Beer‘d Al Podcast

We're joined by Detroit music scene fixture and all-around groovy guy Scotty Hagen to dive into one of our favorite Weird Al originals, "Velvet Elvis." We talk about how Al perfectly captures the sound of The Police while spinning an earnest story about a guy who's completely devoted to a velvet painting of Elvis Presley. Along the way, we explore why style parodies became such an important part o...

This week on Beer'd Al, Lauren and Russ are joined by special guest Nick Marocco, owner of Rock City Music Company in Livonia, Michigan, to dive into "Alimony" from Even Worse . A loving parody of Billy Idol's rebellious anthems, "Alimony" takes a not-so-glamorous look at divorce, financial ruin, and the high cost of heartbreak—all filtered through the brilliantly absurd lens of Weird Al Yankovic....

This week on Beer'd Al, Lauren is joined by Noah (better known online as I Noah Guy!) to discuss one of Weird Al's most hilariously disturbing originals: "Melanie." From awkward phone calls and rooftop surveillance to Mohawked cats and increasingly questionable declarations of love, "Melanie" is a masterclass in taking the classic love song and steering it directly off a cliff. Lauren and Noah exp...

This week on Beer’d Al, we’re serving up a big ol’ plate of “Lasagna,” the opening track from side two of Even Worse and Al’s deliciously specific parody of “La Bamba.” Lauren is joined by Justin Remer, whose name is a palindrome and whose upcoming 33 1/3 book about “Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D will be out in November 2026. Justin is a writer, filmmaker, musician, and podcaster, which makes him the...

This week, we’re diving headfirst into Side 1 of Even Worse by "Weird Al" Yankovic—the album that reminded the world that Al wasn’t just back… he was even better (ironically, of course). Released in 1988, this record helped relaunch his career and delivered some of his most iconic tracks. Joining me is the one and only Insane Ian, and we’re going track by track through Side 1: from the larger-than...

What if Even Worse went even… louder? In this episode of the Beer’d Al Podcast, Russ brings a fully baked (and possibly unhinged) concept to the table: a Hair Metal Polka that could’ve lived on Weird Al’s Even Worse album. Think big hair, bigger guitars, and a rapid-fire polka mashup of the most iconic glam metal anthems of the era. The twist? I have no idea what’s coming. Russ has done all the re...

What do you get when a 1960s teen love song, an 80s mall pop anthem, and Weird Al Yankovic collide? An identity crisis… with a killer hook. In this episode, we’re joined by Jeff with Two Effs from the Suggested Articles Podcast (yes, we have more than one Jeff on this show… which feels very on-brand for a clone episode) as we trace the evolution of I Think We're Alone Now. From Tommy James & t...

Get ready for a wild ride on this week’s Even Worse! We dive deep into the chaos, charm, and unexpected joy of “You Make Me,” and trust us — things got even worse (in the best way) when Polka Bob stepped into the building. From off‑the‑cuff polka wisdom to the kind of tangents that only this show can deliver, we break down what went down, why it mattered, and how one quirky guest turned the whole...

This week on Beer’d Al Podcast, Lauren and Russ dive into “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long,” Weird Al Yankovic’s brilliantly minimalist parody of George Harrison — and yes, we manage to say far more than six words about it. Joining us is the effervescent (we stand by that word) UHJeff — aka Jeff Nucera — filmmaker, television producer, documentary director, and longtime member of Al’s extended c...

This week, we dive into one of the most surreal tracks on Even Worse — Weird Al Yankovic’s epic fever dream, “Stuck in a Closet with Vanna White.” What starts as a simple recurring nightmare spirals into floating in midair, Russian spies, bowling on the Starship Enterprise… and ultimately being trapped in a closet night after night with America’s favorite letter-turner. We unpack the song’s claust...

On the surface, “Fat” is just Weird Al in a very large suit yelling about food. But beneath the accordion stabs and questionable eating habits lies one of the most important turning points in his career. In this episode of the Beer’d Al Podcast, we stuff ourselves into a deep dive on “Fat”—Michael Jackson’s Bad era, the shot-for-shot video parody, and why Al went back to the MJ well after Polka Pa...

It’s a holly-jolly Weird Al family Christmas once again 🎄 This episode originally dropped last year, but it’s back for a 2025 holiday encore — and it’s still a full house of Robinsons. Lauren’s here. Russ is here. Zakk is here. We’re diving into “Christmas at Ground Zero,” “The Night Santa Went Crazy,” and plenty of other offbeat holiday classics, with all the Weird Al cheer (and chaos) you’d exp...

We’re unwrapping a classic Beer’d Al gem for the Beer’d Al Anthology series! This festive favorite originally dropped a couple years ago, and we’re thrilled to bring it back just in time for the holidays. (Don’t fret—we’ll be back with brand-new episodes once we roll into the new year!) Andy “Brak and other things” Merrill returns to help us spread some serious holiday cheer. Expect laughs, songs,...

