EPISODE SUMMARY:

An all-pep-talks episode with appearances from lots of past Make My Day guests. Josh announces the show is going on a little hiatus and curates a series of pep talks from many wonderful past Make My Day contestants. 

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who contributed: Ron Funches, Bridger Winegar, Sadie Dupuis, Jon Gabrus, Anthony DeVito, Karen Chee, Sarah Hagi, Zach Reino, Jessica McKenna, Tom Bodett, Maris Kreizman, Daniel Kibblesmith, Aparna Nancherla, Mike Drucker, Tess Lynch, Jo Firestone, Mina Kimes, Laura Stevenson, Tom Scharpling, Wyatt Cenac, Alison Roman, Myq Kaplan, John Hodgman, Scaachi Koul, Matt Braunger, Dani Fernandez, and Ophira Eisenberg! 

Please consider donating to your local food bank or contributing to a local mutual aid organization this holiday season.

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Dave Holmes (Waiting For Impact, Esquire) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Back...to the Past, Dave gives amazing answers to a series of questions about the early 90s. He then donates his winnings to the Beta Cell Foundation. Plus, a pep talk for MC Hammer and the concept of empathy!

Donate to the Beta Cell Foundation: 

https://betacellfoundation.org/

Listen to Dave's podcasts: 

https://www.exactlyrightmedia.com/waiting-for-impact

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/troubled-waters/id511745722

Read Dave's writing: 

https://www.esquire.com/author/9774/dave-holmes/

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Jackie Kashian (Dork Forest, new standup album out 11/16) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Dork Web, Jackie gives incredible answers to questions about nerds and dorks. She then asks Josh to donate her winnings to his local food bank. Plus, a pep talk for stats nerds, and one you can give yourself!

Donate to your local food bank: https://www.feedingamerica.org/

Listen to Jackie's podcasts: https://www.jackiekashian.com/#podcasts

Enjoy Jackie's standup, including her new album: https://www.jackiekashian.com/store

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Gavin Matts (Conan, Comedy Central) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of My Way AND The Highway, Gavin talks about the best parts of travel. He then donates his winnings to the Black Trans Travel Fund. Plus, pep talks for people stuck in hotels on flight delays and people stuck in middle seats.

Donate to the Black Trans Travel Fund: https://www.blacktranstravelfund.com/

Check out Gavin's tour dates: http://gavinmatts.com/tickets

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Casey Johnston (She's A Beast newsletter) and Ashley Feinberg (Trashberg newsletter) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Good News, Rad News, Casey and Ashley give amazing answers about the FUTURE OF JOURNALISM (sort of). They then donate their winnings to The West Fund. Plus, pep talks for people who have punny articles written about their deaths, anyone who thinks the CIA killed JFK, and Casey.

Donate to The West Fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/contribute-to-abortion-access

Subscribe to Casey's newsletter She's A Beast: https://shesabeast.substack.com/about

Subscribe to Ashley's newsletter Trashberg: https://www.trashberg.com/

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Michael Cruz Kayne (A Good Cry podcast, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Good Grief, Michael gives terrific answers about the best ways to be sad (it's funnier than it sounds). He then donates his winnings to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Plus, pep talks for people about to cry in public and parents.

Donate to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/get-involved/#donate

Listen to Michael's podcast, A Good Cry: https://headgum.com/a-good-cry

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Anthony DeVito (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Old Favorites, Anthony gives incredible answers about the best parts of aging. He then donates his winnings to Planned Parenthood. Plus, pep talks for babies and DJs.

Donate to Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

See Anthony live: http://www.anthonydevitocomedy.com/shows

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Rax King (Tacky available now for preorder) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Taking in the Trash, Rax does a stellar job answering questions about the best parts of things people hate. She then donates her winnings to Casa Ruby in Washington DC. Plus, pep talks for ranch dressing and the Bloomin' Onion.

Donate to Casa Ruby: https://casaruby.org/donate/

Preorder Rax's book Tacky: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/669783/tacky-by-rax-king/

Subscribe to Rax's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/raxkingisdead

Listen to Low Culture Boil: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/low-culture-boil/id1543941809

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Ophira Eisenberg (NPR's Ask Me Another) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Gee, Quiz! Ophira answers questions about...game shows. She then donates her winnings to The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Plus, pep talks for people who finish an episode of Jeopardy with negative points.

Donate to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance: https://www.mioca.org/donate

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Broti Gupta and Dylan Gelula (The Simpsons, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Learning Sensation, Broti and Dylan answer questions about knowledge and education. It gets...weirdly chaotic. They then donate their winnings to The Lilith Fund. Plus, pep talks for bad test takers, a cricket, and Broti herself.

Subscribe to Lecture Hall, Broti and Dylan's podcast: https://www.patreon.com/lecturehall

Donate to the Lilith Fund: https://www.lilithfund.org/donate

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Mo Rocca (CBS Sunday Morning, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Death Perception, Mo answers questions about life, death, and life after death! He then donates his winnings to the Inner-City Scholarship Fund. Plus, pep talks for morticians and teabags.

Donate to the Inner-City Scholarship Fund: https://www.innercityscholarshipfund.org/

See Mo in Fairycakes Off-Broadway: https://fairycakestheplay.com/

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