Jason and Peter are huge fans of the HBO series The Last of Us, featuring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the adaptation of the award-winning Sony video game. In the show, the world is suffering from a fictional brain infection that hijacks humanity, turning most of the world into ravenous zombies. Scientists have noted that the show’s pathogen is inspired by a very real set of fungi that assumes control of an ant’s motor system making it a “zombie”. Today, with global warming, there is speculation that this fictional infection could be closer to reality than we may realize! Really, no really? To tackle this infectious situation, we asked The Last of Us co-creator, co-writer, director, and executive producer Craig Mazin to help us understand the science behind the fiction. Craig is best known for HBO’s Chernobyl and a long list of hit comedies including The Hangover Part II and III, Scary Movie 3 and 4 and many more. In this episode: Could fungi-zombification happen in real life? Your lingering zombie questions finally answered. The difficulties of adapting a beloved video game franchise. Filming a postapocalyptic pandemic show during a pandemic. Was season 1 really more expensive than the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones? How Game of Thrones should have ended (according to Craig Mazin.) The Hollywood strike’s effect on Season 2 and the changing realities in Hollywood. Our fascination with horror movies and the zombie apocalypse. Vampire genealogy. THE BIG QUESTION: Why Nick Offerman and not Jason Alexander? Follow us: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walmart, UPS, and even Dominos are all planning on using ariel drone delivery and according to a Bloomberg investigation, Amazon alone has made a $2 billion investment. But is it realistic to envision a future where our valuable and often fragile packages and meals will be delivered by drones? What about challenges like air traffic management, drone battery life, hacking issues, unpredictable weather, noise pollution, limited payload capacity and obstacle avoidance? Drone delivery startups claim that these concerns are all being addressed and that additionally, their technology promises convenience and efficiency… making delivery faster, and also environmentally friendly… Really, no Really! Even though the thought of a fleet of drones buzzing over our heads seems quixotic, we increasingly live in a world where consumers are demanding delivery in an hour, a minute, right now! To explore the reality of drone delivery - the technology, regulatory and safety issues, we invited Dr. Roger Connor to offer his considerable expertise and help clear the air regarding drones. Dr. Connor curates The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum’s vertical flight collection (helicopters, gyroplanes, and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft systems, among many other things that fly up and down.   In this episode: Residential delivery drones and the Domino’s 30-minute or less guarantee. Criminals, smugglers, and prison inmates are early adapters. The safety and insurance issues of delivering packages to dense urban areas. Paparazzi drones’ ability to fly above your house while taking pictures of the family. Current state, FAA, and government regulations concerning airspace restrictions. Delivery drones as “job killers” or maybe they provide other unique advantages. A UPS or Fed Ex drone crashes into me or my house…what happens next? The Drone Racing League and jobs of the future!   Follow us: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Broadway show The Phantom of the Opera, recently closed its doors after an unprecedented 35 year run and 13,981 performances. This begged the question, how can actors, singers, dancers, and musicians perform the same show over and over, night after night, without going out of their minds? So, when Jason and Peter discovered that their friend, Scott Thompson has performed his solo Vegas show over 4000 times, it resulted in a well-deserved… Really, no really. You know Scott as his alter ego, comedian Carrot Top and we figured he would be a great resource for explaining how one keeps their sanity when your life closely resembles “Groundhog Day.” In this episode: What’s it like being a Las Vegas comedian doing essentially the same show for 30 years? Buffing up like Arnold Schwarzenegger. The science of boring. What are the repetitive jobs that won’t be replaced? Peter and Jason revisit that night in a Vegas dressing room with Hugh Hefner’s former girlfriend, Holly Madison. Scott’s connection to NASA. The joke Jay Leno tells Carrot Top EVERY time he sees him, and the reason Jay always kept inviting him back on the Tonight Show. The reaction to Scott telling his dad he wanted to be a comedian will leave you speechless. The hate Scott’s received from other comedians and where the cruelty comes from. Carrot Top is actually shy? How Jason wants to handle his ‘final moment’ in a dramatic death scene. In Vegas, all the headliners used to hang out together… still true? Remembering The Amazing Johnathan (September 9, 1958 – February 22, 2022.) What’s it like to have lunch with the most commercially successful magician in history David Copperfield? Hear Scott’s unbelievable George Carlin story and George’s favorite Carrot Top prop. Follow Carrot Top: Online: www.carrottop.com YouTube, Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: @CarrotTopLive X (Twitter): @RealCarrotTop   You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreallypodcast X (Twitter): @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world obsessed with vitality, health and self-improvement, the #coldplunge phenomenon has stormed the internet with over 1.3 billion views on TikTok, a multitude of celebrity aficionados and claims that it reduces inflammation, boosts the immune system, is a weight loss miracle and can even stimulate hair growth… really, no really? To understand the appeal and unravel the claims associated with cold plunging, we invited on one of its most vocal adopters, Adam Carolla - the comedian, actor, and host of the exceedingly popular podcast, The Adam Carolla Show. We Discuss: The National Center for Cold Water Safety has an opinion on the cold plunge. Extreme therapeutics like dosing turpentine, dopamine fasting & organized intimacy. Origins of the term “Snake Oil.” The cold plunge replacing deodorant and showers. Adam’s theories on Intermittent fasting. The miraculous genesis of kale and tilapia. Adam’s thoughts on the current state of podcasting. The secret that freed Jason from his Broadway panic attacks. The 2 most amazing podcasting moments in Adam’s career. Turkey vs. egg salad sandwiches & formulating buffet strategies. Seinfeld’s outrageous craft services table.   Follow Adam: He can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @AdamCarolla On YouTube - @AdamCarollaVideos And on TikTok @TheAdamCarollaShow   You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreallypodcast X (Twitter): @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ridiculous! Stupid! If you want to money launder, why would you go to the Ozarks buy a strip club and open a Riverboat Casino? Oh sure, that’s not going to draw too much attention! So says Peter about Ozark, starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. Jason’s response… Really, no really? To vet the realism of Ozark and to dive deeply into the trillion-dollar industry of scams, fraud, swindles, and money laundering we reached out to Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope, a professor of forensic accounting, a nationally recognized expert in white-collar crime, and author of: “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry”. Dr. Pope is also the producer and director of the 2017 award-winning documentary, “All the Queen's Horses” which explores the astonishing story behind the largest municipal fraud in US history.   In this episode: Ozark…realistic or not? We get the definitive answer. THIS is the riskiest scam. Are today’s big banks being bought off? More people are scamming, why? Has increased exposure to the rich and famous enticed honest people to commit fraud? YouTube’s spread of fraudster techniques. Are you: Intentional Perpetrator, Accidental Perpetrator, or Righteous Perpetrator. The largest and most incredible municipal fraud in American history. Face to face with fraudsters…what Dr. Pope learned. The origin story of the Ponzi Scheme.   More from Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope: Website: KellyRichmondPope.com (Play her interactive fraud games!) Instagram & Twitter: @KellyRPope   You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreallypodcast Twitter: @reallynoreally_   Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baseball and Rock & Roll both have their Halls of Fame, but so do Roller Derby, Insurance, even Towing & Recovery! The list goes on and on, but the category that captured our collective imaginations… the one dedicated exclusively to honoring those oversized and usually fur-covered entertainers… Mascots. Really, no really! We were so intrigued by this commitment to the costumed team and company ambassadors that we invited Dave Raymond, the creator of the Mascot Hall of Fame , to be our guest. Dave also happens to be the original and iconic Phillie Phanatic!   We Discuss: The Forbes Magazine #1 mascot of all time. The importance of fun. Mascots as a billion-dollar brand extension. Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda’s Phanatic attack explained. The disastrous launch of the  Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty. What the Irritable Bowel mascot looks like. What it takes to become a team mascot. Chuck E. Cheese wasn’t supposed to be a rat. How hot it is in that giant costume. The types of fan abuse you have to deal with. The Really, no Really mascot should be…???   Find out more about Dave Raymond: WEBSITE: daveraymondspeaks.com Instagram: @DaveRaymondSpeaks Twitter: @Emperoroffun YouTube: @DavidRaymond1623   Follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreallypodcast Twitter: @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Kurzweil, the globally renowned scientist, and former Google engineer made many predictions in the 90’s, (the widespread use of laptops, wearable tech, digitized media, computer phones, facial recognition, remote learning and more…) so when he recently restated his prediction that humans will be able to achieve immortality by 2030… we of course responded with, “Really, no Really!” Could immortality truly be achieved in 7 years? This being way above our paygrades, we turned to Richard Faragher, Professor of Biological Gerontology at the University of Brighton, the past Chair of the British Society for Research on Ageing, and the American Aging Association, who Aging Analytics named as one of the top 100 longevity