How Did We Get Weird with Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer

Remember Read-Along Recordings? (with Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God) Feb 17, 2025

This week on the podcast, we are joined by return guest and old friend Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God. We discuss Randy's previous careers as a roofer and french chef, Vaessa roasts him like he's a Coq au Vin and the three of us plot the world domination of our supergroup, Pomme De Terroir. We also discuss all of our respective anxiety dreams and will we ever grow out of them? For our topic, Randy purchases a Hobbit record and book to reminisce about his favorite read-along record and also gives us a detailed synopsis on the Lord of The Rings series and how he became such a fan of the fantasy series. Finally in an incredible round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN we discuss weather reports vs. meteorological seminars, parking lot etiquette and debate the merits of a meta moan by an irritated Parma resident.

You can pre-order Randy's new book "Just Beyond The Light: Making Peace with the Wars Inside Our Head HERE and check out RandyBlythe.com for all of his tour dates!

Remember I Love That For You? (with Jenifer Lewis) Feb 10, 2025

On today's new episode Jonah and Vanessa are thrilled to welcome the one and only Jenifer Lewis! They reminisce about the first time they met when Vanessa was trying to get Jenifer to be on "I Love That For You" and Jenifer subsequently announcing to the press that she would be on the show... without a single mention of Vanessa. Plus you may know that Jenifer is the Mother of Black Hollywood, but did you know she does a killer Vanessa impression? And Vanessa's Jenifer impression is pretty good as well? Plus the two talk about their instant connection and all the fun they had filming together, so much so, that Jenifer still refers to Vanessa (and Jonah!) as a glass of milk with eyes. We also get into Jenifer's terrifying accident in Africa and the resilience that got her where she is today. Plus, in a hilarious game of CHANGE.DORK, the trio discuss whether Jenifer should host Wheel of Fortune, If Spongebob should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, (plus Jenifer's own Hall of Fame ceremony and some incredible celebrity stories) and if "I Love That For You" should be renewed for Season 2 (duh). So walk in your joy and listen to this incredible episode with the iconic MISS JENIFER LEWIS!

Remember Renting Video Games? (with Michael Benjamin Lerner of Telekinesis) Feb 03, 2025

This week on the podcast we are joined by our old friend Michael Benjamin Lerner of Telekinesis! Michael talks about meeting Jonah and Vanessa at SNL through Fred Armisen, what it was like for Michael to play drums on the Portlandia tour and his secrets to making the perfect cup of espresso. Michael also discusses working at record stores, going to school at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and having Paul McCartney hand him his diploma and getting a major label record deal offer based on his MySpace page. We also get into today's topic of renting video games, which has all the more resonance for Michael because his father is Mike West, the voice of Fox McCloud from the legendary Nintendo game, Star Fox! Better yet, Michael actually voiced a Nintendo game as a child that has only been released in Japan for all you Telekinesis superfans. As if all this wasn't enough, we also play a game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate important issues such as paying for infomercials on cable, taking off work on national holidays and the dilemma of having too many phone books. You can and should check out all five Telekinesis albums on Merge Records now!

Remember Getting Suspended From School? (with Nick Ace) Jan 27, 2025

This week on the podcast, the Bayers are joined by their old friend and award-winning designer, Nick Ace! They discuss how Jonah became Nick's roommate in Williamsburg, the time Vanessa roasted the audience at one of their house parties and the way the three of us have collectively supported each others' creative endeavors. Nick also tells an epic tale about getting suspended from school that manages to reference Jerry Springer, the film Black Sheep and passing notes in class, in a way that will transport you right back to the late nineties anxiety we felt as high school students. We also discuss the constant threats of things going on our permanent records. Does it exist and should we launch a start-up where you can access your permanent record? (Potential investors, please contact us directly.) Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we discuss if there too much "breaking news," debate if global warming responsible for the existence of Canada as we know it (we're pretty sure it's not) and the ubiquity of grey-striped cats. Oh, and if your company is looking to rebrand, Nick is the guy to make it happen!

Remember the WB promos where all the young stars came together? (with Pat Regan) Jan 20, 2025

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome hilarious comedian, writer and podcaster Pat Regan to the show! Jonah reveals his classic new catch phrase and the way he's used it to mock celebrities in a virtual world! Then Pat reveals his celebrity diss fantasy and, wow, are we all cool! Plus, we get into our favorite shows from growing up and Pat's (and every teen's?) love of the WB promos where all the young stars came together! And partied! In a warehouse? Obsessed. Plus we talk about how we miss the Neve Campbell-style acting, Vanessa's recent deep drive into Buffy The Vampire Slayer and how working in the television and music industries affecting our personal viewing and listening habits. Finally, in a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK we debate the merits of bringing back Diet Cherry Coke, if art class should be mandatory, and should an Long Island expressway change it's name to "Billy Joel Drive"? You'll have to listen to find out! (but Vanessa doesn't hate this idea...) Plus check out Pat's podcast with Cat Cohen, "Seek Treatment with Cat and Pat" wherever you get your podcasts!

Remember No Doubt? (with Paul James) Jan 13, 2025

This week on the podcast the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend Paul James! They explore the sometimes controversial move of adding chicken to a salad, and speaking of, they talk about chain restaurants like Paul's favorite restaurant Benihana, and how his job at PF Chang's got him his first big acting gig! Plus, Vanessa and Paul reminisce about filming "I Love That For You" and Vanessa gives a never-filmed season 2 spoiler for Paul's character "Jordan." And the trio talk all about the incredible band "No Doubt"! Paul tells us how emulated their style from hair to shoes, how much he loves their sound, and what albums to listen to if you want to do a deeper dive of the band. And speaking of nostalgic music, Paul shows off an uncanny ability to name both of the bands that sing nineties songs about Superman! And you can join an effort to help Paul find the nineties song that's always in his head but that he can't name! Plus, Jonah teaches us what a "Wall of Death" is at a concert and tells us a very cool Seven Mary Three Joke he made to the singer. So don't let life become cumbersome and listen to this fantastic episode!

UPDATE: Mystery Solved! The song Paul had been searching for is “Rapture” by the band “Seed." Thank you to the listener who found it!!

Remember Soul Music? (with Patrick Stump of Fall out Boy) Jan 06, 2025

This week the Bayers are thrilled to welcome their friend and Fall Out Boy lead vocalist and guitarist, Patrick Stump! We really roll out the red carpet for him as Jonah has a brand new premium zoom account and Vanessa has an incredible impression of all pop-punk singers. Speaking of which, we hear how Patrick honed his craft and became the vocalist he is today (it doesn't make Vanessa's impression any less spot-on) and about Patrick's musical influences ranging from straight-edge hardcore to Soul Music and his other artistic influences like SNL which he got to be on pretty early in his career. Also, Jonah and Patrick reminisce about hanging out at the New York Stock Exchange when Fall Out Boy rang the opening bell? Collectively the three of us wonder if ANY band would seem appropriate hanging at the Stock Exchange (Vanessa realized the answer to this question is "Huey Lewis and the News" but unfortunately not until after the recording of this episode.) Finally, in a rousing game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN the Bayer siblings discover an odd food combination they both love and Patrick shares one he and his brother disovered years ago! Plus, they get into braking distance etiquette and a lottery ticket complaint that might become a litmus test for every HDWGW guest. So get out from under the cork tree and check out this wonderful new episode!

Holiday Re-Run: Remember Bo Jackson? (with Kenan Thompson) Dec 30, 2024

This week we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome our friend, the hilarious little sweetie Kenan Thompson!! We're talking SNL nostalgia, Nickelodeon nostalgia, classic rock nostalgia and everything in between. Plus, we get into the craze around the legendary Bo Jackson, including the "Bo Knows" campaign, and his arch nemesis Brian Bosworth aka "The Boz" and Jonah's obsession with the 1991 action fiilm "Stone Cold." Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN that has us asking society to please show some respect for meteorologists. What's up with that? You'll have to listen to find out!

Remember Being in a Band with your Sibling? (with Zach Blair of Rise Against) Dec 23, 2024

This week on the podcast, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by old friend and Rise Against guitarist Zach Blair! We discuss the times we almost all hung out together at South By Southwest, Zach's experience playing guitar (and dressing up) in GWAR and his short-lived stint working in construction prior to playing arenas. We also get deep into Zach's relationship with his brother Doni and what it was like playing together in Hagfish and Only Crime. Did you also know that they were interviewed by our cousin Riki Rachtman for "Loveline" back in the day? Somehow we didn't either. Finally we play a game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we discuss skate park etiquette, "educating yourself" during an intramural soccer game and the dubious ethics of restaurant advertising. Don't forget to check out Rise Against this spring alongside Papa Roach on the "Rise Of The Roach" Tour. Trust us, seeing Rise Against live is anything but a last resort!

Remember BMX Bikes? (with Ed Helms) Dec 16, 2024

This week Vanessa and Jonah are thrilled to welcome the hilarious and wildly talented Ed Helms to the podcast! You may know Ed played Andy Bernard on “The Office” but did you know he grew up doing crazy stunts on BMX bikes? Or that he’s a talented banjo player?? Plus, the trio get into interesting Sundance experiences or a lack thereof, the nightmare that is being in the bathroom when you’re supposed to be on stage, and the time Ed hosted SNL while Vanessa was there. Plus, in a rousing game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN, they talk emergency evacuation fines, driving etiquette, and co-workers who eat onion bagels for breakfast. Be sure to listen to this episode and to check out Ed’s delightful and riveting iHeartPodcasts series SNAFU wherever you get your podcasts!

Remember TV Theme Songs (with Liz Feldman) Dec 09, 2024

On this week's episode the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend Liz Feldman! You may know that Liz from creating the hit Netflix show "Dead To Me" but did you know that her new Netflix show premiering this Thursday, "No Good Deed" is the third in her run of three-word, turn-of-phrase series'?? And speaking of TV shows, the trio get into their all-time favorite TV show theme songs and as a surprise to no one, Vanessa sings a lot of them (as does Liz. Jonah, less so.) Plus Vanessa gets into the childhood time-capsule saga that will continue to take twists and turns, we talk tiktok and it's wealth of cottage cheese-based recipes, and Jonah kills with a highly customizable parchment paper joke. You gotta listen to this fantastic episode and check out Liz's fantastic new show "No Good Deed" this Thursday, because honestly, we dig both for you.

Remember The Nightmare Before Christmas? (with Billy Martin of Good Charlotte) Dec 02, 2024

Vanessa and Jonah are thrilled to welcome graphic artist and Good Charlotte guitarist Billy Martin to the podcast this week. We get nostalgic right off the bat, talking about how Jonah wrote the first ever cover story on Good Charlotte back in 2002 and the time Jonah and Billy spent together on the Vans Warped Tour back when they were very young adults! We also get into Billy's love of Silverchair, what it was like being a great artist in high school and why Billy never felt the need to prove how "punk" he was... mainly because he was busy listening to Disney soundtracks instead of D.O.A. In that spirit, we take a deep dive into Billy's obsession with "The Nightmare Before Christmas," why he decided to get the artwork from the film tattooed on his arms and what made Tim. Burton's aesthetic so memorable. (Jonah also admits walking out on the film as a teenager, which in retrospect wasn't a great move.) Finally we play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we discuss the new Transformers film, the return of Tiny Toons Adventures and Old Bay-flavored Goldfish crackers. Make sure to visit Billy's site if you want to learn more about his art and music!

Remember Karaoke? (with Bishop Briggs) Nov 25, 2024

This week on the podcast, we are coming correct with musician Bishop Briggs! We discuss what it was like growing up in Hong Kong, having the legal name of Sarah McLaughlin and Bishop's adolescent obsession with emo music. We also dig into her karaoke stories, explore why "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a solid choice and discuss our shared joy that the app Shazam exists and works most of the time! Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we chat about the merits of marriage counseling, customer service complaints and if doctors should be including stamped envelopes with their bills. Don't forget to check out Bishop's new album "Tell My Therapist I'm Fine" (hopefully coming to HitClips soon) and catch her on her headlining tour this March!

Remember Childhood Pets? (with Ayden Mayeri) Nov 18, 2024

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to have their friend, hilarious actress and absolute sweetie Ayden Mayeri on the podcast! You may know Ayden from her genius portrayals of characters such as Beth Ann McGann on "I Love That For You" and Sam Judlow in "Mr. Throwback," but did you know she was in a childhood band called X-Cetera that's gaining popularity... now? Plus, after being excluded for years, Vanessa and Jonah finally have the chance to be in their high school's Hall of Fame... but will they take it? And along those lines, will Ayden ever be written up in one of her local newspapers or will they continue to snub her? Plus, we get into favorite childhood pets! Ayden talks about many of her favorites from birds to hamsters to cats, some of whom murdered each other in cold blood?! And in a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK, the trio discusses petitions for plane food insights, a Steph Curry three-dollar bill, and a keto Domino's pizza. So check out this wonderful episode: Listen to it, enjoy it, tell your friends about it, X Cetera!

Remember Skateboarding? (with Atom Willard) Nov 11, 2024

This week, we could not be more thrilled to welcome our old friend Atom Willard to the podcast. You've seen Atom behind the drum kit for acts like Alkaline Trio, Against Me!, The Offspring, Social Distortion and Rocket From The Crypt, but have you heard him tell dad jokes for an hour? We didn't think so. Don't worry, we get into the early days when Atom was just a molecule and discuss playing MTV's Spring Break in 1994, how Atom's coordination skills helped in gym class and why he stopped riding motorcycles for good. We also discuss one of Atom's other passions, skateboarding, including the time that his parents built a ramp for him in his driveway. (Which is almost as cool as our parents letting Jonah fly a pirate flag in front of our house in the suburbs.) Finally we play a round of YESTALGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we discuss the return of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, The "Mikey Likes It" Life Cereal Kid and the recent Sex Pistols reunion. Plus, did Vanessa and "Weird Al" Yankovic have the same Offspring parody idea? You've got to listen to find out!

Remember Back To School Shopping? (with Punam Patel) Nov 04, 2024

Today on the podcast the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend the wildly talented comedian and actress Punam Patel! You might know Punam as the hilarious Beena from "I Love that For You", but did you know she was very into the emo music scene growing up and has even moshed? Plus, Vanessa recants connecting with the middle school english teacher that inspired her SNL character "Mrs. Meadows" at her school's centennial celebration, and along those lines, the trio talk about how they would each behave if they were a substitute teacher in order to get respect from the students. Plus, Beena takes us through her school style journey which taught her the valuable lesson of being able to find a chic outfit at any establishment. And speaking of skills, we discuss several life hacks including Jonah's idea to add cold pasta sauce to hot noodles. Does it work? You'll have to listen to find out!! (but no, no it does not.) Check it out!

Remember Sports Cards? (with Will Forte) Oct 28, 2024

This week, the Bayer siblings are so excited to welcome actor and comedian Will Forte to the podcast. You know Will from "Saturday Night Live," "MacGruber" and "The Last Man On Earth," but did you know that he grew up eating a Sausage Cheese Zombie before early morning swim practice? On this episode we talk about Will and Vanessa almost overlapping on SNL, the current status of Battleball (aka Dodgeball) in gym class and Will's childhood hobby: Sports cards! We get deep into Will's incredibly valuable collection, why he continued to collect cards as an adult and how he's been able to use his passion to benefit charities. We also play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we discuss the return of Sour Altoids, the "Scary Movie" franchise return—and who wouldn't want a Hot Coca-flavored Chips Ahoy! cookie? So cozy up and listen to this incredible episode!

Remember Dirty Dancing? (with Katie Lowes) Oct 21, 2024

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend and shining star of shows such as “Scandal” and “Inventing Anna,” the delightful Katie Lowes! They talk about how Katie got her start (including bringing her family on set for an early stint on "The Sopranos!") and what it was like being a part of the “Scandal” TV phenomenon. Plus, did you know that Katie is a soft-pretzel heiress?? The three of us also dive into Katie's favorite movie "Dirty Dancing" and how it influenced many parts of her life, from her wedding to her relationship with her beloved Grandmother. Finally, Vanessa finds a way to connect the movie to the her favorite topic, Richard Marks and Daisy Fuentes' marriage, their plane incident and did Katie just have a real-life Daisy Fuentes encounter??? You'll have to listen to find out!

Remember Pretending to be Sick to Miss School? (with Susie Essman) Oct 14, 2024

Vanessa and Jonah are back from their hiatus and we can't think of a better guest than Curb Your Enthusiasm star, Susie Essman! In this episode, we get into a real story about an encounter our parents had at their condo complex, Susie talks about how parking in NYC gives her faith in humanity and why having people fear you can be a positive thing when people compare her with her with Susie Greene. We also discuss Susie's strategy for getting out of school as a kid, her favorite shows to watch as a kid and that indefinable feeling of spending an entire day alone doing whatever you wanted. We also play a round of round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we debate the merits of a Curb Your Enthusiasm Movie, decide if the world needs gluten-free Oreos and should schools get the day off after Super Bowl... or do they have to pretend they're sick the way we did as kids?

How Did We Get Weird? now on ATC! Oct 08, 2024

New episodes coming on October 14th!

Remember Punk Rock? (with Gavin Rossdale of Bush) Jun 03, 2024

On today's new episode is everything zen with Jonah and Vanessa? I don't think so! That's right, the Bayer siblings are joined by the one and only Gavin Rossdale! They're talking about the early days of Gavin's band Bush, the evolution of punk music—and that time that Gavin risked his life performing live at MTV Spring Break in a rainstorm. Plus, Gavin breaks down the lyrics of "Glycerine" for Vanessa, they talk rider snacks, industry parties, and more! So breath in, breath out, and then check out this must-listen episode!

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Remember Landline Etiquette? (with Lisa Loeb) RE-RELEASE May 27, 2024

Check out this throwback episode with the incredibly talented Lisa Loeb!

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In this episode the Bayers welcome nineties icon and Grammy Award-winning musician Lisa Loeb! We talk (so all the time) about landline phone etiquette from growing up including prank calls and Vanessa's love for calling the numbers on catalogs with a pretend accent. We also get into Lilith Fair and guitar shredding and when Lisa toured with Sarah McLachlan. And don't worry, not only do we talk about Lisa famous cat eye glasses and her current line of glasses, but Vanessa does a deep dive into the Betsey Johnson dress Lisa wore in the "Stay" video. Dreams! You've got to listen to this episode even if you only hear what you want to!

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Remember Gym Class? (with Gwen Duchon) May 20, 2024

On today's new episode, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome Vanessa's best friend since childhood, Gwen! They're talking about that nostalgic time when these BFF's met, from Gwen's "Talbots Kids" patterned turtlenecks to her patiently watching as Vanessa would act out commercials in her vanity mirror. Plus, Jonah and Gwen both took ballroom dancing in sixth grade but had very different signature styles (Jonah's included a lot of hair gel.) And, hear Gwen's take on being in the female-focused gym class "Body Fitness" with Jonah, a class that Jonah is still mad he had to take. Finally, in the impressive new game "CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED EACH OTHER" Vanessa finds out how much her brother and her best friend know each other, from bands Jonah was in to modeling jobs Gwen did and more, AND Vanessa gets to talk about herself a lot in the process. This friendship-filled episode is a must listen!

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Remember Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet? (with Casey Wilson) RE-RELEASE May 13, 2024

Check out this re-release episode with the very funny and talented Casey Wilson!

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This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend and actress/comedian/podcaster Casey Wilson to talk about Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet"! Wow, wow and wow! Casey and Vanessa discuss how in love they were with Leo AND their desperate attempts to talk to him, both as children and adults! Plus, Jonah and Vanessa talk about meeting Claire Danes and/or Jared Leto from the spiritual companion tv show of "Romeo + Juliet" which everyone knows is "My So-Called Life"! We also dig into the iconic "Romeo +Juliet" Soundtrack- where would we all be without The Cardigans' song "Lovefool" after all??? Plus, Vanessa talks about the one time she was thrown a surprise party (spoiler alert: She did not like it!... until she saw there was a cookie cake) and in a rousing game of YES/NO-STALGIA we say no thank you to the return of platform flip-flops, and much more!! So love us, love us, say that you love us and listen to this incredible episode!!

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Remember Participation Trophies? (with A.J. Jacobs) May 06, 2024

On today's new episode the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author and lifestyle-experiment master, A.J. Jacobs! They're talking all about childhood Participation Trophies, from the meaningful to the demeaning. Plus, humor that upset us as kids from the Trix Rabbit not getting his Trix to the Home Alone villians getting violently pranked by Kevin McCallister. A.J. also tells us the hilarious but intense way he broke his dried mango habit! But, wait, there's more! In a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK, we're talking games with this gaming extraordinaire, from (Rubik's) cubing being taught at school to Wordle having a theme. A.J. even has a great tip for playing Connections that really foiled the game's creator. We even read a petition by A.J. that he wrote while writing his fantastic new book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally," which is out now! Be sure sure to check it out! Order "The Year Of Living Constitutionally" HERE.

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Remember How Cleveland Rocks? (with Dave Hill) Apr 29, 2024

This week, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome comedian and fellow Clevelander, Dave Hill to the podcast! They're talking about growing up in the city that rocks, Dave rocking all the way to the stage of the Jon Stewart Show with his band Sons Of Elvis and how this catholic school kid became a force to reckon with in the world of entertainment. We also discuss formative concert experiences—including the Guns 'N Roses show Jonah and Dave both saw in 1991 and the very different takeaways they had due to their relatively minor, but at the time major differences in age. (Spoiler alert: Dave's mom didn't take him to the concert.) Plus, we potentially make some headway in the mystery of whether Jewel played at a beloved coffee shop in Cleveland? Finally, in a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK, the three of us debate the merits of Dave getting let back on Twitter, a Cleveland NHL expansion and should Jacob grow a Tony Iommi style mustache? Should Dave grow one? You'll have to listen to find out!

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Remember Powers Rangers? (with Sam Richardson) RE-RELEASE Apr 22, 2024

Enjoy this re-release of Sam Richardson's episode of How Did We Get Weird. Don't forget to rate and review the podcast here!

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On this week's episode the Bayers welcome the hilarious, sweet and immensely talented Sam Richardson! Listen to Sam and Vanessa reminisce on their Chicago comedy days and try their best to breakdown popular improv form The Harold. Plus, they improvise what Jonah's dream was last night! They also talk nostalgic action-packed shows from Thundercats to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and how Sam is always ready to morph into a Power Ranger the instant they need him. Whether you're on the planet Rafcon, Thundera, or Earth, this wildly funny episode is a must-listen!!!

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Remember PBS Cover to Cover? (with Kyle Kinane) Apr 15, 2024

This week on the podcast, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by hilarious comedian and new friend, Kyle Kinane. Jonah tests out some of his pun-centric stand-up material, Kyle talks about his love of horror movies and is there anything scarier than running into a sweaty guy in a mosh pit? We also get into Kyle's topic, the PBS educational show Cover to Cover and how it informed his own forays into creative expression the same way that "Kids In The Hall" informed his discovery of comedy. We also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we debate if microwaves should have a mute button, if society should stop judging people who eat cupcakes for breakfast and the underrated benefits of vanilla frosties and cheese pizza. Don't forget to pick up Kyle's new Bobcat Goldthwait-directed stand-up hour DIRT NAP HERE. It's the dreamsicle of comedy specials!

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Remember Jason Schwartzman Being The Absolute Best? (with Jason Schwartzman, Part 2) Apr 08, 2024

On today's episode we're sharing Part 2 of our epic conversation with actor and musician Jason Schwartzman! We're talking about nostalgic record and prank stores, digging through our parents' basements and all the "Over the Hill" merch the Bayers' mom got for her 40th birthday. Plus, is Jason's mom the most intuitive gift giver ever? Or is he the most creative and artistic castmate ever? We also all workshop our Muppets impressions and talk about the evolution of Kermit The Frog from Muppet Babies to adulthood. Finally, in a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK, the trio debate the merits of vegan options at a prep school, moving all major holidays to Fridays and putting Animal on the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine. Trust us when we say you don't need a Staples "Easy" button to know that checking out this episode is a no-brainer!

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Remember Jason Schwartzman Being The Absolute Best? (with Jason Schwartzman, Part 1) Apr 01, 2024

You know actor and musician Jason Schwartzman from his iconic roles in classic films like "Rushmore," "The Darjeeling Limited" and "Asteroid City," but did you also know he's one of the chillest and nicest people on the planet? On this episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, Vanessa and Jason reminisce about working together on the film "Polka King" and Vanessa's show "I Love That For You," Jason's relationships with his siblings and what it was like to recently play drums again live for the first time in twenty years. (You can check out this video of Jason playing the Phantom Planet song "California" with Alex Greenwald and Ben Kweller HERE.) We also talk about fitness habits, the power of going for walks and Jason's unexpected brush with achieving a state of maximum productivity and mental clarity for three weeks last September. If you enjoyed this episode you're in luck, because we will be releasing the second half of our epic conversation with Jason next week!

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Remember Stouffer's Frozen Dinners? (with Brian Baker of Bad Religion) Mar 25, 2024

On today's new episode the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome Bad Religion guitarist, founding member of Minor Threat and self-professed chocoholic, Brian Baker! We're talking about sending out your own trading card as a holiday card, hanging out in junkyards (and playing in Junkyard) and of course, Stouffer's Frozen Dinners. From Mac and Cheese to French Bread Pizza so hard it will bread your teeth we defrost crucial frozen food facts, including some very funny lawsuits. Plus in a rousing game of CONGRATULATIONS, YOU BAKED YOURSELF, we're debating the merits of Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham, Pineapple Fluff and Tomato Soup Cake. Whether you're at home, in the car or just out going for A WALK, you gotta check out this awesome episode!

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Remember The Flintstones? (with Jessica St. Clair) Mar 18, 2024

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend, writer, actress and comedian Jessica St. Clair! They're talking about all of their favorite shows from growing up, from the simple yet enviable lifestyle portrayed on "The Flintstones" to the more exclusive one we'd watch on "Beverly Hills 90210" (obvi we relate more to the former.) Plus, we talk about how much Vanessa loved having The Rock host her last episode of SNL, and the time Jessica had a beautiful Kardashian run-in when she least expected it. And speaking of celebrity encounters, we dish on The First Todd being recognized recently while getting his car fixed! And if that isn't exciting enough, we also get into the time Jessica appeared on one of Vanessa's favorite tv genres, a soap opera, and was not asked back. Finally, in a rousing game of CONGRATULATIONS, YOU BAKED YOURSELF, we ask ourselves if we're most excited about the return of Pear Salad, Cracklin' Cornbread, or Pumpkin Chiffon Pie. You Yabba Dabba DO need to listen to this fantastic episode!!

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Remember Nintendo 64? (with Wolfgang Van Halen of Mammoth WVH) Mar 11, 2024

This week we are thrilled to sit down with Wolfgang Van Halen, who you probably know from playing bass in a little band called Van Halen as well as fronting his own band, Mammoth WVH. We discuss what it was like growing up with Eddie Van Halen as your father (and why he didn't want Wolfgang skateboarding), formative musical experiences and weigh the odds of a Jonah Bayer signature guitar. We also get into Wolfgang's other obsession: Video games. We discuss the way Nintendo 64 paved the way for this hobby, the difference between Mario/Wario and the glory days of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. We also get into how Wolfgang's mom Valerie Bertinelli helped support his gaming habit (and how he tries to scare her with games today), why being an adult means you can basically do whatever you want and Vanessa wonders why her dentist felt the need to clean the stains on the back of her teeth? We also play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we discuss the reboot of the video game "Crazy Taxi," the dramatic update of "Bewitched" and the return of Wendy's Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich. Wolfgang also lets us in on the secret reason why his dad always ordered the Filet-O-Fish when stopping for fast food. Be sure to check out Mammoth EVH's latest album "Mammoth II" and catch them on tour right now! If you're interested in learning more about the SA-126 guitar, check that out HERE!

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Remember Pee Wee's Big Adventure? (with Danielle Schneider) Mar 04, 2024

This week on the HDWGW, we are so psyched to be joined by actress, writer, comedian and co-host of Vanessa's other favorite podcast, "Bitch Sesh," Danielle Schneider! Vanessa and Danielle recount their formative experiences in school drama programs, Jonah talks about being cast as Sandy the dog in his childhood production of Annie and our listeners all learn a valuable lesson about why early rejection can be the best possible experience for aspiring entertainers. We also dig deep into Danielle's love of Pee Wee's Big Adventure and the way the film shaped her childhood friendships and sense of humor. Plus, we recount some of our favorite movie one-liners, revisit the Brian Bozworth film "Stone Cold" and get some updates from Vanessa on the General Hospital universe and all the latest happenings in Port Charles. Finally we play a round of CONGRATULATIONS, YOU BAKED YOURSELF, where we debate the culinary merits of Pineapple Casserole, Tomato Aspic and Chicken Spaghetti Casserole. Bon Appetit!

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#TBT Music Class with Michelle Zauner Feb 29, 2024

Hello! This February, we will be airing #TBT bonus material and re-releases of past episodes. Think of it as an exclusive walk down memory lane and very very cool. Be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast (how's that for rizz?!)

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Remember Sneaking Into Movies? (with Bill Hader) Feb 26, 2024

This week on the pod, Jonah and Vanessa are thrilled to welcome their friend Bill Hader!! They reminisce on the time they all went to Amsterdam for the Trainwreck publicity tour and having the fanciest, and at times scariest, time of their lives. Plus, Bill reminds Vanessa about how he used to lovingly bully her at the read through table at SNL and the time that Jonah did one of Bill's first magazine interviews for "Superbad" all the way back in 2007. We also get into Bill playing bass live on SNL with Corrosion of Conformity and discuss that childhood must-do of sneaking into movies: The times Bill thought he was ready for an R movie but absolutely was not and the time Vanessa got caught sneaking into an R-rated movie and subsequently asked The First Todd pretend to be a lawyer to get her money back, which... he did? (Also, Jonah apparently still did technically sneak into movies as an adult. Thanks, MoviePass.) Finally, in a rousing game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN, the group debates talking before a movie starts, etiquette for when kids wait for the bus and moms controlling their kids at the store. Check out this fantastic episode; you'll be BARRY glad you did!!

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#TBT Hilarious Sweet Angel Friend, Taran Killam Feb 22, 2024

Hello! This February, we will be airing #TBT bonus material and re-releases of past episodes. Think of it as an exclusive walk down memory lane and very very cool. Be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast (how's that for rizz?!)

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Remember Being a Herb? (with Simon O'Connor of Modest Mouse) Feb 19, 2024

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend, musician Simon O'Connor! You may know Simon as the lead guitarist for Modest Mouse, touring bassist of MGMT and bassist/vocalist of Spiral Heads, but do you know if he's a total herb? Or if you are? Don't be so sure you can answer this question until the three of us define the personality characteristics of a herb and do our best herb impressions. Plus, we reminisce about having a Discman in the nineties: The time Jonah sold his Discman to Vanessa and then immediately took it back, the time Simon's discman was stolen by a former friend-turned-bully—and ponder if the Discman was even a good invention in the first place given all the skipping? Finally, in a rousing new game that was definitely named by Jonah, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU BAKED YOURSELF, we decide which of three culinary dishes we're most excited about making a comeback, despite never knowing any of them existed in the first place. So don't be a herb and check out this fantastic episode, and be sure to pre-order Simon's band Spiral Heads’ new album TIL I’M DEAD, which comes out this Friday! You can also learn more about Simon and his music over at his Instagram page.

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#TBT: Our First Guest Beck Bennett Feb 15, 2024

Hello! This February, we will be airing #TBT bonus material and re-releases of past episodes. Think of it as an exclusive walk down memory lane and very very cool. Be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast (how's that for rizz?!)

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Remember Saturday Morning Cartoons? (with Mike Wiebe) Feb 12, 2024

On today's new episode of HDWGW, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend Mike Wiebe! Not only is Mike the lead singer for awesome bands such as Drakulas, High Tension Wires and The Riverboat Gamblers, but he also grew up loving Saturday Morning Cartoons! We get into our fave cartoons, plus all the weird ones that featured celebrities and mostly totally bombed? And, how the "Say No To Drugs" ads that aired during the cartoons really didn't prepare us for the reality of what getting offered drugs is like at all? Plus, in Jonah's favorite new game, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF: PRODUCT EDITION, the trio discuss the recent losses of Pastina Pasta, Raspberry Rally Girl Scout Cookies, and believe it or not, the Dunkaccino. We bet you're gonna love this episode, and that's not a GAMBLE, it's a guarantee.

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#TBT: Mark Proksch & What We Do in the Shadows Feb 08, 2024

Hello! This February, we will be airing #TBT bonus material and re-releases of past episodes. Think of it as an exclusive walk down memory lane and very very cool. Be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast (how's that for rizz?!)

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Remember U2? (with Jon Glaser) Feb 05, 2024

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their hilarious friend Jon Glaser to the podcast! They talk about living in NYC, visiting NYC after having lived there, and Vanessa has a great idea for free hotel-stays for former residents. Plus, we reminisce on our childhood days of discovering U2 and Jon shares how it influenced him in many areas including fashion. And Jon gives us an insider's view of being on the Cameo app and we find out there's a pretty good Bono impersonator on it! Plus in a dynamic game of CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF: PRODUCT EDITION, we assess the recent losses of Aha Selzer Water, Anchor Steam Beer, and Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich. And by the end of the game we realize that this entire episode is about daughters... who run the world! Check it out and also Be sure to check out Jon's new digital album "Jon Glaser's Soothing Meditations for the Solitary Dog" out now!

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Remember Trying to be Cool? (with Zora Bikangaga) Jan 29, 2024

On today's new episode, the Bayer siblings welcome their delightful friend, writer and actor Zora Bikangaga! They ask whether their childhood selves would have found their adult selves cool? (Spoiler alert: They can stay up as late as they want and eat candy whenever they want, so...) Plus, they get into the ways they tried to act cool as kids i.e. one overall strap down, enormous pants that made it hard to walk, etc. Along those lines, Zora gets into a prolonged prank he did in college that years later ended up making him a perfect fit for the "I Love That For You" writers room! Plus Jonah reminisces about his childhood days of listening to NYPD Blue like it was on the radio, and they dig into the controversy of showing Dennis Franz's bare butt on TV (Which obviously Jonah couldn't see, but could hear?) Finally, in a rousing game of CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF: PRODUCT EDITION, the trio discusses what they will miss most out of the recently discontinued Starry Soda, McDonald’s McCafé baked goods or—the only one most of them remember—Fruit Striped Gum. So be cool and listen to this episode!!

