Son of a Boy Dad #365: "Ring the Bell" ft. Tommy Pope

Release Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Theme and Purpose

This episode of Son of a Boy Dad brings comedian Tommy Pope into a classic hangout with hosts Rone, Francis, and Chris (Lil Sasquatch). True to the show's irreverent format, the crew veers from raucous comedy to earnest talk on comedy scenes, sports, food, manhood, and the search for identity after leaving college. Tommy Pope's presence is both catalyst for chaos and a touchstone for serious reflection, mentoring the younger hosts while exchanging classic ball-busting and stories about personal growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tommy Pope’s Age and "Old Man" Persona

The group relentlessly ribs Tommy about being the "oldest guy," setting an energetic, teasing tone.
Tommy embraces his role, blending self-deprecation with bravado about his looks and experience.
[01:31, Chris]: "I'm excited to talk about how old you are."
[02:02, Tommy]: "Why are you dressed like this?"

2. Comedy Scene Rivalry: Austin vs. New York

Tommy recounts moving to Austin, the city's strengths (stage time, cost of living, social life), and the overblown rivalry with New York comics.
He dismisses the beef as “stupid,” emphasizing that each city serves a different purpose.
[12:49, Tommy]: "Austin's great for what it is. It's great stage time... taxes, social life."
[12:45, Tommy]: "It's so stupid. It's foolish. Who gives?"

3. Food, Cooking, and "Manhood" via Palate

Tangents abound: the hosts discuss beans, chocolate, gourmet snacks, and cooking, with Tommy famed for his culinary prowess but refusing the "chef" label.
The gang snarks about Triscuits and accoutrements, showing off both food snobbery and frat-boy taunts.
[23:06, Francis]: "This is a food guy. This is a guy who could talk about food."
[23:11, Tommy]: "I'm a cook."
[90:02-90:27, Chris/Tommy]: Share a detailed recipe for venison Korean rice bowls, debating hoisin vs. personal sauce craft.

4. Reflections on Manhood, Sports, and Life Lessons

Tommy recounts his youth sports days, championing the camaraderie and toughness built through football in an era before CTE hysteria.
He discusses writing a New York Times op-ed about youth football, arguing that formative violence and competition build character.
[82:52, Tommy]: "Development of a child's personality outweighs the brain matter. At a certain level."
[80:07, Tommy]: "You know your character, your camaraderie, your fear, you know, stepping up..."

5. Hobbies, Obsessions, and Generational Differences

The hosts riff on generational divides in interests from golf to fashion to hair care.
Tommy details his plant obsession and home decor in Austin, then small stories fly about juggling, sneaker collecting, and hair transplant discoveries.
[61:46, Chris]: Juggling demonstration.
[65:04, Tommy]: Coffee mania and the search for the “perfect” espresso machine.

6. Absurd Bits, Rake Gags & Callback Jokes

Tommy's “rake bit” (repeated location-based recommendations) is a running callback, layered into the banter and culminating in self-aware commentary about madcap bit structure.
[88:56, Tommy]: "That's what's called a rake bit. You gotta lose it to gain it."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Being Old, Yet Resilient

Tommy Pope [10:16]: "I'm almost double his life and I lived twice as long."

The Austin/NY Comedy "Feud"

Tommy Pope [12:45]: "It's so stupid. It's foolish. Who gives?"

Chris [12:23]: "New York comedy scene thinks it's superior to the Austin scene and vice versa."
Tommy [12:37]: "I don't think it's vice versa. I think people are just angry."

Philosophy of Manhood and Football

Tommy Pope [82:52]: "Development of a child's personality outweighs the brain matter. At a certain level."

Tommy Pope [83:54]: "No. Violence is imperative."
Francis [80:05]: "What do you mean? Like, as a person, like being a teammate?"

On Cooking and Status

Chris [23:09]: "You're a big time chef."
Tommy [23:11]: "That's not true...I'm a cook."

Tommy [23:24]: "It's like a fat titty Tiktoker saying she's a comedian. You haven't been through the trenches."

The ‘Rake Bit’ Explainer

Tommy Pope [88:56]: "That's what's called a rake bit. You gotta lose it to gain it."

On Comedy Identity

Francis [84:44]: "It is truly a dream of mine to be published in either that or the New York Times."
Tommy Pope [84:45]: "You haven't been published in New York Times. No, you dumb pussy."

Segment Timestamps for Major Topics

[01:16] – Tommy enters, banter about birthdays, age, pool, and fashion.
[07:00] – "Bean" as a slur, food and cultural riffing begins.
[11:14] – Introduction of Tommy as guest, start of Austin vs. NY comedy talk.
[12:49] – Comedy scene rivalry, Tommy’s take on Austin.
[16:19] – Tommy's home life in Austin, plants and house improvement.
[17:30] – Football talk, specifically the Eagles upcoming tough games.
[23:06] – Deep-dive into food, snacks, and culinary hierarchy.
[24:00] – Theoretical question about having a daughter in porn—would you want her to be great or terrible? (Absurd philosophical debate)
[31:12] – Extended riff on Italian heritage, meatballs, gabagool, and micro-ethnic pride.
[32:59] – Golf obsession and “Patreon money” style upgrades.
[61:46] – Juggling demo, talk about fixations and hobbies.
[65:04] – Espresso machine obsession: from Bialetti pots to $6,000 machines.
[80:07] – Life lessons learned from sports and the value of “team” in growing up.
[82:52] – Tommy’s op-ed in NYT about youth football and CTE.
[88:56] – Explanation and justification of the "rake bit" callback.
[90:02] – Cooking show ideas, steak-offs, and sharing recipes.

Additional Highlights

Running Gags & Callbacks

"Have you ever been to...?"—Tommy’s recurring bit of referencing obscure places with the best food/drink as a meta riff on his own old-man tendencies.
Ethnic Tension for Laughter—A tongue-in-cheek, equal-opportunity roasting style, typical for the Barstool universe (“Ring the bell!” every time a potential slur gets neutered by inside-joke status).
Manhood by Manual Labor—Tommy’s pride in never using Botox, lifts, or hair transplants, “aging like a man.”

Memorable Anecdotes

Fat Aunt at the Batman Movie: Tommy’s story about his aunt laughing so hard at a phallic scene she peed her pants, leading to a pedantic sidebar on the exact meaning of “phallic.” [53:01-54:15]
Selling Jordans: Chris explains why he offloaded his sneaker collection in bulk, leading to hilarious logistical gripes about sneakerhead buyers. [73:14-76:27]
Sports Injuries and Rituals: Recollections of youth football traditions like running fat kids in trash bags to make weight. [81:45-82:06]

Tone and Style

The episode is crude, rapid-fire, and jocular, true to Barstool’s blend of locker room confessional and postmodern self-mockery. There's an undercurrent of generational mentorship as Tommy Pope straddles the worlds of Gen X “tough guy” and the terminally online younger comics, all seasoned with food nerd-outs, sports, and philosophical tangents on how to build a healthy worldview.

Conclusion

"Ring the Bell" is both a send-up of, and meditation on, what it means to be a man in 2026 America—half spent in roast battles and half in the kitchen or on the golf course, seeking meaning (and espresso) in camaraderie, competition, and gallows humor.

Further Listening

Stuff Island Podcast with Tommy Pope (for more of his takes)
Full episode available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Son of a Boy Dad #365: "Ring the Bell" ft. Tommy Pope

Release Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Theme and Purpose

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tommy Pope’s Age and "Old Man" Persona

The group relentlessly ribs Tommy about being the "oldest guy," setting an energetic, teasing tone.
Tommy embraces his role, blending self-deprecation with bravado about his looks and experience.
[01:31, Chris]: "I'm excited to talk about how old you are."
[02:02, Tommy]: "Why are you dressed like this?"

2. Comedy Scene Rivalry: Austin vs. New York

Tommy recounts moving to Austin, the city's strengths (stage time, cost of living, social life), and the overblown rivalry with New York comics.
He dismisses the beef as “stupid,” emphasizing that each city serves a different purpose.
[12:49, Tommy]: "Austin's great for what it is. It's great stage time... taxes, social life."
[12:45, Tommy]: "It's so stupid. It's foolish. Who gives?"

3. Food, Cooking, and "Manhood" via Palate

Tangents abound: the hosts discuss beans, chocolate, gourmet snacks, and cooking, with Tommy famed for his culinary prowess but refusing the "chef" label.
The gang snarks about Triscuits and accoutrements, showing off both food snobbery and frat-boy taunts.
[23:06, Francis]: "This is a food guy. This is a guy who could talk about food."
[23:11, Tommy]: "I'm a cook."
[90:02-90:27, Chris/Tommy]: Share a detailed recipe for venison Korean rice bowls, debating hoisin vs. personal sauce craft.

4. Reflections on Manhood, Sports, and Life Lessons

Tommy recounts his youth sports days, championing the camaraderie and toughness built through football in an era before CTE hysteria.
He discusses writing a New York Times op-ed about youth football, arguing that formative violence and competition build character.
[82:52, Tommy]: "Development of a child's personality outweighs the brain matter. At a certain level."
[80:07, Tommy]: "You know your character, your camaraderie, your fear, you know, stepping up..."

5. Hobbies, Obsessions, and Generational Differences

The hosts riff on generational divides in interests from golf to fashion to hair care.
Tommy details his plant obsession and home decor in Austin, then small stories fly about juggling, sneaker collecting, and hair transplant discoveries.
[61:46, Chris]: Juggling demonstration.
[65:04, Tommy]: Coffee mania and the search for the “perfect” espresso machine.

6. Absurd Bits, Rake Gags & Callback Jokes

Tommy's “rake bit” (repeated location-based recommendations) is a running callback, layered into the banter and culminating in self-aware commentary about madcap bit structure.
[88:56, Tommy]: "That's what's called a rake bit. You gotta lose it to gain it."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Being Old, Yet Resilient

Tommy Pope [10:16]: "I'm almost double his life and I lived twice as long."

The Austin/NY Comedy "Feud"

Tommy Pope [12:45]: "It's so stupid. It's foolish. Who gives?"

Chris [12:23]: "New York comedy scene thinks it's superior to the Austin scene and vice versa."
Tommy [12:37]: "I don't think it's vice versa. I think people are just angry."

Philosophy of Manhood and Football

Tommy Pope [82:52]: "Development of a child's personality outweighs the brain matter. At a certain level."

Tommy Pope [83:54]: "No. Violence is imperative."
Francis [80:05]: "What do you mean? Like, as a person, like being a teammate?"

On Cooking and Status

Chris [23:09]: "You're a big time chef."
Tommy [23:11]: "That's not true...I'm a cook."

Tommy [23:24]: "It's like a fat titty Tiktoker saying she's a comedian. You haven't been through the trenches."

The ‘Rake Bit’ Explainer

Tommy Pope [88:56]: "That's what's called a rake bit. You gotta lose it to gain it."

On Comedy Identity

Francis [84:44]: "It is truly a dream of mine to be published in either that or the New York Times."
Tommy Pope [84:45]: "You haven't been published in New York Times. No, you dumb pussy."

Segment Timestamps for Major Topics

[01:16] – Tommy enters, banter about birthdays, age, pool, and fashion.
[07:00] – "Bean" as a slur, food and cultural riffing begins.
[11:14] – Introduction of Tommy as guest, start of Austin vs. NY comedy talk.
[12:49] – Comedy scene rivalry, Tommy’s take on Austin.
[16:19] – Tommy's home life in Austin, plants and house improvement.
[17:30] – Football talk, specifically the Eagles upcoming tough games.
[23:06] – Deep-dive into food, snacks, and culinary hierarchy.
[24:00] – Theoretical question about having a daughter in porn—would you want her to be great or terrible? (Absurd philosophical debate)
[31:12] – Extended riff on Italian heritage, meatballs, gabagool, and micro-ethnic pride.
[32:59] – Golf obsession and “Patreon money” style upgrades.
[61:46] – Juggling demo, talk about fixations and hobbies.
[65:04] – Espresso machine obsession: from Bialetti pots to $6,000 machines.
[80:07] – Life lessons learned from sports and the value of “team” in growing up.
[82:52] – Tommy’s op-ed in NYT about youth football and CTE.
[88:56] – Explanation and justification of the "rake bit" callback.
[90:02] – Cooking show ideas, steak-offs, and sharing recipes.

