Out of My Depth

About Out of My Depth

Out of My Depth is for the endlessly curious. Alex talks to everyday experts about their world — going in knowing nothing, asking what you'd ask.

Publisher

Alex Gonzalez

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jul 2026

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   15. Comics, Video Games, & 400 Podcast Episodes Later with Chris Osborne

   Video games and comics are a total blind spot for me, so I sat down with Chris, who has spent about 10 years (and nearly 400 episodes) comparing video games to the comics they’re based on. We got into the surprisingly simple difference between a comic and a graphic novel, a list of childhood favorites that started as comics (including one that began as a single panel in The New Yorker), and why Superman 64 is “objectively terrible” yet oddly makes sense. Meet Chris Chris is the solo host and producer of the Play Comics Podcast, where each episode he and a guest look at a video game, the comic it’s based on, and how well the game captures the source material. He grew up an Air Force kid who moved every summer, and video games were the constant that felt like home. Follow Chris: @playcomicspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/playcomicspodcast/)| Play Comics: playcomics.com (https://playcomics.com) Resources mentioned: Superman Smashes the Klan (the comic Chris recommended at the end of the episode) Hoopla and Libby (free comics through your library) 📸 Instagram:@outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   14. Junior Cycling, Overcoming Injuries, & Why Fun Is Fast with 3 Cats Racing

   I confessed up front that I can barely ride a bike, then sat down with five people who live in the world of junior cycling. We got into what the sport actually is (it’s far broader than I assumed), how a team named 3 Cats came to be, why their motto is “fun is fast,” and what it’s like to line up for a 62-mile backcountry race. Spoiler: it’s much less of a solo sport than I thought. Meet the Guests 3 Cats Racing is a junior national development team based in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded by athletes Nathan and Samantha, with Beth (CFO and General Manager) and Erik (Head Coach) guiding the program. Lia, one of the team’s younger racers, joined the conversation too. Together they’ve been involved in junior cycling across every discipline, and they’re clearly passionate about getting more kids on bikes. Follow Three Cats Racing: @3catsracingteam (https://www.instagram.com/3catsracingteam/) Resources: 3 Cats Racing Website (https://www.3catsracing.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAafX0M6ErQZKFv-CJWcPRMqGhSvbugxnLd4mFjlmMtYMf_6Cv8ti116wiMrt7A_aem_jrzeJKiA_Wz9JBSeqWbKmg)

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   13. Fiber Art, Gray Areas, & a Call from Kermit Himself with Emily Engel-Young

   I sat down with Emily, a professional seamstress and fiber artist who's been making full-plush Muppet replicas since discovering a hidden talent over a decade ago. We got into how a dark period in her life led her to a sewing machine, the surprisingly real "gray area" around fan art and copyright, and the moment Matt Vogel (long-time voice of Kermit the Frog) texted her at 2 AM asking her to make Muppet replicas as a cast gift for the Electric Mayhem. Meet Emily Emily is a self-taught fiber artist who's replicated over 75 Muppet characters, specializing in obscure, deep-cut characters that have never existed in plush form. Her clients include actors, a CNN anchor, and actual Muppeteers — and she now owns one of Richard Hunt's original Muppet Show jackets, a gift from his sister. Follow Emily: @axepersonified (https://www.instagram.com/axepersonified/) Resources mentioned: Emily's Etsy Store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/BxFiberArt?etsrc=sdt&page=1#about)

4. 

