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Turning This Car Around — Comedy
Turning This Car Around

America’s number one best and favorite podcast about fatherhood hosted by Lex Friedman, John Moltz and Jon Armstrong.

Turning This Car Around is a podcast about parenthood from three dads, Lex Friedman, John Moltz and Jon Armstrong. You can follow us collectively on Twitter as @ttcashow

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Lex Friedman is the Chief Revenue Officer at ART19. He is a pretty important guy in the world of podcasting. He’s also a writer; he authored humor books like The Snuggie Sutra and The Kid in the Crib.

He was also a senior contributor to Macworld, an author of technology books, and the co-host of Not Playing, a podcast where Dan Moren and Lex watch movies that everyone else has already seen. Mr. Friedman was formerly the cohost of Unprofessional.

Lex’s blog is called Lex, Briefly.

Lex lives with his wife and three kids in New Jersey.

Follow Lex on Twitter

You might know John Moltz as a person on the Internet. Many people do! However, he also appears in other guises, sometimes as a large, golden bull and others as a phalanx of beautiful swans! Usually, however, he appears as a guy working at a desk. Other important points that John Moltz would like to share:

John Moltz is fluent in English and conversational in two other languages.

John Moltz is the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. He’s fast enough for you, old man.

John Moltz is actually made up of thousands of smaller John Moltzes, all furiously working tiny little gears to keep the larger construct you know as “John Moltz” functioning.

John Moltz is a little too comfortable talking about himself in the third person.

Jon Armstrong is a long time blogger at the barely alive Blurbomat, a UX/UI consultant, a web/business developer, a photographer and the impetus for this show. In a past life he executive produced a popular blog and ran the business. Yes, business. Turning This Car Around marks Armstrong’s first foray into podcasting.

You can see his photos on Flickr and Instagram.

Follow Jon on Twitter

Jon splits time between Brooklyn, New York and Salt Lake City, Utah. Armstrong has two wonderful and amazing biological children and two also wonderful almost-stepchildren.

Copyright: © All rights reserved

Latest Episodes:

22: Useless Nipples Jun 11, 2014

Show notes

This week we talk about gear. Eventually. We start by talking about underwear, which is not exactly gear but we'll get to it. ThinkGeek has some underwear for the child in every dad. Then we talk about Frozen which is also not gear but is very popular with the kids these days, as is the LEGO Movie. Jon recommends Bullfrog sunscreen spray for applying to wiggling children (we're getting closer to gear). Lex recommends stick sunscreen for their precious faces that are screaming at you because you're trying to save them from skin cancer. Finally, we start talking about gear. Moltz and his wife had their car seats checked out by a local hospital so look around, there should be someone who can help you make sure you've got them in correctly. Jon recommends the Nissan Xterra (sadly, there's no Amazon affiliate link for that), even though it's not great for carseats. Dads with more than one kid recommend a membership to Sam's Club, BJ's or Costco. Parents of one kid are less enthusiastic but still supportive. The dads, naturally, recommend a diaper genie, unless you're an animal. You could also get a diaper vest. I guess. If that's not cool enough for you then check this out. Now we're talkin'. The Moltzes got their diaper bag at REI. Sponsors: Our thanks to Care.com for sponsoring this episode. Care.com helps you find any kind of care help you need: babysitters, nannies, dog walkers and elder care. Care.com provides detailed references and reviews and takes the uncertainty out of the process. Click this special link and you'll get 25 percent off a premium membership. Jon is even a satisfied user. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#21: Swords and Guns and ... Jun 03, 2014

