E Pluribus Motto Podcast: Un-Serious & Unapproved Talking State Mottos

 Listening to E Pluribus Motto is like taking a road trip with friends Janet Varney and John Hodgman. In each episode, they spotlight one state and chat about its motto, bird, beverages, songs, and–occasionally–muffins. Plus, you’ll hear from residents and guests whose lives or work have been inspired by that state.

The show's producers, Maximum Fun, insist: "This podcast is a celebration of regional culture and an homage to the love we all seem to have for the place we call home. Pack your snacks and jump on in!"

Maximum Fun is a self-described pioneering podcast network, a home to dozens of shows, some of which they produce and some of which are produced independently. Their shows are about Comedy and Culture, and all of them try to put some good into the world.

The fun people insist: "Our shows and our audience are the engines of the good that we do in the world. We do what we do because we think it matters to people. And we recognize our privilege, and the trust that people place in us. We try to use that position to direct attention and resources to deserving causes."

On June 30, 2023, Maximum Fun became a 100% worker-owned cooperative. 

E Pluribus Motto is hosted by John Hodgman and Janet Varney. When you're producing a podcast for Maximum Fun, comedy and wit are essential ingredients. As co-hosts, Hodgman and Varney deliver big time.

Let's face it. Making fun of all 50 states is like a gold mine for humor, sarcasm, the ridiculous, and the absurd. Florida itself is a laugh riot. Don't get me started on Oklahoma. 

Anyway, Hodgman and Varney extract as much comedic value along with information about each state that may have value at your next trivia night at the Stinky Moose Pub Thursday Trivia Night.

Janet Varney is an Emmy-Nominated actor, comedian, writer, and producer. She most recently starred as the horrible Becca on FXX’s You’re the Worst, and she created, wrote and stars in the IFC series Fortune Rookie.

Varney fought dark forces opposite John C. McGinley on three seasons of IFC’s Stan Against Evil and starred in seasons one and three of “Burning Love.” In the animation world, she was lucky enough to be the award-winning voice of Korra on Nickelodeon’s critically-acclaimed standout hit “The Legend of Korra.”

She is co-founder and co-director of SF Sketchfest, The San Francisco Comedy Festival, now in its 19th year.

John Hodgman is a writer, comedian, and actor. Most recently, he is the author of the acclaimed collections of funny true stories called VACATIONLAND and MEDALLION  STATUS. He also wrote three books of fake facts and invented trivia, all of them New York Times Bestsellers, and his writing has also appeared in The Paris Review, This American Life, The New Yorker, and Mad Magazine.

After an appearance to promote his books on The Daily Show, he was invited to return as a contributor, serving as the show’s Resident Expert and Deranged Millionaire.

This led to an unexpected and, frankly, implausible career before the camera, becoming the “Personal Computer” in a series of commercials for Apple computer, and more recently playing recurring roles in FX’s MARRIED, HBO’s BORED TO DEATH, Cinemax’s THE KNICK.

Hodgman is the host of the popular JUDGE JOHN HODGMAN podcast, where he settles serious disputes between real people, such as “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” and “Should we tell our children the TRUTH about Santa Claus.” He also contributes a weekly column under the same name for The New York Times Magazine.

The show began in October and just released its tenth episode in February on Tennessee, which ended season one. The first episode began with Connecticut, where listeners learned that somehow it is the pizza capital of the nation. All the episodes pose questions of little or no importance, but must be answered. Why does South Carolina have two mottoes, two official state drinks, two official state marine mammals and more? And that’s before they discussed how busy the state seal is.

In the Massachusetts episode, Hodgman chats with Kate Lorch. As an elementary school student, she struck a major political victory: getting Massachusetts an official state muffin. 

As co-hosts, Hodgman and Varney jell like gin and tonic. They're funny, sardonic, and still able to toss out facts of moderately utilitarian worth. The episodes are long, and could be tighter and shorter, but alas, comedic brains don't work on well with a stopwatch.

Check out E Pluribus Motto. It's fun, moderately informational, and Hodgman and Varney make an excellent co-host / comedy team.