Smosh Reads Reddit Stories: "Did They Really Post That?" w/ Mari Takahashi | Reading Reddit Stories
Date: February 7, 2026
Host: Shane Topp
Guests: Spencer Agnew, Mari Takahashi
Episode Overview
In this classic “Am I The Asshole?”-themed episode, host Shane Topp is joined by Smosh cast regular Spencer and longtime Smosh legend Mari Takahashi. Together, the trio reads a wild collection of recent Reddit stories, providing their gut reactions, heartfelt advice, and signature comedic banter. This episode covers tales involving family drama, overstepping roommates, intense food situations, awkward social dynamics, and the pains of tabletop group drama. Mari’s nostalgic return brings an extra layer of warmth and hilarity, as the group navigates tall Reddit tales with refreshing honesty.
Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights
1. Gift Drama: Dog Photos Instead of Cousins
[03:19 – 09:32]
Story:
A Redditor coordinated a family photo phone case for Grandpa’s birthday, repeatedly asking cousins for new photos. After multiple reminders and clear warnings (“send a pic or be replaced by my dog”), three cousins never responded. Their spots were filled with silly dog photos (dog in a sombrero, pumpkin patch, chicken costume). The non-participating cousins got mad at the final result, while Grandpa loved it.
Insights & Commentary:
- Shane and Spencer focus on the clarity of the warnings and how the Redditor gave the cousins every chance.
- Mari adds, “The dogs have a lot of variety. They're in different costumes. So there was a lot of thought put into that.” [05:42]
- General consensus: OP is not the asshole — the situation was handled fairly, and Grandpa’s enjoyment is what counts.
- Mari and Shane debate if OP really should have just used the Instagram screenshots for Grandpa’s sake, but agree the dog photos were funnier.
Memorable Moment:
Shane: “If he wanted to get petty revenge, he could have picked the worst photo off their Instagram.” [06:51]
2. The Voracious Houseguest
[13:02 – 24:09]
Story:
A desperate acquaintance named “K” stays with a couple, promising to help around the house. Later, while house-sitting and tasked with eating any perishables, K devours literally everything in the fridge, freezer, pantry (entire Costco bottle of olive oil, jars of jam, husband’s creatine), and even ruins a ceramic pan—without offering to replace anything. The couple is divided: one wants to cut contact; the other feels that's harsh.
Insights & Commentary:
- Spencer draws a hilarious comparison: “My friend a bear. I get both sides.” [13:02]
- The group offers creative analogies, joking K is “No-Face from Spirited Away” or “a family of raccoons” for his bottomless appetite.
- Thoughtful reflection: While house-sitting, guests should use reason and not overindulge, even with open invites.
- Mari: “If he's not conscientious of this siloed thing in his life, what else is he not conscientious about?” [21:54]
Memorable Moment:
Shane: “What things can you leave there to see if he'll eat it?” [20:27], leading to ideas like filling the pantry with Vegemite and natto as an experiment.
Consensus:
Not the asshole. The group enjoyed the outlandishness but firmly supported the absent friend's boundaries.
3. "Ew" to a Roommate's Boyfriend Photo
[24:09 – 32:07]
Story:
A strained roommate dynamic comes to a head when the OP says “Ew” in response to a photo their roommate sends—specifically of the roommate’s boyfriend. The roommate explodes, accuses OP of always being mean, and blocks them.
Insights & Commentary:
- The group recognizes classic 19-year-old roommate chaos.
- Shane: “Stop trying to prime us against this person. You did an asshole thing.” [26:46]
- Mari emphasizes that joking “Ew” is only okay if rapport is genuinely mutual—which isn’t the case here. [26:53]
- Spencer notes the pettiness and passive-aggressive cycle at play.
- General feeling: Both are exhausting, with poor communication compounding the issue.
Memorable Exchange:
Spencer: “‘Don’t wake up.’ Can’t wake up.” [30:15], riffing on the melodrama.
4. "Passport Bro" Accusation in an International Relationship
[34:40 – 39:59]
Story:
A Canadian in a five-year relationship with his Italian boyfriend brings him to visit Canada. A supposed friend flirts with the boyfriend, gets rebuffed, and accuses OP of being a "passport bro" (suggesting he’s exploiting international romance). The friend later rallies their circle against OP.
Insights & Commentary:
- Mari succinctly defines “passport bro” as “marriage tourism.” [35:05]
- The group quickly dismisses the “passport bro” accusation; in the story, the relationship is genuine and the friend lashing out is clearly jealous.
- Spencer and Shane break down the projection and highlight Emma's bizarre accusations (white savior complex, homophobia over a yaoi joke).
- Verdict: OP is not the asshole. The group supports ditching toxic friendships and marvels at the absurdity.
