10 Bizarre Origin Stories of Brand Names! Plus National Burrito Day and other random celebrations, listener emails, new tour dates, and more! All before we close it out with The Tribune!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Back in LA and talking TV! White Lotus, Adolescence, and The Karen Reid Documentary, let’s get into it! Plus highlights from my shows on the east coast and seeing some listeners! And as always, I read The Tribune! Bonus after the show for Midnight Air supporters, I talk about the movies Mickey 17 and Black Bag!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

We’re a day late and I’m in New York City! Travel delays made me push this a day but we’re back for a nighttime hang! I’ve got emails from listeners, we’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and Sloppy Joes, plus I tell you the story of The Thailand mystery about the disappearance of Jim Thompson in 1967. And as always, I read The Tribune! Bonus after the show for Midnight Air supporters, I talk about the movies The Brutalist and Flow!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Tonight! I barely did a Triathlon and I’m glad we all lost an hour of sleep. Plus it’s Pi Day later this week and I’m running down the list of the Top 10 Iconic Movie and TV Restaurants That Are Real! And as always, I read The Tribune!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Tonight I’m talking TV! White Lotus, Paradise, Severance, Beast Games and more! I also detail my spring cleaning and a quick trip to Vegas.! And as always, I read The Tribune!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Tonight it’s the Top 10 Stories of Celebrity Items That Were Lost and Returned. Plus there a ton to discuss in the Daily Holidays! And as always, I read The Tribune! As a bonus for supporters of the show, it’s The Midnight Movie Club and my thoughts on the new Captain America, A Real Pain, and Ne Zah 2!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Recap of my weekend in Chicago! Plus the Top 10 Forgotten American Pastimes and Hobbies. And as always, I read The Tribune!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Here’s my full SuperBowl review! Plus there are some wild celebrations this week and then I read the Top 10 Romantic Comedies of all time! And as always, I read The Tribune!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Dear Pennies and Pallers,

In today’s episode, our friend Allison Dore confessed to us that she still sleeps with a blankie and asks if adults should give up their security blankets? We also talk about Spring Break, skiing, Michael Jordan, and more!

We wish you well, sincerely, 

Your Pen Pals Daniel Van Kirk and Rory Scovel

PS - Send us your letters! thepenpalspod@gmail.com, or 5419 Hollywood Blvd, Ste C #121, Los Angeles, CA 90027

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Episode released 01.29.25

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Pen Pals is produced by Clara Madenwald and our recording engineer is Aaron Brungardt. Our artwork was created by Geoffrey Tice and Kaela Weeks, and our theme music is by Patrick Keenan of The Winter Sounds. 

You can follow Pen Pals on Instagram and Tiktok @thepenpalspod - you can see all of that content thanks to Katelyn Bordini, who runs our social media. 

This show wouldn’t be possible without the support we get from you, our Patreon subscribers - thank you! And remember to tell everyone about your two favorite cackling idiots. #growtheshow

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Get your PALSTRONG wristbands at https://thepenpalspod.bigcartel.com/

Get exclusive podcasts and VIP perks for Hub City shows for only $5 a month - join the DVK Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/danielvankirk!

Tonight I run down the Top 10 Jobs You Can’t Get Today! I’ve also got listener emails about gas stations plus what we’re celebrating this week! And as always, I read The Tribune! As a bonus to Patreon Members, I talk about the movie Anora in our Midnight Movie Club!

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution.

Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!

Tonight I’m doing a deep dive on the movie 1917! I’ve also got listener emails, and it’s National Pie Day in the days we’re celebrating this week. And as always, I read The Tribune! 

Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!