Best Wonks At Work Podcasts (2024)

1
School Days: Tamara Baker 15:17

20d ago15:17

15:17

Now more than ever, schools are seeking to provide students with a broad scope of wellness, prevention, and treatment so they can thrive inside and outside the classroom. Dozens of schools across Arkansas have adopted a model known as the school-based health center. These are staffed clinics on school grounds that provide medical and mental health …

1
MBMBaM 740: Ten Percent Kissy Face 54:28

9m ago54:28

54:28

Hold onto your Shakespeare books, we’re about the turn the whole gym industry on its head by telling people that there’s heavy stuff everywhere! We’re also disrupting the wine industry with unconventional fruits, and the chocolate industry with extra-joyful Santas. Suggested talking points: Powered By Mold, Public Service Emmy, Shook Like Wet Spagh…

1
MBMBaM 739: Face 2 Face: Munch Squad Works For Me Now 1:10:43

27m ago1:10:43

1:10:43

We got lost in Cleveland’s Masonic Temple, but thankfully we were found by a potato-touting Kyle MacLachlan, who guided us through winding corridors of ambiguously abandoned bookshelves and designer headstones, and gifted us a cabinet full of mugs with people’s faces on them. Suggested talking points: Deep Vein of West Virginia Dirtbag, Coin-Operat…

1
MBMBaM 738: My Unfinished Business is Mr. Holland's Opus 56:49

9m ago56:49

56:49

We're getting all Newton this week with how much wisdom we're dropping. We'll tell you what to do with the incredible amount of Wicked merch, how to make friends as an adult, and we debut our new fitness app where you just battle people IRL. Suggested talking points: You Didn't Have to Bisect My Wife, Is Cliff Bars Just Lembas Bread, Diameter of th…

1
MBMBaM 737: Face 2 Face: Amble Down to Dumpster Party 1:19:54

3d ago1:19:54

1:19:54

This week’s episode is live from Tyson’s Corner, where we won the first trophies of our entire lives and our dad wasn’t even there to see it . . . so please tell him what good boys we are. Please also invite him to the dumpster party, ask him to install an emotional support Squatty Potty, and plant some very tall vegetables, if he has the time. Sug…

1
The Side Effects of Legal Cannabis 41:38

8d ago41:38

41:38

Marijuana laws in the U.S. have changed rapidly over the past decade, with roughly half of states permitting adults to consume cannabis recreationally. Proponents say legalizing cannabis can reduce racial disparities in drug arrests, raise tax revenue and control cannabis purity. But the fast-growing retail market and availability of high-potency m…

1
MBMBaM 736: School You're Allowed to Drink At 58:17

10d ago58:17

58:17

It's November and you know what that means: time for some spooky Halloween Christmas creep! This episode is full to the brim with only slightly out of date seasonal content, and some of the best advice you could ask for, like how to tell if you might be a babadook, gameifying your trivia night, and how to deflect your bathroom whoopsies onto zoo an…

1
MBMBaM 735: Face 2 Face: Take Me to Monster World, Pregnant Sully 1:22:07

17d ago1:22:07

1:22:07

Early signs pointed to a cursed one, but Atlanta was anything but cursed last month. The Faulty JanSport inspector saved us from disaster, the curse of Riddle Me Piss was lifted from Travis, and a CPAP machine protected us from poisonous gas (or something, we're not really sure what a CPAP does). Other than Justin's piss-soaked costume, it was a re…

1
Answering Machine: Dr. Debbie Jones 20:12

1M ago20:12

20:12

Arkansas recently joined a growing number of states that support cell phone restrictions in schools, launching a $7 million pilot program to create “phone-free” schools as part of a broader effort to improve student mental health and curb screen addiction. While research on cell phone bans is mixed, some studies show associated improvements in stud…

1
MBMBaM 734: Twelve Volumes of Ichor 59:27

24d ago59:27

59:27

We got him, folks! We Gaga-got him! The clown is down! There's already an alarming amount of turkey vultures circling around, so you'll never see him again! Now we can make room for giant tubs of ranch dressing, tasty canopic jars, and uncomfortable discourse around the Mario family lore. Suggested talking points: Evil on My Mother's Side, 500 Foot…

