Patreon Preview #375: The Marisol County Cobbler Gobbler w/ Mike Brunlieb

Summary

---

Hey Riddle Riddle – Patreon Preview #375: The Marisol County Cobbler Gobbler w/ Mike Brunlieb

Release Date: May 15, 2026
Hosts: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan
Guest: Mike Brunlieb

---

Episode Overview

This special Patreon preview episode transports listeners to the Marisol County “Cobbler Gobbler”—a fictional small-town festival and competitive eating event, brought to life by the show's improv mastery. The cast role-plays colorful contestants (and one nervous newcomer) as they gather around piles of questionable cobblers, swapping old war stories, boasting about eating prowess, and explaining the arcane rules and lore of the Cobbler Gobbler contest. Light on actual riddles but high on banter, chaos, and well-aged inside jokes, this episode highlights the improvisers’ knack for world-building and character-driven comedy.

---

Key Discussion Points & Comedic Highlights

1. Meet the Cobbler Gobblers (00:02–02:15)

• Jeff T. (Adal): Lays territorial claim over his pile of cobbler, revealing a past in international eating competitions across Japan, “Belarusa”, and Africa—though Europe eludes him for “political reasons.”

  • Notable exchange:
    • Mary Ellen: "I want to play a fair game."
    • Jeff T.: "Holy." (00:21)

• Mary Ellen Stuson (Erin): Local legend and original Cobbler Gobbler winner; spry at “92 (pounds or years? Both!)” and contemplates retirement.

  • Memorable line:
    • Mary Ellen: “My kids are begging me to have this be my last cobbler eating competition because these usually knock me out for several weeks.” (01:46)

• Family legacies and baggage:

  • Mary Ellen accuses Jeff T. of trying to distance himself from a “shameful” family past.
    • Mary Ellen: “Your ancestors sort of being the shame of the town. Sort of a stain on your family. I get it.” (00:52)

2. A Nervous Newbie Appears: Carl "Hirsch" Hirsch (03:07–05:33)

• Carl Hirsch (JPC): He’s anxious, clutching his coat on a 95-degree day, unsure where to leave it or where the bathrooms are. An outsider with car-related surname confusion and bathroom misadventures on the horizon.

  • Classic moment:
    • Carl: “Where do we... This is my first time doing this. Is this... do we set our coats over here?” (03:12)
    • Mary Ellen: “It’s sort of a hot, hot day. I’m not really sure why you brought a coat.” (03:26)

• Porta Potties & Church Warnings:

  • Porter potties only—never the church restrooms! The church custodian Nick wields a makeshift “bo staff” (a broken broom handle) and “will absolutely rail on you,” with two strikes already from law enforcement.
    • Jeff T.: “Every year, somebody from the Cobbler Gobbler absolutely destroys one of those church bathrooms.” (05:08)

3. Stakes at the Cobbler Table (10:13–13:01)

• Jeff T. explains the rules: After the cook-off, pick any discarded cobbler for your “pile” and eat as much as possible. He specializes in “meat cobblers: turkey, ham, Canadian bacon.”

  • Jeff T.: “I stake out the meat cobblers because it’s what I like.” (10:57)

• Carl attempts to poach Jeff’s cobbler, is rebuffed, and tries to sneak a sample anyway.

  • Jeff T.: “I’ve spent many years in Japan where they do things a little—okay. And he took my cobbler. Okay. Huh?” (11:19)

• Mary Ellen reminisces about her near-death experiences competing:

  • Mary Ellen: “When I started having a heart attack in 2006 during the Cobbler Gobbler...and I said, please, can we postpone? And you said, a winner never comes up with...excuses.” (11:42)

4. Lore and Rivalries—Enter Mikey Panties (13:01–14:26)

• A new threat arrives:

  • Mikey Panties (Mike Brunlieb): The teen competitive-eating phenom, part science, part faith, part legendary trash talk.
    • Mikey Panties (taunting entrance): “If it isn’t second, third, and fourth place.” (13:15)
  • He claims his dad (the biology teacher) faked an emergency to get him out of school, “the Gobbler code prevents Hugh3 from ratting me out.”

• The “Gobbler Code”:

  • An unwritten ethos—never betray your fellow gobblers. Presented as a “row, row, row your boat” song:
    • Full round at (14:20): “Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble gobble code…None of us betrays the rest.”
    • Mary Ellen: “It’s just like, be a good person. Don’t throw anyone under the bus. Don’t cheat.” (14:44)

• Carl improvises his own verse, eager for acceptance: - Carl: “Be kind to others and don't be slow. Make sure you eat your cobbler like man. Now let me get a bite of that cobbler, man.” (15:04)

5. Escalation & Ramp-up to the Contest (15:11–15:22)

• Carl tries to sneak a bite of Jeff’s cobbler, initiating slapstick shenanigans as the others rein him in.

  • Mary Ellen, laughing: “Ah, just pulling a cobbler out of his hands!” (15:16)

• The bit closes out with the hosts rallying their Clue Crew to join Patreon for the rest of the shenanigans.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• Mary Ellen (about her age and weight): “92. My kids are begging me to have this be my last cobbler eating competition because these usually knock me out for several weeks.” (01:46)
• Jeff T.: “Every year, somebody from the Cobbler Gobbler absolutely destroys one of those church bathrooms... and Nick... will absolutely rail on you with his… what, I guess it’s a bo staff. Yeah, he calls it a bo staff. It’s a broken broom.” (05:08)
• Mikey Panties, trash talk: “If it isn’t second, third, and fourth place.” (13:15)
• On the Gobbler Code:
  • Mikey Panties: “None of us betrays the rest.” (14:26)
  • Mary Ellen: “It’s just like, be a good person. Don’t throw anyone under the bus. Don’t cheat.” (14:44)

---

Episode Structure & Flow

• Opening Banter (00:02–05:43): Heavy character work, introductions, and old-timers’ rivalry
• Comic Digression & Rules Explanation (10:13–11:51): How the Cobbler Gobbler works, cobbler strategies, and etiquette
• Escalating Antics (13:01–15:22): The arrival of the youthful nemesis, “Gobbler Code” hilarity, and pre-competition chaos
• (Ads and sign-off omitted per instructions)

---

Tone & Style

The episode is pure improv, with whimsical, character-driven humor, parodying small-town contests and competitive eating. The mood shifts between gentle ribbing (“pounds or age?”), outlandish backstories, and escalating farce, all while the hosts stay true to their affectionate, madcap storytelling style.

---

Conclusion

Even with few riddles, this episode brims with inventive world-building, playful roast humor and absurd festival pageantry. Both long-time “Clue Crew” devotees and newcomers will find themselves enveloped by the community spirit—and competitive ferocity—of the Marisol County Cobbler Gobbler.

To hear the rest of the festival madness, join the Hey Riddle Riddle Patreon for the full episode!

Transcript

[Jeff T.]

Excuse me. I'm not trying. I'm not trying to be rude, but I've got these cobblers staked out. So if you're. If you're looking for cobbler for your pile or these are.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

You caught me. You caught me. This is. This. I. I had my eye on those cobblers, but those are yours. I want to play a fair game.

[Jeff T.]

Holy.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Oh. Oh, my God.

[Jeff T.]

Mary Ellen. Yes. Mary Ellen Stuson.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yes. Every chairman, as I live and breathe.

[Jeff T.]

Yeah, I'm actually going by Jeff T. Now.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Ah, you're trying to distance yourself from the old last name. I see. I see.

[Jeff T.]

Oh, yeah. Huh. I guess. Yeah. I actually never. Oh. People could interpret what I'm doing as that. Yeah, yeah.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Your ancestors sort of being the shame of the town. Sort of a stain on your family. I get it. You've been doing the international eating competitions, haven't you?

[Jeff T.]

Yeah, yes. I've been doing kind of the whole international circuit. You know, starting off in Japan, Belarusa. Going into kind of the African continent. Not cracked Europe yet. Oh, yeah. Not cracked Europe yet. Still kind of working on the invites there. It's political, you know, it's all political.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yeah. Well, it's good to have you back. It's been a lot of easy wins around these parts without you around.

[Jeff T.]

Oh, really?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

You've been winning easy wins for them? Oh, I think I'm not at the top of my game anymore. Got it.

[Jeff T.]

Yeah. I mean, I didn't want to say anything, but you look fantastic.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Oh, thanks. 92. My kids are begging me to have this be my last cobbler eating competition because these usually knock me out for several weeks.

[Jeff T.]

I'm sorry, you said 92, and I'm looking at you and I'm like, in my mind I'm saying, pounds or age? Pounds or age? Pounds or age?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Both.

[Jeff T.]

Both. Okay, good, good. Hey, good for you, Mary Ellen. Good for you.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yeah, well, so this might be the last time you're seeing me at the Cobbler Gobbler.

[Jeff T.]

Come on.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

They said, don't put me in a home if I. If I do another one after this, because it.

[Jeff T.]

Oh, a home.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yeah.

[Jeff T.]

Okay, well.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

No, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jeff T.]

Okay. I thought you were saying your kids were gonna have you.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Can they legally do that?

[Jeff T.]

Yeah.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

What?

[Jeff T.]

Yeah. You said you're 92? Yeah, yeah, yeah, big time.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Well, good luck today.

[Jeff T.]

Hey, great luck to you. You know, I didn't realize it was you. If you want one of these cobblers, I can.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

No, no, no. Just because I'm the original Cobbler Gobbler winner. Just Because I'm the one who won, the first ever one does not mean I deserve special treatment.

[Jeff T.]

No, no, I wasn't. Yeah, of course. No, I wouldn't give you special treat, but I don't think you're. I don't think you can beat me is basically what I'm saying. I was trying to be nice about it, but I don't think you can beat me.

[Carl Hirsch]

Is this where we set our coats? Are we allowed to set our coats here?

[Jeff T.]

This is a table full of cobblers. Please, please, please, please don't set your. Please don't set your coats.

[Carl Hirsch]

Where do we. This is my first time doing this. Is this. Do we set our coats over here?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

It's sort of a hot, hot day. I'm not really sure why you brought a coat. I don't think they have.

[Carl Hirsch]

I'm just trying to find everybody else's coat. I don't know where to set mine down.

[Jeff T.]

Well, I think.

[Carl Hirsch]

Where did you guys put your coats?

[Jeff T.]

I think what Mary Ella's trying to say, friend, is that most of us didn't bring coats. But if you do want to put your coat somewhere, I think like any one of the empty tables is fine. Or just keep your coat with you if you. If you're worried about it.

[Carl Hirsch]

Oh, the people who did bring coats, where'd they put them? I just want to put my coat the same place everybody else did.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yeah, I don't think a single other person brought a coat out to this 95 degree day.

[Carl Hirsch]

Nobody else brought a coat.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

You seem pretty nervous. First Cobbler Gobbler.

[Carl Hirsch]

Yeah, yeah, it's my first time. Where's the bathroom?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Porta Potties lined up on the side.

[Jeff T.]

Porta John's kind of a row of Porta John. What'd you say your name was, friend?

[Carl Hirsch]

My name's Hirsch.

[Jeff T.]

Hirsch, like the car?

[Carl Hirsch]

Yeah, like the car. That's my family. Yeah.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Wow.

[Jeff T.]

That's your last name? Your last name's Hirsch?

[Carl Hirsch]

Yes.

[Jeff T.]

Okay, great. Do you have a first name or are you the type of. Yeah, you seem to be the type of gentleman who would maybe want to go only by last name.

[Carl Hirsch]

I just go by my last name. Yeah, just. Yeah, just Hirsch. My first name's Carl.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Okay, Carl.

[Jeff T.]

It is. It is Carl.

[Mikey Panties]

Yeah.

[Jeff T.]

Okay, just pronounce Carl.

[Carl Hirsch]

So are we allowed to use those bathrooms over there or can I go inside the church if I do want to have a.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

You cannot go inside the church. They will freak out if you try to use those bathrooms. They will freak about it.

[Jeff T.]

Every year, somebody from the Cobbler Cobbler absolutely destroys one of those church bathrooms. And they've got Nick. And Nick is the church custodian and he will absolutely rail on you with his. What? I guess it's a BO staff. Yeah, he calls it a bo staff. It's a broken broom basically. But it's got the equivalence of a BO staff and nickname.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

He's got two strikes with the local law enforcement if he hurts another one of us, so that should keep us safe.

