Really? no, Really?

Harvard is teaching a course on…Taylor Swift? Yes! Harvard University, the one in Cambridge, Massachusetts has a new course about T-Swizzle whose Eras Tour has earned over 1 billion dollars so far. And whose latest album just broke multiple streaming records within hours of its release. Really, no Really! Our initial reaction was to poo-poo the Harvard course because we happen to be congenital born poo-poo-ers. But when we investigated the course syllabus, we found it fascinating, and an easy A it’s not. Jason and Peter have enlisted the talents of Professor Stephanie Burt -who teaches the Taylor Swift course at Harvard - to not only discuss her class, but to also take a closer look at the woman, her music, the music industry she has upended and her rabid fan base, the Swifties. Professor Stephanie Burt is the Donald and Catherine Loker Professor of English at Harvard University and has published various collections of poetry and a large amount of literary criticism and research. The New York Times has called Professor Burt "one of the most influential poetry critics of her generation". You’ll also hear how Jason and Peter gave Taylor a job, way back in the day. Really, no Really! IN THIS EPISODE: How Prof. Burt sold Harvard’s Administration on doing a Taylor Swift course. Is Taylor Swift just about skewering her x-boyfriends? Do you have a Hermeneutic Friendship with Taylor? And what does that even mean? Does Taylor use “lects”? And what does that even mean? How Swift’s social media consciously builds and deepens community with her fans. Taylor Swift’s success: amazing business acumen or smart consultants? The songs a Swift novice should listen to first. GoogleHEIM: Quiz: Who sung it - Taylor Swift or the Sex Pistols? *** FOLLOW PROFESSOR BURT:X: @accommodatingly BlueSky Social: @notquitehydepark.bsky.social Podcast: teamupmoves.com *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode attempts to answer the question… “Are airlines putting dangerous planes into the sky?” Recently, a Boeing 737 Max 9 had a door plug blow out at 16,000 feet, creating a gaping hole that sucked out, among other things…the shirt off the back of a startled teenager. Really, no Really! That incident (along with a few others) reminded us of that Netflix documentary exposing the egregious decline of Boeing, a once great American manufacturer. 2023 was considered a travel nightmare for many and 2024 looks to be no better with shortages of air traffic controllers, pilots, and planes. To enlighten us about the current state of air travel, Jason and Peter invited CNN’s, always entertaining - aviation expert and correspondent- Richard Quest. Richard has interviewed every major airline executive and covered the crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. IN THIS EPISODE: Aviation’s surprising “Do Not Pair” list! Safest seat on the aircraft is…? Ailine pilot statistics you hope aren’t true. Richard breaks down why Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 & Lion Air Flight 610 went down and what’s changed. Why airlines outsource critical maintenance overseas. What happens when a plane depressurizes at 35,000 ft? Are pilots being pushed to the breaking point? True/False: Water and ice on an airplane are safe to drink? Is it possible to be sucked out a broken window? “Sully” Sullenberger’s genius! Jason’s favorite Seinfeld plane episode. GoogleHEIM: How far can a commercial airline glide without engines? *** FOLLOW RICHARD QUEST: X @RichardQuest Quest Means Business, airs weekdays at 3pm ET / 12pm PT on CNN International Pick up Richard’s book: 'The Vanishing of Flight MH370: The True Story of the Hunt for the Missing Malaysian Plane' *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fame! That mystical quality that often leads young stars to crushing downfalls, addiction, financial ruin, even personal tragedy. So, is it better to become famous later in life, when you hopefully have the wisdom and experience to handle it? For one Tennessee housewife and in-home jewelry salesperson Leanne Morgan, success didn’t happen till her late 50s. That’s when her incredible talent, perseverance and whit enabled her to go from playing small comedy clubs, to arenas, landing a Netflix special, and getting the part of Reese Witherspoon’s big sister in her upcoming comedy with Will Ferrell! When Peter saw Leanne perform, it evoked memories of comedic timing reminiscent of Joan Rivers. When Jason caught her stand-up act, he immediately fell in love. And apparently, he’s not the only one. Her first YouTube comedy special reached - over 50 million views! Really, no Really! And we’re happy to say Leanne is joining us to talk about her special brand of Southern-inspired comedy and what it’s like to hit it big… later in life. IN THIS EPISODE: How a woman peeing on a couch led Leanne to a her successful career in comedy. Really! Dealing with kids leaving home, beagles’ buttholes and menstrual mishaps. Popcorn tubs, hernias & plantar fasciitis aka, date night at a Journey Concert! Learning what a table read is with “little” Reese Witherspoon & Will Ferrell. Talking about family in your act-even when they don’t want you to! What it’s like for Leanne to ‘make it’ in her late 50s. GoogleHEIM: The top 10 things you SHOULD NOT DO…If you don’t want to look old (#10 is controversial) *** FOLLOW LEANNE: Netflix Special: Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman Website: LeanneMorgan.com Instagram: @LeanneMorganComedy TikTok: @LeanneMorganComedy YouTube: @LeanneMorganComedy Facebook: @Leanne Morgan X: @LeanneComedy Pre-Order Book: “What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings” Watch her on Amazon Prime’s forthcoming feature, You’re Cordially Invited, alongside Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon. *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As celebrities bask in their own fame, they are frequently offered exceptionally lucrative endorsement deals, often worth obscene amounts of money. But as this trend has grown over the past decade, many of the deals seem to be encountering significant problems! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wine brand may take a hit due to their acrimonious divorce. Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy and more) reportedly lost 18 brand partnerships due to assault allegations. And Adidas’s billion-dollar deal with the controversial Ye (formerly Kanye) may end up costing them over a billion dollars…Really, no Really! So, is it worth hiring a well-known star to create awareness for your brand or has it now become a recipe for disaster? To help find the answer, Jason and Peter invited Mark Haas to join them. Mark is the CEO of The Helmsman Group which helps brands navigate the world of consumer-packaged goods and he’s helped over 200 new product platforms enter the commercial market— representing more than $2 billion in sales over the last decade. IN THIS EPISODE: Would you buy a Jason Alexander rum called “No Rum For You”? What makes a celebrity and a product the right fit? The amazing story of how Don King committed Michael Jackson to do a Pepsi commercial without his permission. The one thing Samsung DIDN’T want to hear from celebrity endorser LeBron James. Do celebrities really need to enjoy the brands they’re shilling for? How celebrities get involved with food and alcohol brands. The quality of the product or the veneer of the celebrity, which is more important? The difference between Ryan Reynold’s remaking the gin market vs Orson Wells selling wine form a chair he’s clearly been sitting in for quite a while. Jason pitches products that don’t have a celebrity endorser…yet! GoogleHEIM: More brilliant Jason Rum ideas! *** FOLLOW MARK: Web: HelmsmanGroup.com Instagram: @HelmsmanGroup Facebook: The Helmsman Group LinkedIN: Helmsman Group *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode could be titled, “Hello Newman” because the internationally loved actor, Wayne Knight visits Really, no Really to talk about his iconic roles... including Seinfeld’s scheming Postman Newman, and Jurassic Park's techno-wiz Dennis Nedry. In this episode, Jason and Peter get Wayne to discuss what it’s like to get cast in projects based on his weight, being held hostage on the set of Oliver Stone’s JFK, and his bizarre audition with the director of Basic Instinct - Really, no Really! In addition to the credits listed above, Wayne has appeared on Broadway in the plays Gemini, Mastergate, Art and Sweet Charity plus the movies… Dirty Dancing, Born on the 4th of July, Dead Again, JFK, Space Jam, For Richer or Poorer, Rat Race – and the list goes on! He also voiced the villainous toy collector Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2, plus characters in Tarzan, Kung Fu Panda, Harley Quinn and many other animated projects. IN THIS EPISODE: Wayne Knight the biochemist? Wayne Knight, private Investigator, and his real-life case: “The Husband, The Wife & The Pregnant Au Pair! Why he wore a fat suit…Really, no really! Meeting Steven Spielberg at the entrance to Jurassic Park. The disgusting reality of being spit on by a dinosaur. Jason & Wayne compare notes on losing weight. Warm? Cold? Unwelcoming? Guest star’s views on the Seinfeld set. Googleheim: Who wore it worse? Fat suits in Hollywood. *** FOLLOW WAYNE: X: @iWayneKnight Wayne’s upcoming shows: Amazon Prime’s season 2 of Them and Max’s Bookie. *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is all about trying to figure out if TikTok - the video hosting platform owned by the Chinese company Byte Dance should be banned or not. Over 70% of young Americans use TikTok, which critics claim is spying on, manipulating, and spreading misinformation to its users. But is TikTok any different than Meta, Google, or X? Our guest’s answer may surprise you… Really, no really! Bruce Schneier is a cryptographer, computer security professional, privacy specialist, who has been writing about security issues since 2004 and is a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University; a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School; a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and AccessNow; and an Advisory Board Member of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and VerifiedVoting.org. He is the Chief of Security Architecture at Inrupt, Inc. IN THIS EPISODE: Surveillance as a business model is 100% legal. Breaking down the types of information companies are collecting, and what they’re doing with it. Why does China want to know about our affinity for puppy videos? Social Media’s ability to manipulate is greater than you might think. Russia and China’s preferred platform for transmitting misinformation is…? (Spoiler Alert: It’s not TikTok) Facebook has data on you… even if you aren’t on Facebook-RnR! Data Privacy is a national security issue, but not treated like one. The European Union leads the world in protecting data privacy. The unsettling future of A.I. and personal data surveillance. Cougar hemorrhoids? Googleheim: What you are missing… if you’re NOT on TikTok! *** FOLLOW BRUCE: Bruce’s Blog: Schneier.com X: @schneierblog Facebook: Bruce Schneier *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode should be titled “Mission Insanity” because it’s all about exploring how Tom Cruise performs his own death-defying stunts…and why! Jason and Peter were determined to find out the real reason Tom “risks it all” in every film. How he trains for a stunt that’s never been done before and whether he’s going to continue to try and outdo himself with each new film now that he’s in his 60’s! And they succeeded in finding the person with the answers… Wade Eastwood. He’s best known as the Action Director and Stunt Coordinator for the Mission: Impossible franchise. He’s also a fixed wing & helicopter pilot, sky diver, rescue scuba diver, accomplished black belt martial artist, boxer, fencer, yacht skipper, highly graded horse rider who has advanced weapons skills… plus he races cars internationally, with a string of wins! And - he knows the secret to how Tom Cruise creates and executes jaw dropping, mind-blowing stunts. IN THIS EPISODE: The film star considered the original Tom Cruise. Train for deadly stunts that’ve never been done before. Has Tom Cruise ever said no to a stunt because it’s too dangerous? There’s much more to fight scenes than you know. Fatalities still happen. How can stunts go wrong? Wade comments on the tragedy on the Rust set. Is Tom Cruise actually going to space? Jason shares his death-defying stunts! Seinfeld’s stunt that went very, very wrong for Jason. Googleheim: The first stunt woman!   FOLLOW WADE: Instagram @wadeeastwood *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In case you haven’t noticed, there appears to be a subtitle revolution, with current research showing that as many as 61% of us are using subtitles regularly. And that number is rapidly growing! Really, no really! Everyone hasn’t suddenly become hard of hearing, so why are subtitles suddenly becoming the norm? This global entertainment trend is transforming the way we watch television and movies…and content creators secretly admit there is a problem that necessitates subtitles! So, we had to unravel the reasons why more of us are opting for on screen text. To help us explain the subtitle takeover, Jason and Peter enlisted the services of film researcher and producer Ed Vega, who specializes in - as his bio says - all things cinema, from the intricacies of film history to the nuts and bolts of filmmaking AND prolific dialogue editor and sound designer Austin Olivia Kendrick whose notable work includes - Star Trek Discovery, the HBO series Barry, Monster High, Rugrats, Transformers: Earthspark among many others. IN THIS EPISODE: The pros and cons of using subtitles. How today’s actor’s vocal performances differ from those in the past. Generational reasons and differences in subtitle use. Why the 1970’s era -inferior technology- seemed to work better. Do modern TVs really have speakers facing the wrong way? Is A.I. the answer to better sound mixing? Wait…competing streaming services have no audio standards! What about the George Lucas created THX? Which do we prefer in foreign language movies-Dubbed or subtitled? Have subtitles and audio descriptions made entertainment more accessible? How Jason accidentally watched the original Squid Game. Googleheim: Other cutting-edge technologies that have made life worse! *** FOLLOW ED: Website: Vox.com Instagram: @edfromqueens *** FOLLOW AUSTIN: Instagram: @aok.wav TikTok: @aok.wav Facebook: Austin Olivia Kendrick *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MrBeast aka 25-year-old Jimmy Donaldson is the biggest solo performer on YouTube. He’s followed by over 400 million people who watch his insane stunts and his enormous acts of philanthropy. So, who is this introverted twenty-five-year-old and what makes him tick? Did he really figure out the YouTube recommendation algorithm, and what makes him different from thousands of similar creators on YouTuber? For answers we contacted a writer who for three days, embedded herself with MrBeast, in his enormous compound, in Greenville, North Carolina…Ej Dickson. Ej is a Senior Writer for Rolling Stone and covers internet culture. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Elle, GQ, and Playboy, among others. She's also been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and This American Life, as well as the Hulu docuseries "Only Fans: Selling Sexy," The New Yorker once called her "ineffably cool."   ON THIS EPISODE: YouTube was birthed after a wardrobe malfunction. What's MrBeast’s strategy for becoming the biggest YouTuber? How he created an old-school, Hollywood-style, studio system. MrBeast’s parents, his house, and seeing 1 million dollars in cash. MrBeast cracked the YouTube algorithm. Or did he? Some call MrBeast’s charitable videos - “inspiration porn” Is it? MrBeast and Tyler Perry - What they have in common. How long can MrBeast dominate? Ej introduces us to the odd world of Skibidi Toilet. Really??? Googleheim: The most popular social media star across ALL platforms is… *** FOLLOW EJ: Web RollingStone.com Podcast: Pod…CATS with Ej Dickson Instagram @ejdickson X @ejdickson *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 11 years on ABC’s Modern Family, Jesse Tyler Ferguson never won a Primetime Emmy even though he was nominated 5 times. Jason, who reminds us often, was nominated 7 times for Seinfeld so in this episode, we find out who lost it, better. And Jesse’s show is so popular there are even versions in Chile, Greece, Russia, and even Iran! Really, no really? Actor, author, podcaster, philanthropist, restaurateur, and activist Jesse Tyler Ferguson is best known for his portrayal of Mitchell Pritchett on the hit sitcom Modern Family. He’s also done a variety of stage and screen work including “Cocaine Bear”, and “Ice Age: Collision Course.” He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in the 2022 Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg's “Take Me Out” and for his performance in 2016’s “Fully Committed”, Jesse won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. IN THIS EPISODE: The strange commonalities between Jason and Jesse. The documentarian on Modern Family finally revealed! Jesse on the responsibility of representing the Gay Community. When you podcast from a restaurant, is the food free? Straight actors cast as LGBTQ characters? Jesse came out to his dad 3 times. Really! Living an actual “Modern Family.” How to play 40 roles in a one-man show? Jesse responds to criticism for “wearing a fat-suit” in Cocaine Bear. How Jason and Jesse fostered such collaborative ensembles. In Hollywood, being gay is no longer included as a diversity hire, RnR?     