Best Tom Lum Podcasts (2025)

1
Where's The Waiter? 10:24

3d ago10:24

10:24

The serving staff at the restaurant just don't want to settle the check. No matter what methods one diner employs to catch their attention. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Relationscapes: “What to Expect Online When You’re Expecting,” with Amanda Hess 1:09:39

6d ago1:09:39

1:09:39

“Relationscapes” is the current podcast by Fireside host Blair Hodges. Enjoy this sample episode! Be sure to subscribe directly to Relationscapes now, because this episode will fall out of the Fireside feed next month!By Relationscapes

1
84: Tree Talk & Trading Card Art 1:40:13

11d ago1:40:13

1:40:13

Can trees talk to each other? And how does that personifying metaphor square with the actual science behind it? And what can we learn from the stories of art on trading cards throughout history? Images we Talk About: Trade Cards 3 Modern Trading Cards Yuka Morii's Cards Terror Hyalopterus Lemure Preposterous Proportions Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro…

1
It's All New Water 9:49

11d ago9:49

9:49

Sometimes the epic nature of a waterfall just simply cannot be explained to another person, even if they are also in very close proximity to that same waterfall at the same time. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See aca…

1
If You Could Just Fill Out A Survey 12:20

18d ago12:20

12:20

Every business wants to give you great service and banks are no exception. This is why surveys were invented. You need to complete the survey. It's in your best interests to complete the survey. The survey is designed to help the corporation help you. COMPLETE THE SURVEY. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/588…

1
Relationscapes: “You Could Learn a Lot From This Gay Divorce Story,” with Karl Dunn 1:09:39

20d ago1:09:39

1:09:39

“Relationscapes” is the current podcast by Fireside host Blair Hodges. Enjoy this sample episode! Be sure to subscribe directly to Relationscapes now, because this episode will fall out of the Fireside feed next month!By Relationscapes

1
83: The Most Boring Element & Solving Shakespeare's Accent 1:32:48

25d ago1:32:48

1:32:48

What is the most boring element, and just how boring could it possibly be? Turns out: VERY! And how can we decipher what Shakespeare sounded like, and who among us can lay claim to his accent? Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:52) The Most Boring Element (00:48:53) Solving Shakespeare's Accent (01:26:37) Outro Support us with a Max Fun Membership…

1
What Do You Love About It, Exactly? 8:59

25d ago8:59

8:59

Your Secret Santa reveals their identity and it turns out you were both picked to buy for each other and you both chose terribly. How do you cover that up while maintaining polite conversation in the office? This episode is both a dramatic enactment and an audio guide. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/…

1
I'm Not A P***k 10:30

1M ago10:30

10:30

When you run out of dollars to tip a bartender with, how do you make sure they know that you aren't the sort of person who wouldn't tip? Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
82: International Space Law & Taxidermy 1:51:32

1M ago1:51:32

1:51:32

What laws are there to worry about in the moon? And what does space law teach us about Earth law? And what can we learn about societies throughout history from the lens of stuffing dead animals? Images we Talk About: Orbiting Space Debris Fallen Space Debris Hanging Christian Crocodile Hanging Christian Crocodile Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03…

1
The Play's The Thing 11:17

1M ago11:17

11:17

One couple's intermission discussion about the play they have gone to see reveals a lot about the current state of theater. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Baseball Dads 10:40

2M ago10:40

10:40

Two dads, proud of each other's offspring, watch a baseball game in increasingly unsettling circumstances. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
The Affair 11:29

2M ago11:29

11:29

You don't have to be a detective to work things out from Instagram, and when you find out the dirt on what your dad is up to, sometimes it's time to confront him about it. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/…

1
Preview: The Lab Rat Games 38:21

2M ago38:21

38:21

Welcome to the (preview for the) Lab Rat Games! The GAME show where we compete to learn anything and everything interesting! We love putting games into our topics, so what happens when we make a whole show of them, with each of us hosting their own section! Plus! We're joined by friend of the show and competitive chaos combatant, Sabrina Cruz! Supp…

