Jared Freid and $2 Steve

Summary

Good Guys Podcast Summary

Episode: Jared Freid and $2 Steve
Date: August 10, 2026
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Guest: Jared Freid

Episode Overview

This episode of Good Guys is a lively reunion with comedian and writer Jared Freid, who joins Josh Peck and Ben Soffer (aka Benji Aflalo) for a fast-paced conversation about dating, family, food, oddball encounters, and the comedy of everyday Jewish life. The episode’s heart centers on Jared’s reflections from his new book about dating, his new relationship, and the hilariously legendary $2 Steve. There’s also plenty of banter about tasting menus, deli fries versus McDonald’s, watches gone wrong, and how fame interacts with daily gripes and rituals.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up With Jared Freid

• Chance Encounter: Jared joined the podcast after Ben unexpectedly ran into him outside the studio ([00:35]).
• New Relationship & Book: Jared shares updates on his serious relationship and discusses his new dating advice book, “Walking Red Flag” ([01:47]–[03:38]).
  • “I'm happy. It's been like, again, this is like, new terrain for me.” – Jared Freid ([01:54])
• Writing About Love: Jared reveals his girlfriend features in the book, as they dated before, broke up, and reunited.
  • “People are like, should I go back to someone I dated before? I'm like, well, have them write a book first with all their feelings.” – Jared Freid ([03:40])

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2. Modern Dating & Feedback

• Purpose of Jared's Book: Jared wants readers, especially women, to feel less pressure and more seen in the dating process ([02:38]).
• “It made me feel a lot less pressure. It didn't feel as personal. ...It's kind of the struggles I went through, of kind of committing and what was going through in a guy's mind.” – Jared Freid ([02:38])

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3. Food, Taste, and Jewish Ritual

• Tasting Menu Debate: Spirited discussion on tasting menus vs. à la carte experiences ([04:50]–[08:13]).

  • Josh appreciates the adventure, Ben prefers full control.
  • “If Cheesecake Factory was like, we have a prefix, I'd be like, get fucked and bring over the chicken Roman, let's go in the buffalo bites.” – Josh Peck ([06:00])
  • Concerns about leaving hungry after a tasting menu; proposes customizing portions by weight or even yearbook photo ([07:16]).
  • Rethinking the classic bread basket: Why not serve it at the end? ([08:13])
    • “If I had that pizza bread from Carbone...I got the pizza bread coming.” – Jared Freid ([08:47])

• Deli Preferences: Strong opinions on coleslaw styles, steak fries vs. McDonald’s, and formative Jewish food memories ([09:34]–[12:44]).

  • “I want full fat coleslaw, with my full fat corned beef, with my full fat Russian on my full fat rye. ...I don’t want you sneaking in something probiotic!” – Benji Aflalo ([09:59])

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4. Family Stories & ‘Nature vs. Nurture’

• Discussion about parental quirks, food upbringings, and classic Jewish mother anecdotes ([11:03]–[12:44]).
  • “Nature versus nurture, man. ...One day you’ll be talking about badly made tuna at the turn of a...Jewish country club on Long Island. One day this will all make sense.” – Jared Freid ([12:19])

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5. $2 Steve: Legend of the Sky Club

• Origin Story: Jared recounts meeting $2 Steve, an older Jewish man in a Delta lounge who gives out $2 bills as a gesture of kindness ([18:51]–[21:17]).
  • “He takes out four two dollar bills and he goes, take it, Kindness. ...And I put them in my pocket, and I made a video, a TikTok about it...” – Jared Freid ([20:01])
  • $2 Steve follows Jared’s career, attends shows, and spreads joy via $2 bills.
  • The ritual of passing on $2 bills is surprisingly moving – “She was like...she was visited by a guardian angel.” – Jared Freid ([22:13])
• Jewish Character Magnetism: The hosts reflect on how being “personalities” attracts eccentric characters ([25:54]–[26:24]).

Quotes:

• “My parents have never been as nice to me as $2 Steve.” – Jared Freid ([21:17])
• “The night of my show...I gave her...I was $2, Steve, all of a sudden.” – Jared Freid ([22:13])

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6. Money, Tips, and Awkward Social Transactions

• Debating tipping etiquette with $2 bills; is a stack of twos weird or delightful? What about tipping with gold coins or gelt? ([23:25]–[25:23])
  • “It's like touching the doorknob 17 times.” – Jared Freid, on over-tipping in twos ([24:23])

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7. Watches, Online Shopping, and Social Signaling

• Jared and Benji bond over impulses to buy watches online, including classic ad-fueled regret (Swatch band, not watch; “I got served an ad…” [27:12]–[30:28]).
• Josh talks about the inside baseball of buying luxury watches at retail vs. market prices.
  • “Money is the most emotional thing.” – Jared Freid ([29:47])

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8. Fame, Compliments & Social Encounters

• Navigating public interactions, especially as a known figure ([43:00]–[44:53]):
  • “I’m always balancing, like, how do I make this worthwhile for them while getting out of here as quick as possible?” – Josh Peck ([44:34])
  • Exhausting expectation to always be bright, energetic, and “on” in every encounter ([45:02]–[46:34])
  • Ben jokes about getting free Ices and the “cost” in extra tipping.

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9. Embarrassment & Jewish Mothers

• Jared describes stories involving his mother’s fearless honesty, often leading to hilarious (and cringe) situations ([34:25]–[35:38]).
  • “My mom...means no malice. ...She’s just honest...and I have to deal with the embarrassment she doesn’t feel.” – Jared Freid ([34:25])

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10. What Are You, Nuts? – Weekly Gripes

• Josh & Jared’s Gripe: Poor Dunkin Donuts bathroom etiquette; walking in on someone mid-dump ([47:43]–[53:51]).
• Ben’s Gripe: Overpriced “pre-mades” at Hamptons farm markets, specifically at Round Swamp.
  • “Nothing pre-made, right, that was fried, that’s put in the refrigerator that you then need to take home and reheat is ever going to be good.” – Benji Aflalo ([55:13])

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11. Jared’s Upcoming Stand-Up Special

• Jared’s new Netflix special “The Family Plan” focuses on family, body issues, parents, and Jewish life ([56:50]–[57:43]).
  • “It’s about my parents...Everyone who listens to this podcast will love it. ...It’s to be shared with your parents to show them that I’m making fun of your parents.” – Jared Freid ([57:03])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “People are like, should I go back to someone I dated before? I’m like, well, have them write a book first with all their feelings.” – Jared Freid ([03:40])
• “If Cheesecake Factory was like, we have a prefix, I’d be like, get fucked and bring over the chicken Roman, let’s go and the buffalo bites.” – Josh Peck ([06:00])
• “My parents have never been as nice to me as $2 Steve.” – Jared Freid ([21:17])
• “It's like touching the doorknob 17 times.” – Jared Freid ([24:23])
• “I’m always balancing, like, how do I make this worthwhile for them while getting out of here as quick as possible?” – Josh Peck ([44:34])
• “This only happens to you. ...Because you put it out there, it just attracts that.” – Jared Freid ([26:06])

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Key Timestamps

• [01:47]: Jared discusses his new relationship and dating book
• [03:40]: On including his girlfriend in the book, and going back to old relationships
• [04:50]: Tasting menu vs. à la carte meal debate
• [07:16]: Portion size anxiety and weird food rituals
• [09:34]: Coleslaw and deli culture tangents
• [18:51]: The origins and legend of $2 Steve
• [22:13]: Jared 'becomes' $2 Steve
• [23:25]: Debating tipping with $2 bills
• [27:12]: Impulse shopping and embarrassing online purchases
• [34:25]: Jared’s mother and the beauty of shameless honesty
• [43:00]: The discomfort of receiving compliments as a celebrity
• [47:43]: ‘What are you nuts?’ – Public bathroom mishaps and overhyped Hamptons food
• [56:50]: Preview of Jared’s Netflix special, “The Family Plan”

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Final Thoughts

This episode is quintessential Good Guys: irreverent yet heartfelt, full of cultural in-jokes, family stories, and honest admissions about insecurity, success, and the pursuit of a good pastrami sandwich — all delivered with rapid-fire wit. Jared Freid, a recurring “mensch” (in both the old and new school sense), shines as a storyteller and comic, sharing why the foibles of Jewish family life and modern dating are the best fodder for comedy.

Watch for “The Family Plan” on Netflix (September), and be on the lookout for a stray $2 bill…or a melted chocolate coin from “Chocolate Ben.”

Transcript

[Josh Peck]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. Two Jews, both big and tall, no subject too small for the Good Guys. A Mother Stream premium podcast team. Make it your weekly routine.

