Shows
Mark and ToddcastA Chlamydia-Free Summer Wrap-UpIt's been a minute, but Mark and Todd are back for an end-of-summer news wrap-up, including great news for promiscuous koalas! (And for those looking for a break from last week's big news story, we don't discuss that here at all, so we're a nice escape from that particular news cycle.) Come hear about Texas's new maggot factory, DOGE's lack of efficiency, Oregon's fallout from Medicare cuts, the Denmark zoo wants your pets, bugs that cause "Kissing Disease", the West Coast's new health alliance, and magic dust that prevent the Amish from getting allergies. Enjoy!
2025-09-1751 min
Mark and ToddcastPortland at the Movies: "Blast!" (2000)The Unipiper noted that this movie begins like "Stand by Me," but ends up like "Reservoir Dogs." While not exactly right, he's not far off describing this 2000 movie with some legitimately shocking twists and compelling turns. But because this is a movie made around Portland (Vernonia, to be exact), it falls short of being an actual good movie. Find out why on this month's episode.
2025-08-271h 23
Mark and ToddcastPortland at the Movies: "Raising Flagg" (2006)Our Portland at the Movies server is having issues, so in the meantime, here's the latest episode of PatM, which looks at the 2006 Alan Arkin film "Raising Flagg."
"This month we head out to the Oregon countryside (and St. Helens!) for this family comedy (?) drama (?) about a cantankerous old man (Alan Arkin) healing the relationships (?) between him and his many, many children. Also, there's a lawsuit about sheep piss. Can Glenne Headly or Lauren Holly save this? Cook yourself some organic, fertilized eggs and pull out that rocking chair to find out."
2025-08-1156 min
Mark and ToddcastMining for Neutrinos in South Dakota's Black HillsA mile underground under the tiny city of Lead, South Dakota -- a former gold mining town -- is home to one of the most sensitive scientific measurement systems ever created, all to find and measure one of the most abundant and mysterious particle in the universe. So what is a neutrino, and how do you find and measure something practically invisible? Find out on this week's episode.
2025-08-0447 min
Mark and ToddcastWhat We Did On Summer Vacation and All the News We MissedAfter graduations, sicknesses, hospitalizations, travel, and more, we're finally back in the saddle catching up on all the news we missed while we were out. Come for the measles, and stay for a bath!
2025-07-221h 04
Mark and ToddcastHetero Awesome Fest Warms Our CocklesIn this exciting all-news episode, we take a look at the dozens of attendees at Idaho's "Heterosexual Awesome Fest," asbestos is back, Washington State's proposed speed laws, Idaho brings back the firing squad, baseball might be coming to Portland, a Star Wars experience at Lloyd Center, a breakthrough for fighting HIV, environmental characteristics turn a male mammal into a female, and much, much more. Enjoy!
2025-06-2300 min
Mark and ToddcastOops! All NewsOur planned interview fell through for this week, but that gives us an opportunity to catch up on all the news we've been putting off. Come with us as we meander through 250 million bees on the loose, acid leaks and new venues in N. Portland, no more thicc plastic bags, what happens in your brain during an 'a-ha!' moment, RFK Jr.'s "MAHA" report based on non-existent studies, night owls and dementia, a Utah study on trans people finds conservative sponsors of that study wrong, AI resorts to blackmail, and bear cubs raised by people in bear costumes...
2025-06-021h 06
Mark and ToddcastTop 5 Aliens Living Among UsWith so many so-called "alien encounters" throughout history, has there been any consistency in people's descriptions? This week we dive into the top 5 most recounted alien types who may be living among us right now. Yes, there are lizard people (two kinds!). In the news, Oklahoma forces schools to teach conspiracy theories, Utah bans fluoride, U.S. cities are sinking, life expectancy in the south is now on par with the year 1900, RFK Jr. implores people to not listen to him about medicine and science, who falls for pseudo-intellectual bullshit, and monkeys using leaves as...um..."tools." I want...
2025-05-201h 02
Mark and ToddcastSo Much News We May Be ArrrestedThis week Todd is joined by Dave Baehler from the NotNerd podcast to plow through the giant pile of news accumulated since our last show. Join us as we dive into AI police robots, RIP Alpenrose Dairy and artificial coloring, Minnesota Republicans introduce vaccine bill written by a hypnotist, Measles Watch 2025, great news for those who love salmonella in their chicken, a deep dive into why conservatives distrust science (even when science agrees with them), a Texas Furry ban, and a happy Hetero Awesome Fest to you and yourn.
2025-05-061h 17
Mark and ToddcastAum Shinrikyo - The Japanese Doomsday CultAum Shinrikyo was an active doomsday cult in Japan throughout the 1990s, and were responsible for the Sarin gas attacks on the Japanese subway, and threatened attacks around the world -- including Disneyland, which is where our story intersects with one Dr. RIP VHS. FInd out all about them on this week's show. In the news segment: "Illegal Ideas," Mein Kampf in and Maya Angelou is out at Navy libraries, the "truth decay" of congress, both a womb transplant and sperm transplant (unrelated to each other), AI upends fingerprinting, the moon is drifting away, the "Dire Wolf" situation, and...