1
The Cessation Code 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

It's always the way; you hire a hitman, get cold feet about the whole deal, decide to call it off and then you realise, you've forgotten the cessation code. It's like losing the PIN for your bank card or misplacing your house key. The question is, how do you get out of the situation? Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.…

1
81: Dinosaur Diet Detectives & Proto-Podcasts 2:12:38

2M ago2:12:38

2:12:38

How can scientist's unravel the mystery of what dinosaurs ate? Well the clues are right in front of our eyes, or should I say their teeth! And poop! And listener you may already know what a podcast is, but how did proto-podcasts in a chicken coop give us the DNA for what we love, and how did podcasts even happen? Images we Talk About: First Iguanad…

1
Tom, Ella, and Caroline join MFD Spring Break 1:20:29

2M ago1:20:29

1:20:29

It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!! Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea…

1
You Don’t Need Google When You Have This Guy’s Mind (RECORDED ON LOCATION) 9:38

2M ago9:38

9:38

When a walking tour of New York finishes up in Grand Central Station, it becomes obvious to the tour guide that one particular participant is a huge fan, but has retained none of the information. This episode was recorded live in Grand Central Station, New York. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produc…

1
80: Ify Nwadiwe, The Science of the Peasant Railgun, and a Panoply of Nerdery 1:16:19

2M ago1:16:19

1:16:19

Host of Um Actually and nerd of many domains Ify Nwadiwe joins us as Tom helps him deconstruct the infamous Peasant Railgun from D&D. Could it actually work? And can we come up with something even more powerful using real science? We also dig into nerdery old and new, and see if Ify can convince Ella and Caroline to embrace their home country's gre…

1
Bear Breath 11:28

2M ago11:28

11:28

Two kids are camping out in the back yard. Are the sounds they hear animals, their imagination, or just noises they are generating from their own mouths. Sometimes it's hard to know for sure. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on A…

1
79: The Psychology of Math & Sudoku 1:50:32

3M ago1:50:32

1:50:32

Why is math both so easy and so hard for our brains, and how can the psychology of horses, babies, and mathematicians help answer that? And what wild journey did Sudoku take to become the popular puzzle that Ella adores? Things we Talk About: The Video of a Child Learning to Count The Melencolia Painting Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:04:59) The …

1
You Learn Things When You're Down Here In The Trenches 10:10

3M ago10:10

10:10

When it comes to on the job training, one employee is willing to take people under his wing in order that the training they receive is next level. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat…

1
Caleb, You're Freaking Out Buddy 10:17

3M ago10:17

10:17

Sometimes the intensity of a situation causes you to divulge more about your life than might be seen as socially usual. Few such situations are as intense as a tandem skydive. One man, one instructor, one aircraft and a long way down. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd h…

1
78: Drosophila Melanogaster & The British Meal Deal 1:43:10

3M ago1:43:10

1:43:10

Why is the common fruit fly the perfect model organism, and the reason for 6 Nobel Prizes?? And what is the british fascination around the meal deal, lunchtime, and the sandwich? Images we Talk About: Map of the Fruit Fly Brain Rat My Meal Deal The Sandwich Factory Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:57) Drosophila Melanogaster (00:49:46) The Briti…

1
Tight Five 11:12

3M ago11:12

11:12

Every comedian needs to find their audience, and this selection of stand up comedians are still finding theirs. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Anything I Do To You I Do To Myself 10:58

3M ago10:58

10:58

When your university professor is hospitalised, the only decent thing you can do is visit them at their hospital bed and express some very sincere concerns. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor…

