Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
Episode: “A Word to the Wise | Reading Reddit Stories”
Host: Shayne Topp (with Chance, Chris, and guest Austin James)
Date: November 8, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of “Smosh Reads Reddit Stories” focuses on the theme of “advice.” Host Shayne Topp and his guests sift through a series of Reddit posts from advice-related subreddits, offering their signature blend of humor, relatability, and genuine consideration. The conversation jumps from hilarious family misunderstandings to AI-written wedding vows, unexpected animal encounters, and the complexities of modern relationships, all revealing how tricky giving (and following) advice can be.
Main Topics and Key Insights
1. The Difficulty of Giving Advice (01:28–02:56)
- Personalizing Advice: The hosts reflect that giving good advice is often more about sharing what they would do in a situation, but recognize everyone’s circumstances are different.
- Reddit’s Overconfidence: “Some of the advice you see on Reddit is like, hardcore. Like, here is the only answer. It’s like, damn, you’re...certain and different.” – Shane (02:38)
- Privilege and Experience: Point made that advice often doesn't translate well across life circumstances.
2. Story: “Do I Tell My Brother What His ‘I Love Cream Pies’ Shirt Means?” (03:23–10:21)
[Reddit: r/Advice]
- Situation: A high school junior receives a shirt from his mom (“I love cream pies”), oblivious of the adult innuendo, leading the older sibling to ask if they should intervene.
- Hosts’ Takes:
- Chance: Suggests playing dumb: “All you have to do is be like, I think they spelled it wrong.” (05:45)
- Chris: Proposes just taking the shirt and letting it “disappear” to avoid confrontation. (07:10)
- Shayne: Notes the brother’s age and likely awareness: “A boy who’s a junior in high school...he’s like, dude, do you know what your shirt means? I do.” (09:35)
- Result/Update: The brother does know the meaning and was playing along not to embarrass their mother. He doesn’t plan to wear it outside the house.
- Memorable Quote: “Like, little pervert. Sequel to Little Women: Little Pervert.” – Shane (10:03)
3. Story: “Caught Using AI to Write Wedding Vows” (11:33–20:49)
[Reddit: r/relationship_advice]
- Situation: Man’s fiancée catches him reading wedding vows written by ChatGPT; she’s furious and walks out on the wedding.
- Hosts’ Discussion:
- Respect for the Moment: The group is unanimously critical of using AI for something so personal. “She wants you.” – Chance (15:53)
- AI’s Limitations: They agree AI-generated text can never match authentic emotion. “Your vows are gonna sound like some perfect encapsulating thing, and it’s not.” (15:51)
- Societal Impact: Broader discussion about AI’s role in relationships and communication: “You're outsourcing how much you care about your partner to a machine...” – Unattributed Redditor, read by Shane (18:16)
- Resolution: The poster intends to try again, writing vows from the heart and repairing the relationship.
- Memorable Quotes:
- “It’s not yours. It’s just my belief on it...I don’t know, I think it’s sad.” – Shane (19:12)
- “I have never once opened ChatGPT.” – Chris (22:23)
- Notable Moment: Timestamps (12:45–20:49)
4. Story: “Problem With a Seagull at Work” (24:28–28:39)
[Reddit: r/advice]
- Situation: A line cook is routinely harassed by a seagull ("the Pestilence") who steals his cigarettes.
- Hosts’ Advice:
- Quit Smoking: Multiple hosts say the best advice is to stop smoking, noting that the seagull may be doing him a favor. (26:03)
- Humor and Absurdity: The story’s surreal angle provides plenty of laughs (“Start vaping...I want to see a seagull smoke a cigar.” – Shane, 26:41)
- Summary: Reddit commenters suggest scare tactics or simply quitting smoking. The OP is ultimately grateful for the laughs and support, planning to keep fans updated on the seagull.
- Memorable Quote: “The seagull’s kind of like smoking people.” – Shane (26:07)
5. Story: “Hired an Escort; Now We’re Hanging Out” (29:17–40:22)
[Reddit: r/relationship_advice]
- Situation: A man hires an escort as a wedding date; she keeps in touch after the event and initiates hanging out for free. He’s confused about her intentions.
- Hosts’ Discussion:
- Cluelessness: The man initially fails to see she genuinely likes him, sparking much laughter. “This guy’s dumb as shit dude. So is she, like, is her life in danger? Like why is she talking to me?” – Shane (31:47)
- Social Stigma and Sex Work: Honest reflection on how sex workers are treated, with hosts advocating for respect and empathy.
