Distractible Podcast: Episode 20 “Simple” Questions

Date: June 27, 2025
Hosts: Bob Muyskens (Host), Mark Fischbach, Wade Barnes

Episode Overview

In this comedic and competitive episode of Distractible, the trio returns to a classic segment with a twist: “20 Simple Questions,” a game-show segment where Mark and Wade face off in a round of true-or-false questions curated by host Bob. The questions range across science, history, and general knowledge, providing plenty of opportunities for banter, confusion, and friendly roasting. Along the way, the friends share everyday gripes, tell relatable stories, and compete for the coveted winner’s spot and accompanying bonus points. The tone is irreverent, full of sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and recurring in-jokes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Small Talk

[03:45] – [10:30]

• Giraffes as Listeners: Bob claims Distractible has a huge giraffe listener base after “interviewing” giraffes at the zoo.
• Wade’s Return from Florida: Wade rants about bad drivers in Cincinnati, expressing a surprising preference for Florida traffic over his hometown.
  • Wade: “Just use a turn signal you got.” [07:41]
  • Bob and Mark tease Wade for sounding like a cliché “old man yells at cloud.”
• Mark’s Apple Invoice Saga: Mark regales the group with a petty dispute over a one-cent overdue invoice from Apple.
  • Mark: “This is a second notice, past due email. For one cent.” [10:48]
  • Extensive riffing on the absurdity and inefficiency of large corporations, particularly Apple’s bureaucracy.
  • Bob: “Shouldn’t there be a thing in the system where it’s like, hey, if the invoice is, I don’t know, less than a dollar, maybe just... round that down...?” [12:19]
• Bob’s Weird Transaction: Bob recounts being asked by a third-party anti-fraud service to send a photo of his ID after an online purchase, leading to jokes about scams and bureaucracy.

2. Game Segment: 20 Simple Questions

[21:45] – [45:00]

Format & Rules:

• True or False Only: All questions have a binary choice, with Mark and Wade alternating turns.
• Reset After Round: After the first round of 20, they switch up who goes first and rephrase some questions to test memory and comprehension.
• Bonus Points and Wheel Spins: Points awarded for correct answers, and bonus points granted through recurring Distractible’s “wheel” for subjective accolades (e.g., Most Distracted, Best Looking).

Notable Moments & Quotes:

• Wade’s Dread: Wade reacts with mock fear at the announcement: “Oh God. No, no.” [21:53]
• Bob’s Assurance: “I reworked it... It’s just true or false questions.” [22:12]
• First Round Gaffes:
  • Wade confidently gets some right (“There are five Great Lakes.” [23:29]), but stumbles on others (“Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.” [25:00] – incorrect).
  • Mark overthinks simple questions: “What is canvas? What even is canvas?” [27:25]
• Recurring In-Jokes:
  • Mark’s “one penny” saga returns as a bonus point category.
  • Mark and Bob roast Wade for missing triangle questions and misunderstanding geography.
• Classic Distractible Roasting:
  • “If you ask me the Moby Dick question right now, I don’t know if I get it right.” (Wade) [34:32]
  • “Don’t call it a comeback!” (Wade, after scoring a rare bonus) [43:53]
• Educational Sidebars:
  • Bob explains senses beyond the classic five: “Your sense of balance... and proprioception... where you know where your body is in space.” [23:49]
  • The group is stumped by banana plants (“tall herbs,” not trees) and the naming of animal groupings (a murder of crows vs. unkindness of ravens).

Standout Exchange:

Bob: “A group of ravens can be called an unkindness or a conspiracy, which is the fucking best thing ever.” [37:14]

Mark: “If you have to ask, it’s a crow. When it’s a raven, you will know.” [37:59]

3. Scoring, Wheel, and Winner/Loser Speeches

[45:00] – [49:00]

• Final tallies: Mark wins decisively, excelling in quick recall and logic-based questions.
• Bonus Points: Awarded for comedic contributions, being distracted, best looking, and “happiest” story.
  • Wade self-disqualifies from “best looking” and “happiest contributions” due to a bad travel day.
• Self-Deprecating Loser Speech:
  • Wade: “I bring my own game to this losing. And by having played, I knew that I could lose. And I did.” [47:23]
• Mark’s Victory:
  • Mark: “Thank you for this victory and the best looking winner signing off possibly ever.” [47:21]

4. Memorable Quotes & Banter

• Mark (on Apple): "I'm not paying this one, and I just want to see how far it goes." [12:02]
• Wade (on driving): "Stupidity hurts me and the road is full. Nobody knows how to drive anymore, man." [08:17]
• Bob (on anti-fraud emails): "Why would I send either of those to you, company I've never spoken to before?" [17:04]
• Bob (on game stress): "Usually, when you’re trying to slaughter an animal, you go up to him, like 'it’s fine, don’t worry...'” [24:27]
• Mark (on animal groupings): "C, O, W, S. Cows." [29:12]
• Bob (game debrief): "That does leave Wade two and a half points down. Which means if the first wheel spin that we do here goes really, really well, it's going to be fine." [42:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:45] – Bob’s Giraffe Story & Podcast Start
• [04:11] – Wade’s Airport & Bad Driving Rant
• [10:04] – Mark’s Apple Invoice Petty Grudge
• [16:56] – Bob’s Online Shopping Anti-Fraud Fiasco
• [21:45] – Rules and Start of “20 Simple Questions”
• [25:00 – 28:00] – First round’s biggest upsets and knowledge gaps
• [37:03] – Animal group naming debacle (“unkindness” of ravens)
• [41:32] – 45:00 – Final tabulation, bonus points, closing speeches

Final Thoughts & Episode Vibe

This episode showcases Distractible’s well-loved formula: real-life anecdotes, tongue-in-cheek complaints, silly competitions, and playful ribbing. The “Simple Questions” format highlights each host's strengths and blind spots, while the group camaraderie and willingness to laugh at themselves keep the pace lively and fun for listeners. Mark’s pettiness about a one-cent invoice, Wade’s travel woes, and Bob’s scam paranoia all serve as perfect fodder for fast-fired jokes and relatable gripes. If you want laughs, trivia, and an hour with three friends who are both clever and self-deprecating, this is a can’t-miss episode.

For New Listeners

Skip to:

• [04:11] for the relatable rants
• [21:45] for the game show mayhem
• [45:00] to hear the final scoring and “winner/loser” speeches.

Best quotes:

• Mark: “This is a second notice, past due email. For one cent.” [10:48]
• Bob: “If you ask me the Moby Dick question right now, I don’t know if I get it right.” (Wade) [34:32]
• Mark: “If you have to ask, it’s a crow. When it’s a raven, you will know.” [37:59]

Episode Mood: Silly, competitive, off-the-cuff, and friendship-forward.