Bad At Magic

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh talk dogs, swearing, World Cup Soccer, Arena Football, Doritos, Menopause, Star Trek Magic Cards, and last, but definitely not least: How AI is transforming our world today–3.5 years after their first brush with ChatGPT v1.0. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-6:41)
  • UN Resolution 181
• Bad at Sports & Mortgages (6:41-30:22)
  • England vs. France World Cup Highlights (2-min version)
    • 25-min version
  • Arizona Rattlers
  • American Underdog – $100 Touchdown clip
• Bad at Business & What I’m Reading (30:22-50:22)
  • Why no one buys Doritos anymore (Michael Girdley)
  • Josh: The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman
    • The Dog Tags Scene from Saving Private Ryan 
  • Ben: The New Menopause: Navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts by Mary Claire Haver, M.D.
    • The 2002 Womens’ Health Initiative (WHI) Study that Shaped 2 decades of Menopause Care
• Board Game Survivor (50:22-55:25)
  • The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny
  • Link to Infographic
• Main Segment: Is AI reshaping our world? (55:25-end)
  • Episode 89 – ChatGPT was WRONG
  • Stanford Study (published 12 May 2026): “Invisible Failures in Human-AI Interactions” by Christopher Potts and Moritz Sudhof
  • Hank Green on the Jevons Paradox
  • Repurposing Jet Engines for Data Centers
  • Nevada cutting off California town’s energy supply to supply data centers
  • US DoE Nuclear Supply Chain Loans
  • Waymo drives through police standoff
  • Worth more than all the farmland in Australia (sketch)
  • If Google Was A Guy (Full Series)
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• We revisit the joys of the 2026 World Cup, Europe has a lot less air conditioning than the United States, Josh is bad at vacationing across 3 states, Ben talks about why Ukraine is now blanketed in thin plastic wires, and in the first Bad at English in a LONG time: Ben teaches about eggcorns. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-34:19)
  • The Overlooked Reason Europe Doesn’t Have AC by Thomas Chatterton Williams in The Atlantic
  • Two identical movies, 15 years apart 
• Bad at Vacationing (34:19-1:38:28)
  • DOG LOVER WARNING (@1:29:25-1:38:28)
    • I need to calm down. Everything’s fine. I’m an adult. 
• Bad at Warfare (1:38:28-1:43:47)
  • Plastic Optical Fiber in Ukraine
• Bad at English & What I’m Reading (1:43:47-end)
  • What is an Eggcorn?
  • What I’m Reading:
    • Josh: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
    • Ben: The New Menopause: Navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts by Mary Claire Haver, M.D.
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Summary
  • Colin Jost is made the unofficial mascot of the podcast, Josh has to activate the warranty on his month-old earbuds, Ben goes to see the Dungeons and Dragons movie but with the soundtrack played by a full orchestra, the guys sound off on the World cup coming back to North America for the first time since 1994, they examine the phenomenon of “critic-proof” movies, and finally they are decidedly, definitively Bad at Parenting. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-9:34)
  • The Ultimate Showdown (of Ultimate Destiny)
  • Badger (badger badger badger badger)
  • Smoothed Brown Noise 8-Hours
• Bad at Tech (9:34-17:19)
  • Raycon Fitness Earbuds
• Bad at Dating (17:19-27:21)
  • Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – In Concert
• Bad at Soccer (27:21-44:41)
  • Norway fans rowing chant
  • The Scots drank all the beer in Boston
• Critic-Proof Movies (44:41-53:33)
  • Fans dancing and singing at ‘Michael’ screenings
• What I’m Reading & Board Game Survivor (53:33-1:15:57)
  • Josh: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware
    • BBC clip: An Inspector Calls (2015)
  • Magic: the Gathering, Universes Beyond: Marvel Superheroes
• Bad at Parenting (1:15:57-end)
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Josh sets the record straight on Keanu’s pay structure for John Wick, quits the INTVL app after one try, and takes his family to the movies 3 times. Ben reads a popular memoir, goes to the movies by himself, and invents 3 new infographics. The guys do a retrospective on the 1983 movie “Mr. Mom” by comparing it to the new Nate Bargatze movie “The Breadwinner”. Also, the first new STAR WARS movie in 7 years!!!
• Intro & Follow-up (0-38:45)
  • INTVL App for gamifying your running
  • Summer movie-fest trailers:
    • The Sheep Detectives
    • Pressure (2026)
    • The Breadwinner
    • Mr. Mom (1983)
• The Mandalorian and Grogu (38:45-1:01:20)
  • SPOILERS FOR STAR WARS END AT ^
  • Official Trailer
• What I’m Reading (1:01:20-1:15:42)
  • Josh: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden
    • “Was I Married to a Stranger?” -NYT Modern Love Article from June 2023
      • “I sometimes see him from afar in our shared city neighborhood. He looks familiar, his posture and gait, his sandy blonde hair and orange sneakers, and my heart leaps a little at the sight of him. But then I remember he is a stranger, and I walk on.”
• Mr. Mom vs The Breadwinner(1:15:42-end)
