So how do you poison someone with antifreeze and get away with it? Apparently you don’t, as one North Dakota woman found out. Also, how many close friends do you have? It’s probably more than we do, but is that higher or lower than the average American? Also, the gas chamber makes a comeback in Alabama, and how do we deal with guns being made from …

This week, we tackle some thought-provoking questions. And what does the world need? A new hottest pepper, of course. And finally, we try our hand at talking Texan. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:27 Welcome/Intro 0:00:36 Disclaimer 0:01:06 Philosophical Ponderings 0:36:08 How Hot Is Too Hot?? 0:43:29 Texanisms 0:57:22 Contact/Rate/Subscrib…

Happy Halloween! Sit back and have a listen as you try to avoid your cyanide-laced candy and your apples loaded with razor blades. In this episode, we have some lists for you. First up, the scariest (and goriest) stories from the Bible. Next we have the most popular Halloween costumes. And finally, we have the scariest movies of all time and the mo…

Where do the protections of free speech end? For one professor, it ended when he argued that pedophilia is not morally wrong. The university he works for suspended him, and he has now sued. And speaking of pedophilia (which we both think is morally wrong by the way), how might it be looked at differently 100 years from now? Will it be similar to ho…

Do you leave voicemails? Do you use speakerphone in public? Do you phub your friends or family? If you do these things, you have bad phone etiquette. Don’t sweat it, though, because we discuss the things you should and shouldn’t do with your phone. Also, the grammar police are back (that’s us), and Tripadvisor’s top 30 things to do in Texas (we hav…

If you’re considering exploring a cave that’s like 4,000 feet underground, please don’t. A lot of bad things can happen. But that didn’t stop Mark Dickey. We talk about his ordeal. Also, are you planning on traveling out of the country? If so, you should probably check the State Department’s travel advisories. And spoiler alert: don’t go to North K…

Chris got a new toy, life was weird in the 1980s, we talk about a midair explosion of sorts, and we read some listener emails. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:27 Welcome/Intro 0:00:38 Disclaimer 0:01:07 Mind Games 0:11:34 Survival In The 80s 0:20:59 Airborne Diarrhea 0:34:29 Listener Email 0:52:12 Contact/Rate/Subscribe 2. Additional Resour…

We recently lost an American legend—Bob Barker. We take a brief look at his career, The Price Is Right, and talk about Americans’ favorite Price Is Right Games. Also, we talk about Oliver Anthony’s angry anthem, Florida being Florida again, and why you now have yet another reason not to go in the river. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:31 We…

Falling hundreds of feet, drowning, getting electrocuted, getting your feet ripped off, and getting decapitated—all things that can happen to you at your family-friendly amusement park. This week, we discuss the ten worst amusement park disasters in American history! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:22 Welcome/Intro 0:00:31 Disclaimer 0:00:5…

Happy Labor Day! We hope you celebrated in traditional American fashion: by taking advantage of sales at stores that made employees work on the very day that we’re supposed to celebrate them. This week, we talk workplace injuries, a scary amusement park situation, term and age limits for people in public office, and drugs. Hosted by Chris and Jeff …

We’re coming out of the closet! Politically anyway. Join us in this listener-interactive episode and answer some questions to find out exactly where you stand politically. We both answer the questions and then reveal our results at the end of the episode. Before that, we have two bizarre stories: a man identifying as a dog, and an overweight airlin…

We hear a lot about the insanity defense in murder cases, but the reality is that it’s hardly ever used and even when it is, it’s hardly every successful. But what does it mean to be “insane?” This week we look at a current case juxtaposed with the assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan, and learn how the insanity defense changed in this country. A…

What’s the worst sound in the world? In the words of Kip Dynamite, “Like anyone could possibly know that.” But thanks to science, we can! Also this week, we discuss the Bud Light backlash, political burnout, and the fact that Texas gets sued—again. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:29 Welcome/Intro 0:00:39 Disclaimer 0:01:06 Worst Sounds In T…

First up, we focus on airplane passengers: one who was unruly and another who fell 10,000 feet and lived. New York and New Jersey are in a spat, Jeff talks Boardwalk Empire, and Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg might fight. Yes, like physically (fingers crossed). And finally, what are some scams that have become normalized, and what are the most overr…

We’re back this week with more of the best of Subpar Talks. This time, it’s Part 2. And, to prove we’re not perfect, we threw in some bloopers at the end! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:22 Welcome/Intro 0:00:32 Disclaimer 0:01:01 Best of Subpar Talks 0:46:54 Bloopers 0:58:29 Contact/Rate/Subscribe 2. Merchandise/Support the Show https://ww…

We reached a bit of a milestone—our 50th episode! So, this week we look back at the best of Subpar Talks, Part 1. Enjoy! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:22 Welcome/Intro 0:00:31 Disclaimer 0:01:01 Best of Subpar Talks 0:56:20 Contact/Rate/Subscribe 2. Merchandise/Support the Show https://www.subpartalks.com/support/ https://www.subpartalks.…