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Remember LEGOs? (with Danny Tamberelli) Jan 22, 2024

On this week's episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome Danny Tamberelli, who you may know as "Little" Pete Wrigley from the nostalgic Nickelodeon show "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," but did you know that he is in a punk band and also knows all this punk stuff that Jonah knows but Vanessa definitely does not? And speaking of, we talk about all the actors from nineties Nick shows that are now musicians and Vanessa offers to host a Nick Jam in her backyard! It's happening! We also discuss Little Pete hanging out with Big Pete in the hipster capital of the world in real life as well as Danny's LEGO collection with his son—and how the LEGO craze seems to be taking over the world?? Finally, in a personal game of CHANGE.ORG, we're talking about Subway selling garlic bread year round (why not??), Gary listening to Alice in Chains' "Jar Of Flies" EP (Get movin', Gary!) and most importantly, why won't they PLEASE release season 3 of "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" on DVD?? Danny has some inside intel, but you'll have to listen to find out!
Plus check out Danny and Kate Tamberelli's new book, "The First Date Prophecy: A Hilarious and Nostalgic Love Story," out now!

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Remember Juicy Fruit Commercials? (with Carrie Brownstein & Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney) Jan 15, 2024

We could not be more excited to be joined this week by Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney! We talk about Portland, including our memorable brunch with Carrie, fantastic dinner with Corin, indie rock tour with Corin's husband Lance Bangs and the current state of the food scene in the country's hippest city. Vanessa also bonds with Carrie over their shared love of "basic" fashions, we discuss record collecting on tour and why ordering clothes online is often disappointing. Finally we dig deep into the iconic '80s Juicy Fruit gum commercials which combined a catchy song, extreme sports and Olympic level athleticism into a deep desire to have some artificially flavored pineapple (or mango?) gum. Finally, we convince Carrie and Corin to play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we debate changing the name of cheesecake to cheese pie, making Harrison Ford the face of Hanukkah and if the legendary American Football house should have its emo legacy updated to include the time that Sleater-Kinney potentially played a half-pipe there a long time ago.
Don't forget to check out Sleater-Kinney's brand new album "Little Rope," which comes out on January19th! You can pre-order the album HERE and check them out on tour this spring if you know what's good for you!

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Remember MySpace? (with Laci Mosley) Jan 08, 2024

On this week's new episode, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome actress, comedian and host of the hit podcast "Scam Goddess" Laci Mosley! They're talking all about MySpace, from Jonah and Vanessa's hit songs that the website lost forever, to the coding pranks that Laci would pull on various classmates. And we touch down on what MySpace Tom is up to these days. Spoiler Alert: you're not gonna wanna mess with him. Plus, Jonah talks about taking the band Plain White T's to a very bad lunch and writing an even worse article about it. And finally, in a rousing game of YES/NO-STALGIA, the trio are talking the return of the Adult Happy Meal Box and what it must be like to show up to work with one, a film version of the beloved children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon", and the return of the McDonald's snack wrap and, on the related note, the nostalgic Mary J. Blige Burger King commercial. Check it out!

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True Guest of Honor w/ Vanessa Bayer & Jonah Bayer | The Amber and Lacey, Lacey and Amber Show on Big Money Players Network Jan 01, 2024

HDWGW will be back next week with new episodes. Until then, enjoy this episode of Amber and Lacey, Lacey and Amber Show featuring special guest, Vanessa and Jonah Bayer.

Be sure to rate and review How Did We Get Weird here!

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It's a sibling soiree! Amber and Lacey are joined by sister and brother duo Vanessa and Jonah Bayer. Vanessa and Jonah host a very cute podcast called How Did We Get Weird?. They love a good Bar & Bat Mitzvah, so the "Celebrity Expert Quiz" tests their knowledge on this festivity. After a surprising result to the quiz, they all gush about something they love a lot in "Can You Stand It". In the final game called "Biggest Fan in This Room", we see how close Vanessa and Jonah really are and how much Amber hasn't been paying attention to Lacey. Which is odd because Lacey is so beautiful that it's hard to not pay attention to her. Don't you agree? (Lacey did not log into this app and write that last line)

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"Planning Your Outfit For The First Day Of School" w/ Vanessa Bayer | StraightioLab on Big Money Players Network Dec 25, 2023

HDWGW will be on holiday hiatus for 2 weeks. Until then, enjoy this episode of StraightioLab with George Civeris and Sam Taggart featuring special guest, Vanessa Bayer.

Be sure to rate and review How Did We Get Weird here!

The first day of school comes but once a year, but the ramifications of your outfit...well they can be felt for a lifetime. Today, notable former student and co-host of "How Did We Get Weird" Vanessa Bayer joins us to talk about this delicate time of yearly reinvention. We unpack the economic status of being hot in high school, the polarizing effects of dressing like you're from California, and whether or not it is abuse to ask someone "have we met before?" If you're currently in high school, this episode could save your life!

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Remember Gremlins? Holiday Edition! Dec 18, 2023

On this special Holiday episode, the Bayer siblings dig deep on the movie GREMLINS! How does this scarier-than-they-expected film fare almost 40 years after it's debut? And is Gizmo as cute as they remembered? Plus, fun facts about GREMLINS (it was written to be scarier!), childhood memories of scary movies with cartoonish characters and Vanessa and Jonsh discuss their favorite holiday films, including one that Vanessa pressures Jonah to say is his favorite because she's in it. (It's called OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY, just FYI) Finally in a festive game of CHANGE.DORK, the Bayers debate Santa's magic being shared, a wish for a Hannukah bush and how is there not a candy cane emoji?? This is a great episode to listen to at any time during this holiday season... except after midnight with a snack or if it's wet or something? Happy Holidays!!

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Remember Movie-Themed Cereals? (with Andy Samberg) Dec 11, 2023

This week on the podcast, we are joined by actor, comedian and musician, our friend Andy Samberg! You know Andy from starring on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with Vanessa and from his comedy trio The Lonely Island, but did you know that as a kid he was a he wanted nothing more than to stay up late at night watching SNL and eating a sugary bowl of GREMLINS cereal? On this episode we discuss Vanessa's experience working on Andy's hit show BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, the origins of HOT ROD's famous "cool beans" scene and the time Jonah and Vanessa went to one of his movie premieres that may have actually just been a pizza party. We also get deep into Andy's impressive knowledge of movie-themed cereals ranging from GREMLINS to E.T. to BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT CEREAL and what it was like to mail-order items as a kid in the eighties and wait months for your to light saber to finally arrive. Finally we play a powerful round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we explore our dad's disapproval of Wendy's Peppermint Frosty, our optimism about Radiohead's possible reunion (if you can call it that) and explore what our own version of "We Didn't Start The Fire" might sound like for all you Piano Man fans out there!

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Remember Report Cards? (with Ali Liebegott) Dec 04, 2023

This week the Bayers are thrilled to welcome their hilarious and wildly talented friend, tv writer, poet and artist Ali Liebegott to the podcast! The trio discuss their varying desires to visit and/or live in space and/or to live forever as well as the various career options and desires they'd like to pursue while here on Earth. Plus, they recall the good old days when report cards were printed on paper and you could "adjust" them before showing them to your parents. They also get into past experiences trying to get picked for jury duty and what would be the most appealing jury duty set up? Finally, in an exciting game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN, a contributor wants to alter Mount Rushmore, and literally or figuratively, we're not having it. From writer's room antics to Phlebotomy dreams you've (Liebe)gotta check out this fantastic episode!!

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Remember Mister Rogers' Neighborhood? (with Steven Smith) Nov 27, 2023

This week on the podcast we are joined by our old friend and the host of Steven's Untitled Rock Show on Fuse, Steven Smith! We talk about why Steven hired Jonah to be the head writer on his show despite the fact that he had no television writing experience, recount Steven's iconic roles on '90s TV shows like "California Dreams" and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and hear about his experience being on the first season of "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy." We also get deep into Steven's admiration of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and what made it such a groundbreaking show. Finally, we play a round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we collectively debate if music should be allowed at study hall, is there room in the candy aisle for the return of ZOURS and is a reboot of "The Sauce" worth your digital signature? Whether you're a fan of Steven's hosting, acting or podcasting, you'll learn something new about him—and possibly something new about yourself in the process—just by listening to this podcast. What more could you ask for, really?

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Remember The Dress? (with Albertina Rizzo) Nov 20, 2023

This week on the podcast, we are joined by writer Albertina Rizzo who you might know from her work on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and a little show called "I Love That For You" starring one of our hosts! Together we take a deep dive into our apple picking experiences, the phenomenon of free fruit growing on trees and what it was like to scavenge 30 Rock for late night snacks. Then we get into our topic, the 2015 viral online phenomenon "The Dress." Was it blue or was it white? Why was it so captivating to people nearly a decade ago? Is there a Facebook group for those of us who lack the ability to decipher optical illusions? Finally we play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we discuss the frustrating nature of self-checkout lanes, the seemingly never ending trend of QR code menus and the pros and cons of a water-flavored Pop Tart. So grab a warm mug of apple cider and enjoy this fantastically fall episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?!

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Remember Keyboarding Class? (with Andy Greene) Nov 13, 2023

It must be Vanessa’s birthday (tomorrow) because Jonah and her are thrilled to welcome their childhood friend and Rolling Stone Senior Writer, Andy Greene!! They’re talking all things elementary and middle school, from lice checks to spine checks to the massive, intimidating structure that was their high school. We also get the dirt on Andy's recent features on nostaglic acts like Live and Mötley Crüe, discuss our favorite music gossip sites and share our early concert experiences. Plus, who knew how helpful middle-school keyboarding class would be? (Despite the fact that Andy pulled a major scam in it.) Speaking of scams, the trio ask what was up with the betrayal of our teachers dating each other and not telling us? Finally, in a rousing round of CHANGE.DORK, the three of us debate bringing back the original Cookie Crisp recipe, the original TGIF lineup and a little store at the mall called Hot Topic. Whether you think Seniors 2000 rule or not, you've gotta check out this hilarious episode!!!

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Remember Eminem? (with George Civeris and Sam Taggart) Nov 06, 2023

This week the Bayer siblings welcome the hilarious George Civeris and Sam Taggart to the podcast! The group reveal insights about their resting faces and does shaving your facial hair always make you look younger? Vanessa also insists that she is a Sam and Jonah is a George, and basically proves her point when they debate the return of the Olive Garden's Neverending Pasta Bowl (hint: Vanessa and Sam are PRO Pasta Bowl.) Plus, they talk about the phenomenon that was Eminem in the nineties and how they were at times offended by him while at other times attracted to him? Vanessa also talks about meeting him at SNL and they discuss his business ventures today (which actually have something in common with The Olive Garden). Finally, in an exciting game of YES/NO-STALGIA, the group is surprises themselves by being both Pro-Furby and more shockingly, Pro-McDonald's Oreo Frappe! So be sure to lose yourself in this incredible episode and also check out George and Sam's fantastic podcast, StraightioLab!

Check out Sam Taggart's show Club Comic at Color Club Ballroom on Thursday, 11/9: https://dice.fm/event/6kyob-sam-taggart-club-comic-9th-nov-color-club-ballroom-chicago-tickets and George Civeris at The Elysian on Wednesday, 11/29: https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/george

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Remember The Blair Witch Project? Oct 30, 2023

Happy Halloween! To celebrate this spooky holiday, Vanessa and Jonah decided to sit down and watch the nostalgic 1999 horror film, "The Blair Witch Project" and see how it aged over the past 20+ years. Along the way we discuss the groundbreaking nature of the film's viral marketing, why the directors chose to include so much banal footage in a fake "documentary" and what's up with the pacing of this thing? Vanessa also does some excellent impressions of the characters while Jonah gets called out for the way he pronounces the word "legacy." We also dig into what the cast of the film are up to these days and collectively wonder how this movie made $250 million dollars. Finally, we play a Holiday edition of our segment CHANGE DOT DORK where we discuss petitions about replacing candy corn with actual corn, making Halloween a national holiday and getting rid of yellow Starburst. Be safe out there everyone!

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Remember Your Big Break? (with Mike "The Miz" Mizanin) Oct 23, 2023

It's "THE MIZ" week on How Did We Get Weird!! That's right, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome WWE Superstar, actor and television personality Mike "The Miz" Mizanin to the pod this week! Mike talks about getting his start on The Real World Season 10 and what it was like to navigate life on a reality show AND Jonah shares how he is actually somewhat responsible for one of Mike's signature Real World background songs! We also talk about Mike's high-school job flipping burgers at the Cleveland institution known as Mr. Hero and his most memorable concert experiences ranging from Mushroomhead to Hot Rod Circuit. Plus, Vanessa talks about her experience auditioning for SNL in Chicago and they all discuss what they think it takes to get the career you want. Finally, in a rousing game of CHANGE.ORG, they discuss the merits of a snack break at school, the pros and cons of bringing back The Real World, and a petition made by a Miz impersonator that Vanessa fully thought was him! Be sure to (reality) check out this fantastic episode!!

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Remember High School Reunions? (with Art Alexakis from Everclear) Oct 16, 2023

This week the Bayers are thrilled to welcome Everclear frontman, Art Alexakis! You may know Art from such hits as "Santa Monica" or "Father of Mine," but did you know his tour rider includes throwbacks like Merit Cigarettes and Certs? We'll get into that PLUS we talk about our range of experiences at the major-life events that are High School Reunions, what Art was like as an adolescent and why Everclear only played one song when they appeared on "Saturday Night Live." Art and Jonah also commiserate about how they can't let go of the slim clothing trend and Vanessa talks about why she encourages students to take home organic almond butter from her dressing room- it's expensive! Finally, in a rousing game of YES/NO-STALGIA, we debate the merits of bringing back Pac Man, Taco Bell's Beefy Crunch Burrito, and perhaps most controversially, pour-over coffee. Believe us when we say that this episode of the podcast truly is everything to everyone. Don't forget to pick up Everclear's latest album "Live At The Whiskey A Go Go," which is available now! Live At The Whiskey A Go Go

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Remember Miniature Golf? (with Adam Lazzara from Taking Back Sunday) Oct 09, 2023

Tell all your friends that this week on the podcast we are joined by Taking Back Sunday vocalist Adam Lazzara! You may know him as the charismatic frontman for an incredibly influential band but Vanessa is far more interested in learning about how he worked in a deli and his go-to sandwich order. We also explore the tropical connotations of Thousand Island salad dressing, Taking Back Sunday's recent experience placing a backyard show and Jonah puts on his musical journalist hat to discuss the phenomenon of "emo nostalgia." But that's not all. We also dig deep into the history of miniature golf, our favorite putt-putt memories from childhood and explore the recent craze of "eat-ertainment." We wrap up the fun with a round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we debate the merits of flatter nachos, cool cat emojis and updates to the Cap'n Crunch cereal box. Make (damn) sure to pick up Taking Back Sunday's latest album 152 when it comes out on October 27th!

Get the album here! https://found.ee/tbs152

Check out for upcoming tour dates: www.takingbacksunday.com

Check out one of their new songs on the new album "S'old" https://youtu.be/a5ZCUHcs88Y?si=jRjup1v7LSv7QX9M

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Remember Rolling Down a Hill in a Barrel? (with Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar) Oct 02, 2023

On this week's episode the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome siblings Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar!! You might know them as bestselling authors or have seen Amber on The Amber Ruffin Show, but did you know that as kids they used to roll down a hill in a barrel? We talk about that adventure plus all the other dangerous things we did as kids like sliding down stairs on a pillow or the time Lacey got stuck in the laundry chute. Plus, Vanessa recalls her Chicago days of being lovingly bullied while understudying in Amber's Second City show, and the Bayer's are captivated to hear about all of the delicious treats that Amber and Lacey's dad used to bring home from his job at Duncan Hines (incidentally, that's also where the aforementioned barrel came from.) The fun continues as Amber and Lacey perform some of the original music they created as kids, and Vanessa does the same with a song she wrote with her cousin and recently learned was a Whodini rip-off. Finally, in a CHANGE.ORG first, Amber and Vanessa realize they actually KNOW the author of one of the petitions! AND Lacey and Amber think they might know the school that is part of another petition! But despite these ties, in the end everyone agrees that their favorite petition is the one demanding that Amber to host the Oscars. So check out this incredible sibling-filled episode of HDWGW and be sure to also listen to Amber and Lacey on their podcast "The Amber & Lacey, Lacey & Amber Show"!

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Remember The Price is Right? (with Jeff Rosenstock) Sep 25, 2023

On today's new episode the Bayer's welcome their friend musician and composer Jeff Rosenstock! We're talking about watching The Price is Right as a kid, the cool games, and how Vanessa found it slightly jarring that Bob Barker would do a PSA at the end? Plus, Jonah talks about his experience going to see the show live and his roomate winning a TV (spoiler alert: you do have to pay taxes and that is a bummer). They also discuss how Drew Carey is a class act, and the group collectively wonders, is there a system where the crew of Wheel of Fortune takes turns getting the cars that the contestants DON'T win or does Pat Sajak get first dibs? Also, Vanessa asks Jeff and Jonah the age-old question, are punks actually the biggest sweeties of all? And finally, in a very punk game of CHANGE.DORK Jeff and Vanessa reveal their pitch for the JEFF ROSENSTOCK X VANESSA FENDER GUITAR! Hint: It's sparkly.

