Life Wide Open with CboysTV

Episode: The Problem With Being A College Drop Out, $75 Million Dollar Bet, and Gummy Bear Challenge Gone Wrong
Release date: November 22, 2022

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a lively conversation between the CboysTV crew (CJ, Ben, Ryan, Mike, and others) about the aftermath of their Las Vegas trip and SEMA flu, the merits and pitfalls of dropping out of college, wild business marketing moves (like Mattress Mack’s $75 million sports bet), social media's current state, and an especially chaotic “Gummy Bear Challenge” that takes an unexpectedly spicy turn. The group’s signature humor and camaraderie shine throughout, making it a mix of stories, friendly roasts, life musings, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SEMA Flu & Las Vegas Recap

00:01 – 02:30

• The crew recounts how everyone except Mike got sick after their Vegas trip—dubbed “SEMA Flu.”
  • “It is funny though how like all of us got sick except for Mike, who I would say would be like one of the more unhealthy members just because of… his habits and sleep patterns.” – Ben (01:16)
• Mike boasts about his immune system, attributing it to “lots of vitamin C, vitamin D, ibuprofen,” and questionable sleep hygiene.

2. Security Footage and Night Owl Antics

02:30 – 06:30

• Mike’s late-night habit of lounging on the pool table is exposed via new security cam footage.
• The group makes fun of Mike for potentially spooning with Evan on the pool table.
• Lighthearted banter about privacy, group house living, and being “caught” on camera.

3. Milestones & Audience Engagement

06:30 – 07:00

• The crew campaigns for more subscribers to get Evan on the podcast (“Subscribe so we can get him on!” – Mike, 06:34).
• Emphasis on community involvement and podcast goals.

4. Small Checks from the IRS and Elementary School Nostalgia

07:01 – 10:16

• A laugh over receiving a $1.55 check from the IRS.
• Reminiscing about elementary school days—box tops, Scholastic Book Fairs, cakewalks, and the decline of bake sales due to new food safety policies.

5. The College Debate & Social Growth

10:16 – 14:30

• Honest discussion about dropping out of college; Ben wonders if he missed some essential life lessons from not staying.
  • “I think a lot of people are probably in this position of like, oh, I don’t want to go to college... but am I lacking things?” – Ben (10:16)
• The crew lands on the view that college is more about the social experience than learning irreplaceable facts.
  • “There’s some things that maybe nothing. There’s some things that both, that all of us... I’ll notice about you. I’m like, man, he just never learned anything, did he?” – Ryan (11:04)
• They agree that as long as you're proactive outside of school, you can learn just as much elsewhere.

6. Colorblind Graphic Designers, Viral Moments, and Accessibility

14:26 – 18:15

• The group riff on being colorblind as a designer, referencing colorblindness glasses and viral moments (like Logan Paul’s videos).
• They discuss Helen Keller’s fame, jokingly debate her life story, and get sidetracked on accessibility and disabilities.

7. Mattress Mack & The $75 Million Bet

18:15 – 24:43

• Ben explains Mattress Mack's attention-grabbing marketing: betting millions on sports events and refunding customers if his team wins.
  • “So he just recently won $75 million on the Astros... and he’s going to give everyone a refund that bought something from his furniture store during the promotion.” – Ben (19:01)
• Analysis of the genius behind such marketing: uses both as insurance, and even when losing bets, drives massive sales and community loyalty.
• Reflection on the wildness of big gambling, sports fandom, and viral headlines.

8. Sports, Bandwagons, and Fandom

24:43 – 28:46

• Minnesota Vikings fandom: the joys and heartbreaks.
• Friendly roasting about “bandwagon jumping” and sports superstition.

9. The Taylor Swift Ticket Fiasco

28:47 – 31:17

• Ben shares Greta’s (his girlfriend’s) struggle to get Taylor Swift tickets, sparking a tangent about celebrity fandom, scalper pricing, and America’s “T-Swift fever.”
  • “Taylor Swift for sure... has America by the balls right now.” – Mike (29:13)
• They marvel at the power of Swifties, concert ticket gouging, and the risks of criticizing pop icons.

10. Independent Artists & Social Media Clout

31:17 – 36:55

• Discussion turns to Connor Price, an independent artist who used social platforms to catapult his career—without needing a record label.
• They celebrate the democratization of the music industry via TikTok and Instagram, but question how organic those Billboard Top-10 takeovers really are.

11. TikTok, Instagram Reels, & Algorithm Frustrations

36:55 – 40:41

• The group laments how viral social trends can kill creativity: “Seems like the less effort I put into a reel, the better it does…”
• Mike provides a tip for gaming the algorithm: use trending audio at zero volume for a potential boost.
• Brief thoughts on YouTube Shorts, their growing popularity, and how each platform’s “vibe” or community differs.

