Stavvy’s World #160 — “Oops All Santas!” Christmas Special

With Mike Mitchell, Zach Cherry, Jon Gabrus
Air Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Stavros Halkias
[See timestamps in (MM:SS) format throughout]

Overview

In this special holiday episode, Stavros Halkias welcomes comedians Mike Mitchell, Zach Cherry, and Jon Gabrus for a raucous, deeply personal, and frequently hilarious exploration of Christmas memories, fat-guy camaraderie, movie-going etiquette, CPAP struggles, and plenty of listener advice. The episode is titled "Oops All Santas!" as each guest (and Eldis, the producer) dons a Santa suit, leaning into the ongoing joke of the “Fat Cabal” of comedians plotting to dominate Hollywood. The group covers everything from “fat Santa” casting scars, to the realities of sleep apnea, to accidental slights at holiday gatherings. True to tradition, the show wraps up with Stoic, slightly deranged life advice for listeners, and a riotous holiday spirit throughout.

Main Discussion Points & Highlights

The Fat Cabal / Oops All Santas! (00:55–03:08)

• The group jokes about assembling the most “tonnage” for a podcast, outdoing the Kelsey Brothers, and forming a “fat cabal” to take over Hollywood.
• Quote: “We are... we've started a fat cabal to take over Hollywood.” — Stavros (03:06)

Santa Typecasting & Christmas Roles (03:09–11:25)

• The comedians reminisce about always being cast as the Santa or dad as children due to their size.
  • Zach recalls needing to visit big & tall stores for school play costumes (05:12).
  • Mitchell laments being credited as “Fat Santa” on casting calls (04:43).
  • Jon Gabrus recalls being hired as Ben Franklin for a party — the fat guy’s “other” historical role (06:03).
  • Discussion about “Santa” trauma and “putting the red cowl back on”—“It is PTSD putting the red cowl back on.” — Stavros (03:50)

Ben Franklin & Air Baths (06:08–06:27)

• Ben Franklin’s predilection for “air baths” (public nudity) is discussed, as a natural pivot from fat casting.

Santa Gigs Gone Wrong (07:04–08:20)

• Anecdotes of performing as Santa at parties, often leading to painfully awkward or uncomfortable situations.
• “Five minutes in, I’m like, this is the most upsetting thing I’ve ever done.” — Mike Mitchell on being hired as Santa (05:44)

Fat Guy Inertia & Civil War (14:26–15:00)

• Stav proposes that national obesity is what’s preventing civil war: “No country over a certain BMI ever had a civil war.” — Stavros (14:36)

Movie Theater Culture Wars (15:04–25:43)

• The crew shares stories about the chaos and nostalgia of growing up attending wild, sometimes dangerous, movie theaters.
  • Baltimore/Trenton theater tales: Fights, stabbings, and smoking inside (19:55–20:48).
  • The cycle of becoming one’s own parents, complaining about noisy theater-goers (21:17–22:33).
  • Gabrus, a notorious movie theater disciplinarian: “I just tell people right away.” (21:44)
• Dismay at the evolution of movie theater etiquette post-pandemic.

Sleep Apnea, CPAP Struggles, and Fat Guy Packing Tips (26:12–34:45)

• In-depth discussion about sharing rooms and travelling with CPAPs.
  • Tips on traveling with CPAPs, loopholes with medical device rules on airlines (29:30).
  • Fat-guy packing dilemmas (packing two hoodies = whole suitcase) (29:44–30:05).
  • Fat guys’ workaround for airline baggage rules via “medical device” loopholes.
  • The struggle to find distilled water for CPAPs in bodegas (33:04).

Complaints About “Big and Tall” Fashion (35:02–38:15)

• The panel laments the state of plus-size clothing: boring color choices, lack of unique options.
  • “I like to wear… and they just don’t make it, except in tablecloths.” — Mike Mitchell (36:13)
  • Fat comedians coordinate to avoid showing up in the same rare ‘cool’ big-and-tall shirt.

Christmas on Mushrooms — The Tenet Story (38:25–41:08)

• One of Stav’s favorite adult Christmas memories involves tripping on mushrooms while trying (failingly) to comprehend Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” with friends.
  • “Honestly the most fun is being on mushrooms trying to understand that movie.” — Stavros (38:56)
  • Eldis admits to “tripping so hard I got scared” (40:04).

Christmas Movie Traditions & Emotional Moments (41:41–44:22)

• Discussion on seeing movies and eating Chinese takeout on Christmas.
• Stav admits to getting genuinely emotional during Avatar 2, high and among strangers, crying over the Na’vi’s fictitious loss (42:30).
  • “I went from like ‘this movie's fucking stupid’ to... literally started crying.” — Stavros (42:30)

Favorite (and Weirdest) Christmas Memories (45:46–47:04)

• Comedians recount Christmas as children: memorable gifts, late Santa revelations, the tragedy of moon shoes destroyed by gravity.
  • “I put on the moon shoes and I jumped once and the snaps just broke.” — Eldis Hodge (47:04)

Holiday Meals & Heritage (49:34–52:14)

• Christmas food traditions: lobster rolls in Boston, Seven Fishes in Italian households, and the confusion of Greek Christmas traditions (50:10–51:24).

