Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers
Episode: GOOD CHARLOTTE Can't Get Enough of Australia
Hosts: Seth Meyers & Josh Meyers
Guests: Benji & Joel Madden (Good Charlotte)
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Overview
In this lively episode, Seth and Josh Meyers sit down with Benji and Joel Madden, twin brothers, bandmates, and co-founders of Good Charlotte, to discuss childhood mischief, growing up in rural Maryland, their unbreakable brotherly bond, style evolution (or lack thereof), international touring, family, and their special connection with Australia. The Maddens open up about touring, parenting, creativity, the joys and weirdness of promotion, and the stories behind their music and personal journeys. As always, the conversation is peppered with sibling banter and memorable stories—with plenty of humor and heartfelt moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening Banter and Life Updates
- [00:00-06:39]
- Seth describes performing at a zoo in Seattle, worrying about both animal and audience reactions.
- “If a person has a hyena laugh… last place you should come to see comedy is a zoo.” —Seth [01:22]
- Josh shares excitement about attending a Backstreet Boys concert at the Vegas Sphere, discussing the dedication (and temptation) that comes with being a true fan.
- “I opened Ticketmaster to buy more tickets, but I was like, what am I doing? Like, I’ve seen them.” —Josh [04:20]
- Brotherly ribbing about spoilers and concert etiquette.
- Seth describes performing at a zoo in Seattle, worrying about both animal and audience reactions.
Introducing Good Charlotte: The Madden Brothers Join
- [07:40–08:16]
- The two sets of brothers joke about how confusing it is for listeners to tell their voices apart:
- “Everyone listening is gonna at no point know if there are four or two people on this podcast.” —Seth [07:53]
- They confirm this is their first real conversation, leading to immediate rapport and sibling banter.
- The two sets of brothers joke about how confusing it is for listeners to tell their voices apart:
Sibling Dynamics & Twin Tricks
- [11:02-15:36]
- The Maddens share about their family: two brothers, one sister, all spaced 18 months apart.
- Stories of tag-teaming, switching places for fun (and sometimes out of necessity), and taking the fall for each other.
- “I definitely took a few whoopings for Joel.” —Benji [12:31]
- “We still do it. There’s definitely interviews out there that are me that really Joel did, and vice versa.” —Benji [13:06]
- Mother dressed them identically (“sailor suits until we were old enough to stop it” —Joel [15:19]), leading to jokes about looking like haunted dolls from the 1930s and The Shining twins.
Style Evolution… or Lack Thereof
- [18:53-22:36]
- Discussion of how their personal fashion developed independent from “punk band” trends.
- “We were more influenced by uncles and bikers than bands.” —Benji [19:28]
- “Stylists tried, but we always end up wearing what we wore in that day.” —Benji [20:38]
- Both married to stylish women, but wives generally let them dress as they wish.
- Preference for consistent looks:
- “Our style hasn’t changed much... I think that’s how it is sometimes.” —Joel [21:27]
- “If you Google me and look at some of the shit I tried to pull off… there’s some awkward pictures in there.” —Joel [32:59]
- Discussion of how their personal fashion developed independent from “punk band” trends.
Growing Up Madden: Waldorf, Maryland & Family Life
- [27:01-31:13]
- Childhood in southern Maryland, surrounded by rivers, woods, and far from the city.
- Family didn’t travel much; main vacations were to a nearby theme park, King’s Dominion.
- “We never really took family vacations, I want to say. Once, we went and visited my uncle in Alabama.” —Benji [36:31]
- Memories of riding old scooters, penny candy missions to the country store, and early independence.
- Rural upbringing fostered close-knit family and inventive ways to entertain themselves.
Punk Roots & Early Touring
- [38:07-42:39]
- The impact of being “green” and isolated until breaking out as a band:
- “We’d never been anywhere before. By the time we started seeing shit, doing 300 shows a year was nothing—we loved it.” —Joel [38:47]
- First time on a plane at 19; kept the barf bag and plane ticket as mementos.
- Touring opened their worldview, reinforced excitement for discovery, and made them eager to make friends everywhere.
- The impact of being “green” and isolated until breaking out as a band:
Discovering the World, Learning to Travel
- [42:39-44:24]
- Early tours stuck close to hotels out of frugality and inexperience—over time, learned to venture further and seek out memorable local experiences (crediting families and wives for opening them up to this).
- “You don’t really know how to do that… it’s important, trying restaurants and experiences.” —Benji [42:55]
- Their genuine awe at new things amuses their friends:
- “That’s the most amazing burger I’ve ever had in my life!” —Benji [44:14]
- Early tours stuck close to hotels out of frugality and inexperience—over time, learned to venture further and seek out memorable local experiences (crediting families and wives for opening them up to this).
Australia: The Band’s Second Home
- [44:24-49:35]
- Australia was Good Charlotte’s first major international success and remains a “home away from home.”
- “Australia just loves some real motherfuckers… they embraced us first, maybe, of anywhere in the world.” —Joel [45:44; 47:09]
- Cultural resonance between their rural upbringing and Australian ethos—a mix of “down home, friendliness, and a bit of an edge.”
- “Australia feels culturally closer to middle America than New York or LA… they’ll tell you what’s up.” —Benji [46:12]
- Travel tips: for a proper visit, spend at least five or six days in Sydney, longer if you want to see more of the country.
- “Perth is really cool too… it feels like you’re on the edge of the earth.” —Joel [49:05]
- Australia was Good Charlotte’s first major international success and remains a “home away from home.”
Family on the Road
- [53:00-54:55]
- Their family does come out to shows sometimes—mom included, who is known for making friends and sometimes bringing fans backstage.
- “Your mom will get caught up talking to every. Like, she’ll go and she’ll start talking to fans, and then she’ll start trying to help them… our mom would be taking people back and forth all night long.” —Joel [53:59]
- Manners and politeness are treasured values the Maddens credit their parents for instilling.
- Their family does come out to shows sometimes—mom included, who is known for making friends and sometimes bringing fans backstage.
Promotion, Publicity, and Middle-Aged Rockstar Life
- [63:14-67:34]
- New experiences have changed (and slowed down) their career: longer breaks between albums, more considered touring schedules, and the need to “sign up” for the full commitment, including awkward TV appearances for promo.
- “You gotta want to get on stage. You can’t phone it in. …it took me a long time to want to get back on stage. I don’t know why.” —Joel [61:09]
- “I really enjoy not having to look in the mirror… but also, I like where I’m at right now, this is my favorite part of my whole life.” —Benji [63:14]
- Band reunification for family events reignited their creativity—new album inspired by playing little sister’s wedding.
- New experiences have changed (and slowed down) their career: longer breaks between albums, more considered touring schedules, and the need to “sign up” for the full commitment, including awkward TV appearances for promo.
On Parenting & Perspective
- [70:14-71:59]
- Their kids grew up touring, don’t listen to Good Charlotte much, but think it’s “cool.”
- “They don’t necessarily want to come to shows anymore… but sometimes they do, like when we played Stagecoach with Luke Combs.” —Joel [71:01]
- Funny, practical attitude from their own children:
- “God, it raised a lot of money. So how much of that do YOU get?” —Seth’s son, regarding charity gig [72:17]
- Their kids grew up touring, don’t listen to Good Charlotte much, but think it’s “cool.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If a person has a hyena laugh as well, like the last place you should come see comedy is a zoo.” —Seth [01:22]
- “We still do it [switch twins for each other], there’s definitely interviews that are me that really Joel did, and vice versa.” —Benji [13:06]
- “Stylists tried, but we always end up wearing what we wore in that day.” —Benji [20:38]
- “Australia just loves some real motherfuckers.” —Joel [45:44]
- “It’s like home away from home when we go there… really truly, we’ve had this, like, really truly, it’s like home away from home.” —Joel [47:09]
- “That’s the most amazing burger I’ve ever had in my life… friends are always like, oh my god, when you try something it’s literally like your mind is blown.” —Benji [44:17]
- “You gotta want to go on stage. You can’t phone it in. …it took me a long time to want to get back on stage. I don’t know why.” —Joel [61:09]
- “Movie stars are badasses, the way they go promote their shit.” —Joel [69:17]
- “I want to do it. I’m trying my best…and you show up and you’re trying to get with it and be there and match the energy and promote your shit. But it’s awkward and weird.” —Joel [64:21]
- “Our mom would be, like, taking people back and forth all night long, because they would be…she’s like talking to everyone. It’s sweet, but it makes it really hard to, like, function at work.” —Joel [54:33]
- “They [our kids] have a relationship with it that I think is sweet…they don’t necessarily love my music…but they think it’s cool that I do this.” —Joel [70:34]
Memorable Segments with Timestamps
- [09:06-10:10] — Joel’s tips for performing with a sore throat: “Just take prednisone… I don’t care who knows it.”
- [11:02-15:23] — Twin hijinks: switching interviews, sailor suits, and sibling alliances.
- [35:52-37:14] — Early family “vacations” were mostly to King’s Dominion theme park.
- [38:07-44:24] — The effect of rural Maryland on their outlook, creative drive, and excitement to see the world.
- [44:24-49:49] — The band’s unique relationship with Australia, and detailed touring recommendations.
- [53:00-54:55] — The mothers who can’t help but connect their sons with random fans at shows.
- [61:09-62:25] — The inspiration for the album “Motel du Cap” and the power of playing family events.
Speed Round: Rapid-Fire Questions
[72:55-75:12]
- Ideal vacation: “Relaxing. Educational.” —Benji & Joel
- Transportation: “Classic car, big truck.”
- Family they'd travel with: “Duck Dynasty… Married With Children/The Bundys.”
- Stranded island companion: Both answer “My wife.”
- Would they recommend Waldorf, Maryland as a vacation spot? “Absolutely!...There’s a lot to see. There’s a lot to do down there.” —Benji
- Have they been to the Grand Canyon? Not really, but open to it—with the right company.
Final Notes & Tone
This episode is fast-paced, genuine, and warm, featuring sharp sibling chemistry between both pairs—Meyers and Maddens alike. The Maddens display a grounded, funny, and insightful attitude, sharing both the absurdities and the gifts of their unusual lives. Their appreciation for each other's company, family traditions, and their Australian fanbase shines throughout. Sibling humor, mutual admiration, and a theme of embracing authenticity define the conversation.
Listen to the full episode for more stories, laughs, and details from the Meyers brothers and Good Charlotte. “Motel du Cap” is out now!