[Adler or JPC (podcast ad speaker)]

999 1000. Ready or not, here I come. Oh hey everybody. I'm just playing a quick game of hide and seek seek with Adel and jpc so you keep an eye out for them while I talk to you about Quints. This past weekend I was out and about with my new Italian suede slouchy midnight blue bag. And I kid you not, several of the most beautiful cool looking women asked me where I got it and I got to go. Quints. It's super affordable. I want my everyday items to be classic and timeless and comfortable and easy and affordable. And that's why I shop at Quint's. Quint's has all the wardrobe staples for spring. Think 100% European linen shorts and shirts from $34, lightweight, breathable and comfortable. But we're still going to look put together and clean. 100% prima cotton tees with a softness that has to be felt. Everything is priced 50 to 80% less than what you'll find at similar brands. Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're getting premium materials without the markup. I love everything I have from Quince. I recently got sandals from them. I'm obsessed with their home stuff. If you're looking for basics like rugs or curtains, truly just the most timeless, classic, well made items are over there at Quint's Soft. So check it out. Still not seeing Adler gpc. Starting to worry that they went to the movies or something. No, they're around. We'll find them. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com riddle for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Quince. Q U I n c e.com riddle r I---l e for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's a full year. If there's a full year, you can decide. If you like it, you're gonna like it. Quints.com Riddle I found you. Oh no, sorry. False alarm. Those are just Two scarecrows eating dessert waffles. Onward and upward. Hello, everybody. It's me, Erin Keefe, here to talk about my dog, Lou. I bet you've heard me talk about Lou hundreds, if not thousands of times on the show because I am obsessed with her. Fun fact about Lou, this past weekend in Palm Springs, she ran face first into a cactus and I did not handle it well. And if anyone gets being dog obsessed, it's Ollie. I love Ollie's dog food. They're relentless about delivering the best food and experience to your dog. And they give you a way to check in on their health over and over and over again. Ollie's fresh recipes are developed by real chefs and backed by vet nutritionists. They're obsessed with making the best meals in the highest quality ingredients. From the moment you start your subscription, everything is tailored to your dog. The meals are perfectly portioned, and you get a puptainer cute and a scoop for easy storing and serving. With Ollie, you don't just get food through their app. You can actually check on your dog's health with real vets just by uploading a picture. Their team can check in on your dog's weight, digestion, teeth and coat because they're obsessed with making sure your pup is as healthy as can be. Lou's getting old, and I just want her to be healthy and have the best life she can. Since switching to Ollie, Lou gets even more excited to eat. She clearly loves the food. And also, I just noticed she's got a little bit more energy. She's acting like a puppy again. And she's running into cactuses, cacti. And she's running into cacti full speed in the middle of the desert. Well, get ready for both you and your pup to be obsessed. Head to ollie.com riddle, tell them all about your dog, and use code RIDDLE to get 70% off your welcome kit when you subscribe today. Plus, they offer an obsession guarantee. If you're not completely obsessed, you'll get your money back. That's Ollie. O-L-L-I E.com Riddle and enter code RIDDLE R I D L E to get 70% off your first box. Isn't that right, Lou? I thought she would bark on cue. That would have been so awesome if she had barked. You didn't though. You didn't though, Lou.

[Carl Hirsch]

And so these cobblers over here are up for grabs. These are the one that you're standing in front of?

[Jeff T.]

No, these are my cobblers. So the way. If you Nick so Hirsch. The way the cobbler gobbler goes. Since it's your first time is after the cobbler cook off is over, you just kind of pick any discarded cobbler that you want, you put it in your pile, and then you're gonna try your best to get through the whole pile.

[Carl Hirsch]

These over here, these ones that you're standing in front of, look good?

[Jeff T.]

Yes. These? Well, yeah, they look good for a reason. I always get here a little early, probably two, three hours early when I'm doing the Cobbler Gobbler and I get any meat cobbler that people made. So this is all. This is turkey. I think that's turkey as well. That's ham. Canadian bacon, which is ham.

[Carl Hirsch]

Can I have the Canadian bacon one?

[Jeff T.]

You can't have any of these, Hirsch. These are mine. I stake out the meat cobblers because it's what I like and it helps me eat more. But you're free to walk around and kind of have.

[Carl Hirsch]

I'll just take a couple from your pile. I'm not gonna take all of them, but I just got here, so I didn't have the chance to get the ones that you've already picked out. So I'll take a couple from your pile

[Jeff T.]

now, friend, I'm trying to be friendly, but I've spent many years in Japan where they do things a little. Okay. And he took my cobbler. Okay. Huh?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Well, well, a winner never comes up with excuses. That's what you used to say. Gabe Tierman. Yeah.

[Jeff T.]

Jeez, Marion, you remembered stuff I said.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Yeah. When I started having a heart attack in 2006 during the Cobbler Gobbler. And I said, please, can we postpone? And he said, a winner never comes up with. Excuse me, excuses.

[Jeff T.]

That was real. Oh, my God, Mary Elden. I feel like the world's biggest fool. I thought you were trying to play me.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

No, no, it was a real heart attack. It was a real heart attack. You know, I'm really hoping that, you know, who doesn't show today. I think we would all have a winning chance. Even Hirsch.

[Carl Hirsch]

What?

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Oh, Hirsch. I was just talking about how the best. The best of the best of the best of competitive eaters sometimes shows up to the cobbler gobbler. And I haven't seen him yet. And I was saying I was grateful.

[Carl Hirsch]

Oh, who's that?

[Jeff T.]

He's one of these new generation, you know, cobbler gobblers. He's got all these newfangled. He uses science and faith and kind of a combination to make himself a better eater.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

You know, he biohacked how to get More food into his body and faster. Mm.

[Jeff T.]

He's the Kobayashi of non hot dog related. Eat it. Because obviously Kobayashi. Or maybe is it Joey Chestnut? Now there's a different guy who's even better than Kobe. You know how Kobayashi was the first guy to soak the buns?

[Mikey Panties]

Well, well, well. No, Dad, I see my friends, dad. Dad. I see my friends, dad.

[Jeff T.]

Fuck off.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well.

[Mikey Panties]

If it isn't second, third and fourth place.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Oh, he's calling it now.

[Jeff T.]

That's really, that's really nice of you. Oh, there's because there's only four of us. That's actually mean. It's actually mean to say that you

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

think I'm scared of some 16 year old punk kid. I'm not scared of you.

[Mikey Panties]

Oh, not scared of Mikey Pant? I think by the end of this you'll all be trembling.

[Jeff T.]

No, we're not scared of you, Mikey Panties. Okay. God, I thought, I thought for sure if they had the Cobbler Gobbler on a school day, there wasn't gonna be a spitting chance in hell that Mikey Panties would show up. How'd you get out of school today, Mikey?

[Mikey Panties]

My dad is the biology teacher and he whisked me out of school with a false emergency. Of course the Gobbler code prevents Hugh3 from ratting on me. Right?

[Jeff T.]

That's right, Hershey. You don't know about this, but he is.

[Carl Hirsch]

What's the Gobbler code?

[Jeff T.]

Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble gobble code. Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble code.

[Mikey Panties]

None of us betrays the rest.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Goblet betrays the rest. We come up with any excuses. That's why to the get to the Gobbler cob. Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobbler, gobble gob.

[Jeff T.]

And you kind of do it in a round, like a row, row, row your boat.

[Carl Hirsch]

Okay.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Basically, it's just like, be a good person. Don't throw anyone under the bus. Don't cheat.

[Carl Hirsch]

Well, I want to do it like you guys did it. Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble code. Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble code. Be kind to others and don't be slow. Make sure you eat your cobbler like man. Now let me get a bite of that cobbler, man.

[Jeff T.]

Yeah, don't starve.

[Adler or JPC (podcast ad speaker)]

He's a natural.

[Jeff T.]

Yeah, you're getting caught up in the middle.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

He's starving.

[Jeff T.]

Don't start yet. You don't stop.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

Ah, just pulling a cobbler out of his hands.

[Jeff T.]

The last thing you eat is eat.

[Carl Hirsch]

I was having one bite. I just need to taste.

[Jeff T.]

1, 2, 3, 4. Hate riddle. Riddles. Clue crew. Listen to the rest of the episode now by starting your free 7 day trial at patreon.com heyriddle riddle

[Mandy Moore]

hi, I am Mandy Moore.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Sterling K. Brown.

[Jeff T.]

And I'm Chris Sullivan. And we host the podcast that was us now on Headgum.

[Mandy Moore]

Each episode we're gonna go into a deep dive from our show.

[Mary Ellen Stuson]

This is us.

[Sterling K. Brown]

That's right.

[Mandy Moore]

We're gonna go episode by episode. We're also gonna pepper in episodes with different guest stars and writers. And are we gonna cry?

[Jeff T.]

Yes, a little bit. Are we gonna laugh a lot? A whole lot.

[Sterling K. Brown]

That's what I'm hoping, man. Listen to that was us on your favorite podcast app or watch full video episodes on YouTube or Spotify. New episodes every Tuesday.