Smosh Mouth Podcast Summary
Episode: S2: #48 - It’s Time To Cancel Karens
Release Date: January 29, 2020
Hosts: Shayne Topp (Shane), Amanda Lehan-Canto (Courtney), and Damien Haas (Damien)
1. Addressing Online Negativity and Cancel Culture
The episode opens with Courtney expressing her frustration with the pervasive negativity online, particularly focusing on the surge of "Karen" videos. She states, "It feels like the Internet's super, super negative right now" (00:37). Shane echoes this sentiment, highlighting how these videos trigger his anxiety due to his past retail experiences: "I get so much anxiety from watching those videos... I can't see them anymore" (60:58). The hosts discuss the psychological impact of such negative content and express a collective desire to "cancel" these types of videos to promote a more positive online environment.
2. Preparing for the Upcoming Tour and Managing Anxiety
A significant portion of the discussion centers around the hosts' preparations for their upcoming tour. Damien shares his struggles with anticipatory anxiety, especially concerning new experiences, saying, "I have a huge fear of the unknown" (08:37). Courtney, on the other hand, embraces potential mishaps as comedic opportunities: "I'm actually excited for things to go wrong during a show. Cause that's when the funniest stuff happens." (09:05). Shane offers support by acknowledging his own lifelong battle with anxiety and commending Courtney's progress: "You seem to go roll with the punches a little bit more" (09:11).
3. Experiences with Road Trips and Living Arrangements
The conversation shifts to past road trips and living situations. Damien reminisces about childhood road trips in a large Suburban, complete with makeshift entertainment setups: "We'd wrap it... we didn't have a desk" (18:01). Shane humorously shares his ability to sleep anywhere, recounting an incident where he fell asleep in a laundromat during a movie shoot (17:35). The trio discusses the challenges and humorous aspects of sharing living spaces, such as dealing with snoring roommates and maintaining personal space.
4. Transitioning to the Bullpen Workspace
A notable topic is the transition from their current shared workspace to individual desks in the bullpen. Courtney expresses excitement about having dedicated workspaces: "I'm excited to have a desk because... it's designed... now I'm gonna have a desk" (26:35). Shane and Damien discuss the potential benefits, such as increased productivity and personalization, while also acknowledging possible drawbacks like reduced camaraderie. Shane humorously mentions personalizing his desk with items like Funko Pops: "I can put, like, a little funko pop there or something" (28:11).
5. Interactions with Guests and Handling Expectations
The hosts delve into their experiences hosting guests, particularly YouTubers and actors, on their podcast segments like "Try Not to Laugh." They emphasize the unpredictability of meeting idols and the challenge of maintaining genuine interactions: "When you meet them and they're just being a regular person, it's different." (37:05). Courtney shares her goal to collaborate with a diverse range of creators, highlighting the complexities of managing expectations from both sides.
6. The Influence of Social Media Algorithms
Towards the end, the discussion shifts to the impact of social media algorithms on content visibility and creator-viewer relationships. Shane critiques platforms like Instagram for favoring numbers over genuine engagement: "If you aren't paying attention to someone's content... it just straight up stops showing up in your feed" (44:20). Damien reflects on the overwhelming presence of numerous platforms and the difficulty creators face in maintaining authenticity across them: "Am I supposed to be in YouTube video being like, hi, I'm Courtney. Be sure to follow me on here..." (45:31).
7. Humor and On-the-Fly Content Creation
Throughout the episode, the hosts showcase their comedic chemistry, often improvising jokes and playful banter. Courtney discusses her method of spontaneously generating humor, labeling herself a "slow cooker" when it comes to delivering jokes: "It's rarely on the fly. I'll be sitting there, you'll see me kind of smirk to myself, and then I say..." (50:14). Shane and Damien contribute with humorous anecdotes about snoring and roommate interactions, adding a light-hearted tone to the conversation.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Courtney: "It feels like the Internet's super, super negative right now." (00:37)
- Shane: "I get so much anxiety from watching those videos... I can't see them anymore." (60:58)
- Damien: "I have a huge fear of the unknown." (08:37)
- Courtney: "I'm actually excited for things to go wrong during a show. Cause that's when the funniest stuff happens." (09:05)
- Shane: "You seem to go roll with the punches a little bit more." (09:11)
- Damien: "We'd wrap it... we didn't have a desk." (18:01)
- Courtney: "I'm excited to have a desk because... it's designed... now I'm gonna have a desk." (26:35)
- Shane: "I can put, like, a little funko pop there or something." (28:11)
- Courtney: "When you meet them and they're just being a regular person, it's different." (37:05)
- Shane: "If you aren't paying attention to someone's content... it just straight up stops showing up in your feed." (44:20)
- Courtney: "It's rarely on the fly. I'll be sitting there, you'll see me kind of smirk to myself, and then I say..." (50:14)
Conclusion
In this episode of Smosh Mouth, the hosts candidly discuss the challenges of maintaining positivity in an increasingly negative online landscape, preparing for their upcoming tour amidst personal anxieties, and navigating the complexities of content creation across multiple platforms. Their engaging and humorous dialogue offers listeners an insightful look into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the Smosh team, highlighting both their personal struggles and their collective resilience.
Timestamps
<a id="timestamps"></a>
- 00:37: Courtney on online negativity
- 60:58: Shane expresses anxiety over "Karen" videos
- 08:37: Damien discusses anticipatory anxiety about the tour
- 09:05: Courtney on embracing tour mishaps
- 09:11: Shane supports Courtney's anxiety management
- 18:01: Damien reminisces about childhood road trips
- 26:35: Courtney excited about individual desks
- 28:11: Shane on personalizing his workspace
- 37:05: Courtney on interacting with guests
- 44:20: Shane critiques social media algorithms
- 50:14: Courtney's approach to humor and content creation