This Thing Rules
@thisthingrules.bsky.social
A good show about great things from @brianaltano.bsky.social and @maxscoville.bsky.social. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Overcast, and more.
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A show about awesome stuff from Brian Altano and Max Scoville
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Love This Thing Rules? Then consider supporting us on Patreon!
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• $5+ will get you early access to new episodes, and...
• $10+ will allow you to vote on future episode topics!
👉 patreon.com/ThisThingRules 👈
• $1+ will get you access to exclusive bonus content,
• $5+ will get you early access to new episodes, and...
• $10+ will allow you to vote on future episode topics!
👉 patreon.com/ThisThingRules 👈
Reposted by This Thing Rules
IGN Entertainment is refusing to pay its workers the wages we deserve, even as we make #IGNLive the event that it is this weekend.
So we left a message that can’t be ignored. And you should too. Let our upper management know that you support us by sending them an email here: bit.ly/4e2uUCP
So we left a message that can’t be ignored. And you should too. Let our upper management know that you support us by sending them an email here: bit.ly/4e2uUCP
June 6, 2026 at 2:51 PM
IGN Entertainment is refusing to pay its workers the wages we deserve, even as we make #IGNLive the event that it is this weekend.
So we left a message that can’t be ignored. And you should too. Let our upper management know that you support us by sending them an email here: bit.ly/4e2uUCP
So we left a message that can’t be ignored. And you should too. Let our upper management know that you support us by sending them an email here: bit.ly/4e2uUCP
Reposted by This Thing Rules
You know what rules? Conventions! Come hear Brian and Max chat about those giant, nerdy gatherings we all love to attend:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Deadpool and Hair Flip Fun at Comic Con
ALT: Deadpool and Hair Flip Fun at Comic Con
static.klipy.com
May 22, 2026 at 3:21 PM
You know what rules? Conventions! Come hear Brian and Max chat about those giant, nerdy gatherings we all love to attend:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 📽️
Love old-timey horror movies? Then you might want to pack a trip this summer to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to attend "Blobfest" - a yearly festival/convention centered entirely around the 1958 cult horror movie "The Blob"!
Love old-timey horror movies? Then you might want to pack a trip this summer to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to attend "Blobfest" - a yearly festival/convention centered entirely around the 1958 cult horror movie "The Blob"!
May 26, 2026 at 7:40 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 📽️
Love old-timey horror movies? Then you might want to pack a trip this summer to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to attend "Blobfest" - a yearly festival/convention centered entirely around the 1958 cult horror movie "The Blob"!
Love old-timey horror movies? Then you might want to pack a trip this summer to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to attend "Blobfest" - a yearly festival/convention centered entirely around the 1958 cult horror movie "The Blob"!
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🍖
Do you ever find yourself craving spam (the meat variety, that is)? Then you might want to grab a ticket for the SPAM JAM, a festival/convention dedicated entirely to the luncheon mainstay that’s held yearly in Honolulu. (Suspicious phone calls and emails need not apply!)
Do you ever find yourself craving spam (the meat variety, that is)? Then you might want to grab a ticket for the SPAM JAM, a festival/convention dedicated entirely to the luncheon mainstay that’s held yearly in Honolulu. (Suspicious phone calls and emails need not apply!)
May 24, 2026 at 10:35 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🍖
Do you ever find yourself craving spam (the meat variety, that is)? Then you might want to grab a ticket for the SPAM JAM, a festival/convention dedicated entirely to the luncheon mainstay that’s held yearly in Honolulu. (Suspicious phone calls and emails need not apply!)
Do you ever find yourself craving spam (the meat variety, that is)? Then you might want to grab a ticket for the SPAM JAM, a festival/convention dedicated entirely to the luncheon mainstay that’s held yearly in Honolulu. (Suspicious phone calls and emails need not apply!)
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🚽
Toilets: a great tool for getting rid of stools, a most excellent throne for scrolling on your phone…and the focus of an entire convention: the World Toilet Summit! Founded in 2001, this annual con is dedicated to tackling “the world's most urgent sanitation challenges.”