2025-04-1659 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Ingenuity of IngenuityMany of us know about the Mars Opportunity rover currently on Mars, but some may not know about a self-piloting helicopter called Ingenuity that traveled with Opportunity. Designed for 5 flights, it ended up making over 70, collecting all sort of data as well as a proof of concept that a drone helicopter can fly in Mars's atmosphere. Hear Ingenuity's story this week! In our news segment: Wienerschnitzel eyeing Portland, YouTube is almost bigger than Disney, more book bans from people wanting "freedom," the saga of the I5 Uncle Sam Billboard (iykyk), a computer that runs on human neurons, hallucinogenic barbarians...
2025-04-0954 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Cult of PythagorasMost of us know his theorum: a2 + b2 = c2. But few of us knew Pythagoras was the leader of his own cult/religion that lasted centuries -- and BOY did they hate fava beans. Find out more on this week's show. In our news segment: Oregon Children's Theater fails, the measles thrive, the Smithsonian's "Improper Ideology," the founder of Pirate's Booty attempt a coup of his city, sonic weapons, "spare" human bodies, and you'll never guess what happened to the Senator who thought "Trump Derangement Syndrome" should be a thing (you'll probably guess). Enjoy!
2025-04-021h 09
Mark and ToddcastThe Power (Consumption) of A.I.As tech companies keep convincing us A.I. is the way of the future, we stop to take a look at what that means for the power consumption necessary to produce results nobody really cares about and wants to avoid anyway. Dust off those nuclear power plants, because A.I. is here to stay regardless of whether we want it. In the news, we discuss federal cuts to protecting our dams, Amazon Echo won't let you record locally, scientists turn light into a solid, bananas that never brown, the Amazon forest gets plowed for climate change, and a dog...
2025-03-1758 min
Mark and ToddcastSensory-Consumer ScienceWe all know prepared foods and snacks are highly researched and studied to give us exactly what we want, but how do they do that? Are there measurements? When did it all start? Is that why we're all fat now? We'll answer those questions and so much more about the process of "Sensory-Consumer Science." In our news segment, we chat about Space X, Portland losing the "World's Smallest Park" crown, Gen Z is more pro-marriage than Millennials, a new unmanned Navy cruiser, why women age better than men, disappearing butterflies, the Enola "Not Gay," diamonds are forever (in your...
2025-03-111h 16
Mark and ToddcastHow We Know the Ages of ThingsOne of the push-backs we often hear from critics of evolution is how unreliable the method of Carbon-14 Dating is. Which is correct. Sort of. But Carbon-14 Dating is far from the only method we use to figure out how old the earth and galaxy around us is, and this week we explore the many different ways we can understand, test, and know the relative age of what's around us. Plus, the most decorated military dog in history, you may die of dysentery, Montana wants to ban vaccines, Trump's meme coin quasi-rug pull, obligatory Elon Musk news, and Utah...
2025-03-051h 09
Mark and ToddcastThe Zoot Suit Riots (Not the Cherry Poppin' Daddies one)Many of us remember the late 90s ska-fueled song "Zoot Suit Riots," but many may not know the song is based on a real event, in which racial tensions in 1940s Los Angeles exploded into a series of attacks on Mexican-Americans by Navy servicemen, culminating in a 5-day riot. This week we dive into that story, as well as talk current news stories like what on earth is happening with DOGE and "The Gulf of America," Portland's shortest race with the Unipiper, who is most likely to fall for disinformation online, and a viscous banana attack in 7-11. This s...
2025-02-181h 01
Mark and ToddcastWheel of Wikipedia (or was it "War of Wikipedia"?) with special guest Cara!This week we celebrate Todd's birthday by welcoming our wonderful friend Cara from Ohio. She joins us for the news, then takes on the role of judge as Mark and Todd go head-to-head for 5 rounds of "Wheel of Wikipedia" (which I'm now realizing is actually called "War of Wikipedia," but whatever). Cara is hilarious and the best person ever -- the perfect birthday show!
2025-02-051h 19
Mark and ToddcastA Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of ThatAs we close out one year and face down another one, we clear out the news and go for a wild ride involving crystals, "brainspotting," "Severence," Todd's favorite documentary, Clackamas Town Center and Washington Square malls, Dr. Pamplin steals from his employees, the Belmont Goats, "brain rot," the speed of human thought, RFK Jr. and chemtrails, the DOJ recognizes the Tulsa Massacre, our slow brains, and a cow swims the Columbia River and takes on I-84, and much, much more.
2025-01-201h 09
Mark and ToddcastThe Holotypic Occlupanid Research GroupIt's one last stocking stuffer from the Mark and Toddcast! Enjoy our final show of the year - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
2024-12-2452 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Long and Short of ItFor a Christmas treat, we recorded an extra long episode....which our recorder stopped recording at 32 minutes in for some reason. So while we didn't get to all of our stories or Mark's great topic about quantum measuring for GPS, we did manage to get in a few stories. And aren't a few stories better than none? No, of course not. But here they are anyway.
2024-12-1236 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Science of Corruption w/ Dave BaehlerDave Baehler of the NotNerd Podcast joins Todd this week to plow through the news pile, which includes the Willamette Valley Ornament Hunt, freezing your corpse for a monthly fee, life in the most inhospitable place on Earth, Mattel's "Wicked" mistake, Portland's Yelling Choir, the dangers of standing desks, Harriet Tubman awarded rank of general, and the Onion buys InfoWars. Then we pivot to talk about the science of corruption, and what can be done to curb it. Enjoy!
