Hey Riddle Riddle #371: Shakira Weekly! w/ Paul Rust & Neil Campbell

Release Date: August 27, 2025
Podcast by Headgum – Hosted by: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan (JPC)
Guests: Paul Rust & Neil Campbell

Episode Overview

In this riddle-filled, improv-heavy episode of Hey Riddle Riddle, Paul Rust and Neil Campbell join the crew for riffs, riddles, and rampant tangents. The central theme is that while riddles and puzzles are sprinkled throughout, the real joy is in the conversational improvisation, nostalgic stories, and comedic chemistry. This episode features fun mash-up riddles, notorious riddle groans, and lively discussion about celebrity encounters, crossword obsessions, and the quirks of vegetarian dining experiences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unique Recording Setup & Comfort Jokes

• The episode starts with the hosts noting an unusual recording setup—everyone sitting on a couch, “Last Supper”-style, humorously described as “a podcast Waymo” (02:41 – 03:19).
• Erin: “I hate this setup. This is horrible.” (03:17)

2. Guest Introduction & Improv Roots

• Paul and Neil are introduced, described as old friends from the University of Iowa, with early bonding over Radiohead’s Kid A (05:01 – 05:36).
• They discuss their improv “MVP” friend circle and share in-jokes about improv in LA and betting against improv shows (04:46 – 05:01).

3. Brief College & Sports Tangent

• Reminiscence about notable Iowa Hawkeyes athletes, especially Tim Dwight’s odd post-NFL track stint (05:54 – 06:38).
• Neil: “He might have even made it to the Super Bowl his rookie year…then came back to Iowa and ran track.” (06:43-06:48)

4. Riddles & Puzzles Origins

• Paul’s history with puzzles rooted in Childcraft Books—described as a highlight of his childhood, but admits he likely peaked then (10:20 – 11:02).
• Neil reveals he’s a daily NYT crossword solver with a 1600+ day streak and an impressive Monday best time of 2:49 (11:22 – 11:56).
  • Neil: “My all time best is a Monday—2:49.” (11:56)

5. Riddles in Social Media & Annoying “No-Answer” Riddles

• Discussion of “clickbait” Instagram riddles that are intentionally unsolvable or poorly worded to generate debate, which Neil finds infuriating (13:04 – 14:10):
  • Neil: “They are doing it deliberately to create comments where everyone just bickers and boost engagement.” (13:16)
• Host’s self-aware humor about their own “bad” riddles, “There’s probably 30 good riddles and we did those all within the first six weeks.” (16:39)

6. Riddle Segment: Classic Lateral Thinking Problems

• Example riddle introduced: “There’s a cabin in the woods, everyone inside is dead, no footprints in/out. How did everyone die?” The answer—“Cabin of an airplane”—sets the tone for the kinds of lateral riddles featured (16:12 – 16:35).
• Audiences are primed to expect and endure “bad but fun” riddles, with emphasis on improv scenes that spiral out of the riddles.

7. Improv Scenes Sparked by Riddles

• Riddles often serve as launch-pads for extended comedic scenes:
  • Example scene: “A Beauty and the Beast” style scene about being trapped with animated objects (21:21 – 22:08).
  • Example riff: Hell as a bureaucratic waiting room for prankster kids (26:04 – 27:19).

8. Mashup Riddles / Celebrity Name Combos (53:13 – 62:10)

• Hybrid celebrity riddles from live shows—example: “This Billy Elliot actor sings ‘Maneater’” = Tom Holland Oates (54:16 – 54:22).
• Other mashups include: Jackie Channing Tatum, Shakira Knightley, Dev Patelin DeGeneres, and Lil Wayne Gretzky.
• Paul Rust: “Jackie Channing Tatum!” (55:12)
• The hosts and guests delight in the wordplay and escalate to jokes about hypothetical movies and Vegas trip ideas.

9. Crowd Work & Anecdotes

• The group swaps stories of celebrity run-ins, focusing on the essential question: how tall is every celebrity, really? (68:53 – 69:49)
• Adal: “My favorite part of seeing celebrities in person is to see how tall they are.” (68:53)

10. Oddly Specific Quirks & Callbacks

• Riffs on improv show betting, animals as car metaphors, and a recurring bit about Erin turning into a car (begins at show start, referenced throughout).
• Comedic debate about the etiquette of asking for signatures or celebrity photos (61:07 – 61:27).
• Detailed debates about vegetarian food ordering confusion and stadium food choices (47:10 – 50:53).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Neil Campbell:

  “My all time best [NYT crossword] is a Monday—2:49.” (11:56)

• Erin Keif:

  “I hate this setup. This is horrible.” (03:17)

• JPC:

  “There’s probably 30 good riddles and we did those all within the first six weeks. And it's been going for eight years.” (16:39)

• Paul Rust:

  “Jackie Channing Tatum!” (55:12)

• Adal Rifai:

  “My favorite part of seeing celebrities in person is to see how tall they are.” (68:53)

• Neil, on stadium vegan food:

  “Was your goal to eat something or was your goal to make sure a chicken died? Just get the fucking vegan chicken and go watch the soccer game.” (49:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:41] – Unusual couch recording setup & classic bits
• [05:01] – Paul & Neil’s college friendship & Kid A story
• [10:20] – Puzzles in childhood: Childcraft Books & NYT crosswords
• [13:04] – Annoying ‘clickbait’ social media riddles discussion
• [16:12] – Lateral thinking cabin/airplane riddle example
• [16:49] – First riddle of the episode, rapid solution/improv
• [21:21] – Long-form Beauty & the Beast-style improv
• [26:04] – Hell’s waiting room scene
• [47:10] – Vegan restaurant & family mishaps
• [53:13] – Start of “Mashup Riddles” segment (celebrity name games)
• [61:07] – Crowd work/encountering other celebrities
• [68:53] – Celebrity height anecdotes

Episode Tone and Energy

The episode is driven by friendly ribbing, callback bits (Erin as a car), playful outrage at deliberately obtuse riddles, and the guests’ skill at both jumping into and heightening ridiculous improv scenes. The group’s chemistry turns even the simplest riddle into an excuse for narrative digressions and comedic tangents, staying true to their ethos—“if you don’t like riddles, don’t worry! This podcast is barely about them!”

Guest Plugs

• Neil Campbell:
  • Co-created animated series Digman! (Comedy Central, Wednesdays after South Park; Season 2)
• Paul Rust:
  • Playhouse Masterpieces improv show, Elysian Theater (LA), second Friday monthly; often featuring regulars like Mike Mitchell, Fran Gillespie, and Lily Sullivan

Epilogue

If you missed this episode: Expect a heavy tilt towards improv, wordplay, playful storytelling, and a steady supply of self-deprecating humor about the state of riddles and puzzles in the modern world. The episode is a fun, freewheeling hangout powered by veteran improvisers and comic minds at their loosest and goofiest.