SmartDrivel

Jon and Kurt dive deep into the shallows of many different types of oxymorons. Trying not to be buttheads, they hope this episode doesn’t meet with deafening silence. It’s even odds that after listening, you might make Smart Drivel a new tradition.

Ever wonder where the Bloody Mary was first concocted? How the martini gots its name? The story behind the Tom Collins? Why we call it a Negroni? What the difference is between a Boilermaker and an Irish Car Bomb? Well, Jon and Kurt are here to help in this episode as they provide the dirt, the anecdotes, and the backstories of your favorite cocktails.

Hamburgers or hot dogs? Rap or Disco? Mountains or Beach? Manual or Automatic transmission? Jon and Kurt give impassioned pleas for their choices in a rollicking debate of all things important in life.

Brandy. Mandy. Roxanne. Rosalita. Chantilly Lace. Eleanor Rigby. Yes, there have been so many songs with women’s names as the title. So, Jon and Kurt decided to dig in and share the backstories, the motivations, the urban legends behind them. Oh, and they also take a side on the whole sweet vs. savory crepe debate.

Jon and Kurt wax poetic about places they would love to visit for vacation. However, the twist is that they can go anywhere in any time in history. They discuss being in ancient Greece for the invention of the shower, ancient Alexandria for the books, England during King Arthur’s reign, seeing Jackie Robinson score his first MLB run, and other smart-drivelly places.

Having washed ashore a deserted island, Jon and Kurt have the good fortune to be granted things to help them to survive: one book, one music album, one food selection, one household item, and a 3rd person to join them. Now they just have to agree on their choices.

Jon and Kurt invite you to peek in on their conversation about Homophones which will hopefully pique your interest and make you think they have reached the peak of podcasting. You guessed it, you are the guest of the episode. So contemplate your navel or run off and engage in naval warfare, this discussion won't be a bore if you listen while eating some boar .

Trying not to be schmucks or to make it too kitschy, Jon and Kurt have carte blanche in this episode to act like prima donnas and take their figurative mopeds for a spin as they point out some great words we use everyday that come from abroad.

The first go round with fun phrases was such a hit, Jon and Kurt decided to give it another whirl. Not wanting to "Let the Cat Out of the Bag," but proving to not be a "Flash in the Pan," they wanted to see if they could do it again. Enjoy their presentation of more fun phrases and from whence they came.

Jon and Kurt dig deep to bring you little nuggets you can use to dazzle your friends at your next dinner party. What words in the English language don’t have a rhyme? Who is the model for the NBA logo? Where did the word suede come from? Why do we have Gin & Tonics? And many more truly relevant facts.

From Animal House to Shawshank Redemption and everything in between, Jon and Kurt put  forth and debate the attributes of their favorite movies: the ones that scare them the most, make them laugh out loud, or truly have an impact on their lives.

Jon and Kurt spend a full episode discussing fun phrases and how they came to be. “Mind your Bees Wax,” “One for the road”, and “Freezing the balls off a brass monkey” are just a few sayings they take on, masticate over, and share.

From toilet paper to Neil Diamond,  Jon and Kurt discuss the advances in civilization we can’t live without that, while popular, are not seen as being worthy of the Mt. Olympus of inventions.

From toilet paper to Neil Diamond,  Jon and Kurt discuss the advances in civilization we can’t live without that, while popular, are not seen as being worthy of the Mt. Olympus of inventions. This is the first part of a two part episode.

In this  episode, Jon and Kurt opine on which human rituals and customs will get laughed at the most by aliens.  Plus they take a shot at projecting which human traditions are most likely to be assimilated by our extra-terrestrial neighbors.

Jon and Kurt are faced with answering a beguiling hypothetical question: would they rather spend 10 minutes on the moon or a year in Europe traveling in high class all-expenses-paid luxury.

The fanny pack. Spray on hair. Corsets. Beanie Babies. Eating placentas. Polyester leisure suits. Yes, in this episode, Jon and Kurt explore fads and trends of the past that have, thankfully, passed us by.

In this episode, Jon and Kurt go about curating their ideal dinner party guest list. From famous historical icons to unknown trailblazers to fictional characters, both hosts have to make a case for who they want to get a seat at the table.

Adam & Eve.  Romulus & Remus.  Gin & Tonic.  Bert & Ernie.  Oscar & Felix. Jon and Kurt identify, laugh, and survey just a few of the many famous pairs throughout history. It is a rollicking, fast, fun adventure.

Jon and Kurt start out waxing poetic about fun pastimes but then quickly turn the episode into a debate over which should rightfully be America’s Pastime: Baseball or Football. The arguments get made while taking a detour into the reason some people are called Skip.

Taking on a popular issue facing society today, Jon and Kurt attempt to lay out the pros and cons of social media while waxing poetic about the moment the first fish walked out of the ocean.

Jon and Kurt venture back in time to discuss, argue, and make a case for which decades they feel were the best to live in...and why.  From the roaring 1220s to the greedy 1980s with many stops along the way, they ponder the highs and lows of living in certain places at certain times.

Jon and Kurt return to the early 1970s and try to recall all the great TV shows that were either live or in re-runs. What they remember, and why, is the meat of this episode as they seem to have jumbled the facts a bit.

Jon and Kurt find amusement (they are easily amused) in discussing words and phrases that were once popular but have now gone out of style.  Of course, this is just a launching point for some meandering musings.

Jon and Kurt opine on all sorts of states that they feel don't get their just due.  They give reasons (some even are factual) and try to make the case for states like South Dakota and the one right below Nirvana.