A Lena Dunham Renaissance

Summary

Podcast Summary: Good Guys – "A Lena Dunham Renaissance"

Release Date: June 26, 2025
Hosts: Josh Peck and Ben Soffer

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Introduction to Lena Dunham's "Girls"

The episode opens with Josh Peck and Ben Soffer delving into Lena Dunham's television series, "Girls." Ben expresses a nuanced appreciation for the show, acknowledging its artistic merit while critiquing its frequent nudity.

Ben (00:39): "Shout out Lena Dunham. I misjudged you, Okay? I misjudged you. This is a wonderful show. It's great. Super talented, super talent."

Analysis of "Girls" and Lena Dunham's Characterization

Ben compares "Girls" to "The Sopranos," positioning it as a cornerstone for the LGBTQ community, while Josh reflects on the show's impact during its airing period.

Ben (01:35): "It's like the gay Sopranos. That's 'Girls' for HBO. It's Sopranos for the LGBTQ community."

They discuss the show's handling of serious topics like mental health and drug use, intertwined with humor and lightheartedness. Ben highlights Lena Dunham's portrayal of her character, Hannah, noting the complexity and self-critique embedded within the role.

Ben (02:39): "It's a lot of mental health, a lot of drug use, a lot of it's serious topics. It's like, the reason that I like it is because it's funny, light hearted, well written, but really does touch on some very serious shit."

Reevaluation of Lena Dunham's Public Image

Josh offers a personal reflection, admitting past criticisms of Dunham and acknowledging her growth and resilience in the public eye. He references Dunham's advice to her younger self, emphasizing personal growth and self-compassion.

Josh (03:14): "I think, like, I have respect for people when they're so universally beat up publicly and then they like somehow walk through it and come out the other side."

Ben counters by critiquing Hannah's character as potentially self-destructive, yet recognizes Lena Dunham's undeniable talent as both an actress and writer.

Ben (05:09): "She's so unbelievably talented. If you can make me hate you that much, you're a brilliant actress and you're a brilliant writer."

Collaborative Dynamics and Creativity

The hosts explore the synergy between Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow, suggesting that Apatow's influence might contribute to the show's effectiveness by balancing Dunham's intense portrayal with his signature lightheartedness.

Josh (07:09): "I think the Judd magic, when it comes to someone very, very talented and then he can come in there from like a 30,000 foot view and just be like, move your troops a little to the left."

Ben agrees, affirming that the combination of their talents is a key factor in the show's success.

Ben (07:34): "Because it's the combo. It's... It's the combo. And yeah, I like it a lot. It's really good."

Olivia, a guest on the show, shares her limited exposure to "Girls" and echoes the hosts' sentiments about giving Lena Dunham grace and recognizing her potential for a positive resurgence.

Olivia (07:38): "I think, you know, as people grow, it's good to give grace. And I'm excited to see what she does in the future too, and hopefully can have like a bit of a, you know, turning point in the public eye."

Ben remains skeptical but open to the possibility of a Dunham renaissance.

Ben (08:19): "Yeah, I don't think she will, but I don't, like, I am not betting on a Lena Dunham renaissance. I'm not."

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Personal Anecdotes and Experiences

The conversation shifts to personal stories, including Ben's experience in the hospital and his humorous portrayal of "The Sopranos" characters to help himself sleep.

Ben (09:17): "I would lay my head on the pillow and I would say, hi, Tony Soprano. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, Ben. Come into my house..."

Josh shares his distressing memory of witnessing a medical procedure, highlighting his sensitivity to such experiences.

Josh (17:13): "I was dating a girl who got a staph infection in her knee... And so I just remember staring in it and then waking up with my legs in the air and a nurse waving, smelling salt under my nose."

Ben empathizes with Josh's experience and contrasts it with the more emotional nature of witnessing his son's circumcision.

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Parenting and Privacy Concerns

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussions about parenting, particularly the decision to keep their children’s lives private. Ben explains the couple's strict rule against sharing photos of their children to protect their privacy and safety.

Ben (31:07): "We made a hard and fast rule... The day that I knew that I would never post him is I won't mention who this influencer fashion blogger person is... It was very hard for me."

Josh supports the decision, emphasizing the importance of granting children autonomy over their public presence as they grow.

Josh (31:51): "For me, I guess we're always... say that these kids will have anonymity until one day, if they grow up and they want to be public, they can choose that."

They discuss the challenges of maintaining privacy in the digital age, especially with the rise of social media and the potential for unwanted exposure.

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Audience Questions and Discussions

The hosts address listener-submitted questions, offering advice on relationships and financial boundaries.

1. Question about Husband's Habit of Standing to Wipe:

   An anonymous listener asks if her husband's habit of standing to wipe is normal or a deal-breaker.

   Ben (38:00): "Not marrying him over. It's not like he doesn't wipe his ass. That would be not marrying over."

   Ben humorously dissects the behavior, while Josh adds a playful commentary.

2. Question about Extreme Financial Strain in a Relationship:

   A listener seeks advice on navigating financial strain after moving in with a higher-earning partner.

   Josh (45:02): "Like, a cheaper apartment would solve so much of this."

   Both hosts agree on the importance of open communication and mutual support during financial hardships.

3. Question about a Town Grifter Father-in-Law:

   Jessica asks about handling a father-in-law who is perceived as a grifter, borrowing money without repayment.

   Ben (47:37): "Feel very, very terrible for the situation... he probably needs rehabilitation."

   The hosts suggest compassionate approaches, prioritizing the well-being of the individual over financial restitution.

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"What Are You Nuts?" Segment

In their signature segment, Josh and Ben rant about minor annoyances, blending humor with relatable frustrations.

1. Brita Water Filters:

   Ben complains about the inefficiency of Brita filters, advocating for sink-mounted filters instead.

   Ben (52:56): "This Brita is a full-time job. You fill it up, you pour it out, it's completely, completely useless."

2. Ticking Clocks:

   Josh expresses irritation over ticking clocks in quiet environments, equating the sounds to a mission impossible scenario.

   Josh (54:04): "This is nuts... Are we done. We've graduated. I get it. It's good in an automatic watch."

3. Tom Cruise's Stunts:

   Ben criticizes Tom Cruise for performing his own stunts, questioning the actor's decision-making.

   Josh (55:03): "Hey, Tom Cruise, get a stuntman. Don't do your own stunts. What are you, nuts?"

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Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with promotional segments for sponsors such as Shopify, Booking.com, OpenPhone, and ButcherBox, interspersed with lighthearted banter. The hosts encourage listeners to rate the podcast highly and engage with them on various platforms.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ben on "Girls" and Lena Dunham's Talent (01:24): "I have respect for people when they're so universally like, beat up publicly and then they like somehow walk through it and come out the other side."

• Josh on Personal Growth and Apologizing (03:14): "I think this is like the time to welcome them back with a warm embrace."

• Ben on Parenting Privacy (31:04): "If you have the money to invest, give it away. Or don't give it at all. Agreed."

• Josh on Ticking Clocks (54:04): "And I thought I was gonna lose it."

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Conclusion

In "A Lena Dunham Renaissance," Josh Peck and Ben Soffer navigate the complexities of public perception, personal growth, and the intricate balance of privacy in parenting. Through insightful discussions, humorous anecdotes, and engaging listener interactions, the hosts offer a multifaceted exploration of Lena Dunham's impact and their personal philosophies on life and relationships.

