Curveball Production: Recent Episodes
Curveball Production
Shawn and René will be providing interesting, entertaining and sometimes provocative content. Each episode will be its own curveball, much like the curveballs life throws us each day.
René and Shawn sit on the dock and discuss restaurant ripoffs, name brands and medication.
René and Shawn take a look at various “laws”, Murphy’s et al, that provide guidance in life.
If there was ever a podcast to listen to in the background, this is it. René and Shawn are again miles apart but still committed to the podcast. Enjoy their ramblings about KFC, ice creams bars and more!
René and Shawn look into two new technologies watching over us, Flock and SignalTrace, and what it means.
René and Shawn talk Aldi, give another World Cup update and wish you all a happy and safe Fourth of July holiday.
René and Shawn give yet another World Cup marketing update and then work their way from a book fair to the backstory of Amazon.
René and Shawn don’t let a thousand miles deter them from bringing you plenty of curveballs. A presidential suite, a bull in a china shop, a comedian, and a shark tank all make the cut in this episode.
As the World Cup comes to North America, René and Shawn dive into what it take to host this very large and very lucrative event.
René and Shawn discuss the pros and cons of this new law in Minnesota from the perspective of employers and employees.
René and Shawn are once again on the dock discussing everything from prepping, to the Mini State Fair, to Growth Hormones.
René and Shawn dig into the evolution of cyber security, passwords and multi-factor authentication.
From Spirit Airlines, to no TV on-board, to losing your phone, René and Shawn discuss traumatic events, more for some than others. And René has another ChatGPT story.
Is luck random or do we create our own luck? René and Shawn sit by the pool and ponder what it means to be lucky.
In our 4th Anniversary episode, René and Shawn discuss juggling balls and burning gas and doing both while keeping a level of sanity.
In this episode, René and Shawn attempt to get out of their comfort zone while discussing gremlins and March Madness.
John Bonnes is back on the podcast to fill us in on Twins Spring Training and what to look forward to in 2026.
René and Shawn hit the Cactus League in Phoenix to visit her kid and take in the sights. And Waymos.
René and Shawn discuss the difference between lifespan and healthspan and what living long means in 2026.
René and Shawn revisit frivolous lawsuits including Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Bull and the City of San Francisco.
Are we not as smart as we once were, or are we just smarter in a different way? René and Shawn take a look at IQ, memory and hands-free driving.
The shortest month of the year gets extra love as René and Shawn have a passionate discussion about random February topics.
Whether you are a Wordle pro or haven’t even heard of it, this episode is for you. René and Shawn discuss the viral on-line word game played by millions around the world.
It started with an Oreo. René and Shawn share their opinions on a variety of hot takes.
Does decluttering your physical space help declutter your mind? What are the pitfalls and possibilities of a mind full of stuff. René and Shawn attempt to offer guidance in Part 2 of the decluttering journey.
What is the right amount of clutter? Is there a best way to declutter? René and Shawn resolve to tackle the topic.
René and Shawn talk fuel economy and saving money on gas purchases as well as look forward to baseball and the Olympics.
The controversy of color. From Pantone to paint, believe it or not René and Shawn have an opinion.
René and Shawn wax nostalgic over commercials in the 90s and dig into one of the great moments in the Cola Wars.
From Apple Jacks to guillotines, René and Shawn talk about comings and goings of November.
If you haven’t heard of it, you are not alone. René and Shawn give you a peek through the briar at one of the most secretive ultramarathons.
René and Shawn take a pause from their hike to talk about the state park and believe it or not, AI
René and Shawn look forward to October, address fears, and wonder how the future will see us.
René and Shawn take a look at an interesting case of gaming the system and discuss why some people search for the “easy” dollar.
In the tranquility aboard a pontoon in the middle of the lake, René and Shawn discuss storms, running into deer and the creation of her Rock the Presses event.
René and Shawn look into the changes in local news, how we consume the news, and what we think will be the future.
Shawn dials up René and her son Tanner as they finish up a long car trip back to Grand Canyon University and provide us with stories from the road.
Have a seat in your favorite rocker as René and Shawn chat about marketing strategies and the use, and abuse, of social media.
René and Shawn explore the definition and origin of yacht rock and mix in some music tribalism.
René and Shawn asked a few folks “Who would you put on your personal Mt Rushmore?” And the results are quite fascinating.
Very superstitious, ladders 'bout to fall. René and Shawn explore a few of the most common superstitions.
What is “Mankeeping”? René and Shawn take a look at the latest label that attempts to further define relationships.
René and Shawn take the long way to get to the topic of who we put on pedestals and why we do it.
René and Shawn follow the continuing evolution of AI and wonder how far is too far? Are we already there?
Is it a crisis or awakening? René and Shawn discuss the psychology of the mid-life crises and what it is like on the other side.
What childhood games did you play that should be on ESPN The Ocho? Would they qualify as a sport and you as an athlete? René and Shawn discuss these topics, and hot dogs, in this curveball loaded episode.
René and Shawn walk through a few marketing campaigns and how they use different techniques to get your attention.
As promised, René and Shawn look into the state of legalized sports gambling, from the beginnings to the pros to the cons.
Confused about the world of college athletics, NIL, and revenue sharing? René and Shawn discuss the latest NCAA settlement and what it all means.
René and Shawn investigate airline pricing structures and give their unpopular? opinion. And stay tuned a curveball at the end.
René and Shawn help you out by providing fun facts that you didn’t know you need to know.
René and Shawn are once again on the dock of the bay this time attempting to talk road trips but as usual get off topic.
It’s almost summer and we decided it is the perfect time to remind ourselves what makes us smile and hopefully does the same for you.
Why do we have two of everything? René and Shawn talk about the amazing human body and the redundancy of life.
Noah is back in the studio this time to provide is insights, experiences and advice on studying abroad in Europe.
René and Shawn brave storms and colds to bring you their takes on the pressing topics of the day
René and Shawn look into the world of AI companions. Helpful or harmful? You be the judge.
We don’t rest on our laurels. After a quick acknowledgement of the milestone, we jump into the controversial topics of elephants and read receipts. And we sprinkle in some magic at the end.
John Bonnes (Gleeman and the Geek podcast, Twinsdaily.com) makes his yearly appearance to discuss ABS, small stadiums and more inside baseball.
Who doesn't like a good music festival? René and Shawn reminisce about festivals from their younger years and hit a few high and low notes along the way.
René and Shawn would never let a vacation get in the way of delivering a podcast. They may mail it in but they still deliver. Enjoy!
Having a meaningful conversation seems to be increasingly difficult. René and Shawn take a look at the why and what can be done to make it if not easier, at least more productive.
One year after they introduced you to artificial intelligence, René and Shawn take a look at the state of AI today and their thoughts on the future.
René and Shawn look at the state of all star games in professional sports. Does anyone care anymore?
In this round of hot takes, René and Shawn get a bit more personal and answer some burning, sometimes cringy, questions.
Flowers, and Candy, and Cards. Oh My! The history, dollars and cents (scents?, sense?) behind Valentine’s Day. How did we get here.
It is the time for resolutions and self improvement. But what does that mean? René and Shawn dig into what pushes us to be better.
Do you ever think back to the things you thought were true simply because your parents said so? René and Shawn reminisce about those things and other core memories.
With the passing of Bob Uecker, René and Shawn look back at a few of the iconic voices in media and look forward to who could be the next Mr. Baseball.
René and Shawn bring Owen Montheard back in the studio for his amazing account of a work study in India and roadtrip with monks.
Do you have too many people in your car in the drive-thru? René and Shawn break this down and other polarizing topics.
René and Shawn bring food back into the conversation and let you know when you should throw it out.
René and Shawn discuss the origin of the pledge of allegiance and the polarizing planting of the flag.
René and Shawn revisit vacation food and warm up to comfort food, crockpots and Christmas soup
René and Shawn continue their European Vacation with more observations, tales from the trains, and recommendations.
René and Shawn can't sleep so the next best thing is to record a podcast. It isn't all about Berlin. But mostly.
René and Sahwn explore one of life’s biggest mysteries…How can some cell phone packages be so cheap when we pay so much?!?
René and Shawn discuss decisions big and small. Do you have a hack for making decisions quickly? Go ahead and decide to listen to this episode.
René and Shawn dig into how we can take advantage of what is left on the plate of life.
Wax nostalgic as René and Shawn chat about TV shows with cult followings. The popularity has grown exponentially with on-demand streaming services and endless channels of cable TV.
René and Shawn wonder aloud if they manage their time properly and offer some tips and tricks.
René & Shawn chat about confirmation bias, a serendipitous encounter in San Diego, and a disturbing hotel in Colorado.
René and Shawn explore the benefits of binaural beats. What are they? Tune in with both ears to find out.
René and Shawn are joined by a talented violist, Katurah, who joined 2000 youth musicians at an international music camp.
René and Shawn look into donating. Is it easier? Are people donating more or less? How are people donating? What are the trends?
René and Shawn take a different approach to smartphones. Does it really matter if you are addicted?
Travel along with René and Shawn as they create a memorable road trip by talking of road trips past. And billboards.
René and Shawn look forward to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and drop some knowledge you can use with your friends.
René and Shawn honor their dads with a tribute to a few life lessons they learned growing up with fantastic dads
No is a complete sentence, so why is it so difficult to say? René and Shawn chat about people pleasing, over committing, and being too nice.
René and Shawn are taking a long holiday weekend. Enjoy a listen back to one of our favorite, and timely, episodes.
René and Shawn offer their opinions on what is proper etiquette for airline travel and dish out a couple travel hacks along the way.
René and Shawn take some time to talk about events that happen each May and a couple things unique to May 2024.
René and Shawn are shocked to discover a true love story from the 70s to be stranger than popular dating shows.
René and Shawn discuss fake Google reviews. What are they and what is the impact. And Clover's birthday.
René and Shawn chat about Ring cameras, privacy laws and offer a pro-tip if you choose to use a baseball bat for home security.
Shawn and René hit the pause button on their vacation to honor their 100th episode with a quick hello from the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach FL.
René and Shawn had the privilege to talk with Rob Swan OBE, a world renowned explorer and genuinely great guy. The conversation covers his commitment to Jacques Cousteau, his son Barney’s important work in the Australia rain forest, and his philosophies on life. Visit robertswan.com and climateforce.com for more information.
Confused about time zones and time travel? René and Shawn unlock these mysteries as well as Wordle
Did it finally happen to Curveball Production? No it did not...yet. But René and Shawn do dig into the wacky world of lawsuits.
René and Shawn dive into print and digital media decisions we make and what drives them.
Pitchers and catchers are reporting and so is Curveball along with one of our favorite guests, John Bonnes. Check him out on his podcast Gleeman and the Geek and also at Twinsdaily.com
René and Shawn discuss social norms at concerts and sporting events, including the Super Bowl.
How did Applebees and Stanley corner the market? Are Beanie Babies jealous? René and Shawn delve into how trends become fads.
Join René and Shawn as they break down a few misconceptions about acronyms, and test your skills at René Lingo. Check your ability to interpret words commonly used by her family.
Join Gary Brusacoram as he plays tour guide leading us from Prague through Germany and into Paris as only he can.
René and Shawn bring you ramblings, as only they can, to usher (a clue to today's podcast) in 2024. Thanks for listening, and Happy New Year from all of us at the Curveball Production Podcast.
René and Shawn revisit ChatGPT and AI one year later, discussing how we are adapting and learning along the way.
René and Shawn go under the hood to delve into the fascinating story of Rudolph Diesel.
René and Shawn pull up their sleigh and invite you to ride along through the christmas trees and decorations.
Shawn and René can’t help but talk about Thanksgiving, food and only a little football.
Where to do you find answers to questions? Where do your kids? Shawn and René look at how things have changed when it comes to seeking answers to life's big, and little, questions.
Com’è per un italiano visitare l’Ovest e il Midwest degli Stati Uniti? Ascoltate mentre parliamo con Angela e Michela Fustini del loro vorticoso tour di 10 giorni.
What is it like for an Italian to tour the West and Midwest of the U.S.? Give a listen as we talk with Angela and Michela Fustini about their 10 day whirlwind tour.
Shawn and René explore the concept of free will and get dizzy as they dance between the arguments for and against true choice without influence. This high level view of an age-old question will leave you questioning yourself as you choose which podcast to listen to next.
René and Shawn bring you twelve months of national holidays you never knew you needed to know. But wait, there's more. Check out nationaldaycalendar.com
As fans of Minnesota sports, René and Shawn are experts on watching teams lose and provide their insight.
Organized crime isn't just for the mafia anymore. René and Shawn dig into organized retail crime, shoplifting by the masses, and the impact on retailers.
Have you ever wondered what intermittent fasting is all about? Shawn and René give a high level view about what it is, and how it might be your ticket to feeling better every day. Listen to the show, and then check out Dr. Mindy Pelz’s YouTube channel and book, “Fast Like a Girl.”
René and Shawn chat about the impact of the writer's strike on the entertainment industry. What is on the negotiating table? How is this strike different from the 100 day strike in 2007-2008? What to expect in future programming? When will Josh Duhamel be on the podcast?
René and Shawn are joined by comedian Tim Slagle to talk about his experiences and thoughts on stand-up comedy, then and now. You can see him live Oct 3-7 at the Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis for his Crash and Burn series. Also, visit his website, timslagle.com, for his tour dates, upcoming album drop, bits (not skits), and podcasts.
In a first time ever Curveball Production double feature, John Bonnes once again joins the podcast to talk Twins down the stretch.
René and Shawn are once again on the dock musing about coffee beans and letting the f-words fly.
René and Shawn take you on a rambling journey covering WBGT, Zoom etiquette and other "interesting" topics.
All we wanted was a listener from Antarctica. But thanks to Mike England at the National Science Foundation, René and Shawn Zoomed in Hans Suedhoff who is currently working at the South Pole Station, Antarctica. How close does he work to the south pole, just tune in. We covered a lot of ice. And you can find out more by visiting nsf.gov.
If you think planning a family trip is difficult, try getting 30 kids to France! Leanne Montheard joins the podcast to tell us just how she did it. And would do it again!
Well this one has all the curveballs you could ever want. Talk of summer, state fair, and, of course, Costco. With a little dancing to kick it off.
In the middle of a heat wave, René and Shawn talk cryogenics. Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the applications of extreme cold.
What is respect today? Is it possible to respect a person's authority but not respect the person? René and Shawn dig into this meaty topic.
We start out this episode chatting about summer and end up at car accidents. How did this happen? Tune in to find out!
René and Shawn come to you from her cabin with a look into cabin life on the July 4 holiday.
René and Shawn dive into the age old question "Just because you can, should you?" Should they have recorded this episode just because they could? Give it a listen and let them know.
Join us for a fascinating discussion about the shopping cart. Really, not kidding, fascinating.
Jim Cunningham joins the podcast to talk Renaissance Festival, making a movie in Duluth, and other stories of his eclectic career. Check out his podcast as well. Behind the Page.
In Part 2 of our What Did Your Kid Learn At College series, René and Tanner break down his first year at Grand Canyon University.
Noah returns to the studio as a sophomore in college and drops his wisdom and stories of his first year.
In this episode, we give you our recipe for balancing summer chores and summer fun. With some overalp of both. And a bonus just for our faithful listeners - a side hustle opportunity
John Bonnes from the Gleeman and the Geek podcast and Twinsdaily.com joins us from a state of the Twins conversation.
My mom returns to the studio to talk about her time working with the Red Cross in North Dakota, Houston and New York City..
Butch Roy with Huge Theater drops by the studio to discuss improv and his theater's role in bringing improv to life. Learn more at hugetheater.com and visit givehuge.com to support Huge Theater.
What makes marketing work? René and Shawn discuss marketing tactics with real world examples.
René and Shawn take a deep dive into a seaweed blob. And relate it to everyday life as only they can.
John Bonnes from the Gleeman and the Geek Podcast and Twinsdaily.com joins our podcast and gives his usual great insight into the 2023 Minnesota Twins and baseball in general.
Shannon Winzeler with Extra Space Storage joins the podcast and gives us her view of meetings and events pre- and post-pandemic.
Why is Artificial Intelligence such a hot topic and why should you care about AI? We attempt to answer both questions. Give it a listen.
Gary Brusacoram is back in studio to tell his tales of life on the Iron Range. For more info on the Iron Range, visit ironrange.org
John is back in studio to provide us with many rock and roll stories that we didn't know we needed to know.
Ever wondered what goes into a scholarly research paper? Ever wonder how Snapchat is used differently in the US vs France? Owen Montheard joins the podcast to shed light on both.
MacStrength GM Zach Elder drops in to talk about his baseball academy and the philosophy and science behind their training in baseball, and softball!
O.G. Noah returns to the Curveball Production studio to drop serious knowledge on the NFL Playoffs.
Prouty Project consultant Kristin Jonason introduces her management consulting firm including a few unique Prouty Project programs.
A friend of Curveball, Ricardo Mazzi, talks about Digital Marketing and how his company, Mazzi Studios, works with companies to incorporate strategies. For more info, go to mazzistudios.com, or email him at rmazzi@gmail.com.
René and Shawn discuss the role and responsibility educators have in preparing students for life after high school.
The President and CEO of the Minnesota Twins discusses his journey and all things baseball.
Ever wonder who really brings the noise to the State Fair? Dan Pearson with Allied Production let’s us know how it all comes together.
Shawn talks with Dr. Twenge about his unique approach to his chiropractic practice and today's athletes. Visit www.integrateinstitute.com
Coach Cleve joins Curveball to discuss his football academy, QBFT. For more info, visit QBfootballtraining.com
Do your meetings and events need more sizzle? Troy and Scotty bring their unique brand to the podcast. For more info, visit www.troymcvicker.com
A funny and fascinating conversation with Brad detailing his storied career in broadcasting with plenty of curveballs
My dad gives us a first hand account of harvesting in the 40s and 50s from binding to threshing. WIth some stories mixed in.
My sister, and frequent contributor, gives us the skinny on healing energy and its applications. Maybe a story from me as well.
Gabe comes in to relieve Shawn for this episode which features his best buddy Gunnar as they discuss growing up together.
Shawn talks with his friend and colleague David Handler, Executive Coach. Topics range from books, to TV to oil rigs. With a little Marcia Brady mixed in. Hook 'em Horns!!
Rene and Mikiel talk about National Poetry Month and the impact poetry and reading has had on their lives
Shawn and René will be providing interesting, entertaining and sometimes provocative content. Each episode will be its own curveball, much like the curveballs life throws us each day.