Encyclopedia Bartannica: A Simpsons Pop Culture Podcast

Harrison George
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A podcast about Simpsons references. Host Harrison George and a guest explore all the various jokes and references hiding in your favorite Simpsons episodes. History, literature, politics, and pop culture are all discussed as we try to answer The Simpsons’ most enduring question: why I laugh?

  1. JAN 29

    Bart Sells His Soul with Eli Mandel

    “When you see one of these kitschy places like TGI Fridays, are they expecting you to be like “Whoa! There’s signs! Crocodiles don’t wear sunglasses!”? But Marge is exactly the type of person those are targeted for.”   Wow what an episode we have for you today! Not only is our guest super funny, not only is he one of my best friends, he’s also the new CO-HOST of the show! Welcome to the show Eli Coyote Mandel! Eli has written for shows like Saturday Night Live and Search Party and performs at UCB in New York.    Today we’re reviewing the Simpsons episode “Bart Sells His Soul” from Season 7 Episode 4. This is the one where Bart sells his soul to Milhouse, and immediately suffers the consequences. This episode has it all: Iron Butterfly, Moe’s Family Feedbag, Ow, My Freaking Ears, and of course the return of Alf (in POG form!). We discuss the wild history of family restaurants with lots of crazy crap on the walls, the search for the human soul, and why After Hours is the most accurate NYC movie ever.    You can follow Eli on Instagram at @elicoyote, on TikTok @elicoyotemandel, and @nickandelicomedy on both. You can follow this show @bartannicapod on Instagram.   Eli Recommends After Hours Sonnets ET In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly Harrison Recommends Damn Yankees The works of Pablo Neruda Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe Eli’s Videos: A Guy The Day After His Server Was Nice to Him A Disney Channel Original Movie but Dad Took It Too Far Dad Is Also Scared Of Bullies   Research: Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: the Architecture of American Chain Restuarants by Philip Langdon  The Death of Flair: As Friday's Goes Minimalist, What Happens to the Antiques? When T.G.I. Friday's Loses Its Flair

    1h 41m

  2. JAN 16

    Bart on the Road with Thomas Kelly

    "This extraordinary situation of a car, free time and $600 is enough for Martin, Nelson and Bart and Millhouse to kind of come together."   Today we’re talking Tennessee with a real Tennessianen-ite, Thomas Kelly!   We’re reviewing the classic Simpsons episode from Season 7 Episode 20 “Bart on the Road”- Bart, Milhouse, Nelson and Martin rent a car and road trip to Knoxville, TN for the 1982 World’s Fair. And Thomas is from Knoxville! We talk about seeing your home town on TV, if The Simpson’s anti-Fox satire matters, and if lunch is the funniest meal. We also discuss why Marge needs friends, and why this is one of the all time best Homer/Lisa stories.    You can follow Thomas on Instagram at @thomaskelly.actingman and @sand.improv.  You can follow this show at bartannicapod on Instagram.   Thomas Recommends: Any Quentin Tarantino movie (for the TN references) Dolly Parton (just, as a person)  Nashville by Robert Altman Harrison Recommends: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Any of Thomas’ acting performances: Heart Race (short film by Katelyn Douglass) Amazing Animals Around Chicago (web series starring Kate O’Connor, directed by Thomas) Collection of Improv Promos for Sand Improv When The Annual Work Review Gets Intimate (sketch) Research: Fair America by Robert Rydell Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison's Ten Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn Randi Rain YT: Flippin' Fabulous: Reviving the Iconic Acrobatic Toy Dog! Maxim: Last Tango on Brando Island

