The Peruvian Puff Podcast with Isabela Merced

Summary

Good Guys Podcast Summary: The Peruvian Puff Podcast with Isabela Merced

Podcast Information:

• Title: Good Guys
• Hosts: Josh Peck and Ben Soffer
• Guest: Isabella Merced
• Episode Title: The Peruvian Puff Podcast with Isabela Merced
• Release Date: July 7, 2025

---

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with the hosts, Josh Peck and Ben Soffer, displaying their characteristic humor and camaraderie. They introduce themselves as "two Jews, both big and tall," setting a lighthearted tone for the discussion.

2. Welcome Isabella Merced

Josh Peck warmly welcomes Isabella Merced to the podcast, expressing excitement about their shared interests and aspirations to collaborate professionally.

Josh Peck (00:24): "We're just the good of the good guys. Mazel morons. Welcome back to the Good Guys podcast."

Isabella Merced (00:38): "Thank you for doing this."

3. Early Career and Nickelodeon Experience

Isabella delves into her appreciation for Josh's early work, particularly praising his role in the 2004 film Mean Creek. She highlights the contrast between his dramatic roles and his subsequent success in the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh.

Isabella Merced (01:11): "You were in a film in 2004 called Mean Creek, and I absolutely love it. It's like a macabre Stand by Me. It's so dark and gritty."

She reflects on the golden era of Nickelodeon and its transition into the modern digital age, discussing the impact of shows like Drake & Josh on her career.

Isabella Merced (03:09): "I was a slime person. I got slimed. Nickelodeon was cool."

4. Transition to Drama and Film Roles

The conversation shifts to Isabella's transition from Nickelodeon to more dramatic roles. She shares her experience working on projects like Instant Family and Oppenheimer, emphasizing the meaningful impact these roles had on her personal and professional growth.

Isabella Merced (20:03): "Instant Family... just so much happening at once. Like, are you trying to do more serious stuff?"

She also touches on her involvement in The Last of Us and the challenges of balancing multiple high-profile projects simultaneously.

5. Current Projects: The Last of Us and Superman

Isabella provides an in-depth look into her roles in both The Last of Us and the upcoming Superman movie. She discusses the audition process, interactions with prominent figures like James Gunn, and the rigorous filming schedules that span several months.

Isabella Merced (33:09): "I auditioned four times. We did forms of scene recitations and camera tests... It was a full day."

The hosts express their admiration for her dedication and the significant milestones these projects represent in her career.

6. Personal Insights: Family and Acting Therapy

A heartfelt segment where Isabella shares insights into her family dynamics and how her upbringing has influenced her acting. She discusses the therapeutic aspect of acting, allowing her to process personal experiences through her characters.

Isabella Merced (23:38): "My mom is such an amazing parent, and she has taught me what it is to be loved unconditionally."

She reveals how her understanding of both presence and absence of love informs her portrayal of fatherless characters.

7. Cultural Discussions: Peru and Coca Tea

The discussion takes a cultural turn as Isabella talks about her Peruvian heritage, addressing misconceptions and introducing listeners to traditional elements like the Peruvian puff pepper and coca tea. She explains the significance of these cultural staples and their practical uses, such as alleviating altitude sickness.

Isabella Merced (07:13): "The coca leaf is something that you can make a tea out of. Sometimes you can just chew it."

8. "What Are You Nuts?" Segment

In the episode’s recurring segment, the hosts and Isabella share pet peeves that made them exclaim, "What are you nuts?" This lighthearted segment includes humorous anecdotes about distracted pedestrians, deep sleepers, and peculiar designs like the Cybertruck.

Ben Soffer (56:08): "People are just crossing against red lights in the middle of the street... What are you nuts?"

Isabella Merced (58:58): "Whenever I see a Cybertruck, I think, 'What are you nuts? It looks ridiculous.'"

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts promote upcoming projects, including the release date for the Superman movie, and encourage listeners to engage with their content across various platforms.

Josh Peck (59:05): "Superman's July 11th. Gang. Gang."

Isabella Merced (59:22): "There it is."

The episode concludes with expressions of gratitude towards Isabella for her participation and a reminder about potential paid endorsements.

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Notable Quotes:

• Josh Peck (03:22): "Nickelodeon was cool."
• Isabella Merced (10:37): "Nature's Zen."
• Ben Soffer (41:38): "Shopify does it for you."
• Isabella Merced (24:33): "I wish I could apply [personal experiences] to a character right now."

Timestamp Highlights:

• 00:24: Hosts introduce themselves with humor.
• 01:11: Isabella praises Mean Creek and Josh’s performance.
• 03:09: Discussion about Nickelodeon’s influence.
• 20:03: Isabella reflects on Instant Family and serious roles.
• 33:09: Insights into the Superman audition process.
• 23:38: Personal reflections on family and acting.
• 07:13: Cultural discussion about Peru and coca tea.
• 56:08: "What are you nuts?" anecdotes.
• 59:05: Promotion of Superman movie release.

---

This episode of the Good Guys Podcast offers a blend of professional insights, personal anecdotes, and cultural discussions, all delivered with the hosts' trademark humor and warmth. Isabella Merced's candid conversation provides listeners with an intimate look into her career trajectory, personal growth, and cultural heritage, making it a valuable listen for fans and aspiring actors alike.

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's dream Premium podcast team. Make it your weekly routine. It's a Good Guys.

[Ben Soffer]

And if you don't give us five stars.

[Josh Peck]

What are you nuts?

[Ben Soffer]

What are you nuts?

[Josh Peck]

Yeah.

[Ben Soffer]

We're the good guys.

[Josh Peck]

They're not the great guys. We're just the good of the good guys. Mazel morons. Welcome back to the Good Guys podcast. This is just a regular sewing circle. Right now. We have the great Isabella on the pod.

[Isabella Merced]

Thank you.

[Josh Peck]

Thank you for doing this.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, no, thanks for inviting me. We have so much in common that I was excited to talk about when you invited me.

[Josh Peck]

Swear we're co stars.

[Isabella Merced]

We're co stars.

[Josh Peck]

We are guys. We're co stars. I told my wife, I'm like, I'm gonna say we're co stars. She was like, don't say that.

[Isabella Merced]

You can say that. I accept. I wish we got to work together.

[Josh Peck]

I know.

[Isabella Merced]

Your cameo was so. It's so awesome. And it reminded me of when you did. I'm just getting into it, I guess.

[Josh Peck]

Hold on. Paint the scene. The last of us. Whatever. Biggest show on tv. Okay, tell me more about me.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay, so you were in a film in 2004 called Mean Creek, and I absolutely love it. You did a great job. Thanks. It's like a macabre Stand by Me. It's so dark and gritty. And then you went and you immediately did Drake and Josh. Afterwards.

[Josh Peck]

During.

[Isabella Merced]

During.

[Ben Soffer]

Sorry, I lost audio. Keep going, keep going. Keep.

[Josh Peck]

Tell your story.

[Ben Soffer]

I'm telling her you lost audio.

[Isabella Merced]

Does he know about Mean Creek?

[Josh Peck]

He doesn't know enough about my filmography. Yeah, first and foremost.

[Isabella Merced]

Keep going.

[Josh Peck]

This is not. Listen, we're not cutting any of this out. He unplugged himself while you were talking about me. I get so little flowers on this goddamn show. He couldn't stand it. He's so jealous. He pulled the pig on me.

[Isabella Merced]

I'm doing it, too. That's so fucked up.

[Josh Peck]

You know what? This is not a partnership.

[Isabella Merced]

That's very, very mean.

[Josh Peck]

I know. Listen. Oh, my God. He's in a new studio. He has a home studio because. Or his own fancy studio. But we had a guest on before you in New York, and so he wanted to go to, like, proper.

[Isabella Merced]

That's okay.

[Josh Peck]

I get it. It's our boy. Look, he's wearing a matching suit.

