Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone

Ep 297 - It’s All Fun and Games…

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On an (intentionally!) guest-free episode, Paula and Adam lead their mighty teams (comprised of Toni and Bonnie, respectively) in a cutthroat round of...

Ep 296 - Shark Week! with Dr. Nick Whitney

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What’s friendly, cuddly, and surprisingly like us? Just about anything, compared to sharks. And we’ve got an expert here to help us understand eve...

Ep 295 - Finding the Votes

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We know we can win this coming election— we just need to find a few extra votes. Like… two or three million of them. Luckily, we’ve got Field Te...

Ep 294 - Jon Lovett Rings Our Bell!

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve got Jon Lovett from “Lovett or Leave It” at our door, and he won’t leave it until he teaches Paula how to go door-to-door as a political...

Ep 293 - The Surgeon General’s Challenge!

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Vivek Murthy advised us to check out his “5 for 5 Challenge” to improve our connection to other humans. Today… we launch upon it! Plus, we t...

Ep 292 - The Road to Wellness with Rina Raphael

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 292 - The Road to Wellness with Rina Raphael We’re feeling well, thanks. What we’re not feeling, though, is wellness, and journalist Rina Rapha...

Ep 291 - Love Gone Bad

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With yet another guest leaving us at the altar, Paula and the crew recount their own sordid tales of romantic failure - it’s “Love Gone Bad.” An...

Ep 290 - Constructing Crosswords with Andrea Carla Michaels

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What’s an eight letter word for “Poundstone podcast fans?” We find out with legendary New York Times puzzle constructor Andrea Michaels! And the...

Ep 289 - the Return of Social (Media) Anxiety!

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last month Toni and Bonnie filled in for our missing guest, expert Sunny Hunt, and explained social media to Paula, and what could be better than that...

Ep 288 - Heather Cox Richardson Explains It All For You!

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sure the events of the past few years are unprecedented. Except for all the precedents. Historian and world’s greatest contextualizer Heather Cox R...

Ep 287 - Career Corner with Talent Manager Bonnie Burns

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If comedy doesn’t work out, does Paula have what it takes to make it as a talent manager? Does Bonnie have what it takes to help Paula answer that q...

Ep 286 - Aquaman and The Poseidon Adventure!

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should you shell out your hard-earned clams for “Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom?” The only sure way to keep your powder dry is to decide based on our r...

Ep 285 - Pouncing on “Cats”

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should you go see the new feature “The Iron Claw?” The only way to tell is to hear our review of the mammoth 2019 flop, “Cats.” Yes, our Holid...

Ep 284 - Alone Together with Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy!

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve got our actual Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, here to discuss a vastly under-discussed health hazard: Loneliness! And then it’s time to ...

Ep 283 - Going Viral with Kyle Harper

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we talked about going viral, but this week… what about actual viruses? Can we beat infectious diseases, or are they destined to beat us? P...

Ep 282 - Social (Media) Anxiety

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Okay, the plan is to discuss the next three chapters in our Book Club, then talk to an expert about improving our social media stuff, and then do the ...

Ep 281 - Fiona Hill Returns!

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s up with our buddy Vladdy P, the guy who runs Russia, Russia, Russia these days? Returning champion Fiona Hill is here to explain it all! Plus...

Ep 280 - Auditing the Collection Plate with Cathleen Falsani

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They take in millions, don’t pay taxes, and they answer to no one about their finances. No, not the Trumps - we’re talking about the entirely lega...

Ep 279 -The Critter in Winter with Dr. Elenor Spicer Rice

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is long gone, and so are all the bugs and other creatures we’ve been sharing our yards with. But… where did they go? Not everybody can migr...

Ep 278 - Pleasing the Court with Dahlia Lithwick

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How supreme is our wobbly Supreme Court these days? The amazing Dahlia Lithwick joins us to explore the scandals and history that has taken the shine ...

Listen Now: ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Talk Show

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cuddly as a cactus and charming as an eel, he’s your new favorite snarky talk show host. Join The Grinch (and his faithful dog Max) each week as he ...

Ep 277 - Hey hey, it’s Micky Dolenz!

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People say we’re monkeying around. Because usually we are. And the only thing that makes this show different, is actual Monkee Micky Dolenz! Oh, and...

Ep 276 - Blinded by Scientology with Andrew Gold

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Scientology. Is it a science? A religion? A cult? A non-dairy dessert topping? Probably not that last one, but we’ve got Andrew Gold here to break i...

Ep 275 - Ponzi Scheming with Steve Weisman

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our continuing quest to learn more about scams so that we can either a) help you protect yourselves, or b) get you in on the ground floor of an Ama...

Ep 274 - The (Spooky) Return of Paula Poundstone

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Paula is back! And so is Halloween. And to celebrate both, we have Brandon Schexnayder from the Southern Gothic podcast to terrify us with some real-l...

Ep 273 - The Fall of Rome (and Paula!) with Michael Kulikowski!

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bonnie and Toni’s Oral Report on Rome was great, of course, but just to be sure, we’ve brought on a genuine expert, author and Professor Michael K...

Ep 272 - Bible Studies with Ian Mills

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 272 - Bible Studies with Ian Mills What’s the book on the Good Book? And is it any good? Bible historian Ian Mills joins us to dish on who dished...

Ep 271 - Money Love with Shannah Game

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the most complicated relationship in Paula’s life - her on-again, off-again affair with money. Shannah Game from the “Everybody’s ...

Ep 270 - They’re All In On It! with Julian Walker

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does meditation make you vulnerable to QAnon? Are anti-vaxxers into yoga? We explore the link between spiritual thinking and conspiracy thinking with ...

Ep 269 - TV is History! With Michael Kackman

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Though this might be news to Paula, TV didn’t begin with Perry Mason and end with Saul Goodman. There’s more to it, and Dr. Michael Kackman is her...

Ep 268 - Talking (to) Depression with Dr. Sheila Dowd

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about depression is hard enough - how do you talk TO a depressed person? Dr. Sheila Dowd has some handy pointers. And then - when in Rome… t...

Ep 267 - Covering the Bases with Ty Seidule

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s to say why and how a military base gets named? Well, author, professor and Brigadier General (ret.) Ty Seidule for one! He’s been helping us...

Ep 266 - The Account of a Carbon Accountant

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all want companies to limit their carbon output, but how do you measure how they’re doing? Well, YOU don’t. You need a carbon accountant like I...

Ep 265 - Killer Whales and Killer Theme Songs

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s black and white and deadly all over? Yes, we’re exploring the mighty orca with the Research Director for the Center for Whale Research, Mic...

Ep 264 - Barbie and Barbarella!

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s our Big Summer Movie Review episode! Should you shell out your hard-earned dough to see the massive megahit “Barbie?” Listen to Paula and A...

Ep 263 - We Got a (Golden Gate) Bridge to Sell You!

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Golden Gate Bridge. How much do you know about one of this world’s most iconic landmarks? Well, you’re about to know a lot more, thanks to one...

Ep 262 - Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Valerie Young

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Valerie Young is the world’s leading expert on Imposter Syndrome… or so she SAYS! But whoever she is, she’s here to walk us through that cri...

Ep 261 - Casting Call with Joel Thurm

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary casting director Joel Thurm holds absolutely nothing back as he tells us tales from his days casting some of the biggest movies and TV shows...

Ep 260 - Shoot-around with a WNBA Superfan

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The WNBA’s season is underway, so what’s happening in the league right now? Nobody knows better than New York-based superfan Alan Barcoff, who dis...

Ep 259 - This Old Brain with Art Markman

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some people’s brains age like fine wine, while others age like… guacamole? Returning champion Art Markman is here to give us the latest wor...

Ep 258 - You Better WORK!

