EPISODE SUMMARY:

An all-pep-talks episode with appearances from lots of past Make My Day guests. Josh announces the show is going on a little hiatus and curates a series of pep talks from many wonderful past Make My Day contestants. 

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who contributed: Ron Funches, Bridger Winegar, Sadie Dupuis, Jon Gabrus, Anthony DeVito, Karen Chee, Sarah Hagi, Zach Reino, Jessica McKenna, Tom Bodett, Maris Kreizman, Daniel Kibblesmith, Aparna Nancherla, Mike Drucker, Tess Lynch, Jo Firestone, Mina Kimes, Laura Stevenson, Tom Scharpling, Wyatt Cenac, Alison Roman, Myq Kaplan, John Hodgman, Scaachi Koul, Matt Braunger, Dani Fernandez, and Ophira Eisenberg! 

Please consider donating to your local food bank or contributing to a local mutual aid organization this holiday season.

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Dave Holmes (Waiting For Impact, Esquire) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Back...to the Past, Dave gives amazing answers to a series of questions about the early 90s. He then donates his winnings to the Beta Cell Foundation. Plus, a pep talk for MC Hammer and the concept of empathy!

Donate to the Beta Cell Foundation: 

https://betacellfoundation.org/

Listen to Dave's podcasts: 

https://www.exactlyrightmedia.com/waiting-for-impact

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/troubled-waters/id511745722

Read Dave's writing: 

https://www.esquire.com/author/9774/dave-holmes/

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Jackie Kashian (Dork Forest, new standup album out 11/16) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Dork Web, Jackie gives incredible answers to questions about nerds and dorks. She then asks Josh to donate her winnings to his local food bank. Plus, a pep talk for stats nerds, and one you can give yourself!

Donate to your local food bank: https://www.feedingamerica.org/

Listen to Jackie's podcasts: https://www.jackiekashian.com/#podcasts

Enjoy Jackie's standup, including her new album: https://www.jackiekashian.com/store

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Gavin Matts (Conan, Comedy Central) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of My Way AND The Highway, Gavin talks about the best parts of travel. He then donates his winnings to the Black Trans Travel Fund. Plus, pep talks for people stuck in hotels on flight delays and people stuck in middle seats.

Donate to the Black Trans Travel Fund: https://www.blacktranstravelfund.com/

Check out Gavin's tour dates: http://gavinmatts.com/tickets

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Casey Johnston (She's A Beast newsletter) and Ashley Feinberg (Trashberg newsletter) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Good News, Rad News, Casey and Ashley give amazing answers about the FUTURE OF JOURNALISM (sort of). They then donate their winnings to The West Fund. Plus, pep talks for people who have punny articles written about their deaths, anyone who thinks the CIA killed JFK, and Casey.

Donate to The West Fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/contribute-to-abortion-access

Subscribe to Casey's newsletter She's A Beast: https://shesabeast.substack.com/about

Subscribe to Ashley's newsletter Trashberg: https://www.trashberg.com/

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Michael Cruz Kayne (A Good Cry podcast, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Good Grief, Michael gives terrific answers about the best ways to be sad (it's funnier than it sounds). He then donates his winnings to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Plus, pep talks for people about to cry in public and parents.

Donate to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/get-involved/#donate

Listen to Michael's podcast, A Good Cry: https://headgum.com/a-good-cry

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Anthony DeVito (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Old Favorites, Anthony gives incredible answers about the best parts of aging. He then donates his winnings to Planned Parenthood. Plus, pep talks for babies and DJs.

Donate to Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

See Anthony live: http://www.anthonydevitocomedy.com/shows

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Rax King (Tacky available now for preorder) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Taking in the Trash, Rax does a stellar job answering questions about the best parts of things people hate. She then donates her winnings to Casa Ruby in Washington DC. Plus, pep talks for ranch dressing and the Bloomin' Onion.

Donate to Casa Ruby: https://casaruby.org/donate/

Preorder Rax's book Tacky: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/669783/tacky-by-rax-king/

Subscribe to Rax's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/raxkingisdead

Listen to Low Culture Boil: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/low-culture-boil/id1543941809

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Ophira Eisenberg (NPR's Ask Me Another) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Gee, Quiz! Ophira answers questions about...game shows. She then donates her winnings to The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Plus, pep talks for people who finish an episode of Jeopardy with negative points.

Donate to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance: https://www.mioca.org/donate

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Broti Gupta and Dylan Gelula (The Simpsons, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Learning Sensation, Broti and Dylan answer questions about knowledge and education. It gets...weirdly chaotic. They then donate their winnings to The Lilith Fund. Plus, pep talks for bad test takers, a cricket, and Broti herself.

Subscribe to Lecture Hall, Broti and Dylan's podcast: https://www.patreon.com/lecturehall

Donate to the Lilith Fund: https://www.lilithfund.org/donate

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Mo Rocca (CBS Sunday Morning, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Death Perception, Mo answers questions about life, death, and life after death! He then donates his winnings to the Inner-City Scholarship Fund. Plus, pep talks for morticians and teabags.

Donate to the Inner-City Scholarship Fund: https://www.innercityscholarshipfund.org/

See Mo in Fairycakes Off-Broadway: https://fairycakestheplay.com/

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Natalie Walker and Sarah Hagi (Search Party, Gawker) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Know More Drama, Natalie and Sarah answer questions about...drama! They then donate their winnings to the Lilith Fund and Fort York Food Bank. Plus, pep talks for Jennifer Hudson and people who are here to make friends.

Buy tickets to Natalie's upcoming NYC shows: https://54below.com/events/bonnie-milligan-and-natalie-walker-celebrate-fifty-years-of-friendship/

Read Sarah in Gawker: https://www.gawker.com/profile/sarah-hagi-1911902

Donate to the Lilith Fund: https://www.lilithfund.org/donate

Donate to Fort York Food Bank: https://fyfb.com/donate/

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Jia Tolentino (Trick Mirror, The New Yorker) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Lies on the Prize, Jia answers questions about lies, mostly in a good way. She then donates her winnings to a local chapter of Food Not Bombs. Plus, pep talks for new parents and people who don't like how they look in photographs.

