The NYT Crossword Broke People | Ep. 329

Daniel outlines the sleep-deprived realities of early fatherhood, prompting a discussion on parental anxiety and intrusive worst-case scenario thoughts. Soren recounts his history of furnishing apartments with items found on the street before detailing his recent domestic upgrades. The episode's Quick Question asks: What is the most overdue improvement in your life right now? Additional topics include hotel room design flaws, the physical consequences of unsupportive footwear, and the practical necessity of being able to sprint at any moment.To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/QUESTION.  The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

A New York Times crossword puzzle was accidentally unsolvable, which raises an important question: when something doesn’t make sense, is it broken, or are you just dumb?Soren and Daniel talk puzzles (both kinds), people who follow rules vs. people who look for loopholes, and why car horns should probably be illegal or at least--lest we be branded authoritarian--exhaustible. Then later, would you be surprised to learn that Soren got into another fight? Or that Daniel is unprepared to talk about Wheel of Fortune?All that PLUS Air Bud is Republican Coded and Soren is doing some facial hair things. To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/QUESTION.  The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Daniel starts out impossibly sweaty, which leads to a story about meeting his girlfriend’s entire family for the first time, hiding in the basement, and realizing he may be remembered forever as “that crazy sweaty guy.” From there, he and Soren debate the greatest cast shows ever, argue for Mad Men, The Wire, and Frasier, and swap audition horror stories, tech avails, and the perfect origin of Cliff Clavin’s know-it-all energy.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Soren and Daniel try to figure out whether freestyle rap is magic or just practice and since DOB is in his new father era, the guys talk at length about improvised diaper songs, long haul commitments to incorrect lullabies, and the fundamental design flaws of baby gear-from ill-timed structural failures in baby diapers to zippers and snaps that make everything harder than it ought to be.Thanks to Mint Mobile for sponsoring this episode. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.COM/QQFollow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Daniel finds out that Cracked is “going to South by Southwest for the first time,” which would be exciting if they hadn’t already gone… a lot. The guys revisit some sxsw memories and try to piece together how Cracked actually fell apart—touching on corporate acquisitions, Facebook’s video pivot, and a few behind-the-scenes stories that make the whole thing seem absurd and inevitable. Plus childhood sports humiliation, coaching Little League, and an extended debate about the perfect baseball walk-up song.Thanks to ASPCA for sponsoring. To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/QUESTION.  The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Thanks to ButcherBox.Go to butcherbox.com/qq for $20 off, free shipping always, and your choice of chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, new subscribers only. Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Soren Bowie debuts his brand new baby (a garage), while Daniel O'Brien shares what actually happens when you bring a real human baby home. From sleepless nights and mysterious crying to hospital chaos, labor stories, and the sudden realization that you’re responsible for another person forever, this episode is about the first week of parenthood. The guys reflect on the anxiety and joy of fatherhood, the exceptional talents of hospital staff, and the sheer awe inspired by watching your partner give birth.Thanks to Butcherbox for sponsoring this episode. Go to butcherbox.com/qq for $20 off, free shipping always, and your choice of chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, new subscribers only.Thanks to Mint Mobile for sponsoring this episode. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/QQThanks to ASPCA Pet Insurance for sponsoring this episode. To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/QUESTION.  The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Soren Bowie and Daniel O'Brien figure out how they'd react to scenarios in which their significant others confess to crimes or affairs. In the process, the guys sus out the upper boundaries of their capacity for love, selfishness, and pride. Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Daniel receives what might be the greatest compliment of his life vis-à-vis recycling day, which prompts a conversation about the strange social rules of suburban life. They discuss porch culture on the East Coast, why Daniel spends entire summers shirtless on his front steps, and the psychological horror Soren experiences in owing someone a small favor. Plus,  Soren explains that we're all probably doing recycling wrong, a cruel April Fool’s prank involving an fake award, and the unbelievable true story of how a Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was accidentally named People Magazine’s Sexiest Athlete.Go to butcherbox.com/qq for $20 off, free shipping always, and your choice of chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, new subscribers only.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

The guys talk through the implications of the Paramount/Warner Brothers deal, lamenting the instability of a career in the arts (and the downfall of Quiznos) before pulling back the curtain on how TV actually gets made — from last-second joke rewrites before taping, to animatic locks, to editors performing literal magic in front of their eyes.Thanks to Factor for sponsoring. FACTORMEALS.com/qq50off and use code qq50off for 50% off your 1st Factor box and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.Thanks to ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/QUESTION.  The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Follow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts

Soren Bowie and Daniel O'Brien debate the logistics and ethics of stealing iconic movie memorabilia for personal use, weighing the merits of the Holy Grail and the Dirk Diggler neon sign against the criminal implications of kidnapping Gonzo from The Muppet Christmas Carol. Later, the discussion shifts to fictional movie meals they wish they could eat, including the abandoned macaroni and cheese from Home Alone, the imaginary food in Hook, and the Crunch Berry Burgers from House Arrest.Thanks to Mint Mobile for sponsoring this episode. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/QQThanks to Shopify for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/qqFollow the guys on Bluesky!https://bsky.app/profile/danielobrien.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sorenbowie.bsky.socialBonus episodes 2x/month at patreon.com/quickquestion OR Apple Podcasts