Category: Podcast Episodes

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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:
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  • 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 take on “the most dangerous room in the house”, group orders, skiing after 45, accountants as lawyers, and another dozen topics in the second Anthropocene Reviewed-style revue. Five stars. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-33:19)
  • The most dangerous room in the house
  • Waymo Traffic
  • The Square Hole
  • Vote in the Disney Baddie Showdown over on our Subreddit!
    • Scar vs Ursula
    • Jafar vs Cruella
• Bad at Anchoring (33:19-45:50)
• Board Game Survivor & What I’m Reading (45:50-1:09:10)
  • Josh: Lord of Chaos – Robert Jordan
  • Ben: World’s Fair – E.L. Doctorow
• The Anthropocene Reviewed, Revisited (1:09:10-end)
  • Better Off Ted
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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 debate the origins of The Bible, Josh crashes headlong into his limitations, and the guys discuss what makes a good (and bad) series and what the payoffs and pitfalls are for revisiting an intellectual property. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-27:44)
  • The Holy Bible
  • God is Disappointed in You – Mark Russell
• What I’m Reading (27:44-40:10)
  • Josh: 
    • The Fires of Heaven – Robert Jordan
  • Ben:
    • The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Train Dreams – Denis Johnson
• Main Segment: Serieses (40:10-end)
  • The Muppets Episode 101: Pig Girls Don’t Cry
  • Jim Henson vs Stan Lee. Epic Rap Battles of History
  • The Expendables Star Trek Lower Decks
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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

• Josh and Ben are (surprise, surprise) bad at parenting, the Cosmere is coming to TV with the oversight of Brandon Sanderson, Ben explains what a “trash bag move” is, and the guys fruitlessly debate which is better: fiction or nonfiction?
• Intro & Follow-up (0-11:55)
  • SEND HELP trailer
• Bad at Husbanding (11:55-19:15)
• Sanderson News (19:15-26:39)
  • The Cosmere comes to Apple TV+
• Trash Bag Moves (26:39-42:23)
• Bad at Parenting & What I’m Reading (42:23-1:19:37)
  • Josh: The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan
  • Josh’s Homework: Bad at Magic Episode 4 – Scarcity
• Fiction vs. Nonfiction Debate (1:19:37-end)
  • John Green quotes himself 
  • Ben and Josh’s first discussion on the Harvard Classics: Bad at Magic Episode 86 – A Thanksgiving Potpourri
• Join in the discussion on:
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• 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 talk about death, parenting, making your mark on the world, and present a new framework for analyzing business priorities they call “Ways of the Realm”. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-15:59)
  • What We Did on Our Holiday (UK)
  • The end of the ‘People I Mostly Admire’ podcast after 5 years
• Bad at Parenting (15:59-38:58)
• Your Pixel in the Grid (38:58-54:04)
  • Jason’s Supra
• Spreadsheets and What I’m Reading (54:04-1:20:55)
  • Spreadsheet discussion on our subreddit
  • Josh: The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan
  • Ben: Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough – Ian Frazier
• Feature (1:20:55-end)
  • Medieval Barber Theodoric of York (SNL)
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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

• The Bad at Magic Disney Baddie Showdown reaches the Semifinals thanks to a sudden-death tiebreak on Patreon, Ben is bad at parenting (again), Josh’s World of Warcraft characters died to his surprising great dismay, and the hosts set their New Year’s resolutions with the now-customary bingo cards.
• Intro & Follow-up (0-11:03)
  • Patreon Exclusive Bonus Episode: Ursula vs. Hans
  • The 2023 British Protest Film “Paint Drying” by Charlie Shackleton
• Bad at Parenting & Bad at Science (11:03-39:50)
  • “Yes, Some Children May Have Died From COVID Shots” by Benjamin Mazer
  • How Monogamous are Humans? By Helen Briggs
• The Ubisoft Heist & “What I’m Reading” (39:50-1:13:37)
  • The Ubisoft Heist: EXPLAINED
  • What I’m reading:
    • Josh: The Dragon Reborn – Robert Jordan
    • Ben: Empire of the Summer Moon – SC Gwynne
  • Hardcore WoW
•  New Year’s Resolutions (1:13:37-end)
  • Make your own!
  • Hear the story of “The Italian Job” from Ep. 9
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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

