Math and Musings

Math and Musings

By: Michael O'Connell

Language: en-us

Categories: News, Commentary, Society, Culture, Science, Mathematics

Math and Musings is 15 minutes of observation and commentary uploaded every Friday. It is hosted by Michael O'Connell, formerly of TV, radio, and print, now entering the world of podcasting.

Episodes

Disney Food Review '26: 1/9/26
Jan 09, 2026

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Walt Disney World with a focus on culinary delights. Highlights include the rekindling of Franklin's Food Review!

Duration: 00:15:59
2025 year in review: 1/2/26
Jan 02, 2026

Mike and Franklin celebrate all things 2025 with an eye towards 2026.

Duration: 00:16:47
Winter Break '25: 12/26/25
Dec 26, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their progress on the Christmas Schedule and all things Winter Break, including Festivus, Boxing Day, and cinnamon rolls.

Duration: 00:15:00
Binghamton Black Bears: 12/19/25
Dec 19, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Binghamton to see some friends and see some hockey.

Duration: 00:15:12
Diner talk: 12/12/25
Dec 12, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent late-night diner trip and test their knowledge of "diner lingo."

Duration: 00:17:13
Hershey, Pa.: 12/5/25
Dec 05, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, discovering there's a lot more to Hershey than just chocolate. (Though the chocolate is really good too.)

Duration: 00:15:51
Christmas Schedule '25: 11/28/25
Nov 28, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss the famous O'Connell Christmas Schedule, complete with a few additions and potential additions from previous years.

Duration: 00:16:42
MAM goes AI: 11/21/25
Nov 21, 2025

Mike takes a metaphorical holiday and lets AI (Google's new Brisk feature) plan the show. Brisk and Franklin discuss.

Duration: 00:18:08
Recreating PAD, Part 2: 11/14/25
Nov 14, 2025

Mike and Franklin continue their conversation from last week, recreating the most talked about episode of Politics After Dark.

Duration: 00:15:41
Recreating PAD 20 years later: 11/7/25
Nov 07, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate the 20th anniversary of the most talked about episode of Politics After Dark ever aired. 

Duration: 00:16:02
Halloween '25: 10/31/25
Oct 31, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss Halloweens past, present, and future, capping things off with some Halloween (and Diwali and Dia de los Muertos!) trivia.

Duration: 00:16:19
Binghamton pizza tour: 10/24/25
Oct 24, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Binghamton, commenting on several of the area's mom-and-pop pizza joints.

Duration: 00:16:53
Yiddish lesson: 10/17/25
Oct 17, 2025

Recorded on Yom Kippur, Mike and Franklin celebrate the Yiddish language. Included in the episode are all things related to the Jewish holiday season, or as we Gentiles call it... Pumpkin Spice.

Duration: 00:17:08
Winchester, Va.: 10/10/25
Oct 10, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent excursion to Winchester, Virginia, home of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley... and Zaxby's, the home of Southern-style deliciousness.

Duration: 00:16:04
Cox Farms: 10/3/25
Oct 03, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to the mecca of fall festivals: Cox Farms.

Duration: 00:15:46
Fall fabulous: 9/26/25
Sep 26, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss all things fall... and quiz each other a bit.

Duration: 00:15:04
Central Virginia: 9/19/25
Sep 19, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to central Virginia. Stops include Charlottesville, the Blue Ridge Tunnel, and the greatest of all... Buc-ee's.

Duration: 00:16:20
Glenstone: 9/12/25
Sep 12, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to the Glenstone art museum in Potomac, Maryland.

Duration: 00:16:55
Binghamton/Watkins Glen: 9/5/25
Sep 05, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent excursion to upstate New York: the famous Watkins Glen and the not-so-famous Binghamton.

Duration: 00:15:33
Back to (the same) school: 8/29/25
Aug 29, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their first days back to school, and for the first time it's... the same school!

Duration: 00:15:36
Savannah Bananas: 8/22/25
Aug 22, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Camden Yards in Baltimore to see the Savannah Bananas in action.

Duration: 00:15:00
All-American celebration: 8/15/25
Aug 15, 2025

Mike and Franklin, home from Japan, celebrate all things America, including baseball, bull riding, hot dogs, hamburgers, and a little Texas gas station now with a location in Virginia.

Duration: 00:15:53
Kyoto: 8/8/25
Aug 08, 2025

In Part Three of their Japan Trilogy, Mike and Franklin discuss the last stop on the tour: Kyoto.

Duration: 00:16:36
Hakone: 8/1/25
Aug 01, 2025

Mike and Franklin continue their journey through Japan, this time from the mountain oasis of Hakone.

Duration: 00:16:00
Tokyo: 7/25/25
Jul 25, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss (the beginning of) their trip to Tokyo.

Duration: 00:15:22
Camp Summer-in-town: 7/18/25
Jul 18, 2025

Recorded long before leaving for Japan, Mike and Franklin describe their few days of summer vacation at home... in case recording from Japan has proved too difficult, or was enjoyable to leave.

Duration: 00:16:48
Trenton, New Jersey: 7/11/25
Jul 11, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Trenton, New Jersey, among other things witnessing some Trenton Thunder/Tomato Pies baseball.

Duration: 00:15:58
Coney Island: 7/4/25
Jul 04, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Coney Island. Topics include the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Brooklyn Cyclones baseball, and an old-school weekend in New York City.

Duration: 00:15:00
Atlantic City '25: 6/27/25
Jun 27, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Atlantic City, their third in what is now becoming an annual tradition.

Duration: 00:15:02
Richmond, Virginia: 6/20/25
Jun 20, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Richmond, Virginia, home of Belle Isle, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball club.

Duration: 00:14:45
Last day of school: 6/13/25
Jun 13, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate the final day of the school year.

Duration: 00:16:12
Birthday 43 preview: 6/6/25
Jun 06, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss the former's upcoming birthday, and relive one of their childhoods with some '80s trivia.

Duration: 00:15:46
Streak beginnings: 5/30/25
May 30, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss two famous streaks that both began on May 30, one from 1982 and one from 2008.

Duration: 00:16:40
Wendy's Frosty Fusion review: 5/23/25
May 23, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss the new Wendy's Frosty Fusions, and delve into the complete history of the beloved frozen dairy dessert.

Duration: 00:17:16
Hockey and Oreos: 5/16/25
May 16, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate another Binghamton hockey championship, and take a deep dive down the rabbit hole of Oreo cookies.

Duration: 00:15:56
Horseracing and hockey: 5/9/25
May 09, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss Part Two of their Binghamton trip, highlighted by some horseracing and hockey.

Duration: 00:15:24
Kentucky Derby preview: 5/2/25
May 02, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss tomorrow's big race, and the Binghamton connection to the Kentucky Derby.

Duration: 00:15:53
Maryland Tour, Part 2: 4/25/25
Apr 25, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss Part 2 of their Spring Break tour of eastern Maryland, catching some baseball (literally) at the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen.

Duration: 00:17:04
Maryland tour, Part 1: 4/18/25
Apr 18, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their journey to Baltimore and parts north, celebrating all things historical and delicious.

Duration: 00:16:10
Year 2000 throwback: 4/11/25
Apr 11, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate all things 2000, toasting the 25th anniversary of that big year for both Mike and the world at large.

Duration: 00:15:40
Final Four preview: 4/4/25
Apr 04, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss this weekend's Final Four and offer some hot takes on holidays and unusual food items.

Duration: 00:15:03
200th episode!: 3/28/25
Mar 28, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate the 200th episode of Math and Musings, talking a little college basketball and reminiscing about previous topics, highlighted of course by unusual food items.

Duration: 00:17:50
March Madness!: 3/21/25
Mar 21, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss this year's Division I Men's College Basketball Tournament, a.k.a. March Madness.

Duration: 00:15:47
Pi(e) Day: 3/14/25
Mar 14, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss all things pi and pie. Mike knows pi, Franklin knows pie, and this article (by Ben Orlin) pretty much summarizes Mike's thoughts on Pi Day.

Duration: 00:15:06
Remembering JR Gaudet: 3/7/25
Mar 07, 2025

Mike remembers and pays tribute to fallen firefighter JR Gaudet, a true Binghamton hero and close friend for more than 20 years.

Article

GoFundMe

Duration: 00:12:20
Franklin's birthday preview: 2/28/25
Feb 28, 2025

Mike and Franklin celebrate the latter's upcoming birthday with some trivia... from 1993.

Duration: 00:16:09
George Washington Day: 2/21/25
Feb 21, 2025

Mike and Franklin rekindle an old Presidents(') Day routine and try their hands at some George Washington trivia.

Duration: 00:16:31
Valentine's Day: 2/14/25
Feb 14, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss today's holiday... with trivia, of course!

Duration: 00:16:09
Super Bowl preview: 2/7/25
Feb 07, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss this Sunday's big game.

Duration: 00:15:53
Snow day the third: 1/31/25
Jan 31, 2025

Mike and Franklin share some ice cold facts on, unbelievably, another snow day.

Duration: 00:15:48
Snow day season continues: 1/24/25
Jan 24, 2025

Mike and Franklin continue their snow day lives, bouncing random facts off one another as the snow falls outside.

Duration: 00:15:53
Snow Day season begins: 1/17/25
Jan 17, 2025

Mike and Franklin continue their tradition of recording podcasts on snow days. On this episode they regale each other with facts about peanut butter. 

Duration: 00:17:55
Tucson travels: 1/10/25
Jan 10, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent excursion to Tucson, Arizona.

Duration: 00:16:30
"Christmas" in Binghamton: 1/3/25
Jan 03, 2025

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip north to celebrate the Christmas season, just south of the North Pole.

Duration: 00:15:51
2024 in review: 12/27/24
Dec 27, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their 2024, and are challenged by some 2024 trivia.

Duration: 00:16:38
Christmas trivia: 12/20/24
Dec 20, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their Christmas Schedule successes, and entertain each other with some Christmas trivia.

Duration: 00:15:57
Christmas Schedule, Part 3: 12/13/24
Dec 13, 2024

Mike and Franklin complete the famous Christmas Schedule, things one must do between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Duration: 00:16:19
Christmas Schedule, Part 2: 12/6/24
Dec 06, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss Part 2 of the "Christmas Schedule," things to do between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also discussed: Mike's new book, From Box Scores to Test Scores, now available on Amazon and other fine retailers!

Duration: 00:15:28
Christmas Schedule, Part 1: 11/29/24
Nov 29, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate Opening Day of the Christmas season discussing their list of things to do between today and December 25.

Duration: 00:17:16
Extra Life: 11/22/24
Nov 22, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent fundraising experience with Extra Life, an organization that since 2008 has raised over $120 million for Children's Miracle Network.

Duration: 00:16:17
Guinness World Records: 11/15/24
Nov 15, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss a few notes from the Guinness company's official publication of world records.

Duration: 00:17:19
Golden Corral: 11/8/24
Nov 08, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent excursion to "real America" and the culinary delights of Golden Corral.

Duration: 00:18:13
Commanders game: 11/1/24
Nov 01, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, to see their hometown NFL team, the Washington Commanders.

Duration: 00:16:59
Virginia Fall Races: 10/25/24
Oct 25, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to hunt country for the Virginia Fall Races. Topics include fancy foods, fancy clothes, and steeplechase trivia.

Duration: 00:17:41
Yankee playoff party: 10/18/24
Oct 18, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their trip to New York to watch a Yankee playoff game... on TV.

Duration: 00:15:51
Halloween trivia: 10/11/24
Oct 11, 2024

Mike challenges Franklin with some Halloween trivia.

Duration: 00:15:18
Halloween fun facts: 10/4/24
Oct 04, 2024

Mike and Franklin kick off Halloween Season with some fun facts about said holiday.

Duration: 00:15:31
Shower Thoughts: 9/27/24
Sep 27, 2024

Mike and Franklin continue last week's philosophical discussion with some "shower thoughts."

Duration: 00:16:36
Thought-provoking questions: 9/20/24
Sep 20, 2024

Mike asks his special guest some deep questions about the cosmos and related vagaries of life.

Duration: 00:16:13
Bristol, Tennessee: 9/13/24
Sep 13, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their trip south of the border... to Bristol, Tennessee!

Duration: 00:17:13
Southern Virginia Tour: 9/6/24
Sep 06, 2024

Mike and Franklin talk about their trip through the wilds of Southern Virginia, celebrating all things America.

Duration: 00:16:36
Labor Day weekend: 8/30/24
Aug 30, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate today's "holiday" with a little Labor Day trivia.

Duration: 00:17:32
First week of school: 8/23/24
Aug 23, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate the first week of school with some school-related trivia.

Duration: 00:16:07
New York City, Part 2: 8/16/24
Aug 16, 2024

Mike and Franklin continue the discussion of their recent trip to New York City, highlighted by a few authentic New York eateries.

Duration: 00:15:16
New York City, Part 1: 8/9/24
Aug 09, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to New York City.

Duration: 00:16:02
Summer games: 8/2/24
Aug 02, 2024

Mike and Franklin try their hand at some summer-themed contests.
Also check out...
Math and Musings Instagram
Franklin's Food Review Instagram
www.mikeoconnelljr.com
www.franklinsfoodreview.com

Duration: 00:17:37
Olympic trivia: 7/26/24
Jul 26, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate the start of the 2024 Olympic Games with some Olympic trivia.

Duration: 00:15:29
Rank-order challenge: 7/19/24
Jul 19, 2024

Mike and Franklin play the game that's sweeping the Internet: rank ordering various items... without changing. 

Duration: 00:15:51
Atlantic City '24: 7/12/24
Jul 12, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Atlantic City... this time accompanied by Mom!

Duration: 00:15:55
Binghamton tour: 7/5/24
Jul 05, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Binghamton, highlighted by greasy diners and old-school pizzerias.

Duration: 00:16:12
Elmira, New York: 6/28/24
Jun 28, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to historic Dunn Field in Elmira, New York, recorded "on location" (sort of) in nearby Sayre, Pennsylvania.

Duration: 00:15:32
Hagerstown, Maryland: 6/21/24
Jun 21, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their baseball-themed excursion to Hagerstown, Maryland.

Duration: 00:15:12
Last day of school: 6/14/24
Jun 14, 2024

Mike, in classic teacher form, gives Franklin a test on the last day of school.

Duration: 00:15:32
Birthday celebration: 6/7/24
Jun 07, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate not only the former's birthday but also the "birthday" of Math and Musings. Highlights include opening a 36-year-old pack of baseball cards.

Duration: 00:15:54
Great Wolf Lodge: 5/31/24
May 31, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss Virginia vacations, Virginia history, and snack food history.

Duration: 00:14:53
Virginia Studies: 5/24/24
May 24, 2024

Appropriate for the Memorial Day holiday, Mike and Franklin show off their knowledge of history, specifically Virginia history as studied by 4th grade students around the state.

Duration: 00:15:31
Yellow cafe review: 5/17/24
May 17, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss a recent trip to Georgetown and the famed Yellow cafe, as featured on Somebody Feed Phil. Want more? Check out Mike as a guest on Conversations with Sports Fans podcast, just one of writer and podcaster Doug Hill's many outputs.

Duration: 00:15:02
Unfrosted review: 5/10/24
May 10, 2024

Mike and Franklin review Jerry Seinfeld's new movie, Unfrosted, and, of course, discuss the history of the Pop-Tart.

Duration: 00:18:34
Peekamoose review: 5/3/24
May 03, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to the Catskills and an O'Connell family favorite restaurant, the Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room.

Duration: 00:15:05
Binghamton review: 4/26/24
Apr 26, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to the old country (Binghamton, New York) for, among other things, the Joseph P. Sullivan Memorial Poker Tournament.

Duration: 00:16:27
Oklahoma review: 4/19/24
Apr 19, 2024

Mike discusses with Franklin his trip to Oklahoma... 25 years ago.

Duration: 00:15:30
Disney food review: 4/12/24
Apr 12, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss Disney dining in all its glory.

Duration: 00:16:47
Disney World review: 4/5/24
Apr 05, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Walt Disney World.

Duration: 00:17:38
Easter, etc.: 3/29/24
Mar 29, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss this weekend's holiday(s).

Duration: 00:15:21
20th anniversary of PAD: 3/22/24
Mar 22, 2024

Mike introduces Franklin to the astonishing world of Politics After Dark, which aired its first episode 20 years ago this week.
Politics After Dark premiere broadcast

Duration: 00:15:24
March anniversaries: 3/15/24
Mar 15, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss a few March anniversaries, including but not limited to the American onset of Covid-19 and the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Duration: 00:15:50
March's musings: 3/8/24
Mar 08, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss all things March: Shamrock shakes, college basketball, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Duration: 00:16:24
Philadelphia Recap: 3/1/24
Mar 01, 2024

Mike and Franklin discuss their recent trip to Philadelphia. Highlights include Franklin Field, the Palestra, the Rocky steps, and Wawa.

Duration: 00:16:20
Snow Day 3 with Franklin: 2/23/24
Feb 23, 2024

Mike and Franklin celebrate yet another snow day with stories of traditions, lists, and all things O'Connell.

Duration: 00:15:54
President(')s Day with Franklin: 2/16/24
Feb 16, 2024

Mike talks February holidays with Franklin, including the long-running gag of Presidents' Day naming conventions.

Duration: 00:16:11