My Brother, My Brother and Me – Episode 779: "Bugbag Mode"

Release Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy

Episode Overview

In this lively, meandering episode, the McElroy brothers tackle advice questions in their signature chaotic fashion, dominated by a new character, "Bugbag" (Griffin’s sick-voiced creation), elevator tales from Dragon Con with celebrity run-ins, deep dives into the philosophy of pro wrestling kayfabe, and an extended and hyper-silly dispatch from the “Munch Squad,” investigating the ways the fall pumpkin spice craze overtakes beloved brands. The tone is light, absurd, and intentionally off-the-rails, with the brothers riffing on each other's bits, derailing serious advice with tangents, and revealing their own family quirks and recurring inside jokes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Griffin’s “Bugbag” Character and Sick Energy

[01:24–03:06]

• Griffin introduces "Bugbag," a sickly character he inhabits due to his current illness. The brothers riff on Bugbag’s nature: "He's not guy shaped. It's important you guys understand about Bug Bag that he's not shaped like a guy." (Griffin, 02:23)
• Extended silly banter about what Bugbag might look like, leading to jokes about bug bags needing skeleton limbs, Tinder, and hugging his bug kids.
• Sets a chaotic, loose tone early on — a running gag throughout.
  Tone: Goofy, self-referential, absurdist.

2. Dragon Con Elevator Story: Running Into Simon Pegg

[03:18–08:47]

• Justin recounts being stuck in a freight elevator at Dragon Con with Simon Pegg, “Simon Pegg and Simon Pegg’s three people that keep people from talking to Simon.” (Justin, 03:53)
• The brothers discuss the awkwardness of encountering celebrities and the universal body language of trying to disappear.
  • Travis’s “famous person nod”: “It's like, that is actually, to me, kind of reaffirming." (Justin, 04:18)
• Their dad attempts conversation by complimenting Simon Pegg’s Echo & the Bunnymen shirt, despite having no clue about the band; the brothers consider outing their dad in front of Simon.
  • "Would not know an Echo in the Bunnyman if one was riding on his shoulder." (Justin, 06:45)
• Simon Pegg graciously responds then goes back to staring at the floor.
• Takeaway: “A chilling moment. Not like the rest of this show though. This is an advice show.” (Justin, 08:52)
• Memorable quote: “You can't have owned spaced on DVDs and then say something in that moment. You're un.” (Griffin, 04:54)

3. Advice Question: Taking a Nine-year-old to Wrestling – Kayfabe vs. Reality

[09:05–17:13]

• Listener asks how to explain pro wrestling to a nephew with no context.
• Travis launches a thesis connecting wrestling and Pokémon kayfabe, sparking a “wrong-headed” debate:
  • “What is Pokémon, except animal pro wrestling and kayfabe?” (Travis, 09:33)
  • “That's one of the wronger things you said.” (Griffin, 09:56)
• Griffin turns his back on the boys (“The bug bag turns his back on you—a powerful move.” – Travis, 11:17).
• Justin’s wisdom: “One of the tough things about raising kids is you gotta teach them everything...But you do hope that they'll pick up on the clues, you know what I mean?” (Justin, 11:26)
• The brothers riff on the concept of kayfabe in regular life, wishing movies or actors kept elaborate ‘storylines’ like in wrestling (e.g., press junkets with John Cena forced to answer for in-ring story betrayals).
• “Written but real” is floated as a new wrestling tagline (Griffin/Justin, 16:05).
• Final advice: Let the kid experience it, don’t overexplain.
  • “If they think it's magic and cool and real, that's awesome...they’re gonna go through a long, weird period until they start to respect the craft again.” (Griffin, 15:40)

4. Advice Question: Eating Lunch at a Bus Bench Without Stopping the Bus

[17:31–26:47]

• Listener wants to use a comfy bus bench for lunch without triggering unnecessary bus stops.
• Jokes spiral into the symbolic meaning of certain public chairs: “The bus bench is the cuck chair of the sidewalk.” (Griffin, 19:09)
• Proposed solutions are a comedy escalation: signs, “I’ll catch the next one” routine, hiding, and bringing your own chair.
• Griffin laments the awkwardness of adults doing hide-and-seek in public: “You just can't...Fucking goblin mode. Fucking bug bag mode.” (Griffin, 22:27)
• Travis imagines a life hack for being caught breaking into a house: “Do you think that would at least buy you enough time to get away?” (Travis, 23:29)
• Practical advice sneaks in: find a secret garden spot away from the bus stop, or ride the bus for one stop and return, possibly befriend the bus driver.
• The segment devolves into debates about whether buses can marry and the concept of a "hump bus."

5. Munch Squad: The Pumpkin Spice Industrial Complex

[31:11–43:57]

• Justin brings his regular mini-podcast “Munch Squad,” mocking the forced invention of seasonal pumpkin products by various chains.
  • “For me, this season is really about watching how other chains justify including pumpkin on their menu.” (Justin, 32:08)
• Voodoo Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin, Nectar Juice Bar, and Bobby’s Burgers all get roasted for their overwrought press releases and justifications for pumpkin menu items.
  • “I once bought a bucket of old donuts from a Voodoo Donuts for $10...You guys used to fuck. What happened? A pumpkin spice latte donut?” (Justin, 33:52)
  • “There should just be a sign...and they can just turn it so it says pumpkin on it. That's really all I need.” (Griffin, 43:26)
• Mock praise/nostalgia for “harvest Christ” and “autumnal Jesus,” reference to long-lost traditions.
• Griffin bemoans lack of creative flavors (“Where’s my green bean smoothie?” – 36:57).
• Sharpest parody is aimed at “clean” pumpkin drinks: “Eat shit with that clean nonsense.” (Justin, 37:44)
• Brotherly consensus: just give people a whole pumpkin to eat next time.

6. Advice Question: What to Do With Mouthwash in the Car

[44:06–50:21]

• Listener accidentally swigs mouthwash while driving and can’t spit it out easily.
• The trio gleefully brainstorm disgusting options: swallow, spit in cup holder, floor mat, shoe, or on your shirt (“We're all meat, man. Who gives a shit?” – Griffin, 49:08).
• They riff on the possible consequences and the wildness of the scenario, veering into “piss in your other shoe” territory.
• Final absurdity: discussion of sensitive urethras (Travis, 50:14), all concluding with, “There will be a consequence. The consequence is the backseat gets minty fresh, the coffee gets ruined, or you swallow it, which you can do. Like, you can get that down. It's not physically impossible. You shouldn't. Not good. But there's a consequence for your actions.” (Griffin, 44:59)

7. Escalating Silliness and Familial Chaos

Throughout the Episode

• Running tally of increasingly unhinged jokes, culminating in the “hump bus” and “Bugbag” chaos.
• Travis frequently spirals into his own bits and gets gently roasted by his brothers for “being off the chains.”
• Meta-commentary about the show’s looseness after a long week of touring.

Notable Quotes

• "I want some definition in my bag." – Griffin as Bugbag, 02:36
• "The bus bench is the cuck chair of the sidewalk." – Griffin, 19:09
• “Would not know an Echo in the Bunnyman if one was riding on his shoulder.” – Justin, 06:45
• “For me, this season is really about watching how other chains justify including pumpkin on their menu.” – Justin, 32:08
• “You can't just say shit.” – Justin to Travis in the ‘hump bus’ bit, 26:53
• “You know Travis has urethra sensitivity issues. Travis.” – Griffin, 50:14

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [01:24] – Introduction of Bugbag
• [03:18–08:47] – Dragon Con elevator/Simon Pegg story
• [09:05–17:13] – Wrestling/kayfabe/Pokémon metaphors
• [17:31–26:47] – Lunch at the bus stop dilemma
• [31:11–43:57] – Munch Squad: Pumpkin spice special
• [44:06–50:21] – Mouthwash in the car debacle

Memorable Moments

• Griffin sustaining his sick “Bugbag” character and turning his back during debates—a literal show of disdain.
• The whole group collectively cringing at their dad’s attempt to bond over Simon Pegg’s shirt.
• Travis’s increasingly desperate and wild solutions for bus-bench lunch problems (“start your own bus line to compete?”).
• Munch Squad's comedic reading of earnest, ridiculous pumpkin-pushing press releases, with the brothers mocking the industry’s justifications.

Summary Tone

The episode embraces a high-energy, wild-and-wooly format: punchy, fast-paced, deeply silly, and self-aware. The McElroys routinely upend their own advice show premise, preferring tangential bits and sudden, escalating jokes to straight answers. Nevertheless, when they do give advice, it’s often weirdly sound—if buried within layers of ironic and fraternal banter.

For listeners new and old alike, "Bugbag Mode" embodies MBMBaM’s anything-goes spirit—one part heartfelt sibling advice, three parts runaway absurdity, and a full dose of autumnal pumpkin spice snark.