leaders in the world. We discuss: The clams in your chowder may be older than William Shakespeare. The actual biological mechanisms that cause us to age. At age 160, how will we get our 75-year-old kids out of our basements? How immortality will affect demand and pricing at Del Boca Vista and Florida. Jason & Peter create a brilliant end of life invention. The anti-aging market is WAY bigger than you think. The ethical questions surrounding aging manipulation. Living longer and its impact on overpopulation and resource consumption. The economic savings of improving the quality of later life. The revolution in age-related technology. You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreallypodcast Twitter: @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mafia bosses recently apologized and offered reparations to the parents of a man whom they mistakenly killed and then dissolved in acid. Really, no really! How do you mistakenly dissolve the wrong guy…can’t you just double check their identity on Google or Facebook? And is it now proper etiquette for mobsters to admit and then apologize for their mistakes? Is this part of a new “woke” Mafia in 2023? We began to wonder if popular conceptions of how the mob operates were even accurate. And what’s behind our continued fascination with the Mafia, gangster movies and real-life murderous sociopaths? We needed to find out. This journey required a bona fide mob expert and that’s why we reached out to journalist, author and VP at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Geoff Schumacher.   In this discussion you’ll learn: The real Mafia code. Was Frank Sinatra really connected? Joan River’s shocking mob warning. The mistake both Al Capone and John Gotti made. The Hollywood movies that get the Italian Mafia right. Jason passed “The Mafia Test” – Can you? Real-life mobster’s opinions on The Mob Museum. The Mafia’s surprising interactions with the LGBTQ+ communities. Younger, “iPhone obsessed” mobster’s effect on organized crime.   More about the Museum: www.themobmuseum.org More about Geoff: www.geoffschumacher.com Follow Geoff on Instagram & Twitter: @geoffschumacher   You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Threads: @reallynoreally.com Twitter: @reallynoreally_   Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all seen steam rising from manhole covers in big cities like New York - but have you ever stopped and wondered why? Jason and Peter were curious and discovered that manhole covers literally explode all over NYC every year. Really, no Really! Determined to discover the cause of these explosions and uncover the secrets that lurk below many of the world’s cities, they spoke with one of the planet’s foremost underground enthusiasts. Adventurer and history devotee Don Wildman is the host of the adventure series, "Cities of the Underworld," and he’s explored secret underground tunnels, catacombs, crypts, and entire cities completely hidden beneath more than forty cities around the globe. The Conversation Includes: The definitive answer to, “Do alligators live in NYC sewers?” Mole people? The archeological find that shocked the world. New York City’s new Rat Czar. The world’s longest underground tunnel. The largest underground structure ever built. Floating Cities, Underground shopping centers and Underground Pyramids! Aaron Burr’s water Scam. Our sinking skyscrapers Spectacular subterranean rock carved Churches. The reason many cities of the future may be built underground.   Instagram & Twitter: @DonWildman Don’s PODCAST: American History Hit   You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Twitter: @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter discovered that the most popular course in Yale’s over 300-year history was the “Class on Happiness”. Really, no Really! In the modern era, happiness has become an industry, with motivational speakers and self-help gurus promising to teach techniques that unlock the gates to everlasting joy. Yet for many, happiness remains elusive because it’s influenced by numerous factors and is a deeply personal and subjective journey. Since Jason and Peter (both experts when it comes to anxiety) are both aware of the greatly increased rates of depression in today's society, they decided to go to Yale in search of answers and possibly some personal joy! Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University, and teaches Psychology, and the Good Life - the happiness class. Dr. Santos created the course after witnessing and researching how depressed and overwhelmed her students and young people generally are. Give a listen... and you may find that your mindset changes… for the better. We Discuss: The “5 Senses Technique” to lower anxiety in 5 minutes. Hacking your Fight or Flight system. Jason’s gratitude bed. Using the Tsao of Karen on negativity. The happiest person on Earth revealed. Prescription medication vs exercise. Do parents have an obligation for their children’s happiness? Asking for help: a burden or an opportunity for happiness? Dr. Santos’ Class is now available for FREE for teens: The Science of Well-Being for Teens Check out Dr. Santos’ podcast, The Happiness Lab You can follow us: Online: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram: @reallynoreallypodcast YouTube: @reallynoreallypodcast TikTok: @reallynoreallypodcast Facebook: @reallynoreallypodcast Twitter: @reallynoreally_ Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.