Good Guys – Episode Summary
Episode: "Snowstorms, Screen Time, & The 7-Eleven Dilemma"
Podcast: Good Guys (Dear Media)
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Date: February 9, 2026
Overview
In this lively episode, Josh and Ben tackle life’s little and not-so-little debates, from the joys and perils of snow days to the comparative misery of American fast food, the complexities of parenthood, aging, friendships, and modern screen addiction. Their classic banter is fueled by real listener questions and irreverent takes on everything from the dangers of snow shoveling to whether you should still fret about farting during your college hookup phase.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Snowstorms, Nostalgia & the Loss of Snow Days
[01:05–03:05]
- Ben’s Florida Guilt: Ben laments enjoying Florida warmth while most of the US is snowed in, missing quintessential New York snow days.
- Remote Learning vs. Real Joy:
- Ben: “That was the best, literally. Was there a better day in the world than the day after a blizzard in New York?...Nothing is better for kids than giving them a snow day.”
- Josh agrees: The unexpectedness and “plan-less” joy makes a snow day magical for kids.
- Culture of Over-Structuring: They critique the shift towards removing “nothing days” for kids in favor of remote learning.
2. Childhood Moves & Identity Formation
[03:15–04:12]
- Moving Families: Josh shares advice he’s received (via NFL players’ wives) that moving with young kids is fine until middle school, after which friends and identity are more fixed.
- Ben: “The younger they are, the more French they become,” joking about immersion and accents.
3. International Fast Food – Why Is It Better Abroad?
[04:26–07:14]
- McDonald’s in Montreal: Both reminisce about fresher, better options in Canada (and Japan’s gourmet 7-Elevens), asking why American counterparts can’t compete.
- Ben on Japanese 7-Eleven: “It’s not even close…every 7-Eleven is like a gourmet Japanese grocery store.”
- Josh attributes it to “hyper capitalism,” noting that US consumers pay for lower quality, more expensive fast food, and that even school lunches are better elsewhere ("kids are eating adult meals that are just slightly altered...not from a can").
4. The Food Quality Debate: ‘Health Halos,’ Ingredient Hype & The Reality
[07:14–14:08]
- Ben: "The food is not good for you and the food doesn’t taste as good as it should."
- Josh on misleading claims: “Of course Oreos are vegan…things that are mostly man-made ingredients or ultra-processed that are vegan.”
- Advertising & Regulation: They discuss how places like Canada avoid aggressive junk advertising, and how US consumer choices are heavily shaped by marketing and lack of regulation.
- Changing Taste & Oil Debates:
- Josh: "It's still horrible for your health."
- Ben: “If you’re eating so much fried food that you get the benefit of that 2%, you’re dead.”
- On ultra-processed foods and school lunches, both wish for higher standards but remain skeptical anything will change soon.
5. Skincare & Aging, Everyday Self-Care
[18:37–20:06]
- Josh is using Kiehl’s retinol cream: “I’m talking less sunspots. I’m talking newer, fresher, plumper, cuter skin.”
- Ben’s family are Kiehl’s loyalists: His dad’s a top user; they rave about body washes and creams.
- Moment of comic relief as they compare notes on personal grooming rituals.
6. Snow Shoveling & Heart Attack Risks – PSA
[20:47–22:07]
- A surprising health warning:
- Josh (after consulting ChatGPT): “It’s like you’re deadlifting outside in a freezer after sitting on the couch all day…a shovel full of snow can weigh up to 20 pounds.”
- Ben: “Easy. That’s no good.”
- Solution? Tongue-in-cheek, they muse about using blowtorches instead of shovels ("What could go wrong?").
7. Screen Time, The Allure of the Phone & ‘Shabbat from Screens’
[25:42–35:47]
- Ben’s experiment: Turns his phone off for 25 hours over Shabbat.
- “I didn’t realize I’m addicted to my phone… I don’t need anybody else for the next 25 hours.”
