Distractible Podcast — "Bad Mood" (February 20, 2026)
Episode Overview
In "Bad Mood," hosts Bob Muyskens, Mark Fischbach, and Wade Barnes explore the thorny topic of getting into and handling bad moods. Drawing inspiration from an episode of the children’s show "Bluey" and their own recent emotional funks, the conversation quickly spirals into playful self-therapy, stories of tantrums, introspective revelations, and classic Distractible banter. The episode balances humor and honesty as each host shares how they behave when grumpy, how those moods affect loved ones, and what (if anything) they do to cope or grow from them.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Initial Banter and Setting the Stage (03:47–09:00)
- Host Rotation & Point System: Bob opens as host, reminding listeners of the game's mechanics and bantering with Mark and Wade about possible biases in awarding points.
- Small Talk & Weather: Discussion of regional weather differences (sunny LA for Mark, warming Cincinnati for Wade) segues into the possibility of snow in LA, leading to jokes about “Snowmageddon”.
- Tech Talk: Mark plans to revamp his recording setup, expressing frustration with old peripherals. This turns into a comedic mispronunciation of "Neumann" microphones and poking fun at audio purists.
“Sound. Clip that. Forever clip that. Send me the wav file. … You’re going to be playing a game and you’re just going to hear your own voice as a goblin comes in.”
– Mark (05:34)
Marvel, Merch, and Arcane Weaponry Digressions (09:00–12:50)
- Marvel Joke Flops: A failed Marvel reference leads to gentle ribbing of Wade and Mark about niche humor.
- Discussion of Weapons: Mark and Bob show off bullets and arcade “weapons,” poking fun at podcast props that listeners can’t see.
- Interview Intimidation Story: Mark relates accidentally intimidating a job candidate by leaving a giant knife and a note saying, “I sharpened it for you, Jason,” on his desk (12:00), riffing on unintended workplace intimidation.
Not Being "Ha Ha" Funny & Friendship Dynamics (13:31–16:54)
- On Joke Reception: Wade confesses to craving laughter but often gets polite “That’s funny” instead. The hosts dissect compliment dynamics and how it relates to self-worth in friendships.
- Foundations of the Show: Wade jokes he’s the “pillar” the others stand on, craving just enough appreciation to not crumble.
“I’m like Pennywise, except for instead of fear, I need laughter.”
– Wade (11:57)
Topic Introduction – Bad Moods (18:07)
Bob pivots into the episode’s core subject:
- Personal Confession: Bob admits to frequent bad moods lately and extremely poor coping (“If someone does something nice for me when I’m in a bad mood, I’m like, f*ck off. I don’t deserve nice stuff right now.” – 19:12), expressing guilt for lashing out at loved ones.
- Therapy Request: He asks the others for advice or stories, saying: “Help me. Therapize me.” (19:59)
How Each Host Handles Bad Moods
Bob: The Self-Isolator (18:07–23:40)
- When upset, Bob prefers to shut himself away, resisting attempts by others (like his wife Mandy) to cheer him up, growing more irritated if people try too hard.
- Admits to having been more prone to “shoving it down” when single, realizing cohabitation makes his moods others’ problem too.
Wade: The People-Pleaser with Rare Tantrums (23:40–26:10; 30:36–32:44)
- Shares a story of slamming his desk in rage, accidentally making a mess with food and drink, and feeling immediately sillier for it:
“Me acting like baby makes mess. Like, baby, now I’ve got to clean up this mess… I deserve this.”
– Wade (24:46) - Explains his lifelong compulsion to "please everyone," tracing it back to childhood family splits and the pressure to never make anyone sad.
- Admits he internalizes most bad moods and rarely vents, instead helping everyone else first.
Mark: The People "Un-Pleaser" Who Needs Amy as His Check (26:13–29:40; 32:47–34:17)
- Mark notes that when he’s grumpy, he intentionally avoids responding to people—even to texts received at exactly the wrong time.
- Tends to isolate and sometimes take a contrarian approach, refusing joy if it's offered at inopportune moments.
- His biggest self-therapy is Amy, who can deflate a tantrum with a simple, honest call-out:
“Amy’s like, you’re being a dick. And I’m like, I’m being a dick. I’m instantly—”
– Mark (27:40)
Realizations and Emotional Growth
- Bob: Recent awareness that being in a relationship means others are inadvertently punished for his moods, especially if he’s dismissive of their help.
- Wade: Recognizes that rationalizing a mood (“I’ve dealt with worse, why should this bother me?”) rarely works, but hasn’t conquered his tendency to suppress personal needs.
- Mark: Tries not to fall into old patterns of self-defeating stubbornness, but stress can bring out petulant, “opposite day” behavior.
The “Monkey, Ladder, Banana” Restaurant Experiment Analogy (40:36-42:29)
- Mark tells the “monkey ladder” experiment to compare restaurant staff’s irritation at late-arriving customers to how habits/fears are passed down “just because.”
“It got to the point where they started replacing so many [monkeys] that there was no monkey that had ever been sprayed with water. But they would still beat the **** out of the new monkey, right?... I think that might be that.”
– Mark (41:34)
Bonus Stories & Memorable Moments
- Workplace Customer Service: All hosts commiserate over late-night retail and restaurant shifts, discussing awkward customer interactions—especially those that make closing up extra annoying. (43:43–45:25)
- Roleplay Therapy: Mark and Wade act out how to (poorly) rebuff a customer clamoring for a milkshake after closing—a comedic take on boundary-setting (46:15–46:45).
- Strange Habits from Retail Jobs: Wade admits being conditioned to greet people anytime he hears a store door “ding,” no matter where he is.
Bathroom Etiquette and Social Anxiety (48:25–53:34)
- Spirals into tales of bathroom etiquette: Wade is permanently wary of public restrooms after a fan approached him for a selfie mid-urinal.
- Bob over-strategizes about every public restroom trip (“What if our fingers touch while he’s handing it [toilet paper] to me. What does that mean?” – 50:22).
- Mark riffs on the fear of inadvertently signaling for sex in restrooms post-political scandal.
- The trio riff on being “piss snipers,” handling awkward situations, and further expanding their self-mocking, vulnerable, and absurdist brand.
Closing: Points, Winner, and Wrap-Up (53:36–58:30)
- Bob methodically tallies points for each host’s stories, jokes, and laughs.
- The winner is decided via a convoluted (and comedic) wheel/coin flip system. Wade triumphs (54:52).
- Mark delivers a sarcastic “loser speech,” Bob reiterates the group’s mutual respect (and fun needling), and the hosts preview the next episode.
Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)
“If someone does something nice for me when I’m in a bad mood, I’m like, fuck off. I don’t deserve nice stuff right now."
— Bob (19:12)
“It’s not like I, I shove it down and never deal with it, but it takes a long time to do that. And there are way more efficient ways to deal with stuff emotionally… But often if Mandy is like, look, I’m trying to be nice to you, but you’re being a piece of shit, I’m immediately like…oh, you’re right.”
— Bob (29:03-29:22)
“Me acting like baby makes mess. Like, baby, now I’ve got to clean up this mess that I made because I was being a big [baby] for no reason. I deserve this.”
— Wade (24:46)
“Amy’s like, you’re being a dick. And I’m like, I’m being a dick. I’m instantly—”
— Mark (27:40)
“Nothing pisses me off more than a poorly timed text... I’m intentionally not responding for a while.”
— Mark (32:47)
“My new mic is Gonna be a warm audio y000.”
— Mark (16:12)
“I’m like Pennywise, except for instead of fear, I need laughter.”
— Wade (11:57)
“Why are you pissing so far away from the urinal? You could just kind of like, hey, don’t.”
— Mark (51:32)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Narrative Episode Introduction: 02:54–03:47
- Topic Revealed: Bad Mood: 18:07
- Wade's Desk Tantrum Story: 23:47–25:24
- Mark's Amy Therapy Check: 27:40
- Bob on Internalizing and Realization: 29:03–30:36
- Wade’s Childhood People-Pleasing: 30:36–32:44
- Monkey Ladder Restaurant Analogy: 40:36–42:29
- Retail/Bathroom Etiquette Stories: 48:25–53:34
- Winner Decided (Wheel Spin): 54:45–56:01
Overall Tone and Style
The episode is quintessential Distractible: meandering, self-aware, and alternating between silly, sincere, and snarky. The hosts maintain their signature blend of irreverence, unfiltered story-sharing, and self-deprecation, but underpin the humor with real talk about growth and emotional health. They roast each other mercilessly, but there's a palpable undercurrent of friendship and support—even (or especially) when exploring their less-flattering moments.
Final Thoughts
"Bad Mood" demonstrates Distractible’s strength: candid, comedic explorations of real-life struggles. Listeners get not only laughs, but also a rare peek behind the curtain at how three popular entertainers process emotions, navigate relationships, and try (however messily) to do better.
Winner: Wade
Next Episode Host: Wade
For further laughs and relatable insight, check out the full episode—just maybe not when you’re in a bad mood yourself!