Ultimate America 250 Trivia Game Show & Drafting July 4 Essentials

Summary

Morning Brew Daily – Episode Summary

Episode: It’s the Ultimate America 250 Trivia Game Show
Date: July 3, 2026
Hosts: Neal Freyman & Toby Howell
Guests/Contestants: Henrik Blix, Ethan McCarthy, Olivia Lake

---

Episode Overview

To kick off the July 4th weekend and mark America’s 250th birthday, Neal and Toby host a high-spirited trivia game show featuring their witty colleagues Henrik, Ethan, and Olivia. The episode mixes quick-fire quizzes, American history, clever “before and after” riddles, state facts, and a hilarious, highly competitive July 4th BBQ draft. The goal? Bragging rights, fun, and a lighthearted battle for “smartest person at Morning Brew.”

---

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Introduction and Contestant Warm-Up (04:44–04:33)

• Neal describes today’s theme: “America at 250 years old.” (01:06)
• Toby unveils the grand prize: the winner gets featured on Neal’s Instagram as “the smartest person he’s ever met.” (02:35)
• Light-hearted get-to-know-you banter about celebrity lookalikes sets the playful tone.
  • Henrik: “I’ve gotten Macaulay Culkin. I don’t love it, but I think it’s fair.” (03:17)
  • Ethan: “The white half of Logic.” (03:41)
  • Olivia: “Erling Haaland… when I’m not wearing makeup.” (04:10)

---

2. Round 1: American History Headlines – Fill in the Blank (04:35–11:06)

Format: Each contestant gets a historic US news headline with a missing key word/name. Others can steal if missed.
Memorable Moments:

• Henrik nails "Prohibition" (05:19) and later, after much suspense, finally recalls “Bernie Madoff” for the $50B fraud (08:42–09:04).
  • Quote (trying to retrieve the answer): “Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m forgetting this. Hang on. Nobody steal.” – Henrik (08:56)
• Olivia, after hints: “Oh, Elvis! Oh my God!” (07:28)
• Ethan quick on “OJ” for “OJ not guilty” (07:45)
• Round ends in a dead heat: all tied at 3 points. (10:46)

---

3. Round 2: Before and After (11:06–16:43)

Format: Clever mashups where the last word of one clue is the first of the next, covering US history/pop culture.
Highlights:

• Henrik impresses with: “Boston Tea Party Poopers” (11:53)
• Ethan does rapid-fire: “Manifest Destiny’s Child” (12:13), “Minute Men In Black” (14:01), and crushes the triple-mashup: “Jeremy Lin-Manuel Miranda Rights” (16:22)
• Banter about the puzzling format: “The format of the questions gives me an aneurysm.” – Henrik (13:02)
• Olivia struggles but keeps the mood up: “I’m going to quit my whole job.” (14:20)
• Points after the round: Ethan leads, Henrik not far behind, Olivia at 3.

---

4. Round 3: State Facts (17:09–25:47)

Format: Name the state given a quirky characteristic.
Notable Moments:

• Ethan nails “Florida” as the flattest state and “New Jersey” as the most densely populated. (17:31, 18:34)
• Olivia randomly but correctly guesses “Nebraska” as the only triply landlocked state. “I’m moving to Nebraska!” (20:28)
• Henrik’s windy thought process (on states with the youngest median age): “Florida is like 90% teens, but I think the 10% that’s old are the oldest people alive…” (21:00–21:25)
• Ethan deduces “Utah” has the youngest median age, citing religion and birthrate. (22:01)
• On apples: Olivia taps into Neal’s brain (literally staring at him): “Washington!” (23:46)
  • “I just actually read your mind… We’re on a team.” – Olivia (23:48)
• Quick facts about lighthouses: “Michigan. You can’t swing a cat without hitting a lighthouse in that state.” – Henrik (25:10)

---

5. Round 4: National Park Survivor (28:07–33:36)

Format: Survivor-style, contestants go around naming national parks—miss and you’re out.
Key Exchanges:

• Early parks: Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone.
• Ethan is fast and strategic, “Pinnacles.”
• Olivia’s urban upbringing shows: “You know, Prospect… Grand Canyon. Oh, wait, wait.” (29:02)
• Neal offers hints, directing toward Utah and Appalachia.
• Henrik tries “Sleeping Bear Dunes” (not national, but Michigan pride).
• Ethan clinches it with “Zion,” “Great Smoky Mountains.” (32:33)
• Olivia, after their loss: “This is the most boy episode… If a dad were a trivia episode.” (32:45)

Result:

• Ethan earns top points, forging a tie with Henrik.

---

6. Final Tie-Breaker: July 4th BBQ Snake Draft (34:48–45:21)

Format: Contestants (plus hosts) draft four must-have July 4th BBQ elements. Listeners decide the winner via social media/email.

Picks Breakdown:

• Henrik: Charcoal, watermelon, hamburgers, friends.
  • "Charcoal went number one. Friends went last." – Commentary (44:04)
• Ethan: Body of water, hot dogs, tall boy of Mike's Hard, camping vibes.
  • “Alone with my Mike’s Hard.” – Self-aware (44:27)
• Olivia: Sunny weather, drunk pyro cousin, lawn games, red-white-blue popsicles.
  • “God, my team… I killed this.” (42:47)
• Toby: Grill master, golden retriever in bandana, ball, sunscreen.
  • “It sounds like a team a dog would make…” (44:45)
• Neal: Beer, good playlist, potato salad, solid paper plates.
  • “I feel like I started out so strong… still sticking with it.” (45:21)

Fun Commentary:

• On playlists: “That’s like saying food!” – Group protests Neal’s “good playlist” (37:10)
• On healthy sun habits: “I’m caring about you today to care about you tomorrow. Sunscreen.” – Toby (42:16)
• Team thoughts: “Honestly, Ethan, you got to be next to a body of water, hot dogs, a tall boy of Mike’s Hard…” – Neal (44:13)
• “Olivia’s is lit. That’s really good.” – Henrik (44:38)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just like to see people succeed.” – Toby on giving hints (01:29)
• “That’s a king thing to do.” – Olivia, on Marlon Brando rejecting his Oscar (08:20)
• “The army put out a statement saying that they captured a flying saucer… sparked a huge UFO scene.” – Neal (10:22)
• “The process is the problem.” – Henrik, on overthinking state trivia (23:02)
• “If a dad were a trivia episode.” – Olivia, on the national parks round (32:45)
• “Should’ve gone chicken.” – Toby, critiquing Neal’s BBQ picks (45:28)
• Throughout: running gags of “slow process,” “team mind-linking” between Olivia & Henrik, and roast battles about state geography.

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro, Banter, Contestant Intro: 00:44–04:35
• Headline Trivia: 04:35–11:06
• Before & After Game: 11:06–16:43
• State Facts: 17:09–25:47
• National Park Survivor: 28:07–33:36
• BBQ Draft / Wrap Up: 34:46–45:21

---

Tone & Style

Fast-paced, snarky, and packed with both classic nerdy trivia and playful banter. The hosts and contestants keep things breezy, with self-deprecating jokes, offbeat side conversations, and a genuine sense of fun throughout. The episode is a perfect pre-holiday, office-culture blend of pop history, deep-cut facts, and friendly competitive spirit.

