Good Guys Podcast

Episode: Boomers, Boarding Schools & Bot Massages
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Date: November 13, 2025
Producer: Dear Media

Episode Overview

This episode of the Good Guys podcast is a lively, humorous discussion that ranges from the trauma of troubled teen boarding schools to the etiquette of wellness clubs, early AI massages, parental anxieties, privilege, and men’s health routines. With their trademark banter, Josh and Ben navigate personal stories, internet rabbit holes, and cultural critiques while spotlighting both nostalgia and modern anxieties. They also answer a listener question on locker room protocols and close with their classic "What Are You, Nuts?" gripes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Studio Return, Listening Back, & Self-Critique

• (00:26) Josh returns to the studio after a three-month break and jokes about its unchanged state.
• Listening Back: Ben admits he doesn't like to listen to podcast episodes or his own interviews due to self-consciousness:

  "I don't like to hear myself speak. Like, it makes me cringe." (01:46, Ben)

• Josh emphasizes the importance of reviewing “game tape” to improve, comparing podcasting to acting.

2. Troubled Teen Boarding Schools & Privilege

• (02:59–07:50) Ben describes watching a harrowing Netflix docuseries on “troubled teen” centers—initially misnaming “Wayward”—where teens are forcibly taken from their beds by guards and placed in harsh behavioral camps.
  • He’s disturbed by how mild misbehaviors lead some kids to what feels like prison:

    “They literally take... teens are asleep... this sketchy fucking van pulls up with three armed guards. They throw a sack over their head, tie them up, and bring them to this detention center.” (03:29, Ben)

  • The “no touching” rule, resulting in punishments for small consoling gestures, shocks and unsettles both hosts.
  • Ben reflects on the luck and privilege of not being subject to such camps:

    “It's luck. It's luck of the draw. We're very lucky. It shook me up.” (07:33, Ben)

• Josh shares a friend’s experience at a Utah behavioral camp, noting that some interventions can be positive but many are abusive or unnecessary.
• Discussion of Paris Hilton’s experience at Provo Canyon School and systemic problems in such institutions.

3. Boarding Schools, Summer Camps, and Cultural Differences

• (07:50–09:51) Josh contrasts the WASP-y, East Coast culture of elite boarding schools (Andover, Exeter, Choate) with his unfamiliarity on the West Coast.
• Ben expresses strong skepticism about parents sending children to boarding school for sports, questioning:

  “You have to hate your kids to send them to boarding school?” (09:12, Ben)

• The pair agree that while some kids do love it, it’s outside their cultural experience.
• Comparison with 10-week summer camps:

  “Here on the west coast, the idea of sending your kid away for 10 weeks is bananas.” (09:47, Josh)

• Nostalgic reminiscing about after-school adventures and Manhattan housing projects, like Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper, which Josh affectionately likens to “Russian Marxist housing.” (15:33, Josh)

4. Equinox, Robot Massages & Wellness Fads

• (17:05–19:25) Ben shares his Equinox routine and excitement over a new “100% AI massage” offering:

  “I don't know if they have this in LA, Josh, but they offered me a robotic 100% AI massage. Yes. $15. 15 minutes. $30, 30 minutes.” (17:17, Ben)

  • Jokes about trusting the AI not to “puncture through my back” become a running gag.
• Josh discusses high-low gym culture, describing Planet Fitness’s jet stream massage beds.
• Both riff on cleanliness and the marketing tactics of gyms, drawing parallels to grocery store chains:

  “Planet Fitness appeals to the same person that a seatown appeals to... if the gym was too nice, they would think that it's not for them.” (21:03, Ben & Josh)

5. Mental Health Journeys & Medications

• (25:37–29:37) Josh shares his renewed experience with Wellbutrin and the interplay between meds, creativity, and acting:

  “When you're on the right meds, it's just like a brain hug.” (26:20, Josh)

• Discussion of side effects and the balancing act of being a creative professional on medication:

  “Anything that could potentially sort of reconfigure that... I just felt like, yeah, got it. Maybe it could benefit me. But with my kind of work, it would... rewire some things.” (27:22, Josh)

• Ben relates his positive experience on weight-loss medication and readiness to accept long-term side effects:

  “While there are some side effects, certainly the pros... outweigh the cons.” (29:37, Ben)

6. Technology Chatter & Podcasting Spinoffs

• (30:37–32:38) New gadgets! Ben upgrades his MacBook and camera, joking about his “zoom in” feature and thin appearance.
• Spawn ideas: potential podcast spinoffs like “Working out the Kinks,” “Guys Gone Gay,” and the Bollywood-themed “Chai Guys.”

7. Parental Anxiety & Hospital Mishaps

• (32:40–46:15) Josh narrates a stressful, proud dad moment:
  • His three-year-old son, Shy, needs stitches after a fall at school.
  • Lauds the help from pediatrician Dr. Jesse and “gorgeous” Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Elazar Safer.
  • Shares the emotional day of navigating hospitals, Walgreens aisles, and anxieties over anesthesia.
  • After successful surgery, only side effect is Shy vomiting Sour Patch Watermelon and apple juice all over the Tesla.
  • Quote:

    “If this was an uggo kid, you know, I would have put some Aquaphor on it and said, say a blessing.” (35:15, Josh)

8. Listener Question: Schwitz/Locker Room Etiquette

(46:37–51:00)

• Dallas listener Kevin asks for tips on Jewish community locker room etiquette.
• Ben's key advice:
  • Don't go fully nude unless you’re “incredibly proud” down there.
  • Swim trunks or a towel are standard.
  • No nudity in the communal cold plunge!
  • Minimal small talk:

    “Don't be too chatty, Kevin. They're there to just... be in their own thoughts.” (50:43, Ben)

• Josh’s tip: wrap a towel “like a Jewish spiritual garment... covering the nips.” (49:22, Josh)

9. "What Are You, Nuts?" Moments

• Josh: Annoyed by cyclists who act entitled and unsafe, especially middle-aged ones:

  “You are a guest on my road. Because my car could end you so quick. This is not my intention... but don't be a dick.” (51:24, Josh)

• Ben: Rants about overly friendly airplane passengers:

  “If your headphones are in on an airplane, that means no conversation. I don't want to talk to you.” (53:45, Ben)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On boarding schools:

  “You have to hate your kids to send them to boarding school? Unless there’s a problem... I just don’t understand why you had kids.” (09:12, Ben)

• On privilege:

  “It's luck. It's luck of the draw. We're very lucky. It shook me up.” (07:33, Ben)

• On mental health meds:

  “When you're on the right meds, it's just like a brain hug.” (26:20, Josh)

• On AI massages:

  “What's the worst that could happen—the AI punctures through my back and it goes out my heart and I die?” (18:53, Ben)

• On locker room etiquette:

  “Don't be too chatty, Kevin.” (50:43, Ben)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:26–02:22: Studio banter & listening to your own work
• 02:59–07:50: Troubled teen camps & privilege
• 07:50–09:51: Boarding schools vs. summer camps
• 17:05–19:25: Equinox, robot massages, Planet Fitness comparison
• 25:37–29:37: Wellbutrin, creativity and mental health
• 32:40–46:15: Josh’s saga with his son’s stitches
• 46:37–51:00: Listener question—schnitz/locker room etiquette
• 51:00–54:00: “What Are You, Nuts?” gripes

Final Thoughts:
The episode is quintessential Good Guys: equal parts warm, irreverent, and insightful, mixing Jewish-American cultural specificity with universal themes of anxiety, privilege, and the pitfalls of modern life. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re reflecting on teenage angst, interested in men’s wellness fads, or just here for the sharp banter and real-life stories.