The Absurdists

By: Mary Murphy & Marlo Anderson
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  • Summary

  • The Absurdists is a weekly podcast where co-hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take you on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey through the bizarre, the whimsical, and the downright absurd aspects of modern life. Whether they’re discussing peculiar inventions, absurd laws, or the quirks of daily communication, Marlo and Mary bring humor, curiosity, and light-hearted banter to every episode. With a focus on finding joy in life’s oddities, The Absurdists is a show that embraces the weird and invites listeners to laugh at the unexpected. Tune in for engaging conversations, amusing stories, and a reminder to embrace the absurdity in your own life!
    Copyright 2024 Marlo Anderson LLC
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Biographies & Memoirs Comedy & Humour Social Sciences World
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Episodes
  • Autocorrect Fails, Graffiti Tales, and Velvet Confessions: The Absurdists Unleashed

    Autocorrect Fails, Graffiti Tales, and Velvet Confessions: The Absurdists Unleashed
    Nov 26 2024
    From Velvet and Big Cucumbers to Absurdist Graffiti: A Wild Ride with Marlo and Mary On the latest episode of The Absurdists, Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take us on another rollercoaster ride of hilarity and peculiar musings. From wardrobe confessions (blue velvet, anyone?) to the accidental messages that left their senders red-faced, the duo keeps the laughs coming. Marlo reminisces about the unexpected texts and voicemails that left an indelible mark—like the infamous "big cucumber" text sent to a professor and a mysterious woman’s microwave notification from her phone company. Meanwhile, Mary shares her take on bathroom stall graffiti trends (spoiler: "Toy Story 2 is okay" is surprisingly popular). Not to be outdone, the pair dives into cats' antics with autocorrect mishaps, bizarre motion-detection emails, and even pranks involving printing hundreds of "Hello" pages. Plus, we learn about Marlo's personal autocorrect disaster involving a bamboo-related text (don’t ask). Highlights include: A CEO bombarded with 600 banana bread recipes—thanks to a cat on the keyboard. A sleepwalking contest entrant who accidentally claimed a prize months later. The accidental breakup text that was sent… to a mom. As always, Marlo and Mary bring their absurdist lens to life's everyday oddities. Want to join in the fun? Share your absurd stories with The Absurdists crew and let the hilarity unfold.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Walking Down Memory Lane: Nostalgia, Humor, and Absurdity

    Walking Down Memory Lane: Nostalgia, Humor, and Absurdity
    Nov 20 2024
    In this delightful and laugh-out-loud episode of The Absurdists, co-hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson take us on a whimsical stroll through the past. Together, they explore a variety of once-popular phenomena and inventions, rating them as either “Baby, Come Back” or “Forget About It.” Prepare yourself for an entertaining blend of nostalgia, absurdity, and quirky insights as the duo dissects bygone cultural staples and ponders their place in today’s world. Highlights from the Episode: The Ingenious Pet Rock Mary and Marlo kick things off with a deep dive into the pet rock phenomenon. From googly eyes to DIY versions, they ponder the rock's utility as the ultimate low-maintenance pet—and a hilarious fallback gift for awkward social situations. Would the pet rock be a hit if it made a comeback today? Mary’s verdict? “Baby, Come Back.” Drive-In Theaters: Nostalgia on Four Wheels Remember drive-in theaters? Marlo shares tales of cramming friends into car trunks to save a few bucks, while Mary recalls the questionable sound quality and lumpy French fries. Though it stirs up fond memories, both hosts ultimately agree this one is a “Forget About It.” Cigarette Vending Machines The duo reminisces about the ubiquity of cigarette vending machines in the mid-20th century. With no ID checks, these machines were a fixture in laundromats and grocery stores. The absurdity of their unregulated accessibility leads both hosts to give this relic a firm “Forget About It.” Soda Jerks and Custom Beverages Marlo fondly recounts his encounters with soda jerks, the original mixologists who crafted fizzy drinks from syrups and soda water. Mary, intrigued by this bygone experience, votes “Baby, Come Back,” envisioning a revival of soda fountains in nostalgic eateries. The Great VHS vs. Betamax Debate The rivalry between VHS and Betamax gets the absurdist treatment as Marlo reveals an unexpected twist: the porn industry’s pivotal role in VHS’s victory. While the higher quality of Betamax impressed professionals, its inability to adapt to the home recording market sealed its fate. Waterbeds: A Sloshy Sleep Saga Waterbeds were a sensation in the 70s and 80s, but their leaks, high maintenance, and the infamous patch kits made them more trouble than they were worth. Despite their nostalgic charm, both Mary and Marlo agree they’re better left in the past. Dial-Up Modems: The Internet’s Awkward Teenage Years Nothing screams early internet like the screeching tones of a dial-up modem. Mary and Marlo hilariously recount the agony of losing a connection when someone picked up the phone. Nostalgic? Yes. But neither wants to relive those frustrating days. Verdict? “Forget About It.” Milk Delivery: Then and Now While the traditional image of a milkman in a white uniform may no longer exist, modern-day milk delivery services still thrive in some communities. Both hosts celebrate its evolution, voting “Baby, Come Back.” Phone Booths: Privacy, Please Marlo and Mary debate the merits of phone booths, with Marlo highlighting their nostalgic charm and Mary dreaming of modern “cone of silence” booths for noisy public phone users. The verdict remains mixed, but Mary’s vision for their revival feels more relevant than ever. MySpace: The Social Media OG In a heartfelt closing, Mary declares her undying love for the original MySpace, reminiscing about its customizable pages and band promotions. She proudly states, “I will die on this hill: Baby, Come Back.” Takeaway This episode is a love letter to the absurdities of the past and the quirks of human innovation. Whether reminiscing about soda jerks or cringing at the thought of waterbeds, Mary and Marlo guide us through a delightful mix of history and hilarity. Join The Absurdists for this nostalgic journey, and don’t forget to share your own “Baby, Come Back” or “Forget About It” moments in the comments. Stay absurd!
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Most Absurd World Records You Never Knew Existed

