The Jocular Pugilists
Two clueless individuals, who completely understand how misinformed they are‚ the Jocular Pugilists fearlessly explore their combined incompetence while seeking the truth behind the world's mysteries and its complicated occupants. With thirty-seven years of friendship, one global pandemic, three thousand miles between them, and countless ridiculous opinions—what could go wrong? They are the Jocular Pugilists.
Episodes
221 episodes
Groundhog Day, Déjà Vu, and the Science of Feeling Stuck
Why does Groundhog Day feel so unsettlingly familiar? Is déjà vu a glitch in the brain… or something more? And why do so many of us feel like life itself is stuck on repeat?In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists...
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Season 10
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Episode 22
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45:10
Calm in the Storm: Stay Unshakeable in an Over-Triggered World
Why do tiny annoyances feel like personal attacks? Why does your brain hijack reason the moment stress hits? And how do the calmest people in the room always seem to win?In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, ...
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Season 10
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Episode 21
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39:33
What Motivates You: From Purpose to Passion
In this episode, Phil and Tomas move from their usual lighthearted banter into a thoughtful discussion about New Year’s goals and the motivations behind them. They explore intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the challenge of balance, and how ch...
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Season 10
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Episode 20
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30:50
Immortality, Robot Surgeons, and Cork Jokes: Do We Really Want to Live Forever?
What happens when science starts reversing aging? Harvard geneticist David Sinclair says human cells can be de-aged. AI and robotics are accelerating medical breakthroughs. And suddenly, living to 120… or far beyond doesn...
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Season 10
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Episode 20
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35:12
The Empire Rarely Strikes Back: the Problem with Sequels
Most movie sequels are disappointing. Some are unnecessary. A few actively damage the original. So why do studios keep making them — and why do we keep watching?In this episode, Tomas and Phil dig into the strange math of sequ...
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Season 10
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Episode 19
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49:50
The Tipping Point: When Gratitude Became a Surcharge
Tipping used to be about service. Now it’s everywhere. Tomas and Phil break down how gratuity lost its meaning, why digital prompts make it worse, and how a once-elite custom became mandatory for everyone—whether you can afford it or not.
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Season 10
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Episode 18
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32:20
What Christmas Is Really About (and a Few Other Thoughts)
On Christmas Day, we’re revisiting our very first Christmas episode.Recorded years ago but still very much in the spirit of the season, this re-release finds Tomas and Phil talking through the origins of Christmas traditions, ...
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Season 10
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Episode 17
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32:44
Lights, Camera, Santa Claus: A Very Hollywood Christmas
Snow-covered small towns. Perfect families. Big emotions. Even bigger soundtracks.Somewhere along the way, Hollywood didn’t just depict Christmas — it defined it.In this episode, we unpack how film and t...
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Season 10
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Episode 16
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40:24
Have Yourself a Merry Little Stress-mas
The holidays crank up anxiety with packed schedules, family pressure, and wallet-draining shopping. Join the two wise Pugilists as they break down why this season stresses us out—and how to keep your sanity jingling all the way.
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Season 10
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Episode 15
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41:43
The Strange History Behind Common Superstitions
Why do we knock on wood, fear Friday the 13th, panic over broken mirrors, or side-eye a perfectly innocent black cat?In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, we unpack the strange, unhinged, and surprisingly logical history be...
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Season 10
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Episode 14
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36:59
From Powdered Wigs to Fidget Spinners: Four Centuries of Fads
Step into a time machine of trends! In this episode, we journey from the 17th century to today, exploring the wildest fads that captured people’s imaginations. From powdered wigs and hoop skirts to tulip mania, fidget spinners, and Crocs, we di...
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Season 10
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Episode 13
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44:50
The Weird Origins of Everyday Sayings
Ever wonder where our strangest idioms come from? In this hilarious episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas dive headfirst into the bizarre, dark, and downright ridiculous origins of everyday sayings — from “buttering someone ...
