Between The States

Corporate buzzwords promise synergy, innovation, and strategic alignment, but do they communicate anything meaningful? Dan, Noel, and Jared break down the workplace jargon that makes meetings sound important while saying almost nothing.

The guys explore a study on “corporate bullsh*t receptivity,” decode phrases like leverage, paradigm shift, low-hanging fruit, stakeholder engagement, and move the needle, and create pain...

Summer is officially here, and the guys are celebrating by remembering when the season actually felt endless. Dan, Noel, and Jared look back on the freedom of the last day of school, disappearing on bikes until the streetlights came on, digging pointless holes, starting questionable fires, getting bikes stolen, and making the kinds of childhood decisions that somehow did not end in disaster.

Then the debate moves to everything that ...

What happens if the internet suddenly disappears worldwide and never comes back?

In this episode of Between the States, Dan, Noel, and Jared imagine their first 24 hours, first week, and first year in a completely offline world. Without Google, GPS, streaming, online banking, digital payments, or YouTube tutorials, everyday life quickly starts looking less like a minor inconvenience and more like an accidental apocalypse.

The convers...

Wilbur is back on Between The States, and this time he’s talking about his wild weight loss journey after gastric sleeve bariatric surgery. From hospital stays, dehydration scares, protein shakes, food struggles, “the foamies,” and learning how to eat all over again, Wilbur breaks down the funny, painful, and very real side of life after weight loss surgery.

Of course, this is still Between The States, so things go...

Could the Earth actually be hollow, or is Hollow Earth one of the strangest conspiracy theories ever created?

In this episode of Between the States, Dan, Noel, and Jared dive into the wild world of the Hollow Earth theory, from ancient myths about underground civilizations to Edmund Halley’s early scientific ideas, John Cleves Symmes Jr.’s “holes” at the poles, UFO conspiracies, secret Nazi bases, and the pos...

Merry Memorial Day from Between the States! This week, Dan, Noel, and Jared try to talk about the meaning and history of Memorial Day, but naturally get derailed by broken motorcycles, poison ivy, train track panic, Snap-on tools, mystery pizza delivery, Diet Purge Day, Memorial Day sales, poppies, cookout food debates, hot dogs vs. hamburgers, and whether “Merry Memorial Day” should ever be said out loud.

It’s par...

This week on Between the States, Dan, Jared, and Noel dive into the Dark Triad: narcissism, sociopathy, and Machiavellian behavior. What starts as a conversation about personality types quickly turns into a chaotic breakdown of grocery cart abandoners, loud movie talkers, manipulative salesmen, billboard lawyers, and whether society rewards confidence more than competence.

The guys also wander into Mother’s Day stories, pergol...

This week on Between the States, the guys dive into some of the strangest laws still on the books in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Connecticut, and the bizarre history behind them.

From anti-silly-string ordinances and arcade machine limits to adultery laws, blasphemy statutes, drunk cable car rules, and regulations on margarine pretending to be butter, the conversation spirals into the weirdest corners of American law and local gove...

This week on Between the States, the guys dive into the world of retail, what’s really going on behind the shelves, the counter, and the “sales” you think you’re getting.

From working in hardware stores, fast food, electronics, and grocery delis, they break down the real tactics retailers use to influence how you shop… and how much you spend.

They get into:

•  Retail “secrets” like pro...

What do phrases like “spill the beans,” “three sheets to the wind,” and “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” actually mean, and where did they come from?

This week on Between the States, Dan, Noel, and Jared dive deep into the strange, hilarious, and sometimes confusing world of idioms. From their surprising origins in nautical terms, horse culture, and everyday life, to the rapid evolutio...

This week on Between the States, the guys take on one of the biggest questions out there:

Where are all the aliens?

From the Fermi Paradox to the Dark Forest Theory, the conversation dives into why, if the universe is so massive, we haven’t seen any clear evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Is intelligent life just incredibly rare?
 Are advanced civilizations hiding on purpose?
 Or are we early… or complete...

This week on Between the States, the guys dive headfirst into the wild world of scams, fraud, and everyday deception, from obvious cons to the blurry line between business, marketing, and straight-up scamming.

What actually is a scam? Is it outright theft, misleading advertising, or just “good business”? The conversation spirals (as it should) through real-life scam stories, shady automotive practices, fake IRS calls, cr...

What happens when three guys sit down to talk about music… and immediately spiral into stories about game scams, resurrecting broken consoles, dead mice in dryers, and morally questionable life choices?

In this episode of Between the States, Dan, Jared, and Noel kick things off with wild real-life stories before diving into a brutally honest and hilarious discussion about music. From guilty pleasures and controversial lyrics ...

Kyle joins the Between the States crew to talk cars… and things spiral fast.

From gas vs electric debates to one of the worst workdays imaginable, this episode goes completely off the rails. We get into real car talk, ridiculous hypotheticals, and the kind of chaotic stories you can’t make up.

🚗 Kyle breaks down car opinions (and sparks a debate)
 🧰 A toolbox disaster turns into a full-blown nightmare
 ...

Season 3 of Between the States kicks off with Dan, Jared, and Noel celebrating the podcast’s one-year anniversary and jumping straight into a mix of science fiction discussions, gaming, movies, and real-life stories.

In this episode we:

•  Explain the “sci-fi scale” and debate what makes good vs bad sci-fi 
•  Talk through movies and shows like Alien, Terminator, Jumanji, Tremors, Robocop, and more&nbs...

In this episode of Between the States, the crew sits down with special guest Drew for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with Dungeons & Dragons and quickly spirals into music, gaming nostalgia, internet culture, and the strange corners of the modern world.

Drew shares how a pandemic hobby turned into a six-year D&D campaign, complete with custom world-building, time travel storylines, and the chaos of running a tableto...

 In this episode of Between the States, Dan, Jared, Noel, and returning guest Kendra dive into the world of animation. From classic 90s cartoons and Disney movies to modern shows like Invincible, Hazbin Hotel, and anime favorites, the group talks about the animation styles, voice actors, and childhood shows that stuck with them. Along the way they debate terrible CGI from the past, iconic cartoon theme songs, and which animate...

This week features a conversation between Dan, Tara, and her cousin and best friend, Meghan. The dialogue serves as a reunion and introduction, tracing Meghan’s history from her upbringing on Long Island to her current life in Pennsylvania. Meghan candidly discusses her career transitions from the military and corrections to child welfare and her current role in construction safety. The tone shifts between irreverent humor an...

In this chaotic and hilarious episode of Between The States, Dan, Jared, and Noel dive into everything from Roblox millionaires and disturbing online experiences to alien invasion dreams and the psychological damage of working retail. The guys react to listener feedback, debate whether Roblox development money is worth selling your soul, and share wild personal stories including Navy nipple piercings, smashing fluorescent bulbs, an...