PODCAST

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate

Trace Elements Media

Seriously researched answers to absolutely ridiculous questions. New episodes every week.

science

All Episodes

00:57:54

Do Squid Need Glasses?

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/04/16

This week on the pod, Julian makes a groundbreaking discovery: contrary to popular belief, humans and squid are, in fact, very different animals. One species commonly needs glasses, and the other…sometimes may also need glasses? Meanwhile, Trace tries to figure out if sound could travel slower in the dark, and the answer is yes! As long as you’re okay with being instantly vaporized. 😊QUESTIONS Julian: “Do squid need glasses?” from Kristine Trace: “Does sound travel slower in a dark room?” from

01:06:35

Fondueing What Shouldn’t Be Fondone

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/04/09

This week, Trace turns a completely normal human behavior into a full-blown scientific investigation, uncovering how airflow, temperature, and mouth geometry can make you feel like you’re secretly developing budget-tier superpowers. Meanwhile, Julian takes a bold step forward for both science and dairy by stress-testing the limits of cheese in a scenario it was never meant to survive. Along the way: thermodynamics, questionable engineering choices, and the realization that just because something can

01:17:32

Either You Iocaine or You 1-0-can’t | TAPE Classic

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/04/02

Hi all! As I'm sure those of you with the patience to sit through the end credits know, the show is edited and produced by Kyle Sisk. Kyle is the glue holding this podcast together, taking the loose collection of pocket lint that makes up the brains of the two hosts and stitching it together into a beautiful audio tapestry. Without Kyle there truly would be no show. How do we know this? Because this week, we had no Kyle. Kyle came down with COVID and this man STILL tried to get an episode cut

01:17:13

Sumptuous 'Saurus Soars in a Seriously Staticky...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/03/26

Hey all! This week, we're rebroadcasting a very memorable TAPE episode from last June to give ourselves a bit of a break: Julian's flight school classes started up again in full force and Trace is traveling back and forth to Brazil to visit his partner while they're undergoing their IVF journey. Don't you fret, though, because this episode contains ⚡️SHOCKING⚡️ and 🪽SOARING🪽 content! Trace tries to inhale a lethal dose of ozone from a bunch of sweaters and Julian finally receives free rein to talk

01:10:02

Absolutely Nothing is Suspicious About Collecting...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/03/19

.... . .-.. .-.. --- / .- -. -.. / .-- . .-.. -.-. --- -- . / - --- / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / .-- .. .-.. -.. / . .--. .. ... --- -.. . / --- ..-. / - .... .- - .----. ... / .- -... ... ..- .-. -.. / .--. .-.. . .- ... . / . .-.. .- -... --- .-. .- - .In this episode, we learn that Julian will never be employed as a telegraph operator, but he might have a future as a Soviet janitor named Ivan who works at a nuclear research facility and collects spicy dead pigeons in his spare time. It's OK, the

01:03:14

You're Gonna Need At Least 8,000 More Pirates

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/03/12

This week, Trace takes a closer look at one of the boldest maneuvers in pirate cinema: whether a determined crowd could actually flip something the size of an aircraft carrier by running from one side to the other like in the documentary “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Meanwhile, Julian investigates the logistics of purchasing the Sun—who exactly you’d pay for it, what ownership might legally mean, and how tempting it would be to start charging the planet a small recurring fee for access to

01:10:48

This Man Built a Piss Rocket. Seriously. | feat....

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/03/05

This week, we’re rewriting the rules of life, starting at the molecular level and ending 250 miles above Earth. Julian digs into what would happen if our genetic code were triple-stranded like the Time Lords from Doctor Who. Except, TNA does exist (just not the way you think), and triple-stranded DNA isn’t possible… or is it? Meanwhile, all-star guest and fart-gun connoisseur Lieven Scheire phones a friend who casually happens to be a former ISS commander to figure out how long astronauts could

01:02:41

Gimmie Glue, a Lever, and a Frickin' 1999 Toyota Corolla

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/02/26

This week on the most serious, most dramatic podcast ever recorded, Trace finally takes Archimedes up on his little boast: “Give me a lever and I can move the world.” Bold claim from a man who’s never seen a 1999 Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, Julian enters the stickiest thought experiment imaginable—yep, even stickier than trying to eat a spoonful of peanut butter with absolutely nothing to wash it down.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPE https://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarf Trace really

01:04:58

Ain't No Rule Says Bodily Fluids Can't Be Seasoning

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/02/19

This week, Julian—hoping to crown the true MVP of the animal kingdom—drafts the ultimate basketball beast, while Trace turns up the heat to find out whether we’re actually sweating in hot showers and, more deliciously, how many workouts it would take to perfectly season an omelette with his own hard-earned salt.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPE https://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarf Trace really loves it. Julian is jealous. Kyle is … well, he’s Kyle. QUESTIONS Julian: "What animal

01:00:10

D&D Pee and Chickpea TNT

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/02/12

In this emergency rerun episode, Trace’s quest for answers takes him to a magical fantasy land of wizards, frozen keys, and bodily fluids. Meanwhile Julian discovers that there are about 3 degrees of separation between chickpeas and dynamite. Yes, really.P.S. Turns out pipes have strong opinions about podcasting schedules...mine burst. 🫠 We’re drying out and will be back next week with a brand-new episode—ideally aired from somewhere that isn’t classified as an above ground pool. - Trace LEARN

