Helping Friendly Podcast – "Dick’s Draft" (August 27, 2025)

Podcast: Helping Friendly Podcast
Episode Title: Dick’s Draft
Release Date: August 27, 2025
Hosts: RJ, Megan, Brian (Osiris Media)

Episode Overview

This episode is a spirited, in-depth draft-style competition among the hosts, focusing on the most celebrated Phish shows from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado. Since the band is not playing Dick’s this year, the HFPod crew takes a nostalgic, analytical, and very fan-driven trip through over a decade of Dick’s shows—evaluating legendary performances, signature jams, venue vibes, fan traditions, and the evolving musical highlights. Along the way, the episode delivers banter-rich personal stories, serious Phish nerdery, running jokes, and plenty of community inside references, all wrapped in the friendly rivalry of building the "ultimate" Dick’s run.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Allure of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for Phish

• Brian provides a deep-dive on why Dick’s is so revered:
  • “Fish took a huge risk in 2011 … and then they played there and you could see it from the webcast … the vibes were sky high … over the course of the last 14 years ... even when it hasn’t been great ... the vibes have been sky high because it’s always ended the summer tour.” (07:51)
  • The tradition and atmosphere are likened to MSG’s New Year’s Run in NYC in fan culture and predictability.
• Megan highlights how Dick’s “always ruins my great vibes over the summer tour because I’m always thinking...then they go out at Dick’s and play these killer shows.” (08:34)
• The hosts agree: it’s “so famous for how big the lot is and how dusty it is … all my friends who go always just have the best time.” (08:34)

2. Myth vs. Reality: Are Dick’s Shows Overrated?

[13:18–17:00]

• RJ raises the statistical question:

  “What do you guys think the mean fish.net rating is for Dick’s?”

  • Megan: “I would say it’s probably like 4.2.”
  • Brian: “I’ll go 3.9 because there are some clunkers.”
  • Correct answer: 4.2.
• RJ challenges the consensus:

  “Is it a slightly overrated set of shows overall? Because the vibes and the celebratory nature... or does 4.2 out of 5 represent the whole music of Dick’s to you?” (13:48)

• Brian’s nuanced take:

  “There are runs where, on a certain night, the stars completely align ... and the very next night, you’re like, who is this band and do they even know what stage they’re walking on?”
  “There was a time in the mid-2010s where the conversation was: you go to Dick’s for the party, not the music. I think that has changed in recent years.” (14:31)

• Megan’s defense:

  “I listened to 29 hours of Dick’s highlights … there’s so much unbelievable music ... almost hard to rank.” (15:54)

3. Draft Format & Rules

• Each host drafts:
  • One show from each night: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
  • A 3.0 wild card show (2009–2020)
  • A 4.0 wild card show (2021–present)
  • A Jam wild card (single jam from any show)
• The order is randomized; Megan gets the first pick.

  “I woke up this morning at 4:28 in a cold sweat freaking out about this draft.” – Megan (21:37)

4. Draft Highlights: The Picks, The Drama, and The Banter

Notable Early Picks

• Megan (First Overall):
  • 8/31/2012 – "Fuck Your Face" show (“I think it’s the best show they’ve ever played at Dick’s.” 21:37)
• Brian:
  • 9/4/2016 – “Very, very solid … kicks off a run from here through MSG 18 that was unparalleled in the 3.0 era.” (25:36)
• RJ:
  • 9/1/2012 – “It’s the best Saturday show they played there.” (28:46)

Legendary Jams Recognized

• Jam Wild Cards:
  • RJ: 8/31/2013 Chalk Dust Torture (“This jam is everything, multi-section, Fishman amazing... kicked off an epic run of Chalk Dusts at Dick’s.” 31:06)
  • Megan: 9/1/2012 Light (“It’s perfect ... any point in this jam sounds like they’re playing a song, completely composed.” 94:28)
  • Brian: 8/31/2012 Undermind (“Wood block that Fishman starts, Trey responds … the tone … the peak … then walk off—closest I ever came to a World Series win as a Cubs fan.” 96:43)

Sentimental & Fan-Favorite Picks

• RJ uses strategy for the “Thank You” show (9/6/15):

  “Fish thanks their fans, and everyone’s like, oh my God, that was the best day of my life.” (81:37)

