Podcast Summary: Hey Riddle Riddle #403 – “Nobody’s in Charge”

Release Date: April 8, 2026
Hosts: Adal Rifai (A), Erin Keif (B), John Patrick Coan (JPC) (C)
Network: Headgum

Episode Overview

“Nobody’s in Charge” is a characteristically chaotic, joke-filled romp through riddles, improv sketches, and random tangents. The trio, described tongue-in-cheek as “Chicago’s most overrated improvisers,” grapple with a series of lateral thinking puzzles, playfully bicker about who’s responsible for running the episode, and indulge in comedic digressions—from botched Target bathroom stories to mock commercials for pizza and beer.
Despite the core riddle structure, this episode ultimately showcases the hosts’ playful chemistry, frequent improvisations, and their gleeful avoidance of staying on topic.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Monthly Outings, Weather, and Frozen Pipes

[00:36–09:35]

• Erin invites the crew on a “monthly outing” (sky-watching during a storm goes awry).
• Warm food nostalgia: “Waffle sounds so good right now.” [02:51, Erin]
• The hosts riff about installing heat lamps at home and pretending to be lizards.
• Chicago winter stories: reminiscing about brutally cold days, freezing pipes, and do-it-yourself repairs.
• Quote:
  “Your toes are fucked.” [08:09, Erin, re: walking to Wingstop in winter without socks]

2. Who’s in Charge and the Old Man Puzzles Debate

[10:53–13:21]

• Erin argues she shouldn’t be “Old Man Puzzles” today, sparking cross-talk about who prepared riddles and the group’s in-episode decision-making.
• Quote:
  “I’m not Old Man Puzzles and don’t fuck with me.” [10:55, Erin]

3. Riddle Time: Flies on a Table

[13:23–14:53]

• Classic riddle: If you kill 3 flies out of 10 with one swat, how many are left?
• JPC debates semantics: living vs dead flies.
• Improv: Flies gossiping about each other’s status.
• Quote:
  “Maybe he knows something we don’t know because all the humans are leaving him alone.” [14:09, Adal, as a fly]

4. Riddle & Scene: Bankrupt Millionaires

[15:52–19:12]

• Two bankrupt men “have more than $84 million” after meeting.
  Answer: Together, they stand at both doors of a bank that has $84 million inside.
• Improv: Two incompetent bank robbers and an unhelpful teller.
• Memorable line:
  “Do you have a pen that I could pull?” [21:51, JPC as robber]

5. Odd Phone Call Riddle

[23:24–27:40]

• Riddle about a phone call spelling out a surname, the confusion over “I as in Innsbruck.”
• Discussion over phonetic alphabets and odd choices.
• Improv scene: Customer service spiral with name confusion and "cavatappi" pasta references.
• Quote:
  “You must keep up if you were to ever know my name.” [30:41, JPC]

6. Classic Riddles & Skits:

[32:30–61:00]

- The Bus Route Math Riddle

[32:30–34:55]

• Hosts scramble with time/distance math riddles, resulting in confusion and resignation.
• “Here’s the trouble with this—anytime you say a riddle that involves numbers my brain immediately goes, ‘Nope.’” [34:27, JPC]

- The Cab Driver’s Lie

[45:24–47:29]

• Riddle: How did a passenger know a cab driver who claimed to be deaf was lying?
  Answer: He successfully took the passenger to their verbally-given destination.
• Improv: Chatty passenger and exasperated driver; Susan Sarandon billboard cameo.
• “That's a billboard!” [47:40, Adal]

- The Hiccups Water Gun Riddle

[55:45–56:19]

• Classic: Waiter points gun at customer with hiccups to scare them.
• “This man had hiccups.” [56:05, JPC]

- Math & Trick Riddles

• The widow years/ages riddle (“Rick, Rick, you are such a legend, man. 25 years old when you’re 30…” [56:50, Adal])
• When does John Peterson become a year older? (“On his birthday.” [60:05, Erin])
• Angle under microscope riddle (“The angle doesn’t widen, it just enhances.” [63:40, JPC])
• Pattern: Hosts frequently break the riddle-solving to clown on the puzzle or riff on words.

7. Commercial Parodies and “Inside of My Ass”

[53:39–55:23]

• Parody of “big game” (Super Bowl) pizza and beer commercials.
• “Hi, this is my naked body that I've covered in swear word tattoos.” [53:59, Erin in parody ad]
• “Look inside my asshole. Papa John’s.” [70:36, Adal]

8. Listener Voicemail & Life Advice

[65:01–67:54]

• Listener Nisha asks: “What’s your best idea for a cool thing to do in 2026?”
  • Adal: Get off your phone, go outside, get sunlight, connect with nature.
  • Erin: Try an apartment swap in a different city, buy a new kitchen gadget, get a new penpal, do tactile real-world things.
  • JPC: Find an old box of brownie mix in your kitchen and bake it (“Jackpot!” [67:54, JPC])
• “Eat some brownies.” [68:17, JPC]

9. April of the Penguins & Plugs

[68:25–71:00]

• Announcing “April of the Penguins”: New merch, new fictional baseball teams.
• Upcoming projects: “Gumshoes and Dragons” podcast with Anthony Birch, Quality Time show in LA, Penguin Baseball League on Patreon, Gutter podcast by Casey.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Your toes are fucked.” [08:09, Erin]
• “I’m not Old Man Puzzles and don’t fuck with me.” [10:55, Erin]
• “That’s a billboard!” [47:40, Adal]
• “Hi, this is my naked body that I’ve covered in swear word tattoos. They’re permanent and I can’t get rid of them.” [53:59, Erin]
• “Look inside my asshole. Papa John’s.” [70:36, Adal]
• “Eat some brownies.” [68:17, JPC]

Episode Structure Overview

| Segment | Timestamps | Highlights & Tone | |------------------------------|-------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Weather & Outing Fiasco | 00:36–09:35 | Warm-up, anecdotal, self-deprecating, wintry | | Who’s In Charge Debate | 10:53–13:21 | Playful bickering, meta-podcast energy | | Riddle Round One | 13:23–15:37 | Silly improv (flies), riddle banter | | Bank/Heist Riddles & Scenes | 15:52–22:04 | Lateral thinking, sketch comedy, wordplay | | Phone Call Riddle | 23:24–32:03 | Customer service confusion, pasta improvisation | | Math/Logic Riddles | 32:30–36:10 | Meandering, resigned, numbers-averse humor | | Cab Driver Skit | 45:24–47:29 | Improv, classic riddle misdirection | | Commercial Parodies | 53:39–55:23 | Absurd, boundary-pushing, running gags | | Listener Advice/Voicemail | 65:01–68:17 | Sincere, whimsical, “eat some brownies” wisdom | | Plugs/April of the Penguins | 68:25–71:01 | Hype for merch, Patreon, and side projects |

Final Thoughts

“Nobody’s in Charge” is titled with purpose: the episode is a gleeful, meandering showcase of the Hey Riddle Riddle hosts at their most unfiltered and creatively anarchic. Riddles serve as a jumping-off point for layered bits, meta-jokes about their podcasting process, Chicago-specific weather and Target banter, and signature off-the-wall improv. If you love chaotic energy, reluctant riddle-solving, and surprising commercial parodies, this episode is a quintessential Hey Riddle Riddle listen.

For even more riddle chaos and exclusive bonus content, check out their Patreon and merch (including the “April of the Penguins” drops).