My Momma Told Me – "Big Pappa Has Arrived" (w/ Will Ferrell) RE-RELEASE
Podcast: My Momma Told Me
Hosts: Langston Kerman & David Gborie
Guest: Will Ferrell
Date: November 6, 2025
Episode Theme:
A raucous, free-wheeling deep dive into Black conspiracy theories—ridiculous and real—with comedy legend Will Ferrell as guest. The trio riff on everything from celebrity rumors and childhood urban legends to cultural perceptions, sports conspiracies, and the politics of sauce, all through the lens of cultural connection, absurdity, and affectionate roasting.
Main Topics and Episode Structure
1. Conspiracy Theory Cred: Will Ferrell in the Black Community
Primary Segment 03:50–11:18
- Will expresses surprise and joy at being embraced by Black audiences, pondering why he’s so beloved.
- Quote: "I am never more flattered than when someone from the black community comes up... I'm like, how? Why?" (07:31, Will)
- The hosts explain that once Black audiences “fuck with you,” they’re lifelong fans.
- Deliberation on how Will's self-deprecating humor and mockery of arrogant white characters ingratiate him.
2. Will’s Conspiracy Theory Openness & The Cal Ripken Story
Key Segment 10:11–15:10
- Will isn’t a big conspiracy theorist, but confesses some sports conspiracies check out.
- Cal Ripken Jr./Kevin Costner Conspiracy: Will retells the legend that Cal Ripken missed a game when, after allegedly catching Kevin Costner with his wife, he injured his hand, resulting in a stadium “power outage” so his record streak could continue.
- Quote: "The story is that Cal Ripken came home to find Kevin Costner... They had a fight. He hurt his hand... Cut the lights." (11:00, Will)
3. Carnies, Corn Dogs & Black Innovation
Comedy and Cultural Riffing, 16:00–23:00
- Discussion of the lack of Black carnies in traditional circuses and the unique presence of Black carnies in Universoul Circus.
- Imagining Black innovation at the carnival, especially the possibility of “grits on the outside” of a corn dog.
- Mini-deep-dive into the history of the corn dog. Will’s childhood corn dog memories.
- Tangent on condiments: Ketchup (as a “vegetable”), mustard vs ketchup, and when ranch dressing blew up. Reagan’s attempt to classify ketchup as a vegetable is touched on.
- Quote: "Ronald Reagan tried to make it a vegetable." (22:04, Will)
4. Family Legends, Superstitions & Home Remedies
Stories and Urban Legends, 29:00–35:00
- Will shares clean “door in, door out” superstitions from his Southern family.
- Pee as Home Remedy: Will claims he used to pee on his feet, per his mom’s advice, to cure athlete’s foot.
- Quote: "Supposedly, if you pee on your feet..." (33:06, Will)
- The trio riff on the Black urban legend that baby pee cures acne, with reference to a previous guest (Ms. Pat) who swears by it.
5. Silk Shirts, Barbershop Reputations & NBA Hairlines
Black Culture & Comedy, 40:51–44:59; 79:11–82:13
- The fashion and anxiety of silk shirts at live shows and among big guys.
- Jalen Rose’s “deal with the devil” hairline and the supposed magic of “Beijing” spray used in Black barbershops to fake perfect hairlines.
- Quote: "Have you ever watched Jalen Rose...because barbers do not like him one bit." (80:12, Langston)
- Light roast of LeBron James’s hair shifts and whether hosts or Will would trade their own hair for Lakers championships.
6. Stevie Wonder Conspiracy: Is He Really Blind?
Black Celebrity Conspiracies, 45:39–58:00
- The longstanding Black cultural meme suggesting Stevie Wonder isn’t really blind.
- Will brings up stories about Stevie catching a falling mic, putting Boy George in a headlock, and photographic evidence of Stevie “taking photos.”
- Multiple plausible (and comedic) explanations are thrown around (echolocation, earwigs, hyper-senses).
- Quote: "He agrees to fight Stevie Wonder blindfolded. And I swear to God...Stevie Wonder beats the shit out of this drummer." (54:15, Langston)
- Is Stevie’s blindness a marketing thing? (Langston: "I firmly believe that Stevie Wonder is a exceptional talent with eyes or without them..." [57:23])
7. NBA & Sports Conspiracies: Rigged Games and Market Forces
Sports Theories and Satire, 60:36–68:59
- “NBA is rigged” as an ongoing Black barbershop/urban debate.
- Recap of the Tim Donaghy ref scandal—fixing spreads without deciding outright winners.
- Classic cases: Lakers/Celtics playoff comebacks, the blocked Chris Paul to Lakers trade, David Stern’s mysterious 80s/90s NBA influence.
