Maximum Fun officially converted into a worker-owned cooperative on June 30, 2023. According to Thorn, this decision was made as a result of his own burnout and as a way to avoid selling the organization to a larger company.[2] This decision made Maximum Fun, at the time, one of the only worker-owned co-ops in media, following in the footsteps of Defector Media.[1]
While the original management team remains in place, the co-op is now overseen by a Board of Directors made up of five worker-owners. The current Board of Directors (as of August 2024) are Jennifer Marmor, Julian Burrell, April Pendergraft, David Goldstein, and K.T. Wiegman.[6] Founder Jesse Thorn stayed on as a worker-owner and board advisor,[7] and is not a voting member of the Board.[8] There are currently twenty worker-owners.[6] All full-time employees at Maximum fun are eligible to become a worker-owner, which required a buy-in fee of "three figures". Most hosts of Maximum Fun podcasts are not full-time employees, and therefore are ineligible to join the co-op.[1]
Baby Geniuses is a weekly podcast hosted by comedian Emily Heller and cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt.[10] The first episode was released on August 22, 2012,[11] and the show joined Maximum Fun on September 29, 2014. The show currently features segments "Chunch Chat," "Endorse Horse," "One on Fun," "What Did I Learn," and "Butt Pics," in addition to "Wiki of the Week," which forms the bulk of the podcast. Former segments include "Expert Hour," where improv comedians would extemporaneously lie about a topic of interest.[12]
Beef and Dairy Network Podcast is a surrealist comedy podcast hosted by Benjamin Partridge, taking the form of a serious companion podcast to a fictional beef and dairy industry trade magazine relating the bizarre happenings in the aforementioned industries.[13]
Bubble is a scripted science fiction comedy that premiered June 13, 2018.[14] From the Maximum Fun website, "Welcome to Fairhaven, a literal Bubble of corporate utopia set amid the wild, goblin-infested Brush. The first scripted comedy series from Maximum Fun, Bubble tells a tale that is both contemporary and otherworldly, as a small band of monster killers struggles to make ends meet and find love in a nightmarish version of the gig economy."[15]
Can I Pet Your Dog? is a comedy podcast on dogs originally hosted by "small dog owner" (formerly just "dog owner") Allegra Ringo, "big dog owner" (formerly "dog wanter") Renee Colvert, and producer Alexis B. Preston. The hosts discuss dogs among themselves and their guests.[18] Allegra Ringo left the show in April 2019 and was replaced as co-host by Alexis Preston.[19]
The Dave Hill Goodtime Hour
A weekly podcast recorded live every Monday at 8pm ET on Twitch, hosted by comedian Dave Hill alongside producers/sidekicks James "Dez" Fernandez and Chris Gersbeck, similar to Hill's former WFMU radio show The Goddamn Dave Hill Show.[20]
Dead Pilots Society
Dead Pilots Society presents readings of television pilots that for various reasons were never produced, picked up, or aired. Before the reading, the hosts interviews the writer or writers of the script about the script and the circumstances surrounding its initial creation or production.
From the Maximum Fun website, "In Dead Pilots Society, scripts that were developed by studios and networks but were never produced are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Presented by Andrew Reich (Friends; Worst Week) and Ben Blacker (The Writers Panel podcast; co-creator, Thrilling Adventure Hour)."[21]
Depresh Mode with John Moe
Depresh Mode with John Moe, honest, humane conversations with top artists, entertainers, and experts about what it's like to live with an interesting mind. No shame, no stigma, and more laughs than you might expect from a mental health podcast. John Moe started Depresh Mode in March 2021.
Both Depresh Mode and its predecessor, The Hilarious World of Depression, aim to remove the stigma surrounding mental health through frank and sometimes funny conversations about the struggles of daily life with depression and other mental health conditions. Depresh Mode, produced in partnership with Maximum Fun, allows Moe to expand beyond depression to cover topics like burnout, obsessive-compulsive disorder and how to navigate mental health apps.
Dr. Gameshow
A podcast where Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno play listener-submitted games with comedian friends and listener call-ins.[22]
Eurovangelists
Eurovangelists is a weekly podcast about the Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, and Dimitry Pompee. The hosts discuss the latest Eurovision news, rate and review the songs competing in the current Eurovision season, and do deep dives into artists and events from the history of the Contest. Glen Weldon of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour praised the show, saying, "On one level, this podcast is 'Eurovision 101.' And if it was just that, I'd still recommend it to people, but I probably wouldn't keep listening myself because I'm good on the basics. But it is a lot more than that: It's enthusiasts enthusing with abject sincerity, but in a knowing kind of way. They're smart. They're funny...They're sharing why they love this ridiculous spectacle without even a trace amount of gatekeeping. Everything about the podcast is specifically pitched to invite you to love Eurovision as much as they do — and as much as I do." The first episodes aired on January 18th, 2024.[23]
FANTI
FANTI is a weekly podcast where journalists Tre'vell Anderson and Jarrett Hill bring their pop culture and political expertise to things they enjoy and stand up against. The first episode aired on February 6, 2020.[24]
The Flop House is a bi-weekly film review podcast hosted by Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, and Stuart Wellington. The hosts watch a "questionable" movie before each episode and then discuss its merits and shortcomings.[25] It became part of the Maximum Fun network on September 29, 2014.[12]
Go Fact Yourself
Go Fact Yourself is a trivia game show podcast hosted by J. Keith van Straaten and co-hosted by Helen Hong. Each show features two guests that compete in a variety of trivia rounds, including a topic they choose for themselves.
Heat Rocks is a podcast co-hosted by film and TV music supervisor Morgan Rhodes and music critic and historian Oliver Wang in which the pair invite a different guest each week to talk about one of the guest's favorite albums. Beginning in 2017, the podcast has covered albums in many genres of popular music including hip hop, soul, R&B, synth pop, funk, disco, punk rock, folk, bossa nova and jazz, often avoiding the typical canon of critic faves and hits in favor of more slept-on cult favorites. Heat Rocks also included special episodes on soundtracks, sampling culture and feminist icons. A few artists have received more than one episode devoted to their music. Prince is the artist most often covered on the podcast, with six albums covered. Guests on the podcast range from musicians and artists to journalists and academics. Artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Nite Jewel have guested on Heat Rocks.
Inside Pop
From Maximum Fun website: "Inside Pop is the weekly podcast that dives deep inside the world of pop culture. Television producers Amita Patel and Sean David Johnson bring their knowledge of the entertainment industry and their passion for pop culture to cover the stories you need to know about and care about. Together this dynamic duo brings a welcome diversity (they are African American and Indian American; Male and Female, Gay and Straight, Married and Single and wannabe residents of Sunnydale, CA and Dillon, TX) into the pop culture podcasting landscape."
A talk podcast where hosts Jesse Thorn and Jordan Morris and usually a guest provide a comedic take on a variety of topics. The podcast's all time number one guest by appearances is "Big Time" Gene O'Neill.
Stemming from a popular segment on Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Judge John Hodgman debuted as a standalone Maximum Fun podcast in November 2010.[28] Hodgman serves as judge and jury, hearing cases brought by listeners on topics ranging from which kind of soap goes in the dispenser on the sink to whether a high schooler is responsible for the theft of a life-sized Ernie doll that he had previously stolen. Jesse Thorn serves as the "bailiff," though this role is occasionally filled by guest bailiffs when Jesse is preoccupied.
Let's Learn Everything!
Let's learn everything is hosted by Ella Hubber, Tom Lum and Caroline Roper; the first episode came out on the 4th of October 2021. In the beginning, they discussed a science topic, answered a question and discussed a miscellaneous topic, however since the 55th episode there has only been a science topic and a miscellaneous topic. [29]
Maximum Film
Maximum Film[30] is a spin-off of retired Maximum Fun podcast Wham Bam Pow, hosted by Ify Nwadiwe and with regular panel members Drea Clark and Alonso Duralde. The podcast features discussion of recent hit films through a racially diverse lens with rotating guests.[31] Former regular panel members include host Ricky Carmona and April Wolfe.
