Hey Riddle Riddle #388: Best of 2025 Part 1

Release Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Adal Rifai (A), Erin Keif (B), John Patrick Coan (JPC/C)
Producer: Headgum

Episode Overview

This special "Best of 2025, Part 1" episode celebrates a year's worth of chaotic, laugh-filled riddle-solving and improv from the Hey Riddle Riddle crew. Hosts Adal, Erin, and JPC reflect on their favorite moments, share outlandish scenes, and revisit some of the ridiculous, unforgettable sketches, riffing and bantering their way through highlights from recent episodes. As always, the riddles themselves are often just jumping-off points for wild tangents, irreverent characters, and comedic detours.

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

Reflections on the Year & The "Best Of" Format

(01:43) The trio jokes about their enduring partnership, the show's longevity, and plans for future "best of the best of" episodes, marveling at how much fun and nonsense they’ve managed to record over the years.
- JPC: "Should we do a best of the Best of?"
- Adal: "When I'm 90 I can listen back to all the times we've laughed the hardest."
(02:14) They lightly debate whether this really was "the best year yet" and set up the theme of looking back with both pride and self-deprecation.

Absurd "Worst Thing You Did This Year" Game

(04:03) The hosts jokingly try to admit the worst thing they did in the year, all talking over each other and landing on chaotic confessions:
- Adal: "Backed over a bald eagle..."
- JPC: "I said, backed over a bald eagle."
The episode quickly pivots from any real introspection into mock sincerity and holiday well-wishes.

Critique of Gas Station Bathroom Reviews

(06:49–08:40) Extended tangent about one-star and five-star reviews of gas stations, societal expectations about public restrooms, and the economics of cleaning jobs.
- Erin: "If you're complaining that a bathroom at a gas station is disgusting, it's because that job that no one would do, is it being done because they're not paying someone to do it?"
- JPC: "Civilization is done. This is the end...There's nothing left to do but...write five star reviews of gas stations."

Google Search: "Do sharks fart?"

(06:29–07:09) The hosts discuss silly animal facts:
- Adal (reading): "Most sharks do not fart....But sand tiger sharks—"
- JPC: "One shark is throwing off all the data....They turn their whole ass body to look at one shark."

Monthly Riddle & Improv Vignettes

"Mermaid in Trouble" Scene

(10:42–12:13) An improv scene where Erin plays a mermaid, JPC a beachgoer, and Adal provides chaotic ocean interference. They play with typical "damsel in distress" tropes, and the result is gleefully silly.
- JPC (shouting): "There's a wind advisory today. It's very rough water."
- Adal: "If you could help me...Oh my goodness, help me—"

"Money Shark" Scene

(13:00–14:35) Adal is "Pete," lending JPC money in a moment that rapidly devolves into a running joke about sexual favors as repayment.
- Adal: "This is $8,000 cash. And I want you to know...I expect it paid in full in 30 days."
- JPC: "Your husband gave me $8,000 to suck his dick."

"Florida's Invasive Herpes Monkeys"

(15:24–16:51) The group riffs on absurd local news reports — in this case, the true story of invasive herpes-carrying monkeys in Florida — and invents backstories full of failed tourist attractions and colorful locals.
- Erin: "I think Florida is a failed tourist [destination]…"

Monkey Bar Flirtation Scene

(17:41–19:44) Adal is a female macaque, JPC is a sleazy, herpes-positive monkey at a Tampa bar. Banter devolves — as usual — into slapstick and playful innuendo.
- JPC: "My name’s Mr. Banana Pop."
- Erin: "I have to go. I need to go."

Ultimate Frisbee Team That Never Plays

(21:16–23:53) The group parodies a group of stoned college students more interested in root beer floats and Howard Zinn than actually playing Ultimate Frisbee.
- JPC: "The path to enlightenment is moving with or without the frisbee, Brian."

"Tour of Graceland Bathroom" Scene

(24:30–26:28) A delightfully odd improv on someone obsessively wanting to see the bathroom at Graceland, where Elvis died.
- JPC: "Can we go upstairs? Someone has to go to the bathroom really, really bad."

"Studio Snakes" Bit

(26:24–26:43) Brief, surreal scene with snakes going to lay down their first album in a recording studio.

Riddle Solving & Lateral Thinking

Interspersed throughout ("She was responsible for the deaths of many people, yet she was never charged...") are classic lateral thinking puzzles with absurdist deconstructions.
- Adal: "She was Madame Guillotine!"
- JPC: "We gendered a guillotine and decided it’s a woman. Absolutely not."

Recurring Mall Santa Improv

(32:04–34:50) Erin plays a mall Santa; JPC is a tough, cynical returning kid, leading to one of the episode's more memorable comedy set pieces.
- JPC (as Santa): "Santa’s always Santa."
- Adal (as kid): "You smell like Pall Malls and old whiskey..."

Animal Lateral Thinking: "Gertrude the Goose"

(37:06–39:02) Solving a riddle about Gertrude causing a plane crash (she’s a goose in the engine).
- Erin: "If anything, they murdered a goose in its own home."
- Leads to an improv: "Family member confronts the goose at a bar about the plane crash."
- JPC (as Adal's partner): "He’s counting on you not saying something. He’s counting on you being too polite."

Toilet Party/Improv Metafiction

(46:14–52:06) Increasingly ludicrous improv/argument about being toilets at a party, shitting in each other's mouths at the full moon.
- Adal: "You’re both toilets and you find out that the same guy shit in both your mouths."
- This goes on for several minutes, parodying both improv formats and podcast scenes that go too far.

Other Standout Sketches

"Ragdoll Auditions for a Superhero Team"

(61:47–66:38) Erin embodies "Ragdoll," a 10-inch-tall, deeply existential character who flops around, tries to smoke in the audition, and delivers the memorable line:
- Erin: "Tammy is a bitch I met at a bar."

"New Neighbor at the Block Party"

(67:22–74:25) JPC as a socially anxious new neighbor is guided through painful small talk at a block party, struggling even with his own name.
- JPC: "My name’s... Meester. Just Deeds. My name’s Adam. My uncle died. Buying this house."

"I Will Knock You" – Drunk Confrontation at a Bar

(74:32–76:51) Adal’s recurring character "Michael" hosts "I Will Knock You" and tries to pick a fight. JPC and Erin play exasperated bar regulars.

"Stop That Laughing at the Back"

(77:44–88:55) Epic classroom scene where a teacher dies from farting; students and staff process the trauma — or, more accurately, riff for nearly 10 minutes on Looney Tunes-esque scatological slapstick.
- Adal (as Principal): "Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face?"
- JPC: "He farted himself to death. We could imagine."
- Best line: "The class hamster died. He held up a sign that said, 'Die caramba.'"

"Bear Jesus" Miracle

(90:04–90:49) Adal as Bear Jesus:
- Bear Jesus: "You will put me in a cave and roll a rock in front of it, and I'll hibernate and come out a few days later. And that's normal. That's just normal."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

JPC (02:19): "And next year will be even better."
Adal (13:47): (deadpan) "You sucked his dick."
JPC (37:18): "If anything, they murdered a goose in its own home."
Erin (47:03): "A premise for a scene is like, you two are at a party and...you both dated the same ex. But your whole...every full moon, one of you turns into a toilet and the other one shits in its mouth."
Adal (49:29): "You’re a toilet who shits in its own mouth…and it’s the full moon…and you’re at a party…that’s the dumbest fucking premise I ever heard."
Erin (62:00): (as Ragdoll) “Yeah, Tammy is a bitch I met at a bar.”
Adal (77:44): “This is not funny. Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face? That's the last sound he heard.”
JPC (79:46): "Everyone processes grief differently."
Adal (90:25): (as Bear Jesus) "You will put me in a cave and roll a rock in front of it. And I’ll hibernate and come out a few days later. And that’s normal. That’s just normal."
JPC (91:11): (with affection and irony) "We can enjoy British culture. But don't forget, of course, India. That's tasty, that."

Segment Timestamps

Best of Setup & Reflections: 01:22–04:36
Gas Station Reviews Tangent: 06:49–09:18
Do Sharks Fart?: 06:29–07:09
Mermaid Improv: 10:42–12:13
Money Loan Scene: 13:00–14:35
Florida's Herpes Monkeys: 15:24–16:51
Monkey Bar Improv: 17:41–19:44
Ultimate Frisbee Scene: 21:16–23:53
Graceland Bathroom Tour: 24:30–26:28
Studio Snakes: 26:24–26:43
Madame Guillotine Riddle: 27:41–28:15
Mall Santa Scene: 32:04–34:50
Goose/Plane Crash Riddle: 37:06–39:02
Toilet Party Argument: 46:14–52:06
Ragdoll Audition: 61:47–66:38
Awkward New Neighbor at Block Party: 67:22–74:25
"I Will Knock You" Bar Brawl: 74:32–76:51
Teacher Fart Tragedy Scene: 77:44–88:55
Bear Jesus Miracle: 90:04–90:49

Final Thoughts

“Best of 2025 Part 1” is classic Hey Riddle Riddle: the riddles and lateral thinking puzzles are often just a launchpad for inventive and absurd improv, surreal conversational detours, and deep-cut inside jokes among longtime friends. For listeners, this is a greatest hits compilation of some of the podcast’s funniest, weirdest, and most delightful moments—all delivered with the off-the-cuff, irreverent, and affectionate style that fans love.

For New Listeners

If you’re new to Hey Riddle Riddle, this episode is a wild sample platter of the show’s core strengths: chemistry between the hosts, longform improv scenes, bits that spiral out into the absurd, and a genuine sense of fun. Don’t worry if you hate riddles—this podcast is, by their own admission, "barely about them." The episode shines as a roadmap to both in-jokes and some truly original comedy.

Best Quotes at a Glance:

“If you're complaining that a bathroom at a gas station is disgusting, it's because that job that no one would do, is it being done because they're not paying someone to do it?” — Erin, 08:11
"You’re both toilets, and you find out that the same guy shit in both your mouths." — Adal, 49:46
“This is not funny. Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face?” — Adal, 77:44

Want more?—Join their Patreon (the Clue Crew) for weekly bonus episodes and deeper dives into the lovable chaos.

Hey Riddle Riddle #388: Best of 2025 Part 1

Release Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Adal Rifai (A), Erin Keif (B), John Patrick Coan (JPC/C)
Producer: Headgum

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

Reflections on the Year & The "Best Of" Format

(01:43) The trio jokes about their enduring partnership, the show's longevity, and plans for future "best of the best of" episodes, marveling at how much fun and nonsense they’ve managed to record over the years.
- JPC: "Should we do a best of the Best of?"
- Adal: "When I'm 90 I can listen back to all the times we've laughed the hardest."
(02:14) They lightly debate whether this really was "the best year yet" and set up the theme of looking back with both pride and self-deprecation.

Absurd "Worst Thing You Did This Year" Game

(04:03) The hosts jokingly try to admit the worst thing they did in the year, all talking over each other and landing on chaotic confessions:
- Adal: "Backed over a bald eagle..."
- JPC: "I said, backed over a bald eagle."
The episode quickly pivots from any real introspection into mock sincerity and holiday well-wishes.

Critique of Gas Station Bathroom Reviews

(06:49–08:40) Extended tangent about one-star and five-star reviews of gas stations, societal expectations about public restrooms, and the economics of cleaning jobs.
- Erin: "If you're complaining that a bathroom at a gas station is disgusting, it's because that job that no one would do, is it being done because they're not paying someone to do it?"
- JPC: "Civilization is done. This is the end...There's nothing left to do but...write five star reviews of gas stations."

Google Search: "Do sharks fart?"

(06:29–07:09) The hosts discuss silly animal facts:
- Adal (reading): "Most sharks do not fart....But sand tiger sharks—"
- JPC: "One shark is throwing off all the data....They turn their whole ass body to look at one shark."

Monthly Riddle & Improv Vignettes

"Mermaid in Trouble" Scene

(10:42–12:13) An improv scene where Erin plays a mermaid, JPC a beachgoer, and Adal provides chaotic ocean interference. They play with typical "damsel in distress" tropes, and the result is gleefully silly.
- JPC (shouting): "There's a wind advisory today. It's very rough water."
- Adal: "If you could help me...Oh my goodness, help me—"

"Money Shark" Scene

(13:00–14:35) Adal is "Pete," lending JPC money in a moment that rapidly devolves into a running joke about sexual favors as repayment.
- Adal: "This is $8,000 cash. And I want you to know...I expect it paid in full in 30 days."
- JPC: "Your husband gave me $8,000 to suck his dick."

"Florida's Invasive Herpes Monkeys"

(15:24–16:51) The group riffs on absurd local news reports — in this case, the true story of invasive herpes-carrying monkeys in Florida — and invents backstories full of failed tourist attractions and colorful locals.
- Erin: "I think Florida is a failed tourist [destination]…"

Monkey Bar Flirtation Scene

(17:41–19:44) Adal is a female macaque, JPC is a sleazy, herpes-positive monkey at a Tampa bar. Banter devolves — as usual — into slapstick and playful innuendo.
- JPC: "My name’s Mr. Banana Pop."
- Erin: "I have to go. I need to go."

Ultimate Frisbee Team That Never Plays

(21:16–23:53) The group parodies a group of stoned college students more interested in root beer floats and Howard Zinn than actually playing Ultimate Frisbee.
- JPC: "The path to enlightenment is moving with or without the frisbee, Brian."

"Tour of Graceland Bathroom" Scene

(24:30–26:28) A delightfully odd improv on someone obsessively wanting to see the bathroom at Graceland, where Elvis died.
- JPC: "Can we go upstairs? Someone has to go to the bathroom really, really bad."

"Studio Snakes" Bit

(26:24–26:43) Brief, surreal scene with snakes going to lay down their first album in a recording studio.

Riddle Solving & Lateral Thinking

Interspersed throughout ("She was responsible for the deaths of many people, yet she was never charged...") are classic lateral thinking puzzles with absurdist deconstructions.
- Adal: "She was Madame Guillotine!"
- JPC: "We gendered a guillotine and decided it’s a woman. Absolutely not."

Recurring Mall Santa Improv

(32:04–34:50) Erin plays a mall Santa; JPC is a tough, cynical returning kid, leading to one of the episode's more memorable comedy set pieces.
- JPC (as Santa): "Santa’s always Santa."
- Adal (as kid): "You smell like Pall Malls and old whiskey..."

Animal Lateral Thinking: "Gertrude the Goose"

(37:06–39:02) Solving a riddle about Gertrude causing a plane crash (she’s a goose in the engine).
- Erin: "If anything, they murdered a goose in its own home."
- Leads to an improv: "Family member confronts the goose at a bar about the plane crash."
- JPC (as Adal's partner): "He’s counting on you not saying something. He’s counting on you being too polite."

Toilet Party/Improv Metafiction

(46:14–52:06) Increasingly ludicrous improv/argument about being toilets at a party, shitting in each other's mouths at the full moon.
- Adal: "You’re both toilets and you find out that the same guy shit in both your mouths."
- This goes on for several minutes, parodying both improv formats and podcast scenes that go too far.

Other Standout Sketches

"Ragdoll Auditions for a Superhero Team"

(61:47–66:38) Erin embodies "Ragdoll," a 10-inch-tall, deeply existential character who flops around, tries to smoke in the audition, and delivers the memorable line:
- Erin: "Tammy is a bitch I met at a bar."

"New Neighbor at the Block Party"

(67:22–74:25) JPC as a socially anxious new neighbor is guided through painful small talk at a block party, struggling even with his own name.
- JPC: "My name’s... Meester. Just Deeds. My name’s Adam. My uncle died. Buying this house."

"I Will Knock You" – Drunk Confrontation at a Bar

(74:32–76:51) Adal’s recurring character "Michael" hosts "I Will Knock You" and tries to pick a fight. JPC and Erin play exasperated bar regulars.

"Stop That Laughing at the Back"

(77:44–88:55) Epic classroom scene where a teacher dies from farting; students and staff process the trauma — or, more accurately, riff for nearly 10 minutes on Looney Tunes-esque scatological slapstick.
- Adal (as Principal): "Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face?"
- JPC: "He farted himself to death. We could imagine."
- Best line: "The class hamster died. He held up a sign that said, 'Die caramba.'"

"Bear Jesus" Miracle

(90:04–90:49) Adal as Bear Jesus:
- Bear Jesus: "You will put me in a cave and roll a rock in front of it, and I'll hibernate and come out a few days later. And that's normal. That's just normal."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

JPC (02:19): "And next year will be even better."
Adal (13:47): (deadpan) "You sucked his dick."
JPC (37:18): "If anything, they murdered a goose in its own home."
Erin (47:03): "A premise for a scene is like, you two are at a party and...you both dated the same ex. But your whole...every full moon, one of you turns into a toilet and the other one shits in its mouth."
Adal (49:29): "You’re a toilet who shits in its own mouth…and it’s the full moon…and you’re at a party…that’s the dumbest fucking premise I ever heard."
Erin (62:00): (as Ragdoll) “Yeah, Tammy is a bitch I met at a bar.”
Adal (77:44): “This is not funny. Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face? That's the last sound he heard.”
JPC (79:46): "Everyone processes grief differently."
Adal (90:25): (as Bear Jesus) "You will put me in a cave and roll a rock in front of it. And I’ll hibernate and come out a few days later. And that’s normal. That’s just normal."
JPC (91:11): (with affection and irony) "We can enjoy British culture. But don't forget, of course, India. That's tasty, that."

