No Bad Ideas
The No Bad Ideas Podcast is the creation of Gabriel Urbina, Sarah Shachat, and Zach Valenti, three writer and artist-types who, in order to stay fresh creatively, have an excuse to hang out with each other once a week, and check in on what they're working on, take a terrible idea they found on the Internet each week and turn it into a compelling narrative. Or as close as they can get in 30 minutes. If you're someone trying to be creative yourself or even if you just appreciate a good story, you'll enjoy listening to Zach, Sarah, and Gabriel figure...
Mon, September 04, 2023
It Couldn't Hurt...
Happy Labor Day! We are still laboring on a project we can't tell you about (yet) but we have worked mightily to find some bad ideas on the Internet and think that you'll enjoy the results! First, Gabriel brings us an Am I The Asshole post full of culinary spite that we turn into a fractured fairy tale where ritual matters, at least to the eldritch abomination that lives in the lake. Then, Sarah brings us a tale of extreme sports fandom and we turn it into a complex thriller of celebrity and identity (with apologies to Elizabeth Olsen). Plus: the ultimate in 'senpai, notice me, please,' strong villain energy, real legal troubles, some mythic mythbusters, and a subtle tomato vibe. Today's Bad Idea: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, August 15, 2023
Otter Miyagi
Apologies for the delay in this one - travel, work on new projects, and some health road bumps (everyone is okay!) kept this one from being done properly until right now! Today in No Bad Ideas: self-expression! Grumpy men! Aggressive sea animals! And more! In our first bad idea today, Zach brings us the story of a French man who fought for his right to not be fun at work. The squad works to turn it into a comedic battle of workplace manners. Then, in the second idea, Sarah gives us the gift that keeps on giving: a chance to talk about the surfboard-stealing otter that has been terrorizing the shores of Santa Cruz. The gang turns it into the story of a tricksy otter that teaches an aspiring surfer how to master the art of riding the waves. All of that, plus: 24-year-old party animals, bon vivants, grape crushing, aquatic homeownership, and cozy remakes of Jaws . Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, July 18, 2023
Guess the Bad Idea
Today on No Bad Ideas... Wedding planning! Service Industry workers! Big purchases! TLC's new show My Surprise Bris ! And more! For our first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the story of someone who had to walk out on their surprise nuptials. The gang turns it into a fast-paced, Jacques Tati-esque romantic comedy about two waiters who have to hold a wedding together. Then, Zach keeps the episode on theme with the tale of someone who had to reckon with their wife surprising them with the news that they bought a yoga studio. The squad works to turn it into a heart-warming story of a beleaguered spouse who has to turn a yoga studio profitable to keep her marriage afloat. All of that, plus: unconscious wedding planners, inciting assholes, Uncle Jimbo, George Clooney cameos, and moments of super-sizing. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, July 05, 2023
I Want My Wallet Back
Happy July! We return from our month-long hiatus with two ideas that are the exact opposite of summer fun, but we're going to try and turn them into some hot hot IP anyway. First, Zach brings us a Texas tragedy and we Tarantino it up a notch into a three-part (plus interludes) hunt for buried treasure where the Ennio Morricone score will be pumping . Then Sarah tells us a magical tale of petty corporate overreach, and we turn it into a spy comedy where a very special card that could spell nuclear annihilation requires a quest to win it back. Plus: The problem with KaibaCorp, a straight-up Breaking Bad reunion, full Terminator mode, literally over a million Magic cards, and Yosemite Sam on Bumble. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, June 05, 2023
The Escalation Game
Today on No Bad Ideas... Dogs! Arrests! Fake kidnapping! And news that we're taking the rest of June off! In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the tale of a man who, when faced with hardship, tried to sell out man's best friend. The trio turns it into the newest hit animated film about a talking dog. Then, Zach brings us the story of a man who, to get out of his job, took the very reasonable measures of... arranging his own (fake) kidnapping. The gang turns it into a story of bored, minimum-wage laborers trying to one-up each other to get out of the worst day of the year at their otherwise sweet job. All of that, plus: treasure buried out in the desert, Beckett-esque plays, Rat Race mosaics, off-grid places, and Bad Dog Things! Also note: the No Bad Ideas gang are going to be taking the rest of June off to work on... a new, big, upcoming project! But new episodes will return on July 4th! Stay tuned, both for new bad ideas and for news about the new thing we're working on! Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, May 16, 2023
Mate, Where's My Dossier?
Today on No Bad Ideas: nuclear subs! Naked landlords! Court cases! Ashton Kutcher and Sean William Scott! And more! First, Sarah brings us an article about the unlikely place where some classified documents wound up. Gabriel is horrified that they actually find a narrative arc in the silly comedy of errors they come up with. Then, Gabriel presents the story of a German landlord who loves to share everything with his tenants. The gang turns it into - what else? - a combative romantic comedy. All of that, plus: visits to ex-girlfriends' houses, little red hats (not worn on the head), inspired cameos, the worst Where's Waldo of Zoom, someone who is just Mark Strong. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Karen: The Movie
We're back and we're jumping right into some supernaturally awful badness this week! First, Gabriel brings us the story of a very unconventional crime-fighting strategy and we turn it into the story of a young priest who gets in way over his head – although with hardened criminals or the demons of hell, TBD. Then Zach draws on the occult powers of the Am I The Asshole subreddit to tell the story of a woman who takes on a dubious personal responsibility that divides her family, and we adapt it into the story of multiple secrets that all come out... in the bedroom. Plus: Photo Day at school, a Die Hard situation, addiction to every single drug, the role that Rachel McAdams wins an Oscar for, and the scale of not badass enough vs. human rights violation. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, April 19, 2023
The Game In Reverse
Today on No Bad Ideas... feds! Bad ideas! Training days! Birds! Spies! And more! In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of an FBI training exercise gone horribly wrong. The gang spins it out into a story of comedic role-play colliding against corporate machinations. Then, in our second story, Sarah brings us news about (horrifying) innovation in the field of techno-necromancy. The team spins out in about three different directions as they're left reeling from the news article, everything from whistle-blower trial cases to sci-fi dystopias. All of that, plus: LARPing exercises, whodunit-sort-of-a-thing, big news, warped perspectives, and Girlboss CEOs. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, April 03, 2023
Bad Ideas Classic: Too Many Hats (With Tom Crowley)
Writer, performer, and (comedy) sketch artist extraordinaire Tom Crowley joins the Bad Ideas Squad for two tales from beyond the grave! For our first bad idea, Sarah brings us a witchy obituary like nothing we've ever heard before, and - naturally - the team tries to figure out how to turn it into a story of growth and self-actualization á la Amelie . Then, Gabriel presents the tale of the somewhat ghoulish thing a Belgian town has done with the heart of their mayor, leading the squad to spin up a yarn about a man who couldn't lie in the most improbable way. All of that, plus: old-school pyramid schemes, husbands of little-to-no importance, ladder embezzlement, oracular aunts from the beyond the grave, and Bentham Football. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Tom's work, follow him on Twitter , and check out Wooden Overcoats , Victoriocity , and his website , where you'll also find Crowley Time (With Him, Tom Crowley). Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, March 21, 2023
Takin' the Church to Task (with Bob Raymonda and Jack Marone)
Today on the show... Art criticism! Pizza! Organized crime! Crap! And special guest stars Bob Raymonda and Jack Marone, co-creators of the Forgive Me! podcast! In today's first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the story of a ballet director who took a rather... unorthodox approach to expressing his displeasure at a critic's evaluation of his work. The gang makes it into a film that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "giving someone shit." Then, Sarah brings us the story of a mafia boss who foolishly did some press to raise his profile. The squad takes this material and runs with it all the way to a movie about a man who dared to dream about pizza glory despite his criminal upbringing. All of that, plus: Javert characters, traveling plumbers, mirthful smiles, copycat critics, and the thrill of the spotlight! Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Bob and Jack's work, check out the Forgive Me! podcast. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, February 27, 2023
Tanking The Market (With Ethan Warren)
What's even better news than a new episode of NBI? What's EVEN BETTER news than a new 70mm print of Boogie Nights? Film critic extraordinary Ethan Warren has just the qualifications to help us turn horrible ideas into movie pitches, and we're delighted to invite him to the NBI hot seat. First, Zach gives us a Twitch stream gone awry and we turn it into a truly twisted animated rom-com thriller about two fish (yes fish) with an entire Internet full of possibilities. Then Gabriel offers up an unusual relationship quandry and we turn it into a mumblecore classic of irrational love, and a married couple who both really need to break up and kind of deserve each other. Finally, we talk to Ethan about the joys of writing about cinema, how to watch attentively, finding the right entrance to a rabbit hole, and just who this Paul Thomas Anderson guy is, anyway. Plus: the perfect combination of high stakes and ASMR, a convenient paraglider, an overwhelming passion for Arbys, Kids in the Hall candy, and reading through the terms of service. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Ethan's work, you can buy his book! Check out The Cinema Paul Thomas Anderson: American Apocrypha as an ebook or pre-order a physical copy now! You can also find more of Ethan's work on his website and also check him out on Twitter . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, February 06, 2023
A Grand Total of Zero Saw Movies
Today on No Bad Ideas... fraud! Inflatable dolls! Possessed objects! American cinema! And more! For our first bad idea today, Zach brings us an article about some financial crimes inspired by the 1999 film Office Space . The gang decides to turn that into a radical reboot of a very, very different movie: Saw ! Then, Gabriel presents the story of a man who used an inflatable Grinch doll in order to use the carpool lane on the highway. The trio turns it into a story of a man who is forced to reckon with his distaste for the Christmas holidays by a very unusual presence. All of that, plus: people riding shotgun, shopping malls burning down, criminal masterminds, bonding experiences, and deep wells. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, January 23, 2023
The Wingman Argument
We're back! New year, same human species, which means EVEN MORE! BAD! IDEAS! The NBI is back and better than ever in this year 2023 AC (after covid). We are tweaking the show's release schedule - because it's ours and we can do that - so look forword to bi-monthly episodes of NBI hitting your feed every *other* Monday. Starting with this one! Gabriel kicks us off with one last holiday tradition that can also settle scores all year round, and we turn it into a heartwarming tale of two families who need to save face, protect cute animals, and fake an epic fight. Then Sarah brings us a tale of military misconduct that we spin right around into a story of byzantine beaurocracy gone mad... but as shot by Michael Bay. Plus: not paying attention in Biology class, abusing power for oral health, failing upwards, dreams of becoming a rodeo clown, and the next step for The People's Court. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, November 30, 2022
Death Sandwich
It's the last episode of No Bad Ideas of 2022! We are celebrating with stories about online harassment and dysfunctional families! For our first story, Zach brings us the story of weaponized online harassment. The gang does their best to turn it into a horror story about death that can be directly sent to those you don't like... and then bring back a classic NBI villain from a previous story to make it all come together. Then, Gabriel brings us the story of a family where half the members are treated as second-class citizens. The squad turns it into an anti-romcom about someone that wants to get out of a relationship without breaking up with their partner... and then into a Snowpierecer- style action thriller. Plus: deadly tweets, the Lord's work, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett dynamics, Star Wars villains, and NBI's first spinoff series, Monocle Zach . Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, November 21, 2022