[Isabella Merced]

I can't. I can't.

[Josh Peck]

It's a short suit.

[Isabella Merced]

It's a short suit.

[Josh Peck]

Let's Take bets on the material. Terry.

[Ben Soffer]

We're here. We're here. We're here. By the way, you were telling a story. I didn't even need to be there. It's no problem.

[Josh Peck]

Tell you the story. Oh. Cause it had to do with me.

[Ben Soffer]

The story.

[Josh Peck]

We're taking bets. What's the fabric on your short suit? Is it terry cloth? Is it velour?

[Ben Soffer]

Obviously, it's terry cloth. Velour. Velour. What are you nuts?

[Isabella Merced]

I mean, it's not really that hot. That velour would be a preposterous.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah. So New York is disgusting out today. It's particularly rainy. So I wore my terry cloth just in case I got wet. It's really like a towel material just in case I needed to dry off. But, yeah.

[Josh Peck]

Well, Isabella was telling me about this movie, Mean Creek. I did that she was a fan of. And it was a very. It was right in the heart of Drake and Josh. So it was an interesting juxtaposition doing something so Indian dramatic. And then. So Nickelodeon.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. And so you did a lot of drama and then you did comedy. I was also a Nickelodeon.

[Josh Peck]

Yes.

[Isabella Merced]

But my show was not as successful. It lasted one season and it was great fun. But you were there before I was there, so you were something of a legend to us. I was on Nickelodeon. Yeah. Cause you were kind of. I think our show was around sort of at the tail end of the golden era. I feel like Nickelodeon was on top of its game. They did. Every kid watched. But now we're in an Instagram, YouTube world. So, like, that was right when kids just stopped tuning into TV and cable television every day or every weekend. But yeah, I was a slime person. I got slimed. Nickelodeon was cool.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, but you did it. And then you went and did a bunch of dramas and then you went back and became one of their marquee. I mean, there's like three marquee characters for Nickelodeon. It's like spongebob. Josh. I'm drinking Josh. No.

[Isabella Merced]

Yes.

[Josh Peck]

Andorra.

[Isabella Merced]

Andorra.

[Ben Soffer]

You're sewing me boots.

[Isabella Merced]

Knee high boots. Wait.

[Ben Soffer]

Knee high boots.

[Josh Peck]

Oh, no. He's so proud of himself with that one.

[Isabella Merced]

I'm dead.

[Ben Soffer]

I've been shot. I've been shot.

[Josh Peck]

It's so good. I mean, what's that like? I mean, you really are part of the Nickelodeon. Mount Rushmore with that, perhaps.

[Isabella Merced]

I actually. I worked more with Paramount on that one, I think.

[Ben Soffer]

Got it.

[Isabella Merced]

Nickelodeon was involved in a lot of the promo. I mean, I remember he went to the Kids Choice Awards that year. To help promote the movie. But, yeah, that was more so Paramount. So I wasn't really working with the same people as before, but it was definitely adjacent. I could feel the Nickelodeon in the room with us.

[Josh Peck]

I can't get it out of the room.

[Isabella Merced]

I can't get it out of the room. Watching everywhere. Horrible.

[Josh Peck]

Is it intimidating walking into. Into the shoes of someone like that? This beloved character that's already established?

[Isabella Merced]

Yes. I guess I felt as though I was well equipped considering I loved Dora and grew up with her. So I was just kind of. I was kind of a fan of her myself. So I almost. When I read the script and realized it was somewhat satirical, I almost knew exactly what to do. And so I went in there, met with the director, and they were like, yeah, great, you're hired.

[Josh Peck]

Wow.

[Isabella Merced]

So, yeah, that was a whirlwind, but also so much fun. I loved it.

[Josh Peck]

I like. I show, like, even my son Shai, who's two and a half, watches Dora, loves it. And then my son, who's 6, watches Drake and Josh here and there. Do you think about that? Like, maybe when, like, I don't know if you have nieces and nephews, but, like, sharing it with, like, family members who you love, maybe one day kids like, this is. This is me.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. No, absolutely. I feel like some of my friends who have procreated and were actors prior have done that, but the kids just don't seem to care about their work. So maybe, though, because Dora is so huge to us in the future, maybe she won't really be to them, but I hope so, you know, that would be cool. It could get them to behave better, I guess.

[Ben Soffer]

I think Dora stands the test of time. I loved Dora. Josh. I want to. I did not know that Max watched Drake and Josh. That is new to me, and that is so awesome. And I just need to know, like, what he thinks.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. What's his favorite episode?

[Josh Peck]

What's your favorite episode? No, he thinks it's like. He thinks it's like home movies, kind of like, he's like, ah, there's just dad being zany.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. He's so silly.

[Josh Peck]

Good old dad.

[Isabella Merced]

Why are you screaming, dad?

[Josh Peck]

There's dad with a thyroid condition. Before Mounjaro dad would make it.

[Ben Soffer]

Thyroid. Yeah. Mounjaro.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. I do have something also that reminds me of Drake and Josh and also has informed my life in a lot of ways. Whenever I was growing up and I told people I was Peruvian, they were always like, is it real? Is the Peruvian puff pepper real?

[Josh Peck]

So sorry. I'M so sorry. Oh, my God. Stupid show. It's a new show, Olivia. It wasn't good.

[Ben Soffer]

That is unbelievable.

[Isabella Merced]

That is unbelievable. That's, like, people's education on Peru is through that. And I honestly appreciated it because I didn't think anybody knew what Peru was, especially in Ohio, where I grew up. But I feel like there is a pepper that they might be talking about in the show, and I think it's the Rocoto pepper. It's really high up on the Scoville. It's like 1,000 Scoville points or whatever that it can reach because it's so spicy. But I was gonna bring some for you today, but I was already running really late. Next time I see you, though, I would love to. Do you like, spicy?

[Ben Soffer]

I'm in.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay.

[Josh Peck]

Awesome.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, it's got a great flavor to it, and we kind of put it in everything.

[Josh Peck]

Ah. Am I. So if I go to Peru, like, are people gonna be like, we're cool with you, or is, like, the board of tourism gonna be, like, peck, no worries. It's probably more important.

[Isabella Merced]

Probably the grocery store that I tried to call to find the pepper.

[Josh Peck]

Really?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Vallarta, actually the only one that has it. Rocky helped me out and also had no luck finding the Peruvian puff pepper.

[Josh Peck]

Am I gonna be embraced when I go to Peru, or are they gonna be like, you kind of messed things up for us.

[Isabella Merced]

You're white, so you will be embraced. They love white people over there.

[Josh Peck]

Finally, finally, this whiteness is an asset.

[Isabella Merced]

Like my older brother growing up, he was blonde, and when we went to, like, Huancayo, where my grandpa's from, they were, like, obsessed with him because they hadn't seen such natural blonde hair ever. So he was, like, sort of a walking art piece to them.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah. Wow.

[Isabella Merced]

It's cool.

[Josh Peck]

Have you been to Machu Picchu?

[Isabella Merced]

I have been to Machu Picchu a few times, actually.

[Josh Peck]

Okay. First of all, I want to go because it is one of the great wonders of the world and just looks spectacular. And also, as a sober man, I really want to have the cocaine tea that everyone talks about.

[Isabella Merced]

The coca tea.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah. Tell me about the coca tea.

[Isabella Merced]

As somebody with adhd. So it helps a lot with, like, focus. Peruvians are very little, but we, I guess in the past, the indigenous had to do a lot of exercise in the high altitude, so they became very resilient and very just, like, able to carry stuff, walk barefoot sometimes over the mountains. And it's crazy. Like, people train for those types of hikes, and then when they get there. They don't even sometimes make it because the altitude sickness affects them so much. So the coca leaf is something that you can make a tea out of. Sometimes you can just chew it. You just eat it. But it takes a significant amount of coca leaf to really reach a sort of high that people would love. Certain people, but I remember I would just chew on them. They're kind of delicious. They're very delicious.

