Malcolm Fleschner's award-winning (well, award-*won* anyway) humor column malcolmfleschner.substack.com
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Advice columns like Dear Abby, Ann Landers, Miss Manners and Savage Love remain wildly popular with newspaper readers. But the advice doled out by these self-styled experts is not always worth the paper its printed on. So join hosts Malcolm Fleschner and Kurt Wolfrum as we conduct a little hilarity-filled quality control on a different assortment of advice columns each week and judge for yourself who gives better responses: us, them or maybe even you!
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Episode 9 (Part Two): “Luck of the Irish,” “86,” “Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire” and more!
48:12
48:12
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48:12
Get full access to Culture Shlock at malcolmfleschner.substack.com/subscribeBy Malcolm Fleschner
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Episode 9 (Part One): “At Sixes and Sevens,” “Skin of One’s Teeth,” “Baker’s Dozen” and more!
55:57
55:57
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55:57
Get full access to Culture Shlock at malcolmfleschner.substack.com/subscribeBy Malcolm Fleschner
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Episode 9: "Duck Club" Update, Mementos of a Dead Ex-Boyfriend, New Partner for an Old Vibrator, ChatGPT Love Advice — and much more!
56:59
56:59
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56:59
Malcolm and Kurt share a shocking follow-up to last episode’s workplace sex club letter, as well as advice regarding letters from: A man whose girlfriend is not willing to part with her deceased ex-boyfriend’s memento box A woman whose husband is the object of frequent flirting from their younger female coworker A daughter who reconnected with an a…
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Episode 9: "Duck Club" Update, Mementos of a Dead Ex-Boyfriend, New Partner for an Old Vibrator, ChatGPT Love Advice — and much more!
57:00
57:00
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57:00
Malcolm and Kurt share a shocking follow-up to last episode’s workplace sex club letter, as well as advice regarding letters from: A man whose girlfriend is not willing to part with her deceased ex-boyfriend’s memento box A woman whose husband is the object of frequent flirting from their younger female coworker A daughter who reconnected with an a…
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Episode 8: “Clean Your Clock,” “Jury-Rigged,” “To Whale On,” “Makeshift,” “Slapdash,” “Freebird!” and more!
57:26
57:26
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57:26
Malcolm and Kurt demonstrate (mostly) mild annoyance with each other while puzzling over the provenance of common phrases suggested by fans of the podcast for beating on someone and doing slipshod work. All that and discussing whether there’s anything more annoying than yelling out “Play Freebird!” to a band at a live music performance. Get full ac…
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Episode 8: A boss uncovers an office sex club, cutting ties with dead husband’s clingy family, angling for a cut of deceased drug dealer brother’s cash — and much more!
50:18
50:18
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50:18
In this episode Kurt and Malcolm offer our not-remotely expert takes on: - How a widow can tell her annoying former sister-in-law “Barbara” that their “relationship” is over - Legal options for a woman who wants her portion of the $240,000 left in deceased brother’s dresser drawer - What a manager should do after discovering a wide-ranging COMPETIT…
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Episode 8: A boss uncovers an office sex club, cutting ties with dead husband’s clingy family, angling for a cut of deceased drug dealer brother’s cash — and much more!
50:18
50:18
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50:18
In this episode Kurt and Malcolm offer our not-remotely expert takes on: - How a widow can tell her annoying former sister-in-law “Barbara” that their “relationship” is over - Legal options for a woman who wants her portion of the $240,000 left in deceased brother’s dresser drawer - What a manager should do after discovering a wide-ranging COMPETIT…
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Episode 7: “Slush Fund,” “Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread,” “Flat Out Like a Lizard Drinking,” “Footloose,” “Molson Muscle” and more!
52:59
52:59
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52:59
Malcolm and Kurt trade barbs and witticisms while puzzling out the derivations of common English phrases while also celebrating the 30-year anniversary of an amazing word-related hoax perpetrated by a member of Generation X against the mighty New York Times. Get full access to Culture Shlock at malcolmfleschner.substack.com/subscribe…
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Episode 7: Introducing boyfriend to polyamory, dealing with a copycat “friend,” staying friends with an ex, getting hassled for parking in the handicapped spot — and much more!
57:19
57:19
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57:19
In this episode Kurt and Malcolm offer our expert takes on: How a woman in a committed relationship (and a small child) can talk her boyfriend into pursuing polyamory The best way for dealing with a Facebook friend who copycats to such an extent we fear she’s looking to commit murder and take her friend’s place A writer with chronic pain who has to…
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Episode 7: Introducing boyfriend to polyamory, dealing with a copycat “friend,” staying friends with an ex, getting hassled for parking in the handicapped spot — and much more!
57:18
57:18
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57:18
In this episode Kurt and Malcolm offer our expert takes on: How a woman in a committed relationship (and a small child) can talk her boyfriend into pursuing polyamory The best way for dealing with a Facebook friend who copycats to such an extent we fear she’s looking to commit murder and take her friend’s place A writer with chronic pain who has to…
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Episode 6: “Makin’ Whoopie,” “Copycat,” “Shag,” “Kit ’n’ Kaboodle,” “Pussyfoot” and the granddaddy of them all, “F*ck”
56:19
56:19
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56:19
Malcolm and Kurt trade witticisms while making their best guesses about the derivations for three synonyms of “doing it,” as well as a trio of (vaguely) feline-themed expressions. Get full access to Culture Shlock at malcolmfleschner.substack.com/subscribeBy Malcolm Fleschner
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Episode 6: A Young Boy’s Worrisome Pokemon Fetish, a Car-Stealing Boss, an “Awkward” Polyamory Situation — and much more!
48:30
48:30
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48:30
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt wrestle with a wide range of issues, including: How — and if — a dad should intervene with his son who appears to be developing a sexual attraction for Pokemon What to do when you get fired after calling the police on your boss for stealing your car How to extricate oneself from an ex-boyfriend’s mom who won’t stop …
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Episode 6: A Young Boy’s Worrisome Pokemon Fetish, a Car-Stealing Boss, an “Awkward” Polyamory Situation — and much more!
48:30
48:30
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48:30
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt wrestle with a wide range of issues, including: How — and if — a dad should intervene with his son who appears to be developing a sexual attraction for Pokemon What to do when you get fired after calling the police on your boss for stealing your car How to extricate oneself from an ex-boyfriend’s mom who won’t stop …
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Episode 5: Origins of football terms "touchdown," "sack" and "Super Bowl"; surprising original meanings of "nice," "broad" and "slut"
57:09
57:09
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57:09
This week Kurt asks Malcolm to tackle the origins of the American football terms “touchdown,” “sack” and “Super Bowl,” while Malcolm challenges Kurt to come up with the original definitions of the words "nice," "broad" (meaning woman) and the often considered shameful "slut." All this and our hilarious takes on the old "Statue of Liberty" play, fra…
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Episode 5: Letters from “A Hairy Situation in the East”, “Halloween for the 99 Percent” & “Ungrateful Girlfriend”
59:30
59:30
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59:30
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt do their best to unpack letters to Ann Landers, Carolyn Hax, Dear Prudence and more, offering our pointed critiques of the following: “A Hairy Situation in the East” who doesn’t know how to communicate to his loving girlfriend that he’s freaked out that she doesn’t shave her legs or armpits“ Halloween for the 99 Per…
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Episode 5: Letters from “A Hairy Situation in the East”, “Halloween for the 99 Percent” & “Ungrateful Girlfriend”
59:30
59:30
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59:30
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt do their best to unpack letters to Ann Landers, Carolyn Hax, Dear Prudence and more, offering our pointed critiques of the following: “A Hairy Situation in the East” who doesn’t know how to communicate to his loving girlfriend that he’s freaked out that she doesn’t shave her legs or armpits“ Halloween for the 99 Per…
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Episode 4: Kick the Bucket, Fly Off the Handle, Dead as a Doornail, Shuffle off this Mortal Coil & Put Up Your Dukes
55:51
55:51
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55:51
This week Kurt goes thematic by asking Malcolm to identify the origins of “Kick the bucket,” “Dead as a doornail” and “Shuffle off this mortal coil,” while Malcolm introduces his co-host to Cockney rhyming slang in the form of “Put up your dukes” and reveals the derivation of “Fly off the handle.” All this and our hilarious takes on Olympic boycott…
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Episode 3: Balls to the Wall, Mad as a Hatter, Bruce Springsteen’s “Speedball,” Bury the Hatchet, "I'm Your Huckleberry" and Butter You Up
52:38
52:38
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52:38
Malcolm and Kurt try to stump one another about the origins of Balls to the Wall, Mad as a Hatter, Bury the Hatchet, and Butter You Up while exploring why the Bruce Springsteen lyric is "throw that old *speedball* by you" instead of *fastball* and reveal that Val Kilmer's Wyatt Earp character in Tombstone does NOT say "I'll be your huckleberry." Al…
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Episode 4: Letters about a cheating boyfriend, stolen breast milk, a 24-year-old virgin and more!
1:08:48
1:08:48
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1:08:48
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt tackle letters to advice columnists from individuals facing a host of tough situations, including: A woman who caught her 40-year-old boyfriend making out with a 16-year-old girl attending her daughter's birthday party A new mom who pumps at work but recently discovered her expressed milk is being pilfered from the …
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Episode 4: Letters about a cheating boyfriend, stolen breast milk, a 24-year-old virgin and more!
1:08:48
1:08:48
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1:08:48
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt tackle letters to advice columnists from individuals facing a host of tough situations, including: A woman who caught her 40-year-old boyfriend making out with a 16-year-old girl attending her daughter's birthday party A new mom who pumps at work but recently discovered her expressed milk is being pilfered from the …
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Episode 3: Letters about new trouble in an old relationship, a man who's sparked up romance with a lesbian, post-oral etiquette and more!
48:52
48:52
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48:52
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt unpack letters to advice columnists covering a range of topics, including: A woman whose boyfriend of two years insists on maintaining a relationship with his ex/housemate A young man whose yearning for a lesbian friend has finally turned to romance but should they buy a house together? What the proper etiquette is …
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Episode 3: Letters about new trouble in an old relationship, a man who's sparked up romance with a lesbian, post-oral etiquette and more!
48:52
48:52
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48:52
In this episode Malcolm and Kurt unpack letters to advice columnists covering a range of topics, including: A woman whose boyfriend of two years insists on maintaining a relationship with his ex/housemate A young man whose yearning for a lesbian friend has finally turned to romance but should they buy a house together? What the proper etiquette is …
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Episode 2: Letters from Yearns To Be a Mom, Dragon-Worshipping Friend & Swinging PDA Etiquette
40:33
40:33
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40:33
Today Malcolm and Kurt do our best to unpack letters to Dear Abby, Dear Prudence and Miss Manners, doling out our critiques to: - “Yearns To Be a Mom” a “former model” who’s 31 and desperate to get that finger ringed and start pumping out the rugrats, but just can’t find any takers - A “Dear Prudence” letter writer whose friend has begun communicat…
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Episode 2: Letters from Yearns To Be a Mom, Dragon-Worshipping Friend & Swinging PDA Etiquette
40:33
40:33
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40:33
Today Malcolm and Kurt do our best to unpack letters to Dear Abby, Dear Prudence and Miss Manners, doling out our critiques to: - “Yearns To Be a Mom” a “former model” who’s 31 and desperate to get that finger ringed and start pumping out the rugrats, but just can’t find any takers - A “Dear Prudence” letter writer whose friend has begun communicat…
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Episode 2: Bite the Bullet, No Cap, Milquetoast and Steal Your Thunder
48:08
48:08
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48:08
Malcolm and Kurt grill one another about the origins of “Under the Weather,” "Bite the Bullet,” “No Cap,” “Milquetoast” and “Steal Your Thunder“ while Kurt also tests Malcolm’s ability to guess the meaning of a foreign idiomatic expressions like “There’s no cow on the ice,” “Not my circus, not my monkeys” and “Going where the Czar goes on foot.” Al…
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Episode 1: Letters from Two-timing Friend, Cheating Boyfriend, Modest Birdfeeder & Broke Dad
51:55
51:55
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51:55
Today Malcolm and Kurt hilariously tackle letters to Dear Abby, Ask Amy and Miss Manners, sharing pointed thoughts on advice to: "Right or Wrong in Virginia," who is adamant about not going on double-dates with her husband's two-timing friend "Al.” "Finally Free," who wants to know if she was right to break things off the way she did with the marri…
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Episode 1: Level Best, Piss-Poor, Tenterhooks and Much More!
46:37
46:37
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46:37
Malcolm and Kurt examine and argue about the surprising provenance of a range of terms including "level best," "on tenterhooks," and "piss-poor" while also discussing pressing questions like: Why do we say "hundreds," "thousands" and "millions" but we don't say "tens?" If you know the correct pronunciation of a widely mispronounced word, which pron…
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Episode 1: Letters from Two-timing Friend, Cheating Boyfriend, Modest Birdfeeder & Broke Dad
51:55
51:55
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51:55
Today Malcolm and Kurt hilariously tackle letters to Dear Abby, Ask Amy and Miss Manners, sharing pointed thoughts on advice to: "Right or Wrong in Virginia," who is adamant about not going on double-dates with her husband's two-timing friend "Al.” "Finally Free," who wants to know if she was right to break things off the way she did with the marri…
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