John Wick University (With Wil Williams)
We return this week, or at least two of us do, to inflict terrible ideas onto one of our favorite people in podcasting: Wil Williams! Sarah kicks us off with a high school student's nightmare made somehow even worse, and we turn it into a spy heist thriller in the grand tradition of Agent Cody Banks. Then Zach takes us to a terrible idea that fortunately never reached 30,000 feet, but we imagine the terrible story and tonal chaos that would ensue if someone brought a gun onto an airplane... inside of a chicken. Finally, we have a great conversation with Wil about finishing up the final season of Valence, how characters shift and reveal new facets of themselves across mediums, the importance of accountability and collaborators, the references that can help capture the feeling of a fictional world, and more. Plus: a superspy double agent, a sound designer's dream, the goth girls/barbie girls alliance, #rawchicken, and stealing from Little Miss Sunshine. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you want to check out Wil and more of their work, you can check out Valence online or on your favorite podcatcher, and also check out Wil's website . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, November 14, 2022
Legit (With Josh Rubino)
Today the NBI squad is joined by a voice actor of intrigue and mystery, the amazing Josh Rubino, to talk about bears, wolves, and evil villains! In our first idea, Gabriel brings us the tale of two wrestlers who take on a bear and find it to be a... surprisingly challenging experience! Who knew?! The gang turns it into a gritty, grizzly reboot of a beloved cartoon show. Then, Sarah brings us the story of a scheme to make wolves less comfortable around people. The gang turns it into a heartwarming story of a child reconnecting with their estranged parent in the woods with paintball. All of that, plus: the secrets of voice acting, riled-up savage animals, Ranger Rick, dangerous games, and a bloody collar, tie, and hat. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 To check out more of Josh's work, please check out their website and their Twitter ! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, November 07, 2022
Nobody's Perfect
We're back to take some more bad ideas to incredible new heights! First, Sarah brings us a tale of a dinner gone awry with potential links to organized crime, and we turn it into the gritty Princess Diaries reboot none of us realized we needed. Then Gabriel takes us to the never-ending well of Bad Ideas, Reddit's Am I The Asshole, and we turn the story of a big communication failure over dinner into a domestic horror/thriller made possible by working from home. Plus: the world's saddest treehouse, straight assholery, Olivia Rodrigo's next single, the version of Don't Worry Darling that we deserved, and Anya Taylor-Joy, Queen of the Mafia. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, October 31, 2022
The King of the Swamp
Today on No Bad Ideas... Alligators! Bees! Construction! Violence! Annoyance! And more! In our first bad idea today, Gabriel brings us the story of a Florida man who resorts to violence to solve the problem of the loud construction site next to his home. The gang turns it into an action film about a construction crew to escape from a deadly game of hide and seek with forty alligators. Then, Zach brings us a story about bees being used as a deadly weapon. The gang turns it first into a sequel for the story from the first bad idea and then into a sequel to Home Alone! Let us dance a ballet with bees! All of that, plus: the next Liam Neeson, disaffected youths, franchises, a rich and storied history with trauma, and one last job. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, October 26, 2022
The Bubble (With Zoe Tokushige)
Today we have a fantastic guest in the NBI hot seat: Zoe Tokushige returns to No Bad Ideas hot off the publication of her first (very good) book, Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish. We begin with an idea of Zach's about a suburban mystery in the heart of Texas, and we turn it into a dark and twisting thriller with death (or at least social death) as the stakes. Then Sarah offers up an Am I The Asshole post about a snooping mother-in-law, and we transform it into the remake of Rear Window that the 21st Century deserves. Finally we talk to Zoe about encountering her work in the wild, how she thinks about revision and feedback, different ways to visualize storytelling, and even more! Plus: A Don Quixote moment, the link between media conglomerates and homeowners associations, the slow adoption of the iPhone, timid lawful good adolescents, and a lot of nervous energy. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Plus: an emoji house ! If you want to check out Zoe's work, you can find Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish wherever fine books are sold and you can also check out Zoe's website, Twitter , and Instagram . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, October 17, 2022
Grandma (Doesn't) Like That
Today on No Bad Ideas... NPCs! Internet drama! Bad communication! Grandma! In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of a troubling trend online where people are starting to treat real life people as video game NPCs. The gang creates a story about a person who is transported into a video game just to play the part of a storekeeper NPC. Then, in our second bad idea, Gabriel gives Zach and Sarah a choice between two options. They choose the NSFW one, and have to contend with a woman's radical solution to the problem of her boyfriend calling her something she doesn't like in bed. It goes to the only logical place this story could go: the White House. All of that, plus: the way it used to be, angry stump speeches, Poké Marts, compromise, and 24-hour paparazzo surveillance. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, October 10, 2022
Freud Fuel
We're back! And we return with two classics NBI genres of bad idea. First, Gabriel brings us an Am I The Asshole post about overbearing mothers during wedding planning, but definitely not in the way that you think. We turn it into a trippy, hallucinogenic virtual reality experience gone wrong where the path to emotional truth is paved with simulations. Then Sarah brings us a tale of technology on airplanes going wrong in a seemingly harmless but very strange way, and we, of course, turn it into an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. Plus: the multi-channel silent disco, hacked Alexas, interrobangs, a very specific set of circumstances, and Season 2 of The Rehearsal. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, September 28, 2022
A Tragic Butler Accident
Our apologies for the slight delay on this week's No Bad Ideas, but we think this one's worth the wait. Zach has secured his NBI hot seat in an exciting new spot and we're all ready to turn to some terrible ideas into okayish pitches! We start with Mr. Valenti who has an Am I The Asshole post that separates the cats from the dogs and the healthy relationships from Break Up With Him Already ships. We take it and concoct a (somehow) sillier and more arbitrary conflict that will make or break a relationship. Next, Sarah offers up an instagram ad for a very specialized service and for a very targeted demographic, but we turn it into the next hit CW show about an isolated town in Alaska in want of some spiritual guidance but with plenty of washboard abs. Plus: Great Uncle Wildemar, the definition of coquette, the Kristen Bell of today, a lot of forbidden fruit, and a fun couples activity for Tom Holland and Zendaya. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, September 20, 2022
A Wizard Did It
It's finally the end of the summer! We celebrate with a flight, a fistfight, some fast food, and body swaps! In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings the story of a mid-air flight between a plane's pilot and co-pilot. The gang turns it into a gritty, Martin McDonagh-esque suspense theater play about a situation doomed to blow up at just the wrong moment. Then, Zach horrifies Sarah and Gabriel with a story of little kids working at a McDonald's. The team pitches a new Freaky Friday- style story about adults and children swapping bodies and learning heart-warming lessons. All of that, plus: the Gods of Maximum Comedy, bars that are underground, the gritty Cabin Pressure reboot that we were all waiting for, a better boxing match, and our collective Sauron eye. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, September 12, 2022
Bad Ideas Classic: Leave The Art On The Floor (With Jen & Chris Sugden)
Zach is out again this week but we’ve pulled in not one but two (three if you count the doggo that trotted up to Sarah’s mic) of our favorite people in podcasting: Victoriocity’s own Jen and Chris Sugden! First, Gabriel brings us a tale of an aspirational identity swap and we turn it up and add a bunch of twisty layers that culminate in a cross-country road trip to the lights of Vegas. Next, Sarah offers up a particularly silly idea from congress and we turn it into this summer’s next action-packed disaster movie, with trees… on the moon! Then we chat with them about the origins of their podcast Victoriocity, how they work as writing partners, and the refining process to bring an episode from idea to a script in the studio. Plus: that Midlands energy, 8-10 scientists and politicians in charge of The World, a very grizzled Bruce Willis, pulling a Christopher Nolan and heavy-handed metaphors. For more top-tier comedy from the Sugdens in your life, check out Victoriocity and follow both Chris and Jen on Twitter! Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, September 05, 2022
The Prequel Problem
We have something new for you today! Mostly because we couldn't stop talking about it off mic and we all happened to be in the same room for once, we decided to jump into our NBI hot-seats to talk about how we would adapt stories from The Lord of the Rings if an eccentric space-loving billionaire threw lots and lots of money at us to do it. Tolkien lore spoilers abound, so take care if you happening to be reading The Silmarillion, but no spoilers for the actual Rings of Power TV show. Plus: Bad luck for Anne Boleyn, Orly's fee, Time's Square at 5pm on a Thursday, a smokin' Sauron, and the dark weird forest of interesting turns. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, August 29, 2022
HippoCrit
The show's original trouble troika is back together with the triumphant return of Zach Valenti this week! And we do have trouble here at NBI HQ: First, Sarah brings us an unusual problem plaguing the great city of Venice and we turn it into the story of a father looking out for his sons who accidentally finds the thrill of a lifetime. Then Zach offers up a typical tale from the world of Venture Capital and we create a story of temptation at scale, and whether a small-time schemer can play in the big leagues. Plus: Dad Bod Law, Fight Club Act 2 energy, Fight Club Act 3 energy, beeping Calzones, and some apologies to Australia. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, August 22, 2022
The UnBEARable Lightness of Being (With Eli Barraza)
Zach is missing this week, but to make up for it we have the honor of hosting a returning champion in the No Bad Ideas arena: Eli Barraza, creator of The Far Meridian, returns! We can certainly use the help, as in the first idea, Gabriel presents a criminal's desperate attempt to evade the police, and we turn it into both a horrifying and heartwarming tale of a man who needs to embrace his inner-bear, but not the way that you think. Then, Sarah offers up what is perhaps the weirdest billboard to ever grace Toronto, Canada and we turn it into a the story of a man who will sell or borrow almost anything to escape an evil curse, even if it means getting a little cheesy. Finally, we talk with Eli about The Far Meridian Season 3 (no spoilers), the origins of the series and how it has evolved, the joys and challenges of monologues, how to focus on characters (and vibes), and even more. Plus: the worst version of Build-A-Bear, the magic powers route, the musical horror genre, the most bemused Catholic priest ever, and a live recreation of Paddington 2. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 To check out The Far Meridian, you can visit their website and their crowdfunding page for Season 3, or listen to the show wherever you cast your pod. You can also find Eli on Twitter . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, August 15, 2022
Hemmingway Camp, The Finishing School That Will Finish You (With Chris Dole)