2024-11-181h 12
Mark and ToddcastThis $h!t Is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-SBananas are the most popular fruit in the United States, as well as all over the world. But banana-flavored candy sits at the bottom of our candy taste list - probably because it tastes nothing like bananas. Find out the weird history of both banana flavoring, as well as how we got to the bananas we have in the store today (spoilers: colonialism and the US overthrowing democracies). Peel and enjoy!
2024-11-1353 min
Mark and ToddcastWould You Like to Play a Game Theory?This week we look at something called "Game Theory," which is the study of mathematical models of strategic interactions, and has applications in many fields of social science, economics, logic, systems science, computer science, and more. We've also got an action-packed news segment, including Warhol- and cheese-related thefts, a new "Oregon Trail" movie, the new January 6 monument, vibrating spiders, and the clowns who built the Astoria Bridge.
2024-11-0555 min
Mark and ToddcastNate's Millions and Other NewsMark is out sick, so Todd is joined by NotNerd's very own Nate - who just had one of his Instagram posts hit a million views. Find out what it's like to go suddenly viral, as well as a news roundup that you have to listen to to the very end. I promise.
2024-10-231h 10
Mark and ToddcastJoyce vs. The $64,000 Question vs. the SenateThe $64,000 Question" was one of many 1950s game shows that was caught up in cheating scandals. We tell the story of the show, the senate hearings, and a woman named Joyce who defied everyone.In our news segment, we chat about a neo-Nazi falling to his death on Hitler's favorite mountain, Mt. Adams is rumbling, Mt. Rainier is shrinking, NASA heads to Jupiter, New York hates Salt & Straw, everyone lives in a haunted house, and more.
2024-10-1551 min
Mark and ToddcastMt. Tabor is Dead, BoringAlong with the grand volcanic dames of Mt. Hood, Rainier, St. Helens, and Adams, there are many extinct volcanoes and lava fields dotting the entire Portland area. This week we take a look at Mt. Tabor in specific, and the Boring Lava Field in general. In our news segment, we cover the end of tedious passwords, Earth's new second moon, which companies are undermining democracy, a second asteroid hits the dinosaurs, the cost of the "American Dream," and more.
2024-10-0956 min
Mark and ToddcastSpy Whales, Plastic Brains, and See-Through MiceIt's a world-wind tour around the news from the last couple of weeks, including Todd and the Unipiper's trip to Celtic Fest, Portland's stolen (or not) cat statue, the WNBA expansion, billboards hacked by furries, pickleball in Lloyd Center, our brains are now .5% plastic, Doritos make mice see-through, the mystery of the dead "spy" whale, and more. Enjoy!
2024-09-241h 02
Mark and ToddcastE.C. Waters: The Biggest A-hole in All of YellowstoneThis week we recap Todd's trip to Yellowstone, and focus on one of the earliest businessmen to set up shop in the new National Park: Steamboat owner/operator E.C. Waters, who was such a legendary a-hole that he was eventually completely banned from even entering the park. And in our news segment - school cellphone bans, LiveNation's Portland venue proposal, Boeing's ongoing astronaut disaster, Americans die younger, a next-gen battery storage lab in Richland, Wa., gallons of urine, Todd's new lifestyle, and much, much more. Enjoy!
2024-09-031h 09
Mark and ToddcastThe Church vs. The Lightning Rod"How dare one interfere with the mighty judgement of God and His wrath?!" Who knew the lightning rod was such a, well, lightning rod of controversy? Benjamin Franklin gave a gift to the world, and much like the still relevant battles pitting science against (a person's own definition of) God, not everyone wanted that gift. Burn the witches, we've got some history to learn. In the news segment: Oregon gets a C-, a person's morality changes with the season, Google declared a monopoly, a beaver causes internet outages, you won't believe where this one guy shoves an eel, and...
2024-08-131h 03
Mark and Toddcast"Dark Oxygen," the OshKosh Airshow, and the great Roseburg Blast of 1959After a trip through our news stories, including the creation of "dark oxygen" by lumpy nodules on the bottom of the ocean, stuck astronauts, Amazon's WalkOutShops super don't use humans in India to run their stores, more record heat, escaped turtles, and cocaine sharks, we take a closer look at a catastrophic explosion that happened in downtown Roseburg, Oregon, in 1959, completely destroying the city.
2024-08-0657 min
Mark and ToddcastEsperanto - The world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary languageEsperanto is a language created in the late 1800s as a way for everyone in the world to have an incredibly easy-to-learn and standardized secondary language, and has had enough success that it's still used for some government, military, and wikipedia translations today - and even spawned a movie starring William Shatner speaking the language. Find out all about Esperanto in this week's episode.
2024-07-241h 02
Mark and ToddcastStanislav Petrov Saves the WorldAfter a hefty portion of news, including plans for Lloyd Center, the Portland Pickles' THC drink, the Herman the Sturgeon conspiracy, the deletion of MTV News's entire back catalog from the internet, a man with 175 children, and much, much, much more, we focus on a man called Stanislav Petrov, a Russian soldier who received warning that Americans had started a nuclear attack on Russia and had to make the ultimate decision - hope it was a fake warning, or start the nuclear annihilation of the entire planet and everyone on it. So how was your day at work?
