Good Guys: Matt McCusker on Shane Gillis, Chiropractors, and Saudi Money

Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Josh Peck & Ben Soffer
Guest: Matt McCusker
Podcast: Good Guys (Dear Media)

Episode Overview

This energetic and wide-ranging episode of the Good Guys features comedian and podcaster Matt McCusker (co-host with Shane Gillis) joining Josh and Ben for a lively in-person chat in LA. The trio dive into everything from the perils of meet-and-greet hygiene and the legitimacy of chiropractors, to navigating comedy's moral dilemmas and the viral ESPYs prank involving Matt’s wife. Matt’s candidness and the hosts’ banter make this a must-listen for fans of stand-up, podcast culture, and contemporary hot-button debates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sweating, Hygiene, and Meet-and-Greets

• Fan Interactions: Matt opens with stories about his overwhelmingly male, sweaty fanbase, which makes for some pungent and personal meet-and-greet experiences.
  • "It's just guys. It's giant guys. That's kind of most of the audience." (Matt, 01:33)
• Deodorant Talk: Matt claims he no longer uses deodorant, much to the bewilderment (and amusement) of the hosts, who discuss switching between men’s and women’s deodorant products and deal with the quirks of personal hygiene routines.
  • “I'm telling you, I don't really put off like a smell very far. You have to get up close to me to smell me.” (Matt, 03:28)
  • Ben gives Matt a sniff and deadpans: “It’s like smelling a post-it.” (Ben, 03:46)

Product Recalls & Food Terrors

• The hosts riff on accidental contaminants in popular foods and recalls (e.g., rocks in rice, glass in frozen treats), segueing into Ben’s tragic experience of accidentally importing rice mites from Vietnam, all for the sake of a questionable baby chiropractic recommendation and an ultimately unused home therapy.

The Great Chiropractor Debate

• Chiropractic Skepticism & Success: Matt shares his positive experience with chiropractors fixing his back pain after an orthopedic suggested unnecessary surgery, contrasting that with the common skepticism the other hosts and listeners have about the profession.
  • “The only thing that fixed my back... cracked my back into place, it helped it instantly.” (Matt, 12:20)
  • “I trust them more than doctors, honestly.” (Matt, 13:36)
• Sketchy Industry Practices: The group also dissects the legal/insurance industry connections that can paint chiropractors in a shady light, such as incentivized repeat visits or personal injury claim setups.

Personal Injury Claims & Lawyering Up

• Using stories from their own lives and friends’ anecdotes, the guys dig into how injury claims and insurance cases play out, often with exaggerated claims, lawyer coaching, and sometimes, surprising windfalls.
  • "That was worth $130,000 from the McBurney YMCA... probably ruining the NDA at this point." (Ben, 15:59)
  • Matt describes being naively pursued by personal injury lawyers after a minor taxi accident and almost getting roped into a bogus claim until his father intervened on moral grounds.

Matt’s Wife: An Unexpected Police Officer

• Background: Matt reveals his wife was a police officer in Philadelphia, sharing eye-opening stories about the harsh realities of urban policing, required viewings of crime tapes, and the strange camaraderie and perks that come with the job (like free Wawa coffee).
  • “You have to just sit with a dead body for like four hours until the coroner, people come to take it away.” (Matt, 21:01)
  • “After she became one, I'm like, that's the hardest job in the world.” (Matt, 21:23)
• The ESPYs Prank: The group revisits the viral moment when Shane Gillis introduced Matt’s wife as a WNBA champion at the ESPYs, and she played along brilliantly on live TV.
  • “It’s perfect. It’s going to work. First of all. Yeah, and that's hilarious… even on the replay, you see people in the back being like, damn it, you got me on camera.” (Matt, 28:41)
  • “She’s 5’1”, which only adds to how hysterical [the joke was].” (Host, 29:04)

The Comedy Special Journey

• Netflix Debut: Matt talks about the process of filming his latest comedy special, which was initially planned for YouTube but then picked up by Netflix after his agent’s intervention. He discusses finding the right venue, wardrobe anxiety, and production pressure.
  • “I just view it as, like, this special is just a commercial that helps you sell tickets. I keep it real simple.” (Matt, 31:49)
• Performance Philosophy: He approaches standup as a small business, focusing on simplicity and attainable goals, and not sweating (pun intended) over production details or hype.

UK Health Service and First Cousin Marriage

• The hosts react to a bizarre report suggesting the UK’s NHS promoted cousin marriage, riffing on old royal traditions, the genetics of inbreeding, and arranged marriages.
  • “If the royals are doing it, why can’t the plebes?” (Host, 37:40)
  • “The risk will double to about 5 to 6% when the parents are first cousins.” (Ben, 44:09)
• The conversation devolves into a raucous, tongue-in-cheek debate about boobs, family dynamics, and generational attraction taboos.