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Josh and Ben do a deep dive on the American cultural practice of “seat saving” at free-to enter events, discuss the new trend of graduates booing commencement speakers who mention AI, and finally they try several claims of Star Wars in the court of B@M opinion. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-6:06)
  • Denny’s & Masters of the Universe
• Bad at Saving Seats and Booing AI (6:06-53:51)
  • KU Students camping out to get basketball tickets (video)
  • Grads are booing commencement speakers for their AI comments
  • The IT Crowd: Introducing Jen to the Internet
• What I’m Reading & Bad at Magic (53:51-1:02:54)
  • Josh: Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
  • Ben: Future Boy by Michael J. Fox
• Star Wars Small Claims Court (1:02:54-end)
  • The Mandalorian and Grogu Trailer
  • Undercover Boss: Kylo Ren
  • Obi-Wan’s Love Affair
• Next time: 
  • Mr. Mom vs. The Breadwinner
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Josh joins the High School band booster club, Ben’s Optometrist “almost served” in the military, the guys recap their trip to MagicCON Vegas 2026, they discuss the “red button or blue button” dilemma, and Ben updates his thesis that the accumulation of risk controls is an uncontrolled risk (AKA “The Tyranny of Zero”).
• Intro & Follow-up (0-9:49)
  • Zorach v. Clauson | 343 U.S. 306 (1952) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center
• Vegas 2026 (9:49-40:58)
  • Photo of Josh and Ben at MagicCON
• Bad at Parenting (40:58-49:14)
• Bad at Veteraning (49:14-53:56)
• What I’m Reading (53:56-1:08:37)
  • Josh: Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
  • Ben: All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership by Darcy Lockman
• The Tyranny of Zero (1:08:37-end)
  • Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh find out who is actually the most evil Disney baddie based on the crimes they committed, Josh cleans out his bookmarks bar (in 2026? Really??), Ben gets a cat (yes, really), and–CONTENT WARNING–the guys relive their vasectomies. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-8:56)
  • A cool guide to the most evil Disney villain of all time
• Bad at Tech (8:56-15:41)
  • Sluggy Freelance
• Bad at Parenting (15:41-27:48)
  • Ben’s First Cat
• Bad at Logic & What I’m Reading (27:48-45:18)
  • Woman filling plastic bags with gas?
  • Josh: 
    • The Wheel of Time, of course and…
    • Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
  • Ben: 
    • Repenter by James McGowan
    • Exit Interview by Kristi Coulter
• Bad at virility (45:18-end)
  • Purely Vasectomies
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh review the fictional Project Hail Mary and the real-life Artemis II mission. They give props to the WNBA management and take them from the Chipotle app developers. The hosts explore being bad at work, sports, food, and love. And finally, they give the D&D alignment chart one last chance to help them find, well: alignment. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-39:19)
  • “Those 3-hour work days are killing me.”
  • Artemis II Launch Video
  • Project Hail Mary trailer
• Bad at Work/Sports/Food (39:19-54:49)
  • WNBA Player Contract Breakthrough
  • Chipotle App Achievements
• Bad at Love & What I’m Reading (54:49-1:16:01)
  • The Five Love Languages
  • National Treasure example
  • What I’m Reading
    • Josh: Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan
    • Ben: Repenter by James McGowan
• The D&D Alignment Chart (1:16:01-end)
  • Lawful Good Werewolves
  • Spider-man in court
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Josh and Ben discuss the new Major League Baseball Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, Planar Standard, some Bad at Parenting, smelling nice vs. smelling clean, and they take on an AI-generated round of Mastermind you won’t want to miss!
• Intro & Follow-up (0-41:04)
  • The List of Prime Numbers
  • The MLB ABS Challenge: Explained (in 2.5 minutes)
  • Are MLB Players Shrinking??
• Bad at Magic (41:04-46:35)
  • Join us for…MagicCon: Las Vegas | 2026
  • Magic’s newest format: PLANAR STANDARD
• What I’m Reading (46:35-54:38)
  • Josh: A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan
    • Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan & Eldar Shafir
  • Ben: Repenter: Players of the Game Book 1 – James McGowan
• Mastermind #3 (54:38-end)
  • Animals are smarter than people (Brian Regan video)
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Show Notes

Ben and Josh wax prolific about movies, work, and tech in this potpourri episode.

• Intro & Follow-up (0-39:52)
  • YouTube Pilot’s Deadly Mistake Was Worse Than We Thought!
  • Project Hail Mary – Official Trailer
  • Alien Trailer HD (Original 1979 Ridley Scott Film) Sigourney Weaver 
  • Check out League One VolleyBall (LOVB, pronounced LOVE)!
• Bad at Tech & Work (39:52-1:35:05)
  • Volvo auto braking system fail? (it was just a salesman at a dealership)
  • The worst volume control UI in the world
  • 2002: when it was still possible to reach the end of the internet
  • Josh’s dream ultrawide monitor on Woot!
• What I’m Reading (1:35:05-end)
  • Josh: Lord of Chaos – Robert Jordan
  • Ben: Repenter: Players of the Game Book 1 – James McGowan
    • Rick and Morty – Cookie Magneto
    • That’s so underground
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall clip: Do less.
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich