Nephilim Death Squad – "Ranking Thanksgiving Dishes" (Nov 27, 2025)

Hosts: David Lee Corbo (Raven), Top Lobsta
Special Guests: Matt, Zach (in-person guest from Illinois)

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Nephilim Death Squad centers on a humor-filled, sometimes chaotic group ranking of classic Thanksgiving dishes. Raven (David), Top Lobsta, and regular guest Matt engage in playful banter, discuss group chat memes, and interact with their live chat audience. A surprise local listener, Zach, joins them live at the Standard Coffee Shop, contributing to food rankings and sharing his background. The conversation frequently detours into nutrition, family dynamics, biblical references, and the importance of community – all through the show's signature blend of irreverent comedy and conspiratorial asides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Opening & Banter (01:08-10:00)

• Venue Woes: The crew discusses losing their Bohemian Grove event venue ("We're just doing it in the streets" – David, 03:20) and jokes about moving the event to March with a Thanksgiving theme.
• Community & Chat: There’s playful banter about Patreon perks, fan memes, and the show's inside jokes such as "Matt Face."
• Thanksgiving Vibes: The hosts wish listeners a happy Thanksgiving, setting a laid-back, irreverent mood:

  "Because this is probably low energy...like that intro Thanksgiving." (Top Lobsta, 01:26)

2. The Thanksgiving Dishes Tier List (13:00 onward, major segments highlighted)

A core chunk of the show is dedicated to collaboratively ranking Thanksgiving foods using a digital tier list. The team’s criteria are personal experience, nostalgia, and group taste—often diverging, sometimes with heated debate.

Food Rankings - Major Dishes Discussed

(Timestamps reflect first appearance of each dish’s discussion)

• Apple Pie (13:06):
  Consensus: Meh
  "As far as pies go, apple pie is great, but it's not my favorite." (David)
  Discussion derails briefly into the "sexualization" of apple pie via pop culture references.

• Baked Squash (18:13):
  Consensus: Meh
  Matt champions Florida’s Seminole pumpkin, but the others remain unconvinced.

• Baked Sweet Potatoes (20:22):
  Consensus: Best
  Unanimous praise for versatility and essentialness.

  "Nothing really beats a sweet potato with just coarse salt and butter. It's incredible." (David, 21:16)
  "It's a staple. If you have a Thanksgiving meal and you don't have a sweet potato..." (David)

• Biscuits (22:29):
  Consensus: Good
  Split between "great" with gravy and "meh" for dryness.

• Brown Gravy (25:35):
  Consensus: Great
  "On mashed potatoes, on stuffing — brown gravy goes on everything you do." (Top Lobsta, 26:29)

• Brussels Sprouts (28:42):
  Consensus: Good
  Majority tolerate or enjoy if prepared well; Top Lobsta abstains.

• Collard Greens (30:50):
  Consensus: Meh

  "If you do it in a pot or a crockpot with bacon and bones...I crush collard greens, dude." (Matt, 31:50)

• Cornbread (40:18):
  Consensus: Great
  Heated discussion about quality variability and choosing it for a first plate.
  "If it's out of the oven with a big thing of milk and butter, eat the whole pan." (Matt, 40:32)

• Corn (off the cob/Boston Market style) (43:42):
  Consensus: Great (after debate)
  Recognition of its role as a side and due to versatility in "mash-ups" with potatoes.

  "What I do with the corn is I'll put it with other things—maybe mashed potato or sweet potato..." (Top Lobsta, 45:17)

• Cranberry Sauce (46:36):
  Consensus: Great
  Division between love for the canned, jellied variety and traditional/homemade.

  "Unless it comes in a can and I can slice it into discs, get it outta my face." (David, 47:09)

• Macaroni & Cheese (83:14):
  Consensus: Best
  Universal appreciation; discussion of pasta shape, cheese type, and its essential status.

  "Mac and cheese is never bad. It's just a matter of heavy on the G or not." (Matt, 83:34)
  "It's one of the best." (David, 93:50)

• Mashed Potatoes (96:23):
  Consensus: Best
  "There's just no way around it for me." (David, 96:41)

• Pecan Pie (98:08):
  Consensus: Best
  Matt hails pecans as the "best tasting of the nuts." Gentle disagreement about eating the nuts vs just the filling.

• Pumpkin Pie (99:34):
  Consensus: Best
  Required at Thanksgiving; Cool Whip elevates it.

• Stuffing (106:59):
  Consensus: Best
  Division over "box vs inside the turkey" prep, but universal agreement on its classically comforting role.

• Turkey (111:09):
  Consensus: Best
  Extensive debate about dryness; tips on preparation (use of citrus, butter, basting).

  "If you don't have turkey, you're a wanker." (David, 115:18)

Dishes Drawing Controversy or Dismay

• Green Jello Salad/Grape Salad: Regarded as "gross" or skipped entirely.
• Dinner Rolls/Crescent Rolls: Deemed unambitious or carb-overload (54:51-55:12).
• Other Sides (carrots, potatoes in different forms, etc.): Heavily dependent on preparation; were often ranked "good" to "great" without strong feelings except for repetition fatigue.

3. Tangents, Memes, & In-Jokes

• Meme Culture:
  Recurring jokes about Matt's face ("Matt Face"), the soundboard (with running gags about guests misusing sound effects), and phrases like "I'm not brewing this."
• Cultural/Biblical Asides:
  Discussions about health/nutrition, gluten, and Bible verses punctuate food rankings.
• Announcements:
  Top Lobsta plugs new merch, discusses the prospect of moving events to different venues, and jokes about fan-organized potlucks.

4. Live Guest Segment: Zach Joins the Show (65:00+)

Zach Interaction Highlights:

• Background: Illinois landscaper, veteran, originally found the show via conspiracy podcasts like Tinfoil Hat.
• Mic Etiquette: Playful coaching from the crew.
• Thanksgiving Dishes: Zach participates in rankings, especially voicing strong opinions on green beans and potatoes.
• Personal Story: Zach shares having served at Arlington National Cemetery and a dislike of current military arrangements.
• Reflection on Show:

  "Sitting in on this, for real, I'm dead serious...watching you guys develop has made me want to be better." (Zach, 123:05)

• Hosts’ Gratitude:

  "This made my day. This made my whole month." (Zach, 122:25)

5. Cryptids, Conspiracies, and Paranormal

• Discussion of cryptids (rakes, skinwalkers, dogmen) and their linkage to biblical or government manipulation.
• David retells a friend's chilling Arizona cryptid encounter (131:01+), connecting it to greater questions of spiritual protection and demonic symbolism.

6. Noteworthy Quotes & Memorable Banter

• "I'm not here for information. I care about biscuits. Don't tell me about glyphosate when I'm trying to eat brown gravy." (David, 26:20)
• "Let's have a Nephilim Death Squad Thanksgiving...in March." (David, 10:48)
• "As far as pies go, apple pie is great, but it's not my favorite." (David, 13:06)
• "You sell pralines up front…this is probably the best thing that we've talked about so far...pecian is probably our best flavor out there." (Matt, 98:35)
• "I don't like other people's cultures." (Top Lobsta, 61:31)
  (delivered jokingly, typical for the show’s audacious banter)
• Zach on the effect of NDS:

  "Watching you guys develop has made me want to be better." (122:50)

7. Miscellaneous

• Technical Difficulties: Ongoing playful complaints about audio, microphones, and the soundboard.
• Family Interactions: David’s wife participates in chat; Matt and Top Lobsta discuss their own families and holidays.
• Biblical Layer: Frequent references to scripture and Christian themes, both earnestly and in jest (e.g., debate over the dietary rules, the curse of Ham, spiritual warfare).

Final Consensus Rankings (Best Tier)

• Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Stuffing
• Mac & Cheese
• Pumpkin Pie
• Pecan Pie
• Mashed Potatoes
• Turkey
• Red Potatoes

(Other dishes placed in "Great," "Good," "Meh," or "Gross" as discussed. See above highlights for judgments and rationale.)

Conclusion & Community Call

• Pop-in Invitation: The hosts encourage fans to visit the Standard Coffee Shop for possible live podcast participation (“Just come in, buy a mocha, and then be on the podcast!”).
• Show’s Mission: Despite chaos, the episode’s warmth, community-building, and celebration of both Thanksgiving food and quirkier subjects shine through.

Notable End Quote (Zach, 122:25)

"This made my day. This made my whole month. Because, guys, thank you."

[For more guests’ perspectives, biblical takes on holiday food, and always more memes—catch Nephilim Death Squad, where conspiracies, gratitude, and gravy collide.]