Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! #627: "Just Deal"

Release Date: February 24, 2025
Cast: Bryan Johnson, Brian Quinn (“Q”), James Murray (“Murr”), Walter Goggins

Episode Overview

In this unruly and uncensored installment, the trio (alongside occasional input from Walt Goggins) riff from personal anecdotes about aging and handling the cold, to riffing on US-Canada relations, lithium mining, legal kerfuffles in the TV business, a raucous 50s slang vs. porn slang game, and finally, ruminations on Kanye West, censorship, and changing social mores. Expect candid banter, quick wit, and tongue-in-cheek takes throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Technical Snafu, Aging, and Coping with Weather

[00:06–05:21]

• The episode starts after a technical problem; Q reassures listeners, noting they only missed boring weather talk.
• The guys muse about how after so many years, winter cold's still surprising, with Bryan reflecting on aging:

  “We’re crossing over that threshold where old people are always cold.” (Bryan Johnson, 01:21)

• It turns to established household thermostat enforcement:

  “Whatever your wife says is what you keep it at.” (Brian Quinn, 02:11) “I’m not allowed to even go touch it.” (Bryan Johnson, 02:13)

• Sage (“Ming”) and heat debates harken nostalgia for the old store and the comfort-seeking routines.
• The broad northeast climate is lamented: sharp temperature changes, rare “nice days,” and the drudgery of long winters.

  “It just seems lopsided...cold for like seven months out of the year.” (James Murray, 03:35)

• Murr confesses to “weather shaming” after being told he talks about it too much.

  “I was a little weather shamed.” (James Murray, 04:37) “It’s like I just feel like a rat in a cage. It’s gotta stop, right? It’s got to stop.” (James Murray, 04:52)

2. Canada, Booing, and Hockey Rivalries

[05:46–09:39]

• Q asks for “thoughts on Canada lately”—referencing Canadians booing the US anthem at an international hockey tournament.
• They humorously hypothesize on annexation and cross-border resentment.

  “Our northern brothers are shunning us.” (Bryan Johnson, 06:24)

• Bryan recalls Rob’s joke that to Canada, losing to America in hockey would be catastrophic—much more than vice versa.
• The hosts riff on cultural exchanges: Canadians loving US entertainment, America’s disinterest in Canadian exports (“bad slasher movies,” maple syrup, etc).
• A digression about 1980s Canadian tax breaks for slasher films, “Maplewood,” and economic exports like minerals and lumber.

3. Lithium: Pop Culture, Mind-Altering Drugs, and Metal Fences

[09:51–13:03]

• Lithium comes up: what it is, where it’s mined, and its many uses—from batteries to mood stabilizers to grease and glass.
• The hosts riff that no one in their youth talked about lithium much:

  “When we were growing up, nobody was like, 'Where’d lithium be at?'” (Bryan Johnson, 11:58)

• Jokes abound: building a lithium fence, “I want to be the first on my street with a lithium fence” (Bryan Johnson, 11:17), and the confusion over lithium’s first cultural “appearance” (most say Nirvana’s song “Lithium”).

4. Legal Follies: TV Lawsuits & Rights

[17:17–24:49]

• Q introduces the rapper Dank Damas and legal self-sabotage (Lyft lawsuit), debating the wisdom of discussing active legal disputes publicly.

  “Anytime you’re involved in legal action, the first thing your lawyers tell you is, shut the fuck up.” (James Murray, 19:20)

• They share behind-the-scenes stories:
  • In "Impractical Jokers," legal shutdown attempts (“You don’t say anything because they’ll use it against you.”)
  • “Comic Book Men”: a couple tried to sue after feeling “pressured” to buy collectibles due to cameras.

    “AMC wasn’t going to be footing our legal bills...” (Bryan Johnson, 21:01)

• The conversation moves to how poorly they felt treated by some network execs, lack of negotiating leverage, and camaraderie with their crew.

  “You guys did not get treated as well as you should have got treated, I thought, on that show.” (James Murray, 22:03) “When I look back on it… it’s all positive and we definitely garnered a good, solid friendship.” (Bryan Johnson, 24:09)

5. Television Recommendation: The New ‘Matlock’

[25:26–27:34]

• Bryan rave-recommends the new “Matlock,” starring Kathy Bates; admits it's rare for him to make “appointment TV.”

  “It won me over… I’m like, what day is it on?” (Bryan Johnson, 26:01)

• Murr’s on board, especially with rumors of a twist to the show’s formula.
• The guys reminisce about old legal shows, noting most rely on last-second genius to win cases.

  “I never saw the original Matlock… but I imagine that is the formula.” (Bryan Johnson, 27:15)

6. Game: ‘50s Slang or Porn Slang?’

[29:00–48:20]

• Q hosts an extended, hilarious trivia game to see who can distinguish 1950s slang from modern porn industry terms. It’s competitive, raucous, and laden with (mostly) good-natured ribbing.
• Example terms:
  • “Spooning your scarf” – Eating your food (50s term)
  • “Gooning” – Extreme form of sexual edging (Porn term)
  • “Dump truck” – Large/shapely bottom (Porn term)
  • “Birds nested” – All mixed up (50s term), but also discussed as bushy pubic hair (porn)
  • “Double bubble” – Cute girl (50s term)
  • “Fluky” – A jerk (50s term)
  • “Nip knops” – Nipples (Porn term)
• Banter zones in on the absurdity of some terms and the process of language evolution.

  “It’s like calling yourself an astronaut because you watch Star Wars.” (James Murray, 28:54) “Well, you shouldn’t have done that.” [wrong answer] (Brian Quinn, 32:19)

7. Kanye West: Swastika Tees, Censorship, and Social Decay

[50:24–55:44]

• Q brings up Kanye West’s spiraling provocations—like selling swastika T-shirts and overt Nazi-loving statements.

  “Should he be forcefully put into a hospital or something? He’s obviously crazy, right?” (Brian Quinn, 50:53)

• They reflect on the freedom/taboo lines in media—citing Kanye’s wife at the Grammys, then contrasting with Janet Jackson’s notorious “wardrobe malfunction.”

  “Janet Jackson showed a nipple for a millisecond and it was the biggest deal on earth.” (Brian Quinn, 52:09)

• Johnson and Q argue social media’s eroded “class and dignity”:

  “Social media has eroded any sense of class and shame, dignity, decency…” (Bryan Johnson, 52:13)

8. Censorship Abroad: The UK's Crackdown on Speech

[53:20–57:00]

• Bryan steers towards new British laws: Apple providing keys to the government, hate speech policing, possible jail/fines for social posts, extradition threats.

  “Now the government can see everything you’ve written on your phone.” (Bryan Johnson, 53:35)

• Murr voices his alarm at thought crimes and government overreach:

  “That's pretty wild. They want to go through your stuff to see what your personal thoughts are…” (James Murray, 54:00)

• Q and Walt recall police showing up at people’s houses for Facebook posts; they discuss how hate speech regulation can produce populist backlash by pushing otherwise mainstream voters into “rebellion.”

  “I don't want to not be able to say what I want. And that’s how you end up voting for fucking people who are kind of crazy…” (James Murray, 55:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Still can’t figure it out…” (Bryan Johnson, 00:06)
• “I'm not allowed to even go touch it [thermostat].” (Bryan Johnson, 02:13)
• “America would have rejoiced for, like, an hour… But if Canada had lost, they might have… committed nationwide suicide.” (Bryan Johnson, 07:12)
• “I want to be the first on my street with a lithium fence.” (Bryan Johnson, 11:17)
• “Anytime you’re involved in legal action, the first thing your lawyers tell you is, shut the fuck up.” (James Murray, 19:20)
• “You guys did not get treated as well as you should have got treated…” (James Murray, 22:08)
• “When I look back on it… it’s all positive and we definitely garnered a good, solid friendship.” (Bryan Johnson, 24:09)
• “It won me over… I’m like, what day is it on?” (Bryan Johnson, 26:01)
• “It's like calling yourself an astronaut because you watch Star Wars.” (James Murray, 28:54)
• “Janet Jackson showed a nipple for a millisecond and it was the biggest deal on earth.” (Brian Quinn, 52:09)
• “Social media has eroded any sense of class and shame, dignity, decency…” (Bryan Johnson, 52:13)
• “That's pretty wild. They want to go through your stuff to see what your personal thoughts are…” (James Murray, 54:00)
• “That’s how you end up voting for fucking people who are kind of crazy…” (James Murray, 55:08)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06–05:21 — Cold weather, aging, and the thermostat debate
• 05:46–09:39 — Canada vs. USA (hockey & culture)
• 09:51–13:03 — Lithium: pop culture, science, and jokes
• 17:17–24:49 — Lawsuits, TV contracts, and behind-the-scenes stories
• 25:26–27:34 — Bryan’s TV pick: the new 'Matlock'
• 29:00–48:20 — Main Event: “50s Slang or Porn Slang?” game
• 50:24–55:44 — Kanye West’s descent, taboo, and American culture shift
• 53:20–57:00 — Censorship and freedom of speech in the UK

Style and Tone

The episode is as candid and unscripted as ever: the hosts freely mix self-mockery, cultural riffing, and light-hearted vulgarity. Banter flows, tangents are welcomed, and they find humor in generational divides and society’s stranger trends, all while maintaining a sharp, satirical edge.

Summary

A quintessential TESD episode: meandering but tightly packed with laughs, pop culture nostalgia, and unfiltered observations—whether it’s about winter doldrums, North American neighborly squabbles, legal sagas in reality television, or parsing the line between retro and risqué vernacular. The “50s vs. Porn” game is a highlight, offering a snapshot of generational attitudes and the ever-shifting lexicon of the absurd. And as ever, behind the jokes are sincere reflections on aging, friendship, and the state of the world—served up, of course, with a side of irreverence.

[Tell 'Em Steve-Dave, Episode #627: Just Deal — For fans seeking a full rundown, this summary covers every memorable riff, reference, and punchline.]