2024-07-081h 11
Mark and ToddcastThe Taco Bell Art HeistAfter a hefty dive into our news pile, which includes stories about sinking Panama islands, a look at what's happening in Cannon Beach, Baker City, and Oaks Park, a steer taller than Hollywood beefcake Jason Mamoa, bilingual AI brain implants, PSU vs. Boeing, the death of InfoWars and other right-wing propaganda sites, and another lawsuit against Madonna, and much, much more, we take a look at the mysterious disappearance and underground selling of the iconic paintings that adorned Taco Bells around the country in the 1990s. Hollywood beefcake Jason Mamoa is 6'4".
2024-06-111h 08
Mark and ToddcastThe Triumphant Return of the Unipiper and other newsThis week we chat with special guest the Unipiper about his return to playing the National Anthem at the Portland Timbers game, after muffing it the first go-around. He also stays to chat about our news roundup, including the advancement (or not) of AI political ads, the language of sperm whales unlocked, magnets made the earth flourish with life, a defrocked AI priest who suggested baptism via Gatorade, and much more.
2024-05-2158 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Barbie Liberation OrganizationIn 1993, TV news studios started receiving calls from kids who opened their Barbies and GI Joe dolls for Christmas only to discover Barbie shouting militaristic slogans and GI Joe talking about shopping. Later parodied on The Simpsons, this bit of "culture jamming" has its origins right here in Portland (which also involves ipecac, mashed potatoes, and vomiting at a Dan Quayle appearance). All that, and much more on this week's episode.
2024-05-0157 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Library of BabelIt's nice to find a library that has every book. But what if there's a library with every book ever printed, but also every sentence, paragraph, and page that could ever be written in the future? It's a heady concept, and it's called "The Library of Babel," which has more "books" than atoms in the entire universe. It's a lot, so join us this week as we crack the book open on this fascinating subject.
2024-04-091h 05
Mark and ToddcastSnacks, Leprosy, and TinnitusAnd if you thought those three things weren't enough, we also dive into sending the "essence of humanity" to the moon, Oregon's "devil comet" and Dark Sky Sanctuary, giant hybrid sheep, and Deez Nuts get arrested.
2024-03-261h 02
Mark and ToddcastThe Mystery of the Toynbee TilesPressed into the asphalt of Philadelphia, Boston, Richmond, Kansas City, and even Santiago and Barcelona are these mysterious tiles talking about Kubric, resurrection, and Jupiter. What are they? Where did they come from? And do they mean anything? Take a dive into the weird world of the Toynbee Tiles. Also, another successful pilot project for Universal Basic Income, violent crime in the US is dropping, measles outbreaks in Florida, and a woman has maggots rain down on her during a flight. Whee!
2024-03-0454 min
Mark and ToddcastMark and Todd and Madonna Have a CelebrationAfter an entire year of waiting, the Madonna concert finally happened! Take a ride with Mark and Todd as they travel to Seattle to catch Madonna's fantastic Celebration Tour on Part 2 of Mark and Todd's Big Adventure!
2024-02-2027 min
Mark and ToddcastMark and Todd's Big Adventure (Part 1)In this mostly real-time episode, Mark has a surprise adventure for Todd to celebrate both their birthdays, which ends up being quite the ride. Get to the choppa!
2024-02-1340 min
Mark and Toddcast1907's Gyroscopic MonorailIt was sort of the Segway before the Segway: a commuter monorail system balanced by a series of gyroscopes. While this innovation never took off, there are still modern-day companies working to revive the concept. Find out more this week, along with an apocalypse of cicadas, ungrateful fans sue Madonna, cold Tesla batteries, video proof that plants communicate with each other, Portland's biggest eyesore buildings being sold, and controversy around Bobi, the Guinness Record holder of "world's oldest dog."
2024-01-231h 01
Mark and ToddcastDebunking the Stanford Prison ExperimentEveryone has heard of the famous Stanford Prison Experiment, which purported to show that anyone could become a monster warden or beaten-down prisoner in the matter of a week. But what if that whole experiment was kind of bullshit? This week we take apart the experiment, and discuss news including the end of the beloved Fruit Stripe gum, federally rescheduling marijuana, the rich owning 90% of stocks, and the feel-good story of the week: Bill O'Reilly's books being removed from Florida schools.
2024-01-1557 min
Mark and ToddcastTreb Heining: Balloon Boy to Balloon ManThis week we blow up a story about one of the most famous non-famous people in the world: Treb Heining, whose work with balloons has transformed, well, ballooning, I guess. Hear his wonderful story (the ups and the downs), as well as news stories about the new Portland waterfront skate park, a new study about the regret rate of transition surgeries, things Portland were in the top 10 for in 2023, a pastor tries to deep fry a McDonald's employee, and more. Happy new year, weirdos!
2024-01-091h 10
Mark and ToddcastKiss of the Dad Jokes: Compilation #6It's that time of year again - let's go back and revisit Mark's top-of-show Dad Jokes for 2023. Happy new year!
