Good Guys – “Channing Tatum, We Need to Talk.” (October 23, 2025)

Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Podcast: Dear Media

Main Theme & Episode Purpose

In this lively episode, Josh Peck and Ben Soffer trade their signature banter over the changing seasons, rustic escapism, personal quirks, and celebrity encounters—including a memorable Channing Tatum moment for the title story. They also tackle listener questions about trust and relationships, explore the complexities of mental organization in marriage, and riff on everything from luxury bedding to ultramarathons fueled by Taco Bell. As always, the energy is fast, unapologetically honest, and full of their “good, not great” charm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. East Coast Fall Nostalgia & The Perfect Seasonal Vibe

Timestamps: 00:39–08:15

• Ben laments the unexpected New York heat and the end of air conditioning in his building, disrupting fall expectations.
• Seasonal Ideals: The guys daydream about a flawless autumn day in the Hudson Valley: wearing designer boots, sipping “calorically friendly” pumpkin spice lattes, browsing local bookstores, canoodling by the water, and luxuriating under rustic plaids and animal hides.
• Quote:
  • “October is supposed to be a safe haven in the city... You're supposed to walk outside, breathe deep, smell that gorgeous air. But it's so fucking hot. It's like a swamp. Ooh. What are you, nuts?” – Ben (00:46)
• "We're in Rhinebeck… at Paul Rudd's hipster candy store that no way makes a profit." – Josh (03:09)

2. On Rustic Beds, Bed & Breakfasts, and Scratchy Sheets

Timestamps: 08:16–10:11

• The hosts agree that charming getaways rarely deliver on comfort, griping about rough sheets and scratchy comforters at B&Bs and Airbnbs, despite high prices.
• Ben admits he buys fresh bedding at Walmart on many trips for that very reason.
• Quote:
  • “Bed and breakfasts… they kind of stink. They're really just code for 'I'm owned by one person who doesn't give too much of a shit' for the most part." – Ben (09:34)

3. Josh’s Indie Movie Tales & “The Wackness”

Timestamps: 10:11–23:49

• Josh shares a wild experience filming “American Primitive” on Cape Cod, where the movie abruptly ran out of funding and was left unfinished for a year.
• Ben reviews “The Wackness,” revealing the awkwardness of watching Josh’s sex scenes beside his wife.
• They discuss the deeper implications of Josh playing a drug dealer while actively struggling with addiction, highlighting the challenge of sobriety.
• Quotes:
  • “I have to be sober to do this. I cannot mess this up. I can't do what I did on the Judd Apatow movie and not show up on time and be unreliable.” – Josh (21:34)
  • “Just cut to three minutes after wrap, me and this really nice Dutch craft service guy in his van, out of our minds.” – Josh (23:29)
  • “You're so publicly sober, and the whole movie is about doing and selling drugs… I think that makes it more interesting.” – Ben (23:49)

4. Why Success Doesn’t Fix Everything (Sobriety, Mental Health, Procrastination)

Timestamps: 24:04–31:26

• Josh opens up about the emotional letdown after “The Wackness” premiered at Sundance—even the standing ovation didn’t fix his internal struggles.

• The hosts discuss waiting for life events to trigger self-improvement and conclude that you have to change from within, not rely on outside milestones.

• “It was all–it was an inside job, it was a side job. And two weeks later, I got sober.” – Josh (25:20)

• Mental Organization:

  • Ben highlights the importance of regular “mental inventory” to avoid anxiety, citing a personal tendency toward procrastination.
  • “I need to shit it out once a quarter.” – Ben (31:23)

5. Marital Dynamics & Organizational Opposites

Timestamps: 31:26–35:12

• Ben analyzes the virtues of his wife Claudia’s supreme organization versus his own reactive, last-minute style. Josh relates this to quarterly “board meetings” for marriage, suggesting healthy relationships require intentional check-ins.
• Quote:
  • “Our quarterly check-ins with the couples counselor are our board meetings… what do we want? What are our goals for the rest of the year?” – Josh (32:08)

6. Career Pivots: From Catfish to Real Estate

Timestamps: 35:12–36:40

• The hosts shout out Neve Shulman pivoting from MTV’s “Catfish” to luxury real estate, and more celebrities (like Tyler Cameron) changing lanes post-fame.
• The age-old debate: Is real estate or prostitution the world’s oldest profession?
• Quote:
  • “Real estate is the oldest profession… how do you end up prostituting if you have nowhere to prostitute in?” – Ben (36:34)

7. Taco Bell Ultramarathon: Genuine Endurance or Masochism?

Timestamps: 36:51–39:41

• Ben marvels at the Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon, where runners must eat at nine Taco Bells during a 31-mile race.
• The conversation devolves into horror stories about porta potties and festival bathrooms.
• Quotes:
  • “Porta potties are the ultimate what are you nuts? They're fucking disgusting. It doesn't need to be like this.” – Ben (38:20)
  • “It was right in the psilocybin poops. Yucky. Yeah.” – Josh (39:20)

8. Listener Segment: Is My Husband a Compulsive Liar?

Timestamps: 44:46–48:56

• Listener Allie calls in, confessing to “pranking” her husband by claiming he called her (when he hadn’t), only for him to fabricate a story in response. She asks: Is he a compulsive liar?
• Josh and Ben deliver a reality check:
  • “You called him and made something up, which is the same thing as a lie.” – Ben (46:39)
  • “You really did scare me with this speak pipe… it sounds like you're gaslighting the shit out of your husband for fun and then getting angry at him when he's defensive. No. Good.” – Ben (48:31)

9. “What Are You, Nuts?”: Small Gripes & Celebrity Cake Restraint

Timestamps: 49:21–53:46

• Josh vents about being congratulated by his Apple Watch for simply standing up, feeling “like Brendan Fraser in The Whale.”
• Ben reveals a dinner sighting: Channing Tatum and friends each receive slices of coconut cake; not one takes a bite.
  • “The ability to not indulge, the self-restraint… I thought it was crazy. I thought it was nuts.” – Ben (52:10)
  • Josh speculates about the social pressure to mirror the star's discipline: “Those three sycophants around Mr. Tatum were like, ah, Channing's not, we better not…”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “October is supposed to be a safe haven…” – Ben (00:46)
• “I want to pay to stay in a hotel. If I'm in your house, I hope I'm staying for free.” – Josh (10:03)
• “You're sitting next to my wife like, oh my god, that's Josh's ass.” – Ben (16:17)
• “Did this movie…help you get sober?” – Ben (21:22)
• “I made a deal with myself…all the other devil’s dandruff and whatnot…will have to wait.” – Josh (21:34)
• “You said is my husband a compulsive liar after calling him and lying to him…That's crazy, twisted shit.” – Ben (46:40)
• “Porta potties are the ultimate what are you nuts?” – Ben (38:20)
• “The ability to not indulge, the self restraint on all four of those people…not one single bite? I thought it was nuts.” – Ben (52:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• East Coast Fall & Calorically-Friendly Lattes – 00:39–05:55
• Scratchy BnB Sheets & Walmart Comforters – 08:16–10:11
• Indie Filmmaking Gone Wrong – 10:11–12:13
• “The Wackness” & Sobriety Reflection – 15:55–25:22
• Mental Clutter & Organization – 29:59–31:26
• Marriage as Business: Board Meetings – 32:08–33:38
• Listener Call: “Compulsive Liar?” – 44:46–48:31
• Channing Tatum & The Untouched Cake – 51:23–53:47

Tone & Style

• Comedic, fast-paced, and self-deprecating
• Frequent digressions and pop-culture name drops
• Friendly but unfiltered with each other and listeners

Final Thought

This episode balances humor and honesty, from Instagram-worthy autumn fantasies to the absurd realities of modern relationships and the cult of restraint in Hollywood. Whether they’re taking listener confessions or pondering why untouched coconut cake is the ultimate sin, Josh and Ben deliver their “good guy” takes–still not great, but always entertaining.

Note: Ads and sponsor reads were omitted per instructions.