Transcript

[Josh]

The following podcast is a dear media production.

[Ben]

Two Jews, both big and tall.

[Josh]

No subject too small for the good guys. A mother's dream premium podcast team. Make it your weekly routine. It's a good Guys. And if you don't give us five stars. What are you nuts?

[Ben]

What are you nuts? Yeah. We're the good guys.

[Josh]

They're not the great guys. We're just the good of.

[Ben]

Good of the good guys.

[Josh]

Benny and Joshi, you'll never guess what we're talking about. It has to do with Lena Dunham, shirtless. Go for it, Ben.

[Ben]

Benny and Joshi, watching girls 20 years late. Benny and Joshi. There are a lot of breasts.

[Josh]

There are, right?

[Ben]

Yeah. First of all, shout out Lena Dunham. I misjudged you, Okay? I misjudged you. This is a wonderful show. It's great. Super talented, super talent. Super talented. No question. That said, I literally feel like she wrote this show just so she could be naked. She's naked 100% of this show when she doesn't need to be naked. She's naked. Like, in those. There's like a. Like, there's a bathtub scene, right. She's under bubbles. All of a sudden, for no reason, she just readjusts. So you see a nipple. Like, she's always naked.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

I didn't know. I love the show. I didn't know that this was Adam Driver's big break. He's awesome. So good, so talented. I'm trying to think who else is in it, but this is like.

[Josh]

It's like the gay.

[Ben]

It's like gay Sopranos. That's Girls for hbo. It's Sopranos for the LGBTQ community. And me, like, that's what it is.

[Josh]

Like, Paige watched it, but she's like a girl from Southern California, but while it was on the air. I mean, you're a little young. I feel like you were a little bit young for it when it was on the air. Right?

[Ben]

I think. I think I was in. I think I was in college.

[Josh]

Was it, like, affirming for New York girls? Was it, like their anthem? Like, was it their shit during that time?

[Ben]

I don't remember anybody talking about girls. I don't. But I have my head in my ass all the time. I remember them talking about, I think.

[Josh]

You were a little young.

[Ben]

Maybe I was. When did it come out, Olivia? Do you know when girls came out?

[Josh]

2010.

[Olivia]

Came out. 2012.

[Ben]

April. Okay. Okay. So, I mean, I was 20. Like, it's not.

[Josh]

Yeah. But I feel like. Yeah. That it was certainly, like, a late 20s like. Cause it's grown up. Like, it's proper, properly grown up.

[Ben]

It is a lot of mental health, a lot of drug use, a lot of it's serious topics. It's like, the reason that I like it is because it's funny, light hearted, well written, but really does touch on some very serious shit. And we're in the middle of season three. Hannah has terrible, which is Lena Dunham, terrible ocd and just jammed a Q tip literally into her brain that I like. Oh, why are you doing that? Which, like, I. I'll never use a Q tip again. That. That scene scarred me. But yeah, it gets. It gets deep. Yeah, Girls is really good. We watch the Crown, Josh. I've been watching a ton of tv. We want to stay on Girls or we want to hop around.

[Josh]

Well, I want to know because I think I deserve or I think I need to do a bit of an apology. Even though it was all in my head. I never said anything publicly, but I think I was like everyone else where I was really hard on Lena Dunham, to your point. And I think, like, I've seen her recently with her new look and if she believes it, she was recently quoted saying, like, what would she tell her younger self? And it was something to the effect of like, calm down, girl. Like, you're not that special, you're not that important. And like, you could like, worry 50% less and be as. Or more successful than you were. And I certainly could have said that to myself in my 20s. And I think that certainly there were stuff, you know, that she said or did where I think just naturally people, like, people had strong opinions towards. But I do, I give her credit and I will say I'm interested to hear what you and Olivia have to say about this. Like, I think, like, I have respect for people when they're so universally like, beat up publicly and then they like somehow walk through it and come out the other side. I'm like, uh, Like, I think this is like the time to welcome them back with a warm embrace.

[Ben]

I mean, she did do it to herself though. Like, I know you have. I know, I know you haven't watched the show, but if you watch the show and I would recommend it because it's 25 minute episodes. It's like a quick, easy watch. It's not like, like one. One weekend or something. Binge it.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

She is the least likable character. And she wrote it, Josh. So she wrote herself. It's almost like she hates herself the way that she wrote it and portrayed herself like you just, you look at this woman that is 100%, like 100% naked all the time, covered in tattoos, makes poor decision after poor decision after poor decision, is just like a complete nutcase. And she wrote it and she depicted herself like this and she did it. And like you're watching it and it's not like, it's not like when people hate Sarah Jessica Parker in what the fuck is that show called?

[Josh]

Sex and the City.

[Ben]

Sex and the City, My God. It's not like, it's not like when people hate, like, because, like, people love to hate her in that. Right. But objectively, like, there's nothing really wrong.

[Josh]

Not at all.

[Ben]

So there is so much wrong with Hannah, Lena Dunham's character in this show. She's a horrible friend, she's a horrible daughter.

[Josh]

And is it, is it the personification of what people don't like about like the liberal coastal elite of like pretentious and SM mug? At least the character, like, no, like.

[Ben]

Not even like, she's so. She's so awful. She's so awful. Like she is a narcissist when she can't be. You look at this person, this being, you're like, you're a narcissist. How are you a narcissist?

[Josh]

And at the same time, narcissist is, is goes free rein.

[Ben]

I know. And at the same time she hates herself.

[Josh]

It's like so hating yourself is on the same coin of narcissism. It's just the other side because it's self obsession.

[Ben]

Exactly. And it's just, it's wild. So I understand why everybody hates or hated Lena Dunham. But if you take it a step further, you realize for her to act like that and write like that, she is so unbelievably talented. If you can make me hate you that much, you're a brilliant actress and you're a brilliant writer. And so I have. I don't like her because I don't like her character, but I have unbelievable amounts of respect for her. She's incredibly talented. And yeah, I also wonder what percentage of it is Judd Apatow because he's also on it. And the lightheartedness feels like every great, light hearted Judd Apatow movie or show I've ever seen. So I wonder if it's just the combo that she is everything negative and he swoops in with like that lighthearted, funny, quirky. I don't know. But taking it at face value, she's incredibly talented.

[Josh]

Yeah. I think the Judd magic, when it comes to someone very, very talented and then he can come in there from like a 30,000 foot view and just be like, move your troops a little to the left. Like, yeah, I think that's his special sauce is like making super talented people even better.

[Ben]

Then that's why the show works.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Because it's the combo. It's. It's the combo. And yeah, I like it a lot. It's really good.

[Josh]

Interesting. Olivia, what do you think about Lena Dunham?

[Olivia]

I have only seen like an episode or two of Girls, so I need to, like, get back into it myself. But I definitely had that, like, perception of her just because I was, like, quite young too. So I had just heard her name thrown around in, like, negative ways most of my life. And then recently I think, like, when I picked up the show, I was like, oh, this is Lena Dunham. I, like, didn't put it together fully. And to your. I agree with you that, like, when you've had so much ridicule and like, I mean, I didn't even know or consume much of anything that she had done and I didn't really have a good impression of her. So, like, I think, you know, as people grow, it's good to give grace. And I'm excited to see what she does in the future too, and hopefully can have like a bit of a, you know, turning point in the public eye.