---

Final Word:
Whether you’re American or not, you’ll leave this episode with more random facts, party icebreakers, and BBQ draft strategy than you bargained for. “We appreciate you playing with us. Have a great fourth of July!” – Neal (45:44)

Transcript

[Olivia Lake]

Are you sucking wind from trying to keep up with AI and its impact? Take a breather and tune in to the Intelligence Shift, Morning Brew's new podcast with PwC. It bridges the gap between big picture AI concepts and what it actually means in practice. Host Dan Priest is joined by expert guests to discuss AI's role in sports, music, HR and more. Listen to the Intelligence Shift wherever you get your podcasts.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm gonna go with. Oh, my God, Please get this. It's the Ponzi scheme. Wait, wait, wait.

[Toby Howell]

You get it now because now the steel is.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Well, that still doesn't help me. Please get it. I don't remember.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, my God. I can't believe I'm forgetting this. Hang on. Nobody steal.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh, my gosh.

[Neal Freyman]

Good Morning Brew Daily Show. I'm Neal Freyman.

[Toby Howell]

And I'm Toby Howell.

[Neal Freyman]

Today, one more Day until July 4th. How much do you know about the United States?

[Toby Howell]

We'll test our co workers and you in this special holiday trivia episode. It's Friday, July 3rd. Let's ride.

[Neal Freyman]

Good morning. On July 4th Eve, when I hope you aren't working and are staying cool in this brutal heat. To ease you into the Independence holiday weekend, we've recorded another Morning Brew Daily game show. We asked three of our very funny friends from around the office to come on the podcast and answer a bunch of trivia questions. And today's trivia has a special theme. America at 250 years old.

[Toby Howell]

Neil always says I give out way too many hints, but I say I just like to see people succeed. And now a word from our sponsor, Altra Running Toby.

[Neal Freyman]

How is your toe room?

[Toby Howell]

Neil? You think I have money for a whole room dedicated to toes, Toby?

[Neal Freyman]

I mean, in your shoes, what would a toe room even look like?

[Toby Howell]

We don't need to get into that. What's important here is that most running shoes are narrow at the toe, but also Ultra has more room for your toes. So they can spread out and your feet can stay in a natural position. The Ultra Fit is designed to give you room for your toes for comfort, balance and strength.

[Neal Freyman]

Altra actually makes shoes shaped like feet. What a concept.

[Toby Howell]

Use promo code Morning Brew 10 for 10% off. Your first pair of ultra running shoes at ultrarunning.com Morning Brew. That's a L T R A running.com Morning Brew.

[Neal Freyman]

Joining us on the show today are three of the fiercest competitors we could find around the office. They'll play five rounds of trivia and the person with the most points at the end will win the grand Prize of Toby. What is our prize?

[Toby Howell]

So I did not clear this prize with Neil, but our prizes. Neil will post a story of you on his Instagram saying you're the smartest person he's ever met, even smarter than himself. So play hard, everyone.

[Neal Freyman]

This is news to me.

[Henrik Blix]

That is big.

[Neal Freyman]

All of my five followers will be able to see that. So if you're not following me yet, this is a good opportunity to follow me for that picture. Let's quickly get to know our contestants, who may or may not be. Take a picture with me later and be the smartest person I know. First up is Henrik Blix. Wow.

[Henrik Blix]

What's up?

[Neal Freyman]

Nothing. I mean, first up. First up is Henrik Blick, senior branded video producer. Henrik, who is your celebrity lookalike?

[Henrik Blix]

I've gotten Macaulay Culkin. Decent.

[Neal Freyman]

That's accurate.

[Henrik Blix]

I think it's. I think it's fair. Yeah. I don't love it, but I think it's fair.

[Toby Howell]

Nothing like an audio product doing look alikes. Their introduction.

[Henrik Blix]

If you're listening to this, just imagine somebody who looks like Macaulay Culkin all growed up.

[Toby Howell]

All right, up Next, it's Ethan McCarthy, social video producer. Ethan, who's your celebrity lookalike?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Something I've been getting a lot recently is the white half of logic.

[Neal Freyman]

I see. Unfortunately, I do see that, finally, is our. Hey, this is exciting. Our very own Olivia Lake, associate producer on Morning Brew Daily. Olivia, I guess let's go three or three. Who is your celebrity look like recently?

[Olivia Lake]

I guess with the World cup happening, I've been getting. What's his name? I forget his name.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Holland.

[Olivia Lake]

Erling Holland. Erling Holland. I guess when I'm not wearing makeup.

[Toby Howell]

He's 6 foot 4 of Norwegian, you know.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, maybe. I think it's just the face card is similar, not the body type.

[Toby Howell]

Viking mentality. All right, thank you for that. Let's dive in some quick housekeeping. I will be keeping score on this handy dandy whiteboard here, so you know, this is a legit operation. Neil, what is our first round?

[Neal Freyman]

All right, it's fill in the blank American history headline edition. We are going to give you a famous headline from US History, but remove a keyword or name and you have to fill it in. Ready to go.

[Henrik Blix]

Is this like buzzer style?

[Neal Freyman]

No. So what we're going to do is we will start with one of you. You know, you talk first. Henrik and I introduced you first, so we'll start with you.

[Henrik Blix]

Thank you.

[Neal Freyman]

And so you have the, you know, the floor to answer the question. And then if you miss it, there can. We'll go down the line, and there will be an opportunity to. To steal.

[Henrik Blix]

Cool.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, so, Henrik, this is to you. It was on January 17, 1920. Blank is now in effect.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm going to go with Prohibition. Neil. Wow.

[Neal Freyman]

Is correct.

[Toby Howell]

Wait, I have the soundboard. I forgot. Good job.

[Neal Freyman]

New. New addition. Henrik got one point for one.

[Toby Howell]

Let me mark that down. Question number two to Ethan Blank explodes on May 7th. Hindenburg 37. Oh.

[Neal Freyman]

Ethan's like, there's only one thing that's ever exploded in a famous history.

[Toby Howell]

At least let me finish the question. Well done.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah. Hindenburg explodes. Okay. One point a piece. Olivia.

[Olivia Lake]

What?

[Neal Freyman]

What?

[Henrik Blix]

She's busy.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, sorry. Wait for Ethan.

[Neal Freyman]

You'll get the hang of that. Number three is Dewey Defeats Blank. November 3rd, 1948.

[Olivia Lake]

I don't know.

[Neal Freyman]

So, okay, we got Henrik with the steel. Potentially.

[Henrik Blix]

Dewey defeats Truman.

[Toby Howell]

Correct.

[Neal Freyman]

So this was the famous wrong newspaper headline from the Chicago Tribune saying that Dewey defeated Truman when Truman actually won.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Well, there are a lot of irregularities in the vote counting. I'm still Team Dewey.

[Olivia Lake]

That's like when the 1940 thing happened. Or.

[Toby Howell]

Correct.

[Olivia Lake]

I would have gotten that.

[Toby Howell]

Very similar to Miss Congeniality.

[Olivia Lake]

I would have gotten that to Henrik.

[Toby Howell]

Blank dies at 42 on August 17, 1977.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm gonna go with John Lennon.

[Toby Howell]

Wait,

[Neal Freyman]

I think John Lennon died in the 80s. So Ethan, 19.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Can you give me a hint?

[Neal Freyman]

No.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, okay.

[Toby Howell]

Okay, we'll give Liv a hint.

[Olivia Lake]

What the hell?

[Ethan McCarthy]

1977. Died at 42.

[Olivia Lake]

It's a weird age to die.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Jimi Hendrix. Good guess.

[Toby Howell]

That's a good guess.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Really?

[Neal Freyman]

All right, I'm gonna need a little less conversation from all of you. We're gonna go to Olivia.

[Toby Howell]

Less conversation. Keep it lively.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay, guys, don't talk to me, all right?

[Neal Freyman]

That went all over your heads.

[Henrik Blix]

I still don't know.

[Neal Freyman]

Olivia. Oh, Elvis. Oh, my God.

[Toby Howell]

Well done.

[Olivia Lake]

Don't give that to me.

[Toby Howell]

Olivia's on the board.

[Neal Freyman]

We're doing it. This one is to Ethan blank. Not guilty. October 4, 1995.

[Ethan McCarthy]

OJ.

[Toby Howell]

OJ correct.

[Olivia Lake]

I met this one.

[Toby Howell]

I met this one. Question number six to Olivia. Olivia. Oh, gosh, this one's tough.

[Olivia Lake]

Great.

[Toby Howell]

Blank wins. Oscar sends Native American Women to refuse it. March 28, 1973.

[Olivia Lake]

Jack. Nick. Jack Nicholson. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. No, no, no, no, no. Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando.

[Neal Freyman]

Marlon Brando. Let's give it to her.

[Toby Howell]

Wow. We are giving it.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh, my God. I got my white men confused.

[Neal Freyman]

Toby didn't think Any of you guys would.

[Toby Howell]

How do you know that?

[Olivia Lake]

I know that because that's king. That's a king thing to do.

[Henrik Blix]

That is. It's kingship.

[Toby Howell]

That's king stuff.

[Neal Freyman]

So he won fair to God.

[Henrik Blix]

Can we not swear on this and

[Neal Freyman]

didn't go well, we can, but it's too late now. But, yeah, let's try not to swear moving forward. This next one is. We're back to Henrik blank, arrested in $50 billion fraud December 20, 2008.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm going to go with. Oh, my God. It's the Ponzi scheme.

[Toby Howell]

You better get it now, because now the ste.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Well, that still doesn't help me. Please get it. I don't remember.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, my God. I can't believe I'm forgetting this. Hang on. Nobody steal.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh, my gosh.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, Bernie Madoff.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah. Thank you. I think that's the first time anyone ever cheered for Bernie Madoff. Let's go. All right. Well done, Henrik. Question eight to Ethan Tyson bites off part of Blank's ear. June 29th, 1977.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Holyfield.

[Toby Howell]

Well done, Ethan.

[Neal Freyman]

As a typo, it's 1997.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, whoops.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah. So if you don't know about this, Mike Tyson bit off a part of the ear of Evander Holyfield in a heavyweight bout. How crazy. It was one of the first things that I actually remember. I was born in 1991. One of the first things I do remember in the sports world is that a guy. Bit of.

[Toby Howell]

Guy's insane, crazy, four months old.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah. You remember to remember it. This is the. This is the final question of round one, the news headline round to Olivia Roswell army airfield captures blank. July 8th, 1947.

[Olivia Lake]

Stop hitting me with the 40s. I don't know. Things from that time.

[Neal Freyman]

Roswell, New Mexico.

[Olivia Lake]

An alien.

[Neal Freyman]

What do you think, Toby?

[Toby Howell]

We'll give it to him because there's some great symmetry that's about to be developed. Can you specify more? Whatever.

[Olivia Lake]

Ufo. Ufo.

[Toby Howell]

Yes, we asked.

[Neal Freyman]

Well, lying saucer. This is a famous headline from that. The army put out a statement saying that they captured a flying saucer. It was quickly retracted, but obviously sparked a huge UFO scene. An alien scene in New Mexico. Especially Roswell, guys.

[Henrik Blix]

I didn't know the army was like, yeah, we got one.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, I didn't think they'd say that.

[Neal Freyman]

Gentlemen, we got.

[Henrik Blix]

That's so funny. They're like, publish it. Publish it everywhere.

[Toby Howell]

I didn't know the army would lie to us. Here's the thing. The scores are Henrik with three, Ethan with three, and Olivia with three. How did that happen? That's some good, good old fashioned parody right there. Adam Silver would be.

[Olivia Lake]

That's a good game. That's what they call a good game.

[Toby Howell]

Onto the next category. This category is called before and After. The idea is the last word of one answer becomes the first word of the next answer, creating a mashup that can be spoken in a single phrase. Sounds confusing, but I'll give you an example. So the clue would be a story about a science teacher turned meth dealer turned reggaeton star. And the answer would be Breaking Bad Bunny. Breaking Bad Bunny. So you Bad is the shared word there. But since this is America themed, the answers will all have some element of US History in them as well. Let's start with Henrik. Question one.

[Henrik Blix]

Thank you.

[Toby Howell]

A revolutionary war protest against people being a drag at social events.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, my God, I've got this.

[Henrik Blix]

Boston Tea Party Poopers.

[Toby Howell]

Yes. Correct. Correct. It is Boston Tea Party Poopers. Well done, Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

Wow.

[Toby Howell]

It takes a while to wrap your head around it, but you guys got it.

[Neal Freyman]

All right, Ethan. Number two. The United States is divinely ordained to expand its domain to an R and B pop girls group.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Manifest Destiny's Child.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, you don't even a second. Ethan's determined to finish this entire episode in, like, 20 minutes.

[Ethan McCarthy]

We started late.

[Toby Howell]

Well done, well done. All right, question three. To live. Give me your tired, your weak, and your emu spokes. Animal.

[Olivia Lake]

My emu? What?

[Toby Howell]

It's like spokesperson, but spokesman.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh. Oh, Whoever wants to steal that cat.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, Henrik, let's see.

[Henrik Blix]

Let's see a Steal Statue of Liberty Mutual Insurance.

[Toby Howell]

Correct. Well done, Limu. The emu.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, sorry, I shouldn't say fuck. I'm sick and tired of seeing that emu.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah,

[Neal Freyman]

Henrik, this one's back to you. America's first spaceflight that landed humans on the moon was led by Colonel Sanders.

[Henrik Blix]

The format of the questions gives me an aneurysm.

[Neal Freyman]

None of you want to be here.

[Henrik Blix]

Can you say it again? No, I'm having a great time.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay. America's first spaceflight that landed humans on the moon was led by Colonel Sanders. Like, just talk it out, you know, Neil.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, my God. Arm.

[Olivia Lake]

Wait.

[Neal Freyman]

America's first space flight that landed humans on the moon. Let's start there.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay.

[Neal Freyman]

What do you think that is?

[Toby Howell]

Well,

[Ethan McCarthy]

tell me when you're done.

[Henrik Blix]

Get rid of me.

[Toby Howell]

Okay.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Apollo 11 herbs and spices.

[Toby Howell]

Yes. So good at this. 11 herbs and spices. Famously, the seasoning blend for KFC Chicken. Well done, Ethan. All right, this one is to Ethan. Rapidly deploy Colonial Militia members to fight aliens.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Can you repeat the

[Toby Howell]

Rapidly deploy colonial militia members to fight aliens.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Minute men in black.

[Olivia Lake]

This is an impossible.

[Neal Freyman]

You got this 100%. Ethan's doing well. That is. It's still early. Question number six, Olivia. Paul Revere warns of flying into the primary hub of Alaska Airlines.

[Olivia Lake]

I'm actually going to quit the whole. My whole job.

[Neal Freyman]

What is a famous phrase? Paul Revere warns of flying into the primary hub for Alaska Airlines. Let's leave us at the office.

[Toby Howell]

Henrik.