Show notes

First, some follow up from last episode. The artist who did the covers of the Gor books was Boris Vallejo, not Frank Frazetta. We spend about half the episode talking about his art. And sort of how it relates to parenting. Kind of. A little. Here's the centaur picture, which is totally relevant to parenting, as is the hawkman picture. As it turns out, the author of the Gor series wrote a book about sex. Then we talk about Mario Kart. What is this episode about? Jon and Moltz continue to talk about Boris Vallejo until Lex tells the story of how he stole a Playboy. Speaking of porn, Moltz uses OpenDNS to filter his son's devices. Jon tells the story of how his daughter overcame her fear and touched White Snake. Oh, sorry, a white snake. And we end still not knowing what this episode was about. Which is a metaphor for life. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey that will help keep this podcast and other podcasts you might enjoy running and might win you a $100 Amazon gift card. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#20: Don't Put Fireworks Up Your Butt May 28, 2014

Show notes

We continue our discussion of summertime. Lex and Moltz do an impromptu review of the current summer blockbuster movie Godzilla (mild on the spoilers) which has the guy from Breaking Bad in it. There's a little confusion between Godzilla 2000 and the Matthew Broderick Godzilla. Jon and Moltz both recommend The Way, Way Back, a great summer movie appropriate for teens and up. Jon's summer travel growing up involved a styrofoam cooler while Moltz's involved Mad Libs. Lex's family trips were saved by the Walkman. Jon's summer reading was the Gorean Saga which causes Jon and Moltz to school Lex in the magic of Frank Frazetta who sadly passed away in 2010. We close with a discussion on how to use fireworks which Jon is very passionate about. Sponsors: Our thanks to Care.com for sponsoring this episode. Care.com helps you find any kind of care help you need: babysitters, nannies, dog walkers and elder care. Care.com provides detailed references and reviews and takes the uncertainty out of the process. Click this special link and you'll get 25 percent off a premium membership. Jon is even a satisfied user. Our thanks also go out to Audible. Audible has books you can download and listen to on your iPhone, Kindle or Android device. Lex recommends You Can Date Boys When You're Forty and Moltz recommends The Longest Day. Use this special link and you can get a free audio book of your choice and a free 30-day membership.

#19: The Pool Whisperer May 21, 2014

Show notes

Once again we ask our listeners to complete a short survey that will help keep this podcast and other podcasts you might enjoy running. And you could win a $100 Amazon gift card. What other reason do you need than self interest? Not to disagree with Game of Thrones, but summer is coming. Do you have a plan? You could send your kids to YMCA camp. But swim camp is maybe a better option if you can find one. Lex, however, does not recommend owning a pool. When the dads were kids, during the summer Jon did Boy Scouts, Moltz went to gymnastic camp and Lex went to "learning about sex and drugs" camp where he eventually worked as a counselor. You can learn a lot at camp. For example, Moltz learned that you can light a fart on fire. Jon then explains the term "blue darting". Lex learned about blow jobs. Just about them. Jon learned about killing a rabbit which, sadly, is not a euphemism for blow jobs. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#18: Tell Your Mom I Said Hi May 13, 2014

Show notes

In honor of Mothers Day, this week we talk about moms. First we ask our listeners to complete a short survey that will help keep this podcast and other podcasts you might enjoy running. Moltz tells the story of how he met Lex's mom on Twitter. Jon speaks fondly of the Nikon D70 You should totally buy one using that link. Jon has mentioned that you should actually take a look at a DSLR that's not over 10 years old, like this Nikon D7100. And yes, you should totally buy one using that link. Mr. Lex tells us about his vanity plates. Sponsor: Once again, our thanks to DayOne for sponsoring this episode. DayOne is the place to record your daily events, feelings, pictures and more. Get it. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#17: Sex Talk 2: Army of [Redacted] May 02, 2014

Show notes

Sex, Part Deux! For an episode about sex we talk a lot about movies for some reason. There's not much sex in The Avengers, Man Of Steel or Thor but Jon learned everything he knows about women's underwear from the original Superman. Lex gets his information about women's underwear from Shark Tank. Grease is a great movie for learning about sex. Lots of direct references to sex facts that your kid won't understand. "Any questions?" The Godfather is good for teaching your kids about violence. Ace Ventura would be a good movie to teach kids about homophobia. Jacqueline Bissett in The Deep was Intro to Female Anatomy 101 for many a boy during the '70s. Although, Benny Hill is how Moltz learned about female anatomy. If you don't believe that Lex took his kids to a mob-themed restaurant that showed The Godfather movies on repeat, here are some pictures. Sponsors: Our thanks to Shari's Berries for sponsoring this episode. Shari's Berries sells unbelievable strawberries dipped in all kinds of chocolate. Go to their web site and click on the microphone and type in TTCA for a listener discount (deal expires Friday, May 9th). And, once again, our thanks to DayOne for sponsoring this episode. DayOne makes recording daily events, memories, data and pictures a joy. Get it here.

#16: Why Do You Need the Rooster? Apr 30, 2014

Show notes

Speaking of sex, which we are on this episode, check out these cringe-inducing ads for HBO Go. Jon recommends Where Did I Come From? which features adorable images of people doing it. As for parts, Lex and Moltz mostly use clinical names but Jon's kids use euphemisms. Many a young lad learned the term "naughty bits" thanks to Monty Python's reference to those of Prime Minister Edward Heath. If you're interested in learning more about Jon's vasectomy -- and, really, who isn't? -- here's everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. If you're curious about masturbation, please watch this informative video brought to you by the Mormon Church. It's apparently like flipping your boat over in the rapids. Get it? Boat? Rapids? (We have no idea.) Sponsor: Once again, our thanks to DayOne for sponsoring this episode. DayOne is the place to record your daily events, feelings, pictures and more. Get it. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#15: Mistakes Were Made Apr 16, 2014

Show notes

The dads take a break from their usual sterling parenting advice (cough) to talk about things they screwed up. Getting your kids to take shots successfully should be like Scott Pilgrim, but there are no coins for winning. John has recently had to cut back on his son's screen time (good thing, too, because screens are DESTROYING OUR KIDS BRAINS). Gone are the days when you can just throw kids out the door a la Calvin and Hobbes. It's become a challenge to make sure your kids aren't overprotected. Jon tells of his time walking the lovely neighborhoods of Salford in the UK. Lex likens it to his experience in the neighborhood where the Groundlings school is. Jon strongly advises you against watching Little Children, the mere mention of which is kind of a downer and ruins the whole podcast. Not the episode, the entire podcast. Don't make the mistake John and Jon made. Don't help you kids with their homework. Although, it may or may not be an option if you actually want it to get done. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#14: You're in Second Grade and Your Ass is Still in First Apr 09, 2014

Show notes

Other people's kids. The worst, right? It's not related to the topic, but John found his old mix tapes and expresses his fondness for Jim Carroll. Both Lex and Jon have the problem of their kids assimilating body issues. Lex seems to think he's on a different podcast. We finish with a discussion on swearing, which is all caused by other people's kids, of course, and the 4th grade urban myth that Justin Bieber has really eaten his own poop. Sponsor: Our thanks to Audible for sponsoring this episode. Go to Audible to download a free book today. John recommends The Martian, a terrific science fiction book about an astronaut strander on Mars. His wife recommends Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?, a book about helping declutter your house and your life. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

#13: I've Been Vetted Apr 02, 2014

Show notes

On this episode, the dads talk about becoming a dad. Ch-ch-ch-changes! That's a David Bowie song, right? Once again the whole free-range kids thing comes up and it comes up early. Speaking of changes, since becoming a father, John cries while watching Finding Nemo. Jon and Lex recommend The Expectant Father. The dads recommend wills and starting to save for college five years before you were born. Not the kid, you. Lex laments no longer being able to binge-watch shows like House of Cards. Still, we can binge-watch shows like Clone Wars and Adventure Time. All the dads recommend therapy. Like that wasn't obvious. Sponsor: Our thanks to DayOne for sponsoring this episode. No baloney, DayOne is the best journaling app for iOS and the Mac. Do yourself and your family a favor and go to the DayOne site to learn more and just get it. Follow us: @ttcashow. Lex Friedman can be found @lexfri, John Moltz can be found @Moltz and Jon Armstrong is @blurb.

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