1
77: Light Pollution & Mistaeks 1:43:58

4M ago1:43:58

1:43:58

What can we learn from the most modern - but overlooked form of pollution? And can mistakes in art be something actually... good? Images we Talk About: Navajo Rug Ch'ihónít’i Ramses II Statue Ecce Homo The Original Ecce Homo 3 Versions of Ecce Homo Lincoln Memorial Mistake Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:25) Light Pollution (00:48:06) Mistaeks …

1
A Whole New World (RECORDED ON LOCATION) 13:11

4M ago13:11

13:11

A birthday surprise turns into a New York adventure for one lucky spouse. This episode was recorded live on location at Grand Central Station, The Shuttle Train and Times Square in NYC, USA. No sound effects have been added. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Additional characters: Random members of the…

1
Chummus 12:00

4M ago12:00

12:00

There's no such things as a trivial complaint in a supermarket context. When you notice a discrepancy in hummus varieties when you are out of town, it can lead to serious disappointment. This episode contains in-depth discussions about different types of groceries which may demystify the supermarket experience for some listeners. Improvised by: Lou…

1
Recast: The Funcanny Valley - Spellbound and Gagged 1:15:38

4M ago1:15:38

1:15:38

As we plan out the new year, please enjoy a recast of one of my (Tom's) favorite guest appearances on Spellbound and Gagged, hosted by the wonderful friend of the show Ellen Weatherford!By Tom Lum

1
Gold Which Has Funded The Bloodlust Of Generations Of Warriors Protecting The Realm 12:23

4M ago12:23

12:23

Finding the home that is right for you can be a tricky process, especially when you are "a Dracula". One realtor and one tricky customer navigate finding the right property. Will it be in the right location? Will it have the right facilities? Will it be a sacred building that has lost its holy sepulchre because of the behavior of defrocked priests …

1
Left Holding The Baby 10:22

4M ago10:22

10:22

When Phil visit's his friend's new place, he's left holding a baby ahead of an important event, which proves a good excuse to talk through exactly what's going to happen with an innocent observer. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted…

1
New Year Q&A 2024/25 1:59:20

5M ago1:59:20

1:59:20

It's the start of the new year which means a bunch of new questions submitted by YOU! What are our favorite words from the podcast? What's it like to scrap a topic? Would we still love each other if we were worms? Things we Talk About: Contrapoints' Twilight Video Jenny Nicholson's Star Wars Hotel Video Shaun's Channel China's Artifical Sun XOXO 20…

1
The Don's Midnight Kiss 11:44

5M ago11:44

11:44

It's nearly midnight and everyone is about to kiss, but one party goer has some serious anxiety about his because they are single. The host is happy to give instruction however their advice also contains commercials and details of a sinister plot. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie …

1
I'm Santa Claus, All Right? 10:34

5M ago10:34

10:34

A mall Santa is asked a favor which leads to a negotiation which isn't entirely cordial. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
76: The HaLearnDays Spectacular! 2024 1:44:18

5M ago1:44:18

1:44:18

It's the HaLearn Days!! We've gathered a whole bunch of fun facts from each other and from friends of the show to share the gift of laughter and learning! Images we Talk About: The Rat Car Rat Car Video Support us with a Max Fun Membership! Join our Discord! Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:07:57) Part 1 (00:59:11) Part 2 (01:37:06) Outro We also l…

1
Confirm Not To Cancel (FT. TOM LUM) 9:07

5M ago9:07

9:07

The trial session at the gym went really well, but the option to wait until you commit to joining seems a little more taxing that the workout was. How do you cancel? Who pays for the muscle milk? What happens if you bring in your own meat? There are many unanswered questions. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show…

1
The Dutch East India Company 10:36

5M ago10:36

10:36

The best place to ask your friend for financial advice is on a cruise ship. From compound interest through to the misunderstood meanings of liquidity, it could be time to get your capital working for society rather than the banks. And it all starts with ships. Apparently... Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/5…

