The Rumor Mill: September 29, 2025

In the penultimate episode of The Rumor Mill, Joe and Nathan dive headfirst into one of the season’s most unexpected storylines: when the host himself becomes the news. What starts as a recap of a listener’s feedback spirals into a candid discussion about paraphrasing, cultural nuance, and the perils of being quoted back to yourself. The conversation covers: A fair-and-balanced “news report” about Joe’s back-and-forth with a listener from Berlin. Audio receipts, transcripts, and the hazards of context (or the lack thereof). The return of familiar voices on the voicemail line—including a Scottish tongue-twister, Brendan’s zombie cameo, and a passionate plea for the comeback of Mr. Blackstone. Tom from Ireland pitches a brand-new Afterthought Media spinoff idea, sparking a debate about psychology, drag queens, and how deep is too deep. With just one week left before the finale, Joe and Nathan reflect on spats with listeners, conspiracies involving Blackstone, and whether Stefan himself might be orchestrating it all from behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices