Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers
Synchronized Swimmers, Groundhogs in Cars, & Cousins Found on Airplanes – Listener Episode #16
Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Seth Meyers & Josh Meyers

Episode Overview

This listener episode of Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers is a heartwarming and hilarious installment where brothers Seth and Josh Meyers share and react to stories submitted by fans about unforgettable (and often chaotic) family trips. With stories ranging from unexpected relatives on airplanes, bizarre animal encounters in car engines, to spontaneous synchronized swimming competitions aboard cruise ships, Seth and Josh reflect on the joys and quirks of family and travel. The episode also fielded listener questions about their podcast theme song, family pets, and featured their trademark playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Listener Stories

1. Warm-up: Family Lists, Sports Radio, and the Magic of Podcasts

MM:SS 00:00–05:58

• Seth jokes about asking their dad for a list of his top three favorite podcast listeners, highlighting their family’s affection for lists and action plans.
• There’s a playful discussion about their parents' car rides: the only thing they agree on is listening to the brothers’ podcast.
• They riff about the phenomenon of sports radio, with Josh admitting not getting it, and Seth sharing his love for sports-related podcasts, especially during football season (“I like listening to Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal … I feel like I know them now.” – Seth, 02:42).
• Fun aside about terrible baseball puns from radio announcers (“By the third inning, the Pirates announcers have made so many terrible rushing puns.” – Seth, 04:14).
• Seth and Josh express excitement over Jeff Tweedy’s triple album release and joke about possibly sneaking their podcast jingle onto it.

2. Listener Story #1: The Infinite Family Tree in Somerville

Brenda from Somerville, MA
MM:SS 06:27–12:24

Story Summary:

• Brenda recounts how her mom, traveling for the first time, unexpectedly ends up babysitting a random 8-year-old boy during a travel delay. Her mother deduces—over the phone with the boy’s mom—that he's a distant cousin (thanks to their vast, rural Maine family tree) and hosts him overnight.

Notable Moments:

• Seth: “They had so many relations that when there’s an unaccompanied minor, they’re like, he’s probably one of ours!” (07:54)
• Josh brings up Iceland’s “Hello Cousin” app, sparking riffs on Icelandic gene pools and a running blue balls joke:
  • Josh: “Not a thing.”
    Seth: “Wow. That’s a real hot take. A hot take on cold balls.”
    (12:11–12:20)

Themes:

• The comedy and absurdity of huge extended families
• The beloved rite of passage for unaccompanied kid travelers
• Family hospitality and weird sleepovers with surprise cousins

3. Listener Story #2: The Groundhog in the Car Engine

Daniel from Philadelphia, PA
MM:SS 17:28–27:59

Story Summary:

• Daniel recalls a family vacation to Wellfleet, Cape Cod, which is upended when they discover their car infested with flies (and a terrible smell). Turns out—a dead groundhog is under the hood, discovered only after driving for hours. Daniel’s dad, denied help by animal control (“Animal control is only for animals that are alive”), uses a double-bag “dog poop method” to remove the, ahem, “less-than-whole” groundhog remains himself.

Notable Moments:

• Seth: “Do you know what it is when you find a groundhog dead in your car? Two more weeks of summer.” (22:05)
• Daniel, relaying his dad’s resourcefulness and gallows humor, gets much love from the brothers (“Massive shout out to my dad for dealing with that. Great vibes going out to the groundhog.”)
• The Meyers brothers riff on their own animal body removal adventures (from dead skunks to accidental mouse euthanasia):
  • Seth: “I can get rid of a dead skunk … a skunk carcass, I’ll go to town.” (23:33)
  • Josh: “That was how that mouse met its end.” (26:05)
  • Seth: “If given the choice, I would prefer hammer [over flushing].” (26:09)
• Josh shares an Amsterdam story where a pigeon met the “hammer option” in graphic local fashion.

Themes:

• The hidden horrors of vacation rentals and road trips
• Dads stepping up for the really gross jobs
• Family problem-solving under pressure
• Animal mishaps inspire collective family legends

4. Listener Story #3: Synchronized Swimming College Bros

Cheryl from Wilmette, IL
MM:SS 29:05–37:17

Story Summary:

• Cheryl describes a 2012 family cruise when her college-aged sons, Jesse and Rob, unexpectedly star in an impromptu synchronized swimming competition. Not only do they dazzle the crowd with “Chariots of Fire” handstands and fountain imitations, but they also become minor celebrities on the cruise—winning sports tournaments, karaoke, and even befriending elderly gamblers at Texas Hold’em.

Notable Moments:

• Cheryl: “I get in line behind a group of girls in bikinis waiting to talk to them ... I literally don’t know what question to ask first.” (31:40)
• Cheryl’s closing: “It’s a lot of fun being their mom ... I didn’t know when the four of us would be vacationing together again.” (32:45)
• Seth (choked up): “Now I’m getting choked up ... What more could you ask than to have kids that are gamers?” (33:05)
• Josh: “Wildcats.” (34:10)
• Both brothers reminisce about orchestrating their own (terribly uncoordinated, but fun) poolside synchronized swimming contests on guys’ weekends.

Themes:

• The joy of witnessing your kids create spontaneous fun—and notoriety
• Bittersweet moments as family adventures become rarer with age
• The quirky traditions and rituals that become family legend

Engaging Q&A and Personal Reflections

1. Jeff Tweedy’s Podcast Theme Song

Terry from Minneapolis
MM:SS 40:03–43:42

• Terry asks about the parameters given to Jeff Tweedy for writing the “Family Trips” song.
• Seth: “We never gave parameters, we never gave length ... It was one of the great hit plays of my life.” (41:43)
• Josh reflects on how much he loves the jingle, even at double speed.
• Seth links this personal experience to another one—having his favorite band, The Hold Steady, write a song about his son: “When I first got a song from my favorite band about my son … Burst into tears.” (43:22)

2. Question about Frisbee (Seth’s Late Dog) & Family Pets

Ayla
MM:SS 43:53–49:07

• Ayla asks if Seth’s family is considering another dog, and Josh is asked for an update on his own dogs.
• Seth: “I think they started from a weird place where ... Frisbee was an old dog ... So while they’re sad Frisbee’s gone, they’re not like, we gotta get another one of those.” (44:10)
• Josh updates on his elderly dog Debbie and his sweet-natured dog Woody (“He’s the nicest dog I’ve ever had.” – 46:28).
• Seth reflects on the everyday rituals you miss with a gone pet, like his dog’s “helicopter” move in bed.
• Both express gratitude for the love and memories pets bring.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On comedy and grief:
  “I’m sorry I cried twice.” – Seth (49:11), showing the emotional resonance of these listener stories.
• On sibling humor:
  “That’s a real hot take. That’s a hot take on cold balls.” – Seth (12:15)
• On family travel mishaps:
  “Dead groundhog … That place is only open from Monday through Friday.” – Seth (22:05)
• On kids growing up:
  “I didn’t know when the four of us would be vacationing together again.” – Cheryl (32:45)
• On audience love:
  “Thank you, listeners, for all your stories. We really love you guys. Even when they strike a nerve and they make Sufi cry.” – (Listener song, 49:49)

Episode Structure & Timestamps

• 00:00–05:58: Banter on family lists, sports radio, and intro song jokes
• 06:27–12:24: Brenda’s cousin sleepover adventure + Meyers riffing on family trees & cultural quirks
• 17:28–27:59: Daniel’s Wellfleet groundhog saga + animal-removal mishaps and confessions
• 29:05–37:17: Cheryl’s cruise ship synchronized swimming sons + musings on family milestones
• 40:03–43:42: Q&A – How Jeff Tweedy’s song came to be
• 43:53–49:07: Q&A – Dogs loved and lost, and the evolving rules of pet ownership for families

Closing: Listener Song Recap

MM:SS 49:49–End

• Producer Sam wraps the episode with a custom song summarizing each listener story (Brenda’s cousin, Daniel’s groundhog, Cheryl’s synched-up sons) with warmth and wit, echoing the episode’s heart and humor.

Overall Tone:
Warm, playful, honest, occasionally tear-jerking, with a strong undercurrent of family affection and gentle ribbing.

Takeaway

This episode is a love letter to family chaos—celebrating the weird, gross, joyful, and unforgettable moments of travel, and the indelible place of siblings, parents, and pets in our lives. Even for new listeners, it’s a welcoming, funny, and emotionally resonant ride, full of real-life anecdotes and sincere gratitude for the podcast’s community.