Minority Korner
Minority Korner is a discussion of pop culture, politics, and nostalgia through the lens of race, gender, and queer experiences. It's hosted by Nnekay FitzClarke and James Arthur, with new episodes released every Friday.
On January 17, 2011, Jesse Thorn announced the addition of My Brother, My Brother and Me to the Maximum Fun family. The show is a comedy program that poses as an advice podcast, hosted by real-life brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. Over the course of the show, the brothers answer two types of questions: the real questions, in which listeners of the show write in, asking the brothers for their advice on a certain situation; and the more humorous, ridiculous questions from Yahoo! Answers, which are also sent in by listeners. The brothers often refer to the latter as "Yahoos."[32]
Oh No, Ross and Carrie! joined the Maximum Fun network in January 2014.[33] The hosts, Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy, personally investigate claims about spirituality, fringe science, religion, and the paranormal, then discuss their findings on the show. They have investigated a number of religious groups, fringe science claims, and alternative medicine modalities, including Mormonism, dowsing, and Reiki healing.[34] The motto of the podcast is "We show up so you don't have to."[35]
One Bad Mother
One Bad Mother is a weekly podcast hosted by Theresa Thorn and Biz Ellis. It is a comedy podcast about the realities of parenting.[36] Episodes typically feature an interview with a guest on a specific topic. Additionally, each episode has a segment called Genius and Fails where Biz and Theresa share their parenting wins and failures from the week. Listeners call into a hotline to leave their own genius moments, fails, or rants. The episodes end with the listener rants in the Mom Having a Breakdown segment.
Reading Glasses
Reading Glasses is a weekly podcast hosted by Brea Grant and Mallory O'Meara. It discusses tips and tricks for reading better, like how to vanquish that To-Be-Read pile and organize those bookshelves, climbing out of a reading slump, and supporting authors while still getting books on the cheap.
Sawbones, "a marital tour of misguided medicine," is a podcast hosted by Sydnee McElroy, a physician, and her husband Justin McElroy, who is also a co-host of My Brother, My Brother, and Me. The weekly show is a humorous exploration of medical history, focusing on the many ways the medical community has been wrong in the past. It premiered on the Maximum Fun network on June 21, 2013, with an episode about trepanation.[37]
Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
Secretly Incredibly Fascinating is a weekly podcast hosted by Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin that dives into topics that have a fascinating history. Topics include Lorem Ipsum, Silica Gel Packets and Ranch dressing. This is a podcast for people who like history, science, comedy and seeing their world a whole new way.
Shmanners
Shmanners is a weekly podcast hosted by Travis McElroy (of My Brother, My Brother and Me) and his wife, Teresa McElroy. The show focuses on teaching proper manners and etiquette, as well as the history behind various social guidelines. The podcast was launched in January 2016.[38]
Still Buffering
Still Buffering is a weekly podcast hosted by real-life sisters Sydnee McElroy (of Sawbones) and Rileigh Smirl, with their other sibling Teylor Smirl becoming a regular co-host in later episodes. The show focuses on experiences and issues faced by teenagers, comparing and contrasting those of current teen Rileigh with her older siblings' memories of their own teenage years. The show was first launched on Maximum Fun in January 2016.[39] In 2020, the show was retooled to instead focus on the siblings analyzing pop culture and media that influenced each of them as teenagers.
Stop Podcasting Yourself is a weekly comedy podcast hosted by Graham Clark and Dave Shumka. Each week the comedy duo invites a guest onto the program for a conversational interview. It is sometimes referred to by its acronym—pronounced "spy"—and its listeners are referred to as "bumpers" after Dave mistakenly referred to the audience that way in episode 1.