Additional Highlights

Running Gags & Callbacks

"Have you ever been to...?"—Tommy’s recurring bit of referencing obscure places with the best food/drink as a meta riff on his own old-man tendencies.
Ethnic Tension for Laughter—A tongue-in-cheek, equal-opportunity roasting style, typical for the Barstool universe (“Ring the bell!” every time a potential slur gets neutered by inside-joke status).
Manhood by Manual Labor—Tommy’s pride in never using Botox, lifts, or hair transplants, “aging like a man.”

Memorable Anecdotes

Fat Aunt at the Batman Movie: Tommy’s story about his aunt laughing so hard at a phallic scene she peed her pants, leading to a pedantic sidebar on the exact meaning of “phallic.” [53:01-54:15]
Selling Jordans: Chris explains why he offloaded his sneaker collection in bulk, leading to hilarious logistical gripes about sneakerhead buyers. [73:14-76:27]
Sports Injuries and Rituals: Recollections of youth football traditions like running fat kids in trash bags to make weight. [81:45-82:06]

Tone and Style

Conclusion

"Ring the Bell" is both a send-up of, and meditation on, what it means to be a man in 2026 America—half spent in roast battles and half in the kitchen or on the golf course, seeking meaning (and espresso) in camaraderie, competition, and gallows humor.

Further Listening

Stuff Island Podcast with Tommy Pope (for more of his takes)
Full episode available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Ring the Bell | Son of a Boy Dad #365 ft. Tommy Pope

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Summary

Son of a Boy Dad #365: "Ring the Bell" ft. Tommy Pope

Episode Theme and Purpose

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tommy Pope’s Age and "Old Man" Persona

2. Comedy Scene Rivalry: Austin vs. New York

3. Food, Cooking, and "Manhood" via Palate

4. Reflections on Manhood, Sports, and Life Lessons

5. Hobbies, Obsessions, and Generational Differences

6. Absurd Bits, Rake Gags & Callback Jokes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Being Old, Yet Resilient

The Austin/NY Comedy "Feud"

Philosophy of Manhood and Football

On Cooking and Status

The ‘Rake Bit’ Explainer

On Comedy Identity

Segment Timestamps for Major Topics

Additional Highlights

Running Gags & Callbacks

Memorable Anecdotes

Tone and Style

Conclusion

"Ring the Bell" is both a send-up of, and meditation on, what it means to be a man in 2026 America—half spent in roast battles and half in the kitchen or on the golf course, seeking meaning (and espresso) in camaraderie, competition, and gallows humor.

Further Listening

Summary

Son of a Boy Dad #365: "Ring the Bell" ft. Tommy Pope

Episode Theme and Purpose

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tommy Pope’s Age and "Old Man" Persona

2. Comedy Scene Rivalry: Austin vs. New York

3. Food, Cooking, and "Manhood" via Palate

4. Reflections on Manhood, Sports, and Life Lessons

5. Hobbies, Obsessions, and Generational Differences

6. Absurd Bits, Rake Gags & Callback Jokes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Being Old, Yet Resilient

The Austin/NY Comedy "Feud"

Philosophy of Manhood and Football

On Cooking and Status

The ‘Rake Bit’ Explainer

On Comedy Identity

Segment Timestamps for Major Topics

Additional Highlights

Running Gags & Callbacks

Memorable Anecdotes

Tone and Style

Conclusion

"Ring the Bell" is both a send-up of, and meditation on, what it means to be a man in 2026 America—half spent in roast battles and half in the kitchen or on the golf course, seeking meaning (and espresso) in camaraderie, competition, and gallows humor.

Further Listening