[Ben]

Yeah, I don't think she will, but I don't, like, I am not betting on a Lena Dunham renaissance. I'm not.

[Josh]

I think it's starting. I think it's happening.

[Ben]

Maybe, maybe, maybe. You know, I'm stuck in 2012 Lena Dunham. So if anything that's happening in 2025, I'll find out in 2040.

[Josh]

Right. He hasn't even dealt with James Gandolfini's passing yet.

[Ben]

No. No. What do you mean? I'm only on season three.

[Josh]

Yeah. It's a fascinating. I don't know, I'm really down to try to, like, the. The people that people hate and dislike. The people that people love, like, totally. I think that's me. I think that's. That's Josh approaching 40.

[Ben]

No, but it's also, it's interesting. Like, kids on TikTok love to say this. We made the right person famous. You know how you see that, like, on like, these, like, viral characters.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

And you're like. And it's just like, like, yuck. Anybody that's writing that about somebody else. I hate you.

[Josh]

Yeah, you do. Yeah.

[Ben]

Sorry. Just because you brought up Sopranos I want to. I want to say one thing. I told you this. I think I told you this, like, in real time. In the hospital, the only thing that helped me sleep was I would close my eyes and I would unintentionally, I would count Sopranos the way that people count sheep. This is me. I would lay my head on the pillow and I would say, hi, Tony Soprano. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, Ben. Come into my house. This is my wife Carmela. This is my daughter, Meadow. This is my son, AJ. Oh. This is my grandma Livia. This is my uncle Junior. These are my friends, Frankie, Pussy, Christopher. This is Artie, Buco, and this is Dr. Melfi. And I would be out like a light in 15 seconds. Do I have problems?

[Josh]

Clearly. I mean, you're on this podcast and you missed his consiglieri Sil. Silvio.

[Ben]

Shit. Silvio.

[Josh]

Paulie. Paulie Walnuts.

[Ben]

I said Paulie. I said Frankie.

[Josh]

Adriana.

[Ben]

Adriana. Yeah.

[Josh]

So good. Wait till you meet Furio. Oh, my gosh, of course.

[Ben]

I know Furio. All right. Furio, the Italian Stallion. He's an import. He's imported. Good. He's like buffalo mozzarella, that Furio. We fly him in. He's fantastic.

[Josh]

Oh, man.

[Ben]

This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Shopify. Folks, we told you, come to Shopify. Take your small idea and make it a reality. Take something that you thought was a hobby and make it into a business. Shopify's end to end. End to end site lets you take something that you never thought you could make money from, and all of a sudden you can monetize it, right? Like, maybe you have a. You have a side hustle where you're making some merchandise and you want to sell it. You should be throwing it up on Shopify using their AI tools to really blow out your site. And you can collect payments on there. You can use some of their preset options where you can design out your website exactly how you want. They have these beautiful templates. I'm telling you, folks, if you're not using Shopify, build your website end to end. You're totally nuts. Right, Josh? How great is Shopify?

[Josh]

Maybe you're doing leather work, pottery. Maybe you're making merch with my picture on it unauthorized, and I'm not making a penny off of it. As long as you're making money, I'm okay with it. This is visual permission.

[Ben]

Yes. And don't worry, we'll sue you. Okay? It's fine.

[Josh]

I send out cease and desist like it was nothing.

[Ben]

It's no problem at all. You make the money, we then take the money on the back end.

[Josh]

It's great.

[Ben]

No problem. I'm lawyered up. It's basically like we're in business together with Shopify. Let's roll.

[Josh]

Let's role play, Ben. Okay. Let's role play. I'm going to be the. I'm going to be the inner monologue of the people watching this and you tell me how Shopify is going to solve my problems.

[Ben]

Excellent.

[Josh]

I have this amazing side hustle. But how will I ever have a website?

[Ben]

You can go to shopify.com goodguys today pick from one of their pre made templates and set up a website like that. There are AI tools that can help you write, they can help your pictures look better, that can help you end to end payment processing. Everything happens on Shopify.

[Josh]

I have no way of accepting payment. I'm just a regular old person who went to a state community college.

[Ben]

Well wake up and smell the roses because Shopify does that too. Okay. What are you living under a rock? Shopify is end to end.

[Josh]

I don't talk to my dad anymore.

[Ben]

Well, Shopify can help you with that.

[Josh]

As well because if you're super successful, your deadbeat dad will come back into your life. I'm still waiting.

[Ben]

You can also use Shopify, Josh, maybe to set up an AI therapist where you can pretend like you're talking to your dad.

[Josh]

I don't think Shopify offers that.

[Ben]

You can set up any website you want. They can do anything.

[Josh]

They do all up for that.

[Ben]

You can, you can set up a website where you can buy your dad. Buy minutes with your dad $15 for 15 minutes to talk to a random dad.

[Josh]

I love you son.

[Ben]

Shopify.comgoodguys today.com good guys. Javy.com goodguys take your side hustle and turn it into your real hustle.

[Josh]

So you're crushing tv. Wait we we all want to hear so the beautiful Ruby now our our first episode back we we heard and as we all know eight days later is the ceremony of all ceremonies. It's little baby Jewish Super Bowl. It's the bris. It's the circumcision. Walk us through.

[Ben]

So first of all, if you are Jewish or if you are not Jewish and you still want to do a bris or it's a beautiful ceremony, I just have to say they do it in the hospital as well and that's great. But if you're having a brisbane, make sure that your Moyel comes from a long line of moils is a nice guy, a normal guy. Meet him.

[Josh]

Okay, Moel. For the three gentiles who listen are rabbis who have been trained in the art of circumcision. They're rare, they're hard to come by, which means there's a big premium on them. And I'm just telling you, you cannot be replaced by AI. So get into it, Moyles. Sorry.

[Ben]

Yes, yes. No, no, no. A thousand percent. And the right Moyle or the right rabbi who does the circumcision is not some random guy with a pair of scissors, okay? This guy, I'll shout him out by name because he was amazing. Dr. Katzenstein. Not Dr. Katzen. Rabbi Katzenstein. He might as well be a doctor. He shadowed surgeons at Columbia. He's not just picking up a pair of scissors and, like, doing this willy nilly.

[Josh]

Stop saying it like that. You're going to make people anti Semitic. It's more clinical than you think.

[Ben]

It is so clinical. Went into it. Feeling good. Let me tell you, Josh, this boy's penis is pristine. Pristine. It's fantastic. But jumping back to the beginning, we have a bris. A bris. You go in in the morning, you pray. It's beautiful. You then have the snipping. Okay. It's very emotional. We had about 150 people there. There was only one person missing, Josh. But it is what it is.

[Josh]

I'm sorry. I would have loved to be there.

[Ben]

And it was amazing. And we then had. My God did Claudia. She threw a bar mitzvah. A bar mitzvah. She. My dad catered, but it was golf themed. We had little baby softer golf balls and like the whole omelet stations and takeaways, and it was insane. Insane. And it was amazing. And the snipping itself was sad, but he handled it like a champ. My dad held him. It was a very special moment. And Rabbi did an unbelievable job.

[Josh]

And was Claudia removed at that point?

[Ben]

She was there. No, she was there for the whole thing.

[Josh]

Did she stand right there? Because sometimes I've seen the wives kind of be like, huddled around by the women, like.

[Ben]

Yes, yes. Huddled around by the women. Yes, yes. Sorry, I thought you meant, like. Was she not in the room at all? No, she was. She was away from it. Did not need to see it. I didn't look. I can't look at that stuff. I closed my eyes. I was right there. I hope my dad didn't look. I don't know if he did or didn't. And it was incredibly special. And thank God he did a great job. But those. Those are the only diapers. Those. Those you feel really badly about. Like, post circumcision, you're then changing diapers, but there's a different process now. You have to make sure that poop gets nowhere near that fresh cut penis because you could get an infection. You have to tuck it. You have to apply the stuff. But we did great.

[Josh]

I know we've talked about it before, and I do think that, like, when they came to pick Max up to have his circumcision the day after he was born, right up into that moment, having grown up Jewish and, like, had never having had second thoughts about it. As we're walking down the hallway, in my brain, I just went, this is barbaric. This is sick. This is sick. And I will say, it's your baby.

[Ben]

It's your baby boy. And they're taking it. They're taking scissors to his penis.

[Josh]

Stop calling it scissors. It's not scissors. It's a scalpel, okay?

[Ben]

It's scissors.

[Josh]

No, it's not.

[Ben]

It's literally. It's literally these little. They're little scissors.

[Josh]

No, no. Then maybe that's his. Then he used a form of tweezers. It's like a clamp off.

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

Yes. Yeah, that's.

[Ben]

Oh, that's one weird part. Speaking of baby wieners, they need to make sure that, like, everything looks good before they perform the circumcision. So you have to facetime the moil and show the baby sweener.

[Josh]

That's bad. That's sending up some red flags and whatever. FBI agents watching your phone.

[Ben]

Thousand percent. Like, what is this rabbi doing on FaceTime with a baby wiener?

[Josh]

Once I had a moment where I passed out once from, like a mini surgery that I was watching. I told you this.

[Ben]

I don't think so.

[Josh]

I was dating a girl who got a staph infection in her knee, and her knee blew up. And so we went to urgent care because we were just like idiot 19 year olds. And we're just like, I don't know. I'm like, go to the doc. Like, go to the emergency room, Josh. Like, her knee is falling off. And this doctor was this Persian cat who was like, let them take care. And he just. He. And he didn't. I remember he didn't numb it nothing because he was like, it's completely swollen. Like, the skin is dead. And he gave her antibiotics. And then he cut that shit open. He just sliced it open. And then. And I just remember staring in It. And then waking up with my legs in the air and a nurse waving, smelling salt under my nose. And so now I think I worry about that, but I don't think. But now I've watched so much of the pit, I think I'd be fine.

[Ben]

I think that you saw something that you weren't supposed to see. I think most people would pass out from something like that. That's a lot.

[Josh]

I was not expecting seeing a leg.

[Ben]

Cut open completely out of the blue. That's a lot. That's a lot. So I give you that. Thank you so much. I don't think you would have passed out if you saw your son's circumcision. I don't. I think you would have felt really fucking sad about it, which is why we don't watch it. That said. That said, I haven't had the great fortune of seeing your penis. I'm sure you have a great penis. You haven't seen the. Had the great fortune of seeing my penis. I. I have a great penis. Great penises. I'm just saying. We were circumcised. These are great penises.

[Josh]

Mine is great.

[Ben]

Right? It's good to own it. Own that. You have a great penis. Is it pretty? You have a pretty penis.

[Josh]

Oh, my God. Sorry, Olivia, you can leave. Dude, this is inappropriate.

[Ben]

But she's not in the room with me. I forgot.

[Josh]

It's great. I got. It's great. It's really great. It's like one thing I've never had a complex about.

[Ben]

Yeah. Which is huge. Imagine looking down.

[Josh]

It is huge.

[Ben]

Imagine looking down and being like, damn, that's unfortunate. That would suck.

[Josh]

That would suck. But I've also, like. I've been plagued by so much insecurity my whole life. But, like, the go to male insecurity has been like size and shape and thing and the whole thing. And I'm just like. I don't have any of that. Like. No, it works great. No complaints. Like, stoked.

[Ben]

Yeah. Yep.

[Josh]

My voice just got deeper.

[Ben]

Wakes up in the morning, ready to go to work.

[Josh]

He's ready. It's just great. Although I have. Have you had any friends again? I think we hang out with different crowds, but have you had friends who in their 30s are. Not necessarily because they really need it, but they don't mind it. Are starting to take like a Viagra or a Cialis recreationally.

[Ben]

If they are, they're not telling me about it. I have not. I haven't had one friend call me and tell me that he's taken something like that.

[Josh]

So now I never have taken one. But I know that I have friends who are like. Who for all intents and purposes have like, dated a lot and slept around and had a good old time. And they're like, oh, I just got on this and it's great.

[Ben]

Well, I've told you, I've told this story a long time ago on the podcast when I took Mucine xd. You remember this story?

[Josh]

Tell me more.

[Ben]

I took Mucinex D off label and in the middle of the night, in the middle of the night, I woke up with, oh, my God, the most painful erection. It would not go away for three and a half hours. And we checked the packaging and in like 1% of people, it can cause erectile dysfunction. So while I haven't taken those.

[Josh]

Sounds like erectile function.

[Ben]

That's true erectile function. While I've never taken a Viagra, Cialis, etc. In my experience, brief experience, having a boner when you don't want one and you can't get it to go away is hell. I get that maybe you want it at that point, but you don't want it for four hours. Josh, what are they doing? Are they fucking for four hours? It never goes down.

[Josh]

I think they've now made the pills as such, where you can kind of command it when necessary and then it kind of goes back into a resting function. It's just when you get hot and bothered. It's vital.

[Ben]

It's stiff. Stiff as a board.

[Josh]

It's powerful.

[Ben]

Okay, we can pivot.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

I don't know.

[Josh]

But again, I feel glad. I've never even. I've never needed that.

[Ben]

Thank God, Josh. Thank God. Wake up every day. Thank God for my schmeck.

[Josh]

Do you?

[Ben]

