The Absurdists

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.

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 re...

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 Superstit...

    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 ane...

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...

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, where...

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...

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 b...

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 bizarre...

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...

  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...

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 fal...

In this hilariously absurd episode of The Absurdists , hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take us on a whimsical journey through their recent experiences and quirky observations. Marlo shares stories from his recent travels to London and Paris, offering a unique perspective on everything from international McDonald’s menus to cross-cultural miscommunications. The episode kicks off with Marlo’s a...

Hey there, folks! Marlo Anderson here, and boy, do I have a doozy of an episode to share with you. This week on The Absurdists, Mary and I took a deep dive into some of the craziest collections you’ve ever heard of. I mean, we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill stamp collections here – we’re talking about the kind of stuff that’ll make you go, “Wait, what...

Have you ever picked up a product and burst out laughing at its warning label? You’re not alone! In a recent episode of The Absurdists , hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy took a deep dive into the world of the most bizarre and downright absurd warning labels ever slapped onto consumer products. Buckle up (but not in your wheelbarrow) as we take you on a wild ride through some of the most...

Hey everyone! Mary and Marlo here, bringing you the highlights from our latest episode of The Absurdists. We had such a great time diving into some of the everyday absurdities we all face—hyperconnectivity, the pursuit of happiness, and, of course, the myth of multitasking. If you missed the episode, here’s a little taste of what we discussed. Hyperconnectivity: The Double-Edged Sword Mary: Let’s...

A Hilarious Return The episode kicks off with Marlo and Mary joking about their absence from each other’s lives, likening it to ghosting—a theme that threads through their conversation. They humorously explore the concept of ghosting, its different types, and how it plays into their busy lives. The Absurdity of Being Busy Marlo and Mary dive into the definition of being busy and when it becomes a...

Embracing the Absurd Highlights from the Latest Episode of The Absurdists In a world where logic fails and reason pales, two heroes rise above the mundane to bring you the absurd. Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Absurdists ! This week, co-hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy take us on a whimsical journey through some of the most absurd inventions that have ever graced our reality....

Dive into the delightful madness of “The Absurdists” with hosts Marlo Anderson and Mary Murphy in our inaugural episode! This week, we explore some of the most bewildering and hilariously inexplicable laws from across the United States. From prohibitions on wearing false teeth without spousal approval to bans on misplacing misplaced pigeons, our hosts tackle each topic with their trade...

  Welcome to another episode of “The Absurdists,” where logic takes a back seat and curiosity reigns supreme. In this episode, titled “From Why to Why Not,” hosts Mary Murphy and Marlo Anderson take us on a verbal escapade across the American landscape, not by car or plane, but through the intriguing stories behind some of the most bizarrely named towns in the United States...