Toilets: a great tool for getting rid of stools, a most excellent throne for scrolling on your phone…and the focus of an entire convention: the World Toilet Summit! Founded in 2001, this annual con is dedicated to tackling “the world's most urgent sanitation challenges.”
May 23, 2026 at 7:17 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🚽
Toilets: a great tool for getting rid of stools, a most excellent throne for scrolling on your phone…and the focus of an entire convention: the World Toilet Summit! Founded in 2001, this annual con is dedicated to tackling “the world's most urgent sanitation challenges.”
Toilets: a great tool for getting rid of stools, a most excellent throne for scrolling on your phone…and the focus of an entire convention: the World Toilet Summit! Founded in 2001, this annual con is dedicated to tackling “the world's most urgent sanitation challenges.”
We hope you enjoy our just-released episode about conventions! Alas, sweetness always comes with a little medicine: because we’re about to head into *busy* season, we’ve decided to put the show on temporary hiatus, and pause billing on the Patreon.
We very much appreciate all the support (1/2)
We very much appreciate all the support (1/2)
May 22, 2026 at 3:47 PM
We hope you enjoy our just-released episode about conventions! Alas, sweetness always comes with a little medicine: because we’re about to head into *busy* season, we’ve decided to put the show on temporary hiatus, and pause billing on the Patreon.
We very much appreciate all the support (1/2)
We very much appreciate all the support (1/2)
You know what rules? Conventions! Come hear Brian and Max chat about those giant, nerdy gatherings we all love to attend:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Deadpool and Hair Flip Fun at Comic Con
ALT: Deadpool and Hair Flip Fun at Comic Con
static.klipy.com
May 22, 2026 at 3:21 PM
You know what rules? Conventions! Come hear Brian and Max chat about those giant, nerdy gatherings we all love to attend:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Add...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#Podcast #Conventions #ComicCon
Reposted by This Thing Rules
Not quite Bloody Mary-flavored, but close enough
May 18, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Not quite Bloody Mary-flavored, but close enough
#ThrowbackThursday 🦕
Did the Stegosaurus have long, shaggy hair like a golden retriever? Scientists are divided:
Did the Stegosaurus have long, shaggy hair like a golden retriever? Scientists are divided:
May 7, 2026 at 7:03 PM
#ThrowbackThursday 🦕
Did the Stegosaurus have long, shaggy hair like a golden retriever? Scientists are divided:
Did the Stegosaurus have long, shaggy hair like a golden retriever? Scientists are divided:
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🍻
The oldest still-functional brewery in the world is Bavaria’s Weihenstephan brewery, which has been making beer (per most sources) since 1040. Its original beer-brewers were Benedictine Monks, which had established a monastery at its location 300 years prior:
The oldest still-functional brewery in the world is Bavaria’s Weihenstephan brewery, which has been making beer (per most sources) since 1040. Its original beer-brewers were Benedictine Monks, which had established a monastery at its location 300 years prior:
May 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🍻
The oldest still-functional brewery in the world is Bavaria’s Weihenstephan brewery, which has been making beer (per most sources) since 1040. Its original beer-brewers were Benedictine Monks, which had established a monastery at its location 300 years prior:
The oldest still-functional brewery in the world is Bavaria’s Weihenstephan brewery, which has been making beer (per most sources) since 1040. Its original beer-brewers were Benedictine Monks, which had established a monastery at its location 300 years prior:
Reposted by This Thing Rules
This Thing Rules is BACK with three new topics on the docket! Come hear Brian and Max talk about why Fridge Magnets, Short Stories and Breweries rule!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
a bosch refrigerator filled with magnets and pictures
ALT: a bosch refrigerator filled with magnets and pictures
media.tenor.com
May 1, 2026 at 4:08 PM
This Thing Rules is BACK with three new topics on the docket! Come hear Brian and Max talk about why Fridge Magnets, Short Stories and Breweries rule!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 📖
The first short story ever published by Stephen King was "The Glass Floor," which debuted in the autumn 1967 issue of Startling Mystery Stories magazine. King (who was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time) earned $35 for its publication - $338 in today's money!
The first short story ever published by Stephen King was "The Glass Floor," which debuted in the autumn 1967 issue of Startling Mystery Stories magazine. King (who was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time) earned $35 for its publication - $338 in today's money!
May 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 📖
The first short story ever published by Stephen King was "The Glass Floor," which debuted in the autumn 1967 issue of Startling Mystery Stories magazine. King (who was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time) earned $35 for its publication - $338 in today's money!
The first short story ever published by Stephen King was "The Glass Floor," which debuted in the autumn 1967 issue of Startling Mystery Stories magazine. King (who was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time) earned $35 for its publication - $338 in today's money!
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🧲
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of fridge magnets is held by Louise. J. Greenfarb - also known as “The Magnet Lady” - from Henderson, Nevada, who was recorded in 2013 as owning over 35,000 non-duplicated fridge magnets!
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of fridge magnets is held by Louise. J. Greenfarb - also known as “The Magnet Lady” - from Henderson, Nevada, who was recorded in 2013 as owning over 35,000 non-duplicated fridge magnets!
May 3, 2026 at 7:11 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🧲
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of fridge magnets is held by Louise. J. Greenfarb - also known as “The Magnet Lady” - from Henderson, Nevada, who was recorded in 2013 as owning over 35,000 non-duplicated fridge magnets!
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of fridge magnets is held by Louise. J. Greenfarb - also known as “The Magnet Lady” - from Henderson, Nevada, who was recorded in 2013 as owning over 35,000 non-duplicated fridge magnets!
This Thing Rules is BACK with three new topics on the docket! Come hear Brian and Max talk about why Fridge Magnets, Short Stories and Breweries rule!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
a bosch refrigerator filled with magnets and pictures
ALT: a bosch refrigerator filled with magnets and pictures
media.tenor.com
May 1, 2026 at 4:08 PM
This Thing Rules is BACK with three new topics on the docket! Come hear Brian and Max talk about why Fridge Magnets, Short Stories and Breweries rule!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1tcH...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
#Podcast #FridgeMagnets #Breweries
Whoops, seems like there was a malfunction at the This Thing Rules factory this week - hopefully we’ll be back soon with another new episode 🙏
a black and white photo of a man in overalls working
ALT: a black and white photo of a man in overalls working
media.tenor.com
April 18, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Whoops, seems like there was a malfunction at the This Thing Rules factory this week - hopefully we’ll be back soon with another new episode 🙏
The carrot cake empire is evolving 🥕
Was at a bar earlier that had a “Carrot Cake Colada,” so I had to give it a go; tasted like if someone turned carrot cake into a 1000-year-old hard candy, and then turned that into a hard drink. 6.5/10
April 10, 2026 at 10:28 PM
The carrot cake empire is evolving 🥕
April 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by This Thing Rules
You know what rules? Capsule toy machines! Come hear Brian and Max talk about the best way to win random baubles and trinkets:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
an isometric illustration of a gumball machine by amy lynn hee
ALT: an isometric illustration of a gumball machine by amy lynn hee
media.tenor.com
April 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
You know what rules? Capsule toy machines! Come hear Brian and Max talk about the best way to win random baubles and trinkets:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
The single largest gachapon machine on record was constructed at Singapore’s Marina Square shopping mall for a pop-up event in late 2022. It measured nearly 5 meters tall(!) and was only available to costumers that spent at least $180 at the mall.
The single largest gachapon machine on record was constructed at Singapore’s Marina Square shopping mall for a pop-up event in late 2022. It measured nearly 5 meters tall(!) and was only available to costumers that spent at least $180 at the mall.