No, I should. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by booking.com booking. Yeah. From vacation rentals to hotels across the U.S. booking.com has the ideal summer stay for absolutely anyone, even those who might seem impossible to please. Whether you're booking for yourself, your partner, your sleep light rise early mom, or your high maintenance group chat. Ew. You can find exactly what you are booking for on booking.com booking. Yeah. One of the greatest slogans of all time, booking.com booking. Yeah, I digress. If you are looking for anything, anything related to a vacation, booking.com has it for you. Okay. Are you looking for a kitchenette? Because you want to flip some gorgeous omelettes overlooking a beautiful vista? You can find that on booking.com. do you need 800 thread count sheets? You can probably find that in your bed, in your rental that you got from booking on booking.com booking that. Yeah. Okay. Are you an influencer? That needs incredible lighting? I want to throw up. But you can find that on booking.com folks. You can find anything and more. My wife, she loves to sing. Perhaps maybe we want to soundproof the walls so that our neighbors don't get upset. She's just going to sing. We're going to soundproof. We can find that on booking.com we can literally find a hotel room with soundproofing. Okay. On booking.com booking. Yeah folks, if I can find my Perfect stay on booking.com absolutely anyone can. So find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com, booking. Yeah. Book today on the site or the app. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at OpenPhone. Folks, if you're running a business, every missed call is money left on the table. Think about the last time you had a plumbing emergency. If the first plumber didn't answer, did you wait or call the next one on the list? Chances are you moved on because you're smart. With OpenPhone, you'll never miss an opportunity to connect with your customers. Because OpenPhone is the number one business phone system that streamlines and scales your customer communications. It works through an app on your phone or computer. So no more carrying two phones or using a landline. What are you nuts? With OpenPhone, your team can share one number and collaborate on customer calls and texts like a shared inbox. That way any teammate can pick up right where the last person left off, keeping response times faster than ever. Plus, with AI powered call transcripts and summaries, you'll be able to automate follow ups, ensuring you'll never miss a customer interaction again. So whether you're a one person operation drowning in calls and texts, been there, or have a large team that needs better collaboration tools, Openphone is absolutely a no brainer. See why over 50,000 businesses trust Openphone to manage their businesses calls and texts. So folks, Openphone is offering my listeners 20% off your first six months at openphone.com/goodguys that's op e n p h o n e.com/goodguys. And if you have existing numbers with another service, don't worry, Open Phone will port them over to you at no extra charge. Open Phone no missed calls, no missed customers.

[Josh]

A nice thing that I do with Max and Shy at night is we say a prayer at night and I think it could be A fun thing to do with Rubes.

[Ben]

I love it.

[Josh]

We say we do the shema, and then we say a little prayer for, like, to honor mom's side of the religion. And then. But it's really just like I always say, like, thank you, God, for mommy, Maxie, Shai. Shai. And the baby. And then we like call out anybody else who needs extra prayers. And then in my career. And then. No, I'm kidding. And then we. We ended with a little in your name. We pray to shout out my wife because I didn't grow up saying that. And beautiful. Yeah, it's a nice thing.

[Ben]

I love that. I love that. I will 100% be doing that with Mr. Ruby, who is just. God, he's so cute. Ruby Booby. That's what I call him. Ruby Booby. Rubinson, Rubenson, Boobinson. The names are just crazy.

[Josh]

Oh, the Russian ruble. The Ruben sandwich. So good. Ruby Tuesday. Maybe he'll be Ruby Friday. He's a little more like, get excited.

[Ben]

Do you remember Ruby?

[Josh]

Yeah, sure.

[Ben]

So I call him Ruby Fu also. And what I want to do, Josh, his second birthday is going to be Ruby Two's. It's going to be Asian fusion themed. You like that, right?

[Josh]

Like love, love, love.

[Ben]

And maybe we just buy back. Because the chain is dead. Maybe we just buy back Ruby Foos.

[Josh]

And it's his.

[Ben]

That's his legacy. Ruby Foos.

[Josh]

Done.

[Ben]

And I now, like, honestly, what I call him most, I call him Mr. Fu. That's what I call him.

[Josh]

Do you want. Do you want to mention, were there any other, like, name contenders that were really close possible choices?

[Ben]

There was, but Claudia doesn't want me mentioning it because we might use them. Yeah. But what I can tell you is that we were so close to naming him this other name that we literally submitted the birth certificate form with the other name. Wow. And the next day the doctor or the nurse came in and she's like, okay, we have all of your discharge forms, except we never got the birth certificate. We're like, what are you talking about? Like, we literally filled it out. We gave it to you with all those other forms. And she's like, no, we don't have it. And we took that as a sign and changed. Was very close, though, to being the other name. And now I look at him and he could. He. It's this. He couldn't have ever been that other name.

[Josh]

Now tell me this, because I was a little hurt. Not really.

[Ben]

Tell me.

[Josh]

Look, when I. And maybe to my wife's chagrin, but what can you do with the kid's 50% mine? When that baby comes out. When? Because I'm having a baby in two weeks. When that baby comes out, we're gonna have a 7:00am C section. Baruch Hashem. God willing, within three hours. Ben, you are getting an approved photo by me, not by my wife. I felt bad because your Uncle Ben, I was like, where's the photo?

[Ben]

I'm happy that you said that you felt bad, because let me tell you, you were the first person that I texted a photo to.

[Josh]

Thank you. That means a lot.

[Ben]

I did not feel comfortable knowing how much it would have bothered Claudia texting people the photos until we left the hospital, she was so nervous about. Because there are a lot of. I would say that the number one contingency of toasters, the number one occupation is nurses. Like, that hospital was all toasters everywhere. And it's very disarming. Or it's. It's the opposite. It's very alarming. You don't feel. You just like. I know that they mean well, of course, but when you're in such a vulnerable state, you don't want people to know where you are, what time you're there. We've publicly spoken about how our. Our doctor is Dr. Fox, because he was Jackie's doctor, and we're so thankful for him. But people know that Dr. Fox is at Sinai west, so they know our hospital then they know the time. She just. She just didn't like it. So it was very hard for me. It was harder for my parents. Every single day, my dad, or like, the whole day, he's like, I can't text a picture to your uncle. Like, what do you mean? I'm like, yes, wait. I was like, just wait a day.

[Josh]

But I know what is totally here.

[Ben]

You.

[Josh]

And. But how does the nurse picture fear correlate with sending a picture to Bruce?

[Ben]

I think. I think that the fear is that picture goes well. My dad, of course, got pictures, but my dad shares things with everyone. Everyone. Like, my dad is Mr. Public Transportation. He loves a good bus. He'll go on the bus.

[Josh]

What a perfect man.

[Ben]

He'll go on the bus, and let me tell you, he will talk to the person next to him about me and show pictures of me or of Claudia. And I'm telling you, he easily could have just shown a picture of the baby to that person. Like, he doesn't think that way. He's so honest. He's like, so he's Hamish, he's religious. He's. He's Hamish. He's Hamish. That's the perfect. That's the perfect. That's the perfect word. He doesn't think of any of the potential downsides to a situation. So I think the fear was, send it to him, send it to uncle, uncle sends it to cousin, cousin sends it to somebody else. All of a sudden, I don't know. But to respect her wishes and just make her feel as comfortable as possible, I just waited. But just know you were literally first in line.

[Josh]

Thank you.

[Ben]

Literally first in line. So I could feel. I could feel it. I'm happy that you told me that it upset you. I could feel.

[Josh]

Not really.

[Ben]

I listen, it was light. It was light.

[Josh]

No, and listen, if you do it on the second one, we're not talking. No, but it's your first kid. Like, I honor all experiences, and I know, you know, I totally. Everything is right. Nothing is wrong. However you guys needed to do it, it's perfect.

[Ben]

Yeah. It's a crazy thing. It's crazy. All I want to do. All I want to do. I've built this platform, Persona for a decade. I can't share him. Do you know how hard that is? It's so hard. Now it's become easier. That day, I was like, I'm not going to show these people my greatest accomplishment. Like, I'm here telling you that business ventures, I talk about, podcasts, spritz, society, all this stuff I can't show you. Ruby, he's perfect. I can't show him to you, not you. To like my followers to people.

[Josh]

Do you want to talk more about that? Because I understand, like, for me, I guess we always. And I'm a little bit more liberal and I totally respect just saying these kids will have anonymity until one day, if they grow up and they want to be public, they can choose that. But especially when they're babies, just because they're, you know, they'll only be that way for a couple months. What made that decision to just say, we'll never show a picture ever?

