My Brother, My Brother and Me Ep. 780: Face 2 Face: Good Will Horsing

Date: September 16, 2025
Hosts: Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Griffin McElroy
Location: Live show (Paramount Theatre, Austin)

Overview

In this infectiously chaotic live episode, the McElroy brothers bounce between classic bad advice, raucous audience participation, and the introduction of new recurring segments. The evening’s energy blurs the line between straight-faced advice and a highwire comedy revue. From new game show shenanigans ("Portmanwoe") to wild digressions about Shaquille O’Neal, their trademark blend of sibling rivalry and surreal improvisation is front and center. The episode is peppered with memorable audience moments (including an all-timer prank answer), live banter, and bits that left both the crowd and hosts in fits.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

Opening Banter: Halloween Costumes and VR Adventures

(01:22–04:15)

• Griffin laments his ill-fitting teenager Halloween costume:
  • “I am absolutely busting out of this teenager’s Halloween costume.” (01:36)
• Travis and Justin recount a recent VR adventure fighting skeletons and goblins with their show team, teasing Griffin for missing out due to parenting duties.
• Hilarity ensues as they react to projected VR footage, roasting each other's fighting style.
  • “You guys look so inactive. There we go... The most nonchalant fantasy heroes of all time.” – Griffin (03:26)

Travis’ Game: Portmanwoe ("Portman—Woah!")

(04:33–09:36)

• Travis launches a new portmanteau-based game show:
  • “The original, the name of this game was actually ‘sometimes words sound like other words: the game.’” – Travis (05:34)
• Questions devolve into absurd guesses, confusion, competitive energy.
  • First clue: “What would they call the park if Walt had written Mickey and Friends to be pickup artists?”
    • Justin: “Ms. Mystery Land.” (Incorrect)
    • Travis: “The answer is risenyworld.”
  • Second clue causes a comedy spiral over mac ‘n cheese portmanteaus.
  • Last clue: "Pleasuring oneself at top speed."
    • Griffin: “Baiting.” [He wins.]
• Justin: “Travis, your games are not my favorite games, but I will kick as much ass at them as I possibly can.” (05:28)

Audience Q&A Part 1

(09:43–10:19)
Topic: The difference between garbanzo beans and chickpeas

• Listener has been waiting years to share the difference with friends but never gets the chance.
• The brothers riff on methods to bring up beans/chickpeas in conversation.

[MEMORABLE MOMENT] An Audience Member’s Prank

(12:27–13:06)

• Jesse, the question asker, gets to the mic and delivers the classic, off-color punchline:
  • “The difference is, I wouldn’t pay to have a garbanzo bean on my...” (13:06)
• The McElroys realize they fell into a perfectly set-up joke, erupting in laughter:
  • "Jesse gave us all the clues. We walked right into Jesse’s trap." – Justin (14:13)
  • “That was fucking entrapment.” – Griffin (14:01)
• The energy resets; McElroys laud Jesse for the expertly-executed setup.

Adult Life, Trampolines, and the Aging Body

(15:25–18:34)
Q: How can a new homeowner make more time to enjoy their 10ft trampoline?

• The brothers commiserate, with Griffin describing “the stuff shifting around inside” as a 38-year-old trying to jump.
  • “If I bounce up and down too much, I feel stuff shifting around inside. That is so hugely worrying, so troubling.” – Griffin (16:42)
• Suggestions: Incorporate trampoline time into adult routines—take business calls, romantic evenings, etc., leading to bawdy and increasingly absurd suggestions.

Justin’s New Segment: Shaq Watch

(18:45–31:03)

• Justin debuts “Shaq Watch,” a rapid-fire celebration of Shaquille O’Neal’s latest pop-culture exploits.
  1. Shaqalicious XL Gummies:
     • Shaq’s shoe-shaped gummies, “crafted to match his O’Neal’s appetite for bigger bites.”
       • “They are XL sized sneaker-shaped gummies and they’re a tribute to his larger-than-life personality and legendary shoe size of 22.” – Justin (20:09)
  2. Shackaroni Pizza now permanent at Papa John’s:
     • Griffin worries about Papa John’s future endurance, and laughs escalate.
  3. Shaq: President of Basketball (via Reebok):
     • “It’s true. [Reebok] announced Shaquille O’Neal as the President of Basketball.” – Justin (23:40)
  4. Pepsi Sneakers (with actual Pepsi Mini hidden in Shaq’s shoes):
     • The brothers dissect the practicality—and risks—of walking on a soda can:
       • “There are so many things on the ground that would puncture a Pepsi can on the bottom of my shoe.” – Travis (26:48)
  5. Shaq’s new watch line
     • “That watch looks big on Shaq.” – Travis (30:47)

Audience Q&A Part 2

Reluctant Swimming Student

(31:13–34:54)

• A listener’s girlfriend wants to teach him to swim, he’d rather lounge.
• Travis quips about his own similar experience with his wife (a swim instructor), and the concept of “cross-stitching stores.”
• Griffin: “If Theresa falls into a cross-stitching store, she won’t die.” (33:38)
• The brothers ultimately counsel that knowing how to swim is a safety skill.

Knife Smuggling at Work

(34:59–39:11)

• College student wants to sneak personal knives into work for professional sharpening.
• McElroys brainstorm wild methods (Charles Barkley "knife shoes"), discuss knife sharpening as a trade.
• Griffin: “Have you ever gotten a knife sharpened by a professional? [...] I felt like I was in, like, fucking Skyrim, guys.” (37:08)

Live Audience Questions (“Good Will Horsing” and Others)

The Horse Ban

(45:26–49:32)

• Alyssa asks: How do I get my scientist colleague to unban horses from his research lab?
• It’s revealed no actual horses are present: the “ban” is on talking about horses, a rule imposed after debating whether "Red Dead Redemption 2" counts as a horse game.
  • “So you’re not saying that physical, actual horses are banned. You’re saying you can’t talk about horses.” – Justin (47:23)
• Madcap pontificating about the logistics of getting horses into a fourth-floor psychology lab.
  • “Horses talk about four floors the way that we talk about genies.” – Justin (47:44)
• Travis pitches the movie idea “Good Will Horsing”—about a horse solving blackboard problems.

Hiding a Decade-Long College Journey

(49:39–54:45)

• Nora wonders when to tell her mom it actually took her 10 (not 4) years to graduate.
  • Detailed discussion about attending fake graduation, the perils of ceremonies.
  • “Going to a graduation ceremony for someone is the most self-sacrificial thing you can do for another human being.” – Justin (51:22)
  • Key advice: “You’re off the hook. This is never gonna come up again.” (53:41)

Breaking a Streetlight Without Getting Caught

(54:45–58:21)

• Carson asks how to break a blinding streetlight outside her house that ruins sleep.
• The brothers propose various schemes, settling on "accidentally" throwing rocks ("Is it illegal to make mistakes?").
• Other suggestions: swapping bulbs, smart bulbs, and a community-wide rock-throwing amnesty.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Jesse, read the fucking room.” – Griffin, after the audience member hijacks the punchline. (12:43)
• “If the adult things keep getting in the way, start incorporating trampoline time into the adult things.” – Travis (17:28)
• On Shaq's gummies: “Shackalicious tells me nothing about the quality. Yeah, it tastes like Shaq.” – Travis (20:47)
• On new Shaq shoes: “What’s going on in the bottom there?” – Griffin on the Pepsi Mini shoe (24:52)
• “If you fall in the water, there’s always gonna be someone else there to save you. Not true at all.” – Travis & Justin (34:44)
• “Going to a graduation ceremony for someone else is the most self-sacrificial thing you can do.” – Justin (51:22)
• “Horses deserve to have careers in STEM as well.” – Alyssa, audience member (48:39)
• “Is it illegal to throw rocks? No. Is it illegal to make mistakes? No. So if you throw enough rocks for fun, you might eventually make a mistake. That is, we’ve all agreed, perfectly legal.” – Justin & Carson (56:31–57:03)

Important Timestamps

• 01:22 – Episode opening and “child’s Halloween costume” anecdote
• 04:33 – Portmanwoe: Portmanteau game show
• 09:43 – Chickpeas vs Garbanzo Beans audience setup/prank
• 15:25 – Trampoline joy as adults
• 18:45 – Launch of Shaq Watch
• 31:13 – “How do I avoid learning to swim?” dilemma
• 34:59 – Knife-smuggling & sharpening schemes
• 45:26 – Live questions: horse ban in psychology lab (“Good Will Horsing”)
• 49:39 – “Do I confess my 10-year college?” saga
• 54:45 – Streetlight sabotage

Final Thoughts

This live episode encapsulates what MBMBaM does best: blending heartfelt, often useless advice with inventive games, audience pranks, and off-the-rails nonsense. Between unforgettable audience moments and the loving lampooning of celebrity Shaq-branded products, the episode is a strong showcase for both the brothers’ improvisational chemistry and their willingness to let the audience in on the joke. Whether you crave advice, chaos, or portmanteaus about Natalie Portman, this show delivers.

Signature sign-off:
“My name is Justin McElroy—
I’m Travis McElroy—
I’m Griffin McElroy—
This has been My Brother, My Brother and Me; kiss your dad square on the lips.” (59:33–59:39)