Patreon Preview #338: Podcast Access w/ Alice Stanley Jr.

Summary

Hey Riddle Riddle – Patreon Preview #338: Podcast Access w/ Alice Stanley Jr.

Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan
Guest: Alice Stanley Jr. (improv sketch)

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Episode Overview

This bonus Patreon episode is a playful, improv-heavy sketch set in the shared parking lot of Denny’s and Chili’s. Drawing on the recurring themes of workplace absurdity, social awkwardness, and found family, the cast take on hyper-specific characters in a running bit about “policing” the Denny’s dumpster, longing for former jobs, and inter-restaurant rivalry. Riddles and puzzles take a back seat, as this episode leans all the way into comedic character work and banter.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Improvised Setting: The Parking Lot Behind Denny’s

• The skit unfolds as a “live podcast” supposedly being recorded behind Denny’s, which famously shares a parking lot with Chili’s.
• Jeff takes on the reluctant role of podcast host/security against Chili's employees, per his "manager" Dan’s instructions.

2. Character Dynamics

• Jeff: Former Denny’s server, now banished to parking lot duty due to customer anger issues.
  • Oversees the war on “Chili’s guys” misusing Denny’s dumpster.
• Brittany: The ever-positive server, checking in with Jeff and attempting to smooth things over with management and customers.
• Brittany B.: Bartender, hard-truth dispenser, hilariously blunt with Jeff about his need to “get a life.”
• Dan: The boss, rarely seen, focused on order and the prospect of Denny's celebrity guests “Daphne and Banana.”

3. Inter-restaurant Rivalry and Running Gags

• The conflict over trash is ongoing, with disguised “Chili’s” employees repeatedly trying to dump garbage in Denny’s dumpster—often poorly camouflaged.
• Fireworks hidden in Jeff’s coat, which he no longer has because of "coat privilege" being revoked.
• Emotional manipulation over whether Jeff can/should return inside or get rehired.

4. Moments of Absurd Sincerity

• A strange, touching scene unfolds as Jeff tries to announce quitting Denny’s for Chili’s, using his “one a night” request to summon Dan for a dramatic resignation (06:04).
• Interactions blend the pathetic and the earnest, with Brittany B. giving Jeff a reality check about his social life and self-worth, but with an undercurrent of care.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Parking Lot Podcasting:
  “This podcast—I really don’t even need to do the podcast. I just have to stop the Chili’s guys from using the Denny’s dumpster...”
  — Jeff (00:51)

• On Coat Privileges:
  “Do you need a coat? It’s snowing out.”
  — Brittany (02:10)
  “Well, Dan give me my coat back.”
  — Jeff (02:13)
  “Oh, he took away your coat privileges?”
  — Brittany (02:15)
  “Well, it’s because I keep fireworks in there.”
  — Jeff (02:17)

• On Hard Truths and Friendship:
  “Honey bun, you need a life—holy shit, honey bun, you need a life bad.”
  — Brittany B. (03:52)

  “I came out here to film a TikTok, saw your sad ass, turned right around.”
  — Brittany B. (03:58)

  “Look, if you need some hard truth, you know where you can find me: behind the bar.”
  — Brittany B. (04:14)

• On Workplace Loyalty:
  “I know I’ve only been on for 15 minutes tonight, but please, this is my one. Send Dan out. I’m ready to quit.”
  — Jeff (06:08)

  “I’ve only ever wanted to make you proud. That’s why this baby bird has to spread his wings. And tonight has to be my last night at Denny’s...”
  — Jeff to Dan (06:47)

• On the “Daphne and Banana” Mystery:
  “Sorry, can we wrap this up? I just got a call that Daphne and Banana are going to be coming to the restaurant...”
  — Dan (07:09)

