Hey Riddle Riddle #374: Rat Kebabs

Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan
Main Theme: Riddles, tangents, comedic scenes, and historical trivia, with a focus on improvisational humor around classic and bizarre riddles.

Episode Overview

Episode #374, titled "Rat Kebabs," captures the signature chaotic energy of Hey Riddle Riddle, blending classic and unusual riddles with character banter, comedic sketches, and a heavy dose of improvisational digressions. Adal, Erin, and JPC riff on camping mishaps, pop culture (Transformers, The Killers, Shakira), and historical oddities, always circling back (eventually) to the riddles at hand. Notable for its playful scenes, the episode is a loose, joke-packed romp, ideal for listeners who enjoy as much improv as they do puzzles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Camping Chaos & Cowboy Coffee (00:19–03:51)

• The hosts set the scene with a pretend camping trip: Adal improvises "cowboy coffee" (actually chili with pinto beans), revealing he arrived with a mix of comedy props and little real camping supplies.
• Classic show banter—Erin and JPC mock Adal's lack of preparation and question his odd gourmet choices.
• Notable moment: JPC reveals his "sleeping bag" is actually a box of Ziploc bags, prompting ongoing jokes about improvising in the wilderness.

“You are sunburned to all hell.” – Erin (01:44) “If I didn’t know we were camping, would I have brought all this wax to make candles?” – Adal (02:11)

2. Pop Culture Tangents: Sinners, Woo Girls, Shakira & Adele (03:55–08:07)

• Quick review of the film "Sinners," leading to a discussion about "woo girls"—the group of women at parties who punctuate nights with enthusiastic "woo"s.
• They riff on Shakira's "She Wolf," mumble-singing, and the idea of superstar singers half-assing famous hooks.

"Is there a moment where Adele gets up to the mic and she goes, 'What's an Adele song?'" – Adal (07:09)

• Analogies tie back to improv and signature bits.

3. Celebrity Lookalikes & Imposter Contests (08:00–10:38)

• The trio jokes about celebrity lookalike contests, adapting the trope of celebrities entering their own doppelganger competitions.
• Adal: “I could do a 'guy on the train's cousin' lookalike contest, and I would win.”
• Escalates into making fun of casting for biopics and outlandish movie pitches.

4. Riddles Begin! (…Sort of) (13:53 onwards)

Riddle #1: The Tire Tracks

• Police find tire tracks leading to a farmhouse with two men and a woman; no car present.
• After extended Transformer-based banter and an improvised scene, Erin solves the riddle: the "tracks" were made by a wheelchair, and the woman was arrested.

“Wheel... Unicycle. Tricycle.” – Adal (23:13) Solved at: (23:25)

Riddle #2: William’s Exam

• William is the least intelligent student but his name is at the top of the results.
• Solved quickly: The list is alphabetical (William Abbott).
• Scene: The hosts improvise a hilarious "dumb class" sketch with students obsessed with pizza.

"Is it coming? Is it close? Is it soon? Is it here?" – Erin as student (25:23)

Riddle #3: The Titanic & Weather

• Why did the Titanic sink in good weather but likely wouldn’t have in bad?
• Because in stormier conditions, lookouts might have seen (or heard) the iceberg.

"Icebergs make groaning noises when they move." – JPC reading from riddle (30:15)

• Adal points out real historical nuance: unique weather conditions made the iceberg harder to spot.
• Outstanding improv: They become icebergs critiquing the film Titanic.

“We're the villain in that movie?” – Adal as iceberg (31:56)

Further Riddle Highlights

• Responsible Woman (Guillotine): The answer is "Madame Guillotine," the execution device. The riddle’s gendering of objects sparks feminist humor and another character scene.
• Tea and Milk Riddle: Why did English social classes pour milk and tea differently? Rich had china cups that withstood hot tea, so poured tea first; poor had crockery that might crack, so poured milk first.

"Pouring the tea first became a sign of prosperity." – JPC (64:40)

• Multiple answers and guesses spiral into prolonged, silly tangents.

5. Recurring Tangents & Comedy Scenes

• Impersonating bands (The Killers); awkward crowd interactions at concerts.
• Bringing kids on stage at live shows, "you would woo!" as a callout for audience excitement.
• Debate over sports teams named after tragedies, minor league baseball made with animal teams, and the ongoing "rat kebab" motif.
• Networking as a poor person in 19th-century England leads to roleplay about tea etiquette and class difference (65:08–68:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Camping Failures

“You guys don’t deserve my cowboy coffee. Spit it back out!” — Adal (03:02)

• Shakira & Singing Bits

“She didn’t put her whole hips behind it because her hips don’t lie.” — Erin (06:07)
“What's an Adele song?” — Adal (07:09)

• Improv Skit as Icebergs

“We have feelings too. We're the villain in that movie.” — JPC (31:56)

• On the Riddle for Tea and Milk

“Cheap crockery is also just like such a great—That’s your ex’s cruel nickname for you!” — Erin (65:00)

• Concert Impressions

“$100 to whoever can make the loudest woo sound. On the count of three. One, two, three. Fuck you guys. You would woo.” — Erin (46:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Camping & Cowboy Coffee: 00:19–03:51
• Sinners & Woo Girls: 03:55–08:07
• Celebrity Lookalike Tangent: 08:00–10:38
• Riddle #1 (Wheelchair): 13:53–23:25
• Riddle #2 (Alphabetical): 24:09–24:33
• Titanic/Weather Riddle: 29:34–30:34
• Iceberg Scene: 31:22–33:37
• Guillotine Riddle & Feminist Scene: 55:39–59:20
• Tea & Milk Riddle: 60:40–65:08
• English Tea Networking Scene: 65:08–68:32
• Concert/Audience Interaction Bits: 43:13–47:23

Episode Tone & Character

• Highly improvisational; riddles serve as launchpads for comedic bits rather than the main focus.
• Self-aware humor—hosts exaggerate their own lack of riddle-solving prowess.
• Quick-witted, tangent-prone, and inclusive of both niche and broad comedy.
• Maintains the classic Hey Riddle Riddle formula: if you’re here for precision puzzle mastery, you'll stay for off-the-wall scenes and inventive riffs.

Closing & Plugs (68:44–70:57)

• Patreon: "Check out our Patreon... we've got a fun October coming up." – Erin (68:52)
• Live Shows: “Come see us live, HeyRiddleRiddle.com/live” – Erin
• Other Podcasts: Gum, Shoes & Dragons; Hello from the Magic Tavern (Adal/JPC)
• Notable Listener Submission: Celebrating a 20-year-old listener who’s been listening since 2018 (70:18)
• Final Banter: Ongoing confusion about Transformers lore—Megatron vs. Cybertron.

Summary

Episode 374 of Hey Riddle Riddle is classic Clue Crew madness: a sometimes-frustrated, mostly jubilant messy stew of perplexing riddles, even more perplexing improv, and endless inside jokes. Whether discussing "cowboy coffee" or the perils of Victorian tea testing, the hosts' chemistry shines through. Not much here for pure logic puzzle lovers, but if you’re in it for the comedy—this is prime, beans-in-your-coffee, rat-kebab entertainment.