HARD LAUNCH with Dan and Phil

Episode: Our First Christmas Together

Release Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Dan Howell & Phil Lester

Overview

This lively and unfiltered episode celebrates Dan and Phil’s first proper Christmas together—with all the oversharing, irreverent banter, and candid storytelling that defines the HARD LAUNCH podcast. The duo share holiday plans, quirky traditions, odd neighbor encounters, a wild approach to surviving festive social obligations, and invite listeners to hard launch their own holiday confessions—ranging from lighthearted to heartfelt and bizarre.

Main Themes & Topics

1. Neighborhood Drama: The Case of the Exhibitionist Neighbor

Timestamp: 00:52–02:51

• The morning view: Dan shares his ongoing problem with a neighbor who persistently walks naked in front of the adjoining window each day while Dan makes coffee.
  • Dan: “Every single time I'm stood over my sink making a coffee, it's just full whang, straight in the window. And this has been happening for a week.” [01:14]
• Phil hasn't witnessed this himself, prompting jokes about waking up earlier to catch a glimpse ("the early bird gets the worm").
• They brainstorm solutions—putting up a “we can see your knob” sign or making coffee naked in retaliation.
  • Phil: “Why don't you start making coffee naked? Because then they'll see you and be like, oh, they can see us. I can see him.” [02:16]
• The segment sets the irreverent, uncensored tone for the rest of the episode.

2. Into the Pink Tinsel Cave: Festive Outfits and Visual Gags

Timestamp: 03:04–04:15

• Merry Christmas intro: Dan and Phil welcome listeners from their “pink tinsel cave”—with vague euphemistic overtones.
  • Dan: “Welcome to our pink tinsel cave.”
  • Phil: “We are in a grotto right now.” [03:07]
• They describe their flashy, light-up jumpers and toy with the idea of a sexy alternative, riffing on OnlyFans jokes and the absurdity of an “OnlyFans PH calendar.”
• Self-deprecatory humor about their lack of mass appeal for such content:
  • Dan: “People don’t want that on their wall ... 12 months of it would have been a bit much.” [04:14]

3. Holiday Lockdown: Canceling Social Plans for Christmas

Timestamp: 04:44–06:43

• This Christmas marks their first full-on celebrations together with Phil’s family, after multiple “pandemic fails” and last year’s illness-related quarantine.
• The pair admit to gleefully canceling all seasonal social commitments to avoid sickness:
  • Dan: “Nothing feels better than saying no to an invite and having a clear nostril on the day of Christmas.” [06:15]
  • Phil: “But when people have Christmas parties, I feel like we missed out on that ... Now look at us now. Pink tinsel cave.” [06:43]
• Anecdote about the only workplace Christmas party they attended—a decade ago at BBC Radio 1.

4. Defensive Health Measures: The Pharmacy Flu Jab Fiasco

Timestamp: 07:20–09:10

• As part of pre-Christmas preparations, Dan and Phil got flu shots—an event that turned comical:
  • Dan: “I picked up a folder on the nurse’s desk and I just started fanning the air. I didn’t give A shit … fanning the old lady cloud out of the cupboard.” [08:19]

5. Leicester Christmas Mayhem: Phil’s Family Traditions

Timestamp: 09:11–12:27

• Phil’s family is all-in for Christmas—five trees, decorated giraffe, and yes, stockings for adults.
  • Phil: “My parents' house isn't that big and we've got five Christmas trees … the giraffe is decorated.” [09:22]
• Stockings include “shitty gifts” like hand gel, pens, and oranges—much to Dan's bemusement.
  • Dan: “If you get a fucking satsuma and some aspirin. What is the point?” [10:37]
• Dan expresses light-hearted concern about Phil’s mom (Santa) sneaking into the bedroom at night to deliver stockings.
  • Phil: “Santa is gonna come in the room in the night and put a stocking on the bottom of the bed.” [11:19]

6. Gift-Giving Rituals & Emo Axolotl Gifts

Timestamp: 12:22–13:12

• The Lester family gifting protocol is explained: a polite, semi-turn-based approach.
• Dan references gifting Phil an “emo axolotl” during a community livestream—bantering about its missing hoodie.

7. Charity Challenges & TV Presenter Crossovers

Timestamp: 15:15–18:02

• The duo joined a “Stand Up to Cancer” fundraiser, tasked with flipping toast into a toaster for every £100 raised. Pressure and performance anxiety ensue.
• Dan jokes about being uncoordinated and skeptically probes whether the challenge was “rigged.”
• Phil: “Thankfully, they found the one sport that I can do, because if anything that I’ve had experience of, it’s making toast.” [16:52]
• An unexpected highlight: meeting iconic UK children’s presenters Dick & Dom—leading to musings about the public’s surprise at Dan and Phil’s real-life height.

