Helping Friendly Podcast: Holiday Jams Draft!

Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: Brian, Megan, Justin Bruce, Ryan Storm
Theme: Celebrating, debating, and drafting the greatest Phish holiday shows and jams, with detailed fan perspectives, spirited banter, and deep-cut analysis.

Episode Overview

The HFPod team—joined by Phish community notables Justin Bruce and Ryan Storm—gets in the holiday spirit by drafting their favorite shows and jams from the legendary Phish New Year’s and holiday runs. Structured as a “snake draft,” each host selects from seven categories, building dream setlists while sparring over criteria, strategy, and Phish fandom. The episode is rich with both deep analysis (musical, historical, sentimental) and the playful trash talk that defines the best Phish fan gatherings.

Segment Breakdown and Discussion Points

Introductions and Vibe Check (01:19–07:21)

• Hosts: Brian, Megan
• Guests: Ryan Storm (returning), Justin Bruce (first time on draft, experienced podcaster)
• Topics:
  • Holiday/“winter break” excitement, teaching anecdotes, work stress.
  • How each host is preparing for the upcoming MSG New Year’s run: “Man on holiday mode is just the best theme.” (06:43 Megan)

Notable Quote:

“10 days from now, we'll all be hanging out on our couches getting ready to webcast tonight. I'm so stoked.” —Brian (06:05)

What the MSG New Year’s Run Means (08:02–17:14)

Panelists reflect on the unique tradition and personal meaning of Phish’s New Year’s Run at Madison Square Garden:

• Justin Bruce: More into year-end album recaps than the Fish NYE run. Never been to MSG for NYE, uses runs as a way to catch up.
  • “It’s not a tent pole of my fish personality.” (08:51)
• Ryan Storm: Has watched every NYE since 2011; MSG is now non-negotiable for New Year’s Eve.
  • “It’s the only place that I ever want to be on New Year’s Eve.” (10:10)
• Megan: MSG is her “home venue.” Sees it as an annual reunion and culmination of the Phish year.
  • “It always just feels like a reunion in a way.” (13:21)
• Brian: Reflects on the magic and history; loves how the run both caps the year and hints at the next phase.
  • “The year ends and begins at the same time. You know what I'm saying?” (09:36)

Memorable Story

• Megan: Teaching her kids a sandwich song, then serenading the school cafeteria chef—highlighting her holiday “vibes day.” (02:21)

Draft Format Explanation (17:14–19:17)

• Categories: 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231 (NYE), Random Date Show, Wild Card Show, Holiday Jam.
• Snake Draft: Order determined by die roll (Megan, Ryan, Justin, Brian).
  • “There are about 16 different first picks here, so I'm curious to see how she's going to mess this one up.” —Brian (19:51, teasing Megan)

The Draft: Picks, Arguments & Analysis (19:51–1:18:12)

Detailed highlights, with speaker, quotes, and timestamps:

Round 1: Opening Salvos

1. Megan—1231/95 (NYE) [20:54]

• “The ultimate Fish peak. The first show that Fish played that was the absolute ultimate peak.”
• Universally agreed a “strongest” NYE show; described as “the band at their absolute, like, strongest point.” —Brian (22:37)

2. Ryan—1231/99 (Big Cypress) [24:55]

• “I mean, this is one of those picks that to me… if it was on the table and you don't take it, I don't know what to tell you.”
• Confirmed: “Night two,” i.e. midnight-to-dawn marathon.

3. Justin—1230/97 [26:54]

• “I am going to take a specimen show from a specimen year… the Rushmore bag, the spare groove. Then it's peaky, then it's chill, then it's rocking…”
• Universally recognized as top tier; loved by all hosts.

4. Brian—1230/93 [29:20]

• “Historically important… preceded by a blizzard drive… this is one of those shows where the band gives you insight into who they are into the lore of Fishdom.”
• Followed by a strategic early “Random Date” 1/3/15 Miami show pick (31:48).

Notable Draft Strategies & Tactics

• Early category “runs” and “blocking”:
  Justin and Brian stress the importance of strategically snagging shows in rare categories (“You really don’t want to end up with a couple of these.” —Brian, 44:53).
• Wild Card Intrigue:
  Justin stuns by grabbing 12/30/19 as a wild card for its “epic tweezer.” “It's not just about the tweezer. It’s mostly about the tweezer.” (36:08)
• Personal Attendance Bias:
  All drafters admit favorite live shows impact their picks, but try to balance “objective” greatness with personal memories.
  • “Attendance bias, Meg.” —Brian (100:21)

Key Debates & Memorable Exchanges

On Show vs. Jam Greatness

• On 12/29/94 Providence:
  • “You don't have to pretend that the rest of the show is that good. This show is about the Bowie.” —Ryan (42:27)
  • Megan defends whole show status: “It's about the bowie… but I like this show.” (42:45)

On “Controversial” Picks

• Megan picking 12/30/19 Tweezer as her jam:
  • “If you don't agree with me... you can... you don’t have to vote for me!” (84:28)
• Brian’s honest critique:
  • “The last seven minutes are unlistenable from a jamming standpoint... [but] seven minutes in the middle are some of the most perfect, fluid, effortless, gorgeous, peaceful Fish jamming that has ever been played.” (85:44)

On Recent 4.0 Shows:

• Ryan, picking 12/28/23:
  • “I absolutely adore this show… I wanted a 4.0 pick. And this is my 4.0 pick here.” (50:46)
  • Others: “That’s the one you went with?” (50:38, Brian and Megan in unison)

Most Contentious Exchange

On 12/29/97 versus 12/30/97:

