SmartLess Presents ClueLess
Re-release: 201 - State of Confusion (w/ Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman)
Release Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Elliott Kalan
Guests: Max Silvestri & Gabe Liedman
Ep Length: ~26 min (content summary below excludes ads/intros/outros)
Overview
In this repeated season two premiere of ClueLess, host Elliott Kalan is joined by comedians Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman (co-hosts of "I Need U Guys") for a high-speed ride through word and logic puzzles. This lively, joke-packed episode features two main games: “It’s Elementary” (elements in words & pop culture) and “State of Confusion” (state abbreviations + clever letter play). Listeners are challenged to play along, test their trivia wits, and try to best contestant Sean Hayes (in spirit!).
Key Discussion Points and Puzzle Segments
Introduction & Opening Banter
- [01:07] - [01:49]
Elliott shares a comically convoluted email chain story, then asks:
“Do you even know what archaic two word phrase the email abbreviation CC stands for?”- Gabe quickly provides the answer: “Carbon Copy.”
Quote
“What I like is you’re describing it as if you went to, like, a nature preserve for endangered animals. They let you hold a piece of carbon paper.”
— Elliott Kalan [03:08]
Game 1: It’s Elementary
- [03:29] - [07:50]
The trio tackles trivia where answers contain names of elements. Highlights:
Q1: Jason’s Crew
- Q: Which group did the Greek hero Jason assemble?
- A: Argonauts (contains “Argon”)
- Max and Gabe banter about their superior “deep cut” knowledge of elements.
Q2: Newborns
- Q: Word for infants in their first month, with a fluorescent gas?
- A: Neonatal (“Neon”)
- Humorous aside about fluorescent babies in windows.
Q3: Odd One Out
- Q: Which is not like the others: Selenium, Dilithium, Adamantium, Kryptonite?
- A: Selenium (the only real element, the rest from sci-fi/fantasy)
Notable Exchange
“What was the second one?” – Max
“Dilithium. That’s a Star Trek thing.” – Elliott
“So why do I take it for depression?” – Gabe [07:29]
Recap
- Gabe & Max nearly sweep, missing only the “odd one out” by choosing kryptonite; Elliott clarifies: only selenium is a real element.
Game 2: State of Confusion
- [09:19] - [21:02]
Wordplay with state abbreviations: Combine two states’ postal codes, add a letter in the middle to spell a word matching the travel clue.
Sample Mechanic ([09:52])
- Orlando (FL) to Lexington (KY) + letter "A" = FLAKY (like a croissant)
Main Rounds ([11:12] – [21:02])
Elliott gives a travel scenario; guests must deduce the word from state codes and an inserted letter.
Sample Q&As:
- Bar Harbor to Birmingham: ME (Maine) + T + AL (Alabama) = METAL [11:32]
- Seattle to Gulfport: WA + R + MS = WARMS [12:36]
- Misstep: Initially pick MO (Missouri), corrected to MS (Mississippi)
- New Orleans to Indianapolis: LA + T + IN = LATIN [14:19]
- San Juan to Kennebunkport: PR + I + ME = PRIME [15:13]
- Wilmington to Topeka: DE + S + KS = DESKS [15:56]
- St. Louis to Bend: MO + T + OR = MOTOR [16:34]
- Myrtle Beach to Omaha: SC + E + NE = SCENE [17:39]
- Boston to Eugene: MA + N + OR = MANOR [18:51]
- Little Rock to Philadelphia: AR + E + PA = AREPA [19:35]
- Bloomington to Omaha: IN + A + NE = INANE [20:43]
Running Gag
- Max and Gabe often add gentle snark or play up feigned confusion to comedic effect.
Quote
“This is like doing a crossword. You don’t have to show your worm…”
— Max Silvestri [21:18]
The Mega Clue
-
[21:48] - [24:16]
Guests must unscramble the extra letters added in each word to find how Elliott traveled around the country. -
Their guesses:
- “Train seat,” “Trains,” “Transit,” “Steam train”
- Elliott gently reveals the actual answer.
Correct Answer:
- INTERSTATE – as in, the interstate highway
Memorable Exchange
“I’m gonna gently take this out of your hands… The answer is ‘interstate.’”
— Elliott Kalan [23:54-24:00]
Notable Quotes & Laugh-Out-Loud Moments
-
CC = Carbon Copy origin story:
“The Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh has a whole exhibit on holding carbon paper.”
— Max Silvestri [03:19] -
On deep element knowledge:
“Other people are yelling out hydrogen, and you’re like, seaborgium.”
— Elliott Kalan [04:14] -
Meta-complaints about “half credit” on state abbreviations:
“Frankly, it’s none of your business how we get the answer… Who cares that we got the state wrong?”
— Max Silvestri [21:18] -
Pun on “Boron/Beatles” song:
“The only element that really matters is the fifth element. Love. Wait, I misread that. The fifth element is boron. I’m sorry. As in the Beatles song, all you need is boron.”
— Elliott Kalan [09:19]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | Description | |-----------|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | 01:07 | Cold open: “CC” trivia | Email abbreviation puzzle | | 03:29 | It’s Elementary game | Element wordplay & pop culture refs | | 09:19 | Transition & “State of Confusion” explanation | State abbreviation plus letter game | | 11:32-21:02| State of Confusion, full run | Each travel riddle with answers | | 21:57 | Mega Clue intro | Unscramble all inserted letters | | 24:00 | Mega Clue answer reveal | “Interstate” solution | | 24:38 | Wrap-up / final banter | Results, laughs, thanks |
Tone and Style
The episode’s spirit is fast-paced, playful, and brimming with smart, silly banter—pun-filled, nerdy, and self-aware, with quick wit from all participants. Elliott’s hosting blends dry humor with actual trivia expertise, while Max and Gabe riff, jab, and push the premise into absurd, comedic territory.
Conclusion
Max and Gabe score “nine and two thirds out of 10,” missing only half a point for a state slip-up and the final mega clue anagram. The episode’s blend of wordplay, trivia, and comedy keeps the energy high and delightfully offbeat—perfect for fans of puzzles and improv humor. Listeners are encouraged to play along and, of course, imagine host Elliott with a full head of hair.
For trivia and comedy fans alike, this ClueLess episode is the perfect 12-minute brain teaser—with a side of comic relief and a surprising amount of periodic table knowledge.