Son of a Boy Dad #370: "The Calm" (Jan 27, 2026)

Host: Barstool Sports
Main Guests: Francis, Roan, Harry
Theme: Navigating adulthood, group dynamics, and self-improvement in the absence of conventional guidance

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Episode #370, "The Calm," revolves around Lil Sasquatch (Francis) and his recent decision to leave college, exploring what it means to find direction (or, more often, laugh at the lack thereof) as a young man in today's world. Roan, the seasoned producer, and Harry, their friend, serve up advice, anecdotes, and comedic coaching in lieu of a traditional father figure or higher education. The trio banter about navigating real-world challenges—ranging from dinner reservations, group chats, quitting vices, to self-improvement attempts—while never drifting too far from their signature irreverent wit.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Extreme Weather & Nostalgia: Surviving the Storm

• Talk of an impending "Blizzard of '26" leads to reflections on childhood storms and family resilience.
  • Roan recounts the "Ice Storm of '98" in Maine:
    “We lost power for two weeks...As a family, we slept in front of the fire on the floor. No heat.” (02:12)
  • Surviving together built family bonds, despite harsh conditions.
  • The group jokes about internet warnings: “That blue purple blob is taking over the Internet.” (03:44)

2. Dinner Reservations as Modern Manhood

• The men commiserate about the complexity and hierarchy of getting restaurants in NYC, illustrating social currencies of favors, group chats, and reciprocation.
  • Francis explains, “Rico has a guy at MSG that will tell you the exact minute that every show starts...They both have reservation. They're reservation guys.” (05:19)
  • The value of favors: "You always have to hit him right back with the cologne...like, just sinking a favor into someone." (10:08)
  • Tactics and pecking order for elite reservations (Carbone, Emilio’s Bellato, Cote, etc.).
  • Social etiquette dilemmas: How to graciously decline a favor without offending friends (19:04).

3. Group Chat Dynamics & Male Friendships

• Roan laments the chronic ghosting in their group chat:
  “Our group chat is nothing of what it once was...Compulsively impulsive. Compulsively responsive.” (06:24)
• Exploring communication styles, avoidance, and the etiquette of phone vs. text:
  “If I'm in an Uber, I don't...answer the phone. People don't like that.” (08:18)
• Group banter highlights the difficulty of maintaining close friendships as priorities change (family, kids, work).

4. Vices & Self-Control: Quitting Weed, Vaping, and Ice Cream

• Roan opens up about quitting weed as a catalyst for healthier habits:
  “I took all the weed I had and threw it down the trash...I cannot smoke weed in moderation.” (24:02)
• The domino effect of vices, from weed to binge-eating ice cream, to marketplace shopping sprees.
  • “I've eaten a pint and a half of ice cream every single night.” (24:31)
  • The struggle of all-or-nothing habits: “I'm either doing it all the way or I'm not doing it at all.” (23:52)
• Francis, ever the comedian, chimes in: “Why didn't you throw out the ice cream? Not the weed. You threw out the wrong [thing].” (24:49)

5. Exploring Identity & Media Consumption

• Roan examines his choice in watching gay films and going through a self-imposed hiatus from focusing on women:
  "I just decided around New Year's that I needed a break from women...I'm going on sabbatical." (32:11)
  • He wishes he could be gay for the increased cultural capital and acceptance:
    "It is truly unfair to the world that I'm straight...some poor farm boy in Missouri who is hiding this crushing secret." (32:32)
  • Group discusses the rigid versus fluid roles of masculinity and sexuality (fun, never judgmental, lines like: "I wish I were gay. I really fucking do." (32:27)).
• Group teases each other about "gayest shit you do" (87:22), underscoring themes of modern masculinity's flexibility.