    The Most Absurd World Records You Never Knew Existed
    Nov 1 2024
    The Most Absurd World Records You Never Knew Existed Ever wonder who holds the record for balancing a running lawnmower on their chin? Neither had we, until this week's episode. Marlo and Mary dove headfirst into the weird world of record-breaking achievements, and folks, it's even stranger than we imagined. Did You Know People PAY to Break Records? Before we get into the truly bizarre stuff, here's something that blew our minds: people actually pay thousands of dollars to have their record attempts certified. That's right – somebody paid actual money to have someone watch them stack M&Ms. Speaking of which... Seven M&Ms: The Stack That Shocked Mary When Mary confessed she couldn't even stack two M&Ms, we knew we were in for a treat. The current record? Seven M&Ms stacked on top of each other. No glue, no tricks, just pure M&M-stacking dedication. As Mary put it, "I can't get two to stay on top of each other. I can't imagine anything more than that!" The T-Shirt Champion of Ontario Picture wearing 260 t-shirts at once. Now picture paying someone to watch you do it. Ted Hastings from Ontario did exactly that, requiring special order shirts up to size 20XL. His description? "Generally awful." But hey, he raised $11,000 for a playground, so we'll call that a win! High Heels at High Speed Remember Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint record of 9.58 seconds? Now imagine running that same distance in stilettos. Someone did it in 12.82 seconds – just 3.24 seconds slower than Bolt's record. Mary's response? "I'm already in pain just thinking about it." Other Mind-Bending Records We Covered: A man who broke 51 watermelons with his head in one minute 125 scoops of ice cream balanced on a single cone Fingernails measuring almost 43 feet combined Breaking 46 wooden toilet seats with your head in 60 seconds (because... why not?) The Stories Behind the Strange What makes these records truly fascinating isn't just the bizarre achievements – it's the stories behind them. From a teacher's scolding leading to 66 years of nail growth to a tribute to a lost loved one, these seemingly absurd accomplishments often have surprisingly touching origins. Want to Break a Record with The Absurdists? We're cooking up something special. Marlo and Mary are contemplating setting their own world record with our listeners. Stay tuned for what might be the most absurd group achievement yet! Keep it Absurd As Marlo always says, "Stay Absurd, Everybody!" And if you're thinking about breaking any of these records, maybe start with stacking two M&Ms before moving on to the running lawnmower balancing act. Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to follow us for more weekly doses of absurdity. Fun Fact: During the recording of this episode, Marlo revealed he holds four world records himself – though thankfully none involve balancing lawn equipment on any body parts!
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    33 mins

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