• Meta-commentary:
  “Wait, hold on. GPC was playing himself, right?”
  — Dan (07:34)
  “No... this character actually yelled at customers, and JPC yells at waiters. So, it’s kind of like a Bizarro J.”
  — Jeff (07:37)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:51 — The “live” podcast begins from the parking lot.
• 01:36–02:15 — Brittany checks in, discusses Jeff’s exile and coat/fireworks incident.
• 02:25–02:42 — Chili’s employee (disguised) attempts dumpster infiltration; confrontation ensues.
• 03:20–04:15 — Brittany B. delivers tough love and comic barbs; reveals staff dynamic.
• 05:03–05:24 — Second attempt at dumpster infiltration; Mrs. Doubtfire joke appears.
• 06:04–07:09 — Jeff dramatically quits Denny’s for Chili’s in a plea to Dan.
• 07:09–07:22 — “Daphne and Banana” are revealed as mysterious VIPs; Dan wraps.
• 07:34–07:37 — Meta-commentary on JPC’s character.

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Tone & Style

The episode is high-energy, heavy on improvisational character comedy, and layered with affectionate workplace satire. The cast seamlessly shifts between subtle sincerity and heightened farce, maintaining a threadbare link to the riddle concept while celebrating the absurd.

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For Listeners: Why This Episode Works

Even with riddles barely featured, this episode showcases Hey Riddle Riddle’s signature interplay—the cast’s chemistry, fast-paced character work, and ability to mine mundane topics (like dumpster protocol) for both broad and nuanced laughs. For listeners who love improv and workplace antics, it’s a rich, hilarious treat.

Transcript

[Brittany]

Gpc. We're going back right now.

[Jeff]

Oh, it's up to me.

[Brittany]

Yay.

[Dan]

Hey, Aaron.

[Brittany]

Yeah?

[Dan]

What about my friend Aaron?

[Jeff]

I don't.

[Brittany]

I, I, I'll. I'll. I'll do one later.

[Jeff]

Don't make me sing.

[Brittany]

I'll do one later. Much too much.

[Dan]

She's pointing to her short.

[Jeff]

Don't make me dance.

[Brittany B]

Don't just want to do her short.

[Jeff]

You wouldn't like the way I dance.

[Brittany]

This first. Your first option. Please clap a podcast for failing magicians.

[Jeff]

Okay.

[Dan]

Oh, thank God. I was gonna say Jeb Bush.

[Brittany]

Live from the parking lot behind Denny's. Uhhuh. And your neighbor's yard reviewed.

[Dan]

Ooh.

[Jeff]

Okay, we'll do live from the. Live from the parking lot behind Denny's. Yep, live in the parking lot behind Denny's.

[Brittany]

Great. Whenever you're ready.

[Jeff]

Hey, everybody, it's Jeff. We are live from the parking lot behind Denny's. Technically, the parking lot behind Chili's as well. Chili's and Denny's share a parking lot. They don't share a dumpster. Chili's doesn't have a dumpster anymore because they couldn't use it responsibly, and so now it's gone. I kind of set up this podcast because Dan, my direct manager, told me to come out here and make sure the Chili's guys weren't throwing trash in the Denny's dumpster. And because I can't be around customers because I get too mad, so, so, so far, you know, the pod, really, I really don't even need to do the podcast. I just have to stop the Chili's guys from using the Denny's dumpster, but. Oh, Brittany, Brittany, Brittany.

[Brittany]

What's up?

[Jeff]

Hey. Are you on break?

[Brittany]

No, I'm just trying out some of the pancake trash.

[Jeff]

Oh, cool. Cool. Britney's one of our best servers. Yeah. Are you killing it in there?

[Brittany]

Yeah, I'm doing okay.

[Jeff]

A lot of people talk to Dan for me, see if he wants me back in there.

[Brittany]

I talked to a lot of customers, and they were kind of scared to.

[Jeff]

Some of the customers mentioned me.

[Brittany]

Well, yeah, they wanted to take their orders to go, and then I let them know.

[Jeff]

I hate that. I hate that. Eat at Denny's if you're gonna eat at Denny's.

