The Tom Barnard Podcast

Dave Mowry is also turning mental illness into humor Jul 08, 2026

In part one of today's show, we talked about shows that brand themselves as "dark humor" to position themselves more favorably. In part two, we talked to someone who wrote a book of actual dark humor about his time in the military. Now, in part three, we're talking to someone who became a stand-up comedian as a way to channel his anxiety and bipolar disorder into - you guessed it - dark humor. I didn't set the whole day up this way. It just kind of happened. Maybe the universe is telling us something.

You can find Dave's books at https://davemowry.com.

This guest was booked using PodMatch! Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out to us at https://www.podmatch.com/member/tombarnardpodcast.

Episode discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/08/july-8th-2026/

Jason Rumbaugh turns PTSD into humor Jul 08, 2026

Jason is a Wisconsinite and Iraq War veteran. He was blown up by an IED, thrust back into civilian life without a clue how to navigate it, and has gone through years of therapy. And now he's written a book where he jokes about it all. Ha ha, right? It's raw, it's honest, and it brings us back to that "dark humor" topic we were just talking about in the previous segment.

You can find his book (and author bio) here: https://www.amazon.com/Waves-Shrapnel-Jason-Thomas-Rumbaugh/dp/B0GS282MSC

Episode discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/08/july-8th-2026/

Celebrities who don't look their age and Emmy snubs Jul 08, 2026

The Emmy nominations are out. Given how Taylor Sheridan's shows make up 90% of all network programming at the moment, you'd think he'd at least have gotten one of them. Nope. Maybe people are getting tired of very similar shows about life on a ranch. They're also tired of Stranger Things, mostly because the last season was apparently not great. But you know what we'll never get tired of? Noticing how men in the mid 20th century always looked 30 years older than their age.

Episode discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/08/july-8th-2026/

The neurotic dog show Jul 06, 2026

Frequent listeners may have learned that Jude has mental problems. Namely, attachment issues. Not that being a lunatic is unusual for a dog. It's part of what makes life interesting. You know what else makes life interesting? Buttery flavored crusts. Sorry, I mean buttery crispy crusts. Sorry, I mean...what was the line again?

Official episode discussion: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/06/july-6th-2026/

Bob can see anything, but he can't see the Twins winning Jul 06, 2026

The Twins are doing okay. But it's still early. You don't need cataract surgery to see a pattern in recent years: we start out strong, then we tank. Will this year be different? Statistically, it will not. But you never know.

Official episode discussion: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/06/july-6th-2026/

Rom coms and bottle deposits Jul 06, 2026

Everyone on the show is always watching things. Everyone except one person. Well that all changes today. Naturally, he's breaking his streak of not watching things by watching slightly stale rom coms starring Miranda Cosgrove. Also Hoppers. That's relatively new, right?

Official discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/06/july-6th-2026/

Mike Brody has only been married once Jul 03, 2026

Divorce is all the rage these days, but not in our studio. At least, not yet. You never know what the future might hold. That's true about comedy itself, too. 20 years ago, social media had virtually no impact on a comedian's success. Now it's what makes or breaks you.

Official episode discussion: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/03/july-3rd-2026/

Kings - and definitely not queens - of the box office Jul 03, 2026

So far this year, the big movies have all been for kids. Mario. Toy Story. Now Minions & Monsters. So what of Supergirl? We don't talk about Supergirl. Metaphorically, I mean. We literally did talk about Supergirl.

Official episode discussion: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/03/july-3rd-2026/

A wedding today, an anniversary tomorrow, a food coma overmorrow Jul 03, 2026

Tomorrow is the 250th anniversary of America, which is a pretty big deal. It's no 200, but not all of us got to experience that one. Here's to 300, right? And speaking of things that are sure to last 300 years, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married today. If you want, you can sit there and watch a live stream of their guests arriving. Exciting stuff. Not as exciting as eating 70ish hot dogs in ten minutes though. Oh, sorry, did I say exciting? I meant disgusting.