   6 Oct 2026

   12. The Chicken Lady of Queens, The Autism Spectrum, & Farming In The City with Alanna O'Donnell

   I sat down with Alanna, known to her students as Miss O and to everyone else as the Chicken Lady of Queens, to talk about the working farm she built with her high school students with autism — just 15 minutes outside Manhattan. We got into how a destroyed garden became a 1,250-pound-a-year food operation, what a typical day actually looks like for her students, and the moment a kind stranger gifted a $20,000 chicken coop after theirs collapsed in the snow. Meet Alanna Alanna teaches special education at 177Q, a District 75 school in Fresh Meadows, Queens, where she and her students run a working farm — chickens, fruit trees, a weekly farmers market, and even a line of homemade pumpkin bread. Her class mantra, "All go, no quit," captures both how she teaches and what her students embody every single day. Follow Alanna's Farm: @177FlockOChicks (https://www.instagram.com/177flockochicks/?hl=en) Resources mentioned: Stories by US Mini-Documentary (https://www.storiesbyus.org/story/view/LT8r7) New York Post Article on Alanna (https://nypost.com/2025/05/30/us-news/queens-teacher-surprised-with-flag-award-and-25k-check/)

5. 

   29 Sept 2026

   11. Marching Band, Game Tapes, & Band Prom with Natalie Rundblade

   I sat down with Natalie, a former member of the University of Tennessee's Pride of the Southland marching band, to finally understand what SEC marching band life is actually like — the auditions, the game-week grind, the game tape reviews (yes, just like football), and a blackout Thriller halftime show she still hasn't stopped thinking about. We also got into the time her band traveled to London and performed on Tower Bridge. Meet Natalie Natalie played clarinet in UT's marching band and concert ensembles throughout college, balancing a demanding rehearsal schedule with a music education degree. She now teaches general music at a middle school, carrying the work ethic and love of performance she built during her years in the band into her classroom. 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

6. 

   22 Sept 2026

   10. Fossil Hunting, Megalodon Teeth & Wading With Gators with Downstream Digs

   I sat down with Charlie and Tara, the real-life fossil hunters behind Downstream Digs, to learn how a date idea turned into a full-blown obsession with digging up shark teeth in Florida's Peace River. We got into how they taught themselves the craft, what it actually takes to find a fossil versus just a cool rock, and yes — the gators. Meet Charlie and Tara Charlie and Tara run Downstream Digs, where they share their fossil hunting adventures on the Peace River in Florida. What started as a first date has become a genuine obsession — they've collected over 20,000 fossils, taught themselves to identify finds through community forums, and are now launching guided fossil hunting tours of their own. Follow Downstream Digs: @downstream_digs (https://www.instagram.com/downstream_digs/) Resources mentioned: Downstream Digs Website (https://www.downstreamdigs.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaecoJQvxr2ueitHujd70xadWxaggtUq9ySrBXWHm9DZDcyZzfUqQsI7zMr9DA_aem_V3wawpoLgr_argysMUBTCA) The Fossil Forum (https://www.thefossilforum.com/) r/fossilID (Reddit) (https://www.reddit.com/r/fossilid/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

7. 

   15 Sept 2026

   9. Hyrox, Wall Balls, & The Pain Cave with Matt Martinez

   I sat down with Matt, a respiratory therapist and Hyrox athlete, to finally understand what Hyrox actually is — eight brutal stations, a kilometer run between each, and a level of intensity that somehow attracts thousands of people (literally — tickets for one Chicago race sold out in 15 minutes). We got into training with no fancy equipment, competing as a dad, and his own podcast, What's the CO2. Meet Matt Matt is a respiratory therapist and self-described fitness addict who found Hyrox through the Instagram algorithm and got hooked after his first race in Chicago. He balances serious training with being a husband and dad — his son will even compete in the Hyrox Young Stars division this spring. Matt also hosts his own podcast, What's the CO2, where he has candid conversations with people across the healthcare world and beyond. Follow his podcast: @whatstheco2 (https://www.instagram.com/whatstheco2/) | What's the CO2: Listen Here! (https://beacons.ai/whatstheco2?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAacHYEdSGJahTl0Tk-jd8ywSu2yFuUkj4CU3UejOvOT7AbWpq4_JY4jKY4oRSg_aem_gqKHKYjdsTl1PyJ6slQFdQ)

8. 

