<p>In 1993, TV news studios started receiving calls from kids who opened their Barbies and GI Joe dolls for Christmas only to discover Barbie shouting militaristic slogans and GI Joe talking about shopping. Later parodied on The Simpsons, this bit of "culture jamming" has its origins right here in Portland (which also involves ipecac, mashed potatoes, and vomiting at a Dan Quayle appearance). All that, and much more on this week's episode.</p>

The Triumphant Return of the Unipiper and other news

Pour yourself something warm. Let it drizzle outside. This one's for the curious.
The Mark &amp; Toddcast is your weekly escape from the algorithm, the outrage cycle, and whatever fresh hell is trending. Broadcasting from the rainy heart of Portland, Oregon, two friends have spent 11 years and over 300 episodes doing exactly what you wish you could do at your favorite dimly lit neighborhood pub: sitting down with a pint and wandering through whatever's genuinely interesting.
Consider us comfort food for your brain. 
Instead, expect pure Pacific Northwest chill and unfiltered curiosity about topics like:


Why we absolutely hate the sound of our own voices


The secret origin of the biohazard symbol


America’s classified, Cold War plan to nuke the moon


The Stanford Prison Experiment (and why it was actually kind of BS)


Portland’s very own infamous Barbie-hacking culture jammers


The unsolved mystery of the Toynbee Tiles


And yes... the actual science of farts


What’s in an Episode?


The Catch-Up: A little life banter between two longtime friends navigating the Rose City.


Just the Headlines: A quick spin through the weirdest, wildest science and culture news of the week.


The Deep Dive: A 20-minute, high-level plunge into whatever strange subject one of us couldn't stop reading about.


Meet Your Hosts:


Mark spent his twenties operating nuclear reactors for the Navy before coming home to Portland's Silicon Forest to keep the machines that build microchips running. Now, he’s a technical director helping companies get found online.


Todd has lived several lives—ad copywriter, artist, Newsweek-published writer, and an unrepentant Madonna superfan. Today, he’s a local therapist helping people untangle their stories and reconnect with the humans around them.


Pull up a chair. Grab a local beverage.
Science is funny.