New Video! Is “Cancel Culture” Really A Threat To America?
I missed making these so much!
Rottin' in Denmark
Latest posts
Finally, a Journalist With a Newsletter
Just thought I’d mention that I set up a Substack for thoughts related to politics and moral panics. It’s here! Subscribe and thanks!
Identifying The ‘Bad Art Friend’ Is Easy
The most consequential decision Robert Kolker made in “Bad Art Friend” was telling it out of order. Kolker’s version appears to be chronological, but he withholds crucial information until the third act. As a result, the internet has spent days … Continue reading →
Savvy Punditry Isn’t Smart
"Is Cate Blanchett a good actress or is she just tall?" Continue reading →
Princess Diana Part 5: The Crash
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/6273427-princess-diana-part-5-the-crash.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-6273427&player=small “You can be a hot mess express and still leave the world better than you found it.” In the final episode of our series, we talk about Diana’s untimely death and the everlasting conspiracy theories surrounding it. Digressions include … Continue reading →
Princess Diana Part 4: The Divorce
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/6167698-princess-diana-part-4-the-divorce.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-6167698&player=small This week, Diana leaves the royal family with her reputation intact and her title slightly edited. Digressions include “Love Actually,” “Pride and Prejudice” and Marie Antoinette. Both co-hosts reveal their staunch affirmative stance on wine moms. Support us!…
Princess Diana Part 3: The Affairs
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/5840206-princess-diana-part-3-the-affairs.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-5840206&player=small This week, Diana swaps out her husband for a Horse Dude and Mike and Sarah act out other people’s PG-13 dirty talk. Digressions include shoulder pads, Billy Joel and “Seinfeld” (twice!). There’s a moment 55 minutes in that is … Continue reading →
Princess Diana Part 2: The Wedding
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/5739895-princess-diana-part-2-the-wedding.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-5739895&player=small This week, Diana gets married, joins her new family and meets the press.Digressions include Judy Garland, Edward Cullen and the AITA subreddit. Unfortunately, this episode includes detailed descriptions of suicide attempts and eating disorders. Support us!…
Princess Diana Part 1: The Courtship
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/5631094-princess-diana-part-1-the-courtship.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-5631094&player=small We start our new series with the story of a girl, a prince and the society that convinced them they liked each other. Digressions include camels, Beyoncé and the idiosyncrasies of British place names. We’re sorry to say that … Continue reading →
Quarantine Deep Dive: Jessica Simpson’s “Open Book” (Week 2)
“Her parents’ financial success is dependent on her abdomen.” This week, Jessica moves to L.A., records a video and meets a boy. The celebrity cameos escalate. Digressions include overalls, werewolves and Judy Garland. This episode unfortunately contains detailed descriptions of disordered eating. Support us! Subscribe: patreon.com/yourewrongabout Donate: paypal.me/yourewrongabout Buy a mug:…
Quarantine Deep Dive: Jessica Simpson’s “Open Book” (Week 1)
Our journey through late-'90s pop stardom begins with an intervention and ends with an audition. Digressions include Willie Nelson, Ozzy Osbourne, Jane Fonda and the cast of the Mickey Mouse Club. Sarah’s English degree and exercise habits make appearances. This episode, we're sorry to say, contains descriptions of sexual abuse. Support us! Subscribe: patreon.com/yourewrongabout Donate:…
The Y2K Bug
Mike tells Sarah how an obscure technical glitch became a nationwide mobilization. Digressions include Twitter beefs, “The Net” and VHS pricing. We spend much of the episode roasting our own work from the relatively recent past. Correction: It seems the women in Britain didn't terminate their pregnancies due to the false positive test results. We were wrong about this and we're sorry! Support us!…
Quarantine Book Club: “Michelle Remembers” (Week 5)
We conclude our book club with Michelle's escape from the dungeon. The dead baby trend continues; Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Satan’s fingernails make brief appearances. Digressions include Dustin Hoffman, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and things that rhyme with Beelzebub. This episode contains references to child abuse and sexual assault. Support us! Subscribe: patreon.com/yourewrongabout Donate:…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: When Kato Met Marcia
Sarah tells Mike about the clash of the titans, the fury at the grand jury. We follow Kato, the wise fool of the kingdom, for the week between the murders and the Bronco chase. Digressions include John Travolta, French kickboxing movies and "The Mummy." The celebrity cameos are less numerous than usual but no less absurd. Support us! Subscribe: patreon.com/yourewrongabout Donate:…
Quarantine Book Club: “Michelle Remembers” (Week 4)
This week, our lithe psychiatrist takes his favorite patient hiking, a priest burns some furniture and Michelle tries to escape her remembering. This episode contains descriptions of kitten sacrifice, sexual abuse and three more dead babies. Support us! Subscribe on Patreon: patreon.com/yourewrongabout Donate on Paypal: paypal.me/yourewrongabout Buy a cute tote bag:…
Quarantine Book Club: “Michelle Remembers” (Week 3)
Sarah and Mike continue into the depths. With Dr. Pazder home from Mexico, he and Michelle continue their journey into her subconscious, and the stories continue to get weirder. This episode contains kitten sacrifice, and the first—but not the last—dead baby of the Satanic panic. Support us: patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout Buy cute T-shirts:…
Marie Antoinette
“What’s sad about her has nothing to do with the content of her character.” Special guest Dana Schwartz tells Mike and Sarah how an Austrian princess became a French scapegoat. Digressions include Rubik’s Cubes, Taylor Swift and Tom Stoppard. The use of the word “bawdy” exceeds all previous episodes combined. Here's where to find Dana: http://www.danaschwartzdotcom.com/…
Quarantine Book Club: “Michelle Remembers” (Week 2)
Sarah and Mike continue their journey into the book that launched a thousand lawsuits. Michelle and Dr. Pazder’s relationship grows more troubling by the chapter. Digressions include orgy etiquette, sheepskin jackets and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Neither co-host believes anything depicted in this book happened as described, but still want to warn you that it contains scenes of…
The Exploding Ford Pinto
Mike tells Sarah about a dying industry, a dangerous car and the Pulitzer Prize-winning article that misrepresented them both. Digressions include “Mission Impossible,” “Friday the 13th” and the naming conventions of academic articles. This episode contains a larger-than-usual number of dad jokes and a shocking revelation about Johnny Carson. Support us: patreon.com/yourewrongabout…
Quarantine Book Club: “Michelle Remembers” (Week 1)
Sarah describes the spark that ignited the Satanic Panic. Our setting is a therapist’s office in 1976 Victoria, B.C., and our digressions include Sybil, scary paperbacks from the 80s and shouting "Fire!" on a crowded theater. This episode describes child abuse. patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout https://www.teepublic.com/stores/youre-wrong-about?ref_id=10420 Continue reading →
D.C. Snipers Part 4
In the final chapter of our series on the D.C. sniper attacks, Mike finally tells Sarah about the D.C. sniper attacks. Digressions include “The Abyss,” Ed Rooney and Jack the Ripper. We begin the episode with an update on our quarantine plans. Sarah misremembers the name of the TV show she was on. patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Marcia Clark Part 2
Sarah tells Mike about a week in the life of Marcia Clark, who became America’s most famous prosecutor on June 13, 1994. Digressions include car phones, college group work and “Titanic” (as usual). In keeping with the theme of this episode, Sarah had a bad feeling about recording without her mic screen, but Mike said it would be fine. Please excuse our p-pops. This episode contains descriptions of…
D.C. Snipers Part 3
Mike tells Sarah about the indoctrination of Lee Boyd Malvo and the beginning of the sniper attacks. Digressions include Jonestown, Greek tragedy and something called “creepy crawling.” The episode begins with a lengthy meta-discussion of true-crime tropes and whether we are playing into them. The final section includes a detailed description of a suicide attempt. patreon.com/yourewrongabout…
Valentine’s Day Re-Release: Anna Nicole Smith
Valentine’s Day re-release! Sarah and Mike reflect on one of the only love stories they’ve ever covered on the show. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Why Didn’t Anyone Go to Prison for the Financial Crisis?
“Every big fish you catch, you end up with a hole in the net.” Mike tells Sarah how America’s white-collar crime spree got so bad. Digressions include self-checkout kiosks, Barbie dolls and moonshine. Homeless shelters and teacher pay feature prominently. By the standards of this podcast, this episode is relatively upbeat. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
D.C. Snipers Part 2
Mike tells Sarah how a nice Jamaican kid became the disciple of a mean American adult. Digressions include Tonya Harding (of course), “Sliding Doors” (again) and Anne of Green Gables (Sarah has an English degree). Mildred re-appears just after the hour mark. We are unable to conceive of a content warning comprehensive enough for all the horrors contained in this episode. There is less crying in…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Kato Kaelin Part 2
Sarah tells Mike the ending to the story of the mimbo and the alibi. Digressions include O. Henry, Nigerian e-mail scams and Dave Coulier. Mike wildly over-simplifies the Brexit vote. patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout www.teepublic.com/stores/youre-wrong-about Continue reading →
D.C. Snipers Part 1
“If you’re black, you can’t get work as a serial killer even if you’re manifestly qualified.” Mike tells Sarah how a military veteran became an abuser, a murderer and, eventually, a footnote in his own crime spree. Digressions include Jim Jones, the Addams Family and “The Gillooly Gang.” The episode gets super dark about two-thirds in, but brightens just before the big twist. We describe—again,…
The D.C. Snipers
“If you’re black, you can’t get work as a serial killer even if you’re manifestly qualified.” Mike tells Sarah how a military veteran became an abuser, a murderer and, eventually, a footnote in his own crime spree. Digressions include Jim Jones, the Addams Family and “The Gillooly Gang.” The episode gets super dark about two-thirds in, but brightens just before the big twist. We describe—again,…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Kato Kaelin Part 1
Sarah tells Mike how an aspiring actor protected and then betrayed Nicole Brown Simpson without knowing he was doing either. Digressions include '80s movie tropes, ski-resort etiquette and the need for a process of "un-faming." Unfortunately, this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and abuse. patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Kato Kaelin
Sarah tells Mike how an aspiring actor protected and then betrayed Nicole Brown Simpson without knowing he was doing either. Digressions include '80s movie tropes, ski-resort etiquette and the need for a process of "un-faming." Unfortunately, this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and abuse. patreon.com/yourewrongabout paypal.me/yourewrongabout…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Paula Barbieri Part 2
"There’s no precedent for women in this family being treated like they matter." Sarah tells Mike about the Bronco chase as Paula Barbieri experienced it. Then, she recounts how a poor kid from Panama City, Florida, made it all the way to the high-fashion world of Paris, France—and discovered that she had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. Sarah continues to compare everyone to Erin…
Human Trafficking
Mike tells Sarah how NGOs, activists and George W. Bush resurrected the 'stranger danger' panic for the modern era. Digressions include Reply All, muffins and Yelp for massage parlors. Mike's vocal fry is even worse than usual. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Marcia Clark Part 1
Sarah tells Mike how Marcia Clark got the slam-dunk case that ended her career as a trial lawyer. Digressions include string cheese, "Inception" and what calling women "difficult" means in 2019. We go on the record in favor of a wide range of frivolous hobbies. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Marcia Clark
Sarah tells Mike how Marcia Clark got the slam-dunk case that ended her career as a trial lawyer. Digressions include string cheese, "Inception" and what calling women "difficult" means in 2019. We go on the record in favor of a wide range of frivolous hobbies. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Paula Barbieri Part 1
"Centering conversations around blame is not the most useful thing for us to be doing." Sarah tells Mike about the woman who broke up with O.J. Simpson on the morning of the murders — then stayed by his side through the trial. Michael Bolton makes an extended cameo appearance. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Paula Barbieri
"Centering conversations around blame is not the most useful thing for us to be doing." Sarah tells Mike about the woman who broke up with O.J. Simpson on the morning of the murders — then stayed by his side through the trial. Michael Bolton makes an extended cameo appearance. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Re-Release: Poisoned Halloween Candy and Other Urban Legends
Few topics have been suggested to us in the last year as often as the razor blade in the apple. Luckily we've got you covered with last year's Urban Legend Spectacular! Come for the poisoned candy, stay for the high beams and rainbow parties. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Halloween Re-Release! Ed Gein and Slasher Movies
Sarah takes Mike on a grisly journey from Wisconsin bachelor Ed Gein's house to the horror movies he inspired. This is a re-broadcast of our 2018 Halloween episode, whose themes are evergreen. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Nicole Brown Simpson Part 2
“You can’t expect people to know the exact kind of help they need.” We continue our deep dive into the O.J. Simpson case with the history of Nicole Brown Simpson's marriage to O.J., their 1992 divorce and the last weeks of Nicole's life. Digressions include Julia Roberts, Malibu real estate and Madonna’s "Erotica." Mike is fighting a cold and apologizes for his raspiness. This episode contains…
The O.J. Simpson Trial: Nicole Brown Simpson Part 1
Mike and Sarah begin their epic journey into O.J. Simpson's trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, beginning with the story of Nicole's life with O.J. until their marriage in 1985. This episode contains descriptions of violence and domestic abuse. Like so many of the women we talk about, Nicole deserved better. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The Wardrobe Malfunction
Our first live show! Mike tells Sarah about Janet Jackson, the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime show and the 9/16ths of a second that destroyed her career. Digressions include Puff Daddy, Jessica Simpson and Edward James Olmos. Like all positive developments regarding this show, performing live is something we feel weird about and so we spent the first few minutes talking about it!…
‘Yoko Ono Broke Up The Beatles’
Mike tells Sarah how the myth of meddling wives serves to exonerate terrible husbands. Digressions include "50 Shades of Grey," Marie Antoinette and the end of the 1960s. This episode, we’re sorry to say, contains descriptions of domestic abuse. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Gangs
“Isn’t it amazing how we can only imagine our monsters capitalistically?” Mike tells Sarah how police, prosecutors and journalists accidentally conspired to invent the perfect suburban menace. Digressions include IKEA, the "Godfather" trilogy and Fleetwood Mac. Mike takes big gulping breaths when he reads out loud. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The Victims’ Rights Movement
“When you allow emotion into the courtroom, bias rushes in alongside it.” Special guest Rachel Monroe tells Mike and Sarah how a good-faith critique of the justice system led to a decades-long crackdown. Digressions include Charles Manson, Ronald Reagan and a billionaire mugshot. Mike’s similes are worse than Sarah’s. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Sex Offenders
“Things are not going to get better if we make the people who scare us seem more powerful.” Mike tells Sarah about the myths of sex crimes, the reality of child abuse and the importance of unsympathetic protagonists. Digressions include frozen pizza, millennials (obvs) and vaccination rates. Mike can only name one state that borders Nevada. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Tonya Harding Part 2
“The story that did the most damage to the people in it was the one that made the most money.” Sarah tells Mike about the low-rent conspiracy that sparked a ratings bonanza. Digressions include "Out of Sight," Robert De Niro and the ancient sexting technology known as landlines. Mike continues to laugh confusedly at references he does not know. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
Tonya Harding Part 1
Sarah tells Mike the story of a world-class figure skater who worked at a mall potato restaurant. Digressions include “Sleepless in Seattle,” mall walkers, synchronized diving and the difficulty of skating a perfect pentagram. This episode unfortunately contains descriptions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Tonya deserved better. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →
The Stonewall Uprising
“Humans aren’t good at remembering what got us where we are.” Mike tells Sarah how a turning point in the gay rights movement became an immediate controversy, a lasting inspiration and a never-ending debate. Digressions include “Newsies” (of course), “True Romance” and “Norma Rae.” Mike's creaking chair and Sarah's rustling blanket-fort are heard throughout. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue…
Kitty Genovese and “Bystander Apathy”
“Once you tell a story incorrectly once, you can’t control where it goes.” Sarah tells Mike how The New York Times turned a suburban murder into an urban legend. Digressions include Billy Joel, the World’s Fair and “Ferngully.” This episode marks a triumphant return to Long Island and an unexpected celebration of Pride Month. patreon.com/yourewrongabout Continue reading →