[Neal Freyman]

Henrik, do you. Do you have the steel?

[Henrik Blix]

The British are. Say it again.

[Neal Freyman]

Paul Revere warned enough times of flying into the primary hub of Alaska Airlines.

[Henrik Blix]

Do you know the British are coming?

[Toby Howell]

Right?

[Neal Freyman]

Even Zelander by the attack.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yes.

[Toby Howell]

Ethan. Say it again. Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

By land or by sea tac. I want this to be like an SAT category.

[Neal Freyman]

This really works for my brain.

[Henrik Blix]

What is that word?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Tacoma.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah.

[Toby Howell]

One if I land. Two if by sea tac. With SeaTac being the primary airport of Seattle.

[Henrik Blix]

And also can I get half a point for, you know, the British?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah, that was really good.

[Neal Freyman]

That should be the.

[Toby Howell]

You got.

[Neal Freyman]

Should we give him a half a point?

[Toby Howell]

No. Well, he guy thought Alaska Airlines was hub was in Alaska. Juneau. Alaska.

[Henrik Blix]

Which was stupid.

[Toby Howell]

I'll take. I'll actually take away a plan for that idiot.

[Neal Freyman]

Neil. I think it's okay. And also to Henrik. Question number seven. The first lines of the Constitution should read. Dang. I can't believe Paul Rudd won this the first.

[Henrik Blix]

We the people's sexiest man.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, sure. Yeah. Actually.

[Neal Freyman]

We the People magazine's sexiest man alive.

[Toby Howell]

Well done.

[Neal Freyman]

When did Paul run Paul Rudd win that?

[Toby Howell]

I think it was like two years ago or something. It was.

[Neal Freyman]

There is hope for all of us.

[Olivia Lake]

I'm going to say four years.

[Toby Howell]

Four years ago.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Didn't he?

[Neal Freyman]

Three Pete Paul Road three.

[Toby Howell]

No red hat trick 2021. That was five years ago.

[Neal Freyman]

Covid was a weird time.

[Toby Howell]

Wow.

[Ethan McCarthy]

That was.

[Toby Howell]

All right, final question in this category it goes to Ethan, this Knicks legend. Oh, actually I should mention this is a triple.

[Ethan McCarthy]

My God.

[Toby Howell]

Before and after. So there are three parts of this. So. So pay attention.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

This Knicks legend took the stage at Hamilton but was not informed of his rights to remain silent.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Jeremy Lin. Manuel Miranda writes.

[Toby Howell]

Yes. Well done.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Knicks legend is a bit aggressive.

[Neal Freyman]

What I was thinking like Walt Frazier.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I feel like it should be like.

[Neal Freyman]

I didn't edit this question. I also probably would have made up. Made a comment on that.

[Toby Howell]

I would. I would give him. He was.

[Neal Freyman]

It's true.

[Toby Howell]

He would.

[Neal Freyman]

Legend for 11 days.

[Toby Howell]

I mean, that just shows how bad the Knicks were for a while.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, tell me, what is the score update?

[Toby Howell]

Henrik eked out to six points actually on that. Ethan with eight now and Olivia stuck in neutral at three. Was not her. Was not her favorite category.

[Neal Freyman]

A lot more to go.

[Toby Howell]

That's all right.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, our next round is state facts. State facts. Pretty simple. Name the US State from the clue. Olivia, let's start with you. What is the flattest state?

[Olivia Lake]

Ohio.

[Neal Freyman]

Ohio.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah. No, really, Because I've been there.

[Neal Freyman]

It's flat. I'm not gonna lie. It's very flat.

[Olivia Lake]

Can I guess again? No, actually, no.

[Neal Freyman]

We want to make this competitive.

[Toby Howell]

Sure. Guessing.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah.

[Olivia Lake]

Illinois.

[Neal Freyman]

Illinois. Also flat, but not the flattest state.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay.

[Neal Freyman]

Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm gonna say Kansas.

[Neal Freyman]

Kansas is not correct.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I think it's Florida.

[Toby Howell]

Florida is correct.

[Neal Freyman]

What?

[Henrik Blix]

Really?

[Neal Freyman]

Playing a different game.

[Henrik Blix]

Ethan's.

[Toby Howell]

I've been to the highest point. It's a.

[Olivia Lake]

A dune.

[Toby Howell]

It's a landfill. I don't know if that's actually true, but that's what we'd always joke.

[Neal Freyman]

The. The highest point is Britain Hill, which is just 345ft above sea level. And the Washington memorial is 555ft. So this is. This is an extremely flat state.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, I thought for sure. Midwest flat state.

[Toby Howell]

We noticed as you.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah.

[Toby Howell]

It's your way along Lake Michigan. All right, question two to Henrik.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah.

[Toby Howell]

What is the most dense state?

[Henrik Blix]

State with the most density of population or of air?

[Olivia Lake]

What does that mean?

[Henrik Blix]

I'm gonna go ahead and say Rhode Island.

[Toby Howell]

Not that many people.

[Neal Freyman]

I thought that you didn't say it with my foot small.

[Olivia Lake]

It's tiny.

[Toby Howell]

You're on the right track.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I think it's New Jersey.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay. We step out.

[Toby Howell]

Running away from this.

[Neal Freyman]

Let Olivia and I'm going to combine the points of.

[Toby Howell]

In which case it's a very good match. So that is the new game.

[Neal Freyman]

That's the new game to be one.

[Toby Howell]

All right, question. I know this is uni.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah. Question three to Ethan and only Ethan. Which state has the highest life expectancy?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Oh, Massachusetts.

[Neal Freyman]

Not Massachusetts.

[Toby Howell]

My first buzzer.

[Neal Freyman]

I wish I'm from there. Olivia and Henry.

[Olivia Lake]

Maybe I'm a liar. Is it Vermont?

[Neal Freyman]

It's not Vermont, Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

Okay. Highest life expectancy. Let's see.

[Neal Freyman]

Let's not altering through this a little bit.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah. Okay. So let's take you inside of my process. I'm thinking. I'm thinking high education probably is correlated. Okay. Olivia can have mine since we're on the team.

[Toby Howell]

I don't even know if that's I'm

[Olivia Lake]

going based on vibes.

[Toby Howell]

Yes. That's a good go.

[Neal Freyman]

Based on vibes.

[Henrik Blix]

Vibes. What has a long life vibe? I feel like there's a lot of cool old people in the Southwest, you know, like in New Mexico. I feel like there's a lot of cool people there that are living old, living long. California seems like a pretty healthy state.

[Toby Howell]

Too many people there.

[Henrik Blix]

Too many people.

[Toby Howell]

Population, nicer weather.

[Olivia Lake]

Is it Colorado?

[Toby Howell]

No.

[Neal Freyman]

All right, I think we have to guess.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Is it Washington?

[Neal Freyman]

It's Hawaii. Wow.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh, my gosh.

[Toby Howell]

Hawaii.

[Neal Freyman]

But you. You were on the right track with southwest, Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

Just.

[Neal Freyman]

Just not southwest.

[Henrik Blix]

Thank you. Just further southwest.

[Toby Howell]

Yes.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah.

[Toby Howell]

All right, question four to Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

Olivia.

[Toby Howell]

Olivia. Olivia Dean. Oh, my gosh. What is the only Tripoli landlocked state?

[Olivia Lake]

Nebraska. No way.

[Neal Freyman]

No way.

[Toby Howell]

It's Nebraska. It's Nebraska. Absolutely.

[Olivia Lake]

Hell, yeah.

[Toby Howell]

Very smart. Yeah. To reach a coastline from a triple landlocked area, traveler must cross at least three separate state or national borders in any direction.

[Olivia Lake]

Let's go. I'm moving Abra.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I'm crazy.

[Olivia Lake]

I'm going to move to Nebraska.

[Toby Howell]

I cannot believe he just pulled.

[Henrik Blix]

You hate the ocean.

[Olivia Lake]

No, I just. That made me happy. And so now I'll have happy feelings in regards to Nebraska. But I love the ocean.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, Andrek, what state has the youngest median age?

[Henrik Blix]

Thank you for your question. Okay, so let's. Let's again go through it. So it's not southwest, because I think there's a lot of cool old people there. As I previously mentioned, I feel like Florida is like 90% teens. So that is pretty high.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Like 10%.

[Neal Freyman]

I've never heard anyone think Florida is, like, retired.

[Toby Howell]

That might be the worst. Hey, hey. This is the process.

[Henrik Blix]

Let me get through my process. Trust the process.

[Olivia Lake]

Leave them alone.

[Henrik Blix]

I think it's 90% teens, but I think the 10% that's old are the oldest people alive. So that eliminates Florida. The villages. The villages brings the median age of Florida to.

[Toby Howell]

Okay, get off Florida.

[Henrik Blix]

So. So that's one down, 49 to go. I feel like a lot of young people are moving to Colorado, but that happened a while ago and they're getting old every year.

[Toby Howell]

Henrik, you gotta. We're gonna.

[Neal Freyman]

I know.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah. Ethan has a doctor's appointment coming up. Yeah, I'm gonna give. I'm gonna give it to North Carolina.

[Toby Howell]

Good process.

[Henrik Blix]

Than Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Okay. I feel like it has to be associated with religion, so I'm gonna say Utah. Are you kidding?

[Olivia Lake]

Wait, why is that religion?

[Toby Howell]

Oh, because babies. The Mormons.

[Olivia Lake]

I was Gonna say Massachusetts for, like, college. Like a college.

[Toby Howell]

Be bad. That was good process. Ethan, question six to Ethan. What is the closest state to Africa?

[Ethan McCarthy]

I feel like this is going to be counterintuitive.

[Toby Howell]

Hey, take a.

[Neal Freyman]

Trying to decode our question.

[Henrik Blix]

Watching him work is incredible.

[Ethan McCarthy]

North Carolina.

[Toby Howell]

We were thinking Africa. South Carolina. So you're correct. No, I'm joking. It is the continent of Africa. And that is incorrect. Live.

[Olivia Lake]

Florida.

[Toby Howell]

Good guess. Incorrect. I don't want to buzz again. Henrik. No process. You got to give me one name. One name, one name.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm just going Maine. Oh, Sniped farthest east. You got to get out of your own way.

[Toby Howell]

I love when. See maybe get out of your.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Process

[Henrik Blix]

is the problem.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, the process is the problem.

[Henrik Blix]

All instinct.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay. Olivia.

[Olivia Lake]

Yes.

[Neal Freyman]

What is the third most populous state? So, the first is California, followed by Texas. What's. What's the third?

[Olivia Lake]

Massachusetts.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, Massachusetts.

[Henrik Blix]

Henrik, I'm gonna say Florida.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Florida.

[Olivia Lake]

Oh, my God.

[Toby Howell]

No process. No process. No process To Henrik, question 8. What state produces the most apples?

[Henrik Blix]

California.

[Toby Howell]

That is a logical guess, but unfortunately incorrect. Good guess, though.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Florida.

[Toby Howell]

Not Florida either. Apples go west.

[Olivia Lake]

I don't want to, though.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

You got it. You got it, you got it.

[Ethan McCarthy]

What just happened?

[Olivia Lake]

Washington.

[Toby Howell]

Yes.

[Neal Freyman]

Wow.

[Olivia Lake]

I just actually read your mind.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah.

[Olivia Lake]

Like, I looked into your. We're on a team.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, sorry. They're on a team.

[Olivia Lake]

Ethan. Ethan does not need it.

[Henrik Blix]

It was crazy. Olivia was in there.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah.

[Henrik Blix]

All right.

[Neal Freyman]

Well, it's pretty. Washington does produce 60% of the entire apple crop of the.

[Olivia Lake]

You know, because it's always fall there.

[Neal Freyman]

It's always fall. And the University of Washington actually just produces so many. So many varieties of apples, so they just kind of like a. If you want to major in apples, like, there's only basically only one place you want to go.

[Olivia Lake]

Neal, what's your favorite apple?

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, McCune.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay, sorry.

[Neal Freyman]

Easy. Or Macau. And I don't know exactly how to pronounce it, but it's like M, A C O, U, N. I've never heard of these.

[Henrik Blix]

You got to bring some in.

[Olivia Lake]

What makes.

[Neal Freyman]

It's just, like, the most essence of apple. Like, when I eat it, it's. It has, like, this white flesh on the inside, and when it's really crispy, it is delicious. It doesn't. You don't really see it a ton, but. And it's not in season. Like, it's not super fresh for all that long, but it is my favorite apple. It's crazy.

[Olivia Lake]

I knew he was going to have some crazy that's why I asked him.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, I forgot where.

[Toby Howell]

Who's our last question? And this one goes to. Who just answered that correctly? Olivia, what state has the most lighthouses?

[Olivia Lake]

Is this for me?

[Toby Howell]

Yes, that's for you.

[Olivia Lake]

Maine.

[Toby Howell]

That's what? I guess that was wrong.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Oh, I was gonna guess.

[Henrik Blix]

Send it to me.

[Toby Howell]

Send it to Henrik.

[Henrik Blix]

Michigan.

[Sponsor Voice]

Whoa.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, he's from Michigan.

[Toby Howell]

Michigan guy.

[Henrik Blix]

You can't swing a cat without hitting the lighthouse in that state.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Really?

[Neal Freyman]

That's the state motto.

[Henrik Blix]

It's because that's where I was born. In a lighthouse.

[Toby Howell]

3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. So well done, Michigan. We should have known that. Actually, I don't know if we can do a team up anymore because it got no mighty close.

[Neal Freyman]

We made a decision whether once we linked mine. We linked it. Yeah, linked minds.

[Toby Howell]

Henrik has nine now. Ethan's only at 11. Okay, and then Olivia is in. She got a slash in our column. It's five now, so do some math.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I'm down three.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, down three. We'll be back with more trivia after this quick break.

[Neal Freyman]

Toby, are you okay?

[Toby Howell]

No. This new thing is happening where if I drink two to six beers, I don't feel good.

[Neal Freyman]

Congrats on being officially old like me. But luckily for you, there's ZBiotics Pre Alcohol Probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking.

[Toby Howell]

Pre alcohol produces an enzyme designed to break down the toxic byproduct of alcohol in your gut. Just make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll wake up feeling refreshed.

[Neal Freyman]

Head to zebiotics.com mbd and use the code mbd at checkout for 15% off. That's zbiotics.com/mbd. There's two types of people in this world.

[Toby Howell]

The ones that entertain and the ones that observe.

[Neal Freyman]

No, there are investors white knuckling through market dips and those patiently letting time do its thing. Wellfront is for them.

[Toby Howell]

Their high yield cash account makes building long term wealth effortless.

