Unstable Topics
By The Monthly Junk
A very special thank you to Summer Berman for the ear worm of an intro song!
Follow them on social @themonthlyjunk and @unstabletopics
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com
Unstable TopicsOct 12, 2023
70: We're Snacks!
Lots of misleading topics in this episode. From dust being gross skin to possibly helping the ozone, to snacks being fun but also the worst, and German Chocolate Cake - by any name - is the gross.
Timestamps for Funsies:
Hey Bestie 1:57 | Snacks are UnstableFact 1 7:16 | German Chocolate Cake is MisleadingGame 11:39 | This or ThatFact 2 14:31 | Dust is gross… or not?
Just the Facts:Fact: German chocolate cake, a cake we have discussed should be called German Coconut Chocolate Cake, has another naming issue that has me fired up turns out, the cake doesn’t come from Germany. It was named after, Sam German, who created a type of baking chocolate for Baker’s in 1852.
Fact: Bust out your dust rags! The main component in household dust is human skin cells! One pro to this gross fact? The American Chemical Society found says a skin oil called squalene can reduce ozone levels indoors by 15 percent.
Plus, Maggie gets a PERFECT SCORE on Sarah’s “This or That” quiz.
What do you think? Is the only upswing to being a grown-up that you can eat whatever snacks you want? What other desserts have misleading names? Would you rather dust up glitter or human skin cells?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
69: We're Eating Fruits and Veggies! With Mel Gotz & Veronica Hackett
Sarah and Maggie chat with fellow friends and creative fun moms, author and illustrator duo Mel Gotz and Veronica Hackett.
About our guestie besties, Mel Gotz and Veronica Hackett:
This dynamic duo are mothers, friends, and, most notably, children’s book authors! With their new book, CARRIE AND BROC’S GREAT BIG BOOGIE available for purchase NOW, you can fall in love with their whimsical writing, illustrating, and even make delicious muffins from their recipe!
Timestamps for Funsies: Hey Bestie 1:55 | Sarah was on TRLFact 1 5:21 | Theater superstitions Guestie Besties 10:00 | Mel Gotz & Veronica Hackett
Just the Fact:Peacock feathers are considered bad luck to theater productions, so you won’t see them on stage.
What do you think? Do you think peacock feathers are bad news? Did you watch TRL and wish you could shout-out your sorority sisters? Are you looking for a super cute new book to read to your kiddos, AND a run recipe to cook alongside them and so this episode was absolutely perfect because CARRIE AND BROC’S GREAT BIG BOOGIE is all of those things?!
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 13: We're Forcing People to Listen to Operas!
Former North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il has written six operas. And we have lots of thoughts.
68: We're Dynamo!
The Houston Dynamo! Is the lamest mascot in the history of mascots, and that’s not even the most surprising fact in this episode!
Nothing is more unstable than mascots that are neither a noun nor a realistic character that could play the sport they cheer on.
Plus, some serious facts about America, death, and white men, with spicy hot advice from everyone’s favorite, Ms. Patricia.
Timestamps for Funsies: Hey Bestie 1:47 | The Houston Dynamo is the lamest sports teamFact 1 8:38 | The Fourth of July: America’s DEATH day?!Game 13:33 | Ms. PatriciaFact 2 17:03 | White Men Can’t Jump, and white women can’t limbo
Just the facts:
Fact: The Fourth of July is America's birthday, but it also might be... a popular death day? John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe - EACH a founding father and president, ALL died on July 4.
Fact: Though "white men can't jump" is a popular movie and phrase, it is widely regarded as a non fact because white men can, in fact, have their feet leave the ground. it is HOWEVER, a FACT that Elephants can’t jump.
So, what do you think? Is the Houston Dynamo the dumbest name for a sports team in the history of sport? Would YOU write in to Ms. Patricia for some advice? Do you believe White Women Can’t Limbo is a fact, or just a fun movie prequel?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
67: We're Buried in a Pringles Can!
Sarah and Maggie talk about cat mayors, post-life wishes, and the rumor that you can’t take a shower if the dishwasher is running.
Timestamps for funsies:
Hey Bestie 1:47 | Is your dishwasher running?Fact 1 5:08 | Cat mayorGame 8:58 | This or That?Fact 2 11:56 | Bury me in Pringles
Just the Facts:
Fact: The mayor of a historical district in Alaska was a cat named Stubbs who served until his death in 2017.
Fact: In the 1980s, Fredric Baur, the founder of Pringles, requested to be buried in a Pringles can. His children honored the request.
Plus Sarah only gets two answers wrong in “this or that?” and defends
So, what do you think? Do you shower if the washing machine is going? Would you vote for a cat to be mayor of your town? What do you want to be buried in? Are you working hard, or hardly working?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
Monday Mini 12: We're Splooting Squirrels!
We're acting like squirrels and heat dumping our way into Fall!
Squirrels everywhere keep cool by splooting - the act of stretching out as a form of ‘heat dumping.” Lying flat on a cool surface helps the squirrel cool down by dissipating body heat. And, now we have a great new word to use in conversation.
