Good Guys Podcast Summary: "Happy Birthday, Posthumously"

Release Date: December 2, 2024
Host/Authors: Josh Peck and Ben Soffer
Description: Hosted by actor & writer Josh Peck and entrepreneur & social media icon Ben Soffer, "Good Guys" delivers engaging conversations every Monday and Thursday.

1. Birthday Celebrations & Gift-Giving Dynamics

The episode kicks off with Josh Peck and Ben Soffer discussing Josh's recent birthday celebration. Ben humorously admits to remembering Josh's birthday only after purchasing a gift, but forgetting the exact date, leading to playful banter about the nature of gift-giving.

• Ben Soffer: "I remembered to get him the gift and then forgot his actual birthday on the date. So my present." [01:25]

Josh appreciates Ben's gesture despite the forgetfulness, emphasizing the importance of the thought behind the gift.

• Josh Peck: "Anyone who gets upset when something's re-gifted, you're nuts. You won the moment you handed that gift over. Now let it go." [02:18]

2. Challenges of Remembering Birthdays in the Digital Age

The hosts delve into the complexities of remembering birthdays without traditional tools like planners or social media giants like Facebook. They discuss how the reliance on digital reminders can sometimes fall short, leading to missed celebrations.

• Ben Soffer: "Nobody has a planner and nobody anymore has Facebook. So how in the world are we supposed to remember each other's birthdays?" [05:32]

Josh echoes the sentiment, stressing the communal responsibility of remembering special dates and the disappointment when expectations aren't met.

• Josh Peck: "It's a test. And you know what? You all failed." [05:30]

3. Philosophy of Gift-Giving & Reciprocity

The conversation transitions to the philosophy behind gift-giving. Ben advises that gifts should be given without the expectation of receiving something in return, highlighting the intrinsic joy it brings.

• Ben Soffer: "You do not give to receive. It's great that you love giving gifts... because it brings you joy." [41:35]

Josh concurs, suggesting that if the act isn't reciprocated, it might be time to reassess one's approach to gifting.

• Josh Peck: "Eventually I would stop if that person was coming to my birthday dinners and never was." [42:11]

4. Interactive Segment: Pornhub Election Search Trends

A notable segment covers a news story where Pornhub released data on each state's top election-related searches. The hosts find this both amusing and insightful into the populace's behavior during political events.

Josh introduces an interactive game where Ben guesses the states based on the given search terms.

• Josh Peck: "Let's start. Cute." [22:12]

Ben accurately identifies California for the search term "thick and curvy," showcasing his intuition.

• Ben Soffer: "California for sure." [22:40]

However, Ben misses Illinois for the term "chubby," which Josh reveals was the correct answer, adding a humorous twist to the game.

• Josh Peck: "It's Illinois, home of the deep dish." [23:54]

5. Product Mishap: Pornhub URL on Wicked Doll Boxes

The hosts discuss a blunder where Mattel inadvertently printed Pornhub URLs on Wicked doll packaging, leading to a surge in traffic for the adult website. This incident raises concerns about quality control and the implications of such mistakes.

• Ben Soffer: "This was an inside job, Josh. Somebody over there is a horn dog." [24:32]

They humorously speculate the repercussions for the responsible individual, emphasizing the severity of the error.

• Josh Peck: "Do those boxes get ripped off the shelves? Is there a recall?" [25:14]

6. Discussion on the Wicked Movie Adaptation

Josh and Ben shift focus to the theatrical adaptation of "Wicked," expressing their plans to attend the show. They discuss the challenges of translating a beloved musical to the big screen, contemplating its potential success compared to blockbuster franchises like "Avengers."

• Ben Soffer: "She's a huge Wicked fan. I just don't think we talk about it enough. Joan Rivers icon." [21:15]

Josh questions the international appeal of musical movies compared to action or horror genres, highlighting potential box office outcomes.

• Josh Peck: "But someone like Keanu Reeves, if you are an action star or a horror star, those are the kind of movies that really travel internationally." [32:37]

7. Audience Interaction: SpeakPipe Questions

The episode features an interactive segment where audience members submit questions via SpeakPipe. One notable question involves the classic "Fuck, Marry, Kill" game applied to annoying behaviors on planes.

• Anonymous Question: "The person that takes their shoes off on the plane, the person that stands up the second the plane shuts off... Would love to hear any sort of crazy things you think people do on planes that are just nuts as well." [36:50]

Josh and Ben humorously debate their choices, providing entertaining insights into pet peeves during air travel.

8. Final Gripes: 'Whitty Nuts' Segment

In their closing segment, "Whitty Nuts," Josh and Ben vent about minor annoyances in their daily lives. Key topics include:

• Charging for Soda Refills: They express frustration over restaurants charging for what is typically expected to be free refills, debating the implications of such practices.

  • Ben Soffer: "Charging me for two Diet Cokes is not right. What are you nuts? Free refills." [44:54]

• Long Wait Times at Popular Bagel Shops: The hosts discuss their experiences at a highly acclaimed bagel spot, lamenting the lengthy wait times despite the exceptional quality of the product.

  • Josh Peck: "It takes about five minutes to get through the line... 50 minutes to receive said bagels." [46:20]

• Appreciating Freshly Baked Goods: Despite the frustrations, they acknowledge the unparalleled taste of freshly baked bagels, balancing their complaints with genuine appreciation.

  • Ben Soffer: "Any bagel right out from the oven... is going to be the best bagel you've ever had." [47:57]

9. Closing Remarks

Josh and Ben wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to rate the podcast, share it across various platforms, and remain engaged through multiple channels. They emphasize the importance of community feedback and support.

• Ben Soffer: "Please rate us five stars. Otherwise, what are you, nuts?" [49:20]

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Peck: "Anyone who gets upset when something's re-gifted, you're nuts." [02:18]

• Ben Soffer: "You do not give to receive." [41:35]

• Josh Peck: "It's a test. And you know what? You all failed." [05:30]

• Ben Soffer: "Nobody has a planner and nobody anymore has Facebook." [05:32]

• Josh Peck: "Somebody over there is a horn dog." [24:32]

• Ben Soffer: "Charging me for two Diet Cokes is not right. What are you nuts? Free refills." [44:54]

• Josh Peck: "I don't dye my hair." [18:04]

Conclusion

In "Happy Birthday, Posthumously," Josh Peck and Ben Soffer deliver a blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and insightful discussions. From navigating the challenges of gift-giving to dissecting cultural phenomena like Pornhub’s search trends and the mishaps in product packaging, the duo keeps listeners engaged with their candid banter and relatable topics. Their interactive segments and final gripes offer a balanced mix of entertainment and genuine conversation, making this episode a standout addition to the Good Guys podcast series.