What do you do when life gives you lemons? Like, say, naked pictures of you get distributed? Or you're stuck in traffic for DAYS? Or maybe your mom gives you a really bad haircut? If you're Ericka and Jay Hardwick, if life gives you lemons, you

I'm not a very old-fashioned person. No sirree.

Apr 23rd, 2021 27m 6s

Mom Ericka is off doing lots of things in the very hot real estate season of spring in the very hot real estate market of the Pacific Northwest, so son Jay is flying solo this episode. He's found a whole lot of very interesting questions which

Blind Cannibals

Apr 15th, 2021 41m 53s

A classic Ericka and Jay exchange: Ericka: I want to tell you this story that happened early tonight. [gives introductory details] Jay: Whoa. I've never heard this story! Ericka: Yes, I know. That's why I'm telling you now Mother and son are at

To DELETE or NOT DELETE? (Duh...don't delete.)

Mar 25th, 2021 30m 51s

If this episode doesn't make you laugh until you cry, well, you're more mature than the rest of us. We'll just leave that little tease there for now. In this episode, Jay and Ericka Hardwick look into things that creep them out: breathing techn

Happy vengeance, big shrimp, and an overhyped surprise

Mar 18th, 2021 26m 59s

This week we're somehow talking about having an argument with a co-worker, big shrimp, "beta-sitting," where North Carolina is, and which is scarier: jumping out of an airplane or scuba diving. It must be Thursday! Back from a brief hiatus, the

Turning the fear of upside down ... upside down

Feb 19th, 2021 30m 19s

What are you most afraid of? Things that go bump (or boom) in the night? Rinky dink carnival rides that don't feel quite...clicked? And is hearing that your mom did something untoward with a controlled substance while pregnant with you just sli

Abra....CADAVER!!

Feb 11th, 2021 28m 29s

"I really like my kidney." It's time for Ericka and Jay to, once again, dive into the headlines and talk about things like DB Cooper and the Tylenol scare. It might be time to get them some more recent newspapers...? Anyway, this laugh-out-lou

Meeting Jack Nicholson ... in a clown suit

Feb 4th, 2021 28m 25s

We're sure the actor Jack Nicholson is a very nice person, but if you saw The Shining at a tender age (say 10 - 12), you may be less star struck than fear struck at meeting him in ... say, a creepy hotel or a dark alley. Now imagine he's weari

You just lost 10 IQ points....

Jan 28th, 2021 24m 57s

You just lost 10 IQ points. On a scale of 1 - 100, how bad does that make you feel? Remember the one about peeing on an electric fence? How much better or worse is this? (And if you're peeing on electric fences, are you sure you can afford thos

Insomnia, UFOs, Teachers & Other Things That Keep You Up at Night

Jan 7th, 2021 36m 48s

The mom-and-son duo are back with yet more situations you REALLY don't want to find yourself in. This week, they're disrupting our sleep with tales of insomnia, sleep demons, middle school math, PE classes, UFOs, and all manner of spooky stuff.

misery, menagerie, miseryindex, game, family, parents, kids, children, humor, Christmas, holidays

Dec 25th, 2020 31m 48s

What's worse: losing your wallet and being sad about what you lost, or losing a wallet but not being sad because there wasn't much in it? Is it just 5 points more miserable to accidentally set your house on fire if it's Christmas Eve? Our favor

Our Christmas Episode

Dec 25th, 2020 31m 48s

Deported to Norway

Dec 18th, 2020 33m 9s

Catapulted over the border — how does that rate on the Misery Index? Mother and son Ericka and Jay are back with another assortment of odd topics: deportation, driving, and really dumb ways to get arrested. Would you rob a turkey farmer or brea

Episode 2 ... Maybe 3?

Dec 10th, 2020 31m 41s

Today mother and son combo Ericka and Jay are discussing the relative misery of your favorite TV show being cancelled, the difference between the Mafia and a cartel, the importance of Christmas lights, exiting a ski lift with a snowboard vs ski

A little bit of pee and things that make you go "WHEE"!

Dec 3rd, 2020 32m 52s

Welcome to the Menagerie! Using the cards from the game and TV show The Misery Index as conversation starters, mom Ericka and teen-age son Jay are talking about things in life that most of us cringe away from. In this episode, we learn about pe

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