Podcast Summary: The Antihero Broadcast – Friendsday: Jason Vest (02/25/2026)

Podcast: The Antihero Broadcast
Host: The Antihero Podcast (Host 1: possibly Tony; Host 2: possibly Mike)
Guest: Jason Vest (Army veteran, stand-up comic and content creator)
Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid, comedic, and at times raunchy conversation between the hosts and their guest, Jason Vest—a retired Army National Guard recruiter turned stand-up comic. With their characteristic irreverence aimed at blue-collar America, veterans, and first responders, the Antihero crew dives into war stories, Army life, VA disability hacks, the grind of stand-up comedy, and the wild tales behind Jason's unique brand of viral content. Key subjects include reflections on the recent State of the Union, the realities of law enforcement and military benefits, and a rollercoaster of jaw-dropping personal anecdotes from Jason’s military and post-service life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scheduling Snafus & Show Warm-Up

• Time Zone Mix-Ups: The show starts with confusion about meeting times (10:45 AM/PM EST) and a lighthearted discussion around veterans and military time.
• Quick Banter: Conversation quickly turns to social media posts, the previous day’s episode, and hot topics among their audience (veterans, first responders).
• (02:27)

2. State of the Union Address Review

• Immediate Reactions:
  • Hosts and Jason review highlights of the State of the Union address, playing clips of Donald Trump and commenting on partisan reactions.
  • (03:13–27:26)
• Memorable Quote:
  Host 2 (Mike), on Trump:

  “He did his Trump thing. He threw shade all over the damn building. … He really slammed Pelosi.” – (26:13)

• Themes Addressed: Immigration, border security, veterans’ representation, Medal of Honor presentations, economic boasting, and political theater.

Notable Moments:

• Democrats remain seated during Trump’s “protect American citizens first” line, provoking both live and podcast commentary.
• Banter about the women’s Olympic hockey team declining a White House visit.
• Trump’s boastful riff on "winning too much" and America’s competitive edge.

3. Brady Material and Warrior Cops

• Police Internal Affairs & Brady List:

  • The hosts field a story from their TikTok inbox about a cop being investigated for a whiteboard joke, segueing into a discussion of the Brady rule in law enforcement.
  • Deep dive into the career implications of being “Brady-listed” (having credibility questioned in court due to alleged untruthfulness).
  • (05:02–09:53)

• Notable Quote:
  Host 2 (Mike):

  “If you go to court...every single case has a Brady material list filed. … That follows you the rest of your life.” – (06:35–09:41)

4. VA Legislation and Ratings Update

• Upcoming VA Changes:
  • They tease an upcoming interview about new VA rules affecting veterans’ disability ratings, especially for those not at 100% P&T (permanent & total).
  • Reminder for listeners to pay attention to benefit changes if they use VA healthcare or meds.
    (11:51–13:53)

5. Social Media and Merch Hustle

• Facebook/Instagram “Shadowban” on Sales:

  • Frustrations voiced over low reach when posting about merch compared to regular memes or “non-salesy” content.
  • Meta platform gripes and creative workarounds discussed (memes as Trojan horses for merch).
  • (28:23–29:47)

• Plugging Their Merchandise:

  • The hosts discuss their own networks (Copville, Counterculture Inc Threads, antiherobroadcast.com) and encourage listeners to support/purchase.

6. Policing & Use-of-Force Video Analysis

• Street Tactics and Training:

  • The team watches and critiques a viral use-of-force police video, dissecting the tactical merits of BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), striking, and police training failures.
  • (32:21–39:47)

• Quote:
  Host 2 (Mike):

  “If you can’t get down now, you can’t talk...at this point, this dude deserves everything, dog.” – (34:12–34:43)

7. Jason Vest Joins the Broadcast ([44:18])

Jason’s Background

• Military Service:

  • National Guard medic turned full-time Army recruiter (AGR), later deployed to Iraq (“I volunteered because I felt guilty recruiting but never deploying” – 47:09).
  • Retired after 21 years, collecting both pension and 100% VA disability (much myth-busting about federal benefits).
  • (44:18–49:10)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “I got that 100, and I got my pension, so I’m making like 6k a month, man.” – (48:41)

• Transition to Comedy:

  • How he and his wife uprooted for comedy, moving from Chicago to Austin for the scene.
  • (65:18–66:18)

Law Enforcement Interactions

• Veteran Interventions in Police Work:
  • Jason describes a mental health crisis where a special VA–police partnership kept him safe, rather than leading to arrest or escalation.
  • (52:11–55:40)
• Quote:
  Jason:

