Dana Gould is one of comedy's "that guys." His footprint is everywhere -- from writing on top-line hits like The Simpsons to cult-status titles The Ben Stiller Show -- and there's a chance you've never heard of him. If you're like Dana and you've spent the last quarter century hopping from great writers room to great writers room, while still managing to be a stand-up, a podcast host, and the voice of an animated gecko (not that one), you gain insights into life, entertainment and politics that a lot of us aren't privy to.

So on this week's podcast, Jack O'Brien, Daniel O'Brien and Michael Swaim sit down with Dana for an extended conversation about the world-building processes behind The Simpsons and Parks & Rec, Elvis Costello's worst night ever, and the cognitive dissonance of the average Trump supporter. We also ask him about Gex.

Throw on your headphones and click "Play" above, go here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or download it here.

Footnotes:

Podcast: Cracked Podcast: Insane Simpsons Easter Eggs (Explained By Simpsons Writers)

Podcast: Cracked Podcast: Why Narcissism Is Our National Mental Disorder

Podcast: The Dana Gould Hour: Episode Archive

TV: IFC: Stan Against Evil

Article/Podcast: Freakonomics: The Academic Origins of China's One-Child Policy

Book: Peter Doggett: You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup

Documentary: The Making of 'Dr. Strangelove'

Article: Cracked: 12 Classic Movie Moments Made Possible By Abuse and Murder

Article: Cracked: 5 Great Movie Scenes Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment

Check Out Jack's May Spotify Playlist