ScienceSociety & CultureComedy

That's Absurd Please Elaborate

Trace Elements Media

Seriously researched answers to absolutely ridiculous questions. New episodes every week.

Play

Open in

28 episodes
weekly
Avg 59 min
English

Episodes 28

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#142
Yesterday · 51 min
Flinging Freaky Fast Formicids!
When it comes to tiny insects, the ants (formicidae) are an incredible family of organisms. They can build complex structures, they’ve invented and practice agriculture, they work with The Avengers to fight multiversal-level threats … (I’m being told that last one is fictional, but I am still counting it). What no one has ever considered is: what happens when an ant is accelerated to a significant percentage of the speed of light? Don’t worry ANTonio BANTderas — we got you. This week, Trace answers Eddie’s ridiculous questions based on a popular meme, and together we dig (like ants, get it?!) into the amount of energy in their tiny exoskeletoned bodies, and even revisit a long-past episode for inspiration. QUESTION Trace: "How fast would an ant have to run to knock me over (or kill)?" from Eddie 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. SIGNAL AWARD! We’re nominated for a Best Science Show Signal Award! Help us win by voting for our show with the link. Voting is open until October 15. https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/science 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.
#141
September 24 · 40 min
How Much Jello is TOO Much?
Gelatin is a surprisingly strange material, especially when you stop serving it by the spoonful and start measuring it by the swimming pool. Julian looks into what would happen if someone took a running leap into a pool-sized serving of Jello, then digs into the surprisingly strange material itself. He and Trace explore why gelatin behaves so differently from both liquids and solids, what gives it its signature wobble, and the unexpectedly dark origins hiding beneath all those bright colors and fruity flavors. QUESTION Julian: "Let’s say I end up with a swimming pool full of Jello. What happens when I jump in?" from Lisa 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 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 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.
#140
September 17 · 47 min
The Search for Love and Other Rare Things
The universe is chock-full of things that are hard to find, but figuring out which one deserves the title of “rarest” turns out to be surprisingly complicated. Are we talking about elements that exist for only a fleeting moment before decaying away? Cosmic oddities that appear only under the most extreme conditions? Or something a little more tangible? This week, Trace and Julian follow the twists and turns of a deceptively simple question and discover that rarity depends a lot on how you define it… and that the answer may not be what you’d expect. QUESTION Trace: "What is the rarest "thing" in the universe?" from Marco 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 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 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.
#139
September 10 · 47 min
Horror of Human Limb Regrowth
Nature has handed out some wildly uneven perks. While certain animals can regrow entire limbs, humans are limited to patch jobs. Julian and Trace dig into what it would actually take to rebuild an arm or leg from scratch, from the cellular machinery needed to kick-start regeneration to the staggering calorie bill your body would have to pay along the way. Building a replacement limb would mean your body would have to manufacture bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and skin on an industrial scale—all while somehow keeping the rest of you running at the same time. QUESTION Julian: "What would be the physical toll on the human body if we could regenerate missing limbs? What would the calorie and nutrition cost be to regrow an arm or a leg, and what would it take to stimulate that response in a complex vertebrate?" from Daniel 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 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 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.
#138
September 3 · 43 min
Too Much Mucus, Not Enough Face
If you’ve ever been sick and wondered how a seemingly endless supply of mucus can fit inside your face, you’re not alone. This week, Trace and Julian investigate where all that snot actually comes from, explore the surprisingly strange evolutionary history of mucus, and discover how your sinuses can produce so much crud despite being smaller than you’d think. Naturally, Trace uncovers one of the most delightfully bizarre studies we’ve ever discussed on the show that may or may not involve human and goat cadavers, sinus drainage, and a question that apparently required researchers to discover positions neither species was ever meant to be in… and somehow, that’s still only part of the story. QUESTION Trace: "How much mucus can a face hold?" from Ivy from Minnesota 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 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 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.
#137
August 27 · 49 min
Ten Seconds of Zero Gravity… Every DAY?!
