Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast

Ep 598 – Night Shadow (feat. Dan Soder, Chris O’Connor, Billy)

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Matt McCusker & Shane Gillis
Guests: Dan Soder, Chris O’Connor, Billy

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Matt, Shane, Dan Soder, Chris O’Connor, and Billy run the comedic gamut from disgusting childhood memories and bodily mishaps to deep dives into pop culture, political commentary, and video game obsession. It’s an episode marked by spontaneous tangents, the group roasting each other, and memorable stories including tales of falling, angry gaming, arena gigs, and the psychology of sending memes. If you crave a natural, rapid-fire hang with four comedians riffing at their best, this episode is a prime cut.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bodily Gross-Outs and Childhood Stories (00:00–03:38)

• The episode opens with memories about gross things from childhood, like tonsil stones and “raunch” (ranch/sriracha) on the phone.
• Derosa shares a story about a friend with bad tonsil stones and the disgusting curiosity of smelling one:

  "It didn't smell like anything. And I broke it and it was like, oh, my goodness." (01:27 - Derosa)

• Shane and the gang riff on adolescent awkwardness—puffy nipples, fathers giving their kids HGH, and The Rock’s supposed nipple surgery.
• Shane’s confession:

  "I've been a puffy nipple since I was a boy... at the public pool, you do a side tickle. Get them things down." (01:55 - Shane Gillis)

• Quick detour into pro wrestling aesthetics and body image.

Austin vs. New York Comedy Scenes (03:39–04:46)

• Matt and Shane briefly discuss the widely memed “Austin vs. New York” comedy beef. Shane values dismissing the rivalry:

  “It’s the gayest thing. I hate it.” (03:43 - Shane Gillis)

Lemaire, MSNBC Brain, and Twitter Habits (04:47–06:35)

• Jokes about Lemaire having “MSNBC-brain” and watching The View at dangerous volumes.
• Matt describes monitoring housemate Lemaire's food pickups on the Ring camera:

  "On my ring camera, I see him pick up his Grubhub… I get to talk to him and go, put the Twitter down, bro." (05:54 - Matt McCusker)

• Contemplating making Lemaire the “Austin Sasquatch” by posting his food runs online.

Drinking & “Squad” Antics (07:12–10:00)

• Drinking stories: the squad isn’t used to not drinking on weekdays, leading to heavier Fridays.
• Derosa recounts Matt pulling a classic Irish goodbye and leaving Derosa to day drink solo:

  “You gave me every indication you'd show up. And then I just started throwing them back. I was sitting alone.” (07:41 - Derosa)

• The group recalls the Flyers game, afterparty drinking, and “performance enhancers” (Adderall) changing the drinking game:

  “Dude, Adderall hitting the drinking scene was like steroids in baseball in the late 90s.” (10:02 - Shane Gillis)

Legendary Drunk Falls & Family Mishaps (10:33–15:32)

• Shane and others share memories of embarrassing and sometimes dangerous drunk falls—Vegas casino incidents, snowbank tumbles, and elderly relatives falling at home.
• Shane reflects tenderly:

  "You're lucky if you get old and fall like that. That means that's a good life." (14:35 - Shane Gillis)

• Matt’s story of his grandma falling behind a bush and terrifying neighbor kids.

Homeowner Woes: Leaky Hoses & Frozen Yards (15:33–16:33)

• Matt updates on personal life: frozen backyard thanks to a hose left running, broken water sensors, and the challenges of being a suburban dad.

Internet Privacy & Meme Sharing Panic (19:38–20:58)

• Paranoia around potential Instagram updates that could publicly reveal who shares content.
• Shane voices comic dread:

  “No, if they start showing you who shares... Let us have fun. Let us have fun.” (20:34 - Shane Gillis)

Political Tangents: Trump, Epstein, Bannon, and Chomsky (20:59–24:27)

• A rapid fire segment:
  • Trump’s relevance, QAnon rabbit holes, Epstein’s social orbit, Bannon’s “culture war,” and Noam Chomsky’s withering public persona.
• Jokes about reverse-outs for public figures caught in scandals:

  “I do any of that. For the record, I’m gay.” (22:32 - Matt McCusker, lampooning Kevin Spacey’s scandal defense)

Guns, the “Balanced O’Connor”, & Pop Politics (23:27–24:32)

• Debate over centrist politics; Chris O’Connor gets playfully grilled as the “Balanced O’Connor” for his blend of progressive and conservative tastes.

Punisher, Pop Culture, and Male Fantasy TV (24:33–26:01)

• The group riffs on cops idolizing The Punisher, Punisher’s actual PTSD, and the unrealistic male fantasy of TV gigolos (“Hung”).
• Iconic Shane take:

  “All his clients were just sexy ladies… it’s not like old gross gay dude fem cells.” (25:43 - Shane Gillis)

Early Sexuality / Coming of Age Anxiety (26:02–29:39)

• Hilarious flashbacks to discovering masturbation and the confusion, panic, and Catholic guilt.
• Chris O’Connor:

  “I got immediately scared. Thought I was going to hell. So I just sprinted outside and started playing basketball.” (28:30 - Chris O'Connor)

• Discussion of weird adolescent snacks, nocturnal habits, and digestive issues.

Sleep Disorders: Sleep Paralysis, Hiccups, Nightmares (29:40–31:19)

• Group shares anxiety-riddled overnight experiences—sleep paralysis, waking with hiccups, and ghostly presences.
• Shane:

  “Waking up with the hiccups for the first time… you feel like you’re drowning on dry land.” (28:41 - Shane Gillis)

College Struggles & Academic Fails (31:33–34:15)

• Chris and Shane reminisce about missing labs, failing classes, and biting off more than they could chew in college.
• Shane’s philosophy department disaster:

  “I needed a class… I’ll do philosophy. I’m a pretty philosophical dude. …I was just rereading sentences…” (33:03–33:40 - Shane Gillis)

Heroin, Classic Literature, and Fairy Tales (34:16–34:52)

• Theorizing that heroin or other drugs inspired classic stories (Grimm, Shakespeare), and how modern-day addicts might compare.

International Talent Shows, Pro Wrestling, and YouTube Rabbit Holes (41:14–43:06)

• Matt discovers the joys of “Sri Lanka’s Got Talent”—the basic acts, quirky judges, and the thrill of low-lift talent.
• Shane on “African pro wrestling” and unique regional sports entertainment:

  “African pro wrestling is what’s up… those power bombs in the mud look cool as hell.” (42:05 - Shane Gillis)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Drunk Falls and Elderly Resilience

  • “You're lucky if you get old and fall like that. That means that's a good life.”
    (14:35 - Shane Gillis)

• On Instagram Paranoia

  • “No, if they start showing you who shares... Let us have fun. Let us have fun.”
    (20:34 - Shane Gillis)

• On Comedy Arena Shows

  • “I've never seen someone get a comedy club pop at an arena like Louie, where Dave Attell went, ‘Louis CK,’ and everyone went ‘YEAH’… it was crazy.”
    (45:02 - Shane Gillis, on the Garden show)

• On Coming-of-Age Confusion

  • “I got immediately scared. Thought I was going to hell. So I just sprinted outside and started playing basketball.”
    (28:30 - Chris O’Connor)

• On The Group's Academic Prowess

  • “I did a thing where I had a dream about this, that I was going to somehow miss a class...”
    (32:05 - Chris O’Connor, exemplifying college struggles)

• On Twitch and Trolling Friends

  • “I’m a mod in Gabe’s Twitch. Yeah. I just kick everyone out to talk.”
    (57:23 - Matt McCusker)

• On Red Dead Redemption and Horse Names

  • “[Shane] has my controller unpaused, and he’s aiming my gun at my horse’s head. And I was like, ‘dude, what are you doing?’ He’s like, ‘I’m going to kill your… I’m going to kill Night Shadow.’”
    (58:07 - Matt McCusker)

Gaming Obsessions and Online Antics (54:28–59:56)

• Everyone discusses their favorite shooters and roleplayers: Hell Let Loose, Arc Raiders, Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout.
• Matt and Shane reminisce about griefing each other in Red Dead—Shane threatening to kill “Night Shadow,” Matt’s beloved horse.
• There’s a sidebar on Twitch culture, donating money to obscure streamers and flooding chats with odd requests:

  “I get in there, I say, show hole, show cheeks, show your feet. He’s like, what the is wrong with you?” (57:52 - Matt McCusker)

Arena Comedy: Madison Square Garden Show (44:51–48:53)

• Shane and Matt reflect on the thrill (and nerves) of performing at MSG alongside Dave Attell, Louis CK, and others.
• Shane describes the energy:

  “It was me, Che, Attell, then Louie. But I’ve never seen someone get a comedy club pop at an arena like Louie…” (45:02 - Shane Gillis)

• Matt notes the supportive vibe of having a lineup with heavy hitters and the relief that “the crowd gets a show, it’s less pressure on me.” (48:53)

Closing: More Video Game Tangents, Ski Jumping Dick Tricks, Figure Skating Admiration (59:57–END)

• The group descends into a final spree of ADHD topics:
  • Olympic ski jumpers injecting their penises to get extra distance (60:22).
  • The scoring weirdness of male figure skating and the athleticism of “quad god” (61:36).
  • Childhood dizziness and the frustration of physical limitations (“If I do a neck roll, I gotta sit down.”) (62:39).
• Episode closes with dinner plans and a tease for future hangs.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Bodily Gross Outs: 00:00–03:38
• Austin vs. NY Comedy: 03:39–04:46
• Lemaire & MSNBC Brain: 04:47–06:35
• Squad Drinking Tales: 07:12–10:00
• Drunk Falls & Family: 10:33–15:32
• Instagram Paranoia: 19:38–20:58
• Epstein/Politics: 20:59–24:27
• Punisher/Pop TV: 24:33–26:01
• First Sexual Panic: 26:02–29:39
• Sleep Disorders: 29:40–31:19
• College Disasters: 31:33–34:15
• Heroin & Classics: 34:16–34:52
• Sri Lanka’s Got Talent: 41:14–43:06
• Arena Comedy, MSG: 44:51–48:53
• Red Dead, Twitch, Gaming: 54:28–59:56

Episode Tone & Vibe

The tone is rapid-fire, irreverent, and effortlessly funny. It’s a blend of nostalgic storytelling, raw confessions, inside jokes, and quick opinions on pop culture. The camaraderie and brutal honesty among the hosts and guests make for an episode full of “you had to be there” laughs that listeners will want to revisit.

For New Listeners

If you haven’t heard Matt & Shane’s Secret Podcast before, this episode is a perfect sample of their off-the-cuff wit, rotating topics, and the kind of camaraderie that feels like hanging with your sharpest, rowdiest, least self-censoring friends.