Reconcilable Differences

Relay
undefined
May 9, 2025 • 1h 37min

260: The Mandala Effect

This discussion dives into the nuances of vulnerability and its role in podcasting, with a playful nod to the Mandela Effect. The hosts humorously tackle the challenges of digital truth and attributing famous quotes, all while sharing personal anecdotes. They explore the impact of technology on emotional well-being and collaboration, emphasizing the significance of self-care and the amusing struggles with tech mishaps. With insights on AI’s role in problem-solving, the conversation highlights the blend of humor and authenticity in navigating today's complex digital landscape.
undefined
Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 39min

259: Cascade of Interventions

Subtitle: Consider the Banana.Stop blaming the dog. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Yawn Email: Tame your inbox with intelligent daily summaries. Start your 14-day free trial today. Grist: A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with a second episode in which John has to force a context transition, then Merlin commiserates about how bad apps and institutions can be. In Follow-Up, Merlin introduces both new data and new methodologies to Things It Took Me Too Long to Realize, and John shares yet another instance of erroneously blaming an animal for something bad happening. Topic one seems like it'll be a topic about how an aging gentleman grooms, but then it ends up being about follicle madness, acceptance, and retaining the sort of friends who'll tell you when your fly is down. Finally, John has a really good music topic that ends up going into feelings and the sublime subtleties of ardent fandom. (Recorded on Tuesday, April 15, 2025) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort on "The Atheist's Nightmare": a banana Don’t blame the penguin 10 Ways to Tell Someone Their Fly Is Unzipped - Reddit What to Say When Someone’s Fly Is Down Fortress: The London Symphony Orchestra Performs the Music of Sting - Amazon Fortress: The London Symphony Orchestra Performs the Music of Sting - YouTube True Love Waits - Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead I Was Born for This (Soundtrack version) I Was Born for This - Live with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra D.H.T.’s cover of Listen To Your Heart - YouTube Threes video game soundtrack - YouTube Doctor Who, The End of Time: Part 2: This song is ending, but the story never ends - YouTube Luka Bloom’s cover of U2’s Bad
undefined
Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 37min

258: All These Little Things

Explore the exciting world of ChatGPT's new image generation capabilities, blending nostalgia with modern art. Dive into discussions on balancing productivity with mental breaks, and the humorous nuances of AI's creative challenges. Enjoy a reflection on the revival of classic games and the delights of culinary authenticity. Don't miss the hosts' take on the Netflix show 'Adolescence,' tackling everything from online privacy to the ethics of generative AI.
undefined
Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 44min

257: Reverse Procrastination Bingo

Subtitle: Merlin thinks John doesn't understand the whole point of the exercise.This week's topic: Kids & Driving This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist: A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with some Donkey Kong Follow-Up that leads to a fair amount of vintage video game nostalgia. Merlin has a new Thing It Took Him Too Long to Realize, but John seems determined to deny him any kind of credit or joy about it. In response to a listener request, John goes into more detail on what exactly Ice Day entails. The main topic is Kids and Driving. Which includes appropriate side topics on motion sickness, running stop signs, and Merlin's former life a very unsafe young operator. Also: Afterschool Specials. (Recorded on Tuesday, March 18, 2025) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Donkey Kong Mini Arcade - eBay Donkey Kong Mini Arcade price chart Mattel Football || - eBay Irish guests on The Graham Norton Show - YouTube Excalibur (1981) Project Farm's dash cam comparison - YouTube License to Drive (1988) The driving test scene from License to DriveNow, I love my coffee… Robby Benson Lance Kerwin: The feathered-haired prince of ABC Afterschool Specials Scenes from the Quincy Punk Rock Episode - YouTube Quincy Punk Episode - YouTube
undefined
Mar 13, 2025 • 1h 29min