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Season 10
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Episode 12
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28:53
Casa Bonita: The Return of America’s Most Joyful Restaurant
Tomas and family travel to Denver to experience the legendary Casa Bonita — the cliff divers, the caves, the sopapillas, and the 1970s magic brought back to life by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. It’s part nostalgia trip, part ...
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Season 10
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Episode 11
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38:08
Vows, Vibes & Technical Difficulties: The Double Wedding Debacle (and a Puppy!)
Why have one wedding when you can stress through two? In this hilariously heartfelt episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil shares how he married the same woman twice—once in LA, once in New York—and somehow survived both. From u...
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Season 10
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Episode 10
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43:13
So You Wanna Be a YouTuber? Here's How You Do It.
Launching a YouTube channel sounds easy—until you’re crying over thumbnails, arguing about whether to wear pants on camera, and realizing your first video makes you look like a haunted potato. In this wildly funny and surprisingly useful episod...
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Season 10
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Episode 9
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28:59
The Science of Sweater Weather: Monsters, Mindfulness, and Maple Leaves
The leaves are falling, the air smells like cinnamon and bonfires, and somewhere in the Hudson Valley, Cookie Monster is leaf-peeping with a pumpkin donut in each hand. The Pugilists dive headfirst into the season — raking up thoughts on Yo...
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Season 10
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Episode 8
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35:48
Is Customer Service Completely Outdated?
Thank you for calling the Jocular Pugilists. This call may be monitored for quality assurance. Press 1 for English. 2 for Spanish. 3 for Chinese. 4 for Japanese 5 for Pawnee. 6 for Sarsi or hit # to bypass the other 7,100 languages sti...
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Season 10
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Episode 7
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36:10
The Problem With Pride
Pride. It’s been called the deadliest of the seven sins — the root of all others. But in today’s world, we’re told to be proud: of who we are, what we’ve achieved, where we come from. So which is it? A virtue… or a vice?In thi...
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Season 10
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Episode 6
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27:48
S*** Outta Luck!
Ever blamed your team’s loss on the position of your butt on the couch? Or thought a rabbit’s severed foot had your back? In this hilariously unscientific deep dive, The Jocular Pugilists explore the bizarre human obsession with luck—a...
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Season 10
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Episode 5
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32:51
Exit Stage Left (when is it time to hang it up?)
From aging rockstars and fading quarterbacks to retired Frankensteins and high-kicking De Niros, Phil and Tomas tackle the ultimate question: When is it time to call it quits? In this laugh-out-loud episode, the Jocular Pugilists riff ...
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Season 10
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Episode 4
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48:28
The Biggest Discovery of Our Lifetime? How AI and Science Could Reverse Aging
What if the key to a longer, healthier life has already been discovered—and no one’s talking about it? In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, Phil and Tomas dive into a groundbreaking scientific breakthrough: reprogramming human cel...
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Season 10
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Episode 3
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42:48
The Final Pour: Prohibition to Perfection
The final chapter in our cocktail odyssey takes us from the shadows of Prohibition to the gleam of modern mixology. The Pugilists trace the evolution of American drinking culture—from outlaw gin joints and tiki escapism to the martini’s revival...
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Season 10
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Episode 2
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52:47
How Cocktails Conquered the World Part II: From New York to Paris
In Part 2 of our cocktail history series, we move from surprising misconceptions to the true story of how the cocktail was born — and how it went global. From Peter Bent’s first printed cocktail menu in 1810 to the rise of New York’s bartending...
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Season 10
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Episode 1
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36:11
The Surprising History (and Misconceptions) Behind Mixed Drinks
Join The Jocular Pugilists for a laugh-filled journey through the spirited history of cocktails! From the surprising origins of ethanol, bitters, and fortified wines to the birth of the true American cocktail, Phil and Tomas mix humor with hist...
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Season 9
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Episode 10
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29:36
The Danish Disneyland of California: It's Solvang
What happens when you drop a slice of Denmark in the middle of California wine country? You get Solvang—a town that’s part fairytale, part food coma, and 100% confusing. In this episode of The Jocular Pugilists, we bumble throug...
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Season 9
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Episode 9
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39:45