Distractible – "Will It Into Existence" (Dec 12, 2025)

Hosts: Mark Fischbach (Mark), Wade Barnes (Wade), Bob Muyskens (Bob)
Episode Summary by Theme, Highlights, and Timestamps

Overview

In “Will It Into Existence,” the Distractible trio—Mark, Wade, and Bob—dive into a reflective, goofy, and surprisingly heartfelt discussion about the past year’s struggles and the optimism they’re trying to summon for 2026. The conversation weaves together stories of personal hardships, support among friends, family milestones, and future ambitions. The core theme: How they’ll “will” the coming year to be great, embracing both small joys and the relief of putting big projects behind them.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Updates & Small Talk

• Wade and "Bald":
  Wade opens the show joking about how people keep sending him baldness cures and supportive bald communities. He discusses how losing hair has affected his self-esteem, poking fun at how quickly the “comb over” sneaks up on you.

  • “I am consuming bald. Like, there's no tomorrow.” (03:31)
  • “You see that little bit of recession, that little bit of thinning… you go to scratch, it’s like more scalp than I remember.” (12:48)

• Bob’s Medical Misadventure & Mandy’s Plight:
  Bob recounts a severe ear infection that sent him to the ER and left his face swollen and jaw lopsided. Meanwhile, his wife Mandy got accidentally locked in a room without a doorknob at their old house—with no internet and a near-escape using Command hooks.

  • “I literally... my jaw was hanging open crooked because of how utterly fucked my whole side of my face was. Yeah, it's apparently just an ear infection… the doctor’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s just an ear infection, you big baby.’” (05:31)
  • “She was like, maybe I’ll climb out the window... Nope, second story, no jumping out… She just used a Command hook to jimmy the door.” (08:32)

• Mark Locks Out Amy:
  Mark shares a story about accidentally locking Amy in the garage overnight—and how she forgot to just ring the doorbell.

  • “She ended up sleeping in that van, the Barrel, in the garage… I sprint downstairs, open the door—she’s sliding open the van door, it’s like ‘Hi,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God.’” (10:15)

• Supportive Friendships:
  The trio joke about hair, hosting the podcast, and their dynamic—underscoring long-lived banter but also mutual support.

2. Mark's Movie and the Realities of Indie Distribution

• Iron Lung Release & DIY Challenges:
  Mark details the wild grassroots effort to get his movie "Iron Lung" into theaters: fans directly emailing theaters, confusion over possible bot-generated requests, and the logistical tangles of indie distribution. He gives a heartfelt shout-out to Amy for building the website coordinating showings.

  • “We did not expect this to go beyond, like, the 50 to 100 theaters that we had. So even all the theaters that were like, ‘I can’t email Mark, he doesn't want this movie out there.’ That’s not what it is at all.” (15:47)
  • “Shout out to Amy for making the website. She literally built the entire website.” (14:59)

• Mark’s Homebrew Render Farm Fiasco:
  Mark describes the slapdash (but effective!) cluster of computers powering the film’s simulations, which Reddit’s Home Lab roasted. He discusses learning as he went, defending his janky setup:

  • “I want to put a server in my bathroom, and then they go, ‘fuck you,’ and they leave. They don’t do it.” (16:34)
  • “It’s not pretty, but fuck, it works.” (16:20)

3. Looking Ahead: “Willing” 2026 Into Existence

(Wade’s Prompt, 21:28)

Mark’s Optimism: Post-Iron Lung Freedom

• Relief to Move On:
  • “The thing I’m looking forward to in 2026… it’s not that the movie is coming out. It’s that the movie's done. I don’t have to think about it anymore… I can put it aside.” (21:43)
• Gratitude for Friends:
  • “I truly, genuinely appreciate it, guys. I can’t say it enough how much you guys have been patient with it… To be able to count on you guys.” (23:25)

Bob’s Perspective: Family, Projects, and DIY Joy

• Focusing on His Son, James:
  • “I’m excited for more James... I think there’s a decent chance we’re gonna get on basically any ride and he’s gonna be terrified, but we’ll find his ride.” (27:35, 43:28)
• DIY Hopes:
  • “I have a huge garage and a workshop area… I can just have a little project... Maybe we’ll build a birdhouse or, you know, who knows what.” (28:16)

Wade’s 2026 Goals: Podcasts, Games, and Traditions

• Games & Entertainment:
  • “People have been on me to go back to Blueprints. I think I might do it… It was such a unique, interesting experience for me. It’s my game of the decade so far.” (36:14)
• New Experiences:
  • “I’m hoping I booked tickets to go see a show [dinner theater] next year. I’m excited to go... the show as well. The shows are always great.” (37:09)

4. Health, Fitness, and Getting Older

(38:27)

• Mark on Reclaiming Habits:

  • “I’m looking forward to learning Korean again and working out—both of these things… I had been working out constantly… Now, nothing. By only the grace of just the fact that I naturally carry more muscles, I have the illusion that I’m in shape.” (38:27)

• Wade’s Family “Sprint” Tradition:

  • “My nephews want to race me—like a hundred-meter dash. I’ve won two years in a row… But I still out sprint them. The difference is, I win the sprint and they’re like, ‘Ah, good one, Uncle Wade.’ And I’m like… ten minutes later, I’m like, ‘alright, I’m okay.’” (41:03)

5. Memorable Quotes

• On Support Networks:

  • “I can’t say it enough how much you guys have been patient with it… It means a lot to be able to count on you guys.” — Mark (23:25)

• On the “Year” Concept:

  • “I just want to go into 2026 with some positivity—what are we looking forward to?... I just want to go in with some optimism.” — Wade (20:31)

• On Baldness:

  • “You don’t really realize you’re inching up toward comb over until… one day it hits you, and you’re like, ‘no, we can’t really ride in the convertible, because then, like, when I get out, the bald’ll be showing.’” — Wade (12:48)

6. Heartfelt & Funny Tangents

• Disney World Planning & Parenting Fears:
  Bob discusses taking James to Disney for the first time, and both Mark and Wade share their own park and parenting memories, touching on food recs and attraction anxiety.

  • “I need to, like, get in shape for that… walking around/herding James around a theme park sounds exhausting just thinking about it.” (43:28)

• Podcast Rules & Points – Meta Banter:

  • “It’s funny how the rules are the most arbitrary thing… People get real into, like, Wade and Bob have that handshake deal they’ve had for eight months and they haven’t redeemed it.” — Wade (53:45)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Banter & “Baldness” Segment: 03:24-13:39
• Bob’s ER Visit & Mandy’s Predicament: 05:31-09:08
• Mark/Amy Garage Story: 09:12-11:32
• Mark’s “Iron Lung” Release & Fan Engagement: 13:42-16:17
• Render Farm Chaos: 16:17-18:48
• “Will it Into Existence” – The 2026 Optimism Pivot: 20:31-21:43
• Personal Hopes for the New Year: 21:43-37:09
  • Mark on post-movie relief (21:43), Bob on family/DIY (27:35), Wade on games/entertainment (36:14)
• Health/Fitness Hopes: 38:27-41:13
• Disney Adventures & Parenting: 43:28-45:54
• Podcast meta, points, and closing replay: 47:38-54:56

Tone & Style

The episode is quintessentially Distractible: self-deprecating, honest, and irreverent. The hosts’ camaraderie is front and center—balancing good-natured roasting, vulnerability, advice, and immature gags. There’s warmth in the way they acknowledge one another’s struggles and growth, with humor even in the darkest moments.

Final Moments & Wrap-Up

• Mark wins the episode’s “points” contest and gives a tongue-in-cheek winner’s speech, emphasizing the show’s longevity and escalating absurdity.
• Bob reflects on “hanging in there” through illness and tech issues.
• The trio closes with gratitude for each other and the audience, wisecracking about rules, lost points, and memorable mishaps.
• “2026 will be a great year… Will it into existence.” (47:45)

Essential Quotes for the Episode

“The thing I’m looking forward to in 2026… it’s not that the movie is coming out. It’s that the movie’s done. I don’t have to think about it anymore.”
— Mark (21:43)

“I’m excited for more James… It’s been tough, but I’m excited for another year, a new year where he’s going to be older.”
— Bob (27:35)

“2026 gonna be great. Gonna make it—I’m willing it to be great.”
— Wade (38:04)

For new and returning listeners alike, this episode is a dose of relatable reflection, goofball energy, and real-life optimism—Distractible at its best.