Good Guys - Episode Summary

Podcast: Good Guys
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Episode Title: Demi Lovato, Travis Kelce, and Shel Silverstein Exposed?!
Date: August 25, 2025

Overview

This lively and comedic episode of Good Guys finds hosts Josh Peck and Ben Soffer bantering about everything from skincare routines to live podcast appearances, carnival gripes, and pop culture moments involving Demi Lovato and Travis Kelce. The “Goon Squad” keeps things lighthearted, bouncing between personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes podcast business, fan questions, and some wild asides about everything from pastrami to mustaches. Throughout, Josh and Ben’s typical self-aware and sometimes self-deprecating humor shines.

Main Topics and Key Discussion Points

1. Skincare, Ads, and Code-Switching

• Kiehl’s Campaign & Skincare Routines
  Josh and Ben riff on their love for Kiehl’s skincare products and joke about "code-switching" for ad reads. There’s playful roasting of Josh’s newfound professionalism in ads and reminiscing about hand creams and beloved product sponsors.
  • “Are my pores good? From my Kiehl's retinol microdose serum that I just did a brand deal for.” – Josh (01:02)
  • “You code switch for ads, and I love it. You just get this, like, deeper, professional voice...” – Ben (01:08)
• Handmade Gifts
  Ben shares a heartfelt story about his mom making personalized, handmade passport cases for Josh’s family, leading to an ode to thoughtful, handmade gifts.
  • “Anybody can spend money. If you can spend time, it's a different story.” – Ben (04:47)
  • “What a gift from God your parents are.” – Josh (04:21)

2. Announcing the US Open Live Recording

• Podcast Milestone
  The hosts reveal their upcoming live podcast event at the US Open in partnership with Vital Proteins—bragging rights included.
  • “We're the only podcasts...to do a live taping of the Good Guys from the fricking US Open.” – Ben (08:58)
  • Discussion includes musings on sponsor swag, gifting overflow for mothers-in-law, and the challenge of dealing with requests from fans for financial help.

3. Pop Culture: Demi Lovato, Travis Kelce, and the Jonas Brothers

• Missed Demi Lovato Opportunity & Celebrity Run-Ins
  Josh reminisces about a moment where Demi Lovato spotted him at a concert, much to his wife's amusement.
  • “...in the middle of one of her songs, she sees me and points to me and waves. And I was like, you see that, beige? A real celebrity.” – Josh (34:51)
• Reflecting on Booking Big Guests
  The hosts ponder why they didn’t book Demi Lovato themselves, and discuss the behind-the-scenes world of podcast booking.
  • “No shade on Chicks in the Office...They got Demi. We could have gotten Demi again.” – Ben (36:09)
• Travis Kelce & The GQ Photoshoot
  Josh and Ben dissect the wild GQ photoshoot featuring Travis Kelce and speculate on brand marketing missteps.
  • “Did you see that Shunda of a GQ photo shoot he did?” – Josh (39:11)
  • “Let him be handsome. Instead of this, like grungy...it was weird. Very weird.” – Ben (41:06)
• Jonas Brothers as Melons
  Lighthearted ranking of melons as Jonas Brothers and references to pop culture concerts.

4. Carnival Rides & Childhood Memories

• The Perils and Costs of Carnivals
  Ben shares a humorous rant about spending hundreds of dollars at a carnival fundraiser, the questionable safety of rides, and a brief, colorful run-in with The Fat Jewish.
  • “This carnival was so fucking expensive...I spent $500 at a carnival.” – Ben (17:09)
  • “These rides, they're going to die. They set it up this morning. They haven't QA'd the atomic alien in 250 years.” – Ben (17:44)
• Wild Anecdotes
  The duo spins the tale of Shel Silverstein, origins stories, and deli-fueled conceptions, with plenty of improvisational what-ifs.

5. Fan Q&A and Advice

• Last Name Conundrums ([43:18])
  Eliana, a listener, asks about handling last names after marriage. The hosts share their own approaches and thoughts on keeping, hyphenating, or blending names.
  • "If you want to keep your last name, you should keep your last name. Like, if it's something that makes you feel really sad that you're losing a part of yourself, yeah, don't lose it." – Ben (45:19)
• Mustache Dilemmas ([46:05])
  Another listener asks how to handle her husband’s commitment to a mustache before a big family wedding.
  • “You're gonna look back and think you looked so dumb.” – Ben (46:58)
  • “Those photos are forever. And you won't regret being clean, classically shaven, and then bring the mustache back.” – Josh (47:55)
• Staying Sober & Navigating Social Circles ([50:04])
  A sober listener seeks advice on dealing with friends who over-adjust to her sobriety.
  • “It's just a really clear and honest conversation, like, set the record straight...if they keep going overboard with it, you kind of go, it is what it is.” – Josh (51:26)
  • “If all that your friends want to do is drink, they might not be the right friends for you right now. But I think that great friends have fun not drinking always...” – Ben (54:41)

6. Rants and Observations: "What Are You, Nuts?"

• Carnival Ride Safety ([56:00])
  Ben's rant about the shoddy safety standards of carnival rides, and why parents should avoid them.
• License Plate Slogans ([57:14])
  Josh's "What are you nuts?" moment targets the Guam license plate slogan, “Where America’s Day Begins,” questioning its claim to fame.
  • “To which I'd say, wow, sick...Oh, damn, I didn't know. Like, okay, Guam.” – Josh (57:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Anybody can spend money. If you can spend time, it's a different story.” – Ben (04:47)
• “We're just the good of the good guys. Masomorons.” – Josh (00:26)
• “We're the only podcasts...to do a live taping of the Good Guys from the fricking US Open.” – Ben (08:58)
• “You see that, beige? A real celebrity.” – Josh (34:51)
• “This carnival was so fucking expensive...I spent $500 at a carnival.” – Ben (17:09)
• “These rides, they're going to die. They set it up this morning. They haven't QA'd the atomic alien in 250 years.” – Ben (17:44)
• “You're gonna look back and think you looked so dumb.” – Ben (46:58)
• “Those photos are forever. And you won't regret being clean, classically shaven, and then bring the mustache back.” – Josh (47:55)
• “It's just a really clear and honest conversation, like, set the record straight...if they keep going overboard with it, you kind of go, it is what it is.” – Josh (51:26)

Fun Extras & Sidebars

• The difference between podcast ads here and on other shows—more hand-holding, more jokes, and “inside lingo.”
• Musings on "gifting overflow" and the art of regifting brand freebies to deserving mothers-in-law.
• Ranking fruit (specifically melons) using the Jonas Brothers as an analogy.
• The neverending quest for the perfect podcast booking agent and A-list talent.
• American Eagle’s “great genes” campaign idea—wordplay and casting suggestions.
• Calls for American Eagle to give the hosts credit—and cash—if they steal their campaign idea.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:02 – Skincare code-switching, Kiehl’s ad jokes
• 04:21 – The art and value of handmade gifts
• 08:58 – Announcement: Live podcast at the US Open
• 17:09 – Carnival costs and ride safety
• 33:35 – Josh’s Demi Lovato concert story
• 39:11 – Travis Kelce’s wild GQ photoshoot critique
• 43:18 – Eliana’s last name question (fan Q&A)
• 46:05 – Mustache dilemma (fan Q&A)
• 50:04 – Navigating sobriety with friends (fan Q&A)
• 56:00 – “What are you nuts?” – Carnival ride safety
• 57:14 – “What are you nuts?” – Guam license plate slogan

Closing Thoughts

The episode is, as always, a blend of quick-witted asides, cultural observations, playful boasting, and genuine moments of connection with their audience. Even their promotional bits are laced with the show’s signature self-awareness and humor, reinforcing why the “Goon Squad” keeps tuning in.

For listeners who missed it:
Expect candid stories from Josh and Ben’s lives, takes on trending topics, and plenty of laughs—a hallmark episode of self-aware, pop culture-saturated podcasting.