Podcast Title: Hey Riddle Riddle
Host/Authors: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, and John Patrick Coan
Episode: #356: Shinny Dipping
Release Date: May 14, 2025

Introduction

In episode #356, titled "Shinny Dipping," the Hey Riddle Riddle team delves into a mix of improvisational comedy, engaging riddles, and humorous promotions. The hosts—Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, and John Patrick Coan—navigate through playful banter, creative riddle-solving, and lighthearted advertisements, maintaining their signature blend of wit and improvisation.

Voicemail Theme and Initial Banter

The episode kicks off with a playful exchange about the voicemail theme introduced by their producer, Casey. The hosts joke about Casey's eagerness to implement the voicemail theme, leading to the decision to play it early in the episode.

Notable Quote:

• JPC (00:46): "I feel like he wants to do it."

After several attempts and humorous distractions, they successfully integrate the voicemail theme into the show, complete with Casey's quirky message.

Plugs and Promotions

Following the voicemail segment, the hosts transition into promoting their live shows and Patreon content. They enthusiastically encourage listeners to join their weekly bonus episodes on Patreon and attend their live performances across multiple cities.

Notable Quotes:

• Adol (08:52): "We can plug the Hey Riddle live shows. We're doing 10 cities this year at least."
• Aaron (09:12): "Hang out. We're going to so many places we haven't been before."

They also highlight individual projects, such as JPC's meditation guide and Aaron's variety show "Quality Time" in Los Angeles.

Riddle Segments and Improvisational Scenes

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to riddle-solving and improvisational scenes. The hosts engage in creative and sometimes convoluted approaches to deciphering riddles, showcasing their improvisational skills and comedic chemistry.

First Riddle: "Lynn Likes Grapes but Not Potatoes"

The team tackles a riddle involving preferences between various fruits and vegetables. Their brainstorming reveals a humorous back-and-forth as they attempt to deduce the underlying pattern.

Riddle: "Lynn likes grapes but not potatoes. She likes squash but not lettuce. And she likes peas but not onions. Following the same rule, will she like pumpkins or apples?"

Notable Quotes:

• Adol (15:43): "Lynn likes grapes but not potatoes..."
• Aaron (16:05): "She'll like apples."

After some playful confusion and multiple attempts, they conclude that the preference is based on specific growth patterns of the items, albeit with humorous inaccuracies.

Second Riddle: "Bobby Likes Jimmy, but Not Joe"

Another riddle involves determining preferences based on the presence of double letters in names and objects. The hosts explore various linguistic and nonsensical explanations before attempting to map their conclusions into improvisational scenes.

Notable Quotes:

• Adol (24:51): "Sally."
• JPC (25:04): "He likes words or names with double letters."

Product Advertisements: Tempo by Home Chef and Helix Sleep

The episode features mock advertisements for products like Tempo by Home Chef and Helix Sleep, crafted with the hosts' humorous twist. These segments parody traditional commercial formats, adding to the show's comedic flair.

Tempo by Home Chef

The hosts promote Tempo's meal delivery service, humorously blending genuine product features with playful banter.

Notable Quotes:

• Adol (34:21): "Hey, who said Sunday? It comes with farro."
• JPC (34:39): "Tempo is a weekly delivery service that delivers chef-crafted meals from a dietitian-approved menu."

Helix Sleep

Similarly, they advertise Helix Sleep mattresses, interjecting jokes about crabs and fictional narratives to entertain listeners while promoting the product.

Notable Quotes:

• JPC (37:14): "Helix Sleep is the most comfortable mattress you will ever sleep on."
• Adol (38:20): "I got tired moving my bed and laid down on my mattress—it's so nice."

Favorite Jokes and Comedy Discussions

The hosts share their favorite jokes from various movies and TV shows, reflecting on comedic writing and memorable punchlines. This segment highlights their appreciation for humor in different media and sparks discussions about iconic comedic moments.

Notable Quotes:

• Aaron (46:00): "In Tina Fey's book, she goes through all the 30 Rock writers and tells us her favorite joke from each."
• Adol (50:12): "One of my favorite TV jokes is from 30 Rock, where Kenneth just goes, 'Balloon.'"

Improvisational Rap Battles

Adding another layer of comedy, the hosts engage in rap battles about hockey, specifically focusing on the informal game of shinny. These segments showcase their versatility and commitment to creating spontaneous humor.

Notable Quotes:

• Aaron (32:53): "Shitty, shitty shinny. Shitty shinny."
• Adol (42:54): "I love hockey and that's so real. I love skating with my blades of steel."

True Crime Discussion: Karen Reed Trial

Towards the latter part of the episode, Aaron shifts the conversation to a real-life true crime case involving Karen Reed. This segment blends genuine intrigue with the hosts' characteristic humor as they dissect the complexities of the trial and its implications.

Notable Quotes:

• Aaron (60:00): "Karen Reed is this woman who is dating a Canton police officer in Massachusetts."
• Adol (61:08): "It's so crazy because it's just like the cop that investigated her has now been fired."

Conclusion and Final Plugs

As the episode winds down, the hosts wrap up their discussions with additional plugs for their Patreon and upcoming content. They maintain their humorous tone, leaving listeners entertained and informed about where to find more of their content.

Notable Quotes:

• Adol (70:07): "They can't use any of the jingles that you guys wrote last time."
• JPC (71:28): "That was a Headgum podcast."

Key Takeaways

• Blend of Humor and Riddles: The episode exemplifies the hosts' ability to mix comedic improvisation with engaging riddles, creating an entertaining experience for listeners.

• Creative Advertisements: Mock ads for products like Tempo by Home Chef and Helix Sleep add a parody element, enhancing the show's playful nature.

• Interactive Content: Riddle-solving segments and improvisational scenes foster listener engagement and showcase the hosts' dynamic chemistry.

• Diverse Topics: From favorite jokes to true crime discussions, the episode covers a wide range of subjects, keeping the content fresh and varied.

Notable Quotes Overview:

• JPC (00:46): "I feel like he wants to do it."
• Adol (08:52): "We can plug the Hey Riddle live shows. We're doing 10 cities this year at least."
• Adol (15:54): "Here's what else. One more little part here."
• Aaron (32:53): "Shitty, shitty shinny. Shitty shinny."
• Aaron (46:00): "In Tina Fey's book, she goes through all the 30 Rock writers and tells us her favorite joke from each."
• JPC (37:14): "Helix Sleep is the most comfortable mattress you will ever sleep on."
• Aaron (60:00): "Karen Reed is this woman who is dating a Canton police officer in Massachusetts."

This episode of Hey Riddle Riddle masterfully combines humor, improvisation, and interactive content, delivering an engaging and entertaining experience for its audience.