[Ben]

I think we just made a hard and fast rule. I'm so with you. If we were to ever show a picture, it would have been right now. Because their face is going to change. Right. But I think it's a slippery slope. You post a picture of him. This is just our way of thinking. And they eat it up. They love it. Right? Gets a million likes. It's the most liked photo. They want more. And it's like, in us to want to give more. Like, I just. That at least is the way That I was thinking about it, I would want to keep posting him. And so it was just like a hard and fast rule. And the day that I knew that I would never post him is I won't mention who this influencer fashion blogger person is, but my sister called me. She's like, I was just in Central park and I recognized the four year old with the nanny in the park. The mother wasn't there. I recognized her. And that is fucking scary, Josh. It's fucking scary to me. New York City is a different breed. It's a completely different breed. That baby is out with the nanny, with, with family, with whatever. And somebody that could not be a friend can recognize them when they're at their most vulnerable. Sure is very scary. So that's one reason AI scares the shit out of me. But the main reason is safety.

[Josh]

And what do you do? Like, eventually, when you guys get invited to the. The premiere of Renovation Season five. No, like you get invited to the. The premiere of the new Pixar movie. And of course you want to go and bring, you know, there's so many fun family things. And I, I go through this too, where we'll get invited to these great, like, family things. And my kids have a ball at. But if I have to do, like, a photo, I'll always do it alone. But, you know, I won't help but notice that in the background of someone else's photo might be me and Max or me and Shy and. But I guess it's just like, you do your very best. You don't put them on your social.

[Ben]

And you live your life, you do your very best. That's right. Do your very best. And if I see somebody taking a picture of him against my will, I will take that phone and like, that's fucked up. Like, you don't take pictures of other people's kids intentionally, Right? Like when you. When you're not friends with them and you don't know them. But yeah, it's just to do your best. I think about that all the time. Like, he's going to be in the world and people stop us and see us on a daily basis. So people are going to see him, but it's more so just doing our best to guard against this weird world that we live in that isn't Hamish anymore.

[Josh]

But what if you have the next big aj?

[Ben]

If we have the next.

[Josh]

You're going to keep him from the world? You selfish.

[Ben]

If we have the next big AJ, then he'll let us know at 13 years old that he's ready to be big AJ but I don't. I don't need a Rizzler at 9. Love him to death. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Butcherbox. Folks, I'm so excited about this sponsor. It's incredibly keto season. It's gorgeous meat. Big, big, beautiful meat. Cow season. It's fantastic. But folks, I digress. When dinner time hits and your fridge is full of question marks, Butcherbox has your back. Skip the last minute supermarket sweep or impromptu chop challenge with whatever's left in your fridge. Butcherbox delivers better meat right when you need it, folks. Delicious meat. Gorgeous meat. You need meat delivered. You need meat delivered. It comes beautifully packaged. You can make a gorgeous filet mignon. They have a million cuts, ribeyes, you name it. Butcher Box is it. Because Butcherbox delivers better meat and seafood straight to your door, including 100% grass fed beef, free range organic chicken, pork raised, crepe free and wild caught seafood. All Butcherbox proteins are sourced from partners who meet strict animal welfare and sustainability standards. Thank God that means no antibiotics or added hormones. Ever. None. Bupkis. Zip. Whether you're feeding a growing family or just feeding your big belly, Butcherbox offers curated or fully customizable plans that fit your schedule and your preference. Folks, it couldn't be easier. You're going on a trip. Perhaps you're going to the Cape. Yeah, that's right. Trips to the Cape. Get Butcher Box. Have the meat, have the seafood, have all the stuff. The chicken delivered right to your door. It's fantastic. And as a certified B Corp. Butcherbox is committed to high standards from how the animals are raised to how their team supports workers and reduces environmental impact. Plus, every box ships free always and includes members only perks like recipe inspiration tips and exclusive deals to help you make the most out of every meal. So folks, right now Butcherbox is offering our listeners $20 off their first box and free protein for a year. Go to butcherbox.comgoodguys to get this limited time offer and free shipping always. That's ButcherBox.com GoodGuys B U T C H-E-R-B-O-X.com GoodGuys don't forget to use our link so they know we sent you.

[Josh]

Should we get to a speak bite?

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

If you want advice you want to ask us questions, go to speakpipe.com goodguys Keep it brief. Brevity is key. We don't want your woody and nuts is they're not awesome but Other than that, keep it brief. Here's from Anonymous. Let's try it again. Here's from Anonymous.

[Anonymous 1]

Hey, good guys. More on a toaster here. Coming to you with a. What are you nuts? That I need your thoughts on my husband to be. Stands to wipe his butt after he's gone to the bathroom. I've never seen anything like that. Never heard of that. Really would love your thoughts on. Is this normal? Is this something worth not marrying him over? Obviously not the case. Love him so much, but what are you nuts? I've never seen that. Is this normal behavior? Thanks. Take care. Bye bye.

[Ben]

Not marrying him over. It's not like he doesn't wipe his ass. That would be not marrying over. He takes a shit and then he just puts on his underwear. You don't marry that guy. And I marry him because he stands up to wipe. Let me tell you something, Josh.

[Josh]

Okay, Tell me.

[Ben]

Let me tell you something. When I've made a big old duty, you could catch me standing.

[Josh]

Okay.

[Ben]

At the end. At the end. The first wipe is attempted. Sitting. Okay. Always. But if you see that, you're going to need to excavate a bit. I have no issues with a light standing wipe. I think it's a little bit weird if you take a shit and then immediately jump up and exclusively wipe when you're standing. But no, sometimes you need a hunch over. Get in there. And at this point you're still.

[Josh]

Someone. Help.

[Ben]

Help.

[Josh]

Somebody.

[Ben]

I'm sorry. Help.

[Josh]

You know, there's. There's a song by Blippi which you will know in the next year or so. The great children entertainer Blippi, that goes. I'm an excavator. Excavator. Hey, poop. See ya later. No, I'm kidding. Wow. I added that. I added that.

[Ben]

Oh, that's good though. I, I. Josh, should we. Should we write children's songs? Yes. Oh, my God. This could be our new renaissance. Children's books, children's songs. It could be. You'll. You'll sing. I'll. I'll play the guitar.

[Josh]

I would love to be able. It's my dream, dude. If you really. I'm down. Yeah, man. I've always wanted to have my own version of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I'm talking. I'm talking puppets. I'm talking biracial postman. I'm talk.

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

I'm not.

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

I would love it. Great.

[Ben]

Benny and Josh's treehouse.

[Josh]

Okay, good. Working.

[Ben]

Will we get arrested?

[Josh]

Benny and Benny and Josh's kingdom. The eye. The eye of Bubbies. Love it.

[Ben]

I love it too. So good.

[Josh]

And then the United buby Emirates. Okay, so next one's from Jen.

[Anonymous 2]

Hey, Josh and Ben, Long time and toaster. I have a. What are you nuts? For you. So I took my 16 month old daughter to dinner tonight and I got her the kids Mac and cheese. And there is a dedicated kids menu. Okay. That chicken tenders, pizza and of course, Mac and cheese. So I ordered the Mac and cheese, the waitress brings it out to me in a cast iron skillet and then proceeded to tell me not to touch the skillet because it's hot. Like, you know when you go to a Mexican restaurant, you get a thing of fajitas and it comes out on a, like a sizzling platter, like with the smoke coming out of it. That's how hot this was on the kids menu. Okay. This was a dedicated kids menu. And I was so floored by this, I literally was stunned into silence. I couldn't believe it. Like, what are you nuts?

