Bad Friends Podcast: "Egg Roll Takes a Ride"
Hosts: Bobby Lee & Andrew Santino
Date: January 5, 2026
Episode Overview
The first Bad Friends episode of 2026 finds Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino launching the new year with their signature chaotic banter and reflective humor. The duo covers topics spanning family mishaps, live shows, charity events, fast food mishaps, evolving technology, relationships, and their own dynamic—sprinkled with musical, culinary, and pop culture detours. Beneath the laughs, they reflect on aging, happiness, belonging, and the search for meaning both on and off the comedy stage.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Family Moments & Touring Recap
- Phoenix Shows: Bobby and Andrew reminisce about their shows with Shane Gillis, Mark Norman, and others before 20,000 people in Phoenix.
- “The guy was incredible.” – Bobby (02:06)
- “Unbelievable lineup.” – Andrew (02:12)
- Bobby's Mom Falling: The group teases Bobby when it’s claimed he didn’t help his mom up when she fell.
- “Everyone knows this role where your mom falls, whoever's the closest picks her up.” – Bobby (00:57)
- “I felt a little bad…It’s sad when old people fall.” – Andrew (01:26)
Special Olympics Charity Event
- Andrew’s Involvement: Andrew organized and participated in the Special Olympics, with Bobby admiring his dedication.
- “You're a really good guy.” – Bobby (03:40)
- “It was fun, man.” – Andrew (03:42)
- Creeper Appearance: Frankie Quinones showed up as his character Creeper, entertaining everyone.
- “He was throwing pitches and he was dancing like robot in between pitches.” – Andrew (03:59)
Charity, Big Brother Ideals, and Background Checks
- Discussion of Doing More Charity: Both discuss joining programs like Big Brother, joking about being assigned kids or picking them by nationality.
- “We should do Big Brother… you take them on the weekend to do cool shit.” – Andrew (04:44)
- “Can we choose the kid?” – Bobby (05:04)
- Spoiling Kids & Background Checks: Jokes about spoiling the kids and background check processes yield friendly arguments and banter.
Gifts and Sleeplessness
- Custom Chopsticks: Andrew gifts Bobby bespoke chopsticks from his friend’s company.
- “Are you being real?” – Bobby (06:37)
- Anxiety & Nightmares: Bobby opens up about insomnia and recurring nightmares.
- “You know, you're just laying there, right? And you're having horrific thoughts… drowning, fire, all that stuff.” – Bobby (07:38)
- “To have like just negative thoughts while you can't sleep.” – Andrew (07:55)
Absurd Fables, Dark Comedy, & Myths
- Talking Myths: Bobby professes his love for myths and fables, mangling words and launching bits about despot name confusion.
- “I'm a myth guy, dude.” – Bobby (08:50)
- Extended riff and confusion around “idiom,” and Idi Amin vs. Pol Pot genocidal statistics (09:35–10:48).
Fast Food, Delivery Mishaps, and Ice Cream
- DoorDash Stories: Both complain about delivery instructions gone wrong and discuss dubious “priority” delivery options.
- Food Experiments: Banter about “rogue” food items, including finding a fry in a nugget box or the hypothetical egg roll in fast food.
- “Onion rings just to hang out with onion rings. If you come over to French Fry Land, I'm calling ICE.” – Bobby (38:07)
- Ice Cream Preferences: A debate about “old school” vs. “artisanal” ice cream, and which shops are overrated or underrated.
- “Baskin Robbins. There's never anyone here.” – Andrew (17:28)
- “Duck skin. You think that's good?” – Bobby (16:09)
Food Safety, Restaurant Sanitation & Lab-like Kitchens
- Rib-Slamming Viral Video: Commentary on a viral video showing a cook breaking frozen ribs on an outdoor sidewalk.
- “He’s Asian… The way he throws is Asian.” – Andrew (35:26)
- “Nothing is sticking to frozen. You could literally dip that in trash, take it out, blow it off. It's nothing.” – Andrew (36:08)
- Watching Food Get Made: Bobby prefers restaurants where the kitchen operates like a scientific lab for transparency.
- “I like places where it looks like a lab at a restaurant.” – Bobby (33:48)
Automation, Technology, and the Dread of Robots
- Self-Driving Cars and Robot Deliveries: Bobby is fascinated by progress; Andrew is annoyed and skeptical.
- “There will still be a need for human.” – Andrew (45:47)
- “You can’t get out of those things until you’re at your destination… have to poo in the Waymo.” – Andrew (47:10)
Relationships, Happiness, and Regret
- Bobby’s Reflections: Bobby expresses vulnerability about past relationships, family, and fears of becoming like his mother—a homebody.
- “I think I regret some things.” – Bobby (54:17)
- “In rough patches, right? I go, mayday, mayday, I gotta get out... next time, maybe stick in the rough patch.” – Bobby (55:45)
- On Happiness & Money: Discussion of whether success and purchases bring happiness, referencing Warren Buffett’s quote.
- “If you can’t be happy now, you’re never going to be happy, then.” – Andrew (59:13)
- “Warren Buffett… ‘if you're not happy with $50,000 or $100,000, you're not going to be happy with a $100 million…’ What are you talking about?” – Andrew (59:36)
Workplace Power Dynamics & Producer McCone Riff
- Mock Power Rankings: Bobby and Andrew rib their producer, McCone, on show hierarchies and job roles, with tongue-in-cheek firing and re-hiring shenanigans.
- “He thinks we're peers, right?” – Bobby (70:29)
- “You're fired. Why are you blushing?” – Bobby (75:29)
Future Predictions & New Year’s Reflections
- Retirement Plans: They predict ending the podcast when Bobby turns 60, with Bobby fantasizing about adopting an 18-year-old Russian.
- “When Bobby turns 60, we're gonna throw a big bash and show will be done in six years.” – Andrew (80:10)
- “Single father…with an 18 year old Russian kid.” – Bobby (81:29)
- Resolutions: Mocked, then ultimately shrugged off, as Bobby resolves to just keep being himself amid crew power struggles.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Helping Family:
“Everyone knows this role where your mom falls, whoever's the closest picks her up.” — Bobby Lee (00:57) -
Philosophy on Happiness:
“If you can’t be happy now, you’re never going to be happy, then.” — Andrew Santino (59:13) -
Fast Food Wisdom:
“Onion rings just to hang out with onion rings. If you come over to French Fry Land, I'm calling ICE.” — Bobby Lee (38:07) -
Workplace Comedy:
“He thinks we're peers, right?” — Bobby Lee (70:29)
“I think at this point, we're work friends.” — Producer McCone (70:34) -
Predicting the Future:
“Single father…with an 18 year old Russian kid.” — Bobby Lee (81:29) -
Existential Reflection:
“That stuff doesn’t make anyone happy…Everyone has a reflective moment…That’s human nature.” — Producer McCone & Andrew Santino (58:39–58:46)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening & Phoenix Recap: 00:48–02:13
- Special Olympics & Charity: 02:41–04:43
- Big Brother/BG Sister & Comedy: 04:44–06:24
- Chopsticks Gift: 06:27–07:15
- Sleeplessness & Anxiety: 07:24–08:50
- Myths & Dark Humor (Idi Amin): 08:50–10:48
- Fast Food/Food Delivery: 13:05–16:12, 38:00–40:00
- Ice Cream Discussion: 15:17–18:14
- Restaurant Labs & Food Safety: 33:48–36:38
- Automation & Tech Skepticism: 45:47–47:56
- Relationship & Happiness: 53:42–59:36
- Producer Power Banter: 67:59–76:43
- New Year’s Reflection & Closing: 77:13–82:01
Tone and Style
Throughout the episode, Bobby and Andrew’s distinct mix of absurdity, dark humor, self-deprecation, and genuine friendship sets a lighthearted but relatable tone—even when tackling deeper subjects like aging, regret, and the human quest for connection and joy.
Final Thoughts
This episode showcases classic Bad Friends chemistry: rapid-fire teasing, tangents that somehow yield real insights, confessions about personal shortcomings, and a refusal to take even the new year too seriously. Listeners new and old get both laughs and life lessons—with a side of existential crisis and a sprinkle of fast food nostalgia.
