Podcast Summary: Hey Riddle Riddle Episode #397 – "All Oogie All The Time"

Date: February 25, 2026
Hosts: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan
Format: Comedy improv, riddles, and absurd digressions

Episode Overview

The trio dives into their signature mix of improvisational comedy, riddle-solving, and offbeat banter. This episode revolves around playful debates about "understudies" for the podcast, a running "Oogie" joke, inventive listener-submitted tort law-themed movie riddles, and several character-filled improv scenes (ranging from Dr. Seuss courtroom dramas to talking snack foods at the movies). The show keeps its light, rapid-fire comedic tone while playfully poking fun at its own structure and the concept of actually solving riddles.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Movie Recommendations & Banter – Nirvana the Band: The Movie

[00:05 – 01:34]

• Erin raves about "Nirvana, the Band, the Movie," calling it "so fucking good" and a "comedic miracle."
• The group riffs on fake film review blurbs and winks at mockumentary tropes.
• Memorable quote, Erin (01:13): "A comedic miracle, JPC."

2. Understudies for the Podcast

[02:47 – 09:11]

• The "Riddle Podcast Union" "indicts" the hosts for not having understudies.
• The trio discusses who would be their ideal stand-ins—ranging from friends to inanimate objects to celebrities (Craig T. Nelson, Steve Buscemi).
• Chaotic improv ensues, including everyone riffing impressions and understudy night gags.
• Memorable quote, Erin (04:25): "I, Erin, did not elect to have an understudy because why would I want to fuck someone who looks like me?"
• Running "Oogie" joke begins, tied to "Nightmare Before Christmas" and the word of the day calendar.

3. April of the Penguins & Recurring In-Jokes

[09:30 – 11:19]

• Playful anticipation for "April of the Penguins" and "penguin baseball" returns.
• Riff on wiki pages, in-universe continuity, and teasing next year’s themes.
• Quote, Adal (11:20): "Water wars edition!"

4. Listener-Submitted Tort Law Movie Riddles

[14:07 – 30:13]

• Lauren, a paralegal and listener, sends in riddles where famous movies have their titles punned with “tort” to create legal brainteasers.
• The group has an extended sidebar on what constitutes a “tort,” featuring playful ignorance and classic comedic derailment.
• Tech support tangent: Erin struggles to enlarge email font, leading to a hilarious multi-minute bit about computer skills.
• Quote, Adal (17:05): "How can I get my email to look... the font look bigger? It looks so small on my computer, I’m having a hard time reading it."
• Highlights of the tort riddles:
  • "Tort Story" (Toy Story) [22:34]
  • "Factortory" (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) [23:29]
  • "Torton Hears a Who" (Horton Hears a Who) [23:53]
  • Scene: Mock Dr. Seuss courtroom ("Your Honor, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish...") [24:23]
  • Commentary on Dr. Seuss books as nonsense, with recitation of "One Fish, Two Fish..." [27:25]

5. Return from (Mock) Ad Break: Improv & Further Riddles

[40:01 – 46:51]

• The group returns from (real) ad break, riffing on orange slices and Capri Suns [40:01].
• Voting on riddle sources—democracy cut short by more "Oogie" jokes.
• Adal revives "Old Man Puzzles" with longer, story-based riddles from a book, reflecting on pandemic-era attention spans.
• Extended, imaginative improv scene: anthropomorphic snacks (hot dog, soda, popcorn) at the movies, questioning movie logic and revealing absurd snack anatomy [44:08].
• Further layer: They perform live, in-episode commentary on their own earlier episode content—a meta, tongue-in-cheek bit [47:20].

6. Story Riddles & Solutions

[49:13 – 63:53]

• The Baby and the Burglars [49:13]: Classic lateral riddle—Mike Peters is a baby who watches "thieves" (his parents, likely) and forgets about it.
  • "Mike Peters is a baby!" becomes an in-joke for the segment.
• Scam House Sale [54:18]: Sterling silver wouldn’t have stayed shiny in a boarded house for 7 years—the "treasure" was a plant.
• Fortune Teller Scam Scene [57:03]: Erin runs a "psychic scam" on JPC, asking for his routing and social security numbers, interrupted by baby detective Mike Peters [58:36].
• The Canceled Flight [59:27]: The passengers never took off, so they were safe in the terminal.
• Pilot Scene [60:25]: Multiple bad-news announcements, topped by fake tidbits ("someone checked a wolf in their luggage," jokes about Air Jordans from Marshalls).
• Consistent use of scene prompts for quick-fire, markedly silly improv.
• Quote, Adal (48:55): "This will be like the Zack Snyder director’s cut... you make it four hours longer and much, much worse."

7. Listener Voicemail & Life Advice

[64:56 – 68:51]

• Voicemail from "Johnny in Pensacola": asks for New Orleans recommendations (for Adal), top budgeting tips (JPC), and mental health advice (Erin).
• Responses:
  • Adal: Specific food/music tips for New Orleans [65:31].
  • JPC: Non-judgmental tracking; don't sacrifice self-care; set manageable goals [67:21].
  • Erin: "Look for the helpers" (nod to Mr. Rogers), revisit childhood favorites, get your blood work checked [68:15].
• Quote, Erin (68:20): "Stop making your blood work for you and start working for your blood."

8. Plugs & Listener Reviews

[68:56 – 70:41]

• Plugs for other podcasts: "Gumshoes & Dragons," "Hello from the Magic Tavern," HRR's Patreon, and Erin's LA show "Quality Time."
• Humorous review recounts a listener finding out about the podcast via a Tinder date gone wrong:
  • Quote, JPC (70:00): "A guy I met on Tinder told me about this podcast. He turned out to be a pervert and I ghosted him. But two years later, I’m still listening to the show. Hope you’re doing well, Josh."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Understudy absurdity: "Should I just burn this or do we want to respond? Casey, would you like to be my understudy?" – Adal [04:40]
• Oogie running gag: "I bought a Nightmare Before Christmas word of the day calendar. The last six months has been Oogie Boogie." – Erin [08:45]
• Dr. Seuss riff: "Your honor, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Now, I count three fish in two colors. So unless I’m crazy, one of these fish is lying..." – JPC as Dr. Seuss prosecutor [24:23]
• Meta-commentary: "We're just gonna try to remember the best we can of what happened at the beginning of this episode. So you can layer this later, listeners..." – Adal [47:54]
• Life advice: "Try to make a younger you proud." – Erin [68:15]
• Chaotic scene work: "Is the straw my mouth or my dick?" – JPC as soda, in improv scene [45:06]

Structure & Tone

• Language/Tone: Everything remains spontaneous, irreverent, and playful—heavy with in-jokes, improvisation, and genuine camaraderie.
• Segment pacing: The flow alternates between riddle-solving, character-based improv, and wild tangents, with the actual riddles often just a jumping-off point for comedic exploration.
• Listener engagement: Multiple shout-outs and use of listener-submitted riddles/voicemails, plus ongoing encouragement of five-star reviews and Patreon sign-ups.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:05] – Movie banter, "Nirvana, the Band" recommendations
• [02:47] – Understudies & beginning of "Oogie" jokes
• [11:20] – "Water Wars" April of Penguins
• [14:07] – Listener-submitted tort riddles begin
• [21:27] – Erin finally zooms in her email font
• [24:23] – Dr. Seuss court improv scene
• [40:01] – Return from ad break/Capri Sun & orange slice debacle
• [44:08] – Snacks at the movies improv
• [49:13] – "Mike Peters is a baby" riddle
• [54:18] – Scam house riddle & fortune teller scene
• [59:27] – Airplane on-ground riddle & pilot scene
• [64:56] – Listener voicemail: New Orleans, budgeting, sanity advice
• [68:56] – Plugs, listener review (the Tinder guy)

Concluding Thoughts

All in, "All Oogie All the Time" is a showcase of the Hey Riddle Riddle crew’s improv chemistry and comedic sensibility, using listeners’ riddles as springboards for runaway bits about underemployment, legal jargon, the philosophy of Dr. Seuss, and the logistics of food-based moviegoers. Even when the show veers off-course (“this podcast is barely about [riddles]!”), it delivers a steady stream of inventive, ensemble-driven comedy.

For first-timers:
This episode is prime "Hey Riddle Riddle," equally rewarding for regular listeners (who will catch running gags and meta references) and newcomers who enjoy fast-paced, zany improv with a riddle/puzzle hook.

Notable Takeaways:

• If you ever need to enlarge your email text, ask Erin. Or... maybe ask literally anyone else.
• Next April is Penguin Baseball season—start preparing your fantasy teams.
• Look for the helpers, check your blood work, and for the love of god, don’t name your baby “Mike Peters.”

End of summary.