[Jared Freid]

It's a Good Guys.

[Josh Peck]

And if you don't give us five stars. What are you nuts?

[Benji Aflalo]

What are you nuts?

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, we're the good guys.

[Josh Peck]

They're not the great guys. We're just the good and good of the good guys. Mazamarans. Welcome back to the Good Guys podcast, guys.

[Benji Aflalo]

I ran into Jared Freed outside. I don't even know what. And I literally. I was like, you want to come up and podcast? He's like, hell, yeah, I do. So now we're here.

[Jared Freid]

I literally sit outside of Dear Media Studios just waiting for someone to go come in. We need a guest. We had a dropout. Jared, what are you doing here? That's, like, what I do.

[Benji Aflalo]

God, I can't believe I was duped into it. It was a coincidence. It was a coincidence. I literally. I just came in from the Hamptons. I drive up, I see. I'm like, oh, my God.

[Jared Freid]

I'm on the phone with my brother. I'm like, harry, shut the fuck up. I hang up on him.

[Josh Peck]

Show business calling Harry.

[Jared Freid]

Priorities, right? It's exactly how it went.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, my God.

[Jared Freid]

Well, such a pleasure to be here.

[Benji Aflalo]

We love having you on the show. It's so great to see you.

[Jared Freid]

I love being on the show. This is family mishpuchah.

[Benji Aflalo]

The thing is, you and Josh, you haven't spent any time in person together. Josh Charity's it.

[Jared Freid]

Oh, we have a little bit.

[Josh Peck]

We have.

[Jared Freid]

When he came to the show. He came to the show in la.

[Benji Aflalo]

I forgot. Okay, so you guys had that.

[Jared Freid]

We've pressed palms.

[Benji Aflalo]

This is just. This is. He's one of us, Josh.

[Josh Peck]

This is a mensch. This is a real old school and new school mensch.

[Jared Freid]

I appreciate it.

[Benji Aflalo]

And new school mensch who is in a very serious relationship.

[Jared Freid]

I'm in a serious. Things have changed since the last time I was on the show. I'm sorry, ladies. Hands off the goods.

[Benji Aflalo]

And literally, just in time. You wrote a book about dating.

[Jared Freid]

I wrote a book about dating, yeah. Yeah. Just in time. I'm like, well, here you go. I threw the book at them. And I go, I'm off. I'm off to relationship land. Yeah, that's. The book is out walking. Red flag. I. But I listen, I love her. I love her. I'm happy. It's. It's been like again. This is like, new terrain for me. You guys should, you know, I wish you guys had a book that I could read about, like the first year. Getting trapped, trapped in a beautiful love that I feel cuddled by every day. I suck at the nipple of this relationship.

[Benji Aflalo]

I, I definitely. And let me tell you, it is the greatest thing ever. But I never really got to date. Like, there wasn't really dating. I was 20.

[Jared Freid]

I, like, no, no, the dating thing is a, is a whole nother thing. It's, you know, the book was all about making people feel better about dating, to like, let them laugh at it, feel seen, feel heard. And then the feedback, especially from women, has been like, unbelievable. Just like, really what I wanted to hear. Like, hey, this was nice. It made me feel a lot less pressure. It didn't feel as personal. It's real stories from my dating life of, you know, literally dating from 22 to 41 to 40. Like, like, you know, again, that sounds like to some people that use that against you as like, I'm some sort of, you know, fuck up loser. But I'm like, no, I, I had, I was, I had a good life. I met really nice people. And this is kind of the struggles I went through of kind of committing and what was going through in a guy's mind. So if you're wondering what's going on with a guy and what's going through his head, the book is for you. But I'm not here to sell. I'm here to talk to you guys. I'm not, I'm here to hang. I'm not here to sell.

[Josh Peck]

Did your new girlfriend read the book?

[Jared Freid]

She. There's stuff written about her in the book because we dated two years ago, three years ago, and I had ended it. So a lot of it, you know, people are like, should I go back to someone I did it before? I'm like, we'll have them write a book first with all their feelings. Like, it's literally like there's stories about, like, regrets I had and like, some of them were about things that we went through and we didn't speak for, you know, over two years and, you know, got back together and from then, you know, and I was like, hey, by the way, I've written a book that includes stories about us. And she's like, well, now I got to read it. You know, that's like the most horrifying thing you could ever hear from an ex is like, oh, my God, I wrote a book about, about, you know, it's like, this isn't the Notebook.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

And I gave her the book and she read. And she loved it, you know, and she was like, there's three stories. I was like, yeah, there's three things. And I was like, I was specifically thinking about you and us and kind of revising it and trying to figure out, you know, what was going on through my head and my feelings. And I'm proud of the book because it's all honest and it's all just. And it's all jokes. Like, it's stupid jokes. I go off in tangent. Like, it's all food tangents. It's like, stuff.

[Benji Aflalo]

How good is food?

[Jared Freid]

Well, I wanted to ask you guys, are you guys for or against a tasting menu? Meal?

[Benji Aflalo]

It's not a meal, but I'm for it. Josh.

[Josh Peck]

A tasting menu being like a prefix.

[Jared Freid]

Yes. You get invited. I say, hey, guys, I met this chef. He's going to give us a nine course tasting menu.

[Benji Aflalo]

Misunderstood. I'm for it for sure. I thought that you meant, like, you just get a taste like tapas.

[Jared Freid]

No, this is like, you sit down and they put a menu in front of you, and they're like, I'm showing you my adventure. I'm taking you through this.

[Benji Aflalo]

I want. No, but I'm not against it. Like, the food is food.

[Jared Freid]

Are you happy with the night? Are you. Would you prefer.

[Benji Aflalo]

I prefer a la carte.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

Ben, would you say that, like, I prefer, honestly, that way at a new great restaurant? Because I do want to try everything, and I do. I realize that that chef, he's cooking up that weird shit in his head that I would never think to order. He's like, trust me, you'll love it. So in that context, for sure, if Cheesecake Factory was like, we have a prefix. I'd be like, get fucked and bring over the chicken. Roman, let's go in the buffalo bites.

[Benji Aflalo]

Because you know that that's what you want. But I still know I certainly want the ability to order what I want.

[Jared Freid]

See, it's funny. This is the great part about this podcast. Like, Josh kind of represents the art of it all.

[Benji Aflalo]

Sure.

[Jared Freid]

And you're the hard, cold businessman. You know, you're like, I want to get to where I'm going. I want to have the meal I want. I want no chance at no negativity. If it's bad, it's because I made the wrong decision. And Josh is like, this is like a nature versus nurture. Josh is like, give me your art. I'll put it inside of me.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's fascinating. I will. I will go as far as to say when I see a Prefix menu. I would rather pay more money to order slightly differently a la carte. Like Avra, for example. Avra has a wonderful lunch special.

[Jared Freid]

I don't know.

[Benji Aflalo]

Sometimes it's like a Greek place. Sometimes they don't have the tuna tartare on the lunch special. I want the tuna tartare.

[Jared Freid]

But you'll add it in.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jared Freid]

My fear with a. With a prefix menu is that I'm not going to be full at the

[Benji Aflalo]

end because that's what that was my original.

[Jared Freid]

That's the. That's the real fear is like, I'm going to walk out of here and be like, I can't believe I'm going to go for dinner again.

[Benji Aflalo]

That's the thing.

[Jared Freid]

I can't believe I'm thinking about this.

[Benji Aflalo]

That's the thing. They should make you put in your weight before you get to the restaurant for this menu. And then depending on how heavy you are is how many courses they give you thoughts.

[Jared Freid]

I love that.

[Josh Peck]

I love it. I think they should. You should have to give a yearbook and so they could see what you were like in 8th grade and be like, fox going to really want to put it away. This guy's had a sad past.

[Jared Freid]

So if you want to come to my prefix restaurant, you. I need your yearbook to see what you look like in high school and I need your weight. And then I would also add on to this. You get a choice of pasta, fries, or rice. That I'll just bring out at the end. Yeah. So you can just eat as much as you want.

[Benji Aflalo]

Correct.

[Jared Freid]

At the end. You know, there's like a, like there's a big ball pit for you to fall into. You know, like finale.

[Benji Aflalo]

You. You ensure that they leave full.

[Jared Freid]

Right.

[Benji Aflalo]

This is very interesting.

[Josh Peck]

Right.

[Jared Freid]

I just want a finishing move that includes like a never ending bucket. Are we filler.

[Benji Aflalo]

Are we putting a bread basket at the wrong part of the meal?

[Josh Peck]

Great, Great.

[Jared Freid]

That's. You're absolutely right.

[Benji Aflalo]

I think we're putting the bread basket in the wrong. Because I eat all of the bread and then I'm full and I don't enjoy my meal.

[Jared Freid]

Right.

[Benji Aflalo]

Versus if you brought me the carbone bread basket at the end.

[Jared Freid]

No, you're absolutely right. And because. Well, the bread basket's purpose is a time buyer by the restaurant. The restaurant is trying to get you going and to get you to not think about how long the meal is taking to make sure. But it's.

[Benji Aflalo]

I.

[Jared Freid]

But you're right. Like, if it was at the end, if I had that pizza bread from Carbone. I would go, oh, at least I know that's at the end. And I won't. And if I'm like, not enjoying something that's coming out, I can go, I got the pizza bread coming.

[Benji Aflalo]

But are you ordering less because you know the pizza bread is coming.

[Jared Freid]

What if it was a surprise? Like, you know how the chef is like, compliments of the chef, and you go, what? What if that was the big. But then the surprise would get out.

[Benji Aflalo]

I still think I'm onto something. But it's nuanced.

[Jared Freid]

You are onto something. They would need something to come out in the beginning and the end, because I do a little.

[Benji Aflalo]

The moose bush in the beginning. Maybe they put you something like a little eggplant with a crostini or whatever. Something light.

[Jared Freid]

I would love anything pickled. I like when. At the. At the deli, when they bring out the, like, the color spectrum of pickles with the coleslaw.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

By the way, you can one. This is a big gripe of mine. Okay.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

Stop serving me health salad. Health salad. Okay. Coleslaw, no mayo. I don't want it.

[Jared Freid]

Wait, that means that's a real thing.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah. Second Avenue Deli. They'll give you health salad. Ben's Delicatessen.

[Josh Peck]

Is it a little vinegar? Is it a little vinegar?

[Benji Aflalo]

It's just pickled cabbage. I like that. No, in a different scenario, I'm at the deli. I don't want that.

[Jared Freid]

No.

[Benji Aflalo]

I want full fat coleslaw with my full fat corned beef with my full fat Russian on my full fat rye. I don't want you in my full fat body. I don't want you sneaking in something probiotic.

[Jared Freid]

Right? It is probiotic. It is very kimchi ass out of here, right? Jewish kimchi. It's Jewish kimchi.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah, it is Jewish kimchi.

[Jared Freid]

Would you rather the fries from a deli? Steak fries from a deli. Hot as hell, well done. Or McDonald's fries just recently made and salted McDonald's.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's not even a question. I don't like a fat fry.

[Josh Peck]

I like a big fat fry. Nice.

[Jared Freid]

New guys. Nature and nurture. This is crazy.

[Josh Peck]

No, it's great.

[Benji Aflalo]

We're so similar.

[Jared Freid]

You guys are so right. You separate right at the moment.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's amazing. At one point in our lives, we Both came near 300 pounds in a completely different path.

[Jared Freid]

Totally different ways. You went via McDonald's. He went via steak fry.

[Benji Aflalo]

Eating completely differently.

[Jared Freid]

See? And I'm like, maybe the middle between you too, because I will have a parking lot of McDonald's fry many times on my way home and hide from my parents.

[Benji Aflalo]

You want to hear a crazy story? I saw my mom this morning. I haven't seen her in one week. And like, in very classic Jewish Mother, we're at breakfast and she brings, like, a baby book where she read a passage that she wrote about me when I was 16 months old. I guess she was feeling sentimental. She hasn't seen me in one week. Okay, okay. And she's reading it to me, and she says that we were at a diner, Josh, and at 16 months, I flung my tuna fish on somebody else's table. And I turned to my mom and, like, you were feeding me tuna fish at 16 months. And that's why I have an affinity for tuna.

[Josh Peck]

Is that crazy?

[Benji Aflalo]

I think, by the way, maybe not.

[Jared Freid]

Nature versus nurture, man. Are you giving me back to this?

[Benji Aflalo]

Are you giving me Max?

[Josh Peck]

Has.

[Benji Aflalo]

Max had. When. When did he first have tuna fish?

[Josh Peck]

You know Max when they're little at that age. He loves salmon. We'd give him, like, you know, a little crumpled up salmon. Now he's seven and he's kind of that course that I get.

[Benji Aflalo]

Ruby will have salmon. I'm talking about tuna mayo.

[Josh Peck]

Like, seems perfect for a kid. It's so, like, maybe you're crumpled up

[Jared Freid]

because it's chewed up. It's easy to chew.

[Benji Aflalo]

I just think it's so, like, it

[Jared Freid]

is funny that she was like, this will be your favorite one day. Yeah. This is like, right? You were destined to. This is. This wasn't an accident. None of this was an accident. One day you'll be talking about badly made tuna at the turn of a. Of a. Of the second most expensive Jewish country club on Long Island. One day this will all make sense.

[Josh Peck]

One day this will all be yours, baby Betty, now eat your derma.

[Benji Aflalo]

Tell Josh where your dad says to get tuna and why.

[Jared Freid]

Oh, no, I don't even know.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This is.

[Jared Freid]

This is a pop quiz. My dad. What did he say? It was disgusting. He goes.

[Benji Aflalo]

He said. He said the tuna is great. The people are terrible.

[Jared Freid]

Yes. Good tuna, bad people. Where? Where? It was some market. Florida.

[Benji Aflalo]

Market in South Florida. The tuna is amazing.

[Jared Freid]

People are terrible. And he had that review just locked and loaded. Like, Ben is like, what do you think of the tuna at this one market? The people, terrible. The tuna, amazing. Goodbye. Next. Next. Like, I would just love his, like, review show.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, my God.

[Jared Freid]

Tearing everyone apart. Yeah. No, my parents are both entertaining and horrific at the same time.

[Benji Aflalo]

Unbelievable people. Do you talk about Bobby Joe publicly or.

[Jared Freid]

We Can't. He passed.

[Benji Aflalo]

We can, okay?

[Jared Freid]

No, we can't. He is passed. Rest in peace, Bobby. I've already gotten messages that I should stop.

[Benji Aflalo]

Okay, we're not. We're not talking about Bobby Joe. Rest in peace. This was a hell of a man. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you, our friends at Staples. Folks, I love Staples. I've always loved Staples. Staples is such a nostalgic place for me. I used to get my beautiful pencils for school with the little rubber eraser on the back. Those big rubber erasers, by the way. I would literally take thumbtacks and I would turn them into people. I love Staples. I love everything that Staples has. And folks, it is still the most wonderful time of year at Staples because it's back to school season. And depending on where you live, school may be starting soon, starting now, or already underway. But folks, back to school never really happens. In one clean, organized shopping trip. You're going to go, you're going to realize you forgot stuff. You need to go back. And let me tell you, it's still the most wonderful time of the year at Staples. 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Folks today go to im8health.com goodguys right now or click on the link in the Description. Use code goodguys for a free welcome kit 5 free travel sachets plus 10% off your order. That code good guys is at im8health. I am the number 8 health h e a l t h.com goodguys code goodguysamatehealth.com good guys disclaimer these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Bilt. Folks, here's a question. Are you getting rewarded for paying your rent or mortgage right now? If the answer is no, what are you nuts? You need to check out Bilt. Becoming a Bilt member means earning points on every housing payment no matter where you live. You heard that right. Earning points on any housing payment no matter where you live. And your built points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases, future housing payments, and more. Personally, I would always use them and I will always use them for travel. There's nothing like paying your rent or paying your mortgage and using the money that you use to pay your rent or mortgage for a free vacation. Like, are you kidding me? Unbelievable. An unexpected built benefit, by the way, gives every member access to its agenic neighborhood concierge in the Bilt app. It doesn't just give you information about your home and neighborhood, it executes. It connects your home to over 50,000 merchant partners so you can ask it to pay your rent, make a dinner reservation, book a fitness class, schedule a lift, and more. It makes things happen while automatically applying your member benefits along the way. For a crowd that thinks a lot about what agency actually looks like in practice, this is an example worth paying attention to. First and foremost, folks download the Bilt app. Second link any credit or debit card to the app, so purchases at your local spots become even more rewarding. And third, ask the neighborhood concierge app. Pretty much anything. It'll tell you about exclusive member benefits at restaurants, fitness studios, your Lyft rides, and more all around your home. And for the homeowners out there, Built works for mortgages too. Your housing payment is one of your biggest monthly expenses, so why wouldn't you want it to earn points? What are you nuts? Download the Bilt app and join the membership for where you live at. Join Built.com GoodGuys that's J-O I N B I L T.com GoodGuys use our link so they know we sent you. Can we talk about $2 Steve?

[Jared Freid]

We did this. $2 Steve is now listening to this episode. I'm tell Joshua at $2 Steve. Josh, I'm in a Delta sky club where most meetings amongst Jewish people happens, okay? I'm sitting in the Delta Sky Club. This young guy comes up to me. He looks like he would have gone to camp with any of us. He goes, jared, my parents love you. And I go, thank you, man. He goes, they just think you're hilarious. Can I get a picture? I'm like, yeah, no problem. All of a sudden, two older men from like a couch over turn around. One of them goes, is he funny? And the guy, the kid looks at him and goes, yeah, he's funny. He goes, you know who $2 Steve is? And he points at another old guy. And I'm like, no, I'm not familiar. All of a sudden these two older Jewish guys come up to me as if they're gonna shake me up in an alley. And they're like, they're like, you haven't heard a two dollar Steve? I'm like, no. He goes, and then the kid is like, he's heard this speech a thousand times. He goes, this is my girlfriend's dad. I think they're now engaged and married or whatever. He goes, this is my girlfriend's dad. We're all going on vacation together.

[Josh Peck]

And.

[Jared Freid]

And he goes, he gives, you know, gives out. He's known as $2 Steve. And then the guy Steve, he goes, he goes, how many people in your family? I go, well, there's four of us. Five of us. Four because I forgot to say my sister in law. I have to say that because she'll remind me of it. And I go, four of us. He takes out four two dollar bills and he goes, take it, Kindness. He says some limerick about kindness. And I go, I go, no, I don't need your money, dude. Like, I'm good. Like, I don't want. Like, I don't want this. He goes, take it. And then everyone else is like, this is what he does. You got to take it. And he gives me these four $2 bills. I put them in my pocket, and I made a video, a TikTok about it, like, on the way. I was like, just. The TikTok just being like, I don't understand about. It's this weird thing with, like, Jewish families where they'll talk to you, like, in the most aggressive term, but, like, be the nicest.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

And it did feel like I was getting shaken up in an alley, like, you know, forced to have these $2. And I talk about this, and then I get all these messages. You just met. $2 to you if you. And now he's coming to my shows. He's sending me text messages. He sets me up at, like, the Carbone. This guy's like a heaven, an angel sent from heaven. And he just gives out to. And you go look him up. He's like, in the music industry. He knows every musician.

[Benji Aflalo]

Steve.

[Jared Freid]

The text from him are like, the night. My parents have never been as nice to me as $2. Steve. Is this Steve? He's like, you're worth it. You're wonderful. I'm like, is this what a hug feels like? My parents just tell me how fat I gotten. Like, this crazy.

[Josh Peck]

It's better than half dollar Richard.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, he's just throwing change at you.

[Josh Peck]

This guy, jfk.

[Jared Freid]

Hey, this guy's the most amazing guy. And he came to the show and, like, he came with his, like, family, and they're the nicest people. And now it's just like this weird thing of, like, we all put ourselves out there. There's people who have a connection to you through a podcast, through Instagram, through whatever it is. And then suddenly, like, you're part of their world. They, like, just, like, come on in. And now I'm giving. He gave me a stack of two dollar bills, and I was like, dude, I don't need it. He goes, you got to give them out. It feels unbelievable. The night of my show, I'm sitting at a bar, the Moxy in Chelsea. That's where I stay. They give me a deal. Go stay at the Moxie in Chelsea if you're coming to New York. And I'm sitting at the bar, and it was Valentine's Day. I met your parents that night. To your parents, they gave you Spotify chocolate. They gave me they re gifted me Spotify chocolates.

[Josh Peck]

That is so good.

[Jared Freid]

Ben's parents go, here. Here you go. And it was like. I was like, this is the Christmas gift from Spotify two years ago.

[Josh Peck]

No, Jared, it's a chocolatier in Great Neck.

[Benji Aflalo]

I'm not lying.

[Josh Peck]

They're fabulous.

[Jared Freid]

And I'm holding this gift, and then this woman is next to me. She's like, what are you doing tonight? I go, I'm at. I just had a show. I'm a comedian. She's like, I work in music. I start talking to this woman randomly, and I go. And I like. All of a sudden, I look at my bag and I have the stack of $2. I go, here you go. And I gave her. I was $2, Steve all of a sudden. And I gave it to her, and she's like. The look on her face. I got tingles. I was like, oh, now I get it. Like, now I understand. She was like. It was like she was visited by a guardian angel.

[Benji Aflalo]

$2 are very interesting. Josh and I have spoken about this before. The power of the two. Where do you think it sits monetarily? Is it above the five? Is it.

[Jared Freid]

It's above the five because you had to go out of your way to, like, find the tipping. You're as weird as a $2.

[Benji Aflalo]

Can you be a bad tipper and tip in twos? I'll give you a scenario. Okay. We're at the diner. We spent 60. Okay. You should be tipping at bare minimum. 12. Okay, we agree. Bare minimum.

[Jared Freid]

I'm with you at 12.

[Benji Aflalo]

Bare minimum. 12, yeah. What if I left you five twos?

[Jared Freid]

Five twos. I'd be like, this guy. There's something off about him.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

I would immediately be like, this guy's got, like, some spectrum thing going on where he needs this for him. I would actually think I was doing you the favorite because, like, this somehow worked into your. Like, your version of, like, I need to stay good with God, so I can only do twos.

[Benji Aflalo]

I have another scenario, because I agree with you. When you start giving more than 1 2, it starts to feel a little weird.

[Josh Peck]

Right?

[Jared Freid]

It's like touching the doorknob 17 times.

[Benji Aflalo]

Pizza delivery. Okay, bare minimum. Five, right? Bare minimum.

[Jared Freid]

Okay.

[Josh Peck]

Okay.

[Benji Aflalo]

You give it two.

[Jared Freid]

No, that's. That's not right.

[Josh Peck]

It's not enough.

[Jared Freid]

Because it's the multiples that matters. I think, like, when you go five twos, I. least I think I'm helping you through some weird mind shit.

[Benji Aflalo]

No, five twos is weird. Two twos.

[Jared Freid]

Two Twos. Just give me a five. Like, I'm, like, angry about it.

[Josh Peck]

It's like handing someone a trading card and being like, keep this.

[Jared Freid]

Right.

[Benji Aflalo]

What about. Should we start doing sacks of gold dollars? What if you got a. I think

[Jared Freid]

right now, where, where Jews are at right now. We got to stay away from sacks of gold. We got to stay away from, you know, you know, like, like, like imagery.

[Josh Peck]

Merchant of Venice.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, we got to stay away from Merchant of Venice.

[Benji Aflalo]

Shit. One dollar, Ben.

[Jared Freid]

One dollar, Ben. The problem is there's a two dollar Steve out there.

[Benji Aflalo]

But I give you gold coins. Dollars.

[Jared Freid]

That's fun. Well, Chocolate Ben. I'd rather Chocolate Ben. Ok. Where you give out Hershey bars. No, you give out little gelt. Sure.

[Benji Aflalo]

Okay.

[Jared Freid]

That's gelt from Chocolate Ben.

[Benji Aflalo]

The problem is Chocolate Ben would only give you melted gel. Chocolate Ben would forget that the guilt was in his pocket, and it would be melted every time I gave it to you.

[Josh Peck]

And you quickly became Chocolate Pocket Ben.

[Jared Freid]

Yes, very quickly. Beloved by his dry cleaner, hated by everyone else.

[Benji Aflalo]

So good.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. These characters that we, you know, the thing is we are personalities. So we get in. We're just like. So many characters are just like. We're magnets to characters.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yes.

[Jared Freid]

And so, like, the idea that, like, $2, like my dad all the time is like, this only happens to you. And I'm like, I think because you put it out there, it just attracts that, you know, like, if I left here and met Chocolate Steve and he gave me some chocolate and was like, this is what I do, I'd be

[Benji Aflalo]

like, it wouldn't be weird. It wouldn't be weird.

[Jared Freid]

You know?

[Benji Aflalo]

Absolutely wouldn't be weird. 100%. Talk to me about that watch. I complimented Josh. He's wearing what looks like a watermelon watch. Green, pink face. I was like, that's a beautiful Rolex.

[Jared Freid]

I get compliments on this watch all the time. It's from Mr. Eat well, so go to.

[Josh Peck]

That's me.

[Jared Freid]

I gotta look it up.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's me.

[Jared Freid]

I'm Mr. Eatwell. It's a beautiful one. This guy's in Portland, Oregon. It got fed to me as a Instagram post, and then it took a while to get to me.

[Benji Aflalo]

You buy a lot online, don't you?

[Jared Freid]

I do. Well, I get. I used to get really hammered.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh.

[Jared Freid]

And then I'd wake up and I'd be like, what did I just spend my money on? And so I was drunk at a bar in the West Village, and it this. You know, when an Instagram ad, like, Haunts you. It keeps coming back. You look at it once.

[Benji Aflalo]

So this Instagram embarrassing story, I'll tell

[Jared Freid]

you, kept coming back and back. And I was at. I was at the. I'm blanking on the name. Their own. They own the Spaniard. But the. I haven't been there in forever because I haven't drank in over a year. So, like, I'm there drinking a martini, though, you know, slumped over a martini, and I ordered this, and it's like. It was like 400 bucks and now. And I was like, I can't believe I spent that much money. I felt like an idiot. I woke up and then I was like. It took like a month to get to me, and I tried to cancel it, and he's like, no, no, we're sending another. It was like dealing with. He was calling me on the phone, leaving me messages. Like, I was like, I don't want to talk to anyone. Like, just send it or don't. Finally gets to me. I get comments on this watch everywhere I go.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's beautiful. And it looks like a Rolex. That's why.

[Jared Freid]

But then that's the thing. I'm not trying to be the guy who wants to wear Rolex. It's not, you know, like, I get, you know. But the watch with men, like, I think you guys like some men like the watch thing. Like, they are in.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. We had Modi on.

[Jared Freid]

Oh, Modi loves a watch.

[Benji Aflalo]

He's the king. I mean, he. He loves to watch. I think him and Josh got in a fight about watches.

[Jared Freid]

Really?

[Benji Aflalo]

And.

[Jared Freid]

And the fight about.

[Benji Aflalo]

This is the thing.

[Jared Freid]

A lot of people's like, no, I don't even remember.

[Benji Aflalo]

Josh is also a watch guy. I don't remember what the fight was.

[Jared Freid]

But while you remember you're not wearing one right now.

[Josh Peck]

No, because I have a really hard time because I don't like when people go, nice watch.

[Jared Freid]

Oh, yeah, I don't like that.

[Josh Peck]

But I appreciate the. The collecting. But I think because I work. Here's a little. Little something about the watch game, okay? I work with an ad authorized dealer, okay. I'm paying retail for these. And usually people only live in the markup because Rolex and Patek and all these different companies, they want you to have to wait and buy pieces. Most people are like, if I want to watch, I want it tomorrow. I don't want to wait three years on a list or two years, right? This is how you get the deals. So I was talking in pricing for retail, and he was talking in Pricing for what it would normally cost you on 47th Street. And we were just.

[Jared Freid]

He was like getting it for 70 grand. Josh is like 40, right? Well, this is a very interesting part. The watch conversation does devolve into this because it's like, you know, it's like, where did you get it? How would you get it? No, I'm not the one that got screwed. You're the one getting a. You know, this becomes about right. How you are as a consumer. You know, money is the most emotional thing. Like.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yes.

[Jared Freid]

You know, for that reason I, you know, I didn't want to spend. I didn't have the money to spend. I was like, I was. But I do want to try wearing a watch. I went to swatch.com and I started tried to get the Audemars. Well, I started. This is years ago is the same

[Benji Aflalo]

thing happened to me. I got served an ad Josh for a Swatch Audemar. I was like, this looks beautiful. Really cool. My God, it's only 180. I bought it right then and there. Amazing. It shows up. It's just the band.

[Jared Freid]

It's a pocket. Oh, it's just the band

[Benji Aflalo]

your Audemars watch in.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. So I now just have a rubber

[Benji Aflalo]

band because they came out with paid 184.

[Jared Freid]

Because they're all pocket watches. The. The, the whole thing was that they went. So I was now a band. You bought a band that would be fit onto the pocket watch that they came out with. So the otmar thing, I. I was like, I'll go on Swatch. My grandparents used to have swatches. They're kind of cool. They got some color. I wear black. I'll have a pop of color. Sure. And so I go on, I'm like, they're 100 bucks each. I got more comments on the swatch. And every time someone says something, I have a box swatch that's like mint colored. And every time I get a comment on it, it's weird because every time I go 100 bucks, like I have

[Benji Aflalo]

to tell them, yeah, you're like that girl. Every single time you compliments a girl, you're like, oh, you look so beautiful. She's like, oh, thanks. I got it for $4 at Marshall.

[Jared Freid]

Exactly. It is so like I can't even make fun of that girl because I am that girl. You know, like I. You immediately get into prices. But then they started doing the Audemars thing and I was like, great. Now look it, I'm cool. I got the Swatch. I'VE been doing swatches, then you can't get them. I'm like, all these people. I was. I was. I liked the band before they became hip.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah. And now you can't go to their show.

[Josh Peck]

It's hard. The. The AP Swatch collab sold out immediately.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

They did one with Omega. Sold out right away. This whole thing is, like, a real interesting hustle, but. But I guess I'm a part of it now. I just got a beautiful watch from the 1916 company shout out. And. Yeah, it's great. Like, I. I love it. I just. Every time I wear it, I scratch it a little, and it kills me.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you think we are just the age that we like these things and the Internet's growing up with us? Like, it's a weird coincidence that we're all getting served the same thing or going to golf clubs and going, I just want to golf. I just want to watch.

[Benji Aflalo]

Josh doesn't have that itch yet.

[Jared Freid]

You don't have that itch for golf?

[Josh Peck]

No. I got enough problems.

[Benji Aflalo]

I watched Jared with his $300 golf set that he bought drunk in the middle of the night on Teemu.

[Jared Freid]

Another one.

[Benji Aflalo]

Okay. I watched him have an eagle 180 yards out. Josh, it went in the hole on a par five. They're $300 clubs that he literally bought on Timu.

[Josh Peck]

He's clearly an athlete. His brother works for the Chicago Bears.

[Benji Aflalo]

He's an athlete. It's unbelievable.

[Jared Freid]

Harry's the athlete. I'm like, the loser brother who can't get it. Like, my parents. That's all they do is, like, they ask me to do something, and then they'll tell everyone how I can't get anything done. It's like they're a bit. So they'll go.

[Benji Aflalo]

They'll go.

[Jared Freid]

Get us into Hulu. Get us into the Hulu. And then as I'm doing it, they're like, he can't do anything. He can't even do anything. He cannot. I was like, why did you ask me to do this, then? To embarrass me? Is this, like, a humiliation?

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, my God. Prank?

[Jared Freid]

Like, get me into the computer. I get locked out. This is. He can't do anything. They're, like, echoing me as I'm trying to help them.

[Benji Aflalo]

Speaking of your mom, I'm sorry to just make you tell stories. Jared is the best storyteller, and I don't think enough people know that you're being.

[Josh Peck]

You got to see him live. Truly got to see him live. What a great Show.

[Benji Aflalo]

Do you tell the Michael Chase story live?

[Jared Freid]

No, I haven't told that story.

[Benji Aflalo]

Can you. You tell that story? Will he get upset?

[Jared Freid]

I know. I. I got to tell it with Che because he tells it.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's so good.

[Jared Freid]

There's a story. I. I got it. I. I don't. I can't tell. I'm going to hold it because I hold it as much as I would love. I. Shea tells it even better than me because he was visiting my house, and my mom took him on a tour of our house. This was, like, 15 years ago. And it's funny because at the time, he was doing, like, he just got on, like, the Daily show when the Daily show was, like, kind of cooking, and he was, like, the new guy there. And now he's as famous as it gets, and, like, SNL and everything. And it's funny that I'm like, I can't believe this story.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's an unbelievable story. Save it.

[Jared Freid]

Hold it. I'll save it.

[Benji Aflalo]

It's an amazing story. But just know there's an amazing story that somehow, some way, somebody will end up finding out.

[Jared Freid]

I don't know. My mom has. Doesn't have that thing where she. No embarrassment. Like, and it's almost, like, amazing. And it's also, like, I have to deal with the embarrassment she doesn't feel. You know? Like, I think, like, that's a lot of people with their moms, especially, like, Jewish mothers, where it's like, she's just honest and. And. And means no malice. And, like. Like, I. So I. The. You talk about stand up when I was. I tell a story about my mom asking this guy how his wife passed. And. And we're, like, sitting there, and I'm like, are you. You out of your mind? Like, and. And she's. It's like, what? I want to know how she died. And now they're, like, having this open conversation with, like. And like most people, when you meet someone whose wife passed, you're like, we're sorry. We're sorry. And you run away, like, get me away from this person.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yes.

