It's Topics, the podcast in which two comedians discuss serious topics in a serious way.

But if something funny happens, that's okay too.

I'm Michael Ian Black, joined as always by Michael Schoalter.

Hi, Michael.

Hi, Michael.

It's good to be here. Great to hear

your voice again. As you know, Topics is always a highlight for me during the week. I enjoy recording

it. I enjoy spending this half hour or so with you. I feel exactly the same way. It's always a really fun half hour. Before we get to today's topic,

I want to very quickly just go over the rules. And of course, regular listeners know that the only

rule is there are no rules. And I don't mean that to be a flip but sometimes we we go off on kind of

conversational detours and sometimes we end up spinning in circles a little bit conversationally

and all of that is fine because it's all in the service of something greater than ourselves

which is accessing and seeking the truth.

Now, sometimes funny things happen.

And, you know, there's a misconception out there that because we're comedians, we're always trying to be funny.

And while that's an important part of

who we are, it is not the entirety of who we are. So if something funny happens, that's fine. We try not

to censor ourselves or edit ourselves. But that's certainly not the point. Anything to add to that, Michael?

No, I think you said it all. Do want to talk a little bit about the, we have a big show today, but we do want to talk a little bit about the goal of the show is we've got a really juicy topic that we're going to be talking about today.

And Mike and I, with our special guest, are going to try to cover 80% of that topic with the time that we have.

And then we ask you the listeners to cover the other 20% on your own,

hopefully in groups and a study group topic study groups,

...