Today on No Bad Ideas: Florida men! Manliness! Puns! Conspiracies! Father-son treasure hunt teams! And special guest star Chris Dole! In our first bad idea, Gabriel presents a Key West tradition: the Ernest Hemmingway lookalike contest! The squad tries their best to turn it into a story about a camp where men (and one intrepid woman) are sent off so they can learn to be more like the legendary writer. Then, special guest Chris Dole bring us the story of a father-son treasure hunting team who claims the FBI is hiding a cache of gold from them. The team works together to turn it into a heartwarming, inter-generational story about a family discovering the most valuable thing in the world. (Gold, it's gold, gold is the most valuable.) All of that, plus: Blackspire mountain, crime scenes, ghosts, entertainment industry insider news, and enormous quantities of alcohol. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Chris Dole's work, check out Arden and the upcoming My Big Score . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, August 10, 2022
1-800-EXORCISM
Today on No Bad Ideas: priests! Exorcism! Cooperation! People getting fired! And more! Sarah brings us a story about how demand for exorcisms are going through the roof! The gang turns it into a film about how an overworked set of priests reaches out to the leaders of other religions to help them meet a small town's hunger for exorcism. Then, Zach brings us the tale of a company that is trying to automate and outsource other company's firing needs. The squad spends some time coming up with the 2022 remake and update for 2009's Up in the Air . Plus: harried montages, the Powers-That-Be, the A-Men, arthouse plays, and being-laid-off consultants. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, August 01, 2022
We're Renaming The Airport
Sarah returns this week and starts us off with a healthy dose human pettiness, and we turn a legislator's quest to eradicate ghosting into the tale of a teenager suddenly gifted with the power to right wrongs and how they deal with that in a completely reasonable and not-at-all tyrannical way. Then Gabriel brings us a wedding proposal that has absolutely everything, and we move this couple's special day to an island destination that definitely doesn't have demons, no demons, just really enthusiastic puppets. Plus: Incredible 'Who Hurt You' energy, Jason Segel's next rom-com, attempted puppet theft, slight mental breaks, and the autocratic despot of Whereverdonia. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S219 Enull · Tue, July 26, 2022
A Peanut Between Friends (With Maegan Houang)
Sarah is out this week, but Gabriel and Zach are joined by writer, director, and filmmaker Maegan Houang for two bad ideas involving peanuts and intelligence tests! In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings the story of a man who dutifully pushed a peanut up a mountain to break a world record. The gang turns it into a Rat Race -style eccentric millionaire-driven comedy of errors. Then, Zach presents a slippery tale of a man who was turned away from a job as a police officer because... he scored too highly on an intelligence test. Everyone struggles with how to turn that into a forward-facing story with anything approaching sympathetic characters. Then, we get to talk to Maegan about her career, visualizing songs for music videos, and dealing with the challenges of morale on film sets. All of that, plus: reboots of Fitzcarraldo, family feuds, structural wrappers, sci-fi societies, prescient questions, and Jurassic Park for Psychopaths. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more on Maegan and her work, check out her website . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wed, July 20, 2022
Everybody Loves An Airboat (With Jenn & Chris Sugden)
Sarah is out this week but we have two stellar guests to fill out the required level of madness at No Bad Ideas HQ: the wonderful Chris and Jenn Sugden have returned! First up, Gabriel brings us a contest that could only take place in Florida and we turn it into an underdog story of an amateur hunter who would give St. Patrick a run for his money. Then Zach gives us yet another reason for why everything is horrible and talks us through the burgeoning private lie-detection industry protecting people from honest conversations with their spouses; we then turn it into a drama of ethical dilemmas, lying liars who lie, and honest brokers who need to start lying too. Finally, Jenn and Chris talk about translating Victoriocity from a much-beloved podcast to an exciting upcoming novel, how their comedy background informs how they think about stories, balancing backstory for new and old audiences, how they manage writing collaboratively, and little teaser for Victoriocity Season 3. Plus: The pre-1950 snake-hunting code of honor, the return of the zoetrope, the end of frivolous things, lying plants, and Big Pete. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you'd like to check out the Sugdens' work, you can check Jenn and Chris out on Twitter and visit Victoriocity's website and listen to it wherever fine podcasts are downloadable. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, July 11, 2022
A Deluxe Disempowerment Simulator (With Octavia Bray)
The squad is back for a new episode, featuring murder, terrible hotels, and special guest star Octavia Bray, creator of Life with Leo(h)! For our first bad idea, Zach brings us a twisty tale of corporate corruption, greed, murder, shady stuff, and... well, lots of incompetence. The team pitches a film about a group of investigators who think the criminals they are pursuing are way, way, way better at crime than they actually are. Then, Sarah presents an article about an aggressively awful combination hotel/art installation experience in the Swiss Alps. The team puts together a film about a scam that tries to exploits privileged white people's worst tendencies until it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. All of that, plus: 1% Illuminati stuff, graves in swamps, Swiss chocolate, the weight of spinning plates, and poetically just comeuppances. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more on Octavia's work visit her Twitter , and check out the Indiegogo for Season 2 of Life with Leo(h) ! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, July 04, 2022
I Will Atone For My Sins (With Avery Trufelman)
The Bad Ideas crew is joined by Avery Trufelman, the creator of Articles of Interest , to tackle bad ideas featuring relief funds, online casinos, and busted stereotypical gender roles! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a man who received a much more generous Covid relief payment than he was expecting. The gang turns it into a film about a man who is desperately trying (and most failing) to get rid of as much money as he can as quickly as possible. Then, Zach presents a unique marketing tactic: small phones specifically designed to be put in, ahem , hard to reach places. The squad turns it into a story about a scheme to make money from within the walls of a prison, and how it helps the meanest, burliest, most manly inmates in the yard get in touch with their sensitive side. All of that, plus: highly orchestrated schemes, Werner Herzog, supply chain issues, emotional connections, and butts. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more on Avery's work, visit her website . For more information on the Louis Armstrong House Museum, visit their website. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tue, June 28, 2022
The Scurvy Challenge (With Lindz Amer)
We're so excited to have one of our favorite returning guests back in the NBI hot seat! The great Lindz Amer makes their triumphant return to the mayhem of bad ideas that people have had in real life and/or the Internet! First, Gabriel takes us to Tenerife, where a bit between a vacationing couple got way out of control and we transform it into a slow-motion horror story that makes us all uncomfortable. Next, Sarah brings us the first-world woes of a French farmer, and the gang turns it into the story of the end of the world that all comes down to American exchange students. Then, Lindz talks about the differences between writing for kids versus adults, the building blocks of storytelling, and their dream projects for all kinds of screens. Plus: #SponsoredContent, a Call of Cthulhu place, the creepier Kool-Aid Man, a new TikTok genre and the origin of the Zombie apocalypse. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Lindz's work, check out @lindzamer on Twitter and Instagram , and you also check out their work at Queer Kids Stuff and their new show, Rainbow Parenting . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, June 20, 2022
Butter My Muffin, You Walrus
Today: we don't have a full episode of No Bad Ideas, we'll be back with some great episodes starting next Monday. But to tie you over, we present a never-before-head (on the main feed) Patreon extra: the story of an obsession that goes too far, and the man who has to compete with an irresistible force: Adam Driver. Today's Bad Idea™ Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, June 13, 2022
200th Episode Spectacular: Weekend at No Bad Ideas
It's our 200th episode! So we decided to do something we've never done before: we watched a bad movie and then tried to figure out how we might turn it into a good film! So sit back, relax, and laugh as we make ourselves reckon with that classic 1989 film... Weekend At Bernie's! Spoilers for the film found within. (But we strongly suggest you don't care.) All of that, plus: underused dead bodies, neat moments of cinematic humor, corporate ladders of success, rocket science, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind machines! Today's Bad Idea™ Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, June 03, 2022
Penguin Murder House (With Lauren Shippen)
Unfortunately, we're short a Gabriel this week but we've tricked one of our favorite people in podcasting to come join us for a dose of silliness at NBI HQ: the great Lauren Shippen is here! And there's plenty of silliness to go around. First, Zach brings us a small town conspiracy that definitely does not involve Banksy, and we spin it into a story of CC that also, definitely, does not involve Banksy. Then Sarah brings us the story of an author who probably shouldn't have written an essay about committing a murder, and we turn it into the story of a writer who burned out who needs to hit the best-seller list and is willing to die, or kill, trying. Then we talk to Lauren about the origins of her latest show, Mirage Diner, and its journey to the Tribeca festival, the various ways one can go about creating ideas for podcasts and the different ways they can come to fruition, the advantages of owning what you make, the reasons to leave series alone when they're done, and even more. Plus: Murder Zines, a mix of Catch Me If You Can and Lemony Snicket, scathing commentaries on municipal funding, real vibes, and a gcal sync across the multiverse. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 To listen to the premiere of Mirage Diner at the Tribeca Fest on June 8th in New York, head here for tickets! For more of Lauren's work, you can check out all the quality shows by Atypical Artists . You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 26, 2022
A Matryoshka Doll Of Bad Ideas
We’re delighted to have not one guest this week, but two! Phillip Thorn and Øystein Brager, masterminds behind The Amelia Project, have come to NBI HQ put their considerable talents (and cocoa) to much sillier use. We start with an idea from Gabriel about the way a couple can exert the ultimate pressure on their child to have grandkids, and turn it into a stealth Failure To Launch reboot that none of us wanted or needed. Then, Phillip and Øystein bring a bad idea of their own! We take the antiquing score of a lifetime and turn it into a sculpture with an ancient curse that reverberates across many lifetimes and an opportunity for Adam Driver to return to his sleezebag roots. Finally we talk to Phillip and Øystein about their podcasting journey: what they’ve taken from their theater background, how they come up with characters, and even get an exciting announcement from them about future seasons of The Amelia Project! Plus: Bizarro courtroom dramas, hidden deadlines, 16th century tails, a suitcase full of seashells, and a polycule with Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, and Dame Maggie Smith Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea 1 Idea 2 To check out the show, visit their site , and for more of Øystein and Phillip , find them on Twitter! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 19, 2022
Bad Ideas Classic: Crime+ (With David K. Barnes)
The Bad Ideas team is hard at work on some new episodes, including our very silly 200th episode extravaganza. (Coming soon!) But in the mean time, we wanted to re-share this classic episode from our archives. We’re joined this week by one of our absolute favorite podcast creators, the head writer of Wooden Overcoats, David K. Barnes! We completely squander David’s talents, first, in turning the tale of one of the most incompetent thieves we’ve ever seen into one of the strangest heist plans we’ve ever concocted. Then we start a war… kind of, and turn a European military mishap into a game of spin doctors that, of course, spins wildly out of control. Plus: The Lost Boys gritty reboot, clumsy escape attempts, Hitchcockian suspense, Czech Jean Dujardin, and the strangest variation on the prisoner’s dilemma we’ve ever heard. Today’s Bad Ideas: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you’d like to follow David’s work, and why wouldn’t you?, check out Wooden Overcoats , visit his website and follow him on Twitter . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, May 13, 2022
Train Overboard!
