Reconcilable Differences

John has some questions for Merlin.

What we talk about when we talk about bagging your own groceries.

Merlin has a question about a YouTube channel, and John has some notes on R.E.M. and their songs' lyrics.

Merlin's Garbage Apparatus.

On holes, art, and the nature of friendship.

John explores how to repurpose an extra hole.

John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer. Then they talk about a new thing they've both independently started using a lot.

Merlin shares his Large Appliance Results. (Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026)

John's new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children.

A quick check-in on whether or not the machines are helping. (_Recorded on Tuesday, December 9, 2025_)

The dog-blaming continues, and John has updates on the social component of arc raiding.

After some Follow-Up on phone dimming and naked swimming, John discusses a video game with some unusual—and possibly unintentional—social mechanics.

Empty Nest Results. (_Recorded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025_)

TiVo: The Exit Interview.

Main topic is the various voices in our heads. If the technology existed to expose the workings of our interior world, what do we imagine it might look like?

Swimming naked in school and thinking about Lead.

John shares the results of some fascinating recent polling on TV obstructions and chewing gum swallowing.

Canada blames the dog, John presents his Vacation Results, and Merlin talks about the beach. In this month's bonus member segment, Merlin shares some Professional Expert Results.

John reports back with his Billy Joel Results.

How does John generate all that cool chapter art?

On the complexities and constraints of pursuing the right answer.

Merlin presents some Microwave Results and John shares his most recent Graduation Results.

John's Prom Results and Merlin's Camping Results.

On goals and accomplishments.

Your hosts finally discuss The Apparatus.

Merlin is very vulnerable, and John is encouraged to leverage this.

Stop blaming the dog.

This week, your hosts talk about ChatGPT's new image generation abilities. And in this month's member after show, John and Merlin talk about the Netflix show, "Adolescence."

This week's topic: Kids & Driving

Follow-up brings updates on "all balls" plus a novel inversion to "Secret Weird Things People Do." Main topic this week is cooking alone.

The main topic this week was almost The Big Game.

Merlin tries a new way of writing online, and John thinks about what it really means to own your web presence.

This week's topic: The Simpsons Kitchen Gag.

Updates on match cuts, the college ranking racket, and some historical perspective on t-dropping.

Merlin introduces a new segment, and John shares Application Results.

John has a new project and Merlin has a new Thought Technology.

Rebuilding "Tally Ho."

Election results.

Main topic this week is "ceilings and floors."

John has a new angle on smart home monitoring, and Merlin shares some new thoughts about "The Godfather" (1972).

The uneven paces of technological and personal progress.

John and Merlin argue about whether John's new avatar is extremely bad.

Your hosts relitigate this shameful cultural moment in which people keep blaming sweet precious angels for human stovetop cock-ups.

Merlin demands an opportunity to defend his honor, and John encourages him to get more adult supervision.

John reports back on his Vacation Results.

Your hosts discuss the breathless magic of "Project Farm."

John has updates on some recent elective plumbing.

What does it mean to be a young person in the age of ubiquitous capture?

Merlin can't tell whether John is mad at him, but John claims that he's not.

John complains about a podcast that Merlin likes, and Merlin announces that professional eye care is a racket.