[Jared Freid]

I just don't want to feel awkward. My mom, like, just has none of that. Like, I envy it, because I wish I had.

[Benji Aflalo]

You don't.

[Jared Freid]

I don't have it.

[Benji Aflalo]

I. I. No, you don't wish you had that.

[Jared Freid]

You don't wish it.

[Benji Aflalo]

I don't. You. You don't wish that. You. You want to exit that conversation. I know that's most people, actually, maybe I do wish that I didn't want to exit that conversation. That's interesting.

[Jared Freid]

I just, that's the thing. I like in my stomach. I have so much. At the end of the day, I spend the whole day going, you said that to that person, you fucking idiot. And I'm like, I envy the people that go to bed and go, what a great day.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

And I'm like, how do you, how do you do that? You know?

[Benji Aflalo]

Like, I do, I do.

[Josh Peck]

I think we gotta embrace the awkward. I've been in so many. I remember one time I was at this award show and a friend of mine who's like a pretty well known actress was talking to this pop star, you know, this BB Rexa. You heard of this girl?

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

What did she sing?

[Jared Freid]

She, I'm good. She's also very hot.

[Benji Aflalo]

I, I, I'm, I don't know, I can't picture her.

[Jared Freid]

She's, she's like independent. No, she's been, she's like the voice on a lot of, like, club songs, right?

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Josh Peck]

She's great.

[Benji Aflalo]

I know. Yes, yes. And I know exactly who she is.

[Jared Freid]

She has a look that, like, draws me in. Like, you know. You know, I think every guy has that look. They're like, that's it. There's the look that's. And you go, it's just, you know, like, that's what makes it. I smell a steak, I salivate. She is a. Look where I go, yep.

[Benji Aflalo]

And all right, you gotta, you got a super fan in Jared.

[Josh Peck]

That's like me, Elizabeth Hurley at 60, you know, 20, not so interesting,

[Jared Freid]

right? And you go, that's just it. Can't find this. Look at. We're googling her right now, right?

[Josh Peck]

I want a nice C section scar.

[Jared Freid]

But I, and I was there with

[Josh Peck]

my, I was there with my friend and BB Rex, it comes up and I guess they knew each other and they were chatting and I was like, kind of like, oh, good, this is my, Like, I don't need to be a part of this. And Bibi very nicely looks at me and goes, like. Because I'm kind of slowly inching away. And Bibi goes, you can join the conversation. And I thought for a second and I, I said, no,

[Jared Freid]

I had that. I had that at a bar. I don't think men like that. Like, I had. I was at a bar once. I remember I'm sitting there again, slumped over a martini, and I remember there was a girl who was like, waved at me across the bar and I go, hey. And she goes, you can come over here if you want. And I was like, that's not how I'm approaching. No, no, I'm not gonna go over like a little toddler.

[Benji Aflalo]

Thank you for inviting me over.

[Jared Freid]

I was all by myself. Like, no, that's not how I. I go at this point. Interaction over. I'm done. I don't want to be over.

[Benji Aflalo]

No. I have a date with the. The bridge that I'm gonna jump off.

[Jared Freid]

Right. There's one way I want to come over to you, and it's how I dreamt it up as me being a tough guy, where I go, hey, what's up, baby girl? And that didn't happen. So now it's time for me to turn around and go to bed and eat a bunch of doordash.

[Benji Aflalo]

Hey, sugar tits. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Quo. Folks, running a business means you're always reachable. Until you're not. And the moment you miss that call, that text, that follow up, a competitor is the one that picks up those pesky competitors. That's why today's episode is brought to you by Quo, spelled Q U O, the business phone system built so you never miss an opportunity. Folks, with Quo, all your calls, texts and voicemails live in one place, so anyone on your team can pick up a conversation, see the full history, and respond fast. Quo is the number one rated business phone system on G2, trusted by over 90,000 businesses who rely on it to stay reachable and look professional. Every day, set up in minutes on any device, keep your existing number and add teammates as you grow. No it. No hassle. Quo's built in AI agents handle and everything after hours, answer questions and even book appointments so you never miss a lead. Even when your team is offline. Folks, money is on the line. Always say hello with Quo. Try Quo Q U O for free. Plus get 20 off your first six months when you go to Quo Co Goodguys. That's Q U O.com Goodguys this episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Whatnot. Folks, is there anything better than finding a good deal? You're going, you're browsing, you're looking all of a sudden out of the corner of your eye.

[Josh Peck]

Oh.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh, my God. It's the clearance section. You go into the clearance section, you find exactly what you're looking for. Okay? If you found it in the full price section, you would have bought it anyways, but you found it. Is there any better feeling than that? Maybe you go to a garage sale. My mom loves A garage sale. We're looking around, all of a sudden, a limited edition Pokemon card or whatever it is. There's nothing better than a good deal. Nothing better than a good deal. And folks, whatnot is where you're there to find deals. First and foremost, you're going to go on their app. It's so unbelievably special, let me tell you. I literally found a guy opening up tuna and selling the tuna belly. You could find anything that you could find a cool pair of jeans. You could find a laptop. You could find anything, anything on whatnot. Literally anything you are looking for, somebody is selling on whatnot. There's a beautiful community, these deals out of this world. You could even become a seller. Are you interested in selling? I'm telling you, folks, whatnot is it. You got to download the whatnot app today and you need to see it for yourself. You're not going to hear it from me when I'm telling you, oh, they sell everything. You could sell anything. You're like, that's so broad. Let me tell you. Download the app and literally look for tuna. You're going to find a guy selling tuna belly. He's selling tuna belly on video on whatnot. So download whatnot today and get $20 off your first purchase. Search what not w h a t n o t in the app store. Sign up and start finding the best deals on products you love. With $20 off your first purchase, you know you could do with 20 bucks on whatnot. What a deal. Whatnot in the app store today and get $20 off your first purchase.

[Josh Peck]

This episode is brought to you by Starbucks.

[Benji Aflalo]

Josh, I know I say this all the time. I'm fair weather Sally. I know. And by the way, I just made that up. Fair weather Sally.

[Josh Peck]

I like that.

[Benji Aflalo]

This, Josh, this is the drink of the summer. It's my new favorite drink. It's the blended pink energy drink from Starbucks. And let me tell you, it is refreshing. It is creamy, it is delicious. It's everything you need.

[Josh Peck]

It's so funny you bring up the Starbucks blended pink energy drink. What I'm enjoying right now. Watch for the sip. Is this asmr. Did you hear the after? I didn't put that on at all. And I've gone to 15 years of acting class. You'd think I'd be further in my career. I digress. But this is so fruity. It's so refreshing. And you know what else is great? It's got a little boost of energy for on the go dads like us or if you're just on the go,

[Benji Aflalo]

we could always use a little boost of energy and let me tell you. With flavors of sweet, strawberry and acai. I like my pronunciation there.

[Josh Peck]

None of that acid crap.

[Benji Aflalo]

Acai are blended with real pieces of strawberry, coconut milk, and ice. Josh, even your vegan wife can enjoy this.

[Josh Peck]

I love everything about this, and it's really. It's giving summer. I feel like I'm not in a podcast studio right now. I feel like I'm at a pool. I just put in an order. I ordered. You ready for the order? I ordered a Caesar salad with grilled shrimp and a side of fries because I deserve it.

[Benji Aflalo]

Oh. Oh, my God. And don't forget your blended pink energy drink from Starbucks, folks. If you're looking to switch up your order, this blended pink energy drink is it. I'm telling you, you won't regret it. It's a 10 out of 10.

[Josh Peck]

Order it on the app. The Starbucks blended pink energy drink. It's a drink of the summer. You'll love this, because I am really becoming an old Jew. I. I swear this is verbatim what happened the other day. I was walking into work and a girl goes, wow, Josh, you look great. And I literally responded like this.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

That's how I respond.

[Jared Freid]

I went.

[Josh Peck]

Because I couldn't even accept her nice words. It was more about like, yeah, you think I look great, but what a mess I am.

[Jared Freid]

What do you. What do you say to a compliment? Are you so. I'm the same way. I. Compliments. Nuh.

[Benji Aflalo]

I just. I just tell them, like. Like, most recently that happened, somebody said, ben, you look really good. I'm like, I'm wearing black.

[Josh Peck]

Like,

[Benji Aflalo]

what you're seeing is a facade.