Switchblade Sisters
A podcast hosted by April Wolfe providing deep dives into genre (i.e., horror, science fiction, exploitation) films from a female perspective. Each episode provides a conversation between film critic April Wolfe and a woman working as a writer, actor, and/or director in the film industry.
Tights and Fights
Tights and Fights is a weekly professional wrestling podcast hosted by Hal Lublin, Danielle Radford, Open Mike Eagle and Lyndsey Kelk, and produced by Julien Burell. They wrap up the week in wrestling focusing on the storylines of WWE, as well as highlighting some of their favourite things in wrestling. In a 2017 article, The Comeback stated: "These are people who genuinely enjoy pro wrestling from a storytelling perspective, but who also want to dig into what's going on behind the scenes and off-screen as well."[40]
Triple Click
Triple Click is a podcast hosted by Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier, the former hosts of Kotaku's podcast Splitscreen.[41] Every week, they discuss video-game related topics.
Troubled Waters (formerly International Waters) pits two teams of comedians compete against each other in order to settle their meaningless debates once and for all. The show originated as a comedy panel game hosted by Dave Holmes. The show features comedians from the US competing against UK-based comedians by answering questions about pop culture. Points are awarded for correct answers as well as for funny incorrect answers.[42] The show was originally hosted by Jesse Thorn.
We Got This with Mark & Hal
We Got This is a comedic debate-style podcast hosted by Thrilling Adventure Hour alumni Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi. In it suggestions are given for topics of discussion via social media, and the two hosts (And occasionally a special guest.) engage in an episode-long debate before reaching a final agreement meant to (jokingly) settle the argument permanently. Topics have ranged from "Best or Worst" scenarios (ex: "Best Halloween Candy", "Worst Christmas Song", "Best Season") to debates focused singularly on two outcomes. (ex: "Calling or Texting", "Batman or Superman", "Baths or Showers") After a decision has been reached Hal Lublin closes the show with an improvised speech addressing the "People of the World" with their verdict. Occasionally the two will engage in "Clean Slate" episodes, which consist of "lightning round"-style quick takes on multiple topics they wouldn't otherwise have enough material to make a full episode out of.
Guests on the program have included notable comedians, musicians, authors, professional wrestlers, celebrities of geek/nerd culture, and numerous others. Frequently the show will feature fellow alumni of Thrilling Adventure Hour's "WorkJuice Players" collective as well as fellow podcasters as guests. Their theme song was written and performed by musical comedian/composer Mike Phirman.[43]
Wonderful!
Wonderful! is a weekly podcast hosted by Griffin McElroy and his wife Rachel McElroy. The podcast features the hosts discussing a diverse assortment of things they love, with showcases of submitted topics that listeners are excited about. The podcast launched September 6, 2017, as a replacement for Rose Buddies.[44]
Limited series
I, Podius
On each Episode of I, Podius, the hosts John Hodgman and Elliott Kalan discussed an episode of the 1970s BBC miniseries I, Claudius. They also interviewed several cast members of the miniseries. Originally a bonus podcast for donors of Maximum Fun, it was released publicly on a weekly basis from February 2020 to May 2020.[45]
Round Springfield is a Simpsons-adjacent 20-episode limited series podcast hosted by Allie Goertz and Julia Prescott. The hosts interview writers, directors, showrunners, and voice-actors from the Simpsons-verse on their various paths to Springfield — failed pilots, other projects, and beyond. Notable guests include David X. Cohen, Josh Weinstein, and Yeardley Smith.
The show was reformatted from the original podcast Everything's Coming Up Simpsons, a weekly show where the hosts interview comics, writers, animators and show creators about their favorite episode of The Simpsons.[47] The show joined the network in March 2018.[48]
The Turnaround
The Turnaround was a series where Jesse Thorn interviewed other professional interviewers to gain insight into interviews and "how and why they do what they do."[49] Guests included Katie Couric, Ira Glass, and Werner Herzog. The series ran from June 2017 to January 2018.