Segment Timestamps

Best of Setup & Reflections: 01:22–04:36
Gas Station Reviews Tangent: 06:49–09:18
Do Sharks Fart?: 06:29–07:09
Mermaid Improv: 10:42–12:13
Money Loan Scene: 13:00–14:35
Florida's Herpes Monkeys: 15:24–16:51
Monkey Bar Improv: 17:41–19:44
Ultimate Frisbee Scene: 21:16–23:53
Graceland Bathroom Tour: 24:30–26:28
Studio Snakes: 26:24–26:43
Madame Guillotine Riddle: 27:41–28:15
Mall Santa Scene: 32:04–34:50
Goose/Plane Crash Riddle: 37:06–39:02
Toilet Party Argument: 46:14–52:06
Ragdoll Audition: 61:47–66:38
Awkward New Neighbor at Block Party: 67:22–74:25
"I Will Knock You" Bar Brawl: 74:32–76:51
Teacher Fart Tragedy Scene: 77:44–88:55
Bear Jesus Miracle: 90:04–90:49

Final Thoughts

For New Listeners

Best Quotes at a Glance:

“If you're complaining that a bathroom at a gas station is disgusting, it's because that job that no one would do, is it being done because they're not paying someone to do it?” — Erin, 08:11
"You’re both toilets, and you find out that the same guy shit in both your mouths." — Adal, 49:46
“This is not funny. Can you imagine the hell of dying by farts, and there's an entire classroom of children not calling for help, but laughing in your face?” — Adal, 77:44

Want more?—Join their Patreon (the Clue Crew) for weekly bonus episodes and deeper dives into the lovable chaos.

#388: Best of 2025 Part 1

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

Hey Riddle Riddle #388: Best of 2025 Part 1

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

Reflections on the Year & The "Best Of" Format

Absurd "Worst Thing You Did This Year" Game

Critique of Gas Station Bathroom Reviews

Google Search: "Do sharks fart?"

Monthly Riddle & Improv Vignettes

"Mermaid in Trouble" Scene

"Money Shark" Scene

"Florida's Invasive Herpes Monkeys"

Monkey Bar Flirtation Scene

Ultimate Frisbee Team That Never Plays

"Tour of Graceland Bathroom" Scene

"Studio Snakes" Bit

Riddle Solving & Lateral Thinking

Recurring Mall Santa Improv

Animal Lateral Thinking: "Gertrude the Goose"

Toilet Party/Improv Metafiction

Other Standout Sketches

"Ragdoll Auditions for a Superhero Team"

"New Neighbor at the Block Party"

"I Will Knock You" – Drunk Confrontation at a Bar

"Stop That Laughing at the Back"

"Bear Jesus" Miracle

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Segment Timestamps

Final Thoughts

For New Listeners

Summary

Hey Riddle Riddle #388: Best of 2025 Part 1

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

Reflections on the Year & The "Best Of" Format

Absurd "Worst Thing You Did This Year" Game

Critique of Gas Station Bathroom Reviews

Google Search: "Do sharks fart?"

Monthly Riddle & Improv Vignettes

"Mermaid in Trouble" Scene

"Money Shark" Scene

"Florida's Invasive Herpes Monkeys"

Monkey Bar Flirtation Scene

Ultimate Frisbee Team That Never Plays

"Tour of Graceland Bathroom" Scene

"Studio Snakes" Bit

Riddle Solving & Lateral Thinking

Recurring Mall Santa Improv

Animal Lateral Thinking: "Gertrude the Goose"

Toilet Party/Improv Metafiction

Other Standout Sketches

"Ragdoll Auditions for a Superhero Team"

"New Neighbor at the Block Party"

"I Will Knock You" – Drunk Confrontation at a Bar

"Stop That Laughing at the Back"

"Bear Jesus" Miracle

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Segment Timestamps

Final Thoughts

For New Listeners