[Brittany]

Fuck no. But they're eating there now because I let them know that you're no longer a server.

[Jeff]

Good. No. Yeah, good. Yeah. No, yeah. Dan's right.

[Brittany]

Do you need a coat?

[Jeff]

What's that?

[Brittany]

Do you need a coat? It's snowing Out.

[Jeff]

Yeah, well, Dan, give me my coat back.

[Brittany]

Oh, he took away your coat privileges?

[Jeff]

Well, it's because I keep fireworks in there.

[Dan]

Excuse me. He started to pull up right on top. Do you know where Hillhurst and Jackson is?

[Jeff]

What?

[Brittany]

That is the rest of the Chili's employee wearing a fake mustache. Do not fall for it, dude.

[Jeff]

I don't. Hey, man, I don't know what any of that stuff that you said is.

[Brittany]

He's trying to throw trash away.

[Brittany B]

He's wearing a disguise.

[Jeff]

Are you trying to throw trash away? Are you trying to throw trash away?

[Dan]

Yes.

[Jeff]

Get the fuck out of here, man. Get the fuck out of here. This is for Denny's only.

[Brittany]

I'm gonna go back inside.

[Jeff]

Cool, cool.

[Brittany]

I'll see you when I'm out here for my smoke, maybe.

[Jeff]

Yeah, like, yeah, for sure, for sure. If you want to come out and smoke or whatever. And I have. I have weed.

[Brittany]

I'm already gone.

[Jeff]

Yeah, you're gone. Cool. All right, man. Well, you know. Hey, pretty successful show tonight. Scared one guy away who was definitely secret working for Chili's.

[Dan]

Wasn't scared.

[Jeff]

Probably made a little progress in kind of getting Dan to invite me back in. At least I have an ally on the inside now. Oh, Brittany, Brittany, Brittany, Brittany.

[Brittany B]

Yeah, what's up?

[Jeff]

Cool.

[Brittany B]

Hey, Brittany B. Yeah?

[Jeff]

Brittany B. Oh, you're bartending tonight, right?

[Brittany B]

Yeah. What's up?

[Jeff]

Cool. Yeah.

[Brittany B]

No, yeah, sorry, was there a question or what?

[Jeff]

How is it in there? Is it. It looks slammed. I mean, the parking lot's full. Is it slammed? Are you slammed?

[Brittany B]

It's rocking because you're out here, my bro.

[Jeff]

Cool. Yeah. Have you guys talked about me or anything? Or does Dan want me back or anything like that, or.

[Brittany B]

What do you think the answer is, sweet pea?

[Jeff]

Shit, Brittany, I don't know. You tell me straight. Like, I could take it. Like, if Dan doesn't, can you. I don't. Like, maybe soften it a little.

[Brittany B]

All right, babe.

[Jeff]

Melt it like butter or something, like. Don't.

[Brittany B]

Honey bun, you need a life. Holy shit, honey bun, you need a life bad.

[Jeff]

Yeah, no, you're cool.

[Brittany B]

You've been chilling out here for a little bit too long to be dead ass real with you. I came out here to film a TikTok, saw your sad ass turned right around.

[Jeff]

Cool. No, no, no. Chill, chill, chill. Yeah, it sounds like you're super busy, so I'll let you get back to you.

[Brittany B]

I'm gonna pop right back to it, but you just let me know if you need some hard truth, okay? My man.

[Jeff]

Yeah. I actually don't need any.

[Brittany B]

Cause you know where you can find me? Behind the bar.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I can't go in there. So everyone comes to the door. Brittney's putting him in this fucking place. Everyone comes to the door. No, me and Brittany are cool.

[Brittany B]

You guys, stop. Do not crowd around the door. This is not something we do for entertainment or fun. This is something we do for the empathy of a human being.

[Jeff]

Crowd around the door. Dude, you guys have to stop doing that. Customers can't cry around. That's a fire hazard. Safety hazard. We could lose points.

[Brittany]

You know what else is a safety hazard? Fireworks in a coat.

