Synopsis
Every week, your pen pals Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk respond to the letters you send them on topics ranging from free will to freeway etiquette, from mental health to manatees. Seek advice. Tell a story. Vent. Send a letter. It's your podcast, we just talk about it.
Episodes
-
Halloween Around The World!
15/10/2025 Duration: 01h01minFrom New England to Mexico and even Japan, a listener email covers this episode’s main topic! Plus, I tell you all about Cubs games in Chicago and my weekend tossing kegs in Wisconsin! And as always there's the Holi- Days like, Love Your Body Day and we read The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Fall Activities
08/10/2025 Duration: 51minThe colors might change but my love for Autumn never will! Plus, I've got great listener emails from you, show news, and the Holi-Days like Hug-A-Kevin Day! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at: themidnightmailbag@gmail.com
-
Old People Are Better Than We Think
01/10/2025 Duration: 45minOld People are better than we think, and I went to Vegas. And I tell you the truth about the Unicorn Girl Podcast. Plus your emails and the Holi- Days like, The Beginning of Pudding Season! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Pen Pals Podcast - Dave Holmes | RE: Best Party Ever
24/09/2025 Duration: 42minDear Pennies and Pallers, We’re back again with guest host and Pal Dave Holmes! In today’s letter, Jessica tells us about the best party she’s ever been to. We also talk about Applebees’ Nightclub “The Bees”, the hotel cuck chair, bad fashion choices, and more! We wish you well, sincerely, Your Pen Pals,Daniel Van Kirk and Dave Holmes P.S. – Don’t forget to respond to Daniel’s letter about Old People Being Mean & Chips and Salsa! Head to the Paitch to read the whole letter! –––––––––––––––––– Send us your letters! Email: thepenpalspod@gmail.com Snail Mail: C/O The Pen Pals Podcast, 12711 Ventura Blvd, Suite 250, Studio City, CA, 91604 –––––––––––––––––– Pen Pals is produced by Clara Madenwald. Our artwork was cr
-
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
23/09/2025 Duration: 58minThe Unknown Number documentary is horrible and I’ve got the most Rochelle story from Denver! Plus so many of your emails and the Holi- Days like, “German Butterbrot Day!” Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Chicken Dishes
16/09/2025 Duration: 56minTop 10 Chicken Dishes that you will not agree with! My apologies for recommending the Unknown Number doc, thoughts on the Emmys, Unicorn Girl Podcast, your emails, Holi- Days like, “Make a Hat Day” and we close things out with The Tribune! Bonus for Premium Subscribers: I’m giving you my thoughts on the HBO crime drama, Task, and sharing a song that I’m currently loving. Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Stories from Eureka
09/09/2025 Duration: 44minGonna tell you all about my weekend, plus read listener emails, cover the Holi- Days like “Make Your Bed Day” and it turns out that I really wanna hear about your tattoo! All that before we close things out with The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Fruits
03/09/2025 Duration: 49minMy Top 10 Fruits! Plus thoughts on Alien: Earth, listener emails, fighting a cold, Regal’s Month of Movie Masterpieces and a ton more! Plus The Tribune! A bonus for Premium Subscribers, I talk about seeing Jaws in IMAX and my review of Weapons!Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
How To Win At Lotto Scratchers
27/08/2025 Duration: 44minThere’s some fishy stuff going on in the scratchers world. Plus your emails! I also cover the Holi-days like Banana Lover's Day, and as always, we read The Tribune. Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Pen Pals Podcast - Kyle Ayers | RE: Obsessive Tendencies
26/08/2025 Duration: 48minDear Pennies and Pallers, We’re back with guest host and Pal Kyle Ayers! In today’s letter Laura asks if we had any obsessive tendencies as a kid that we still carry today. We also talk about the 4th of July boat parade in Lake Tapawingo, tattoos, co-opting rich kid’s hobbies, and more! We wish you well, sincerely, Your Pen Pals, Daniel Van Kirk and Kyle Ayers –––––––––––––––––– Send us your letters! Email: thepenpalspod@gmail.com Snail Mail: C/O The Pen Pals Podcast, 12711 Ventura Blvd, Suite 250, Studio City, CA, 91604 –––––––––––––––––– Pen Pals is produced by Clara Madenwald. Our artwork was created by Geoffrey Tice and Kaela Weeks, and our theme music is by Patrick Keenan of The Winter Sounds. You can follow Pen Pals on Instagram and T
-
Top 11 Things You Should Have In Your Car
19/08/2025 Duration: 49minTOP 11 NOT 10 Non-Safety Things You Should Have In Your Car! I also cover the Holi-days like Helium Discovery Day and read The Tribune, plus a ton more! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Mailbag Episode!
12/08/2025 Duration: 46minWhite Wine, Romance Novels, and Late Night Candle Hangs…It’s a Mailbag Episode! I’m up at my cabin in Wisconsin talking about life and reading your emails! I also cover the Holi-days like National Men's Grooming Day and read The Tribune, plus a ton more! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Why Do We Sleep?
05/08/2025 Duration: 51minBut WHY do we sleep?!?! Plus listener emails, National Jump In A Lake Day, The Tribune, and so much more! And for premium subscribers, Midnight Movie Club where we discuss The Way Way Back and The Perfect Storm! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Board Games
29/07/2025 Duration: 55minMy Top 10 Board Games! Plus your “Coming Of Age” emails, tales from The Amish, and Holi-Days like Homemade Pie Day! And we close things out with The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Coming Of Age Movies
22/07/2025 Duration: 51minIn honor of Stand By Me Day, here are my Top 10 Coming Of Age Movies! Plus your emails, stories from my week in Chicago, and the Holi-Days like Legal Drinking Age Day! And we close things out with The Tribune! Premium Subscribers can stick around after the show for a list of Coming of Age movies that I have not seen and extra stories about Hub City Comedy Week In Chicago! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
The Legend of The North Pond Hermit
15/07/2025 Duration: 54minThe Legend of The North Pond Hermit! Plus tales from my weekend in Wisconsin, your emails, and this week’s Holi-Days like International Nude Day! And we close things out as we always do, with The Tribune! Premium Subscribers can stick around after the show for a Midnight Movie Club where I discuss F1 and Superman! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Top 10 Gas Stations/Convience Stores
09/07/2025 Duration: 44minUSA Today’s Top-10 Gas Stations sent in my one of you! Plus a Quinten Tarantino conversation with Producer Aaron, your emails, and this week’s Holi-Days like National No Bra Day! And we close things out as we always do, with The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
10 Bizarre Summer Solstice Rituals
01/07/2025 Duration: 54min10 Bizarre Summer Solstice Rituals Still Practiced Today! Plus stories from my trip to Barcelona, the Karen Read Verdict, listener emails, and this week’s Holi-Days like Compliment Your Mirror Day! And we close things out as we always do, with The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!
-
Pen Pals Podcast - Ryan Sickler | RE: Bumper Stickers
25/06/2025 Duration: 39minDear Pennies and Pallers, Please welcome our Pal and newest guest host, Ryan Sickler! In today’s letter Jacqueline asks about our thoughts on displaying yard signs and bumper stickers. We also talk about Ryan witnessing crime from his old balcony, Daniel’s brilliant brake light invention, finding porn as a kid, and more! We wish you well, sincerely, Your Pen Pals, Daniel Van Kirk and Ryan Sickler –––––––––––––––––– Send us your letters! Email: thepenpalspod@gmail.com Snail Mail: C/O The Pen Pals Podcast, 12711 Ventura Blvd, Suite 250, Studio City, CA, 91604 –––––––––––––––––– Pen Pals is produced by Clara Madenwald. Our artwork was created by Geoffrey Tice and Kaela Weeks, and our theme music is by Patrick Keenan of The Winter Sounds. You can follow Pen
-
Top 10 Summer Concession Items
17/06/2025 Duration: 43minHere is my Top 10 Summer Concession Items! I’ve also got emails from you, food tips from my family reunion, and this week’s Holi-Days like Take Your Cat to Work Day! And we close things out as we always do, with The Tribune! Thank you to Aaron Brungardt for engineering, mixing, and production expertise, Geoffrey Tice for artwork, Bobby TBD for theme music, and All Things Comedy for their support, production, and distribution. Email the show at themidnightmailbag@gmail.com!