Hello and welcome to episode eleven of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, we’re talking football in honor of America’s favorite holiday—Super Bowl Sunday. I tell Todd about Christina’s brilliant, outside-the-box idea to make football more entertaining to people who don’t give a shit about football. Then we talk about the time my dad changed the way we watch football on TV. It’s a super episode!

Listen on Substack, or click here to listen wherever you listen to podcasts.

Also, for the love of boneless chicken wings and nachos, please rate & review this podcast if you listen on Apple, Spotify, or any of those places. THANKS!

Quick programming note:

After 11 episodes, the Situation Normal podcast is going on hiatus. That’s Latin for a break of an undetermined time. The show will come back, because I love doing it. But I don’t know when. I’ve got a few things in my life that need to take priority. This will be the last episode for a bit. Thanks for understanding.

Time to discuss👇

* Who are you rooting for? The Chiefs? The 49ers? Taylor Swift? Pizza?

* If you’re not gonna watch the Super Bowl, what are you doing Sunday?

* Kickers are easy scapegoats, right?

* What toppings were on your last pizza?

Hello and welcome to episode ten of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about serving on 1.5 juries. This episode is the follow-up to a piece I recently wrote about wasting two days of my life on jury duty. On the one hand, jury duty is a miserable experience that any sane person should avoid. But on the other hand, it might just be the best thing this country has going for it, at least as far as the rule of law is concerned.

LISTEN TO THE SITUATION NORMAL PODCAST HERE

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Also, tell your friends, family, and mortal enemies, so that I can dethrone those smug bastards at NPR.

Hello and welcome to episode nine of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about a game I love losing: Music League. Back in November, I wrote about how I love playing Music Love with friends, even though I always lose. But a funny thing happened after I published that story: I started winning! Listen to the episode to find out what the hell happened and how the season ended.

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Stick around and chat!

Normally, I ask discussion questions at the end of a post. I love hearing from readers in the comments, but a podcast is a little different from a newsletter. Should I keep the comments section for the podcast, or ditch it? No wrong answers: I just want to hear what you think.

Hello and welcome to episode eight of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about my strange and silly encounters with real life versions of a popular internet genre: FLORIDA MAN! Stories include:

* An obnoxious customer and an unwieldy burrito

* Stoners pumping gas… and courting death

* An indecent proposal at a red light

* A magical timeshare presentation

How to listen to the Situation Normal podcast🎧

Every episode of Situation Normal is available for free on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s your call! Be sure to follow / subscribe!

Rate and review this podcast⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please help more people discover Situation Normal by rating and reviewing this podcast! It takes 30 seconds, and it REALLY HELPS ME. Go here🙏

Tell your friends about the Situation Normal podcast🗣

Tell everyone about the Situation Normal podcast, even the people of Florida👇

Stick around and chat!

You know the drill. I’ve got questions, you’ve got answers.

* Do you love the Florida Man genre, or do you hate good internet?

* Name another state that competes with Florida in the weird stories department. Explain.

* I talked about four different Florida Person encounters on the podcast. Which one was your favorite?

* Have you reviewed the podcast yet? Seriously, help a podcaster out, will you? It takes one minute or less.

* Why are you still reading this questions? Don’t you have any friends, lovers, and mortal enemies to share the Situation Normal podcast with?

One last thing!

If you’re new here, make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss any of the fun👇

Hello and welcome to episode seven of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about the first time I got paid for my creative writing. Here’s a hint: that story involves lawyers, new media companies, and a children’s book parody. After the story, we talk about the economics of writing a best-selling humor Substack and how creative people ought to think about their own happiness and fulfillment as those things relate to careers, side hustles, and hobbies. For reference, we talk a lot about this post I wrote called “What’s the deal with Substackanomics?”

How to listen to the Situation Normal podcast🎧

Every episode of Situation Normal is available for free on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s your call! Be sure to follow / subscribe!

Rate and review this podcast⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please help more people discover Situation Normal by rating and reviewing this podcast! It takes 30 seconds, and it REALLY HELPS ME. Go here🙏

Tell your friends about the Situation Normal podcast🗣

Seriously, don’t keep the Situation Normal podcast a secret

Support the podcast (and the newsletter)

The podcast is free, the stories on Situation Normal are free, but people pay because they love Situation Normal and they want to support my work. If that sounds like you, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription🙏

Stick around and chat!

