Bad Friends – "Marge and Barbara's Clam Chowder"

Hosts: Bobby Lee & Andrew Santino
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Bad Friends, Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino are joined by recurring cast members and, notably, Rudy Jules and her mother, culminating in an episode that’s equal parts absurdist improv, raunchy banter, and heartfelt cultural discussion. The duo riff on everything from family dynamics, ethnic identity, and food, to the idiosyncrasies of language and living situations. A major highlight is the imaginary lesbian restaurant "Snatch" – with signature dishes like "clam chowder" – where Marge, Barbara, and Rudy ad-lib wildly. The episode also mines deeper insights into Filipino culture, family, and the quirks of cohabitation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. In-Studio Dynamics and Ongoing Roasts

• Bobby and Andrew begin with playful arguing, drawing in the crew, including Andres and Rudy, in classic Bad Friends fashion. There's plenty of mocking, self-deprecation, and fast-paced banter.
• A running joke is leveled at Andres for being "pro-ICE" and their faux-hierarchical role on the podcast. Bobby and Andrew volley sharp jabs about career trajectories, family, and personal idiosyncrasies.
  • Notable quote:
    Bobby (to Andres): "If you were born in 1987, you'd be working at a laundromat right now." (04:01)

2. Buddy System and Health Scares

• The group discusses Carlos’s recent hospital visit due to a stomach virus. Andrew insists there’s a “buddy system,” so everyone must check in.
  • Notable exchange:
    Andrew: "Everyone has to call someone when something happens. We're on a buddy system, so never again." (08:42)

3. Music, Cultural Labels, & Identity

• The hosts wrangle over the differences between "Hispanic," "Latino," and "Latinx", discussing Spanish versus Latin American identity.
• Bobby jokes about being "ombre," referencing mixed heritage with a pun on hair coloring.
  • Notable quote:
    Andrew: "You're ombre, by the way. We should call mixed people ombres now." (12:22)
• The discussion transitions to Rudy's appearance on various other podcasts and dating life.

4. Rudy's Romantic Life, Pipeline to "Beach Boys"

• Rudy’s recent foray into dating, especially with a "half African-American surfer" from Laguna, becomes a bit. Bobby and Andrew then slip into a parody of young, beachy SoCal skater-surf lingo.
  • Improv segment: Skater bro talk-off between Bobby and Andrew, playfully one-upping each other about skateboarding tricks. (14:10–16:16)

5. Formula 1, Meeting Yuki Tsunoda & Language Shtick

• Andrew recounts meeting Japanese F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda. Bobby riffs on the stereotype of Asian drivers and slips into exaggerated impressions.
  • Notable moment:
    Andrew: "These guys, they're all tiny, tiny men. I didn't know they were that small." (16:50)
• They mock-interview as Yuki and Ron Howard, blending confusion about names, movies, race car terms, and iconic American films. (17:40–21:08)

6. Scent Gate: The Cologne Debate

• The hosts spar about who gets to wear which scent, poking fun at proprietary claims over cologne.
  • Notable quote:
    Bobby: "That's my scent." (29:22)
    Andrew: "What do you mean, my scent?" (29:23)
• The tangent spirals into discussing funky colognes and odors (including "cow cologne").

7. Food, Ethnic Gatherings, and Racial “Nights Out”

• Bobby explains why he doesn't invite Andrew to certain Asian gatherings, suggesting some spaces are intentionally "no whites allowed," which Andrew flips into a running joke.
  • Notable moment:
    Andrew: "And you get in your Hyundais and zip away and you don't call them rice rockets?" (33:27)
• They dissect the demographics of LA restaurants and what feels “diverse” or “authentic” about different spaces, riffing on places they've gone for grub.

8. Imaginary Queer Restaurants & Lesbian Improv

• A surreal, extended improv follows, where Bobby and Andrew become "Marge and Barbara," lesbian partners hosting at the restaurant "Snatch," riffing on menu puns ("clam chowder," "cream tubes," etc.). Rudy is invited to order with characteristically blunt sex jokes.
  • Notable moment:
    Bobby as Barbara: "Have you tried our clams? We sell clams and dirty tacos." (38:04)
• This segment also includes joke restaurant names like "Gargle" and "Sax" and various not-so-subtle innuendo. (36:21–39:17)

