New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
EP 168: Tickling Tonsils, Kiffin Drama & George Clooney on Pranks, Parenting & Jason's Batman
Date: December 3, 2025
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Jason and Travis Kelce—football superstar brothers from the Eagles and Chiefs—kick back for their usual mix of sports banter, brotherly ribbing, and pop culture deep-dives. This week, they unpack wild NFL news from Thanksgiving week, swap tales of tailgating and belly-bucking, and riff on Lane Kiffin’s college football shakeup. The episode’s highlight is an extended, hilarious, and genuine interview with Hollywood legend George Clooney, who shares tales of pranking, parenting, and being Batman (rubber nipples and all).
Key Discussion Points & Insights
I. Brothers Catch Up: Musket Misfires, Road Bowling, and Storytime
- Jason’s New England Musket Adventure (05:02):
- Jason visits New England, fumbles through firing an old musket (“The pan definitely caught, but I didn’t see anything come out the end... I was like, ‘this thing didn’t—’”).
- Road Bowling in Ireland (06:12):
- Jason explains the Irish sport: “28-ounce iron ball... goal is to go past a line in as few throws as possible. Betting is part of the game.”
- Amusing attempts and local characters make it memorable, including impromptu D-line lessons at an Irish pub.
- Jason sings a traditional Irish song he shares with his girls (09:00–11:55).
- Parenting, Bedtime Stories, and Classic Kids’ Books (12:02):
- Jason laments new kids’ books: “Every rundown schmuck with a fucking typewriter can make a children’s book these days... I’m into the Dr. Seuss, the Three Little Pigs.”
- Creates improvised stories at bedtime, which sometimes terrify his daughters: “Kylie was furious. She’s like, ‘what the fuck is wrong with you?’” (14:24)
II. NFL Thanksgiving Week Recap
Chiefs vs Cowboys (24:02)
- Travis reflects on a tough loss:
- “All our losses are within one score... It’s crazy you watch the film and see what’s real is that we’re this close, man. We’re this close.” (24:30)
- “We still have a chance, baby. And that’s all that matters to me—mentality and sense of urgency.” (25:52)
- Jason’s statistical context:
- “You’re plus-70 in score differential... first team without a winning record with that. It’s nuts.” (27:01)
- Andy Reid Quote (Tickling Tonsils!)
- “We’re gonna try to tickle your tonsils on every play, every game. That’s the attitude.” (28:01; Andy Reid, as quoted by Jason)
- Brotherly banter on football coach euphemisms:
- “‘You take these big-ass dick beaters you got, you put them into that middle of the chest.’ That’s one of my favorite... all-timers.” – Jason (29:12)
- Whole segment gets loose: “This is our greatest episode ever.” (30:27)
Eagles vs Bears (36:36)
- Bears beat the Eagles; Jason diagnoses the Eagles’ offensive struggles:
- “Offensive line is starting to get continuity. The run game is close... Once that thing gets going—look out.” (38:27)
- Travis on offensive innovation:
- “That’s the one thing when you watch the Chiefs play, you see me moving around all the time. It changes passing strength, rules, gap fits...” (40:01)
- General consensus: NFL is wide open, no unbeatable team—both AFC and NFC up in the air (43:07).
III. Tailgating, Belly Bucking, and Fat Guy Fight Club
- New Heights Tailgate (15:47):
- First-ever belly bucking tourney at Lincoln Financial on Black Friday; “No Shirt Dom” emerges champ.
- “A guy that is committed to not wearing a shirt wins the belly-bucking competition. He’s a very belly-positive individual.” – Jason (16:45)
- Jason admits creating the contest just so he could get in the belly-on-belly action (18:05).
- Event Rules and Technique Debates:
- “You gotta thrust. You’re not thrusting, you’re Augustin.” – Travis (19:19)
- Operation Breakthrough Holiday Charity (20:15):
- Travis and Jason highlight this Kansas City educational non-profit, aided by Amazon for the holidays:
- “Operation Breakthrough... giving these kids something they wouldn’t have otherwise.” – Travis (21:37)
- “This holiday season alone, supporting over 3,400 local families.” – Jason (22:55)
- Travis and Jason highlight this Kansas City educational non-profit, aided by Amazon for the holidays:
IV. Trash Talk & College Football Shakeups
- NFL Trash Talk & Titans vs Jags Drama (45:42):
- Players allegedly saying “suck my dick” and making threats:
- “That just seems like standard trash talk.” – Jason (46:07)
- “Unless it’s racist or about family, everything else is fair game... I will tickle your tonsils. Suck my D.” (48:17)
- Players allegedly saying “suck my dick” and making threats:
- Lane Kiffin Takes LSU Job (49:41):
- Brothers bemoan the NCAA’s coaching carousel:
- “There needs to be some rule that you can’t start looking for new jobs until after the season.” – Travis (50:12)
- Both have suffered through interim coaches and the chaos it brings (51:57–54:44).
- Brothers bemoan the NCAA’s coaching carousel:
V. Stamp of the Week & NFL Odds and Ends
- Weekly “Stamp of the Week” nominees (58:15). Best plays and odd moments, including standout catches and the obligatory “pantsless Jets fan.”
- General acknowledgment of the NFL’s wild, unpredictable landscape as playoff races heat up.
