Published by Trace Elements Media
Seriously researched answers to absolutely ridiculous questions. New episodes every week.
Listen on Apple Podcasts1 hr 20 min
In this TAPE classic, Trace tackles a transportation problem of his own creation by figuring out just how many chihuahuas it would take to complete the Iditarod, the legendary dogsled race across hundreds of miles of Alaskan wilderness, forcing him to confront the limits of canine endurance, logistics, and plain old common sense. Meanwhile, Julian investigates whether AI can help cook an egg, only to discover that turning a simple breakfast into a prompt-driven exercise may be far more complicated than cracking a shell. QUESTIONS Trace: "How many chihuahuas would it take to complete the Iditarod?" from Loren Julian: "How many ChatGPT queries would I need to cook an egg?” from AJ Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
38 min
This week, Trace and Julian embark on a surprisingly existential mission: finding the most boring day in history. Easy, right? Just pick a day where nothing happened. Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on how you look at it—the universe refuses to sit still. From the way our brains define boredom to the impossible task of measuring excitement across an entire planet (and beyond), Trace discovers that "nothing happened" may be one of the hardest things to prove. After all, if trees are growing, species are evolving, galaxies are colliding, and someone somewhere is having the weirdest day of their life, can any day really be boring? QUESTION Trace: “What's the boring-est day in history?" from Levi Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
59 min
This week, Trace dives into the eerie blue glow of Cherenkov radiation—the phenomenon that makes nuclear reactors look suspiciously like sci-fi props—and asks the obvious next question: is blue really the best color? Meanwhile, Julian heads beneath the waves to investigate one of nature's most famous "friendships," only to discover that when it comes to biological partnerships, the documentary 'Finding Nemo' might have glossed over a few crucial details. Turns out, even the natural world has its fair share of freeloaders, bad roommates, and complicated relationship dynamics. QUESTIONS Trace: “Can we change the colour of Cherenkov Radiation?” from Miles (Jen Jen) in New Zealand Julian: “How actually symbiotic are clownfish and anemones? For that matter, are symbiotic relationships actually evenly give and take?” from Brendan Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 15 min
This week, Julian launches an investigation into “Big Sun” and its wild claim that humans can somehow absorb vitamins from a giant nuclear fireball 93 million miles away. Unfortunately for conspiracy theorists, that actually does somehow happen. Later, Trace ventures into the unexplored corners of the human mind to ask whether there are any feelings that nobody has ever experienced before—and whether humanity might still be hiding entirely new emotions somewhere beyond the edge of our emotional vocabulary. QUESTIONS Julian: “Is absorbing vitamin D through sunlight a real thing or is this propaganda from Big Sun? If it is real, how does it work, what else do we absorb from the sun, and does this work on furry animals?” from David Trace: “Are there emotions that no one has ever felt before?” from Liza Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
56 min
In this TAPE Classic episode, Trace explores the science of stasis, diving into hyper-sleep, cryogenic freezing, and whether humanity might one day be able to snooze our way through long journeys. Meanwhile, Julian applies rocket science to one of humanity’s least celebrated forms of propulsion, uncovering just how much thrust it would take to achieve the dream of self-powered flight. As a bonus, an unexpected detour reveals that the 1993 classic film “Demolition Man" may have been far more prophetic than anyone intended. QUESTIONS Trace: "Could hyper-sleep ever be a possibility?" from Dartland Julian: "How hard would I have to fart to lift off the ground?" from Ricky Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
59 min
This week, Trace and Julian are joined by special guest Dr. Ella Hubber as they embark on a quest to stop natural processes both big and small. Julian combines a little physics and engineering, a smidge of meteorology, and a dash of aerodynamics—and, yeah, he brings up airplanes, because he’s Julian—to potentially stop the wind. Meanwhile, Ella explores solutions to one of humanity’s most persistent inconveniences and discovers how we may finally be able to tackle the capital "P" Problem. Literally. QUESTIONS Julian: “Wind turbines steal energy as they turn. How many wind turbines would it take to stop the wind?” from Ella Hubber (and her husband) Ella Hubber: “What if humans only peed once a year?” from Julia Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
52 min
If our magic button killed every microbe on Earth — all bacteria, all viruses, gone — what would be left standing? Spoiler: You'd be missing something powerful. Julian goes full overachiever and zooms in on FOUR questions all on this devastating topic. Then, Trace, somewhere else in the solar system, is singing in the rain. But does it even rain elsewhere? Is rain weird? Find out this week! Julian answers: "What would be the implications, good and bad, we successfully killed all microbes." from JWT2009 "What would happend if ALL bacteria and viruses in the world seized to exist?" from Vicky "What would happen if all of the bacteria in your body died or disappeared?" from Jacob "What if there were no microorganisms?" from Stephen Trace answers: "How does rain sound like on other planets?" from Villem Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
38 min
Did you know our very own Trace Dominguez is the host of another podcast, Health vs Hype with the American Medical Association? Every week on HvH Trace talks about health-related trends circulating online. Everything from protein, creatine, fasting, red light therapy, you name it! Each episode centers on one trend and separates what's actually backed by science from what's over-promised hype. In this episode, Trace uncovers the science behind viral sleep trends, and reveals what actually works to improve sleep quality. From mouth tape and melatonin to your sleep tracker, breath work, and sleep divorces, millions of Americans are experimenting with trending sleep hacks. More than half of U.S. adults have tried at least one viral sleep trend. But are these methods backed by science…or just social media hype? Featuring insights from lifestyle content creator Lucie Fink, sleep storyteller Kathryn Nicolai, and sleep medicine expert Dr. Jose Colon, this episode answers the questions: Does your sleep tracker actually improve sleep or increase anxiety? Is mouth tape safe or potentially dangerous? How much sleep do you really need for optimal health? What is heart rate variability (HRV), and does it matter? You’ll also learn why “trying harder” to sleep can backfire, how social media influences health behaviors, and which simple, evidence-based strategies can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling restored. If you’ve ever struggled with insomnia, experimented with sleep optimization, or wondered whether viral wellness trends are worth it, this episode gets to the bottom of it all. To learn more, visit: amahealthvshype.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
53 min
This week, Trace and Julian accidentally stumble into what may be the most in-depth discussion of a certain food-based weather movie ever recorded. To determine whether giant pancakes, spaghetti tornadoes, and burger-based weather systems would actually be fun or the beginning of humanity’s downfall, Trace recruits our associate producer, Sabrina Capello. Longtime listeners may know her as the person who bullies us on social media, but today she joins the show in her true role: professional opinion haver and alarmingly dedicated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs expert. What begins as a whimsical thought experiment quickly turns into a shocking investigation into a world far more horrifying than the movie ever suggests. QUESTIONS Trace: “Should it start raining food tomorrow (i.e. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), what would be the worst food weather?” from Connor Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 4 min
This week, Trace conducts a cosmic investigation into whether our nearest celestial neighbor is secretly trying to sunburn us, only to find that the real danger lies in UV radiation’s nasty habit of finding creative ways to reach your skin—even on a cloudy day. Later, special guest Chelsea Gohd dives into nature’s version of Battle of the Bands, investigating which animals have the skills, creativity, and stage presence to headline the ultimate wildlife concert. QUESTIONS Chelsea Gohd: “What animal would make the best musician (not humans)?” from Nick Trace: “What are the most unobvious ways to get sunburned? Is it possible to get sunburn from the moon?” from Paco Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 1 min
This week, Julian explores whether animals can be allergic to humans, digging into all things histamine to find out if nature has ever collectively decided that people are, medically speaking, just too annoying to be around. Later, Trace investigates a deeply cursed question: how many holes do humans really have? Oh, and he also tackles the ACTUAL question of what it would be like if humans were born full of holes—think a walking, talking monstera plant, but flesh. Horrifying… and also quite unsanitary. QUESTIONS Julian: “Are there recorded cases of plants and animals being found to be allergic to humans?” from David Trace: “What if humans were born with lots of holes in us? Not wounds, but like a monstera leaf. Could we run faster? Swim? Would that solve anything?” from Dalla in the Bay Area Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 7 min
If we had a nickel for every time Julian answered a question involving pigeons, we’d have two nickels. Not that many, but weird that it’s happened twice. This week, he investigates pigeon logistics, excreta coverage, and everything about the Great Wall of China, all fueled by the power of basic research and—horrifyingly—firsthand investigation. Meanwhile, Trace attempts to outsmart the cruel economics of holiday birthdays using special and general relativity, which was definitely the simplest and most reasonable way possible to solve this problem. QUESTIONS Julian: “How many days would it take a single pigeon to cover the Great Wall of China in excrement?” from Jonathan Trace: “What kind of relativistic shenanigans would I need to pull in order to change my birthday by one month?” from Ryan Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 20 min
Hi fellow nerds! As many of you may know, Julian is back at school as an engineering student. As many of you may ALSO know, that's freakin' hard! So to give Julian a bit of a break, we're re-airing one of our favorite TAPE classics featuring friend-of-the-Absurd, Tom Scott. Please enjoy the episode as much as we do, and see you guys very soon with a brand new episode! 🤘 ____ You’re at a hockey game. You grabbed nachos and your favorite sports beverage. The Mighty Ducks are playing their rivals, and you look away from the ice to take a selfie with a selfie stick so long you have to brace it against your hip to snap the pic. As you smile with your crew, a flash of white light envelops the stadium as the air catches fire. The noise is deafening. When you whip around, you see a hole in the stadium where the Duck’s goal used to be … outside the full moon is melting. You wonder if the nachos would taste good covered in moon cheese. You snap the photo. Ohhhh, the good ol’ hockey game; it’s the best game you can name, and the best game you can name? It’s the good old hockey game. QUESTIONS Trace: "Theoretically, how long could you make a selfie stick?" from Tom Scott Tom: "Would it be possible to hit a hockey puck so hard that when it hits the goalie, they fly backward through the net and hit the back wall?" from Steven Julian: "What if the moon was actually made of cheese?" from Cody, and seprately, Shane Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 7 min
Is that a slogan for hair shampoo or fizzy drinks? Well, kick back, relax, and crack open a can—or, you know, be like us and choose from one of the many flat ones you forgot on your desk. Either way, if you’re serious about your bubbles, Julian has a proposition for you: skip the middleman and suckle straight from the teat of the soda fountain. On the flip side, Trace embarks on a trek to the follicular frontier to discover how much hair you’d have to grow to actually lose weight. It’s a hairy situation, but we’re all about life hacks on this show! QUESTIONS Julian: “What would it take to pour a Coke without losing any of the carbonation?” from Macks Trace: “How much hair do I need to grow to lose weight?” from Emilie Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 4 min
This week, Trace digs into whether life could’ve ever gotten its start somewhere else—say, Mars, for example—quickly pointing out that our lovely planet's existence is already pretty insane on its own. Meanwhile, Julian takes a simple “why hot things glow red” question and follows it straight through Max Planck to the idea of whether the universe itself has a maximum possible temperature. Naturally, we end up circling the origin of everything like that isn’t wildly overkill, and we somehow accidentally relive the Big Bang along the way. QUESTIONS Julian: “Is there a limit to how hot something can get?” from Tyler Trace: “Could we be martians?” from Wyn Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 3 min
If you’ve been itching for a cross-country trip, you could just book a flight like a normal person… but where’s the fun in that? This week, Julian (heroically) avoids talking about aviation and instead explores his second-favorite mode of transportation: a Mazda Miata outfitted with two Ferrari engines bolted to the sides. Yes, it has training wheels. No, that does not pass inspection. Meanwhile, Trace is busy figuring out if he can hang ten on a giant Detroit-style pepperoni pizza—which, shockingly, is *mostly* possible but, unshockingly, not very delicious. QUESTIONS Julian: “How fast would I have to go to coast from L.A. to New York?” from Alan Trace: “Is there any way that you could use a pizza, cooked or frozen, as a surfboard?” from Parker Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
57 min
This week on the pod, Julian makes a groundbreaking discovery: contrary to popular belief, humans and squid are, in fact, very different animals. One species commonly needs glasses, and the other…sometimes may also need glasses? Meanwhile, Trace tries to figure out if sound could travel slower in the dark, and the answer is yes! As long as you’re okay with being instantly vaporized. 😊 QUESTIONS Julian: “Do squid need glasses?” from Kristine Trace: “Does sound travel slower in a dark room?” from Leroy Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 6 min