[Josh]

That's.

[Ben]

Was it. Was it good?

[Josh]

I bet it was. Crumbly little top, like crunchy top.

[Ben]

Sounds amazing. Totally nuts for sure. But like, was it delicious? Like, I want a. I want a skittled Mac and cheese.

[Josh]

Yeah. More things should be. I think you could actually make things healthier just by serving them in cast iron.

[Ben]

I'm in. Sounds great. More things should be served in cast iron. It's also less cleanup. I just realized that it's a real hack for the place.

[Josh]

And do cast iron. Cold your morning breakfast cereal in a cast iron.

[Ben]

Why not?

[Josh]

I'm in a yogurt parfait and a cast iron.

[Ben]

Sure, yeah, I'm in. I'm in. Ok.

[Josh]

Same here.

[Ben]

Make a restaurant called Cast Iron. Everything in a cast iron.

[Josh]

It does upset me though, on TikTok, where people will be like, you can't clean your cast iron ever. Because I'm like, what? You gotta season that thing.

[Ben]

Totally. And you. Yeah, and you, you have to clean it. I don't even know what that means.

[Josh]

You can't clean it. You can't use soap. Can't do it.

[Ben]

You have to. Otherwise it tastes like, like the last thing you ate.

[Josh]

That's the idea, Ben.

[Ben]

Disgusting.

[Josh]

You're supposed to like, basically from what I understand is you like pour out the drippings and then you just take a wet paper towel and you clear it so that like it looks clean but it flavors it. Because if you hit it with soap every time, you're losing all of that stuff. And then every like five to ten times you're supposed to do a salt rub where you just take like super coarse salt, pour it in, and then you like scrub it all out. And that's like re seasons it and then. Yeah, and then you have to put it on the fire again and then just cook oil by itself.

[Ben]

Too much work. I use soap.

[Josh]

You're going to palm all of your cast iron.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's just not watching it. I saw a TikTok the other day that was. Somebody was like cutting fruit and then cut garlic or cut garlic first and then cut fruit. And it was like this was the fruit that I ate growing up. And it made me think about how. I don't know if. I don't know if my mom didn't clean knives, but I distinctly remember that my cantaloupe sometimes would taste like garlic.

[Josh]

I know.

[Ben]

Did you have that?

[Josh]

Oh, you know that. Oh my God.

[Ben]

So funny I saw that. I was like, oh my God. This is. Everybody live the same life. Like you're not going to clean the knife in between everything. But then your fruit tastes like garlic.

[Josh]

When I would see my mom reheat anything with tomato sauce and Tupperware, I'd be like, say goodbye to that Tupperware.

[Ben]

It's over.

[Josh]

That tomato sauce is now embedded in that shit.

[Ben]

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Fully. It's on fire.

[Josh]

It's over.

[Ben]

It's melted.

[Josh]

Next one from Anonymous.

[Anonymous 3]

Hi, good guys. I'm Extreme Warren, who really needs help. I recently just graduated college in a city that my boyfriend and I had both been living in. He's a few years older and accepted a job in a different city a thousand miles away. And I decided to move to live with him in our new city. He has a six figure paying job and because I just graduated, I don't have a job yet. But I'm actively applying. Our rent is super expensive and I have to give him money every month. But this month, because I've been trying so hard to apply for jobs, I don't have a job yet. How do I go about having this financial conversation with him? I don't want to make it feel like I am taking money from him or taking advantage from him, but I'm so really frustrated that I don't have a corporate job yet, even though I just graduated. Please let me know. Thank you.

[Ben]

I don't think we have enough information here. Like what I would say is that the guy kind of sounds like a dick. Like if he. If he knows that you don't have a job. And the reason I said we don't have enough information is like, if you come for money. And like, maybe he thinks that, like, your. Your parents can float you some money for. For rent. That's a different story. But, like, if he knows your circumstance, he knows you don't have money. He's making you sweat it. Like, that's not right. Like, if you, if you know that your partner doesn't have a job, you should cover them or you should move to a cheaper apartment.

[Josh]

Right, that's what I was saying. Like, a cheaper apartment would solve so much of this. And when someone moves out to be with the other person, moves to where they have the job where they're set up. And it sounds, if it's true, like, she's really working hard to find a job. And sometimes it takes a couple months that the other partner needs to take on the financial burden if they don't want to be in constant stress and fighting.

[Ben]

Yeah. And like, didn't he have the apartment before she got there? Like, all of a sudden now he's a landlord. Like, it's weird. Like, didn't he sign up to pay the rent without her there? And now all of a sudden he's making his recently graduated girlfriend feel like shit every month because she can't afford to pay half of his rent that he was paying for already. Is chivalry dead?

[Josh]

I don't know. But haven't you grown up with those couples who, like, Venmo each other after dinner and it's just like, now that's uncomfortable.

[Ben]

Yeah, I have. But at least they have, like, a mutual understanding that that's what they're going to do. This girl sounds like she's completely in the dark. Like, it's like he knows that she doesn't have a job, so how would she have money? How could she afford it? Or he just, like, doesn't care.

[Josh]

Well, clearly she was affording it up to a certain point. So maybe she had had a job. Maybe she had some say. I don' I don't know either. Setup is.

[Ben]

Yeah, no, those people that venmo each other after dinner that are in a relationship, that is a. What are you nuts?

[Josh]

It's so crazy. Just like, trade off. I'll get it. You get it? You get it.

[Ben]

Trade off. Trade off. Right. For sure. Yeah. Yeah, that. But that's how I am with my best friends too. Like, that's like a. I hate that. Like, if my, like, if, like my closest friends. If I go to dinner with you, I'll pay for you. I'll grab it. I Don't care. I'm not like. And then there is just this mutual understanding that next time you probably got me. If you don't, I'm not going to hold it against you because I offered. But I like the trading. Trading is. They're real relationships that way, in my opinion. Unless like, of course, you can always split it as friends. But it's just me.

[Josh]

Little trade. Last one from Jessica.

[Jessica]

Joshi and Benny. Benny and Joshi. Hey. So brevity is key. So here we go. My father in law has become the town grifter. He is asking people for money, saying he's going to pay it back with interest. And then he doesn't pay them back and he doesn't answer their phone calls and he basically ghosts them. And we keep hearing about this from all kinds of people. We don't live there anymore in the town. But his reputation is completely tarnished. I think my husband should say something to him and basically hold his feet to the fire and make him accountable and make him pay the money back. But my husband thinks it's meddling and it's not our business. What do you think?

[Ben]

Feel very, very terrible for the situation that your husband is in. That's. That's very sad. First of all, I have to assume that unless he's just a bad guy, typically a town grifter that goes to neighbors and asks for money with interest is in some financial ruin. Maybe this person is a gambling addict. Maybe this person is like, there's something wrong. So going to. Your husband should go to him and find out what's wrong. The idea of like holding his feet to the fire to pay them. He probably doesn't have any money. Like, am I wrong, Josh? Do neighbors approach neighbors saying that they want loans with interest if they have money? Like, no, he went there because he has no money. So to me, natural, like, if you care about your father, you force him into rehab. Like, this person needs rehabilitation. And that would be what I'd do. But the idea of like putting his feet to fire, you got to pay him back. Like, he's broke.