- Update: They realize mutual attraction, start dating, and discover a healthy, supportive relationship. “A few days ago, I even met a few of her escort friends. And guys, seriously, don’t judge anyone for what they do.” (37:42)
- Notable Quotes:
- “She’s a lot more emotional and likes being held a lot. Like, if I’m just laying on the couch, she’ll walk in and yell Huggies and lay on me.” (37:42)
- “Why are we protecting the people who are doing the bad thing and protecting the people who are just trying to be good at something?” – Chance (42:16)
- Memorable Moment: The hosts praise the OP’s progress and highlight the frequent shaming of sex workers.
6. Story: “Are We Dating the Same Guy? Facebook Group Drama” (43:17–51:47)
[Reddit: r/relationship_advice]
- Situation: A man’s old dating profile is posted in a local “Are we dating the same guy?” group by (he suspects) a salty ex, causing turmoil with his current girlfriend.
- Hosts’ Practical Advice:
- Report the Post: Chance suggests flagging the post to Facebook/Meta. (45:53)
- Trust in the Relationship: They commend the current girlfriend for calmly bringing the evidence to her partner and working through the issue together.
- Don’t Respond to Drama: The hosts agree it makes no sense to contact the ex.
- Comments/Resolution: The couple plans to contact admins to clarify, showing a united front. The hosts reflect on how public venting about exes is often “embarrassing.”
- Notable Quote: “The best thing you can do is continue on with your life.” – Shane (53:09)
7. Story: “Told Girl I’ve Been Running—She Wants to Run With Me” (53:31–57:08)
[Reddit: r/advice]
- Situation: A man lies about running to impress a girl, who then wants to go running with him. The twist: she’s a national triathlete.
- Hosts’ Solutions:
- Chance: “Run the 3.6 miles. You duck your own grave now, lion.” (54:24)
- Chris: Suggests blaming a hangover for a slow pace. (54:30)
- Shane: Advises starting to train for real or coming clean about the lie.
- Update: OP plans to attempt the run, utilizing his past as a wrestler.
- Memorable Quote: “It’s a great opportunity to build a new healthy habit...that was born out of a lie.” – Chris (55:46)
- End Note: The panel wonders if he survived the run, noting the risks of lying to impress others.
Notable Quotes and Moments
- On advice: “You give the advice of what you would do in their situation. Yeah, they’re a different person.” – Shane (01:51)
- On using AI: “She wants you.” – Chance (15:53)
- On the escort story: “This guy’s dumb as shit dude.” – Shane (31:48)
- On social stigmas: “Her friends were some of the nicest people I’ve met...don’t judge anyone for what they do.” – (37:42)
- On past relationships/public drama: “The best thing you can do is continue on with your life.” – Shane (53:09)
- On lying to impress: “It’s a great opportunity to build a new healthy habit...that was born out of a lie.” – Chris (55:46)
Timestamps for Key Stories
- Opening and Philosophy on Advice: 01:28–02:56
- Cream Pie Shirt Story: 03:23–10:21
- AI Wedding Vows: 11:33–20:49
- Seagull At Work: 24:28–28:39
- Escort Turns Into Relationship: 29:17–40:22
- Facebook Group Cheater Drama: 43:17–51:47
- Running Lie Exposed: 53:31–57:08
Tone and Style
The conversation is lively, irreverent, and self-deprecating. The hosts balance mockery and warmth, often poking fun at clueless Redditors but always circling back to empathy and practical insight. Running gags, quick quips, and nerd references (e.g., Runescape) keep the atmosphere light even during more serious discussions.
Episode Takeaways
- Advice is hard to give and receive—context is everything.
- Authentic connections matter in relationships; shortcuts (like AI) can backfire.
- Humor can help us process even the weirdest dilemmas (e.g., nicotine-addicted seagulls).
- Social stigmas, especially around sex work, deserve to be challenged with empathy and respect.
- Don’t lie to impress—but if you do, be prepared to back it up (or face the consequences)!
- Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest: communicate honestly, take responsibility, and, when possible, laugh at yourself.
For more hilarious takes on the weirdest corners of the internet, catch new episodes of Smosh Reads Reddit Stories every Saturday!