Here’s a mental experiment: think about “The Middle East”. What just popped into your head? It’s probably one or two kinds of places, tops. It might be a dangerous war zone, or a community that’s somehow hundreds of years behind modern life. And it definitely didn’t include skiers, on an indoor hill, in one of the world’s largest malls. 

No judgments here, friend: we all have misconceptions about the world. And some of your Middle Eastern mental picture may be accurate. But what if we told you there’s an entire world of big box stores, Lionel Richie fandom, and intricate cultural diversity out there just waiting for you to discover it?

On this week’s episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt joins Anna Hossnieh & Shereen Younes for a revealing trip through the modern Middle East. They’ll dig into how how two rival Muslim-majority nations manipulate the entire region, why there’s all kinds of Middle Eastern modernity the American media misses, how a World Cup bid caused an international blockade, and so much more.

Footnotes: https://goo.gl/ncTVkU

In one of the funniest GGACP shows to date, comedian, musician and voice actor Billy West returns to weigh in on a number of topics, including the legend of “Grandpa” Al Lewis, the genius of June Foray, the uselessness of “Curly Joe” DeRita and the magnificence of the Buddy Rich and Paul Anka rants. Also, Larry Fine plays Stanley Kowalski, Lou Jacobi inspires Dr. Zoidberg, Jay Leno messes with James Mason’s head and Jerry Lewis meets SpongeBob SquarePants. PLUS: El Brendel! The Mad Russian! The strange death of Ted Healy! The return of the Jackie Puppet! And Gilbert and Frank recall the long-lost Irwin Corey episode!

Paul F. Tompkins is excited that Spontaneanation is happening once again! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor Utkarsh Ambudkar of Game Over, Man! and Brockmire! Utkarsh chats about what he would name a star, being crushed after finding out how much his childhood toys were worth years later at a comic book store, and being fired from a Korean restaurant for eating the high-end food. Then, they are joined by improvisers Craig Cackowski, Colleen Smith, and Edgar Momplaisir, to improvise a story set in Joe’s Crab Shack. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

Amy Spalding (The Summer of Jordi Perez​ ​and the Best Burger​ ​in Los Angeles)​ joins Dave and Matt this week to talk about flirtation mode, binge-watching ER, and meeting people on LiveJournal. Plus, looking for someone chiller than you, the difference between looking for men vs women, and Dave reveals his feelings on game night! ​

This episode is sponsored by Joule: Sous Vide by ChefSteps (www.chefsteps.com/joule code: HOMOPHILIA).

Dealing with pesky mother in laws, examining Dd Harris’ evil plan, and we talk to someone who worked on the re-shoots of Geostorm on this week’s minisode! Paul goes through Corrections and Omissions for Geostorm, shares a must watch during Paul’s Pick of the Week, and the Movie Bitches review Fifty Shades Freed. Plus, important info on next week’s movie!

This episode is brought to you by The Wine Down Podcast and Barry on HBO.

Check out new HDTGM merch over at https://www.teepublic.com/user/howdidthisgetmade

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

You can see Jason, June, and Paul in The Disaster Artist.

Paul’s new comedy Drive Share is available on Go90. Paul can be seen on A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later, Opening Night, and Veep. You can see June and Paul on NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU. June stars in Blockers, Grace and Frankie on Netflix, as well as Lady Dynamite alongside with Jason.

Jason can be seen in The Good Place, The House, The Lego Batman Movie, How to Be Single, Sleeping with Other People, and is still indeed in The Dictator.

Jody Avirgan (FiveThirtyEight) and comedian Tony Deyo join Negin to chat about James Comey’s media blitz and Sean Hannity’s relationship with Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Plus, they delve into implicit bias and the baseless arrests of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks.

This week, Erin discusses Kentucky’s new law banning a safe and medically proven abortion procedure known as dilation and evacuation as well as Gov. Matt Bevin’s strange history in the bell business. Then, Bryan brings an update on the Columbus Pride Festival and how it revealed a diversity the small town didn’t know it had. Plus, superstars Trixie Mattel and Paul F. Tompkins return to talk the best drag names out there and to compete in a fiery accent-off, and blogger/author Orlando Soria stops by to share hot tips on how to hang drapes correctly and more from his new book Get It Together.

And make sure to check out Deeper Shade of Shade on Stitcher Premium, where Bryan and Erin interview their favorite friends of the show. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/shade and use promo code ‘SHADE’.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/SHADE code: SHADE) and Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/shade code: SHADE).

Jon Gabrus, John Gemberling, Gavin Speiller, and Brett Morris join Matt Besser for this year’s special 420 edition of improv4humans! They perform scenes about introducing your old circle jerk buddies to your wife, getting cold feet before a wedding because the groom isn’t funny, and an attempt to bust a baby-beef conspiracy. Plus, a couple must hide from their child in order to discuss their workdays, and a teen has a tough time getting his friends excited about the mystical land in his parents’ wardrobe.

This episode is sponsored by Audible (www.audible.com/IMPROV text IMPROV to 500-500).

Gather some friends because it’s time to party! Andy Daly & Matt Gourley bring you yet another interactive podcast pilot from dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker Danny Mahoney of Life of the Party Inc. Hang out with Danny & his party crew Donnie, Marianna and Fireplug as they have a cocktail party filled with music, games, and a cooking segment with celerity chef Rene Dupree. But it wouldn’t be a party without a good ol’ fashioned game of Name That Tune with some family. Luckily, Danny’s nephew Bert drops by with keyboardist Jimmy Blades just in time to join in on the festivities.

Featuring: Erinn Hayes, Jon Daly, Sarah Thyre, Bob Dassie, James Bladon

This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: ANDY).

Listen to Season 2 starting Thursday, March 8th on Stitcher Premium! For a free month trial, go to stitcherpremium.com/andy and use promo code ‘ANDY’.

Rhea talks Bethlehem, peeps and bathrooms. Sets from Sofiya Alexandra, Lindsay Adams, Brandie Posey and Julie Goldman (from the Dumb Gay Politics podcast).

This episode is brought to you by Tom Boy X (www.tomboyx.com/HANDSTOGETHER).

Casey and Danielle get their eyes and vaginas on Kyle Richards new black and white checked foyer (vaginas because they attempted to do the splits with her, naturally). Enjoy the first half of our interview with Kyle Richards. The second half can be found on Stitcher Premium along with 16 other bonus episodes.

Actor Jon Cryer chats with Blake Harris about first commercial acting job at 4 years old, replacing Matthew Broderick in the Broadway plays Torch Song Trilogy & in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, what lead him to play Lenny in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and the many other films he was in that he says could be discussed on HDTGM.

This episode is brought to you by A Higher Loyalty by James Comey (www.audible.com/BONKERS).

Camping out with Patton Oswalt.

It’s the Pistol Shrimps against the Lucille Ballers at Pan Pacific Park. Matt and Mark perform sportscasting duties.

The Shrimps on Twitter: @pistolshrimpsbb

The Shrimps on Instagram: @thepistolshrimps

Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @shrimpsradio

Pistol Shrimps Radio on Instagram: @pistolshrimpsradio

Dave Nadelberg, the creator of “The Mortified Guide” on Netflix, joins Jon & Lauren to talk about teen soaps from The Wonder Years to Freaks And Geeks. Together they answer questions from “Is Angela’s relationship with Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life realistic?” to “Why weren’t there more hand jobs on Beverly Hills 90210?” Plus a Very Special Episode of Home Improvement!

This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: TV), The Amazing Gayl Pile, So Delicious (www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/tvfrozen), Lola (www.mylola.com code: TV), and Tripping.com (www.tripping.com/TV).

