The Twist Podcast with Mark and Rick

Join co-hosts Mark and Rick for a rundown of Mark's trip to Beach Haven, NJ, some shade on tipping in America, and a Hit List recommendation for Marlon James's stunning 'The Disapearers.'

Join co-hosts Mark and Rick as we soak in the sun on the shores of Lake Obama, where everyone is woke and equality comes with the soft serve. Plus we take a look at the start of the holiday onslaught. BONUS: 'The Shores of Lake Obama' song, a Twist Podcast exclusive.

Join Mark, Rick, and special correspondent Prance Thunderbottom for this almost-live show. Mark is in Provincetown, MA, where he met up with Prance, and Rick is home in Madison. We talk about the joys of America's gayest town, and pay tribue to the great Dolly Parton, whose kindness, compassion and generosity set a standard very few people meet. She's in the heavens now.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose pre-P-town getaway for Mark. We check out some fun facts about the town, learn that the Whopper came first, harp a bit on Natalie, and spread the word on Mark's new supernatural chiller 'Devil's Wood.'

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose for this week's Twist take on a crazy world. We talk politics, culture, weight loss, and our weekly Twist recommendations. Quirky correspondent Prance confesses his Below Deck addiction, and Mark and Rick offer our highs and lows as America spirals. 

This week Mark and Rick kick back and slow it down a look at Mark's trip to Lancaster, PA—Pennsylvania Dutch Country and, as it turns out, the self-proclaimed pretzel capital of America. They talk Amish countryside charm, why a chocolate pretzel from the source hits different, and what makes Lancaster a perfect getaway. Then it's time for Prance to turn the lens on Homer's classic and current culture war lighting rod. Does the epic hold up? Does Odysseus deserve the hype? Prance has thoughts. Laid back vibes, small-town charm, and one very opinionated take on ancient Greek literature—it's all here on episode 333 of The Twist.

In this week's show Mark extolls the virtues of Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt—creamy, low-cal, and still delicious. Then we confess to a food show addiction, and why people can't stop watching contestants cook, bake, careen around in food trucks and compete on screen. Plus: the Twist takes a look at the end of Mitch McConnell's long, dubious career.

This week your co-hosts dig into the significance of America's semiquincentennial and what it means to celebrate a milestone birthday in a country that feels as divided as it does hopeful. Then it's on to Washington, DC, where the beloved cherry trees are threatened by another pointless golf course. And finally we regret the rise of profanity in public life and wonder when politicians and TV pundits stopped minding their language.

Join cultural court jesters Mark and Rick for another proud Pride show. We nail the news and herald the headlines, offer up our weekly Hit List with our best-ofs and our bugs-us, and debut a movie review from our very own Prance Thunderbottom.

I recently interviewed Rick Gualtieri, the bestselling New Jersey author behind the Tome of Bill series. Rick has built one of indie horror-comedy's most beloved franchises around Bill Ryder, a dateless gamer who gets turned into a vampire and becomes the undead world's most reluctant savior—more than a dozen novels deep and still going strong. We talked about his origin story, his writing process, the art of making horror funny without defanging it, and why comedy and horror belong together. It's a great conversation for fans of the genre and anyone curious about what it takes to build a long-running indie series from scratch.

Kiana Schraufnagel is a  leader, volunteer, and advocate whose accomplishments span academics, service, athletics, and personal empowerment. She currently serves as Miss Wisconsin Volunteer 2026, while pursuing her psychology degree at Texas Tech University and performing as a Texas Tech Twirler. Her commitment to service has earned her the prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award, reflecting more than 1,500 hours of community involvement. A baton twirler and member of Team USA, Kiana has earned multiple national championships, World Championship medals in Liverpool, England, and numerous state and national titles. Beyond competition, she is the founder of True You Empowerment, a platform dedicated to building confidence and self-worth in young people.

Welcome to The Twist and our annual Pride Spectacular. Mark and Rick pull out all the stops for this one. We've got news, we've got joy, we've got Prance Thunderbottom joining the show with his 'Worst in Show' feature.  And later, Rick interviews author David Hylan to talk about his new book Small Town Rage — which, based on the title alone, we feel deeply in our souls. David joins us to talk about what happens when the darkness underneath ordinary American life stops being polite and starts getting honest. It is a conversation you do not want to miss. But first — it is Pride, it is June, the rainbow flags are flying from here to the Delaware and back, and Mark and Rick have things to say about all of it.

This week on The Twist, Mark and Rick cut their losses and ditch their tickets to the Great American State Fair — and they have thoughts. Then it's all good news as they share their enthusiasm for Eden Sher and Brock Ciarlelli's Middling podcast, the irresistible rewatch show for fans of The Middle. Plus Rick sits down with Courtney Cordova of Madison's Henry Vilas Zoo for a conversation about the animals, the mission, and what makes this beloved institution one of the best free zoos in the country. All that and the usual twists on Episode 329.

On further reflection, this week Mark and Rick do cannonballs into Trump's giant kiddie pool, sing the praises of Penzeys super-progressive spice empire, and sound off on what bugs us this week.

Welcome to The Twist, episode 327. Mark and Rick take on the news from a crazy week, finger wag the Supreme Court, dish on the Met Gala, and reveal some unknown facts about Tennessee Williams.

Welcome to The Twist, episode 326. We have a packed show for you today. The luggage cart wars are real — we're talking about the unspoken battlefield of airports and hotels where perfectly reasonable people turn into territorial strangers over a metal cart on wheels. Rick Rose has officially joined Substack, and we'll get into what drove that decision and what he's planning to do with it. We also have a terrific interview with Angela Luna that covers some real ground. Beyond that, it's a full episode — we get into what's been bugging us this week, because there is always something. We have our Hit List recommendations, the things we've been watching, reading, eating, and generally can't stop talking about. And Jo stops by with her weekly wisdom, because every episode needs a little Jo. All of that on episode 326 of The Twist.

Episode 325 of The Twist is packed. Mark and Rick dig into the week's biggest news stories in their Weekly News Roundup — the headlines, the highlights, and the takes you won't get anywhere else. Then things get a little lighter with Road Trip Fun Facts, just in time for the open road season. And Rick sits down with Enjoyiana Nururdin, journalist and lifestyle content creator, for a conversation about her work, her voice, and what drives her to tell the stories she tells.

This week Mark and Rick reveal fun facts about cloning, the benefits of gardening, and cringey virtue signaling. After that we soak up some wisdom from Jo, following Rick's interview with actor and activist Alexandra Paul.

Meet the android versions of Mark and Rick — same voices, same sensibilities, significantly less coffee dependency — and they're here every week with The Twist Podcast: Android News Edition, your weekly roundup of everything worth knowing and a few things worth arguing about. Will we go weekly? If the interest is there and we can hire more robots. Each week we're covering four beats: science, politics, food trends, and entertainment. Politics, because ignoring it hasn't been working out great for anyone. Science, because it tells you more about the world than just the news does. Food trends, because you deserve to know that beef tallow is making a comeback and tiramisu is officially everywhere. And entertainment, because even in complicated times the shows we watch and the stories we tell matter. New episodes drop every Friday. Find us wherever you've always found The Twist, same feed, no new subscriptions required. — Mark & Rick

If you've been listening to The Twist Podcast for any length of time, you know that Mark and Rick have opinions about things. Culture, politics, food, entertainment, the general state of the world as it lurches forward into whatever this era is going to be called when historians get around to naming it. So we did what any reasonable pair of podcasters would do: we cloned ourselves. Yes, really. Meet the android versions of Mark and Rick — same voices, same sensibilities, significantly less coffee dependency — and they're here every Sunday with The Twist Podcast: Android News Sunday Edition, your weekly roundup of everything worth knowing and a few things worth arguing about. Will we go weekly? If the interest is there and we can hire more robots. Each week we're covering four beats: culture, politics, food trends, and entertainment. Politics, because ignoring it hasn't been working out great for anyone. Culture, because it tells you more about where we're headed than the news does. Food trends, because you deserve to know that beef tallow is making a comeback and tiramisu is officially everywhere. And entertainment, because even in complicated times the shows we watch and the stories we tell matter. New episodes drop every Sunday. Find us wherever you've always found The Twist, same feed, no new subscriptions required.

Mark and Rick are back with a packed episode. First we pull back the curtain on something new coming to The Twist, our Android News Edition, a dedicated midweek (for now) show where Mark and Rick's android selves plug into entertainment, food trends, politics, and culture. Then, step inside one of Pennsylvania's most extraordinary and eccentric landmarks: Fonthill Castle. Built by archaeologist and tile-maker Henry Chapman Mercer in the early 20th century, this concrete marvel in Doylestown is a labyrinth of rooms, passageways, and tiles, and it's full of secrets worth knowing before you visit (or even if you never do). Finally, Rick continues his conversation with Courtney Bryan in Part 2 of their fascinating interview. 

Welcome to The Twist Podcast, Episode 322. Spring has officially arrived, and Mark and Rick are celebrating the season with a jam-packed episode. We kick things off with some springtime conversation — what's blooming, what's buzzing, and what's got us looking forward to warmer days ahead. Then it's time for the Twist Hit List, our own humble 'must' list, covering TV, films, books, food, and culture.  Listener favorite Jo is back with a new Letter from Jo, with her trademark wisdom and humor. And in this week's featured interview Rick talks with Courtney Bryan for Part One of a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence. All that and more on this week's The Twist. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.

Welcome to The Twist Podcast, Episode 321. Join co-hosts Mark and Rick as we adjust to the time change, check out Mark's trip to Philadelphia, hear Rick's interview with Guns to Gardens, and find out what listeners spend on their pets. Then we hear from friends and fans about where the climates they prefer to live in, from dry desert air to breezy coastal towns and everything in between. And finally, we dive into terrible texting habits and experiences, from relentless reminders to mysterious texters. "Who are you?" by the way.

Welcome to The Twist Podcast, Episode 320. Join co-hosts Mark and Rick as we drill into the bizarre history of teeth, with tooth worms and  contagious cavities. Then we hear from friends and fans about  where the climates they prefer to live in, from dry desert air to breezy coastal towns and everything in between. And finally, we dive into terrible texting habits and experiences, from relentless reminders to mysterious texters. "Who are you?" by the way.

This week on The Twist Podcast with Mark and Rick, we dance to Bad Bunny's tune, share listener suggestions for travel packing, and catch up with Mark after a whirlwind vacation. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and every angel's top ten playlist.

This week on The Twist Podcast, we're serving up fun facts about Greenland that might surprise you (hint: it's way more interesting than just ice). We also recommend Eat Clean, a food delivery service that makes healthy meals easy and satisfying—no sad salads involved. Plus, we dive into our always-relatable "What Bugs Us" list, covering those everyday irritations that prove we're definitely not alone. Curious, funny, and opinionated as ever—Episode 318 brings facts, food, and friendly venting in one smart listen.

In Episode 317 of The Twist Podcast, co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose freshen the air with a good news roundup, a conversation about AI shaming, and our weekly recommendations for TV, books and culturee. We dig into why good news matters more than ever, how technology is shaping the way we judge ourselves and others, and what's worth your time right now if you're looking for something smart, entertaining, or just plain comforting. As always, the conversation is curious, candid, and just the right amount of off-the-rails. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Audible, and wherever you listen to your favorite shows. If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and share—it really helps keep the conversation going.

I had the pleasure of interviewing audiobook narrator and friend Daniela Acitelli, whose narration of three of my books is a highlight of the audiobook experience for me. We talked about her craft, her journey, and her life as an American ex-pat in London. Daniela is an accomplished voice actor and narrator whose work is defined by clarity, emotional intelligence, and an instinctive feel for story. What truly sets Daniela apart is her versatility and respect for the author's voice. She approaches each project as a collaboration, shaping tone and character with care while remaining faithful to the intent of the material. She's as much as part of my books now as the characters themselves. Listen in to our casual conversation.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose for our take on murder in Minneapolis, where ICE is as cold as a Minnesota cemetery in a snuff film. We follow it with some January fun facts, Twist Podcast survey results, and an interview with show fan and Kentucky resident Steve Wylie.

The Twist Podcast blasts into 2026 with our usual mix of pop culture, media commentary, and personal reflection. Hosted by Mark McNease and Rick Rose, this entertainment and commentary podcast ignites the new year with sharp observations, familiar humor, and the kind of cultural conversation that keeps The Twist Podcast humming. In this episode, Mark shares his admiration for singer Kristy Lee, and Rick welcomes Emma Lyons for a review of Trainwreck: The Real Project X, adding a timely Netflix documentary review to the stew. Fasten your headphones!

A Twist Podcast Bonus Interview features host Rick Rose in conversation with Sonia Thomas as she reflects on retirement, her career with DHS and ICE, and her newest chapter as founder of SimplyHygge. Sonia shares insights on public service, life after government work, finding balance in retirement, and building a lifestyle brand rooted in comfort, mindfulness, and purpose. An honest, thoughtful discussion about career transitions, reinvention, and embracing a slower, more intentional way of living.

As 2025 heads for the exit, The Twist Podcast co-hosts Rick Rose and Mark McNease say a fond and farewell to the year that was, touching on pop culture, media moments, and our own post-holiday fun. Then Rick flips the camera for a special interview with Mark Steines, longtime television host and familiar face to millions as the on-air host of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Steines talks about what it's like guiding viewers through one of America's most iconic New Year's Day traditions, his career in television, and why the Rose Parade continues to capture hearts year after year. With loads of snap, crackle and pop culture, this episode of The Twist Podcast blends year-end reflections with a great celebrity interview—perfect listening as we close the book on 2025 and start first-drafting the year ahead. 🎙️ Topics include: • Saying goodbye to 2025 (with commentary) • Pop culture and media reflections • Behind-the-scenes stories from the Rose Parade • A candid conversation with Mark Steines 👉 Subscribe, listen, and twist into the new year with us.  

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose for our take on the Kennedy Center desecration. From there we lean into the lighter side of the season with a spirited list of the worst holiday movies ever made, celebrating classic clunkers and festive films that missed the mark. The episode culminates in an engaging interview with Herbie J. Pilato, acclaimed pop culture historian and author, who joins Rick to talk classic television, celebrity legacies, media nostalgia, and why decades-old shows continue to resonate in today's streaming-dominated landscape.

In this episode of The Twist Podcast, co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose take on politics, culture, and everyday absurdities with their trademark irreverence and personal spin. From unexpected political backbone in Indiana to linguistic crimes we're ready to retire, Episode #312 delivers commentary, humor, and a few surprises. The hosts congratulate Indiana's senators for finally showing a spine, roll out a new "Worst Words of 2025" survey featuring the phrases you never want to hear again in 2026, and cool things down with fun facts about ice skating you probably didn't know. As always, the conversation blends cultural commentary, politics, entertainment, and personal observations into one twisted take on the world. In this episode: Indiana politics and a rare moment of accountability The Worst Words of 2025 survey (and why we're done with them) Ice skating fun facts and surprising history Culture, language, humor, and personal reflections The Twist Podcast is a weekly podcast covering politics, culture, entertainment, language, and life, hosted by Mark McNease and Rick Rose, featuring smart conversation with a sharp edge and a sense of humor. 👉 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and on our YouTube channel (YouTube.com/@TheTwistPodcast. Follow and share!

NOTE FOR VIDEO: Hang on till the 7 minute mark for full-screen view. Our IT department is still learning. Join Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we try out our fun Christmas hats, offer up the holiday survey results, and have a good time in the face of grim realities.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we head for the Christmas homestretch, take a break for Mark's colonoscopy, and recommend Prime's 'The Outsider' for some winter chills.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we shout to piggies everywhere (never be quiet!), check out some fun Thanksgiving facts (Jefferson was not a fan), and check in with Emma Zoe Lyons on the John Candy documentary.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we record at our new afternoon time slot, chat about the Epstein coverup, stan on Frankenstein, and offer up a brand new survey!

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we bask in electoral victory, say what bugs us, and recommend Jennifer Lawrence's new flick and the Nashville Tenors' amazing vocals.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as Mark podcasts from his Royal Caribbean cabin on the highest of the high holidays - Halloween! Thare are a lot scarier things out there these days.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we weather the Epstein shutdown, review the latest Twist survey results, learn all about Bad Bunny from Emma Zoe Lyons, and enjoy Rick's interview with Wisconsin filmmaker Oliver Franklin Anderson.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose for the death of free speech, new survey results, a brand new Reel Time with Emma review, and Rick's conversation with 50-sate muralist Matthew Yerby.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose in this post-Provincetown recap. We talk drag, the Cracker Barrel uproar nobody cared about, and enoy another great review from Emma Zoe Lyons.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose in this pre-Provincetown vacation podcast. Rick fills us in on some hot new Rice Krispy treats, chats with Bev about their game show past, and joins Emma for her review of the Mr. Rogers documentary.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we practice our survival skills, enjoy the dulcet tones of Mark's cloned voice, hear Emma's take on 'Jaws at 50,' and catch up with Q Brown in an exclusive Rick Rose chat.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we throw a studio party for our 300th episode. We started The Twist in 2018 and we're as irreverent as ever. They'll never paint over our rainbow lives or our sparkly podcast, as we enjoy a PBS review  from Emma, Rick's interview with Zachary James, and an up-and-personal chat with Jo Klett, whose wisdom and humor offer a balm for these chaotic times.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we hunt for Jeffrey Epstein's mysteriously vanishing client list, share more fan facts and photos, dig the Wisdom of Jo in her own words, and enjoy Emma Zoe Lyons' review of HBO's 'Enigma.'

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we choke on the Big Ugly Bill, take our wins where we can get them, learn about the 'Poop Cruise' from Emma Zoe Lyons, and enjoy Rick's conversation with author Adele George. Plus our weekly survey and new fan photos!

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we analyze MAGA's creepy daddy fetish, applaud democracy in New York City while it's still a thing, and enjoy a new Rick Rose interview with author Christopher A. Micklos.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we rate Kristi Noem's costume changes, ponder the military intervention in L.A., and enjoy Rick's interview with Dr. Elijah Nicholas.