Check out Jeff's latest album HELLMODE out now!

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Remember Charm Necklaces? (with Mayim Bialik) Sep 18, 2023

On this week's new episode the Bayer siblings are over the moon to welcome actress, game show host, neuroscientist, and all-around delight, Mayim Bialik! Can Vanessa tell the difference between Mayim and her beloved nineties sitcom character Blossom? Unclear! But they all have a lot of fun regardless. They're talking BTS Blossom stories and what it was like for Mayim to grow up while starring in a hit tv show. Plus, they get into the nostalgic trend of eighties charm necklaces that allowed you to really jingle jangle down the hallway while showing off your personality with unique charms. On top of that, Mayim and Vanessa share what their favorite button covers looked like and Vanessa learns she has teens like Mayim to thank for wearing several pairs of socks at once so that her (slightly) younger generation could wear faux sock sets that looked like several socks but didn't require going up a shoe size. AND in a rousing game of CHANGE.DORK, Mayim, Jonah and Vanessa must choose between petitions for a Blossom reboot, Joey Lawrence as Batman, and vegan hotdogs at Costco. Their answers may surprise you but in a surprise to no one, Vanessa accidentally calls Mayim "Blossom". In our opinionation, this episode is a must-listen!!!

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Remember the dELia*s Catalog? (with Emily Heller) Sep 11, 2023

Whether you're a fashionista or a dELIa*s-ista, we've got something for you on this nineties-fashion-forward episode of the podcast thanks to our guest, writer/comedian Emily Heller. Emily comes by the pod to discuss the time 11-year-old Emily wrote a complaint letter to then-president Bill Clinton about her gym teacher who she later found out was actually Zendaya's dad? We also discuss how she made a zine out of some of her childhood momentos (including the infamous letter) and how New Moon magazine inspired her as a kid. Plus, we dig deep into the cultural impact of the dELIa*s catalog and how it's style impacted pop-culture. And speaking of style, Jonah comes clean about his Girbaud Jeans-phase and Emily discusses her parents' confusion about the nineties thrift-store aesthetic. Finally we play an unforgettable game of YES/NO-STALGIA where we discuss the return of wearing vests as shirts, slip dresses and the incredibly polarizing bucket hat. So put on your chicest ill-fitting hat and check it out!

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Remember CBGB Matinees? (with George Motz) Sep 04, 2023

Break out your spatula and tongs because this week on the podcast we are joined by grillmaster and television personality, George Motz! We get the literal hottest tips from this burger expert about the best way to grill burgers (it's not outdoors), discuss the "stunt burger" phenomenon and bond over our similar opinions on the abomination known as surf and turf. We then flip the metaphorical burger patty to discuss George's experiences as a kid taking the train into NYC to see matinee shows at the infamous CBGB (not to be confused with Studio 54). We also discuss the best food to eat at shows, our own culinary experiences as touring musicians/comedians and did you know there are jails on cruise ships? Finally we play a food-centric game of CHANGE DOT DORK where we debate the merits of paying your parents rent, serving veggie burgers at school and the enduring legacy of BBQ Fritos. Be sure to check out George's signature burger now available on Virgin Voyages and his new NYC restaurant Hamburger America, which is opening soon!

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Remember Free To Be... You And Me? (with Gillian Jacobs) Aug 28, 2023

This week on the podcast we are thrilled to be joined by actress, director and friend Gillian Jacobs! Gillian and Vanessa talk about co-starring along with Phoebe Robinson in the 2018 film "Ibiza," and give some crucial behind-the-scenes info about the production, including Vanessa's mission to take as much free stuff as possible. We also discuss Gillian's respect for the public library, get a few more physical and digital book scams from Jonah and hear why staying out of trouble as a teenager is actually a really cool move. Finally we dig into Marlo Thomas' incredible creative project "Free To Be... You And Me," which had a huge impact on all of us as kids—and also learn about the time Gillian interviewed Marlo all about the project for Glamour magazine. Finally we play a round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we discuss the merits of bringing back Taco Bell's brownie sandwich, changing "knitting to gnitting" for all you Palindrome-heads and if gym class should be optional for kids who have no interest in sports and are there to actually, you know, learn. Glad to have a friend like Gillian because this is a fantastic episode!

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Remember Indigo Girls? (with Joanna Robinson) Aug 21, 2023

You've gotten iconic podcast host and the SyFy dubbed "Queen of Game of Thrones" Joanna Robinson's analysis of television and film on Vanity Fair and The Ringer as well as her many popular podcasts such as "Trial By Content" and "The Ringer-Verse" but you probably haven't heard her recount how the Indigo Girls was an important part of her musical development as a teenager? On this episode we get "Closer To Fine" with Joanna, dig into her favorite comfort shows as a kid and explore how she was able to hone her analytical abilities when it comes to decoding the messages behind your favorite shows. (Pro tip: It helps to read books.) We also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we debate the merits of the Liberty Mutual insurance commercials (not a sponsor), discuss if televisions should be allowed in the common areas of dormitories and Vanessa fills us in on her obsession with the musical merits Skyrizi's "Nothing Is Everything" commercial. From cappuccinos at Lilith Fair to the cultural impact of My So-Called Life, this episode is a certain to become a viral sensation. Don't forget to pre-order Joanna's book McU: The Reign Of Marvel Studios, which she co-wrote with Gavin Edwards and Dave Gonzales, coming out on October 10th!

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Remember Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet? (with Casey Wilson) Aug 14, 2023

This week the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome their friend and actress/comedian/podcaster Casey Wilson to talk about Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet"! Wow, wow and wow! Casey and Vanessa discuss how in love they were with Leo AND their desperate attempts to talk to him, both as children and adults! Plus, Jonah and Vanessa talk about meeting Claire Danes and/or Jared Leto from the spiritual companion tv show of "Romeo + Juliet" which everyone knows is "My So-Called Life"! We also dig into the iconic "Romeo +Juliet" Soundtrack- where would we all be without The Cardigans' song "Lovefool" after all??? Plus, Vanessa talks about the one time she was thrown a surprise party (spoiler alert: She did not like it!... until she saw there was a cookie cake) and in a rousing game of YES/NO-STALGIA we say no thank you to the return of platform flip-flops, and much more!! So love us, love us, say that you love us and listen to this incredible episode!!

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Remember Me? (with Bob the Drag Queen) Aug 07, 2023

Get ready to dive purse first into this week's podcast because we are thrilled to be joined by comedian, drag queen, actor and activist, Bob The Drag Queen! You might know him from his memorable appearances on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "We're Here," but did you know that he and Vanessa are pretty much best friends now? Plus, on this episode we all get real about social etiquette: What to say if you don't remember someone, how to react if someone tries to shame you for not remembering them and the do's and don'ts of how to act if you want to be Bob The Drag Queen's friend. Bob also brings out Vanessa's fierce alter ego "Bitchy Vanessa," talks about his background in stand-up comedy and tells a very memorable story about how some social cues lead to a misunderstanding with a very big star. The three of us also get nostalgic during our segment BACK TO THE PRESENT where we discuss the Carvin guitar mail order catalog, Fisher-Price karaoke toys and the rise and fall of the PT Cruiser. Don't forget to check out Bob The Drag Queen on tour with Madonna on the Celebration Tour starting this fall!

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Remember Happy Meal Toys? (with Danny Pellegrino) Jul 31, 2023

You may know Danny Pellegrino as a screenwriter, New York Times bestselling author or host of the "Everything Iconic" podcast, but did you know that he's from the suburbs of Cleveland just like the Bayer siblings? On this episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, Jonah and Vanessa dig deep into the suburban memory well to discuss controversial Burger King closings, sneaking into Solon Cinema and the fuzzy moral area that surrounds "tasting" bulk candy. Danny also takes us on a deep dive into his childhood and adult obsession with Happy Meal Toys, the emotional impact that comes with being able to attain something that seemed impossible as a child and our favorite fast food marketing mash-ups. We also play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we discuss the lack of physical copies of the White Pages, why some people are not fans of cellphones/social media (we get it) and if there's any situation where it's OK to take up two parking spaces. You'll definitely want to listen to this iconic episode and share it with everyone you know! AND be sure to pre-order Danny's new book "Jolliest Bunch Unhinged Holiday Stories," which is out on October 24th.

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Remember Saturday Night Live? (with Eden McCoy) Jul 24, 2023

This week, the Bayer siblings are thrilled to welcome General Hospital star and legit member of Gen Z, Eden McCoy!! Vanessa asks Eden her burning General Hospital questions, like when they swap a new actor into a role how does Eden act like things are normal? Vanessa also gets Eden and Jonah's reaction from the show's memorable cameo from Colonel Sanders (who is apparently really goot at texting?) Plus, Eden recounts her childhood days of being a Saturday Night Live superfan and Vanessa leads Eden to say that she was part of Eden's favorite cast. They also get into the many ways that SNL and GH are actually similar—and in a special edition of CHANGE.DORK, the three of us review several Gen Z-related petitions that are totally gnarly, bro. In other words, you will definitely stan this dank glow up of a classic HDWGW segment.

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Remember Local Morning Shows? (with Mark Proksch) Jul 17, 2023

Today you are in for a real treat because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by our friend the hilarious Mark Proksch (The Office, Better Call Saul) who is as friendly as he is funny. We discuss what it's like to grow out of things as a child, Mark's current doughnut preferences and learn the origins of the term "goppy." We also get deep into the story behind Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser, a character of Mark's who made the morning TV talk show circuit as a yo-yo expert who couldn't actually yo-yo, and we talk about the various reactions he got from news crews once they realized they weren't in on the joke. Plus, we parlay this conversation into a broader discussion about local morning shows and learn that Good Morning America's roots lie Jonah and Vanessa's hometown of Cleveland. Finally we play a thrilling round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate church etiquette, if commercials should be interrupted by the Emergency Broadcast System and why cars are so expensive if you only go to one dealership and don't do a ton of research. Yo-yo better check it out!!

Check out "K-Strass Video on KQTV" to further understand Mark's talents!

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Remember Little House on the Prairie? (with Tim Heidecker) Jul 10, 2023

Break out your best bonnet and riding boots because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by comedian/actor/musician Tim Heidecker to discuss the pastoral drama series, Little House on the Prairie. Along the way we discuss Tim's job a la creperie, watching sitcoms made for adult as kids in the eighties and our respective senior superlatives. (Jonah and Tim were most radical/unique while Vanessa won every other one.) We also get in depth about the "explosive" finale of Little House on the Prairie and the possible tax ramifications of this unexpected narrative turn. We also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we discuss petitions advocating for the return of the original Wonka bar, liberation for high school vending machines and should Metallica play the Super Bowl Halftime show? (You'll have to listen to find out, but Vanessa really doesn't think so.) Don't forget to check Tim out on the Two Tims Summer Tour as well as his upcoming performances with The Very Good Band, both of which are coming to your town soon.

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Remember WWF Wrestling? (with Max Silvestri) Jul 03, 2023

Get ready to rumble because this week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we are joined by hilarious comedian, writer and actor Max Silvestri! What's in a name? Apparently a lot. Jonah discusses how he was almost named Max and why he thinks he would have been a completely different and more confident person if he had Max's moniker. Max also discusses his various adolescent aliases while Vanessa reveals that she was almost named after a Bob Dylan song. The three of us also discuss the allure of eighties action movies and, of course, WWF Wrestling. Max elaborates on what it was like to witness Wrestlemania 10, why he related to Shawn Michaels and Bret "The Hitman'' Hart and recounts how the WWF eventually got body slammed by that cute panda from the World Wildlife Fund. As if that weren't enough, we also play a round of CHANGE.DORK where we discuss Randy "Macho Man" Savage's legacy, if the return of Diet Cherry Coke is worth our precious digital ink and should there be an actual videogame modeled after The Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1999 video for "Californication"? You'll have to listen to find out!!

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Remember Cipher in the Snow? (with Lance Bangs) Jun 26, 2023

On today’s new episode we are thrilled to kick off season 3 of HDWGW with our friend Lance Bangs!! We’re talking about everything from the time Lance and his wife Corin Tucker took the Bayer siblings to dinner and Jonah almost had a panic attack, to Lance’s work on Jackass and the recent George Harrison video he directed that Vanessa got to be in. Plus, we reminisce on the days of watching tv shows and films during school and Lance introduces the Bayer siblings to the incredibly bizarre “educational” short film Cipher in the Snow and we all have a lot of thoughts. Finally, in a round of CHANGE.DORK we discuss whether a fandom summer camp is possible and how much Vanessa thinks it would cost! Want the answers to both? You gotta check it out!

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Remember Coffee Shop Culture? (with Jewel) RE-RELEASE Jun 19, 2023

As we prepare for season 3 (yes, you heard that right!), we would love to stroll down memory lane with our forever iconic guest, JEWEL! In the meantime, rate and review the podcast and stay tuned for new episodes starting June 26th on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network.

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To celebrate Vanessa's birthday we are joined by a very special guest: JEWEL! That's right, we caught up with the acclaimed singer, actress and author to discuss the era before Starbucks where coffee shops were places to see live music and maybe even see Jewel demo songs that would go onto be nineties radio staples such as "Who Will Save Your Soul?" and "Foolish Games." We also discuss Jewel's career journey from a living on a remote homestead in Alaska to becoming a household name, Vanessa and Jewel's mutual love of Cyndi Lauper, how Jewel was able to channel her trauma into lasting art and how she came up with her own mental health curriculum by channeling her own "bunny nature." Finally we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about The Body Shop, Dutch Apple Pop-Tarts and other nostalgic things that Jewel is a very good sport about discussing with us. Be sure to check out Jewel's new album Freewheelin' Woman and the other incredible work she does at jewelneverbroken.com and notalonechallenge.org . If you're looking to be as entertaining as you are inspired, you will not want to miss this episode!

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Remember Reebok Pumps? Jun 12, 2023

This week on the podcast we are joined by... no one! That's right, on this episode Jonah and Vanessa are reminiscing about the phenomenon of going to shoe stores as a kid and trying on shoes the old-fashioned way. We also discuss real-life current shopping experiences at malls, the time Jonah accidentally wore Vanessa's Doc Martens to school and are Vans just cooler versions of Keds? We also get deep into the history and demise of the Reebok Pump, although we still aren't sure if they actually do anything other than look cool. But that's not all. We also play a round of a game called CEO TAKEDOWN: THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT, where we examine some statements made by Foot Locker's CEO about online shopping versus going to the mall to try on shoes and explore if the company has enough "runway" and "brand awareness" to offset the inevitable demise of mall culture. (Spoiler alert: Jonah doesn't think so although he would consider a leadership position on the company's board of executives should that opportunity become available.)

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Remember Lunchables? (with Jeremy Beiler) Jun 05, 2023

This week we are thrilled to be joined on the podcast by the hilarious writer and actor, Jeremy Beiler who you might know as the co-creator of Vanessa's incredible Showtime series I LOVE THAT FOR YOU. On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa and Jeremy reminisice about writing sketches together on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE when they weren't hunting down snacks in other departments of 30 Rock in the early morning hours. We also do a collective deep dive into one of the most unhealthy kids foods of all-time, Lunchables! Did you know that they had a short-lived spin-off called Brunchables? Sorry, but you do now. Finally we play a nostalgic round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where Jonah wishes he could experience the joy of shopping for concert T-shirts using tiny pictures tucked away in magazines, Vanessa recalls using wooden shoe stretchers as a painful childhood toy and Jeremy makes a very convincing case for bringing back the color teal. So break out your shark's tooth necklace and let's get into this!

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Remember Scholastic Book Catalogs? (with Aimee Mann) May 29, 2023

This week on the podcast we are so incredibly thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning musician Aimee Mann! Vanessa recalls the first time that the Bayers worked with Aimee on their old web series and how Jonah got so nervous about a joke they'd written he had to walk out of a taping with her to regain his composure. The three of us also discuss, you guessed, Scholastic Book Clubs and the sheer joy of getting a bundle of books delivered onto your desk by your homeroom teacher as a kid. We also discuss the brilliance of a perfectly crafted young adult novel, Aimee's experience working at the first Newbury Comics and talk about that time she and husband Michael Penn experienced the cultural phenomenon known as Four Loko. Finally, we play a captivating round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we review petitions for bringing back dessert-flavored gums, producing a proper physical release for the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES soundtrack and Snapple's not-so-memorable line of Elements drinks. Was Aimee a vocal advocate for Motorhead back in the day? You'll have to listen to this episode to find out!