1
75: Where are We? & Carrot Propaganda 1:29:14

5M ago1:29:14

1:29:14

Where are we in the universe? And what can we learn from all the hilariously wrong guesses and bad maps that got us there? And just how much carrot propaganda was there? Well, we'll see a lot of posters and a few myths to debunk! Images we Talk About: Dunn's Earth & Moon Maps Herschel's Milky Way Map Wright's Island Universes Drawing The Image of M…

1
Pop Fun (Ft. JULIA SCHROEDER) 11:05

5M ago11:05

11:05

It's awards season and one entertainment reporter is determined to get in all the hard hitting questions to the nominees. It's just that some nominees are a little more serious that others. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ With special guest Julia Schroeder Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www…

1
Submit Your Q&A Questions! 3:58

6M ago3:58

3:58

It's everyone's favorite holiday: the day we ask you to submit your Q&A questions!! Go to www.LetsLearnEverything.com/questions and submit your questions about truly anything at all from the science to the serious to the silly!By Tom Lum

1
Words Are Not Jobs 9:42

6M ago9:42

9:42

A high school careers guidance counsellor is having serious trouble keeping pace with the modern world. It is seriously impacting his work with his students. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo…

1
74: Autumn Leaves & Swearing 1:49:16

6M ago1:49:16

1:49:16

Why do leaves change color? No... like really? Like, show-me-the-scientific-literature-really? After all how mysterious could the answer be? And holy frick we're finally doing a topic on swearing!! What are the eras of swearing, and what is swearing actually good for? Listen to our episode of Escape this Podcast: Oceananigans pt. 3 - The Bering-tos…

1
Open Up That Belly Andy (FT. MICHAEL BURTON) 10:15

6M ago10:15

10:15

One man wants to sell his arcade business and he's in luck because two investors are keen to talk about making an offer. However, this business and these business men have some obstacles to overcome first, not least on the nature of the business. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ with special guest Mic…

1
To Pete And Jen 12:58

6M ago12:58

12:58

Pete has got married to Jen, and it's now down to his peculiar assortment of groomsmen to give a fuller picture of what Pete is like as a man for the guests at the wedding breakfast. In a wide variety of speeches, his groomsmen reveal as much about themselves as they do about Pete. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.co…

1
73: Linguist Gretchen McCulloch, Latin in Science, and Internet Linguistics 1:25:39

6M ago1:25:39

1:25:39

Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch of Lingthusiasm joins us to casually answer all of our pressing linguistics questions with the most mind blowing facts. Why does science use so much dang latin, and what is so unique about internet linguistics? Images we Talk About: Gretchen's Favorite Frogs Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:10:58) Latin in Scien…

1
LIVE EPISODE: Maternity Ward 49:20

6M ago49:20

49:20

One couple are wary of bringing their child into the world without their doula present to advocate for their very specific world view. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Magnet Theater, New York on Sunday 27th October 2024. This show was performed in the dark, with the house and stage lights down. When prompted for a sugge…

1
The Entity 13:49

7M ago13:49

13:49

Halloween Special: A man has encountered something paranormal in his basement pantry and a TV crew has turned up to reenact that moment. The only trouble is, the way it is being described needs some work. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com…

1
72: Former Cryptids & The Art of a Scary Story 1:57:20

7M ago1:57:20

1:57:20

Cryptids may be spooky, but what about the spooky animals that turned out to be... real?? And what makes a good spooky story? Could it be something secretly... heartwarming?? Timestamps: (00:07:15) Intro (00:04:21) Former Cryptids (00:54:25) The Art of Spooky Stories (01:52:33) Outro Support us with a Max Fun Membership! Join our Discord! We also l…

1
Reboot In Safe Mode 13:26

7M ago13:26

13:26

One man has bonded with his nurse in hospital. When a new nurse comes on shift, it transpires that the previous nurse's actions might not have been entirely patient-oriented. Improvised by: Louis Kornfeld Rick Andrews https://magnettheater.com/show/58819/ Produced by: Lloydie James Lloyd https://www.improvchronicle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.c…

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