1
MBMBaM 733: Congratulations on Your Powerful Trunk 58:08

1M ago58:08

58:08

This one is for the real nerds out there, and we mean MUSCLE NERDS! Show off those gams! Lift those Chipotle burritos and get swole! Make your eyes so strong you can see John Cena! Suggested talking points: Pentagram of Chipotles, Ask Me About My Tea Poster, Polar Pizza Before the Resurrection, Justin McElroy Bad News for Bots Native Women Lead: ht…

1
The Air That I Breathe: Dr. Matthew Steliga 31:29

2M ago31:29

31:29

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in Arkansas, claiming more lives each year than HIV, illicit drug use, alcohol, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. Tobacco use in the state has dropped significantly over the past decade, but Arkansas’s smoking rate still ranks among the highest in the U.S. Plus…

1
MBMBaM 732: Museum of Grandma Promises 57:12

1M ago57:12

57:12

Look, everyone is thinking it but we're finally gonna be the ones say it: saran wrap sucks. In this episode we bravely take on this and other topics, such as pulling a reverse Indiana Jones, supporting the frontline Ghostbusters, and the sanctity of collectible donut inflatables. Suggested Talking Points: Crossboner, Ebert Beast Mode, Claude Money,…

1
Turning Out the Vote 39:18

2M ago39:18

39:18

We are a month away from the U.S. presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Polls have consistently shown the candidates locked in a tight race, suggesting that voter turnout could be crucial in deciding the winner. Our guest today is Mindy Romero, director of the USC Price School’s Center for Inc…

1
MBMBaM 731: Face 2 Face: Good Face Holes 1:10:17

1M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Live from Rose City Comic Con in Portland, featuring only the best in lossless fart audio! We love this town, and we love all the questions about the value of valueless collectables, the fun of liquid nitrogen, and how to get electrocuted but in a cool way. Suggested talking points: A Picture of Betty Cooper we Didn’t Know We Wanted Until Now, Penn…

1
We Can Do Better: Dr. Whit Hall 27:46

2M ago27:46

27:46

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., and the number of gun-related fatalities has continued to climb for the past decade. Following the September school shooting in Winder, Ga., that left two students and two teachers dead, the question of how to stem the tide has risen again. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcas…

1
Safe Passage: Craig Wilson 18:14

2M ago18:14

18:14

Data is great to have, but to work toward solutions to the challenges we face, it’s essential that we turn that data into understandable and actionable information. ACHI has been working with the Arkansas State Police on a deep dive into vehicular crash data to support strategic planning efforts for traffic safety. In this episode of the Wonks at W…

1
MBMBaM 730: Reverse Liar Liar 59:49

2M ago59:49

59:49

If you've ever wondered what compliment to give your favorite piece of art (or podcast) we have some suggestions for you in this episode. Although the best praise of all would be eating part of the podcast so that it will always be part of you. Suggested talking points: Everyone's Always Swapping Blood Out, A Terrifying Amount of Sperm, Jackson Pol…

1
MBMBaM 729: Put a Slim Jim in My Coin Hole 56:37

2M ago56:37

56:37

Are you ready to take a deep dive into the Dunkin-verse? We sure aren’t! We’re too busy buying honey directly from bees, collecting other people’s crunchy leaves, and holding our breath while someone else tries to describe boba. Suggested talking points: Eating Goku, Whiffin Griffin, Theftbot, Soft Oven-Baked Nilla Wafers, A Normal Amount of Dead B…

1
MBMBaM 728: Hold-You-Down Christian Rock 'n' Roll Daddy 55:19

2M ago55:19

55:19

As ground-level investors in a certain streaming platform, we think we should have some say in their hot dog based content. It’s a topic we’re well-versed in, along with comedy routines based around donuts and murder, dentists’ music choices, and the Gary Sinise multiverse. Suggested talking points: We're Dudes Who Wipe, Chestnut Labs, Beloved Cup-…

