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John Hodgman and Maximum Fun

Judge John Hodgman

We are a little late getting October's Members Only Mailbag episode up, but it's here! Check your bonus feeds if you are a member. You won't want to miss this one. Did you know there is a subreddit for people who like to pee in their sinks? Why is this even a topic in the Member Mailbag? What disgusting thing was Judge Hodgman and his friend, Charles, doing in Charles' room?? The only way to find out is by listening to the full episode, for members only! Become a member TODAY at maximumfun.org/join at just $5 a month for access to our full library of bonus content. 

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

TEASER: October 2025 Members Only Mailbag

Genevieve brings the case against her dad, Mike. He won't let her pay for him when they go out. If Genevieve does manage to pay, Mike keeps track so he can restore the balance later. As the father, he believes he should always pay his own way. Genevieve wants to be able to pick up the tab without Mike adding the transaction to his mental ledger. Who's right? 

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/SomethingFoul for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Shut Your Payhole

Greg and Melinda live on a sailing catamaran, but life at sea isn’t busy enough for Melinda. She wants a new hobby, and she wants that hobby to be fishing. Greg says fishing is boring and gross. He'd rather just buy fish from local vendors. Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

Content Warning: about 10 minutes after the first break, there is some graphic conversation involving fishing and how to kill fish properly. If you don't want to hear about it, skip about 5 minutes ahead.

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/acone419 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Sole Benefishiary

Live from Seattle's Neptune Theatre: BED, BATH, AND BEGONE! Lindy is in her first year at college. Her dad, Clay, wants to redecorate her room but she says it's TOO SOON! What will become of Lindy's life-sized Oscar Isaac cutout? Plus in Swift Justice: is it ok to talk about poop at parties? Are all ketchups the same? 

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/baltinerdist for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Bed, Bath, and Begone

Brent brings the case against his wife, Maite. Maite likes to unwind by playing 20 Questions with Brent. But Brent doesn’t want to play the game with her anymore. He says she’s doing it wrong. Her answers are too vague. But Maite says his 20 Questions gameplay is too basic! Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/LittleSadRufus for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Animal/Vegetable/Criminal

This week, Tyler wants his wife, Abby, to keep all 450 of his physical movies when he dies. But, Abby isn’t a movie person and thinks his collection will be wasted on her. She thinks Tyler’s friends and family would enjoy it much more than she would. But Tyler thinks his vast selection of movies will be the best way for Abby to stay connected to him when he’s on the other side. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? With Guest Bailiff Monte Belmonte!

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/Footwear_Critic for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Pro-Betamax Court

Live from the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver, B.C., NOM DE BROOM: Taryn brings the case against their sister, Lauren. Taryn and Lauren are both practitioners of the king of Canadian sports, which is, obviously: CURLING! Taryn owns a controversial curling broom, and they have named it in honor of Beyoncé. But Lauren hates this broom. She will not even say its name, say its name. Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

PLUS in Swift Justice we hear cases on: a family book club where just one person has read the book, proper nail clipping technique, and proper sandwich cutting technique. Make sure to stay tuned to the end for Friends of the Court Deb Perelman and Kenji López-Alt to weight in on their sandwich cut preferences!

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/banjo_solo for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Nom de Broom Live in Vancouver

Are you a Maximum Fun member? Check your BoCo feed because there's a new Membo Mailbag episode in there! If not, here's a preview of this month's episode. Want to hear why the J Squad is talking about cat litter? Join Maximum Fun at just $5 a month and you can hear this episode in full, along with our entire catalog of members-only bonus content. Go to maximumfun.org/join now to join us!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

TEASER: September 2025 Members Only Mailbag

Colton brings the case against his friend, Chris, who loves to tell the same joke to his group of friends. Colton is TIRED OF IT. He says this joke comes up so much that talking to Chris gives him anxiety. But Chris says the joke is hilarious! Who’s right? Who’s wrong? With Guest Bailiff Monte Belmonte!

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Thanks to reddit user u/MayorPoopenmeyer for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Running Gag Order

Fall is nearly here and it's time to clear the docket! This week, we are talking to beloved food writers and chefs Kenji López-Alt (Serious Eats, The Recipe) and Deb Perelman (Smitten Kitchen, The Recipe) about COMFORT FOODS! Is the "mac" in chili mac supposed to be plain noodles or mac and cheese? Is canned pumpkin as good as fresh pumpkin puree? If you make green bean casserole with fresh green beans, is it still a comfort food? What is the best way to soften hard ice cream? Rulings on all of these and much more!

Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.

We are on TikTok and YouTube! Follow us on both @judgejohnhodgmanpod! Follow us on Instagram @judgejohnhodgman!

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

Comfort Feuds With Kenji López-Alt & Deb Perelman

Want to hear some of our new, members-only bonus episode, KINDING THEM WITH KINDNESS PART 2? Good news! Here's a clip. 

It's #MaxFunDrive! The best time of year to become a new or upgrading member of Maximum Fun! Every monthly member at the five dollar level or higher gets access to the entire network's exclusive members-only bonus content! 

We had such a fun time talking to Richard Kind last year for the bonus episode that we brought him back for the 2024 bonus episode, KINDING THEM WITH KINDNESS PART 2!" 

Enjoy Richard Kind's wealth of knowledge and stories. But if you want to hear the entire episode, you're going to want to become a Maximum Fun member at maximumfun.org/join.

Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Join at $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join!

TEASER: Kinding Them With Kindness Part 2

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