It’s back to basics this week as just Gabriel, Sarah, and Zach are at NBI HQ today, but we’ve brought some truly terrible ideas with which to torment each other! First, Gabriel finds a sweaty Reddit post about unreasonable expectations for normal water temperature and personal space, and we turn it into a horror meet-cute where the audience is going to end up rooting for a literal hell demon. Then Zach brings us tale of unintended environmental consequences and we turn it into a political farce that hopefully would lure Simon Pegg back into acting. Plus: giant eagles, surveillance-oriented boyfriends, two tanks just lying around, Jerry from down the pub, and lost episodes of Seinfeld. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 05, 2022
Then the Bears Woke Up (With Marissa Tandon)
Today on No Bad Ideas: Bears! Legal advice! Revolution! Fandom! And special guest star, Marissa Tandon, creator of new audio fiction series, That Vampire Show! In our first idea, the gang has to confront the Bear League! When a family discovers that the strange noises coming from the crawlspace under their house are a family of five bears, how will they evict these unwanted woodland tenants? Then, a bakery's new fire policy defies all common sense and good practices. In our imagination, it sparks a revolution of the working class, who seize the means of hot dog production by force! All of that, plus: NFTs of buns, this is fine dogging, digitally aged-up Kristen Stewart, environmental ramifications, and things that make you realize you need to eat the rich at a certain point. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Marissa's work, check out Tandon Production's website and her Twitter . And tune into That Vampire Show wherever quality podcasts are sold! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, April 29, 2022
We’re All Digging Our Tunnel (With Ellen Winter)
We’re delighted to be joined this week by the incredibly talented Ellen Winter, musician, writer, and teaching artist extraordinaire! First, Zach brings us a Reddit query which we immediately decide is a horror movie, and what follows is a quest to decide just how weird a horror movie we’re making. Then Gabriel puts us all on blast with the story of a specialized cafe for writers in Japan, and we turn it into a story that is absolutely not about writers but is about creativity on a deadline and a young producer who must contend with the most dysfunctional band of all time. Then Ellen comes back to us with an idea of her own: a short but evocative missed connection from Craigslist, which we turn into a twisted reckoning between Nick Cage and Cate Blanchett which is also obviously a meet cute; then we talk to Ellen about the importance of play and jam sessions to the creative process, how to get started and think about the component parts of a piece, and how to plug into what you’re most excited about. Plus: a pre-wrapped A24 movie, an impressive amount of surveillance, a Miyazaki liminal multiverse, some perpetually too hot tea, and Adam Drivers all the way down. If you want to check out Ellen’s work, go listen to Every Feeling I’ve Ever Felt , 36 Questions , and follow her on Twitter . Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Idea #3 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, April 22, 2022
This Makes Some Compelling Points (With Ponders)
Today on No Bad Ideas... long-winded essays! Lost ideas! And special guest star, podcast producer Ponders! On our first bad idea... well, we run into some technical problems and lose the audio for the first chunk of the episode. Oh no! But never fear, we come back with a vengeance for our second bad idea, a tale of woe featuring a friend breakup and the longform essay that accompanied it. The gang and Ponders turn it into the quirky, Spike Jonze romcom we didn't know we needed. Then, Sarah and Gabriel have a fascinating conversation with their guest about empathy in podcasts and how it impacts the writing of audio fiction. All of that, plus piña colada song situations, underpaid writers, Editing Gabriel, Arcade Fire soundtracks, and email notifications that know you far too well. Today’s Bad Idea™ For more of Ponders's work, check out their Twitter as well as their shows Accession and The Wanderer . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, April 11, 2022
Crane Heist! (With Mary Kate Wiles)
Sarah’s out today, so we’re especially delighted to be joined by the incredible Mary Kate Wiles, of Lizzie Bennett Diaries, Shipwrecked Comedy, and web video fame! Mary Kate’s first go in the NBI hot seat begins with the story of a bad liar from Alabama, which the gang turns into a heist with high rewards, deeply annoying stakes, and incredibly slow moving escapes. Then they meet the soon-to-be mother-in-law from hell and turn it into a family drama that is a trick, potentially a trap, and features the worst piggy bank of all time. Then the guys talk to Mary Kate about, among other things, the origin of Shipwrecked, the legacy of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, wearing many hats at all times, and why every actor should produce something. Plus: a new sub-genre of heists, Eugene O’Neill plays come to life, decoy invites, Timothée’s Logan Lucky moment, and the Rachel Getting Married of it all. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you’d like to check out more of Mary Kate’s work, follow her on Twitter and Instagram , check out The Fairly Oddparents: Fairly Odder , and go explore the fine literary comedy of Shipwrecked ! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 31, 2022
It Turns Into A Kraken (With Eric Silver & Mischa Stanton)
We’re so lucky to be joined this week by not one but two adorable little audio guys: Multitude’s own Eric Silver and Mischa Stanton! We start with the worst/most bored security guard of all time and we turn it into a high espionage heist (of course), with the plots coming from inside the Kremlin, but not before making a ton of Red Notice jokes along the way. Then we visit the capital of world/bored ideas: Florida. We take a story about a man’s crossbow theft and turn it into the remake of Don Quixote that all of us end up really wanting to see. Then Eric and Mischa discuss benefits of and considerations to take into account when you work with your friends, the kinds of creativity that happens when you feel free to collaborate, making things for yourself vs. making things in the hopes it’ll be made by a big company, and much more! Plus: Zoom’s newest software update, absurdist period pieces, CGI monstrosities, a fleet of windmills, and the most obnoxious motorcycle in the state of Florida. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you want to check out more of Eric and Mischa’s work, check out some of their wonderful shows like Join The Party , History Daily , and StarTripper!! , follow Eric and Mischa on Twitter, and sign up to join the MultiCrew for even more Multitude goodness. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 24, 2022
52 Reptiles in a Trench Coat (With Sam Long)
Sarah is out this week, but we are joined by special guest co-host Sam Long of Singing Land Studios and Honey and the Sting. Together, we tackle two new bad ideas, featuring brains, snakes, and other slithering creepy-crawlies! In our first story, Zach brings us a report on the neurologist who was so set on pushing the envelope on what's possible that he ended up getting his own brain operated on. The team does their best to turn it into a Jekyll and Hyde drama of a man who expands his mind but maybe gets a little more than he bargained for. Then, for our second idea, Gabriel brings us the story of a man who tried to smuggle a lot of reptiles past the border. The squad tries to turn it into the story of a man who makes his living by providing a witch's coven with their animal supplies. All of that, plus: hypothetical story land, tongue hissing sounds, cesspools, curses, and hours-long sunbaths. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Sam's work, check out Singing Land Studios and the EarthSpirit Voices Podcast . For more work by other members of Honey and the Sting, check out work by Melanie Hsu and Jess Best! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, March 18, 2022
Branded Content & Gritty Reboots (With Erik Saras)
Minus a mortifying impression, Sarah Shachat is out this week, but heroically filling the third spot in NBI hot seat is one of our favorite sci-fi creators, the great Erik Saras! We start with the story of a very off-his-game, but very well armed burglar, and the boys prove that even the world’s most fractured fairy tale can be perfected. It just takes Keanu Reeves. Next, we marvel at the resilience of Hank the Tank, and take this giant bear’s story and turn it into a gritty reboot of a beloved cartoon for a more adult audience, with a bit of a Robin Hood angle. Finally, we talk to Erik about his audio journey from music down into the pit of podcasting, the evolving nature of work-life balance, managing long-running mysteries, the importance of score, and the allure of making rip-offs of LOST. Plus: low key Kill Bill energy, covert Airbnb ads, bear gangs, quality nicknames, punching up… and clawing down. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Erik, check out Marsfall and follow them and Erik on twitter. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, March 11, 2022
You Killed My Father (With Alan Rodi)
Warning: This episode of No Bad Ideas contains some discussions of sexual activity in its first idea and gun violence occurring around underage people in its second idea. Listener discretion advised. Today on No Bad Ideas: Temptation! Frustration! Sexting! Guns! Reincarnation! And special guest star Alan Rodi! In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of a subreddit dedicated to testing romantic partners' loyalty. The shocked and appalled gang does their best to turn it into a romance based on roleplaying and pretending. Then, Sarah brings us a truly horrendous story of a man inciting their young child to violence. The team tries to turn it into a mind-melting, time-bending story of an assassin that dies and then returns to the world as a baby. All of that, plus: hyper-intelligent toddlers, heart attacks, things that makes everything worse, a Dennis the Menace gritty reboot, and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Our first bad idea begins at 5:00 and ends at 19:16. The second idea begins at 19:35 and ends at 23:40. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Alan's brilliant work, visit his website , or check out the Kinda Evil Genius and Long Story Short Bandcamp pages. Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 03, 2022
Do Robots Need Glory? (With Leslie Gideon)
Today we have the pleasure of sharing some very silly ideas with one of our favorite folks in podcasting: thoughtful writer, voice actor extraordinaire, and sometimes-business person, the great Leslie Gideon! The silliness starts with Sarah bringing us Disney’s newest, er, immersive experience and the gang turning that into a thriller for the ages, exploring the conflict between freedom and safety, and the choices that one family makes as a utopia falls apart. Then Zach shares one of the driving world’s most frivolous record attempts, and we take that, add an AI-driven car, and maybe create a sci-fi reboot of How To Train Your Dragon ? Finally, we get a chance to talk to Leslie about the differences between writing for pleasure and writing for pay, finding the balance between separating ideas out to be passion projects vs. to be sold, how plans to build a resume can aren’t something you can necessarily time, and more. Plus: the friends we made along the way, background street-sweeper #24, real “Witness Me” energy, draft #2 questions, and the slow reverbed edgy version of “It’s A Small World” Listen to The Path Down and Leslie’s soccer history podcast Sideline Tackle , and learn more about Leslie’s work by checking out her website and following her on Twitter . Today’s Bad Ideas™ Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, February 25, 2022