The Outer Reach: Stories from Beyond
The Outer Reach was a limited scifi anthology series meant to imitate the style of science fiction of the 50s and 60s. Originally a bonus feed for donors of Maximum Fun, it was released publicly on May 8, 2020.[50]
Retired programs
Adam Ruins Everything
Adam Ruins Everything was an interview podcast hosted by Adam Conover where he talked to the experts and people who appeared on the TV show by the same name. The last episode was released in November 2017.[51]
Coyle and Sharpe: The Imposters
This show was a series of rebroadcasts of audio comedy pranks performed and recorded by Jim Coyle and Mal Sharpe in the 1960s.[52] Coyle and Sharpe met in 1959 in a San Franciscoboarding house and hatched a plan to make a living performing pranks. Using a hidden tape recorder, they recorded themselves doing comedic interviews with people on the streets of San Francisco. Some of these recordings were released by Warner Bros. Records as an LP. The duo also had a nightly radio show on KGO Radio.[53] Many of the recordings were preserved by Mal Sharpe's daughter, Jennifer Sharpe, and these form the basis of the podcast.[52] Maximum Fun released 100 episodes of the show from March 2007 to September 2010.[54]
Dave Hill's Podcasting Incident
From the Maximum Fun website: "This incredible podcast features comedian/musician/writer/actor/artist/man-about-town/thinking man Dave Hill sitting down and having a delightful conversation with various notable people, including but not limited to fellow comedians, musicians, actors, authors, supermodels, convicts and whoever else he can talk into it."[55] The podcast has since been revived by Hill as an independently produced show.[56]
Friendly Fire
Friendly Fire was a weekly war movie review podcast hosted by John Roderick, Adam Pranica and Benjamin Ahr Harrison. The podcast launched on January 12, 2018.[57] It went on a brief hiatus in January 2021 following controversial comments made by Roderick on Twitter, before announcing it would not be returning.[58]
The Kasper Hauser Podcast
Selections of sketch comedy performed by the Kasper Hauser comedy group.
A longform improvscience fictionspace opera radio drama that parodies various science fiction media properties. The cast are veteran comedians from groups like the Upright Citizens Brigade, and the show was co-created by Allie Kokesh, Alden Ford, Winston Noel, Moujan Zolfaghari, Jeremy Bent and Seth Lind, a staff member on This American Life and Serial. The plot concerns a motley crew of ambassadors, and each week a comedian guest appears and helps to shape that week's story. All improvised references are subsequently incorporated into the show's mythos. Guest stars have included Sasheer Zamata, Jon Gabrus, Alison Becker, Lennon Parham, and Bobby Moynihan. The series finale premiered in September 2022.
Pop Rocket
Pop Rocket was a discussion of pop culture hosted by comedian Guy Branum developed as a chat show counterpart to Bullseye with Jesse Thorn. The regular panel included Wynter Mitchell, Karen Tongson, and Margaret Wappler.[59] Combining comic, journalistic, academic and digital media expertise, the Pop Rocket team discussed what's most exciting in pop culture that week. Generally the panel explores issues with diversity, feminism, sociology and provide music recommendations called "That's My Jam" and select topics "I'm All About..." of what they were most interested in from the prior week. In May 2019, Pop Rocket ceased production due to the departures of host Guy Branum and panelist Margaret Wappler, declining listenership, and production costs.[60]
Rendered, hosted and produced by Julie Sabatier, was a monthly public radio show and podcast about "do it yourself" culture and creativity. Rather than a how-to show of DIY projects, Rendered (formerly "Destination DIY") centered around creative people as well as the processes and resources used to create various skills, communities, and ideas. The shows featured in-studio interviews, recorded sounds from the field, and narration.[61] It was distributed by Public Radio Exchange to several public radio stations in the US.[62] The podcast was added to the Maximum Fun network on September 29, 2014.[12] Rendered retired from publication on August 31, 2015.[63]
Rose Buddies