FOLLOW JESSE: Website: www.jessetylerferguson.com Podcast: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson Instagram: @jessetyler TikTok: @jessetyler X @jessetyler FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook   Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a brand-new, George Carlin comedy special, which is mystifying and disturbing since he died in 2008! Legendary comedian George Carlin was unceremoniously resurrected from the grave by a comedy podcast claiming to have created an AI-generated Carlin, based upon decades worth of his existing material. The special they created - “I’m Glad I’m Dead”- had the AI created legend commenting on current issues such as mass shootings, America’s class system, streaming services, social media…even Taylor Swift’s sex life…Really, no Really! But the computer-generated version lacks Carlin’s brilliance and has created a brouhaha that leads us to an unsettled legal question…whether training A.I. language learning models on publicly available written, visual and audio content infringes on the copyrights of artists and authors. Is it ethical or legal for someone to create a new George Carlin, without his or his estate’s permission? Jason and Peter needed to find out, so they went to the source, Carlin’s daughter, Kelly Carlin to discuss the controversy, her lawsuit, her dad’s legacy, and what she feels her father would have to say about the current controversy? Kelly Carlin is a storyteller, writer, performer, photographer, a practitioner of Zen Buddhism and the daughter of the legendary comedian George Carlin who died in 2008. Since then, Kelly has upheld his legacy by spreading his life’s work through many media, protecting his work and image in the public sphere, and stepping into the limelight in her own right. IN THIS EPISODE: What’s the purpose of ANY AI-written or performed standup? Was this truly AI-written and performed - does it matter? Future protections for performers and their likenesses. The true story behind George Carlin and his 7 dirty words. Which would you trust more: An experienced doctor or an AI diagnostician? When the AI Carlin feeds the future AI, what happens then?  An AI with empathy, does it exist? The upside to AI hacking comedians, is there one? FOLLOW KELLY: Website: TheKellyCarlinSite.com Memoir: A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George Podcast: Waking from the American Dream Instagram: @KellyCarlinisHere X: @kelly_carlin SiriusXM: The Kelly Carlin Show on Sirius XM’s Raw Dog (ch.99)   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Mary Roach is a hands-on writer specializing in science related topics that tap into some of the more curious and unexpected nooks of our lives. But “hands-on” doesn’t fully capture the lengths she’ll go to capture her stories – for her book examining the intricacies of sex, science, and relationships, she convinced her husband to have sex while monitored and recorded in an MRI, Ultrasound, Sonogram-like device…Really, no Really! Mary Roach is an author specializing in popular science and humor having written seven New York Times bestsellers, including Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers; GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, and PACKING FOR MARS: The Curious Science of Life in the Void and her latest book, FUZZ: When Nature Breaks the Law. Mary has written for National Geographic, Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, GQ, and the Journal of Clinical Anatomy, among many, many others. Her 2009 TED talk, "Ten Things You Didn't Know About Orgasm", made the organization's list of top 10 most popular talks of all time. IN THIS EPISODE: How Mary chooses esoteric and often taboo topics. Women’s sexual arousal can be measured…or can it? Mary embraces the taboo, including researching how astronauts avoid “fecal decapitation.” The shocking places where donated cadavers can end up. Using the Scientific Method to “prove” the existence of a higher power. India’s battles with elephants and monkeys. Googleheim: Science Myth vs. Science Fact   Website: MaryRoach.net X/Twitter: @mary_roach   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snakes…why'd it have to be snakes? There’s a Burmese Python problem in Florida’s Everglades which is dramatically altering the ecological balance in the Sunshine State. Currently, the only way to control these non-native, invasive snakes, is to send hunters deep into allegator infested swamps to find, capture, and kill these apex predators. Really, no Really! You might imagine these Hunters as burly “Crocodile Dundee-types” with sophisticated equipment, night vision, Rambo-style bowie knives, and guns, lots of guns. But reality is quite different. Our guest today Amy Siewe styles herself as the “Python Huntress;” she’s a 5’4, 120lbs. woman who by trade is a realtor, who regularly captures these beasts – some as big as 20 feet, 250 pounds - using only a canvas bag and her wits. She has killed over 400 pythons using a quick and humane method but the number of endangered or threatened native species being eaten by these pythons is getting longer each year. Is this really the best solution to this problem and what does she do with all those dead snakes? The answers might surprise you.   