[Neal Freyman]

In fact, new clients get a three month point 75% boost over the base rate up to 4.05% APY and up to 150 $50,000. And when you're ready to invest, transferring to their expert built investing accounts is a breeze. Claim the limited time offer at wealthfront.com/morning brew. This is a current Wealthfront client testimonial, creating a conflict of interest. Client experiences vary. Wealthfront brokerage is not a bank based APY. As of January 30, 2026 and subject to change details in the episode description. So, Toby, after starting the workday at 5am, how much energy do you have left at the end of the day to figure out dinner? Toby, wake up.

[Toby Howell]

I'm awake. Was just making my point here. Like so many busy, hard working professionals, the decision fatigue has fully set in by dinner time. That's why Forkful is so helpful.

[Neal Freyman]

Forkful partners directly with chefs to create fresh, restaurant quality meals that are delivered right to your door. There's no chopping, cooking, or cleanup involved.

[Toby Howell]

And there's no getting bored with Forkful Meals either. Their chefs incorporate global flavors using premium clean ingredients.

[Neal Freyman]

Check out their menu and get 50% off by heading to forkful meals.com discount/mb50. That's forkful meals.com/discount/mb50.

[Toby Howell]

Next round. This one is a Survivor round. We're testing your knowledge of America the Beautiful. Specifically want to see how many national parks you can name. There are 63 in total across 30 states and two territories. The. This is a survivor format. So we'll go around the circle. Each of you has to name one national park. No repeats, no passes. If you can't name one, you are out. Last person standing wins five points. Second place gets two. Third place gets a pat on the back. Ethan, since you are in first, why don't you lead us off Yosemite. Yosemite to Olivia.

[Olivia Lake]

There's. It has trees and grass.

[Neal Freyman]

I know which one you're talking about.

[Olivia Lake]

Just give me one second. I. I totally did not grow up in New York City, so this is really easy for me.

[Toby Howell]

That is tough. I. I won't lie.

[Olivia Lake]

You know, Prospect. Grand Canyon. Oh, wait, wait.

[Toby Howell]

Yes.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay, good.

[Toby Howell]

Correct.

[Neal Freyman]

Grand Canyon National Park.

[Henrik Blix]

Computer, give me Yellowstone.

[Neal Freyman]

Yellowstone. Oh, my gosh.

[Olivia Lake]

Forgot about her.

[Toby Howell]

Computer, download all the national parks either rained.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Pinnacles.

[Neal Freyman]

What's that?

[Ethan McCarthy]

I wanted to save that. It's in like.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, it's in California. Pinnacles National Park.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah, it's like I wanted to save

[Ethan McCarthy]

that because I can't think of another one.

[Neal Freyman]

Correct. Right.

[Olivia Lake]

What about Niagara Falls?

[Neal Freyman]

I do not think Niagara Falls is a national.

[Olivia Lake]

And see, that's what's wrong with our country.

[Toby Howell]

Well, it's not in our country.

[Neal Freyman]

It's not.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Right.

[Olivia Lake]

We split it.

[Toby Howell]

I know it is kind of crazy

[Neal Freyman]

that it's not, but also, it's our international. What's interesting is New York does not have a single national park.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, well, that.

[Toby Howell]

Should we just donate it to her? Guess again. Because that one was tricky.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, that was a trick question on my end to you. And do you ski at this place?

[Neal Freyman]

Are you gonna say, like Breckenridge National Park? Aspen National Park?

[Toby Howell]

Just name a really large feature in mountain.

[Olivia Lake]

Red Rock.

[Toby Howell]

No.

[Neal Freyman]

No.

[Toby Howell]

All right.

[Neal Freyman]

Sorry, but. But you are still in essentially with Henrik, so my meld and Henrik. What's.

[Henrik Blix]

Send me any more that you can think of. Give me. Computer, give me Glacier National Park.

[Neal Freyman]

Glacier national park in Montana.

[Toby Howell]

Correct. Correct.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Acadia National Park.

[Toby Howell]

Correct. In where?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Maine.

[Toby Howell]

Maine. Great place.

[Henrik Blix]

Computer, show me Joshua Tree.

[Neal Freyman]

Joshua Tree.

[Toby Howell]

These boys are flying. These boys are flying.

[Neal Freyman]

How long do I have? Yeah, 20 minutes, 10 seconds.

[Toby Howell]

Take your time. Go through your process.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, Big Bend, Big band. Yes. In Texas.

[Henrik Blix]

I don't know if this is national

[Ethan McCarthy]

or state, regional level.

[Neal Freyman]

This is going to be okay.

[Henrik Blix]

I'm going to save the state one and do a different guess. Is there a Rainier national park, like in Washington?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Oh, thank you. Just reminded me of one.

[Neal Freyman]

I. There is Mount Rainier National Park.

[Toby Howell]

Well done.

[Neal Freyman]

Nice.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Olympic National Park.

[Neal Freyman]

Correct as.

[Henrik Blix]

Okay, this is. This is so scary. This is like guarding Jordan in his prime.

[Neal Freyman]

I'm going to direct you to some regions. Like, I want us to keep going with this. I'm going to take you some regions that we haven't been to yet. Utah has some very famous national parks and also some in the. Maybe more Appalachian area and central United States over there.

[Henrik Blix]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

You just covered 90% of the country right there.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh. Oh.

[Neal Freyman]

What's the crap, Henry?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Think of the pelicans.

[Henrik Blix]

The Pel.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, that's a great. Wow. National park in Utah.

[Henrik Blix]

The Utah pelicans.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, Henry, we need an answer.

[Henrik Blix]

Okay, I'm going to just go with the. Is Sleeping Bear Dunes a national park?

[Toby Howell]

Oh, my gosh. I've been to Sleeping Bear, dudes. It's not. That's a Michigan. Yes. That is an incredible place, though. There's only one national park in Michigan, which is Isle.

[Neal Freyman]

It's the least. It's the least visited national park.

[Toby Howell]

Isle Royale National Park.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, is that like off the coast of Detroit?

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, no, no.

[Henrik Blix]

It's in Lake Superior.

[Neal Freyman]

Right. It's way up in Lake Superior. It's very hard to get to Ethan just to win this. You need to name one more.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Zion. Yeah. Wait, can you tell me.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, yeah, man.

[Henrik Blix]

I had Irish Zionism in my head.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Is Great Smoky Mountains one?

[Toby Howell]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Neal Freyman]

That's the kind of one I was.

[Olivia Lake]

I would just like to say this is the most Boy episode. This is the most white man. You're not allowed in American history.

[Toby Howell]

You're not allowed to enjoy nature.

[Olivia Lake]

No, I love nature. But, like, this is if a dad were a trivia episode. And I'm not going to be a dad ever.

[Toby Howell]

Here's the thing. Everyone ignored Florida. What about Everglades? No one. No one.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Remember the.

[Olivia Lake]

We ignored Florida.

[Neal Freyman]

Mad about ignoring Florida. All right, so Ethan gets five, and Henrik and Olivia get two, which means the Tide carry me. Ethan was down three when we started this round. I think we have a tie.

[Toby Howell]

15 to 12. Correct. It is a tie. It's a tie ball game right now.

[Neal Freyman]

And that's it, though, because the next part is a fan vote thing. So y' all tied.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Wow.

[Toby Howell]

I guess.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Give us a tiebreaker.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Henrik Blix]

Tiebreaker. Tiebreaker. That's the least dad barbecue tool.

[Toby Howell]

We'll use the draft. It's a tiebreaker. Neil, explain the last.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

Thing we're doing here.