Greek Christmas vs. American Christmas (51:40–53:00)

• Humor about Greek saints, myths about “Greek priests” vs. Catholic priests.

Listener Questions & Unhinged Advice (67:12–107:00)

Caller #1 — Falsely Accused of Cheating (67:47–75:07)

Summary: A man seeks advice after a misunderstanding at a wedding leads to accusations of cheating.

• Consensus: If your girlfriend trusts you, ignore the rumor mill.
  • “If his girlfriend believes him, totally, that is what matters.” — Zach Cherry (71:26)
  • “Just cheat. That way you’re even.” (71:47, jokey suggestion by Stav/Mitch)

Caller #2 — Friend Only Invites Her to Boyfriend’s Mom’s Weird Coke Parties (75:21–84:15)

Summary: Female caller asks if she’s unreasonable for resenting all invites to her friend’s boyfriend’s mom’s pool/coke parties.

• “If you don’t want to do something, you don’t have to anymore.” — Mike Mitchell (78:17)
• Panel is fascinated (and a little disturbed) by mother/daughter-in-law coke bonds.

Caller #3 — Sunglasses Lost in Lake at Bachelor Party (85:18–90:24)

Summary: Should his friend reimburse lost sunglasses after asking a non-athletic friend to toss them into a lake?

• Overwhelming consensus: No way! It’s the owner’s fault for requesting the risky throw.
  • “If you ask someone to throw you your glasses, you are the level of wealth that you are saying, ‘Throw me my $300 glasses,’ I’m in the lake. And if that guy fucks up, that is on you, bro.” — Mike Mitchell (87:22)

Caller #4 — Coworker Does No Work, Writes Erotic Novels, Leaves All the Work (93:44–99:06)

Summary: What to do when coworker neglects their share of work to write novels/go to grad school?

• Advice: Don’t snitch. Talk directly to the person or match their slacking energy.
  • “He’s just got you by the balls... You could just also not do anything and see what happens.” — Stavros (96:10)
  • “Slackers would love to hear, ‘Hey if you do these two things every week, I’ll never bother you again.’” — Mike Mitchell (98:15)

Callback Follow-up — The Family Reunion Cheater (102:29–110:21)

Summary: A past caller clarifies her story about bringing a friend to a party, who then cheated on her husband and became a pariah.

• She argues she can’t drop her friend due to their shared history and proximity (“Five minutes down the road”).
• Group sympathizes with keeping shitty friends who are part of your life, but agrees the “plus one” made a wild move.

Notable Quotes

• “If you look at my IMDb it’s just like Daniel Craig with James Bond and like with Santa.”
  — Eldis Hodge (04:09)
• “Imagine being credited as ‘fat Santa.’ Why is that modifier there?” — Mike Mitchell (04:43)
• “No country over a certain BMI has ever had a civil war.” — Stavros (14:36)
• “People talk about being bullied, but… not a lot of fat mass shooters. That’s why we eat.”
  — Mike Mitchell (13:41)
• “I sat down with my mom when I was like, in eighth grade… like, Santa’s not…”
  — Eldis Hodge (46:22)
• “Greek priests are the ones who don’t fuck kids, nice try.” — Stavros (50:34)
• “If you don’t want to do something, you don’t have to anymore.” — Zach Cherry (78:24)
• “Ask someone to throw you your glasses… if that guy fucks up, that is on you, bro.” — Mike Mitchell (87:22)
• “He’s just got you by the balls… you could just also not do anything…” — Stavros (96:10)
• “Just match their energy, see what happens.” — Zach Cherry (96:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Santa/Fat Comedian Trauma: 00:55–11:25
• Movie Theater Stories: 15:00–25:43
• CPAP/Sleep Apnea Segment: 26:12–34:45
• Big & Tall Fashion Grievances: 35:02–38:15
• Christmas on Mushrooms (Tenet): 38:25–41:08
• Christmas Movie Emotions: 41:41–44:22
• Listener Calls Begin: 67:12
  • Cheating Rumor: 67:47–75:07
  • BF’s Mom’s Coke Parties: 75:21–84:15
  • Sunglasses in Lake: 85:18–90:24
  • Time-Theft Coworker: 93:44–99:06
  • Family Reunion Cheater Recap: 102:29–110:21

Tone & Energy

The episode is consistently high-energy, irreverent, and raucous, with unfiltered riffing on fatness, holiday tropes, and the indignities of aging and nostalgia. The group expertly blends authentic self-deprecation, “uncle at the bar” storytelling, and a genuine holiday warmth that’s both welcoming and a little bit unhinged.

For the Uninitiated

If you haven’t listened, expect:

• Goofball confessionals blending stand-up-caliber jokes with real vulnerability.
• Advice that’s half sincere, half-surreal—never earnest for too long.
• Insight into comedian life, travel, sleep apnea struggles, and moviegoing in America—especially as a large man.
• Listener interactions that riff, roast, but ultimately invite everyone to “the cabal”—where all problems, large and small, are considered fair game.

Merry Christmas from Stavvy’s World — and remember: “Keep it twisted!”

(Ad segments, outros, and promotional plugs have been omitted. For full comedic effect, listen along as the Santas jingle their bells, drag their CPAPs, and roast each other into the holiday night.)