12. Social Media & Online Communities: Facebook Groups and Forums

41:08 – 46:33

• Comparing the pros/cons of Facebook, Instagram, and online forums.
• Mike and CJ reminisce about learning from car forums and Facebook Groups; Mike is shown to be hyper-active in pit bike groups, even giving advice late at night: “Every single time I go on Facebook, I’ll see... Mike is always responding to people’s questions.” – Ben (43:06)
• CJ explains how old-school internet forums shaped his car hobby knowledge.

13. The Gummy Bear “Reaper Roulette” Challenge

46:33 – 57:55

• Ben brings out a spicy “Russian Roulette” style challenge with five gummy bears—one of which is fiery hot.
• Memorable chaos: CJ gets the hot one, ends up throwing up, and the entire scene derails into shouting, sympathy, and laughter.
  • “Dude, I was pacing down there... I threw up and everything. It tasted terrible. It tasted so bad at first. It was like a sneak attack.” – CJ (57:26)
• They discuss how prank challenges have evolved—and gotten more intense.

14. Wheel of Misfortune & Painful Pranks

57:55 – 56:48 [Appears to be timestamp inversion near the end, as conversation weaves]

• The crew jokes about creating a “Wheel of Misfortune” for future podcast punishments (e.g., “nipple piercing, ass tattoo, or swift kick in the nuts”).
• Diverse opinions on tattoos, with musings on sleeve designs, personal preference, and cultural origins.

15. Assisted Living Stories & Senior Mischief

60:02 – 64:59

• Mike tells a hilarious and slightly dark story about his grandpa in nursing home “assigned dinner buddies,” memory loss, accusations of “who’s paying for dinner,” and a fight breaking out between residents.
  • “The guy got so upset that he kept accusing him of paying for his food that he walked over while Kermit was watching TV one evening and just bopped him.” – Mike (63:36)
• The group riffs on how wild and underappreciated life can be in senior homes.

16. High School Bullying, Guilt, and Growth

66:05 – End

• Reflecting on immature bullying in high school—Mike admits to some name-calling (“Poop Stain Corbin”) and the group explores the long-term effects, and regrets, of such behavior.
• “You don’t realize... you just don’t know [in high school].” – CJ (70:21)
• Empathy for how actions in youth can impact others, but acknowledgment that people can move on and mature.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On post-SEMA flu:
  “But everyone got sick except for Mike. Isn’t it funny how that, like, it seems to always go like that?” — Ben (01:41)
• Ben on dropping out:
  “I definitely don’t regret, like, dropping out of college, but… I think it’s just like almost doing something to just keep yourself, like, occupied killing time.” — Ben (12:00)
• On Mattress Mack's strategy:
  “Either the company is going to do super, super well, and then he’s not going to have to refund them, or he’s gonna have to refund everyone, but he’s gonna win 75 million. Either way, he wins.” — Ben (20:28)
• Vikings Fandom Switch-Up
  “Ryan saw a group of people excited and shut it down.” — CJ (22:58)
• Taylor Swift fever:
  “Dude, she’s got America… by the balls right now.” — Mike (29:13) “If you want to get hated on, go after T. Swift.” — Ben (30:03)
• Algorithm insight:
  “You can actually use a trending song, turn the volume all the way down, and then you’ll get into the algorithm.” — Mike (38:55)
• Gummy Bear Challenge fallout:
  “I threw up and everything. It tasted terrible. It tasted so bad at first. It was like a sneak attack.” — CJ (57:27)
• Nursing home fight club:
  “The guy got so upset that he kept accusing him... he walked over while Kermit was watching TV one one evening and just bopped him.” — Mike (63:36)
• Reflecting on bullying/growth:
  “You can’t hold that against them because... when I had a really bad concussion in high school, there were kids calling me a pussy... now I look back, I’m like, God, you’re just still... you just don’t know.” — CJ (70:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• SEMA Flu + Pool Table Antics – 00:01 to 06:30
• College Dropout Reflections – 10:16 to 14:30
• Mattress Mack $75 Million Story – 18:15 to 24:43
• Taylor Swift Ticket Chaos – 28:47 to 31:17
• TikTok/Instagram Reels Discussion – 36:55 to 40:41
• Gummy Bear Challenge (Hilarious Meltdown!) – 46:33 to 57:55
• Nursing Home Fight Story – 60:02 to 64:59

Tone & Language

The episode is delivered in the CboysTV crew’s lighthearted, irreverent, and friend-first tone, filled with playful insults, honest admissions, and chummy story swapping. There’s an underlying theme of learned wisdom—tempered by silly dares and a shared willingness to roast one another for the crowd’s benefit.

Conclusion

A great gateway episode for new and returning listeners alike, this entry into Life Wide Open balances business lessons (and cautionary tales) with pure shenanigans, societal commentary, and moments of real vulnerability between the hosts. Whether it’s Mattress Mack’s wild bets or a surprise spicy gummy bear ambush, the CboysTV team delivers sharp humor and honest vibes throughout.