This week, Chris has some helpful air conditioner info for this God-forsaken, hot summer. Next, we look at two Supreme Court decisions: first, we examine the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision from last year; and second, the court also broke with precedent in deciding that race can no longer be used as a factor in college admissions…

Do you miss the genius of Breaking Bad? No worries, as Chris provides a list of seven similar shows you should consider. And speaking of genius, we discuss George Carlin and Elton John. Also, how do we navigate the controversial issue of trans individuals in athletic competitions? And finally, tipping is out of control. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. …

Happy Independence Day! Our forefathers died so you could sit around, eat hot dogs, drink beer, and listen to great content, so do your patriotic duty and turn up the volume as you stuff your face. The American Dream: we’ve all been told about it, but is it a reality or a myth? Chris brings us a top-ten list (Jeff is happy) of patriotic songs, and …

As usual, we’re coming at you with a lot of topics this week. We discuss the ill-fated submersible in the North Atlantic and discuss another world record. Chris informs us of something else we need to be fearful of. We also touch on an interesting thread Chris found on Reddit: what is a luxury today that once was viewed as common? And finally, the …

We had two notable deaths recently, and Pat Sajak announced his retirement. We have a fat twins update, and some guy set a new record for the most time spent underwater. Al Pacino—at the ripe old age of 83—is set to become a father. Chris tells us about his trip to D.C. and whether he observed proper airplane etiquette. And finally, we talk Maisel,…

First up, we recall the time Jeff had an unfortunate beer incident. Then, we ponder a couple of questions from Reddit, Chris confronts an unwanted visitor, and we discuss the impeachment of the Texas attorney general Finally, for our big topic, what is good airplane etiquette? Should you remove your shoes on a flight? What about your socks? Who get…

This week we discuss a notable death. Also, Chris plans a trip, we get some clarification on which is more dangerous—bungee jumping or skydiving, and we wrap it up with some crazy Guinness records. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:37 Disclaimer 0:01:12 Sandwiches, Beer, and Grammar 0:04:37 Tina Turner 0:06:44 Washington…

More topic jumping this week. Is Chris more knowledgeable than your everyday, average Walmart shopper? We talk about a guy who had the hiccups for 68 YEARS. We took notes the night we took a gummy. Plus, skydiving and bungee jumping, expiration dates, taxes, and Jeff gives a couple of streaming recommendations. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:…

This week, Chris teaches us the art of gummy ingestion and sleeping. Next, we talk guns in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Allen, Texas. And finally, Chris poses some thought-provoking questions. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:34 Disclaimer 0:01:03 Fun Gummies 0:09:20 Guns In The US 0:20:26 Thought Provoking Q…

Artificial intelligence is here and can improve our lives, but is it also stealing jobs? We discuss that, plus hear what one of Jeff’s students thought about the abortion process. Scientists have now confirmed that stars swallow planets, and Dallas gets hit with a ransomware attack. All that and more! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welc…

This week, we have some Netflix recommendations for you. Also, there’s an AI job that can make you rich. The old woman at Walgreens is back. Jerry Springer died, and what happened to talk shows? And finally, the Texas Legislature presses ahead on religious indoctrination. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:42 Disclaimer 0…

This week, as Chris fights through some voice troubles, we tackle several subjects including snakes, people who have died while taking selfies, and bad drivers. And finally, what does spanking have to do with Donald Trump? Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:37 Disclaimer 0:01:05 Dental Side Effects 0:04:31 No More Beyond …

In the 1980s, sitcoms were everywhere. A lot were not that good, but some distinguished themselves as classics. This week, we see how good Chris is at guessing the highest rated sitcoms of the 80s, as determined by Rotten Tomatoes. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:36 Disclaimer 0:01:07 Life In The 80s 0:08:23 Top 80s Si…

Take a listen as we try to answer some difficult Seinfeld trivia questions. The penalty (or reward?) is that we have to take a shot if we get one wrong. Oh, mama! It’s the Seinfeld Trivia Drinking Game! Oh, and if you’re playing along, the links in the episode notes contain some spoilers. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:0…

This week, it’s a topic shotgun blast. We discuss Trump’s indictment, prison escapes, air travel, train travel, amusement park rides, Chris’s nightmare problem, Richard Pryor, and something strange happened in Florida (big surprise). And last, but possibly the most important topic—which way do you stir your drink? Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics…

As Molly Ivins said, “The Texas Legislature consists of 181 people who meet for 140 days every two years. This catastrophe has now occurred [88] times.” She also quipped, “All anyone needs to enjoy the state legislature is a strong stomach and a complete insensitivity to the needs of the people. As long as you don’t think about what that peculiar b…

Only Subpar Talks is brave enough to transition from sandwich talk to ancient sex toys to food lawsuits. That’s right. We wet our feet with a little discussion of sandwiches, discuss a 2000-year-old dildo, and then look at some really interesting lawsuits involving food. Among other things, listen and learn about the McDonald’s coffee case, why Pap…

