Love, Lies & the Beverly Hills Hotel

Summary

Good Guys – "Love, Lies & the Beverly Hills Hotel"

Podcast by Dear Media | Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Released: November 3, 2025

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Overview

In this lively episode of "Good Guys," hosts Josh Peck and Ben Soffer reunite in person in Los Angeles and deliver their signature blend of comedic banter, cultural commentary, and candid life reflections. The conversation bounces from LA weather and the excess of the Beverly Hills Hotel to deeper chats on tipping culture, relationships, career drive, and what it means to adapt and grow—both in marriages and as individuals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reunion & LA Living

• Josh and Ben’s chemistry flourishes in-person, joking about their “marriage” to each other and basking in autumn in LA.
  • “I'm married to my wife in public, but I'm married to you in here.” – Josh (01:03)
• Ben admits a change of heart about LA, lauding the weather, the versatility in clothing choices, and the city’s general vibe.
  • “This is like fall in LA... Mix and match. Because the weather is that perfect.” – Ben (01:15–01:56)

2. The Beverly Hills Hotel Lunch: Luxury & Lunacy

• Ben details an extravagant lunch—and outlandish bill—at the Beverly Hills Hotel, complete with a $32 salad and $32 add-on salmon.
  • “It became 250. $250 for two bowls.” – Ben (05:54)
• The duo riff on LA fashion, clowning on a woman in a full fur coat by the pool.
  • “She looked fabulous for New York in 32 degrees... by the pool [in LA].” – Ben (03:06–03:16)

3. Tipping Culture: Out of Control?

• In-depth discussion on tipping expectations across service and non-service settings.
  • Josh resents giving large tips for pickup items:
    “This idea that I’d pay 20% tip on a $40 bill… It’s pushing it.” – Josh (06:49)
• Ben bemoans "tipflation" and the social pressure created by touchscreen tip prompts, especially when buying non-service items.
  • “I can't tip on a bottle of water and a Kind bar. I picked them up, but it pops up 15, 18, 20.” – Ben (08:20)

Notable Segment:

• Pooling vs. Direct Tipping:
  • Philosophizing on whether tips should be pooled among employees or received directly by the service worker.
  • “I like a line. Waiter, waitress: tip, busboy: tip... I don't need pooling tips with the maitre d’.” – Ben (09:44–09:51)

4. Restaurant & Event Culture

• Behind the scenes of hospitality:
  • Ben shares high-stress stories from working in his dad’s catering kitchen and the impossible logistics of mass events.
  • Both agree buffets beat seated dinners at weddings, where food often arrives cold.
  • “Weddings should be buffet. Always buffet.” – Josh (15:43)

5. Notable Dining Experiences & Food Philosophy

• Josh attended a supper club at Craig's—co-hosted by chef Nancy Silverton—raving about perfect pacing and classic Italian-American dishes.
  • Menu Highlights:
    • “Pasta leaves, entree. Splendid. It was such beautiful service.” – Josh (19:28)
    • “Chicken parm. And then wagyu New York strip... A thick jus.” – Josh (22:15–22:37)
• The guys share pro tips for maximizing passed hors d'oeuvres, including tipping servers to ensure repeat visits.
  • “We need to start tipping the passed hors d’oeuvre waiter and waitresses immediately... just come find me.” – Ben (20:15–20:30)

6. Career Success, Motivation & Money

• Recapping their experience on Bert Kreischer's "Something's Burning" podcast:
  • Joking about wild comments and how podcast long-form is a unique mirror (23:03–24:00).
  • Bert’s “loaded” lifestyle is dissected as they tour his production mansion.
• The psychology of "having enough," and whether wealth insulates anyone from drive or anxiety.
  • “You don't have to keep working—what's that feel like?... It wasn’t that finish line that we all dream of.” – Josh (30:13–30:26)
  • “They don’t work for money. They work because they love what they do.” – Ben (30:55)

Career Takeaways

• Josh & Ben compare acting auditions to startup pitching, embracing the process and letting go of outcomes.
  • “You have a performance to prepare for. When that is done and I walk out, I did my job.” – Josh (32:54)
  • “After the performance, it’s a full-blown performance for an hour. You’re selling yourself.” – Ben (33:00)

7. Relationships, Growth, & Honest Feedback

• Reviewing "X Appeal," a podcast where the host interviews all past romantic partners, sparking a discussion about honest feedback in love.
• Ben extolls the necessity of communication for long-term relationship success, admitting ongoing “tinkering” in his marriage.
  • “Our relationship... is only getting better because we're eliminating some of the things that maybe weren't working out early on.” – Ben (41:30–41:38)
• The hosts emphasize being adaptive but not expecting partners to change fundamentally.
  • “You can absolutely adapt to each other.” – Ben (45:41)
• Discussion shifts to the importance of self-awareness as a lover, illustrated as Josh recounts matchmaking stories gone wrong.

8. Body Talk and (Over)Sharing

• Candid talk about body image, sex scenes, and hygiene—from cleaning belly buttons with peroxide to the lighting magic of movie sets.
  • “You could look plus or minus 20 years with the right lighting.” – Josh (50:26)
• Ben’s gripe about the return of the bear-midriff trend:
  • "Just because low-rise jeans are back doesn't mean crop tops are back... Tuck away your belly button." – Ben (51:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “$250 for two bowls... and fries. And guac.” – Ben (05:54)
• “You have a performance to prepare for... When that is done and I walk out, I did my job.” – Josh (32:54)
• “I don’t know if I believe in an afterlife.” – Josh (47:01)
• “If you were in that waiting room, you’d say, maybe don’t go [to the ER].” – Josh (54:20)
• On relationships:
  • “People don’t change. You should not try to change somebody either. But little things you can change.” – Ben (44:01)
  • “She came to me wanting to vent and just because I feel like I can solve a problem doesn’t mean that that’s right for what she came to me for.” – Ben (44:57)
• On midriff-baring fashion:
  • “I know what my belly button smells like... tuck away your belly button.” – Ben (51:07)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• LA Weather Love & Beverly Hills Hotel recap: 01:00–06:00
• Tipping Culture Rant: 06:00–10:00
• Restaurant Hierarchies & Pooling: 09:44–10:35
• Catering/kitchen war stories: 14:20–16:30
• Craig’s supper club foodie deep-dive: 16:30–23:00
• On Bert Kreischer, podcasting, career drive: 24:00–31:00
• Acting vs. Entrepreneur Pitching: 32:54–34:00
• Relationships/X Appeal Podcast, growth in marriage: 39:55–46:07
• Sex, feedback, and awkward matchmaking: 46:07–48:32
• Body image, sex scenes, and lighting magic: 48:47–50:26
• What Are Ya Nuts? (pet peeves segment): 50:44–55:00

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains the irreverent, self-deprecating, and deeply honest vibe that defines "Good Guys." Josh and Ben’s banter is quick, littered with Jewish humor, and unafraid to veer from highbrow (philosophy of work, relationship adaptation) into lowbrow (body odors, sex, and bathroom talk). The conversation pivots organically, but always lands on a note of practical wisdom beneath the comedy.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a quintessential "Good Guys" experience: LA indulgence, hard truths about cost of living (and loving), and a couple of friends who draw out the humor and humanity in everything from overpriced salads to existential career angst, all while keeping it relatable, real, and really, really funny.

Transcript

[Josh]

The following podcast is a dear media production. Two Jews, both big and tall. No subject too small for the Good Guys. A mother's dream Premium podcast team. Make it your weekly routine. It's a Good Guys.

[Ben]

And if you don't give us five stars.

[Josh]

What are you nuts?

[Ben]

What are you nuts? Yeah, we're the good guys.

[Josh]

They're not the great guys. We're just the good of the good guys. Maslomorans. Welcome back to the Good Guys podcast. Sitting here with Ben in person, I feel very lucky.

[Ben]

Sitting here with Josh in person. Benny and Joshi in person in la. Benny and Joshi. Sort of a little bit gay.

[Josh]

Not a little. We're leaning fully in.

[Ben]

Yeah. Why not? It's just like the narrative. It's gonna come out like 10 years. Like, this was. The podcast was a complete front for just like an absolute. It's not even a love triangle. It's a love. It's just love. No, it's straight line, straight love.

[Josh]

I'm married to my wife in public, but I'm married to you in here.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's great. I love it. Josh. La. I know, we've spoken about it. I have to just tell the morons. LA is just a great place.

[Josh]

I told you.

[Ben]

I'm really sorry. Like, I've never spent this amount of time here. I've never come here sort of with an open mind about it, and I've definitely never come here during this season. This is perfect. This is like fall in LA. You wake up mid-60s in the morning. You're going to get your coffee, but it almost feels East Coast. It's that perfect cool breeze. Then all of a sudden, the sun starts shining and you're getting hotter and hotter, but it peaks 80 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky. You can do anything you want. You could wear pants, you could wear shorts. You could wear a hoodie. You could wear a T shirt. Look at this. Mix and match. Because the weather is that perfect.

[Josh]

You could. Yeah, it's just a kiss of the cold.

[Ben]

Just smooch. It's lovely.

[Josh]

You can. The weather won't get worse than this. It'll get a little colder. It'll start going like, maybe the high will be 65, 70, the low be 50. Yeah, it's January.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

You know, surfing. Get a thick enough wetsuit.

[Ben]

Do it. I'm in.

[Josh]

You want to go snowboarding the same day? An hour in either direction.

[Ben]

Wow.

[Josh]

You're snowboarding.

[Ben]

Wow.

[Josh]

You're surfing, you're hiking. That's.

[Ben]

That's Gavin Newsom's California Fantastic. It would be California without him, too. It's fantastic. The weather is a plus. I'm loving it. The people here, though, are still a little bit nuts. Yesterday we went to lunch. The Great Beverly Hills Hotel. What an establishment. My goodness.

[Josh]

You're really doing it up.

[Ben]

Killing it. My goodness. Fantastic. We brought sweet Ruby. Let me tell you. This was again, 65 goes into 80. And by the time we're eating lunch, it's probably 78. There is a woman in a full fur coat. Full fur coat. Sitting at lunch. This is a woody. Enough.

[Josh]

In la, she had the guts to.

[Ben]

Wear a full, full fur coat. And I think she just like. That's a great question. Mid-40s. That's what I'm going to say.

[Josh]

In a mink. Yes, a full mink.

[Ben]

Full mink. Full mink fur coat. She looked fabulous for New York in 32 degrees. Like, go see a Broadway show in December. Wear that exact outfit by the pool.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

At the Beverly Hills Hotel. No, no, this is no good. And this Beverly Hills Hotel. Josh, I know you've been. This is the most expensive lunch in the world.

[Josh]

Walk us through. At the pool. Not the Polo Lounge, which there are.

[Ben]

Three restaurants, I believe. At the Beverly Hills Hotel, there's the Polo Lounge, which is like upscale dining. There's actually a diner that is supposed to be fantastic. That I haven't eaten. Yeah. And I heard the tuna melt's good, too. Somebody gave me that tip. And then by the pool, you can get lunch. But this is no normal by the pool lunch. This is. You have a salad. The most famous One is the McCarthy salad, which is really just like a cob, I guess, but the salad is like $32. And then to add chicken is another 30.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Like, I got a probiotic bowl, which was delicious. I know it sounds nuts. It's not kimchi rice, like sweet mushrooms. Fantastic. Give that a protein. The baseball. 30. Okay. Egregious piece of salmon. 32. All of a sudden your freaking bowl is 62. What are you gonna do, add salmon? I need protein.

[Josh]

Yeah. Otherwise it's 30. 30 bucks for sauerkraut.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's no good. So literally, our lunch was I got that probiotic bowl, Claudia got a chicken Caesar salad. We got a side of fries and we got guacamole.

[Josh]

You know why you got a side of fries?

[Ben]

Why? Because I got the probiotic bowl and I needed to feel something.

[Josh]

Because the two of you were good.

[Ben]

We were good.

[Josh]

You said we're being good.

[Ben]

We were good.

[Josh]

We deserve a treat.

[Ben]

100%. We needed it like a nice crispy fry. We needed it. We needed it to round out the healthy meal. Just a little bit. A little bit of salt.

[Josh]

Smack. A trans fat.

[Ben]

Nice crunch. Yes. So much trans fat.

[Josh]

Microdose of trans fat.

[Ben]

I love it. Guess how much it was the entire lunch. Yeah. We also got, let me say, Arnold Palmer. Two Diet Cokes. Josh. Two Diet Cokes with lemon. Let me tell you, free refills. And they come.

[Josh]

No, not free refills.

[Ben]

Yes. And they give you a little pitcher.

[Josh]

A carafe.

[Ben]

It was really nice. A carafe. A Diet Coke. Really nice dip.

[Josh]

It's a Cracker Barrel meets Michonne.

[Ben]

Yes. Yes.

[Josh]

And okay, I'd say 200 bucks.

[Ben]

It was 200 before tip.

[Josh]

No.

[Ben]

So it came to. And like he has, like that little machine and you have to press it in front of him, which, by the way, I can't tip less than 22% in front of you. I'm not saying that I would have. Maybe I would have tipped 20. He can't do it. He's right there. He's watching me press the button. The shame built in to tipping less. You can't. Right. You have no choice. So it became 250. $250 for two bowls.

[Josh]

Yes.

[Ben]

And fries.

[Josh]

Crazy.

[Ben]

And guac. Really good guac. Oh, and a salsa verde. That came with the guac. It's a really nice touch. And fresh tortilla chips. No good. Wow. Well, good. But too expensive.

[Josh]

That's crazy. I've been thinking about this a lot recently because I think that if you go to a place that isn't service based in the way of, like a coffee shop, maybe a creation. A place where you're going. Recently, I went to a place where I love the. The Creation Granola.

[Ben]

Beautiful. Okay.

[Josh]

Beautiful. And I splurge. Sure. $13.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Josh]

For a big thing of granite. It's not bad.

[Ben]

No, it's not terrible.

[Josh]

Now, my son, because then we're going.

[Ben]

To get to error one. Continue. There's some terrible places here.

[Josh]

They go through it, Right. They crush it. So I wind up getting. Maybe sometimes I get three. Right. So now I'm at a $40 haul of granite.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Last me the month.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Josh]

And it gives me 15, 20 and 25%. I go. I picked up the granola. This idea that I'd pay 20% tip on a $40 bill. It's eight bucks. It's pushing it. No, in those scenarios, it needs to be 135. Now, listen, I know you're going to say Cheapskate peck over here.

[Ben]

No, I'm not.

[Josh]

Scarcity complex.

[Ben]

I'm not. I'm not saying that.

[Josh]

Oh, you're hoarding all your money. Can't spread it around. No, no, no.

[Ben]

By the way, two things can be true at once. You can be doing that, which you probably are. I am. But tipping culture, as discussed, is they've completely lost their minds.

[Josh]

But I say that with coffee. Do the same thing. Right? Because usually that bill hopefully is under 10 bucks, right?

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

Get a latte, 6, 7 bucks, 9 bucks if it's egregious.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

If it's 1, 3 5. Because then if you do 10 or 20%, 90 cent tip, sure. You know, $30 tip.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

Make it 13 5.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

135 for service or for non service. And then you're at a restaurant. Normal.

[Ben]

15, 20, 25% for non service of making something though. Right. Like if you order a coffee and they have to make it. Agreed. I just went to the Coffee Bean. Okay. I picked up a kind bar, which, by the way, is just like a Snickers. I don't know why I didn't get a Snickers. Equally as caloric, equally as high in sugar. Just saying. I got a kind bar and a bottle of water, and they positioned tipping. No tip. I can't. I can't tip on a bottle of water in a kind bar. I picked them up, but it pops up. 15, 18, 20.

[Josh]

No, that's.

[Ben]

And I wrote none.

[Josh]

You look.

[Ben]

That's appropriate.

[Josh]

You look at him dead in the eyes and you flip it back.

[Ben]

Yeah, no, yeah, like, sorry, but no. It doesn't make sense. It's just. It's not right.

[Josh]

They're gonna. It's just gonna ask you a couple questions. You go questions complete.

[Ben]

I wonder though, if it was 13 5, I might have pressed one because one's kind of like tucking in that one, you know? Yeah, the old school. Tuck in the jar.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

Versus, I don't know, it just feels like an extra tax. Paying a tax.

[Josh]

What about when they have the two tipping jars out and one says Mary Kate and the other says Ashley?

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Who's your fave? It's fun, but either way, I'm losing money.

[Ben]

Yeah. No, it's not. It doesn't work. And the problem with tipping at the Coffee Bean, let's say. Okay, which solid coffee?

[Josh]

Love.

[Ben]

Love solid coffee. The problem with tipping at the Coffee Bean is if you order the latte and you want to leave that tip, is that tip going to the barista or Is that tip going to the cashier? Because the cashier doesn't deserve the tip.

[Josh]

I think they pool.

[Ben]

They pool. I don't like pool.

[Josh]

They're pooling.

[Ben]

I don't like pools. I like pools.

[Josh]

Sure, but you don't like tips.

[Ben]

No, but it has to happen, I guess.

[Josh]

What about the busboys?

[Ben]

Now, I. I want to tip them, but they should be tipped, you know, like I.

[Josh]

No one's doing it, though, except you and me. Except machers.

[Ben]

I like a line. Let's do this. Waiter, waitress, tip, busboy, tip.

[Josh]

Hierarchy.

[Ben]

Yeah. I don't need pooling tips with the mater d. They're getting fleeced left and right. They're not sharing that. We're not fleets. The opposite of fleets. They're getting what's. What's the opposite of fleas?

[Josh]

Fleas. You know what they're getting? Yeah, they're getting tipped. They're getting the virgin.

[Ben]

Yeah, they're getting tipped left and right. A quick 20. Some big macher wants the front table 100. You're not pooling that if you're the mater d. So you're excluded from the tip pool. But I'd tip the waitress and I'd tip the bus.

[Josh]

The wait staff, I think they're. They're tipping out their bus. Like, who's ever busing their tables? I would say the majority of them have to.

[Ben]

Doesn't the chef and the sous chef deserve a tip? They made it.

[Josh]

I don't know. I think they're getting a proper salary.

[Ben]

Interesting.

[Josh]

I don't think they're getting paid a minimum wage based on the fact that, well, we know you're getting tip.

[Ben]

That's fair.

[Josh]

It's interesting. But those people work their balls off.

[Ben]

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[Josh]

I know the bear romanticizes it, but, like, what's even, like, more intense than working at, like, a fancy restaurant where you know people are going to, like, review your food is just. Working at a busy cheesecake factory.

[Ben]

It's insane. Like, I've worked in the kitchen with my dad during events, and let me tell you, it is. It is a nightmare in there. So high stress.

[Josh]

Benjamin, behind. Benjamin, behind. Yes, Chef. Yes, Chef.

[Ben]

Benjamin, you're not here. Your elbow is on fire. Benjamin, stop leaning your elbow on the open flame.

[Josh]

Benjamin, you're mixing milk and meat.

[Ben]

I'm hungry.

[Josh]

It's gonna ruin our Yelp. We're a kosher eatery, Benjamin.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's a nightmare. It's really hard. And to keep everything hot. Like, there's obviously huge differences between catering and restaurants. Restaurants. It's not the same level of bulk catering. If you're trying to give hot entrees to 400 people at once, it's crazy fast nuts speed to pull them all out, plate them, rush them out. That's why everybody's like, why did I just get served dinner at 9pm? Well, too many people. And you opted for seated. Weddings should be buffet.

[Josh]

Always buffet. And family style, which I do love in almost every scenario. But an event.

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

It doesn't work either because it always gets cold.

[Ben]

Always gets cold. Always gets cold. And people love the idea of a premium seated affair until it happens.

[Josh]

Nuts.

[Ben]

And it's just not. It's too much stress on the caterer, it's too much stress on the staff, and it's almost always cold.

[Josh]

Whenever it's a seated affair, I know that I'm like, there's going to be a. A just a marquis carrot in the middle of this plate.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Like with the stem.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And I'm gonna. It's not gonna do it for me.

[Ben]

No, I don't need it.

[Josh]

No.

[Ben]

Remove the stem. Right?

[Josh]

Remove the stem. And it's not a highlight.

[Ben]

No.

[Josh]

It doesn't deserve the attention you're giving it.

[Ben]

No. Too much. Too much. With the steak and the potatoes, I'll.

[Josh]

Tell you about a fabulous dinner that I wanted you to go to last night that I went to. Executed perfectly.

[Ben]

And this is at a very premium spot at Craig's. Yeah. Craig's is for those that don't know. Craig's is Greg's.

[Josh]

Craig's is Craig's. Super Hollywood landmark restaurant. Cool kid club, good food, like, not.

[Ben]

Going to like Italian, like. Right. Yeah.

[Josh]

And it's not trying to be like some crazy Michelin star. It's just like really solid, yummy stuff.

[Ben]

Yes.

[Josh]

And the great Jordan Okin and Max Shapiro of the Air Jordan podcast invited me. Invited Ben, knowing he was in town.

[Ben]

Yes. Very sweet of them. So kind to politely decline.

[Josh]

But it was a City Card Estrada event, a supper club.

[Ben]

Oh, wow. Lovely.

[Josh]

You know about this?

[Ben]

This? No, I don't. Tell me. Are you a City Card holder?

[Josh]

I will be now, yeah.

[Ben]

Great.

[Josh]

All I know is during the speeches they said city Strata events where access meets artistry. I was like, that's good.

[Ben]

Hell, yeah. I was like, they spent a lot of money on that line.

[Josh]

I was like, I'm a company man.

[Ben]

You know how many consultants they paid to come up with that line? They probably spent 100 grand on that line. It was a great line.

[Josh]

It's really good, isn't it?

[Ben]

Love it. Love it. Who has a City Card? We spoke about this with. When Connor Wood came on the podcast and we were talking about the golf event, the Ryder Cup. Yeah. That was also sponsored by Citi. And I went up to the. I was in the merch shop spending fifteen hundred dollars on merch.

[Josh]

Crazy.

[Ben]

And they said, if you have a Citi card, you get 10% off. And I said, who has a Citi Card? How? I asked the cash, the cashier, how many people have paid with their Citi card? They said to who has a Citi Card?

[Josh]

Need to sponsor the pot. They need to do more organic.

[Ben]

100%. You need more. If you're going to spend all this money on events, you need more people having your card.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Who banks with Citi? Do you know anybody that banks with Citi?

[Josh]

I think my wife used to.

[Ben]

Okay. Used to watch it change.

[Josh]

No, no, I. I think my wife. Well, I think that she just went over to my bank when we got married.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

But I mean, Citibank's massive.

[Ben]

It is. I just don't know anyone who banks there.

[Josh]

I'm ready.

[Ben]

I'm ready, too. It's fine. It's fine if we keep getting free meals like this. Totally. So supper clubs. Yes. Continue this.

[Josh]

What was an Incredible. Let me walk you through the menu.

[Ben]

First of all, please. They.

[Josh]

They did this in conjunction with the great Nancy Silverton. You know this person?

[Ben]

Yes, yes.

[Josh]

Celebrity chef genius. Arguably one of our great chefs that. For Los Angeles proper. But. But in the greater United States, at least continental. I can't speak for Alaska.

[Ben]

Yes. And you just have our one Alaskan listener. She's not. He does not speak for us.

[Josh]

Yeah. Fairbanks is popping off right now, but she's incredible. Okay, so here was the meal and to your point, and this is what I want to give them the most credit for. As the apps. As the empty apps. Plates left the table. Salads coming out. As salads left.

[Ben]

Pasta splendid.

[Josh]

Pasta leaves. Entree.

[Ben]

Splendid.

[Josh]

It was such beautiful service, but the food was okay. Cocktail hour. They had high, like, really fancy breadsticks. Like fresh made breadsticks.

[Ben]

Warm.

[Josh]

Great warm. Okay. Caviar bites. Oh, didn't see them. Some on the menu. Sad I didn't get one.

[Ben]

That's probably. There's like one guy that was, like standing next to where they come out eating all the caviar bites. Yeah. You know any pastors? Pastors d' oeuvres are. I also have a big problem with pastor d' oeuvres we've talked about. Because they don't get to you. Sorry. Unless you're an absolute khaza, they don't get to you.

[Josh]

You gotta camp out.

[Ben]

You have to camp out. You have to be that guy. And then I'm gonna look at you like, hey, fatso, leave some caviar for everybody else.

[Josh]

You look like a third base coach. Whenever you go to the next place, Ben's like.

[Ben]

Ooh, we need to start tipping the pastor d' oeuvre waiter and waitresses immediately, immediately give him a 20 and say, keep finding me. That way you don't look like a kaza. You. She beelines for you.

[Josh]

Wow. Smart.

[Ben]

I have a wedding this weekend and I plan on trying it. I'm going to try it and I'm going to report back. If it works, just a quick 20 in the pocket. Just come find me. Yeah. And people are going to be like, why? Why is she always finding Ben? I don't know. Maybe she likes me. Has nothing to do with the tip.

[Josh]

Can I make a suggestion? Just $5, $2 bills, half price. They're going to think it's more.

[Ben]

I love it.

[Josh]

I love it. Presents good.

[Ben]

Yeah, I think so too.

[Josh]

So, okay, here was the. The food for starting out. Meatballs, beautiful burrata and fresh made onion focaccia.

[Ben]

Bread. Love, love.

[Josh]

It's a starter.

[Ben]

Delish.

[Josh]

Then Nancy's chopped salad.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Josh]

Beautiful. You know, old school. Oil and vinegar with the. The mozzarella and the salami mixed in. Ooh, gorgeous.

[Ben]

Ooh, delish.

[Josh]

Then pasta course. Penne vodka with all the crispy prosciutto. Beautiful guanciale. I don't know if that was in.

[Ben]

It, but sounds good.

[Josh]

It tasted good with peas. You do peas in a pasta?

[Ben]

I love peas in a pasta.

[Josh]

Let's get texture into our pasta. I'm tired of living this way.

[Ben]

It's essential. And let me tell you, if you're trying to make this at home and you don't use frozen peas, you're missing out.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

Frozen peasants are perfect because you put them in frozen, they get warmed up in the whole situation and then they're perfect. They're like blistering tomatoes. You want a tomato, like a little cherry tomato. You bite it and it pops. That's what happens with a frozen pea. If you use a cooked pea, Mush.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

Because it then it cooks and then it cooks again in the pasta. Frozen peas.

[Josh]

Smart.

[Ben]

If it tasted great, she used frozen peas. Nothing wrong with frozen peas. No, they're fantastic.

[Josh]

Fine by me.

[Ben]

I love them.

[Josh]

Then there was a chicken parm entree. Chicken parm. And then wagyu New York strip.

[Ben]

Oh, this is beautiful.

[Josh]

With a little. There was a brown sauce.

[Ben]

What is this brown sauce, Brown butter or a bearnaise.

[Josh]

It was like a bearnaise.

[Ben]

Got it.

[Josh]

Is Bernays.

[Ben]

A cream bearnaise is like a dark. It's like a. Like light brown sauce.

[Josh]

It was like a thick jus.

[Ben]

Yeah, that sounds fantastic. Like you.

[Josh]

A thick jus.

[Ben]

Thick jus. The thick jus. I love it.

[Josh]

And for dessert, a caramel bandino.

[Ben]

Wow.

[Josh]

Like a, like, almost like a. Just a beautiful. Like the best caramel pudding you've ever had.

[Ben]

Yum. Almost like a flan and warm chocolate chip cookies. Yum. Oh, this is a meal.

[Josh]

You grab one of those for the way out.

[Ben]

This is a meal.

[Josh]

I rushed out. I didn't get dessert. I'll be honest.

[Ben]

And we had this. After yesterday we went on Bert Kreischer's podcast.

[Josh]

Yes. Which by now we've been canceled.

[Ben]

For sure.

[Josh]

It comes out for sure.

[Ben]

Whoa. Not our fault.

[Josh]

Two and a half hours.

[Ben]

Way too much. I was tired, I was hungry. He had a starting filming at 5:00', clock, so by 6:30, I'm completely hallucinating. I don't even know what I'm saying. I think I said something to the effect of I didn't even know Obama was black. Yes. I think that came out of my.

[Josh]

Mouth when I woke up. I was like, I couldn't have said that.

[Ben]

I literally flashbacks.

[Corey Carine]

You did.

[Ben]

I did. You said it. Whatever you think, you didn't say bad. You said, we're going to have to get stuff cut out for sure. But it was really funny. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Prolon. Folks, Prolon's five day Fasting Mimicking diet offers a drug free way to maintain results and support long term metabolic health. Whatever diet you're on, maybe you're on GLPs, maybe you're trying keto season. Who knows? Prolon is an absolutely fantastic way to keep the weight off while feeling absolutely fantastic. In just five days, it activates fasting pathways to burn fat, protect muscles and rejuvenate cells, all while letting you enjoy real food. Because Prolon is a plant based nutrition program featuring soups, snacks and beverages designed to nourish the body while keeping it in a fasting state, triggering cellular rejuvenation and renewal. Developed over more than two decades at USC's Longevity Institute and backed by top U.S. medical centers, Prolon has been shown to support fat focused weight loss, biological age reduction, metabolic health, skin appearance and more. Folks, pregnant Prolon is fantastic. I'm telling you. You know, I've been on every diet under the sun. The thing that's worked the best for me is the jab. But you know, whatever works for you works for me. That said, you absolutely should try Prolon because Prolon helps you stay on track. Prolon's Fasting Mimicking diet allows for you to just keep that extra weight off. It's a great reset, I'm telling you. It's absolutely fantastic. You must try it. And for a limited time, Prolon is offering our listeners 15% off site wide plus a $40 bonus gift. When you subscribe to their five day program, just visit prolonlife.comgoodguys that's P R O L O N l I f e.com goodguys to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Prolonlife.com goodguys this episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Function. Folks. We chose Function because it's the only health platform that gives us data most people never get and the insights to start doing something about it. Inside Function, you get access to test over 100 biomarkers from hormones to toxins to markers of heart health, inflammation and stress. For an additional fee, you can also access MRI and chest CT scans, all tracked in one secure place. Over time, It's a near 360 degree view to better see what's happening in your body. That's why top health leaders such as Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Benjamin Soffer, we are all behind function, folks. I'm telling you, function is it. It's absolutely fantastic. You walk into a lab, okay? Most labs are unbelievably expensive. 10 grand this, okay? There's 2,000 plus locations across the US and you're going to pay $499 a year. That's a $37 a day for advanced health insights. All results are tracked over time in one secure place so you can see how your health evolves and insights come from top doctors based on your unique results. There is no one size fits all here, folks. None. And function doesn't push supplements or pharmaceuticals. It's just powerful, unbiased data designed to help you own your health.

[Corey Carine]

Folks.

[Ben]

I'm telling you, you're deficient in something. You're not feeling great, you're waking up in the morning, you're like, you know, I have a little bit of brain fog. What's going on? Well, you should know what's going on. So why don't you go get your levels checked and find out what's going on. That's what function is here for, folks. Learn more and join using our link. Function is a near 360 degree view to see what's happening in your body. And my first thousand followers get a $100 credit towards their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com goodguys or use gift code goodguys100 at signup to own your health. Functionhealth.com goodguys Bert Kreischer, one of the greats. He really. He really is. This is my first time spending real time with him.

[Josh]

Beauty.

[Ben]

And we went on his show what's the name of the.

[Josh]

Something's burning.

[Ben]

Something's burning. Yes. His YouTube cooking show where he cooked for us. And let me tell you, the long form of it, the two and a half hours, getting into stories, really getting to know Burt. The one takeaway. Josh. Burt. Loaded. Holy shit.

[Josh]

Understatement.

[Ben]

Loaded. He has a house and then he has another. Or sorry. He has a mansion and then he has a content mansion.

[Josh]

Yeah, he has a house, a production house next to. A couple blocks down from his home.

[Ben]

Yeah. And you walk in enormous tour bus like the. The house is so big. The house is so big that the driveway fits a full tour bus. Yeah. I couldn't believe it. And you walk in, what, 12 staff members, all lovely, lovely.

[Josh]

So many beverages.

[Ben]

Oh, my God.

[Josh]

Little.

[Ben]

Literally refrigerators and everywhere with every kind of drink you could imagine. I was drinking Agua Fresca. We were then offered dirty, dirty Shirley's. You could have had a liquid death. You could have had a beer. Not you, but someone I actually.

[Josh]

Because, you know, I'm on my non alcoholic beer journey.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

But sometimes and tell me if this is psychosomatic, I think that I get a little lightheaded from. So, like, I think there are some. Because, you know, it has to be under.05.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

I think some of them are like.04 or 0.01. I think I got a.04 yesterday, which was why I said some wild shit.

[Ben]

I think that there's about as much alcohol in a non alcoholic beer at 0.04 as there would be wine in a French onion soup that you'd eat. Or wine like. You know what I mean?

[Josh]

Or in a penne vodka.

[Ben]

Or in a penne vodka. Exactly.

[Josh]

Makes me feel bad.

[Ben]

100%. You did not get even remotely drunk. You did not drink anything.

[Josh]

Texting my sponsor.

[Ben]

I'm positive and I think it's just placebo. Negative placebo. Can there be a negative placebo? When I think of placebo, it's always positive.

[Josh]

Yeah. I mean, a placebo of.

[Ben]

Right.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Could be both negative and positive. A negative placebo. And you definitely didn't. You didn't get drunk. Don't worry.

[Josh]

I felt a little light headed.

[Ben]

No, it was the room. Like when we walked into the room they were burning off oil from the last time. It was gassy in there.

[Josh]

What does that mean, to burn off oil?

[Ben]

I actually don't know.

[Josh]

You're in the food game.

[Ben]

I don't know. They said that though we are real. What is burning off oil?

[Josh]

They came out. They're like, we're just burning off oil. And Ben and I go, cool, of course.

[Ben]

Yeah, that's normal. And all of a sudden we can't breathe.

[Josh]

Yeah, totally.

[Ben]

And we're hallucinating.

[Josh]

But an amazing staff. Bert's the best. And that's.

[Ben]

But.

[Josh]

And yet it was funny because I asked him, I was like, knowing that he's loaded and has done incredibly well. I'm like, what was that moment? Like, whether it was a couple years ago where your financial planner, your accountant calls you and goes like, if you Stop now. And you don't live like a total idiot.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

But you live a beautiful, lovely life. You're okay. Like, you don't have to keep working. Like, what's that feel like? And what my fear was and what he sort of cemented was not good.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Or at least it wasn't that finish line that we all dream of. And not to make light of it, because people work incredibly hard to have a very small cushion. So I know there's different scenarios, but he just was like. Yeah. Like, it didn't stop me from that deep drive to want to keep going.

[Ben]

I mean, he doesn't. He made this very clear, which I think is why he's so successful, and I think it's why successful people are successful. They don't work for money. They work because they love what they do.

[Josh]

Sure.

[Ben]

And even that's. And I think that's a relatable concept. It's like you convince yourself that you love what you do, and then you do it so much that all of a sudden you do start making like, he. The reason he's so successful is because he works like a fucking animal.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

Like, the guy is always touring. He's always doing something. And he made it very clear that he does not count his money. He doesn't think about his money. He just knows that if he's putting out good products, whatever that is, if that's an alcohol company or if that's a video or if that's a podcast, if he's putting out good content or touring, the money will come. And I thought that was, like, a very profound statement from somebody who has enough money to stop working but loves working so much.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

Like, it's. It's part of his personality.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

I think the same thing is with you. Like, if I handed you. I know you'll say the opposite. If I handed you a large sum of cash to stop. I think that chasing an Oppenheimer or chasing, like, some great movie like that. I don't think you'd stop. You think you'd stop.

[Josh]

I'm in a funky. If we're capital T truthing ourselves right now, like, I'm in a funky part of that journey. And I think it's. It's on me.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Because my teacher's always like, just need to let it go. Like, you just need to show up for an audition and do the best work you can.

[Ben]

Totally.

[Josh]

Philip Seymour Hoffman has a great quote where he's like, as an actor, if you get an audition, it's someone paying for the office space for you to go do your craft.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And you have a performance. Michael Keaton said this too. You know, a big turning point for him was he stopped believing, like, this is a job that I need to get and I need to do what they're asking for so that I get the job they're offering. When he gets an audition, or when he used to, it was like, I have a performance Tuesday at 4.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

I am going to perform this thing as if it were at Carnegie hall or going to be in 3,000 screens or just an audition that no one sees. I have a performance to prepare for.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And when that is done and I walk out, I did my job.

[Ben]

Totally. And I think that's right.

[Josh]

It is.

[Ben]

I don't. I don't know if you approach it that way. The only comparable example is I pitch investors and it's the same thing. I'm giving a performance. I have a script. I know exactly why you should be investing in Spritz Society. I have money raised. What the company is about, what our visions are, innovation. And after the performance, it's a full blown performance for an hour. You're selling yourself.

[Josh]

Sure.

[Ben]

It's over. They will either want to invest and there's of course, like, following up the same exact way you write a week later, hey, did you. What do you think? Like, you start to get antsy, but then eventually you're like, okay, onto the next. On to the next. I probably pitched 200 investors over the last four years.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

And it's the same. It's not the same. But I think that if you put so much stock in each one, which I used to do, I was like, oh, this is the one. This guy's a whale is what you'd call it. Like somebody that has so much money that they literally don't care. Like, when you pitch a billionaire, you're like, why can't you give me $2 million? You have six.

[Josh]

They're the type.

[Ben]

Six billion. Yeah.

[Josh]

Billionaires are the tight.

[Ben]

The tightest.

[Josh]

They always say, let's go Dutch. I'm like, listen, we're not in Holland the tightest.

[Ben]

We're not going Dutch until you meet a loose billionaire. And then they're the best. I had. I had, like, a direct goal, a direct quote from an investor was, I believe in what you're doing. And just so you know, me giving you this money is like a paddleboard.

[Josh]

What does that mean?

[Ben]

Like, the amount of money he gave me, over a million dollars. Felt like a pad. Like he was buying A paddleboard.

[Josh]

Wow.

[Ben]

Was the quote. He's like, don't worry about it. It's like, I bought a paddleboard.

[Josh]

What would the equivalent of a paddleboard be to me? Like a venti or a trenta?

[Ben]

Iced coffee. Iced coffee, Literally.

[Josh]

Yeah. Like, I buy those. I don't think twice.

[Ben]

Yeah, no buying. Exactly. It was definitely a niche reference.

[Josh]

But a paddle board. Yeah.

[Ben]

Right. Maybe. Maybe it's a big paddleboarder. I don't know. What is a paddle board? It's like pickleball. It's like surfing, right?

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Yeah. Like a water sport.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

So it's like a skim board.

[Josh]

They cost about 15 Honda.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Okay.

[Ben]

Solid. Is that much?

[Josh]

It can't.

[Ben]

Was, like, too much. Okay. Yeah. Maybe I thought it was, like 200. But the. The moral of the story is, only when I stopped putting so much stock in each specific investor did I think money started to become easier to raise. Or maybe it was just, like, mentally, it was just, like, so draining thinking, like, what could have been with that specific investor. I don't know if it's the same thing, but it's like.

[Josh]

Yeah, it's hard. You know? It's interesting, too. Right. Because in. In my work, you have to. I don't think. If you agree to go on the audition, I don't think there. I don't think there's any way to not care.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

But sometimes, you know that it's bullshit.

[Ben]

Totally.

[Josh]

Right. Like, the money's green for you.

[Ben]

Right.

[Josh]

For whoever it comes from. As long as it gets put into your bank account, you now have control over it.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

And how you use it for the.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

But for me, I think that's the only time. And I notice it because when it's a big swing like Oppenheimer. I got really close on that Darren Aronofsky film that came out this year. But it was, like. It was exciting.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Because I knew what I was working towards, and. And I got close, but it was like, even if it doesn't work out, I go, like, what a great process.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

But then when it's like, this is the CW's new hottest thing, and I'm, like, putting in, like, seven years of scene study into this audition.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

I'm, like, thinking about the beats where I'm playing, like, the Neb Schizophren. I'm like, honey, you're never around anymore. Honey, you're never around anymore.

[Ben]

You're like the Jew on Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The Jewish neighbor comes in.

[Josh]

I care just as much. It could be an audition for succession.

[Ben]

I mean, I'm.

[Josh]

I am drilling it.

[Ben]

As you should.

[Josh]

And those are the only moments where I'm like, I hate this.

[Ben]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Josh]

That's part of it, too.

[Ben]

That's part of it, too.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

And it's. It's hard now that I'm thinking about it. As an actor. You need to separate that. They didn't say that they didn't like you as a person. They just didn't like you for the part. But I imagine that if I was auditioning and somebody said, I don't like, like, next, I would take it very personally. I'm sure it's very hard.

[Josh]

The greatest thing my teacher said, and. And for any actors listening, I. I found this super helpful. She was like, I don't know, we were working on something and it. It didn't go my way, and I was bummed. And she's like, Josh, like, this isn't Hamlet. Yeah. Like, she's like, 30 people could do this role.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

She's like. And they probably all auditioned.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

She's like, so then it comes down to flavor.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

Like, do you like what this guy's exuding his look, his thing. And I think that's just. That can be really helpful.

[Ben]

Totally. This episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at hims. Folks. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 30 million men in the US experience ED. It's more common than a bad night's sleep. The good news? HIMS makes getting access to treatment simple, so you can feel like yourself again without the stress or awkwardness. Through Hims, you can access personalized prescription treatment options for ED, like hard mints and sex Rx plus climax control. If prescribed. La La. Hims offers access to ED treatment options ranging from trusted generics that cost 95% less than brand names to hard Mints if prescribed, you shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself. Hims brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatment plans that put your goals first. This isn't one size fits all care that forgets you're in the waiting room. It's your health and goals put first with real medical providers, making sure you get what you need to get results. Think of HIMS as your digital front door that gets you back to your old self with simple 100% online access to trusted treatments for ED and more all in one place. So, folks, if this sounds like something you might be interested in and you want to get simple online access to personalized, affordable care for ed, hair loss, weight loss and more, visit hims.comgoodguys that's H I M S.comgoodguys for your free online visit hims.comgoodguYS actual price will depend on product and subscription plan. Featured products include compounded drug products which the FDA does not approve or verify for safety, effectiveness or quality. Prescriptions required. See website for details, restrictions and important safety information.

[Corey Carine]

Hi, I'm Corey Carine, host and creator of the Intersect, a new show that breaks down the rise and roll of AI in our lives. In each episode, I talk to bold thinkers, builders and leaders about how this technology is shaping our everyday experiences, from work and well being to communication and decision making. And after 25 years as a journalist and media executive, I'm here to help you make sense of this moment. If you're curious about what AI is, what it means for you, or how to start using it, tune in every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Josh]

Should we get into story?

[Ben]

Yes, we should.

[Josh]

I agree. Well, I interviewed everyone I ever slept with. Here are my surprising sexy takeaways. Miriam Katz, an LA based actor and writer, recently launched the podcast X Appeal. Were driven by the holy trinity of curiosity, closure and titillation. She interviews everyone with whom she's ever had a romantic entanglement, or as I like to call it, a romantic interlude. In the show's intro, Kat sings it's over. But I still have questions, a feeling to which anyone who has walked the precarious line of love and loss can relate. So yeah, I guess it's a whole pot of her talking to ex flings and love affairs.

[Ben]

Like what is the benefit like? Like why would any ex go on that show? You're an ex.

[Josh]

It's curious. It's fascinating.

[Ben]

No, I know why she's doing it. I don't know why the ex is going on it.

[Josh]

Oh, I guess I wouldn't want to know publicly, but I love to talk to some of my exes, I guess.

[Ben]

Privately because you're the interviewer. But why would your ex want to talk to you on your podcast?

[Josh]

I don't know. Everybody wants their.

[Ben]

Maybe they just want their moment in the spotlight. Yeah, it's a fascinating concept.

[Josh]

I also think that there are like, there's a majority of people out there who are bad lovers and have no idea. They can't. Yeah, there are people who like, you know, spend five minutes, get off and do nothing for their partner and they go home the next day going like that was incredible.

[Ben]

But their partner needs to say something. Like, I think, like, the number one.

[Josh]

We should go on the pod.

[Ben]

I'd love to.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Yeah. I mean, she's not all right. We're not ex lovers with her, but we should go anyways. It'd be fun.

[Josh]

It'd be fun to hear why she wants to do it.

[Ben]

Yeah. I think that the number one reason why Claudia and I have been so successful is communication. Like, throughout the years we've been together 13 years, married for eight. When I tell you I'm still learning about her today, and I'm slightly adjusting, and she's doing the exact same thing. Like, our relationship, of course, there's always rocky moments. It definitely, on a macro level, is only getting better because I think we're eliminating some of the things that maybe weren't working out early on. And I think that that just comes from talking. Like you mentioned lovemaking. Like, I don't want to talk about that. But, like, if you're not satisfied, you need to tell your partner that. It's hard for sure to look your partner in the eye and say, what you're doing is not doing it for me. But then you can get to a place where it is doing it for you. Otherwise, you're just, like, living in mediocrity, and you're gonna build resentment, and then two years later, it's gonna bubble up and you're gonna be like, where the fuck did that come from? And it's like, well, I've been getting bad sex for the last two years. That's where it came from.

[Josh]

You know, I. I have a couple thoughts. I mean, first and foremost, I think that's. If that's true about you and Claude, which I believe is like, you guys are doing these very small changes over time to kind of meet each other. Where you are currently is unbelievable. And. And I think rare.

[Ben]

Yeah. Like.

[Josh]

And I'm guilty of it, too. Where it's like. And I think, you know, you have three kids and you're busy and life gets busy, where you kind of go, like, these kids are healthy and happy right now, and you never want to sacrifice the nuclear relationship of the husband and wife while that's going on, but other things need to take precedence.

[Ben]

Totally.

[Josh]

And. And I can only speak for myself that I am guilty at times of just being like, well, those three souls are taken care of. There's enough money in the bank to keep this thing going for a couple, you know, a couple more months at least.

[Ben]

You're so funny.

[Josh]

You know, Like I just. And then, and sometimes, unfortunately, I think the relationship can get put on the back burner. But I also find a lot of people don't change, sadly. Like I had a buddy who was talking about his girlfriend who he really loves, but he's like, yeah, but if we have kids and are gonna get married, like she's gotta like do better about these certain things. I'm like, wrong way to think about it. I was like, assume she won't.

[Ben]

But it's really small things. Like I think that tackling. You're not gonna change who a person is.

[Josh]

People don't change.

[Ben]

You should not try to change somebody either.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

But little things you can change. I'll give you the perfect example. I'm a problem solver at my core. You come to me with a problem, I'm gonna try actively to solve it. Some people find that really helpful. Some people find that really annoying. My wife finds that annoying. She's coming to me with a problem not always with the intention that I solve it, but just to complain, to let off steam, to feel better. And sometimes I will become overly critical about what she did that put her in that position and try and give too many solutions to a problem that she didn't want. And she will tell me you're doing it again. And then I'll make a mental note of that. I'm like, oh, I'm sorry. I know what I'm doing. I know that. And at one point in our relationship, I would have thought that my intentions were so pure that I would have gotten frustrated with that feedback from her. I'm just trying to help. Right, Right. But no, it's, it's selfish that I'm trying to help.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Because that's not what she wants. She came to me wanting to vent and just because I feel like I can solve a problem in my way doesn't mean that that's right for what she came to me for.

[Josh]

Right.

[Ben]

So I think it's like I'm not talking about macro problems, I'm talking about just like on a day to day noticing, okay, this thing bothers your wife. Like whether it's restless leg or like the tiniest things in life that somehow set us each, like we each have things that set each other off and I think it's just trying to fix those little outskirt problems. Not the big one. Our personalities are identical and I would never want to change her personality. She's her.

[Josh]

Your personalities are identical.

[Ben]

No, I'm saying to when we met, ah, our personalities are the same as the day I met her. She is the same person. She has tinkered with the way that I think she approaches me to make our relationship better, and me vice versa. But at our core, we're the same. I'm saying that as a person. If I'm not being clear enough that you can't change the person, you can absolutely adapt to each other.

[Josh]

It's really interesting going back to the romantic interludes of things and people revealing themselves to the kind of lovers they are. I knew a guy. Paige had a friend. Her friend was sort of on the rebound, just looking to have, like, good clean fun with a nice person. That was sort of like some unattached canoodling.

[Ben]

Sure.

[Josh]

So I go, I have a buddy. I think this could work.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

They hit it off.

[Ben]

Love. Paige and I are like, nothing better than that. You literally look at your wife, you're like, we're going to heaven.

[Josh]

Yes. Good for that.

[Ben]

Once you make a match.

[Josh]

I'm not going to heaven.

[Ben]

You and Donnie T. You saw him say that?

[Josh]

Oh, he said that.

[Ben]

So random. He's like in an interview and he's like, yeah, I'm not going to heaven.

[Josh]

I'm pretty self aware.

[Ben]

I was shocked. I was like, why are you saying that? That's weird. Nobody asked, like, cool story.

[Josh]

That's cool. As he gets to his 80s, he's becoming a little more reflect.

[Ben]

Yeah, it was really funny.

[Josh]

I don't know if I believe in an afterlife.

[Ben]

I was like, why are you saying that?

[Josh]

Marco Rubio, definitely going to heaven. So we get feedback after they hook up. And it was not good for my buddy. He was not a conscientious or considerate lover.

[Ben]

Oh, so it was good for him, but it was not for her. Not for her.

[Josh]

And I. It's the only thing I can think about now for the last.

[Ben]

And she never told him. They just, like, never saw each other again. And that was it.

[Josh]

Yeah. She was like, not for me. And that was it. And he was like, well, I thought we had a good time. And there's like, well, you did.

[Ben]

You had a great time. Yeah, you had a great time.

[Josh]

I couldn't believe it. It changes everything about how I looked at him.

[Ben]

Yeah. It means that he's like, a little bit. I'm not going to say that he's a little bit more selfish because I don't know how long it had been since he had a romantic interlude. Perhaps he was on a dry spell and just. He's in there and needed it.

[Josh]

If I was on A dry spell. Or like, you know, things ended a little too quickly. I'd be like, sorry, my B. Now. All about you.

[Ben]

All about you. Except you're asleep. No, there's no such thing as. I'm sorry. There's no such thing that I'm weak sauce. There's no such thing as. There's no such thing as all about you once I'm done.

[Josh]

Oh, really?

[Ben]

Oh, yeah. You can put me in the ground. I am comatose, so turn this off. Mom, I'm comatose, so you have to make sure everything would happen early.

[Josh]

Let's keep it. We'll keep it anonymous.

[Ben]

Yeah, we'll keep it.

[Josh]

You have to make sure that your partner is taken care of before you are correct. Interesting. Yes.

[Ben]

Otherwise you can catch me in the grave. See you in the morning.

[Josh]

God damn being.

[Ben]

No, it's. It's instant.

[Josh]

Oh, my God. I can imagine it. And I'm bummed that I can.

[Ben]

Yeah. Well, at least you didn't make me watch a movie or. I didn't make you watch a movie. Where I came. I have that image in my head.

[Josh]

I made you watch the wackness. Yeah.

[Ben]

But it was so good.

[Josh]

And I forgot that I have a shower. Love scene. I have a nice tush, huh?

[Ben]

For sure. Beautiful.

[Josh]

I have a nice backside.

[Ben]

Did you work on that backside for the film?

[Josh]

It's a good story. So I'm having. I have this sex scene in this movie. I'm 20 years old. I've not. I've lost a considerable. A considerable amount of weight, but I haven't had any of the little skin removal procedures yet. Right.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

So I literally read the script. I can't believe that I got it.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And I go, but the scene. What. What's one to do?

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

So I go to the director, Jonathan Levine, great guy. And I said, john, here I am. I can whip my shirt off right now. You could see what I'm working with. I'd rather not. I think this is distracting in a way we don't want it to be.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And he was like, no worries. I know how to shoot you. And they put a beautiful glowing light on me. They shot me from behind. There was certain good angles, and he took very good care of me. Wow. Thank God for him.

[Ben]

It's all about lighting and angles.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Like, ugly people aren't ugly. I mean, some are, sure, but a lot of them just aren't being photographed. Right. Margot, Claudia's sister, has this unbelievable camera. I don't know what it's called, but every Picture that she takes. You look amazing. I'm like, what is this? It's like a set to a specific filter where the lighting, it just. It's the most gorgeous photograph I've ever seen. And then I take the exact same picture on my phone night and day. Between what she is capturing, I don't know what it is.

[Josh]

You could look plus or minus 20 years with the right lighting.

[Ben]

Yes. And literally go from like a 6 to a 10.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

It makes you tan. It makes you tight.

[Josh]

It's everything.

[Ben]

It's everything.

[Josh]

Hand in. Tight. Our new pod.

[Ben]

I love it.

[Josh]

Should we get to woody nuts?

[Ben]

Yeah. Oh, wow.

[Josh]

We flew our Woody nuts of the week. Are gripes with people, places and things both big and small. Whatever's sticking in your crop, Ben.

[Ben]

Josh. At least in the city, I haven't seen it too much out here in la. Bear midriff is back. Bear midriff is back. People are just exposing their belly buttons. And all I gotta say is. What are you nuts? Yeah. Put away your belly button. Just because low rise jeans are back doesn't mean crop tops are back. And unfortunately. I'm sorry, I don't want to see your belly button. I don't want to see your pierced navel. This isn't 94. This is 2025. Tuck away your belly button. Okay, I know what my belly button smells like. I am. I'm imagining what your belly button smells like, and it doesn't smell good. Josh. You need hydrogen peroxide. Lady. With the bare midriff, you do let those toxins rise to the top. What are you nuts? Tuck away your belly button.

[Josh]

Nobody's belly button smells good.

[Ben]

No. And it's just out. It's the equivalent of somebody walking around like this. Sleeveless armpits out. They're walking like this.

[Josh]

Yeah. You got the belly button funk.

[Ben]

Funk. No good. I don't need that funk.

[Josh]

Although I. I gotta say, is it.

[Ben]

A fat person thing? Does nobody's belly button smell good? Or like, are we traumatized?

[Josh]

It's probably a heavy person thing.

[Ben]

It's a heavy person thing, right? Yeah. Because there are times where my belly button. Holy crap. I almost ended my life.

[Josh]

Me at my biggest.

[Ben]

Well, how deep did it go? Show me.

[Josh]

On your.

[Ben]

On your thumb.

[Josh]

Do you know it went so deep I needed to be fumigated. It was. It was an issue.

[Ben]

Yeah. My belly button at one point was probably like, here.

[Josh]

Yeah, bro.

[Ben]

So deep. Like a crater.

[Josh]

I stuck a pencil eraser side into it.

[Ben]

Yeah, of course.

[Josh]

And I pulled it out and put it under my friend Daniel Cohen's leg. He doesn't talk to me anymore.

[Ben]

No, because it really is like the worst smell in the world. You know the hydrogen peroxide drink.

[Josh]

No, it's.

[Ben]

Thank God this is the end of the podcast because if people are exiting, they already got a good hour.

[Josh]

And do you know how many speak pipes we got of people going, you and Connor, you, fibula and Ben talking about shitting for as long as you did? It's really unacceptable.

[Ben]

I'm sorry. I'm going to talk about hydrogen peroxide and how to clean your belly button.

[Josh]

Horrible.

[Ben]

Lean on your back, back and have your loved one pour hydrogen peroxide into your belly button up to the top.

[Josh]

This is not medical advice. Okay? It works. Yeah.

[Ben]

It bubbles. Okay. You leave it for 5 minutes, flip over onto like a little tissue, and your belly button smells clear, clean as day.

[Josh]

Wow, that's like middle aged body shots.

[Ben]

It is. Ooh, that would be fun.

[Josh]

That's hot.

[Ben]

It actually is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard. Putting vodka in my belly button and putting it into your mouth.

[Josh]

No thanks. Bad, bad.

[Ben]

You got one of your nuts the other day.

[Josh]

And she's right. I was actually. We are obsessed with my kids. Pediatrician, the great Dr. Jesse. Love her deeply. I have a little thing on the back of my ear. Like just like a little like it feels like a pimple that just didn't heal. It's probably basal cell carcinoma.

[Ben]

It's probably cancer.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Ben]

I need to have it checked. No, it's okay.

[Josh]

Well, it was funny because she's the greatest. So like I will do the obnoxious move and be like, hey, Dr. J. I know we were just here, you know, having mil are checked, but what do you think? What should I do with this? She goes, I'd have it checked.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Josh]

And I would say, you know, people are always like, to be on the safe side, go to the er. I'm like, easy for you to say.

[Ben]

Totally.

[Josh]

You're not in the waiting room.

[Ben]

No.

[Josh]

You don't have to go.

[Ben]

No.

[Josh]

You're not giving your insurance.

[Ben]

No. Hard, hard.

[Josh]

If you were in that waiting room, you'd say, maybe don't go.

[Ben]

Yeah. You don't need it.

[Josh]

Walk it off. The broken anchor.

[Ben]

There's a solid chance that you're fine. It'll heal on its own.

[Josh]

Bleeding dries.

[Ben]

Yeah. Was it nuts? Totally not easy for you to say. I do that all the time. By the way, whenever I'm. If I like accompany Claudia to a doctor or something, I'M asking the doctor a question about me. Oh, yeah, I did that her entire pregnancy. Like, literally, we were at the doctor, and I would just, like, have, like, a. I don't know why I got so injured all the time. I, like, cut off the tip of my finger. If you remember, I had, like, this, like, thing on my thumb. I have my ulnar nerve. And I would just ask at the end of the appointment, the appointment's over, hey, doc, you know, what do you think about this? What should I do about this? And I realized that was quite selfish.

[Josh]

My wife's OB gyn, I noticed she had two things you don't see at a lot of doctor's offices. In the bathroom. We've talked about this. She had lubes and condoms. And then at the checkout, they had a big bowl of candy. So I'm leaving with two lubes and a Swedish fish.

[Ben]

That sounds like a great trip to the doctor.

[Josh]

I think this is a good way to get over white coat syndrome.

[Ben]

I agree. And I think that's a great episode titled Two Lubes and a Swedish Fish. Yeah, I love it. That's how I get down, you know? Else. I love Josh doing this podcast with you. This episode, folks, is five stars. Otherwise, what are you, nuts? Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts. Watch us on YouTube, share our clips. Instagram and TikTok. TikTok. It's about to be over 100k. Thanks to John Stamos.

[Josh]

Yes.

[Ben]

Okay. Thanks to John Stamos. And just so everybody knows, just I. I was offered to be in the TikTok. I had to leave. Just so everybody knows, we wanted you there. I was offered, but I had to leave. Mondays and Thursdays, folks. We will see you next time.

[Josh]

Please note that this episode may contain.

[Ben]

Paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services.

[Josh]

Individuals on the show may have a.

[Ben]

Direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.