Sunday Papers w/ Greg and Mike – Ep. 298 (1/25/26)

Release Date: January 25, 2026 | Hosts: Greg Fitzsimmons & Mike Gibbons

Episode Overview

This week's Sunday Papers offers Greg and Mike’s signature take on current events and personal adventures, blending sharp, funny headlines with stories from their lives. The hosts riff on everything from the serious—World Economic Forum, epic weather, ICE raids, sports upsets—to the absurd, including golf linguistics, library shenanigans, and the latest celebrity sex scandal out of Florida. A spirited debate on morality, a dive into comedy history, genuine listener engagement, and some truly questionable advice on sexual health (and BlueChew!) make this a classic episode.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Tone: What Sunday Papers Is (00:56–01:24)

• Greg opens with, “There needs to be a place where you can come and maybe get a little break from [the news], but at the same time touch on it lightly. I think that's what we're shooting for.”
• Mike clarifies the show will avoid deep dives into intense topics like the World Economic Forum, sticking to more humorous or accessible current events.

2. On the World Economic Forum (01:24–02:44)

• Greg wonders if Davos is essentially a public forum for global economic collusion, “Is that just bald-faced companies colluding worldwide?”
• Mike adds, “There is a real rupture right now... capitalists really value stability and predictability.”

3. Golf Tales: Cross-cultural Confusion & Comedy (02:49–06:57)

• Tales from a recent round of golf, where rules confusion and casual betting games result in cross-cultural hilarity.
• Greg realizes mid-game that their new golf companions are Japanese after shouting a betting phrase (“sawichi”)—which, to their amusement, actually means “one stick” in Japanese.
  • “He called knee no chikadora. He's like, there's a saying for that also...chikadora.”
• The group bonds over the surprising overlap of golf lingo and cultural exchange, with laughter at accidental offense and affectionate teasing.

4. Mel Brooks Documentary & Comedy Roots (06:57–13:09)

• Greg reviews a new Mel Brooks documentary, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes from its premiere.
  • “Mel Brooks. 99 years old ... sits through the entire 2 hours and 45 minutes, and then gets on stage with Judd [Apatow] afterwards, and they riff for about 20 minutes. It was so great.” (10:38)
• Discussion covers Mel’s impact on comedy and the lesser-known fact—thanks to Mike—that Brooks produced The Elephant Man:
  • Mike: “He saw Eraserhead and he took a chance on David Lynch...”
• Greg shares a lighter moment: he and Moshe Kasher landed in the New York Times for goofing off on the red carpet.

5. NFL Playoffs: Triumph, Tragedy, and Bets (13:12–16:01)

• Laments on the early playoff exits of fan-favorite teams (San Francisco, Chicago, Buffalo).
  • “The Bears haven't won in so long and there's such a gutsy team... and Buffalo's been shut down nine times now in the playoffs.” (13:46)
• Greg is hopeful about his childhood favorite, the Rams, and a bet is struck: “Alright, game time odds. I will take the Rams and you take Seattle.” (15:20)

6. Listener Feedback & Core Fan Appreciation (16:03–19:44)

• Highlighting an email from Paul Laquazi (“Lacuzzi”), who humorously wagers $500 on whether Mike will ever send him a promised koozie, offering charitable alternatives for the winnings.
• Greg pitches the GoFundMe “Support Rocky's Road to Recovery” for comedian Rocky LaPorte, noting community and hardship.
  • “If you can go to Support Rocky's Road to Recovery, you can donate some money there, and that would be really amazing.” (18:47)

7. Irreverent Corrections & Listener Letters (20:59–23:55)

• Ray Maslanka provides the week’s theme song, and listeners offer corrections:
  • Mike called the movie Hidden Figures “Invisible Figures”—Greg finds it funny but arguably excusable.
  • A listener corrects that the Grim Reaper holds a “scythe” (not “Sith”).

8. National Weather Woes: Humor Amid Crisis (27:05–29:48)

• Discusses the massive winter storm threatening a swath of the US.
• Mike offers comic word nerdiness: “A swath is a long, broad strip or area of something. Originally the path cut by a scythe.” (27:58)
• Greg: “This is why I like a weather report. It's just one thing everybody can agree on. It's nonpartisan. It's fact. Ice is a danger to most of the country right now.” (28:25)

9. ICE Raids & Philly’s Infamous Defiance (30:24–32:49)

• Reports on rumored ICE operations in Philadelphia prompt local responses—characteristic Philly defiance.
  • “Philadelphians are known to riot even when their sports teams win.” (30:55)
• Mike and Greg riff on how ICE might distinguish Italian-Americans from immigrants, imagining chaos and police training at zoos.
  • “The Philly animals... they've got nothing to lose.” (31:41)
• Emphasis on avoiding unnecessary escalation: “ICE wants you to fight back... so stay cool, people.” (32:35)

10. Odd News: Coyote Swims to Alcatraz (33:12–34:47)

• A coyote makes a 1.25-mile swim to Alcatraz—Greg and Mike riff on possible motivations (“Maybe the roadrunner tricked him into thinking he was in the prison”).

11. More News Quick-Hits (36:09–40:49)

• Nathan's Famous is sold to Smithfield Foods—a lament on small business swallowed by big conglomerate.
• A library book is returned 46 years overdue (Greg: “Maybe Gubbins will be returning Chaos in 12 years when he finishes reading it.”)
• Mike shares a high school memory about a friend busted for stealing magazine photos (“Next time, son, take the whole magazine.”).

12. Ethical Dilemmas & Dark Humor (41:01–43:05)

• Thought experiment: “How many people you don't know and have never met would you choose to die to keep your family alive?”
  • Mike: “All of them, right? ...I have them ranked!” (41:10)
• The conversation devolves into twisted logic—harvesting semen, beta males, and childhood magazine clippings.

13. Bizarre Science: “Vabbing” Trend (50:48–54:19)

• Discussing the new trend where women use vaginal secretions as “perfume” to attract partners—a segment full of awkward jokes and personal stories.
  • “To me, don't you usually put the perfume on your vagina?”
• Greg tells a story about getting caught by a girlfriend “smelling like vagina” after a tryst.

14. Florida & Philly Madness (43:47–49:47)

• Florida headline: Stepmom charged with sexual conduct with her underage stepson—unfiltered commentary, legal head-scratching.
• Philly: “Man charged with vandalizing Humpty Dumpty statue at the Jersey Shore Mini Golf Course... These Philly animals are going to be sliding down the lamppost and coming at you.” (49:38)

15. Science, Death, and TV Trivia (55:09–59:22)

• This Day in History segment focuses on famous deaths and TV premieres (Hank Aaron, Larry King, Johnny Carson, Roots).
  • Greg fails spectacularly at guessing death years, but nails the year Roots premiered: “1977.”

16. Letters to the Editor & Listener Appreciation (60:39–62:09)

• Heartfelt message from Trisha: “Sunday Papers feels way more authentic to me...I feel like I’m in on a conversation between two real friends." (61:32)
• Mike adds a barb about rival podcast Smartless: “They got, like, $100 million or something.”

17. Funnies and Comics Commentary (63:01–69:56)

• The week’s comic caption contest is recapped—no winner, but Mike promises to finally send out a koozie.
• Greg provides irreverent (and slightly horny) commentary on “Blondie,” fantasizing about Dagwood’s missed opportunities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greg (On the show’s mission): “There needs to be a place where you can come and maybe get a little break from [the news], but at the same time touch on it lightly. I think that's what we're shooting for.” (01:00)
• Mike (on Philly and ICE): “If I'm head of ICE and we're going into Philadelphia, let me tell you how we're doing it. We’re going to train at a zoo. The Philly animals are going to be sliding down the lamppost and coming at you. They're the scariest animal of all, because they have nothing to lose.”
• Greg (on Mel Brooks): "He is 99 years old, and nobody knew. Judd said to me, 'I don’t think he's gonna make it.' Shows up, sits through the entire 2 hours and 45 minutes, and then gets on stage with Judd afterwards, and they riff for about 20 minutes." (10:38)
• Mike (on the controversial Florida story): “The victim described how the interaction soon escalated... The victim—victim's a weird word here.”
• Greg (on vabbing): “To me, don’t you usually put the perfume on your vagina?”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Show Start/Philosophy: 00:56–01:24
• World Economic Forum: 01:24–02:44
• Golf Story: 02:49–06:57
• Mel Brooks Documentary: 06:57–13:09
• NFL Playoffs Chat: 13:12–16:01
• Listener Email & Fanbase: 16:03–19:44
• Listener Corrections: 20:59–23:55
• Winter Storm News: 27:05–29:48
• ICE in Philly: 30:24–32:49
• Coyote to Alcatraz: 33:12–34:47
• Nathan's Hot Dogs Sale: 36:09–37:32
• Library Book Returned: 38:01–40:32
• Ethical Dilemma: 41:01–43:05
• Vabbing Trend: 50:48–54:19
• Florida Stepmom Story: 43:47–49:47
• Philly’s Humpty Dumpty Incident: 49:38–50:24
• This Day in History: 55:09–59:22
• Letters to the Editor: 60:39–62:09
• Funnies Segment: 63:01–69:56

Closing & Plugs

• Greg is gigging at Joe Rogan’s Mothership in Austin (Jan 30 – Feb 1), Sacramento Punchline, and more.
• Promo for BlueChew: “Make life easier by getting harder... 10% off your first month with code PAPERS." (26:30)
• Encourages listeners to donate to Rocky LaPorte’s GoFundMe (18:47).
• Mike recommends (or unrecommends) recent TV—says Tehran is worth checking out.

Additional Highlights

• Freewheeling banter on language nuances and American regional stereotypes.
• Mike’s investigative asides—on swath vs. scythe, on word origins.
• Several comedy “deep cuts,” with affectionate roasts between the hosts.
• Repeated reminders (always in good humor) of Mike’s unresolved merchandise debts!

For New Listeners

This episode showcases why Sunday Papers is a favorite among fans seeking comedy that’s candid, irreverent, and just personal enough to feel like you’re eavesdropping on two old friends. It’s a whirlwind of news, nostalgic pop culture, and the off-beat life of comics on (and off) stage. If you like news with your jokes (and jokes at the news), this is your show.

Produced by Gotham Production Studios, part of The Gotham Network.