And yes, "overmorrow" is a word. It means "the day after tomorrow". Neat, huh?

Official discussion link: https://completedisaster.live/2026/07/03/july-3rd-2026/

Steve Windels makes Germans laugh Jul 01, 2026

Steve used to be a wildlife biologist. He has a PhD in it, in fact. But a few years ago, he felt the need for a change. So he took the retirement buyout, got remarried, and moved to Germany. Personally, I think that's a bit too much change all at once, but it's been working out for him, so who am I to judge?

Official discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/06/30/july-1st-2026/

Linsey Knerl's homeschool hacks Jul 01, 2026

Homeschooling is tough. It's a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money. But with certain kids it just makes sense. Linsey has been homeschooling since 2004, so she knows a thing or two about how to make it work. If you're interested in homeschooling, or just want to listen to us talk about how the school system has changed over the years, this episode is for you. You can check out her book at https://www.homeschoolhacksbook.com/.

Official discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/06/30/july-1st-2026/

This guest was booked using PodMatch! Interested in being a guest on the show? Reach out to us at https://www.podmatch.com/member/tombarnardpodcast.

Don't listen if you're afraid of heights Jul 01, 2026

Actually, it's not really the heights I'm afraid of so much as the falling. But you can't have one without the other. And speaking of falling, Supergirl has not been doing well. Probably because people only have room for one superhero movie at a time at the moment. Just like how they have room for zero national news outlets. We'll see if the NBCUniversal split fixes that. I'm guessing it will not.

Official discussion hub: https://completedisaster.live/2026/06/30/july-1st-2026/

Brad Elder delivers the Recoil of Justice Jun 29, 2026

Brad was a CEO and attorney for almost twenty years. Lucrative, yes, but not creatively fulfilling. That's why he wrote Recoil of Justice, a book about a lawyer turned possible vigilante. It's not a an autobiography, I promise.

Check it out at https://bradeldernovels.com/

Bob's Buffalo Rodeo Jun 29, 2026

The Buffalo Rodeo (that's a rodeo in Buffalo, MN, not a rodeo consisting entirely of buffalo) came and went. Bob gives the scoop on how it went. He also wishcasts Minnesota teams winning titles. We'll see how that pans out.

Minions & Monsters & Kristyn & Supergirl Jun 29, 2026

Minions. They're still a thing. Just ask anyone under the age of 8. It can't be all young children though - it's projected to make over $70 million in its three day opening. Will it beat Supergirl? Only time will tell. But my sources tell me that time says "yes".

[Lost Episode] Dr. Rose - #66 Jun 28, 2026

Despite being a very early episode, this was actually Dr. Rose's second appearance on the show. There are a lot of Dr. Roses. This one in particular is the author of Rewiring Your Brain.

[Lost Episode] Rudy Maxa - #65 Jun 28, 2026

Rudy would come back several times, but this was his earliest appearance in late 2012.

[Lost Episode] Lou Nanne - #64 Jun 28, 2026

This was Lou's first appearance in 2012, and his only one until he was on the Tom Barnard Morning Show around ten years later.

[Lost Episode] Frank Vascellaro and Mark Rosen - #63 Jun 28, 2026

Frank and Mark joined us in November 2012 for this episode.

[Lost Episode] Dave Mordal - #62 Jun 28, 2026

This is when Dave Mordal came to our studio in November of 2012.

[Lost Episode] Tim Slagle - #61 Jun 27, 2026

The first appearance of Tim Slagle on our show. He would be back many times.

[Lost Episode] Michael Bodine - #60 Jun 27, 2026

This would have been recorded on or near Halloween 2012.

[Lost Episode] Mike Evans - #59 Jun 27, 2026

Mike Evans is best known as a celebrity journalist who was with KQ for many years. He's second best known for something about a birth certificate. It's all a little fuzzy.