Rose Buddies was a weekly podcast hosted by Griffin McElroy (of My Brother, My Brother and Me) and his wife Rachel McElroy. The show featured the hosts recapping and discussing the most recent episodes of the television series The Bachelor, along with spinoff series such as The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. The podcast originally premiered in January 2016, later joining Maximum Fun in January 2017.[64]Rose Buddies retired from publication on August 30, 2017, and was replaced with Wonderful![65]
Story Break
Story Break was a weekly podcast hosted by Freddie Wong, Matt Arnold, and Will Campos, each episode the three constructed a hypothetical movie or TV show from various influences such as video games, breakfast cereals or board games. The podcast launched on November 17, 2017[66] and aired its last episode on October 8, 2021.[67]
The Sound of Young America: The College Years
The Sound of Young America was a college radio show on KZSC, the college radio station at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The show was co-hosted by Jesse Thorn, Jordan Morris, and Jim Real (the "Master of Would You Rather"). The show included serious pieces (often interviews with comedians) and less serious banter and comedy bits. The more serious elements were included in the subsequent "The Sound of Young America" podcast, now the Bullseye with Jesse Thorn radio program distributed by NPR and available as a podcast. The less serious parts of the show were later resurrected as the Jordan Jesse, GO podcast.
Trends Like These
Trends Like These was a weekly podcast hosted by Travis McElroy (of My Brother My Brother and Me and others), Brent Black, and writer Courtney Enlow in which the three spent each episode discussing and analyzing various topics and stories trending on online social media. The podcast was launched in May 2015, and later joined the Maximum Fun network in February 2016. The final episode aired in April 2020.[68]
Wham Bam Pow
Former programs
Bunker Buddies with Andie and Ben
Bunker Buddies with Andie and Ben is a comedy survival podcast hosted by comedian Andie Bolt and gear/tech expert Ben Ellis. Ellis had previously appeared as a guest on the show, and replaced Travis McElroy as the co-host in 2018.[69] The hosts discuss survival strategies for "every single Apocalyptic scenario" they can think of. The show left Maximum Fun to be independently produced in 2019.[70]
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Getting Curious is a podcast where Jonathan Van Ness follows his varied interests into topics like menstrual cups, lupus, modeling, and mass extinction by talking to experts in those fields. The show premiered in 2015 and was retired from Maximum Fun on March 3, 2017.[71] The show has since moved to Earwolf.[72]
The Goosedown
The Goosedown hosted by comedians Kimberly Clark & Jasper Redd places an African-American spin on pop culture past and present. They are no longer on Maximum Fun.[73]
Jonah Raydio
Jonah Raydio is a music podcast hosted by Jonah Ray. The show was initially part of the Nerdist podcast network, joined Maximum Fun in 2018, and left in 2019.[70] The show is currently distributed by Sklarbro Country.
Lady to Lady
Lady to Lady is a podcast hosted by comedians Barbara Gray, Brandie Posey, and Tess Barker. Each week, Barbara, Brandie, and Tess, are joined by a guest for an unfiltered session of sleepover games, pop culture discussion, and hilarious admissions. Each episode ends with the earnest advice segment "Lady Problems." They are now hosted by Exactly Right Media.[74]
The Memory Palace
The Memory Palace is a monthly historical podcast hosted by Nate DiMeo. The show joined Maximum Fun in July 2012.[75] The show became independent in early 2015 and joined Radiotopia in June 2015.[76][77]
Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone
Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone is an advice show where comedian Paula Poundstone, co-host Adam Felber, and guests use their unique comedic sensibilities to help navigate life in the 21st century. The show debuted on Maximum fun in 2018 and left in December 2019 to join Starburns Audio.[78][79]
Risk! is a weekly podcast and live storytelling show hosted by writer and actor Kevin Allison. The show's official website describes Risk! as a place "where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share in public".[80] RISK! started as a weekly live storytelling series in August 2009 and the podcast is currently independently produced by Kevin Allison.
