Best Broken Mouse Podcasts (2025)

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Good contractors are good planners (w/ Nate Mielke) 48:10

Play Pause

9h ago48:10

48:10

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/nu1GoDS3z-E In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome Nate Mielke, a general contractor and remodeler. They discuss Nate's journey in the construction industry, the differences between design-build and general contracting, and t…

1
Decoder Ring | “Videomate: Men” (Encore) 39:03

10d ago39:03

39:03

Videomate: Men was a VHS tape released in 1987 featuring 60 single men pitching themselves as dates to women on the other side of the TV screen: “The love of your life could be on your TV tonight!” the box reads. In retrospect, Videomate: Men is a bizarre and hilarious time capsule, but at the time it was one of many manifestations of what was know…

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Building Affordable Houses (with Rob Howard) 50:27

4d ago50:27

50:27

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/MpJELehhLbc In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry sit down with Rob Howard, founder of Howard Building Science, to explore how he’s tackling one of the biggest challenges in housing today: building affordable, high-performance homes…

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Building Fortified Homes (with Isaac Scott) 52:16

12d ago52:16

52:16

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/gcF3wVu0630 In this episode, Tessa Murry and Reuben Saltzman welcome Isaac Scott, a builder from Louisiana, to discuss his company, Clare Homes, and the innovative building practices they employ. Isaac shares his journey from working in the construction industry to starting his …

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Decoder Ring | How Protein Muscled Its Way to the Top 44:50

25d ago44:50

44:50

Americans are currently besotted with protein. It’s touted as being good for muscle growth, weight loss, skincare, mental acuity, longevity, and much else besides. It’s sold to men, women, children, the elderly— you can even buy protein for your pets. The protein supplement market alone is worth $21 billion and growing—and extra protein is being ad…

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Old, complicated houses take more time 49:20

26d ago49:20

49:20

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/6GZOqskHBwU In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss Halloween chaos and a complex home inspection that pushed the limits of Structure Tech’s expertise. Reuben shares a detailed story about troubleshooting a heating system in a…

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Decoder Ring | Cozy Autumn Mysteries 55:01

1M ago55:01

55:01

Autumn may have more cozy signifiers than any other season—though we all have our own favorites. Maybe for you it’s sweater weather, football games, spooky season, apple picking, leaf peeping, or mainlining candy corn. Whatever it is, in today’s episode we’re looking closely at three of these autumnal staples. First, we get to the bottom of a recur…

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The carbon footprint of concrete (with Gene Myers) 59:27

1M ago59:27

59:27

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/vi0mEQemsck In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry sit down with Gene Myers, founder and CEO of Thrive Home Builders in Denver, Colorado. Gene shares his journey from land developer to one of the most forward-thinking builders in the…

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Why the U.S. Housing Market is Broken (with Sam Rashkin) 1:08:10

2M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/qaISUXRUJrQ In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome Sam Rashkin, former Chief Architect for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office and creator of the Energy Star for Homes and Zero Energy Ready Home progr…

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Decoder Ring | The Red String Board Conspiracy 51:21

2M ago51:21

51:21

There’s a ubiquitous prop in just about every police procedural and conspiracy thriller: a cork board pinned with documents, newspaper clippings, and Polaroid photos, all connected by a web of red string. They go by many names, including pin boards, string boards, evidence boards, investigation walls, conspiracy walls, and walls of crazy. These boa…

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When We All Get to Heaven | Setting the Table 25:12

2M ago25:12

25:12

In 1993, more than 10 years into the AIDS epidemic, the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco (MCC-SF) tries to remember all they’ve lost. We think about remembering too after encountering an archive of 1,200 cassette recordings of this queer church’s services during the height of the epidemic. Whether you’re a regular church goer or would…

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Low level CO detectors, hot and cold at kitchen faucets 54:15

2M ago54:15

54:15

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/k8U1KBX8ObE In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry catch up on their recent activities, including conferences focused on building science and home inspection. They discuss the importance of integrating building science into home insp…

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Decoder Ring | What the Cuck?! 56:13

2M ago56:13

56:13

Earlier this year, a tweet went out from the official account of the Democratic Party, tagging the Trump advisor Stephen Miller. It was an image of what appeared to be a simple hotel room chair. But for those in the know, it was much more than that: It was a “cuck chair,” an online meme straight out of a popular genre of hardcore pornography in whi…

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Bat poop, mouse poop, and wildlife control (with Matthew Eickman) 56:04

2M ago56:04

56:04

By Reuben Saltzman

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Decoder Ring | Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing? 1:01:32

3M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

When an actor opens their mouth to sing in a movie, chances are high that the voice you hear will be their own. Even in music biopics, movie stars without much singing experience regularly go to great lengths to impersonate the most beloved vocalists of our time. Why not simply play Johnny Cash or Bruce Springsteen’s actual recordings, the reasons …

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Decoder Ring | Jane Fonda’s Workout, Part 2: Hanoi Jane’s VHS Revolution (Encore) 52:59

3M ago52:59

52:59

In part two of our special two-part episode, we return to the 1982 VHS tape that created the at-home video industry: Jane Fonda’s Workout. On this episode, originally released in 2020, we deconstruct the tape itself, how it was made, and why anyone thought it was a good idea in the first place. Then we’ll explore how it was possible for an extremel…

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Regional Inspection Differences (with Paul Barraza) 54:17

3M ago54:17

54:17

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/cYcD91eX5rQ In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry engage with Paul Barraza, a seasoned home inspector from Northern California. They discuss the nuances of home inspections, including energy efficiency, wildfire preparedness, and earthquake safety. Paul shares his jou…

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Inspection Fuel and Building Science (with Brad Lowery and Matt Brading) 44:16

3M ago44:16

44:16

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/iRw-dmE8GpA In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome guests Brad Lowery and Matt Brading to discuss their experiences in the home inspection industry, the importance of building science, and the role of podcasting in connecting…

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Decoder Ring | Jane Fonda’s Workout, Part 1: Jane and Leni (Encore) 58:31

4M ago58:31

58:31

In 1982, the Jane Fonda Workout became the best-selling home video of all time. Over decades, it and its 22 follow ups would spawn a fitness empire, sell more than 17 million copies, and transform Fonda into a leg-warmer-clad exercise guru. And 40 years after its initial release, when the COVID pandemic hit, the workout had a moment yet again. Peop…

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Case Studies, Part 2 40:56

4M ago40:56

40:56

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/C6MC7V08nS4 In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss various topics related to home inspection, including the impact of AI on the industry, personal anecdotes about gutter cleaning, and a detailed case study involving a homeown…

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Decoder Ring | How to Hunt a Mammoth, and Other Experiments in Archaeology 57:03

4M ago57:03

57:03

Experimental archeology is, simply put, archeology that involves running experiments. Where traditional archaeologists may study, research, analyze, and theorize about how artifacts were made or used, experimental archaeologists actually try to recreate, test, and use them to see what they can learn. In doing so, they have given the field a whole n…

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Case study: Re-roof with a new water problem 51:36

4M ago51:36

51:36

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/hBY-5QroZsQ In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry explore a range of topics, including air quality concerns in Minnesota, the evolving role of AI in the home inspection industry, and a detailed case study involving a homeowner's struggles with a new roof and moisture-…

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Decoder Ring | The Bad-Mouthing of British Teeth 51:01

5M ago51:01

51:01

From The Simpsons’ Big Book of British Smiles to Austin Powers’ ochre-tinged grin, American culture can’t stop bad-mouthing English teeth. But why? Are they worse than any other nation’s? June Thomas drills down into the origins of the stereotype, and discovers that the different approaches to dentistry on each side of the Atlantic have a lot to sa…

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Top 10 Fixes for Sellers before the home inspection 41:31

5M ago41:31

41:31

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/NJ0uDa2aL7w In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry explore the essential fixes homeowners should tackle before a home inspection. They share practical tips and personal stories about common issues like gutter maintenance and electric…

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Condo Inspections 32:55

5M ago32:55

32:55

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/iIWheUyrBvk In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss their summer adventures and dive into the complexities of condo inspections. They share personal anecdotes about water heater issues and the importance of understanding the i…

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Decoder Ring | Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier” 48:01

5M ago48:01

48:01

In this episode we’re opening our mailbag to answer three fascinating questions from our listeners. How did “ass,” a word for donkeys and butts, become what linguists call an “intensifier” for just about everything? How do pharmaceuticals get their wacky names? And why do we all seem to think that aliens from outer space would travel to Earth just …

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Decoder Ring | The White Noise Boom 52:58

5M ago52:58

52:58

White noise has a very precise technical definition, but people use the term loosely, to describe all sorts of washes of sound—synthetic hums, or natural sounds like a rainstorm or crashing waves—that can be used to mask other sounds. Twenty years ago, if you’d told someone white noise was a regular part of your life, they would have found that unu…

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Findings from recent home inspection ride-alongs 49:33

6M ago49:33

49:33

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/noKM0Ijpafg In this episode, Reuben and Tessa discuss various topics related to home inspections, including the impact of weather on home maintenance, the integration of AI in home inspections, and the importance of building relationships with team members. They share insights f…

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Decoder Ring | The Boston Cinematic Universe 47:37

6M ago47:37

47:37

This episode is a first for Decoder Ring: a live show, recorded at the WBUR Festival in Boston, Massachusetts. Given the setting, we decided to take on a Boston-based cultural mystery: namely, the “Boston movie.” Beginning in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hollywood has churned out a whole cycle of films drenched in Beantown’s particularities, cri…

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The 5 Most Common Home Inspections in the Twin Cities 42:58

6M ago42:58

42:58

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/LzP_zb7BsGQ In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss various common home inspection issues, focusing on the top five problems that often arise in older homes. They delve into the importance of water management, electrical safety, chimney maintenance, gas leak con…

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Decoder Ring | The Laff Box (Encore) 36:17

6M ago36:17

36:17

Decoder Ring is marking its 100th episode this year. To celebrate, we’re revisiting our very first episode from 2018, which asks: What happened to the laugh track? For nearly five decades, the laugh track was ubiquitous, but beginning in the early 2000s, it fell out of sitcom fashion. What happened? How did we get from The Beverly Hillbillies to 30…

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Home Inspection Attendance: Who should be there and who shouldn't? 50:19

6M ago50:19

50:19

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/Skx7vjdsdo8 In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss the dynamics of home inspection attendance, exploring who should be present during inspections, the roles of buyers and agents, and the impact of these interactions on the inspection process. They share persona…

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Sewer Repair Methods, Part 2 (with Noah Gavic) 1:07:44

7M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/B4lgieKGvtI In this episode of the Structure Talk Podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome back Noah Gavic from Brothers Underground to discuss various sewer types and cleaning techniques. Noah shares insights on the most common pipe types, including cast iron and …

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Decoder Ring | The Glaring Problem with Headlights 43:17

7M ago43:17

43:17

Something seems to have happened to car headlights. In the last few years, many people have become convinced that they are much brighter than they used to be—and it’s driving them to the point of rage. Headlight glare is now Americans’ number one complaint on the road. The story of how and why we got here is illuminating and confounding. It’s what …

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Dryerjacks, listener Q&A, and a few other topics 39:12

7M ago39:12

39:12

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/jwVDbI86XKs In this episode of the Structure Talk Podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry share personal updates, including recent travels and experiences in different climates. They discuss the challenges of home inspections, particularly regarding insurance and aging ro…

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Decoder Ring | Off-the-Wall Stories of Off-Label Use 52:01

7M ago52:01

52:01

Products often tell you exactly how they’re intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore …

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Homeowner Questions and Answers, Part 3 42:12

8M ago42:12

42:12

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/2cNHgOFCes0 In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry engage with listener questions, discuss the growth of their inspection team, and share insights into their training process. They also highlight an upcoming conference for home inspe…

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Decoder Ring | How “Chicken Soup” Sold Its Soul 48:49

8M ago48:49

48:49

Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the New Thought belief system known as the Law of Attraction. For more than 30 years, the self-help series has compiled reader-submitted stories about kindness, courage, and perseverance into easily digestible books aimed at almost every conceivable demographic: Ch…

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Homeowner Questions and Answers, Part 2 36:31

8M ago36:31

36:31

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/MVcLWet9gqw In this episode of the Structure Talk Podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss various topics related to home inspection, including the latest trends in home inspection tools, a Q&A session addressing homeowner concerns, and the importance of combustion…

1
Sewer repair methods (with Noah Gavic) 55:47

8M ago55:47

55:47

In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome Noah Gavic from Brothers Underground. The conversation delves into Noah's extensive background in plumbing, the various techniques used in sewer line repair, and the challenges faced in the industry. Noah shares insights on the importance of technology in p…

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Decoder Ring | Spring Break Forever 48:08

8M ago48:08

48:08

The infamous annual ritual of spring break—where thousands of college students head to the same warm location and go crazy—can seem like it’s always been here. But it hasn’t. The spring break phenomenon is a holdover from midcentury teen culture that has endured by changing, just enough, to be passed from one generation to the next. In this episode…

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Homeowner Questions and Answers, Part 1 52:59

8M ago52:59

52:59

In this episode, Reuben and Tessa discuss various homeowner questions, focusing on health effects related to sleep deprivation, the intricacies of high-efficiency furnaces, crawl space concerns, and the importance of proper ventilation and insulation. They emphasize the need for safety in home systems, particularly regarding carbon monoxide risks, …

1
New ways to inspect air conditioners (with Mark Cramer) 57:33

9M ago57:33

57:33

This podcast contains a handful of visuals that we thought would be helpful, so we've published a video version of this podcast at https://youtu.be/NZ2qp06oET8. The Testo 605i that Mark mentioned can be found at https://amzn.to/41TYFjs To find the chart that Mark referenced, go to https://efficientcomfort.net/charts/. Check this link to IEB Unite: …

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Decoder Ring | How Books About Things That Changed the World… Changed the World 56:24

9M ago56:24

56:24

Look in the nonfiction section of any bookstore and you’ll find dozens of history books making the same bold claim: that their narrow, unexpected subject somehow changed the world. Potatoes, kudzu, soccer, coffee, Iceland, bees, oak trees, sand, chickens—there are books about all of them, and many more besides, with the phrase “changed the world” o…

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More energy efficient home = less durable 32:43

9M ago32:43

32:43

In this new episode, our hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss the intricate relationship between energy efficiency and durability in home construction. They explore how increasing energy efficiency through insulation and air sealing can lead to potential moisture issues and reduced durability if not appropriately managed. The conversation …

1
Personal problems with mold and IAQ 43:56

9M ago43:56

43:56

In this episode, Reuben and Tessa discuss the transition into spring, personal life updates, and mold remediation challenges. Tessa shares her firsthand experience with mold issues in her boyfriend's apartment, while Reuben talks about his HVAC problems and the importance of air quality. They also touch on industry trends in home inspection and the…

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Supercommunicators | 3. How to Have the Hardest Conversations 30:40

9M ago30:40

30:40

The final installment of our series explores the conversations that most of us dread, like frank discussions of our differences or a negative performance review at work. We often anticipate that these chats will go badly—and end in hurt feelings or embarrassment—but there are proven ways to make them easier to navigate. Host Charles Duhigg talks wi…

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Decoder Ring | Truck Nutz (Encore) 39:29

9M ago39:29

39:29

Truck Nutz is a brand name for the dangling plastic testicles some people affix to the bumpers or hitches of their vehicles. Also sold as Bulls Balls, Your Nutz, and other brand names, these plastic novelties have a powerful symbolic charge and are often associated with a crass, macho, red state audience. But truck nuts are a surprisingly complicat…

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Foundation problems and Geotechnical Engineering (with Michael Simpson) 53:06

10M ago53:06

53:06

In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry welcome Michael Simpson, a geotechnical engineer, who shares insights into forensic engineering, the impact of water management on foundations, and the differences between serviceability and safety in structural integrity. The conversation emphasizes the need for proper …

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Supercommunicators | 2. How to Communicate Without Words 28:37

10M ago28:37

28:37

Why is it that we can tell someone “I’m totally fine!” and they instantly know we’re not? Gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and other subtle nonverbal cues play a huge role in how we connect with one another. In this episode, host Charles Duhigg explores how we communicate without words, including a deep dive into the visual and tonal cu…