[Josh Peck]

Oh, really? That's a great excuse for me, too. That's for the taste.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay. Some people hate it because it's bitter, but, like, you just kind of roll it up, put it in your lip, and then you kind of just chew on it. And I find that for me, personally, as somebody who's a lightweight, every aspect, it kind of just helps me lock in. Kind of just helps me focus.

[Ben Soffer]

It sounds like nature's Zen. Is that what it is?

[Isabella Merced]

A nature zen?

[Josh Peck]

Kind of good?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, that's pretty great.

[Ben Soffer]

Nature's Zinn.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Okay, I'm in. You should just like, completely steal some coca leaves, package it, and sell it at Erewhan, and call it Nature Zin.

[Ben Soffer]

No, no, no. I am a capitalist at heart. I'm making nature's Zinn and I'm. Okay, we're gonna work together on this, Josh.

[Josh Peck]

We'll cut you in.

[Isabella Merced]

So that is not cultural appropriation.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah, we'll cut you in.

[Josh Peck]

We'll. We'll make Isabella minority partner in this.

[Isabella Merced]

Literally. Literally. Minority partner. Yeah, we're fine.

[Josh Peck]

We are covered. Guys, that's so nuts. Everyone's about to fail their drug test. Do not do nature Zen if you have a government job.

[Isabella Merced]

In small letters, small fonts. Yeah, it happens. The smallest of fonts.

[Ben Soffer]

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[Isabella Merced]

Where my mess is my message, and.

[Ben Soffer]

I'm here to share it all with you.

[Isabella Merced]

Let's optimize our lives together and I'll make the mistakes so you don't have to join me as I share TMI.

[Ben Soffer]

Personal stories about navigating relationships, dating, and.

[Isabella Merced]

Mental health, all while breaking stigmas around topics like adhd, anxiety and depression. From messy mistakes to moments of growth, I'm here to support you on your journey towards healing and self discovery. Tune in every Wednesday for a mix of humor, vulnerability and raw honesty as I explore the ups and downs of living in this meat suit. Follow Barely Filtered wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Josh Peck]

Okay, so let's get to the last of us because this is like. This is. This is a show.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Are you a fan of the show? Are you a fan of the first season?

[Josh Peck]

Big fan. Are you?

[Isabella Merced]

So how did this. Yeah, of course. How did this even come. I'm a fan of the game as well. A huge fan. Are you a fan of the game? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually became a fan of the game because of this opportunity that came up, but now I'm just so ride or die for the whole ip. I just think it's amazing. And Neil Druckmann is so cool. Did you get to meet Neil?

[Josh Peck]

I didn't.

[Isabella Merced]

He wasn't on set, I think, for that episode. You were in episode four, right?

[Josh Peck]

Yes.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay, so what was that experience like? You worked with Kate Heron.

[Josh Peck]

I did.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay, so how the hell. How did that even come up for you?

[Josh Peck]

I auditioned.

[Isabella Merced]

You just auditioned?

[Josh Peck]

Yeah.

[Isabella Merced]

And they were like, that's talent right there. And that's what we need.

[Josh Peck]

I hopefully. I don't know. I think people always think. Cause I'm. Oh, shit, now my phone's going off.

[Isabella Merced]

Both of us. It's okay. Now we're even.

[Josh Peck]

We're very busy, Ben. We're co stars.

[Isabella Merced]

We have. Yeah.

[Ben Soffer]

The chemistry is unmatched.

[Isabella Merced]

It's about season three.

[Ben Soffer]

I'm worried for my job. Yeah, I'm worried it's gonna be the Peruvian podcast.

[Isabella Merced]

Wait, you can. Ben, you're here.

[Josh Peck]

Title. Title.

[Isabella Merced]

Ben, when did you get here?

[Josh Peck]

I don't know.

[Ben Soffer]

Peruvian Puff Podcast.

[Isabella Merced]

Peruvian Puff Pals.

[Josh Peck]

That is unbelievable. I can hear the Spotify offer right now. I love money. Oh, man.

[Isabella Merced]

America.

[Josh Peck]

So, yeah, I think people think because like, I am sort of well known from some certain things that a smaller kind of part like that it's just like, oh, they just thought it would be a fun Internet. Yeah. But that the Internet would react.

[Ben Soffer]

Ah.

[Josh Peck]

But I'm like, nah, y', all, like I just got in line like everyone else.

[Isabella Merced]

Mean creek skills that you just pulled out.

[Josh Peck]

God bless.

[Isabella Merced]

Thanks.

[Josh Peck]

But it was kind of this monologue and I remember and obviously the great Craig Mason, like when it's good writing and tell me if you agree. I just was like, I find a lot of times with audition scenes, I'll read them and go like, I don't really know what to do with this. And then I'll work on it for a long time and it'll sort of reveal itself, make the right choices. But when it's good writing, I'm just like, oh, thank you. This is clear what it needs.

[Isabella Merced]

Right. You don't have to ask for the script that they're never gonna send you for the whole episode to get context because, well, it's there on the page. I do appreciate that about his writing. It was probably the coolest experience I've had in my life and also happening at the same time as the other cool experience that I had, which was Superman. And it was just. Just so much happening at once. Yeah. Like, are you trying to do more serious stuff? Are you still into acting? I guess. I mean, clearly you are, cause you're working. But like, I would love to see you do more serious roles.

[Josh Peck]

I did another small part in Oppenheimer last year.

[Isabella Merced]

How was Oppenheimer? Great, Great.

[Josh Peck]

Everything okay? Like the Last of Us. Just where you show up and you're like, oh, everyone's really good at their job. Like, wow. And everyone is incentivized as you know. Right. Like you do a bunch of stuff in life and career and I'm sure like Ben, in addition to being the great podcaster that he is, is an entrepreneur and owns a big alcohol company and whatnot. Like you, you do certain things and you go like, even at best, this is a seven.

[Isabella Merced]

Uh huh.

[Josh Peck]

Even if this goes perfectly, this is only gonna be like pretty good. But then you do something like the Last of Us or Superman or Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer. You're like, oh, damn, this might go the distance. And so now kind of from the sidelines but having a very small part of it. I'm like, oh, I saw one go all the way.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

It won Best Picture.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

And I'm like, okay, now I can say I, like, kind of. Kind of got to watch it a little bit.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Ben Soffer]

Have either of you ever had the opposite experience, though? Like, you went into maybe you did, like, an indie project. You had very low expectations, and it just exploded. Like, obviously, you're going to know that Knoppenheimer James Cameron's gonna crush. Right. But, like, is like, have you ever had the opposite? I assume that that's, like, even more of a thrill.

[Isabella Merced]

Like, you did this indie, right?

[Josh Peck]

Yeah. I mean, but Mean Creek was great, but no one saw it. You saw it.

[Isabella Merced]

I feel like. Didn't it win something at Sundance? Oh, that's our industry. It's so small.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, I guess. You mean, like, I'm trying to think of, like, Paranormal Activity, like, something that really.

[Ben Soffer]

Like that low.

[Josh Peck]

My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

[Ben Soffer]

Exactly.

[Isabella Merced]

Yes.

[Ben Soffer]

Yes. The best. Windex. You need Windex.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. I mean, I would say one that I was surprised by. The outcome would probably be Instant Family. When we were filming, it was really intimate, and obviously fucking Mark Wahlberg was in it, so there would be some sort of success that came out of it. But I think maybe not the financial success as much as, like, it's the one that everyone tells me is their favorite. And it just touched people on a really personal level. And I was like, oh, if I can just have that feeling again that I did something meaningful and purposeful, I would love to do another sort of Instant Family type thing, whether it be an indie or star. Mark Wahlberg.

[Josh Peck]

Dude, tell us about. I always say Ben's the Mark Wahlberg of podcasting.

