# Surprisingly Awesome > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Surprisingly_Awesome > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Surprisingly_Awesome.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surprisingly_Awesome > Source revision: 1287238945 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American comedy podcast Podcast Surprisingly Awesome Genre Humor, Human Interest Cast and voices Hosted by Adam Davidson, Adam McKay, and Rachel Ward Publication Original release November 3, 2015 – January 19, 2017 Provider Gimlet Media Updates Occasionally Related Website Official website ***Surprisingly Awesome*** was an American [podcast](/source/Podcast) formerly hosted by [Adam Davidson](/source/Adam_Davidson_(journalist)) and [Adam McKay](/source/Adam_McKay) and subsequently hosted by Rachel Ward and frequently guest hosted by [John Hodgman](/source/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](/source/Mold_(fungus)) to [interest rates](/source/Interest_rates). The podcast was hosted by [Gimlet Media](/source/Gimlet_Media). The idea for the podcast came from the friendship that developed when McKay and Davidson worked together on *[The Big Short](/source/The_Big_Short_(film))*. McKay and Davidson would have long conversations when they would try to "out-fascinate" each other and make dull subjects seem interesting.[1] After searching for a new host for the show, Gimlet chose former *[Science Friday](/source/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](/source/Alex_Blumberg) announced that *Surprisingly Awesome* was cancelled and would be replaced by Lichtman's new show, *Every Little Thing*.[2] ## Episodes Episode # Title Description Original Release Date 1 Mold Adam Davidson tries to convince his co-host that 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 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 rates 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. 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 mattresses make a difference in sleep comfort. May 3, 2016 13 Insults Adam McKay and Rachel M Ward discuss insults such as Yo Mamma 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 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. 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](/source/The_Guardian)* reviewed the show positively saying, "Three episodes in, *Surprisingly Awesome* has managed to live up to its name and its mission."[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guardian_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guardian_1-1) Melissa Locker (22 November 2015). ["Surprisingly Awesome: the podcast that blends Anchorman with Planet Money"](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/nov/22/surprisingly-awesome-podcast-adam-mckay-adam-davidson). *[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Quah,_2017_2-0)** [Quah, Nicholas](/source/Nicholas_Quah) (February 28, 2017). ["Is Spotify's move into original podcasts a pure platform play or something more open?"](http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/02/is-spotifys-move-into-original-podcasts-a-pure-platform-play-or-something-more-open/). *Nieman Lab*. Retrieved 29 November 2018. 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." ## External links - [Official website](https://www.gimletmedia.com/surprisingly-awesome) - [Surprisingly Awesome](https://soundcloud.com/surprisinglyawesome) on [SoundCloud](/source/SoundCloud) v t e Gimlet Media Personalities Alex Blumberg Breakmaster Cylinder Jonathan Goldstein Starlee Kine Nazanin Rafsanjani Shows Current Crimetown The Pitch Science Vs Past Heavyweight Mystery Show StartUp Surprisingly Awesome Reply All List of episodes Adaptations Alex, Inc. Homecoming Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Surprisingly Awesome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surprisingly_Awesome) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surprisingly_Awesome?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.