Writer Jeff Weiss joins Andrew to talk about the right-wing takeover of LA Weekly and the #BoycottLAWeekly response, dropping missiles on Syria, Starbucks’ racial bias training, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

Actor and comedian Jon Daly joins Howard and Natasha this week for all the latest charts in pop culture! Jon talks about his Twitter feud with rapper Lil Xan while they count down Billboard 100’s Top 5. Plus, they touch on the wrestler-to-actor trend during the Movie Chart and we get a taste of Jon’s musical diss stylings while the gang counts down their Hot Picks.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/CHARTED code: CHARTED) and hims (www.forhims.com/CHARTEDED).

Director Lance Bangs joins Adam Scott Aukerman once again to really dig in to R.E.M.’s sixth studio album Green. They’ll talk about how the 1988 album’s release intentionally coincided with Election Day, the incorporation of the mandolin into R.E.M.’s sound, and which song has the most annoying video. Plus, they pick apart the layered vocals and share their fan club experiences.

This episode is sponsored by Leesa (www.leesa.com/REM).

Comedians Lorelei Ramirez (Adult Swim) & Carmen Christopher (The Chris Gethard Show) join Jo & Manolo to play listener-created games with callers. 

Games played: Annie Malman, That’s Private, and The Teens Aren’t Alright.

Choir teacher Dr. Gregory Cotton (Zeke Nicholson) brings his dulcet tones to this week’s Womp It Up! During “Hot Topix,” Dr. Cotton tells the story of getting married young and Marissa shares her ideal prom proposal. Then Dr. Cotton addresses the lack of respect in his class during “What’s Cheesing You?” and Marissa and Listler peel back the choir teacher’s layers during “Spotlight On.”

The boys Sean and Hayes need JOE WENGERT to help them do a contest to beat another show.

This episode is sponsored by Rehabs.com (888-893-3052).

James Bond is back! And so are Maria and Amanda from last week as we all discuss the underwater adventure that was Connery’s fourth 007 film. Will it fare better than last time? Press play to find out.

Driving 10-12 hours a day buying and selling machinery can lead to challenges like finding a good gym and getting sufficient protein while avoiding fast food. Gethard has a fun chat with two dudes on a long road trip about making major life changes, maintaining positivity after losing loved ones, and creatine farts.

This episode is brought to you by Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Thomas’ English Muffins, and Your Mechanic (www.yourmechanic.com/STORIES).

Kevin chats with the lovely and wildly (if not weirdly) talented Mary Lynn Rajskub, to talk all things funny, freaky, and life’s odd left turns.

Screenwriters and directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods join Jensen and Matty to talk about their latest film A Quiet Place, musician Madge, Overnight, A Way Out, how we were late on Vice on YouTube, and many more things you should know about.

Alison Rich (The Goldbergs, Party Over Here) joins Jess and Zach for an arctic musical filled with penguin eggs, fish gifting, narwhals and more! With songs like “Fishkabob”, “When In Doubt Float” and “Will I Be A Gewd Dahd?”, you’ll be tingling for more of these tunes.

This episode is sponsored by Leesa (www.leesa.com/OFFBOOK).

If you look back at old Westerns, you might see “Indians” portrayed like senseless alien villains. If you go back through O.G. ‘Twilight Zone’ episodes, you’ll find a lot more Christianity than today’s pop culture fans are used to. And if you watch ANYTHING from the 1940s that involves marijuana, get ready for hilariously over-the-top scaremongering about the lethal horrors of jazz cigarettes. Now consider this: all that past pop culture seems strange now because it drew on the most forceful beliefs of its time. So what the heck is going to happen when OUR grandkids watch, stream, and play through the biggest hit pop culture of 2018?

On this week’s episode of The Cracked Podcast, we’re predicting that exact thing. Alex Schmidt is joined by Jason Pargin (better known as David Wong) for a future’s-eye view of the movies, TV, video games and other fun we all love today. Discover the blind spots that lead modern America to root for secret police, demand the sloppiest possible leadership, live in eternal terror of somebody breeding plants better, and hold even more baffling beliefs beyond those.

Footnotes: https://goo.gl/s4BtvY