Podcast
Opie & Carl
Hosted by Gregg "Opie" Hughes · EN
Headline: The Unfiltered Archives of the "Cuban Elvis" Carl Ruiz.Before the world lost the legendary Carl Ruiz, he and radio icon Opie took their legendary chemistry to the streets of New York City and beyond. This is the definitive collection of the Opie and Carl Podcast, featuring the raw, unscripted, and riotous conversations that built the #RuizArmy.From the infamous Creep Cabin and the cobblestones of Nantucket to the bars of the Upper West Side, join the Food Network star (known from Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games) and the broadcasting vet for a masterclass in riffing. No studios, no censors—just two friends, a microphone, and the "unstoppable energy" that defined an era of comedy.What you’ll hear:
Love ya, miss ya, Carl!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
- The Lost Radio Tapes: Opie unearths classic broadcasts and "Best and Last Year of Radio" sessions with Carl.
- Street-Level Comedy: Raw audio recorded on location, capturing the chaos of NYC and life at 100mph.
- Food & Friendship: Deep dives into culinary rants, "Always Be Closing" wisdom, and behind-the-scenes Food Network stories.
Love ya, miss ya, Carl!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
53episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Carl Went Dark in Miami — No Phone, Speedos, and a Ferrari
3d ago00:42:39Tap to summarizeOpie finally tracks down a missing Carl Ruiz, who's been off the grid for days in Miami — no phone, living like it's 1988, drinking champagne, driving a rented Ferrari in a Hulk Hogan shirt and clogs. Pure chaos, wild stories, and a heartfelt tribute to their late friend Gary from Ubon's Barbecue. Classic Opie & Carl.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Carl Eats SUGAR As Doctor Warns Him He'll Die Early w/ Mark Normand
1w ago00:54:35Tap to summarizeDr. Ian Smith joins Opie, Chef Carl Ruiz and comedian Mark Normand. Carl casually destroys an insane amount of sugar on air — Reese’s, cookies, Hawaiian Punch, fruit snacks, and more — while the doctor breaks down exactly what it’s doing to his body.Carl explains his “live every day like you won the lottery” philosophy after watching his super-healthy dad get hit with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 62. The conversation gets real about sugar addiction, school lunches, food deserts, pre-diabetes, and how the food industry engineers the “bliss point” to keep you hooked.Topics covered:How much sugar the average American actually eatsWhy Carl refuses to “save for the future”Hidden sugar in “healthy” foods (yogurt, ketchup, vitamin water, etc.)School food industry corruptionSugar withdrawal horror storiesKeto, artificial sweeteners, and realistic ways to cut backFeaturing: Dr. Ian Smith (author of Blast the Sugar Out), Carl Ruiz. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t stop eating sugar… this is it. )Drop a like if Carl’s snack pile stressed you outBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Jam Band Legend Dies on Stage. Everyone Thought It Was a Joke.