Bad Ideas Classic: Blindsided By The Lion (With Tom Crowley)
More mayhem, more ideas, more Crowley! We’re delighted to have the inimitable Tom Crowley back for one more ride in the Bad Ideas-mobile. And the idea is Mr. Crowley’s! Tom lets us in on a secret source of revenue that a German circus has been taking advantage of during the pandemic, and we turn it into a rags to riches to bars fable of ambition… and animal poo. We also settle down and talk to Tom about his sketch comedy work - how he comes up with ideas, how he structures episodes of his show Crowley Time, and his grand theory of joke types. Plus: The re-skinned Burt’s Bees origin story, embarrassing censored movie posters, hilarious wacky mix-ups, Gabriel’s secret weakness, and a surprising emerging market. Today’s Bad Idea™: Idea #1 For more of Tom's work, follow him on Twitter , and check out Wooden Overcoats , Victoriocity , and his website , where you'll also find Crowley Time (With Him, Tom Crowley). Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 17, 2022
Good Faith Effort (with Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini)
Today on No Bad Ideas: Stolen Cars! Unconscionable Emails! Misinformation! And special guest stars Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini, co-hosts of the Spirits Podcast ! We are joined by Julia and Amanda of Spirits, Multitude, and all-around badass podcasting fame. And boy do we need their help to tackle two exceptionally terrible ideas. First, Gabriel brings us the story of a (Florida) man who steals a series of vehicles with increasingly erratic and destructive results. The team turns it into the saga of a man who finds himself repeatedly possessed by a mischievous spirit every time the sun goes down. Then, Zach brings us a report about an entirely made-up, trumped-up claim about litter boxes for Furries in all-gender bathrooms. The squad remakes it into the story of a group of high school friends who create a secret, vandalizing teenage superhero to fight back against the discriminatory policies that have swept into their world. All of that, plus: cryptography, Joe Pesci, Robert the Doll, high speed swamp boat chases, and things that shouldn't be interrogated too much. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Follow Julia and Amanda's work by checking out Spirits , Join the Party , and the rest of their work through Multitude . Or follow them on Twitter at @shessomickey and @JuliaSchifini . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 10, 2022
Tucci-Feely (With Beth Eyre, Felix Trench, and Tom Crowley)
Today is a big day on supersized No Bad Ideas. We have not one, not two, but THREE special guests joining us in the Bad Ideas Thunderdome. Beth Eyre, Felix Trench, and Tom Crowley, three of the amazing stars of Wooden Overcoats, join to lend their brilliance to a pair of truly odd and awful ideas. First, Gabriel brings us the tale of a woman who tried to buy a baby, and somehow we blow it up and shrink it down into a gentle indie stop-motion comedy full of heists and very organized babies. Then Sarah tells us about a man who stole a lot of manuscripts but didn’t do anything with them, and we transform it into a layered revenge plot that begins with identity fraud and ends with the worst writers’ retreat of all time. Finally, we ask Beth, Felix, and Tom about their work on Wooden Overcoats. They share some of their thoughts on this fourth and last season of the show, Piffling being a place that time forgot, their routes into the characters, the recording process and the show’s place in the tradition of British radio comedy, and the challenges (and fun) of performing the show live. Plus: Build-A-Bear Texas, semi-collapsed societies, Steven King’s sawed-off shotgun, World War B, and a pre-emptive apology to Guernsey. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 To check out Wooden Overcoats, find them in your podcatcher , check out their website , Instagram , and Twitter , and check out the live-streamed performances of Season 4 at Kings Place’s K Player . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, February 04, 2022
Panache
Today on No Bad Ideas... passports! Courts! Fraud! Deception! Ana de Armas! In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of a man who bought a passport holder and found himself getting a bonus illegal item in the deal. The gang brings in Sgt. Offerman to investigate an evil scheme being carried out through Etsy. Then, Sarah offers up a frivolous lawsuit brought forth by fans of a world-famous actress. The squad uses it as a springboard to create a television show about a desperate, seedy lawyer for whom no case is too frivolous. All of that, plus: the crud de la crud, timeline questions, irredeemably broken people, Disney princesses, and fake commercials. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, January 28, 2022
They Can't Be Together Because the Goat's In the Way
Today on No Bad Ideas: Fire! Gangs! Drugs! Lies! And more! On today's first idea, Sarah brings us a hall-of-famer about an enormous Christmas goat that gets burnt every year in Sweden. The gang - once they stop cackling with glee - come up with a Love-Actually-like kaleidoscopic story about a merry gang battle royale. Then, Gabriel presents the story of a man who tries to talk his way out of a drug bust... very unsuccessfully. The team makes it into a movie about a man who finds the world believing each and every one of his lies. All of that, plus: the right honorable man from Florida, suck-friendly shows, outstanding sound bites, classless twats, and Christmas magic. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, January 20, 2022
I'm Going To Make My Life Harder
Today on No Bad Ideas: Florida Men! Underwear! The robot revolution! And the gang recording together for the first time since the start of the pandemic! First, Gabriel brings us the story of a man who tried to wear a piece of women's underwear as a mask... while going on a commercial flight. The gang tries to turn it into a film about an alien who arrives on Earth in the middle of the pandemic, and has to figure out how to navigate this strange new world. Then, Zach brings us the story of an Alexa advising a small girl to do something very dangerous. The gang tries to find a new angle on a Robot Revolt story and on a super-being that has the information superhighway in their head. All of that, plus: fucking up everybody's day, the mayor of Orlando, machines gone wild, The Matrix but more punk, and beavers. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, January 14, 2022
The Archbishop’s TikTok
We’re back! Sarah kicks us off with a Belgian church in a bind, and we turn it into a sensational scandal that might be the miracle that bring the flock back. Then Zach introduces us to the Squirrel Board and we take the concept of keeping squirrels as pets and turn it into a heartwarming tale of an unusual friendship between man and monster. Plus: Benedetta’s viral marketing campaign, an animal arms race, lovely British sitcoms, metaphors for community, and several hot priests. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, January 07, 2022
The Identity Police Shows Up At Your Door
Welcome back to the first No Bad Ideas for 2022! Today on the show, we bring you: fake IDs, tattoos that determine your life, accidental hacking, and crime cell phones! In our first bad idea, Gabriel presents the tale of a man so desperate for a vaccine card - but so unwilling to get a real vaccine - that he tries to use a fake arm to bluff his way through the vaccination. The gang turns it into a cyberpunk adventure about escaping your government-assigned role. Then, Sarah brings us the story of how an unlucky man accidentally hacked a Latin American organized crime ring. The squad transforms it into a breakneck adventure starring a mild-mannered man man who finds his life turned upside down when a notorious assassin sets out to steal his identity. All of that, plus: cartoons come to life, microchips, extended Some Like It Hot riffs, digital footprints, and nuevo telefono, quien es? Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, December 02, 2021
You Know What To Do
In our last episode of 2021, we tackle a couple very normal and relatable problems. First, Gabriel brings us the tale of a Don Draper stan in all the wrong ways and we turn it into the cutthroat tale of a kid who takes a cynical scam much too far. Then Zach tells us a chilling story of a forgotten VHS tape that resulted in a felony charge, and we turn it into an origin story for the spy drama of the century and a great opportunity, we think, for Vanessa Hudgens. Plus: Savvy 16 year-olds, the cyber mob, new uses for Christmas trees, a North By Northwest situation, and Finance Bros, Inc. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, November 25, 2021
Trying to Get to Boyne City (And Failing)
Today on No Bad Ideas... Airplane crashes! Movie diaries! Darkwing Duck as a person! Cocaine hippos! And more! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of the airplane pilot who meticulously documents every single one of his crashes... just in case someone wants to turn his life into a movie. The gang tries to turn it into a movie about a foolish man chasing the wrong kinds of glory. Then, Zach brings us the news that Colombian hippos have officially been declared legal humans. The squad tries to spin that into an animated story about some displaced animals trying to find out what happened to their master. All of that, plus: incredibly dangerous animals, buffoonery, one-page RPGs, people who definitely do not deserve justice, and last minute pivots. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, November 19, 2021
Clarice
Today on No Bad Ideas... Slapping! Hangovers! Sympathy magic! Operant conditioning! And more! In today's first idea, Gabriel brings us the story of a man who was so addicted to Facebook that he had to hire someone to slap him every time he goes to the website. The team turns it into the story of a wealthy businessman who has to resort to extreme measures to keep himself productive and civil. Then, Sarah presents the story of a hangover-prevention item from ancient times. The squad works to turn it into the story of two archeologists who find their lives intertwined in some surprising (and very literal) ways. All of that, plus: vanilla millionaires, getting into coding at the exact right moment, fake dating as a productivity hack, a classist ring system, and adding a third genre for no reason. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, November 11, 2021
Bad Ideas Classic: End With Everyone On Fire
A trip back into the Bad Ideas Vault this week, as Sarah brings us a tale from the exotic world of art thievery, where everyone is super cool and sophisticated… everyone, that is, except for the thieves. What will Gabriel and Zach make of an entire town in on a police sting operation? And how many explosions will it involve? There are definitely more twists than you think. Plus, roles definitely played by Jason Statham, agents of chaos in the background, a fistful of art historians, and revolutions which will not be monetized. Today’s Bad Idea™: https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-47568323 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mon, November 08, 2021
You're In Good Hands!