Throwing Shade is a weekly comedy podcast centered around discussions of pop culture, politics, gay rights, and issues important to women, hosted by Erin Gibson (a.k.a. "Feminasty") and Bryan Safi (a.k.a. "Homosensual").[81][82] Gibson and Safi are "equal-opportunity offenders," and their comedic repartee frequently features adult topics and a politically incorrect sense of humor, even as they explore serious cultural and political issues.[83] The podcast launched on November 9, 2011, and on March 5, 2012, it was announced that Throwing Shade was joining the Maximum Fun podcast network.[84] The podcast left the network in June 2017 and has since moved to the Earwolf network.[85][86]
Other projects
Begun in 2009, MaxFunCon is an annual weekend convention where fans of Maximum Fun can spend time with Maximum Fun hosts and other celebrities held in Lake Arrowhead, CA. In fall 2012 MaxFunCon East was offered in the Poconos.[87] The Atlantic Ocean Comedy and Music Festival (also known as boatparty.biz) was held in summer 2013 in lieu of Max Fun Con East.[88]
Begun in 2011, the JoCo Cruise is an annual week-long cruise started by Jesse Thorn and other Maximum Fun hosts and artists.[89] Festivities include live concerts from artists like Jonathan Coulton, comedy performances, and gaming.[90]
Related Research Articles
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California, and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). The weekly show is currently heard on over 150 public radio stations. The program features host Jesse Thorn interviewing personalities in arts and culture, with a special focus on comedy.
Paul Francis Tompkins is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television on such programs as Mr. Show with Bob and David, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Best Week Ever, later renamed Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins.
Guy Branum is an American actor, comedian, and writer. Some first knew him through his work as a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately on the E! network and the head writer and a sketch performer on X-Play on the G4 network. He used to host the podcast Pop Rocket on the Maximum Fun network and hosted TruTV's Talk Show the Game Show. He co-starred in the movie Bros and played a supporting role in the 2023 Apple TV+ series Platonic.
Jesse Michael Gabriel Thorn is an American media entrepreneur and public radio and podcast host/creator. He is the founder of the Maximum Fun podcast network, and the host and producer of the podcasts Judge John Hodgman and Jordan, Jesse, Go! and the radio show and podcast Bullseye. Bullseye, is distributed by National Public Radio to several hundred public terrestrial radio stations. In addition to his work in radio and podcasts, Jesse Thorn also hosted the television program The Grid, which formerly aired on IFC, and The Sound of Young America, which aired on Current, and runs a blog and web video series devoted to men's fashion called Put This On. As an actor, he has appeared on stage with the sketch comedy group Prank the Dean and on IFC's Comedy Bang Bang.
Mathilde O'Callaghan "Tig" Notaro is an American stand-up comedian, writer, radio contributor, and actress known for her deadpan comedy. Her acclaimed album Live was nominated in 2014 for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. The special Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted was nominated in 2016 at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. In 2017, the album Boyish Girl Interrupted was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Earwolf is an American comedy podcasting network founded by Scott Aukerman and Jeff Ullrich in August 2010. In 2011, they announced a partnership with Funny Or Die. It merged with podcast advertising network The Mid Roll in 2014, a separate company founded by Ullrich, to form Midroll Media. Midroll was acquired by the E. W. Scripps Company in 2015. In July 2020, Sirius XM acquired Midroll Media, which includes Stitcher Radio and Earwolf, for $325 million.
The Grid, hosted by podcasting and public radio host Jesse Thorn, is an American fifteen-minute weekly rundown of what is trending in indie culture. Each week on IFC, The Grid recommends movies, music, games, and gadgets of interest. Joining Jesse are an array of up-and-coming comedians, offering their own opinions on what is trending now. The Grid aired every Thursday at 7:45 p.m. EST, 4:45 PST on IFC. Various segments from the week's episode can be viewed online at IFC.com and on social networking websites.
Jordan, Jesse, Go! is a weekly comedy audio podcast, which began airing in 2007. It is hosted by comedian Jordan Morris, a television writer, producer, and actor, and Jesse Thorn, a public radio host. The show is part of Maximum Fun, a podcast network founded by Thorn.