VI. Special Guest: George Clooney – Pranks, Parenting & Batman
[65:26–95:19]
Welcoming George Clooney
- Both Kelces are starstruck:
- “Why is he so good at just, like, being a cool person? He does it so effortlessly.” – Travis (65:41)
- “He’s a superstar... doesn’t even need to say anything... then he starts talking and he’s way better at conversing.” – Jason (66:05)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On being a Bengals fan:
- “Travis, you broke me, man. I’m a Bengals fan, dude. I grew up in Cincinnati. You’ve broken me so many times in your pretty face on GQ.” – George Clooney (66:37)
- Clooney's University of Cincinnati Days:
- Confirms he attended (“for a minute”), lived on Straight Street—a local touchpoint for Jason.
- “Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat in my book, dude.” – Travis (69:46)
- On parenting:
- “You don’t realize how much they’re listening to you... Like, five minutes later in the back seat, I hear from my eight-year-old…” (Imitates swearing, 74:35)
- On fame and entourages:
- Jokes that some actors do have entourages, but “most of the gang that I know are pretty... actually live a pretty normal life, believe it or not. Like all the gang from Oceans..." (79:01)
- On acting and singing:
- Recounts being asked to sing in O Brother, Where Art Thou: “I sing it all out, finish, look up, and no one will look me in the eye... Like a cat caught in the wheel well of a car.” (86:06)
- On movie star competition:
- “There isn’t really that kind of competition... but I love giving Matt Damon shit, and he deserves it.” (84:13)
- Prankster legacy:
- Sent fake Bill Clinton notes to actors after getting presidential stationery from Jimmy Kimmel:
- “I’d find a movie that wasn’t so great, and write, ‘I loved you in this film,’ and send it.” (89:24)
- Similar prank played on Meryl Streep using “Brad Pitt” letterhead:
- “I sent her this book of accents... Four years later, I see Meryl and tell her the story... She’s like, ‘why the f*** is he sending this to me?’” (91:00)
- Sent fake Bill Clinton notes to actors after getting presidential stationery from Jimmy Kimmel:
- Best/Worst moments: on Batman:
- “I’m the only one who had rubber nipples.” – Clooney, on his Batman suit (88:57)
- On shooting Batman & Robin:
- “Director yells, ‘Your parents are dead. You have nothing to live for. Action!’... I realized I was the worst thing in the movie.” (91:44)
- On never fighting with his wife:
- “Neither of us are going to win the argument—so why get in it?” (87:27)
- “What am I going to argue about at this point?... I met this incredible woman... so what am I gonna fight about?” (87:59)
- Clooney on New Heights’ dynamic:
- “Do you guys battle over who’s got the coolest podcast?” (80:47)
Most Memorable Exchange
Jason: “How do you handle your daughter rolling her eyes?”
Clooney: “I’m probably a little strict… But you don’t realize how much they’re listening to you…” (74:27–74:45)
On Oceans’ comeback:
Clooney: “We’re gonna do another one... now we’re old, so it’s gonna be like, mostly just trying not to crap yourself. Every sneeze is a gamble now, you know?” (84:48)
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “We’re gonna try to tickle your tonsils on every play, every game. That’s the attitude.”
– Andy Reid, quoted by Jason Kelce (28:01) - “That’s one of my favorite dick beaters is a great all timers. You ever heard that one?”
– Jason (29:12) - "Operation Breakthrough... giving these kids something they wouldn’t have otherwise."
– Travis (21:37) - “Every rundown schmuck with a fucking typewriter can make a children’s book these days.”
– Jason (12:14) - “Why is he so good at just, like, being a cool person? He does it so effortlessly.”
– Travis, about George Clooney (65:41) - “Travis, you broke me, man. I’m a Bengals fan, dude.”
– George Clooney (66:36)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 05:02 – Jason’s musket-firing misadventure in New England
- 06:12 – Explanation of Irish road bowling
- 09:00–11:55 – Jason sings and discusses bedtime stories
- 24:02 – Chiefs vs Cowboys Thanksgiving game breakdown
- 28:01 – Andy Reid’s “tickle your tonsils” quote and coaching euphemisms
- 36:36 – Eagles vs. Bears recap
- 15:47 – Philly’s belly bucking contest
- 20:15 – Operation Breakthrough charity segment
- 45:42 – Titans/Jags trash talk and NFL banter
- 49:41 – Lane Kiffin's move and college football hiring drama
- 58:15 – Stamp of the Week nominees
- 65:26–95:19 – Extended George Clooney interview (includes parenting, pranks, Batman, and more)
- 84:46 – Clooney announces new Oceans movie
Episode Tone
Irreverent, familial, and fast-moving—the Kelce brothers’ rapport is natural, peppered with profanity and vivid sports metaphors. Their guest, George Clooney, is dryly funny, self-effacing, and slots seamlessly into their style, delivering Hollywood anecdotes with Midwestern flair.
Final Takeaway
“Tickling Tonsils, Kiffin Drama & George Clooney on Pranks, Parenting & Jason’s Batman” is packed with the Kelce brothers’ signature blend of NFL insights, goofball humor, and heartfelt moments. The George Clooney interview stands out for its warmth, humor, and behind-the-scenes tales, making it a must-listen for both football and film fans.
Best Episode For:
- NFL-heads who love locker room banter
- Pop culture fans craving unfiltered Clooney
- Anyone who loves chaos, storytelling, or wants to win a belly-bucking contest!