Episodes

  • Ep. 1: Slavery (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017

    On Extra Credit, writer Neal Pollack augments his son's public school education with his own, somewhat questionable, life lessons. In this episode, after learning that some Texas schoolbooks refer to African slaves as "migrant workers," Neal takes Elijah on a road trip to Lousiana, where they visit a slavery museum on a former plantation.

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Ep. 2: Sex Ed (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017

    In writer Neal Pollack’s opinion, the sex ed curriculum at his son's school has…shortcomings. In this episode, Neal sends Elijah to a sex ed program offered by a local church--one that involves practice midnight condom purchases, and lots and lots of lube.

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Ep. 3: Evolution (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017

    Writer Neal Pollack was shocked by the way his public school district teaches students about the origins of species. In this episode, Neal sends Elijah to a bar outside a convention of 1,700 biologists to learn about what he isn't hearing in school: evolution.

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Ep. 4: Medical Marijuana (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017

    Annoyed at the hopelessly dated anti-drug program at his 13-year-old son Elijah's Texas public school, writer Neal Pollack decides to take Elijah to Colorado, for a more modern drug education. There, Elijah meets a marijuana journalist and a family of medical-marijuana activists, who teach him that there's more to learn about drugs than "just say no."

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Ep. 5: Judaism (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017
    When his 13-year-old son decides not to have a Bar Mitzvah, writer Neal Pollack plans an emergency cultural trip to "The Jewish American Homeland" -- New York City -- with decidedly mixed results.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Ep. 6: Poetry (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017
    Alarmed by what passes for a poetry curriculum at Elijah's middle school, Neal takes Elijah to New York City to meet some actual working poets. Back in Texas, they visit a "Typewriter Rodeo," and along the way, Neal reveals the secrets of his own strange, poetic past.
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • Ep. 7: Comics (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017
    Elijah, a comic-book fan, interviews Sana Amanat, the creative director of Marvel Comics, about being a "Muslim-American super hero." And John Hodgman stops by to discuss his doomed plans to play a super villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Ep. 8: Guns (Extra Credit)
    Oct 24 2017
    Neal is terrified for Elijah's safety in Texas, where guns are as prevalent as popcorn. They visit a gun club in San Antonio to learn how to shoot responsibly, interview an anti-campus carry activist about how to protest guns using sex toys, and talk to a parent who lost her son to gun violence. But Elijah still thinks guns are cool.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins