in the 21st century, but fear mongering is no recent addition to the human experience. You can go back through history and trace all sorts of fears through the written word. Where now our movies depict zombies, alien invasions and nuclear wars, medieval literature spoke of demons, hellfire and apocalypse scenarios more fitting to the times.

This week Jack O’Brien is joined by Kristi Harrison and Michael Swaim to tackle everything related to how we experience fear in the 21st century: what fears we can blame on evolution and what fears we can blame on society, whether it’s true to say we’re more afraid now than ever before and what our most common fears say about us as a species.

Writer/director Lakshmi Sundaram returns to join Andrew all this week to answer some racism questions. Today they discuss Hulk Hogan. Be sure to call us at (323) 389-RACE to ask if anything is racist.

In a Reading Aloud Book Club first, Nate is joined by Reading Aloud all-stars Aya Cash and Crispin Whittell to discuss Helen McDonald’s “H is for Hawk” LIVE from Skylight Books in Los Angeles. Pick up “The Invaders” by Karolina Waclawiak to get a head start for the next book club episode and send in your thoughts on the book at readingaloudpodcast@gmail.com.

This week, Randy and Jason help make clear how to know when a sales rep for the Phoenix Suns is aggressively pursuing your wife, as well as what could possibly be the greatest sports call of all time. Then, the Sklars welcome to the show Hal Rudnick who talks about how he lost his favorite shirt, why Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is an actual genie, and the time he almost stole Macho Man Randy Savage’s woman. Later, the gang discusses the most expensive sex Jon Daly ever had and the thing that woke a sleeping Tiger. Lastly, Michael Caine calls in to explain why a shot for shot remake of his movie Victory is absolutely necessary.

Growing up in Valencia, California, Danny Sexton (Neil Campbell) was a lonely little boy moving from foster home to foster home and had trouble making friends until he signed up for a pen pal service that changed his life. Danny became pen pals with other kids around the world, now in his late 30s, he is traveling around the country to finally meet some of his old pen pals face to face for the first time. This week he’s traveled to a Comfort Inn in Mansfield, Pennsylvania to finally meet one of the most elusive pen pals from his past, Alice-Ann Meyers. They’ll catch up on everything from their love of drawings to their relationship statuses. Later, Traci Reardon stumbles upon the podcast recording and offers to help Danny give advice to her Twitter followers in another edition of “Help Me, Rhonda.”

Recorded from Dragon Manor, Howard is back and counts down some stand out moments from his Summah tour adventure from Brooklyn to Boston! Have a Silverado Summah!

Kulap is joined again by guest host Armen Weitzman and engineer Sam!!! Armen explains why Summah is a difficult time for him to feel comfortable, as well as why all of the “Armen haters” should really just learn to love him. Additionally, Kulap discusses the hardships that a dog must suffer through in order to have a healthy smile and why all great songs start with a solid sound effects library. Lastly, Armen reveals that he was his mothers second favorite son, next to an imaginary boy.

Andrew Ti and special guest Ann Friedman finish the week off by discussing the Afgan Girl National Geographic cover. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This week The Black List Table Reads, hosted by Franklin Leonard brings you episode 3 of Suzanne Allain’s Mr. Malcolm’s List. When we last left our story, Julia and Selina’s relationship was in tatters and even all of the beauty that is Mr. Malcolm’s Hadley Hall estate could not make it less awkward. What happens next? Tune in to find out! Bringing Mr. Malcolm’s List to life is a team of classy folk from the Commonwealth, we have Rose McIver, Ashley Madekwe,Tom Riley, James Bloor, Sarah Armstrong, Sonya Walger, Jon Fletcher, Ben Schrader, and Parminder Nagra.

The founders of Big Gay Ice Cream, Bryan Petroff and Doug Quint join Sarah and Susan to talk about the early beginnings of Big Gay Ice Cream, “Misty Blue” by Wilma Burgess, The Ramones, 2001: A Space Odyssey live at the Met, WALL-E, Steel Magnolias, and many other things that make them cry.

This week W. Kamau Bell and Kevin “Emmy Nominated” Avery discuss everything Denzel in the 1984 made for TV movie License To Kill. They talk about watching it in parts on YouTube, not seeing Denzel until 40 minutes into the film, and some of the great lines delivered by the drunk driver. Plus, Kevin tells us if he was more excited for earning an Emmy nomination for Last Week Tonight or getting that free MacBook from a high-end hotel.

Comedy’s own Michael Ian Black aka The Marm of Smarm returns along with Scott’s nephew Todd on a special B-B-BONUS episode of Comedy Bing Bong! Why is MIB in everything from Smosh: The Movie to Another Period to Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp? Who were MIB and Todd’s first crushes? Will Riddle Me This go as smoothly as it always does? Tune in to find out!

Dancing in the deepest oceans with Greg Behrendt.

Dan Lippert, Drew Tarver, Drew Spears, and Echo Kellum join Matt Besser for a jam packed improv5humans! They’ll look to a party hero for guidance when crisis hits, break the rock band norms, and pitch new Subway games. They also check in with Thomas the Milkman’s new summer look and Matt gives a speech of inspiration for the new improv group coming out of the University of Arkansas. Make sure to get the Upright Citizens Brigade television show season 3 now available on DVD, the UCB Comedy Improv Manual, and Dragoon’s new album at dragoongalaxy.bandcamp.com!

Ann Friedman and Andrew talk about British rappers saying the n word in their songs. Don’t forget to keep leaving us messages by calling (323) 389-RACE.

On a special episode of I Was There Too, Matt shares a compilation of some of the best stories from the last year’s guests. From the ups and downs of improvised lines with Paul F. Tompkins in There Will Be Blood, to whether Jenette Goldstein from Aliens thought her role was an immigrant alien or an extra-terrestrial alien, to tales of the infamous Schwab’s Pharmacy with Matt’s grandmother Eleanor. It’s worth revisiting if you’re a regular listener and a perfect starting place for all the newbies. Plus, movie buffs Jeremy Smith, Devin Faraci, and Amy Nicholson put their film knowledge to the test in a game that incorporates the curious endings to the show’s theme song, in the debut of I Quiz There Too.

Leonard returns along with his daughter Jessie Maltin to answer all your questions! What was Leonard’s first (and second) experience walking out of a movie? What is the best Alan Smithee film? If you can only watch movies from one decade which will it be? Tune in to find out!

Kulap and guest host Armen Weitzman welcome to the show Jonah Ray, who explains how he uses music to get in touch with his island roots, as well as the hardships of grinding with a lady, while at a school dance. Also, the gang explains why you don’t have to see a movie, just because a studio keeps remaking it. Later, Jonah discusses which bands were the ones that got away and why some things can never be thrown away.

Our adventurers finally busted through a wall after defeating a bunch of hairy disgusting flea trolls. They are now descending down a spiral into what seems to be magical drow territory with a faint light emanating from it.

Ann Friedman and Andrew discuss the Great Slave Lake. Be sure to keep leaving us messages at (323) 389-RACE.

Hi! It’s Chunt. I’m the host now because Arnie ran off to find Sarah in the woods. It will probably be a better show without him.

Credits

Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Tom the Traveler: Steve Waltien
Burger King Employee: Max Temkin
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Ryan DiGiorgi
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Special Episode Art: Jillian Samowitz
Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban

Sponsored By: Busy Beaver Buttons via The Chicago Podcast Cooperative

Grab your tissues because it’s a sad day in the hatch today. Tig, Kyle, and David are back together one last time to discuss Tig’s engagement party and then weigh in on their decision to end the podcast. The gang reminisces on their favorite bits, answers fan questions, and talks about future plans. Welp, that’s been podcast.

Join special guest host Samm Levine as he talks with showrunner/writer/director Jack Kenny. Jack makes it through most of his Hollywood story, spending extra time talking about gems like Warehouse 13, The Book of Daniel, and Titus.

Together Maddy Whitby and Monica Sherer are the hilarious comedy duo MadMoni! They introduce Deanna & Emily to the world of sugaring, test their music knowledge in a game of Name That Tune, and share a bunch of new acronyms they made up themselves. Check out their videos over at https://www.youtube.com/user/wearemadmoni!

Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch joins Jensen and Matty to talk about Dungeons and Dragons, flight simulators, Twitch, The Bohicas, The Ariadne Objective, classic Hip-Hop Marvel comic covers, The Blood of Heroes, Forbidden Stars, how we’re late on the Scream TV show, new iTunes, The Bachelor, and many other things you should know about.

Randy and Jason welcome to the show actor Chris Sullivan who joins the conversation of Caitlyn Jenner receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, as well the luxury of working on the incredibly authentic set of The Knick. Also, Daniel Van Kirk covers stories that include a man who displays his distaste for the neighbors by gifting them with his furniture, a woman whose story is too difficult to believe, and a city that holds a formal memorial for a dead raccoon. Lastly, Oscar De La Hoya calls in to explain why sleeping with people while wearing a clown costume is totally fine.

Hayes and Sean are back today with a segment called “Trend Nottingham”, where they track things that aren’t trending. Then, PATRICK WALSH stops by to talk to the guys to talk about his past relationship with Sean and play a couple rounds of “That’s Wheely Interesting”. Plus, another installment of Hayes catching Engineer Cody slacking off!

Ann Friedman & Andrew talk about noticing racism only if you’re looking for it. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

The wonderfully bizarre/spiritual/unique Ezra Miller joins Josh to talk about his first big studio film Trainwreck, the story behind The Stanford Prison Experiment, the time he was kicked out of camp for smoking pot, and more.