The Dracula Pugilists

Remember when going to the mall was an adventure? The smell of the food court, the excitement of browsing record stores, discovering strange gadgets at The Sharper Image, and running into friends when you least expected it.This week, the Jocular Pugilists take a nostalgic stroll through the American shopping mall of the 1970s and '80s. From the origins of the enclosed mall to the glory days of White Plains' Galleria, Tomas and Phil revisit first jobs, first loves, questionable teenage behavior, and the unforgettable places that helped shape their childhoods.But beneath the laughter and memories lies a bigger question: Malls were once more than places to shop. They were places where community happened naturally. As those gathering places disappear, have we lost something important along the way?Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Some actors play memorable characters. Others become legends. Sir Patrick Stewart managed to do both — while boldly going where no bald Shakespearean actor had gone before.In this heartfelt, hilarious, and unapologetically geeky episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas pay tribute to the extraordinary life and career of Sir Patrick Stewart, the man who gave us Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies.From his working-class roots in Yorkshire and years with the Royal Shakespeare Company to commanding the bridge of the USS Enterprise, Stewart brought intelligence, dignity, compassion, and one of the greatest voices in entertainment history to every role he played.The Pugilists revisit the unforgettable Star Trek episodes that made Picard a cultural icon, debate whether he was a better captain than James T. Kirk, and explore the remarkable chemistry between Stewart and his close friend Ian McKellen as Professor X and Magneto.And because this is The Jocular Pugilists, there's also a hilarious firsthand encounter with Stewart on a New York soundstage, some questionable observations about superhero movies, and the eternal question: What Would Picard Do?In this episode:Why Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard was so different from William Shatner's Captain Kirk.The unforgettable Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, including "The Inner Light," "The Best of Both Worlds," "Chain of Command," and "The Measure of a Man."How Stewart and Ian McKellen brought extraordinary depth to Professor X and Magneto in X-Men.Stewart's journey from Shakespearean theater to science-fiction immortality.The surprising connections between Star Trek, artificial intelligence, morality, and what it means to be human.Phil and Tomas's personal memories of Stewart, including one encounter that definitely wasn't Starfleet-approved.It's a celebration of a remarkable actor, two legendary characters, and the stories that stay with us long after the final credits roll.So pour yourself an Earl Grey (hot, naturally), take your place on the bridge, and join us as we remember the incomparable Sir Patrick Stewart.Make it so.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

What do you get when you cross VLAD the IMPALER with a Jocular Pugilists? A scary good time of course.  Today our heroes, suffer through candied apples, fear and the flu to bring you the origin story of the one and only Dracula.  Bring your wooden stake and gloves of garlic, these guys are out for blood.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

It's Halloween, and the Jocular Pugilists are digging into the history, mystery, and madness of everyone's favorite spooky holiday!From ancient traditions and wandering spirits to costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating, Tomas and Phil explore how Halloween became the celebration we know today.Along the way, they encounter scary clowns, Gene Simmons, razor blades in apples, and some questionable face-painting skills. Plus, Tomas finally catches up with horror classics The Birds, Psycho, and The Shining—giving Phil yet another opportunity to question his knowledge of popular culture.And just when you think it's safe, Phil closes the show with a couple of frightening tales.A Halloween favorite from the Jocular Pugilists vault!Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Venice, Italy. A breathtaking city built on water, a republic once ruled by powerful merchants, and apparently a place where you can enjoy incredible pasta while your waiter openly despises you.In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas take a hilarious, history-filled journey through one of the world's most extraordinary cities. Fresh from his Italian adventure, Phil recounts a honeymoon travel nightmare involving canceled flights, missing luggage, a mad dash through Heathrow Airport, and a waiter who seemed personally offended by his existence.But beneath Venice's romantic canals and magnificent architecture lies an even more fascinating story: a city built on wooden foundations, a powerful maritime republic, and a secretive Council of Ten that made political enemies disappear from history.Along the way, Tomas revisits his own Venetian honeymoon with a little help from Tracy's decades-old travel journal, proving that some travel memories are priceless… and others are better left forgotten.In this episode, discover:The incredible engineering of Venice: How an entire city was built on wooden foundations in a lagoon.The dark secrets of the Venetian Republic: Powerful doges, political intrigue, spies, and the feared Council of Ten.A honeymoon travel disaster: How Phil and Stacy nearly missed Venice entirely after their connecting flight was canceled.The truth about Italian dining: Spectacular pasta, disappointing meals, and waiters who may or may not hate Americans.Venice then and now: How two honeymoon experiences, separated by decades, reveal a changing city.The Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace: A glimpse into the darker side of Venetian history.Can Venice survive? Rising sea levels, historic flooding, and the engineering efforts protecting this remarkable city.It's part history lesson, part Italian travel adventure, and part comedy of errors—with enough questionable observations, friendly insults, and unexpected detours to make you wonder how these two ever made it out of the airport.Grab an espresso, say "Andiamo!" and join The Jocular Pugilists for a trip through Venice, Italy—where the streets are canals, the history is unbelievable, and the customer service is occasionally negotiable.Visit thejocularpugilists.com for more episodes, and follow the show on your favorite podcast platform.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Tomas and Phil welcome Lars from Best in Tesla back to The Jocular Pugilists for a wide-ranging conversation about Tesla, electric vehicles, and the future of energy.After years of researching and test-driving EVs, Tomas and his wife, Tracey, have finally purchased a new Model Y. Tomas explains why Tesla’s software, supervised self-driving, integrated ecosystem, and improved refinement ultimately won them over—and why the vehicle feels like the first step toward building a “family energy moat.”The conversation expands from the driveway to the electrical grid: solar power, home batteries, vehicle-to-home charging, virtual power plants, battery recycling, solid-state technology, and the possibility that millions of cars and homes could work together as a distributed energy network.Can an ordinary family gain greater control over its energy future? Will growing demand from AI and electrification create scarcity, or are we approaching an era of energy abundance? And what has genuinely changed since Lars last joined the podcast in 2022?It’s a conversation about cars—but even more about resilience, optimism, and how we might power the future.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

