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The Absurdists

The Absurdists

Mary Murphy & Marlo Anderson 20 Episodes Apr 29, 2026

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.

Episodes

Manufacturer Not Responsible for Flights Attempted Apr 29, 2026 59:49 Warning labels exist because somewhere, somehow, someone actually did that. Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy explore the outrageous warnings, bizarre instructions, and ridiculous disclaimers hiding on everyday products. From fishing lures and frozen pizza to Superman capes and garden hoses, they uncover the absurd product labels that make you laugh, cringe, and wonder what on earth happened.
From Orbit to Outrageous: The Absurdity of Technology Takes Flight Mar 30, 2025 1:24:37 On this episode of The Absurdists, Marlo and Mary take absurdity to new heights—literally. Broadcasting as a simulcast with The Tech Ranch, the duo dives headfirst into the story of astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who blasted off for an 8-day mission… and stayed for nine months. What began as a technical demonstration aboard Boeing’s Starliner became a real
Curtains, Curses, and Coded Chaos: An Absurdist Odyssey Feb 14, 2025 Welcome to our latest deep dive into the wonderfully weird world of absurdity! In this episode of our absurdist podcast, “Curtains, Curses, and Coded Chaos: An Absurdist Odyssey,” hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson explore an eclectic mix of theater superstitions, digital mishaps, and offbeat cultural quirks that redefine what it means to be truly absurd. Unraveling Theater Supersti
Absurd Origins: The Stories Behind Everyday Sayings Jan 25, 2025 1:03:16     Welcome back! After a holiday hiatus, Marlo and Mary dive into the bizarre, funny, and often dark origins of common expressions we use every day. From “raining cats and dogs” to “kick the bucket,” this episode explores the fascinating history behind these sayings and how they’ve evolved over time. Along the way, you’ll hear hilarious banter, personal an
The Absurdity of Numbers: From Friday the 13th to Missing Donuts and Decimal Mishaps Dec 19, 2024 56:37 Numbers: we use them to measure time, count calories, and set speed limits. They’re supposed to bring order to the chaos of life—but what happens when numbers get a little too absurd? In this laugh-filled episode of The Absurdists, co-hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson unpack the bizarre world of numbers with stories so ridiculous, they’ll have you checking your calculator twice. “It’s Just On
Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza: Unraveling the Mandela Effect Dec 10, 2024 1:00:09 The Mandela Effect: When Our Collective Memory Plays Tricks On Us Remember when Darth Vader said, “Luke, I am your father”? Or when Captain Kirk would regularly say, “Beam me up, Scotty”? Well, prepare to have your mind blown – neither of these iconic phrases was ever actually said in their respective franchises. Welcome to the fascinating world of the Mandela Effect, wher
Autocorrect Fails, Graffiti Tales, and Velvet Confessions: The Absurdists Unleashed Nov 26, 2024 1:05:05 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
Walking Down Memory Lane: Nostalgia, Humor, and Absurdity Nov 20, 2024 1:01:36 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 by
The Most Absurd World Records You Never Knew Existed Nov 1, 2024 1:05:04 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 bizarr
From Big Macs to Bless You: Laughing Through the World’s Weird Rituals Oct 24, 2024 In this latest episode of The Absurdists, Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy dive headfirst into the hilariously quirky world of human rituals, customs, and behaviors that, at a closer look, seem utterly absurd. With their characteristic wit, the duo unravels the strange ways people engage with everyday customs and habits that many of us take for granted, prompting laughter, reflection, and perhaps a
Unraveling the Absurd: Exploring 10 Mind-Bending Conspiracy Theories Oct 9, 2024 1:11:34   Are birds watching us? The Absurdists investigate! Birds Aren’t Real: Government Drones in Disguise? One of the first conspiracy theories discussed is the internet-born idea that birds are actually government surveillance drones. According to this theory, all birds were replaced by mechanical lookalikes in the 1950s. Our hosts humorously point out the existence of ornithology and the
Absurd Nursery Rhymes – Unraveling the Dark Origins of Childhood Favorites Oct 2, 2024 1:09:14 In Episode 10 of The Absurdists, Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take listeners on a journey into the absurdity of beloved childhood nursery rhymes. But this time, they’re not just recalling the catchy tunes from our youth—they’re digging deep into the surprisingly dark and twisted origins of these innocent-sounding jingles. Exploring the Dark Side of Nursery Rhymes From Humpty Dumpty’s tragic fall

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