9. Heart-to-Heart with Rudy's Mom & Filipino Culture

• Rudy's mother (Honey) joins the bench, sharing about her life, sobriety, and running a bakery back in Cebu. She describes the struggles of living with Bobby and the never-ending battle against pantry ants.
  • Notable exchange:
    Honey: "It's really not my fault. It's his fault. He blames me for it…he puts [open food] in a pantry and ants come in." (54:59)
• Discussion covers Filipino breads, bakery names (Lola Fe/Honey’s), cigarette sales, and even the reality of dog-eating (“Our uncles [eat dog]. I saw…” 75:25).
• Bobby shares the story of a machete-wielding uncle, raising the stakes on "characters" you meet in Cebu.
  • Notable quote:
    Bobby: “There’s a man that sliced his brother in half. And he walks the street – my uncle.” (64:54)

10. Race, Colonization, and Local Tensions

• Bobby and Honey discuss the presence of Koreans in Cebu, issues of colorism, wealth disparity, and feelings of being looked down upon.
  • Honey: "They're richer than we are... but that doesn't make it right." (67:52)
• Andrew and Bobby reflect on how local hierarchies and colonial hangovers manifest in everyday social life.

11. Food Extremes and Filipino Gastronomy

• The team talks Filipino dishes and delicacies, from sinigang (sour soup) to balut (fertilized duck egg) and even pig’s blood and sautéed ants. Andrew recounts his visceral reaction to eating balut:
  • "I threw up. I couldn't. It's a fertilized duck egg. But you can see the duck." (74:10)

12. Language Games: Japanese Homonyms

• A brief but hilarious detour into Japanese, where similar-sounding words mean different things. They play a TikTok of a Japanese speaker highlighting how "ame" means both "rain" and "candy," "kaeru" means both "frog" and "to change," and "kata" means both "shoulder" and "stiff."
  • "Isn't this basically the thesis of this show?" – Andrew (73:00)

13. Sage Wisdom, Body Count, and Parting Shots

• Bobby asks Honey about her "body count" (number of lovers), and she reveals bits about her history with addiction.
• The episode closes with mother-daughter bonding, affectionate ribbing, and a classic Bad Friends group signoff:
  • "Thank you for being a bad friend!" (75:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 04:01 | "If you were born in 1987, you'd be working at a laundromat right now." | Bobby (to Andres) | | 08:42 | "Everyone has to call someone when something happens. We're on a buddy system, so never again." | Andrew | | 12:22 | "You're ombre, by the way. We should call mixed people ombres now." | Andrew | | 29:22 | "That's my scent." | Bobby | | 29:23 | "What do you mean, my scent?" | Andrew | | 33:27 | "And you get in your Hyundais and zip away and you don't call them rice rockets?" | Andrew | | 38:04 | "Have you tried our clams? We sell clams and dirty tacos." | Bobby as Barbara | | 54:59 | "It's really not my fault. It's his fault. He blames me for it…" | Honey (Rudy’s mom) | | 64:54 | "There’s a man that sliced his brother in half. And he walks the street – my uncle." | Bobby | | 67:52 | "They're richer than we are... but that doesn't make it right." | Honey |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Buddy System & Health: 07:54–09:11
• Ethnic/Racial Banter: 12:07–13:30
• Rudy's Dating Life & Beach Boys: 13:55–14:39
• Skater Lingo Improv: 14:41–16:16
• Yuki Tsunoda & Driver Improv: 16:22–21:08
• Cologne/Scent Feud: 28:39–31:38
• Imaginary Restaurant (Snatch/Gargle): 36:21–39:17
• Rudy’s Mom Interview: 52:06–69:39
• Filipino Gastronomy & Balut: 73:35–74:15
• Japanese Language Tangle: 71:24–73:21
• Outro & Closing: 75:48

Tone & Style

The tone is unfiltered, raucous, and self-effacing, veering from scatological humor and sexual innuendo to sincere moments of vulnerability and cross-cultural curiosity. The hosts play off each other's comedic strengths: Bobby’s manic absurdism and shamelessness, Andrew’s dry wit and incisive take-downs, all while roping in guests and family alike for maximum laughs.

For New Listeners: Why Listen?

This episode captures Bad Friends’ best: fearless comedy, spontaneous juvenile riffs, and surprisingly honest discussions about identity, family, and belonging. Whether they're riffing about lesbian diners or the pitfalls of having snack ants, Bobby and Andrew trade barbs that are as heartfelt as they are hilarious, all while showcasing the extended “Bad Friends family.”