01:13:38

A Tiny Space Between an Ablution and Electrocution

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/02/05

Both Julian and Trace did ‘a journalism’ this week! First, Julian learns that electricity is NOT magic (but will kill you) by calling a relative who makes lightning in a lab. Then, TracecalledaprofessorfromUCLAtoseehowmuchspacethatwouldsave.Turnsoutnotthatmuch. AlsoitmakesEVERYTHINGsomuchhardertoread. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPE https://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarf Trace really loves it. Julian is jealous. Kyle is … well, he’s Kyle. QUESTIONS Julian: "How much water does it

01:16:47

Trippin' Unicorn Learny Journey ✨️

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/01/29

This week Julian hunts the medical mysteries behind the mystical unicorn horn, and Trace reads a loooooooot of government regulations looking to get tripped up by one tiny thing.QUESTIONS Julian: "How would we go about assessing the medical properties of unicorn horn?" from Matt Trace: "How tall does an object have to be to be tripped over?" from Bryanna Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a

01:12:01

Which Came Last: the Tortoise or the Onion Unraveling...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/01/22

Anyone who’s ever had to educate a talking donkey would know, onions have layers (just like ogres). But, just like in the story with the giant, green, scottish (?) ogre — it’s important to remember the lessons behind the fables! Like the tortoise and the hare, which reminds us that even if the tortoise doesn’t win the race, it’ll outlive a rabbit by several decades. Take that RABBIT.QUESTIONS Julian: "At what distance race would a tortoise actually be likely to beat a hare?" from Patreon poll

01:29:31

Papyrus is Temporary but a Body on Pluto is Forever |...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/01/15

This week Julian takes a pleasant trip down to his local Egyptian library and tries to save it from burning to the ground and dramatically altering the course of history. And returning guest host Ralph Crewe explores the solar system in the most macabre way possible!QUESTIONS Julian: "If the library of Alexandria was never destroyed, how technologically advanced would we actually be today?" - Finjan Ralph: "What would happen to a dead human body on each planet in the solar system" - Chelsea Do

01:12:45

Lasagna Batteries? Aww Heli(copter) Yeah!

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2026/01/08

It’s our first episode of the new year! Welcome to 2026! In this, wild episode Trace (recording from his parent’s sun room) explores the chemistry and power of the lasagna battery. Then, Julian flies off the handle about helicopters as a gift for himself for his birthday (Happy Birthday, Julian! 🎂)QUESTIONS Julian: "Can a helicopter fly upside down? AND could it land SAFELY upside down on it's rotors?" from Gailmarie Trace: "How many lasagna batteries does it take to power a toaster oven?" from

01:50:43

This'll be weird… Happy Holidays from TAPE!

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2025/12/25

Like Boromir said, "It is a gift! Let us use it against them!" The internet has been taken over by #lofi girls, so we commissioned an artist to turn Julian and Trace into our own #lofigirl for the holidays! (Is it a lofi girl? are we lofi guys? We're honestly not sure. Either way, we did it!!)We love you all! Thanks for making 2025 such an amazing year (for our little community) even though it was generally a terrible year for gestures broadly. Hope this can being a little light to your holiday

02:06:41

Red Sky at Night Batman’s Delight! | feat. Yasmin...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2025/12/18

This episode aired around Easter, prompting us to ask: where does that weird Bunny get all the eggs? And why are there eggs in the first place? Guest Yasmin Khan (The Young Turks) has an answer. Meanwhile, Julian explores the word of bat-style crime fighting on a budget and Trace explores if living on Mars would make us super aggro!

01:03:40

The Soundtrack of Eternity (Good Band Name)

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2025/12/11

If your life had a soundtrack what would it be? Up-tempo action music? Epic orchestral swells? Romantic… xylophones? Are xylophones romantic? We don’t know, we’re podcasters, not EGOT-winning music producers of screen and stage. Maybe it’s a good thing you can’t hear what’s in our heads… aside from on this show where we say everything in our heads, obviously. In this episode Trace explores what it might be like if the music in your head had a public feed. Meanwhile Julian tries to figure out what he

00:40:47

The Buffet Hates to See THIS Tardigrade Coming | LIVE...

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2025/12/04

We did another live show!! I’m not sure how we convinced the Bay Area Science Festival that we are a legitimate podcast, but, hey, people actually showed up to watch the show in-person in San Francisco. We had an extremely tight window, and are famously (infamously?) long-winded, so in this episode special guest Dr Wallace Marshall ponders the nightmare of giant tardigrades, and Trace looks into the availability of gluttony… you know, for science.If you want to have our show on the road to you —

01:15:40

Thanksgiving Rerun: Melting Witches with Inflated Heads

That"s Absurd Please Elaborate ·

2025/11/27

Happy American Turkey Consumption Day! 🦃 In honor of the national holiday we've let Kyle out of his editing dungeon and let him celebrate with his family. We're releasing a re-run this week. Enjoy!

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