IN THIS EPISODE: How Amy transformed from mild-mannered Indiana-based realtor to “Python Huntress.” Does she speak Parseltongue…the language of snakes? Step-by-step instructions capturing a 17-footer…alone! What snake Periscoping means. Vipers, allegators, panthers, and bears oh my! All the things stalking Amy as she hunts. We analyze our collective fear and loathing of snakes. How do you humanely euthanize huge snakes while in the muck of Florida’s Everglades? Amy’s message to prospective buyers of commercial pythons and exotics… Jason’s close encounter with a snake at “America’s Stonehenge.” SEE one man’s emotional support allegator. Is this legit? Googleheim: Pythons are just one of the many invasive species harming Florida’s ecology.   FOLLOW AMY SIEWE: WATCH Amy take down a 17ft python Website: PythonHuntress.com Instagram: @ThePythonHuntress YouTube: Python Huntress Amy Siewe X/Twitter: @AmySiewe Facebook: Amy Siewe   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an understatement calling it adventure tourism, at minimum its extreme travel, more accurately it’s insanely dangerous. Diving to crushing depths to glimpse the Titanic, sightseeing hostile dictatorships, postcard-shopping in active war zones – increasingly, people are choosing to go to these places…for vacation. Really, no really! What could possibly possess a person to willingly put their lives in danger for a few photographs and an unusual stamp on their passport? You might expect these reckless tourists to be former Special Forces or folks with cultural ties so deep that it neutralizes the danger. Well…maybe those people exist but today Jason and Peter are talking to Mike Reiss, a middle-aged, Emmy-winning, Simpsons writer-producer whose wife compelled him to visit 136 countries, including Iran, Syria, and even North Korea! Mike Reiss has won four Emmys and a Peabody Award during his twenty-eight years writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in Season 4, which Entertainment Weekly called “the greatest season of the greatest show in history. And Mike claims to be happily married for over thirty years. We believe him…? ON THIS EPISODE: Why more and more people are doing these extreme activities… How Mike went from homebody to extreme world traveler. True tales from Iran, Iraq, Syria & Afganistan. Almost forced to make movies for Kim Jung Il in North Korea. Diving in the doomed Ocean Gate experimental submarine 4 times! That time he almost died on a Namibian sand dune on New Year’s Eve. Jason’s main travel fear - toilet uncertainty! Mike shares his top travel tips from his years as an extreme tourist. The one vacation so bad Mike had to cut it short – you’ll never guess the country. He’s willing to go to Mars, but THIS place he refused to go. Googleheim: The most dangerous places…in your home. FOLLOW MIKE REISS: Podcast: What Am I Doing Here? with Mike Reiss X/Twitter: @MikeReissWriter   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Eco-Consequences, Why We Overconsume and Deceptive Costs! If you’ve returned holiday gifts or things you bought but didn’t need or the pants you bought in multiple sizes that didn’t fit…you are part of what’s being called the “return tsunami” - which costs the planet about a trillion dollars annually. Really, no really! With free shipping and easy return policies, American’s are over-consuming and then sending stuff back in record numbers. But most buyers are completely unaware of what really happens to their returned items. When Jason and Peter discovered that many essentially ‘brand-new’ items end up in a pile so enormous that it can be seen from space…they had to find the expert who could break down the issues like a huge pile of Amazon boxes. Dr. Dale Rogers is a supply chain guru. He is the recipient of the Academic Giant Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame. He is currently the Director of the Frontier Economies Logistics Lab and the Director of the Internet Edge Supply Chain Lab at Arizona State University.  