2024-01-0114 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Dave and ToddcastThis week Todd welcomes Dave Baehler of the NotNerd Podcast to give a final news roundup up the year! Join us as we tackle news about the "holy grail" of male contraception, ChatGPT gets seasonal affective disorder, First Thursdays at the Portland Art Museum, Big Pink's new security robot, Google's top searches of 2023 (and forever), a rare pair of Nike's gets donated, and more. Happy holidays!
2023-12-1856 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Portland Chocola-TourLooking for a fun holiday excursion or something to do with out-of-town folk? Why not take a tour of some of Portland's finest hand-made chocolatiers? Mark takes us on a first-hand journey -- with samples! -- to some of the best. All that, as well as a look at "Greedflation," retail stores lying about consumer theft, PlayStation takes your purchased movies back, Oregon's first humanoid robot company, Texas wants to leave the union (so do it already, Texas!), "rizz," a new rhino at the Oregon zoo, and someone gets assaulted by a sausage. It's a Christmas miracle!
2023-12-121h 22
Mark and ToddcastThe Nate and ToddcastThis week Todd is joined by co-host of the NotNerd podcast Nate Heath to discuss everything from flying hamburgers, to Portland's new ice rink, "super pigs," woolly mammoth resurrection, Banksy's identity, retailers lying about theft issues, and a closer look at some of the successful Universal Basic Income experiments happening all over the United States. Be sure to subscribe to the NotNerd podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
2023-11-281h 15
Mark and ToddcastThe History of FontsFonts didn't suddenly spring into existence with the word processor in the 1980s. In fact, fonts have been around since people have been writing things down, back to 8500 BC. Take a ride with us to see how we go from cuneiform to comic sans on this episode.
2023-11-141h 09
Mark and ToddcastNot Just The News©From tracing apps to stranded astronauts to MDMA to Lloyd Center to ABBA to Best Buy to Netflix to Twinkies to the Jantzen Beach carousel to black holes to photons to Costco selling out of gold bars, I think we pretty much cover everything in this episode.
2023-10-311h 15
Mark and ToddcastThat’s So MetalThe human body is 2.5% metal, which we need in order to produce electricity, heal our skin, and make us move and think, among other things. We're not saying we're robots, but we're sort of robots. This week we dive into the weird world of metals, and how exactly our bodies need and use them to pilot the other 97.5% of us that's an organic, goopy pile of flesh and guts.
2023-09-071h 02
Mark and ToddcastAn OK HistoryThis week we discuss both the question "What exactly is radiation?" as well as the history of the most ubiquitous word on the entire planet: "OK." Where did it come from? How did this tiny word take over the whole world? All that, plus lots of Portland news, and angry Furries fighting on beaches. Enjoy, ok?
2023-08-2357 min
Mark and ToddcastRed dye? More like Red DIE!! (sort of)After discussing how submarines surface and dive (in other words, "how do you store buoyancy?) and our one-of-a-kind "Just the Headlines!" segment, we take a look into the history of red food dye, and what to look out for if you want to avoid the "bad" kind of food coloring. Spoilers: You want the dye made from smashed up bugs grown on a cactus. Now go paint the town red!
2023-08-151h 02
Mark and ToddcastIce Cream So Good Yum YumThis week we veer from Netflix to Amazon to Silver Falls to asking the most important question: wtf is going on with TikTok's new NPC trend? We try to make sense of it all on this week's show. Enjoy it like ice cream yum yum.
2023-07-2543 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Real Story of Johnny AppleseedTodd recaps his recent vacation to eastern Idaho, Craters of the Moon, and Mark's old Navy training area, and recent science/Portland news. Then we take a look into the real-life Johnny Appleseed. Was he a mythical Paul Bunyan story, or was he a real person? Find out this week.
2023-07-181h 02
Mark and ToddcastGeorge Washington Carver: The Plant DoctorMost of us maybe know one thing about George Washington Carver -- that he invented peanut butter. Not only is that not true, but his work with peanuts was just a tiny slice of the botanical and agricultural advances - from crop rotation to use of organic fertilizers - he pioneered. Find out more on this week's show.
2023-07-041h 00
Mark and Toddcast© AI, 2023This week we dive a bit further into the world of AI art, specifically in how AI works around the world of copyright protection. Who does AI art belong to? Can it be protected? Find out this week.
2023-06-2859 min
Mark and ToddcastBiosphere 2 (Not the one with Pauly Shore)Many of us have heard of the Biosphere 2 project - it was one of the main news stories of 1991, which Todd just visited in Arizona. But many don't know the full history, controversy, and eventual take-over of the project from the genius hippy theater freaks who built it to.....yes, Steve Bannon, and then eventually the University of Arizona.
2023-06-201h 19
Mark and ToddcastIt’s All News To MeLook who found their way back to the studio! We're back for an all-news catch-up show detailing some of the bigger stories we flagged over the past month or so.
2023-05-291h 03
Mark and ToddcastGalvarino - The Mapuche Warrior with Knives for HandsThis week we take a short look into an indigenous South American warrior named Galvarino, who, despite having his hands cut off by Spanish Conquistadors, strapped knives to his stumps to rally his fellow Mapuche community into fighting back. In the news: the Portland Wolverine is sighted again, a promising anti-Alzheimer enzyme, remembering Darcelle, the USS Robert Smalls, a Sriracha shortage (or is there?), REI closes its Portland location, and more.