What really determines the relationship you have with your brothers and sisters? Birth order? Parenting? Favoritism? Personality? Or simply surviving childhood together?This week on The Jocular Pugilists, Phil welcomes a very special guest—his younger brother Lou—for a funny, personal and surprisingly revealing conversation about siblings, sibling rivalry, birth order and family dynamics.With 13 years separating them, Phil and Lou grew up in the same family but experienced their parents—and childhood itself—in very different ways. From being the oldest, middle or youngest child to wondering whether parents secretly have a favorite, they look at how our place in the family may influence the adults we eventually become.Along the way, they revisit childhood fights, questionable parenting decisions, musical influences, brotherly protection, family legends and what happens when your older siblings occasionally act more like additional parents.In this episode:How birth order may influence personality and behaviorWhy firstborn, middle and youngest children can have very different childhoodsWhether parents really have a favorite childWhat causes sibling rivalryWhy some brothers and sisters become lifelong friends while others grow apartHow parents change their parenting style from the first child to the lastHow older siblings can become role models, protectors—and occasionally terrible influencesWhy shared childhood experiences can create powerful lifelong bondsHow technology, social media and changing family life may be affecting sibling relationshipsAnd several Giangrande family stories that probably should have remained privateFrom Cain and Abel to fighting over bikes, bedrooms and parental attention, sibling rivalry may be one of the oldest family dynamics in human history—but so is brotherly love.If you grew up with brothers or sisters—or you're raising siblings of your own—this episode may have you looking at your family very differently.The Jocular Pugilists explores the strange, funny and occasionally ridiculous forces that shape our lives, culture and relationships.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

There was a time when nobody wore seatbelts, teachers could hit you, smoking was everywhere, and apparently handing kids handling explosives was considered perfectly reasonable parenting.Tomas and Phil look back at the things that seemed completely normal growing up—and seem completely insane now. Tennis-ball cannons, Catholic school, corporal punishment, bucket seats, smoking in restaurants, dangerous playgrounds, and the brilliant idea of grabbing onto a friend's car while riding a skateboard because you saw it in Back to the Future.Were we tougher back then, or were we all just incredibly lucky to survive?Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

While Phil and Stacey celebrate their honeymoon in Italy, we’re raising a glass to the newlyweds with an encore of another adventure they shared: a trip to Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle.Join Phil and Tomas for a ramble through the castle’s Gothic chapels and historic halls, swapping travel stories and exploring the fascinating—and sometimes creepy—history of one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks. Expect curiosity, laughs, and questionable commentary as our intrepid travelers stumble through the ruins of their historical knowledge.Congratulations, Phil and Stacey—here’s to a lifetime of adventures together!Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com

Healthy eating shouldn’t mean filling your cart with foods you don’t enjoy and hoping willpower gets you through the week.In this episode, the Jocular Pugilists explore how to shop for a way of eating that is both healthy and genuinely delicious. We compare fresh and frozen foods, affordable and premium proteins, conventional and organic produce, convenient ingredients, satisfying snacks, and the products that are—or aren’t—worth the extra money.Along the way, we discuss food safety and processing standards, identify nutritious grocery-store bargains, and determine where spending a little more can make healthy meals easier and more enjoyable. We also build our ideal grocery carts and put popular foods through a rapid-fire round of Buy It, Leave It, or It Depends.The goal isn’t to create the cheapest cart or the most restrictive diet. It’s to bring home flavorful, nourishing food you’ll actually look forward to eating.Let us know what you think.Email Phil or Tomas at: [email protected] check out our website at: thejocularpugilists.com