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Thomas and Lydia

Serious Pod is an independent podcast network that takes the questions seriously, even when the answers are funny.

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Latest Episodes

They Wouldn't Be Flailing This Hard If They Thought They Were Winning

The election is coming up fast, with early voting already underway in many states. With an administration that is, let's say "do we really need elections?" curious, how did we get here? Elections are running more or less as expected so far, because heroes are fighting for your right to vote across the country. Check out some pivotal lawsuits you probably missed in all the chaos. Cases and sources discussed: A comprehensive list of on-going election lawsuits hosted by Democracy Docket Unfortunately, right after we recorded, SCOTUS ruled to take that mixed result in New Hampshire and turn it into a big L Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law! $2+ patrons also get a new Law'd Awful Movies every month.

OA1308 · Oct 26, 2026 · 52 min · With Thomas Smith

WTW152: Joe Rogan Has Spent Two Years Raging About a Made-Up California Voter ID Law

Elon Musk told Joe Rogan that California made it illegal to show ID to vote. Rogan ran with it, Rand Paul repeated it, and now it's a ballot fight. Lydia walks through what California's 2024 law, SB 1174, actually does: it stops cities and counties from adding their own voter ID rules, and that's it. Then she digs into the voter ID initiative headed for California's ballot, the conservative activist and podcaster Carl DeMaio behind it, the big-money donors on the "yes" side, and what the measure would really require. Thomas and Lydia also check governor candidate Steve Hilton's version of the story. Patrons: our bonus with Noah Lugeons on the Ben Shapiro review takedown is up now. Sources: California Senate Bill 1174 (2024), signed September 29, 2024 The proposed California voter ID ballot initiative led by Carl DeMaio The Joe Rogan Experience episodes with Elon Musk and Rand Paul If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Correction: An earlier version had Thomas saying George Santos was a Democrat. Thomas was able to recognize his mistake after only a fact check. Also, he must have been thinking of Bob Menendez or something. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke! You get ad-free episodes and patron-only bonus episodes.

Oct 23, 2026 · 47 min · With Thomas Smith & Lydia Smith

SIO531: Your Brain Is Actually Two Separate Organs, According to a New Stanford Study

We welcome back Dr. Eric Jaffe to help us understand a really cool, groundbreaking scientific discovery! Our brains are not one organ! Turns out your forebrain and your hindbrain might be two completely separate lineages that never actually came from each other, more like two kids in a trench coat than one continuous evolution. Why does that matter for ALS research? And how far back in evolution does the split actually go? Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please support the show at patreon.com/seriouspod! You get ad-free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Oct 7, 2026 · 57 min · With Thomas Smith

GG89: NY Defense Attorney Calls the Tompkins County DA's Cornell Decision "Truly Stunning"

Part 3. Thomas and Lydia welcome back criminal defense attorney Liz Skeen to break down the Tompkins County DA's decision not to prosecute the Cornell Chi Phi case, line by line. Why did the DA's own press release say his office "confirmed" with campus police that there was no crime, instead of investigating it themselves? What does a six page, hand-corrected witness statement actually prove, and why did nobody ever sit down with Jane Doe to ask a single follow-up question? Liz walks through New York's three degrees of rape, the strange voluntary-versus-involuntary intoxication rule, and whether a motion to remove Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor has any real teeth. Content note for sexual assault throughout. Patrons at patreon.com/gavelpod get episodes early and ad-free!

Oct 16, 2026 · 56 min · With Thomas Smith & Lydia Smith

Best of Tom: Family Vacations and the Snapping Turtle (DOD65)

Best of Tom continues with the episode the snapping turtle comes from. We've called that story back nearly thirty times since, and public listeners have never heard it: it was told after the show, for patrons only. This is the full patron cut, so here it is. It's a repeat for patrons, and every download helps keep Tom's share of the show coming while he's out. Family vacations, then and now. Tom's dad takes the boys canoeing in the Boundary Waters, Thomas's family only ever drives to a Dodgers game, and Eli's family spends Disney stock money on Ripley's Believe It or Not. Tom on the blended-family "Thunderdome" trip to St. Louis (he came home and bought a ring), and why none of us can switch off on vacation. Then 19 minutes the public feed never got: Tom's trip to Florida to visit his mom, with house rules about wild dogs and alligators, the snapping turtle, and the neighbor with the spear gun. Join the Facebook Group! facebook.com/groups/dearolddads For comments, email thedads@dearolddads.com For extended episodes, bonus content, and most importantly, for an AD FREE SHOW, make sure to pledge on Patreon!

Oct 23, 2026 · 70 min · With Thomas Smith, Eli Bosnick & Tom Curry