The Blue Plate Special is served every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:15 p.m.—a quick, lively show where Andy Andrews dishes out stories, laughs, and perspective on all kinds of topics. Sometimes he’s flying solo, sometimes a guest pulls up a chair, but every episode is a fresh helping of fun you’ll want to come back for again and again.
St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. The snakes he banished never existed. The meal we associate with his holiday was invented in a Manhattan slum. And the holiday that almost replaced his? Well… it never really had a chance. This Blue Plate Special serves up a plate full of surprising history behind one of the most celebrated days on the calendar — plus one saint who probably should have done a little more to promote himself. Pull up a chair. The story is better than you think.
Some thoughts are too strange to ignore—and too funny not to share. In this Blue Plate Special, Andy Andrews serves up a fast-moving collection of clever observations about everyday life, from wedding rings and smart TVs to mosquitoes, procrastinators, and the strange logic of coffee and milk. It’s a playful mix of humor and perspective that will have you nodding, laughing, and occasionally thinking, “Wait… that’s actually true.” Pull up a chair and enjoy a plate full of thoughts you didn’t know you’d been thinking.
Some songs grab you before you even know what’s happening. In this episode of The Blue Plate Special, Andy Andrews takes a look at the greatest opening lines in the history of popular music — the kind that pull you in, set a scene, or stop you cold before the second line even arrives. You might be surprised which ones made the list, and which ones you’ve been singing your whole life without ever stopping to think about just how good they really are.
Join Andy Andrews for a delightfully quirky journey through the corners of his mind as he explores 21 observations that will make you laugh, scratch your head, and see everyday things in a completely new light. Does a straw have one hole or two? Is cheese just a loaf of milk? From philosophical ponderings about pets not understanding human mistakes to the realization that if you’re rich enough, the whole museum becomes a gift shop, Andy shares the kinds of thoughts that pop up when you’re really paying attention to the world around you.
Why do certain foods only show up at Christmas—and why do families argue about them every single year? In this Blue Plate Special, Andy digs into the stories behind holiday food traditions, from old European puddings to Southern ham, mac & cheese, and sweet potato pie. Along the way, he explains why these debates aren’t really about food at all, but about family, memory, and where we come from. Equal parts history and humor, this conversation will feel a lot like your own Christmas table.
From turnip lanterns and ghostly traditions to America’s most loved (and most hated) candies, Andy Andrews serves up a frightfully fun feast of Halloween trivia. Discover how Illinois became the pumpkin capital, why people once carved turnips instead of pumpkins, and which candy tops the “worst ever” list. It’s a Blue Plate Special packed with laughs, legends, and a few spooky surprises stirred into the mix!
From ghost-sensing dogs to gossiping cats, Andy Andrews digs into the superstitions that have followed our furry friends around the world—and the hilarious truths they reveal about us. In this Blue Plate Special, you’ll learn why cats might be eavesdropping on your conversations, what a dog’s midnight howl could mean, and how black pets got tangled in centuries of strange beliefs. Come hungry for laughs, stories, and a little bite of human nature served up with fur and attitude.
Why should middle schoolers memorize poetry? In this Blue Plate Special, Andy lays out ten surprising benefits that go far beyond the classroom. From sharpening memory and boosting confidence to building cultural literacy and even creating “mental anchors” that last a lifetime, you’ll see how committing a poem to heart shapes both mind and character. Along the way, Andy highlights some of the most memorized poems of the past fifty years—ones that continue to inspire and encourage generation after generation.
It’s not every day someone brings $700 worth of snow into the studio—but Leslie Anne Tarabella isn’t just anyone. In this festive Independence Day Blue Plate Special, Andy is joined by the beloved columnist and storyteller for a hilarious, heartwarming conversation filled with snow globes, piccolo flashbacks, fig trees, and fake commercials. From hearing loss and band names to Blue Angels and Mark Twain’s shocking biography, nothing is off-limits. Plus…what exactly is nag nag nag dot com? Find out in this unforgettable Fourth of July episode!