[Josh Peck]

Right?

[Jared Freid]

Right. I'm wearing black. This is all a fake. I'm not even happy. I just thought about killing myself some seconds ago.

[Benji Aflalo]

I'm wearing black.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

I. Yeah, they're like, ben, you're wearing white. No, I'm wearing black.

[Jared Freid]

It is all this, like, conversational stuff, and I think, like, you know, you know, Josh, you probably get the most variables in a day that anyone could get. Like, you've people that, like, know you from childhood and go and have their own experience with you, that they're just ready to tell you something that you now have to react to. Like, that's gotta, like, it's just improv everywhere where, like, you know, you go, what do I even. What do I give to this person? Like, I almost, like, want to just, like. Like someone that you look good. I just Want to be like, thank you, and then run away and just have it be done, you know?

[Josh Peck]

Like, Yeah, I don't, I'm always balancing, like, how do I make this worthwhile for them while getting out of here as quick as possible?

[Jared Freid]

And you don't even say that from a. You know, someone could take that as, like, that you're being cocky, but, like, no, you just want this to be a, a, a ribbon on top of the box moment.

[Josh Peck]

Exactly.

[Jared Freid]

Where, like, they got the Josh Peck experience and they can go back to their friends and go, he was a nice guy. That's, like, all you want in the world. Exactly.

[Josh Peck]

Right?

[Benji Aflalo]

I don't know.

[Jared Freid]

It was awkward. You're like, oh, my God. Well, yeah, of course it was. You came up to me and told me, you know, how you used to watch my show when you were 15 years old?

[Benji Aflalo]

Like, you know, and you really have no idea. Like, it's not like we, It's Jews. It's well to do Midwestern Christians. It's Josh. It's everyone, right? Like, like, we, like, we go to, we go to dinner. We went to dinner in Queens. It was the valet guy. It was the waiter. It's. It's everyone. It's everyone. And he has to be so, like, you have to always be nice.

[Jared Freid]

No, it's not even just be nice. Be energetic, you know, like, you can't even just be tired for that interaction. Like. Yeah, I, I, I, I don't know.

[Benji Aflalo]

And we got screwed out of it. I haven't told this story in a while, but we got Corona Ices at this beautiful place in Queens, and the guy giving us the ices was a fan.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

And he's like, for you free. You know what that did? Jared cost me 20 bucks in tips. The ices. The ices were $3.

[Josh Peck]

Not a good trade.

[Benji Aflalo]

The ice is not a good trade.

[Jared Freid]

No, no, no, no. That's three bucks.

[Benji Aflalo]

What am I gonna give you, $3?

[Jared Freid]

No, 20. Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

It cost me the equivalent of six ice right now.

[Jared Freid]

You gotta be so nice so that they go, what a tipper. Yeah. Correct.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

You have no choice. It is weird, you know, you, you wonder if, like, this reach for an audience as a form of purgatory, you know, where you go, I want people to like my stuff, but I want them to like it my way.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah.

[Jared Freid]

And then you go, but then they like it. In a way, they like it. And you have to go, that's how they like it. Like when someone comes up to me and they're like, oh, My God, you do. What do you like? I. Especially with the dating book. Well, and now I have a girlfriend. Well, what are you gonna do now that you have a girlfriend? You can't do your dating stick. I'm like, Like, I'm a comedian. God damn it. Like, you want to grab them by the. By the lapels and go, that's not who I am. You know, like.

[Josh Peck]

Right.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah, I do. I do. If I get another you found a job yet? Joke from a 50 plus year old, like, that's like, no, seriously. And it's like, I'm actually like a very accomplished person with a lot of jobs.

[Jared Freid]

I'm doing. I'm doing a huge thing. I have a lot of jobs. Right.

[Benji Aflalo]

I have a lot of jobs.

[Jared Freid]

But then you have to, like, take it back and go, they're just a nice person who really likes one thing.

[Benji Aflalo]

Just a nice person that really likes it.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Benji Aflalo]

Yeah. But what are you, nuts?

[Jared Freid]

What are you, nuts?

[Benji Aflalo]

Our what are you nuts? Moment of the week is our gripes with people. Faces and things, both big and tall, Whatever sticking in your crawl. You. You are a walking. What are you nuts?

[Jared Freid]

I know. I always have a. What are you nuts?

[Benji Aflalo]

What is something that happened to you recently? Maybe it was today. You were like, oh, my God. What are you nuts?

[Jared Freid]

I went to a Dunkin Donuts.

[Benji Aflalo]

I.

[Jared Freid]

So I, I, Everything starts at a Dunkin Donuts.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

That's.

[Benji Aflalo]

What are you nuts?

[Jared Freid]

By the way, are you a Dunkin Donuts fan?

[Benji Aflalo]

No. Starbucks all day.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. This is a New York, Boston thing. I. Boston people love Dunkin Donuts.

[Benji Aflalo]

I understand.

[Jared Freid]

It's like a part of my youth.

[Benji Aflalo]

Sure.

[Jared Freid]

Dunkin Donuts has fallen off. I. The minute they went to a franchise model, the franchise. But also the.

[Benji Aflalo]

These franchisees don't know how to run these Duncans. I'm sorry.

[Jared Freid]

I agree. And also to make things cheaper, you know, I used to. I love a brewed hazelnut. I like when the bean.

[Benji Aflalo]

Right. Yes. Hampton Coffee Company. It has the greatest brewed hazelnut iced coffee.

[Jared Freid]

So does the Black Stone in the West Village.

[Benji Aflalo]

I think you're thinking of that. That's a bank. You're thinking Bluestone Lane.

[Jared Freid]

No, Black Blackstone.

[Benji Aflalo]

Aren't they like.

[Jared Freid]

Damn it. No, look up. Oh, I'm thinking Black Village. Yeah. Black Rock.

[Josh Peck]

You're thinking of Larry Fink.

[Jared Freid]

Black Rock.

[Benji Aflalo]

Black Stone. It's probably called Black Black Seed.

[Jared Freid]

Not Black Seed. It's Blackstone on Christopher and. And. And Hudson Black.

[Josh Peck]

Oh, no.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, yeah, Christopher, It's Blackstone Roasters.

[Josh Peck]

It's company.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

This is.

[Jared Freid]

This is such a Jewy conversation. Blackstone. Herb Rose Stone. No, Rosenstein is her. This is Blackstone.

[Josh Peck]

Yes. Nathan Weinberg was a higher up there.

[Jared Freid]

We could do literally a whole hour podcast of just taking one Jewish name, trying to relate. Like, I could go Blackstone from the. From camp.

[Benji Aflalo]

We could.

[Jared Freid]

And then you. And then we go in from. So I. I had to do. So the book. I said on the podcast that I would go do your book club. If you bought 30 books in pre sale, one person decided to do it. And it was like a family friend whose son listen to the podcast. And I was like, I got this text from the family friend I haven't spoken to in years. And it was like, like, heard you'll do a bookstore. And I'm like, I'm like. And I'm like. And I'm like, oh, my God. Wish. You know, wish granted. This is like a genie wish gone wrong. She's like, I heard you do a book club. I got a book club. And I'm like, that's how I read the text. They were very nice. And I go. And I go, I go, well, well, you gotta. And like, I'm trying to, like. And all of us know, like, I was telling this to my girlfriend. I'm like, you know, my parents, I consider, like wild animals. Like, I just have to tame these bulls that I have, you know, like, so I deal. When I deal with Jewish parents, it's to me, it's fun, but it's me dancing with a bull. So when she's like, I heard you got to get 30 books. Heard you doing book clubs. I was like, you have to buy 30 books and then I'll try and make it to your book club near a show that might be on my calendar. She goes, literally, the next text is a receipt for 30 books. She goes, done. When I'm like, she goes, I see you're in Red Bank, New Jersey. We're in Summit. It's an hour away. That'll be it. I'm like, fuck, I gotta do this now. So now I get. I fly to LaGuardia. I get a rental car, I drive an hour to Summit, New Jersey. I do the book club in her pilates studio with 15 women. Like, I'm like, I'm not sure if this is why I'm successful, that I'm willing to do this.

[Josh Peck]

Yes.

[Jared Freid]

Or why I'm not more successful, that I'm doing this instead of other things.

[Benji Aflalo]

Both.

