Judge John Hodgman

A sibling rivalry over relentless phone alarms vs. handwritten to-do lists. A family law practice’s work dynamics and how personal systems collide with professional meetings. A 107-page babysitter manual and labeled sentimental alerts get examined. The courtroom unpacks compromises and whether habits should bend for workplace harmony.

It's time for the March Members Only Mailbag! What is the deal with carbonated lemonade?! Is it acceptable to serve at a party? Or should the host be more concerned with non-carbonated beverages for people who don't like bubbles? This and much more in the mailbag! For the full episode, check out the members-only bonus content feed! Not a member yet? You can become a member TODAY at maximumfun.org/join. Just $5 a month gets you immediate access to our full library of bonus content. Thank you to all of our members for keeping this show going! Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

Garrett and Kara like to play board games together. Early in their relationship, they agreed to one rule: They will not harm each other’s gameplay. This way, they can keep their game nights relaxed and friendly. Kara, a former Texan, wants to spice things up a bit by going back to a more aggressive form of play. Garrett, a conflict-avoidant midwesterner, is worried that competition will ruin their good time! Is Kara actually a sore loser, or is Garrett afraid of what might happen when he unleashes his inner beast? Our "And I'm Gay" t-shirt is STILL AVAILABLE! Don't know what that means? Listen to last week's episode, JUGGERNAUT, LEST YE BE JUDGED, and fall in love with litigants Patty and Cordelia like we did. Then buy the shirt commemorating Patty’s stunning poem, “The sky is blue / the grass is green / I love X-MEN / and I’m gay.” With gorgeous art by Sonny Ross, this shirt is available for a limited time! You have until April 3 so get over to MaxFunStore.com now! Thanks to reddit user u/Halfloaf for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

Patty loves the X-MEN. A lot. His mom, Cordelia, says that Patty turns every conversation into an X-MEN “lore dump.” She wants him to scale back on the X-MEN chat. But he wants to be understood! Who’s right? Who’s wrong? We did it. We made a T-shirt in honor of Patty's stunning poem, "The sky is blue / the grass is green / I love X-MEN / and I'm gay." With gorgeous art by Sonny Ross, this shirt is available for a limited time! You have until April 3 to get this tee for yourself or the queer, Marvel-loving person in your life! Get it now at MaxFunStore.com! Thanks to reddit user u/Admirable_Cook_5193 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Have a dispute that you can’t settle? About Sloppy Joes or any other sandwiches? No dispute is too small for the honorable Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn! Submit your cases directly to the court at: maximumfun.org/jjho Follow Judge John Hodgman on: YouTube: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Instagram: @judgejohnhodgman TikTok: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Bluesky: @judgejohnhodgman Reddit: r/maximumfun Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething. Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

If you sent us a case about Pokémon Go in 2016, stay in line! You know the saying, "Justice delayed is justice denied." We attempt to clear the docket of some of our oldest, unanswered disputes. Should you go to a second restaurant for a separate dessert? Is it okay to want to be buried in a Fiat? Is teaching your children a secret family language fun or annoying? And, of course: should your girlfriend be ordered to come out and play Pokémon Go? If you spot yourself in these queries, PLEASE let us know how they played out, and come with us back…to the future! Have a dispute that you can’t settle? No dispute is too small for the honorable Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn! Submit your cases directly to the court at: maximumfun.org/jjho Follow Judge John Hodgman on: YouTube: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Instagram: @judgejohnhodgman TikTok: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Bluesky: @judgejohnhodgman Reddit: r/maximumfun Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething.   Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

Mike brings the case against his coworker Brooke. Brooke wants to play baseball with her colleagues in a casual, recreational setting. She would love Mike to be part of this group. But he won’t step foot on the field unless it’s a softball field. Brooke says baseball and softball are essentially the same game! Just play ball! But, Mike strongly disagrees.  For Mike's full, unedited presentation, click here. BROOKLYN! See you this weekend at the Bell House for NIGHT COURT! Get your tickets here: Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7 Thanks to reddit user u/banjo_solo for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Follow Judge John Hodgman on: YouTube: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Instagram: @judgejohnhodgman TikTok: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Bluesky: @judgejohnhodgman Reddit: r/maximumfun Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething. Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

How late is too late to do household projects like hanging a sheet of drywall? The J Squad discusses this and much more in this month's Members Only Mailbag episode. Never listened to our mailbag episodes? Here's what they sound like. For the full episode, check out the members-only bonus content feed! Not a member yet? You can become a member TODAY at maximumfun.org/join. Just $5 a month gets you immediate access to our full library of bonus content. Thank you to all of our members for keeping this show going! Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

Andy brings the case against his fiancé Kevin, aka World Famous Drag Queen Monét X Change. Andy says he met Monét outside of RuPaul's DragCon in New York City back in 2018. Andy was enchanted. Their first date didn’t happen for another few years. But for Andy, this meeting is a crucial part of their love story. The problem? Monét says that it NEVER HAPPENED. Who's right? BROOKLYN! Join Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn LIVE at The Bell House for NIGHT COURT (no, not that one)! Get your tickets here: Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7 Thanks to reddit user u/IronyMaiden_ for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun! Follow Judge John Hodgman on: YouTube: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Instagram: @judgejohnhodgman TikTok: @judgejohnhodgmanpod Bluesky: @judgejohnhodgman Reddit: r/maximumfun Please consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething. Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

Michele brings the case against her husband, Nate. Michele and Nate are living the childfree dream: three cats, two dogs, and a Subaru Baja. They have it all. But Michele wants more pets! Nate has two cars and a motorcycle. Michele says that if they are embracing vehicle maximalism, it’s only fair to embrace pet maximalism. Nate says they have enough pets for now. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? With Guest Bailiff Jean Grae!BROOKLYN! Join Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn LIVE at The Bell House for NIGHT COURT (no, not that one)! Get your tickets here: Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7Thanks to reddit user u/Dinosaur1972 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at reddit.com/r/maximumfun!Follow Judge John Hodgman on:YouTube: @judgejohnhodgmanpodInstagram: @judgejohnhodgmanTikTok: @judgejohnhodgmanpodBluesky: @judgejohnhodgmanReddit: r/maximumfunPlease consider donating to Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado provides legal assistance and humanitarian aid to refugees, deportees, and other migrants trapped at the US-MX border. Donate at alotrolado.org/letsdosomething. Judge John Hodgman is member-supported! Become a member to unlock special bonus episodes, discounts on our merch, and more by joining us at: maximumfun.org/join!

A roommate dispute about whether attending college counts as living somewhere sparks a rules debate. They parse a list of claimed states, remove non-states, and argue over voting, licenses, and work as residency evidence. Personal stories about constant moves, lacking a hometown, and Midwestern identity bring heart and humor to the legal-minded tussle.