Soder Podcast – Episode 118: "Chef Microwave" with Tommy Pope

Host: Dan Soder
Guest: Tommy Pope
Release Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and unfiltered episode, Dan Soder welcomes his longtime friend and fellow comic Tommy Pope (“Stuff Island”, “Look at Dish”,”Tires”) for a conversation that jumps from the agony of rooting for battered NFL teams, to the love and science of comfort food, to the brutal realities and bizarre politics of the TV biz. The guys riff on the intensity of sports fandom, compare Philly and New York food scenes, swap kitchen war stories, roast network executives, and drop pure wisdom on cooking, relationships, and brotherhood.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. NFL Playoff Misery & Fandom Rants

Timestamps: 00:44–15:00

• Dan (Niners fan) vs. Tommy (Eagles fan): They commiserate about the tension of their teams facing off and the frustrations of injuries.
  • “Well, this sucks. Having an injured team sucks.” (Dan, 00:59)
• Injuries Screwing Up the Fun: Walking through how injuries kill the competitive spirit and the joy of best-vs-best.
  • “You want to beat the best.” (Dan, 06:35)
• Being ‘The Villain’ After Winning: How sports fans become hated after their team wins a title, using Red Sox and Chiefs fans as examples.
  • “You’re putting the Vader helmet on as soon as you get in the locker room.” (Tommy, 07:14)
• Tribalism and Sports Banter: Rants about Seahawks fans, fake fanbases, and the near-violence of city loyalties.
  • “Boston sports in just one moment…he goes, ‘Niner hat in Boston, that’s risky.’” (Dan, 11:07)

2. Deep Dive: Food, Cooking, and the Philly/NYC Bias

Timestamps: 17:41–28:59

• Austin Isn’t a Food City? Tommy claims Austin’s food is overrated outside BBQ and “Japanese farm system sushi.”
  • “It’s not a food city. People say it’s a food…I miss American comfort foods.” (Tommy, 17:48)
• Big City Food Bias: Only people from major cities understand having real delis and comfort food nearby.
  • “When you grow up in a big city…you get used to stuff like that.” (Dan, 20:13)
• Hoagie Science: Tommy gives a full tutorial—complete with hand motions—on “crunching the meats” for a proper deli sandwich.
  • “You pinch a three prong pinch and twist…you aerate.” (Tommy, 22:18)
• Smash Burgers and Crunchy Bacon: Tommy rails against smash burgers and reveals his “Chef Microwave” bacon method.
  • “Sometimes Chef Mike—Microwave—that’s all you need.” (Tommy, 25:32)
  • “Microwave bacon…soaks up all the extra grease. Perfect crunch.” (Tommy, 25:00)

3. Cooking as Defense, Therapy, and Family Ritual

Timestamps: 32:09–36:56

• Learning to Cook for Survival: Tommy reveals he learned to cook as a way to avoid getting beaten up by his brothers.
  • “I would cook for my brothers so they didn’t abuse me.” (Tommy, 34:48)
• Cooking as Connection—And Solo Joy: Both men talk about parents who loved to cook, and how being in the kitchen is a “break from life.”
  • “The only time I saw [my dad] at his peak happiness…was when he was in the kitchen.” (Dan, 32:09)
  • “Cooking is an exceptional break from life…Beauty, dude.” (Tommy, 28:18)

4. The Cruelty and Madness of TV Development

Timestamps: 39:11–54:17

• Comedy Shows Ruined By Execs: Both recount horror stories of making pilots and web series that were gutted by clueless executives.
  • “Talentless hacks…that’s the only good thing I’m liking about watching the collapse of the industry.” (Dan, 43:07)
• MC’ing and Gatekeepers: They discuss how industry decision-makers always want their “fingerprints” on a project, ruining original visions.
  • “It’s always just somebody going…It ruins it.” (Dan, 42:30)
• Dream Projects and Hustle: Tommy describes his dream show blending standup and food; Dan explains how modern comics/creators can now produce and own shows directly.
  • “You could do everything on your own…” (Tommy, 56:37)

5. Epic Eye Injury Story (Bleach Incident)

Timestamps: 58:17–64:28

• Tommy vs. Tilex Bleach: In a Final Destination–esque accident, Tommy gets bleach directly in his eye and must get urgent hospital treatment.
  • “The bottom drops out…the mechanism hits a towel rack and does a 360 at my face…violent splash, direct to the eyeball.” (Tommy, 60:23)
• Miserable ER Night: Details the horror of a Morgan’s lens flushing out his eye and the existential terror of losing vision.
  • “Straight on this lens or else it starts cutting into your cornea.” (Tommy, 62:12)

6. Brotherhood, Relationships, and Bite-Sized Wisdom

Timestamps: Throughout

• Relationships and Cooking: Tommy on teaching his girlfriend to cook; the pitfalls of giving advice in relationships.
  • “If I say [how to cut an onion] she’s like, can you just give me a chance?” (Tommy, 33:33)
• Admiration and Mutual Love: Closing out, Dan and Tommy celebrate each other’s work and friendship.
  • “I think you’re one of my favorite human beings on the planet.” (Dan, 66:22)

Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sports Fandom:

  • “You want to beat the best.” (Dan, 06:36)
  • “You’re putting the Vader helmet on as soon as you get in the locker room.” (Tommy, 07:14)

• On Cooking as Coping:

  • “I would cook for my brother so they didn’t abuse me.” (Tommy, 34:48)

• On Network Execs:

  • “It’s always just somebody going… and then you go, that ruins it.” (Dan, 42:30)

• On Food Nostalgia:

  • “When you go get sushi—sushi in Texas doesn’t even…dude, it is remarkable. Eighteen courses…mind-blowingly beautiful.” (Tommy, 18:31)
  • “Microwave bacon—soaks up all the extra grease. Perfect crunch.” (Tommy, 25:00)

• On Relationships & Cooking:

  • “Cooking is an exceptional break from life…like the orchestration of prep, lighting, background music…throwing on some background piano music or jazz…” (Tommy, 28:18)

Episode Timestamps Guide

| Segment | Topic / Quote Highlight | |---------------------------------- |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:44–15:00 | Sports talk: Niners–Eagles, Eagles fandom, injuries, rivalries, being the villain post-title | | 17:41–28:59 | Regional food rants, deli science, sandwich assembly, Austin food scene, Philly/NYC bias | | 32:09–36:56 | Family, learning to cook, cooking as coping, therapy, and joy | | 39:11–54:17 | TV industry, development horror stories, ownership, pitching, the creative grind | | 58:17–64:28 | Tommy’s bleach-in-eye story, ER hell, perspective on health/luck | | 66:22–67:00 | Mutual admiration, show plugs, closing “Go Niners” vs “Go Birds” playoff shout |

Tone and Style

This episode features Dan and Tommy’s trademark blend of vulnerability, ball-busting, Philly authenticity, deep warmth, and relentless humor. Their language is raw, rapid-fire, and unscripted—full of foul-mouthed asides, insightful analogies, and moments of sincere affection.

TL;DR

A hilarious and heartfelt hour-plus of sports heartbreak, Philly food obsession, how to make a perfect hoagie (crunch your meats!), why cooking matters, insider comedy biz grievances, and why you shouldn’t ever, ever clean your shower with the windows open. One of Soder’s warmest, rawest, and most quotable hangouts.

Recommended If You Like: Sports misery, Philly/NYC culinary worship, kitchen survival tips, network TV horror stories, brotherly trash talk, or just two comics getting real and clowning hard.