Notable Quote:
Shane: “Get out of it. Get out of it. You’re in Italy!” [39:37]
5. Being "Bad" at D&D
[40:07 – 48:53]
Story:
A D&D player keeps losing characters (six or seven deaths in two years; mostly via bad rolls or group inaction). Lately, friends grow hostile, claim he’s “wasting their time,” and he wonders if he’s to blame.
Insights & Commentary:
- Shane suspects DM malice (“I think the DM’s killing you a little bit.” [42:45]), and Mari notes it’s a shared group storytelling responsibility.
- Spencer notices possible group dysfunction.
- The truth emerges post-episode: the DM and group were targeting OP intentionally as a scapegoat, letting their character die for their own convenience.
- The group is appalled and urges OP to leave: “Bad players, bad friends.” [48:44]
Memorable Moment:
Mari: “They’re so bad at communication.” [47:47]
6. “Ugly” Memorial Portrait
[49:26 – 59:49]
Story:
A high schooler creates a memorial drawing of a classmate who passed away, only to have her friends angrily declare it unwelcome and mock its style. OP defends her intent, feeling excluded and insulted.
Insights & Commentary:
- Shane and Spencer note the complexity of adolescent grief and social territory.
- Mari provides empathy for teen expression: “Such a hard thing to do as a 17-year-old, to have your art mocked...” [59:16]
- While the drawing might not have been malicious, clinging to the situation in hindsight comes off self-centered.
- Key takeaway: High school memorials (and grief) are fraught, and everyone could have handled it better.
Notable Quotes:
Mari: “Judging how somebody grieves is such an interesting thing, because it's probably a projection of how we're judging ourselves of how we're grieving.” [59:49]
7. Genetically Gifted Spice King at a Hot Pepper Eating Contest
[60:39 – 67:28]
Story:
A contestant wins a hot pepper eating contest due to an extreme genetic tolerance for spice, while friends claim this is "cheating" and suggest he shouldn’t have entered.
Insights & Commentary:
- The group delivers classic competitive sports analogies (comparing to Michael Phelps’s natural gifts).
- Mari: “There’s also a sadness of not being able to experience spice.” [62:11]
- Shane discusses both the “mutant power” and the reality of spicy challenges: “That’s kind of all you need. Just almost so many restaurants you could go to and probably get free stuff.” [66:58]
- General verdict: Not the asshole. If you have a gift, use it!
Memorable Moment:
Shane: “Congrats. You are the Michael Phelps of chicken wings.” [65:45]
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
Mari Takahashi:
- “The comfort of being around y’all never goes away.” [02:48]
- “If he's not conscientious in this area...what else is he not conscientious about?” [21:54]
-
Shane Topp:
- “Stop trying to prime us against this person. You did an asshole thing.” [26:46]
- “They're so bad at D&D that they needed someone to be a punching bag.” [47:47]
-
Spencer:
- On D&D: “You can’t do anything with that close of a group of people for that long. There’s always inevitably gonna be drama.” [44:21]
- On competitions: “Him having like the mutant power of not being able to, like, taste, that’s…” [62:02]
Episode Flow and Tone
The episode balances hilarious group chemistry with occasional heartfelt reflection, never shying from poking fun at themselves and the stories’ absurdities. Mari adds nostalgic flair and thoughtfulness to the chaos, while Spencer and Shane keep the pace lively with sharp wit and goofy hypotheticals. The team delivers a mixture of laugh-out-loud moments, sharp advice, and empathetic analysis of human behavior.
Timestamps & Key Segments
- [01:31] – Episode Introduction with Mari
- [03:19] – Story 1: The Phone Case Dog Swap
- [13:02] – Story 2: Houseguest Eats Everything
- [24:09] – Story 3: “Ew” at Roommate’s Boyfriend
- [34:40] – Story 4: “Passport Bro” Drama
- [40:07] – Story 5: D&D Group Scapegoating
- [49:26] – Story 6: The “Ugly” Memorial Drawing
- [60:39] – Story 7: The Spice-Proof Contestant
Takeaways
- Clear communication and boundaries are central themes, with most drama arising from poor communication, ignored warnings, or mismatched expectations.
- Empathy for all sides: Even in the wildest stories, the group tries to glimpse the humanity and pain behind the posts, from teens dealing with grief to adults navigating friendship.
- Humor as a coping mechanism: Whether the problem is a selfish roommate, a failed group project, or capsaicin invulnerability, the Smosh crew’s hilarious riffing makes every story lighter—and more relatable.
Final Thoughts
A quintessential Smosh Reads Reddit Stories episode: smart, playful, occasionally spicy (literally), and always deeply human. Mari’s return provides a nostalgic throughline, while Shane and Spencer keep the laughs rolling and the advice real. If wild family drama, food fails, or tabletop betrayal are your thing, this one’s a must-listen.