High and Mighty — 11th Annual Power Hour

Host: Jon Gabrus
Guests: Betsy Sodaro, Gilli Nissim, Ify Nwadiwe, Oscar Montoya, Nick Wiger
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

The 11th Annual Power Hour is a classic live episode of High and Mighty — chaotic, unfiltered, and deeply rooted in the show's tradition of bringing friends together for an hour of increasingly silly, tipsy camaraderie. This episode is not only a celebration of holiday rituals but also of resilience in the face of the podcasting industry's "death spiral." Gabrus and his panel of frequent collaborators and comedians gather on stage to attempt "60 shots in 60 minutes," swapping beers, chili, and banter while reflecting on friendship, community, and the weirdness of their chosen careers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Podcasting & Holiday Traditions

• Gabrus announces he "doesn't got a podcast anymore" due to the "industry dying," but holds onto the Power Hour as his only holiday tradition (00:46).
  • Memorable quote:

    "This is not a High and Mighty–sanctioned event. I kept the branding for the sake of the posters. But I don’t got a fucking podcast anymore because another industry I chose to be part of is dying." – Jon Gabrus (00:46)

• He emphasizes how much these live shows mean to him and jokes about needing attention and ignoring doctor’s orders for the sake of tradition.
• The annual Power Hour is described as essential, with regular attendees sharing how much they look forward to it each year.

2. Panel Introductions & Group Dynamics

• Gabrus brings out key guests, all recurring figures over the years:

  • Betsy Sodaro (veteran of Power Hours)
  • Gilli Nissim (noted as Betsy's roommate and friend, adding to long-running show "lore")
  • Oscar Montoya (designated sober "spirit guide")
  • Ify Nwadiwe (the threat of painful handshakes and bear hugs as running gags)
  • Nick Wiger (costumed in superhero fashion, always game for a "bit")

  The dynamic immediately establishes a feeling of inside-joke-laden, familial chaos reminiscent of previous years, with recurring bits about rooming, relationship drama, and physical comedy.

3. The Rules & Rituals of the Power Hour

• The group sets the stage: "60 shots of whatever we're drinking over 60 minutes."
• Gabrus jokes about "birthday feelings" and pre-celebration nerves — a combination of real anxiety and exaggerated comic tension about the event’s challenge.
  • "I have, like, legit birthday feelings. Like, I'm like, can't stop shaking. And that's not DTs because I've been drinking. This is just pure excitement of being up here with my friends." (10:58)
• Each cast member brings their own beverage, but Wiger ups the ante by attempting 60 shots of turkey chili in lieu of beer.
  • Memorable quote:

    "This year for the Power Hour, I will be doing 60 shots of turkey chili… I think this is going to be more challenging. So we'll see how my constitution holds up." – Nick Wiger (13:00)

4. Debates & Tangents: Is Chili Soup?

• A side discussion erupts over whether chili qualifies as "soup":
  • “Chili doesn’t count as soup.” – James Guns (13:21)
  • “It needs broth.” – Nessa (13:22)
  • The group jokes about the merits of putting chili on a Dorito as further proof against it being soup, and reminisces about chili cook-offs at fire stations and TV sitcoms (14:19–14:53).

5. Joys and Horrors of Food Festivals

• The conversation turns to food festivals:
  • Gabrus recalls a "gumbo festival in New Orleans" in 110-degree heat and the bodily consequences of all-you-can-eat events (14:54–15:30).
  • Oscar remarks: "Just simultaneously getting heartburn and sunburn at the same time. Burning my insides and out." (15:23)
• There’s a shared, delighted horror at the collective gastrointestinal toll these annual celebrations inflict.

6. Community, Nostalgia & the Power of Gathering

• The group’s camaraderie is palpable — highlighting the show’s core: a crowd of friends, semi-shambolic but bonded by years of traditions.
• Betsy leads a round of gratitude:
  • "I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for you. Thankful for you." – Betsy Sodaro (17:16)
• Gabrus mocks the listeners, encouraging them to join live streams because “the podcast feed is defunct.” But the jokes read as loving winks to the old-school fans who’ve stuck around.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On career choices:

  "I remember when I was 18 and I sat down with my guidance counselor, and they were like, what do you want to do? I'm like, I want to live stream getting drunk and split the money with a company." – Jon Gabrus (04:11)

• On annual challenges:

  "We're gonna do 60 shots of whatever we're drinking over the course of 60 minutes. Doesn't sound like a lot, but you talk to me at the 33rd, beep how you're feeling before we even start the timer." – Jon Gabrus (11:25)

• On gratitude:

  "I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for you. Thankful for you." – Betsy Sodaro (17:16)

• On chili, Doritos, and the definition of soup:

  "Another proof that is not soup. If you could put it on a Dorito." – Nessa (14:12)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:46 — Gabrus laments the "death" of the podcasting industry and the importance of Power Hour
• 06:38–09:22 — Panel introductions, banter on roommate lore and guest dynamics
• 10:58 — Gabrus reveals his nerves and excitement, kicking off the emotional core of the show
• 13:00 — Wiger announces his chili challenge (60 shots of turkey chili)
• 13:19–14:53 — Tangent: is chili soup? Chili cook-offs and food festival stories
• 15:23 — Oscar delivers a pointed joke about food festivals’ double burn
• 17:16 — Betsy’s thanksgiving gratitude wraparound

Final Thoughts

The 11th Annual Power Hour stands as both a comedy marathon and an ode to ritual, with Gabrus and crew embracing absurdity, friendship, and the weird, winding journey of their careers. Even as the future of traditional podcasting is lampooned, High and Mighty proves its cult appeal endures where it matters most: in the laughter, chaos, and community of its annual gathering.

For the full mayhem, including audience interactions and every shot, the panel invites you to catch the livestream replay — or just keep reliving the glory through these recaps, as long as the feed shall live.