Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers: BEST OF 2024 – A Year in Review
Released on December 31, 2024
Introduction
In the special "BEST OF 2024: Looking Back at Listener's Favorite Episodes" episode of Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers, hosts Seth Meyers (referred to as Sufi) and Josh Meyers (referred to as Pashi) take listeners on a nostalgic journey through their first full year of podcasting. Celebrating a milestone of 11.5 million downloads, the brothers reflect on their favorite episodes, memorable guests, and personal experiences that have defined the show.
Podcast Growth and Achievements
The episode opens with Seth expressing pride in the podcast’s accomplishments:
"It's our first full year of the pod. We started in, in summer of '23, but this was '24. We knocked one out a week. What a delight it's been." [01:31]
Josh adds to the excitement by highlighting their impressive download numbers:
"So we're just around 11.5 million downloads. That's a lot." [07:38]
The hosts reminisce about their early days, celebrating the growth from their July 2023 start to becoming a beloved podcast within a year.
Favorite Media of 2024
The brothers share their top picks across various media:
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Movies: Josh names Kneecap as his unexpected favorite, praising its charm even when watched on a plane screen.
"Kneecap is my bottoms. That's great. Just a great, fun movie." [02:56]
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Books: Seth recommends God of the Woods by Purcel Everett, expressing his admiration.
"Just finished. I loved it." [04:10]
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TV Shows: Seth mentions rewatching the classic BBC miniseries Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and how it still holds up.
"I did rewatch it again this year and it holds up." [04:19]
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Concerts: Josh reminisces about attending an LCD Soundsystem show, highlighting the band's consistent excellence.
"LCD, always a great show. I'd really have to... but I’ve already got tickets to some shows next year." [05:29]
Listener Favorite Episodes
Family Trips received numerous listener recommendations for standout episodes. Seth and Josh highlight four beloved episodes featuring guests Paul Scheer, Tig Notaro, Katherine Hahn, and Josh Gad.
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Paul Scheer Episode
Paul Scheer shares a humorous and vivid story about accidentally starting a fire while acting out a dramatic scene:
"I just kind of throw the cigarette... into dry brush behind this hotel... And I'm not." [11:05]
Seth praises Paul's storytelling:
"They kept killing my mic because I kept muttering, talk about showbiz. Why is this all about a trip?" [13:13]
Listener feedback includes appreciation from Seth and Josh's parents, further validating the episode's impact.
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Tig Notaro Episode
Tig Notaro recounts the amusing story of her family hosting her partner's first meeting with them during a trip to New Orleans:
"We drove from Mississippi to New Orleans... Stephanie's plane is landing soon... They had taken their shoes off because we had been walking around the French Quarter all day." [19:29]
Seth and Josh express admiration for Tig's animated storytelling, enhancing the episode's appeal.
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Katherine Hahn Episode
Katherine Hahn reminisces about family vacations to Lake Erie, emphasizing the adventurous but sometimes chaotic experiences:
"Lake Erie became awesome... we would go straight into the middle of Lake Erie... He was just..." [24:15]
The hosts highlight Katherine’s giggly personality, noting her ability to induce laughter:
"Sam did not undersell how wonderfully giggly she is. And a real inducer of giggles from me." [26:44]
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Josh Gad Episode
Josh Gad shares nostalgic memories of childhood staycations, humorously contrasting with more traditional vacations:
"We used to do staycations... pretend to be tourists ourselves... It felt wrong compared to that." [34:20]
The episode includes a heartfelt segment at the Grand Canyon, capturing the beauty and scale of the natural wonder:
"This is a tiny piece of it. You can see just across the way there, those hills. There's so much beyond those." [37:08]
Personal Stories and Reflections
Throughout the episode, Seth and Josh intertwine personal anecdotes with reflections on their podcasting journey:
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Josh’s Wedding: Josh speaks fondly of his wedding trip, describing it as his favorite trip of the year with no close second.
"It was my favorite trip this year. There’s no close second for me on that one." [08:20]
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Seth’s Practical Trip: Seth humorously mentions a mundane trip to CVS, highlighting the contrast between major trips and everyday errands.
"I took a trip down to my corner CVS. Let's just be honest with our listeners." [08:33]
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Travel Adventures: Josh shares a spontaneous trip to Oslo and Stockholm, emphasizing the affordability and ease of travel with Norse Atlantic Airways.
"Norwegian Atlantic Airways has very cheap direct flights to Oslo and a couple other places in Europe." [09:26]
Looking Forward: Plans for 2025
As the episode progresses, Seth and Josh discuss potential directions for the upcoming year, including listener suggestions like visiting Epcot:
"There was talk about making that a question and then maybe having that be something that pulls us down to Epcot." [39:55]
They humorously consider incorporating true crime elements into future episodes, reflecting on their evolving podcast themes.
Conclusion and New Year Wishes
In wrapping up the year, Seth and Josh extend heartfelt thanks to their listeners and producers, celebrating the success and looking forward to more adventures:
"Congrats to another successful year of family trips. The podcast. And happy New Year to everyone." [43:49]
They end on a playful note, reiterating their bond and excitement for what’s to come in 2025.
Notable Quotes and Moments
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Seth on Hosting Style:
"I'm a sucker for that. Tinker Taylor." [02:52]
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Josh on Podcast Growth:
"We are a family. It's gonna travel and every time we come home, there's gonna be seven family trips worthy anecdotes." [29:27]
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Humorous Banter:
"You're one man's cool is another man's guy. Laugh." [23:10]
Takeaways
Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers has successfully navigated its inaugural year, building a substantial listener base and delivering engaging, heartfelt, and humorous content. By highlighting standout episodes and personal stories, Seth and Josh have created a relatable and entertaining podcast that resonates with a broad audience. As they celebrate their achievements, they remain open to evolving their content, ensuring that Family Trips continues to captivate and delight listeners in the years to come.
Key Highlights:
- Celebrated 11.5 million downloads in their first full year.
- Highlighted favorite media, including Kneecap, God of the Woods, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
- Featured memorable episodes with Paul Scheer, Tig Notaro, Katherine Hahn, and Josh Gad.
- Shared personal stories, including Josh’s wedding trip and spontaneous European travels.
- Discussed future directions, including potential visits to Epcot and integrating true crime elements.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to their producers at Rabbit Grin and their supportive community of listeners, Seth and Josh conclude the episode with gratitude and excitement for the adventures that lie ahead.
Note: Timestamps are referenced to provide context for notable quotes and moments throughout the episode.