256: Tomorrow is an Ice Day

Subtitle: Grandpa is just "Pee Pad" now,Follow-up brings updates on "all balls" plus a novel inversion to "Secret Weird Things People Do." Main topic this week is cooking alone. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist: A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: Follow-up brings updates on "all balls" plus a novel inversion to "Secret Weird Things People Do." This week's main topic is cooking alone. In this month’s member bonus episode, your hosts consider Dune: Prophecy, including some critical spycraft problems. You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program. (Recorded Tuesday, March 4, 2025) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Rule 34 - Wikipedia Crab legs!? Ahhh… (MTV) The Terminator: How to Turn a B-Movie Into a Masterpiece - YouTube Desmond Hume from Lost Jane Krakowski - Wikipedia Frame Game Squircle - Wikipedia Greeble (or Greebly) - Wikipedia Demand-Paged - Wikipedia Who wants…to live…forever…? - YouTube Who Wants to Live Forever - Queen Awake (TV series) - Wikipedia Pac-Man music - YouTubeThe first video game song that comes into Merlin's head is Pac-Man (not Donkey Kong) Moon Patrol music - YouTube Little General stores
undefined
Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 46min

255: The Illusion of a Shared Experience

Subtitle: Merlin is pretty sure Jason Mantzoukas is the voice of the booger.The main topic this week was almost The Big Game. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Grist: A modern, open source spreadsheet that goes beyond the grid. Try it for free today. Links and Show Notes: The main topic this week was almost The Big Game. (Recorded on Tuesday, February 11, 2025) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Harrison Ford on Conan O'Brien's podcast - YouTube Salesforce Is Using A Hallucination To Sell AI - Defector Merlin's article about binaries "allballs" in PostgreSQL The (possible) origin of "allballs" Acorn - Mac graphics editor by Flying Meat Roderick on the Line #567: A High TeenThis is the episode where John Roderick talks about taking a father and kid on a “rock tour” of Seattle. Bat Boy from the Weekly World News Nibble - Wikipedia The State, Season 4 Episode 4: Leonard Harris Show“No, it’s not in braille. It’s in English, the language of the U-S-A!” Acorn 8 | Full Featured Photo Editor for the MacAcorn is an image editor for macOS 14 Sonoma or later, including macOS 15 Sequoia.Universal binary for Apple Silicon Macs. One of a kind, no subscriptions, no hassle. Bob Uecker Miller Lite commercials: Best ads of all time Easy Com-mercial, Easy Go-mercial | Bob's Burgers Wiki | FandomWhen the commercial that Louise scripted proves to be terrible, they get football star Sandy "Can-Can" Frye to star in their commercial with the catch phrase "Burgers go great with Frye" "Cotton: The Fabric of Our Lives" (1992) - YouTube
undefined
Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 16min

254: Someone Else’s Bucket

The hosts kick things off with playful banter, sharing humorous anecdotes. They delve into Merlin's new online writing approach and discuss the complexities of owning a digital presence. A heartfelt tribute to their pet lizard sparks reflections on companionship in life, both human and animal. They emphasize the importance of self-hosting content and controlling one’s online identity amid social media chaos. Tensions between maintaining past projects and exploring new creativity are explored, painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced in content creation.
undefined
Jan 31, 2025 • 1h 30min

253: The Torpid Sons of Venezuelan Oil Men

This discussion dives into the nostalgic world of childhood toys and the entertaining chaos of exhibition sports, like the Harlem Globetrotters. The speakers share humorous anecdotes about 'The Simpsons,' touching on domestic struggles faced by caregivers. They also explore the evolution of spreadsheets into modern collaborative tools. With reflections on cinematic sponsorship and Art Deco aesthetics, the conversation balances light-hearted humor with deeper insights into family dynamics and the challenges of managing everyday life.
undefined
Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 41min

252: Briefly, It Was the Future.

Dive into a whirlwind of witty banter about filmmaking techniques from classics like 'Blade Runner' and 'Citizen Kane.' The hosts tackle the complexities of college admissions, exploring how rankings shape educational landscapes. Language trends take center stage with quirky discussions on the glottalization of sounds. They also fondly reminisce about the nostalgia of scrobbling music while criticizing modern streaming technologies. Expect humor, personal anecdotes, and a light-hearted take on life’s everyday quirks.
undefined
15 snips
Jan 3, 2025 • 1h 40min

251: The Finer Things

In a lively discussion, hosts dive into the nostalgia surrounding RKO films while exploring modern data tools. They share amusing anecdotes in a 'lucky dip' segment, covering everything from music to personal stories. Filmmaking techniques like match cuts, notably from 'Lawrence of Arabia,' spark engaging insights. The emotional rollercoaster of college admissions is also a focal point, highlighting the pressures students face today. With humor and warmth, they navigate topics from pop culture to personal reflections.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app