[Ben Soffer]

I am.

[Josh Peck]

He's up at 2:00am Was he doing his 2:00am workouts during that time?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. And eating, like, eight blueberries for breakfast. Yeah. And had his entourage and everything. And they're all so cool, and he's so disciplined. I remember he brought, like, a sunbed. Not a sunbed. Like, you know those beds that are collapsible, and you put them out so you can lay out on the beach or something. Is that a sun chair? Is that.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, like a chaise lounge.

[Isabella Merced]

A chaise lounge. Chaise lounge, but, like, a retractable one. And he would bring that and sit in that instead of the cash chair and just take naps in between. Because that man probably wasn't sleeping. I mean, he's always producing and working and filming at the same time and. And as A father.

[Josh Peck]

Are you ever, like, can you be casual and be like, Marky? Like, let's go. Like, let's go hit the craft service table. Like, I heard they got quesadillas.

[Ben Soffer]

Honestly.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. I mean, we had a scene where we were dancing, and it was sort of supposed to be. It was more off the page, you know, we kind of had to improvise. And I went around and asked some people in his entourage because one of them was a dancer that used to, you know, dance with him. And as, you know, Marky Mark and Funky Bunch. And I asked him to teach me some of the dance moves from their music videos and just try to see if I could sneak in him doing that in the movie, and I can't. I think they included a little portion of it. But it was more for the moment and for me. And it was really fun. And he got it afterwards and he was laughing or whatever. But a lot of times he actually treated me like his daughter. So I think he totally expected me to have the same sort of attitude and whatnot as his daughter. So he was almost. He was very fatherly to me, which I appreciated. Cause I. Yeah, needed one.

[Josh Peck]

Joined the club. Ben's the only one with a great dad.

[Isabella Merced]

Aw, Ben, get out of here.

[Ben Soffer]

My bad. My bad. Ben.

[Isabella Merced]

What the hell?

[Josh Peck]

Two wonderful fairings.

[Ben Soffer]

Just another demerit in my column.

[Josh Peck]

The good news is to report to you from 38 years old. Never really goes away.

[Isabella Merced]

Your yearly post where you put. You have, like, revealing a tattoo of my.

[Josh Peck]

Nick's not there. Yeah.

[Ben Soffer]

My favorite is when people haven't seen that. Like, you saw Craig Conover Josh. Right? Like, oh, this is amazing. I'm like, it is amazing. But he posts it every year.

[Isabella Merced]

It's an annual thing. It's amazing.

[Ben Soffer]

It's so good. It's so good.

[Josh Peck]

I once said to my therapist, I'm like, are you bored? I'm like, I'm bored of this. I'm like, I once went into my shrink's office and said, oh, I'm 37.

[Ben Soffer]

Complaining about my mom.

[Josh Peck]

Real original. I was like, oh, God.

[Isabella Merced]

I mean, you're entertaining. So I'm sure she's entertained. But, yes, you can essentially trace everything, every one of my current problems back to parental issues or attachment issues. Yeah, absolutely. It's kind of boring, but it helps with acting.

[Josh Peck]

How so?

[Isabella Merced]

I guess I kind of have thought about it in this way. My mom is such an amazing parent, and she has taught me what it is to, like, be loved unconditionally. And then there's other people in my life who have taught me about the absence of love. So in a way, I know what it is to feel it and to have it. But then I also know what it is to not have it and want it and need it. And then that, to me, apparently makes me a really good fatherless character. If you look at my roles, I always, like, my parents are always dead. Like, one's always dead.

[Josh Peck]

Right.

[Isabella Merced]

I never have two parents in a film that. I don't know. I just look parentless, I guess.

[Josh Peck]

Rad.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

Wait, do you think that. Do you ever have those moments as an actor where something rough, a life thing will be happening? You're going through a breakup, something hurts, and a little part of your brain goes like, oh, this'll be good for later.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Right now I'm going through something and I'm like, I wish I had some outlet for this other than writing in my notebook and reading it later and cringing. I wish that I could apply it to a character right now. Cause I definitely use that. I do. It definitely is therapeutic as hell. Yeah. Especially when it turns out great and people compliment you. You're like, yeah, it's the struggle.

[Ben Soffer]

It's literally. It all comes back to Girls. Josh. Josh knows this Isabella. But I'm like 20 years behind anything that you saw 20 years ago. I'm watching now. So I'm just going to go 9, 11. I'm just finishing Girls. And that is what Lena Dunham does. She just is a catastrophe. So she can write about it. So.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Have you seen Panic in Central Park? No.

[Ben Soffer]

When did it come out?

[Isabella Merced]

No, it's an episode in Girls.

[Ben Soffer]

Oh, definitely seen it. Yes. I just don't know the names of the. Yes. I've seen all of them.

[Isabella Merced]

It's arguably the best episode on Girls.

[Ben Soffer]

It's just a great, great show. And Josh and I spoke about this. Lena Dunham gets such a bad reputation, and then you watch that show and you're like, oh, she's kind of a genius.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Ben Soffer]

Like, it's so good. So good.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. Something. Another show I've been enjoying lately is called Dying for Sex with Michelle Williams. I think Michelle Williams is one of my favorite actresses of all time. And Shannon Murphy is an amazing writer, and she kind of just EP'd or maybe directed every episode. And there's some common tone in all that she does. That kind of reminds me of Lena Dunham, too. Cause it's very raw. It's very. So if you have time, watch Dying for Sex. And she also made a film called Baby Teeth, which I think is phenomenal. And there's always some sort of like cancer component. So it's like characters directly addressing sort of oblivion and sort of the promise of death. But she makes it funny somehow.

[Ben Soffer]

Wow.

[Isabella Merced]

And it's really good. So those are my recs that you did not have to check them in.

[Ben Soffer]

Without this episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Fatty 15. Folks, I'm so excited to talk to you about C15 from Fatty 15 because it's the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in more than 90 years. How cool is that? Innovation Season it's an incredible scientific breakthrough to support our long term health and wellness and you guessed it, aging and longevity. Fatty 15 co founder Stephanie Van Watson discovered the benefits of C15 while working with the US Navy to continually improve the health and welfare of aging dolphins. Based on over 100 studies, we now know that C15 strengthens our cells is a key longevity enhancing nutrient which helps to slow biological aging at the cellular level. In fact, when our cells don't have enough C15, they become fragile and age faster. We don't want that. And when our cells age, our bodies age too. That's why you're looking old. This eventually led to studies finding the first new nutritional deficiency in 75 years called cellular Fragility Syndrome. Caused by a lack of essential fatty acids, C15. As many as one in three people worldwide may have low C15 levels and cellular fragility syndrome. It's an epidemic. To help fix cellular Fragility syndrome and further extend our health and longevity, a team of doctors working in collaboration with the US Navy spent over a decade to develop the pure, optimized and bioavailable C15 ingredient in fatty 15. So folks, if you want to take control of your health, Fatty 15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help you live healthier and longer. You can get an additional 15% off their 90 day subscription starter kit by going to fatty15.comgoodguys and using code goodguys at checkout. That's fatty15.comgoodguys fatt t y15.com goodguys today this episode of the Good Guys podcast is brought to you by our friends at Bachelor in Paradise. Folks, Bachelor Nation fans have been anxiously awaiting the highly anticipated season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise. And the beach is finally back open. Jesse Palmer will be returning as our beloved host and everyone's favorite bartender, Wells Adams is back to mix up some cocktails. And dole out some advice. Also joining our staff this season is former Bachelorette Hannah Brown, who will be making her debut as the head of Paradise Relations, where she'll help plan special experiences for our romantic hopefully. And we're shaking things up even more as our young singles are joined by golden Bachelor and Bachelorette alumni. Crashing the beach. That's right, both bold and gold singles will shoot their shot at love this season. And it's all taking place in a new tropical oasis, Costa Rica. With new compatibility challenges along the way that are certain to test even the strongest of connections, this season proves that only those willing to pay the price will find true love in paradise. But even with all the new elements at play, audiences are sure to find comfort in what they know and love. The return of exciting fan favorite steamy romances and explosive drama. Because finding love in the sun always comes with a little shade. Catch new episodes of Bachelor in Paradise Mondays at 8, 7 Central on ABC and stream next day on Hulu. Speaking of great tv, are you watching Love Island? Because this is the best show on tv. I'm sorry you get itching.

[Josh Peck]

This.

[Ben Soffer]

This. This is it. This is it.

[Isabella Merced]

Everybody's talking about it, but there's something that happens to me when everyone's talking about something. It takes me maybe a few years to resign and eventually watch it in that way. I don't know, I just get overwhelmed by people recommending it to me and telling me it's good that I'm like. And if I don't like it, it kind of makes me not like the person who recommended it to me because I'm like, you don't even know me.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, you're shit.

[Isabella Merced]

Yes. You don't even know me.

[Josh Peck]

Ba ba ba ba ba.

[Ben Soffer]

Let me tell you why I love it and josh you to watch it. Like, the second that Paige pops. Like, this is the show that you're watching. It comes out. It comes out every. It comes out every night. Every single night. There's a new episode. There's an hour. So when she's breastfeeding in the middle of the night, we are turning on Love Island. I'm watching a half hour at 3:30 in the morning, a half hour at 5:30 in the morning. And this show is down and dirty and raunchy and amazing.

[Josh Peck]

It's great.

[Ben Soffer]

It's great. You gotta watch it.

[Isabella Merced]

I will say it's a really good reference for men who. I don't know. I don't know. I'm not speaking on you guys, but like, men who do the Bare minimum. Because then you can always put on Love island, be like, well, I didn't do that.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah, totally. You know, Absolutely.

[Isabella Merced]

Well, I didn't do that to you, so. I'm amazing.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah. Yeah. You happen to be with. We name the podcast Good Guys because we happen to be two pretty good guys. There you go.

[Josh Peck]

We're the best.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah, we are. We're not the best. We're good.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, we're okay. We're not great.

[Ben Soffer]

We're not great. We're good.

[Isabella Merced]

The best boys will be the sequel.

[Ben Soffer]

Yes. Yes.

[Josh Peck]

Our kids podcast Ruby and King. I have a son named Max. Max and Ruby Jackson.

[Isabella Merced]

Ruby. Ruby and Max.

[Ben Soffer]

Oh, my God.

[Josh Peck]

Fucking coyote. Okay, so let's talk. You're here for Superman. Let's talk Superman. This is big. This is exciting. This is something everyone loves. So how do you feel about that?

[Isabella Merced]

It's crazy. I didn't. I wasn't really a fan of Superman when I was growing up. I was more of, like, a Batman, Wonder Woman kind of girl. But, you know, I actually. After watching the movie, I'm like, yeah, maybe he's my favorite. I think they did a great job with it. James Gunn is the reason why I wanted to do this. And I auditioned, like, four times.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah.

[Isabella Merced]

Because he. I mean, he did the Scooby Doo live action films. Respect, Cross Slither. He's done the Guardians of the Galaxy. Like, he's done some awesome cultural, culturally significant things in his life. And I was like, yeah, I need to work with this guy with the white hair.

[Josh Peck]

He's also, like, the keeper of the DC Universe, right?

[Isabella Merced]

Yes.

[Josh Peck]

Like, he's in charge. Yeah, he's the dude in charge.

[Isabella Merced]

So everyone's nice to him. We're like, please give me a solo movie. Please.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah. Is that kind of a. That's gotta be. It's like Miranda Cosgrove on Drake and Josh. Right? Like, she was angry for icarly the whole time.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. She's a long game. She's playing the long game. She was the one who brought in the Peruvian puff pepper, actually.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, good to know. Well, good luck with her getting through immigration at Peru.

[Isabella Merced]

You know what I mean?

[Josh Peck]

Enjoy. Enjoy the customs cards. You're gonna get a couple extra questions.

[Isabella Merced]

I don't even know what I'm allowed to say this, but the things that I've smuggled in from Peru is insane.

[Josh Peck]

Ooh. Say more. We are a pro smuggle podcast. Oh, for sure. Love.

[Ben Soffer]

We love.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, I smuggle a lot. As much as I can from my trailer from Peru, from anywhere. Cause I believe in the illusion of freedom. Yes. Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

Love it.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. What were we talking about? Oh, yeah, Superman.

[Josh Peck]

I'm getting Libertarian. But let's get back to Superman.

[Ben Soffer]

What's it like, though? Like you. You get the call that you booked Superman. I know that you mentioned, like you weren't a fan necessarily growing up, but it's like it's Superman. Are you. Are you like dying that you booked that? Like, yeah.

[Isabella Merced]

She had freaking wings. Like, I was just so. I was like, that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna work with James. I'm gonna be a hot girl.

[Josh Peck]

What's the audition like? Walk us through the whole.

[Isabella Merced]

I was actually filming Alien at the time when I auditioned for it and I sent in a self tape and they had these weird, kooky names for the characters that weren't actually the characters names. And they said on the email they were like, this isn't the actual dialogue that's in the film. It was. And I just did. I set up my ring light. God, acting is so embarrassing. Yeah, I set up my ring light and I stressed out about it and I. And I just did it. And then I. I think I sent it in and then I did a zoom call as a callback with James. And I think Peter Safran was there. I can't remember who exactly. I remember James was there and he was very complimentary. He loved my voice and was very raspy and he liked that. And I guess, you know, Hawkgirl's kind of rough around the edges, so it made sense. We just did the scene again and then he called me. When I got back to LA after filming, he called me in to do a test, a camera test where they did makeup, hair, and dressed me in the colors of the costume to sort of get the idea. And Nathan Fillion was there. He was already cast as Guy Gardner. And then Eddie Gathege was also there and he's playing Mr. Terrific, who's an underrated. But you'll see in the movie, he's so necessary to it and he's gonna be. The toys are gonna get sold out everywhere. But we did the scene together on a set and it was so cool. They brought in. This is a camera test I've never done before. Usually, you know, you do it in a casting office, right?

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, it's like an off. Just a bare office, right.

[Isabella Merced]

It's super, super. I don't know, just corporate. But this was. It felt like we were on set. It felt like we were actually filming that day. And it was a full day. We did stunt training. They had to see if I was capable of moving my body in a way that was believable, that I was a fighter. And then costume fittings. They took my measurements. They did a 3D scan. They did the scene. And that was proper. Like, they did, like, proper coverage of every actor. And then afterwards, I don't even remember. I think I went to get snacks. I was so nervous and.

[Josh Peck]

Same day.

[Isabella Merced]

Same day.

[Josh Peck]

And are your hopes really. I mean, at this point, you've actually worn the clothes. Are your hopes just so high?

[Isabella Merced]

I've been in this too long to ever let my hopes get too high. Unless there's a paper that I've signed, I never assume that it's mine.

[Josh Peck]

Everybody's so healthy.

[Isabella Merced]

People, like, offer you shit, and they'll be like, I want you to be in this. And then. And, you know, some old guy at some studio could be like, actually, I don't know her work. I want Jenna Ortega. So, you know, like, that could easily happen and has happened. And so I never let my hopes get up. Probably not that healthy.

[Josh Peck]

No, it's not.

[Isabella Merced]

No, it's not. It was a terrible job.

[Ben Soffer]

I think it's healthy. Like, I don't know, never getting too high, never getting too low. It would be unhealthy to have, like, the ping pong is, I would think, worse, but I don't know.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. But in a way, it's like numbing yourself after your first girlfriend cheated on you. Right.

[Ben Soffer]

Okay.

[Isabella Merced]

Then you're like, I have trust issues and I won't, like, date anyone again and, like, let them in. You know, it's kind of reactive as opposed to proactive.

[Ben Soffer]

Sure.

[Isabella Merced]

And I got. I just have a. To have a better relationship with it, but one relationship at a time. Guys. Still got my parents to work on.

[Josh Peck]

Good.

[Isabella Merced]

But, yeah, I waited at crafty. And because I eat when I'm nervous or I starve when I'm nervous, it depends on how I'm doing that day. Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

You should pick up vaping.

[Isabella Merced]

I should. And I have. I had a whole face.

[Josh Peck]

Great.

[Ben Soffer]

Never Babies, our Zen alternative. That's what you need those days when you're going. When you're nervous and you're going to craft services, what are we grabbing? Like, what's there? Yum.

[Isabella Merced]

I love a beef stick.

[Josh Peck]

This is not a snack. This is so healthy. Wait, this is so keto.

[Ben Soffer]

But this is a great empty calorie. I don't even think that's meat.

[Isabella Merced]

I don't even think that's animal meat. I have no idea what is in there, but, yeah, it's usually a beef stick or a sunflower butter and jelly sandwich. Mm.

[Josh Peck]

She's an antiallergen queen.

[Ben Soffer]

I was gonna say, is there no peanut butter allowed on sets? Are we too afraid of anaphylactic shock or. You're specifically picking sunflower butter.

[Isabella Merced]

I used to be allergic to peanut butter, and I'm no longer allergic to it. I actually grew out of it. But it does remind me of death.

[Ben Soffer]

Got it. That's like me with lactose intolerance. I ate enough fettuccine Alfredo that one day. I just wasn't allergic anymore.

[Josh Peck]

Him eating milk reminds me of death. Cause I've been around him a few times, and it makes me want to end my life.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah, it's too much. Simply too much.

[Josh Peck]

Okay, so when do you get the call? When do you get the confirmation?

[Isabella Merced]

Wait, so same day one of somebody, I think it was like a pa. I don't remember who, came up to me, and it was Michael, actually. Michael might have asked me to come and was like, james likes to see you in his trailer. I'm like, okay. Then I just walk over there.

[Josh Peck]

You gotta know you're getting it at that point, right? Cause he's not gonna be like. He's not gonna want to, in person, fire you.

[Isabella Merced]

Denial is not a river. It's in my blood.

[Josh Peck]

Okay?

[Isabella Merced]

It's my blood. So I'm just completely trying to just detach at that moment. I get in there. There's, like, a bunch of people, the producers, the other studio head at dc, and they're all kind of sitting there, and they're like, hi. Hello.

[Ben Soffer]

Hello.

[Isabella Merced]

I sit down, I'm overthinking how I'm sitting, and they're just like, would you like to be our hot girl? And I'm like, wait, sounds like a hot girl. Yes. And then at that moment, I actually didn't respond. In my head, I was like, what the hell do I say? And then I think the first thing that happened was, like, I started tearing up. So dramatic, so theatrical. And I was like, oh, I can't wait to tell my mom. Yeah, it was great. It was great.

[Josh Peck]

Wow. And then you walk onto that set. What's that? I mean, superhero movies in general. And I know you said you were doing Last of Us sort of in the middle of it, but, I mean, it's a huge undertaking, right? It's months and months. And what did it look like, the filming process?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, I mean, I started in January with. But we started filming in February and we did nine months of shooting. So we stayed. It was until October. And then in between that I was shooting Superman for the span of like 3, 4 months. And that was in Atlanta. So I would be in Vancouver filming last of us, sometimes taking up to eight flights a month. At one point I did. Cause I was also promoting Madame Web, Turtles all the Way down and Alien. Wow.

[Ben Soffer]

Solid.

[Isabella Merced]

Solid.

[Josh Peck]

I know. I once did a reoccurring on iCarly and I was like doing that and drinking Josh and the podcast. I was like, somebody get me a private jet.

[Isabella Merced]

I'm need to do I need a private jet?

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah. How do you jump back and forth between characters? Like, how do you, like.

[Josh Peck]

Oh, good question.

[Ben Soffer]

Like, are you like, don't you have to be so zoned into one? Like, obviously that's the skill, right? But how do you prepare to be one character one day and then another the next?

[Isabella Merced]

You know, there's something, there's something so spiritual about being on a plane. It's almost as if you are literally leaving everything behind and you kind of walk off and you got a new view of life and you're in a whole different place. So it almost allowed me to sort of hand a Montana that shit and like be like, oh, I'm a new girl in a new city and now suddenly I can be Hawkgirl again. Because I left Dina in Vancouver, right. And in a way, I mean, planes are one of my favorite places ever because it's like I lock in something about the altitude allows me to just focus on my script and be a little bit more emotionally aware because it's maybe so quiet or I mean, for some people it's very loud. But for me, like, I love being lulled by a transportation. Yeah, I love a subway for that reason. Like, I love that it kind of rocks a little bit and that it's kind of loud. To me, that's peaceful.

[Josh Peck]

Ben, I want to talk about Shopify. I don't care what you say, because I can't get enough of it. And I really want to talk about my dream hustle. Because, you know, with Shopify, whether it's, you know, it's a little side hustle, a little something you got going on, or you're going, you're going big time, you know, non stop, all the way. Full Gary V. Hustle, hustle, hustle. 28 hour work week, it don't matter. You know what I'm saying?

[Ben Soffer]

It doesn't matter. Shopify does it for you. They have this magic suite of AI Tools. Unbelievable. Literally. Shopify Magic. It's fantastic. It's never been easier. You have a bad idea. Test it, Josh. Test it. What do you want to do? You told me yesterday you wanted to be a parrot trainer. What are you nuts? And I'm telling you you should go and sign up. Okay? Go to shopify.com goodguys. Use our promo code and register parrot trainer.com and you should start training parrots. I thought it was a crazy idea. Maybe you can make some extra scratch.

[Josh Peck]

Listen, I need backup plans, babe. I need things that are going to be working for me while I'm asleep, okay? And last time I checked, parrots are going to love me no matter what, okay? I'm just going to purchase and train a bunch of friends that have to agree with me because otherwise parrots don't eat.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah, otherwise parrots don't eat. Parrots don't eat. Okay? Parrots only eat.

[Josh Peck]

Only talk.

[Ben Soffer]

Parrots only eat if they do. Good for us. Okay?

[Josh Peck]

Yes. And you know what? That's forward thinking.

[Ben Soffer]

It is.

[Josh Peck]

You want to talk about magic?

[Ben Soffer]

It is. But Shopify. I'm telling you that idea. Does it sound crazy? Yeah. But if you don't have a website, you really never know. Josh, there are a lot of crazy ideas that have made people a lot of money. And don't you want to make money? Aren't you hungry for cash?

[Isabella Merced]

Woof woof.

[Ben Soffer]

I'm hungry for cash. Okay? So sign up. Go to shopify.com goodguys today. Take that idea that your wife told you is terrible. Make a website and test the waters.

[Isabella Merced]

Who knows?

[Josh Peck]

Yes, and if you crush it, then you can hold it over your wife during conversations. You can bring it up at dinners, embarrass her, and eventually you guys are going to break up. But you know that you were meant to be this rich and married. It's time to live a little.

[Ben Soffer]

Literally. I had an idea called Meme Floats, okay? Where I was going to turn memes into floats. Claudia said it was a terrible idea. I said, no, it's a great idea. I'm going to make a website. I own the URL. I will never use it. It's a bad idea. But I made the website. I looked through it, I thought about it. You can't visualize it. You can't see how bad your idea is until you make a website. Or you can't see how good your ideas until you see all that cash sit in the bank, baby.

[Josh Peck]

Yes. I've had so many ideas. I think of lots of things. I thought there should be an app that puts all of different podcast clips into one place. And someone said, that's TikTok. I said, Good boy.

[Ben Soffer]

But you never would have known that if you didn't go to shopify.com goodguys register your URL podcastcliphub.com parrots and that's now. That's it?

[Josh Peck]

Yes. But here's a better question, Ben and I already know the answer. If you're not using Shopify, what are you using?

[Ben Soffer]

I don't know. What, are you nuts?

[Josh Peck]

There's nothing else.

[Ben Soffer]

No, it's Shopify or bust. You love Shopify as much as us. You're going to go to shopify.com goodguys today and you're going to start your dream side hustle, because you never know you could turn into a big success. Have you ever gotten so deep into a role that you've accidentally, like, you're with friends. You filmed the whole day. Do you find yourself. Josh will call it code switching. But do you find yourself playing a character as yourself with your friends by accident? Has that ever happened?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah. So for turtles all the way down. My character has a lot of inner monologues, and I kind of just wanted to see how it would play out. Susan. On purpose. A lot of that stuff happens subconsciously. You're like, that's a line from the script that I'm doing right now. But this one was fully on purpose. I was in an Uber, and I just completely, off the top of my head, started repeating the monologue that my character has to this Uber driver, just seeing if it worked and how it did. And it's kind of about, like, these fish that have these, like, they have these parasites in their brain. And essentially, I think, if I can remember it clearly, the parasite, in a way, tells them to swim up to the surface of the water at some point. It's just like nature just tells it to swim up to the surface so that it can be killed by a bird, so that it can be essentially grabbed by a bird. It's like the parasite determines the. The life of the fish, and the fish has no control over it. So my character's comparing that experience to humans and how we believe we're in control of what we do and how we are. And just like when a script enters your brain or a character, you become a character. It's like, who's actually driving right now? Who's driving the car? We're just at the whim of what no one really knows.

[Josh Peck]

That's like Ben with bagels.

[Ben Soffer]

They control him.

[Josh Peck]

They control him.

[Isabella Merced]

So who you are? New York.

[Josh Peck]

So looking at Ben, Lox bagel, good love.

[Ben Soffer]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, Fantastic.

[Josh Peck]

What kind of cream cheese? What kind of cream cheese?

[Isabella Merced]

He uses regular dairy cream cheese, like dairy.

[Ben Soffer]

Dairy, for sure.

[Isabella Merced]

He's like extra creamy cream cheese, you.

[Ben Soffer]

Know, dairy for sure. But we're going scallion. You need a little bit of a kick.

[Isabella Merced]

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Scallion's good.

[Ben Soffer]

Scallion cream cheese, some lox, little sliced red onion, toasted everything bagel. That's my chef.

[Isabella Merced]

As many everything bagel, for sure. For sure.

[Josh Peck]

Looking at Ben, who do we think in the DC Universe? What superhero? Where does Ben make sense?

[Ben Soffer]

Yes.

[Josh Peck]

Bring it in. Accountant Man.

[Isabella Merced]

I could absolutely see him on, like, Peacemaker or something.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, Jon Snow.

[Isabella Merced]

It's a great show.

[Ben Soffer]

I was expecting Superman, but it's fine. It really. It is what it is same. It is what it is. I was. I'll take Peacemaker. I'll take it. What about Josh?

[Isabella Merced]

Ooh, the hair. Right now I feel like you styled it to kind of feel like Clarkette today. Oh, my God.

[Josh Peck]

We gotta stop him.

[Ben Soffer]

I can't take myself serious.

[Josh Peck]

Ah, danger, Danger. He's getting away.

[Ben Soffer]

Oh, no. Kryptonite.

[Josh Peck]

Doesn'T really have parents. I mean, he does have parents, but didn't he, like. Didn't they adopt him? I don't know why I did that in quotes.

[Isabella Merced]

That's a huge. That's a very central storyline to this. To this. Like, they definitely talk about, you know, Superman's like, daddy issues. Mom. Always for sure. Yeah. You know, you have to. You have to. Cause who are. Who is he without, you know, the parents? And so, yeah, a lot of that movie's, like, very therapeutic, but I feel.

[Josh Peck]

Like you would be Green Lantern.

[Isabella Merced]

I feel like you'd be a great Flash. You know, you just talk so fast and I like that.

[Ben Soffer]

That's fantastic.

[Josh Peck]

God bless you.

[Ben Soffer]

I would take that and run with it.

[Josh Peck]

Should we do a speak pipe or two before? What are you nuts?

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah. Yeah, let's do it.

[Josh Peck]

Okay. So we get phone calls into. People leave us messages.

[Isabella Merced]

Oh, really?

[Josh Peck]

They want our advice. They want to hear from us. They have questions.

[Isabella Merced]

That's nice.

[Josh Peck]

This could be. So feel free to jump in, give all the advice you want. They will be happy to hear from you. If you have a question for us, go to speakpipe.com goodguys keep it brief. Brevity is key. Let's first hear from Lauren. I never do this. Right. Let me just refresh it. We gotta get someone to do this.

[Ben Soffer]

Lauren.

[Isabella Merced]

You guys are gonna roast the shit out of me. I just listened to the Rainnn Wilson episode.

[Josh Peck]

Wait, wait, this is the wrong one. Sorry. I know I always mess it.

[Isabella Merced]

And we had Rainn Wilson on here.

[Ben Soffer]

Yeah.

[Isabella Merced]

God, I love Rainn.

[Josh Peck]

This is a big bod.

[Isabella Merced]

He's so good.

[Ben Soffer]

He was great.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, he's really good at talking.

[Josh Peck]

Okay, this one's from Anonymous.

[Isabella Merced]

Shalom. Would love to hear Claudia and Olivia and Paige's opinion on this as well. My partner sleeps like a rock. Like, I will push and shove. I will yell at him to try and wake him up. If something's happening, then I'll. Nothing. He doesn't even budge. So God forbid somebody breaks into our apartment. We're screwed. We're fucked. Like, I don't know what to do because he's not getting up. Are you guys like this? Are all men like this? Is this just. My man would just love to hear if I'm alone in this.

[Ben Soffer]

I used to be a heavy sleeper. I'm a very, very light sleeper now. I think that, like, especially with. With my son, like, the second I hear him, like, even lightly cry, I'm awake. And I wish. It's great for right now, but in general, I wish I was a deeper sleeper. I need, like, a noise machine, like, all of that to sleep deep. So now I'm the polar opposite. And honestly, you need a man that is a light sleeper. A deep sleeping man is a huge problem. Like him sleeping through a burglary. No good.

[Isabella Merced]

No good.

[Josh Peck]

Not good.

[Ben Soffer]

Josh, you're a light sleeper.

[Josh Peck]

No, I am, but I'm scared. Right. And I live on the second floor. Like, I have a proper house now. I grew up in an apartment, so I literally have to go into a trance and I put on a big boy voice and I just have to. I have to run through my fear. So when I hear something, I don't even think I'm in my underwear. And I just start stomping, making noise, going, like, as I go down. So whoever's in the house gets scared. I'll be like, who's down here? Because I'm so scared.

[Isabella Merced]

It's just your assistant.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah. Not my kids. Yeah. What do you think?

[Isabella Merced]

Oh, my God. Wow. It sounds like a really healthy home environment.

[Josh Peck]

Super is.

[Isabella Merced]

I don't think this just applies to men. I am an incredibly deep sleeper. So deep. I had one of those OURA rings at one point and I threw it away because I don't need it. I've Already won sleep.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah.

[Isabella Merced]

I'm so good at it. It takes me such little time to get into rem. Takes me forever to wake up because I just love sleep.

[Josh Peck]

Okay, one more. One more speak pipe from. This one's from Allie.