• Megan highlights 9/4/2011 for including "the first maze opener in over 500 shows … Piper is one of my favorite jams from Dick’s.” (67:46)

5. Meta Commentary & Listener Participation

• Experiences at Dick’s: Personal stories pepper many picks (Brian’s 100th show, kids’ first shows, big emotional moments after Curveball was canceled, etc.).
• Debate over recency bias, rating inflation, venue traditions.
• Invitations to listeners:
  • Vote on the best Ghost on osirispod.com/rushmore (“This is going to be the most controversial Rushmore so far for sure. Because there’s at least 10 … that could be.” – RJ, 11:44)
  • New contest: “Send us your reworked intro to ‘Kill Devil Falls’ and we’ll get it into the right hands… You’ll get swag, a trip, whatever!” (19:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the first Dick’s show (the “S show”):
  • Brian: “It looked like a dead show from the 80s … this massive field … flags and poles and all this sort of stuff … over the last 14 years… you can set your watch to it.” (07:51)
• On the specialness of the Dick’s tradition:
  • Megan: "It’s like the end of summer ... it’s always just a fun tradition.” (08:34)
• On the Light from 9/1/12:
  • Megan: “It’s perfect. Any point in this jam, you could just stop, and it sounds like they’re playing a song … like, it sounds completely composed. And the peak is amazing.” (94:28)
• On the “Undermind” jam:
  • Brian: “Wood block that Fishman starts … shimmering chords and the white lights … took his guitar off, and I pulled out my phone to text 1,600 people how it was the greatest set of my life.” (96:43)
• On rating bias and fan memory:
  • Brian: “There’s recency bias in ratings on fish.net overall... mid-2010s, you went to Dick’s for the party, not necessarily the music.” (14:31)

Timestamped Breakdown

• 07:51 – Brian recounts the first Dick’s and the venue traditions.
• 13:18–17:00 – Debate about fish.net ratings, recency bias, and whether Dick’s is overrated musically.
• 21:37 – The draft begins. Megan takes first pick, the “Fuck Your Face” show (2012).
• 25:36–30:00 – Early picks and rationale, Brian and RJ’s selection drama.
• 31:06 – RJ claims the 8/31/13 Chalk Dust as jam wild card and details why.
• 46:07 – Strategic discussions about Thursday shows (generally weakest category).
• 67:46 – Megan chooses 9/4/11 as her Sunday show; discussion of sentimental value.
• 81:37 – RJ nabs the 9/6/15 “Thank You” show, and the hosts discuss why it’s so beloved.
• 94:28 – Megan’s passionate defense of the 9/1/12 Light jam.
• 96:43 – Brian’s emotional recounting of the 8/31/12 Undermind.

Recurring Themes & Running Jokes

• Vibe vs. Music: The tension between Dick’s as a place of unparalleled vibes versus an always musically outstanding venue.
• “Vibe Show” vs. “Strategic Pick”: Ongoing debate about the value of sentimental or “vibe” shows in a data-proven, draft-style format; playful criticism among the hosts.
• Draft Rules Confusion: Frequent, good-natured confusion and meta-commentary about snake draft order, draft strategy, and past draft regrets.
• Listener Engagement: Joking about “illegitimate votes,” voting methods, and social media strategy (“all the votes are going to be at osirispod.com/draft, because I don’t want to hear any nonsense about illegitimate wins.” – Megan, 106:36).
• Personal Phish Lore: Brian and others intersperse records of personal Phish milestones, missed shows, and generational/parental joy at taking kids to Dick’s.

How to Participate

• Vote on the Ghost Rushmore:
  osirispod.com/rushmore

• Vote for your favorite Dick’s Draft collection:
  osirispod.com/draft

• Submit a reworked intro for Kill Devil Falls:
  osirispod.com/contact

In Summary

“Dick’s Draft” is a Phish fan’s dream episode: It’s part stats, part personal history, all friendly competition, and absolutely loaded with inside jokes, lore, and cultural touchstones from 14 years of Dick’s runs. The hosts challenge each other on what makes a show truly “great,” celebrate the wildest jams, and invite fans to join in the ongoing dialogue that has defined HFPod. The episode’s structure, banter, and genuine love for the music and community make it a highlight for both casual and diehard fans of Phish and “the lot.”

“It’s all about camaraderie and friendship and fun…that’s what’s really driving us here at HFPod.” – RJ (107:33)