In Episode 198 the hosts continue a discussion centered around a customized 16-team single-elimination tournament featuring the "Worst Chores." The hosts consider factors such as danger, disgust, inconvenience, and personal experiences to determine rankings. Following the tournament segment, the show transitions into a new interactive game called "Change My Mind," where the hosts rank annoying or inconvenient scenarios and attempt to persuade each other to alter their rankings through debate and humor. Topics range from everyday minor annoyances like running out of toilet paper or hiccups to more specific issues such as the worst place to have explosive diarrhea and the annoyance of stubbing a pinky toe or experiencing "all-day swamp ass." The hosts engage in spirited discussions about these rankings, often mixing personal anecdotes with playful teasing.### Highlights - [00:06:00] 🧹 Introduction of the "Worst Chores" tournament with a 16-team bracket focusing on distasteful household tasks. - [00:10:20] 🚫 Discussion on the dangers and disgust factors of cleaning gutters versus other chores like changing closets and washing dishes. - [00:45:00] ❄️ Debate between shoveling snow and installing an air conditioning unit, weighing physical risk and inconvenience. - [01:00:00] 🌿 Pulling weeds versus cleaning the shower: a tough matchup that highlights physical strain and personal dislike. - [01:18:00] 🎲 Introduction of the interactive game "Change My Mind," where hosts rank annoying scenarios and debate their choices. - [01:50:00] 💩 Heated arguments about the worst places to experience explosive diarrhea, including planes, buses, and job interviews. - [02:05:00] 🤕 Ranking and discussion of minor inconveniences like stubbing a pinky toe, all-day swamp ass, and backsplash while pooping with humorous banter. Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 197 is the beginning of a bracket-style competition to determine the “worst chore,” where the hosts debate and seed 16 common chores based on their onerousness and unpleasantness. The discussion covers chores like cleaning gutters, setting the dinner table, raking leaves, handwashing dishes, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, cleaning the grill, pulling weeds, cleaning the shower, dusting, and more. Throughout, the hosts share their individual experiences, grievances, and humorous takes on these chores, with occasional side discussions about family memories, vintage household equipment, and quirky cultural references such as nursery rhymes and old-fashioned customs like darning socks or using corn cobs in outhouses. Highlights[55:00] 🧹 The “worst chore” bracket begins, with cleaning gutters seeded as the number one worst chore.[01:00:30] 🚽 Debate between cleaning toilets and changing closets reveals different perceptions of chore difficulty.[01:13:00] 💩 Christmas decorations vs. picking up dog poop sparks a surprising debate on which is worse.[01:27:00] 🍂 Raking leaves vs. handwashing dishes leads to a heated discussion about the usefulness and annoyance of each.[01:42:00] ❄️ Shoveling snow vs. mowing the lawn highlights the physical toll and safety concerns of snow removal.[02:06:00] 🌿 Pulling weeds vs. folding laundry—pulling weeds wins as a far more dreaded task.[02:22:00] 🎶 Nostalgic debate over the lyrics of “I Went to the Animal Fair” closes the show with humor and camaraderie.Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 196 starts with the hosts diving into a nostalgic food-themed segment. Todd introduces lists of popular 80s and 90s foods making a comeback, sparking a lively discussion. Dunkaroos are revisited with debates about chocolate versus vanilla icing and the small size of the icing compartment. The hosts reminisce on other nostalgic snacks like Fun Dip and Nutella, sharing personal anecdotes on how these treats were consumed. The conversation includes a critique of snack packaging design, such as the impractical shapes of the cheese compartments in crackers, showing consumer frustration with inconvenient product design.The segment continues with discussions about frozen snacks like Dippin' Dots, which are praised for their novelty but criticized for their BB-like texture that can get stuck in teeth. The hosts humorously suggest new utensils and marketing ideas to improve the eating experience. Bagel Bites are compared unfavorably to pizza rolls based on texture and burning tendencies, illustrating how food form factors impact usability and enjoyment.Uncrustables are highlighted as a beloved yet rarely consumed treat, with preferences for slightly frozen versus fully thawed versions sparking debate. The hosts impart “bread prophylactic” knowledge to avoid jelly leakage, showcasing their detailed food insights.The nostalgic journey continues with cereals, noting that Golden Grahams and Cocoa Puffs are resurging in popularity, though opinions on their taste vary widely. The hosts recall vintage commercials and discuss the evolution of flavors and texture, with humorous side notes on cereal consumption habits.The podcast then shifts gears into a fun interactive segment titled “Word Teasers,” where the hosts challenge each other to interpret British, Irish, and Australian slang phrases. This game adds a cultural and educational dimension to the show, featuring terms like “posh,” “gas man,” and “bee’s knees,” providing a playful exploration of language differences and idiomatic expressions.Highlights[04:19] 🏈 Bengals’ season woes reveal leadership and motivational gaps.