- Josh: “100%. I overall have tried to be much less on my phone…”
- Screen time stats & confessions:
- Ben discovers his white noise app is skewing his numbers; both admit to hours lost on Instagram and TikTok.
- Ben: “I want to go on Instagram and TikTok and I want to see recipe inspiration...then all of a sudden I end up on just like something I didn’t want."
- Josh: "The algorithm needs to learn me better…I want to watch one breastfeeding video, not a hundred…”
8. Moron Mail & Listener Advice: Shame, Friendship & the College ‘Toot’
[37:54–40:56]
First Letter:
- Caller worries about her “loud toots” during college hookups.
- Ben: “No one is thinking about you ever… The group chat has not been about you ever…We’re not that important—and I say that to help.”
- Josh reassures: “If you’re really good at canoodling, then it’s a cool title…dudes will be like well worth that trade, dog.”
Second Letter:
[41:04–51:58]
- Listener worries about becoming isolated as friends have kids.
- Ben: “Life is so busy…The second you text me, I’m flooded with memories...I might not be able to see you in the context you want, but I guarantee they also want quality time in their own way.”
- Josh: Suggests setting recurring plans—monthly dinners or family visits—to maintain friendships.
- Both stress: Plan ahead, be flexible, and understand new parental priorities—friendships will change but not vanish.
9. Parenting Philosophy: Weekends, Work-Life Balance, and Family Time
[47:13–55:28]
- Josh and Ben agree: weekends and free time revolve around family, yet both acknowledge the tension between work and time with kids.
- Josh: “If you really make your family your focus…everyone benefits.”
- Both joke about how priorities shift—sports and old hobbies fade; the “me time” they find is usually a rare meal out or gym session.
10. "What Are You, Nuts?" Weekly Gripes
[56:17–58:05]
- Josh: Annoyed by neighbors treating his property’s orange and lemon trees as free-for-all:
- “You can help yourself to an orange or lemon, but my house is not Whole Foods. Don’t bring a basket.”
- Ben: Annoyed by people with unruly dogs who claim “he’s normally so sweet.”
- “Of course he’s not normally so sweet. This is a grizzly bear!”
- Both close with their classic sign-off, riffing "What are you, nuts?" for listeners who don't give five stars.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Ben on snow days: “That was the best, literally. Was there a better day in the world than the day after a blizzard in New York?...”
- Josh on American fast food: “We've accepted these, like, chemically induced umami bombs that are trash. And we also will pay a premium for it.”
- On food ingredient debates:
- Ben: “If you’re eating so much fried food that you get the benefit of that 2%, you’re dead.” [13:02]
- On other people’s opinions:
- Ben: “No one is thinking about you ever. [39:35]”
- Parenting realities for non-parents:
- Josh: “You get to be a part of their kid’s life…but the biggest, best thing is you get to leave.” [43:40]
- On the phone fast:
- Ben: “My weekends are not my own. But that’s okay. They’re slower, planned, and fun.”
Timestamps for Major Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|---------------| | Snow day nostalgia & remote learning | 01:05–03:05 | | International fast food, McDonald’s talk | 04:26–07:14 | | Food ingredient debates, “health halos” | 07:14–14:08 | | Skincare and aging | 18:37–20:06 | | Snow shoveling health warnings | 20:47–22:07 | | Screen time & phone fasting | 25:42–35:47 | | Moron Mail: College “toot” anxiety | 37:54–40:56 | | Friendships shifting w/parenthood | 41:04–51:58 | | Parenting, work-life balance | 47:13–55:28 | | What are you nuts? Personal gripes | 56:17–58:05 |
Tone & Style
Fast-paced, self-deprecating, blunt, playful, sometimes raunchy and always honest. The hosts riff off one another, weaving in jokes, exaggerated kvetching, and New York-Jewish humor, keeping things engaging and unpretentious.
This episode runs the gamut from childhood memories to adult anxieties, parenting hacks, and snack critique—anchored by humor and real talk, making it perfect for anyone looking to laugh while thinking a little deeper about the simple stuff in life.