We're rewinding back to one of my favorite conversations from December 2023 — and it’s absolutely worth a replay. This episode features my chat with Eric Appel: director, co-writer, and the wonderfully chaotic genius behind WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story . Eric is every bit as sharp, kind, and hilarious as you'd hope, and we get into all things WEIRD — plus a few stories about the very real, very ni...

Originally released in November 2021, this very special episode returns as part of our anthology series! Before they were husband and wife, Lauren and Russ teamed up for a deep-dive into "Weird Al" Yankovic’s legendary Squeeze Box vinyl collection. They unpack every detail—the design, the tracklist, the collector appeal—and share plenty of laughs (and beers) along the way. It’s a nostalgic, high-e...

We’re taking a trip back in time—way back to 2021—for a very special re-release! This isn’t just any episode of Beer’d Al. It’s the one where Russ and Lauren have their very first conversation. Like… ever. And what better album to bond over than "Weird Al" Yankovic’s delightfully wacky Poodle Hat ? Expect laughter, awkward charm, a few "getting to know you" moments, and of course, plenty of Weird...

🎶 It’s time to flip that record over! 🎶 Lauren is once again joined by the wonderfully weird Insane Ian to dive into Side 2 of Weird Al’s “Polka Party!” The dynamic duo keeps the laughs rolling as they break down every track, share favorite moments, and debate where this oft-overlooked album fits in Al’s larger legacy. Expect deep cuts, bad puns, and plenty of banter—because that’s how we polka...

Deck the halls… with fallout? This week on the Beer’d Al Podcast, Lauren is joined by the always-entertaining Two-Eff Jeff from the Suggested Articles Podcast to unwrap Weird Al’s delightfully dark holiday classic, “Christmas at Ground Zero.” Grab your favorite seasonal brew and join us as we toast to catchy carols, Cold War satire, and the bizarre brilliance of celebrating yuletide cheer in the s...

Lauren & Russ are joined by special guest Noah (you know, “Noah Guy”) to unpack Weird Al’s hilarious-style parody “Good Enough for Now.” We dig into what makes this song both romantic and brutally honest, how it flips the country love-ballad trope on its head, and which lines hit you in the feels (or in your ego). Plus: reflections on relationships, comedy songwriting, and whether settling eve...

Lauren and Russ are back with a very special guest—our good friend Robert Yaniz Jr.! This week, we’re biting into Weird Al’s “Toothless People,” digging into Mick Jagger’s “Ruthless People,” AND chewing over the 1986 comedy Ruthless People. That’s right: one conversation, three ruthless (and toothless) angles. We cover the music, the movie, and of course, the ridiculous connections only Beer’d Al...

This week, we lace up for a deep dive into one of Weird Al’s most criminally underappreciated originals: “Don’t Wear Those Shoes.” And joining us is none other than Zeb — yes, that Zeb. Everybody knows Zeb. We’re talking petty breakups, questionable footwear, and how this little synthpop gem might just be riff-cousins with The Kinks’ “Father Christmas.” (Seriously. The guitar hooks are suspiciousl...

The Polka Party rages on—and we’re flipping the record to Side 2! This week, we're diving into “Here’s Johnny,” Weird Al’s tribute to The Tonight Show’s iconic Ed McMahon... or is it just a catchy jam about late-night obsession? Either way, we’ve got a first-time guest (and first-time podcaster!) joining us: our friend Kevin! Tune in as we talk 80s TV, weird childhood memories, and whether this tr...

Lauren and Russ are back from Pine Knob and buzzing with excitement! In this episode of the Beer’d Al Podcast, we’re breaking down our unforgettable night seeing “Weird Al” Yankovic on the Bigger & Weirder Tour. From the VIP treatment (yes, we saw our hero up close!) to the high-energy setlist and Al’s unbeatable stage presence, we cover it all. Hear our favorite moments, unexpected surprises,...

Let’s get weird—Polka Party! weird. This week on the Beer’d Al Podcast, Lauren is joined by comedy musician, parody wizard, and all-around awesome human Insane Ian to dive into Side 1 of Weird Al Yankovic’s Polka Party! album. We’re talking about everything from hernias to spuds, and we’re loving every minute of it. Tracks on the menu include: The James Brown sendup “Living with a Hernia” The Talk...

It’s a Polka Party—literally and figuratively! This week, Lauren and Russ take on the high-energy polka medley “Polka Party” from Weird Al’s Polka Party! album. And they’re not alone—Polka Bob is back to lend his accordion-fueled wisdom and enthusiasm! We break down the song-by-song madness, marvel at the medley magic, and ask the big questions: Where does this rank among Al’s polkas? What deep cu...