[15:31] 🍪 Dunkaroos’ comeback sparks debate on icing flavor and portion size.[30:59] 🍦 Dip and Dots’ unique texture offers novelty but practical challenges.[38:32] 🥪 Uncrustables’ ideal consumption temperature debated among hosts.[42:03] 🥣 Golden Grahams and Cocoa Puffs cereal nostalgia and taste preferences.[01:29:29] 🎲 Engaging language quiz with British and Australian slang adds educational fun.[02:03:46] 📢 Podcast’s push for social media growth highlights community importance.Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Episode 195 begins with a discussion of the Live at 5! event which then shifts to a fun and nostalgic taste test comparing Oreo cookies with off-brand knockoffs, both plain and in truffle form. They admit to fumbling the truffle test, humorously describing the off-brand’s unpleasant taste. This leads to an extended and playful detour into the world of "grandma’s purse candy," nostalgic hard candies, and the quirky experiences of candy in purses — including the curious term “sucking candy” and the odd textures and flavors of various candies like Good and Plenty and branches nougats.The hosts continue with a spirited debate about licorice versus Twizzlers and Red Vines, exploring the nuances of candy types, brand rivalries, and personal preferences, alongside humorous commentary about candy nostalgia and childhood memories. They also touch on the cultural and historical context behind some candy choices and flavors.Brady then presents a topic involving “21 tweets/ideas that are both terrible and brilliant,” ranging from parking ticket tricks to social antics like faking a proposal to get free drinks. The hosts analyze each idea with humor and skepticism, debating the legality and morality of some while celebrating the cleverness of others. The episode concludes with a new interactive game called the “Heart and Brain Quiz Game with Yeti,” where hosts guess each other's answers to quirky hypothetical questions, adding a layer of fun and personal insight. The game showcases their personalities, preferences, and humor, with the yeti character providing absurd and comedic options. The hosts also reflect on neighborhood dynamics, skincare regimens, and personal quirks, sharing relatable stories and philosophies.### Highlights - [00:05:00] 🎤 Historian’s wrestling-style promo and deep knowledge enrich the live event. - [00:12:00] 🍪 Oreo taste test reveals surprising difficulty distinguishing real vs. off-brand in truffles. - [00:14:00] 🍬 Nostalgic and humorous discussion on “grandma’s purse candy” and sucking candies. - [00:27:00] 🍭 Debate over licorice, Twizzlers, and Red Vines uncovers candy brand rivalries and preferences. - [01:02:00] 💡 “21 terrible and brilliant ideas” spark lively debate on cleverness vs. legality. - [01:35:00] 🎲 Introduction of the “Heart and Brain Quiz Game with Yeti,” blending humor and personality insights. - [02:12:00] 🏡 Thoughtful reflections on changing neighborhood relationships and generational differences. Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Join us as we celebrate 5 years of gold-standard podcasting with a live episode at Sons of Toil Brewing

Episode 193 of the "Play It By Ear" podcast starts with a discussion on the impracticality of Roman numerals and the hosts reminisce about classic comedy bits involving Roman numeral jokes. The main segment focuses on a recent list—"12 Ridiculous Food Trends That Need to Go Away"—where they dissect trends such as mashed potato fries, rainbow-colored foods, slow-cooked skinless chicken breasts, weird pasta recipes, baby shower food etiquette, mug cakes, fake social media recipes, and the overuse of avocado. Each trend sparks a mix of agreement, debate, and personal stories about food preferences and cooking disasters.They also delve into the challenges of social media food presentation, criticizing misleading thumbnails and “cheese pools,” where the visual spectacle can overpower actual enjoyment of food. The episode then shifts to more personal and humorous stories, including preparation for medical procedures, bathroom mishaps, and workplace awkwardness, especially focusing on a story involving a manager and an employee navigating perceived flirting and professional boundaries.### Highlights - [00:10:00] 🍟 Debate on mashed potato fries: crispy exterior with a mashed potato interior—innovative but tricky texture. - [00:18:30] 🌈 Rainbow foods discussion: colorful but often artificial, prioritizing Instagram appeal over flavor. - [00:24:00] 🍗 Slow-cooked skinless chicken breast critique: tends to become rubbery and stringy in slow cookers. - [00:39:00] 🤰 Baby shower food etiquette: controversy over messy nachos vs. elegant finger foods. - [01:09:00] 🧀 Cheese pools phenomenon: visually impressive but can overwhelm the eating experience. - [01:26:00] 🚽 Hilarious workplace bathroom mishap: falling through a stall door after sitting too long. - [02:08:00] 💼 Awkward workplace flirting story: manager compliments employee’s scent, leading to a cringeworthy response and HR involvement. #earbudsunite!