IN THIS EPISODE: If returns are resold…how is there a giant pile you can see from space? Residue, stains, & nasty scents: Who’s sniffing and smelling your returned clothing? Retail secrets that allow the retailers of the last century to dominate. The unseen salvage dealers that making a fortune from your returns. How did 39,000 tons of unsold clothing end up in Chile? The real story behind Expiration Dates. Post-COVID, are American supply chains still dependent on China? The non-political reason why inflation has gone down. Walmart’s attempt to diminish sensory overload for shoppers. Explained: Why a huge box contains your tiny item? Googleheim: The top 5 returns in history! FOLLOW DR. DALE ROGERS: X/Twitter: @CariscaProf   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disneyland has “smellitizers” that stealthily blow aromas to intensify visitor’s sensory experiences and create lasting memories! And Disney isn’t alone in this over 40-billion-dollar mechanization of our sense of smell. Celebrities, auto manufacturers, insurance companies and even the military have employed scents to influence people’s behavior, without them even realizing it. Really, no really! To help Jason and Peter understand the enormous impact of the communal and commercial use of scents, they enlisted Dawn Goldworm, an internationally recognized olfactive expert. Commonly referred to as a “nose” Dawn has more than 20 Years of experience designing fragrances for luxury brands such as: American Express, Lady Gaga, Mercedes Benz, Fendi, Ritz Carlton, Valentino and many more. She also possesses a rare ability called “synesthesia” which blends her sense of sight, touch, sound, and smell, and is her secret weapon in designing unique and innovative scent creations. IN THIS EPISODE: Explaining “synesthesia” and the intertwining of 5 senses! Cell phones that emit odor? How scent marketing can increase sales up to 300%! The psychological process of creating Lady Gaga’s signature smell. Artificial smells can unknowingly manipulate employee’s productivity. Successful and disastrous scents used by the military. The only smell humans universally like and the one we all dislike. Dawn smells what you can’t…including who you’ve been with last night. How Walmart accommodates “sensory-sensitive” shoppers. Certain scents that can reduce stress during MRI’s. Googleheim and the Olfactory Challenge!   FOLLOW DAWN: Instagram: @dawn_goldworm & @12.29scent & @scentforgood Twitter: @DawnKiren Web: 1229scent.com Dawn’s TED Talk: How to control emotion and influence behavior   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Jason and Peter read that actor, producer, director, author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Bryan Cranston was retiring to spend more time with his family, in France, or something like that…they had to find out if it was true. Why would an actor in his prime retire now? The actual answer may surprise you. Really, no Really! He has two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award nomination - and you probably know him best as Walter White from the series Breaking Bad which won him 6 Primetime Emmys. In this in-studio sit-down, Bryan addresses his curtain call, takes a deep dive into his creative process, and reveals some quite novel and shocking life experiences…like being wanted for murder!   IN THIS EPISODE: Bryan’s final bow: from meth lab to rocking chair? Who wears their old TV wardrobe more, Jason or Bryan? What it feels like to be covered in thousands of bees! Surprising activities he’d embrace after acting. Bryan wrote a memoire why hasn’t Jason? His experience guest hosting “The Late Late Show with James Corden” The recipe for a successful audition. What would happen if George Constanza met Walter White? QUIZ: Cranston or Not Cranston? Googleheim: Retirement is changing drastically and things to do in modern retirement.   FOLLOW BRYAN: Instagram: @BryanCranston X: @BryanCranston Facebook: Bryan Cranston   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID killed the all-you-can-eat buffet, right? With fogged sneeze guards, giant shared tongs and serving spoons, communal cheese boards, bread baskets and chocolate fountains, buffet line etiquette issues, and the threat posed by double dippers…the all-you-can-eat-buffet suddenly became a high stakes game of food roulette forcing us to become amateur epidemiologists. But wait, post COVID, America’s appetite for all-you-can eat gluttony has apparently returned - perhaps bigger than ever. Really, no really! We had to find out the reasons for the resurgence of the buffet and the complex relationship between food and desire. And to help explain the buffet’s renewed appeal, economics, and practicalities, we enlisted one of the country’s most knowledgeable restaurant experts… Restaurant Business Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze. Jonathan is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants. He writes daily about the factors influencing the operating environment, including labor and food costs and various industry trends such as technology and delivery. He writes a weekly blog, “The Bottom Line,” and is the host of the weekly podcast “A Deeper Dive.”   