Tbtl- Too Beautiful To Live

Luke and Andrew process their feelings after a very tough day of very awful news. They also discuss the unstoppable force known as “anxiety cleaning,” and Luke gets some good news about Dick Butkus.

Luke was on TikTok when it went dark this weekend, and his feelings about the app might be shifting. He and Andrew also discuss their pal, Chris Hayes, being portrayed on Saturday Night Live. And Andrew’s addiction to the NFL playoffs is creating more scheduling problems.  

Luke and Andrew remember the life and work of the inimitable David Lynch, who passed away this week. They also introduce a new, cutting-edge podcast segment called The TBTL Community Calendar! (Watch out, local AM radio!) 

Luke and Andrew review such films as A Real Pain, The Darjeeling Limited, and the documentary Dig. They also pay tribute to the life and brilliance of Bob Uecker before turning their attention to a hyper-local conversation about the bars and erstwhile restaurants in a 3 block radius of Greenwood. 

**Note: The version of this episoded that posted earlier today had a technical glitch, so this is a re-upload of the full show to hopefully correct the issue** Luke finally explains why he is in a knock-out, drag-out fight with his favorite airline. He and Andrew also listen-in on a 1971 phone conversation between Bob Dylan and the man who has spent decades harassing him.

Luke helps Andrew de-Zuckerberg his life. They also discuss Luke’s obsession with military machines in San Diego, Andrew’s fear of heights, and online reviews of the now-defunct Moose Mcgillicuddy's

A conversation about drones leads to a conversation about Tom Brady which somehow leads to a conversation about the plight of humanity. It’s definitely a weird show for a Monday. Plus, Luke got lasered in the sky on his way to San Diego yesterday. 

Luke has fallen head-over-heels in love with his new, modern toilet. Andrew is surprisingly excited about something stupid called Super Wild Card Weekend. And, after an investment firm just bought up a bunch of legacy store brands, Luke and Andrew discuss modern mall culture and the olfactory pleasures of Auntie Anne’s pretzels.

Luke wrote in to a newspaper today with a correction, but he’s not sure how to feel about that. He and Andrew also discuss the massive fires that are upending lives in Los Angeles. And Andrew has some good news after a trip to the post office. 

Luke attempted a complicated recipe last night that involved one ingredient and two steps. He also shares a roundup of interesting audio, some originating from outer space, some from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Luke and Andrew each celebrate an anniversary today, which sends them down a memory lane that is perfect for losing any new listeners who may be checking out the show after hearing Luke’s story on This American Life this weekend. They also talk about old salad bars, cold restaurants, French-speaking hummingbirds, and personal thermostat preferences.

Changes at HBO Max are getting in the way of Luke’s enjoyment of Somebody, Somewhere. Andrew also catches Luke up on the drama surrounding the resurrected mascot at the Pop-Tart Bowl. And they make their plans to profit off of Popeye The Sailor Man, now that he’s in the public domain.   

Andrew shares one of the cringiest memories of his broadcasting career. He and Luke also go over some of the Top Stories that they accidentally skipped last year, including a story of a stinky milk pond, new rules for Costco hot dogs, and Ralph Nader’s campaign to restore his favorite pens to their previous splendor.

Luke and Andrew have a serious conversation about Fresca that they should have had a long time ago. Luke also lets Andrew in on some of the soda scams his family ran in the 90s.

Luke and Andrew assume they have a bunch of new listeners since it’s a brand new year. So they try to catch everyone up on what’s been happening on TBTL for the past 17 years. They also revisit some of the fancy words they employed in 2024.

Luke and Andrew delve into listener Kristen’s list of TBTL vocabulary words that stood out to her in 2024. They also celebrate the life of Andre Braugher and explore the stand-up comedy roots of Richard Belzer. 

Luke  and Andrew use data and a spreadshee to analyze TBTL’s opening tape over the past four years. Plus, Luke discovers a new skill that’s perfect for the digital age. 

Luke finds himself in an awkward conversation with someone he wrongly assumed had very different political views than himself.  He and Andrew also tackle one of the Top Stories that they skipped in 2024: Oxford’s “Word Of The Year.” Andrew has issues with it!   

Luke and Andrew come up with the perfect way to close-out the TBTL year. But are they professional enough to pull it off? They also examine the proud tradition of hiding comic books inside text books. 

Luke celebrates Christmas with some personal travel news that he’s quite excited about. Andrew almost ruins the holiday by bringing up a nog-related family dispute. And they finally weigh-in on the Elvis stamp debate of 1992.