66: We're Nude Modeling! With Susan Carole Davis
Sarah and Maggie chat with the inspiring and creative Susan Carol Davis.
A little bit about our guestie bestie:
Susan Carol Davis is CEO of Curious Dog Creative film production and an acting performance coach. She works as director, producer, actress and arts educator. In her community, she serves as the Director of Film Programming for the Thin Line Fest and was formerly the president of the arts nonprofit, Artists Enclave of Denton County.
Plus a fact:
Fact: April 11, 1954 was the most boring day, with no notable events recorded throughout the entire world.
But first, they discuss how mirrors, cameras, and even seeing color is so subjective and probably made up (?!)
So, what do you think? Do you wish you could be as bored as people on April 11, 1954? Do you think mirrors, photos, and seeing color are not to be trusted? Would YOU rather be on Road Rules or Real World?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
65: We’re at the Scholastic Book Fair!
Sarah volunteers at the Scholastic Book Fair and is taken back to all the magic and regrets that come along with it. Sarah and Maggie also talk about mall culture, specifically Orange Julius and Auntie Anne’s.
Plus all the facts:
Casinos are designed to deliberately disorient visitors. This same strategy is behind the design of shopping malls. This design is called the GRUEN TRANSFER, this phenomenon is named after Austrian architect Victor Gruen who identified how an intentionally confusing layout could lead to people spending more time and money in a shopping center.
and
Canadians eat 55% more Kraft Macaroni and Cheese than Americans. Canadians purchase 1.7 million boxes a year.
And, a YOU DON’T KNOW JACK that truly stumps Sarah. Not even Google can help her. Will you be able to guess this Jack?
So, what do you think? Do you have regrets from your Scholastic Book Fair purchases? What mall shopping stop was your go-to as a teen. Are you as upset about Canadians eating Kraft Mac and Cheese as Maggie is?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
LIVE! from IDIOTS Indie Night! With Debbie McIlhany
Super special bonus Monday Mini!
Recorded LIVE from the September 12, 2023 I.D.I.O.T.S Indie Night. While we didn't get a full three-hour live recording show, we did have the opportunity to host the fabulous local event. And, we made time to interview a delightful birthday guestie bestie, the very funny, uber talented, Debbie McIlhany.
64: We’re Celebrating the Birth of Our Queen, Sarah Anne Adams!
Our queen! Our co-host! Our bringer of facts that make us gasp! She’s turning the big 4-0 and dropping all kinds of wisdom - including a fact about teeth!
Hey Bestie 1:47 | Wisdom from the last moments of Sarah’s thirties
Fact 1: 5:23 | 21st birthdays used to be a pain in the mouth
Game:: 9:51 | Putin on the Ritz with a festive birthday twist
Fact 2 : 12:21 | Birthday cakes? More like honoring Artemis!
Just the facts:
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a popular 21st birthday present was to have all your teeth removed and replaced with a set of dentures – the idea was it would prevent the expense of dental treatment later in life.
And
It is said the Greeks created round cakes to honor the goddess, Artemis, who was the goddess of the moon. The candles, when lit, represented the moon’s glow. When they blew the candles out, they believed the smoke carried their wishes to the gods living in the sky.
Fact: what’s your favorite type of cake
Plus, the most delicious Ritz cracker birthday recipe of all! Spoiler: It’s probably just going to be regular Ritz Crackers because they are so dang delicious.
What do you think? How would YOU celebrate turning 40? Or 21? What’s your favorite kind of cake? Do you like icing or just straight Ritz Crackers?
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
63: We're Gridiron Ball! With Ashley Pickle
Sarah and Maggie talk to Ashley Pickle about why “football” should actually be called “GRIDIRON BALL” and lots of other football facts. Plus, lies our children tell each other, and why FORTY is the new perfect number.
A little bit about Ashley Pickle:
Graduate of the Jamie Adams School of Navigating The Monkey Sh*t Show. Talker of Football. Executive Producer of over 1,500 live streaming high school sporting events. Emcees events more than people want. Lover of golf and nice cold beers. Ashley Pickle was the first woman to be hired as a full time editorial staffer for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, and makes football sound fun.
Timestamps for fun:
Hey Bestie 1:47 | Children are Lying
Fact 1: 6:55 | FORTY is the perfect number for Virgos
Til Death: 12:00 | Our interview with Ashley Pickle
Just the Fact:
FORTY is the only number with all it’s letters in alphabetical order.
So what do you think? What’s a lie you believed as a little kid? How do YOU organize? Would you sign our petition to change “football” to “Gridiron Ball”?!
If you want to hear the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 11: We're Honey Bees!
Honey bees are working their ENTIRE LIVES to bring you a single teaspoon of honey. Have you thanked a bee lately?
62: We're a Country Music Hit Song!
Sarah and Maggie could easily write a hit country music song once they learn this fact. Plus a horrifying fact about building houses in the British Isles, and Mother Goose brings her best Jacks to the Jack Off game.
Timestamps for Funsies:
Hey Bestie 1:47 - The Grackles are BACK
Fact 1: 5:07 - Country music songs are predictable
Jack off: 11:28 - It’s a Jack Off between Mother Goose’s favorite little Jacks
Fact 2: 14:30 - People in the British Isles were gross
Just the facts:
Fact: One in five country music songs refer to alcohol, one in three to tears and one in seven to “mama”.
Fact 2: In the British Isles,[3][4] as well as in Northern Europe and North America,[5] the dried or mummified bodies of cats are frequently found concealed within structures and are believed to have been placed there to bring good luck or to protect the building and its occupants from harm.[6]
Plus Jack Be Nimble and Little Jack Horner square off in the greatest Jack Off of all rhymes!!
So what do you think? Which Jack would you rather babysit? What would YOU put in your wall for good luck? And, would you listen to MOM IN A BROKE DOWN MINIVAN and take it to the top of the country music charts??
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
61: We're Googling Animal Facts!
Sarah and Maggie double check their facts to bring you accurate information about animal pregnancies.
But first, they avoid small manageable projects with things like painting baseboards!
Time Stamps for Funsies:
Hey Bestie 1:47 - Painting baseboards
Fact 1: 6:00 - Pregnant animals are the real MVPs
Friend/Enemy/Block 10:35 - Which football watch party food are you picking?
Fact 2: 16:14 - The first fashion logo was a little crocodile
Just the Facts:
Fact: Human pregnancies last about 40 weeks, but the typical horse pregnancy lasts up to 370 days.
Fact: The very first designer label was the Lacoste crocodile, introduced in 1933.
Plus, Sarah puts Maggie to the test with a friend enemy block about football party watch food and FAILS TO INCLUDE Buffalo Wings (?!?!) But what would you pick out of the traditional football party dishes, which would you friend/enemy/block: Pigs in a blanket, Three layered dip, or Chips and salsa
What do you think? When have you been uncomfortable? Are you an elephant offended by us saying elephants are basically hippos with larger ears and a big nose? Do you avoid small tasks to do big projects? What would YOUR fashion logo be if not a cute little crocodile?
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 10: We're Strong Hair!
60: We're Wannabes! With Jill Nastasia from FearLess Dallas
59: We're Rich Dummies! With Sarah Kimmel from Family Tech Talk
Sarah and Maggie talk to tech whiz Sarah Kimmel and feel a little less terrified about their kids utilizing technology. But not before dissecting various fashion trends, from the present athleisure situation to the middle ages mitten debacle.
A little about our guestie bestie:
Sarah Kimmel has been an IT Manager for over 20 years. She is also currently raising 2 teenagers. She teaches families how to be the tech expert of their homes through podcasts, TV appearances, YouTube videos and social media. You can follow her podcast and all her tech tips at Family Tech Talk, @FamilyTech on social media.
Time stamps for funsies:
Hey Bestie 1:58 - We're dressed for workouts, but we are most definitely not going to workout
Fact:5:36 - Rich people were dumb in the Middle Ages for lots of reasons, and this is one
Guestie Bestie 9:59 - Family Tech Talk host Sarah Kimmel gives some serious consideration to our ridiculous Would You Rather questions
Just the facts:
Fact: Back in the middle ages, only the rich wore gloves to show off their wealth while the peasants wore mittens.
What do you think? Do you think rich people in the middle ages were a bunch of dumb dumbs because mittens are the superior hand warmer? Do you wear workout clothes with no intention of actually working out? Did you read ATOMIC HABITS?
Let us know! And, while you’re thinking of us, be sure to review and subscribe wherever you’re listening.
Monday Mini 9: We're Crying Sea Turtles!
Sea Turtles aren’t crying, they’ve got a salt excretion gland right by their eye! And other excuses you could give if people think you're being over emotional.
58: We're Dip Dinner!
Sarah and Maggie are cooking up something delicious for dinner, and it might be breakfast! Or it might be pork tenderloin! Either way they’re dancing ‘til they drop like residents of Strasbourg, France in 1518!
Time Stamps for Easy Listening:
Hey Bestie 1:43 - What’s for Dinner?
Fact 1: 8:18 - The largest spider in the world is NOT nice
Game 12:43 - You Don’t Know Jack!
Fact 2 15:31 - People in France were dance dance dancin’ ‘til they died
Specifically, listen to this episode if you want dinner ideas (here’s one for free - DIP DINNER!), if you want to gloss over how Jack the Ripper got his name for the sake of keeping this podcast lighthearted, AND, if you want to learn about scary spiders and people dropping dead because they couldn’t stop dancing.
Just the facts:
Fact 1: The Goliath birdeater, a tarantula found in South America, has a leg span that can reach up to 11 inches, making it the largest spider in the world.
Fact 2: In July 1518, a strange phenomenon occurred in Strasbourg, France, where hundreds of people started dancing uncontrollably for days, resulting in exhaustion and even death
Want more facts? Even more reacts? Subscribe and follow this this conversational comedy podcast hosted by two best friend comedians wherever you get your podcasts.
Leave a review and join their best friend hangout with new episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, with minisodes hitting the airwaves every Monday.
Hugs & Kisses,Sarah & Maggie
57: We're Big Foot's Stick!
This episode has some great advice! Like, don’t travel with children! And, sometimes you gotta be like the moon and walk away. Plus! Sarah and Maggie are blessed with advice from the incomparable Ms. Patricia giving fantastic parenting advice.
Wanna know what to do with time in between carpool lines?
Ever wondered where the word “scientist” comes from?
Have your children ever embarrassed you in a busy airport by yelling “BIG FOOT’S STICK?!”
Listen to find out all this and more!
Just the facts:
FACT: People have been studying science-y things since the dawn of man, but the word "Scientist" is less than 200 years old. It was coined by English academic William HUE UHL Whehell in 1834 to bring all the studies together toward a common goal of studying the physical and natural world
FACT: The Earth’s moon is far away, and getting even farther! Every year, it moves about 3.8 centimeters farther away from our planet.
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 8: We're Besties with Crows!
Crows are full of surprises! From recognizing human faces, to mating for life, to making sweet tools… we’re basically BFFs with crows.
56: We’re Conspiracy Theories! With Julia Estelle Cotton
Sarah and Maggie are joined by the one, the only, Julia Estelle Cotton! She dishes on everything from motherhood to performing with FCC Dallas sketch ground to working in the newsroom.
A little bit about our guestie bestie:
Julia Estelle Cotton is a Dallas-based performer, producer and writer who has put up several stage productions and continues to teach storytelling workshops for people of all ages across Texas. She co-founded the Dallas-based, all-black sketch troupe, FCC Presents, dedicated to creating socially relevant live comedy experiences. You may have seen Julia on WFAA where she served as host and producer of digital content, including “on-the-street” interviews, viewer watch parties and various audience engagement pieces. After a career in broadcast communications, Julia joined the North Texas Food Bank as an advocate for the neighbors of Dallas County experiencing food insecurity. Using her experience in storytelling and helping others share their voice, she worked to make important connections between food partners and resources in the Dallas area, leading and hosting community meetings and events. This summer, she will embark on a journey with Educate Texas, part of Communities Foundation of Texas, working to ensure that ALL Texas students, especially African-American, Latino, and economically disadvantaged students receive education that will lead to a living wage and see them contributing to thriving communities.
But before they're inspired by the hilarious and talented Julia, Sarah and Maggie talk a lot about conspiracy theories without having very many details to support or contest the theories. Like, Sarah’s husband has lots of theories about ancient civilizations but Sarah can’t really remember them because it was a full two weeks ago that they talked about it. And MAYBE apples have a lot of caffeine in them… but who knows?
Plus a cold hard fact:
Fact: White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea, and black tea are all from the same plant! The differences between these teas are purely related to how they're processed.
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
55: We're Recording During Mercury Retrograde!
If ever there was an unhinged episode, this one would be it. From technical difficulties, to facts that’ll have you saying “BONZAI!” and a new game in between, this one is a behind the scenes look at what happens when two best friends try to record a podcast while Mercury is in Retrograde.
Just the facts:
Fact: Pine trees have proven that they can grow inside the body. Doctors recently went into surgery to remove what they thought was a tumor. It turned out to be a fir tree growing in the man’s lungs.
Fact: Football was essentially born from Rugby. In 1882, new rules were added to Rugby that evolved the game so each team gets three tries to advance the ball five yards. Touchdowns were originally worth four points each.
Plus! A new game that has Sarah responding to rapid fire questions, with their friendship on the line, called THIS OR THAT!
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 7: We’re Recycled Water!
Dinosaurs could’ve been drinking the same water you’re drinking right now. Also which bottled water is trash: Aquafina or Dasani?
54: We're Healthier Because of Farts!
Sarah and Maggie talk pranks, their hatred of squirrels, and why smelling farts could be good for your heart! Plus Maggie does not guess the word Sarah is thinking.
Time stamps for easy listening:
Hey Bestie! 2:03 - Kid pranks gone wrong: Specifically, the Creepy Crawlers pranking of the 90s
Fact 1 5:20 - Squirrel teeth never stop growing
What Word Am I Thinking? 8:57 - It’s fork.
Fact 2 10:12 - Farts are healthy! Here’s why…
Just the facts:
Fact: The front teeth of a squirrel never stop growing. They have to gnaw at wood to keep their teeth the perfect length for being a menace to society.
Fact: Farts smell because of hydrogen sulfide, which, according to a 2014 study, could be good for your health! While it is dangerous in large doses, small sniffs of hydrogen sulfide could have therapeutic health benefits to people who have conditions like stroke, heart failure, dementia or diabetes.
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
53: We’re Second Place! With Lacey Pittman Tomanek
A little about LPT:
Lacey Pittman Tomanek (LPT) is such an obvious choice as a replacement bestie. Maggie first met her back in the day working at Teach For America, and she's been a boss in the Ed Reform and nonprofit space ever since, including consulting with other leaders through her own leadership coaching business. She's also hilarious - as Sarah and Maggie know from our time improvising with her - and a top tier mom from their kewl mom social circle.
Time stamps for easy listening:
2:03 - to pigtail or not to pigtail?
5:40 - exploding head syndrome
11:17 - we chat with LPT
Just the facts:
Fact: Exploding Head Syndrome causes people to hear extremely loud noises in their head just as they are falling asleep.
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 6: We're Helpless Puppies!
Puppies are born deaf, blind, and toothless. And that's surprising.
52: We’re a Knock-off Juicy Tracksuit!
Sarah and Maggie love velour track suits - but will Maggie like the first fact Sarah is serving up? Absolutely not.
Time stamps for funsies:
Hey bestie 2:03 - We are HERE for the early aughts fashion
Fact 1 6:44 - Scottish doctors invent the chainsaw
Game 12:50 - This is a zesty baked ritz cracker recipe with PARMESAN
Fact 2 16:07 - Why do dogs like squeaky toys?
Just the facts:
Fact: In 1780, two Scottish doctors invented the prototype of the chainsaw. Not to cut down trees or clear debris. No, John Aitken and James Jeffray invented the hand-cranked chainsaw to cut through the pelvises of delivering mothers who were having trouble pushing their babies out
Fact: Experts agree that squeaky toys offer dogs a way to connect with their natural prey drive because it mimics the sound of a scared or injured animal, which immediately activates the urge to hunt.
React: what’s a sound that sets you off
Plus, a delicious Zesty Baked Ritz Crackers recipe served with a side of bad Russian accents!
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
51: We're Pretty Sure We Saw Taylor Swift!
51: We’re Pretty Sure We Saw Taylor Swift!
Sarah and Maggie are ready to open a team building consultation business, and they’ve got just the fact to bring everyone together! Probably going to thread about all their inspirational quotes later.
Time stamps for funsies:
Hey Bestie: 1:40 - Do we all need cushions for our seats or are we getting old?
Fact 1: 5:39 - Woodstock did NOT take place in Woodstock
Game: 13:37 - A fictional patreon
Fact 2: 17:35 - Sunflowers are all of us, working together
Just the facts:
Fact: A single sunflower is actually 1,000 – 2,000 individual flowersheld sharing one stalk.
Fact: Despite the name, the original Woodstock music festival did not take place in Woodstock, NY - but rather was held at a dairy farm in Bethel, NY after residents of Woodstock were concerned about the number of hippies who would be in attendance. The last minute venue change meant there wasn't time to set up ticket booths, and the event was declared "FREE!"
What do you think? Would you wait in traffic for an iconic music festival? We’re PRETTY sure we’ve all been to the Taylor Swift ERAS tour, right?
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 5: We're Skiing on Watermelons!
In the Watermelon Capital of Australia, Chinchilla, you can celebrate Watermelon Fest by skating on watermelon. Sounds messy, honestly.
50: We’re Chasing Cheese! With How Were U Brainwashed!
Sarah and Maggie chat with the delightful duo from How Were U Brainwashed after a riveting conversation about cheese and holiday decor.
A little bit about our guests:
Nicole Spiezio and Jenny Donheiser are co-hosts of the How Were U Brainwashed podcast - a hilarious show covering all the ways in which we find ourselves brainwashed. From religion to Jersey Shore, their guests share what they used to believe to be true before learning it is, actually, a brainwash. They are delightful, funny, and we had the best time getting to know them better.
Timestamps for easy listening:
Hey Bestie 1:40 - When is the appropriate time to put out Fall Decor?
Fact 1 5:43 - Double Glouchester Cheese rolling down Cooper’s Hill in the United Kingdom
Game 14:52 - We chat with the hosts of How Were You Brainwashed podcast.
Just the fact(s):
Fact: Every year, dozens of people stand at the top of Cooper’s Hill in the UK, then a 7 to 8 pound of Double Gloucester Cheese is thrown down. That’s their cue to start running, sliding and tumbling after the wheel of cheese. The first one to the bottom wins.
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
49: We're Nice Birds!
Plus, some feel good facts about planes without engines and ostriches being bullies.
Time Stamps for Easy Listening:
Hey Bestie 1:39 Beauty hacks and embarrassing moments from Seventeen Magazine
Fact 1 5:14: Commercial Airplanes aren’t as scary as you might think
Game 11:03: You Don’t Know this NIGHTMARE of a Jack
Fact 2 14:22: We’ve been EYEING this ostrich fact for a while
Wanna know all the facts? Well here they are!
Fact: Commercial airplanes are equipped with two engines, but designed to be able to fly using only one! And, due to something called glide ratio, most planes can fly for a pretty significant amount of time without any engine at all.
Fact: Ostrich's eyes are big. In fact, their eyes are bigger than their whole brain!
Plus… Do you know this Jack? This Jack, is also known as the "Pumpkin King", is in charge of Halloween Town's Halloween celebration. He is loved, respected, and even idolized by the other residents for his role. However His selfish decisions lead to the near destruction of Christmas and himself. Who is this Jack?
If you want to hear - or watch! - the reacts, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. New episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday, and minisodes hitting your feeds every Monday for a quick fact to kick off the week!
If you like this conversational comedy podcast with fun facts and best friendship, be sure to subscribe and review!
Xoxo, Sarah and Maggie
Monday Mini 4: We're Rolling Down the River
What is a drop of water? And how long would it take to float down the mighty Mississippi River? We find out (maybe) according to scientists (allegedly).
48: We're a Supreme Court Ruling!
Sarah and Maggie have a bone to pick with calendars… again. Plus some real fun facts and games like:
FACT: In 1893, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that, despite science saying otherwise, the tomato should be classified as a vegetable.
REACT: The Supreme Court said tomatoes are vegetables even though they are technically a fruit - what’s an opinion you hold that might not be FACTUALLY correct, but you stand by it? Sarah says it’s that Galveston is a good beach despite it being filled with poop.
And
FACT: While the dining room or kitchen table is the most popular place to eat, nearly 1 in three people eat their meals on their couch, and 17% eat on their bed.
REACT: 30% of people eat on their couch - probably while watching TV - what’s your favorite meal to eat in front of a tv show?
And, out of this trio of fries, who would YOU pick to be your friend, enemy, and block? curly fries, crinkle cut, regular. Maggie has been preparing for this question since middle school and has some hot takes.
Time stamps for easy navigating:
1:44 Hey Bestie: What’s the deal with bulk trash pick up?
5:56 A very important Supreme Court ruling
11:01 Friend Enemy Block
15:14 Where do you eat meals?
your
47: We’re A Headless Chicken! With Megan McCaleb and Janette Cerami
Monday Mini 3: We're Repetitive Thoughts!
46: We’re Rat Kings!
But first! They celebrate engagements and share all the ways proposals can, and have, gone wrong.
Plus a game of Jack Off that pits Robin Williams’ character JACK against The Incredibles Jack Jack to see who would be a better son in real life.
Want the facts?
Fact: Rat Kings are real. When a group of rats living in close quarters get their tails tangled together (this can happen for many reasons), they’re called a “rat king.”
Fact: The Vent Haven Museum houses vintage ventriloquist dummies. In fact, this museum in Kentucky, houses over 900 ventriloquist dolls and other related pieces such as photographs and replicas.
Time stamps:
1:44 Hey Bestie: Proposals gone wrong
7:19 Fact 1: The Rat King reigns supreme
9:48 Game Jack Off: Robin Williams’ JACK vs Jack Jack from THE INCREDIBLES
14:49 The Vent Haven Museum and a spooky collection of ventriloquist dummies
45: We're Cats!
Monday Mini 2: We're the Driest Place on Earth
44: We're Hardworking Vowels! With Napping Through Happy Hour!
This week, Sarah and Maggie are joined by possible replacement besties, Marie & Kate from Napping Through Happy Hour!
A little bit about our guests: Marie & Kate are performers, friends, and hilarious. Their podcast Napping Through Happy Hour interviews interesting people about a variety of topics. We had the best time on their show, and were honored to have them stop by and chat with us! Could they nap through a baseball game? What would be their go-to cocktail? How do they feel about caterpillar eyebrows? Listen to find out!
Other unstable topics include: dreaming about not knowing the name of the movie YOU wrote, fighting with your friend in your sleep, and how some letters are picking up all the mental load. Specifically, vowels. Can we all agree vowels are the hardworking women of the alphabet?
And, did you know: the letter ‘J’ was the last letter to be added to the english alphabet. It dates back to 1524. Before it became a letter, the letter “i” was used for both “i” and “j” sounds!
all the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games. It is written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
43: We’re Watching The Bear!
If you’ve been listening since day one and the days of 5-minute JAMS, you will recognize a fact in this episode.
And, yet, Sarah and Maggie are still surprising each other! Here are the facts, but tune in for the reacts!
Fact: Scotland's national animal is the unicorn. In Celtic mythology, the fictional creature is connected with both chivalry and dominance as well as purity and innocence.
React: what fictional creature do you wish was real?
Fact: We already learned this fact over on our JAM minisodes, but in case you missed it… If you’ve ever felt like you think better in a warm shower, you’re probably right! The warm water increases the flow of dopamine and makes us more creative.
React: Have you ever repeated the same fact to someone?
Plus Sarah and Maggie put Destiny’s Child in Friend/Enemy Block Territory. If you would do anything but FRIEND Beyonce, you need to explain yourself.
AND, they talk about THE BEAR and the merits of watching tv shows with your spouse vs. watching them by yourself.
What do you think? Have you seen Harry Potter? Would you watch it all the way through without your spouse even if you started the series together?
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
If longer than 15-minute podcasts are too long for you, check out the Unstable Topics archive of minisodes over on JAM!
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
Monday Mini: We're Nunchin!
42: We're Caesar Salads!
Maggie confesses to not sending “thank you” notes in a timely fashion and Sarah forgives her… mostly.
Their fictional patreon Beatrice, on the other hand, might be getting a little irritated by her lack of mail.
Plus they spill facts like Romans spilled wine, like these two doozies:
Fact: Buckets have been around since the 6th century BC, carrying and holding liquids of all kinds. But it wasn't until the Romans needed an easy way to move their wine that handles were added to make the bucket more transportable.
React: Romans added handles to buckets to make moving wine easier... What's something that makes your life easier?
And…
Fact: Though popular in Italian restaurants, the Caesar salad was not created in Italy! It was first made in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1920s! The creator, Alex Cardini, served it at his brother Caesar's restaurant - hence the name of this delicious appetizer.
React: Caesar salads were invented in Mexico and are now a popular Italian restaurant appetizer. What's a meal from another culture you make so regularly your family would think you invented it?
getting
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
If longer than 15-minute podcasts are too long for you, check out the Unstable Topics archive of minisodes over on JAM!
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
41: We’re Leap Years! With Right Answers Mostly!
Happy Independence Day from this non-holiday themed episode!
Sarah and Maggie find the perfect replacement besties with the hosts of the very funny, fact-slinging, Bravo-loving podcast, Right Answers Mostly.
A little bit about Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo: These two besties are full of mostly correct information and are a wealth of Bravo knowledge. Their podcast RIGHT ANSWERS MOSTLY showcases their friendship in the most hilarious and wonderful way, while also teaching you all the things you wish you learned in history class. Their answers for our WOULD YOU RATHER questions were, in fact, mostly right.
But first! They discuss the merits of Leap Year, and also, why the heck don’t we just even out these days of the month, people?? (for real tho, why don’t we just have more months that are 30 days and make February more days? What’s the deal? DM us or comment below, please)
And also, we learn MIT Has Computers that can detect fake smiles These computers can tell between genuine smiles and frustrated smiles.
React: What do you want to make a robot do?
Something to think about… you probably don’t want robots to have arms, right??
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
If longer than 15-minute podcasts are too long for you, check out the Unstable Topics archive of minisodes over on JAM!
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
40: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat!
Sarah and Maggie learn sometimes the best lines, and characters, are improvised.
But first, a nightmare about having friends surprise you with an inground pool!
Then come the facts!
Fact: JAWS most iconic lines “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” was improvised. As screenwriter Carl Gottlieb told The Hollywood Reporter, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” had become a running joke on the film’s set, meant to signal small mishaps. “It became a catchphrase for any time anything went wrong –the line was ad-libbed at various times in the movie, and this is the one that made it into the final cut.
React: What’s your catchphrase?
And…
Fact: Barcode scanners read the white space between the black lines rather than the black lines themselves.
React: do you do self check out or old school
We also meet Ms. Patricia for the first time, talk about the fever dream of Arby’s oven mitt mascot, and avoid pronouncing Carl Gottlieb’s last name because it seems real tricky.
What do you think? Should splash pads be renamed “pee puddles?” Would you be sad if the most famous line from a movie you wrote was actually improvised? Do you remember the oven mitt mascot from Arby’s in the early 2000s??
Let us know!
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
If longer than 15-minute podcasts are too long for you, check out the Unstable Topics archive of minisodes over on JAM!
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
39: We're Taking Jack Lemmon to a Wedding!
Global warming is coming for Sarah and Maggie and summer activities are melting away. But that doesn’t stop them from recording a jam-packed episode about the Eiffel Tower, Betty Boop, and some entertaining Jacks from the past.
Wanna know the facts? You’re in luck! Check ‘em out below:
Fact: Thanks to the summer heat and thermal expansion, the Eiffel Tower can be 15 cm taller in the summer months!
React: the Eiffel Tower can grow in the summer. If you could be 15 cm taller or shorter, which would you pick?
Fact: In 1932, singer Helen Kane sued the production company responsible for “Betty Boop” saying the character ripped off her unique singing style. Unfortunately for Helen Kane, the lawsuit revealed she herself was the crook, and had ripped off the style from the Black child singer, Baby Esther.
React: Helen Kane is a big ol talent thief. What's a piece of someone else's personality you've stolen and claimed as your own?
Plus a Jack Off game pitting Jack Lemmon and Jack Benny against themselves to be chosen as the date for a boss’s daughter’s wedding.
Who are these Jacks? Glad you asked!
Jack Lemmon's career spanned over five decades, earning him two Academy Awards and numerous other accolades. With memorable roles in films like Some Like It Hot and The Apartment, Lemmon's ability to excel in both comedic and dramatic roles made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Jack Benny was a pioneer in the world of comedy. His career spanned radio, television, and film, making him one of the most recognizable entertainers of his time. Known for his impeccable comedic timing and self-deprecating humor, Benny's influence can still be felt in the work of modern comedians.
The question: if you were attending your boss’s daughter’s wedding, which Jack would you take as your plus one
What do you think? Would you rather be taller or shorter? Do you know how much 15 centimeters is? Do you know anything about Betty Boop? Which Jack would you choose?!
All the pop culture, historic, scientific, and all-around fascinating facts and games are written and produced by Sarah and Maggie, and every episode is edited and hosted with love. Do them a solid: follow and review this podcast to help them grow.
If longer than 15-minute podcasts are too long for you, check out the Unstable Topics archive of minisodes over on JAM!
Follow them on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube/Twitter
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopics@gmail.com!
xoxo, Sarah & Maggie
38: We’re Threatened Sea Cucumbers! With Jasmine Ellis!
Sarah and Maggie chat with guestie bestie Jasmine Ellis and decide she would def be in their top 8 on MySpace.
A little bit about our guestie bestie: Jasmine Ellis has Dallas roots, but can be seen touring across the country and now calls Los Angeles home. Her comedy special “Nobody’s Queen” is available on Amazon Prime, and was named one of the best end of year comedy specials of 2021 by NPR. Her comedy special “Trash Baby” is also available for streaming and you can deep dive into all her comedy and happenings by following her @ JasmineEllisComedy
Wanna know what else we learned? Well, you’re in luck!
Fact: Sea cucumbers shoot out their poisonous digestive organs when threatened.
React: What do you do when you feel threatened?
Plus postpartum hobbies like watercoloring, poetry, casually taking the LSAT, and starting a podcast.
What do you think? What hobbies did you pick up after having a baby? Have you listened to Jasmine Ellis’ comedy special and fallen in love yet? Do you try to avoid people by pretending to talk on the phone?
37: We’re An Expensive Wine!
Sarah and Maggie get into the zen headspace of someone who truly savors a banana, and possibly spends $500,000+ on a bottle of really old wine.
Specifically, the fact that: A bottle of 1945 Romanee-Conti sold at auction for $558,000 in 2018. Can you imagine spending that kind of money and never drinking the bottle of wine? Just keeping it in a tiny room off one of your wine cellars to entertain dinner party guests with? Sarah and Maggie cannot imagine this.
React: If money was no object, what's the dumbest purchase you would make? Besides a pool of money bc, duh
And, this lil fact: Blood comes in all different letters and symbols and combinations. A, B, O - positive, negative… but the rarest of all the blood types is AB negative.
React: What’s your blood type?
Whatever they learned about blood types, they know one thing is for sure: They’ve got the blood mosquitoes would pay $500,000 to drink. They also learned that they’re SO MUCH CLOSER to being psychically connected in this game of “What Word Am I Thinking”
Follow them on instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopicspod@gmail.com
For a mini version of this podcast, subscribe to JAM by texting UNSTABLE TOPICS to 552266
36: We’re Jack Harlow Fans!
Sarah 100% knows who Jack Harlow is, and definitely did not read off his Wikipedia page in this game of “You Don’t Know Jack.”
And, more facts like:
Fact: What do Miss Piggy and Yoda have in common? They were both voiced by the same person, puppeteer Frank Oz
React: If you were a puppet, who would you want to do your voice?
Fact: Psycho was the first movie to show a toilet flushing.
React: What was the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
Plus, mosquitos are the worst and they are COMING for us this summer. What works to keep them away? We got nothin’. What do you think? Do you know who Frank Oz is? Can you name all the Star Wars? Are you mad we spoiled PSYCHO? Let us know!
Follow them on instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopicspod@gmail.com
For a mini version of this podcast, subscribe to JAM by texting UNSTABLE TOPICS to 552266
35: We’re Charlie Chaplin Lookalikes! With Lillia Whittington!
Sarah and Maggie interview guestie bestie, seamstress and influencer Lillia Whittington and realize she is SEW cool.
About our guestie bestie: Lillia Whittington is a Denton based influencer who’s using her love of sewing to educate others about the magic of making your own clothing. Her looks have walked the red carpet at New York Fashion Week, and she is currently a TA at TWU in their fashion program while running a sewing school of her own.
What else did we learn?
FACT: Charlie Chaplin is a pretty recognizable fella with his little bowler hat and tiny toothbrush mustache. But could you pick him out in a crowd? Apparently it was harder than you’d think, as he one enrolled in a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest and came in 20th place.
REACT: What’s your most recognizable feature? Hint: Sarah loves a good dyson vacuum.
Plus, the perils of parenting pale children and the pros and cons of natural sunscreen. The mom guilt is real, but it doesn’t have to be! There are no good answers!
What do you think? Would you go to a grown-up sewing camp? Do you think you could pass for Charlie Chaplin?
Thanks for listening to our trivia comedy podcast about all things facts, friendship, pop culture, and more! Twice a week, your hosts Sarah Adams and Maggie Rieth Austin share serious facts and not so serious reacts with improvised games and conversation in between.
Follow them on instagram/Facebook/TikTok/YouTube
Email questions and reactions of your own to unstabletopicspod@gmail.com
For a mini version of this podcast, subscribe to JAM by texting UNSTABLE TOPICS to 552266