[Neal Freyman]

So we're gonna move on to the listeners choice portion of the show, and it's going to be a tiebreaker for the entire thing. It's going to be a draft, not for the NBA, but today we're going to be drafting the most important components of a July 4th backyard barbecue, because hopefully that's what we're all doing tomorrow. You're drafting a team of four, and this is where we want all the listeners to play along as well. We want you to weigh in on whose backyard party you'd most want to go to this Independence Day. YouTube comments, Spotify comments. Send an email to Morning Brew daily at Morning Broadcom. You will be the arbitrator of the barbecue draft, and we'll announce who accrued the most votes on our Instagram final wrinkle to this draft. Toby and I are playing as well, and we're going to take up the last two spots. So there's going to be a Snake draft, which means our leader, which is a tie. It's all of you. I guess we'll just start with Henrik. We'll go first, and then we'll go to Ethan and then Olivia.

[Olivia Lake]

You guys hate me.

[Neal Freyman]

No.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, you want to go first, Olivia?

[Olivia Lake]

No.

[Toby Howell]

Okay.

[Neal Freyman]

I mean, you don't necessarily want to be first because back displaying the Snake draft is the last person in the draft gets to choose twice. And then you go back. And so we will do it like that. Henrik, what do you take in number one overall at your July 4th barbecue?

[Henrik Blix]

So this is just like any item.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah. Like what?

[Toby Howell]

What's element?

[Neal Freyman]

What's something that you absolutely need at a barbecue?

[Henrik Blix]

Just so. I'm just so My process is this, like, Family Feud style, where, like, I get the most points if this is the one that the audience said the most.

[Toby Howell]

No, you're creating the vibe.

[Neal Freyman]

You're building a team.

[Henrik Blix]

Building.

[Neal Freyman]

I'm building. You're building a team of four.

[Henrik Blix]

Give me charcoal.

[Toby Howell]

Whoa.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Crazy.

[Olivia Lake]

That's a crazy.

[Neal Freyman]

Honestly, I had. I had charcoal grill as potential number one pick.

[Henrik Blix]

So it's the.

[Ethan McCarthy]

But he just said charcoal. He just chose one component.

[Olivia Lake]

You can't.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, so I have two picks now.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

Charl.

[Henrik Blix]

Hot dogs, hamburgers.

[Neal Freyman]

No, so charcoal.

[Henrik Blix]

I traded Mikel Bridges away. Now I have four picks.

[Neal Freyman]

You meant charcoal grill, right? Or just literally he.

[Olivia Lake]

Just charcoal.

[Toby Howell]

I think it's just charcoal.

[Henrik Blix]

It's just give me a big bag of Kingsford.

[Neal Freyman]

Just charcoal.

[Toby Howell]

All right, Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Okay. Not so much just for the Fourth of July. In general, a prerequisite is water. Any body of water.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Also staying hydrated.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, Olivia, purpose player.

[Olivia Lake]

Give me good sunny weather.

[Neal Freyman]

Ooh.

[Sponsor Voice]

Ooh.

[Neal Freyman]

That is very important.

[Olivia Lake]

I mean, that's the most important.

[Neal Freyman]

That is the most important.

[Olivia Lake]

A cloudy Fourth of July. I don't care what else you bring. It doesn't matter.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, Toby. Okay, yeah, it's true.

[Toby Howell]

I'm going with the grill master. Someone who commandeers the grill is just the guy who's staying.

[Neal Freyman]

Or girl who stands.

[Toby Howell]

Exactly. And just is the person that, you know they're going to serve up. Juicy, delicious, everything. Real master.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, so I got two picks.

[Toby Howell]

Two picks.

[Neal Freyman]

Now beer.

[Toby Howell]

Wow. Beer fell. Beer fell in draft.

[Neal Freyman]

I mean, is that a steal?

[Toby Howell]

He had some.

[Neal Freyman]

I do think beer off the field issues for sure. Because even if you don't have a sunny day, if you have beer, it's all going to be fine.

[Toby Howell]

Wow.

[Neal Freyman]

I'm going beer. And then I'm also going good playlist. Fourth of July playlist. It's so important.

[Toby Howell]

It's so vague.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah.

[Toby Howell]

Good playlist. Tell me what's on it. Is it patriotic? Is it country?

[Neal Freyman]

It's classic.

[Toby Howell]

Here's why I'm mad you. Because I had big booty mix, volume 11 picked as, like, the playlist that you have to play.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, well, I'm.

[Toby Howell]

Good playlist. All right, fine. Beer. Good playlist.

[Neal Freyman]

I don't see how my. My team loses. Now. That's like in a good play.

[Toby Howell]

That's like saying food.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, no, that's a little.

[Henrik Blix]

After this, can we get. We don't have to do this on air. Can I sort of learn more about what Big Booty playlist?

[Neal Freyman]

You guys not know Big Booty Definitely. We'll talk about it after. Toby, back to you.

[Ethan McCarthy]

That's like high school class.

[Henrik Blix]

Ethan's got an orb that he attaches to in his home after work.

[Toby Howell]

All right, I am saying a dog, preferably multiple dogs, preferably a golden retriever. And they have to have a bandana on as well. So a golden retriever with a bandana on.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

Okay.

[Neal Freyman]

Olivia, repatibilities.

[Olivia Lake]

Me. I'm gonna say a cousin or family friend who is drunk and has no survival instincts when it comes to the fireworks. Oh, light off. Anything as big like it's not even legal in the state.

[Neal Freyman]

The drunk pyro cousin.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Fourth of July.

[Toby Howell]

This was. This was. Doesn't even require knowledge.

[Olivia Lake]

He's stumped on.

[Neal Freyman]

He can.

[Olivia Lake]

He's gotten everything right in the whole thing. And he'.

[Neal Freyman]

He can name a national park in Guam, but not.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah, I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think.

[Neal Freyman]

There feels like a big piece missing. What do you have?

[Henrik Blix]

Think about your team, how you want to build it. The interplay between the. The players. Correct.

[Olivia Lake]

What if you.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Hot dogs.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

How did. Hot dogs.

[Toby Howell]

Hot dogs.

[Neal Freyman]

Henrik, what are you trying to pair with charcoal.

[Henrik Blix]

With charcoal.

[Neal Freyman]

Well, give me a lighter.

[Henrik Blix]

We already got fire. Let's go. Ice cream, cold watermelon. A cooler full of watermelons in there.

[Neal Freyman]

Watermelon. Very important.

[Toby Howell]

It goes great with a charcoal dusting.

[Henrik Blix]

Exactly. Snake style. Do I have next one? Give me hot dogs.

[Neal Freyman]

No, hot dogs are off the board.

[Toby Howell]

Oh.

[Henrik Blix]

Oh, sorry.

[Neal Freyman]

Hamburgers.

[Henrik Blix]

I confused the two.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay. Hamburgers.

[Henrik Blix]

One's long. That's how I keep them straight.

[Neal Freyman]

Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

God. Everything is like. The only things I can think of are like the cringiest college answers. But I'm going to say from the perspective of celebrating in high school and college, I'm going to say like a really overly sweet, disgusting, like 8% 32 ounce can of something. Whether that's a 4 loco or like a truly lemonade.

[Neal Freyman]

Like a lemonade.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Anything like that.

[Henrik Blix]

Disgusting that you have on the fourth.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah.

[Olivia Lake]

I mean, there's nothing better.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

It's hard.