Life Advice & Listener Questions (Timestamps for Select Calls)

• Part-Time Partner Dilemma (45:20):
  • A caller wonders if her weekend-partner “arrangement” is avoidance or living the dream. The group debates whether this unconventional partnership model is sustainable, ultimately concluding it’s more the guy’s fantasy than the woman’s.
  • “If you were living the dream, you wouldn't even question if you're living the dream.” (Matt, 47:01)
• Awkward Coworker Advances (49:07):
  • An elementary school librarian receives a too-formal dinner invite from a much older coworker, and seeks advice for handling the resulting awkwardness.
  • “Shooter’s gonna shoot…he's at the gun range.” (Ben, 50:31)
  • The consensus: ignore and move on—unless it escalates, in which case, escalate through proper channels.
• Comedy Weddings / Fan Invitations (53:46):
  • The hosts discuss attending fans’ weddings for a (hypothetical) fee, but don’t bite on real invites.

Saudi Comedy Money – The Big Moral Quandary (54:37)

• Performing in Saudi Arabia: The trio grapple with the controversy around comics taking lucrative offers to perform in Saudi Arabia, referencing Shane Gillis’ and Tim Dillon’s recent experiences and the backlash over “blood money.”
  • “If they gave me a bunch of money, I would just be like, no, because I just don't want the headache of it.” (Matt, 55:36)
  • “If they come to you and they're like, we'll give you $10 million… that's 100%. I'm doing that. Quit at that point.” (Matt, 56:18)
• Where’s the Line? Matt admits he’s not deeply political but has a personal price—and for life-changing money, most people, he figures, would say yes.
• Hypocrisy in Pop Culture: They acknowledge the moral complexity, with Ben sharing his own love of LIV Golf despite knowing its funding source.

Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Male Fans at Shows:
  • "It's just guys. It's giant guys. That's kind of most of the audience." (Matt, 01:33)
• Chiropractors:
  • “I trust them more than doctors, honestly.” (Matt, 13:36)
• Legal Settlements:
  • “That was worth 130,000 from the McBurney YMCA... probably ruining the NDA at this point.” (Ben, 15:59)
• Matt's Wife as WNBA Player Bit:
  • “She nailed the wave… Got overwhelmed by people… I think she does thrive on attention, but that was the point where she’s like, I. I don’t. This is too much for me, man.” (Matt, 30:38)
• On Comedy and Money:
  • “I’m just a small business owner. This is what I do. And, you know, you put it out there, you make the money off it, and you go, great.” (Matt, 34:13)
• Morality vs. Saudi Money:
  • “If they gave me a bunch of money, I would just be like, no, because I just don't want the headache of it.” (Matt, 55:36)
  • “But you said 10 million. For sure, yeah…maybe half a million.” (Matt, 57:00)

Notable Timestamps

• Meet-and-greet hygiene stories: 01:05–05:00
• Chiropractor segment: 12:12–14:32
• Personal injury/lawyer games: 14:53–17:18
• Matt’s wife as a police officer: 19:55–23:19
• ESPYs/WNBA joke viral story: 27:44–30:49
• Netflix special process: 31:12–34:21
• Clothes, body image, and performance: 34:21–36:42
• Cousin marriage/arranged marriage riff: 36:49–39:59
• Listener calls – Part-time partner: 45:20–48:51
• Coworker advances: 49:07–52:54
• Saudi comedy festival / blood money: 54:37–60:29

Signature “What Are You, Nuts?” Moments

• Public Nudity in LA: Matt recounts seeing a woman topless in the street and laughing about the cultural double standard and the sheer absurdity. (60:42–61:44)
• Off-Leash Great Danes: Ben rails against LA’s unleashed giants in public parks, especially around kids. (62:03)
• CPAP Machine Day-Use: A friend wearing his sleep apnea machine in the daytime to rack up insurance-mandated hours. (63:09)

Where to Find Matt McCusker

• Netflix Special: "A Humble Offering"
• Tour dates: mattmccusker.com (Theater tour launching in January)

Tone & Language

Conversational, irreverent, and self-deprecating—the trio keep things fast-moving with sharp, honest observations, bursts of laughter, and plenty of inside-comedy references. No topic is too taboo, but the spirit always stays more goofy than mean.

In Short:
This episode delivers a freewheeling, deeply funny look at the everyday and not-so-everyday dilemmas of modern life, showbiz, and morality, seen through the lens of three quick-witted comics who know how to keep it real—and keep it light.