Podcast Summary: Smosh Mouth – S1: #1 - Defy Drama!

Podcast Information:

• Title: Smosh Mouth
• Host/Author: Smosh (Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto) with rotating Smosh friends
• Description: Join Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and a rotating Smosh friend as they discuss what’s on their minds, what they’ve found on the internet, and other dumb ideas they’re cooking up.
• Episode: S1: #1 - Defy Drama!
• Release Date: February 22, 2019

1. Introduction

In the inaugural episode of Smosh Mouth, the hosts—Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and guest Courtney Miller—dive deep into a tumultuous period for the Smosh team. The episode primarily revolves around their recent layoff from Defy, the parent company, and the subsequent journey to reclaim and rebuild the Smosh brand independently. The hosts intertwine professional challenges with personal anecdotes, providing listeners with an intimate look into their lives and creative processes.

2. The Defy Layoff Experience

Background and Initial Announcement

The episode begins with the recounting of an unexpected and sudden layoff notice from Defy. Courtney Miller sets the stage by describing the chaotic environment leading up to the layoffs:

Courtney Miller (00:30): "And it's an email saying that we've all been effective immediately laid off. People were smashing defy mugs with baseball bats."

Details of the Layoff

Shayne Topp and Ian Hecox elaborate on the timeline and emotional impact:

Shayne Topp (04:11): "We have till January 2nd. Yeah. Something like that. To, you know, find your work till then and you find another job."

Shayne shares his personal experience of receiving the layoff notice while filming on "The Goldbergs":

Shayne Topp (05:18): "I saw the text as soon as I got home... and I was like, oh, my God. And I quickly got all my stuff together, and I drove all the way to the office..."

Reactions and Immediate Aftermath

The hosts discuss the immediate reactions within the team, including attempts to salvage the situation and maintain morale despite the uncertainty:

Courtney Miller (06:04): "We were supposed to shoot the very next day. So we had a whole bunch of craftiness and snacks and stuff."

Leadership Critique

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Defy's leadership failures. Courtney criticizes the lack of support and poor decision-making:

Courtney Miller (10:11): "The large issue for me at Defy was the leadership... They did nothing."

Shayne adds to the critique, highlighting the absence of responsible leadership during the crisis:

Shayne Topp (10:37): "Part of being a leader is, yeah, you're gonna fail sometimes. And even if it's a massive failure, you gotta own it."

3. Rebuilding Smosh

Taking Control

Post-layoff, the Smosh team took decisive steps to regain control over their brand. Courtney details the process of reaching out for investor support and attempting to create a sustainable business model:

Courtney Miller (18:24): "We hired a consultant... to pitch Smosh to investors and try to pull together an investing party."

Challenges Faced

The transition was fraught with challenges, including technical hurdles like managing multiple YouTube channels without corporate assistance:

Ian Hecox (16:52): "You need somebody to do that on all those."

Shayne reflects on the learning curve associated with independent content creation:

Shayne Topp (17:31): "It's so much hard work... I have immense respect for people who do it all by themselves."

Community and Team Support

Despite the obstacles, the team found solace in community support and their shared dedication to Smosh:

Shayne Topp (15:27): "We were too, we’re doing too well, and we are too together with this."

4. Challenges in Content Creation

Authenticity vs. Corporate Demands

The hosts discuss the tension between maintaining authentic content and meeting corporate expectations. They express frustration over being mandated to produce specific types of shows that didn't align with their creative vision:

Shayne Topp (29:30): "It was really uncomfortable in the show sometimes..."

Courtney emphasizes the importance of authenticity in their content:

Courtney Miller (32:00): "Just something we wanted to do... it's so much more creatively stimulating."

Technical and Logistical Hurdles

Managing multiple channels independently required mastering new skills, such as uploading, editing, and optimizing videos without prior support:

Courtney Miller (16:01): "I had to learn how to upload to YouTube again."

Evolution of Content Strategy

The team pivoted towards more organic content inspired by popular YouTube trends, moving away from corporate-driven formats:

Shayne Topp (32:25): "Now we get to really kind of come up with what we want to do and organically create it."

5. Personal Reflections and Anecdotes

Pet Ownership Struggles

The hosts share personal stories about pet ownership, highlighting the emotional challenges that come with having pets while dealing with professional instability:

Ian Hecox (43:07): "He chugs up his hands and he goes, I'm afraid, Courtney. I must go to the mountains."

Courtney discusses her own experiences with an anxious German Shepherd:

Courtney Miller (46:32): "...she could be in a better home. But you had a good place to give Django."

Family Dynamics and Personal Growth

Shayne and Courtney delve into their family dynamics, bonding experiences, and personal growth during this period:

Courtney Miller (51:56): "We were like, all right, dad, who's the mistake? You know, who's planned?"

Humorous Interludes

Interspersed with serious discussions, the hosts include humorous exchanges about everyday topics like beards, cuffing jeans, and plant care, adding levity to the conversation:

Shayne Topp (36:34): "I killed a man over a La Croix."

Courtney Miller (48:43): "Yo, can we talk about how awesome air plants are for a moment?"

6. Smosh's Future and Conclusion

Partnership with Mythical

The episode concludes with optimism as the team previews their collaboration with Rhett and Link’s Mythical, aiming to retain creative control and sustain the Smosh brand:

Courtney Miller (69:52): "Please subscribe to this podcast... We're going to do this every single week."

Looking Ahead

The hosts express enthusiasm about future episodes, promising a rotating cast of Smosh friends and community members to join them in discussions:

Shayne Topp (69:54): "We are gonna do this every single week... We'll have some people that you've seen in Smosh videos."

Final Reflections

Shayne and Courtney reflect on the journey from uncertainty to renewed creative freedom, emphasizing the importance of resilience and community support:

Ian Hecox (69:47): "I'm happy things are going so well. I love you guys."

Courtney Miller (69:53): "We're gonna do this every single week... We're gonna bring in some of our friends from the YouTube realm from time to time."

7. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Shayne Topp on Leadership Failures:

  "That's what a boss is supposed to do. Own it." ([10:07])

• Courtney Miller on Defy's Lack of Support:

  "They just have hung out with clients, but they were like, they're really rotten at the top." ([11:10])

• Shayne Topp on Resourcefulness:

  "We were gonna make the channel our own again." ([16:20])

• Courtney Miller on Embracing Independence:

  "We had to take things into our own hands." ([14:18])

• Shayne Topp on Creative Freedom:

  "Now we get to really kind of come up with what we want to do and organically create it." ([32:25])

Conclusion

Smosh Mouth's first episode offers a candid glimpse into the challenges and triumphs faced by the Smosh team during a period of significant upheaval. From abrupt corporate layoffs to the arduous journey of rebuilding their beloved brand independently, the hosts articulate a narrative of resilience, creativity, and unwavering camaraderie. Interwoven with personal stories and humorous banter, the episode not only serves as a historical recount of Smosh's struggles but also sets an optimistic tone for future endeavors under the Mythical partnership. Listeners are left with a sense of anticipation for upcoming episodes, where the Smosh family promises to continue entertaining and connecting with their audience amidst evolving landscapes.

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