Good Guys (Dear Media)

Episode: Tanning Beds, TikTok Live, and a Nightmare Dinner
Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, hosts Josh Peck and Ben Soffer dive into a mix of hilarious personal stories and sharp pop-culture commentary. The main themes revolve around tanning bed rituals, a memorable (and disastrous) dinner with internet entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, the realities and economics of TikTok Live, social side hustles, body image, and the evolving nature of professional networking. The banter is irreverent, self-aware, and filled with classic Good Guys humor, offering both laughs and genuine insights into influencer culture, parenting, and modern ambitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tanning Beds: Rituals, Horror Stories, and Seedy Side Notes

• Josh’s Tanning Routine:
  • Josh emphasizes he hasn't tanned in years due to aging concerns, despite “loving it.”

    “No, I haven't done tanning salon in years. And it's hurting because I love it.” (00:48)

  • He describes the tanning bed experience with humor:

    “You feel like you’re in an easy bake oven of cuteness…your endorphins are flowing.” (01:12)

  • Ben expresses anxiety due to claustrophobia and confusion about the “rotisserie chicken” nature of tanning beds.
  • The duo discusses rotating to avoid “pressure points,” where the skin does not tan.
• Seedy Side of Tanning Salons:
  • Josh recounts stories from friends who worked at a tanning salon, describing it as “renting privacy for 30 minutes,” leading to some wild finds in the rooms—hinting at both drug use and questionable behavior.

    “There’s something really seedy about a place where you can basically rent privacy for 30 minutes.” (09:12)

The Nightmare Dinner: A Networking Event Gone Wrong

• Ben’s Gastronomic Catastrophe:
  • Ben attends a high-profile dinner with Gary Vaynerchuk and is immediately struck by a bout of severe stomach distress (“waterfall of diarrhea”) just as the event starts.
  • The story is told with cringe-worthy detail and comic self-deprecation, including a FaceTime call to his wife, Claudia, from the bathroom.

    “I am shitting like I’ve never shat before in my life. I FaceTime Claudia…I can hear Gary giving opening remarks. If I can hear them, they can hear me.” (05:01)

  • A dinner guest bluntly asks him, “Where were you? You missed the opening remarks.” (05:35)
• Takeaways from the Dinner:
  • Unexpected marketing brainstorms and the awkwardness of networking.
  • Gary Vaynerchuk reportedly praises Snapchat and TikTok Live as hot platforms for creators, particularly for their reach and monetization.

TikTok Live: Modern Gold Rush or Full-Time Grind?

• Monetization Realities:
  • A dinner guest claims to have made $1M in a year on TikTok Live with just 60k followers, stunning Ben and Josh.
  • Josh notes the time investment:

    “The issue…is five to ten hours a day. Like, you have to give it so much time.” (07:06)

• Debating the Accessibility of Side Hustles:
  • Ben muses why more people (e.g. Starbucks workers) don’t try this, pondering if “you just put in the time, you can make it.” Josh counters that those truly making significant money on TikTok Live are “special” and the barrier to meaningful income may be higher than it seems.
  • They warn about over-glamorizing the influencer lifestyle and draw parallels to the .01% who genuinely excel.

Parenting, Identity, and Influencer Fatigue

• Speak Pipe Q&A (Children and Life Changes) [48:00]:
  • Thoughtful advice is given on whether to have children, focused on the myths that “your life is over” when you become a parent.

    “Your life isn't over…Aspects of your life that were completely fucking meaningless…I think are over.” – Ben (49:10)

  • Josh offers comfort:

    “90% of the pain is in the decision whether or not to do something hard.” (50:40)

  • The pair discuss how parenting fits various lifestyles, noting that joy, value, and purpose often increase.
• Body Image & Progress:
  • Candid discussion about body dysmorphia in adulthood and the struggles of seeing progress, particularly for those who struggled with weight in the past.

    “When I look in the mirror, I see nothing good…I'll see an improvement, but then it'll be cascaded by all this negative.” – Josh (39:08)

Side Hustles & Professional Networking: Modern Realities

• Networking is Overrated:
  • Ben admits to making “zero connections” at the big dinner and argues that real business is done in 1:1 coffees, not crowded parties.
• Platform Monetization:
  • Josh and Ben discuss how platforms like TikTok now offer lower barriers for supplemental income through side hustles, though with caveats about longevity and oversaturation.

Pop Culture & Notable Guests [29:58]

• Teasing the Upcoming Guest: Oz Perlman
  • Anticipation for mentalist Oz Perlman’s upcoming in-person podcast appearance, with jokes about him exposing their PIN numbers.

    “If he does guess our pin numbers…it’s live on the pod, like we’re fucked.” – Ben (30:13)

• Celebrity Encounters:
  • Discussion about actor Jesse Metcalfe (with stories about ex-girlfriends and seeing him at an NBA game).
  • Ben meets NBA star Jalen Brunson, marvels at his unexpectedly smooth hands.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Reflections on TikTok Hustle:

  “If you want to make [money], why aren’t more people…going on TikTok Live?...Is it simply consistency? ...if you, if you need an extra thousand dollars a month…is it as simple as that?” – Ben (18:08)

• Parenting Insight:

  “What am I missing? I’m missing sleeping in, I’m missing rotting in bed…I’m not missing being outside…I just love being in constant movement and kids allow you to do that.” – Ben (49:10, 52:16)

• Body Image Humor:

  “I want you to look like Nick Offerman. Like a strong lesbian.” – Josh (40:22)

• On the Seedy Side of Tanning Salons:

  “Len said he used to find some wild shit in these rooms. Drugs, …Oh yeah, wow.” – Josh (09:12)

• QVC Pitch:

  “We could sell anything. I'll sell melanomas on QVC…I’m digging.” – Josh (61:44)

Important Timestamps

• Tanning Beds Deep-Dive: 00:39 – 11:14
• Ben’s Nightmare Dinner (Gary Vaynerchuk): 03:59 – 06:36
• TikTok Live & Monetization Discussion: 06:46 – 24:43
• Body Dysmorphia & Personal Progress: 37:47 – 40:10
• Teasing Oz Perlman the Mentalist: 29:58 – 31:11
• Parenthood, Advice on Having Kids (listener Q): 47:25 – 54:27
• QVC & Product Pitch Comedy: 42:32 – 44:29
• Celebrity Exes & Jesse Metcalfe: 34:40 – 36:07
• Random News: Tom’s River Police Story: 31:31 – 34:21
• What Are Ya Nuts? Rants: 56:07 – 63:33

Tone & Style

True to "Good Guys" style, the episode mixes sincere reflections with outrageous humor. Both hosts toggle between self-deprecating anecdotes, industry insights, and off-the-cuff riffs (occasionally explicit), keeping the show energetic and relatable for millennial and Gen Z listeners. The language is casual, irreverent, and sprinkled with Jewish cultural references, pop culture nods, and New York vibes.

Final Takeaways

• Don’t believe the networking hype—sometimes “brainstorm” dinners are just that (with extra bathroom breaks).
• Parenthood isn’t the end—it’s just a new, in-motion chapter.
• The influencer grind is real; true outsized success requires both time and a “special sauce.”
• Body image struggles don’t disappear, especially for those with a history of weight struggles—but progress is possible.
• You can turn anything (and everything) into content…even CVS touch screens and cancer survivor golf attire.
• The Good Guys promise: If someone’s selling it—be it skincare or a meltdown story—they’ll find a way to make it hilarious, heartwarming, and unfiltered.

For more laughs (and the occasional life lesson), tune in Mondays & Thursdays. What are ya, nuts?