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Remember Saved by the Bell? (with Cobie Smulders) May 22, 2023

Fans of the Marvel Universe, "How I Met Your Mother" and Canada rejoice because this week we are joined by actress and all-around great person, Cobie Smulders! On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa discusses why one of the greatest nights of her life was spent watching THE BODYGUARD at Cobie and Taran's house, Cobie gives us the sweet details about the Tom Cruise holiday cake and Jonah recalls his teenage fascination with Steven Seagal. Even though Cobie grew up without cable television in a rural part of the Canadian outback, she did have access to a little show called SAVED BY THE BELL and we discuss how it informed Cobie's perception of the United States and teenage life in general. To bring things full circle, Cobie also recounts the time that she met Mark-Paul Gosselaar as an adult... and had a very different experience than Vanessa did. Finally we play a powerful round of CHANGE DOT DORK where we review petitions about a "How I Met Your Mother" reunion, bringing back chicken noodle soup at Tim Horton's and, finally, the three of us try to give a definitive answer of the age-old question: Is lasagna technically cake?

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Remember Bo Jackson? (with Kenan Thompson) May 15, 2023

This week we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome our friend, the hilarious little sweetie Kenan Thompson!! We're talking SNL nostalgia, Nickelodeon nostalgia, classic rock nostalgia and everything in between. Plus, we get into the craze around the legendary Bo Jackson, including the "Bo Knows" campaign, and his arch nemesis Brian Bosworth aka "The Boz" and Jonah's obsession with the 1991 action fiilm "Stone Cold." Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN that has us asking society to please show some respect for meteorologists. What's up with that? You'll have to listen to find out!

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Remember Snack Wraps? (with The First Todd) May 08, 2023

This week, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by an absolute legend: The First Todd aka their dad. Join our hosts on an audio journey that sees them finally getting the answer to childhood questions like why did they have a refrigerator full of Gyros for a full year of their adolescence, how close was their dad to buying a Dunkin' Donuts franchise and what do you do with a freezer full of sundaes? As you might guess, this food-centric episode sees our dad bemoaning the demise of McDonald's highly popular (and portable) Snack Wrap and explaining why Wendy's take on the fast food menu item doesn't live up to the hype. Todd also fills us in on a charitable and delicious promotion by Wendy's called the Wendy's Frosty Key Tag which allows him free Frosty Jr. 's for a full year for a one-time $2 donation to charity. Finally we introduce a new segment called TODD TALK where we get our dad's "hot takes" on food items he such as Peter Pan peanut butter, Pierre's Ice Cream and A1 Steak Sauce. So run, don't traipse, to this incredible new episode!

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Remember Chain Restaurants? (with Tony Hale) May 01, 2023

Today on the podcast we are joined by actor and comedian Tony Hale, who you might recognize as Buster Bluth from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT or Gary Walsh from VEEP. We caught up with Tony while he was on location in Rome to discuss the culture of buffet restaurants (and the anxiety it instilled in Jonah as a kid), Vanessa's four months as a cruise-ship comedian and Tony's experience shooting the ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT pilot two decades ago on a boat, we mean, ship. We also discuss Tony's favorite childhood and current chain restaurants, the familiarity and nostalgia of fast food and hanging out at the mall back when Banana Republic had a safari vibe. We also play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate if charities should be sending potential donors free stamps, if it's inconsiderate to stand up at a Bob Seger concert and give our takes on some office drama when it comes to feeding birds during business hours. Make sure to check out Tony in the upcoming Netflix series THE DECAMERON and if you see him, buy him a slice of pizza from literally anywhere. It truly does not matter.

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Remember MTV's "The Real World"? (with Hari Kondabolu) Apr 24, 2023

This week we stop being polite and start getting real with comedian, writer and podcaster Hari Kondabolu! We reminisce about our internships: Vanessa's time at the Oxygen network and Sesame Street, Hari's time as a "Clintern" for Hilary Clinton and Jonah's days interning in the music department at the production company behind this week's topic: MTV's THE REAL WORLD! Together, the three of us reminisce about the groundbreaking reality show, our favorite memories from the early seasons, how the show mirrored our culture—and Jonah gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse about working the front desk of Bunim/Murray Productions in fear of an appearance by Puck! Finally we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate the difference between bedspreads and quilts, the trend of false advertising when it comes to fast food commercials and why there aren't enough greeting cards for super specific events. Hari's new comedy special VACATION BABY is now streaming for free on YouTube and the companion album (EXTENDED) VACATION BABY is available on Bandcamp.

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Remember Navel Piercings? (with Alicia Bognanno aka Bully) Apr 17, 2023

Break out the Manic Panic and Doc Martens because this week we dig deep into nineties fashion with musician Alicia Bognanno aka Bully. We talk about our experiences taking foreign languages in high school, respective anxiety dreams and the year Jonah and Vanessa took a French class together despite the fact that he was two grades ahead. We also dig deep into the history of belly button rings, discuss whether they're making a comeback and share other piercing stories from our adolescent years. Finally, we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about now-defunct mailorder catalogs ranging from Carvin Guitars (Jonah) to Delia's (Vanessa) as well as those Best Cuts catalogs where you could pick out your future hairstyle (Alicia). Did Jonah actually visit the NYU school of dentistry and have college kids work on his teeth in order to save money? You'll have to listen to this episode to find out—and while you're at it you should also pre-order Bully's upcoming album LUCKY FOR YOU, which comes out on Sub Pop Records on June 2nd.

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Remember Dry Snacks? (with Jason Isbell) Apr 10, 2023

We could not be more excited to welcome our close personal friend to the podcast this week: Musician and actor, Jason Isbell! You've heard him talk about his '59 Les Paul but have you heard Isbell break down the difference between dry snacks, snacks that are a test of class and snacks that are a proof of class? Plus, from transporting Kudos bars to Handi-Snacks, we talk about the benefits of Jason's proto-grunge ensembles of cargo pants and flannel shirts. We also discuss why so many heavy metal musicians are nice people, Jason's real-life encounters with members of Metallica and Pearl Jam and what it was like being raised by teenage parents and lots of grandparents in Alabama. As if that weren't enough, we finish up with a round of CHANGE.DORK where we weigh in on important petitions regarding Primus signature guitars, Georgia Gold vs Hot Chicken at KFC and if a collaboration between Isbell and John Mayer is in the works. (Spoiler alert: It isn't.) Be sure to check out Jason's new documentary RUNNING WITH OUR EYES CLOSED which is now streaming on HBO Max and pick up his latest album with the 400 Unit, WEATHERVANES, when it comes out on June 9th.

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Remember Popples? (with Jenny Slate) Apr 03, 2023

This week on HDWGW, we are joined by actress and comedian Jenny Slate to discuss everyone's favorite plush toy that resembled a sleeping bag: POPPLES! We discuss the difficulty but satisfaction of putting the popple back in its home, the curious nature of celebrity poppels and the recent cartoon reboot of the celebrated brand. We also discuss Jonah's cool new GQ hat, embarrassing encounters while buying ice cream and why there's few feelings on Earth better than receiving a free Bluetooth speaker. (No mugs, please.) Finally we play an inspired round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we go "battlezone" about lawnmowers, discuss how you should treat your bicycle when parking it outside a Subway Restaurant and debate whether magazine coupons belong to you or to the library where you're reading the latest issue of People. The results just might surprise you.

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Remember Skateboarding? (with Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World) Mar 27, 2023

Break out your skate deck and board shorts but this week on the podcast we are reminiscing about skateboard culture with Vanessa and Jonah's old friend, Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World. From being too afraid to drop in on half pipes to the Bones Brigade and hoverboard rumors, we reminisce about what it was like to try to pull off tricks before the existence of YouTube. Plus, Jonah and Jim talk about the time Jonah traveled to Europe two decades ago to write a feature on the band during their first U.K. tour, Vanessa recalls her own run-ins with the celebrated rock band and we get the scoop on how much control Jimmy Eat World had for the video for "Lucky Denver Mint," which essentially served as the trailer for the 1999 film "Never Been Kissed." (Spoiler alert: The band didn't have any.) Finally, we play a round of change.dork where we discuss why the Florida Panthers should most definitely keep "Sweetness" as their goal song. #SaveSweetness

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Remember Music Videos? Vanessa's Picks! Mar 20, 2023

By popular demand, this week we have another music video-themed episode, however this time it's dedicated to Vanessa's picks of her favorite music videos from her childhood and adolescence. In that spirit we tackle the extended cut of Paul Abdul's classic video for "Rush, Rush" and discuss the time that Vanessa had a conversation with Keanu Reeves about making it. We also delve into the dramatic video for Bon Jovi's power ballad "Always" and Jonah recalls the time that Richie Sambora snubbed him because he wasn't in a band playing at Madison Square Garden. (Still not bitter about that, Richie.) We also dig deep into Soundgarden's psychedelic visual companion to "Black Hole Sun" and Jonah gives a little love to Metallica's austere clip for "The Unforgiven," which is a little too dark for Vanessa's taste. Whether you're a fan of Vitalogy or Vibeology, there's something for everyone on this Bayer-centric episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?

"Rush, Rush" (Extended Version) by Paula Abdul Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxJAxF-3a38

"Always" by Bon Jovi Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMwcO6_hyA

"Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

"The Unforgiven" by Metallica Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckom3gf57Yw

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Remember High School Dances? (with Carmen Christopher) Mar 13, 2023

On this week's episode we are thrilled to welcome the hilarious Carmen Christopher!! Not only do Carmen and the Bayer siblings participate in a Matthew McConaughey impression showdown for the ages, which includes Jonah's impressive Kermit-the-Frog-doing-McConaughey, but Carmen and Vanessa get into their time doing comedy in Chicago including when Carmen saw Vanessa audition for SNL! Plus, we talk about those anxiety-provoking school dances and how Jonah "hated" them but seemed to go to a lot of them, how Carmen would roll up to them looking cool in his Girbaud jeans, and how Vanessa never knew if anyone would ask her to dance, but ultimately took her rightful place as Prom Queen senior year. A true must-listen, folks!!

Check out Carmen Christopher in NYC or LA. Get your tickets below:

New York City - April 7 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/574649982567

Los Angeles - April 24 - https://www.elysiantheater.com/shows/carmenchristopher

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Remember Nerds Candy? (with Brian Posehn) Mar 06, 2023

Listeners, you're in for a treat this week because we are joined by comedian, actor and writer Brian Posehn. We discuss Brian's formative years and how he managed to befriend both metalheads and popular kids in high school, even if that was way less dramatic than it is in John Hughes movies. We also discuss how he got his start in comedy, his current reality television picks and the time Vanessa forced all of her friends to watch an episode of "Say Yes To The Dress" when they were trying to be social at a party. For our topic, we get deep into the history of NERDS candies and its many offshoots including Nerds Rope, Nerds Cereal and Big Chewy Nerds. Finally, we play a spirited round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we try to get to the bottom of several complaints from some pretty unreliable narrators. But take it from a RELIABLE narrator, this episode is a must-listen!

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Remember Pocket Rockers? (with Patty Guggenheim) Feb 27, 2023

This week we are joined on the pod by comedian, writer and actress Patty Guggenheim, who you might recognize from her iconic role as Madisynn King on She-Hulk: Attorney At Law! Patty discusses her time bonding with Vanessa over Zoom as they played a game that Jonah still doesn't understand called Mafia, we discuss the origins of the term "Schnecken" and Patty's favorite hometown foods. We also reminisce about the phenomenon of the wearable personal stereo known as POCKET ROCKERS and the fact that both Patty and Vanessa owned the minicasette of Tiffany's version of "I Think We're Alone Now." Plus, we marvel at the wide variety of artists who allowed their music to be licensed to what was essentially a toy and the fact that Jonah didn't realize that their theme song was a Creedence Clearwater Revival hit that was retooled as a catchy jingle. Last but not least, we play a game of CHANGE.DORK where we review petitions about knee-high Converse sneakers, official high school anthems and a polarizing opinion on string cheese etiquette.

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Remember Scooby-Doo? (with Will Ferrell) Feb 20, 2023

This week on HDWGW, we could not be more excited to be joined by legendary comedian, acclaimed actor and our podcast network boss, Will Ferrell! On this episode, you'll hear Vanessa and Will trade behind the scenes stories about Saturday Night Live, we discuss Will's childhood love Monopoly and how Monopoly money and played into his career at SNL and so much more! Plus, Will regales Jonah with his stories about growing up with the members of Rage Against the Machine and we talk about Will's favorite childhood show, Scooby-Doo. Finally we play a thrilling round of Change.dork where we all weigh in on if school desserts should be mandatory, the pros and cons of Velcro shoes and if the next Batman should in fact be Will Ferrell. Once you hear his audio audition, we dare you to say otherwise!

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Remember Uncle Kyle's House? (with King Tuff) Feb 13, 2023

We could not be more thrilled to hang out with Sub Pop recording artist King Tuff a.k.a. Kyle Thomas to discuss his favorite childhood game "Uncle Kyle's House," which consisted of a magical world he created inside of his parents' old suitcase. Jonah and Vanessa also discuss the secret door that lead Kyle to the sewers beneath Kyle's childhood home, collectively speculate about the plot to the film "City Slickers" and discuss what other movies were seemingly on a loop during our formative years, ranging from "Haunted Honeymoon" to "Adventures in Babysitting." Finally we play a spirited round of "Back To The Present" where we lament the demise of Flinstone's Push-Ups, the Friendly's Wattamelon Roll and the time-honored tradition of free coffee at grocery stores, an experience that could only be made more transcendent if it were lamp-lit. So zip yourself up in your fave suitcase and check out this hilarious ep, and the new King Tuff album "Smalltown Stardust" out now!

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Remember Piano Lessons? (with Andrew McMahon) Feb 06, 2023

On this episode of the podcast, Vanessa and Jonah are joined by musician Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) to discuss how he defied the odds and instead of quitting piano lessons like we did, became a professional musician who wheeled a sticker-covered piano onto the stage of the Warped Tour and has became a well-respected musician who admittedly never really uses music theory. Vanessa and Andrew also finally reconcile a long-standing dispute about Andrew not emailing her back when she reached out to him as a complete stranger to talk about their shared cancer diagnosis and Jonah admits that he recently pulled a similar move when he was diagnosed with his own type of leukemia in 2019. We also play a special version of CEO TAKEDOWN: SOMETHING CORPORATE edition where we debate the Ok Go/Post Cereal controversy, the "Pepsi, Where's My Jet?" documentary and our complicated thoughts about A&W Root Beer's mascot. Be sure to check out Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness' new album "Tilt At The Wind No More" when it comes out on March 31st, just don't email him to tell him your thoughts because he probably won't write you back!

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Remember Quisp Cereal? (with "Weird Al" Yankovic) Jan 30, 2023

For our first ever in-person podcast, this week Jonah and Vanessa are joined by a bonafide musical and pop-culture legend: "Weird Al" Yankovic! Vanessa runs her own song parodies from college by our guest today to get his feedback, we dig deep into the history of Weird Al's favorite cereal and present him with a very special gift. Along the way we also talk about his favorite cartoons from growing up, his tour rider snack situation and what goes through his mind when he's onstage singing his hit song parodies to audiences all over the world. Finally we play a game of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we get everyone's take on the return of mood rings, Pizza Hut's New Yorker pizza and Vienetta Ice Cream. You've heard plenty of interviews with Weird Al before but has anyone else asked him about Black Flag or Kudos bars? Terry Gross look out, we're coming from your job!

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Remember The Guns N' Roses Video Trilogy? Jan 23, 2023

This week on the podcast, Jonah and Vanessa are back with another one-on-one episode to stage an in-depth discussion of Guns N' Roses' classic nineties video trilogy of "Don't Cry," "November Rain" and "Estranged." In the process Jonah recalls the time their mom took him to see Guns N' Roses with Skid Row in 1991 on the "Use Your Illusion Tour" (where he used dried blood as a fashion accessory), Vanessa's childhood fascination with Stephanie Seymour and, seriously, what was the deal with that dolphin? We also discuss the time that Jonah interviewed Slash, our favorite moments from the aforementioned videos and the time the Bayer kids saw GNR together in Cleveland in 2006 and were kicked out of the backstage area just moments before the band took the stage. Judging by this timeline we are overdue to see the band again soon, so if any of the members are listening to this podcast please feel free to reach out!

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Remember Movie Soundtracks? (with Rachael Cantu) Jan 16, 2023

This week on the podcast we are joined by our friend, musician Rachael Cantu! Rachael stopped by the podcast to talk about how she has a lot in common with both of the Bayers. Among other topics we discuss our mutual friendship with the vastly underrated band Limbeck, message board culture, our "bad kid" moments as teenagers (straight-edge kids can be a bad influence, too) and the time Jonah missed seeing Sublime at a tiny club in Cleveland because of his weeknight curfew. We also dig deep into our favorite movie soundtracks ranging from Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" to "Empire Records" and Vanessa gives her take on what we'll call "Sugar Ray fan mentality." Finally we play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we tackle deep dish pizza chips, the Frasier reboot and the return of McDonald's Peppermint Mocha coffee drink. If you're not content listening to all this incredible content, frankly we don't know what to tell you!

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Remember Power Rangers? (with Sam Richardson) Jan 09, 2023

On this week's episode the Bayers welcome the hilarious, sweet and immensely talented Sam Richardson! Listen to Sam and Vanessa reminisce on their Chicago comedy days and try their best to breakdown popular improv form The Harold. Plus, they improvise what Jonah's dream was last night! They also talk nostalgic action-packed shows from Thundercats to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and how Sam is always ready to morph into a Power Ranger the instant they need him. Whether you're on the planet Rafcon, Thundera, or Earth, this wildly funny episode is a must-listen!!!

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Remember The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine? (with Jessi Klein) Jan 02, 2023

On this week's episode the Bayers welcome the bestselling author, writer, actor and most importantly friend, Jessi Klein! They're talking local papers and the rare honor of being featured in them, and Jessi reveals her guest starring role on Sesame Street as the winner of her school's spelling bee! Also, the trio discuss the ongoing mystery of how ice cream is made aside from in the ice cream machine that always sabotages people on cooking shows, as well as the mystique of the Snoopy Sno-Cone machine. And speaking of toys, they also ask the age-old question: has anyone ever gotten a rock tumbler to work? Plus, they talk about the early nineties fixation with American flag etiquette and how Jonah really didn't care for it, and they brainstorm some pretty epic ideas for seasonal flags. Check it out!!

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Happy Holidays! Remember Lean Pockets? (with Beck Bennett) RE-RELEASE Dec 26, 2022

Vanessa and Jonah wish you all a Happy Holidays and listen to one of their favorite episodes with dear friend of the pod, Beck Bennett. Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-did-we-get-weird-with-vanessa-bayer-and-jonah-bayer/id1586365658

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In this seminal episode, Jonah and Vanessa sit down with the incomparable Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) to discuss his love for Lean Pockets and other cultural touchstones from the past. They also delve into the infamous lore that Jonah and Vanessa's dad is, in fact, the first person to ever be named "Todd." Spoiler alert: Vanessa is a great wedding guest and she just might come to your party if you invite her.

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Remember Choose Your Own Adventure Books? (with Justin Courtney Pierre) Dec 19, 2022

This week on the podcast we are joined by the Bayers' longtime friend, solo artist and the frontman of the band Motion City Soundtrack, Justin Courtney Pierre, to reminisce about CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE books. We discuss why this book series was the most interactive entertainment a kid could find in the 1980s and how it encouraged creativity in a way we didn't fully comprehend at the time. Along the way we dig into formative childhood memories, why Jonah rebelled against pencil grips to write in a way that has never once interfered with his life and Vanessa's guess-and-check chemistry class controversy that has led her on a decades-long campaign against a certain high-school teacher's reasoning. We dig deep into the new Dunkin Donuts' inferior new rewards program on a segment called CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PLAYED YOURSELF and explore how corporate profits and diluted coffee go down even smoother than a Peanut Butter Cup latte. We also talk CEO culture, frequent flyer point strategies and the slippery slope of stoichiometry. If you're looking for a podcast where the coefficient equals tons of laughs plus psychological insights, you've come to the right place.

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Remember Sketchers? (with Phoebe Robinson) Dec 12, 2022

We could not be more psyched to be joined this week by New York Times bestselling author, podcast legend and Vanessa's "Ibiza" co-star, Phoebe Robinson! On this incredible episode we talk about how the three of us all grew up in the same suburbs of Ohio and our favorite hang-outs, reminisce about our favorite shops to hit at the local mall and talk about how our teenage fashion choices were informed by our developing sense of identity. We also dig deep into the history of Sketchers shoes and the controversy surrounding their "Shape-Ups" shoes that almost led to the company's downfall. Finally, we play a powerful game of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we celebrate the legacy of local newscaster Ramona Robinson, debate if aesthetics are more important than doctors when it comes to hospitals and explore if the world is truly made up of—as one disgruntled Plain Dealer reader puts it—"crooks and liars." In a universe of unlimited podcasts, this is a conversation that cuts through all of the fluff and proves why Phoebe is a truly podcasting legend as well as a very cool friend.

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Remember Manic Panic Hair Dye? (with Gabe Liedman) Dec 05, 2022

Gabe Liedman is not only the sweetest person on earth, but this writer, producer and actor is also our amazing guest on this week's HDWGW! We talk about hair inspirations, from Vanessa and Gabe's admiration of Claire Danes in "My So-Called Life" to the previously unknown influence a teenager with a Jason Newsted haircut that Jonah saw during his childhood had on his style trajectory. Of course, we also discuss our love for Manic Panic hair dye, which runs as deep as our respect for its creators. That's not all! We dig into our celebrity doppelgängers and reminisce about independent record stores, ranging from Cleveland's Record Revolution to Philadelphia's Zipperhead. Finally, we play a round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we debate if the government is conspiring against literacy by banning light bulbs, hear about how perfume impacts one very judgmental Plain Dealer subscriber's experience at Playhouse Theatre and play a subgame called LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN: BATTLEZONE that pits millennials against seniors and features some of the most condescending attitudes we've ever heard on this podcast... and that's saying a lot.

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Remember Potato Skins? (with Claudio Sanchez) Nov 28, 2022

You've heard Claudio Sanchez sing about fantasy worlds as the frontman for Coheed And Cambria but have you heard him pontificate on a dish known as Chicken Rondelet? Get ready for that, plus we talk about Claudio's experiences playing Nintendo on the way to school, dig into the history of the Potato Skin (and Tato Skins) and recall some of our favorite commercial jingles of the eighties. We also discuss Jonah's doppelgänger as painted by Pablo Picasso, the time Claudio bought musical gear from the voice of Folger's coffee crystals and lovingly recall the days of COD (Cash On Delivery.) Finally, the three of us play an action-packed round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we debate the merits of Hocus Pocus 2, Van Leeuwan's Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice cream and hair scrunchies. If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out Coheed's latest album "Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind" and Claudio's new comic series "My Brother's Blood Machine." Who knows? If you're lucky, you might even be able to buy a dragonfly-branded scrunchie at an upcoming gig.

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Remember Thanksgiving? Nov 21, 2022

On this very special holiday edition of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, Vanessa and Jonah recount some of their favorite Thanksgiving memories from controversial food choices to taking the Bolt Bus to Philly and the complex family dynamics at play each November. We also discuss the most overrated and underrated sides, give an update on new parade floats and wonder why Wonderbread is still relevant. We also explore the history of the pumpkin spice latte and riff on millennial slang. As if that weren't enough, we close things out by introducing a special segment called CEO TAKEDOWN: THE TURKEYS COME HOME TO ROOST, where we examine the actions of CEOs from Butterball, Nestle and General Mills to decide which one of them needs to be taken down a notch. While they're on their ski lifts reviewing their record profits, we'll the ones getting the last laugh.

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Remember Coffee Shop Culture? (with Jewel) Nov 14, 2022

To celebrate Vanessa's birthday we are joined by a very special guest: JEWEL! That's right, we caught up with the acclaimed singer, actress and author to discuss the era before Starbucks where coffee shops were places to see live music and maybe even see Jewel demo songs that would go onto be nineties radio staples such as "Who Will Save Your Soul?" and "Foolish Games." We also discuss Jewel's career journey from a living on a remote homestead in Alaska to becoming a household name, Vanessa and Jewel's mutual love of Cyndi Lauper, how Jewel was able to channel her trauma into lasting art and how she came up with her own mental health curriculum by channeling her own "bunny nature." Finally we play a round of BACK TO THE PRESENT where we reminisce about The Body Shop, Dutch Apple Pop-Tarts and other nostalgic things that Jewel is a very good sport about discussing with us. Be sure to check out Jewel's new album Freewheelin' Woman and the other incredible work she does at jewelneverbroken.com and notalonechallenge.org . If you're looking to be as entertaining as you are inspired, you will not want to miss this episode!

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Remember Trying To Find Cool Jeans? (with Whitmer Thomas) Nov 07, 2022

This week we are joined by musician and comedian Whitmer Thomas for a very fashion-focused episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? We discuss the difficulty of finding cool jeans in rural Alabama, how the film TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY influenced Whitmer's aesthetic and why fingerless gloves were his accessory of choice. We also discuss Jonah's denim journey from JNCOs to Girbaud and the way that Vanessa's creative use of yarn as a form of budget hair extension helped our mom land a job at the Jewish Community Center. We also discuss Whitmer and Jonah's mutual love of punk and hardcore music, the time Vanessa educated the band Underoath on Bar Mitzvah culture and the time that Whitmer's mind was blown apart by discovering the existence of American Apparel retail stores upon moving to Los Angeles during their heyday. We also play a spirited found of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we debate the ethics of lowlifes stealing golf clubs, gentlemen filming doo-wop concerts and doctors favoring pharmaceutical reps over patients. To quote the Terminator, we hope that Whitmer can say, "I'll be back [on the podcast]" again very soon!

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Remember Halloween? Oct 31, 2022

In honor of today being Halloween, we thought we would reminisce about some of our favorite Halloween memories from childhood costumes to shaving cream hijinks. We also discuss the condescending nature of giving out healthy snacks (don't be this person), Vanessa talks about having a dance recital at the famed Orange Jubilee and we explore why a chain buffet restaurant with fluorescent lighting is Jonah's equivalent of a haunted house. We also discuss feeling pressured to dress up for Halloween parties, people who get very into decorations and the time we replaced our American flag with a pirate flag at a childhood home (amazing, this was not Halloween-related.) We also dig into a holiday-fueled round of change.dork where we discuss petitions that make a case for giving students the day off after Halloween, wearing costumes to school and making Halloween fall on the last Saturday of October every month regardless of what our calendar or the Farmer's Almanac wants us to believe. Whether you're dressing up as a friendly ghost or an embittered CEO, you'll find something to boo-lieve in on this episode of the podcast.

EXCLUSIVE: Change.org petition to make Jonah Bayer a notable alumna at Orange High!

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Remember Educational Media? (with Adam Conover) Oct 24, 2022

You've seen comedian and writer Adam Conover break down important topics on his hit TV shows "Adam Ruins Everything" and "The G Word With Adam Conover," but his intellectual expertise also extends to nostalgia. On this episode of the podcast, Adam tells us about the video games he played on his graphing calculator in school, his his indie rock/funny folk music band and why he hopes no one listening to this podcast will ever hear it. We also dive deep into the educational television series Square One Television, Vanessa and Jonah reminisce about Ben Affleck's memorable role in "Voyage of the Mimi" and we trace the career traject of the vocal group Rockapella from Carmen Sandiego's house band to Folgers instant coffee fame. Finally, we play a round of YESTOLGIA OR NOSTALGIA where we debate the merits of Cinnabon-flavored cereal, the return of Taco Bell's Enchirito and the rebooted Teletubbies. If you're looking for a podcast that's entertaining as it is educational (especially when it comes to the properties of the number nine) look no further, podcast listener!

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Remember Working at Toys "R" Us? (with Dan Ozzi) Oct 17, 2022

This week the Bayers are joined by bestselling author, Dan Ozzi whose book "Sellout" comes out on paperback tomorrow! To celebrate we reminisce about the time Dan had a VIP experience with Jonah and his parents at a New York Yankees game (thanks to Vanessa and Lorne Michaels) and which corporations have the best snacks, ranging from free Luna bars at Dan's ex-employer VICE to the time he loaded up on free desserts at Google. From there we get into our topic, where Dan compares his job working at a Toys "R" Us on Staten Island to Jonah's experience of working at a Kids "R" Us in suburban Ohio. It turns out Dan's job was like a Coen Safdie brothers movie with Simpsons figurines while Jonah's job was more like a movie directed by a very boring director that ends with him getting fired for playing a Tori Amos song on the local news. Finally, we play another round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we debate if the United States are Un-united, discuss how littering with garbage is different than littering with language and recap the basic tenets of tipping for those Cleveland Plain Dealer readers who feel that working at Pizza Hut for minimum wage is a job that you should be grateful to have. Did we mention Dan's book is coming out in paperback?

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Remember Old El Paso Meal Kits? (with Randy Blythe) Oct 10, 2022

This week we welcome lead singer of "Lamb of God" our friend Randy Blythe! We talk about everything from Indiana Jones movies to real-life encounters with Keanu Reeves, like when Vanessa recently talked to him for twenty minutes about his star turn in the Paula Abdul "Rush Rush Video" (uh oh are they best friends now?) plus Randy and Jonah try to teach Vanessa the difference between punk and metal, concert etiquette and much more. We also dive into the classic Old El Paso taco kit and how the seasoning still holds up today. And we get into the allure of Boboli and Digiorno pizza, which made you feel you were really making the real stuff/delivery! We also discuss classic family recipes like chicken tetrazzini, noodle kugel, and Jonah's ultimate favorite: orange juice (according to our Grandma). And we play another exciting game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" that covers texting at dinner, holding the door at post offices, and radio stations playing Christmas music around Thanksgiving. If you miss this episode you might get a visit from Krampus, and if you don't know who that is, you will learn from this episode- obvi it's a must-listen!

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Remember "Doug"? (with Jay Pharoah) Oct 03, 2022

In this week's impersonation-heavy ep, the Bayers are thrilled to welcome their friend, the hilarious Jay Pharoah!! Jay and Vanessa reminisce about SNL impressions they did based on their childhoods and some celebrity impressions they did later on (speaking of- who does a better Denzel Washington- you'll have to listen to find out!) The Bayers and Jay also talk about a fave show from growing up, Nickelodeon's "Doug" and Jay and Vanessa are so proud to learn what their tv son is up to today: winning a Daytime Emmy! ("tv son" is kind of nuanced in this instance but again, ya gotta listen to find out how!) Plus, in an exciting game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" they all debate new moves being made by The History Channel, how transparent restaurant commercials need to be, and whether texting your parents is a sufficient way to communicate. You're gonna love this ep so much you'll be saying "Alright, Okay!" for the rest of the week (AGAIN, this might not make sense now, but that's why you have to listen!"

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Remember Your Parents' Record Collection? (with Rob Harvilla) Sep 26, 2022

On today's new episode, Jonah and Vanessa welcome fellow Ohio native and host of Spotify's "60 Songs That Explain the 90s" Rob Harvilla to the podcast. They revisit their senior projects, which included organizing record bins, helping the community, and surfing the Internet. Jonah and Rob reminisce about their time working together at Alternative Press, including towers of promo CDs and their reviews of up-and-coming bands. Don't worry, they were nice and honest! Vanessa showcases her amazing Fred Durst impression as they navigate which song Limp Bizkit was known for performing. They discuss tablature music and their grunge band rankings, which leads to a discussion about their parents' collection of records from all genres of music. True Colors, Prince, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross and much much more. All this talk really gets the Bayers thinking about getting a record player. Sponsors, are your ears open?! We end the pod with a round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan?" where they review the Plain Dealer for complaints among the Greater Cleveland area including cable networks going to hell, unrealistic expectations of punctuality, and school deficit politics. You will not want to miss this music-filled episode!

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Remember Pogo Ball? (with Julie Klausner) Sep 19, 2022

This week we are excited to welcome writer, actress and comedian Julie Klausner to the podcast, who you may know from her popular Hulu series "Difficult People," her podcast DOUBLE THREAT with Tom Scharpling and/or her brand new podcast ASK JULIE! on the Forever Dog Plus Network. We discuss with Julie the many similarities between the films "Singles" and "Reality Bites" (including highlights from both soundtracks), dissect "Empire Records" and "So I Married an Axe Murderer" (GWAR discussion included) and reminisce about the time Vanessa introduced Jonah to Eddie Vedder and he said Vanessa was cool. We also revisit one of the most dangerous toys of the nineties aka the Pogo Ball, and explore their unorthodox commercial campaign which for some reason featured a giant monster hand trying to destroy the universe? Then we round things out with our viral segment "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan?" where we scan the Plain Dealer from a decade ago to find out what Clevelanders were complaining about, from smoking in casinos to extreme couponers. Unlike a Pogo Ball commute this podcast moves fast, so don't forget to don protective gear before listening.

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Remember Being a Latchkey Kid? (with Geoff Rickly) Sep 12, 2022

This week Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly took a break from playing arenas with My Chemical Romance to talk to us about what it was like being a latchkey kid in the suburbs of New Jersey during the "Home Alone" era of parental supervision. Along the way we also discuss the time Geoff and Jonah's screamo band, United Nations, were sued by the actual United Nations; the fine line between art and absurdity; and Geoff's memories of his first-period chorus class. We also discuss how Jonah stayed at Geoff's childhood home nearly two decades ago for work and recall Vanessa's cherished childhood cat, Pumpkin. Finally. we play an inaugural round of a new segment called "CEO TAKEDOWN" where we look at three CEOs who have made headlines lately and determine which one needs to be taken down a notch. If you're a fan of "the system" you might not enjoy this podcast because this one is for the true punks and outcasts, not the Wall Street billionaires or corrupt cookie corporations who thrive on conceit and complacency. (You know who you are.)

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Remember Hair Crimping? (with Jenna Von Oy) Sep 05, 2022

Well the sun is gonna surely shine this week because we are joined by star of the sitcom "Blossom" and friend of the Bayers, Jenna von Oy! On this episode, Vanessa fact-checks the bizarre direct message (and probably fictional road trip) that lead to her friendship with Jenna, we learn about the unlikely relationship between "Blossom" and "Seinfeld" and deconstruct Jenna's experiences doing commercials in the '90s which ranged from Kool-AId to Members Only to Quilted Northern. We also dig deep into the era's fashion—and what could accentuate a hat with fabric flowers attached to it more than crimped hair? (Unfortunately, crimping wasn't so easy for those of us with curly hair.) Finally, we discuss her co-star Joey Lawrence's "Nothing My Love Can't Fix" music video and play an insightful round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we explore misguided opinions on marketing, economics and junk mail. Also, be sure to check out and donate to Jenna's wonderful new project at https://www.thecassandraproject.net.

If you'd like to learn more about The Cassandra Project please follow the links below:

Website: TheCassandraProject.net

Instagram: @CassandraProjectFilm

Twitter: @Cassandra_Films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandraprojectfilm

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Remember Back to School? Aug 29, 2022

It's late August and that can only mean one thing: Back To School! In this this special episode, Vanessa and Jonah recall their visceral memories from that time which include picking out the perfect school supplies, shopping for the previous year's hottest fashions at Marshalls, and the oh so important task of planning an outfit for the first day of school. We also get deep into our former high school's current website on our new segment "Congratulations, You Played Yourself" and make a compelling argument for why Jonah should be included in the "notable alumni" section alongside Vanessa, former HDWGW guest JD Samson (Le Tigre) and, amazingly, the original bassist for Filter who would probably tell Jonah, "Hey man, nice shot" when it comes to his chances for inclusion. We also discuss how wild it is that high school class presidents have a lifetime appointment and our dad chimes in with his own personal history when it comes to the McDonald's Snack Wrap and its enduring influence on the fast food franchise. If you DON'T listen to this episode, well, then congratulations, you played yourself (meaning you should listen).

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Remember Spooky Games? (with Bridger Winegar) Aug 22, 2022

On today's new episode Jonah and Vanessa welcome the delightful Bridger Winegar to dig deep into the world of spooky games like "Light as a Feather Stiff as a Board" that haunted them as kids. And did you know there were several films inspired by the game "Bloody Mary"? It seems no one did. Plus, Bridger and Vanessa recall their days of being interns in late night tv and the various ways they humiliated themselves. And a lively game of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" has them debate whether kids in commercials are cute or annoying? Finally, we ask the question, is Bridger the first person to ever be named Bridger like The Bayer's dad Todd? You'll have to listen to find out!

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Remember TV Guide? (with Paul Brittain) Aug 15, 2022

This week on the podcast we are joined by our friend, the truly hilarious actor and comedian Paul Brittain, who you might know from "Saturday Night Live," "Trophy Wife" or a sketch based on "Three Men And A Baby" back in Chicago many years ago that Vanessa is still obsessed with. In that spirit, this episode includes Vanessa and Paul recounting their halycon days of cutting their teeth in the Windy City comedy scene, us all reminiscing about the way that seemingly carefree sitcoms used to tackle serious issues and Jonah being impressed that Paul saw the post-hardcore act Hum back in the nineties. For the main event, we recall the convenience of the print version of TV Guide and the frustration of the endlessly scrolling TV Guide channel, the story of which we hope is someday made into a made-for-TV movie (meta). We also play a captivating round of "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we discuss grocery store etiquette, loud television commercials and whether baseball players should charge kids for their autographs. We dare you to find another podcast that covers everyone from Mario Lopez to Mike Hargrove, but if you do, we might just buy your ticket to a charity spaghetti dinner.

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Remember Xena: Warrior Princess? (with Jenny Owen Youngs) Aug 08, 2022

Jenny Owen Youngs is not only a successful musician and songwriter who has worked with some of the biggest artists on the planet, she is also a TV scholar who co-hosts popular podcasts about Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars. In other words, she's the perfect guest for HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? On this episode, Jonah recalls the magical night he attended both Jenny's wedding and MTV Video Music Awards where Vanessa introduced Miley Cyrus' performance, Jenny talks about what it's like living in the lobster roll mecca of Maine and Vanessa does a truly stellar impression of Jenny's collaborator Pitbull that is so uncanny it's difficult to believe Mr. Worldwide is not in the room with us. For our topic, we take a collective deep dive into the popular fantasy/adventure television series "Xena: Warrior Princess," specifically when it comes to the impact it had on a young Jenny Owen Youngs and the pioneering plot twists that have since become hallmarks of the genre. Finally, we play a snack-themed round of" Change Dot Dork" and try to guess which unhealthy treat from the past is currently back in rotation at your local grocery store. Enjoy.

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Remember Sega Genesis? (with Joe Mande) Aug 01, 2022

You know comedian Joe Mande from his work as a writer and actor on beloved shows like Parks And Recreation and Hacks, but did you know a childhood obsession with the Sega Genesis game "Earthworm Jim" almost led to his downfall? Today on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? we not only explore the weird and wonderful world of Sega Genesis, but Vanessa talks about why she is constantly trolling Jonah on social media and Joe recounts the time that he was so convinced that he would win a shopping spree at Toys R Us that he painstakingly planned out his entire route using a map of the store's layout. We also play a round of our favorite complaining game "Valid Moan or Unnecessary Groan" where we debate vital local issues from 2011, which range from pet cleanup etiquette to whose face should or should not be on Cleveland's gas pumps.

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Remember Prank Calls? (with Craig Finn) Jul 25, 2022

Craig Finn is best known as the frontman for The Hold Steady and a successful solo artist but some of his formative years were influenced by peer pressure when it came to teenagers' favorite hobby in the nineties: Prank phone calls. On this episode we recount our own largely anticlimactic stories of receiving and making prank calls, Vanessa explains the way she views conversations between musicians from a comedian's perspective and of course we explore Craig's Cleveland connection, whether that means shaking it up in Shaker Heights as a child or playing to sparse audiences at the Euclid Tavern as an adult. Finally we once against revisit our "Legit Moan or Unnecessary Groan" segment, which sees us discussing if it's OK to talk at movie theatres before the previews start, if Browns fans should be ejected for standing at a football game and if income inequality can truly be blamed on the fact that Nicholas Cage reportedly sold a Superman comic book for $2.1 million dollars in 2011.One thing that we don't think you'll be complaining about is Craig's new solo album "A Legacy Of Rentals," which is out now and in Jonah's constant musical rotation. Trust us, it is very good.

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Remember VHS Tapes? (with Michelle Zauner) Jul 18, 2022

You may know Michelle Zauner from her Grammy-nominated musical act Japanese Breakfast or New York Times best-selling memoir "Crying in H Mart," but before all that she was just a kid who loved Sailor Moon. Michelle dropped by the pod this week to talk about watching and rewatching her favorite childhood VHS tapes, taking guitar lessons in the world's most corporate setting and the lessons she learned growing up about dining etiquette. Along the way Michelle helps Jonah and Vanessa call out their middle school music teacher for not lightening up and letting Jonah listen to Metallica in class, the three of us discuss the green room cheese plate situation for Japanese Breakfast's performance on this year's SNL season finale. As if that weren't enough, we also introduce a BRAND NEW SEGMENT called "Legit Moan Or Unnecessary Groan" that is kind of difficult to explain but should not be missed and sees us tackling the legacy of Crankshaft, Lawrence Welk and Giant Eagle supermarket's controversial stocking decisions. EPISODE NOTE: we accidentally say the Silent Generation came before the Greatest Greatest Generation when it's actually the other way around and we apologize for the mix-up, but honestly don't focus on that, Boomer.

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Remember Field Trips? (with Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger) Jul 11, 2022

Vanessa and Jonah welcome their friends, Hollywood Power Couple Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger, to HDWGW. They talk about their time on Will & Grace, the shelf life of pastries (especially if they are given to you for free), and attending high school and college reunions. They go on to discuss a variety of school field trips, like going into a giant tooth, Meredith's nostalgia-filled visits to Olvera Street, and Patton's trips to very cool historical landmarks near Washington D.C. The discussion eventually takes them to snack talks, including the interesting yet disgusting treat known as astronaut food. Eventually the conversation leads to being mesmerized by gift shops and relieved that kids don't have access to credit cards. A quick podcast public service announcement: DO. NOT. SHOPLIFT. AT. DISNEY. Lastly, another fun round of Change.dork takes all four to thinking about Arby's, declaring the need for a holiday for wines, and the Bono/Jon Bon Jovi Vegan Challenge.

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Remember Radio Call-In Contests? (with Kate Micucci) Jul 04, 2022

This week we could not be happier to be joined by our very good friend the actress, comedian and musician Kate Micucci to discuss her childhood obsession with radio call-in contests, something she was so skilled at that eventually her local radio station told her she had to stop calling in. Along the way we discuss the time Jonah won Lilith Fair and Poison tickets from his local radio station and took Vanessa to both shows (Lilith Fair proved to be better attended), the lasting benefits of taking keyboarding classes in high school and the time Kate and Vanessa performed at a nineties-inspired music festival alongside Matchbox Twenty... or maybe it was Third Eye Blind? Finally, we play an inspiring round of our viral segment Change.dork, which explores everything from the barriers to entry for Funkytown to Crocs etiquette.

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Remember Gigli? Jun 27, 2022

Well, Bennifer is back and so is another one of our nostalgic movie rewatch podcasts! In this episode of HDWGW, we take a deep dive into the universally panned 2003 J Lo and Ben Affleck film "Gigli" and believe us when we say this film is best digested in small doses. Listen to Jonah and Vanessa break down this singularly terrible film where bad accents, nonsensical character arcs and an flimsy-yet-offensive plot all come together to create a film that was physically difficult to watch and leaves us far more confused than entertained. If you haven't seen "Gigli" you'll still enjoy this episode—and as a bonus, we also saved you two hours of your life that would be better spent doing almost anything.

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Remember Ab Machines from the 90s? (with John Early) Jun 20, 2022

On today's ep the Bayers welcome their good friend, the hilarious and supremely talented John Early! They reminisce about hanging out at Bonnaroo in Nashville and Vanessa does a really good rendition of an Ellie Goulding song and tries to convince everyone that she's genuinely friends with Chance the Rapper. They also get into nineties ab machines and how the Bayers owned an ab roller that Jonah didn't even know about, and how John almost burned himself many times with an ab toning belt. Finally, they play an incredible round of Change.Dork where they debate whether it's more important to support adding a burger chain to Nashville or a teenager who is fighting to keep the blender on the counter. You won't want to miss this honestly perfect episode.

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Remember Hanging Out At The Mall? (with Andy Richter) Jun 13, 2022

You may know Andy Richter as the longtime sidekick for Conan O'Brien, but he's also a very accomplished actor, writer, comedian and podcaster. Andy came by HDWGW this week to discuss the difficulties of fish taxidermy, his Chicago comedy roots and some of his favorite Late Night With Conan O'Brien musical acts ranging from The Breeders to Tony Bennett. We also recall fond memories of hanging out at our local shopping malls in the 80s and 90s and our favorite food court picks. Along the way, Vanessa laments the demise of the Original Cookie Company and Jonah talks about buying a Body Count CD at Record Town thanks to their lax parental advisory policy. Finally, we have an impassioned round of change.org where we debate whether our collective energy should be directed toward the return of PB&J Oatmeal Cream Pies, accountability for the Lethal Weapon TV series or the availability Twinkies in a high school cafeteria. How could you not want to listen to this episode?

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Remember Microwavable Bean Burritos? (with Joel Kim Booster) Jun 06, 2022

On this episode, Jonah and Vanessa welcome the one and only Joel Kim Booster! Jonah and Vanessa bond with Joel about their collective love of bean burritos and the challenge of heating them evenly, the fate of Keebler Tato Skins, and their varying skill levels at making dips. (Spoiler: Joel is the only one who is good at it!) Plus, they get into childhood birthday party activities from Jonah's baseball card show excursion to to Vanessa's many Plaster of Paradise painting parties and explore the current cultural phenomenon of adults engaging in traditionally kid-oriented activities. Finally, we ask the age old question: Do we really need our fries to have truffle on them?! You'll have to listen to find out... but the answer is no!

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Remember Inappropriate Movies? (with Joe Trohman) May 30, 2022

Joe Trohman is best known as the guitarist in the multi-platinum rock act Fall Out Boy but he's also created cartoons, comics and the upcoming memoir, None of This Rocks. We sat down with Joe to discuss his earliest movie memories, which include his mother showing him the Omen and share our own inappropriate movie memories, which include their parents' friend Terry showing us The Re-Animator when we were way too young. Along the way we also discuss Joe's lifelong obsession with horror movies, the fact that he and Vanessa shared the same therapist in New York City and Joe's memorable episode of MTV's Cribs. We also recall the time Jonah visited the New York Stock Exchange with Fall Out Boy and Joe's infinite metal cred (he's in a band with Anthrax's Scott Ian after all). Finally, we answer the age-old question: Can Domino's do deep-dish pizza? You'll have to listen to find out.

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Remember Your First Car? (with Matt Walsh) May 23, 2022

This week we are joined by legendary actor and comedian Matt Walsh, who you may know from his work with Upright Citizens Brigade, his role as Mike McLintock on "Veep" or a million other hilarious appearances. Together we discuss the career trajectory of Steven Seagal from actor to cop to guy who gets mocked in Brian Cox's memoir, the time Jonah and his friends threw a block of ice on his car engine, and Matt's experiences using a sock as a gas cap. Vanessa also gives her thoughts on the return of thin eyebrow and together we debate the merits of artificial grape flavoring and our hopes for the "Quantum Leap" reboot. Whether you want to learn about Walsh's cameo "The Conners" or hear three people who've never lived in condos discuss the pros and cons of Homeowner's Associations, you'll find something to laugh about on this hilarious episode of the podcast.

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Remember Landline Etiquette? (with Lisa Loeb) May 16, 2022

In this episode the Bayers welcome nineties icon and Grammy Award-winning musician Lisa Loeb! We talk (so all the time) about landline phone etiquette from growing up including prank calls and Vanessa's love for calling the numbers on catalogs with a pretend accent. We also get into Lilith Fair and guitar shredding and when Lisa toured with Sarah McLachlan. And don't worry, not only do we talk about Lisa's famous cat eyeglasses and her current line of glasses, but Vanessa does a deep dive into the Betsey Johnson dress Lisa wore in the "Stay" video. Dreams! You've got to listen to this episode even if you only hear what you want to!

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Remember Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? (with Chris Farren) May 09, 2022

This week on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? Jonah and Vanessa are joined by musician and longtime friend of the Bayers, Chris Farren. We discuss our favorite iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as Chris's childhood toy preferences. We also get into Chris's amazing ability to create viral merch and Vanessa chimes in with her own expert opinion of how to price band merchandise. Finally, we debut a new segment called CEO TAKEDOWN where we critique the all-CEO band The Moderators who you probably read about on about cheifexecutive.net aka Pitchfork for CEOs. You don't have to be a multi-billionaire to enjoy this episode of the podcast. In fact, it's probably better if you aren't one.

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Remember Your First Band? (with Riki Rachtman) May 02, 2022

Thirty years in the making, this episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD? sees Jonah and Vanessa catching up with their long-lost cousin and the former host of the MTV's Headbangers Ball, Riki Rachtman. We discuss how Riki is related through marriage to the Bayers, the time Jonah almost invited Riki to his Bar Mitzvah and the time Axl Rose flew to New York with Riki to get our cousin his first hosting job on MTV. We also talk about our first bands, what it was like owning the Sunset Strip's most infamous club and why Alice Cooper was the first person to know about Riki's engagement. Vanessa also laments the loss of the old-school answering machine, Jonah reminisces about music video culture and Riki remembers a time when having tattoos made you an outcast. There truly is something for everyone on this episode... unless you're a Caribou Coffee enthusiast.

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Remember Taping Songs Off The Radio? (with Benjamin Gibbard) Apr 25, 2022

Benjamin Gibbard may follow you in the dark, but he will not follow you in the trendy brunch spot in your neighborhood. On this episode on HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?, we catch up with the frontman for Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service to discuss 20 years of random Bayer hangouts ranging from breakfast to Bonnarroo, what being vegan was like during DCFC's early years and why he is unlikely to become the spokesman for Dunkin' Donuts anytime soon. We also discuss taping songs off the radio as a teenager, the enduring influence of Minor Threat and why "ordering something for the table" is the best way to get something indulgent without a side order of guilt.

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Remember Your First Job? (with JD Samson) Apr 18, 2022

You may know JD Samson as the musician in critically acclaimed acts like Le Tigre and MEN, but did you know she also went to high school with Jonah and Vanessa? On this episode we discuss Jonah's brief stint working for JD's parents, what it was like being a teenaged outcast in Ohio in the nineties and how going to an outdoor expedition summer camp changed JD's life. We also get into our first jobs, why flavored-coffee is disgusting and lament the demise of our favorite regional theme park growing up, Geauga Lake. Don't worry, you don't have to be an Orange Lion to enjoy this action-packed episode of HOW DID WE GET WEIRD?!

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Remember squeezits? (with Solomon Georgio) Apr 11, 2022

This week we could not be more psyched to be joined by comedian, writer and actor Solomon Georgio, who you may know from his work on Shrill and High Fidelity. On this action-packed episode, we discuss whether we keep in touch with people from our childhood and debate the need for adult-sized Lunchables. Plus, we get in-depth about the history of the beloved childhood juice, squeezits, and if we really want to see snack foods advertised as sentient beings. Finally, we revisit our change.dork segment where we imagine a world where "Weird Al" Yankovic performs at the Super Bowl and Jonah starts a public feud with Maroon 5 that is sure to be making headlines all over the Internet by the time you read this.

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Remember John Hughes Films, but really, The State? (with Michael Showalter) Apr 04, 2022

We are overjoyed to have director, writer, actor, comedian and producer Michael Showalter on the podcast this week—who is also a director and executive producer of Vanessa's upcoming Showtime series "I Love That For You" which debuts April 29th. Full disclosure: we told Showalter that we were going to talk to him about John Hughes movies, but we ended up inundating him with questions about his beloved comedy troupes The State and Stella as well as what we refer to as "the Wet Hot American summer franchise." In that spirit, we also find time to share our summer camp experiences when we aren't poking fun of our hometown or learning more about Showalter's creative process. This episode also includes a lightning round of change.dork that sees our guest describing his perfect coffee blend in a detailed manner that we encourage you to recreate at home.

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Remember There's Something About Mary? Mar 28, 2022

This week on the podcast, Vanessa and Jonah do a deep dive analysis of the 1998 Farrelly brothers film, "There's Something About Mary." Despite its all-star cast, there is a lot of questionable aspects of the film that are rooted in the broader context of comedy movies in the nineties. We've heard about suspending disbelief but you've got to attain anti-gravity levels of suspension to accept Matt Dillion's spy technology, the film's convoluted stalker backstory and the way that the Farrelly Brothers are able to reduce characters to mere caricatures. Despite all this, there are some genuinely funny moments in this film by Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz that embody the awkwardness of adolescence, where the film really shines. Whether you've never seen "There's Something About Mary" (which we hadn't) or it's one of your favorite films (grow up?), you'll find something to take away from our expert analysis of this comedy classic.

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Remember Having Funyuns and Pepsi for Breakfast? (with Shalita Grant) Mar 21, 2022

This week's guest Shalita Grant has not only been nominated for a Tony Award, she's also an actress who you know from Search Party, NCIS: New Orleans and You. We hear about her experiences as a drama student at the prestigious Juilliard School and the "Juilliard Curse," deep dive into the history of Funyuns and reminisce about our childhood pets. Jonah also reveals that he occasionally looks at his the lunch menu at his old high school and we explore the hidden relationship between the educational system and the pizza industry. Speaking of which, we also roast the inventor of Pizza Hut's Double Cheeseburger pizza and fondly recall the franchise's Accelerated Reader & Book It! programs in our wildly popular "Back To The Present" segment.

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Remember Saving UPC Labels? (with Mike O'Brien) Mar 14, 2022

In today's episode we talk to our friend and one of the funniest people in the world, Mike O'Brien. We hear the stories behind Mike's epic tattoos, plus he and Vanessa discuss their early Chicago comedy days, and he and Jonah discuss the trials and tribulations of being hghly acclaimed brand ambassadors. We also hear about the time Mike's family got a free day trip to Boston by eating a year's worth of Cheerio's. Was it worth it? You'll have to listen to find out...but obviously it was not.

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Remember 80s Power Ballads? (with Brian Fallon) Mar 07, 2022

We are thrilled to have good friend and talented musician Brian Fallon from Gaslight Anthem and also known for his wildly successful solo career. We talk about Jonah's missed opportunity of flipping his cash and still not buying a winter jacket, what musicians get a "punk pass", and what generation we technically fall under (we just know Phoebe Bridgers isn't making fun of us). We discuss the power ballads that gave us all the feels and determination of our lives. Another exciting game of change.dork gets us to ponder long and hard about these music centric petitions.

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Remember AOL Chat Rooms? (with Kate Berlant) Feb 28, 2022

The super talented and friend Kate Berlant graces us with her charming whit on the podcast. You may know Kate from her work on "Netflix: The Characters" and the film "555". We discuss her origins such as going to an all girls school, being the president of the Thespian Society (or Vice President?) and doing stand-up in the New York comedy scene. We take a trip down memory lane discussing AOL chat rooms allowing us to be "someone else" behind a screen and trolling people in chat rooms, especially when it comes to music taste. We play the segment "change.dork" and look at the petitions ranging from food centric to showing compassion towards sitcom actors.

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Remember Muppet Babies? (with Tony Thaxton) Feb 21, 2022

In this episode, good friend and amazing musician Tony Thaxton stops by the podcast this week. Tony is the drummer for Motion City Soundtrack and a podcaster himself, what can this guy not do?! We talk about our deep fondness of Muppet Babies and how we do not care for the reboot, especially the theme song. Diving into celebrity voice-over actors on the show like Howie Mandel and Dave Coulier and learning that Skeeter was not an original muppet. Plus discussion of celebrity albums and talking about performing with Weird Al Yankovic being a dream come true. They play "Back To The Present" segment where Jonah discusses the Cleveland Mosh Line and how it was meant to resolve pit fights and keep it safe, Vanessa talks Swatch Watches and all the styles they provided for everyone and Tony would like to bring back non-singer celebrity songs to the radio.

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Remember Snack Commercials for Moms? (with Cole Escola) Feb 14, 2022

We are so lucky to have comedian, actor and singer Cole Escola drop by the podcast this week. You may know Cole from their scene-stealing roles in "Search Party," "At Home With Amy Sedaris" and "Difficult People," but before all that they were learning about sophisticated, cosmopolitan female leads on nineties shows like "Fired Up" and "Mad About You." We also get into how the calcium industry hijacked TV commercials in the nineties to the point where Cole ate so many Kraft single slices it made them puke, explore what will now be dubbed "The Snackwell aesthetic" and hear about the time Vanessa misunderstood what seems like a pretty straightforward reference from "Troop Beverly Hills" so deeply that it's still difficult to comprehend. The CEOs get a short-lived break this week as we bring back our "Back To The Present" segment where Jonah makes a compelling case for CD long boxes, Vanessa makes a plea to bring back WOW! chips (despite Olestra's uncomfortable side effects) and Cole would like to bring back Sunday night family movie programming, the latter of which should not cause intestinal bloating.

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Remember "Saved by the Bell: The College Years"? (with Kyle Mooney) Feb 07, 2022

We feel honored to have nostalgia expert, SNL cast member, and our good friend Kyle Mooney on the pod this week! Of course, we discuss eighties cartoons and how Kyle embodies that aesthetic so flawlessly on his hilarious new Netflix show, Saturday Morning All-Star Hits! We also get deep into the short-lived primetime series Saved By The Bell: The College Years. Was it weird that the Bayside Crew had an ex-football player as their dorm's RA? Absolutely. Along the way we also discuss Kyle's childhood toy collection, the TV phenomenon known as Rescue 9-1-1 and we wonder why picture-in-picture technology seems to have disappeared. Finally, Jonah brings back our popular CEO Takedown segment unknowingly burning the same CEO two weeks in a row as we debate if General Mills legacy will ultimately be Nerf balls, sugar-coated cereals or simply... flour.

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Remember Strawberry Shortcake? (with Jenny Lewis) Jan 31, 2022

The Bayers' longtime friend and iconic musician Jenny Lewis stops by the podcast this week to discuss the time that she and Vanessa took Jonah to get his first ever pedicure! If that story isn't exciting enough, we also discuss Jenny's childhood acting roles in everything from Troop Beverly Hills to The Wizard and her musical career and recent tour with Harry Styles. Plus, we talk about the perils of online dating, and dig deep on Jenny's love of Strawberry Shortcake and the rest of her badass crew, which also includes Lemon Meringue and Blueberry Muffin. And did Caboodles just do a tribute to Jenny? You'll have to listen to find out.

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Remember Burning CDs? (with Sudi Green) Jan 24, 2022

In this episode, the phenomenal writer and actress Sudi Green stops by the pod! We talk about after school sports with subtopics ranging from but not limited to the harrowing journey of finding your track event, Vanessa's odd cross-country hack and the moments we each realized sports just weren't for us. We also reminisce about burning CDs and curating our music tastes to impress our older siblings while Jonah recounts winning the prestigious Carrier Pigeon paper plate award. As if that wasn’t enough, Vanessa takes a trip down memory lane reading through her Lilith Fair-approved CD wallet from the nineties.

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Remember Backyard Swing-Sets? (with Bridget Everett) Jan 17, 2022

In this episode, our incredibly talented friend Bridget Everett stops by the pod fresh off the premiere of her new HBO show “Somebody Somewhere” and a feature in The New Yorker. Together we question why anyone ever thought dodgeball was a good idea for kids and reminisce on the glory of being a tall kid playing tetherball. We also dig deeper than ever on a favorite topic, the rampant misuse of change.org, and discuss varied topics ranging from pyramid schemes to the origins of P.F. Chang himself. Finally, we answer that age old question: Are Amway products any good? You'll have to listen to find out.

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Remember Skip-It? (with Amy Schumer) Jan 10, 2022

We could not be more thrilled to have our friend and comedy icon Amy Schumer on the podcast this week! We discuss the international adventures Amy had with Vanessa and Jonah on the Trainwreck European press tour, her musical connections ranging from Taking Back Sunday to Madonna, and what a dream it would have been to belong to The Baby-Sitters Club. We also get nostalgic about Skip-It and in the process discover that it may be the loneliest toy of the nineties.

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Remember Your First Instrument? (with Jon Wurster) Jan 03, 2022

In addition to playing drums for Superchunk, The Mountain Goats and Bob Mould today's guest Jon Wurster is one of the funniest people on the planet as evidenced by his work with former HDWGW guest Tom Scharpling on The Best Show. On this episode we discuss first instruments, why unearned confidence is such good comedy fodder and what it's like to punish your musical idols on the road. Finally, we discuss Jonah's history as a teenage scam artist. Did he ever get caught and did he single-handedly put both Waldenbooks and Borders out of business? You'll have to listen to find out.

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Remember Video Rental Stores? (with Jonah Ray Rodrigues) Dec 20, 2021

In addition to having a very cool first name, Jonah Ray Rodrigues is a hilarious writer, comedian, actor and the current host of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Jonah and Vanessa caught up with Jonah Ray Rodrigues to discuss what it was like growing up in Hawaii, his adolescent insecurities and the psychic connection between Steven Seagal and punk rock. We also discuss our experiences renting videos during our formative years, how we discovered we're too old for mosh pits and what exactly is an NFT??? If you've ever been forced to workout to Buns Of Steel for an entire semester just to pass a high school gym class, you will find this podcast to be both entertaining and relatable.

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Remember Warheads? (with Chris Gethard) Dec 13, 2021

In this episode, comedian, podcaster and all-around great guy Chris Gethard stops by to reminisce with Jonah and Vanessa about lunch room food fights, food dares and physically challenging candy like Warheads. Meanwhile, Vanessa wonders what the hell was up with her elementary and middle school administrators being so obsessed with the noise levels in the lunch room. They also discuss the time Jonah and Vanessa were in the same high school French class, Chris's harrowing visits to Action Park and the pure joy of getting to shop at school when the Scholastic Book Fair would come to town.

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Remember The Radio? (with Dave Holmes) Dec 06, 2021

This week, Jonah and Vanessa welcome writer, producer, and former MTV VJ Dave Holmes to the pod to talk about radio and how it's transformed over the years, teen magazines, and Jonah's childhood love of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pies. We also discuss Dave's encounters with Pauly Shore as well as vintage perfume commercials and their incredible jingles. Spoiler alert- Vanessa nails her rendition of one of them.

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Remember Reggie Bars? (with Tom Scharpling) Nov 29, 2021

You know Tom Scharpling as the host of The Best Show and author of the bestselling book, It Never Ends: A Memoir with Nice Memories!, but he's also a friend of both of the Bayers. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the origins of The Original Todd, Vanessa's onstage roasting of Jonah's bands and our favorite personal experiences with Papa Roach. We also reminisce about Reggie bars, the family sitcom Dinosaurs and Tower Records. From the dark history of the Baby Ruth Bar to the best Aerosmith memoirs, you won't want to miss a thing when it comes to this episode.

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Remember G.I. Joe? (with Laura Jane Grace) Nov 22, 2021

You know Laura Jane Grace from Against Me! and her solo career, but we bet you don't know about her childhood obsession with action figures. This week Laura stopped by the podcast to discuss her decades-long relationship with G.I.Joes and the detailed storylines she would build around them. We also discuss getting cappuccinos at Lilith Fair, band reunions ranging from Genesis to the Black Crowes, and Vanessa and Laura's experiences hanging out with Cyndi Lauper and seeing her "true colors." (Spoiler alert: She's very nice.) Whether you're a fan of Aus Rotten or Sarah McLachlan, this episode truly has something for everyone.

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Remember Birthday Parties? (with Taran Killam) Nov 15, 2021

On this week's episode, Vanessa and Jonah discuss all things birthdays with their good friend the wildly talented Taran Killam. Why you ask? BECAUSE IT'S VANESSA'S BIRTHDAY! They talk about the best birthdays, slumber parties, Taran's uncanny ability to summarize Breaking Bad, and who's behind the incredibly cool theme music and sound effects on the podcast. Plus some crucial updates and show feedback from former classmates at Orange High School.

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Remember Digimon? (with Bowen Yang) Nov 08, 2021

Friend of the pod Bowen Yang stopped by this week to discuss his childhood obsession with Pokeman's less popular but more badass peer, Digimon. Along the way Jonah pitches Bowen on a potentially lucrative business deal, Vanessa sings some of your favorite commercial jingles and we debate the return of Oreo Cakesters. We also discuss the pros and cons of curated subscription services, discuss Bowen's brief tenure as a fashion designer and get nostalgic about our favorite scents from childhood. If you're looking for a podcast that's as entertaining as it is educational, this is the episode for you!

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Remember DEVO? (with Fred Armisen) Nov 01, 2021

The one and only Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) stopped by the podcast this week to discuss his first concert experience: Seeing DEVO at Radio City Music Hall on October 31st, 1981, right down the street from where Fear were destroying the SNL set at 30 Rock. In this largely music-themed episode, we also discuss Fred's love of all things goth, playing drums alongside his heroes like The Clash and his personal connection with Halloween that goes back to childhood. Equal parts hilarious, educational and sentimental, this truly is an episode for the ages—and for those who want a quick and easy way to get rid of their garbage!

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Remember Jumanji? (with Matt Rogers) Oct 25, 2021

In this episode, Jonah and Vanessa welcome the electrifying actor/comedian Matt Rogers (Las Culturistas, Haute Dog). They discuss the 1995 fantasy adventure film Jumanji and have their own fantasy adventure debating its logistics. Plus, they talk wacky family members, iced tea versus soda as a childhood status symbol, favorite pizza chains and dare to ask who can afford to buy an American Girl Doll in this day in age?!

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Remember AND1 Mixtapes? (with Langston Kerman) Oct 18, 2021

In this episode, Jonah and Vanessa welcome the hilarious and talented Langston Kerman, who you might know as an actor, writer, comedian and host of "My Momma Told Me." They discuss their nostalgic childhood journeys of getting to school: From watching incredible bus fights to Jonah peeling into the highschool parking lot blasting what Vanessa calls "the yelling guys." They also talk about Langton's love for AND1 mixtapes, 3D Doritos, Double Dare Live, and see if Langston can finally put his beef with Mark Summers to rest.

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Remember Winning A Date with Tom Cruise? (with Claudia O'Doherty) Oct 11, 2021

You know Claudia O'Doherty from her roles on Love and Inside Amy Schumer, but did you also know she shares an unhealthy habit of late-night online shopping with Vanessa? On this episode of the HDWGW, Claudia looks back on her childhood in Australia and reminisces about a popular commercial for lamb where Naomi Watts turns down a date with Tom Cruise. Crazier yet, Claudia would star in a commercial with Naomi Watts years later, blurring her sense of fiction and reality. Along the way, Jonah laments the demise of Taco Bell's 7-Layer Burrito, Vanessa waxes nostalgic about the defunct prime rib chain Mountain Jack's, and Claudia tells us why she is not a fan of kettle chips. If you like controversial takes, this is the episode for you!

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Remember He-Man? (with Bobby Moynihan) Oct 04, 2021

You may know Bobby Moynihan as Vanessa's former castmate on SNL or Uno Pizzeria's most famous bartender, but before all that he was a big fan of Saturday Morning Cartoons. On this incredibly educational episode of How Did We Get Weird?, we discuss the origins of He-Man, She-Ra and the Masters Of The Universe franchise. We also reminisce about Bobby's many creative projects, Jonah’s love of Sodalicious fruit snacks and how one Utah newspaper's snarky article took down a delicious Keebler cookie before it ever had a chance to shine.

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Remember Lean Pockets? (with Beck Bennett) Sep 27, 2021

In this seminal episode, Jonah and Vanessa sit down with the incomparable Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) to discuss his love for Lean Pockets and other cultural touchstones from the past. They also delve into the infamous lore that Jonah and Vanessa's dad is, in fact, the first person to ever be named "Todd." Spoiler alert: Vanessa is a great wedding guest and she just might come to your party if you invite her.

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Remember Shallow Hal? Sep 27, 2021

Years ago, Jonah and Vanessa watched the 2001 Jack Black/Gwyneth Paltrow romantic comedy "Shallow Hal" together and Vanessa was so high that she reversed the plot of the film. For this special and incredibly important podcast episode, Jonah and Vanessa have rewatched the film in a more lucid state and they are ready to delve into it's complex plotlines. What did they think of the film the second time around? Spoiler alert: They didn't love it.

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Introducing: How Did We Get Weird with Vanessa Bayer and Jonah Bayer Sep 17, 2021

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