[Josh]

Yeah, there's no paying back here.

[Ben]

He's broke. Like, I don't. It's gone.

[Josh]

That money is gone. Say goodbye to that money. But what I will say is on the lighter side, sometimes a local town grifter can be coyote. Do you know, have you seen this guy Rodney on TikTok?

[Ben]

No, I don't think so, Olivia. Maybe I've seen him.

[Olivia]

I don't know if I've seen Rodney.

[Josh]

Rodney lives in Philly and he has become famous. And he is freaking cute. He's 71. And he went. He has a degree in finance, and he is just. He's like the town cutie. I think he's got a little bit of a drinking problem. And he gets a check on the 1st and 15 from, like, government dole or whatever. So obviously, like, that goes pretty quick. And he probably needs to stretch, like, after the 10th or after the 25th. And so he walks around and he's really cute and funny and is, you know, offers some entertainment for everyone who lives in the town, and they give him anywhere. I don't think you can accept or should be giving someone like that more than, like, probably 20 bucks at a time. But usually he's getting a dollar, maybe five, sometimes 20, when people are really generous. And the video I saw, it was so cute. He's like, talking to this woman, and she hands him a 20, and he goes, what is that? And she goes, it's the 20 you asked me for. He goes, I will pay you back. And she goes, no, you won't. He goes, no, I won't, because I'm gonna spend this like I stole it. And then she goes, what are you gonna get, Ronnie? He goes, I'm gonna get. And he's holding the beer. He goes, I'm gonna get another beer and some weed. And she goes, no. Rodney goes, oh, no, I'm kidding. No, because, you know, I'm gonna get some food because I need to eat. I'm gonna get a sandwich and some soup. And he goes, you're one of the good ones. You are one of the good ones.

[Ben]

By the way, is Rodney Queen.

[Josh]

Kind of. He's the best. And now he's all over my TikTok algorithm.

[Ben]

He sounds great. I got to check out Rodney. This person's father in law is not Rodney. This person's father in law is Snake Oil Steve. And it sounds to me like he went to his neighbors and asked for ten grand. I don't think he's going around asking for twenties. Your relation, your. Your reputation doesn't get tarnished for, like, walking around and asking for 20s, right? Like, this guy, to me, sounds. It sounds bad and all that. I'll say. I heard Kevin o' Leary say this, and I loved it. Do not loan someone money like that. Ever expecting to be paid back.

[Josh]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben]

I think it's equally on the lender as it is the person who's asking for the money. Because if you're somebody's neighbor and they come to You. And they're like, I need ten grand, I'll pay you back with interest. It's never coming. It will never come back. So be strong enough to say no or be generous enough to say yes.

[Josh]

And by the way, that's not just grifter, that's if you have a, if you're investing in a friend's restaurant, in their app, in their new business, like totally, totally. They could literally do their very best and it won't work out. So give it away. Like if you have the money to invest, give it away.

[Ben]

Give it away, Give it away or don't give it at all. Agreed.

[Josh]

Should we get to our what are you nuts?

[Ben]

We absolutely should. Josh, would you like to describe to our patrons what our what are you nuts moment of the week is?

[Josh]

I would love to. Our what are you nuts moment of the week are gripes with people, places and things both big and small, whatever sticking in your craw. Ben, what do you got?

[Ben]

I'm a slave to my Brita. Josh, the Brita is a what are you nuts? I never was a Brita guy. Ok, pre pregnancy, pre baby, I'm hocking these water bottles but let me tell you, breastfeeding women drink an incredible amount of water. We're talking gallons of water as a result. I love water, so I'm also drinking water. We have two hydro jugs, okay, they're off brand Stanley's two hydro jugs. And we I guess live in an apartment where we don't want to use the tap. We're using a Brita. Claudia bought the Brita. She loves the Brita. Josh, I'm a slave to this Brita. I pour out the Brita, I immediately have to refill it. It takes, I don't know, five minutes for the thing to bubble back up. This Brita is a full time job. You fill it up, you pour it out, it's, it's completely, completely useless. Brittas? What are you nuts? There is a better way which is putting a filter on your sink.

[Josh]

Oh, I'm a rich.

[Ben]

Brittas are nuts.

[Josh]

I mean I think it would only be a value add. I know you rent but I would spend the 1500 bucks or whatever it is and have a handyman come in and do it up. Babe. It will be, it will be the gift that keeps on giving.

[Ben]

Is it that? I won't say cheap, but is it that range? If it's 1500 bucks, no question.

[Josh]

The filter can't be more than like. Honestly I think it's probably just all you're Doing right is you're sawing a circular hole into the metal part of the sink. And then, like ours lives right under. We have filter water and we have immediate boiling water. It's fabulous.

[Ben]

Wow, that's rich. Immediate boiling water. So you're making a cup of tea like that.

[Josh]

Like that. As fast as I want.

[Ben]

Wow.

[Josh]

Oh, my God. That's English breakfast. Mint Cylon. I think that's just a color.

[Ben]

That is wonderful. Okay. Yeah, I'm gonna look into it because the Brita. I'm sorry. They weren't gonna pay us anyways. What are you, nuts? British nuts. It's a slave to my Brita. I'm a British slave.

[Josh]

Invest. Do it up. Do it up. You got this.

[Ben]

I got this.

[Josh]

My woody nuts is. I'm trying to decide which one I want to. Okay. My woody nuts is ticking clocks. The other day, I was sitting in. I was doing this show, this sketch comedy show, and I was sitting in this green room and. Or, like, my own little dressing room, and they had, like, this beautiful old school clock sitting on one of the tables. And all of a sudden, I'm just there in the quiet, and I hear, Ben. I thought I was in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. I was like, if this thing. What if I wanted to take a nap, I gotta listen. Haven't Aren't we past the tick and the talk? Aren't we? It's over. Ticking clocks. This should just be a phrase. We're done. We've graduated. I get it. It's good in an automatic watch. You want to wear a Rolex? Fine. I don't need to. I think I'm like, I thought I was gonna lose it.

[Ben]

That's a complete wood of your nuts. We're both clearly very sensitive to noise, though I'm sure some people wouldn't bother for me. I hear that. I'm done.

[Josh]

I'm thinking there's a bomb under me.

[Ben]

I'm done.

[Josh]

I think I'm in an episode of Charlie's Angels. This is nuts. What am I, a mission impossible?

[Ben]

I would lose my mind. I would lose my mind.

[Josh]

By the way, another supplementary woody nuts. Hey, Tom Cruise, get a stuntman. Don't do your own stunts. What are you, nuts?

[Ben]

Nuts. That's nuts.

[Josh]

You're 60.

[Ben]

You should. It's time.

[Josh]

It's time.

[Ben]

You know what else? It's time for Josh. Time for us to end our show.

[Josh]

Yep.

[Ben]

Which is 5 stars. Otherwise. What are you? Nuts? Listen to us. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch us on YouTube, share our clips, Instagram and Tick Tock Mondays and Thursdays, folks. We will see you next time. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.