Hey Riddle Riddle #378: "Original Swanzo" (October 15, 2025) — Detailed Episode Summary

Main Theme & Overview

This episode of Hey Riddle Riddle continues the show's signature blend of playful improv, brainteasers, and comedic banter. Hosts Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, and John Patrick Coan (JPC) embark on a journey through original riddles, Halloween-themed mashup puzzles, and digressions on mysterious celebrity identities, obscure products like "Pulpsy," and the relative hotness of female Gremlins. Expect scenes spun from riddle answers, riffs on pop culture, and the usual dynamic chemistry.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Cold Open & Pulpsy Challenge (00:37–06:08)

• The show launches into a surreal improv about a fake "Pulpsy Challenge," parodying viral taste tests (“Pepsi Challenge”), but with an increasingly absurd product: Pulpsy (Pepsi with pulp—or just, as they joke, someone's urine with pulp).
• The hosts play a series of characters debating participation, compensation, and the ethics of unpaid commercial shoot participants.
  • Quote (Erin as whistleblower): "This is like when I didn't get paid for 60 Minutes because they blurred my face and altered my voice..." (03:27)
  • Quote (JPC as pitchman): "Pulpsy is nothing. It's just I have different kinds of pulp, and you have to drink all the pulp and tell me which pulp you like better..." (04:34)
• Tone: Playfully absurd and meta, with self-aware riffs on commercialism and the show’s own improvisation style.

2. The Legend of Swanzo, Art World Anonymity & Famous Mysteries (06:09–13:19)

• The trio explores the trope of anonymous artists in pop culture, inventing “Swanzo”—a mysterious branch-breaking public artist.
  • Scene: Adal as a wannabe-Banksy ("Swanzo"), JPC as his friend who spoils the anonymity, and Erin as an IP attorney (“Nance”).
  • Fun comparisons to Banksy, MF Doom, Gallagher, and performers who play with persona and secrecy.
• Quote: "I'm surprised there's not more Banksy types... people who are anonymously drunk?" (06:20–06:28)
• Discussion of whether it’s possible to “go anonymous” after achieving fame, name-dropping Sia and Orville Peck.
• Thematic link: The show’s fixation on playful identity (mirrored in anonymous riddles and scene work).

3. Riddle Chain: Word Reduction Puzzles & Scenes (13:30–28:03)

First Chain: Slice, Lice, Ice (15:08–18:20)

• Riddle: “Start with 5, cut through the air. Remove my head, I'm in your hair. Remove it again, fires pair.”
  • Solutions: Slice → Lice → Ice
  • Improv: Erin and JPC as disgruntled lice tenants, confronting their “landlord” (Erin as human head).
  • Quote: "My water bottle's gone. My Merrells are gone. Un…" (16:30)
  • Highlights: Playful legalese (“laos agreement”), lice party complaints, “out damn spot” Shakespeare riff.

Second Chain: Grasp, Rasp, Asp (20:02–24:22)

• Riddle: “Start with five, I'm hard to hold. Remove my head, my voice is hoarse. Remove it again, I slither along, my blood runs cold.”
  • Solutions: Grasp → Rasp → Asp
  • Improv: Cleopatra (Aaron) and her sassy asp (JPC), bickering about clothing, insurance, and personal boundaries.
  • Quote (JPC as Asp): "Hey bitch, I'm not clothes." (22:39)
  • Memorable Moment: Cleopatra movie montage as a mall trip.

Third Chain: Speak, Peak, Pea (26:04–29:01)

• Riddle: “Start with five, you’re coming in loud and clear. Remove my head, I can see for miles from here. Remove my tail, we'll see how sensitive you sleep, my dear.”
  • Solutions: Speak → Peak → Pea
  • Improv: The “Princess and the Pea’s” parents try various non-pea objects in the bed (“It feels like there’s a dog under here…”).

Fourth Chain: Butter, Butte, Butt (28:03–30:07)

• Riddle: “Start with four, I’m cracked down the middle. Add a tail, I’m a top who’s been whittled. Add another when it’s hot. I sizzle.” [Reverse process]
  • Solutions: Butt → Butte → Butter

4. Tech, Pop Culture, and Absurd Tangents (30:07–39:20)

• Discussion on Apple AirPods’ new translation features, privacy implications, and product “progress.”
  • Quote (JPC): “Did you know that the new AirPod Pros are actually closer to the iPhone than Cleopatra?” (30:41)
• Introduction of “Spoopy Season”—the team’s term for the mid-October Halloween run-up.
  • Dialog about traditions (“putting up a hundred foot skeleton,” watching old Halloween riddles).
• Notable banter: Real-time show self-awareness (“What are we even doing anymore?” [31:00]), tangents on outdated riddle lists (“These have been on my document for five years…” [40:43]).

5. Halloween Riddle Mashups by Marcus (46:12–64:31)

A series of clever mashup riddles, combining famous spooky characters with celebrities or cultural figures:

• Example Structure: “Please welcome the wickedly talented, one and only other half of Dr. Jekyll.”
  Answer: Mr. Hydina Menzel (Mr. Hyde + Idina Menzel)
• Notable Riddles & Answers:
  • Gremlin Manuel Miranda (Gremlin + Lin Manuel Miranda) [47:17]
  • Dracula Fayette (Dracula + Lafayette) [53:43]
  • Beetlejusain Bolt (Beetlejuice + Usain Bolt) [62:00]
  • Kaijupiter (Kaiju + Jupiter) [64:12]
• Includes running meta-commentary on how “long” or convoluted a “walk” a particular answer is.

6. Cultural Deep Dives & Anecdotes

• Gremlins Franchise Recap (41:09–45:45):
  • Erin confesses she’s never seen Gremlins, prompting the group to explain the films’ concepts, rules, and the allure/hotness of the female gremlin.
    • Quote (Adal): “Aaron, you are hotter than the female gremlin.” “That took some fucking effort…” (45:07)
• Jaws Release Year Family Debate:
  • JPC relates a real-life argument with a cousin regarding the release year of Jaws (1975 vs. 1974), and the Mandela effect recalling fake memories.

7. Listener Engagement — Voicemails, Heckling Advice, Plugs (65:22–69:32)

• Voicemail from Ashley about accidentally singing “Penguin Baseball” at a baseball game, seeking good heckling material for a losing team (18–1 loss).
  • Advice: “A good heckle would be just to start sobbing, just openly wailing from disappointment.” [67:12]
  • Banter about mercy rules, the Washington Generals, and the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
• Plugs:
  • Gumshoes & Dragons: Their podcast/D&D actual play.
  • Quality Time: Erin’s monthly LA variety show (“Next month’s theme: sluts.”)
  • Live Shows: Upcoming dates in Philly, D.C., and NYC.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Banksy’s anonymity:
  “I’m surprised there’s not more Banksy types… people who are anonymously drunk?” — Erin (06:20)
• Pulpsy Challenge Parody:
  “Pulpsy is nothing. It’s just I have different kinds of pulp, and you have to drink all the pulp and tell me which pulp you like better…” — JPC (04:34)
• Adal as Cleopatra’s Asp:
  “Hey bitch, I’m not clothes… I will literally bite you.” — JPC (22:39)
• Gremlins Conversation:
  “Aaron, you are hotter than the female gremlin.” — JPC (45:07)
• Absurd Baseball Advice:
  “A good heckle would be just to start sobbing…” — Erin (67:12)
• Episode Self-Awareness:
  “What are we even doing anymore?” — Erin (31:00)

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pulpsy Challenge Intro/Scene: 00:37–06:08
• Swanzo/Banksy Scene & Celebrity Mystery Discussion: 06:09–13:19
• Riddle Chains & Scenes (Slice/Lice/Ice, etc.): 15:08–30:07
• AirPods Tangent, Spoopy/Halloween Lead-In: 30:07–39:20
• Halloween Mashup Riddles by Marcus: 46:12–64:31
• Listener Voicemail and Advice: 65:22–69:32
• Hosts’ Plugs & Upcoming Shows: 68:08–69:32

Summary & Takeaway

"Original Swanzo" is a typical episode of Hey Riddle Riddle in the best way: a potent mix of inventive worldbuilding, riddle-solving, and tangents that spiral into delightfully weird territory. Whether the hosts are doing impressions of lice tenants, riffing on Banksy's identity, or lamenting the relative mystery of vague celebrities, the episode is laden with recurring in-jokes and references—for fans, a comfort; for newcomers, an absurdist treat ride.

If you want:

• Nonsense improv scenes rooted in wordplay,
• Deep-dive tangents about pop culture and obscure movies,
• Playfully meta banter about the very fabric of the show,
• And Halloween riddles with a twist,

…this one’s for you.

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