Surprisingly Awesome

{{Short description|American comedy podcast}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Surprisingly Awesome''}} {{Infobox podcast | title = Surprisingly Awesome | image = Surprisingly_Awesome_(podcast)_album_art.png | caption = | host = [[Adam Davidson (journalist)|Adam Davidson]], [[Adam McKay]], and Rachel Ward | genre = Humor, Human Interest | updates = Occasionally | began = November 3, 2015 | ended = January 19, 2017 | provider = [[Gimlet Media]] | website = {{URL|https://gimletmedia.com/show/surprisingly-awesome/|Official website}} }} '''''Surprisingly Awesome''''' was an American [[podcast]] formerly hosted by [[Adam Davidson (journalist)|Adam Davidson]] and [[Adam McKay]] and subsequently hosted by Rachel Ward and frequently guest hosted by [[John Hodgman]]. In each episode, one of the hosts would take a seemingly boring topic, and try to make the other believe that it is interesting. These topics have varied from [[Mold (fungus)|mold]] to [[interest rates]]. The podcast was hosted by [[Gimlet Media]].

The idea for the podcast came from the friendship that developed when McKay and Davidson worked together on ''[[The Big Short (film)|The Big Short]]''. McKay and Davidson would have long conversations when they would try to "out-fascinate" each other and make dull subjects seem interesting.<ref name=guardian/>

After searching for a new host for the show, Gimlet chose former ''[[Science Friday]]'' correspondent Flora Lichtman to take over, but decided to rebrand the show under a new name. On April 12, 2017, Gimlet CEO [[Alex Blumberg]] announced that ''Surprisingly Awesome'' was cancelled and would be replaced by Lichtman's new show, ''Every Little Thing''.<ref name="Quah, 2017">{{cite news |last1=Quah |first1=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Quah |date=February 28, 2017 |title=Is Spotify's move into original podcasts a pure platform play or something more open? |language=en |work=Nieman Lab |url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/02/is-spotifys-move-into-original-podcasts-a-pure-platform-play-or-something-more-open/ |accessdate=29 November 2018 |quote=Surprisingly Awesome, which will return on April 17 and will feature a new host: Flora Lichtman, formerly of Science Friday and Bill Nye Saves The World. This new season is being described as a “relaunch.”}}</ref>

== Episodes == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Episode # !! Title !! Description !! Original Release Date |- | 1 || Mold ||[[Adam Davidson (journalist)|Adam Davidson]] tries to convince his co-host that [[Mold (fungus)|mold]] is awesome. || November 3, 2015 |- | 2 || Free Throws || [[Adam McKay]] tries to make [[free throws]] interesting|| November 5, 2015 |- | 3 || Concrete || The two try to drum up interest in [[concrete]]<br/>Guest: [[La La Anthony]] || November 17, 2015 |- | 4 || Tubthumping || They dig deeper into the 1990s hit "[[Tubthumping]]" || December 1, 2015 |- | 5 || Interest Rates || The hosts try to convince [[Adam McKay]]'s daughter that [[interest rate]]s are awesome || December 15, 2015 |- | 6 || Broccoli || Adam and Rachel investigate the many forms of [[broccoli]]|| January 12, 2016 |- | 7 || Adhesive || Adam and Rachel investigate perfect [[adhesive]], including a look at [[gecko feet]]|| January 26, 2016 |- | 8 || Frequent Flyer Miles || Guest host [[John Hodgman]] discusses [[Frequent Flyer Miles|frequent flyer miles]]. || March 8, 2016 |- | 9 || Pigeons ||Topic: [[Pigeons]] | March 22, 2016 |- | 10 || Circle of Fifths ||Topic: [[Circle of fifths]] | April 5, 2016 |- | 11 || Boredom ||Topic: [[Boredom]] | April 19, 2016 |- | 12 || Mattresses || Davidson and McKay investigate if the cost and quality of [[mattress]]es make a difference in sleep comfort. || May 3, 2016 |- | 13 || Insults ||[[Adam McKay]] and Rachel M Ward discuss [[insult]]s such as [[Maternal insult|Yo Mamma]]<br/> Guest: [[E. Patrick Johnson]]|| May 17, 2016 |- | 14 || I Told You Sos || Adam Davidson and Adam McKay discuss psychology and implications of saying ''I Told You So'' <br/>Guest: [[Janeane Garofalo]] || May 23, 2016 |- |15 || Extinct Hockey || [[John Hodgman]] learns that extinct hockey is not the only awesome form of sport. With Rachel Ward. || June 14, 2016 |- | 16 || Follow ups || [[Alex Blumberg]], Adam Davidson and Rachel Ward follow up some of the stories covered earlier such as concrete, free throws, mattresses. || June 29, 2016 |- | 17 || Flossing || Rachel Ward and [[Maeve Higgins]] discuss [[flossing]] with a dentist. || July 27, 2016 |- | 18 || Yoga || Adam Davidson and Rachel Ward examine merits of [[Yoga]].<br/>Guest: [[Wendy Doniger]], Michelle Goldberg || August 10, 2016 |- | 19 || Cardboard ||Topic: [[Cardboard]] | August 24, 2016 |- | 20 || Crying || || September 7, 2016 |- | 21 || Postal Addresses || || September 21, 2016 |- | 22 || Wedding Planning || || October 5, 2016 |- |23 |Update |Rachel Ward announces that she is moving on from ''Surprisingly Awesome'' to another Gimlet Media project. The search for a new host is on. This episode is also a preview for ''Twice Removed''. |January 19, 2017 |- |24 |A Message from Gimlet CEO Alex Blumberg |Alex Blumberg announces that ''Surprisingly Awesome'' has been cancelled and gives a preview of a new show called ''Every Little Thing''. |April 12, 2017 |}

==Reception== ''[[The Guardian]]'' reviewed the show positively saying, "Three episodes in, ''Surprisingly Awesome'' has managed to live up to its name and its mission."<ref name=guardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/nov/22/surprisingly-awesome-podcast-adam-mckay-adam-davidson|title=Surprisingly Awesome: the podcast that blends Anchorman with Planet Money|date=22 November 2015|author=Melissa Locker|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.gimletmedia.com/surprisingly-awesome}} * {{SoundCloud}}

{{Gimlet Media}}

[[Category:Audio podcasts]] [[Category:2015 podcast debuts]] [[Category:Gimlet Media podcasts]] [[Category:Comedy podcasts]]