Read Jia in The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jia-tolentino

Buy Trick Mirror: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/567511/trick-mirror-by-jia-tolentino/

Donate to Food Not Bombs: http://foodnotbombs.net/new_site/donate.php

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Ian Karmel (The Late Late Show, All Fantasy Everything) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Your Roots Are Showing, Ian answers questions about the concept of hometowns. He then donates his winnings to Planned Parenthood. Plus, pep talks for embarrassing childhood pictures and people eating almond butter as a snack.

Listen to All Fantasy Everything: https://headgum.com/all-fantasy-everything

Donate to Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

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Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger (new podcast Did You Get My Text? out now) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Text-it Strategy, Meredith and Patton discuss text messaging techniques, preferences, and etiquette. They then donate their winnings to Alice's Kids and the Teak Fellowship. Plus, pep talks for wrong number texts, people who feel uncomfortable visiting unvaccinated relatives, and MFA students with unsatisfying day jobs.

Listen to Did You Get My Text?: https://starburns.audio/podcasts/did-you-get-my-text/

Donate to Alice's Kids: https://aliceskids.org/

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Laura Stevenson (new album Laura Stevenson out now) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Cribs Notes, Laura takes Josh on an MTV Cribs style tour of her home. She then donates her winnings to Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Plus, pep talks for people who had to sell their cars after Xzibit "improved" them, and people with messy refrigerators.

Listen to Laura Stevenson: http://dongiovanni.co/LauraStevenson

Black Mamas Matter Alliance: https://blackmamasmatter.org/

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Maris Kreizman (The Maris Review, Slaughterhouse 90210) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Sense of Shelf, Maris gives incredible answers to questions about books. She then donates her winnings to T1 International. Plus, pep talks for unread books and employees at bookstores.

Listen to The Maris Review: http://www.mariskreizman.com/the-maris-review

Donate to T1 International: https://www.t1international.com/donate/

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Gonzalo Cordova and Travis Helwig (Edith, Tuca & Bertie, Lovett or Leave It) compete to cheer Josh up. During a game of Sound Advice, Travis and Gonzalo offer . The pair donate their winnings to A Purposeful Rescue and Americans for Immigrant Justice. Plus, three pep talks that are all over the place.

Listen to Edith: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/edith/

Donate to A Purposeful Rescue: https://www.apurposefulrescue.org/donate

Donate to Americans for Immigrant Justice: https://floridaimmigrant.org/donate-today/

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Bridger Winegar (I Said No Gifts, Black Monday) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Exchange Greats, Bridger answers questions about gift-giving excellence. He then donates his grand prize winnings to The Literacy Lab. Plus, pep talks for philosophers and upstairs neighbors.

Listen to I Said No Gifts: https://www.exactlyrightmedia.com/i-said-no-gifts

Follow Bridger on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bridger_w

Donate to The Literacy Lab: https://theliteracylab.org/

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Jordan Morris (Bubble; Jordan, Jesse, Go!) competes to cheer Josh up. During a poorly named game of Science Fiction answers questions about made-up science facts. He then donates his grand prize winnings to 826 LA. Plus, pep talks for philosophers and upstairs neighbors.

Purchase the Bubble graphic novel: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250245557

Listen to the Bubble podcast: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/bubble/

Listen to Jordan, Jesse, Go!: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/jordan-jesse-go/

Donate to 826 LA: https://826la.org/donate/

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Sydnee Washington (Unofficial Expert podcast) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Ma'am, It's a Hot One, Sydness answers questions about how to have the hottest summer ever. She then donates her grand prize winnings to a person who has been single for the entire pandemic. Plus, pep talks for people who hate the beach and anyone working in entertainment.

Follow Sydnee on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/

Listen to the Unofficial Expert podcast: 

https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-unofficial-expert/

Check out Comedy at the Knitting Factory: 

https://www.knittingfactory.com/event/tw-artistinfo/Comedy+At+The+Knitting+Factory/

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

A recording of our recent livestream show. Paula Poundstone, Tom Bodett, and Peter Sagal compete to cheer Josh up. Karen Chee pops in as well and is delightful in a non-competitive setting. Quick note for listeners who didn't watch the livestream: Paula Poundstone repeatedly pretends to cut her head off with a saw over the course of the episode. Ticket sales from the live show benefitted HatchSpace, a not-for-profit woodworking collective in Vermont that Tom co-founded.

Donate to HatchSpace: https://hatchspace.org/Donate

Listen to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me: https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/

Check out Peter's books: sagal.html">https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/peter-sagal.html

Listen to Paula's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nobody-listens-to-paula-poundstone/id1410611499

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Taylor Garron and Eva Victor (poetry collection Look I Bought Plants) compete to cheer Josh up. Together, the two contestants answer questions about the most beautiful poem possible. They then donates their grand prize winnings to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition! Plus, pep talks for teenage poets, unintentional ASMR curators, and artists of works that look like vaginas.

Follow Taylor and Eva on social media:

https://twitter.com/taylorgarron

https://twitter.com/evavictor

Get yourself a copy of Look I Bought Plants:

https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/look-i-bought-plants

Donate to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition: 

https://blacktrans.org/donate/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alison Roman (Home Movies, Nothing Fancy) competes to cheer Josh up. Alison does an amazing job being quizzed about how to throw a party. She then donates his grand prize winnings to the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation! Plus, pep talks for half-empty drinks and people unsuccessfully bringing dates to parties.

Watch Alison's video series Home Movies: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/alisoneroman

Buy Alison's cookbooks: 

https://www.alisoneroman.com/

Donate to the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation: 

https://www.restaurantworkerscf.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Gethard (new comedy special Half My Life) competes to cheer Josh up. Chris dominates a game of Half-Life, answering questions about important halves. He then donates his grand prize winnings to Holly's Miracles! Plus, pep talks for half-pints and people celebrating half-birthdays.

Watch Chris Gethard's new special Half My Life:

https://www.comedydynamics.com/catalog/chris-gethard-half-my-life/

Listen to Chris's podcast, Beautiful/Anonymous: 

https://www.earwolf.com/show/beautiful-anonymous/

Donate to Holly's Miracles:

https://www.facebook.com/hollysteam/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Schilling (Galaxy Brains podcast) and Jesse David Fox (Good One podcast) compete to cheer Josh up.  Jesse and Dave are friends with impeccable taste, and they answer questions about flavor in a game of Taste Buds. They then donate their grand prize winnings to Water Drop LA and Clinton Hill/Fort Greene Mutual Aid! Plus, pep talks for cilantro, Cooler Ranch flavor, and almond milk.

Listen and subscribe to Dave's podcast Galaxy Brains:

https://www.polygon.com/22384444/galaxy-brains-polygon-podcast-entertainment-movies-tv

Listen and subscribe to Jesse's podcasts Good One and The Specials:

https://www.vulture.com/news/good-one-podcast/

https://www.patreon.com/thespecials

Donate to Water Drop LA: 

https://www.waterdropla.org/

Donate to Clinton Hill/Fort Greene Mutual Aid:

https://chfgma.org/donate

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michelle Collins (Midnight Snack, The Michelle Collins Show) competes to cheer Josh up. Michelle answers questions about the weird museum of her wildest dreams in a game of This Belongs In a Museum! She then donates her grand prize money to God's Love We Deliver! Plus, pep talks for empty picture frames and one particularly delightful museum guard.

Follow Michelle on Instagram:

www.instagram.com/michcoll

Listen and subscribe to Midnight Snack:

https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/midnight-snack/

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Rhea Butcher (Good Trouble) competes to cheer Josh up. Rhea is a big baseball fan, and for their game, they answer questions about baseball mascots! Plus, pep talks for the aforementioned mascots as well as the fans.

Follow Rhea on social media: 

https://twitter.com/RheaButcher

https://www.instagram.com/rheabutcher/

Listen to Rhea's great new standup album: 

https://bstlnk.to/butcher

Book a Cameo from Rhea: 

https://www.cameo.com/rheabutcher

Donate to the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund:

https://transgenderlegal.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eva Hendricks (Charly Bliss) competes to cheer Josh up. Eva has been living in Australia for the past year, and she answers questions about little stuff she misses from home in a game of All The Small Things. She then contributes her prize money to her brother Andrew's classroom garden! Plus, pep talks for hometowns and anyone considering starting a band.

Follow Charly Bliss on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/charlybliss/

https://twitter.com/charlybliss

Listen to Charly Bliss's great music (or purchase an album):

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7axA2bNeZsae6t2mgxoSFh

https://charlybliss.bandcamp.com/

Contribute to help fund Andrew Hendricks's classroom garden:

https://gofund.me/2ed7a9f8

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman (Throwing Fits podcast) compete to cheer Josh up. As experts on all things luxurious, James and Lawrence answer questions about how to live large. They then graciously donate their prize money to Border Kindness and The Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children in Patterson, NJ. Plus, pep talks for skinny jeans, haters, and Josh.

Listen to Throwing Fits and subscribe to the Patreon: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throwing-fits/id1494513478

https://www.patreon.com/throwingfits

Follow Jimmy and Larry on social media:

https://twitter.com/Dr_TacoMD

https://www.instagram.com/doctortaco/

https://twitter.com/SartoriallyInc

https://www.instagram.com/sartoriallyinc/

Donate to Border Kindness and Oasis:

https://oasisnj.org/

https://borderkindness.org/

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

Alice Fraser (The Gargle podcast, standup special Savage) competes to cheer Josh up! Because she's recording from Australia, Alice is able to answer several questions about the near future. She then graciously donates her $100 in prize money to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Plus, pep talks for the present as well as people have failed or are currently failing!

Follow Alice on social media:

www.twitter.com/aliterative

www.instagram.com/aliterative

Listen to The Gargle:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gargle/id1552687312

Watch Savage:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08BYK6S83/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Donate to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation:

https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/fundraise

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jared Logan (new half hour special on Epix, and Stream of Blood, on Twitch) competes to cheer Josh up! Jared journeys through a game of Fantasy Fantasy, setting an all-time Make My Day high score. He then graciously donates his $100 in prize money to Pantry Plus More in Morgantown, WV. Plus, pep talks for unlucky dice rollers and people who are worried about the end of the world!

Follow Jared on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/jaredlogan

Check out Stream of Blood:

https://www.twitch.tv/streamofblood/about

Donate to Pantry Plus More:

https://www.pantryplusmore.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ayo Edebiri (Dickinson, Big Mouth, Iconography podcast) competes to cheer Josh up! Ayo sets an all-time Make My Day high score by answering questions about her (eventual) farewell concert in 2071. She then graciously donates her $100 in prize money to Children of Promise. Plus, pep talks for dogs and people who are bad with technology!

Follow Ayo on social media:

www.twitter.com/ayoedebiri

www.instagram.com/ayoedebiri

Listen to Iconography:

https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/iconography/

Donate to Children of Promise:

https://www.cpnyc.org/donate

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Concepcion (Takeline podcast, ALL CAPS NBA, Emmy winner) competes to cheer Josh up! Jason wins an exciting game of The Thrill of the Take, setting an all-time Make My Day high score. He then generously donates his $100 in winnings to Ground Game LA.

Plus, pep talks for Mountain Dew and carbs!

Follow Jason on social media:

https://twitter.com/netw3rk

https://www.instagram.com/x_netw3rk_x/

Listen to Takeline and watch ALL CAPS NBA:

https://crooked.com/jason-concepcion-podcasts/ 

Donate to Ground Game LA:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ggla

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caleb Hearon (you've seen him being hilarious on the internet!) competes to cheer Josh up. As this week's contestant, Caleb has incredible answers to Josh's many questions about Spring. He then generously donates his $100 in winnings to the KC Tenants. Plus, pep talks for people who have gained a little weight during the pandemic and guys who wear shorts when it's 45 degrees outside! 

Follow Caleb across social media:

www.twitter.com/calebsaysthings

www.instagram.com/calebsaysthings

Donate to KC Tenants:

https://kctenants.org/home

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sadie Dupuis (Sad13, Speedy Ortiz) competes to cheer Josh up. She absolutely dominates a game of Flicks are for Kids, setting a new high score by casting dogs in Wishbone-style reboots of gritty movies. It makes slightly more sense than it sounds like it would. Sadie generously donates her $100 in winnings to the National Harm Reduction Coalition. Plus, pep talks for people considering adopting a pet and actors cast in the role of The Joker.

Find out about Sadie's music, poetry, and record label:

www.sad13.horse

Donate to the National Harm Reduction Coalition: 

https://harmreduction.org/take-action/donate/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Solomon (Barry) and Naomi Ekperigin (Search Party) compete to cheer Josh up. In honor of the launch of the new humor collection Notes from the Bathroom Line (edited by Amy, contributed to by Naomi), the team plays an incredible round of Waiting For Togot, a game about bathroom lines. After securing their thrilling victory, Naomi donates her $100 prize to SELAH, and Amy donates hers to N Street Village. Plus, pep talks for bathroom attendants, people with nervous stomachs, and anyone who has clogged a toilet at a party.

Get yourself a copy of Notes from the Bathroom Line: 

https://www.notesfromthebathroomline.com/book

Listen to Naomi's podcasts!

Couples Therapy:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-couples-therapy-29574473/

I Love a Lifetime Movie:

https://www.mylifetime.com/i-love-a-lifetime-movie

Donate to SELAH:

https://www.selahnhc.org/donations

Donate to N Street Village:

https://www.nstreetvillage.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tarik Davis (The Amber Ruffin Show, Brothers From Another Planet) competes to cheer Josh up. Since Tarik famously serves as Amber's sidekick on The Amber Ruffin Show, he answers questions about various sides in a game of...Picking Sides. After setting a new all-time Make My Day high score, Tarik donates his $100 prize to Fair Fight. Plus, he gives an exceptionally generous and moving pep talk!

Check out clips from The Amber Ruffin Show:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAmberRuffinShow

Listen to Brothers From Another Planet, Tarik's podcast with LeMar McLean and Don P. Hooper:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brothers-from-another-planet/id1517840182 

Donate to Fair Fight:

www.https://fairfight.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emily Heller (Baby Geniuses, Barry) competes to cheer Josh up. Emily, a prolific gardener, answers several garden-related questions in a game of Top Crops, setting a new all-time Make My Day high score. She donates her $100 prize to the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.

Plus, pep talks for weeds and water!

Listen to Baby Geniuses, Emily's podcast with Lisa Hanawalt: 

https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/baby-geniuses/

Donate to the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues:

https://urbandebate.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Craig Finn of The Hold Steady (new album Open Door Policy out now!!!) competes to cheer Josh up. Craig sets the show's new all-time high score by selecting the perfect beverage for any situation in a game of Sips Don't Lie. Then he donates his $100 in grand prize winnings to New York City's Coalition for the Homeless. Plus, pep talks for opening acts and people who get too comfortable at the airport!

Check out The Hold Steady and Craig Finn's solo work:

www.theholdsteady.net

www.craigfinn.net

Donate to New York City's Coalition for the Homeless:

https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ron Funches (Gettin’ Better with Ron Funches) competes to cheer Josh up. Today's game is.. all pep talks! Ron Funches donates his grand prize winnings of $100 to School On Wheels. Plus, even more pep talks for slush and The Chicago Bulls!

Follow Ron Funches on social media:

www.twitter.com/ronfunches

www.instagram.com/ronfunch

https://www.twitch.tv/ron_funches/

Visit Ron's website:

www.ronfunches.com

Listen to Gettin' Better:

https://ronfunches.com/gettin-better/

Donate to School on Wheels:

https://schoolonwheels.org/donate/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Jo Firestone (Dr. Gameshow, Rate the Cookie) and Chris Duffy (How To Be A Better Human) compete to cheer Josh up. Jo and Chris team up to figure out how animals could be improved in a game of Plan It, Earth. Then the two donate their grand prize winnings to the Ali Forney Center and the LA Community Action Network respectively. Plus, pep talks for seeing eye dogs, hand cream, and fire extinguishers!

Listen to Chris's new podcast How To Be A Better Human:

https://www.ted.com/podcasts/how-to-be-a-better-human 

Listen to Jo's podcast Dr. Gameshow: 

https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/dr-gameshow/

Donate to the LA Community Action Network:

https://cangress.org/donate/

Donate to the Ali Forney Center: 

https://aliforneycenter.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Open Mike Eagle (Anime, Trauma and Divorce, History of Swear Words) competes to cheer Josh up. Today's game is a quiz of which musicians are most like which visual artists. It makes more sense when you hear it, I think. Open Mike Eagle donates his grand prize winnings of $100 to Black Lives Matter. Plus, two pep talks for people learning a new instrument.

Follow Open Mike Eagle on Twitter and Instagram: 

https://twitter.com/Mike_Eagle

https://www.instagram.com/open_mike_eagle/

Listen to/purchase Anime, Trauma and Divorce: 

https://openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com/album/anime-trauma-and-divorce

Check out History of Swear Words on Netflix: 

https://standbyyourband.podomatic.com/

Donate to Black Lives Matter:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Thakkar and Tommy McNamara (Stand By Your Band podcast) compete to cheer Josh up. Tommy and Tom play a lazily-named game of Crowd Pleasers, choosing the ultimate songs to take various occasions to the next level. Then, they contribute their $200 total prize money to We Act for Environmental Justice. Plus, pep talks for people celebrating birthdays during the pandemic, hype men, and kids without abs.

Follow Tom and Tommy on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TomAThakkar

https://twitter.com/TommyMcNam

Check out Stand By Your Band: 

https://standbyyourband.podomatic.com/

Donate to We Act for Environmental Justice:

https://www.weact.org/home-3/getinvolved/donate/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer and filmmaker Emily Yoshida competes to cheer Josh up. Emily plays a game of The Prestige, creating the ultimate Oscar-bait movie. Then, she contributes her $100 grand prize to Mutual Aid Los Angeles. Plus, pep talks for background actors and people who are bad at taking care of plants.

Follow Emily on Twitter (even though she might not be there):

www.twitter.com/emilyyoshida

Check out this cool music video Emily made for Sad13: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76rghmg1jI&feature=emb_title

Donate to Mutual Aid LA:

https://www.mutualaidla.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Negin Farsad (Fake The Nation podcast, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me) competes to cheer Josh up. Negin plays a game of Non-P.R., answering questions about things she can't get away with saying on public radio. Then, she donates her $100 grand prize to One Fair wage to help tipped workers and hourly workers make a fair wage. Plus, pep talks for the year 2021 and seventh graders.

Follow Negin on social media:

https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad

https://www.instagram.com/neginfarsad

Listen to Fake the Nation:

https://www.earwolf.com/show/fake-the-nation/

Donate to One Fair Wage:

https://ofwemergencyfund.org/

https://onefairwage.site/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY: Matt Braunger (This Might Help podcast, hilarious comedian and actor) competes to cheer Josh up. Matt dominates a game of New Year's Re-small-lutions, coming up with many tiny ways to make your life better over the coming year. Then, he donates his $100 grand prize to the Oregon Food Bank. Plus, pep talks for high school students and calendars.

Follow Matt on social media:https://twitter.com/Braungerhttps://www.instagram.com/braunger/?hl=en

Listen to This Might Help: https://www.mattbraunger.com/podcast

Check out Matt's comedy albums: https://www.mattbraunger.com/albums

Donate to the Oregon Food Bank:https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Linda Holmes (Pop Culture Happy Hour, Evvie Drake Starts Over) competes to cheer Josh up. Linda lists things that are likely to make someone happy during a game of Glad to the Bone. Her grand prize donation goes to ImprovBoston, a nonprofit theater that lost its physical space during the pandemic. Plus, pep talks for new year's resolutions and for people who live alone and love holidays.

Follow Linda on social media:

https://twitter.com/lindaholmes

https://www.instagram.com/lindaholmes97/?hl=en

Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour:

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510282/pop-culture-happy-hour

Buy Evvie Drake Starts Over: 

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/573986/evvie-drake-starts-over-by-linda-holmes/

Donate to ImprovBoston:

https://improvboston.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Molly Lambert and Tess Lynch of the recently-concluded Night Call podcast compete to cheer Josh up! Molly and Tess propose things to do late at night during a game of Insomniactivities, and they donate their $200 in grand prize winnings to NARAL Pro-Choice. Plus, pep talks for 4:30am, paprika, and squirrels. 

Follow Molly and Tess on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/mollylambert

www.twitter.com/mrtesslynch

Donate to NARAL Pro-Choice: https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/about/

Enjoy the back catalog of Night Call episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/night-call/id1342254154

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Gary Gulman (The Great Depresh), Emmy Blotnick (Party Nights), and Niccole Thurman (Shrill, Grace & Frankie) compete to cheer Josh up! This episode was recorded as a livestream Make My Day show a couple of weeks ago, and it's the first one where the contestants compete AGAINST each other! No spoilers, but it ends with a big donation to Fair Fight to help protect voting rights ($1,347 including ticket sales for the livestream). Plus, pep talks based on requests from the live audience!

Donate to Fair Fight: https://fairfight.com/

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Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers) and Wyatt Cenac (Problem Areas with Wyatt Cenac) compete to cheer Josh up. Eugene and Wyatt forecast the next hip Brooklyn trends in a game of BK to the Future. After setting the all-time Make My Day high score, Eugene donates his $100 grand prize to the Somerville Homeless Coalition, and Wyatt donates his to Fair Fight.

Learn more about this week's guests:

www.wyattcenac.com

www.eugenemirman.com

Donate to the Somerville Homeless Coalition: https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/giving/

Donate to Fair Fight: https://fairfight.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gaby Dunn (Bad With Money, Just Between Us) competes to cheer Josh up. Gaby decides on the most awesome ways to spend various sums of cash during a game of Badass With money. After setting the all-time Make My Day high score, Gaby donates her $100 grand prize to the LA LGBT Center.

Follow Gaby on Twitter and Instagram:

www.instagram.com/gabyroad

www.twitter.com/gabydunn

Listen and subscribe to Gaby's podcasts:

Bad With Monday: https://www.stitcher.com/show/bad-with-money

Just Between Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-between-us/id1454312489

Buy Gaby's books:

Bad With Money: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bad-with-Money/Gaby-Dunn/9781501176333

Bury the Lede: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bury-the-Lede/Gaby-Dunn/9781684154272

YA Novels: https://www.gabyandallison.com/book-tour

Donate to the LA LGBT Center: https://lalgbtcenter.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made?, Black Monday) competes to cheer Josh up. During a game of Thank Again, Paul reimagines a Thanksgiving full of new wonderful traditions. He then donates his $100 grand prize to SELAH. Plus, pep talks for people who can't be with their families during this Thanksgiving as well as people who have to spend time with family members they don't like.

Follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram:

www.twitter.com/paulscheer

www.instagram.com/paulscheer

Listen and subscribe to Paul's podcasts:

How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled: https://www.earwolf.com/person/paul-scheer/

Screen Test: https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test

Check out Paul's episode of Marvel's 616 starting Thanksgiving weekend: https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/marvels-616

Donate to SELAH: https://donorbox.org/selah

Or donate to a food bank in your area: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

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Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino (Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast) compete to cheer Josh up. Zach and Jessica create the dream slate of Broadway shows for when theaters reopen during a game of The Show Must (Eventually) Go On. They then donate their $100 grand prizes to SELAH and the Armenia Fund. Plus, pep talks for standing ovations and the period of indecision when you're deciding what to eat for dinner.

Follow Jessica and Zach on Instagram:

Jessica: https://www.instagram.com/jessjessmckenna/

Zach: https://www.instagram.com/zachreino/

Listen and subscribe to Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast: https://www.earwolf.com/show/off-book/

Donate to SELAH: https://donorbox.org/selah

Donate to the Armenia Fund: https://www.armeniafund.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Randy and Jason Sklar, The Sklar Brothers (Cheap Seats, Dumb People Town) compete to cheer Josh up. The Sklars set a new all-time Make My Day high score by outlining the perfect small town crime during a game of Crime is a Flat Circle. They then donate their $100 grand prize to Young Storytellers. Plus, pep talks for pickpockets and children who have won the ownership of candy factories.

Follow the Sklar Brothers on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube:

www.twitter.com/sklarbrothers

www.instagram.com/sklarbrothers

Listen and subscribe to the Sklar Brothers' podcasts: http://www.supersklars.com/#podcasts

Donate to Young Storytellers: https://www.youngstorytellers.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Drucker (co-head writer of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) competes to cheer Josh up. Mike sets a new all-time Make My Day high score by describing how we'd beat a video game version of 2020 in a round of Game of the Year. He then donates his $100 grand prize to Child's Play Charity. Plus, pep talks for people who are worried their vote doesn't count as well as Broadway performers.

Follow Mike on Twitter and Instagram:

www.twitter.com/mikedrucker

www.instagram.com/mikedruckerisdead

More about Mike's upcoming book about Silent Hill 2: https://bossfightbooks.com/products/silent-hill-2-by-mike-drucker

Donate to Child's Play Charity: http://childsplaycharity.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julie Klausner (Difficult People) and Tom Scharpling (The Best Show), hosts of the hilarious podcast Double Threat, compete to cheer Josh up. As a team, they set the all-time Make My Day high score by playing a game of Worst Things First. Julie and Tom respectively donate their $100 grand prize winnings to God's Love We Deliver and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey! Not to mention, we've got pep talks for sweatpants, people with nice smiles, and a specific Michael's employee.

Listen to Tom and Julie's podcast, Double Threat: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/double-threat/

Donate to God's Love We Deliver: https://www.glwd.org/

Donate to the Community Food Bank of NJ: https://cfbnj.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry Owens (A Strange Loop, High Maintenance) competes to cheer Josh up. Larry sets the all-time Make My Day high score with his performance playing a game of The First Annual Larry Awards aka The Larrys. He then donates his $100 grand prize winnings to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. Finally, Josh and Larry give pep talks to karaoke microphones and the Make My Day listeners!!!

Follow Larry on Twitter and Instagram: 

www.twitter.com/larryowenslive

www.instagram.com/larryowenslive

This picture of Adele is incredibly important to this podcast episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEh6gF5AwXh/

Listen to the cast recording of A Strange Loop:  https://open.spotify.com/album/7vlAmEdZEOVdRUsB4fgrvC

Donate to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition:  https://www.bwayadvocacycoalition.org/donate

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grace Spelman (writer, comedian) competes to cheer Josh up. Grace sets the all-time Make My Day high score with her performance playing The Will Smith Challenge. She then donates her $100 grand prize winnings to G.L.I.T.S. Finally, Josh and Grace give pep talks to people with songs they hate stuck in their heads and people with insomnia.

Follow Grace on Twitter and Instagram: 

www.twitter.com/gracespelman

www.instagram.com/gracespelman

Donate to G.L.I.T.S.: https://www.glitsinc.org/donations

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Pardo (Never Not Funny, Pardcastathon) competes to cheer Josh up and chat about his upcoming podcast marathon (10/10) to benefit Smile Train. Jimmy's breathtaking performance in a game of No One Ballad Should Have All That Power sets a new all-time Make My Day high score. He then donates his $100 grand prize winnings to the aforementioned Smile Train. Finally, Josh and Jimmy give pep talks to sound engineers and valet parking attendants.

Listen and subscribe to Jimmy's podcast Never Not Funny: https://www.nevernotfunny.com/

Check out Pardcastathon on 10/10 to benefit Smile Train: https://www.pardcastathon.com/

Donate to Smile Train any time: https://www.smiletrain.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Birbiglia (The New One, This American Life, Billions) competes to cheer Josh up. Mike sets the all-time Make My Day high score with his incredible performance during a game of What They Should Have Said...Was Something Else. He then donates his $100 grand prize winnings to the Food Bank For New York City. Finally, Josh and Mike give pep talks to people who love Halloween and college students.

Check out The New One on Netflix, and buy the book of the same name: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781538701515 

Listen to the Working It Out podcast: https://www.birbigs.com/working-it-out-pod

Visit Mike's website and sign up for his mailing list: https://www.birbigs.com/

Donate to the Food Bank For New York City: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mina Kimes (The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, NFL Live) competes to cheer Josh up. Mina sets the all-time Make My Day high score by crushing a game of Uncuttable Gems. She then donates her $100 grand prize winnings to the West Seattle Food Bank. Finally, Mosh and Mina give pep talks to people who hate video chat and people who are worried Mina's dog dislikes them specifically.

Follow Mina on Twitter and Instagram: 

www.twitter.com/minakimes 

www.instagram.com/mina_kimes

Listen to The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mina-kimes-show-featuring-lenny/id1437647915

Donate to the West Seattle Food Bank: https://westseattlefoodbank.org/donate-money/

And watch Mina on NFL Live!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ziwe (host of an amazing Instagram Live show, writer for Desus & Mero) competes to cheer Josh up! Ziwe sets the all-time Make My Day high score by crushing a game of Discomfort to This Comfort (which Josh probably could have come up with a better name for). She then splits her $100 grand prize winnings between the Food Bank for New York City, the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and a purchase of stamps. Finally, Josh and Ziwe give pep talks for people who are slightly under the weather and people who don't read the whole email.

Follow Ziwe on Instagram and watch her Live show every Thursday at 8pm: https://www.instagram.com/ziwef/

Follow Ziwe on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ziwe

Listen to Generation Ziwe: https://generationziwe.com/music

Donate to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/donate/

Donate to the Food Bank For New York City: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/#

(You know where to buy stamps, I assume!)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scaachi Koul (host of the new podcast Not Great) competes to cheer Josh up! Scaachi sets the all-time Make My Day high score by crushing a game of You Spite Up My Life. She then donates her $100 grand prize winnings to the Lebanese Red Cross. And finally, Josh and Scaachi give pep talks for people whose enemies appear to be thriving, and to anyone having a hard time with a creative project.

Subscribe to Not Great, Scaachi's new podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-great-with-scaachi-koul/id1524565091

Buy Scaachi's book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250121028

Donate to the Lebanese Red Cross: https://supportlrc.app/

Follow Scaachi on Twitter and Instagram:

www.twitter.com/scaachi

www.instagram.com/scaachi

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer (hosts of the brand new podcast Ruined) compete to cheer Josh up! Together they demystify several common fears in a game of Scare Buds, setting the all-time Make My Day high score. Both contestants decide to donate their grand prize winnings to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund. Plus, pep talks for aliens, couscous, and anyone who is worried their house might be haunted.

Subscribe to Ruined, Alison and Halle's horror/comedy podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ruined-with-alison-leiby-and-halle-kiefer/id1528202364

Donate to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund: https://supportwomenshealth.salsalabs.org/mkefreedomfund/index.html

Follow Alison and Halle on social media:

www.twitter.com/alisonleiby

www.instagram.com/alisonleiby

www.twitter.com/hallekiefer

www.instagram.com/hallekiefer

www.instragram.com/ruinedpodcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jill Twiss (A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, new book Everyone Gets a Say, Last Week Tonight) competes to cheer Josh up! Jill gives a masterful performance matching animals with silly names in a game of Who The Wild Things Are, setting the all-time Make My Day high score. Jill donates her $100 grand prize winnings to Alice's Kids. Plus, pep talks for theater kids and for animals who have had their names changed.

Buy Jill's new children's book Everyone Gets a Say and her other books here: https://www.jilltwiss.com

Donate to Alice's Kids: https://aliceskids.orgFollow Jill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jilltwiss

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Hodgman (Dicktown on FXX, The Daily Show, so many great books) competes to cheer Josh up! In the spirit of his most recent book, Medallion Status, John Hodgman sets a new all-time Make My Day high score by creating the greatest secret society ever. After a round of dominant game play, Hodgman donates his $100 grand prize to the Portland Protest Bail Fund. Plus, a pep talk (and some tough love) for people who are worried their friends don't like them anymore!

Watch Dicktown on FXX and Hulu!

Check out bit.ly/GETYOURFRIENDS and donate to the Portland Protest Bail Fund: https://pdxgdc.com/

Purchase John Hodgman's most recent book, Medallion Status (and then his other books): bit.ly/MEDALLIONSTATUS

Follow John Hodgman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hodgman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daniel Kibblesmith (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Santa's Husband) competes to cheer Josh up! To help clarify who is the guest and who is the host (because people say they look so much alike) this week's game is The Kibblesmith Identity. Daniel sets a new all-time Make My Day high score and donates his $100 grand prize to the ACLU. Plus, pep talks for guys who go bald young and teenagers who take jokes literally online.

Preorder Princess Dinosaur, Daniel's new children's book: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316457606

Donate to the ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/give/now

Follow Daniel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kibblesmith

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mara Wilson (Bojack Horseman, Showbiz Kids, Where Am I Now?) competes to cheer Josh up! Mara sets an all time Make My Day high score by doing an unbelievable series of cartoon voices in a game of A Visit From The Toon Squad! She then donates her $100 grand prize to Ground Game Los Angeles, a grassroots organization in LA. Plus, pep talks for bored kids and anyone who was hoping to have a summer fling this year and was thwarted!

Subscribe to Mara's newsletter: https://mara.substack.com

Donate to Ground Game Los Angeles: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ggla

More info on Mutual Aid Networks: aid-group.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/opinion/coronavirus-aid-group.html

Check out Showbiz Kids, which is out now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92EX29aeEMI

Buy Mara's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318758/where-am-i-now-by-mara-wilson/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maria Sherman (author of Larger Than Life: The History of Boy Bands From NKOTB to BTS) competes to cheer Josh up! Maria creates the next big boy band during a game of Best Band Ever, setting an all time Make My Day high score! She then donates her $100 grand prize to Rogelio Hernandez's efforts to feed uhoused people in Los Angeles. Plus, pep talks for dogs who are afraid of fireworks and teachers (whether or not they are afraid of fireworks)!

BUY MARIA'S BOOK: https://www.blackdogandleventhal.com/titles/maria-sherman/larger-than-life/9780762468904/

Check out LA Community Fridges: www.instagram.com/lacommunityfridge

Make a contribution to Rogelio Hernandez on Venmo: @rogiebro

Follow Maria on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mariasherm

Find a classroom to help fund via DonorsChoose: www.donorschoose.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dani Fernandez (Nerdificent Podcast, Ralph Breaks the Internet, The Great Debate (SYFY)) competes to cheer Josh up! Dani designs an incredible new convention during a game of Con Artist, setting an all time Make My Day high score! She then donates her $100 grand prize to the Homeless Black Trans Women Fund. Plus, pep talks for people who are have been resisting watching new tv shows lately and dogs who miss affection from strangers!

Donate to the Homeless Black Trans Women Fund:

https://bit.ly/2CLDKXV

Subscribe to Dani's podcast, Nerdificent: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nerdificent/id1361635154

Follow Dani on Twitter: https://twitter.com/msdanifernandez

Follow Dani on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msdanifernandez/?hl=en

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Myq Kaplan (new album, A.K.A. out now!, Last Comic Standing) competes to cheer Josh up! Myq excels at a game of Better Known As where he gives better names to things, ending up with the all time Make My Day high score! His $100 grand prize winnings go to Chilis on Wheels. Plus, a pep talk for people who are not going back to their jobs as theme park mascots, and one for, well, anyone!

Listen to Myq's new album A.K.A.: https://www.blondemedicine.com/store/bm008-x7scz

Check out of Myq's website: http://myqkaplan.com/

Donate to Chilis on Wheels: https://www.chilisonwheels.org/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aparna Nancherla (Netflix Standup, Corporate, Space Force) competes to cheer Josh up! Aparna breezes through the first ever round of the game Say Yes to De-stress, setting an all time Make My Day high score! She then donates her $100 grand prize to the Black Visions Collective. Plus, pep talks for people who are nervous about the country "reopening" and for a baby bird trying to leave the nest!