2w ago00:47:03Tap to summarizeIt is one of the most surreal and unbelievable moments in rock history. Opie and Chef Carl Ruiz look back at the legendary jam band patriarch, Colonel Bruce Hampton.During his star-studded 70th birthday concert, the Colonel collapsed on stage during the final encore. Because of his notorious history of onstage pranks, the musicians kept right on jamming and the crowd kept dancing, completely convinced it was all part of the act. We dive into the shocking footage, the confusion of that night, and the wild legacy of a music icon who truly died doing what he loved.Follow the show: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Abandoned Buildings & Mike’s Leaky D: Carl Says Hell No
3w ago00:46:57Tap to summarizeCarl roasts the gang’s brilliant idea to podcast inside a haunted abandoned building (sage and moon rock included), then the crew spirals into NYC underground secrets, Grand Central shoot-on-sight rumors, the “Running of the Mexicans,” black squirrels, street-hot Harlem queens, Aretha Franklin worship, pig roasts, and Tim Sabian’s post-mom-death juice cleanse that immediately crumbles for barbecue. Ends with Mike casually dropping the greatest “I got drunk and pierced my D” story of all time. Classic Opie & Carl chaos — zero plot, maximum laughs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Old Ghosts & Exploding Cats
3w ago00:51:57Tap to summarizeOpie, Carl, and Sherrod move into their shiny new Westwood One studio on grimy 42nd Street… and immediately start roasting the dim lights, shaky tables, and Civil War-era ghosts of Times Square past. What follows is pure chaos: dodging homeless chaos outside, “catch and release” hot tourists, Cross Bronx Expressway survival stories, the fat kid who fell through three floors into dog shit, the kid who dropped a chunk of sidewalk on a duck family, and Rhonda lighting fireworks in a cat’s ass. Childhood psychopath spotters, Fresh Air Fund weirdness, Vietnamese lightning survivors, Catholic priest shade, grandpa’s shoplifting jacket, and a late dive into Big Pharma zombies — all in one unhinged, laugh-out-loud episode. Classic Opie Radio: zero filter, maximum stories.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →$3,000 Pappy Van Winkle & Carl Ruiz Cries
4w ago01:13:31Tap to summarizeCarl Ruiz brings in a $3,000 bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, but the high-end tasting takes an emotional turn. Carl breaks down while explaining his "Life to the Tilt" philosophy in a raw, hilarious, and legendary moment. Chris Distefano and Sherrod Small join the crew to talk shop on the greatest comedies of all time and one of the best years in radio history. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Carl Ruiz’s Derby Disaster w/ Theo Von
Jun 3000:31:18Tap to summarizeTheo Von calls in from an airplane for the sole purpose of roasting Chris Distefano, leading to a legendary back-and-forth you have to hear to believe. Carl Ruiz sharing his hilariously unfiltered take on attending the Kentucky Derby. Plus, Chris tells the wild story of the time his father forced him to "play disabled" at age 12 just to snag better seats at a Yankees game. *** This is e pre podcast show from Opie's last year of radio.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Carl looks like a hairy glazed donut & Opie's Swamp Lip
Jun 2500:41:18Tap to summarizeOpie on the Upper West Side with Carl looking like a “hairy glazed donut,” they grab falafels and wander Manhattan swapping wild tales—Opie’s lightning-struck Asian caddy story, childhood crushes, and way too much swamp lip talk. Shopping bag full of herpes meds and hamster treats, rib-grabbing arguments, bodega stops, subway “WOOOs,” Times Square wax figures, and plenty of cringe bystander interactions before heading to the new Westwood One studio with Sherrod. Pure uncut, off-the-cuff Opie Radio chaos.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Died On Stage At His 70th Birthday Bash…Band Kept Jamming
Jun 2000:47:25Tap to summarizeOpie, Carl & Sherrod react to jam band legend Colonel Bruce Hampton collapsing and dying on stage during his star-studded 70th birthday show (they play the cell phone video). Carl gets his official chef certificate and Dickies jacket, then immediately gets roasted. Louis plans a wild Atlantic City bachelor party week, Carl tells the insane story of how he met Marie, and DJ Who Kid turns the studio into a Cinco de Mayo twerk session that a rabbi walks right past. Non-stop chaos, laughs, and one very confused holy man.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
Transcribe →Opie & Carl Run Wild at ESPN
Jun 1500:25:20Tap to summarizeOpie and Carl finally hit the ESPN campus in Bristol for Carl’s Fantasy Football cooking gig — and they’re given full run of the place.Fight song hallway madness, endless free snacks, studio sneaking, Redneck Hash Browns, mistaken Serena Williams sightings, and Opie almost getting them both kicked out. Pure degenerate fun as two radio guys roam one of sports TV’s biggest compounds like it’s their playground.This is the payoff episode after the rainy road trip — zero filter, zero adult supervision.Key Moments:Blasting college fight songsCarl’s killer Cuban sandwiches & deviled eggsOpie’s stage fright stories + dad’s death anniversaryFoosball, 60-gallon soup vats & near-firingsDrop a 5-star review if you laughed your ass off.More chaos at OpieRadio.com | New merch dropping.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.
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