IN THIS EPISODE: Secrets of the buffet. A good deal for the consumer? The origin and appeal of unlimited gorging. Surprise, the reality of what restaurants do with repurposed food. Why we are consumed with consuming. Buffet horror stories you won’t believe. Buffets: How safe are those oysters? The hottest new restaurant trends including Eatertainment! QUIZ: Top 20 buffet items – can you name them all? Googleheim: Is it pronounced boo-fay or buh-fay?   FOLLOW JONATHAN MAZE: Web: Restaurant Business Magazine Podcast: A Deeper Dive Blog: The Bottom Line Instagram: @jonathanmaze X: @jonathanmaze TikTok: @jonathanDmaze Facebook: Jonathan Maze   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason will forever be associated with the 166th episode of Seinfeld, which featured Festivus…the holiday where families express their disappointment in each other, then demonstrate feats of strength around an unadorned, aluminum pole. For Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe, the horrors of the real-life Festivus, invented by his mad genius father, were traumatizing events. Really, no Really! Since the Festivus episode aired, it has been celebrated by a multitude of families, as an alternative to traditional holidays. But Festivus isn’t the only neuvo-holiday tradition; 20% of Americans say their families celebrate similarly bizarre holiday traditions. To discuss the true origin and lesser-known details of his family’s holiday and talk about the phenomenon that Festivus has become, we invited Dan O'Keefe to reminisce and reflect. Dan is a writer and producer, who in addition to working on Seinfeld also worked on The Drew Carey Show, The Tonight Show, Married…with Children, Bevis and Butthead, Silicon Valley, Veep and many more.   ON THIS EPISODE: How Seinfeld showrunners had to pressure Dan to get his Festivus story. The bizarre origins of other holiday traditions. Proper Festivus music, including Italian Chip Monk songs, and the music of the Irish Republican Army. The Festivus Pole and the other, bonkers, real-life symbols! Dan’s out-of-body experience…making the Festivus episode. Jason and Dan’s memories of filming the Festivus dinner scene. Revealed: The proper main course for Festivus Dinner! Dan’s father’s reaction to the episode was surprising. The actual meaning of “a Festivus for the rest of us.” Dan’s dad created other, even weirder, holidays. Googleheim: The Roman influences of modern-day Christmas.   FOLLOW DAN: X: @djok_er   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s show is all about the joy AND angst of gift giving, the importance of context and considering the message you want to send with your gift. Peter learns this when he gives Jason the gift of Rolling Stone’s bassist, Darryl Jones-for his own- personal bass lesson, and Jason points out the problems issues he has with this incredible gift…Really, no Really! Coincidently, besides playing bass with the Stones, Miles Davis, Madonna, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock (the list goes on and on) Darryl is a burgeoning actor having played several roles in some major projects. So why not knock out two birds with one Stone (pardon the intentional pun) in exchange for his talents as a musician, Jason offers his tips and advice on being an actor. Darryl Jones was born on the south side of Chicago into a musical family. At 21, he landed a life-changing gig with the legendary jazz icon Miles Davis, with whom he would record and tour over the next five years. In 1993, Jones was chosen to replace longtime band member Bill Wyman as bassist for the Rolling Stones. Since then, he has toured the world, performed on studio and live albums, and appeared in documentary “Darryl Jones: In The Blood.”   IN THIS EPISODE: How Miles Davis mentorship changed Darryl’s life. The remarkable way Mick Jagger and Keith Richards asked Darryl to audition. Pro acting tips from Jason Alexander and how his techniques could quite possibly ruin an actor. What it’s like to collaborate and make music with the Stones. The unusual items on the Stones’ backstage rider when they tour. Darryl reminisces about Charlie Watts, the late Stones’ drummer and the quirky quality that make him irreplaceable. The best gifts ever. Googleheim: America’s unwanted gift problem.   FOLLOW DARRYL JONES: Online: www.darryljones.com Instagram and Facebook: @DarrylJonesBassist   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.