Donate to the Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

Watch Aparna's Netflix special: https://www.netflix.com/title/80175685

Follow Aparna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/aparnapkin

Follow Aparna on Instagram: www.instagram.com/aparnapkin

And of course, the titular penguin selfie: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/09/592232204/penguins-mug-for-camera-take-a-pretty-great-selfie

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh wow! Two guests this week! Desus Nice and The Kid Mero (Desus & Mero on Showtime, Bodega Boys, God Level Knowledge Darts) compete as a team to cheer Josh up! They absolutely body a game of New York State of Rhyme in which they have to describe their ultimate late 90s hip hop album. In the end, Desus and Mero set the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 each for the World Central Kitchen and DonorsChoose. Plus, pep talks for weed dealers, porn website programmers, and hype men! 

Donate to World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org

Find a classroom to help fund on DonorsChoose: https://www.donorschoose.org

Preorder Desus and Mero's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/588771/god-level-knowledge-darts-by-desus-and-mero/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ESPN Senior Writer and host of the Lowe Post podcast Zach Lowe competes to cheer Josh up! Zach outlines his dream plan for owning an NBA franchise in a game of Hoop Dreams. We hear how he'd make his billion dollars and the lengths he'd go to to give his team a competitive edge. In the end, Zach sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, just like Starlee Kine did last week. Plus, pep talks for terrible pickup basketball players and parents of only-children! 

Donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer and podcaster Starlee Kine (Search Party, Mystery Show, Election Profit Makers, This American Life) competes to cheer Josh up! Starlee brings an air of suspense and intrigue to a game of Building a Mystery. There's a weirdly long tangent about the movie Quick Change. In the end, Starlee sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Plus, pep talks for masks and window mounted air conditioner units! 

Donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org

Watch Starlee measure Jake Gyllenhaal on CONAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR_MZy7vBTo

Listen to the aforementioned Britney Spears episode of Mystery Show: 

https://gimletmedia.com/shows/mystery-show/emhe24

Listen to Election Profit Makers: http://www.electionprofitmakers.com

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Bestselling author Shea Serrano (Where Do You Think We Are?, Movies and Other Things, The Ringer) competes to cheer Josh up! Shea absolutely dominates a game of Giving Ends to My Friends and It Feels Stupendous. Oscar Isaac may have come up once or twice. In the end, Shea sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for the Minnesota Freedom fund. Plus, an all time great pep talk from Shea! 

Get Shea's new PDF of essays about Scrubs: https://gumroad.com/l/ySrff

Read Shea's work at The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/authors/shea-serrano

Pick up Shea's books: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=shea+serrano

Donate to Minnesota Freedom Fund-approved organizations: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org

Also, shout out to Arturo Torres! (www.twitter.com/arturodraws)

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Actor and comedian Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty, Action Boyz, Brooklyn 99) competes to cheer Josh up! Gabrus plays an incredible round of the confusingly-named but very fun game Call You By My Name. In a thrilling conclusion, Gabrus sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for the Last Prisoner Project. Plus, pep talks for beach bums and insomniacs! 

Make your own donation to the Last Prisoner Project here: https://www.lastprisonerproject.org

Follow Gabrus on Twitter and Instagram: 

www.twitter.com/gabrus

www.instagram.com/gabrus

Subscribe to High and Mighty: https://headgum.com/high-and-mighty

Subscribe to Action Boyz: https://www.patreon.com/ActionBoyz

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Actor and comedian Andy Daly competes to cheer Josh up. Andy plays an incredible round of The All-Stars Game (accidentally also called The All-Star Game), where he gives 5-star reviews to people, things, and ideas. In a thrilling conclusion, Andy sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for Give Directly. Plus, pep talks for people who just started jogging and people who are bad at cooking! 

Make your own donation to Give Directly here: https://www.givedirectly.org

Follow Andy on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TVsAndyDaly

Hear Andy's new album here: https://bstlnk.to/fourmoresweaters

Get the complete series DVD set of Review here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084Z4JQF4/

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Comedian and Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Karen Chee competes to cheer Josh up. As a single person/expert on crushes, Karen absolutely dominates a round of the new game Platonic Ideals, Romantic Appeals. Karen sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for Meals on Wheels. Plus, pep talks for the high school class of 2020 and...bugs!

Make your own donation to Meals on Wheels here:

https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org

Follow Karen on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/karencheee

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Comedian, actor, and Doug Loves Movies host Doug Benson competes to cheer Josh up. He absolutely crushes a round of What Could Be Better: Movie Edition. Josh and Doug talk about very talented dogs, the ideal heist crew, and more.

Doug sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for Smile Train. Plus, Pep Talks for belts and socks! 

Make your own donation to Smile Train here: https://www.smiletrain.org

Visit Doug's website here: http://douglovesmovies.com

Watch a video of Jumpy the dog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp6p-_Z_PrI

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Comedian, actor, and author Todd Barry competes to cheer Josh up. Todd, star of numerous hour comedy specials, rises to the challenge of helping Josh schedule special hours throughout the year. Josh and Todd discuss the best time to leave a party on New Year's Eve and how to talk to celebrities (among other things). Todd sets the Make My Day all time high score with 91 points and wins $100 for God's Love We Deliver.

Make your own donation to GLWD here: https://www.glwd.org

Visit Todd's website here: https://www.toddbarry.com

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Miel Bredouw, comedian and host of the podcast Punch Up The Jam competes to cheer Josh up. Josh asks Miel to design her ideal music festival, which she does, excellently. Miel sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for the Food Bank for New York City.

To make a donation of your own to the Food Bank for New York City, click here: https://www.foodbanknyc.org

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Akilah Hughes, author and co-host of the Crooked Media podcast What A Day competes to cheer Josh up. Akilah and Josh talk 90s r&b, red pandas, and the crossover film event of a lifetime. Akilah sets the Make My Day all time high score and wins $100 for Lighthouse Youth & Family Services in Cincinnati.

Make your own donation to Akilah's cause of choice here: https://www.lys.org/about-us/

Buy Akilah's book, Obviously, here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/531147/obviously-by-akilah-hughes/

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Make My Day with Josh Gondelman is a pop culture and politics game show where comedians compete to put a positive spin on the news and cheer up host Josh Gondelman. Described as a "pathological sweetheart" by the New York Observer, host Josh Gondelman is here to try and cushion the blow when news breaks. Some shows help people understand the news, but even when you know what's going on it, it's still largely terrible. Make My Day just tries to make the headlines feel a little less bleak.

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