[Neal Freyman]

So Mike's hard. Just like a tall boy. Mike's heart.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Yeah, sure. The picture.

[Neal Freyman]

Wait, so what's your. What's your water?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Hot dogs.

[Henrik Blix]

Water. That's great.

[Olivia Lake]

Olivia, I'm going to say lawn games, like a slip and slide or a corn.

[Toby Howell]

That's different. How is slip and slide part of a long.

[Olivia Lake]

You put it on a lawn. What do you literally mean?

[Toby Howell]

I had slip and slide, but I.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay, so would you like Me to choose?

[Toby Howell]

Yeah, you take long games. I want slip and slide, whatever you can have about.

[Neal Freyman]

It's not draft.

[Toby Howell]

I know, but like a team is

[Olivia Lake]

like getting mad that other people are.

[Toby Howell]

That not too vague. That's like. No, super vague. Right.

[Neal Freyman]

Long games is fine.

[Toby Howell]

Is slip and slide and cornhole part of the same category?

[Olivia Lake]

They are both on a long.

[Toby Howell]

Okay, okay, fair enough. I'm just. You took my guy. That's all right.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah. Don't be mad though.

[Toby Howell]

Should.

[Henrik Blix]

Should have traded up if you wanted to slip.

[Toby Howell]

That is true. All right, I'm sorry for that outburst, everyone. I really wanted. I really wanted to slide and slip. Oh, no. They're coming for me. All right. I'm saying a ball, a football, a soccer ball, any ball that you can toss around.

[Henrik Blix]

I like it.

[Toby Howell]

You just need it for the 4th of July.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay, this is tough right now. I have just have beer and a good playlist, which is basically. I don't even need to. I mean, I just want to take the rest. Like, I'm pretty already one. I'm going to go with potato salad. I think it's the best side.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

I mean it.

[Neal Freyman]

Wow, that is.

[Henrik Blix]

I mean, that's. That's.

[Neal Freyman]

You think that's like a seventh round pick that I took in?

[Ethan McCarthy]

Like, that's an undrafted free agent. Yeah.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

Are you kidding? I love potatoes.

[Henrik Blix]

I mean, obviously there's upside, but mayo in the hot sun? Real character issues.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay. And then for my final pick, hopefully this redeems me. Solid paper plates.

[Toby Howell]

It's pretty solid.

[Neal Freyman]

Got to handle the hot dogs. Got to handle the cheeseburger. It's got to handle the potato salad, potentially macaroni salad, a lot of mayo dripping on it. So you don't want to have a flimsy plate. You want to have very solid, high quality paper plates for your barbecue.

[Henrik Blix]

So that's a team player.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

All right, so my team's done beer, good playlist. Potato salad and solid plates.

[Toby Howell]

I mean, potato salad.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah. Really? You know what?

[Neal Freyman]

I know, I know. The potato salad fans are going to back me up here.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, it's divisive.

[Toby Howell]

Divisive for sure.

[Neal Freyman]

All right, Toby, round out your team.

[Toby Howell]

I'm going to sunscreen. Nothing ruins the fourth of July like too much of a tan.

[Olivia Lake]

Yeah, but that's a tomorrow problem.

[Toby Howell]

Exactly. And I'm caring about you today to care about you tomorrow. Sunscreen, Olivia.

[Olivia Lake]

Okay, wait.

[Neal Freyman]

I have sunny weather, drunk pyro cousin, and long games.

[Olivia Lake]

And long games. God, it's good. I'm going to say those the red, white, and blue popsicles.

[Toby Howell]

Oh, wow. Good, Paul. Good, Paul.

[Olivia Lake]

God, my team. Guys, I'm sorry I didn't do well at trivia, but I killed this.

[Neal Freyman]

Ethan.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Okay, I'm going to say a general ambiance of a place where you would be camping. I feel like where I Mostly celebrate the 4th of July is a place where there's, like, pine trees and, like, a creek nearby.

[Neal Freyman]

You don't think that's going to be competing for playing time with body of water?

[Toby Howell]

I know.

[Ethan McCarthy]

No, because the body of water is next to it.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Olivia Lake]

It's not somebody's house. You're just doing it in like.

[Ethan McCarthy]

No, yeah, it's mostly like. Yeah, yeah, Like Tahoe or something like that.

[Neal Freyman]

Okay.

[Toby Howell]

I love national park surrounded by buildings in New York City for Fourth of July. That's true, but I mean, I guess. Fine, take your nature. Take your nature.

[Neal Freyman]

All right, Henrik, fill out this team computer.

[Henrik Blix]

Show me friends. A lot of people forgot I have friends.

[Toby Howell]

Friends. All right.

[Neal Freyman]

I know my team is just me by myself with a good playlist and

[Henrik Blix]

bad weather and just honestly, not to each their own. You know what I mean?

[Neal Freyman]

So we will publish this also on. Read the teams out and. Yeah, let us know in the comments. And Spotify and YouTube. Or you can email us who won because we actually have a tie game right now. So we need to know Henrik's team. Charcoal, watermelon, hamburgers, and friends. What do you think Yahoo Fantasy would grade that?

[Henrik Blix]

Charcoal.

[Toby Howell]

Charcoal went number one. Friends with last.

[Neal Freyman]

Yeah, you got.

[Ethan McCarthy]

You made up for it.

[Neal Freyman]

I got a charcoal, watermelon, hamburgers, and friends. Sounds like a good time to me.

[Toby Howell]

Yeah.

[Neal Freyman]

Honestly, Ethan, you got to be next to a body of water, hot dogs, a tall boy of Mike's heart or something pretty disgusting and sweet and the general ambiance of camping. Maybe some pine trees.

[Henrik Blix]

Yeah.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Come on.

[Neal Freyman]

Come on.

[Ethan McCarthy]

Alone with my mic's hard.

[Neal Freyman]

Olivia needs sunny weather, the drunk pyro cousin, lawn games, and red, white, and blue. That's really. Firecracker popsicles.

[Henrik Blix]

Olivia's is lit.

[Ethan McCarthy]

That's really good. Change your mouth.

[Olivia Lake]

Thank you.

[Toby Howell]

Different colors, too.

[Neal Freyman]

Oh, no.

[Ethan McCarthy]

I don't know.

[Toby Howell]

This sounds like a girl before you hear my team. It sounds like a team a dog would make in that context.

[Neal Freyman]

Listen to this grill master. Like a good grill master, just takes over everything. You have to think about it.

[Henrik Blix]

No charcoal.

[Neal Freyman]

No charcoal. A dog. Preferably a golden retriever, a ball and sunscreen. And then my. My team. I feel like I started out so strong. Don't know what happened at the end, but I'm still sticking with it. Beer. I think you need beer. Good playlist. Potato salad. And solid paper plates.

[Toby Howell]

I mean, soft paper plates. They bring the squad all together. Yeah, I think you might lose it with potato salad. Should have gone chicken.

[Neal Freyman]

We'll let the people decide. That's the whole point of this. Either way, I'd want to go to all of your parties. And we appreciate you playing with us. Hope you all have a good fourth of July with at least some of these components. And we will see everyone back here on Monday. Have a great weekend.

[Sponsor Voice]

Hear that? That's the sound of busy. To a restaurant, all that shouting and bang. Might as well be a symphony. It means the long days and longer nights are paying off. Sure, it's noisy, but there's a worse sound. This not busy. Busy means business. Which is why toast gives restaurants the tools and tech they need to help them perform under pressure. Sounds pretty good, right? Toast built for busy.