   8 Sept 2026

   8. Speech Language Pathology, Eureka Moments, & Cheerios with Haleigh Pudlo

   I sat down with my friend Haleigh, a speech-language pathologist, to finally understand what her job actually is — and it's so much more than helping kids pronounce their Rs and Ss. We talked about everything from feeding therapy (yes, Cheerios and lollipops are actual tools of the trade) to the quiet, powerful "eureka moments" that make the hardest days worth it. Meet Haleigh Haleigh has worked in speech-language pathology since 2020, across both private practice and the school system. She's my highschool friend, and this episode is a bit personal for me too — as a former teacher, I worked alongside speech pathologists for years without ever really understanding what the job entailed. Turns out, it covers everything "from lungs up" — speech, language, feeding, cognition, and more, for patients from newborns to adults recovering from strokes. Follow Haleigh: @hpudlo_ (https://www.instagram.com/hpudlo_) Resources mentioned: Peechie Speechie (https://peachiespeechie.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopgTSjzSXsBN_h28fy1tiqlG4JtpIkBqTSD7BXUOCY3L2gkUSx3) SLP Now (https://slpnow.com/) Speaking of Samantics (https://www.instagram.com/speakingofsamantics/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/)🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

9. 

   1 Sept 2026

   7. Fantasy Football, Building Credibility & Why Luck Beats Strategy with Joe Volpe

   I sat down with Joe from Fantasy Football Analyst to talk fantasy football — what it actually is, how PPR and standard scoring differ, and what separates a good draft from a great one. But the real story is how a high school hobby turned into a 130K-follower platform, complete with DMs from NFL players and a Zoom call with Tom Brady. Meet Joe Joe runs Fantasy Football Analyst, a fantasy football content platform he started almost by accident after his girlfriend convinced him to share his personal draft spreadsheet online. What began as rough graphics and a passion project has since grown into a trusted resource with 130K followers — all while staying a hobby alongside his full-time marketing career. Follow Joe: @fantasy.football.analyst (http://fantasy.footballhttps://www.instagram.com/fantasy.football.analyst/) Fantasy Football Analyst Website (https://www.theffanalyst.com/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9) (https://www.theffanalyst.com/)

10. 

    25 Aug 2026

    6. Aquascaping, Water Chemistry, & The Fish Side of Instagram with Allison Brown

    I sat down with Allison, an aquarist and content creator, to talk about the surprisingly complex world of building aquariums — from the nitrogen cycle every beginner needs to understand, to recreating real river and lake environments in a 10-gallon tank. We also got into the wild, unexpected side of fish content online, including her own run-in with rage bait and internet drama over... botanical tea bags. Meet Allison Allison runs Allison Aquascapes, where she builds natural, low-tech aquariums inspired by real ecosystems fish actually come from. What started as a way to cope after losing her cat turned into a full-blown hobby, then a growing Instagram and YouTube presence with a genuinely thoughtful, patient community behind it. Follow Allison: @allisonaquascapes (https://www.instagram.com/allisonaquascapes/) Find her on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@allisonaquascapes) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

11. 

    18 Aug 2026

    5. Leadership, Play in Work, & The Muppets with Holly Jones

    I sat down with Holly, a doctoral candidate whose research blends her lifelong Muppet fandom with the study of play in organizational leadership. We got into her master's thesis, which found that Kermit the Frog — beloved, gentle Kermit — actually displayed some genuinely harmful leadership behaviors backstage. We also talked about what "play" really means for adults at work, why it's not the same as forced fun or icebreakers, and how Jim Henson became her gold-standard example of playful leadership done right. Meet Holly Holly is a doctoral candidate at Gonzaga University, where her dissertation explores how adults experience play in the workplace — with employees of the Muppet Studio as her upcoming research subjects. She's also a lifelong Muppet fan who makes her own Muppet-style puppets, and her earlier thesis, "It Felt Like Leadership," examined Kermit the Frog's leadership and communication style. Follow Holly: @TheHollyJones (https://www.instagram.com/thehollyjones/) Resources mentioned: Brian Jay Jones' Jim Henson biography (https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Henson-Brian-Jay-Jones/dp/0345526120) Muppet Wiki (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Muppet_Wiki) The Jim Henson video collection at the University of Maryland (https://av.lib.umd.edu/collections/6969z097m) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

12. 

    11 Aug 2026

    4. A 300-foot Stage, 426 Performances & 6 Sheep Backstage with Ava Pearcy

    I sat down with Ava, a real-life performer at Sight & Sound Theatres, to talk about what it's actually like performing full-time on a 300-foot stage — including the 462 performances, implementing Chekhov acting method in real time, and the fact that there are 6 sheep (and camels) hanging out backstage during a show set in Jericho. Meet Ava Ava performs at Sight & Sound and is also part of their program for college-age performers. She walked me through what daily life as a performer/conservatory student really looks like — from the physical demands of a massive stage production to the surprisingly normal experience of live animals backstage — and shared what it felt like when performing full-time actually became her reality. Follow Ava: @avaj_pearcy (https://www.instagram.com/stories/avaj_pearcy/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

13. 

    4 Aug 2026

    3. Operating the Millennium Falcon, Batuu Bounding & Disney Myths with Aidan McDaniel

    I sat down with Aidan, a real-life Disney cast member who works on Smuggler's Run — and somehow ended up learning that operating the Millennium Falcon is basically like operating heavy machinery, that there's a mysterious thing called "the Batuuan Mile," and that Disney once got a little too immersive for its own good. Meet Aidan Aidan worked as a cast member at Disney, running Star Wars: Smuggler's Run — which meant going through actual character development training alongside the rest of the Star Wars cast members at Galaxy's Edge. He's also no stranger to podcasting, having hosted his own show before. 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

14. 

    4 Aug 2026

    2. Fighting fires, Saving Ducklings, & Delivering Babies with Josiah Emenecker

    I sat down with my brother Josiah, a real-life firefighter, to talk about everything I still don't understand about his job — from what he actually gets called out for (spoiler: it's mostly not fires) to what it's like living in the firehouse. He also made a genuinely convincing case for why you should not call 911 if a cat gets stuck in a tree. Meet Josiah Josiah is a firefighter — and my brother, which somehow hasn't stopped me from knowing almost nothing about his day-to-day job. We got into the best and worst parts of the work, the reality of firehouse living, ongoing training, and how the ranking system actually works. Follow Josiah: @josiah.t1d (https://www.instagram.com/josiah.t1d/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

15. 

    4 Aug 2026

    1. Jury Selection, Spidey Senses, & The CSI Effect with Addison Fariss

    I sat down with a real-life prosecutor to talk about jury selection — how you actually pick 12 strangers to decide someone's fate, what makes a juror a "no," and why gut instinct matters more than you'd think. We also ran through some myth-or-real courtroom drama questions, because apparently true crime documentaries have taught me almost nothing. Meet Addison Addison is a prosecutor who walked me through everything from voir dire to peremptory challenges — the vocabulary I've heard a hundred times on TV and never actually understood. Turns out only a small percentage of attorneys even practice criminal law, and jury pools start a lot bigger than you'd think before narrowing down to the final 12. Follow Addison: @addisonfariss (https://www.instagram.com/addisonfariss/) 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

16. 

    20 Jul 2026

    Out of My Depth: Coming August 2026

    I know nothing. My guest knows everything. That's the whole show. Out of My Depth is a podcast for the endlessly curious — the people who hear a stranger describe their life at a party and think wait, tell me everything. Every episode, I sit down with someone whose world I've never understood and ask every question you'd ask if you got the chance. New episodes drop starting August 2026. Follow now so you don't miss it. 📸 Instagram: @outofmydepth.pod (https://www.instagram.com/outofmydepth.pod/) 📬 Newsletter: Sign Up Here! (https://outofmydepth.beehiiv.com/) 🎙️ Want to be a guest (or know someone who should be)? Fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZT3ntYFvddMtY3bG9)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Out of My Depth

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.