    1h 57m

  3. JAN 1

    Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy with Sunset Appleton

    "I think the poor guys just going through changes."   Happy New Year!  Today we're discussing The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 10 Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy from 1994. It's the one where Homer and Grandpa sell their own aphrodisiac in a traveling medicine show.  I'm joined by my new friend Sunset Appleton- we talk about how we've been watching The Simpsons for longer than we can remember (literally), and why the show lends itself to memes and shitposts more than other media. We also dive into the bizarre history of the medicine show- white suits, painless dentistry and the superhero who told kids to drink 16 martinis a day. We also cover the wild history of the twin bed.  You can follow Sunset at complexpastiche on Instragram.  Follow this show at bartannicapod on Instagram.  Sunset Recommends:  "Step Right Up" by Tom Waits  Harrison Recommends:  The "Simpsons Mental Health" Facebook Group Step Right Up by Brooks McNamara "Slurf Song" by Michael Hurley  Alice In Wonderland test footage - Unbirthday Mad Tea Party - Disney   Research:  A Cultural History of Twin Beds by Hilary Hinds Hawkers and Walkers by Richardson Wright Snake Oil, Hustlers and Hambones by Ann Anderson Quackery, A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Peterson

    1h 42m

  4. 12/18/2025

    Three Gays of the Condo with Jamie Brew

    "Does love outweigh everything else? I guess it has to, if you’re a sitcom.”   Happy Holidays!  Today we’re discussing The Simpsons Season 14 Episode 17 Three Gays of the Condo: when Marge and Homer have a big fight, Homer moves out of the house and into an apartment in Springfield’s gay neighborhood, with sexy results! It guest stars Scott Thompson and Weird Al.  My guest is Jamie Brew (Clickhole, The Onion); we discuss his AI company, Botnik Studios and his current project, Robot Karaoke. We talk about how he started making comedy with predictive text, using Craigslist to generate song lyrics, and the one thing AI art will never be able to properly reproduce. We also talk about the ups and downs of Marge and Homer’s relationship, and if the show intentionally keeps it from truly changing, why there will never be another Rip Taylor, and how this episode totally wastes a cameo by Weird Al.  You can follow Jamie @jamieabrew on IG/Twitter & @jbrew on Bluesky.  You can follow this show @bartannicapod on IG.    Robot Karaoke - Regularly in NYC at Wonderville, Boshi's Place and elsewhere - Every month at The Elysian Theater in LA See upcoming shows at: https://theweirdalgorithm.com/   Botnik: Seinfeld Script Botnik: Harry Potter and The Portrait of What Looked Like A Large Pile of Ash Botnik: Fake Coachella Names 1040: Yesterday CCK Philosophy: The Simpsons and the Death of Parody   Jamie Recommends: The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling by Ted Chiang.    Harrison Recommends: These articles & books about gay neighborhoods-  There Goes the Gayborhood by Amin Ghaziani Who Are the People in Your Gayborhood by Daniel Baldwin Hess and Alex Bitterman The Life and Afterlife of Gay Neighborhoods Alex Bitterman Gay Urban Identity by Paul Ruiz

    1h 11m

  5. 12/04/2025

    Behind the Laughter with Alex Nichols

    “It’s asking you to think both too much and not enough.”    To celebrate the show's 6 month anniversary we've got a great new episode for you. Today we're discussing the format-breaking episode from The Simpsons Season 11 Episode 22 Behind the Laughter. It's a parody of VH1's Behind the Music, where the Simpsons star in a TV show about their life. But they aren't actors, they're just playing themselves in a scripted sitcom, which is The Simpsons tv show we all actually watch. As I'll say more than once, this is a weird idea! I'm joined by the very funny Alex Nichols, an actor/improviser/photographer based in Denver. We discuss whether this episode succeeds as a parody, the insane reason The Simpsons was banned in Alex's house growing up (it's not why you think!), and if the best part of the whole episode is in the last 5 seconds. We also talk about MC Hammer's unique rise to fame, the album Willie Nelson wrote for the IRS, and why doctors used to spray fire hoses at depressed people.  You can follow Alex on Instagram and Letterboxd at alexnichols. And watch his new sketch, "Miss", on YT: Miss by Nickels and Coal You can follow this show on Instagram at bartannicapod.  Alex Recommends:  Documentary: Close Up on Internet Archive Harrison Recommends: Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling by Jason Mittell

    1h 37m

  6. 11/20/2025

    Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie with Jodi Fabbri

    “Maybe they’re not good or bad parents. Maybe they’re just parents.”    Today we’re talking about The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 6’s Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie. After messing up 1 too many times, Bart is banned from seeing the Itchy and Scratchy movie forever.  I’m joined by an old friend and new mom, Jodi Fabbri. Jodi is our 1st guest who doesn’t like The Simpsons! I loved hearing about her experience watching the show as a non-Simpsons freak. We discuss why Bart is such a little stinker, and how Homer and Marge could help Bart sort himself out. We also talk about the “Where’s the Beef” ads, the great VHS Format Wars of the late 80s, and the terrible thing Bart did to the new kid, Arthur (it involves firecrackers). You can follow Jodi at jodifayefabbri on Instagram. You can follow this show at @bartannicapodcast on Instagram. Jodi Recommends:  Mr. Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Childcare books by Janet Lansbury “No Bad Kids” and “Elevating Child Care”  Harrison Recommends:  “The Explosive Child” by Ross W. Greene The podcast "Hit Factory" about 90's movies

    1h 17m

  7. 10/25/2025

    Weekend at Burnsie's with Steve Plock

    “WE’VE BEEN GOING TO THE SAME PARTY FOR 30 YEARS AND IN NO WAY IS THAT PATHETIC.” Hi Everybody and welcome to Gamehendge! This week I'm joined by musician, comedian, and certified Phish Fan Steve Plock (The Curls, Tobacco City, Jessica Risker) to chat about all things Phish. We talk about Steve's Phish journey (he's seen them 88 times!!) and why people love to hate on jam bands. We review The Simpsons Season 13 Episode 16, Weekend at Burnsie's- after being attacked by crows, Homer gets addicted to medicinal marijuana. This leads to him being hired to laugh at Mr. Burns' jokes. Also, Phish is here!  I do a deep dive into the history of medicinal marijuana in America, a totally chill topic that totally won't piss you off hearing how the government treats illegal drugs. And we ask the important question: is stoned Homer a better dad than drunk Homer?  Follow Steve's bands: @thecurls_coolband, @truthzonerecs on Instagram. And his improv team Dumb John @dumbjohn.  And follow this show @bartannicapodcast.  Steve Recommends:  Phish documentary Bittersweet Motel Trey Anastasio interview on Marc Maron Harrison Recommends:  You should listen to Phish- seriously!  Also the books below on medicinal marijuana.  Research for this episode came from:  High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape by Marc Masters You Don’t Know Me But You Don’t Like Me: Phish, ICP, and My Misadventures with Two of Music’s Most Maligned Tribes by Nathan Rabin Green Rush: The Rise of Medical Marijuana in the United States by Daniel Mallinson and A. Lee Hannah Waiting to Inhale- The Politics of Medical Marijuana by Alan Bock Christian Nationalism and the Birth of the War on Drugs by Andrew Monteith Phish/Simpsons Connections- Phish.net *The above quote is from a review of Phish's 2024 Madison Square Garden show

    1h 16m

  8. 10/13/2025

    Marge Vs. SSCCATAGAPP with Greg Iwinski

    Today we're discussing The Simpsons Season 15, Episode 8, Marge Vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays: After a baby concert becomes a disaster, Lindsay Naegle rallies the town to favor childless adults, but Marge fights back with a voter initiative.  I'm joined by Greg Iwinski, a 2x Emmy-winning TV writer who has worked on The Late Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and the Disney series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. We discuss the late night situation with Stephen Colbert vs the Trump Administration, hating the things you love (Star Wars/Simpsons), and how being a parent has changed since this episode first aired 21 years ago. Greg also points out a joke in this episode that made him laugh so hard he had to leave the room the first time he watched it.  Follow Greg on all socials: @garyjackson Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com. Greg Recommends:  Terrestrial History by Joe Mungo Reed This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub Harlem Shuffle Colson Whitehead Harrison Recommends:  The Baby Boon by Elinor Burkett References Frank Nelson and Jack Benny Mummenschanz on the Muppet Show NPR Code Switch: Unmasking The 'Outside Agitator'

    1h 20m
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A podcast about Simpsons references. Host Harrison George and a guest explore all the various jokes and references hiding in your favorite Simpsons episodes. History, literature, politics, and pop culture are all discussed as we try to answer The Simpsons’ most enduring question: why I laugh?

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