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s funnier than child labor? Just about everything. But we’ve got Eastman Museum curator Jamie Allen here to talk about the photographer who b...

Ep 257 - Hail to the Chiefs with Chris Whipple

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our Commander in Chiefs need their own chiefs, and the chief authority on Chiefs of Staff is none other than our guest, Chris Whipple, author of “Th...

Ep 256: Keeping Journalism - and Journalists - Alive with Elisa Lees Muñoz

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For journalists, it’s a jungle out there - both in the actual jungle and, increasingly, in Anytown USA. So we’ve got Elisa Lees Muñoz of the Inte...

Ep 255 - Michelangelo: The Naked Truth

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lately we’ve been partying like it’s 1499 - in that certain works of art are STILL too hot to handle. But was Michelangelo’s “David” always ...

Ep 254 - Hitting the Debt Ceiling with Kathleen Day

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As our nation strolls towards financial catastrophe with the debt ceiling negotiations, we ask Professor Kathleen Day the hard questions: What is the ...

Ep 253 - Truth in Advertising with the FTC’s Serena Viswanathan

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this 100% guaranteed best-ever podcast, which can also cure scurvy, we talk to the Federal Trade Commission’s Serena Viswanathan to find out just...

Ep 252 - TV Violence with Dr. Cynthia Vinney

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Violence on television. The big question of course, is: Is there enough of it? And also - what effect does it have on us and our kids? Should we make ...

Ep 251 - Opening the Suggestion Box

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your call is important to us. So is your email. Please stand by, because it’s time for a very special episode wherein we entertain all your entertai...

Ep 250 - Our Microbial Overlords with Eleanor Spicer Rice!

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The conspiracy theorists were right - there ARE shadowy forces controlling us… but they’re microscopic. We explore the bizarre world of microbes w...

Ep 249 - Pursuing Happiness with Dr. Laurie Santos

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can money buy happiness, and if not, can we at least rent it? We’ve got Yale professor and the host of “The Happiness Lab”, Dr. Laurie Santos, h...

Ep 248 - Will Sommer Takes us to Planet QAnon

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

QAnon - is it a conspiracy theory, or a cult, or are we saying that because we’re in on it!? Will Sommer, who literally wrote the book on Q, is he...

Ep 247 - Banning the Banners with a School Librarian!

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This weird political climate has highlighted a class of superheroes that have been there all along. School librarians: Holding the line for truth, int...

Ep 246 - Your Brain In Love… with Dr. Philip Stieg

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Love is a many-splendored thing, love is a drug, love is all you need… but what is it, really? What does love look like in your brain and body? Dr P...

Ep 245 - Elaine Swann on Post-Pandemic Etiquette!

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Of all the things Covid took from us, what we tend to ignore is our manners. How do we behave now that we haven’t HAD to behave for a couple of yea...

Ep 244 - How to Vegan with Alyssa Fontaine

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The endless dilemma for diet- and planet-conscious omnivores is this: “Okay, but I love _____! How do I replace that and still enjoy life?” Vegan ...

Ep 243 - Congressional Ethics? with Paul Solis

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Congressional Ethics” sounds like an oxymoron, which is why Former Deputy Chief Counsel for the Office of Congressional Ethics Paul Solis’ ol...

Ep 242 - We’d Like to Thank the Academy - No, Really!

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The history of film is too long and deep to be captured by any one source… — plot twist! — OR IS IT!? We’ve got Randy Haberkamp, the EVP of t...

Ep 241 - It’s Exactly Rocket Science

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Actual rocket scientist Julie Zingerman is here to tell us all about how to make a graceful exit from the Earth’s atmosphere and go bang, zoom, to t...

Ep 240 - (Cross) Checking In with a Flight Attendant

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s it like on the front lines of in-flight passenger interaction? How do you deal with the angry guy in seat 17D? Why don’t they bring on ice ...