This week, Julian and Trace imagine a world where gravity vanishes for ten seconds every day. There, they discover that humanity would have a lot more to worry about than a few floating tchotchkes. True weightlessness means the slightest movement could send you drifting across a room trapped in mid-air only to crash back down again when gravity returns. The guys think about how society and nature might adapt to this daily gravity outage and (of course) detour into the surprisingly persistent rumor that solar eclipses affect gravity, proving that even a completely absurd scenario can lead to some very real physics. QUESTIONS Julian: "If gravity turned off for 10 seconds once a day, how would society adapt?" from Sarah 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.
August 20 · 2 hr 18 min
Freaky Mermaids, "REAL" Dragons, and Trace's Evil Twin|feat Ellen Weatherford (Just the Zoo of Us)|TAPE Classic
🎶 Game of Thrones theme 🎶 DRA-GONS. WHAT ARE DRAG-ONS? LET US KNOWWWWWW OR MER-MAIDS. FRICKIN’ MER-MAIDS… HOW THEY GOOOOO? PLUS JUUUU-LIAN WANTS TO CHECK ON MIRROR TRAAAACE HE THINKS, THIS MIRROR TRACE MIGHT BE EVIL TRAAAAAACE! 👏👏👏👏👏👏 Today in Pod 48 Ellen Weatherford from “Just The Zoo of Us” (family friendly) and “Spellbound and Gagged” (NSFW) joins us to talk out about dragons, scientifically correct mermaids and a possible Mirror-Universe Trace! 🤫 QUESTIONS Trace: "How would you taxaonomically classify a dragon" from Ellen Ellen: “If mermaids exist, what would they realistically look like?” from Riley Julian: "If you made a Mirrored Duplicate of Trace, would he survive? Would he be evil?!” from Wren 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. SUPPORT THE SHOW: JOIN NEBULA Want to listen to the show without any ads and support the show? You can, just join Nebula with our link. Not only do you get to listen to our show ad-free, but you'll also get it early and it directly supports That's Absurd Please Elaborate and tons of other independent creators. To join visit go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow. SOCIALS [[ FOLLOW OUR SHOW ]] Instagram: @ThatsAbsurdShow Threads: @ThatsAbsurdShow [[ FIND ELLEN WEATHERFORD ]] Ellen’s Instagram: instagram.com/elksneedle Ellen’s TikTok: tiktok.com/@ellen.weatherford?lang=en PODCAST: Just the Zoo of Us pod.link/1463896106 Website: justthezooofus.com Thread: threads.net/@justthezooofuspod Instagram: instagram.com/justthezooofuspod PODCAST 2: Spellbound and Gagged pod.link/1653440593 [[ 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.
#136
August 13 · 33 min
Cuidado: Piso Mojado
This week, Trace and Julian investigate a deceptively simple mystery: why do things look darker when they’re wet? Although the question sounds almost too obvious to ask, Trace takes us on a fascinating exploration of light, color, optics, and the strange ways our brains make sense of the world around us. It’s one of those everyday phenomena that feels totally obvious—right up until you try to explain it. Kind of like how Trace keeps winning all those wet T-shirt contests… and how Julian’s always the judge. QUESTION Trace: "When something gets wet, why do its colors look darker?” from Jill from Green Bay, WI 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.
#135
August 6 · 40 min
Smooth Sailingn’t
This week, Julian and Trace imagine a world where humanity never got around to inventing ships and discovers that the consequences run a WHOLE lot deeper than a disappointing cruise industry. Without boats, trade slows down, migration patterns change dramatically, and some parts of the world might never have been settled at all. Along the way, Julian uncovers just how much nautical history is hiding in our everyday language, from common phrases to metaphors that only exist because somebody, somewhere, looked at a vast expanse of definitely-not-scary open water and thought, “Yeah, I can probably cross that.” QUESTIONs Julian: "What if there were seas but no ships?” from Valerie 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.
July 30 · 1 hr 20 min
AI Chefs and Unqualified Sled Dogs | TAPE Classic
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.
#134
July 23 · 38 min
The Most Boring Day in History
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.
#133
July 16 · 59 min
Cherenkov Radiation & Clownfish Polycules
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.
#132
July 9 · 1 hr 15 min
Taste the Brainbow!
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.
July 2 · 56 min
It’s a Fart Rocket Breakthrough! | TAPE Classic
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.
#131
June 25 · 59 min
The Flow Must Go On | feat. Ella Hubber
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.
#130
June 18 · 52 min
The Rain on Titan Falls Mainly as Methane
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.
June 16 · 38 min
BONUS: Health vs Hype with the American Medical Association | feat. Trace Dominguez
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.
#129
June 11 · 53 min
Cloudy with a Chance of Blunt Force Trauma
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.
#128
June 4 · 1 hr 4 min
Nature’s Got Talent | feat. Chelsea "Foxanne" Gohd
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.
#127
May 28 · 1 hr 1 min
The Human Body is a Topologist’s Nightmare
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.

Showing 1–20 of 28 episodes