1
On the Road Again: John Landosky 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

Arkansas has the fourth-highest roadway fatality rate of all the states. Fortunately, policymakers have begun to respond. In May, the Little Rock City Board voted to adopt the Central Arkansas Regional Safety Action Plan, part of which is to seek federal funding to address safety concerns by improving lighting, signals, and other roadway infrastruc…

1
Are Film Tax Breaks a Bad Hollywood Ending? 14:48

3M ago14:48

14:48

In this episode, the PricePod goes to Hollywood. Since the turn of the century, dozens of states have collectively given billions of dollars in tax breaks for an unusual purpose: to subsidize the development of movies and TV shows. Local governments across the country offer tax breaks to attract film productions, which proponents say stimulate the …

1
MBMBaM 727: A Great Day for Brotherhood 59:16

2M ago59:16

59:16

Welcome to our adult blanket sleeper-themed slumber party! The Gallagher brothers are here, but who knows how long that’ll last. You can grab a soup fork next to the Capri-Sun sous vide, and don’t forget to horf a handful of non-challenging M&M’s, we’ve got buckets of ’em. Lights out at 11:30! Suggested talking points: Liam Gallagher’s Tweets, 15 Y…

1
History Lesson: Dr. Sam Taggart 25:57

3M ago25:57

25:57

Arkansas’s rural communities face many challenges. Communities are shrinking due to out-migration, rural hospitals are under financial strain, and the state’s rural residents are, on average, older, poorer, and less healthy than their urban counterparts. Primary care physicians are also far less plentiful in rural areas, making the role of the fami…

1
MBMBaM 726: Hot Dog Think Appointment 1:00:47

3M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Thank you for listening to this podcast in the way that it was meant to be consumed. We put so much effort into making these dogs look picture-perfect, gluing puzzles together, and figuring out Count Donut’s lore that it’s truly only experienced in this exact correct way to listen to podcasts. Suggested talking points: Every Island Gets You Old, It…

1
MBMBaM 725: Fevers Named After Colors 57:54

3M ago57:54

57:54

How are we going to get Fortnite Senpai to notice us so we can have a themed energy drink or whatever? We could try drinking water from a huge bottle while staring directly into their eyes. Or maybe making suggestive jokes about pie? If all else fails, we’ll just fake our deaths in a really convincing but also ha-ha fun prank kind of way. Suggested…

1
The Kids Aren’t Alright: Dr. Tiffany Howell 12:35

4M ago12:35

12:35

There is growing concern about the role social media plays in the mental health and development of young people. Arkansas’s governor, multiple other states, Congress, and the courts are all delving into this issue. The U.S. surgeon general has even called for warning labels on social media platforms. As those efforts move forward, it falls upon par…

1
MBMBaM 724: This Mouth Sound is Gonna Change Your Life 56:25

3M ago56:25

56:25

We know we’ve missed the appropriate window for Sports Chat, but know that if we did it would’ve been funny and tasteful. Kind of like this duckie cup we took from some old guy. Now we’re ready to confront the captain of the improv team and figure out who Susan Korn really is. Suggested Talking Points: A Relationship Stronger Than Marriage, The Opp…

1
Can Public Policy Make People Happy? 16:53

4M ago16:53

16:53

Are you feeling happy today? California lawmakers want to know. A newly formed legislative committee is taking on an unusual public policy challenge: They want to make California residents happier. Our guest today, Mark Baldassare, recently testified before the committee and shared his insights into how Californians are feeling. Baldassare, who is …

1
MBMBaM 723: Face 2 Face: Cuck Cuck Goose 1:11:58

3M ago1:11:58

1:11:58

Live from Detroit it’s our Best Show Ever™! We have emerged bringing with us a live Munch Squad of the world’s coldest wet sandwich, tips on how to sell your Pokemon cards to your doctor, and a completely accidental number of questions about animals. We've learned our lesson about themed live shows, we promise. Suggested talking points: Bird Perver…

