Fake the Nation

499. Improv Classes for MAGA? (w/Sean Malin and Sydney Kane)

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by Vulture Culture Critique and author of The Podcast Pantheon, Sean Malin and writer and star of the musical comedy Wife Material, Sydney Kane. The trio discuss the country's latest frustrations from the continued Greenland threats, to the Peace Board, to MAGA's new acronym "AWFUL." They also ask, does living in a big house make you unhappier? And finally, because Sean has literally written the book on the matter, they talk podcasts: what makes them good, what makes them bad, and what is the future of audio? Follow everyone! Check out Sean's book here [https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/podcast-pantheon?srsltid=AfmBOorQvbUmhGirngcJUKJxs6oP99f1eZNYl1hJ9yVsyq1N-l_YXWn3] Follow Sydney here @sydneymorgankane Negin is always @NeginFarsad Today's show is sponsored by Laundry Sauce! Visit them on the link below to level up your laundry game. Warning: the scents are next level. https://laundrysauce.com/ [https://laundrysauce.com/] Support the show at Patreon.com/neginfarsad  [http://patreon.com/neginfarsad] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Support the show Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/NeginFarsad]  Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

498. John Fugelsang's Separation of Church & Hate Bonus (with John Fugelsang and Maryam Banikarim)

It's a bouncing baby bonus! This week, comedian and host, Negin Farsad, digs into John Fugelsang's best selling new book Separation of Church & Hate. Alongside Maryam Banikarim, the three talk American bigotry, spirituality, and what to say to your racist uncle.  Follow Everyone! @NeginFarsad everywhere @Mbanikarim on IG & TikTok  @johnfugelsang everywhere Check out Fugelsang's new book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/separation-of-church-and-hate-a-sane-person-s-guide-to-taking-back-the-bible-from-fundamentalists-fascists-and-flock-fleecing-frauds-john-fugelsang/aacdfa295f5171f0?ean=9781668066898&next=t&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content=%7Badgroupname%7D&utm_term=aud-1885352274224:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUDIsYFb5gV_evCJBzzaKVp1_La1yH_pRUn6qeuMyUyR8H9YSMfVU6BoC8sAQAvD_BwE]! Check out Mariam's The Longest Table [https://www.longesttablecommunity.org/] and set one up in your neighborhood!@NeginFarsad everywhere Support the show at Patreon.com/neginfarsad  [http://patreon.com/neginfarsad] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] * Support the show Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/NeginFarsad]  Producer - Rob Heath [http://robheathstudios.com] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

498. Endless Sushi and Boundless Suppression (w/Maryam Banikarim and John Fugelsang)

This week, comedian and host of Fake the Nation, Negin Farsad, is joined by comedian and author of New York Times bestseller Separation of Church & Hate, John Fugelsang; plus CMO of everything and host of the podcast The Messy Parts, Maryam Banikarim. They start things off with cultural shenanigans that involve the popularity of sushi among kids and the use of AI in very expensive matchmaking. In politics, they look at the heartbreaking situation in Iran and Minneapolis and the strange parallels we see for freedom fighters everywhere. They end on hope because that's what everyone needs right now. This episode was taped at the incredible P&T Studio in NYC's Lower East Side. Follow Everyone! @NeginFarsad everywhere @Mbanikarim on IG & TikTok  @johnfugelsang Check out Fugelsang's new book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/separation-of-church-and-hate-a-sane-person-s-guide-to-taking-back-the-bible-from-fundamentalists-fascists-and-flock-fleecing-frauds-john-fugelsang/aacdfa295f5171f0?ean=9781668066898&next=t&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content=%7Badgroupname%7D&utm_term=aud-1885352274224:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUDIsYFb5gV_evCJBzzaKVp1_La1yH_pRUn6qeuMyUyR8H9YSMfVU6BoC8sAQAvD_BwE]! Check out Mariam's The Longest Table [https://www.longesttablecommunity.org/] and set one up in your neighborhood! Support the show at Patreon.com/neginfarsad  [http://patreon.com/neginfarsad] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] * Support the show Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/NeginFarsad]  Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [http://robheathstudios.com] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

497. The Predictions Bonus! (w/John Hodgman and Emily Flake)

Comedian and Host Negin Farsad couldn't help herself - she has dedicated an entire bonus to the shoddy practice of predictions! Joined by comedian/writer John Hodgman and comedian/cartoonist for The New Yorker, Emily Flake, they predict whether Trump loses his grip on the GOP, how the midterms will turn out, and who the next batch of Democratic celebrities will turn out to be. They could be wrong about all of it. Enjoy! Follow everyone! @johnhodgman on instagram/threads  @JUDGEJOHNHODGMANPOD on youtube @eflakeagogo on IG/Threads @NeginFarsad everywhere Check out Negin's latest in Progressive Magazine [https://progressive.org/magazine/are-we-celebrating-americas-250-farsad-20251218/] on how to celebrate America's 250th!  Support the show at Patreon.com/neginfarsad  [http://patreon.com/neginfarsad] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] * Support the show Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/NeginFarsad]  Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

497. Cold, Hard Armrests for 2026 (w/John Hodgman and Emily Flake)

This week on Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and writer John Hodgman! And comedian and cartoonist for The New Yorker, Emily Flake! Together they discuss the neo-imperialist shenanigans of the White House, something great that Colorado is doing, and marble armrests. Plus, they discuss fear and how to conquer it!  Check out Negin's latest in Progressive Magazine [https://progressive.org/magazine/are-we-celebrating-americas-250-farsad-20251218/] on how to celebrate America's 250th!  Follow everyone! @johnhodgman on instagram/threads  @JUDGEJOHNHODGMANPOD on youtube @eflakeagogo on IG/Threads @NeginFarsad everywhere Support the show at Patreon.com/neginfarsad  [http://patreon.com/neginfarsad] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] * Support the show Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/NeginFarsad]  Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].