Podcast Summary: "Failed Resolutions, Ben's Apology, and is the Electric Corvette Cool?"

Podcast: Life Wide Open with CboysTV
Episode Date: January 24, 2023
Hosts: CJ, Ben, Ryan, Ken, Evan, Micah

Episode Overview

The CboysTV crew kicks off this episode by diving into recent shenanigans with their vehicles, the saga of their SEMA budget track build, and a candid debate over the new electric/hybrid Corvette E-Ray. The conversation detours into themes like business tips, failed New Year's resolutions, the ethics of intervention when someone is impaired, the allure (and perils) of rural living, and why heated jackets might be the new CrossFit for bro-chats. The episode rounds out with reflections on failed bets, a surprisingly wholesome grandma-Facebook interaction, and some self-deprecating personal growth moments.

1. SEMA Truck Tracks & Vehicle Drama

[00:09 – 04:47]

• Sneak Peek at SEMA Truck: The crew reveals they've installed snowmobile tracks on their SEMA truck — not replacing the wheels, but attaching the tracks onto the rims sans tires.
  • "We put tracks on the SEMA truck. Not normal tracks...snowmobile tracks...just like the actual wheel with no tire on it. And it worked. It worked amazing." – Ben [00:09]
• Ram Problems: Despite trying to baby their Ram pickup, it fell apart off camera during filming, sparking banter about whose fault it was and generally poking fun at each other's driving habits.
  • "Honestly, surprising. I would have expected the SEMA truck to have fallen apart in this video. But the Ram’s the one that let us down." – CJ [01:03-01:18]

2. Cool or Lame? All-Wheel Drive, Hybrid Electric Corvette E-Ray

[06:12 – 13:35]

• Initial Impressions: The guys discuss Chevrolet's new all-wheel-drive, part-electric Corvette E-Ray, noting it’s being marketed as a sports car for winter driving — lots of snowy promo clips.
  • "Did you guys see the Corvette? First of all, an all-wheel drive Corvette, but, second, a half electric Corvette." – CJ [06:09]
• Specs & Sounds: They break down how the E-Ray combines a gas engine in the rear with a 200hp motor in the front (electric-only up to 45mph, 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds), highlighting Amelia Hartford's test drive video and the odd synthetic sound it emits.
  • "It's a hybrid...0 to 60 2.5...faster than Z06." – Ben [08:11]
  • "The more I learn about it, it's absolutely incredible...an absolutely incredible piece of gear." – Micah [12:03]
• Design Hot Takes: Mixed reviews — some say it looks like an NSX, others that it’s a step back from the aggressive Z06. They agree all-electric sports cars still don’t “feel” right to purists.
  • "Is it just me, or does the E-Ray not look that cool? Like the Z06 looks...awesome." – Ken [10:18]
• SUV Corvettes and Car Naming Rants: They roast the idea of slapping “Corvette” or “Mustang” labels on SUVs just for sales, wishing automakers would think up new names.
  • "I wish they wouldn't take the Mustang name or Corvette name...just so it sells." – CJ [14:13]
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Doing Dry January is exactly like having a heated jacket or going to CrossFit. You can't do Dry January and not tell everyone you're doing Dry January." – Ben [54:59]

3. Scams, Stickers, and Surrons

[15:07 – 18:54]

• State Trooper Donation Call: Micah gets solicited over the phone to donate to the Minnesota State Troopers Association in return for a car sticker. The crew debates its legitimacy and the oddity of government phone fundraising.
  • "You make a donation, you'll get a sticker for the back of your car... for the sticker, it's 50." – Micah [15:54]
• Sur-Ron Saga: Ongoing suspense around a bulk Sur-Ron e-bike order from China — possible scam or just complicated logistics? The group puts detective Ken on the case.
  • "I'm not paying for those. I need to see one at my door... I just need to know this is legit." – Micah [17:20-17:49]
• Venmo Pranks: Listeners are now randomly requesting money from Micah "to see if it works," sowing chaos in his notifications.

4. Heated Jackets Are the New Humblebrag

[19:59 – 22:36]

• Heated Jackets Trend: New swag creates a status divide in the crew. They compare the compulsion to talk about heated jackets to IPA drinkers and CrossFitters.
  • "If someone asks...yeah, I love it, it's warm... You just gotta humbly be warm in your heated jackets." – Micah [21:12-22:30]

5. Famous TV Houses & Social Media Mishaps

[22:52 – 28:46]

• Breaking Bad House Rant: They discuss viral videos of the real-life owner of the Breaking Bad house, who is known for yelling at tourists — and getting pizzas thrown on her roof.
  • "You should not buy a house that has been in a show unless you're prepared or want the clout..." – Micah [24:09]
• Turn It Into a Museum?: Banter about why some famous homes (e.g., Home Alone, Full House) become public attractions while others don't.

6. Mountain Towns, Real Cowboys, and the Migration West

[28:50 – 35:56]

• Jackson Hole Scenes & Big City Transplants: The crew shares stories from their recent snowmobiling trip, encountering “pretend cowboys” and entitled California transplants clashing with real locals.
  • "No wonder people that live out here hate these people...there's a guy wearing a shawl... Why do you look like you just started traversing the Oregon Trail on a horse?" – CJ [30:03]
• Local Insights: Colorful anecdotes about bar fights, lifelong residents getting pushed out by high property prices, and why rural life is so attractive yet fraught with tension.
  • "I grew up in Jackson actually, and got pushed out...just getting pushed out of the town that you grew up in, just 'cuz...rich people." – CJ [33:16]

7. Wild Ideas: Ocean Snowmobile Skipping & Jet Ski Backflips

[36:05 – 39:34]

• The guys brainstorm the feasibility of skipping a snowmobile on ocean waves—drawing inspiration from daredevils like Robbie Maddison.
  • "Have you ever water skipped on the ocean?...I don't think I've ever seen anybody snowmobile skip in the ocean though." – Ben [36:05-37:15]
• They challenge each other to new stunts involving jet skis and snowmobiles.

8. Ethics and Intervention: Dealing with Impaired Drivers

[39:34 – 42:44]

• Micah shares a real-life dilemma: Should he have done more to stop a clearly impaired woman from driving home after work?

  • "I start to pull her out...should we drive your car home for you? ...How much do you push someone to try to drive them home safely?" – Micah [41:08-41:32]

• The group reflects somberly on the risks of drunk snowmobiling, cautioning listeners to be safe.

  • "Don't drive your snowmobile drunk." – CJ [43:41]

9. Failed Bets, Accountability, and Classic Minnesota Football Pain

[44:11 – 48:33]

• Ben’s Apology: Ben concedes Ryan was spot-on predicting the Vikings’ playoff “inevitable heartbreak.” Ryan confesses to losing $500 on a bet because he ignored his own gut.
  • "I owe you an apology...You were right about the Vikes. You were so right, dude." – Ben [45:28]
• Gambling Woes: More tales of casino games, group dice-rolling, and the realization that arcades are just casinos “with less money and more fun and four kids.” [51:00]
  • "An arcade is just a casino with less money and more fun and four kids." – CJ [51:08]

10. Resolutions, Self-Awareness, and Giving Up Early

[52:17 – 58:38]

• Dry January Flops: Most of the group confesses to failing their Dry January (or starting late), poking fun at how announcing resolutions publicly just makes their failures louder.
  • “Doing Dry January is exactly like having a heated jacket or going to CrossFit. You can't do Dry January and not tell everyone you're doing Dry January.” – Ben [54:59]
• New Year’s Resolutions Abandoned: Admitting they’ve already quit on goals—Ben never went to the gym, Ryan bailed on working out after a week, blaming “my surroundings.”
  • "If you're gonna give up, just give up right away. What's the point of dragging it out?" – Ben [57:00]
  • "It's also never too late to give up." – Evan [57:05]
• Memorable moment:
  • Satirical takeaways: “No Nut November. Did that pan out for you guys?... Like, who does that? ...That hurts people.” – CJ [55:08]

11. Grandmas on Facebook & Social Media Generations

[58:38 – 61:40]

• Ryan's Facebook post featuring Hummer photo carousels draws a hilarious comment from his grandma’s neighbor, mistaking Paris Hilton for Ryan's sister.
  • "Who is this pretty lady? Doesn't look like your sister!" – Ryan’s Grandma’s neighbor [60:56]
• Reflections on how older relatives misunderstand social media, making for unintentional comedy.

12. Final Banter and Notable Quotes

[61:54 – End]

• Ben and Micah close on the idea that “old people are funny without trying” and reiterate the importance of self-awareness.
• Episode closes with a tongue-in-cheek acronym for “personal electronic nicotine inhalant system”—i.e., ‘penis’—and a round of laughter.

Notable Quotes

• On hybrid sports cars:

  • "It’s insanely fast and all-wheel drive. But it definitely takes away like that muscle car, American made kind of feeling." – Ben [08:50]

• On resolutions:

  • "If you're gonna give up, just give up right away. What's the point of dragging it out?" – Ben [57:00]

• On rural migration:

  • "I think we’d be better off getting a ranch out there than we would in Florida." – Ben [35:27]

• On heated jackets:

  • "It's like taking that big drink off a crispy dew...it’s like a warm hug." – Evan & Ryan [22:44]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Sneak Peek: SEMA truck tracks — [00:09 – 04:47]
• Corvette E-Ray reveals and opinions — [06:12 – 13:35]
• Trooper donation calls and Sur-Ron update — [15:07 – 18:54]
• Heated jackets as humblebrag — [19:59 – 22:36]
• Breaking Bad House owner drama — [22:52 – 28:46]
• Mountain West gentrification & cowboy stories — [28:50 – 35:56]
• Wild ocean snowmobile ideas — [36:05 – 39:34]
• Impaired driver dilemma & snowmobile safety — [39:34 – 44:06]
• Vikings betting pain — [44:11 – 48:33]
• Gambling addiction/dice games/arcade vs. casino — [48:34 – 51:36]
• Dry January and failed resolutions — [52:17 – 58:38]
• Grandma's Facebook confusion — [58:38 – 61:40]
• Episode wrap-up and final jokes — [61:54 – 62:30]

Final Thoughts

This episode blends the garage escapades, automotive hot-takes, and personal honesty that have made CboysTV a hit, peppered with sharp group banter, occasional wisdom, and peak Midwestern humor.
For fans, it’s a must-listen—equal parts informative, ridiculous, and relatable.