Today on No Bad Ideas... Rumbles! Investigative reporters! Therapy lions! Community-building! And more! After a slight breakdown in our production assembly line, we are back with the first of two new episodes this week! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a bus that is designed to put its riders to sleep. Wacky hijinks ensue when the sleepy passengers awake to find themselves in the middle of a high-stakes movie they don't know they're in. Then, Gabriel brings the squad the story of three Spanish writers who pseudonymously created a successful female writer. The gang turns it into the story of three disgruntled film industry professionals who create a fake writer to make their dreams come true... and then have it completely spiral out of control. All of that, plus: eccentric demands, ways to artificially raise the stakes, you'll-never-work-in-this-town-again moments, new forms of identity theft, and things that feel like punching down. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, October 29, 2021
Really Get Your Face In There
Our apologies for the delay this week, but sometimes ideas just are so bad that it takes a little extra time to put them together. These may be the worst things we've ever pitched. First, Gabriel brings us a story from the Internet’s homeland for bad ideas, Reddit’s Am I The Asshole?, and we turn the tale of a critical boyfriend into a contained family drama even Edward Albee would fear. Then, Zach tells us about a new initiative by Austrian museums and we, somewhat against our will, turn it into the Dan Brown sequel that no one has asked for. Plus: 3/10 handshakes, learning nothing from Tumblr, succumbing to the golden touch, an episode of Black Mirror as a person, and boundaries that could have been set earlier. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 21, 2021
Breaking the L.A.W.S.
Today on No Bad Ideas: Robots! Courtroom Dramas! Fake Marriages! Elaborate Hoaxes! And more! For our first bad idea, Sarah brings us a marriage made in hell: robot dogs and guns. The gang does their best to contain their terror and revulsion long enough to put together the pitch for a prescient court room drama. Then, Zach brings us the story of a man who is having his friendship with a single co-worker mercilessly exploited. The team does their best to turn it into a charming romcom of deception and secrecy. All of that, plus: successful yuppie vibes, jolts of caffeine, out of control marketing budgets, after-the-fact-movies, and marriage swaps. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, October 14, 2021
Bad Ideas Classic: The C-Span of Knives (With Mark Pagán)
Gabriel, Zach, and Sarah are taking a quick autumn break this week, but we didn't want to leave you without any No Bad Ideas this week! So check out this old favorite from our archives, featuring our friend Mark Pagán, producer of the podcast Other Men Need Help ! We certainly could use a hand, as Gabriel issues us an idea about a very unconventional way to settle disputes, which leads to a mockumentary of a divorce for the (middle) ages. Then, Sarah shows us a question about one man's quest for a licensing deal that is so strange, we immediately cast Christian Bale. Plus: 12 Techniques To Win Your Custody Battle In Three Moves Or Less, things that are Game of Thrones' fault, Paul Giamatti’s first Oscar, and the secret ingredient: friendship. Today’s Bad Ideas: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you want to follow Mark and his work, you can check out his site at http://www.markpagan.com/ or follow him on Twitter , as well as Other Men Need Help on their site or on Instagram . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, October 08, 2021
Basically We're Gods (With Zoe Tokushige)
Zach is off this week, but we’re delighted to welcome a long time friend of the show for some mayhem at NBI HQ: we're lucky to have author extraordinaire Zoe Tokushige in the Bad Ideas Hot Seat! Things get heated with Gabriel’s first idea about a photographer who has a terrible time at a friend's wedding, which we turn into a Fellini movie from hell, with a weird ending that even European arthouses would be proud of. Then Sarah brings us a story of high-stakes, deeply weird negotiations between the Russian space authority and a Kazakh businessman, which we turn into the lowest-stakes treasure hunt we possibly can. Then we talk to Zoe about her writing process, finding characters on the page, and the different between writing and other forms of creativity. Plus: Ships passing in the night, one star Yelp reviews, real-time descents, brief shining moments of potential, and Werner Herzog watching Cats . Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 If you’d like to check out more of Zoe’s work and get information on her upcoming novel, The Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish, you can find more on her website and follow her on Twitter . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 30, 2021
Steamy Clown Nights
We have cracked the code on badness this week and/or we’ve just cracked. First, Zach brings us a tale of woe from the world of cryptocurrencies and we turn it into a tale taking place during the actual age of piracy, because that’s somehow more grounded. Then Gabriel tells us about a business marketing strategy gone horribly wrong, and we craft a story about a man who's a little too weird to work but really vibes with his CEO. Plus: ironic hipsters, unnecessarily intense actors, the nuclear option, bargain deals that won’t bargain themselves, and only breaking the stupid laws. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 23, 2021
Yes Sir, No Sir, Please Sir, Thank You Sir
Today in No Bad Ideas: detached human brains! Frankenstein technology! Lotteries! Drug kingpins secretly living in your home! In our first bad idea, Sarah presents the tale of a divorce that led to a heist of cryogenically frozen bodies... and then things started getting weird! The gang does their best to turn it into a thrilling heist story in a world where the über-rich guard their minds as closely as their bank vaults. Then, Gabriel brings us the tale of a government so desperate to get rid of the house formerly owned by a drug lord they are giving it away in a lottery. The squad turns it into a Fight Club-esque tale of the mild-mannered man who is led to the dark side by the criminal mastermind he finds living in his basement. All of that, plus: remote customer service, newfound confidence, common incessant thoughts, chess games of the mind, and lots and lots of 'tude. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 16, 2021
I WILL Test You
Today on No Bad Ideas... Imprisonment! Dystopias! Literature! Very intense judges! And more! In our first bad idea, Zach presents the horrific news story of an alternative to prison that may end up being even worse (and more exploitative) than jail-time. The gang tries to turn it into the story of an exploiter who is hoisted by his own exploitative petard. Then, Sarah brings us the story of a young ne'er-do-well who a judge attempts to rehabilitate by subjecting him to the greatest works of Western literature. The squad considers different ways to tell stories of enforced art-consumption making people better. All of that, plus: vandals with too much destructive energy, things that are entirely made up, empathy training programs, Dickensian poorhouses, super downers, and old, explosive fertilizer. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, September 10, 2021
Seven-Layer Cities
We’re back at full strength this week, just in time for a pair of ideas that really go all the way. First, Gabriel brings us a nugget from the proverbial well of online bad ideas, and by “well” we mean the "Am I The Asshole?" subreddit. We take a prank gone wrong and turn it into the world's latest trend/cult/international conspiracy. Then Zach invites us to The Garden, and we take the story of a utopian community who took to the Internet and turn it into a thriller set in the near-future that involves a company definitely not named Schmoogle. Plus: playing ‘Carrot in the Wind’, an Iceland/Greenland situation, a button that can be smashed in a heroic fashion, irony being dead, and going viral for all the wrong reasons. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, September 02, 2021
Dueling Schemes!!