[Jeff]

Who said that? Was that Dan? Dan? If it was, I apologize. I apologize if I did that. I apologize to do that, because I shouldn't do it.

[Brittany B]

Do you have any hobbies?

[Jeff]

Like, being at the Chili's is like. I mean, at the Denny's and like, getting the guys who do the Chili's trash is, like, a huge hobby of mine. And, like, getting back from dance. You.

[Brittany]

I'm just a regular person here to throw something in your garbage.

[Jeff]

Be about your business. Sir, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm just. Wait a second. Wait a second. You. Chili's? You work at Chili's? I know you. You work at Chili's.

[Brittany B]

Oh, my God, you do. I've seen you before.

[Jeff]

Okay, if I catch a guy. Dan said, if I catch a guy who works at Chili's putting trash in the bin, I can make him eat the trash. Everybody, look. Now he's got somebody who's Mrs.

[Dan]

Doubt firing in a headlock.

[Jeff]

What do you. What is this? Triple dippers. You have to eat all these triple dippers.

[Brittany]

Don't mind if I do.

[Jeff]

Whoa. Actually, these triple dippers smell pretty good.

[Brittany]

You can't eat our food, man.

[Jeff]

What if I worked at Chili's.

[Brittany]

You wouldn't fit in at Chili's. All we do is set off fireworks and yell at customers.

[Jeff]

No, please. That's like, my dream job. Brittany, do you think Dan will let me go?

[Brittany B]

Sweet pea, Dan will be more than happy to let you go.

[Jeff]

Okay, I'm using my one a night. Send Dan out. I have something to say to Dan. Please send him out. Britney, I'm using my one.

[Brittany B]

You're. Last time I did this for you, I really regretted it.

[Jeff]

I know I've only been on for 15 minutes tonight, but please, this is my one. Send Dan out. I'm ready to quit.

[Brittany B]

I am going to send Dan out here, but if you don't quit, I swear. Swear to God, I swear to God, I'm gonna be back here tomorrow saying even more true stuff to you. And this time, I'm gonna include your love life and your personal hygiene.

[Jeff]

No, it's okay. Hey, Brittany, this is awesome. Like, you're like a true friend, and I hope that we. Even when I go to Chili's, I hope that we can kind of stay, you know, friends.

[Brittany B]

You know what? We're gonna.

[Jeff]

Dan. Britney's awesome.

[Brittany B]

All right. I'm getting Dan.

[Jeff]

She's the coolest person that Denny's besides Dan.

[Dan]

Hey, champ. What can I do for you?

[Jeff]

Dan?

[Dan]

Yep.

[Jeff]

I've only ever wanted to make you proud.

[Dan]

Okay?

[Jeff]

And that's why this baby bird has to spread his wings. And tonight has to be my last night at Denny's because I'm gonna work with this gentleman who is tossing the Chili's trash in the Denny's trash bin. I'm gonna work at Chili's.

[Dan]

Okay?

[Jeff]

I need my coat. I need my fireworks. I need my first and last month.

[Dan]

Hey, sorry. Can we wrap this up? I just got a call that Daphne and Banana are gonna be coming to the restaurant, so I need to set aside a day.

[Jeff]

I need my job back. I have to meet Daphne and Banana.

[Dan]

Hey, you got it.

[Brittany]

Oh, you guys, I'm very attached to Daphne and Banana. And I actually do think we should do a full they're really Good episode of Daphne.

[Brittany B]

I'm really attached to that poor man.

[Brittany]

Yeah, there's something kind of sweet about him. I don't know.

[Dan]

Wait, hold on. GBC was playing himself, right?

[Jeff]

No, I. I love where your head's at. But this character actually yelled at customers and JPC yells at waiters. So it's kind of like A Bizarro J. 1, 2, 3, 4. Hate riddle riddles. Clue Crew, listen to the rest of the episode now by starting your free seven day [e-mail]. hey, Riddle. Riddle.