- Mockery of the new “in-season tournament” as obviously staged.
- Quote: "That's rigged. Yeah, that right there was rigged." (67:51, Will)
8. Quid Pro Quo Game: Would You Rather For Black Conspiracies
Lighthearted Game, 72:39–85:55
- Sample Scenario: Would you trade permanent LeBron James haircuts for Lakers championships? (Will: No, keep the hair, “Lakers already got 17…”)
- Dessert for Breakdancing: Trade ability to eat dessert for the ability to breakdance credibly at any party (Will: Easy yes to breakdancing glory).
- Quote: "I would close with a lot of spinning and of course, the classic…” (85:55, Will)
- Ultimate Sacrifice: Would Will give up being a rich white man to liberate all Black and Brown people? (Wrestles with it, but says it's the “only answer.”)
9. Generational Changes: TikTok Dances & White Folks Not Dancing
Culture, Kids, and the Evolution of Dance, 88:01–92:15
- Debate about why “white people can’t dance” became a meme; hosts theorize it coincided with white people dropping out of universal youth dances.
- TikTok pushes increased dance ability, also sets a high bar—more kids can dance, but those who can’t are even less likely to try.
- Riff on the jaw-dropping effect of Michael Jackson’s Motown moonwalk.
10. Closing: Shout Outs, Reflections, and Silliness
Recap, Tributes & Goofs, 95:16–End
- Will offers warm praise for “My Momma Told Me,” commends its role as a unique, bold comedy voice.
- Closing jokes, self-roasts, and product placements.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|---------|----------------| | 07:31 | Will Ferrell | “I am never more flattered than when someone from the black community comes up to me and says, you're so funny, or I love your stuff... But I get a lot of love, at least to my face.” | | 11:00 | Will Ferrell | “The story is that Cal Ripken came home to find Kevin Costner...They had a fight. He hurt his hand...Cut the lights.” | | 22:04 | Will Ferrell | “Ronald Reagan tried to make it a vegetable.” (re: ketchup) | | 33:06 | Will Ferrell | “Supposedly, if you pee on your feet...” | | 45:39 | Langston Kerman | “What do you think about Stevie Wonder being blind?” | | 54:15 | Langston Kerman | “He agrees to fight Stevie Wonder blindfolded… Stevie Wonder beats the shit out of this drummer.” | | 67:51 | Will Ferrell | "That's rigged. Yeah, that right there was rigged." (re: NBA in-season tourney hype) | | 81:13 | David Gborie | "It was fucking awesome. As long as nobody splashes you with water. You're gorgeous." | | 86:00 | Will Ferrell | "A lot of popping and locking, but I would close with a lot of spinning and of course, the classic..." | | 94:01 | Will Ferrell | "You gotta make the right choice and say, no, we're gonna...give it all away." (on giving up privilege for Black liberation) | | 96:26 | Will Ferrell | "I'm honored to be here. So I just want to say...one of our first things we had on the platform...It's been an amazing thing." |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:38 – Show proper starts, episode theme intro
- 07:31 – Will on Black community love
- 11:00 – Cal Ripken/Kevin Costner conspiracy recounted
- 16:00–19:00 – Black carnies, circuses, and food innovation
- 22:04 – Reagan, ketchup as vegetable, school lunches
- 29:00–35:00 – Home remedies, family superstitions, “pee as medicine”
- 40:51–44:59 – Silk shirt anxiety, barbershop talk, Jalen Rose’s hairline
- 45:39–58:00 – Stevie Wonder “is he really blind?” deep dive
- 60:36–68:59 – NBA/sports rigging, market team favoritism, Stern era
- 72:39–85:55 – Quid Pro Quo game: breakdancing, hairlines, liberation
- 88:01–91:13 – Dance evolution: TikTok, Motown, moonwalk
- 95:16–End – Closing gratitude, reflections, jokes
Tone & Style
- Casual, sharp, playful banter: The hosts and Will trade stories, roasts, and raucous laughter, with a sincere sense of camaraderie.
- Cultural in-jokes and Black barbershop energy: Especially regarding sports, music, and hair.
- Irreverence that doubles as real insight: They poke fun at conspiracy thinking but also highlight how such stories reflect real cultural tensions and traditions.
- Willingness to “go there”: Will gamely participates in tough hypotheticals, jokes about privilege, and acknowledges social realities.
For New Listeners
- This episode is a brilliant primer on the show’s comic sensibility: pop culture, Black folklore, sports takes, and social commentary all filtered through waves of laughter.
- Will Ferrell’s presence offers both meta-comedy (he’s their “boss” and a rare white guest) and classic comic storytelling.
- Come for the celebrity, stay for the deep-cut references, joyous riffing, and real talk.
End of summary.