Episode 192 begins with light-hearted banter about Wendy’s new Frosty flavors and quickly transitions to nostalgic and detailed discussions of pop culture topics, especially the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. The hosts analyze character relationships and casting changes, drawing connections to other shows like Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead, highlighting actor crossovers. They also dive into current TV series recommendations such as Animal Kingdom and The Waterfront, discussing the appeal of gritty, morally ambiguous characters.The episode then shifts to the final segment featuring a bracket competition for the best road trip snacks, debating between Doritos, Coke, chicken sandwiches, and M&M’s. This leads to a humorous debate on snack etiquette, hidden food in the household, and quirky snack preferences.Brady leads the main segment that explores American customs that might be considered rude or unusual in other countries, including cultural differences in cab etiquette, gestures like the thumbs-up, punctuality, hand usage, eating habits, gift-opening, and sauna etiquette. The hosts share personal anecdotes and cultural observations, touching on topics such as how Americans’ casual habits contrast with stricter traditions elsewhere, and the complexities of social cues like hugging and personal space. They discuss the impact of cultural differences on everyday behaviors like eating while walking, using the left hand, and public appearance.The episode concludes with Aric leading a music trivia game where the hosts guess band names from synonym clues, adding an engaging and playful note to the lengthy discussion. Throughout, the conversation is marked by humor, camaraderie, and a willingness to explore diverse topics with both depth and levity.Highlights[02:47] 🍦 Hosts enthusiastically review and recommend new Wendy’s Frosty flavors, including the caramel crunch and brownie batter swirl.[06:00] 📺 Deep dive into The Dukes of Hazzard’s complex family relationships and casting changes, with connections to Sons of Anarchy.[14:00] 📺 Recommendations for TV shows Animal Kingdom and The Waterfront, highlighting their gritty characters and storytelling style.[20:00] 🥤 Snack bracket showdown between Doritos, Coke, chicken sandwiches, and M&M’s, with M&M’s crowned the favorite road trip snack.[47:41] 🌍 Exploration of cultural differences in etiquette, such as cab seating customs in various countries versus the U.S.[54:16] 👍 Discussion of how the thumbs-up gesture can be offensive in several countries, contrasting with its positive meaning in the U.S.[01:04:54] ⏰ Contrasting views on punctuality: Americans’ “fashionably late” versus strict punctuality in countries like Germany and relaxed timing in Latin America.[01:17:29] ✋ Cultural taboos regarding the use of the left hand for eating or greeting in many countries, with historical and sanitary reflections.[01:38:28] 🍽️ Debate on restaurant etiquette involving bringing outside food, including humorous anecdotes about bringing personal tortilla shells.[01:49:51] 🚌 Social behaviors around eating on the go, with Japanese culture’s disapproval of eating while walking or in public transit.[01:52:06] 🤗 Contrasting American friendliness and physical touch with more reserved customs in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures.[02:13:49] 🎸 Fun music trivia game guessing band names from synonym clues, providing an entertaining wrap-up to the episode.Like and subscribe on YouTube and Rumble at our channels: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X by searching Play It By Ear Podcast.#earbudsunite!

Todd finalizes his Best Road Trip Snack Bracket in this episode. We also play a game called "Same, Same, but Different"

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#earbudsunite!