2023-04-1850 min
Mark and ToddcastMammoth meatballs, Cracker Barrel, and WolverinesThis week we have a nice CozyCast™ discussion about science and Portland news, including meatballs made from mammoth meat, the closing of Cracker Barrel, Portland's wolverine sightings, Walmart eliminates grocery bags, US renewable energy outpaces oil, the Exploding Whales baseball team, the power of Dad Jokes, and a very special edition of Hero Citizen, from a Tualatin woman and her penis shrub.
2023-04-0559 min
Mark and ToddcastMore Moral PanicThis week we revisit the topic of moral panics, and discuss some of the elements into what makes a moral panic, from switchblades to saggy pants to everything in between. In the news segment: Naval space lasers, facial recognition laws, can money buy happiness?, a fungus named after Keanu Reeves, the price of insulin drops, and the Trail Blazers get a Bigfoot.
2023-03-211h 00
Mark and ToddcastI-Haul, U-Haul: How a little company from Ridgefield, Washington moved the world.After catching up on a months-worth of science and Portland news, we take a look at a little company from Ridgefield, Washington that had one simple idea: "What if I could borrow a truck to help me move my stuff to a different city?"
2023-03-0257 min
Mark and ToddcastA.I. - Where do we go from here?Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence -- in many different areas -- will have an enormous impact on the future. This week we take a look at where AI is right now, some of its current applications, and some of the ramifications coming in the future. But the most important thing, McDONALD'S IN AUSTRALIA IS NO LONGER CARRYING DIET COKE THIS IS NOT A DRILL
2023-01-181h 03
Mark and ToddcastA Courageous Heart: Life after multiple transplants while still on the waiting list for more.This week we bring you the story of Mark's neighbor Rose, a woman in her late 20's who has already had two heart transplants, and is now on the waiting list for both a heart and liver transplant. She honored us by telling her story about navigating the emotional burdens, as well as the medical and insurance nightmares that come with long-term care. Please check to see if you are listed as an organ donor, and please make ethical and moral choices when it comes to who gets medical care in this country.
We also ta...
2023-01-1147 min
Mark and ToddcastOops! All Dad JokesIt's that time of year again where we take a look back and compile all the Dad Jokes from the beginning of each episode. Enjoy, and thanks for another great year!
2022-12-2713 min
Mark and ToddcastRecreating Lost Media w/ Brock Dittus and Aaron FloresThis week we're joined by Brock Dittus and Aaron Flores (you may recognize them from the Sprocket Podcast), who talk about the process of recreating a long-lost song found on a demonstration cassette tape. All that, and plenty Rick Emerson talk, ending with Emerson's epic 8/8/08 radio speech. Enjoy!
Find out more about Brock and his music here: https://sites.google.com/view/brock-dittus?pli=1&fbclid=IwAR26hRXccyCOvTGpec1bYU5hmkHf9YS6S2iyyz0L2tUn4FavxyEjHIFEPo8
2022-12-131h 08
Mark and ToddcastPepsi’s Billions w/ Ryan ZeinertIf you've seen "Pepsi, Where's My Jet?," you know Pepsi doesn't have a great track record with promotions. This week we're joined by guest Ryan Zeinert, who talks about yet another Pepsi marketing fiasco from 2003 when they tried to give away a billion dollars.
2022-12-0755 min
Mark and ToddcastFly Me to the Moon, AgainThere's not a lot of places where conversations can pivot from boiling water to aging Twinks to (thought-to-be) extinct clams to a man robbing a bank with his own birth certificate to NASA's new Artemis moon mission program, but that's just what makes the Mark & Toddcast so special.
2022-11-2246 min
Mark and ToddcastMark & Todd’s Cozy Cast™Fall is here, and it's time to get comfortable under a warm blanket and just have a cozy, comfortable, meandering chat about the Portland Timbers, the Portland Elk Statue, van abductions, mosquito magnets, grenades washing ashore, and, of course, Cheetle™.
2022-11-011h 07
Mark and ToddcastTwo Words: ”Made in America”This week we present a "cozy cast" as we kick back and wonder about why lemons make your face pucker when you eat them, how Auto Tune is the new electric guitar, Lloyd Center turning into a roller skating rink, more about Havana Syndrome, Biden puff-puff-passes marijuana reform, Nixon exposed to radiation, and that time a nursing home in Taiwan ordered a stripper for its wheelchair-bound elderly resident patients.
2022-10-111h 11
Mark and ToddcastLive, From CouveCon, It’s the Mark and Toddcast!This week we recorded live from behind the Unipiper merch booth at the Vancouver Mall during the first annual CouveCon! Enjoy the retro sounds of a bustling mall in this "nature is healing" episode of the Mark and Toddcast.
2022-09-2043 min
Mark and ToddcastDe-ExtinctionA wise man once said, "We were so occupied with the fact that we could, that we didn't stop to ask if we should." So 30 years later, here we are formulating plans to bring back extinct species like the Woolly Mammoth and carrier pigeon. Find out all about the real-life science behind bringing species back to life. In the news segment: the Willamette Falls area gets a new name, COVID antibodies, thermostat lockouts, Portland's Museum of Cartoon Arts, no In-N-Out for Beaverton, and South Dakota's new Corn-bassador. Enjoy!
2022-09-1353 min
Mark and ToddcastThe Mad King of Lake Michigan and the Ousted Bratwurst QueenWhile James Strang, "The Mad King of Lake Michigan," has nothing to do with the ousted bratwurst queen, both get highlighted in this week's episode. That, and the evolution of club/dance music. So really, we're just all over the place.
2022-08-301h 11Mark and ToddcastWho is Alex Jones? With Joni DeRouchieMost likely you've at least heard (or seen a meme of) Alex Jones at some point over the past two decades, and more recently during his trial for defamation about his Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. But who is he, really? Where did he come from? And is a dangerous true believer, a con artist, a ringmaster, a manipulator, or just a soulless, narcissistic troll? We speak with Joni DeRouchie about the man behind the meme.
2022-08-161h 25
Mark and ToddcastVacation onTapeWe finally put the "Mark" back in the Mark & Toddcast as Mark rejoins the show after his hiatus. This week we catch up on Todd's family vacation to Colorado, science, culture, and Portland news, and then give an little overview of how the VHS and Beta formats work.
2022-08-101h 23
Mark and ToddcastExploring the Enneagram with Chelsea HeathThis week we dive into one of the most useful personality type tools out there: the Enneagram, which has been used throughout human history. Special guest Chelsea Heath joins the show to give an overview of what the Enneagram is (and isn't), how it works, and what it can mean for people who are striving to know themselves and their traumas better.
2022-07-261h 11
Mark and ToddcastPanic! At the Morals. w/ Nate HeathNothing is more predictable about society than the fact that old people panic about how everything they don't understand is a sign of the end times. Aristotle complained about how rude the youth were to the elders. Authority figures freaked out about Teddy Bears and cars. Parents rended their garments about the Satanic grip radio and comic books had on kids. All you have to do is substitute the nouns, but the panic remains the same. This week guest host Nate Heath joins the show to talk about how the more things change, the more they stay the same...
2022-07-121h 11
Mark and ToddcastThe Scale of the Universe with Dave BaehlerThis week special guest host Dave Baehler of the NotNerd Podcast joins the show to take us on a trip from the theoretically smallest things in the universe, to the incomprehensibly largest things, and everything in between, from yottameter to zettameter. Meter? I barely knew her!
2022-06-141h 26
Mark and ToddcastGo Ask Emerson - With Special Guest Rick Emerson"Go Ask Alice" was a publishing and cultural phenomenon, with ramifications felt from the household level to the actual White House, and whose very real fallout included both the War on Drugs and the "Satanic Panic" of the 70s and 80s. But as Emerson discovered, perhaps not all was as real as it seemed with the mysterious, "Anonymous" book that still today is a best-seller and a cultural touch point. Find out the wild story, which is the basis for Emerson's new book "Unmask Alice," available in July.
2022-06-071h 38
Mark and ToddcastCooking with James Beard, Smoking with ZymoThis week we take a look at an international renowned chef and cookbook author James Beard, whose impact was so large that even Julia Child was a fan. We take a look at his start in Oregon, and his rise to be one of the most influential chefs in history. All that, and a special appearance by Zymo! "What is Zymo?" you may ask? Find out this week.
2022-05-171h 02
Mark and ToddcastMusic Makes the People (But Not Animals) Come TogetherHumans are the only species on earth that can "understand" music. Why is that? What exactly *is* music, and why can't animals seem to put the pieces together? This week we take a look at what goes on inside the human brain to turn sound into that magic entity -- which has the capacity to help us heal, grow, learn, recover, remember, and more -- we call music. (It also makes the bourgeoisie and the rebel.)
2022-05-031h 06
Mark and ToddcastBlockchain Explained (or: Ledger? I Barely Knew Her!)Yes, we've explored blockchain and bitcoin and NFTs before, but we're heading back in with a special guest (Mark's business partner Brett) who actually knows what he's talking about - so again we take a dive into just what this all means, especially for us "regular people."
2022-04-0559 min
Mark and ToddcastWar of Wikipedia #6 -with Nate and Dave from the NotNerd PodcastMark's away, which means Todd can play - and record an extra long episode with Nate and Dave from one of our favorite podasts, The NotNerd Podcast. After a wrap-up of news stories, Nate and Dave go head-to-head for this latest round of War of Wikipedia, in which each present a short, weird Wikipedia article to be judged by Todd as to whose is the most amusing. It's a Christmas miracle!
2022-03-291h 23
Mark and ToddcastThe Insane Story of the Olympic JetPack and the Man Who Flew ItMuch like "Tiger King," the story of the famous flight of the 1984 Olympic JetPack Guy takes some turns that go from mildly interesting to downright shocking. This week we find out how the jet pack (which isn't a jet pack, it's a rocket) was created, and what happened after its most famous flight.
2022-03-161h 01
Mark and ToddcastClaudette Colvin: The Girl Before Rosa ParksAfter a lengthy discussion of science and Portland news, we dig into the story of the person who inspired the successful Montgomery Bus Strike against segregation -- 9 months before Rosa Parks became the face of the campaign. Find out all about 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, and how her actions led to a revolution.
2022-02-231h 02
Mark and ToddcastThe Tuskegee Syphilis ExperimentFrom 1932-1972, the United States government purposefully injected black men with syphilis - without their knowledge or consent - with the intent of not treating it, in order to study the effects of the disease. This week we take a look at this vile experiment and its effects on the black community to this day.