1
Sweetest Devotion: Tyler Faircloth 11:31

4M ago11:31

11:31

There are numerous risks along the birthing journey that contribute to poor outcomes for Arkansas moms and babies. One effective practice for promoting healthy outcomes for babies is breastfeeding, which supports their immune systems and cognitive development. Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not an option for some mothers. To learn more about a new…

1
MBMBaM 722: Are You Public Speaking? 1:07:38

4M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

It’s us, your podcast heroes, lurking just around the corner from your cool bumper stickers, ready to make your day by doing our little tricks! We can come up with great Rizz Lines! We can discover the origins of your special mug! We can even decant Redbull. Suggested talking points: You Got Mentos Money, Hot Dog Arms Race, Sisterhood of the Travel…

1
MBMBaM 721: Face 2 Face: Cotton Candy Cenneth 1:02:54

4M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Live from The Factory in St. Louis comes the breaking news that TravNation has annexed the Arch and turned it into a Stargate! Join us as we learn about nasty cotton candy, boats for non-boat people, and some truly touchy dolls. Suggested talking points: Nude and Wet McElroy, Suffer Together, Drug Dealer in a Musical Written By Someone Who Has Neve…

1
The Heat Is On: Todd Yakoubian 16:53

5M ago16:53

16:53

Hundreds of cities in nearly every U.S. state are on track for one of their 10 warmest summers on record. Besides posing immediate risk for illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, extreme heat can create cumulative stress on the human body over prolonged periods. Heat can also impact us in less obvious ways, such as worsening health risk…

1
MBMBaM 720: Mariana Trench Warfare 54:35

4M ago54:35

54:35

Let us re-introduce ourselves and tell you a story about an episode of My Brother, My Brother, and Me. In that episode, we give some extremely funny and helpful advice about graduating Pokemon, Ron Funches hosting Shark Week, and over-decorated offices. But that's a different episode; this episode is about that episode. It's a banger. Suggested tal…

1
MBMBaM 719: Neon Grimacis Evangelion 57:05

4M ago57:05

57:05

Yes, Host! We're busy serving up some sizzling hot plates of wisdom about mystery tin cans, the most special sauce, and big big water bottles. We're gonna earn that podcast Michelin Star! Or maybe Firestone star. Suggested talking points: No Grapes to Spare, Flavings, Firestone Tires and Tirestone Fires, Food is the Gas of Me, Big Bottle Bob, Looki…

1
A Historian's View on Our Dysfunctional Congress 41:33

5M ago41:33

41:33

When it comes to politics, Americans don’t agree on much these days, but they do agree that they don’t like Congress. Just 16% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a June Gallup poll, continuing a trend of low approval ratings for the legislative body. That may be for good reason. From repeated battles for the House speak…

1
MBMBaM 718: Shaq-cuse! 59:04

5M ago59:04

59:04

Our comedy glands are fired up and ready to juice! We're positively gooshing with bits about very personal underpants, mysterious Dunkin tie-ins, and Shaqsketball. Suggested talking points: Get Me Pictures of the Human Torch, Chris of Choice, Skippos, Shaqsident Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/…

1
MBMBaM 717: Face 2 Face: Spectral Gentleman Caller James Griffin 1:32:49

5M ago1:32:49

1:32:49

Tacoma is more haunted than you think, especially live from the thoroughly haunted Pantages Theater. But that didn’t stop us from discussion of important donut etiquette, ghostly gentleman callers, and startling parrots. Suggested talking points: Co-Dependent Ghosts, Factory Reset Justin, Oh Boy Here We Go, It’s Funny Because You Can’t Buy A Dream …

1
MBMBaM 716: Fresh Cold Not Dogs 59:52

5M ago59:52

59:52

You probably thought we'd do an entire episode about a Human Hotdog Vortex and the state of hot dog eating contests. But rest assured, we managed to move on with enough time to sling advice about excelling at 18-hour backflips, almost completing puzzles, and lip-syncing novelty songs. Suggested talking points: Omni-Directional Hot Dog Claws, If You…

