Weird Al – The King Of The Nerds (And The Accordion)

Alexander Kjerulf on April 19, 2023

Katie was doomed by her parents to nerdiness from an early age, when they subjected her to a steady diet of Weird Al Yankovic.

But there’s much to be enthusiastic about in his decades-long musical career, including:

  • How being parodied by Weird Al is bigger than winning an Emmy
  • How he took first dates to see his own movie
  • His complete and utter niceness

Also, THIS IS EPISODE NUMBER 50!!! That’s CRAZYCAKES!!!

Trixie Mattel – The World’s Hardest-working Drag Queen

Alexander Kjerulf on August 23, 2022

Of all the drag queens in all the world Katie loves Trixie Mattel the most and in this episode you’ll hear a ton of reasons why you should be enthusiastic about her too. This includes her insane work ethic, how funny she is and of course her long-standing partnership with Katia.

BTWs include:

  • Makeup
  • Lying to the media
  • Staying friends in showbiz
  • What Katie wants for her birthday

Moment Of Meta

In the moment of meta Alex gives some tips on how to be enthusiastic about your job. Yes – it’s possible!

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Everything Everywhere All At Once – The Weirdest Coolest Funniest Everythingest Movie EVER

Alexander Kjerulf on June 27, 2022

STOP! Please do no to listen to this episode before you’ve watched the movie. Seriously. We mean it! The movie is SO GOOD but it’s even better if you go in not knowing ANYTHING about it. So go watch it now and then come back here and se why this is Katie’s new favorite movie.

We will say that it includes Michelle Yeoh in the role of her life! And nothing else.

Links

Lise Nørgaard – Writer, feminist and UTTER BADASS

Alexander Kjerulf on May 11, 2022

Lise Nørgaard is a Danish journalist and author who discovered her superpower (writing) and has used it tirelessly to promote women’s rights and social justice.

She also created Matador, the best Danish TV show EVER, and (maybe most importantly) had a pastry named after her.

BTWs include implanted memories and swing dancing.

In the moment of meta Alex Katie shares a story of how she used enthusiasm to defuse an online feud.

Steven Universe: Awesome Songs And Healing Spit

Alexander Kjerulf on April 20, 2022

Katie brings you some more Hopepunk For Squishy Marshmallows. This adorable kids’ cartoon has superheroes, great songs, healing spit and tons of gags. It also subverts masculinity and promotes queer normativity.

BTWs include Florida’s “don’t say gay” law.

In the moment of meta Alex issues a new challenge.

Piet Hein: Poet or pirate? Why not both!

Alexander Kjerulf on December 10, 2021

Piet Hein was a Danish philosopher, mathematician, designer, poet and all-round smart cookie who did amazing work in both science and arts. Be warned: This episode has POETRY!!!

BTWs include Piet Hein (the awesome pirate) and why Danish is the worst language.

In the moment of meta, Katie talks about closing feedback loops and proposes a new enthusiandment: Thou shalt always tell your friends what you like about them.

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The Art Of Drag: Blowing up gender in STYLE

Alexander Kjerulf on November 30, 2021

Drag is not just men dressing as women – it’s a playful and enthusiastic art form that messes with our preconceived notions of gender and identity.

Katie – who is about to do drag herself for the first time – shares the history of drag, the most iconic performances and which seasons of RuPaul’s drag race to avoid.

BTWs include best drag names, backronyms and why there is nothing more fake than reality TV.

The moment of meta

In the moment of meta Alex proposes a new enthusiandment: It’s OK to be enthusiastic about something that is flawed.

Links

Episode 1: Harpo Marx – The Happiest Nudist in Hollywood

Alexander Kjerulf on September 8, 2021

Harpo Marx (of the Marx Brothers) was a genius of physical comedy but, maybe more impressively, he was a nice and fun person who lived a truly happy life.

Raised in a poor Jewish family on Manhattan and thrown out of school (literally) in 2nd grade, he still ended up living an incredibly interesting life and becoming friends with people like George Gershwin, George Bernard Shaw and Salvador Dali.

Hear about his most epic pranks and about his occasional nudism. Harpo could (and would) turn any boring situation – like a game of golf – interesting by taking off his clothes.

BTWs include:

  • Some of the strangest town names in America
  • Weird vaudeville acts of the 1920s

In our moment of meta, Katie reveals how she came up with the name of the podcast – Electric Enthusiasm – and shares two important quotes about enthusiasm.

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