[Lost Episode] Paula Bel - #58 Jun 27, 2026

This was Paula's second appearance on the show.

[Lost Episode] Bobby Slayton - #57 Jun 27, 2026

Originally recorded in 2012.

[Lost Episode] Sean Hampton - #55 Jun 26, 2026

Sean Hampton was arrested for impersonating a police officer. That's not what he's famous for, but it is the first thing we bring up. Don't worry, it was all a big misunderstanding. Today he's most well known for being the producer of the Matt Walsh show from 2019 to 2025, a success we attribute to him coming on our show and learning about the glory of podcasting.

If you're wondering where lost episode #54 is, I'm keeping that one in the vault because it's really bad.

[Lost Episode] Clabe Taylor - #53 Jun 26, 2026

Clabe Taylor is the author of TexMex, a book about how useless the government is at fighting Mexican cartels. It was written in 2012, but it could have been written today. Or in 2002. Or in 1992. You get the picture.

[Lost Episode] Laura Ortiz - #52 Jun 26, 2026

Laura Ortiz was a regular on Holliston, where her name was also Laura. Despite sounding like she's 11, we have it on good authority that she was not.

[Lost Episode] Louie Anderson - #51 Jun 23, 2026

Originally aired sometime in 2012

Everybody versus Alzheimer's Jun 20, 2026

Jimmy Francis's wife, Juliet, is raising money to fight Alzheimer's through My BOB Country. Dan, Alex's husband, is doing a bike ride for Alzheimer's. And of course, Tom is fighting it directly by zapping it out of his brain, or whatever. Details are still a bit fuzzy on what exactly he does. But the point is, humanity is uniting in the battle against Alzheimer's. Could a cure be on the horizon?

Toy Story 5 is fun - Maternal Instinct is not Jun 20, 2026

Toy Story 5 is set to be the latest billion dollar hit. And why shouldn't it? It's a beloved franchise, and they're returning to their roots of making poignant observations via talking toys. Maternal Instinct, on the other hand, is twisted in every way a documentary can be. We recommend taking the kids to see the former.

Is Taylor Swift getting married or what? Jun 20, 2026

It was supposed to be last weekend. Then it was supposed to be this weekend. Now it's the weekend of the 4th? We're starting to wonder if this wedding is happening at all. Not that we're that starved for entertainment. We've got plenty of clips of people experiencing America for the first time thanks to the World Cup.

Super Doppler, foreclosure stories, and Nick Swardson's appendix Jun 17, 2026

Nick's in the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Maybe he'd have had more warning if he had used the new (as of roughly 1990) Super Doppler Radar. You may be thinking "how could doppler radar possibly predict appendicitis?", and you'd be right to do so. But this is Super Doppler. It can do anything. Probably.

Constance Lewis invites kids to feel and understand their emotions Jun 17, 2026

Constance's son Miles had brain surgery at just six years old. That's tough. Lots of emotions involved. Kids always feel emotions, but they rarely fully understand them, which can lead to strange behavior and difficulty as a parent. Enter color theory, which helps kids communicate how they feel using colors rather than specific language. Are you feeling turquoise today? If so, visit https://www.colorfulcapesoffeelings.com/. By the way, turquoise is the color I've assigned to curiosity.

Nobody can make it to 100, but 99 is no problem Jun 17, 2026

Why do so many people die at 99? Aside from because 99 is very, very old, I mean. And speaking of things that are old, Toy Story 5 will be the most recent entry in an over 30 year series. Will this one be good? We sure hope so.

Jack Hicks' and Tom's radio days Jun 15, 2026

Jack and Tom both spent years in Minnesota radio. They drifted apart over the years, and now they're back in the same room once more. The result? Decades of stories.

WKRP is real now Jun 15, 2026

It's back to the 70s day: WKRP is in the news and videoconferencing is impossible. We do mention a Jumbotron, which didn't exist until the 80s, so that's a bit of an anachronism.