8. Muscles, Body Types, and the Neighbors Again

Timestamp: 19:08–20:46

• Phil expresses a desire to get “massive” (just the upper body—triangle on a point), recapping his childhood trek up a hill as glute training.
• Continued jesting over whether Phil can achieve this dream and what it would take.

9. Existential Tangents: Conception Dates and Demons

Timestamp: 20:46–23:10

• The conversation veers to Dan’s conception allegedly “on 9/11,” with Phil prodding for comic effect.
• Emergency Topic Generator: “Demons”—sparks discussion about irrational fears.
  • Phil: “When there’s a noise in the house in the night, I have to go. Because you’re like, what if it’s a demon? Not, what if it’s a murderer?” [22:15]
  • Dan: “You’re afraid of axe murderers. Cause they’re real. I’m afraid of demonic possession because it would be an unstoppable, unbeatable force if it were to occur.” [22:09]
• Discussion closes with demonic possession vs. normal horror fears.

10. Phil’s New Segment: “Here’s the Thing” – UK Holiday Oddities

Timestamp: 24:16–28:03

• Story 1: Runaway reindeer in Merseyside; military and lifeguards employed to locate it.
  • Phil: “Do we have nothing else happening in the UK? Why are the military free to help find a reindeer?” [24:48]
• Story 2: The Bristol “Sausage Bandit”—uncooked sausages being spread throughout a neighborhood.
  • Dan: “That’s not a story about a gay sauna.” [25:37]
• Story 3: The bones of St. Nicholas in Italy reportedly “leaking juice” (manna), which priests collect and sell for its alleged mystical/Christmas properties.
  • Phil: “Would you not like to say, hey, you know what? I’ve drunk some of Santa’s bone juice. That’s a fun anecdote, at least.” [27:45]

11. Community “Hard Launches”: Listeners Share Their Festive Confessions

Timestamp: 28:03–32:40

• Avery (America): Details the plan to auto-cannibalize sterilization-surgery fallopian tubes, asking if it’s legal or advisable to cook and eat them with barbecue or Chick-fil-A sauce.
  • Dan: “I really didn’t think I’d be here, but I’m quite open minded to barbecuing your own fallopian tubes.” [31:15]
• Himy (Ireland): Issues a controversial “gravy is bad” hard launch, decrying soggy roast potatoes.
  • Dan: “Oh, I love my completely dry dinner.” [31:03]
• Lydia (England): Shares her struggle with Christmas post-parents, sending solidarity and comfort to anyone for whom the season is difficult.
  • Phil: “For anyone struggling, here’s some vibes from us.” [32:40]

12. Closing Banter & Looking Forward

Timestamp: 32:41–end

• Dan and Phil announce a podcast break until January 12, with bonus content on Patreon and thanks to the community for a vibrant first season.
  • Dan: “We came out of a scary hard launching womb when we did the thing, and now we are dangerously comfortable.” [35:13]
  • Phil: “Here’s some vibes from us.” [32:40]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Every single time I’m stood over my sink making a coffee, it’s just full whang, straight in the window.” – Dan [01:14]
• “Nothing feels better than saying no to an invite and having a clear nostril on the day of Christmas.” – Dan [06:15]
• “If you get a fucking satsuma and some aspirin... what is the point?” – Dan [10:37]
• “Santa is gonna come in the room in the night and put a stocking on the bottom of the bed.” – Phil [11:19]
• “When there’s a noise in the house in the night, I have to go. Because you’re like, what if it’s a demon?” – Phil [22:15]
• “Would you not like to say, hey, you know what? I’ve drunk some of Santa’s bone juice. That’s a fun anecdote, at least.” – Phil [27:45]
• “I’m quite open minded to barbecuing your own fallopian tubes. But having a dry Christmas dinner... is completely fucked." – Dan [31:15, 31:27]
• “For anyone struggling, here’s some vibes from us.” – Phil [32:40]
• “We came out of a scary hard launching womb... and now we are dangerously comfortable.” – Dan [35:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Naked Neighbor Story: 00:52–02:51
• Jumpers & Visual Bits: 03:04–04:15
• Canceling Christmas Parties: 04:44–06:43
• Flu Jab Adventure: 07:20–09:10
• Leicester Christmas Traditions: 09:11–12:27
• Gift Etiquette & Emo Axolotl: 12:22–13:12
• Charity Toast Challenge: 15:15–18:02
• Listener "Hard Launches": 28:03–32:40
• Heartfelt Message from Lydia: 31:43–32:40
• Farewell and Next Episode Tease: 32:52–end

Summary

“Our First Christmas Together” is packed with rambunctious, uncensored fun as Dan and Phil share their approaches to Christmas, from dodging pathogens and social events to embracing Phil’s over-the-top family traditions and wacky neighborhood antics. The episode features truly unique confessions and listener calls, oscillating between comedic extremes and moments of genuine warmth and community support. As the season wraps, listeners are welcomed further into the “pink tinsel cave”—with the promise of more festive chaos and heartfelt connection in 2026.