43: Funeral Strippers (ft. Hello Puzzlers AJ Jacobs)

Answer our 2026 Audience Census!   Funerals are usually pretty somber affairs, right? Everyone wears black and gathers to respectfully mourn the dearly departed. Well, in parts of rural China and Taiwan, they've decided to put the fun in "fun"erals. More people attending a funeral procession usually means more honor to the deceased. Well, some enterprising relatives decided to up the ante by not only hosting a party with a live band, but they also invited dancers! This spectacle guaranteed a large crowd for their lost family member, which apparently appeased the spirits. Author and podcaster A.J. Jacobs joins us to chat about this little known funeral practice. Today's game is called Going Topless, where each answer is a word that becomes another word when you remove the first letter. If you enjoy PG's Playhouse, we highly recommend A.J.'s podcast Hello Puzzlers, which contains bite-sized puzzle snacks, perfect for listening on the go. Learn more about A.J. Jacobs at his website.   Full Show Notes   Production Credits Hosted by Peih-Gee Law & David Spira Puzzles by Peih-Gee Law Produced by Theresa Piazza Supported by Lisa Spira Edited by Peih-Gee Law Music by Matt Farthing Logo by Theresa Wagner