1
MBMBaM 715: What if it IS Piss Man? 59:11

5M ago59:11

59:11

It really is just a coincidence that there's so much foot content in this episode. There's other stuff, too, like scary light-night food haunts, mysterious nicknames, and hot legs. But there's also AI-generated feet pics. Suggested talking points: Pedal-Powered Bidets, White Noise and Wet Air, For a Good Foot, Kids Stay Close, This is the Night Cas…

1
We Take Care of Our Own: Errin Stanger 29:37

6M ago29:37

29:37

Maintaining one's health is challenging for those whose basic needs such as housing and food are unmet. A new effort in Central Arkansas, Providence Park, seeks to address the needs of people who are chronically unhoused, offering permanent housing and wrap-around services including healthcare for those in need. Host Craig Wilson talks to Providenc…

1
Season 1 Recap 6:02

6M ago6:02

6:02

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning into the podcast this year. We’re taking a short break this summer to record new conversations that explore the impact of public policy with USC Price School faculty. In the meantime, here are some highlights from our first season, where our guests offered evidence-based insights that paint a more nuance…

1
MBMBaM 714: Snoopy’s Boy Chuck 1:02:52

6M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Kool, or not? Yes! We’re getting ready to graduate and say hello to summer, and that means its time for blockbuster films that no one has seen, animals in unexpected places, and popcorn pizza. LYLAS! Suggested talking points: The Saga of Me and Zeebro, Porcupine Containers at Best, Tippecanoe and Tanner Too, Freshly Applied Popcorn, Chat Grandpa Da…

1
MBMBaM 713: Speed Force Bear 1:01:50

6M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

We’ve got some tall tales and groundbreaking new games this week, so grab a Toaster Strudel from your freezer full of Toaster Strudel, sling your skateboard over your shoulder, and embrace your inner Beta, because we gotta make sure that all the spiders are dead before check-in. Suggested talking points: My Brother, My Bear, and Me, Zoop My Greeble…

1
Now's the Time: Dr. Maria Rodriguez-Alcala 14:11

7M ago14:11

14:11

Maternal health has finally risen to the forefront of policy conversations in Arkansas, driven by the startling statistic that our state has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. Improving maternal health outcomes should be reason enough for policymakers to invest in positive change, but sometimes it helps to outline the economic benef…

1
MBMBaM 712: Face 2 Face: Pay the Mustard Forward 1:18:43

7M ago1:18:43

1:18:43

We’re bringing US Wet to the beautiful Vogue Theater of Vancouver, BC. It turns out we share a lot with our neighbors to the north, like a love of Shrek impressions, knowing the best places for kissing, and for a limited time, the Grimace Shake. Suggested talking points: Secret Fourth Brother Rennis, Goopastank, The Fourth Dimension is Food, Condim…

1
MBMBaM 711: Notice Me, Jerry Senpai 59:09

7M ago59:09

59:09

Sounds like the woke left is once again out here ruining comedy, and we’re part of the problem! We just don’t care about sitcoms like Ever-Sheldon, or Ur-Sheldon, or even Un-Sheldon. We’re too busy helping our friends reclaim their scent-based cults and getting into surprisingly heated debates about what makes the perfect walking stick. Suggested t…

1
MBMBaM 710: Colin from Secret Garden Energy 54:46

7M ago54:46

54:46

Today's episode is all about pet care! Whether your pet is a water-happy scorpion or a Sonic the Hedgehog skateboard, we'll teach your animal companion how to jump-rope correctly, get into a fight, and steal from their employer using arcade tickets. Suggested talking points: Chewable Matrix Pill, Plausible Ticket Deniability, Dougie and Stinky Whee…

1
A Professor’s Quest to Save Her Son 31:17

7M ago31:17

31:17

Four years ago, Elizabeth Currid-Halkett received some of the worst news imaginable: her son, Eliot, was diagnosed with a fatal neuromuscular disease. In her quest to save her son, she learned of a gene therapy that ultimately helped Eliot, but she ran into roadblocks that made it difficult to access this life changing treatment. Her story, recentl…

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