1
00:00:00,793 --> 00:00:04,873
The comedy4cast Network.
Let's dog-ear that for now.
2
00:00:04,874 --> 00:00:07,225
♪ "ID JINGLE" ENDS ♪
3
00:00:07,226 --> 00:00:14,002
This is comedy4cast,
episode 878, Extreme Green.
4
00:00:14,003 --> 00:00:19,492
It's time once again for the August
Dog Days of Podcasting Challenge.
5
00:00:19,493 --> 00:00:23,936
For more information and to hear
shows from all the participants,
6
00:00:23,937 --> 00:00:27,344
go to dogdaysofpodcasting.com.
7
00:00:27,345 --> 00:00:32,363
Comedy4cast is taking this time to
provide you with some interesting yet
8
00:00:32,364 --> 00:00:39,443
totally useless odd news. In fact, 2 odd news
stories that we think deserve each other.
9
00:00:39,444 --> 00:00:46,250
So, let's have some fun
with Odd News Times Twos.
10
00:00:46,251 --> 00:00:53,195
Our first stop, or should I say pit stop,
is in Indianapolis, Indiana.
11
00:00:53,196 --> 00:00:54,988
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
12
00:00:54,989 --> 00:00:59,760
Does this story involve vehicles in a race?
Oh, you bet. Formula One?
13
00:00:59,761 --> 00:01:07,881
NASCAR? Top Fuel Dragster? Well, no, no,
and no. Then what does it involve?
14
00:01:07,882 --> 00:01:12,262
Before we answer that, we need to head
to Woods Hole, Massachusetts for our
15
00:01:12,263 --> 00:01:14,046
second odd news story.
16
00:01:14,047 --> 00:01:16,731
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
[ WATER SPLASH ]
17
00:01:16,732 --> 00:01:21,974
Oops! Sorry! Overshot that a bit, and we
seem to have ended up in Eel Pond,
18
00:01:21,975 --> 00:01:27,081
which hopefully is named after a person
with that name. Let me just check that.
19
00:01:27,082 --> 00:01:29,013
[ TYPING ]
20
00:01:29,014 --> 00:01:32,091
Nope, it's because there are eels. Hang on.
21
00:01:32,092 --> 00:01:33,510
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
22
00:01:33,511 --> 00:01:37,734
Okay, that's better. Speaking of eels,
we're here about a different type of
23
00:01:37,735 --> 00:01:39,887
aquatic inhabitant, kelp.
24
00:01:39,888 --> 00:01:44,754
I know. Contain your excitement. Since
the 1970s, there's been on-again,
25
00:01:44,755 --> 00:01:48,914
off-again research into the idea
of using kelp as bio fuel.
26
00:01:48,915 --> 00:01:54,803
You see, while solar and even wind power
can get a car from point A to point B,
27
00:01:54,804 --> 00:02:00,444
even point C, D, and E on a good day,
larger craft, like ships and airplanes,
28
00:02:00,445 --> 00:02:06,864
require liquid fuel, bubbling crude,
oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
29
00:02:06,865 --> 00:02:11,844
But by now, we're aware of both the
environmental risks and or volatile supply
30
00:02:11,845 --> 00:02:15,017
chain issues associated with
petroleum products.
31
00:02:15,018 --> 00:02:21,524
Even with all that, outside of wrapping around
your foot at the beach, kelp hasn't caught on.
32
00:02:21,525 --> 00:02:26,084
Which is odd, because the oil we
do use is also a marine product,
33
00:02:26,085 --> 00:02:31,451
formed from the remains of ancient
algae and plankton. SpongeBob!
34
00:02:31,452 --> 00:02:33,044
Hang on, you may say.
35
00:02:33,045 --> 00:02:37,523
Isn't oil made from old dinosaurs?
Actually, no, I would reply.
36
00:02:37,524 --> 00:02:41,584
In fact, any dinosaur remains
would actually contaminate the oil,
37
00:02:41,585 --> 00:02:45,834
possibly because T-Rex was well known
for not washing its claws.
38
00:02:45,835 --> 00:02:49,313
In fairness, though, it couldn't reach
the dispenser with its tiny arms.
39
00:02:49,314 --> 00:02:50,926
[ DINOSAUR GROWLS ]
40
00:02:50,927 --> 00:02:56,037
Where was I? Oh, right here. Kelp.
Through a process that uses heat and pressure
41
00:02:56,038 --> 00:03:01,297
to produce fuel, known as hydrothermal
liquefaction, this humble seaweed could
42
00:03:01,298 --> 00:03:04,707
power those ships and aircraft
without any petroleum.
43
00:03:04,708 --> 00:03:07,921
That's because it simulates
the way petroleum was created.
44
00:03:07,922 --> 00:03:10,400
But doesn't take 100 million years.
45
00:03:10,401 --> 00:03:15,527
Even better, kelp is pretty darn easy
to grow, making it very sustainable.
46
00:03:15,528 --> 00:03:21,467
And even better-er, bio fuel ends up
emitting far less greenhouse gases than
47
00:03:21,468 --> 00:03:23,705
the petroleum we currently use.
48
00:03:23,706 --> 00:03:29,620
What does far less mean? Between 50
and 70 percent less. In some cases,
49
00:03:29,621 --> 00:03:32,037
even over 80 percent less.
50
00:03:32,038 --> 00:03:35,387
Okay, let's go seaweed. Not so fast.
51
00:03:35,388 --> 00:03:39,427
While researchers have been able to
breed kelp that can produce up to three
52
00:03:39,428 --> 00:03:43,907
times more biomass and conventional
strains, energy companies are reluctant
53
00:03:43,908 --> 00:03:47,777
to commit to large-scale aquaculture
production without proof that there is
54
00:03:47,778 --> 00:03:49,234
a demand for the product.
55
00:03:49,235 --> 00:03:53,477
And aquaculture farmers are reluctant
to scale up their production without a
56
00:03:53,478 --> 00:03:57,152
guaranteed buyer.
Very much a catch-22 situation.
57
00:03:57,153 --> 00:04:01,977
Also, scaling up the bio fuel industry
would require sustained government support
58
00:04:01,978 --> 00:04:06,045
as the production capacities
lowly build up to a critical mass,
59
00:04:06,046 --> 00:04:07,949
or in this case, biomass.
60
00:04:07,950 --> 00:04:12,727
And interest has traditionally ebbed
and flowed based on petroleum supplies.
61
00:04:12,728 --> 00:04:17,028
There's also the question of where the
aquaculture facilities would be located.
62
00:04:17,029 --> 00:04:21,177
The majority of coastline in the United
States is already in use for recreation,
63
00:04:21,178 --> 00:04:22,938
fishing, or conservation.
64
00:04:22,939 --> 00:04:27,748
But while we ponder the future of
seaweed, it's time to leave Woods Hole and
65
00:04:27,749 --> 00:04:29,391
head back to Indianapolis.
66
00:04:29,392 --> 00:04:30,659
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
67
00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:34,961
Today, the vehicle runs aren't meant to
set records for speed or endurance.
68
00:04:34,962 --> 00:04:40,982
It's all about miles per gallon.
This is the 2026 Shell Eco-Marathon,
69
00:04:40,983 --> 00:04:44,602
a competition where the winners are
the vehicles that can go the farthest on
70
00:04:44,603 --> 00:04:46,112
the least amount of fuel.
71
00:04:46,113 --> 00:04:50,262
The cars have to maintain an average
speed of at least 15 miles an hour,
72
00:04:50,263 --> 00:04:55,982
23 kilometers an hour, over a
distance of 10 miles, 16 kilometers.
73
00:04:55,983 --> 00:05:00,112
Oh, here comes the team from Brigham
Young University. They're using gasoline
74
00:05:00,113 --> 00:05:05,199
to power their entry, a single-occupant
vehicle known as Super mile age.
75
00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,183
Yeah, a bit on the nose, but I'll allow it.
76
00:05:08,184 --> 00:05:12,403
Super Mileage isn't going to replace
your family crossover anytime soon.
77
00:05:12,404 --> 00:05:13,910
To get on this ride,
78
00:05:13,911 --> 00:05:20,286
you must be no more than 5 feet 4 inches
tall and weigh less than 120 pounds.
79
00:05:20,287 --> 00:05:25,905
And that's 12 pounds more than the vehicle
itself weighs, thanks to a carbon fiber body.
80
00:05:25,906 --> 00:05:32,012
The car body, not the driver. And the gas
tank? It holds a whopping one ounce of fuel.
81
00:05:32,013 --> 00:05:38,740
You heard me, one ounce. And how did
Super mile age do in this year's Eco-Marathon?
82
00:05:38,741 --> 00:05:42,863
It won with a fuel efficiency equivalent to...
83
00:05:42,864 --> 00:05:44,665
[ DRUM ROLL ]
84
00:05:44,666 --> 00:05:49,218
2,145 miles a gallon.
85
00:05:49,219 --> 00:05:50,762
♪ SHORT MUSICAL FANFARE ♪
86
00:05:50,763 --> 00:05:55,644
You could drive super mileage from
Utah to New York on one gallon of gas.
87
00:05:55,645 --> 00:06:00,818
Of course, since the tank only holds one
ounce, you'd need to refuel every 20 miles.
88
00:06:00,819 --> 00:06:04,810
Bring lots of snacks
that don't weigh anything.
89
00:06:04,811 --> 00:06:10,442
So what did we learn today? I think it's that
winning the Eco-Marathon in Indianapolis,
90
00:06:10,443 --> 00:06:15,986
Indiana probably had the Brigham
Young team asking, Hoosier daddy?
91
00:06:15,987 --> 00:06:18,248
♪ "END THEME" [MUSIC IN AND UNDER ]
92
00:06:18,249 --> 00:06:21,981
That about wraps it up for
today's Odd News Times Twos.
93
00:06:21,982 --> 00:06:27,707
But first, a very special shout-out to my
Patreon patrons, including producer-level
94
00:06:27,708 --> 00:06:33,448
patrons Paul Barrie from the A Window to
the Magic podcast, Kirby Bartlett-Sloan,
95
00:06:33,449 --> 00:06:39,966
Chuck Tomasi from the Technorama podcast,
Kyle Nishioka, Brian Martzolf, Amy Murphy,
96
00:06:39,967 --> 00:06:44,067
and Steve Ng from steveng5.com.
97
00:06:44,068 --> 00:06:50,876
That's S-T-E-V-E-N-G, the number 5,
dot com. You too can show your support.
98
00:06:50,877 --> 00:06:55,204
Just search for comedy4cast,
all one word with the number 4r,
99
00:06:55,205 --> 00:07:00,757
on Patreon.com. Original script, voices,
and original music by me,
100
00:07:00,758 --> 00:07:03,699
Clinton Alvord. Copyright 2026.
101
00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:07,711
All rights reserved. Talk to you
again next time. But for now,
102
00:07:07,718 --> 00:07:11,051
that's it. We're done, done,
done, done, done. Bye-bye.
00:00:00,793 --> 00:00:04,873
The comedy4cast Network.
Let's dog-ear that for now.
2
00:00:04,874 --> 00:00:07,225
♪ "ID JINGLE" ENDS ♪
3
00:00:07,226 --> 00:00:14,002
This is comedy4cast,
episode 878, Extreme Green.
4
00:00:14,003 --> 00:00:19,492
It's time once again for the August
Dog Days of Podcasting Challenge.
5
00:00:19,493 --> 00:00:23,936
For more information and to hear
shows from all the participants,
6
00:00:23,937 --> 00:00:27,344
go to dogdaysofpodcasting.com.
7
00:00:27,345 --> 00:00:32,363
Comedy4cast is taking this time to
provide you with some interesting yet
8
00:00:32,364 --> 00:00:39,443
totally useless odd news. In fact, 2 odd news
stories that we think deserve each other.
9
00:00:39,444 --> 00:00:46,250
So, let's have some fun
with Odd News Times Twos.
10
00:00:46,251 --> 00:00:53,195
Our first stop, or should I say pit stop,
is in Indianapolis, Indiana.
11
00:00:53,196 --> 00:00:54,988
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
12
00:00:54,989 --> 00:00:59,760
Does this story involve vehicles in a race?
Oh, you bet. Formula One?
13
00:00:59,761 --> 00:01:07,881
NASCAR? Top Fuel Dragster? Well, no, no,
and no. Then what does it involve?
14
00:01:07,882 --> 00:01:12,262
Before we answer that, we need to head
to Woods Hole, Massachusetts for our
15
00:01:12,263 --> 00:01:14,046
second odd news story.
16
00:01:14,047 --> 00:01:16,731
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
[ WATER SPLASH ]
17
00:01:16,732 --> 00:01:21,974
Oops! Sorry! Overshot that a bit, and we
seem to have ended up in Eel Pond,
18
00:01:21,975 --> 00:01:27,081
which hopefully is named after a person
with that name. Let me just check that.
19
00:01:27,082 --> 00:01:29,013
[ TYPING ]
20
00:01:29,014 --> 00:01:32,091
Nope, it's because there are eels. Hang on.