[Isabella Merced]

Hi, Good guys. Long time toaster, New moron. My fiance showed me her podcast, and now it's something that we listen to together. So thank you. So my question is, we're getting married in March, and he wants groomsmen, and I do not want bridesmaids. If we did do them a bridal party, we would have 11 people on each side, and I just think that traps too much. He wants to honor his brothers in some way. So we're just trying to figure out how we can do that. But I'm curious to hear your guys's thoughts. What do you guys think about bridesmaids, groomsmen? We're 31 years old, and I feel like a lot of our friends have already gotten married and done the whole thing, but curious to hear what you guys think. I appreciate that she went to humans and not chat gbc, but that, to me, is refreshing.

[Josh Peck]

Agreed.

[Isabella Merced]

But also, I've never been married. I'm not even close to being married. Also, marriage just sounds like a bunch of compromises, so I feel like they're just really getting a taste of marriage right now with that.

[Josh Peck]

Fair.

[Isabella Merced]

What do you guys. Are you guys married?

[Ben Soffer]

Yes, Very. For a very long time. Both of us. Yeah. And marriage is definitely compromises. I will say, though, any, if your wife is pushing you to not include your friends, your, like, best friends in the biggest moment of your life, to me, that's not something that you should compromise on. Like, if you want groomsmen because, like, you love them and you want to honor your brothers and, like, she knows that they're your friends. So to me, I wouldn't compromise on that. And I would. Like, you're never gonna look back on your wedding and say, oh, I'm so upset that I had bridesmaids. But you will look back on it and say, oh, I'm so upset that I excluded my best friends from my best day, in my opinion.

[Isabella Merced]

I mean, also, like, if you have guy friends, I feel like you could definitely have them be your bridesmaids or at least like, part of your bridal party as well, if you're just like, you know, a lot of women have a lot of guy friends, so it's nice. It's nice to have that. But, yeah, the more the merrier. I don't really know enough about the situation.

[Josh Peck]

I just. My brother called me when I was. Got engaged, and he's like. And he's like, josh, I'm gonna give you one piece of advice. It's not your fucking day. And goes, it's hers. Whatever she wants, just do it. And it proved to be very good advice.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

Cause I didn't actually, truly in my gut, care at all. I cared that it made her happy and my mom happy and her family happy, but I didn't need a day. But I'm so glad it happened, and I'm glad that I only spoke up once about how much ravioli we were gonna have and a couple songs that the band was gonna play.

[Isabella Merced]

Sorry, did you want more ravio, less ravioli?

[Josh Peck]

What do you think? Yeah. Can you rap too much?

[Isabella Merced]

You're right. Like, spend the money on the ravioli. And that's the thing, though. And with my generation and stuff, it's. It's like, yes, tell us. It's like the men, it's no longer, if you have a happy wife, happy life. It's like everyone's sort of obsessed with being equal. So in a way, you know, men want to be sort of princesses as well, but they also want to be princes, you know? And then women also want to have that, like, dominant. It's kind of just exchanging sort of power dynamics constantly.

[Josh Peck]

Is that exhausting?

[Isabella Merced]

Probably. I don't know.

[Josh Peck]

Okay.

[Ben Soffer]

It sounds.

[Isabella Merced]

It sounds exhausting, but, like, you know, I don't actually have any advice for her. I think there's so many ways that this could go. But that'd be kind of funny to just have a bunch of guys on one side. She's just alone.

[Josh Peck]

Yeah, he should just. She should pick it on the day. Just like you, you, you. Come on.

[Ben Soffer]

She can hire people. They have services where you can pay for bridesmaids. Very sad, but that exists.

[Josh Peck]

Cool. She could.

[Ben Soffer]

She could. She could hire.

[Isabella Merced]

I wish I could just call her right now. We could just talk it through.

[Josh Peck]

Yes.

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah.

[Josh Peck]

All right.

[Ben Soffer]

Follow up. Yeah, that's too much tech. Maybe. Maybe for Peruvian puff Podcast, you guys will get that. Get that level of tech.

[Josh Peck]

It's already done. We're shooting in. We're shooting in time. Okay, so our final segment is our. What are you nuts? Moment of the week. It's our gripes with people, places and things both big and small, Whatever's sticking in your craw. Anything that makes you go, what are you, nuts? So take your time. We'll do ours first. You have time to think. It's just. It could Be so minute or it could be huge. Just anything that's like, dude, what are you nuts? Ben, take us away.

[Ben Soffer]

Isabella, you don't know this about me, but I drive everywhere. I live in Manhattan, but I drive everywhere. I love being in my car. And. And when I tell you people head down on their phones is becoming an enormous problem. People are just crossing against red lights in the middle of the street. Just. Just walking. Scrolling TikTok right as I was coming here, a woman and her daughter. She's holding her daughter's hand. She's crossing against a red. Looking at her phone. I stopped completely. I'm not honking a little girl. I stopped. I stopped completely. I'm looking at her, I'm like, what are you? You fucking nuts? Get off your phone when you're walking in the street. And if you're a parent, you can't be on your phone when you're holding your child's hand. You can't in Manhattan. Move to Oklahoma in Manhattan too much. What are you nuts?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, that's very valid. That's very valid. My friend once said people shouldn't just get driver's license. They shouldn't just take regular driving tests. They should take driving and texting texts tests because everyone's going to drive and text anyways. So let's just see if you're good at it. And that's how you get your license.

[Josh Peck]

That's great.

[Ben Soffer]

We should do that with drinking too. Just have some. Just take a handle of Svetka and hop behind the wheel and take a test.

[Josh Peck]

This is the Russian driving test. The Russian driving my woody nuts is the other day I had to go to the doctor for this physical thing. And so, you know, the nurse intakes you and she goes, you know, put your arm, like, we'll do the blood pressure. And I'm kind of like resting it on the side of the chair. And we're talking as the blood pressure's being taken and then it goes off and I go, how is it, you know, I like to know my numbers. And she goes, oh, it's a little elevated, but it's probably because you were talking. I'm like, what are you nuts? We were chatting. She told me to be quiet.

[Isabella Merced]

I was like, I don't have fun.

[Josh Peck]

Am I going to live, ma'? Am?

[Isabella Merced]

Yeah, I don't even know if I have one.

[Josh Peck]

There's no wrong nuts.

[Isabella Merced]

There's no wrong nuts.

[Ben Soffer]

You said you travel so much. Like, literally airplanes are a one of you nuts. Like the travel process. Like anybody a Karen overhead bin space.

[Josh Peck]

Or any crazy press tour. I'm sure there's just so many things that are.

[Ben Soffer]

Like the building that you're in right now has a sky lobby.

[Josh Peck]

That's.

[Ben Soffer]

What are your bus time.

[Josh Peck]

Nuts. That's nuts. Sorry to your lovely assistant. I'm sure getting here was. Traversing this was bad. But it's a big fancy building. We love it.

[Isabella Merced]

I don't know. I mean, to be honest, I don't even think this is a. What are you? Nuts? But just whenever I see a cybertruck, I think that. What are you nuts? Like nuts. There is nothing about that that makes any sense. It's not aesthetically appealing. It's not practical. It looks ridiculous.

[Ben Soffer]

Agreed.

[Isabella Merced]

That's crazy.

[Ben Soffer]

This is a wedding of nuts. This is a great wedding of nuts. Isabella, anything else you want to promote?

[Josh Peck]

Give the date for Superman.

[Isabella Merced]

Superman's July 11th. Gang. Gang. Yeah, that's it.

[Josh Peck]

Bong Bong.

[Isabella Merced]

Bing. Bong.

[Ben Soffer]

Bong bong. This episode is 5 stars. Otherwise, what are you? Nuts. Listen to us wherever you get your podcast. Watch us on YouTube, share our clips, Instagram and Tik Tok. Folks, we will see you next time.

[Isabella Merced]

There it is.

[Josh Peck]

Thank you.

[Isabella Merced]

Great.

[Ben Soffer]

Thank you so much for coming.

[Josh Peck]

So fun.

[Ben Soffer]

That was awesome.

[Isabella Merced]

Thank you. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.