Ep 239 - How to Become a MacArthur Genius

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First, we don’t officially use the term “MacArthur Genius.” Second, there’s a lot more to know about the MacArthur fellows Program, and it’s...

Ep 238 - Changing It Up with Jill Schlesinger

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about career changes a lot, but how do you really make it happen? How do you manage your life and your money? We have no idea, but returning c...

Ep 237 - Michael McKean takes Paula “Outside the Actors Studio”

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The amazing Michael McKean has to draw on all his experience - from “Laverne and Shirley” to “This is Spinal Tap,” all the way to “ Better C...

Ep 236 - Could Paula be a Park Ranger?

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Could Paula find a home on the range, ranging around as a ranger? We arrange to speak to real-life Grand Canyon park ranger Della Yurcik to find out i...

Ep 235 - Securing Social Security with John Waggoner

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How secure is our Social Security? Is it being squandered or is it being kept safe in some kind of lock box? Is it a Ponzi scheme, and if so, how do w...

Ep 234 - Spreading the Love at the National Mustard Museum

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We love mustard, but what IS it? Where does it come from? Why is it always on shirts and chins? Barry Levenson, curator of the National Mustard Museum...

Ep 233 - Return to “Xanadu”

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should you see the new movie musical “Matilda?” To help you decide, we screen the 1980 musical mess “Xanadu,” starring Olivia’s Newton John,...

Ep 232 - Falling for “Falling for Christmas?”

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s our annual Holiday Movie Review, and this time we have a special one - the unexpected Netflix smash hit, Lindsay Lohan’s “Falling for Chr...

Ep 231 - Surviving Disaster with Dr. Caroline Hackerott

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it all hits the fan, how do we turn off the fan? Dr. Caroline Hackerott, professor of Emergency Management and Disaster Science is here to ride o...

Ep 230 - Wheelchair Basketball: Wheeling and Dealing w/Alvin Malave

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We love basketball, but how does the pick and roll work when you are actually rolling? Wheelchair athlete and coach Alvin Malave stops by to give us ...

Ep 229 - Do the Gerrymander with Ben Sheehan!

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everybody’s doing it - the hot ol’ dance they call The Gerrymander. But how do we get states to STOP doing it and redistrict fairly? Returning cha...

Ep 228 - The Butler Did It - Could You?

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paula serves her fans beautifully, but could she serve… as a butler? Star butler Andrew Lowrey puts her through her paces. And then, what does every...

Ep 227 - Can Bugs Save the Planet?

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remember Aly Moore, who came on our show and fed us bugs? We’ll, she’s back with her new venture, Chapul Farms, working to create a farming ecosys...

Ep 226 - Winning the Climate War with Michael Mann

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s happening with our climate, and exactly how screwed are we at this point? Author and scientist Michael Mann comes by with the bad news and ...

Ep 225 - Kicking Asteroid: Are We Ready to Defend the Planet?

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 225 - Kicking Asteroid: Are We Ready to Defend the Planet?  Invaders from space are touching down on Earth all the time, but how are we going to ...

Ep 224 - Career Window

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paula has investigated a bunch of other jobs, but how do the pros approach career transitions? We’ve got Aurora Meneghello from “Repurpose Your Pu...

Ep 223 - Former Education Secretary Arne Duncan Schools Us

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Department of Education? What does it do? And why do so many Republicans run on the idea of getting rid of it? Former Secretary of Educati...

Ep 222 - Bugapalooza!

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You listeners have questions about bugs - and our friend Dr. Eleanor Spicer-Rice is back to answer them all! And speaking of the natural world, Bonnie...

Ep 221 - Oil You Can Eat

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can anything be extra virgin? Although that’s definitely how some of us felt in high school. But olive oil is different, and olive oil sommeli...

Ep 220 - Truth or Share

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Studies show that when you share an article that you haven’t read, it actually makes you think you know more than you do. Don’t bother reading any...

Ep 219 - See How They Run

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all know that this year’s campaigns are heating up, but what’s it like from the inside? What are the rules nowadays, and more importantly, are...

Ep 218 - Eyes on the Prizefighter

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

At a time when athletes are using their platform to advance real causes, we take a moment to talk about the man who basically built that platform: Muh...

Ep 217 - Frame That Tune!

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What makes that song you like… a song that you like? Nolan Gasser, the brains behind Pandora’s Music Genome Project, is here to tell us how he bro...

Ep 216 - Unpacking the Court 2

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of recent decisions, we revisit the great-granddaddy of Supreme Court injustices - Plessy vs. Ferguson. Dr. Peter Irons returns to break d...

Ep 215 - Weight Weight… Tell Me!

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Putting fads aside, what’s the real science behind weight loss? Is Paula’s Dorito and Oreo diet medically sound? Professor Clare Collins is here t...

Ep 214 - Appraise the “Titanic!”

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should you go see the #1 movie in America, “Bullet Train?” Paula and Adam are here to help you decide by reviewing that other gigantic vehicle-bas...

Ep 213 - Jill Schlesinger Returns (But At What Price?)

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is rampaging through the land, raising prices and taking names. But what is it? What caused it? Who do we blame? One of our favorite guests,...

Ep 212 - So Long, Long Covid!

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ep 212 - So Long, Long Covid! Now that seemingly everyone’s getting COVID-19, the question we’re all thinking about is “How do you STOP having ...

Ep 211 - Jaws 4: Snark Attack!

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s summer movie season, and Paula and Adam are here to help you decide whether to see “Where the Crawdads Sing.” How? By screening 1987’s “...

Ep 210 - Funny Changes Everything

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. But those who don’t know comedy history are doomed to repeat it wrong, and completely screw ...

Ep 209 - And Then There’s Fraud

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can you protect yourself from being scammed? Well, you could send us $49.95 for our exclusive NLTPP Anti-Scam Beads. Or… you could listen to fra...

Ep 208 - The Land (WAY) Down Under

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Toni and Bonnie offered their oral report on Antarctica to attract fans from there, we had no idea that we already had an Antarctic fan! Nobody a...

Ep 207 - Paula’s Summer Christmas Spectacular!

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sure it’s summertime, but Christmas IS coming, and if Paula wants to dethrone Mariah Carey with her own blockbuster holiday hit, she has get started...

Ep 206 - The Coup, Part Deux

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lt. Col. Amy McGrath took on the role of fighter pilot, then she took on Mitch McConnell, and now she’s taking on the job of saving Democracy itself...

Ep 205 - Fast Times: The Return of Carl Lewis! - V2

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Well, we all trained hard (more or less) and ran the 100 meters again (or didn’t), and now Coach Carl Lewis is back to find out: Who is the fastest ...

Ep 204 - Emo’ Letter Blues

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can we communicate effectively and emotionally in this cold digital age? And can it be done without smiley faces and lewd fruits and vegetables? B...

Ep 203 - If I Had a (Reasonably Priced) Hammer…

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Comedy is a shaky business, so could Paula shore up her career with some metaphorical 2x4s and some good carpenter nails? We mean: Could she run a har...

Ep 202 - I Read Fake News Today, Oh Boy…

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you can’t tell fantasy from reality, you’re either a)psychotic, or b)a typically confused modern media consumer. What’s real and what’s not...

Ep 201- Al Franken and the Very Dysfunctional Senate

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How broken is the Senate? How can it be fixed? Is Ted Cruz something you can spray for, or do we have to tent the place? Al Franken is here to discuss...

Ep 200 - Right Here, Right Meow

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we explored the incredible talents of dogs. This week we give equal time to explore the question: Do cats HAVE any talents? And if so, can t...

Ep 199 - Scents and Scent Abilities

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are dog’s noses really that great, or do they just have a great PR team? What can and can’t they help us sniff out? Author and cadaver dog expert...