21
00:01:32,092 --> 00:01:33,510
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
22
00:01:33,511 --> 00:01:37,734
Okay, that's better. Speaking of eels,
we're here about a different type of
23
00:01:37,735 --> 00:01:39,887
aquatic inhabitant, kelp.
24
00:01:39,888 --> 00:01:44,754
I know. Contain your excitement. Since
the 1970s, there's been on-again,
25
00:01:44,755 --> 00:01:48,914
off-again research into the idea
of using kelp as bio fuel.
26
00:01:48,915 --> 00:01:54,803
You see, while solar and even wind power
can get a car from point A to point B,
27
00:01:54,804 --> 00:02:00,444
even point C, D, and E on a good day,
larger craft, like ships and airplanes,
28
00:02:00,445 --> 00:02:06,864
require liquid fuel, bubbling crude,
oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
29
00:02:06,865 --> 00:02:11,844
But by now, we're aware of both the
environmental risks and or volatile supply
30
00:02:11,845 --> 00:02:15,017
chain issues associated with
petroleum products.
31
00:02:15,018 --> 00:02:21,524
Even with all that, outside of wrapping around
your foot at the beach, kelp hasn't caught on.
32
00:02:21,525 --> 00:02:26,084
Which is odd, because the oil we
do use is also a marine product,
33
00:02:26,085 --> 00:02:31,451
formed from the remains of ancient
algae and plankton. SpongeBob!
34
00:02:31,452 --> 00:02:33,044
Hang on, you may say.
35
00:02:33,045 --> 00:02:37,523
Isn't oil made from old dinosaurs?
Actually, no, I would reply.
36
00:02:37,524 --> 00:02:41,584
In fact, any dinosaur remains
would actually contaminate the oil,
37
00:02:41,585 --> 00:02:45,834
possibly because T-Rex was well known
for not washing its claws.
38
00:02:45,835 --> 00:02:49,313
In fairness, though, it couldn't reach
the dispenser with its tiny arms.
39
00:02:49,314 --> 00:02:50,926
[ DINOSAUR GROWLS ]
40
00:02:50,927 --> 00:02:56,037
Where was I? Oh, right here. Kelp.
Through a process that uses heat and pressure
41
00:02:56,038 --> 00:03:01,297
to produce fuel, known as hydrothermal
liquefaction, this humble seaweed could
42
00:03:01,298 --> 00:03:04,707
power those ships and aircraft
without any petroleum.
43
00:03:04,708 --> 00:03:07,921
That's because it simulates
the way petroleum was created.
44
00:03:07,922 --> 00:03:10,400
But doesn't take 100 million years.
45
00:03:10,401 --> 00:03:15,527
Even better, kelp is pretty darn easy
to grow, making it very sustainable.
46
00:03:15,528 --> 00:03:21,467
And even better-er, bio fuel ends up
emitting far less greenhouse gases than
47
00:03:21,468 --> 00:03:23,705
the petroleum we currently use.
48
00:03:23,706 --> 00:03:29,620
What does far less mean? Between 50
and 70 percent less. In some cases,
49
00:03:29,621 --> 00:03:32,037
even over 80 percent less.
50
00:03:32,038 --> 00:03:35,387
Okay, let's go seaweed. Not so fast.
51
00:03:35,388 --> 00:03:39,427
While researchers have been able to
breed kelp that can produce up to three
52
00:03:39,428 --> 00:03:43,907
times more biomass and conventional
strains, energy companies are reluctant
53
00:03:43,908 --> 00:03:47,777
to commit to large-scale aquaculture
production without proof that there is
54
00:03:47,778 --> 00:03:49,234
a demand for the product.
55
00:03:49,235 --> 00:03:53,477
And aquaculture farmers are reluctant
to scale up their production without a
56
00:03:53,478 --> 00:03:57,152
guaranteed buyer.
Very much a catch-22 situation.
57
00:03:57,153 --> 00:04:01,977
Also, scaling up the bio fuel industry
would require sustained government support
58
00:04:01,978 --> 00:04:06,045
as the production capacities
lowly build up to a critical mass,
59
00:04:06,046 --> 00:04:07,949
or in this case, biomass.
60
00:04:07,950 --> 00:04:12,727
And interest has traditionally ebbed
and flowed based on petroleum supplies.
61
00:04:12,728 --> 00:04:17,028
There's also the question of where the
aquaculture facilities would be located.
62
00:04:17,029 --> 00:04:21,177
The majority of coastline in the United
States is already in use for recreation,
63
00:04:21,178 --> 00:04:22,938
fishing, or conservation.
64
00:04:22,939 --> 00:04:27,748
But while we ponder the future of
seaweed, it's time to leave Woods Hole and
65
00:04:27,749 --> 00:04:29,391
head back to Indianapolis.
66
00:04:29,392 --> 00:04:30,659
[ ELECTRONIC WHOOSH ]
67
00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:34,961
Today, the vehicle runs aren't meant to
set records for speed or endurance.
68
00:04:34,962 --> 00:04:40,982
It's all about miles per gallon.
This is the 2026 Shell Eco-Marathon,
69
00:04:40,983 --> 00:04:44,602
a competition where the winners are
the vehicles that can go the farthest on
70
00:04:44,603 --> 00:04:46,112
the least amount of fuel.
71
00:04:46,113 --> 00:04:50,262
The cars have to maintain an average
speed of at least 15 miles an hour,
72
00:04:50,263 --> 00:04:55,982
23 kilometers an hour, over a
distance of 10 miles, 16 kilometers.
73
00:04:55,983 --> 00:05:00,112
Oh, here comes the team from Brigham
Young University. They're using gasoline
74
00:05:00,113 --> 00:05:05,199
to power their entry, a single-occupant
vehicle known as Super mile age.
75
00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,183
Yeah, a bit on the nose, but I'll allow it.
76
00:05:08,184 --> 00:05:12,403
Super Mileage isn't going to replace
your family crossover anytime soon.
77
00:05:12,404 --> 00:05:13,910
To get on this ride,
78
00:05:13,911 --> 00:05:20,286
you must be no more than 5 feet 4 inches
tall and weigh less than 120 pounds.
79
00:05:20,287 --> 00:05:25,905
And that's 12 pounds more than the vehicle
itself weighs, thanks to a carbon fiber body.
80
00:05:25,906 --> 00:05:32,012
The car body, not the driver. And the gas
tank? It holds a whopping one ounce of fuel.
81
00:05:32,013 --> 00:05:38,740
You heard me, one ounce. And how did
Super mile age do in this year's Eco-Marathon?
82
00:05:38,741 --> 00:05:42,863
It won with a fuel efficiency equivalent to...
83
00:05:42,864 --> 00:05:44,665
[ DRUM ROLL ]
84
00:05:44,666 --> 00:05:49,218
2,145 miles a gallon.
85
00:05:49,219 --> 00:05:50,762
♪ SHORT MUSICAL FANFARE ♪
86
00:05:50,763 --> 00:05:55,644
You could drive super mileage from
Utah to New York on one gallon of gas.
87
00:05:55,645 --> 00:06:00,818
Of course, since the tank only holds one
ounce, you'd need to refuel every 20 miles.
88
00:06:00,819 --> 00:06:04,810
Bring lots of snacks
that don't weigh anything.
89
00:06:04,811 --> 00:06:10,442
So what did we learn today? I think it's that
winning the Eco-Marathon in Indianapolis,
90
00:06:10,443 --> 00:06:15,986
Indiana probably had the Brigham
Young team asking, Hoosier daddy?
91
00:06:15,987 --> 00:06:18,248
♪ "END THEME" [MUSIC IN AND UNDER ]
92
00:06:18,249 --> 00:06:21,981
That about wraps it up for
today's Odd News Times Twos.
93
00:06:21,982 --> 00:06:27,707
But first, a very special shout-out to my
Patreon patrons, including producer-level
94
00:06:27,708 --> 00:06:33,448
patrons Paul Barrie from the A Window to
the Magic podcast, Kirby Bartlett-Sloan,
95
00:06:33,449 --> 00:06:39,966
Chuck Tomasi from the Technorama podcast,
Kyle Nishioka, Brian Martzolf, Amy Murphy,
96
00:06:39,967 --> 00:06:44,067
and Steve Ng from steveng5.com.
97
00:06:44,068 --> 00:06:50,876
That's S-T-E-V-E-N-G, the number 5,
dot com. You too can show your support.
98
00:06:50,877 --> 00:06:55,204
Just search for comedy4cast,
all one word with the number 4r,
99
00:06:55,205 --> 00:07:00,757
on Patreon.com. Original script, voices,
and original music by me,
100
00:07:00,758 --> 00:07:03,699
Clinton Alvord. Copyright 2026.
101
00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:07,711
All rights reserved. Talk to you
again next time. But for now,
102
00:07:07,718 --> 00:07:11,051
that's it. We're done, done,
done, done, done. Bye-bye.