6. Male Self-Improvement, Fitness & Motivation

• Stories of failed moderation (quitting and relapsing vapes, weed), self-training, and pushing one's physical limits.
  • Roan’s fitness challenge: “It was a burpee test...every minute on the minute (EMOM)...15 burpees...I got four rounds.” (77:01)
  • “If I could only do one exercise in the world, I would do pull ups over push ups.” (79:41)
• Jokes abound about the futility of fitness content and "divorce glow-ups."
• Harry: “I will never work out if I'd have to do it for content. I think it's just not...I just won't.” (83:51)

7. Aspirational Materialism & Shopping at 2AM

• The trio poke fun at impulsive spending as a coping mechanism for emptiness.
  • Francis tells of almost buying $2,000 nightstands at 11pm from a stranger named Aiden:
    "I've gotten cold feet. I got ahead of myself. These are so stunning, and I want them very badly." (60:15)
  • Roan: “I'm like...there's me and, like, three other women in Beverly Hills single-handedly holding Amazon together.” (66:43)
• Segment highlights how consumption can temporarily fill a void but never lead to lasting satisfaction.

8. Pop Culture & Movie Talk

• Debates about Armie Hammer ("Call Me By Your Name"), Jacob Elordi, and Timothée Chalamet.
  • On Armie Hammer: “That’s probably how he charmed the blood out of these women.” (27:41)
• Classic movie favorites, TBS nostalgia, and the recurring comfort of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Jaws,” “The Patriot,” “Independence Day.”
• Explaining “the cable guy movie effect”:
  “When you came upon that, no matter how many times you'd seen it, you would watch that movie from that point till the end.” (73:29)

9. Reflections on Fleeting Internet Fame

• The transience of online recognition and success:
  “What I've learned in this career is that, like, you never make it. You have to keep making it...the wave's gone, dude.” (53:02)

10. Bathroom Humor & Bodily Transparency

• Candid talk about digestion, bowel regularity, and the aftereffects of their eating habits.
  “Last night was the first night of the week that I did not eat a full pint of ice cream because you had too much salad.” (81:30)

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

On Family Storm Survival

• Roan: "We lost power for two weeks...slept in front of the fire as a family, on the floor." (02:12)

On Male Friendships:

• Roan: "Our group chat is nothing of what it once was." (06:24)

On Social Currency:

• Francis: "You always have to hit him right back with the cologne...like, just sinking a favor into someone." (10:08)

On Quitting Vices

• Roan: “I'm either doing it all the way or I'm not doing it at all.” (23:52)
• Francis: “Why didn't you throw out the ice cream? Not the weed.” (24:49)

On Sexuality

• Roan: “It is truly unfair to the world that I'm straight...some poor farm boy in Missouri who is hiding this crushing secret.” (32:32)
• Roan: “I wish I were gay. I really fucking do.” (32:27)

On Food Habits:

• Francis: “I've never polished a pint [of ice cream].” (74:42)
• Roan: “Last night was the first night...I did not eat a full pint of ice cream. Because you had too much salad.” (81:30)

On Fitness:

• Roan: “It was a burpee test...every minute on the minute...15 burpees...I got four rounds.” (77:01)
• Harry: “I will never work out if I'd have to do it for content.” (83:51)

On Fleeting Fame:

• Roan: “You get a wave, but the wave's gone, dude.” (53:12)

Funny Recurring Bits

• Trading top-tier dinner reservations for luxury cologne (10:08, 20:28)
• Furniture impulse buys and second-guessing (59:02, 60:15)
• The role and etiquette of group chat responsibilities (06:14–07:45)
• Constant teases about who is "gayer," always in friendly jest (87:22–88:02)

IMPORTANT TIMESTAMPS

• 02:12 – Roan’s story of surviving the Ice Storm of ’98 with family
• 06:24 – Group chat dynamics and decline
• 10:08 – Social favor economy (reservations for cologne)
• 24:02 – Roan throws out his weed to break bad habits
• 32:27 – Roan’s sexuality musings and “wish I were gay” reflection
• 53:02–54:25 – The fleeting nature of internet success and waves of attention
• 77:01 – Roan’s experience with the burpee challenge
• 81:30 – Eating a “giant” salad to avoid more ice cream
• 87:22 – The group’s "gayest thing you do" joke-off

CONCLUSION

This episode is a mix of self-deprecating humor and genuine reflection, using everyday situations (texting anxieties, unhealthy habits, dinner drama) as jumping-off points for broader conversations about male adulthood, identity, and relationships. The group grapples with filling in the gaps left by formal education and absent parental guidance, using their friendship as a substitute compass. Their comedic approach doesn’t shy away from more vulnerable admissions, making this both relatable and highly entertaining for listeners searching for laughs—and maybe a little wisdom—while navigating their own post-college “calm.”