Today on No Bad Ideas: ketchup! Chefs! Football! Side gigs! Moral victories! In today's first bad idea, Gabriel presents an "Am I the Asshole?" spiritual successor to one of our favorite past episodes: the story of a man who will stop at nothing to sell his own particular brand of ketchup. The gang turns the ridiculousness up and concocts a story of culinary revenge. Then, Sarah brings us the story of a high school that plays football against Division 1 athletes... even thought it has no earthly business doing that. The team turns the ridiculousness down and turns it into a TV series about a cynical coach finding the worst football team ever and seeing if they can surprise everyone and go the distance. All of that, plus: dart boards, theoretical universes, secret ingredients, weird new wrinkles on old forumlas, and Zoltar. Today’s Bad Ideas: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 26, 2021
The Handcuff Master 5000
This week, we have a couple super cute/disturbing ideas ready-made for your next Netflix comedy/rom-com evening. First, Sarah brings us the story of just how many ancient artifacts might be in the US illegally (but conveniently all in one place) and we take it to a world where demons and devils have real power, and it’s up to a band of rag-tag experts to track them down. Then Gabriel brings us one of the most harrowing stunts ever attempted in the name of love, and we fictionalize it just enough to fit in the age of Instagram. Plus: Five (5) horsemen, D-list celebs, fuddy-duddy antiquities professors, 40 lbs. of weed and exposure therapy (baby). Today’s Bad Ideas: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, August 20, 2021
Bad Ideas Classic: Not Everyone Is Wall-Of-Death Material (With Lindz Amer)
Today on No Bad Ideas, a special episode from our vault of past episodes, featuring the amazing Lindz Amer and a lot of lions! This week, we’re joined in the studio by Lindz Amer of Queer Kids Stuff for two bad ideas and a roundtable discussion. First, we bring a Scooby-Doo-style ghost hunting gang into the YouTube Era and they form an unlikely alliance with an eccentric horror writer fighting off the bank from foreclosing his historically haunted mansion. Next, faced with an animal rights nightmare from the 1930s, we avoid “Green-Booking” the situation with Hugh Jackman and look for a more nuanced way to approach people with lions in motorcycles racing on walls in the circus with a non-zero amount of mauling. Finally, we chat with Lindz about finding universality as storytellers and get a sneak peek into their new fiction storytelling projects. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Today's Idea Worth Sharing By Lindz (AKA Their TED Talk): https://www.ted.com/talks/lindsay_amer_why_kids_need_to_learn_about_gender_and_sexuality?language=en Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 12, 2021
Operation Linkrot
Today on No Bad Ideas: Pranks! Ex-boyfriends! Roars! Internet links! Spies! And more! In our first bad idea, Gabriel presents the story of a miscreant who decides to prank his ex-girlfriend by staging a contest looking for the best Chewbacca imitator. The gang turns it into a film about a man who is willing to go as far as it takes to get the role of a lifetime. Then, Zach brings us the story of old broken links being usurped for nefarious purposes. The gang cooks up the story of a disgruntled spy looking for one last big hit. All of that, plus: the motivation of pornography companies, tax return busywork, a very high disruptive note, a matter of time, and a hilarious callback to an earlier episode of No Bad Ideas. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, August 05, 2021
The World Of Yesterday (With Mac Rogers)
Gabriel is out this week, but stepping up to fill the void is a truly special guest star: the mastermind behind The Message, Steal the Stars, and the recently unleashed Give Me Away - it's Mac Rogers! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a car company bringing old school smells kicking and screaming into the future. The squad turns it into a story about a one-of-a-kind event that immerses its patrons in the sights, sounds, and smells of the past. Then, in our second bad idea, Zach brings us the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, and the letters it's been sending promising enhanced accountability. The gang turns it into the story of two kids who are marked for failure from early on in life to a terrifyingly literal degree. All of that, plus: the Goodwood Festival of Speed, moving character-driven things, scents on demand,self-fulfilling prophecies, and brutally depressing dramas about there being no way out. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Mac's work, check out the website for his production company Gideon Media or follow him on Twitter . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 29, 2021
Bringing Your Witchcraft To Work
Ready for some terrible decisions, everyone? First, Sarah brings us a report of strange doings at a local Home Depot, and we turn it into a competition that turns into a war that turns into a supernatural battle between the forces of good and the forces of meh. Then Zach offers up the story of an odd house in California and we craft a themed murder mystery party perfect for a bunch of (un)suspecting billionaires. Plus: people having too much money, famous lines from Chinatown, out of body experiences, one little bitty curse, and getting dangerously close to dirty jokes about lumber. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 22, 2021
Bad Ideas Classic: A Boy and His Rock 'n' Roll Cricket (With Christian T. Kelley-Madera)
Gabriel, Zach, and Sarah are taking a brief summer break this week, but we didn't want to leave you without any No Bad Ideas! So check out this old favorite from our archives, featuring our good comrade Christian T. Kelley-Madera. This week on No Bad Ideas... bugs, bugs, bugs! But before that, the Bad Ideas Band is joined by their dear friend Christian T. Kelley-Madera, co-creator and director of The Once and Future Nerd. But soon, it's all business, and (thanks to Sarah's bad idea contribution) that business is a truly unhinged tale of illness and entomology in the Caribbean. Plus, cockroaches bent on world destruction, the wrong way to eat a Reese's, and a very different kind of Cuban crisis. This Week's Bad Idea ™ Listen to Christian's work at The Once and Future Nerd . Follow Christian On Twitter: @Ctmadera Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 15, 2021
Terrible Ideas Happening In Cars
Today on No Bad Ideas: Phone calls! Arrests! Dystopias! Bad breakups! As many crimes as possible! In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings the squad the tale of a man who called the police to ask why he hadn't been arrested... and was then promptly arrested. The team turns it into a film about a world so broken and destroyed that going to jail may be preferable to what you'll find in the "free" world. Then, Sarah presents a report of a heartbroken woman who went on a traffic-offense odyssey in her ex's car to get revenge. The squad barrels through the best way to adapt it into a story of stolen identity in the not-too-distant future. All of that, plus: raid ID, ten grizzled assassins, international incidents, an adult superstore, and public parental forgiveness. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, July 09, 2021
SuperCactusFriend!!
We’re back with a couple ideas that go deeper and deeper! First Sarah brings us the story of a very inappropriate toy and we turn it into a Harriet the Spy reboot working a case on a clock in time for the Christmas Rush. Then, Zach has an update on an old bad idea: the deep fakes a mom put together to sabotage a cheerleading team may not be so deep faked. We switch genres from superhero to mystery, with a high school journalist who gets in way over their head. Plus: WallStreetBets but more evil, classic clickbait headlines, the most precocious 12-year-old ever, a TRON battle situation, and the laugh this country needs. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, July 01, 2021
Sorry, Ipswich
We’re off to Europe this week, with a pair of historical farces from different eras! First Zach, brings us a tale of Swiss aristocrats trying to enforce feudal rights and we turn it into a Succession -esque thriller of a young heir who may or may not try to burn it all down. Then, Gabriel takes us all the way back to Biblical times, with a story of a Noah’s Ark stranded on the coast of England. We take it and create a contest to determine the one true ark, and the family who have devoted themselves to ark building for very varied reasons. Plus: Robber Barons, jackalopes, non-certified floating objects, three brothers named Noah, and a Boston Tea Party with Circe. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 24, 2021
Leave The Art On The Floor (With Jen & Chris Sugden)
Zach is out again this week but we’ve pulled in not one but two (three if you count the doggo that trotted up to Sarah’s mic) of our favorite people in podcasting: Victoriocity’s own Jen and Chris Sugden! First, Gabriel brings us a tale of an aspirational identity swap and we turn it up and add a bunch of twisty layers that culminate in a cross-country road trip to the lights of Vegas. Next, Sarah offers up a particularly silly idea from congress and we turn it into this summer’s next action-packed disaster movie, with trees… on the moon! Then we chat with them about the origins of their podcast Victoriocity, how they work as writing partners, and the refining process to bring an episode from idea to a script in the studio. Plus: that Midlands energy, 8-10 scientists and politicians in charge of The World, a very grizzled Bruce Willis, pulling a Christopher Nolan and heavy-handed metaphors. For more top-tier comedy from the Sugdens in your life, check out Victoriocity and follow both Chris and Jen on Twitter! Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 17, 2021
The Big Cheese
Today on No Bad Ideas: Crime! Cheese! Photographs! Meditation! Corporate synergy! Personalized prompts! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a notorious crime boss that was brought down by an untimely social media post. The squad does their best to spin it into the story of a floating platform in the middle of the ocean, where you can find a free-for-all black market where everything is up for sale. Then, in our second idea, Zach presents a corporate giant's latest attempt to control the hearts and minds of its employees. The gang turns it into the story of a young woman who goes to work for a futuristic startup who is a little too concerned with what their employees really need. All of that, plus: James Bond villains, ambitious underlings, company bureaucracy, a portrait of how someone loses their soul, and hardened criminals seeking revenge! Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, June 03, 2021
Here For The Melodrama (With Lillian Holman)
Zach is out for the week but we’ve convinced Lillian Holman, a very talented audio creator and one of our dear friends, to pitch hit in the NBI Hot Seat and help us mix some metaphors! First, Gabriel brings us a battle over exactly what’s in a name, and we turn it into a marriage plot based on the most convoluted inheritance scheme of all time. Then, Sarah presents us with an Italian artist’s latest project, and we turn it into a touching coming-of-age story about what can happen when you go to meet your heroes and see… nothing. Plus: Casting gimmicks, horrible grad school flashbacks, whole new definitions of imposter syndrome, the ghost of Robert Mitchum, and Scenic La Jolla. Check out Greenhouse , and for more of Lillian’s work visit her website and follow her on Twitter ! Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 27, 2021
Sir, We Have Your Finger
We’re back for yet another round of untangling the sad, the stupid, and the gross. First, Zach brings us a horrible, heartbreaking story of abandonment at sea and we feel the best thing we can do with the idea is launch it at Mars. Then Gabriel delivers a story of botched revenge and we turn it into a tale of spies who really wish their neighbors would leave them alone. Plus: Teelon Tusk, a perfect comedy sketch, all sorts of bobby-traps, very petty vengeance, and dying of old age in the Zombie Apocalypse. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 20, 2021
Bullet-Dodgers
We’re back to sift through fake posts and posers for another couple rounds of Bad Ideas! First, Gabriel brings us an artifact from the depths of Reddit and we turn it into a battle of cartoon chefs for the ages (and for equal pay). Then, Sarah brings us a story of a wedding wrecked for an excellent reason, and we turn it into a long-running TV show that combines the best parts of Charlie’s Angels and 90-Day Fiancé. Plus: a Ruse Cruise captained by Mr. Trollface, all the billionaires ex-wives, good season five problems, better George Orwell books, and the breakup version of Law And Order. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, May 14, 2021
A God-Fearing Town (With Sarah Rhea Werner)
Today on No Bad Ideas: 90's fads! Grief counseling! Erotica! Devious librarians! And special guest star, Sarah Rhea Werner! First, Zach brings us the story of a 90's fad that, when it died, had its very own wake, funeral, and memorial service. The team turns it into a heartwarming period dramedy about families, grieving, and confronting our own mortality through parenthood. Then, Sarah presents an article about a town that made the news when a book swap box got a little too saucy. The squad turns it into a film about a library trying to get funding through erotica and scandal! Then, we have a short discussion with Sarah Werner about creating during the pandemic and the virtues of teaching others the craft of writing. All of that, plus: disgruntled priests, digital life, holographic spouses, cesspits, and insatiable hungers. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Sarah Rhea Werner's work check out her website , follow her on Twitter , and tune into her shows Girl in Space and The Write Now Podcast . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, May 06, 2021
Don't You Want To Be There On My Birthday?
