The gang talks about how insulting the word “skits” is and then Tig, who’s been frugal with the stories lately, let’s us in on a big one concerning her and her mammal friend (girlfriend). Then Eric Kane, a Scientist and avid PB listener, calls in and explains viruses and their myriad mysteries. They discuss if viruses can have anything resembling a soul, how closely does human behavior parallel virus behavior, and if their is such a thing as a good news virus. Plus they play a furiously fun game of Name That Punky! This episode will get inside you and leave a signature on your dna!!!

Welcome back to the hatch blastronauts! Kyle tells an odyssean story of trying to get a video game while high and then it’s the return of Punky Brewster with a few stirring rounds of “Name That Punky”. Then they discuss character with guest Al Madrigal. Al talks about his past career in human resources and how the experience of firing people affected his perception of people and honesty. Character’s tough to pin down but they figure it out with probing questions including; how does one define it, what indicators can reveal it, and is it possible to pee on your friend’s couch and still retain it? Then notorious good person, Donald Trump, calls in and clarifies what real character is.

Kyle talks about finally meeting Daniel Radcliffe (!!!), Tig talks about a recent romantic road trip, and David talks about his tired mammal partner on today’s Professor Blastoff! Then the crew dives into numbers with the help of listener Abe Kunin. He teaches math at the junior high level and comes from a long line of math professors but he’s never dealt with a class like this. They talk about the misleading use of statistics and how numbers can lie in sports, politics, and education. Also discussed is whether you can count your total number of farts in a year. No stone goes unturned on Professor Blastoff!

Welcome back to the hatch Blasternauts! Today the gang talks about the documentary that’s being made about Tig and they follow that with some serious “she who” riffing. Then the delightful Baron Vaughn comes to the studio and talks about what it means to be polyamorous. It gets provocative. Is it possible to love more than one person? How do you keep from getting jealous? And how do you explain it to the your potential partner? It’s tough to convince people either way but it makes for fascinating conversation. Tune in!

For the first time in 2013 the Blastoff crew is back in the hatch! Kyle and Tig describe their torrid love affair in New York, and then they discuss motherhood, diarrhea, and Seinfeld impressions. They then welcome fan and friend Daniel Alberto to the show. He discusses his life in high school and how he navigates those mercurial waters. It’s a funny and poignant talk about the perils and joys of youth. Don’t miss it Blastronauts.

Recorded live in San Francisco it’s Star Wars nirvana on today’s Professor Blastoff! The hosts start by discussing their tour of Skywalker Ranch which included pizza, cake, and an epic shirtless hill climbing competition. Star Wars expert Pablo Hidalgo then joins the gang and answers all their deepest questions about Star Wars including; R2D2’S gender, the nature of the force, and whether Han shot first!!!!! It ends with Pablo revealing intriguing details about the great film series during a game of “What’s Nuts?”!

Live from Vancouver comes this week’s Professor Blastoff! Tig does a Q and A with the audience and we learn how many Blasternauts are using Tig’s potato recipe and what the best episode of all time is. Kyle and Tig wrestle to control a mutual story about Santa followed by an explanation of what a “Sunggle man” is. They then investigate hope and how it permeates every facet of our lives. They take turns in the hope chair revealing their deepest and most whimsical desires. Aaron makes Tig’s come true by giving her a dynamite shoulder massage and then audience members are allowed to come up and take their own journey in the hope chair!

Recorded live at the San Francisco Sketchfest it’s a rambunctious conversation between the hosts and their Blastronauts on today’s Professor Blastoff! The conversation is free flowing and probing; Tig and Kyle reveal the nature of their relationship, Kyle reveals his skinny calfs, and they all do a good round of fake laughing. The final word is also given on proper parenting, the evil in candy consumerism, and pterodactyls. How much deeper can the audience probe? Tune in and find out.

Kyle calls in from New York where he’s working and also trying to sell the bunk beds he shares with Tig. They talk to Tig about her experiences at Sundance, working on Lake Bell’s feature film, and some great compliments she got from the Salt Lake City press. They also tackle the unknowable by trying to figure out what Mel Gibson is screaming in Braveheart. That segues into a conversation about the nature of freedom and whether you need to be pushed to your human limits to truly experience it.

The very popular history specialist Sascha Cohen returns to the program to discuss what lead to the Great Depression, World War II, and nostalgia for the 1950’s. We also talk about the Vietnam War, how television changed the outlook on war, and Sascha’s love of the 80‘s. Plus, Kyle tells us a story about texting with his niece and Del LaRue makes an appearance!

Sit down and make yourself comfortable for a very sensual episode of Professor Blastoff. We invite our expert Sascha Cohen back to the hatch as we discuss gay culture. Sascha describes how she identifies as being a Homoromantic bisexual, we talk about why there is so much bullying toward gay people, and Tig & Sascha have a couple things to clear up. Enjoy it with that special someone.

Do you believe in conspiracy theories? The one and only Janeane Garofalo joins Tig, Kyle, David, and Aaron to discuss the moon landing, why she disconnected from the internet in 2004, the theories surrounding 9/11, the Flat Earth Society, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Janeane also shares how Paula Poundstone inspired her, being grateful for the spade of luck & opportunity she has had in her career, and the many tangents of the lovable Dave Hill. Don’t sleep on this episode Blastronauts!

Kyle dials in from New York once more to discuss New Year’s Resolutions. Tig, David, Kyle, and Aaron take us through their ways of making resolutions & keeping them, they tell us whether or not they have mentors, and explain why it’s better to just start doing. Welp, that’s been 2012.

It’s a special podcast mashup this Christmas when the venerable Ira Glass joins Tig, David and Kyle on the Bell House stage in NYC. Tig and Ira discuss their questionable “fun things to do for free” in any city, including insulting unsuspecting strangers on the street and purposely misinforming partygoers. Armed with disturbing clips from This American Life, Ira tests the gang’s gag reflexes and improvises a few characters before debating the merits of forced political and religious conversions. Break out your magic Mormon underwear and cool beer for this unforgettable holiday episode.

We’re back in the hatch for a chat about Mayans. Tig, David, Kyle (via internet magic), and Aaron share their thoughts on the predictions of the end of the world, describe the Mayan calendar (with the power of Wikipedia), and swap stories of exploring the wilderness in their youth. Plus, Kyle plays us a Christmas song he’s been working on and Tig tells us about her past infatuation of hieroglyphics!