"Is this a sitcom?!?" - Celebrating 100 episodes of Says Who

[amatyultare]

One of my favorite podcasts, Says Who, will be releasing its 100th episode this week! In celebration, I went back and listened to all of their old episodes* again and picked out my favorites.

(*starting on episode 9 - listening to the first eight episodes, which were recorded before Election Day 2016, is more than I can bear tbh)

Originally this list was going to be just a top 5 or top 10. But I couldn't just choose a few! So instead, I broke out my favorites into a few categories. My hope is that I might help you find a good place to start, if you're interested but find 100+ episodes intimidating.

Okay, but what is Says Who, exactly? Well, their logline is "the podcast that isn't a podcast - it's a coping strategy". I would describe it as a weekly decompression conversation with your two goofiest but brilliant friends. Their official description from their Patreon is:

Says Who is a podcast created by Chicago media man-about-town Dan Sinker and Maureen Johnson, a New York Times bestselling author* who lives in New York City. In 2016, in the final eight weeks of the Presidential campaign, Dan and Maureen made a podcast in order to cope with the deluge of news. They interviewed journalists like Chris Hayes, Ana Marie Cox, Olivia Nuzzi, Molly Ball, Josh Katz, Farai Chideya, Jamelle Bouie, and Brian Stetler...all of whom were covering the campaign. They asked each one: do YOU know what is happening? Generally, they did not.

The podcast was supposed to end on Election Night 2016, but if you pay attention to current events, you will know that things did not go as planned. So Dan and Maureen, dazed and confused, kept going--two lost and confused souls with microphones, still asking, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON." Each week, they sit down and process the news so you don't have to. So if you are deep in Trump country and need a friend...if your work doesn't encourage screaming and crying at your desk...or if you just want to see what happens to two people exposed to high levels of news for a prolonged period...THIS IS THE PODCAST FOR YOU!

My Personal Favorites

Episode 69: THE ONE WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENS with Hayes Brown - December 12, 2018
(This episode contains both one of my all-time favorite Says Who-sterpiece Theatre performances and a truly hilarious Brexit update)

Episode 78: OMELETTE YOU FINISH - February 20, 2019
(Honestly, this and episode 69 are tied for my favorites. A masterpiece of a deep dive.)

Episode 58: FALCON, RABBIT, SHARK - September 5, 2018

Episode 84: JUST STICK IT IN THERE, CHAD - April 10, 2019

Episode 48: TAINT GOOD - April 18, 2018

Inside Jokes
Want to know how some of Says Who's long-running inside jokes started? Here are a few key episodes.

Episode 16: A WEDGE SALAD IS NOT A SALAD - February 15, 2017
(Salads are a big thing in SaysWhovia. Plus, this episode was the genesis of official mascot: Wedgie the Wedge Salad)

Episode 20: THE MEATLOAF FILES with Helen Rosner - May 3, 2017
(This is the first mention of the faux Blue April "sponsorship" which becomes a HUGE inside joke.)

Episode 45: GET THEE TO SAM NUNBERGERY - March 7, 2018
(The very first Says Who-sterpiece Theatre)

Episode 71: HERE WE GO! - January 2, 2019
(The first mention of Amy Carter's Shoe, an inside joke that cannot be described, only experienced)

Episode 73: HAMBERDERS - January 16, 2019
(The first drive-through opening)

Episodes That Help You Cope (Sometimes By Listening to Maureen and Dan Process and Cope Themselves)

Episode 9: THE DARKEST TIMELINE - November 10, 2016
(Please note the date of this episode and take care of yourselves accordingly)

Episode 14: INAUGURATION BATTLE STATIONS - January 18, 2017
(Maureen and Dan asked listeners to send in their plans for what they'd be doing during the inauguration, and it's heartening to listen to)

Episode 27: SPICEY AND THE MOOCH with Jonny Sun - July 26, 2017

Episode 53: THE DAY OF THE JACKET - June 27, 2018
(Remember Melania's jacket? You remember. Listen to Maureen and Dan struggle to find some answers and resources to cope when confronted with just how asshole-ish the folks in charge are)

Episode 66: NO PIE FOR YOU, CHAD with Kat Kinsman - November 21, 2018
(Some legit great strategies in this one- also Kat Kinsman has an incredibly soothing voice)


Guests Who Actually Help You Figure Out What the F*** Is Going On

Episode 23: NATIONAL LAMPOON'S PRESIDENTIAL VACATION with Jeff Larson, Surya Mattu, and Julia Angwin - May 31, 2017
(Remember that article way back in 2017 about how reporters could hack into Mar-A-Lago incredibly easily? That's these folks, and the interview is DELIGHTFUL)

Episode 43: IN MEMO-RIAM with Spencer Ackerman - February 7, 2018
("No gods, no idols" - I think Spencer brings a philosophy that informed Says Who in general going forward)

Episode 83: POD SAVE THE QUEEN with Hayes Brown - April 3, 2019
(All Brexit episodes are great, and Hayes Brown is one of my all-time favorites of their guests)

Distractions From Politics
Want to dive into Trump minutia, like what they eat or what their social media posts might mean? Or diverge completely into distraction? Don't worry, Dan and Maureen have you covered.

Episode 24: THE SAYS WHO DISNEY SPECTACULAR with Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi - June 13, 2017
(Learn a WHOLE LOT about Disney)

Episode 36: THE KETCHUP CONNECTION with Helen Rosner - November 15, 2017
(Trump food! Helen is another of my favorite guests)

Episode 44: A CASE OF THE WHOOPSIES IN THE PANTSIES with Ashley Feinberg - February 21, 2018
(Trump family social media analysis, from the master)

Episode 68: BARRON TRUMP, BOY DETECTIVE with Sarah Weinman- December 5, 2018
(Basically the political moment re-imagined as a classic murder mystery)

Episode 86: FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE with Akilah Hughes - April 24, 2019
(Akilah is always great, but it's especially great to hear about her time working as a Disney princess!)