[Jared Freid]

It's both. So before I got there, knowing That I was doing this at a Pilates studio, which I had a blast. They were, like, the nicest. I couldn't have been. It was, it was the, it was a sitcom, but it was also the most beautiful, heartwarming, amazing interaction with people, and I enjoyed every second of it. So I want to make sure I say that because I'm making fun of just the idea of going, though. I was, like, sitting there. I'm like, you know, I have a Netflix special coming out. I'm sitting in this Pilates studio. You know, you could look at it from another direction and be like, what the fuck are you doing? So I'm like, okay. Before I get there, I had to take a dump because I just came from the airport. I flew in from Delray early in the morning, drove, and I'm like, let me find a bathroom before I go to the Pilates book club.

[Josh Peck]

Club.

[Jared Freid]

There's a Dunkin Donuts 02 miles away in a gas station. I go to the Dunkin Donuts, I pull in, I go straight to the bathroom to see if it's locked or not unlocked. Walk in. It was a push button turn lock. Are you familiar with the push button turn lock?

[Benji Aflalo]

No.

[Jared Freid]

It's the one that's like, you can turn it, but you can also push it.

[Benji Aflalo]

No.

[Jared Freid]

So you never know. It's like this weird, you know, three cup, you know, game of, like, is it locked?

[Benji Aflalo]

Is it not?

[Josh Peck]

Is it locked?

[Benji Aflalo]

Sure.

[Jared Freid]

So I do the push button, and then I open the door. Check it. Ok. Push button works. Ok. I'm not having a comfy dump. But I'm also like, okay. I'm okay. Like, I, I, I think it was locked. It was locked, but I'm still like, 10% sure. I sit down, phone out. Let's do the, let's do the crossword. I'm sitting there. All of a sudden, I hear the key going directly into the lock.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, I gotta, I gotta jump on this call. I'm so sorry.

[Jared Freid]

Go for it.

[Benji Aflalo]

I love you, Jerry.

[Josh Peck]

So sorry. Love you.

[Jared Freid]

Don't be sorry.

[Benji Aflalo]

Don't worry. Continue.

[Jared Freid]

I put it in. I hear the, the key going in the lock. I'm like, I'm in here. I'm in here. She comes in, looks at me, and it's the woman, like, working at the Dunkin Donuts. And I go, I'm sorry. Like, I'm apologizing to her. I go, why didn't you knock first? Like, she shuts the door, there's a guy behind her with like, like the, like reflector jacket on because he's working. He's trying to get in the bathroom, but no one checked it. All I ask is for one knock and anybody before you do the key.

[Benji Aflalo]

A terrible wood of your nuts. I mean. No, I'm saying it's a terrible thing. That's a woody and nuts. Right?

[Jared Freid]

That's a good point. That makes sense.

[Benji Aflalo]

A great wood of your nuts. Oh, my God. There's nothing worse. It's a terrible experience being walked on when you're taking a dumb.

[Jared Freid]

And then I have to walk into this. So now I'm, you know, cutting it off. I go into the pilates studio. Half dumped.

[Benji Aflalo]

Half dumped. Oh, you. Oh, you swallowed her.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah, because I'm not going to go there. And also, you're going to finish. You are going to. Can't use the bathroom at the 15 person book club.

[Josh Peck]

No, you can't.

[Jared Freid]

Because they'll all be on the inside being like, where'd he go? Isn't he here? Yeah, he's in the bathroom for 30 minutes.

[Benji Aflalo]

I had that once. I was invited to a dinner. Gary Vaynerchuk was like, you want to come to this creator's dinner? I get there, it's 15 people. All of a sudden, I had to go. And they were giving speeches. I went, I took a dump. It's right there. I come back, they're like, where were you?

[Jared Freid]

Oh, no, no, no, no. Where were you Is annoying.

[Benji Aflalo]

Can you not ask me that? Like, you know exactly where I was. Right. Okay. My what are you nuts? Moment. And I think that this is just. It is what it is with the Hamptons Round Swamp.

[Jared Freid]

What are you nuts? Is like the, the home of, like, the Hamptons is the home of. What are you nuts?

[Benji Aflalo]

It is Round Swamp Farm. Have you heard of this place?

[Jared Freid]

No.

[Benji Aflalo]

This is the most expensive pre made, Whatever. Famous. All their premades are crap. I think it's a complete wood of your nuts. I'm not a fan whatsoever. Not a fan. I think that they are so overhyped. They are so big. So big that I don't feel bad saying that.

[Jared Freid]

Too big to fail.

[Benji Aflalo]

Too big to fail. They're, they're, they're.

[Jared Freid]

Give me one.

[Benji Aflalo]

Specifically, they're printing. Everything that somebody has brought back for me has just, like, been not good. The pre mades are like a big thing in the Hamptons.

[Jared Freid]

Yes.

[Benji Aflalo]

Where it's like, these are like $30 chicken nuggets. And you take them to go and you think because they're $30 that they're going to be delicious. And it's like nothing pre made, right? That was fried, that's put in the refrigerator that you then need to take home and reheat is ever going to be good. Yeah, it's impossible, right? It's impossible. So I just think that environment, the pre mades, I think it's complete and nuts.

[Jared Freid]

It is nuts that the premades are what they are in the Hamptons and that I even know that, like, I don't have a lot of Hampton's experience, but it seems as though every year the talk of the town is you got to get the salad from the fridge at this place. And.

[Benji Aflalo]

And would you ever do that?

[Jared Freid]

Never, never like, never. When I see the pre mades, like when I go to a hotel and they're like, oh yeah, we have sandwiches. Just go to the fridge and I see those sandwiches, I'm like. I'm like, what? What do you think of.

[Benji Aflalo]

No, I don't know what the Hamptons does to people. That they think that, that picking up a pre made sandwich from the fridge is going to be good. And they've. It's $40, right? And they're posting about it on Instagram.

[Jared Freid]

The tides rise, all ships type of thing too. Like the money, you know, they can charge. I think there's a point where they go, let's see if people will do this.

[Benji Aflalo]

100%. Yeah, 100.

[Jared Freid]

The money there is absurd.

[Benji Aflalo]

I bought like an eight dollar tomato

[Jared Freid]

the other day I wanted to make,

[Benji Aflalo]

which is a beautiful huge area.

[Jared Freid]

At least that was like grown there. Like, at least.

[Benji Aflalo]

The farmers markets are amazing and I don't mind overpaying for that kind of stuff. The pre mades in the fridge, not my thing. Not my thing.

[Jared Freid]

Not for me. No pre mades. Any pre made, I'm out.

[Benji Aflalo]

So you have a special coming out?

[Jared Freid]

I have a special coming.

[Benji Aflalo]

You're gonna come back again.

[Jared Freid]

You're waiting.

[Benji Aflalo]

You're gonna come back again because we love you. But you have a special coming out the first week of September. So everybody get ready.

[Jared Freid]

It's coming out. And when. Netflix.

[Benji Aflalo]

Are you kidding me?

[Jared Freid]

Netflix.

[Josh Peck]

I know.

[Jared Freid]

And here it is. It's about my parents.

[Josh Peck]

Parents.

[Jared Freid]

It's a. It's about my. It's. The whole thing's about my parents. The whole thing. It's about Rob Lowe and body issues and you know, Rob Lowe is the spokesperson for Atkins Diet.

[Benji Aflalo]

Like, I didn't know.

[Jared Freid]

That's insane.

[Benji Aflalo]

Hysterical.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. So there's. I have like a whole bit about that. It's about my dad and I and my mom Going to the beach. It happened in 2018. I took this two minute story, I turned it in an hour, and it's, you know, I know your listeners. I feel like I know. I know you. I know your listeners. I know the people that I meet that are like, I heard you on Good Guys. Everyone who listens to this podcast will love it. Like, and it's to be shared with your parents to show them that I'm making fun of your parents. Yeah, you know, that's the whole idea.

[Benji Aflalo]

Amazing.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah. I'm really proud of it. It's called the family plan. So at some point you're coming back. I'm gonna come back. But I just come back.

[Benji Aflalo]

We're gonna do it again.

[Jared Freid]

Would love that.

[Benji Aflalo]

We're gonna do it again. But the family plan. Mark your calendars the first week of September.

[Jared Freid]

Yeah.

[Benji Aflalo]

The great Jared Freed, folks. This episode's five stars. Otherwise, what are you, nuts? Listen to us. Wherever you get your podcast, watch us on Spotify. The video on Spotify, Jared, this is primo video. You pop it open, you can flip it into landscape or you can watch it. It's 4k, maybe 8k.

[Jared Freid]

I don't know.

[Benji Aflalo]

Black magic. It is the quality.

[Jared Freid]

You don't have to explain.

[Benji Aflalo]

Video is through the roof, folks. We have new episodes Mondays and Thursdays, and we will see you next time.

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