Sonic the Hedgehog lives fast… but will he die young? The hosts of Free With Ads are joined by comedian Matt Apodoca to discuss this deeply philosophical question
Why does an acclaimed comedian relate to a vengeful nineteenth-century composer in a 1980s period drama? Gianmarco Soresi explains over on Feeling Seen
Artist and educator Nayland Blake brought his expertise on all things queer kink to Maximum Film! for a discussion about A24’s dark comedy/drama/rom-com film Pillion
🌍 About the world
How can you support kids living in ICE-era Minnesota? Recent episodes of Depresh Mode feature show host (and MN resident) John Moe giving regular updates about what it’s like to live there right now. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Jerstad joins John to weigh in on how ICE’s hostile occupation affects kids and how the adults in their lives can help
If you’re as gutted as we are about Catherine O’Hara passing away, here are two episodes celebrating her:
Want to hear Catherine O’Hara herself talk about the highs and lows of her career? Listen to this re-aired Bullseye with Jesse Thorn interview from 2013
Book recommendations!
From high fantasy to nonfiction, our Winter 2026 Staff Recs list has books for all tastes!
Do you love a book that you’re dying to recommend to your fellow MaxFunsters? Tell us why you love it, and we might add it to the next refresh of our Community Picks list.
Justice on a boat!
Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn are gonna spend four days this summer dispensing justice up and down the coast of Maine.
Join John and Jesse onboard a historic schooner for four days of litigation, beautiful views, and maritime justice. The trip departs on June 14, so make sure to book your tickets soon!
Troubled Watersproducer/Primerhost/all-around swell dude Christian Dueñas posed a question in Slack recently: what were everyone’s favorite assigned novels in middle/high school? (Secondary school, for our international friends).
Answers included:
Lord of the Flies
Holes
Once and Future King
Dracula
Hatchet
“I straight up never read any of my assigned books”
Plus, we had a riveting academic discussion over acclaimed novel Watership Down.
That’s all for now!
… No, really! What, were you expecting an announcement about something? Like, dates for an event? Eh, you’ll just have to wait a little longer for that. And, on a related note: we’ll be back in your inboxes in early March!
