Things kick off with Merlin auditioning a new on-air style, and John coughing in a way that portends imminent [health developments](https://atp.fm/523). Unsurprisingly and delightfully, there is a _lot_ of really good Follow-Up on John's recent medical adventure. Listener-experts chime in on all manner of issues. Also John reveals his test results, and Merlin feels like a hungry man. Things seem to be wrapping with an update on John's Unexpected Side Effect, but then they end up talking about food and medicine for, like, twenty more minutes. (_Recorded on Tuesday, February 21, 2023_)

Follow-up brings updates on skiing metaphors and ideas for tricking your brain into drawing a little better. Then, for the balance of the episode, John shares details of a recent medical adventure. Including an unexpectedly positive side effect. For this month's members-only bonus show, your hosts talk about _The Last of Us_ in its incarnations as both a prestige TV show and a video game series. You can [sign up today](https://www.relay.fm/rd/join) to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and, yes, support our program. (_Recorded on Tuesday, February 7, 2022_)

Things kick off with a consideration of John's theoretical funeral. Merlin can't understand why John won't adopt him. In Follow-Up, your hosts briefly consider their recent bicentennial and agree that words about parts or multiples of a thing are way too confusing. As a main topic, John has questions about **Merlin's fraught history with drawing**. What's it take to get good at a thing you care about, and what motivates us to stick with it? Things end up touching on grit-adjacent stuff like consistency and tenacity. But, whether or not one is gifted, it does seem like we naturally tend to pursue things we _like_ doing. Which just as naturally can make it difficult to stick with the things that don't come so easily. Gotta really pile up that paper. Comparisons between the habits of making music and writing are made, and differences are easily reconciled regarding the genius work of Jonathan Coulton. John thinks Merlin missed the focal plane on a photo he used to think was pretty good. Merlin recalls a movie poster whose Renaissance-era optical trick first made him wish he could draw better. (_Recorded Tuesday, January 24, 2023_) The Croc Photo in Question Merlin’s Old Lunch Notes

Things kick off with Merlin pressing John for some candid advice on a new affectation he's been considering. John is certain that using a Dremel is not actually part of Merlin's job, but Merlin's not so sure. Photos of Mr. Miyazaki are reviewed. In Follow-Up, John has some toe updates. Mere moments after swearing he's not going to make noises and recoil, Merlin makes several noises and recoils. Next up, John's favorite band announces a new project to release a bunch of cover versions of songs from their back catalog. This leads to a surprisingly wide-ranging discussion of a music industry that continues to evolve quickly and which now seems to necessitate an entirely new kind of creativity. This week's member episode is already one of Merlin's favorites, so it's being included here so everybody can check it out. The topic? ***What's a thing you had as a kid that you kind of wish your kids could've had?*** Is it ahistorical to wish your progeny had gotten to see an epic baseball lineup? What exactly might happen if you tried to recreate your own free-range childhood? Did having less information lead to a deeper understanding of context and the parameters of the world? And, which kinds of community and scarcity feel elusive or even just irreproducible today? If you'd enjoy hearing more from John and Merlin, we hope you'll consider [becoming a supporter](https://www.relay.fm/rd/join) of the program. And, hey. Thanks for sticking around through 200 of these things. (_Recorded on Tuesday, January 10, 2023_)

Merlin is pretty proud of his dinner, but John has questions about the dressing situation. Merlin may not understand how skiing works. In Follow-Up, John shares more voices from the past, and your hosts confront an escalating international rift about the existence of a facial expression. Finally, it's time for Holiday Results, which somehow includes strong opinions on labeling leftovers, preparing strawberries, and sweating _le mot juste_. Also, ponies are considered.