Alcoholics Eponymous With Xander O'connor

Ben, Xander, and first time guests Julie Pearson and Eric Maernich (he didn't tell me how to spell it) discuss, among less important things, Ben's deflated cream bag. A strong episode that would make a great first time AE with XO experience for newbs, this fine 42nd episode truly embodies the American spirit: eagles, spent shotgun shells, and suspicious hotdogs.  We don't actually talk about any of that in the episode but get into some good old fashion nonsense instead.

You didn't ask for it, but you got it: another "doubles episode" with just Xander and Ben...'cause sometimes guests crap out at the last second and you want to do it anyway.  Listen to Xander suffer through the outrageous sweetness of this Madiera while discussing the issues of the day with Ben.  And by "issues of the day" I mean "a bunch of old bollocks". This episode is probably not the best for first-time listeners; it is heavy on the review and, of course, devoid of the joy that two additional Chicago comedians bring to the show.  If you love pure, unadulterated Ben and Xander riffing a bit and talking a lot about a disgustingly sweet wine, then this is the one for you.

You asked for it, you got it: Andrew Knox on the podcast...fully nude.  Granted, we never mention that he is naked but you have full license to imagine him that way.  Xander, Ben, and Andrew are also joined by returning champion Patrick "Thorpe" Zunich to discuss empty subway cars with sinister secrets, gay conversion therapy for an Eagle Scout project, how Canadian accents are great for hostage situations, and, of course, 'more'. Lot's 'more'. And some social mores. 

It is time for another patented DOUBLE'S EPISODE...by which we mean it is just the two of us, Ben and Xander, in what is probably more accurately called a "single's episode". Despite, or perhaps because of, a lack of other guests, Ben and Xander manage to get into insightful, arguably hilarious conversations about cold-sandwich machines, zero-G feces production and management, and how tasty and tender triple-killed Jesus sounds. Short and sweet (and sometimes horrifying; see 'bleeding perineum'), this is a lovely, intimate episode of AE with XO.  Get it in you.

Why accept Jesus as your personal lord and savior when you can take Jose Molina and Sean Mogridge into your heart instead?  Those two fine gentlemen join Xander and Ben to discuss post-apocalypse quadrant management, how to be a great 'manager' of a relationship, and myriad other shennanigans.   Even though Sean accuses Jose, aka "Face-Muscle-Sex-Pistol", of being a podcasting rookie, clearly both guests this episode are professionals 'cause this one turned out great. Trust me then verify by listening to it.

"Get off my land!" one might be heard to say while drinking this week's beverage, Arkansas White Lightning.  That's right, the boys of AE with XO are joined by Shantira Jackson and Michael Grush to drink some straight-up moonshine. Things get a bit silly, as they are wont to do on a comedy podcast, but the episode actually represents one of our more thorough reviews of a beverage so, if you want to know what getting blindsided by white whiskey is like, take a listen. Or don't...like a jerk-flavored piece of jerky.

Brian McGovern.  John Dolan.  Xander and huge-headed Aussie Ben.  Sea-wisdom.  Jasmine-from-Aladin's diaphonous pants.  Bubbalo Bill stupid Aussie ice-cream.  The 15-minute urination scene that was deleted from the movie "The Perfect Storm". All of those things and people are found in this very special boat-captain themed episode of this podcast you are looking at with your eye-orbs. Put it in your skull.

Xander, Ben, Aaron "Kiefer-is-my-uncle" Sutherland, and Sean "I don't believe Aaron about being related to Kiefer Sutherland" Hutchison review a whiskey, obviously, but also get to the bottom of important subjects like: private windows for brain internet porn browsing, nets for bath self-defense, and balsa wood anuses. Yep, those three things come up.  If you are being honest with yourself, one or more of those three things is really, really important to you.

Doesn't waterboarding sound like fun?  Can you ever really escape brain-jail?  Did you know that Morgan Freeman is the voice of Cleveland on Family Guy? Are rhetorical questions useful? Join Xander, Ben, Travis "G-Note" Gilkeson, and Matt Kidd as they answer these pressing questions by listening to this episode.  Afterward, have yourself a few orange slices and hit the showers.  Great work, champ.

Ali Barthwell and David "Supercoach" Linzenich join Xander and Ben to discuss hashtag-hashbrowns, peyote-inspired open fires in apartments, and how awkward it is to slowly undress a dog. Also they review a fine red wine or something.  It's pretty great (the episode, that is, though the same could be said of the wine). Insert your 140 character witicism here!

Tommy Mac and Pat ZOOOO-NIK invade Studio Apartment Studios for this arguably lovely episode of AE with XO.  Together with Xander and Ben, they review a fine beer and discuss important subjects like "What is the best portmanteau of the supercontinent 'pangea' and actor 'Giovanni Ribisi'"? You will be pleasantly surprised at the answer.

Put on your monocles (both of 'em!) and tops-hat, 'cause this episode is all about the opera.  Wooo-eeee, looks like we gotta some o' those fancy-pants city boys on our land!  Get the rocksalt shotgun, Skeeter, and lock up ma sister. Xander and guest cohost Rebecca Quirke are joined by opera singer Dominic Armstrong and freelance circus performer (and, at the time, performer at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Dominic and Xander) Wesley Daniel. Check out a new segment or two as we kick off Season 3 and also learn about the upsides of being burned by fire.

Episode 30 is AE with XO Colon Law-town!  Xander and Ben are joined by Michael Jordan (not that one) and Mike Meyer (not that one either) for a very special law-themed episode.  Learn about how lawyers can get you off!  Also, will the Supreme Court rule in favor of brain prisons?  Is saying "no backsies" a legal move in tag? All this and more on this fine unit of pod for your ears. Also, yes, those are the guests' real names.  These things happen.

Behold...with your ears, I guess...this marvel of pod!  Tommy Mac and Patrick Zooooo-Nik join Xander and Ben to say ill-considered things about wine, women, and song.  Well, wine.  Also, someone says 'ouevre'. Get this pod inside your pod-holes.

You know what goes great with white wine? Rebecca Quirke and Danny Pustizzi.  They join Xander and Ben to chat about important things like Buddha shaped carbon offset trinkets and the female equivalent of man caves.  Men caves? The plural of that stupid term, anyway. Some of that and more on this episode.  Put it in your brain!

David "Space Coach" Linzenenech-nic and Samuel "Space Padre" Priest join Xander and Ben to discuss the pressing issues of the day like why Ben had a friend who made him chocolates and how that is not very strange and the importance of short space marine handles.  A red wine with a tricky name is also reviewed. It goes well in the ears.  Comedy for your brain.  Sentence fragment.

In this fine unit of pod, Xander and Ben have their mouths assaulted by a possibly skunked beer and have their ears and eyes assaulted by guests Aaron Sutherland and Eric Akeson. Sit back, insert the show into your head-holes, and enjoy listening to people not enjoy drinking something. It's a podcast, you big dummy.

It's the invasion of the guests with names!  Those names are Laura Stephenson and Jacob Ligon and the human bodies attached to those names joined Xander and Ben for a rousing episode wherein Scotch is drank, female pseudonyms are created, and passive voice is used. Listening to this show would almost certainly not be the worst decision of your life.  Almost.

Discover a show within a show as Kindred Cook and Samuel Priest visit Xander and Ben and, among other horrific things, debut the daily affirmation show "Kindred's Spirits". Also, we finally get an accent Ben can't do well...or at least can't do without sounding super racist. To balance that, Kindred has Ben and Xander join him in his black power clubhouse (Sam missed the sign-up). Black Power!

In this most 23-ish of episodes, Xander and Ben are joined by Aaron Sutherland and Maura Foley and learn the about the worst time to say 'moist' and what Australians use instead of a tie on the door.  It could also be said that they learn nothing and just talk nonsense. You be the judge.  Or don't.  The show is not the boss of you.