We’re taking a trip back in time—way back to 2021—for a very special re-release! This isn’t just any episode of Beer’d Al. It’s the one where Russ and Lauren have their very first conversation. Like… ever.

And what better album to bond over than "Weird Al" Yankovic’s delightfully wacky Poodle Hat? Expect laughter, awkward charm, a few "getting to know you" moments, and of course, plenty of Weird Al love. So crack open a beer, cue up Poodle Hat, and relive the magic of the moment it all began. 🍻🐩🎩

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🎶 It’s time to flip that record over! 🎶

Lauren is once again joined by the wonderfully weird Insane Ian to dive into Side 2 of Weird Al’s “Polka Party!” The dynamic duo keeps the laughs rolling as they break down every track, share favorite moments, and debate where this oft-overlooked album fits in Al’s larger legacy.

Expect deep cuts, bad puns, and plenty of banter—because that’s how we polka on the Beer’d Al Podcast! Crack open a cold one and join the party—Polka Party, that is! 🍺🎺



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Deck the halls… with fallout? This week on the Beer’d Al Podcast, Lauren is joined by the always-entertaining Two-Eff Jeff from the Suggested Articles Podcast to unwrap Weird Al’s delightfully dark holiday classic, “Christmas at Ground Zero.”

Grab your favorite seasonal brew and join us as we toast to catchy carols, Cold War satire, and the bizarre brilliance of celebrating yuletide cheer in the shadow of nuclear annihilation. It’s merry, it’s morbid, and it’s Weird Al at his finest.

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Lauren & Russ are joined by special guest Noah (you know, “Noah Guy”) to unpack Weird Al’s hilarious-style parody “Good Enough for Now.” We dig into what makes this song both romantic and brutally honest, how it flips the country love-ballad trope on its head, and which lines hit you in the feels (or in your ego). Plus: reflections on relationships, comedy songwriting, and whether settling ever really “works.” Don’t miss:

• Noah’s take on the difference between sugar-coated love and “above-average” backhanded compliments
• Which line in the song stings the most—and which one ends up being secretly the sweetest
• A few laughs, some uncomfortable truths, and all the Weird Al admiration you’d expect

Connect with Noah & His Work:

• YouTube: The Jury House
• Spotify: The Jury House
• X / Twitter: @noahmussay

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Lauren and Russ are back with a very special guest—our good friend Robert Yaniz Jr.! This week, we’re biting into Weird Al’s “Toothless People,” digging into Mick Jagger’s “Ruthless People,” AND chewing over the 1986 comedy Ruthless People.

That’s right: one conversation, three ruthless (and toothless) angles. We cover the music, the movie, and of course, the ridiculous connections only Beer’d Al can make.

If you’ve ever wondered how a Weird Al deep cut, a Mick Jagger soundtrack entry, and a Danny DeVito/Bette Midler classic all intersect—this is the episode for you.

Now, all rise for the honorable Judge Reinhold. 

Beer'd Al is a member of the OddPods Media Network... And so is Crooked Table Productions!

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This week, we lace up for a deep dive into one of Weird Al’s most criminally underappreciated originals: “Don’t Wear Those Shoes.” And joining us is none other than Zeb — yes, that Zeb. Everybody knows Zeb.

We’re talking petty breakups, questionable footwear, and how this little synthpop gem might just be riff-cousins with The Kinks’ “Father Christmas.” (Seriously. The guitar hooks are suspiciously similar. We’ve got tabs. We’ve got takes.)

Grab a beer, kick off those ugly shoes, and settle in for a conversation that’s equal parts music geekery, Weird Al love, and friendly chaos. Because life’s too short for bad footwear… and bad beer.

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The Polka Party rages on—and we’re flipping the record to Side 2! This week, we're diving into “Here’s Johnny,” Weird Al’s tribute to The Tonight Show’s iconic Ed McMahon... or is it just a catchy jam about late-night obsession? Either way, we’ve got a first-time guest (and first-time podcaster!) joining us: our friend Kevin!

Tune in as we talk 80s TV, weird childhood memories, and whether this track deserves more love. There’s laughter, a few tangents, and maybe even a McMahon impression or two. It’s the perfect way to welcome Kevin to the podcasting world—with beer, Al, and a whole lotta fun.

So say it with us: HEEEERE’S JOHNNY!

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Lauren and Russ are back from Pine Knob and buzzing with excitement! In this episode of the Beer’d Al Podcast, we’re breaking down our unforgettable night seeing “Weird Al” Yankovic on the Bigger & Weirder Tour. From the VIP treatment (yes, we saw our hero up close!) to the high-energy setlist and Al’s unbeatable stage presence, we cover it all. Hear our favorite moments, unexpected surprises, and why this tour feels like a victory lap for longtime fans. Whether you were there too or you’re living vicariously through us, grab a beverage and let’s talk Al!

Check out our recap on YouTube, too! 

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Let’s get weird—Polka Party! weird. This week on the Beer’d Al Podcast, Lauren is joined by comedy musician, parody wizard, and all-around awesome human Insane Ian to dive into Side 1 of Weird Al Yankovic’s Polka Party! album.

We’re talking about everything from hernias to spuds, and we’re loving every minute of it. Tracks on the menu include:

• The James Brown sendup “Living with a Hernia”
• The Talking Heads-flavored “Dog Eat Dog”
• The deep-fried brilliance of “Addicted to Spuds”
• The delightfully unhinged original “One of Those Days”
• And of course, the frantic accordion madness of the title track, “Polka Party!”

Ian brings his deep-cut knowledge of comedy music, Lauren brings the beverages, and together they serve up a celebration of this oft-overlooked (but totally lovable) Al-bum. Crack open a cold one and join the polka party!

Check out Ian's work:
YouTube
Bandcamp

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It’s a Polka Party—literally and figuratively! This week, Lauren and Russ take on the high-energy polka medley “Polka Party” from Weird Al’s Polka Party! album. And they’re not alone—Polka Bob is back to lend his accordion-fueled wisdom and enthusiasm!

We break down the song-by-song madness, marvel at the medley magic, and ask the big questions: Where does this rank among Al’s polkas? What deep cuts make the biggest splash? And why does “Ear Booker Polka” get all the glory?

Put on your party hat (and maybe some polka dots) and join us for a beer, a laugh, and a whole lot of squeezebox.

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It’s one of those days… but in the best way possible! Lauren is joined by the delightfully nerdy and wonderfully weird Jeff Nucera (aka UHJeff) to talk all about the song “One of Those Days” from Polka Party! You might know Jeff as one of the filmmakers behind Tight & Nerdy—the fabulous documentary about the world’s first Weird Al-themed burlesque troupe. (Yes, that’s a real thing, and yes, it’s amazing.)

We dive into this underrated Al deep cut and revel in its over-the-top absurdity, dark humor, and surprising relatability.

Oh—and we discover a truly wild coincidence about each other that will have you saying, “What are the odds?!”

So crack open a cold one, embrace the chaos, and settle in for a joyfully weird ride. Because even on one of those days, Beer’d Al makes everything better. 🍺🎶

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We're starch-raving mad this week! Lauren and Russ are joined by the spudtacular Ian Glaubinger, Art Director at RSVLTS, to break down the third track on Polka Party—Weird Al’s ode to tuber obsession: “Addicted to Spuds.” From mashed metaphors to fried philosophies, this episode peels back the layers on one of Al’s most underrated food parodies. Get ready for laughs, carbs, and a whole lot of potato talk. Don’t flake out—tune in! 🥔

Check out Ian's artwork here. 

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The Beer’d Al Podcast is back with the second installment of our Polka Party album series, and this week we’re diving headfirst into the caffeinated chaos of “Dog Eat Dog”! Lauren and Russ are joined by none other than Jim Elek, the fearless and fabulous admin of the Close Personal Friends of Weird Al Facebook group.

Together, we unpack the deliciously bizarre brilliance of this Talking Heads-inspired track, discuss corporate life in the ‘80s (and beyond), and ponder the eternal question: How much coffee is too much coffee? There are laughs, deep cuts, and of course, beers. Come for the “Dog Eat Dog” discourse, stay for the delightful detours.

Grab your mug, fire up the copy machine, and let’s get weird!

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🎉 It’s time to kick off our Polka Party deep dive—aka the Polka Party party! In this episode, Lauren and Russ are diving headfirst into the lead track: “Living with a Hernia.” And they’re not going it alone—friend of the show and all-around great guy KC from The Itch Rocks podcast joins the party!

We’re talking medical mayhem, James Brown flair, and all the glorious weirdness that only Weird Al can deliver. Whether you’re an Al-bum purist or a casual hernia-haver, this one’s for you.

So grab your abdominal support belt and let’s get going!



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"Dare to Re-Sequence: Making Dare to Be Stupid Make Sense" 

This week, Lauren and Russ take their marriage to the next level and take on a noble Weird Al challenge: rearranging the tracklist of Dare to Be Stupid into an order that (dare we say it?) makes more sense. We each came up with our own new sequence for the album, and we’re diving deep into the why behind our choices. Does “Like a Surgeon” really need to be Track 1? Should “One More Minute” hit earlier or later? We’ve got opinions—and so will you.

We also have links to both of our resequenced versions so you can listen along and decide which one reigns supreme. So put on your accordion hat and let’s get stupid… in a very deliberate way.

Dare to be Lauren (Lauren's)
Dare to Re-Sequence (Russ's)

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The deep dive concludes! Lauren and Insane Ian are diving into Side 2 of Dare to be Stupid. From polkas to parodies and everything in between (mostly in between), they unpack the genius of Al’s songwriting, discuss the sheer weirdness and brilliance of these tracks, and probably go off on a few hilarious tangents along the way. Will they dare to be even stupider this time? Tune in and find out!

Check out the glory of Insane Ian here!
http://insaneian.bandcamp.com
YouTube.com/insaneian
Patreon.com/insaneian

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Polka time, baby! Lauren is joined by Russ and the newly-appointed "Polka Bob" to dive into the accordion-fueled madness of "Hooked on Polkas," the high-energy album closer from Dare to Be Stupid. We break down Weird Al’s brilliant medley choices, discuss what makes polka so undeniably fun, and celebrate the joy of accordion-fueled chaos. Is this the ultimate party anthem? Does "Hooked on Polkas" still hold up today? And just how does one become a certified "Polka Bob"? Tune in for laughs, deep dives, and—of course—some serious polka appreciation!

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Lauren and Russ are back with a quick and fun discussion about "Cable TV" from Dare to Be Stupid! It’s an okay song, and this is an okay-length episode—so why not give it a listen? 😆

Plus, stick around for the midroll featuring some beautiful piano renditions of Weird Al tracks by our talented friend, Summer Woods! 🎹

Crack open a cold one and join us for some classic Weird Al goodness. Cheers! 🍻

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Pop the champagne and polish your monocles, because we’re living the high life on this episode of Beer’d Al! Lauren and Russ are joined by fellow Weird Al aficionado UH-Jeff, who’s here to talk all about “This is the Life” from the Dare to Be Stupid album. But that’s not all—Jeff is also promoting his documentary, Tight & Nerdy, a deep dive into the world of Weird Al-inspired burlesque. Yes, you read that right!

We have a blast dissecting the song, its classic gangster movie vibes, and what it really means to “have money, money, money and stacks on stacks.” Plus, we may or may not do a little time traveling along the way! 

So whether you're spending this Valentine's Day with someone special or just treating yourself to a little Weird Al goodness, grab a fancy drink, sit back, and enjoy this wild ride through Al-verse opulence.

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Grab a snack and get ready for a fun and fascinating deep dive! In this episode we’re serving up a hearty discussion on Weird Al’s Dare to Be Stupid classic, "Girls Just Wanna Have Lunch." Joining me at the table is author and musicologist Lily Hirsch, and together, we unpack the humor, the history, and the gendered music themes behind this quirky parody. Was Al truly hungry for satire, or was he just forced to take a bite? We chew on that, share some laughs, and explore the broader cultural implications of gender in music.

So grab a cold one (and maybe a sandwich) and tune in for another deliciously nerdy episode!

Beer'd Al is a girly member of the OddPods Media Network.

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