• Ryan: “I don't think 1230 is all that it's cracked up to be beyond a really, really long show… Overrated.” (76:16)
• Megan: “If that's what you're thinking about on 1230/97, you just really don't get it.” (76:36)

Favorite Show & Jam Highlights

For each major category, the top shows and jams drafted included:

• 12/28: 98 (MSG, acoustic mini-set), 23 (4.0 “wave of hope”), 95 (historic Worcester), 03 (type-2 Bowie and Tweezer).
• 12/29: 94 Providence (Bowie), 95 Worcester (Real Gin), 97 (Antelope, Tube), 24 (huge Ruby Waves).
• 12/30: 97 (“Specimen year”), 19 (“Religious” Tweezer), 18 (slow alumni, MIKE’s groove, Glide), 17 (Disease), 16 (floor pyrotechnics, Ghost).
• 12/31: 95 (“Ultimate peak”), 99 (Cypress), 03 (Miami, “no one was having more fun than Fish”), 98 (flow/stagecraft), 93 (beginning of the Big NYE show tradition).
• Random Dates: 1/1/11 MSG, 1/3/15 Miami (groovy DWD), 1/2/16 (tweezer, lizards), 1/3/03 (five-song set, memorably uneven).
• Wild Card: 12/31/93 (“for the pageantry and Down with Disease jam's debut”), Gamehenge 12/31/23, 12/30/16 (Brian’s personal attendance story).

Notable Jam Picks

• Best of the Best:
  • 12/29/94 Bowie (“the most narrative jam they’ve ever played”—Megan, 68:14)
  • 12/30/19 Tweezer (“all the elements I want in a jam… on the list with Providence Bowie”—Megan, 84:28; also, Justin's wild card show)
  • Big Cypress Roses are Free (Justin: “the point of Big Cypress, the long gig dream realized” —93:24)
  • 12/29/23 Chalk Dust Torture (Ryan: “absolutely incredible … dark and experimental … a fantastic time”—115:21)

Draft Results Review, Rosters, and Final Banter (1:18:12–1:29:55)

Reading of Full Drafts (124:17 onward)

• Brian recaps the teams with both admiration and mockery: “All time favorite show. And mine too category, and Meg's too.” (124:55)
• Megan feigns offense at criticism of her 12/29/94 pick; playful bickering, high spirits prevail.

Closing Community Vibes

• Justin is praised as “the silent assassin,” whose careful notes and strategic picks upend the game.
• Heartwarming: Everyone reflects on how much fun it is to needle each other, expressing genuine friendship and shared joy in Phish.
  • “I love that we're all close enough friends that we can, like, abuse each other in the context of drafting fish.” —Ryan (128:50)

Notable Quotes

• “Why have friends if you can't abuse them? That’s a really good … put that on a T-shirt.” —Brian (129:02)
• “The most narrative jam they've ever played… It is, to me, the perfect journey jam.” —Megan on 12/29/94 Bowie (68:14)
• “No one is having more fun than Phish and the whole crowd on 1231, 2003.” —Justin (55:12)
• “There’s a magic to this time of year. … The year ends and begins at the same time.” —Brian (09:36, 14:10)
• “This is my fish church… I like to be in the middle of the soup feeling the vibes…” —Megan (111:08)
• “I have my first selection still available from 12/29. To make sure that I'm representative of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and now 4.0…” —Justin (116:43, selecting 12/29/24)
• “Attendance bias, Meg.” —Brian (100:21, in full self-aware mode)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:19] — Episode/guest intro, holidays
• [08:02] — What the MSG Run means to each host
• [17:14] — Draft rules, categories, order
• [19:51] — Draft begins
• [24:55] — Big Cypress (Ryan’s pick)
• [36:08] — Justin’s wild card stunner: 12/30/19 Tweezer show
• [42:27] — 12/29/94 Bowie debate
• [50:38] — 2023 picks begin, generational arguments on modern years
• [68:14] — 12/29/94 Bowie jam: the "journey jam" debate
• [84:28] — Megan claims “her” 12/30/19 Tweezer
• [115:20] — Ryan’s 12/29/23 Chalk Dust jam pick
• [122:10] — Brian’s last pick, 12/28/03, and closing statements
• [124:17] — Full draft list and results, banter
• [128:50] — Reflections on Phish fandom, friendships, and closing

Overall Tone, Language, and Community

The episode is marked by quintessential Phish fan energy: detailed, earnest, occasionally pedantic, but always self-aware and rooted in camaraderie. The hosts lovingly roast each other’s choices, defend their own, and celebrate both the universally-agreed classics and personal sentimental favorites. They quote setlists, reference inside jokes ("attendance bias!"), and swing between hilarious storytelling and hardcore jam analysis—demonstrating why they “bring the fan voice into discussions about Phish.”

Essential Takeaways

• The MSG Holiday Run is “fish church” for fans: It’s about the jams, the community, the tradition, and yes, the drama.
• Classic peaks—and quirky personal picks—define fandom: While everyone agrees on “must-haves” like Big Cypress or 12/30/97, there’s genuine affection for less-lauded shows too.
• The draft is both competitive and connective: The fun is in the debate; the “winners” are the listeners who find new jams to love.
• Generational and stylistic diversity: Both 1.0 and 4.0 are represented and defended; every era has a champion.
• **Phish shows aren’t just music—they’re memories, reunions, and for many, homecomings.

For Newcomers:

If you missed the episode, this summary highlights both the historic shows to listen to and the friendly chaos that is the Phish community in holiday mode. Start with any of the shows or jams named above, and you’ll get why this tradition means so much.

“Why have friends if you can’t abuse them? Goose 2024.” —Brian (129:02, in full draft spirit)

Vote for your favorite draft in the episode comments—and happy holidays!