Cast Iron Brains - A Podcast with Bob and Abe

CIB returns, soggy and spent, to your podcast feeds with a look at the news of the week and a bit of rambling about the discomfort and anxiety of sharing the real world with a bunch of people who spend the vast majority of their time in a bespoke false creation that is not in conversation with reality. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Connectivity issues, the weather, and stabbings 8:20 — Iran deal imminent, and Trump’s ongoing influence in the GOP, Trump IRS settlement 46:54 — Are we collectively losing a grip on reality? Probably! 1:29:26 — Wrap-up! Obsession; LotR: The Return of the King; Too much James Webb, too much space Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

On the eve of Abe’s Big Detroit Adventure we’re here to discuss a bad New York Times opinion piece, bad food products for children being marketed to adults, bad movies, and other bad things, probably. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — The Biffler refuses to release the files 11:49 — The New York Times tells the world that the Jews are eating the cats, doing other things with the dogs 46:08 — Uncrustables being advertised to so-called grown-ups 58:50 — Did CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off A Good One? 1:03:47 — Fuck Ole Miss Week 1:06:09 — Wrap-up! I Love Boosters, Mortal Kombat 2, Postseason youth baseball decisions Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Maybe it used to be the case that everyone believed a bunch of wild and crazy and reality-denying stuff, but at least we mostly shared those reality-challenged beliefs. Now it feels like everybody has their own bespoke insane reality-denying belief system, largely defined by the rejection of any institutional authority or shared truth. It’s great, and we talk about it! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Packed theaters, rainy ballfields, and the NFL draft 18:33 — Another foiled assassination attempt 1:04:45 — Give me the baby teeth and I will show you the man 1:11:34 — Did CBS News’s Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:20:38 — Wrap-up! Michael, Ben Sasse is Dying, and youth beisbol is child harm Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

We are back after a beisbol-mandated week off to yap about Iran, a Virginia referendum to redraw the congressional maps, and plenty else. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — What we’ve been up to. 16:02 — Trump threatens to blow up all the bridges and power plants 37:16 — Virginia redistricting vote is today 57:22 — Family Annihilators Run Amok! 1:04:19 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

This week we’re yapping about an old favorite topic—how the religious fanatics convinced that they know the mind of God barely seem to have a grasp on the very basics of the religion they claim to adhere to, and how that’s probably bad for the world. Plus thoughts on Project Hail Mary and whatever else is going on in the world this week. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe survives not-Freaknik2026, Bob and Lori survive Luke Combs 17:22 — We fight for GOD, not like those savages 52:28 — “Silicon Sampling,” it seems bad 1:11:12 — Did CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:21:31 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Something the Trump administration did was good, we must reluctantly admit. It’s another week of travel stories and meandering through the headlines looking for something interesting to say. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — ICE at the airport 17:53 — Abe, crime victim 26:56 — Is the phone call making a comeback? 31:25 — WGAS NewsBag; Air Canada CEO forced out; Tiger Woods car crash; Birthright citizenship before SCOTUS 59:40 — Our Bogus Future; We still need to smash ‘em! (Wherein ‘em is the phones) 1:31:51 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Lori has made her glorious return from Finland and Estonia and has a lot to say about why flying is bullshit. We also barely contain our glee while discussing a murder, chat about Iran, and play America’s Favorite Game Show, Chuck Norris Edition. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Being insensitive about airport chaos 8:42 — Lori in the World 49:10 — Handi-capable quadruple amputee succeeds at cornhole, murder 52:40 — Iran war chat! 1:18:26 — Donald Trump had to watch his mail order bride’s closet get raped 1:29:49 — Did CBS News’s Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:35:30 — Wrap-up! Project Hail Mary; Inside the Manosphere (redux) Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

With Lori on a whole-ass other continent, we’re left sad and lonely and drifting through the news of the week, with much talk of American decline, our lack of faith on one another, and whether or not we are a people capable of building the sort of world we hope to live in. It’s quite a hoot! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Some talk of Geno Smith, inexplicably 5:10 — Dudes in the Wild, Betting on Senate Races 19:52 — Iran war is over or about to be or possibly escalating ¯_(ツ)_/¯ 31:05 — Does American public opinion matter at all? 1:09:41 — Did CBS News’ News Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:12:59 — Wrap-up! Hamnet; The Alabama Solution; Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere; The Two Towers; Baseball season is upon us and how that might herald the decline of civilization Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

A little less than a week ago, the United States and Israel began a war with Iran. Today, we talk about it. See that?! A masterful sales job! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe runs, huffs, puffs 4:27 — United States at war in Iran 1:01:27 — Did CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off A Good One? 1:09:37 — Wrap-up! Train Dreams; Blue Ruin; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

The State of the Union might as well have been a month ago, but we’re here to talk about it as the glorious, hilarious, highly watchable, weird, shameful, exploitative circus gameshow that it undeniably was. That and the latest goings on over on the CBS Evening News, Abe’s movie reviews, and plenty of YOUTH SPORT DRAMA. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — USA Men’s Hockey Triumphs! 8:29 — State of the Union Exploitation Spectacular 1:29:42 — Did CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:39:52 — Wrap-up! How to Make a Killing; Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die; Little League updates Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Today we’re mostly ignoring the news of the week to instead express wonder and dismay at how short form video is probably breaking our brains in really bad ways. It’s a hoot! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — The Biffler goes full blood-determinism 21:33 — Regressing to an oral culture 36:03 — Maybe weight does in fact correlate with health a bit 58:37 — Did CBS News’ Chief Correspondent Matt Gutman Get Off A Good One in the Fashion and to the Exacting Standards of CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann? 1:03:19 — Is the US about to get weird in Iran? Should we…bet on it? 1:13:55 — Wrap-up! Crime 101; Wuthering Heights; Minority Report; Sinners; The Olympics Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

It’s an almost-all Super Bowl 60 reaction spectacular! We watched, we complained, we talked about it. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe girds himself for SURVIVOR 50 3:11 — Trump stumbles over non-existent bar for his own speech, posts Obamas depicted as apes 12:28 — Super Bowl 60! And the Olympics! 48:07 — Super Bowl 60 commercials! 1:04:38 — Super Bowl 60 halftime shows! 1:41:16 — Canada to lose all hockey privileges 1:46:07 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Rather than another lengthy run through the unpleasant headlines of the week, we are here with a more ruminative discussion about whether the relationships that have been strained by The Trumppening have a chance of being mended when it finally comes to an end. We also talk about a social network for AIs, and what it means to engage with purely arbitrary content created with no intention beyond pattern matching. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Groundhogs of various bigotries 5:09 — A visit with old friends; Abe goes to MJ: The Musical; Jason Statham gets the AMC crowd all riled up 21:48 — What will a post-Trumppening look like? 52:52 — Moltbook, the social network for AIs, and how arbitrary content consumed purely individually breaks human brains 1:22:41 — Did CBS News’ Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 1:31:54 — Wrap-up! Shelter; Send Help Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

CIB has tunneled through enough ice and snow to record another spectacular episode of the only podcast, and within you will find our discussion of the killing of Alex Pretti by CBP officers and also a couple of football games, because America! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Lots of weather happened! 22:36 — Alex Pretti killed by CBP in Minnesota 1:29:35 — Cast Iron Balls: Conference championship games recap; Andruw Jones to the HoF, Belichick forced to wait a year 1:46:11 — Wrap-up! Mercy; Shoresy; The Chair Company; The Avengers Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

College football and NATO are basically the same, and Donald Trump and Fernando Mendoza are basically the same. That’s your summary! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe in the World, podcasting finally getting the recognition it deserves 7:32 — Trump in Davos 1:09:10 — Cast Iron Balls! NFL games recap 1:20:19 — Indiana beats Miami 1:54:41 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

This week we’re here to discuss the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer last week, because you can never have too much of that, apparently. And on the way out, reviews of Greenland 2 and a quick game of FMK, HP6 Edition. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — …as it all falls apart. 8:45 — Minnesota ICE shooting 54:43 — Trump’s NYT interview 1:15:10 — Ever so briefly on Iran 1:20:47 — Wrap-up! Greenland 2; Harry Potter 6; Gay Hockey Show Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

It was a long weekend of spectacular playoff football action, and we’re here to yap about it all and ask important questions, like “hey maybe Justin Herbert is a dummy.” Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe Live-Bets the Games! 7:39 — College Football Playoff semifinals recap 33:41 — NFL Wildcard Weekend 52:23 — 2025 CIB Football Pick ‘em Contest 53:39 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Something really weird happened on late Saturday night, and we’re here to try to talk our way through it. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Too old and misshapen for the slopes, and a brief run-in with a Buc-ee’s 10:00 — NYE TV Chucklefuckery 16:55 — Venezuela’s President Maduro Dark Knight-ed to the US 1:18:40 — Wrap-up! We Bury the Dead; Oblivion; Wake Up Dead Man Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Cast Iron Balls is finally here nearly a week later to recap the CFP quarterfinals and look ahead to the semis. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Abe among the fellow hairless 5:50 — Recapping the CFP quarterfinals 41:41 — 2025 CIB Football Pick ‘em Game 1:02:10 — Wrap-up! Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.

Following the lead of our sibling podcast—the much-awarded and world-renowned The Biffler—Cast Iron Brains has decided to do a year-end wrap-up show with absolute disregard for the time and patience of our audience. Instead of breaking things up into manageable episodes you might actually want to listen to, here’s an episode about the upcoming college football playoff games, the news of the year, our new year’s resolutions, and Mario Kart World Tour. Enjoy? Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy! Show Rundown Open — Inspired by The Biffler to speak interminably with neither discretion nor regard 5:18 — Cast Iron Balls! It’s Time for Sports! The Pop-Tarts Bowl, UVA vs Mizzou, CIB Pick ‘em Contest, CFP preview 37:32 — Our Bogus Future; The internet is overrun with AI slop, and resolutions to deal with that 1:25:30 — Pop Quiz, Hotshot! 2025 News Recap Edition! 1:46:55 — “Notably Dead” or “Still Quite Alive, How Dare You?” 2:03:19 — America’s Favorite Game Show: Did CBS News’s Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One? 2:11:49 — Wrap-up! Marty Supreme; Mario Kart World Tour Relevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber. The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Balls were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.