Today on No Bad Ideas: girlfriends! Birthdays! Scams! Tokens! Art! On our first bad idea, Gabriel brings the team a report of a man who was dating a lot of women so that he could have birthdays all year round. We try our best to turn it into the story of a spy who is very desperately trying to get caught. Then, Sarah presents an article about an NFT whose auction may result in a real art piece getting destroyed. We come up with the elite team of museum curators who is going to save the art world from itself through theft and crime. All of that, plus: the Dark Souls of dating sims, drawings on refrigerators, Silicon Valley villainy, establishments who have lost their mind, and terrible schemes. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, April 29, 2021
Gotta Be the Bear (With Christopher Dole)
Today on No Bad Ideas: it's special guest star Christopher Dole, co-creator of Arden! Also bear fighting, incompetent criminals, and a conversation about creating content while the world is upside down! In our first story, the gang takes Sarah's story about a man who (unsuccessfully) tries to fight a bear and turns it into a film about a has-been wrestler who tries to jump start his career by... yep, you guessed it! Then, Zach brings us the story of a scam based around getting young children addicted to gambling through apps that masquerade as kids' games. The squad does their best to figure out how to turn this into a film about the criminal screw-ups who accidentally find themselves in the middle of a digital goldmine. Finally, we have a conversation with Christopher about how he got mixed up in the podcasting racket, how Arden strikes it's one-of-a-kind balance, and how he finds the show's rhythm and musicality as Arden's editor! All of that, plus: the stupidest case in the department, therapy being the moral of the story, disturbances in multiple parks, Don Corleone's daughter's wedding, and games with animated poop emojis. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, April 23, 2021
End Of The Rainbow
We’re back after a quick Unseen hiatus (have you listened to the latest episode of Unseen ? It’s very good!) with some visibly bad ideas! First, Sarah delivers a wheelbarrow full of pennies to Zach and Gabriel, who turn a story of petty bullying by a horrible boss into a Leprechaun with the absolute worst luck. Then, Gabriel presents a research expedition that no one asks for and we turn it into a psychological thriller that plays with the limits of human endurance and the passage of time. Plus: the Scrooge McDuck, time-out island, radioactive nonsense, more tales of Job, and for sure a real website. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, April 08, 2021
Big Jim's Shady Friends (With Mike Schubert)
Today on No Bad Ideas: the triumphant return of guest star Mike Schubert to the Bad Ideas Thunderdome! Plus two stories of theft, technology, art, and daring getaways! In our first bad idea, a man's crypto misfortune is turned into a violent rampage of revenge... and its sequel... and then the sequel to the sequel. Then, Mike brings us the tale of a series of art thieves who take a very unusual escape route from the museum they have plundered. The gang does their best to adapt their story into something with depth and plausible character motivations. All of that, plus: Schwarzenegger-style puns, an alternative version of the 1980's, the word "fungible," animal-based nicknames, and things going hog wild. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Check out the Kickstarter campaign for Mike's new show, Modern Muckraker . And check out Mike's ongoing shows Potterless , Horse , and Meddling Adults ! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, April 02, 2021
Goddammit, Bobby!
This week on No Bad Ideas: Airplanes! Stowaways! Performance art! Carbon dating! For our first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the story of a woman who has made a habit out of sneaking into airplanes all over the world. The gang does their best to turn it into an epic space western opera of one woman's struggle to preserve her freedom from the evil empire. Then, Sarah presents the story of a woman who is trying to decide whether she should break up with her immature boyfriend or not. The team turns it into a tale of an epic relationship drama in the world of archeology. All of that, plus: people who just want to be left alone, crude etchings, little kids who meet mythic figures, radical new origin stories, and the worst version of Carmen Sandiego in the world. Idea #1 Idea #2 Join our Share the Magic campaign to promote our new show, Unseen , for opportunity to win exclusive Unseen merchandise! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sun, March 28, 2021
Lies All the Way Down
Today on No Bad Ideas: road trips, excellent names, super villains, and gritty reboots! In our first idea, Sarah brings us the story of an unforgettable man who took a very ill-advised plane ride with an extremely ill-advised cargo. The gang does their best to turn it into a modern, dark, gritty reboot of a beloved 90's family comedy film. Then, Zach presents the tale of a mother who crosses some terrible lines to help her daughter get ahead in life. The team reconfigures it into a story of mother-daughter bonding against the backdrop of an epic superhero-supervillain rivalry. All of that, plus: money of undisclosed origin, evil ice cream, the name of a franchise character, the drug master of wherever, and the most inevitable article that's ever existed. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 18, 2021
Do Not Dungeon
We’re back - with some of the most extreme bad (and good!) ideas we’ve had on the show in a while. First, Zach brings us one of the worst kidnapping stories we’ve heard and we decide to ignore the awfulness entirely and build a tavern in a fantasy world where dumping annoying adventurers in a dungeon is much more understandable. Then Gabriel has a story made possible by Facebook, and having a fairly common name. We take a bad idea that turned out impossibly well and complicate it with some of the ambitions and heartrending drama of a band that wants to go big. Plus: an Indiana Jones opening, dares from the Universe, Kafkaesque bureaucracy, #content, and the casino business. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 You can check out The Paul O’Sullivan Band on YouTube . Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fri, March 12, 2021
High-Touch Heists
Today on No Bad Ideas: social media, bad dates, vaccines, and grandmas! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a man who seeks a very distasteful kind of "justice" after a bad date. The gang tries their best to turn it into a romcom-y scheme involving a completely fictional pop star that isn't based on anyone in the real world. Then, Gabriel presents the story of two women who dressed up as grannies for the most timely heist of the year. Can the squad find a way to turn them into the unlikely heroes of a progressive crime film? All of that, plus: our least sympathetic protagonist ever, ingenious medical knowledge, inside men, a year of absurdity, and high effort/low reward scams! Idea #1 Idea #2 Join our Share the Magic campaign to promote our new show, Unseen , for opportunity to win exclusive Unseen merchandise! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, March 04, 2021
Pull Me Over (If You Can)
Content Warning: this episode's second idea contains mention of suicide. If you would like to avoid this content, please stop listening at the 19:00 mark. Today on No Bad Ideas: high-speed business opportunities and medical chatbots giving people dangerous advice! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the opportunity of a fast and furious lifetime: the chance to buy a rocket car at a steal. The gang feels the need - the need for speed - and does everything they can to turn it into an unlicensed sequel to Drive. Then, Zach brings us the story of a medical chatbot that gives some questionable advice. The gang does their best to turn it into the tale of an AI that goes rogue when it needs to impersonate a powerful gangster's psychiatrist. All of that, plus: Urbina-Landia, the boardroom of bad startups, Evird Garage, perfect grammar, and Simulated Bernie. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Join our Share the Magic campaign to promote our new show, Unseen , for opportunity to win exclusive Unseen merchandise! Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 25, 2021
A Superhero of Terribleness
Today on No Bad Ideas... Rings! Thieves! Railroads! Mind Control! Clowns! Ecology Professors! In our first story, Gabriel brings us the latest exploits of No Bad Ideas's favorite superhero: Florida Man! What's he been up to? Proposing to his girlfriend... with his secret lover's rings. The gang turns it into a Western about a group of badass wronged ladies who are out for revenge. Then, in our second story, Zach brings us the tale of a conference discussing censorship... which was then censored! The gang does their best to turn it into a new take on the concept of a society where the government controls absolutely everything, even who is allowed to exist! All of that, plus: maximum suspense, the champion we deserve, a supernatural curse, a party of a sort, and better television shows. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 18, 2021
Traditional... But Underwater
Today on No Bad Ideas, feline lawyers and extreme nuptials! In our first bad idea, Sarah brings us the story of a lawyer who's video chat turns against them, and makes them look like a cat. The gang does their best to turn it into a high stakes, high pressure, public relations-based thriller. Then, Gabriel presents the tale of a couple who got married sixty feet beneath the surface. The team does their best to turn it into the next fish-out-of-water romantic comedy, with the added twist of a Martian setting! All of that, plus: the cesspool of all the bad things humanity has done, the Iguana President, mysterious weekend activities, Big Mars Productions, and pitches that are bought in the room. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 11, 2021
Stuck In The System
We’re back with two more bad ideas from The Future… and the future is now. Zach starts us off with an entrepreneurial idea that will surely have no unintended consequences and we turn it into a thriller that starts with the Stasi and ends among the stars. Then Sarah has a dilemma from the world of online education, which we turn into a con that brings a whole university together. Plus: our ten minute TedTalks, a week of white void, nearly-there technology, the reference squad, and the five least believable words in the English language. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thu, February 04, 2021
Gotta Improvise, Baby
We’re wasting no time and jumping from zero to sixty with the bad ideas this week. Gabriel starts us off with a car thief who found way more than they bargained for in a stolen vehicle. A deeply strange riff on the buddy comedy ensues. Then Sara raises, if not the dead, then a standoff between man and ghost. We turn it into a story full of supernatural misunderstandings and misplaced confidence. Plus: the weirdest meet-cute, Ghostbuster merch, blinding nativity, small things going wrong, and a sublime lack of self-awareness. Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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