Judge John Hodgman is a weekly, comedic court show podcast hosted by John Hodgman and Jesse Thorn. The show is distributed online by Maximum Fun.
Attitudes! is a weekly comedy podcast based on discussions of women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, progressive politics and pop culture. The podcast is hosted by ("Feminasty") Erin Gibson and ("Homosensual") Bryan Safi. Gibson and Safi's comedic repartee frequently features adult topics and addresses social, cultural, and political issues.
My Brother, My Brother and Me is a weekly comedy advice podcast distributed by the Maximum Fun network and hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. Regular episodes of the podcast feature the brothers comedically providing answers to questions either submitted by listeners or found online.
International Waters was a comedy podcast hosted by Dave Holmes since renamed as Troubled Waters and distributed by the Maximum Fun network. The show pits teams of comedians from the United States and the United Kingdom against each other in a panel game format.
Justin Tyler McElroy is an American podcaster, comedian, and former video game journalist. He is known for his work on podcasts and as the co-founder of video game journalism website Polygon.
Headgum is an American podcasting network founded in 2015 by Marty Michael, Amir Blumenfeld, and Jake Hurwitz. The latter two – known collectively as comedy duo Jake and Amir – built upon the success of their podcast If I Were You to launch the network, with the show serving as its flagship program. Before founding Headgum, Michael sold advertising space and branded content for CollegeHumor. Headgum has studios in Los Angeles and New York and, as of March 2019, hosts 57 shows, 34 of which are ongoing. Headgum also features an active YouTube channel and presents Headgum Live!, a series of live shows featuring podcast hosts from the network.
Can I Pet Your Dog? (CIPYD) is a weekly, comedic podcast on dogs that was first released July 19, 2015. The podcast is hosted by Allegra Ringo, Alexis B. Preston (189–present), Renee Colvert, and produced by Travis McElroy and Alexis B. Preston. It is distributed online by Maximum Fun.
The Adventure Zone is a weekly comedy and adventure actual play podcast, in which the McElroy family play Dungeons & Dragons along with other role-playing games. The show is distributed by the Maximum Fun network and hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy, and their father Clint McElroy. Regular episodes of the podcast feature the family solving puzzles, fighting enemies, and leveling up their characters in a series of cinematic and humorous encounters.
Griffin Andrew McElroy is an American podcaster, actor, writer, composer, and former video game journalist. He is known for his work on podcasts such as My Brother, My Brother and Me and The Adventure Zone, as well as for co-founding the video game journalism website Polygon.
Travis Patrick McElroy is an American podcaster, writer, and comedian. He is known for his work on podcasts such as My Brother, My Brother and Me, Shmanners, The Adventure Zone, and Can I Pet Your Dog?.
The Greatest Generation is a weekly comedy Star Trek podcast hosted by Adam Pranica and Benjamin Harrison and distributed online by Maximum Fun. The show's tagline is "A Star Trek podcast by two guys who are a little bit embarrassed to have a Star Trek Podcast." The show started on January 25, 2016, and after 30 episodes joined the Maximum Fun network on May 9, 2016. The show, as of August 2018, is the highest-rated Star Trek podcast on iTunes.
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine is a weekly, comedic medical podcast hosted by Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband, podcaster Justin McElroy. The show is distributed online by Maximum Fun.
↑ "Over and Out (2021)". Friendly Fire (Podcast). Maximum Fun. January 22, 2021. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
↑ "Pop Rocket". Archived from the original on January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
↑ Thorn, Jesse (March 5, 2012). "Please Welcome: Throwing Shade!". Jesse Thorn's blog. Maximumfun.org. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
↑ @MaxFunHQ (June 28, 2017). "A bit of sad news, friends: after 5 great years with us, Throwing Shade is leaving Maximum Fun. We'll miss them, & we wish them the best!" (Tweet) – via Twitter
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