  “I would have gone to jail if that team wouldn’t have been there in Chicago.” – (53:07)

8. Stand-Up Comedy: The Real Deal

• From Army Recruiter to Viral Memes:

  • Jason’s journey from “keys to the castle” recruiter to meme king, podcaster, and stand-up headliner.
  • Discusses his Blue-Collar, blunt, raunchy, and military-specific material.
  • (56:56–58:18)

• Recruiter Stories:

  • The wild side of Army recruiting—pushing the “minutiae” into service, sometimes bending the rules with waivers.
  • (58:40–59:36)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “I recruited this one guy… he got an 18 [ASVAB], and you can waive it… he goes overseas and almost gets people killed.” – (58:44)

9. Going Viral: Butthole Contests, Foot Fetishes & Social Media Gold

• Butthole Contest Origin Story:

  • Viral success after hosting Michigan’s “prettiest butthole” contest at a strip club—with wild TikTok results and stories of what happens when you judge hundreds of buttholes for a crowd.
  • (60:38–64:45)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “First year, it was mostly dudes. It was all straight dudes, too... Let’s go show Jason our butthole.” – (61:21)

• Social Media Monetization:

  • Jason, his wife, and roommates are now earning via Facebook’s mysterious bonus/engagement system; wife becomes in-demand editor for celeb clients.
  • (88:12–91:38)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “They just give me money. ... If you make something that hits a million, you’ll get like $45.” – (90:10)

10. Kill Tony & The Comedy Hustle

• Kill Tony Appearances:

  • Jason details his multiple tries at the famous Kill Tony live podcast and how it supercharged his internet presence—gaining 100,000 followers after one appearance.
  • (67:41–79:06)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “I gained a hundred thousand followers from it.” – (78:44)

• Comedy Business Realities:

  • Honest take on making ends meet via shows, merch, internet streams, and never-ending hustling—even for viral and TV-featured comedians.
  • (85:54–88:08)

11. Borderline Legendary Army/Comedy Stories

• Waffle House University:

  • Tales of Waffle House debauchery—being fingered in a Waffle House bathroom, “blumpkins” (look it up), blackmail threats, and a deranged love triangle involving a pregnant woman and her gun-wielding ex.
  • (100:08–104:59)

• Army Recruiter Insanity:

  • A recruiter who imported and then imprisoned a Korean bride, slinging used lingerie at strip clubs, stealing government vehicles—all topped with only a slap on the wrist and a later teaching gig.
  • (108:16–112:41)

• Quote:
  Jason:

  “The National Guard lets anybody be a recruiter. Like, they do not do very hard background [checks]...” – (110:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You think these memes are a joke?” – Jason Vest (48:32)
• “I’m drinking testosterone. It’s not even Sprite. I just drink testosterone.” – Host 2 (46:19)
• “There’s nothing wrong with that, I guess—if you want to go to hell.” – Host 1 on taking bed selfies (30:50)
• “First year, it was mostly dudes... It was all straight dudes, too. It was straight men and their wives...” – Jason, on the Michigan Butthole Contest (61:21)
• “My wife edits these [videos]. So… being a recruiter, it was like you had keys to the castle...” – Jason, on Army recruiter life and viral raunchy content (57:04)
• “The memes, for some reason, they’re the gateway. They get people in to buy the merch.” – Host 1 (98:35)
• “Oh my god, bro, you need to get a goddamn pedigree bottoms. Your feet are crusty as—dude, they just look lovely to me.” – Jason, on celebrity feet reviews (76:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• State of the Union review: 03:13–27:26
• VA/benefits update teaser: 11:51–13:53
• Join-by-Jason Vest proper: 44:18
• Military service & recruiting tales: 46:50–58:40
• Virality & Butthole Contest: 60:38–64:45
• Comedy hustle & Kill Tony: 67:41–79:06
• Wild Army stories: 100:08–108:16

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

The episode is a wild ride through military and police subculture, the rise of “antihero” comedy, and the unpredictable world of internet virality. Jason Vest embodies the new post-military hustle—trading in war stories and gallows humor for laughs, online clout, and as many monetization streams as can be found in this algorithmic era. The hosts create a space where taboo, trauma, and nonsense find equal footing, always salted with a healthy skepticism of authority and politics.

For more:

• Follow Jason Vest on all platforms (search for his most active channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok).
• Merch: antiherobroadcast.com, countercultureincthreads.com, (plus guest/shop links for more antihero products)
• Catch Jason live in Orlando, April 25th, 2026.

Next episode preview:
Justin from Donut Shop Podcast joins for a special in-studio “Friendsday.”

[END OF SUMMARY]