This week, Trace turns a completely normal human behavior into a full-blown scientific investigation, uncovering how airflow, temperature, and mouth geometry can make you feel like you’re secretly developing budget-tier superpowers. Meanwhile, Julian takes a bold step forward for both science and dairy by stress-testing the limits of cheese in a scenario it was never meant to survive. Along the way: thermodynamics, questionable engineering choices, and the realization that just because something can exist in a lava-like state doesn’t mean it should . QUESTIONS Julian: “How much cheese could protect the space shuttle?” from Adam Trace: “Why is it when you breathe like hooo it’s cold but when you breathe like haaaaa it’s hot?” from Tater Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 17 min
Hi all! As I'm sure those of you with the patience to sit through the end credits know, the show is edited and produced by Kyle Sisk. Kyle is the glue holding this podcast together, taking the loose collection of pocket lint that makes up the brains of the two hosts and stitching it together into a beautiful audio tapestry. Without Kyle there truly would be no show. How do we know this? Because this week, we had no Kyle. Kyle came down with COVID and this man STILL tried to get an episode cut together in time for our regular upload. Ultimately we decided his recovery is more important than an arbitrary deadline for a silly show where we're probably going to be talking about dogs made of spaghetti or something, and so this week will be another of our old favorites. Please enjoy! In this episode, it's a battle of (nit)wits! Trace discovers the deadly truth about poison immunity while Julian figures out how to make the worst numbering system imaginable. Questions Julian: "Can you still do maths using a unary (base 1) numeral system?" from Mason Trace: "How long would it have taken Westley to build up his immunity to iocaine powder?" from Tessa Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. HELP US MAKE THE SHOW Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow [[ JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout X (formerly, Twitter): @Huggetout [[ TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez YouTube: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez X (formerly, Twitter): @tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
1 hr 17 min
Hey all! This week, we're rebroadcasting a very memorable TAPE episode from last June to give ourselves a bit of a break: Julian's flight school classes started up again in full force and Trace is traveling back and forth to Brazil to visit his partner while they're undergoing their IVF journey. Don't you fret, though, because this episode contains ⚡️SHOCKING⚡️ and 🪽SOARING🪽 content! Trace tries to inhale a lethal dose of ozone from a bunch of sweaters and Julian finally receives free rein to talk about aviation as much as he wants... but not in the way you'd expect. Thanks for tuning in, and see you next week with a brand new episode! — Setting: Dry, warm evening in a small pub in Los Angeles. Deputy Julian: "Whew-whee! What's that smell?!" Detective Kyle (with a light drawl): "That's ozone, Julian. Something out of this world happened in this English phone box." Dep. Julian (looking up at the sky): "By out of this world…you mean up there in the sky?" Det. Kyle: sighs heavily Dep. Julian: "I'm going to go check!" Julian unfurls his giant grotesque wings. After a few large flaps, he has risen into the air. He begins sweating profusely. Dep. Julian: "GAH, I should've taken off this heavy sweatshirt!" Det. Kyle: Pulls out his bubble pipe "Bye, LaForge. I think you've got it!" QUESTIONS Julian: "Could humans ever actually evolve to have the ability to fly? How hard would it be?" from Madeline Trace: "How many sweatshirt you have to remove to inhale a lethal dose of ozone created by static discharge?" from Phillippe Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us! HOW TO ASK A QUESTION 🖥️ Submit on our website: thatsabsurdshow.com/ask ☎️ Leave a voicemail: (302) TAPE-SHO [+1-302-827-3746] 📬 E-mail questions to hello at thatsabsurdshow.com If we use your question we’ll give you a shout out in the episode. WANT MORE US? SUPPORT THE SHOW! Want to support us and other indie creators? Join Nebula go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow Want to help decide which questions we answer? Join our patreon patreon.com/thatsabsurdshow SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] YouTube: @ThatsAbsurdShow Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow Bluesky: @thatsabsurdshow.com [[ FOLLOW JULIAN ]] Instagram: @Huggetout Threads: @Huggetout [[ FOLLOW TRACE ]] Instagram: @tracedominguez Threads: @tracedominguez BlueSky: @tracedominguez.com YouTube: youtube.com/@tracedominguez And don’t sleep on ThatsAbsurdShow.com . There you can browse images and videos we find during our research and listen to every episode of the show. CREDITS This episode of That's Absurd Please Elaborate was written by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, edited by Kyle Sisk, and produced by all three of us with the support of our Patrons. Theme Music by Epidemic Sound; learn more here: http://nebula.tv/epidemic Thanks for listening to That's Absurd Please Elaborate. We appreciate you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .