AI Summary
5 min read"Sometimes though when you see it, aren't you like I forgot about this?" That question, asked by Taliesin Jaffe midway through a chaotic episode of Weird Kids, captures the show's entire ethos. In this episode, hosts Taliesin Jaffe and Ashley Johnson don't just talk about toys—they play with them, live on air, using a Makey Makey device to turn Play-Doh, an apple slice, and even a piece of old gum into a functional video game controller for Quake and Tetris. The episode is a rambling, joyful dive into the science of making anything into a controller, the art that shaped them, the forgotten failures of toy history, and the strange places where adults go to find the plastic relics of their childhoods.
The Makey Makey and the Joy of Repurposing
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Advertisements** - A series of ads for PayPal, New York State Department of Transportation, and Nesquik play over the opening.
- 2 (01:12) **Welcome and Setup** - The hosts, Talison Jaffe and Ashley Johnson, welcome listeners and introduce the episode's theme of toys.
- 3 (06:23) **Mailbag: Influential Art** - Talison reads a listener question from "Milk Status" about art their parents exposed them to.
- 4 (10:50) **Art Discussion Continues: Personal Encounters** - The conversation shifts to the experience of seeing famous artworks in person.
- 5 (16:54) **Gaming Habits and the Nintendo Labo** - The hosts discuss their current gaming preferences and a beloved, failed toy.
- 6 (24:52) **Frankensons and the City of Industry** - Talison describes a bizarre, permanent swap meet called "Frankensons."
- 7 (31:38) **Animatronics and Collecting** - The hosts share their love for animatronics and other odd collectibles.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
New Epsiodes of Weird Kids are now releasing on Beacon every Tuesday! Watch all available episode on Beacon now: https://Beacon.tv/WeirdKids
Weird Kids ad-supported episodes from 2025 are now releasing every Tuesday on YouTube and Your Preferred Podcast Platform!
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Let's tinker with toys and chat! Ashley Johnson and Taliesin Jaffe attempt to master Taliesin's latest science toy, the Makey Makey, as they ramble about life, artwork, their favorite toys, and the best places to find weird cool stuff!.
Also in this episode:
• Sniffin’ Play Doh
• Jack Kirby’s involvement with the CIA
• 80s Icons Elvira and Howard the Duck
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Ashley Johnson and Taliesin Jaffe deep dive into their lives as the Weird Kids! This is a formal invitation to all the misfits, outcasts, and weirdos to take a seat at our table and join these former child actors as they embrace their unique upbringings and celebrate all things weird and wonderful.
Learn more at https://critrole.com/weirdkids/
Produced by Maxwell James and Will Lamborn
Theme Song by Dave Heatwave
Animation by Max Schapiro
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