April 6, 2026 at 7:04 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
The single largest gachapon machine on record was constructed at Singapore’s Marina Square shopping mall for a pop-up event in late 2022. It measured nearly 5 meters tall(!) and was only available to costumers that spent at least $180 at the mall.
The single largest gachapon machine on record was constructed at Singapore’s Marina Square shopping mall for a pop-up event in late 2022. It measured nearly 5 meters tall(!) and was only available to costumers that spent at least $180 at the mall.
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
Why are gachapon machines called "gachapon," anyway? It's actually an onomatopoeia: the "gacha" part is meant to evoke the sound made by the machine when spinning its crank, and the "pon" is the sound of an item plopping out of it.
Why are gachapon machines called "gachapon," anyway? It's actually an onomatopoeia: the "gacha" part is meant to evoke the sound made by the machine when spinning its crank, and the "pon" is the sound of an item plopping out of it.
April 5, 2026 at 7:01 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
Why are gachapon machines called "gachapon," anyway? It's actually an onomatopoeia: the "gacha" part is meant to evoke the sound made by the machine when spinning its crank, and the "pon" is the sound of an item plopping out of it.
Why are gachapon machines called "gachapon," anyway? It's actually an onomatopoeia: the "gacha" part is meant to evoke the sound made by the machine when spinning its crank, and the "pon" is the sound of an item plopping out of it.
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
The first Gachapon machine was invented in 1965 by entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta. Shigeta wanted to improve upon the haphazard way American vending machines dispensed their contents, and so he set up a machine in his Tokyo-based shop that dispensed items inside plastic balls.
The first Gachapon machine was invented in 1965 by entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta. Shigeta wanted to improve upon the haphazard way American vending machines dispensed their contents, and so he set up a machine in his Tokyo-based shop that dispensed items inside plastic balls.
April 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
#ThisThingRulesTrivia 🪀
The first Gachapon machine was invented in 1965 by entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta. Shigeta wanted to improve upon the haphazard way American vending machines dispensed their contents, and so he set up a machine in his Tokyo-based shop that dispensed items inside plastic balls.
The first Gachapon machine was invented in 1965 by entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta. Shigeta wanted to improve upon the haphazard way American vending machines dispensed their contents, and so he set up a machine in his Tokyo-based shop that dispensed items inside plastic balls.
You know what rules? Capsule toy machines! Come hear Brian and Max talk about the best way to win random baubles and trinkets:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
an isometric illustration of a gumball machine by amy lynn hee
ALT: an isometric illustration of a gumball machine by amy lynn hee
media.tenor.com
April 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
You know what rules? Capsule toy machines! Come hear Brian and Max talk about the best way to win random baubles and trinkets:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zUS...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YT: youtu.be/uh5v_0ee_-E?...
#Podcast #CapsuleMachines #Toys
Reposted by This Thing Rules
By some miracle, for the second time in ten months I got to sit down with Shigeru Miyamoto, this time at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto.
As always, he was an absolute delight:
www.ign.com/articles/ill...
As always, he was an absolute delight:
www.ign.com/articles/ill...
March 31, 2026 at 9:59 PM
By some miracle, for the second time in ten months I got to sit down with Shigeru Miyamoto, this time at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto.
As always, he was an absolute delight:
www.ign.com/articles/ill...
As always, he was an absolute delight:
www.ign.com/articles/ill...
March 26, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by This Thing Rules
FYI: Max Scoville will be taking part in "Answer For It" - the LIVE all-star trivia showdown from James Willems - on Saturday, March 21st at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco!
Learn more (and grab your tickets) here: cafedunord.com/tm-event/ans...
Learn more (and grab your tickets) here: cafedunord.com/tm-event/ans...
March 16, 2026 at 8:31 PM
FYI: Max Scoville will be taking part in "Answer For It" - the LIVE all-star trivia showdown from James Willems - on Saturday, March 21st at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco!
Learn more (and grab your tickets) here: cafedunord.com/tm-event/ans...
Learn more (and grab your tickets) here: cafedunord.com/tm-event/ans...