World cup parties, robot sushi, and Fox/Roku mergers Jun 15, 2026

Kristyn's got her eyes on a budget-friendly $6000 projector, and the family's getting served sushi by robots. Will the luxuries never cease? Yes, actually: after we went to a Twins game, we have no money. Spent it all on bottled water and parking.

Joseph "Juice" Sutton: Another contender for Funniest Headliner Jun 12, 2026

We had Maggie Faris and Randall Reid on the show, and they both made it to the finals of the Funniest Headliner competition at Gambit Brewing. That can't be a coincidence. Today we've got Juice, another finalist out of six. Since he was the most recent one to be on our show, that means he's going to win, right?

Tim’s take on Disclosure Day - and whether aliens exist Jun 12, 2026

Are we alone in the universe? I hope so. Earth is loud enough as is. Can you imagine two of them? Unfortunately, the math doesn't check out. Or, depending on who you ask, the bible. And when you get math and the bible joining forces against you, you might as well just give up.

Anyone wanna go in on a $32,000,000 house? Jun 12, 2026

There's a house for sale on Lake Minnetonka. It's got 18 bathrooms, a bowling alley, two guest/guard houses, and those are the least insane aspects. We're thinking of starting a GoFundMe and making it the new podcast HQ.

World Cup chat with soccer expert Kristyn Burtt Jun 12, 2026

It's the world cup. It's like the playoffs of soccer. Or something. I'm gonna be honest, none of us know what we're talking about. That's not gonna stop us from talking about it.

Tom and Kathryn's stories from the road - #3024-3 Jun 10, 2026

Tom and Kathryn drove from Florida to Minnesota last week. It was mostly uneventful, which is exactly how you prefer your drives. Mostly. Also, did you know that sugar alcohol has an unpleasant side effect? Because we do.

Need less screen time in the bathroom? Try Uncle John's Bathroom Reader - #3024-2 Jun 10, 2026

Since 1988, Uncle John - the legend, not the one on our show today - has been providing trivia for you to learn while in the bathroom. Why in the bathroom? Because what else are you going to do? Doomscroll? I wouldn't recommend it.

Bob Labbe, putting master and pickleball tolerator - #3024-1 Jun 10, 2026

Do you golf? If so, is your putting maybe not so good? Of course it is. Putting is hard. But it could be easier, if only you read Putting by the Numbers at https://boblabbe.com/. Divot sand not included.

Calvin Fisher, author of the Northfield Saga - #3023-3 Jun 08, 2026

Calvin is the author of the Northfield Saga and an appreciator of Minnesota in the warm months. The vast majority of people dream of writing a book one day, and the vast majority of Minnesotans feel like winter is too long. Coincidence?

You can put anything you want on a credit card - #3023-2 Jun 08, 2026

You use your card for everything. Tipping at those obnoxious point of sale machines they have everywhere now. Malls that may or may not be fronts for money laundering. Even for divvying out racial slurs. Maybe that last one doesn't apply to you, but it certainly applies to someone.

Shia, Schmigadoon, and Schmistyn Burtt - #3023-1 Jun 08, 2026

What's at the top of your Facebook algorithm? Entertainment news, perhaps? If so, maybe it's because the algorithm knows you like this part of our show. If not, maybe it's because celebrities won't stop dying and that's sad.

Andy and Alex, banking experts - #3022-3 Jun 05, 2026

Did you know that Alex used to work at NABC? Andy also worked at a bank for a period. Only one of them ever owned a gecko, though.

He-man: still cool? Apparently not - #3022-2 Jun 05, 2026

Masters of the Universe isn't doing so great. Is it because it came out too late? 80s nostalgia seems to be on the way out, so maybe they missed the boat. Or maybe they didn't spend enough money, because the two options for success seem to be "ultra low budget" or "hundreds and hundreds of millions".

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected