For a first-time listener, it can seem like you can’t go 10 seconds without hearing a reference to some long-since established joke you’re not yet hip to. Here’s a short list of our favorite origin stories and the bits’ best applications.
# 1: Kyle’s riddles
Origin: Episode 8: Evolution (with Dr. Martin Cohen) & Episode 9: Dimensions
When to listen: Hear the first “un-riddle” in Episode 8, 19:20-25:39; hear Kyle’s first riddle in Episode 9, 5:55-9:41
In a nutshell: Kyle adlibs a singsong, nonsensical riddle that’s loosely tied to the subject at hand
Best application: Kyle creates a half-Spanish, half-nonsense riddle that ends up dropping a few actual phrases, resulting in the title, “The Dog Is Not In Us” (Episode 39: Free For All: NTK, 1:01:22-1:03:59)
PLAY EPISODE 8
PLAY EPISODE 9
PLAY EPISODE 39
# 2: “Cool beer”
Origin: Episode 15: Obesity (with Mo Hassanein)
When to listen: 12:33-13:52
In a nutshell: David’s go-to line for meeting people/potential podcast guests at parties: “Hey, cool beer.”
Best application: Dropped so frequently, it became its own t-shirt design!
# 3: “Thaaaaat’s nuts!”
Origin: Episode 35: Oceans (with Taylor Semingson)
When to listen: 31:02-32:01, 35:12-40:11
In a nutshell: Beginning by making fun of David’s opinion that every interesting fact “is nuts,” the gang creates an ongoing segment where they ask their guest, “Whaaaaaat’s nuts?”
Best application: The most nuts fact of all, winner of the “That’s Nuts” trophy… “So, if I shake your hand I’m basically getting to third base?” (Episode 110: Quadrilateral Congenital Limb Deficiency, 54:48-56:25)
PLAY EPISODE 35
PLAY EPISODE 110
# 4: Beach poop
Origin: Episode 56: Twins (with Randy & Jason Sklar)
When to listen: 9:10-16:42
In a nutshell: One of David’s only embarrassing stories shared on the podcast… a tale of marathon training gone wrong, a gentleman squat and a majestic sunset over Venice Beach
Best application: As David’s only embarrassing story, it easily becomes a nickname (Episode 76: American History (with Sascha Cohen), 2:11-3:42)
PLAY EPISODE 56
PLAY EPISODE 76
# 5: I got a ham!
Origin: Episode 70: Apocalypse (with Jen Kirkman)
When to listen: 31:31-31:56
In a nutshell: David believes that if the day came where all of our resources were taken away, havoc would ensue and people would be frantically grabbing whatever they could get their hands on… “I got a ham!”
Best application: David receives a gift from a listener… a needlepoint magnet of a ham with a lasso/rope… “I gotta ham… on a rope!” (Episode 170: Aging and Immortality (with Eric Kane), 1:00:23-1:01:55)
PLAY EPISODE 70
PLAY EPISODE 170
# 6: The Wagonhini Guy
Origin: Episode 101: Cars (with George Reddick)
When to listen: 20:23-22:41-24:32
In a nutshell: Kyle loves Lamborghinis, but he’s gonna need a wagon-Lamborghini hybrid if he wants to be flyin’ down the highway, hundred and fifty miles per hour with ten of his bros
Best application: The gang discovers the real Wagonhini Guy (Episode 119: Live from Brooklyn/Habits (with Charles Duhigg), 59:21-1:04:22)
PLAY EPISODE 101
PLAY EPISODE 119
# 7: Couldn’t think top-shelf thoughts
Origin: Episode 139: Literary Death Match (with Todd Zuniga)
When to listen: 4:24-15:32
In a nutshell: After describing Kyle’s recent experience with dating websites, the crew stumbles across a new tongue-twisting challenge
Best application: Tig, David, Kyle and guest thank a listener for their donation with a “thinking top-shelf thoughts” harmony, finished off with a jazz note (Episode 161: Cults (with Leslie Wilson) 1:11:13-11:11:52)
PLAY EPISODE 139
PLAY EPISODE 161
# 8: Mother Meditation
Origin: Episode 150: Heart Health (with Penelope Lombard)
When to listen: 20:22-23:33
In a nutshell: Set to soothing music, Kyle talks the gang through a conversation with Mother, Judy Dunnigan… and breathe
Best application: Mother tries to recall the name of a movie starring Tom “Honks,” in which he’s a castaway and has a volleyball he calls Michael (Episode 160: The Moon (with Mary Holland), 1:00:20-1:05:10)
PLAY EPISODE 150
PLAY EPISODE 160
# 9: The Bear Story
Origin: Episode 21: Honor (with Blastronaut Owen Wiseman)
When to listen: 3:10-8:20
In a nutshell: Kyle tells the story of a camping trip with the threat of a bear attack, in which he ends up sitting in the warm car while his girlfriend slept in the tent
Best application: In a true full-circle moment, the girl from the bear story is the guest and tells her side of the tale… which makes Kyle sound no more brave than his rendition (Episode 211: Flatulence (with Margee Magee), 6:40-14:44)
PLAY EPISODE 21
PLAY EPISODE 211
# 10: Body Rapping
Origin: Episode 168: Music Industry (with Jim Roach)
When to listen: 16:06-21:31
In a nutshell: Kyle freestyle raps over a near-orchestral arrangement of music, using nothing but his body
Best application: Showing Molly Ringwald his true talent, Kyle “raps backward” (a.k.a. inhales while rapping) (Episode 200: Advice (with Molly Ringwald), 46:01-49:49)
PLAY EPISODE 168
PLAY EPISODE 200
Thanks for help from The Podcast Database Wiki.
—ANGELA JONES