The Absurdists

By: Mary Murphy & Marlo Anderson
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  • Summary

  • The Absurdists is a weekly podcast where co-hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take you on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey through the bizarre, the whimsical, and the downright absurd aspects of modern life. Whether they’re discussing peculiar inventions, absurd laws, or the quirks of daily communication, Marlo and Mary bring humor, curiosity, and light-hearted banter to every episode. With a focus on finding joy in life’s oddities, The Absurdists is a show that embraces the weird and invites listeners to laugh at the unexpected. Tune in for engaging conversations, amusing stories, and a reminder to embrace the absurdity in your own life!
    Copyright 2024 Marlo Anderson LLC
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Episodes
  • The Absurdity of Numbers: From Friday the 13th to Missing Donuts and Decimal Mishaps

    The Absurdity of Numbers: From Friday the 13th to Missing Donuts and Decimal Mishaps
    Dec 19 2024
    Numbers: we use them to measure time, count calories, and set speed limits. They’re supposed to bring order to the chaos of life—but what happens when numbers get a little too absurd? In this laugh-filled episode of The Absurdists, co-hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson unpack the bizarre world of numbers with stories so ridiculous, they’ll have you checking your calculator twice. “It’s Just One More Donut—Relax!” Mary kicks things off with a story about the Baker’s Dozen. Why 13 instead of 12? Turns out, bakers in medieval England had good reason to throw in an extra loaf (or donut). If they shortchanged customers, they’d face severe penalties, from public ridicule to fines—so to be safe, they’d toss in a bonus baked good. Marlo chimes in with his own vision of modern bakers yelling, “Fine, take 13, just don’t sue me!” A sweet deal, if you ask us. Speed Limits That Don’t Make Sense Imagine cruising down a road, only to see a speed limit of 29 mph. Why not 30? Mary and Marlo explore these bizarre laws, pointing out places where 29, 31, or even 8 mph speed limits exist. Marlo jokes, “Is there some mystical traffic safety wizard who insists on prime numbers?” Whatever the reason, they agree—these signs are as confusing as a pie chart on a pizza box. Friday the 13th: A Recipe for Suspicion Ah, the dreaded Friday the 13th. Mary dives into the ancient superstition that has made hotel elevators skip the 13th floor and brides shiver when a wedding lands on this date. With its origins linked to Norse mythology, the Last Supper, and sheer human paranoia, it’s no wonder Marlo quips, “If 13’s so unlucky, why don’t bakers just skip it?” Decimal Points: Tiny Mistakes, Huge Absurdities The duo takes a hilarious detour into the world of decimal disasters. Did you know Popeye’s love of spinach—and the supposed iron content of the leafy green—was all thanks to a misplaced decimal point? One little error turned spinach into the superhero of vegetables, skyrocketing sales by 33% and cementing Popeye’s biceps into cartoon legend. Mary muses, “How many kids had to suffer through spinach dinners because of a math error?” Why 12 Ounces for Soda? Marlo then pops open the can on soda sizes—specifically, 12 ounces. Why not 10? Why not 13 (lucky or not)? The pair unravels the quirky history of the 12-ounce can, rooted in imperial measurements and packaging efficiency. “Twelve might sound random,” Mary jokes, “but it’s perfect for making you feel bad when you finish one and immediately want another.” The Five-Second Rule: Science Ruins Everything If you’ve ever dropped a cookie on the floor and yelled, “Five-second rule!”, you’re not alone. But Mary and Marlo dig into the science that debunks this age-old tradition. Turns out, bacteria don’t care about time limits—they’re faster than you reaching for that fallen French fry. Still, Marlo stands firm: “I’ll take my chances for a donut.” Absurd Number Trivia: More Than You Ever Wanted to Know From base-12 math (why do clocks use it but schools don’t teach it?) to marketing’s love for prices ending in $0.99 (“It’s practically free!”), this episode takes you on a whirlwind tour of number absurdities. Mary and Marlo even poke fun at unusual holidays tied to numbers—because why shouldn’t March 14th (3.14) be a day to eat pie? Why You Should Tune In If you love numbers, hate math, or just want a reason to laugh at the silly systems humans invent, this episode of The Absurdists is for you. Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson keep things light, funny, and endlessly entertaining as they unravel the numerical nonsense all around us. Find us at wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Stay absurd!
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    28 mins
  • Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza: Unraveling the Mandela Effect

    Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza: Unraveling the Mandela Effect
    Dec 10 2024
    Have you ever been absolutely certain about a famous movie line, a song lyric, or a TV show moment—only to find out you remembered it all wrong? On this week’s Absurdist Show, Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson dive deep into the curious world of the Mandela Effect, where collective false memories leave us questioning everything we thought we knew. From Star Wars and its iconic "Luke, I am your father" (spoiler: that’s not the line) to the Monopoly Man’s missing monocle and Forrest Gump’s subtle phrasing tweak, Mary and Marlo uncover the most shocking Mandela Effect moments that have fooled us for decades. Whether it’s Mr. Rogers, The A-Team, or even Queen’s "We Are the Champions", no corner of pop culture is safe from misremembered history. And it doesn’t stop there. Marlo shares hilarious stories, including a whistle-blowing scam-busting escapade and insights into Star Trek history, while Mary challenges our understanding of classics like Casablanca and Risky Business (wait… Tom Cruise didn’t wear sunglasses?!). To top it off, prepare for a good laugh as the pair share the most absurdly misheard song lyrics—because “Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza” just might become your new favorite version of Elton John’s classic. Key Highlights of the Show: The surprising truth behind the Mandela Effect. Famous lines from Star Wars, Star Trek, and Silence of the Lambs—what was actually said? The truth about Shaggy’s missing Adam’s apple in Scooby-Doo. Marlo’s encounter with William Shatner and cheddar cheese (you’ll never see Star Trek the same again). Misheard lyrics that will have you rolling, including Bon Jovi’s “naked or not.” Tune in for one of the most entertaining and enlightening episodes yet—just be ready to have your memories shattered! Listen Now and find out: Are you experiencing the Mandela Effect too?
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    1 hr
  • Autocorrect Fails, Graffiti Tales, and Velvet Confessions: The Absurdists Unleashed

    Autocorrect Fails, Graffiti Tales, and Velvet Confessions: The Absurdists Unleashed
    Nov 26 2024
    From Velvet and Big Cucumbers to Absurdist Graffiti: A Wild Ride with Marlo and Mary On the latest episode of The Absurdists, Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take us on another rollercoaster ride of hilarity and peculiar musings. From wardrobe confessions (blue velvet, anyone?) to the accidental messages that left their senders red-faced, the duo keeps the laughs coming. Marlo reminisces about the unexpected texts and voicemails that left an indelible mark—like the infamous "big cucumber" text sent to a professor and a mysterious woman’s microwave notification from her phone company. Meanwhile, Mary shares her take on bathroom stall graffiti trends (spoiler: "Toy Story 2 is okay" is surprisingly popular). Not to be outdone, the pair dives into cats' antics with autocorrect mishaps, bizarre motion-detection emails, and even pranks involving printing hundreds of "Hello" pages. Plus, we learn about Marlo's personal autocorrect disaster involving a bamboo-related text (don’t ask). Highlights include: A CEO bombarded with 600 banana bread recipes—thanks to a cat on the keyboard. A sleepwalking contest entrant who accidentally claimed a prize months later. The accidental breakup text that was sent… to a mom. As always, Marlo and Mary bring their absurdist lens to life's everyday oddities. Want to join in the fun? Share your absurd stories with The Absurdists crew and let the hilarity unfold.
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    1 hr and 6 mins

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