You know the drill. I’ve got questions, you’ve got answers.

* If you’re a creative writer, is writing your full-time career, side hustle, or hobby? No judgement!

* If you’re a creative writer, are you happy with your full-time career, side hustle, or hobby? Or, is the grass in one of the other categories greener? Explain!

* If you aren’t a creative writer, how did you manage to live such a charmed life? Dish!

* Have you reviewed the podcast yet? Seriously, help a podcaster out, will you? It takes one minute or less.

* Why are you still reading this questions? Don’t you have any friends, lovers, and mortal enemies to share the Situation Normal podcast with?

Hello and welcome to episode six of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about the time I rode inside of a Rose Parade float. Spoiler alert: I didn’t love it, but my dad had a blast. We also talk about my father’s contributions to parade entertainment, the origins of the Rose Parade, and why going with the flow when things don’t go according to plan might just be the secret to finding joy.

How to listen to the Situation Normal podcast🎧

Every episode of Situation Normal is available for free on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s your call! Be sure to follow / subscribe!

Rate and review this podcast⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please help more people discover Situation Normal by rating and reviewing this podcast! It takes 30 seconds, and it REALLY HELPS ME. Go here🙏

Tell your friends about the Situation Normal podcast🗣

Tell your friends👇

Support the podcast (and the newsletter)

The podcast is free, the stories on Situation Normal are free, but people pay because they love Situation Normal and they want to support my work. If that sounds like you, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription🙏

Stick around and chat!

You know the drill. I’ve got questions, you’ve got answers.

* Did you watch the Rose Parade this year? What was your favorite float?

* Have you ever been in a parade? Tell your story!

* What did you do on New Year’s Day? Dish!

Hello and welcome to episode five of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd about my 2023 wins and how my tradition of recording my wins began. Along the way, we talk about drugs and butt stuff, medieval relics, yoga, the key to a happy marriage, and the joy of podcasting with one of your best friends.

How to listen to the Situation Normal podcast🎧

Every episode of Situation Normal is available for free on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s your call! Be sure to follow / subscribe!

Rate and review this podcast⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please help more people discover Situation Normal by rating and reviewing this podcast! It takes 30 seconds, and it REALLY HELPS ME. Go here🙏

Tell your friends about the Situation Normal podcast🗣

The best way to win is to share this podcast👇

Support the podcast (and the newsletter)

The podcast is free, the stories on Situation Normal are free, but people pay because they love Situation Normal and they want to support my work. If that sounds like you, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription🙏

Stick around and chat💬

Just one question for you: What were your wins in 2023?

Hello and welcome to episode four of the Situation Normal podcast! The podcast has the same vibe as the newsletter, but instead of reading, you listen to me tell stories to my friend Todd.

In this episode, I tell Todd a couple of Hanukkah stories. We also talk a lot about fried food and holiday traditions for Jews in America. Plus, I share a little about what my Jewish identity means to me.

How to listen to the Situation Normal podcast🎧

Every episode of Situation Normal is available for free on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s your call! Be sure to follow / subscribe!

Rate and review this podcast⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please help more people discover Situation Normal by rating and reviewing this podcast! It takes 30 seconds, and it REALLY HELPS ME. Go here🙏

Tell your friends about the Situation Normal podcast🗣

Text or email the link to a friend, post this on social media, hit the Restack button on Substack, or press the share button👇

Support the podcast (and the newsletter), if you can💰💰💰

The podcast is free, the stories on Situation Normal are free, but people pay because they love Situation Normal and they want to support my work. If that sounds like you, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription🙏

Stick around and chat💬

Anyone can answer these questions, but it’s a lot more fun if you 🎧listen🎧 to the 🎤podcast🎤 first.

* Why are there so many ways to spell Hanukkah? Explain!

* Donuts or latkes? Hint: both.

* How do you eat your latkes? Hint: ketchup is the wrong answer.

* Adam Sandler has done four versions of The Chanukah Song (note the different spelling!). Which one is your favorite?

* How would you make Hanukkah more popular? Put on your marketing hat!