Time is everything. It dictates our lives—when we go to sleep, when we wake up, and when we have to be at work. But what is it? According to the experts, its simply an illusion—a social construct that can change simply based on mass and gravitational pull. This week, we try to understand this theory by, among other things, fumbling through the theo…

First, Jeff witnesses an awkward encounter at Walgreens. But then we get to some amazing facts about space. We won’t spoil it with these notes, but prepare to have your mind blown. We really are on a tiny blue marble in a vast sea of a universe that has no ending. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:33 Disclaimer 0:01:12 D…

This week, we dive into the classic question of “would you rather?” There’s a lot to unpack here, including sharks, piranhas, prison, war, fishing money out of a public toilet, old people, and little people. And More! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:34 Disclaimer 0:01:04 Would You Rather? 0:39:44 Contact/Rate/Subscribe…

We have so many topics coming at you this week. First, Fireball gets sued because some of its drinks don’t contain whiskey. Then, it’s Jeff’s turn for jury duty. The world population is now almost eight billion people. We have some bad student stories. And finally, Mt. Everest is one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Many people have tried to …

The 20th century saw some of the most groundbreaking inventions that changed the world as we know it. From the airplane to the creation of the Internet, these inventions have transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. One of the top inventions of the 20th century is artificial intelligence (AI), which has revolutionized the fields of medic…

Happy Valentine’s Day! But we’re celebrating with a bit of a twist. President’s Day is close, so why not combine the two and discuss some amorous activities of our White House occupants? We all know about Marilyn Monroe and Monica Lewinsky, but which one of our presidents had an affair with his sister-in-law? And did you know that one of our presid…

In 1983, a single mother in Florida wrote a how-to-murder book titled, Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors. A decade later, a man used this book for instructions on committing a triple murder. Can the families of the deceased hold the publisher liable, or is the publisher protected by the First Amendment? It’s a fascinating case…

Another good round of topics this week. First, religious hucksters. Then we look at bear attacks. Chris gets a clearer picture of how long his dead body would go undiscovered. And finally, we’ll tell you what you definitely shouldn’t Google before you commit a murder. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:38 Disclaimer 0:01:…

We have several topics for you this week. First, how much does it cost to be happy in each state? Next, we have language issues. Then, we discuss the Procrastination Café in Tokyo, followed by a discussion of whether juries should have a right to ignore the law. And finally, we discuss a professor who was fired for showing an image of Muhammad. Hos…

This week, we take a look at the happiest states in the good ol’ USA. What makes for a happy state? Who’s the happiest? Who’s the unhappiest? Also, we look at some famous people who hail from these happy places. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:22 Welcome/Intro 0:00:33 Disclaimer 0:01:04 The Criteria for Happiest States 0:02:36 A Texas Defen…

Politically and religiously, you probably know what you believe. But have you ever thought about why you believe what you do? Most people don’t, but this week, we dive into that topic and explore where people get their morals and values, and we also talk about our influences so far in life. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:24 Welcome/Intro 0…

This week we look at the infamous case of Mel Ignatow, whose girlfriend, Brenda Schaefer, went missing. Of course the investigation centered on Mel. Did he do it? Of course he did! But this case shows us that one, our rights in the Constitution really do mean something, and two, it really is possible to get away with murder. Hosted by Chris and Jef…

What a year! Whatever you thought of it—good or bad, boring or exciting—we’ve got you covered with our year in review. A lot happened, so we’ll remind you of the major events. There were also quite a few notable deaths, so we cover those as well. Farewell, 2022! Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:28 Welcome/Intro 0:00:39 Disclaimer 0:01:06 202…

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Two things that help make the holidays special are movies and songs. What are the best ones? What about the worst? And find out the most overrated Christmas movie of all time. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:29 Welcome/Intro 0:00:52 Disclaimer 0:01:38 Favorite Christmas Movies 0:29:29 IMDb Top 10 Christma…

Do you feel like you’re being—to put it mildly—taken advantage of? Welcome to the club. Most Americans do. But who’s taking advantage of you? The government? Corporations? Both? Tune in to find out a few scenarios that have a lot of us grabbing our ankles. Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:24 Welcome/Intro 0:00:36 Disclaimer 0:01:09 Ankle Gra…

One of the things that made Seinfeld so great was the characters—major ones, minor ones, and those who graced us with only one appearance. This week, we celebrate Seinfeld one-hit wonders—those actors who appeared on the show only once (not including the finale) and definitely left an indelible mark on TV’s greatest sitcom. Hosted by Chris and Jeff…

We can’t be confined to just one or two topics. Among other subjects, this week show you how big time we are by talking about our celebrity interactions on social media. Also, in what circumstances is it ok to kill? And finally, could we get away with murder? Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1. Topics 0:00:00 Welcome/Intro 0:00:39 Disclaimer 0:01:21 Celebr…