• Happy holidays from the Bad at Magic podcast as Ben and Josh revisit last year’s resolutions bingo cards, Josh shares some research on what probably happened to Tiny Tim in the Dickens’ classic, and the guys do a deep dive following Josh’s trip to Walt Disney World.
• Intro & Follow-up (0-15:24)
  • Ben’s Old S’mores Tier Chart (start at 44:46)
  • What’s wrong with Tiny Tim?
• New Year’s Bingo Revisited (15:24-35:45)
• Bad at Husbanding (35:45-52:57)
• Bad at Parenting/Work (52:57-1:16:56)
  • Definition of today’s word/phrase
  • ChatGPT analysis of the Bad at Magic Podcast
• Fleshman Family Vacation to Disney World (1:16:56-end)
  • What I’m Reading: 
    • Josh: The Great Hunt – Robert Jordan
    • Ben: Empire of the Summer Moon – SC Gwynne
  • Eye of The World leatherbound announcement – Brandon Sanderson
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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 weigh in on the death of the penny, AI in video game development, the evils of social media, and finally a trip to the Emergency Room over the Thanksgiving holiday for Ben prompts the hosts to share their “Murtaugh List”. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-32:06)
  • US Mint FAQ on the penny being “suspended”
  • PennyArcade Blog: AI in video game production
• What I’m Reading & Bad at Social Media (32:06-1:20:50)
  • Josh: The Great Hunt – Robert Jordan
  • Ben: Careless People – Sarah Wynn-Williams
  • MUST WATCH: Expensive petroleum!!!
• Feature (1:20:50-end)
  • The Murtaugh List (How I Met Your Mother)
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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 discuss why Elon Musk threatened to buy Hasbro Corporation, office potlucks, fender benders, political thrillers that have come true 30 years later, some revisions that need to be made to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and finally, the new movie on Netflix called ‘A House of Dynamite’ about what could happen if someone launched an Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-35:59)
  • Man told employer not to celebrate his birthday. He was awarded $450,000 after unwanted party.
  • Watch ‘Clear and Present Danger’ on Netflix
  • Dungeons & Dragons Rolls the Dice With New Rules About Identity
  • “Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons to Be Racist: The fantastical roots of ‘scientific racism’” By Adam Serwer
• The EU’s GDPR turns 10 years old (35:59-58:59)
  • EU plans to ease GDPR laws and AI constraints in major shift – DW – 11/18/2025
• What I’m Reading (58:59-1:10:44)
  • Josh: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
  • Ben: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Main Segment (1:10:44-end)
  • Watch ‘A House of Dynamite’ on Netflix
    • Watch the trailer (2:11)
  • What do the 5 levels of DEFense readiness CONdition (DEFCON) mean?
    • Video explanation 
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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 tentatively embrace the newest Magic set (Avatar: The Last Airbender) prior to its release, Josh complains about Daylight Savings Time (again), Presidents do (or don’t) catch fainting people standing behind them, the first round of the Bad at Magic Disney Baddie Showdown “sweet 16” wraps up, and the hosts discuss the scandal surrounding Silicon Valley startup Theranos and its CEO Elizabeth Holmes and COO Sunny Balwani. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-29:35)
  • Languages most frequently used for web content as of Oct 2025 by share of websites
  • Avatar: The Last Air Bender | Magic: The Gathering – Universes Beyond
  • Check out the Disney Baddie Showdown on the Bad at Magic subreddit
  • Lore Olympus | WEBTOON
• Bad at Daylight Savings Time & Hometown Football (29:35-46:53)
  • Obama catches fainting woman
• What I’m Reading (46:53-1:08:55)
  • Josh: Slay by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book #30)
    • Airplane facts with Max
  • Ben: The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• Main Segment (1:08:55-end)
  • Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup – John Carreyrou
  • The guy at your company who does NOTHING
  • Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Mad Money Interview, Oct 2015 
• Join in the discussion on:
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  • 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