I liked this story while I was listening to it, and although I accept many of previous commenters' concerns, I still like it. I had a post planned in my head but I've forgotten it since listening to the episode last week. It was a little distracting at first to have another character named Stu (hearkening back to "Stu" on an earlier episode).
The story had some subtle details that I enjoyed very much. I liked the language a la "green plastic fish"--a great twist on the traditional "2+2=5" and worthy of Discordian adoption. I also thought that Marcy's rebuttal to Stu's feelings of betrayal about her being a time traveler was excellent and very real.
I think there was more depth in the side characters than it seems at a surface listening. I thought it was interesting that Renee's purple hair and (eyebrow? nose?) ring disappeared as soon as she decided to spin the bone as evidence of creationism—somehow she was taken seriously as a (female!) conventional scientist with an idiosyncratic appearance, but decided she would not have the same luxuries as a creation scientist. Joel sounds like an idiot to many of us for saying Renee can't be right because it contradicts evolution, but there are scientists that do see the world that way and have somehow forgotten the lessons in the scientific method from high school biology.
Steve's comments on "Flaming Marshmallows and Other Deaths" about the attraction and importance of science fiction to young readers I think is very well served by this story. The guy with the seemingly sci-fi ideals turns out to be right. He doesn't get exactly what he wants, but a potential is created in the world for his dreams, just because someone thought them. Doesn't that happen all the time? And it's only more likely as information and dreams and ideas are disseminated more widely. Somewhere, somewhen, there is someone who can make your sci-fi dreams come true; even if you can't do it yourself, you can put the idea out there and eventually someone will get your sci-fi earworm and make it happen. It may not be wrapped up as nice and neat as needing a time traveler and PRESTO your wife is one, but it happens.