Episodes

From wine to modern art to the game of cricket, we humans seem to pretend we know what is going on when we generally have no idea. Can you really taste the hint of old leather laced with blackberries from the north side of the slope? Do you really know what Discounted Cash Flow means? Yet, we all become “the great pretender” and nod our heads when in discussion about these topics. Jon and Kurt confess what they pretend to know while also discussing other examples–how does ibuprofen know to go to...

Design is a fantastic aspect of everyday life. When it is “on”, it beautifully blends art and practicality, form and function. And yet, there are many examples of when an added element or a slightly flawed decision results in a product that just doesn’t work. Jon and Kurt provide illustration and commentary on some of these head scratching cases. Like, really, do we really need button fly pants after the almighty zipper was invented?

For those of us who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s as part of the latch-key kid phenomenon, our parents practiced what we currently call “benign neglect” in raising us. We, as parents ourselves, flipped the switch completely into a “constant surveillance” mode of parenting. Jon and Kurt delve deeply into the differences between the two, the potential reasons why parenting has changed so much, and how things may or may not change in the future. After all, there has been a seismic shift: “You’re bor...

There we are, going through our day, doing things we feel are part of being human, or good for us, or scientifically proven to better our lives. And then we discover that all these things we are doing were foisted upon us by marketers. That’s right, our routines and habits are manufactured by advertising with the sole purpose of selling more products. Eight hours of sleep every night? Mattress company campaign. Lather, rinse, repeat? Yup, shampoo companies. Orange juice for breakfast? That too. ...

In this episode, Kurt puts Jon on the hot seat with a simple game: Was this famous person a Stoic...or not? Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II. Napoleon Bonaparte. Amelia Earhart. Marcus Aurelius is too easy, so don't expect any freebies. Along the way, they separate Stoicism from simply "having a stiff upper lip," talk about why this 2,000-year-old philosophy has suddenly become fashionable again, and discover that being calm under pressure isn't the same thing as being a Stoic. It's a histo...

In this episode, the boys follow a trail of words that turns out to be a lot stranger than expected. Why does bankruptcy involve a broken bench? Why is malaria named after "bad air"? What does a medieval orphanage have to do with the surnames Esposito and Innocente? And how did the word "nephew" accidentally give us "nepotism"? Along the way, we'll visit Siena's claim to Rome's founding myth, step outside the cathedral to discover the original meaning of "profane," and uncover the forgotten stor...

Did you know that smells, besides being the strongest door to memories, can be trademarked? As can sounds? Jon and Kurt discuss examples of these as well as smoking tigers, irony, Pocahontas, and the story behind the marathon being 26.2 miles.

Jon and Kurt go all Magellan on you this episode and discuss geographic oddities sure to blow your mind. That, and somehow Wilt Chamberlain and poutine make appearances. Oh, and Blue Swede sang “Hooked on a Feeling” not “Ride Captain Ride.” That was Blues Image. Kurt apologizes.

Jon and Kurt are back with a new episode that explains the origins of “mayday”, delves into men’s new need to keep up a “hot style,” what it means to age, and well just some other drivel that attempts to lay in some smart.

Jon and Kurt decided to capitalize on the fact that they recorded this episode in April and put out a topical discussion about pranks. They found historical jokes centuries old that fooled many middle agers (not someone in their 50s, but someone who lived centuries ago) and some that got the masses hook line and sinker in the 20th century. And lots in between. Give a listen and get inspired for the next April Fools Day. Maybe you will find one worth repeating (but we advise against trotting out ...

What do Gatorade, cows with accents, rude dry cleaners, and the moon all have in common? Well, if you like your drivel kinda smart, you’ll see how they all come together in the latest episode of Learn, Rant, Laugh: A Smart Drivel podcast.

In this episode, the boys learn how The New York Times reinvented itself, get their minds blown by The Birthday Paradox, rant a little as befits their curmudgeonly state, and–oh yeah–end on a fascinating, intellectual discussion of at-home prostate exams. We’d say “dive in” but maybe that’s a little too much.

Learning, Ranting, and Laughing, our idiosyncratic hosts are back for another episode in season two of Smart Drivel. They discuss gender perspective, a time without a U.S. President, bad acoustics, the phenomenon of grade inflation for email/text responses, and, of course, the post-series, made for TV, Gilligan’s Island movies. Hop in, the water is nice.

The boys are back for the third episode in Season 2 of Learn, Rant, Laugh–A Smart Drivel Podcast. In this episode we learn how the term “Pan Am Smile” made it into the mainstream, how a horse named Fauvel would have sycophants groom him. These discussions then morph into some ranting about etiquette…or lack thereof. It is a classic Smart Drivel discussion. Grab a currying brush and dive in.

Join Jon and Kurt as they excitedly discuss what they learned, what ticked them off, and what made them laugh since the last episode. This time they get into phone etiquette, cockiness vs. arrogance, the beauty of finishing third, and a whole host of other topics.

After 302 episodes, Smart Drivel is back with Season 2 – and a new structure. Jon and Kurt are still two allegedly grown‑up, definitely 60‑year‑old guys trying to make sense of the little things that grab our attention. What’s new? Every episode now runs in three quick, repeatable segments: Learn. Rant. Laugh. What did we learn since last time? What do we need to rant about? What’s something funny we stumbled into? Same Jon and Kurt, same lighthearted, glib Smart Drivel energy – now in a tighter...

The one that started it all! The very first Smart Drivel of all time. Jon and Kurt explore the world of Pie and of Pi. From ancient savory pies to American Pie by Don McClean to the invention of the Frisbee and Archimedes, they dig into pies and pi of all nature.

To celebrate the holidays and the start of a new “century” of episodes, Jon and Kurt are giving each other gifts. These gifts–meant to be shared via verbal transmission in bars, meetings, and gatherings of all sorts–are interesting tidbits of language, history, legend, and social customs. Little known facts and stories. The co-hosts share these with one another and, ergo, are packaged up for you to astound and amaze your friends and enemies alike.

Three hundred episodes. Almost nine thousand minutes. One hundred and fifty hours. That is a buttload (an actual unit of measurement – little call back there) of drivel that has been spewed forth by Jon and Kurt over the past six years. The boys invite you to join in on the celebration of obscurity and meandering esoterica as they challenge each other to give the numerical answer to many questions regarding pop culture, history, literature, song, sports, myth, etc. It’s a party and you all are i...

There is a narrative device which, when implemented, can add punch, power, and percolation to any sentence, essay, speech, play, poem. This device is called “diacope” and it is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is repeated, with one or more words in between the repetitions. It is used for emphasis, to create a memorable rhythm, and to heighten the emotional impact of a statement. For real, you tell me this, for real? (I see, what you did there, I see.) Join join and Kurt as they explore ...

Ah, siblings. No one better to complain about Mom and Dad, but no one who annoys you more. A brother or a sister can get under your skin more than anyone as they know exactly what buttons to push. Sometimes, it goes too far resulting in decades long feuds or, as in the case of the very first siblings, murder. Join Jon and Kurt as they look at famous sibling rivalries in history, pop culture, and fiction. You might want to listen and marinate on your own sibling relationships before that awkward ...

Ever stop to think about two words that we usually interchangeably use to mean the same thing? Well, most of the time, there is a clear difference and distinction between the two words and we were given two of them because they mean different things. Jon decides to test Kurt throughout the episode with multiple examples. Take a listen, see how he did and compare it to your score. Then ask yourself, am I right or am I correct?

If tonight was your last night on earth, what would you choose for your final meal? Jon and Kurt look into famous last meals from historical figures, serial killers, and celebrities. What does it say about you or what do you want to send as a message? Or, do you just want to make sure you get that last chance to savor an epicurean delight? Grab your appetite and take a listen.

Anapodoton is a rhetorical device where the main clause of a sentence is omitted, and its meaning is implied by a subordinate clause that is provided, most commonly in well-known proverbs or phrases. The implied information is easily understood and mentally supplied by the listener or reader, such as saying "When in Rome..." and expecting the listener to complete the phrase with "do as the Romans do". “If the shoe fits...” “If you can’t beat ‘em...”, etc. The listener understands the complete th...