2022-02-091h 12
Mark and ToddcastTikTok Docs: The Future is Better Than the Old DaysThis we we're joined by TikTok creator Kyle McCarthy, whose short, life-affirming, documentary TikTok content is gaining a significant audience. We talk with him about how the future will always be better than the past.
2022-01-251h 07
Mark and ToddcastDirected by JJ AbramsWe're finally back after an extended holiday, and boy do we have a lot of news to catch up on! Join us as we recap the last couple of weeks in science and Portland news. Farts in a jar! Who could resist?
2022-01-121h 05
Mark and ToddcastDad Jokes #4: This Time, It’s PersonalIt's a Christmas miracle! Here are all of Mark's quality "Dad Jokes" from this past year of the Mark and Toddcast.
2021-12-2911 min
Mark and ToddcastEpisode #200! The Marxist and ToddcastWe finally did it! Celebrate 200 episodes of the Mark and Toddcast with this extra-sized news wrap-up, and dive into the notes and subjects that we've meant to get to before but haven't had the chance. Thanks to everyone for listening!
2021-11-301h 05
Mark and ToddcastWhat Even Are Sea Monkeys?We all grew up seeing those weird, illustrated creatures in comic book magazine ads - the promise of "Instant Life!" in the form of "Sea Monkeys." So what are those things? How does "instant life" work? And who created them? Find out on this week's episode.
2021-11-2448 min
Mark and Toddcast#198 - Dr. Ethan Siegel, Theoretical Astrophysicist, Talks the James Webb TelescopeWe once again welcome (5 years later) Dr. Ethan Siegel, theoretical astrophysicist, author, speaker, and smartest guy ever, about next month's launch of the James Webb telescope, how it works, why it's such an advancement from Hubble, what we hope to find, and how Todd gets to believe he is the literal center of the universe. Enjoy!
2021-11-121h 17
Mark and Toddcast#197 - Al Goncer, Aerospace Engineer at NASAThis week we have an amazing conversation with Al Goncer, an aerospace engineer at NASA, who also happens to be legally blind. We talk to him about his journey to NASA, his loss of sight late in life, and the amazing accessibility technology he uses to navigate life, work, and the internet.
2021-10-261h 05
Mark and Toddcast#196 - Ambiguous Gestural and Verbal PraiseThis week we take a look at the astonishing success of giving kids (and adults) what is called an "ambiguous gestural or verbal praise" -- things like a fist bump, a pat on the shoulder, or shouting "Yeah!" to encourage someone along -- over standard character- or behavior-based praise. High five!
2021-10-131h 03
Mark and Toddcast#195 - Voyager‘s Golden RecordThe Voyager space mission, which is now in interstellar space, far beyond our solar system, has a gold record attached to it containing images, words, pictures, greetings, and more, just in case it's discovered by alien life forms. So what's on it? We fire up our cosmic record player to find out.
2021-10-051h 15
Mark and ToddcastWar of Wikipedia #5It's that time again for our favorite segment "War of Wikipedia," where Mark and Todd go head-to-head to attempt to find the strangest, most interesting, most amusing, or all-together crazy Wikipedia articles trying to sway special guest judge Brian "The Unipiper" Kidd to choosing their story as the victor.
2021-09-211h 17
Mark and Toddcast#193 - Uranus is ThiccThis week we start taking a closer look around our own celestial neighborhood and diving into the weirdness of Uranus. And no, we're not mature about the name. In the news this week: El Salvador eyes Bitcoin, TikTok takes the lead, Mercedes reads our minds, RayBan/Facebook's new sunglasses, Marshawn Lynch goes Beast Mode in Portland, the I-5 freeway cap through the Rose Quarter, and Ned Flanders Crossing.
2021-09-141h 07
Mark and Toddcast#192 - Projct A119: Nuking the MoonWhat does one do if they're losing the space race? If that person is America, there's only one obvious answer: blow up a nuclear weapon on the moon to show how bad-ass we really are. How far did this plan go? Find out on this week's episode. In the news: Willard Scott dies, Mississippi River flows backwards, you can make $6 billion starting an opioid crisis, China's space plans, what the hell is Grimace, and the return of ABBA! Gimme Gimme Gimme!
2021-09-071h 03
Mark and Toddcast#191 - The Private Space RaceThis week we take a short look at just which private companies are currently working on getting themselves into space. We've all heard about Musk, Branson, and Bezos, but who else is there, and what are their plans? In the news this week: LED streetlights decimate moths, the "Tesla Bot," Portland's iconic Mary's Club to move, Google's "time crystals," a new carnivorous plant discovered in the NW, Ron Popeil sets it and forgets it, and the most important of all the news: CREME SAVERS ARE COMING BACK, BABY!
2021-09-0151 min
Mark and Toddcast#190 - The 80-Year Cycle of American LifeHistory repeats itself, of course. But is it possible that it's repeating in cycles of 80 years that can be divided up into 20-year chunks? We explore this idea, as well as discuss moon conspiracies, Jeff Bezos in space, the Louvre sues PornHub, Canada opens its borders to the US again, a bran implant allows a paralyzed man to communicate, and the Oregon Zoo extends its hours.
2021-07-2959 min