Podcast Summary
From Pianist to Sitcom Star: Following Dreams Leads to Unexpected Success: Determination and perseverance can lead to unexpected opportunities, even when the path seems unclear.
Determination and perseverance can lead to unexpected success. We heard this story from Sean Hayes, a Chicago native who went from being a classically trained pianist and musical director at Pheasant Run Dinner Theater to becoming a beloved sitcom star on Will and Grace. Despite not being popular in high school and having no calls, Sean followed his dream to Los Angeles with only his piano as a backup plan. He landed the role in Will and Grace, which he described as "winning the lottery." Before that, he had small roles in Super Bowl commercials for Doritos and Bud Light. His journey shows that even if one's path doesn't seem clear, staying committed to one's goals can lead to surprising opportunities. Additionally, we learned about two sponsors, Planet Oat and Grammarly, which offer rich, creamy oat milk and personalized writing suggestions, respectively.
Discussing real medical stories and transforming roles: Sean Hayes shares his podcast experience and acting transformation, emphasizing the importance of pushing boundaries and adapting to new challenges
Sean Hayes, known for his successful sitcom role and hit podcasts, continues to push boundaries in his career. During our conversation, he shared his experience with the podcast "hypochondriacor," where he discusses real medical stories with guests. He also reflected on his acting transformation in the play "Goodnight, Oscar," where he wore a fat suit and prosthetics for the role, despite initial impressions to the contrary. Hayes emphasized that the worry and anxiety of potential illnesses might protect him from getting sick. He continues to defy expectations and excel in various creative endeavors, demonstrating a unique ability to adapt and innovate.
Sean Hayes answers questions about different strains of weed on a radio quiz show: Sean Hayes, despite getting only one question correct about different strains of weed on a radio quiz show, is the host of the most popular podcast for comedy in the world, with new episodes of Hypochondriacctor every Wednesday and new episodes of Smartless every Monday.
Sean Hayes, a guest on the radio quiz show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," was put to the test in a game called "Sean Hayes Leads Purple Hayes," where he answered questions about different strains of weed. The first question was about the supersilverhaze strain, which was marketed best for watching presidential debates. The second question was about highly specialized strains, and the correct answer was "rehash," a strain to help get through someone telling the same story again. The final question was about popular strains named from politics, and the answer was "government strain 13," allegedly engineered by the government to be the world's most potent weed. Despite getting only one question correct, Sean Hayes is the host of the most popular podcast for comedy in the world, and listeners can catch him on new episodes of Hypochondriacctor every Wednesday and new episodes of Smartless every Monday.
Celery: More Than a Bland Vegetable: Celery is known for its flexibility, used for setting bones, aids in weight loss, and once helped a man retrieve his wedding rings from a dump
Celery, a vegetable often overlooked for its bland taste and stringy texture, has recently been the subject of surprising revelations. During a game on the radio show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," a contestant named Greg, a conservative talk radio producer, was tasked with distinguishing truth from fiction regarding celery. The panelists, Maeve Higgins, Hari Khandavoli, and Amy Blotnik, presented three stories about celery. Maeve Higgins claimed celery is actually a type of rope and has been used by doctors to set bones due to its flexibility and abundance. Hari Khandavoli shared that boxer Jordan Harrison lost weight and gained an unbreakable jaw by eating only celery before a fight. Lastly, Amy Blotnik told a story about a man named Kevin Butler who mistakenly threw away his wife's napkin with their wedding rings in it, and they were able to retrieve it from the dump with the help of the dump supervisor. The truth was that Maeve's story was a fabrication, and celery is not a type of rope. However, the other two stories were based on real events. Jordan Harrison did lose weight and gain a stronger jaw by eating celery before a fight, and Kevin Butler did retrieve his wedding rings from the dump. So, while celery may not be the most glamorous vegetable, it certainly has some impressive qualities that can make a difference in people's lives.
Celery's surprising role in people's lives: Unexpected experiences and opportunities can lead to valuable discoveries and personal growth.
Celery can play a surprising role in people's lives, as seen in the stories of Kevin Butler and Emmy Blotnik. Celery was the key to finding lost wedding rings, demonstrating that one man's trash can indeed be his treasure. Mariska Hargitay's story highlights the unexpected ways our past experiences and opportunities can shape our future, as she went from being in the shadow of Hollywood royalty to becoming a beloved actress on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Her experiences have made her good in emergencies and quick to jump in and help, a trait she developed through her acting career.
Actress Mariska Hargitay shares heartwarming stories and demonstrates quick thinking: Mariska Hargitay, known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson, shared a heartwarming story about helping a runner during the NYC marathon and joked about her long-lasting TV presence. She also showcased her knowledge and sense of humor in a game segment.
Mariska Hargitay, an accomplished actress known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, shared a heartwarming story about her connection to the show and her fans. She recounted an experience during the New York City marathon where she helped a runner in need, demonstrating her compassion and quick thinking. Hargitay also joked about her long-standing presence on TV, being a comforting figure for lonely comedians on the road. In a game segment, she answered two out of three questions correctly about the Sweet Valley High book series, showcasing her knowledge and sense of humor. Despite not having read the books herself, she appreciated their reach and impact. The conversation highlighted Hargitay's down-to-earth personality and her ability to connect with people, making her an enduring and beloved figure in entertainment.
Creativity thrives in limitations: Despite restrictions, the Sweet Valley High ghostwriters ended the series with an earthquake finale. Myles Stubblefield's determination led him to compost dog waste instead of burying it.
Creativity and limitations can lead to unexpected outcomes. In the discussion about the Sweet Valley High book series, it was revealed that the ghostwriters were restricted to using only three curse words. Despite this limitation, they ended up choosing to destroy the town in an earthquake as the series finale, which was quite a departure from the usual storyline. Meanwhile, in a completely different conversation, Myles Stubblefield, the self-proclaimed "worm king of Western New York," shared his unique journey from working with dogs to composting their waste. His determination to find a solution to the large amounts of dog waste led him to composting, which was a significant shift from his initial plans of burying or hiding it. These examples illustrate that limitations and constraints can sometimes push us to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. Whether it's in writing a book series or managing waste, the end result can be surprising and unexpected. Furthermore, the episode featured interviews with Mariska Hargitay, the star of Law and Order SVU and the founder of the Joyful Hearts Foundation, and comedian Moe Amer. The Joyful Hearts Foundation is dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault, and Moe Amer shared his experiences of playing himself and the worm king of Buffalo, New York, in various performances. Overall, the episode showcased the power of creativity, innovation, and determination in the face of challenges and limitations.
From a small Tupperware container to a large-scale worm farm: Expert Myles Stubblefield started a worm farm with 2,000 worms and grew it into a million-worm operation, demonstrating the potential for small investments to grow into something significant.
Myles Stubblefield, an expert in worms, had an unexpected venture when he started a worm farm with 2,000 worms in a Tupperware container. Worms can cost a significant amount, with some reaching up to $1,000,080 per pound. Myles shared that two worms once had a disagreement, leading to a "tie." He now manages over a million worms in a warehouse, which could be a surprise for intruders expecting valuable goods. Myles also shared that he has developed an emotional connection with his worms, despite their cannibalistic nature. During the interview, the conversation shifted to earworms, those catchy tunes that get stuck in one's head. Myles was challenged to answer three questions about earworms to win a prize. He correctly answered that the East German post office likely refused to believe that Freddie Mercury was a real name, preventing Queen's fan mail from reaching them. For the second question, he incorrectly guessed that "worm in your ear" by The Buggles was one of the top 5 earworms according to a 2015 study. The correct answer was "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles. In summary, Myles Stubblefield's worm farm journey began with a small investment and grew into a large-scale operation, while his emotional connection with the worms adds a unique aspect to his business. The conversation then explored earworms, with Myles demonstrating knowledge in this area as well.
Using chewing gum to get rid of earworms: Chewing gum interferes with the ability to hear a song in your head, making it an effective method to get rid of earworms.
Chewing gum can help get rid of earworms by interfering with the ability to hear the song in your head. During a quirky discussion on the podcast, the hosts attempted to cure an earworm with various methods, and chewing gum proved to be the most effective. Additionally, Moe Amer, a comedian turned sitcom star, shared his past experience of selling fake merchandise to support his comedy career during his teenage years. The conversation also touched upon the various smells associated with different professions and the uncomplicated pleasure of Planet Oat oat milk.
Overcoming fear of being oneself: Embrace uniqueness by stepping out of comfort zones, carrying personal quirks, and learning from inspiring figures like Les Paul and Les Claypool.
Fear of being oneself can be overcome by stepping out of comfort zones and embracing uniqueness. Moe Amer, a comedian and musician, shared his experience of volunteering to entertain troops in war zones to confront his fear of being himself. He also spoke about carrying a vial of olive oil as a personal quirk, which led to a game of "Moe is Les and Les is Moe." During the game, they discussed various Les's in history, such as Les Paul, who overcame a car accident by having his elbow fused to continue playing guitar, and Les Claypool, who formed a supergroup with Buckethead and Bernie Worrell, performing without rehearsals or a setlist. These stories illustrate the power of commitment, creativity, and embracing one's uniqueness to overcome challenges.
Decision to cut 14 minutes from 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me' leads to removal of offensive term and side plot: Producers cut 14 minutes from radio show, resulting in elimination of offensive term and side plot, while praising the host's performance and acknowledging sponsors and staff
The producers of the live radio show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" made the decision to cut 14 minutes from the show in 2001, likely to avoid paying overtime to the crew. This decision resulted in the removal of a side plot and the elimination of a term that was offensive in Swedish. The discussion also touched upon the potential for a crew revolt, but it was noted that the crew was instead killed off in the musical adaptation. The show's creator and star, Moe Amer, was praised for his performance on the show. The episode concluded with thanks to the staff, crew, and guests, and acknowledgement of the sponsors and producers. The podcast "Wildcard," produced by NPR, was also mentioned as a new podcast where actors, artists, and comedians play a game using a special deck of cards to talk about life's biggest questions.
