S2 E5: The Birthday Paradox

In this episode, the boys learn how The New York Times reinvented itself, get their minds blown by The Birthday Paradox, rant a little as befits their curmudgeonly state, and–oh yeah–end on a fascinating, intellectual discussion of at-home prostate exams. We’d say “dive in” but maybe that’s a little too much.

Learning, Ranting, and Laughing, our idiosyncratic hosts are back for another episode in season two of Smart Drivel. They discuss gender perspective, a time without a U.S. President, bad acoustics, the phenomenon of grade inflation for email/text responses, and, of course, the post-series, made for TV, Gilligan’s Island movies. Hop in, the water is nice.

The boys are back for the third episode in Season 2 of Learn, Rant, Laugh–A Smart Drivel Podcast. In this episode we learn how the term “Pan Am Smile” made it into the mainstream, how a horse named Fauvel would have sycophants groom him. These discussions then morph into some ranting about etiquette…or lack thereof. It is a classic Smart Drivel discussion. Grab a currying brush and dive in.

Join Jon and Kurt as they excitedly discuss what they learned, what ticked them off, and what made them laugh since the last episode. This time they get into phone etiquette, cockiness vs. arrogance, the beauty of finishing third, and a whole host of other topics. 

After 302 episodes, Smart Drivel is back with Season 2 – and a new structure. Jon and Kurt are still two allegedly grown‑up, definitely 60‑year‑old guys trying to make sense of the unusual things that grab their attention. What’s new? Every episode now runs in three quick, repeatable segments: Learn. Rant. Laugh. What did we learn since last time? What do we need to rant about? What’s something funny we stumbled into? Same Jon and Kurt, same lighthearted, glib Smart Drivel energy – now in a tighter format that’s easy to drop into, easy to binge, and easy to plug guests into. If you like to learn a little, rant a little, and laugh a lot, this is the perfect place to start Season 2. Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bzJSKWb259A

The one that started it all! The very first Smart Drivel of all time. Jon and Kurt explore the world of Pie and of Pi. From ancient savory pies to American Pie by Don McClean to the invention of the Frisbee and Archimedes, they dig into pies and pi of all nature.

To celebrate the holidays and the start of a new “century” of episodes, Jon and Kurt are giving each other gifts. These gifts–meant to be shared via verbal transmission in bars, meetings, and gatherings of all sorts–are interesting tidbits of language, history, legend, and social customs. Little known facts and stories. The co-hosts share these with one another and, ergo, are packaged up for you to astound and amaze your friends and enemies alike.

Three hundred episodes. Almost nine thousand minutes. One hundred and fifty hours. That is a buttload (an actual unit of measurement – little call back there) of drivel that has been spewed forth by Jon and Kurt over the past six years. The boys invite you to join in on the celebration of obscurity and meandering esoterica as they challenge each other to give the numerical answer to many questions regarding pop culture, history, literature, song, sports, myth, etc. It’s a party and you all are invited. Er…some of you as we are capping the guest list at 300.

There is a narrative device which, when implemented, can add punch, power, and percolation to any sentence, essay, speech, play, poem. This device is called “diacope” and it is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is repeated, with one or more words in between the repetitions. It is used for emphasis, to create a memorable rhythm, and to heighten the emotional impact of a statement. For real, you tell me this, for real? (I see, what you did there, I see.) Join join and Kurt as they explore this fun and oft used tool. Rad, that is rad. 

Ah, siblings. No one better to complain about Mom and Dad, but no one who annoys you more. A brother or a sister can get under your skin more than anyone as they know exactly what buttons to push. Sometimes, it goes too far resulting in decades long feuds or, as in the case of the very first siblings, murder. Join Jon and Kurt as they look at famous sibling rivalries in history, pop culture, and fiction. You might want to listen and marinate on your own sibling relationships before that awkward Thanksgiving dinner….