The Basement Yard – Episode #520: "The Unknown Caller"

Released: September 15, 2025 – Santagato Studios
Hosts: Joe Santagato & Frank Alvarez
Special Guest: Ant

Episode Overview

In this episode, Joe and Frank dive into the bizarre and unsettling story behind the Netflix documentary "Unknown Caller." The episode unpacks a shocking true crime case of prolonged cyberbullying, where a mother is ultimately exposed as her daughter’s anonymous tormentor. Balancing their signature blend of irreverent humor and genuine disbelief, the co-hosts dissect the story’s psychological layers, societal takeaways, and personal reactions, then veer into light-hearted talk about spelling mnemonics, high school nostalgia, and their own hypothetical "walk across America" challenge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spelling Struggles & Mnemonics

[00:29-06:32]

• The show kicks off with banter about tough-to-spell words and mnemonic hacks.
• Examples include Frank's struggles with "acknowledge," Joe's trouble with "itinerary," and both hosts’ creative breakdowns for “restaurant” and “February.”
• Referencing the film "Bruce Almighty" and "B-E-A-utiful" as a spelling prompt.

Notable Quotes:

• Frank: "I remember the spelling of dessert because desert is one thing, but dessert is extra sweet, so it needs another S." [01:56]
• Joe: "Mine is itinerary…I used to spell it ‘itary.’" [03:12]

2. Netflix’s 'Unknown Caller' Breakdown

[06:43–27:47]

The Case:

• The subject is a new Netflix doc, "Unknown Caller," about a 15-16-year-old girl in a small town subjected to “the most vile” anonymous text harassment.
• The hosts admit full spoilers and recount the shock twist: the anonymous messages came from the girl’s own mother.

Main Reactions:

• Both are horrified by the scale: 18 months, 1,400+ pages of texts, including sexual and deeply cruel content.
• Disbelief at the mother’s willingness to appear in the documentary:
  • Joe: "Why are you in the documentary being like…yeah, and she also didn’t really give an explanation…" [14:18]
  • Frank: "It was one that was so insane to me because…she was in the documentary chatting away the whole time." [11:43]

Psychological Layers:

• Discussion of Munchausen by proxy: the theory that “the mom bullied the daughter so she’d need her.”
• Both hosts express empathy for the daughter’s emotional maturity and debate possible reactions if in her shoes.
  • Frank: "In my mind at that moment, that person is no longer my mom and has not been my mom for 18 months…" [23:05]
• Jokes about the name "Munchausen" and how it would make a great bar, sandwich, or appetizer.

Societal Takeaway:

• Reflection on letting children down, boundaries after betrayal, and how “the wall goes up” irreparably after such a breach.

Humor Interludes:

• The hosts riff on how certain disease names, like "Asperger’s," sound like they could be restaurant chains:
  • Joe: "Asperger’s also sounds like a good place…like a burger joint…" [16:47]

3. “Would You Walk Across America for $5 Million?” Game

[40:17–47:21]

• Ant poses a hypothetical: walk to a randomly generated U.S. state for $5 million, with no money until completion.
• The hosts spin a digital wheel, react to their assignments (Wisconsin, Nevada, Alabama), and calculate the time/effort involved.
  • Joe (Wisconsin): “That’s not bad…five million a month, bro, sign me up.” [44:12]
  • Frank (Alabama): “My guys. I might not make it…they might see me and be like, ‘Who’s this Spanish boy walking down here?’” [47:17]

4. Bathroom Pet Peeves & Toiletry Technology

[54:28–61:42]

• Joe rants about blue toilet water, cheap toilet paper, and wooden toilet seats:
  • “The wooden toilet seats…obviously this hasn’t been changed since 1990.” [59:45]
• Frank shares his secret joy of salting driveways and discusses Epsom salt mishaps.
• Debate on innovative toilet design (“stand-up toilets”) and the desire for ergonomic improvement.

5. Nostalgia: Clotheslines, Teachers & Ms. Frizzle

[65:56–75:52]

• Joe and Frank reminisce about neighborhood clotheslines and the “old Italian woman” aesthetic (“Ciao, bang!”).

• Brief tangents on elementary school staff, the librarian’s backstories, and Ms. Frizzle’s iconic style.

  • Admiring Ms. Frizzle as “a sexy woman…and she knows a ton of shit.” [70:42]

• They brainstorm what real-life teachers should wear for subjects:

  • "Science teachers should dress like mad scientists." [72:04]
  • Math teachers: button-up shirt, bow tie, checkered pattern. [75:54]
  • Music: "piano tie" and poodle skirts.

6. Classroom Vibes & School Funding

[73:11–76:52]

• Mini-rant on underpaid teachers, the importance of classroom environment, and the lack of funding for creative classrooms:
  • Frank: “Why are teachers basically panhandling for supplies for children?” [73:17]
  • “Pay these teachers better. And also pay for them to do these costumes.” [73:11]

7. Closing School Memories & Partners Gone Awry

[77:44–80:09]

• Stories of favorite and least favorite teachers.
• Memories of feeling left out in school partner exercises.
• Wrap up with jokes about Frank plotting a “manifesto” when feeling jilted in second grade.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Frank (on cyberbullying reveal):

  • "The person that was sending the text messages was the girl's own mother." [09:19]

• Joe (on emotional damage):

  • "This was going on for 18 months…her mom being like, ‘yo, kill yourself. No one wants your flat ass.’" [12:40]

• Frank (on immediate reaction):

  • "If that's me and I'm finding that out, I'm fucking picking my mom up and giving her a tombstone." [19:49]

• On teaching & nostalgia:

  • "You're gonna tell me you wouldn't be a better student if your teacher dressed and looked and acted like Ms. Frizzle or fucking Bill Nye?" [74:19] – Frank

• Classic Santagato banter:

  • Joe: "Some stuff about people's bathrooms that I'm just like... what are we doing?" [58:06]
  • Frank: "I'm pumped about blue toilet water." [58:04]

Important Timestamps

• 00:29 – Opening banter, spelling struggles
• 06:43 – “Unknown Caller” Netflix doc intro, spoiler warning
• 09:19 – Documentary spoilers: mom revealed as stalker
• 14:18 – Disbelief at mom being interviewed
• 21:56 – Discussion of emotional aftermath and daughter’s response
• 27:47 – Segment transition; humor about disease names
• 40:17 – $5 Million “Walk to a State” challenge
• 54:28 – Salting driveways, bathroom talk
• 65:56 – Clothesline nostalgia
• 72:04 – Teachers should have themed costumes
• 73:11 – Rant on schools underfunding teachers
• 74:19 – “Which teacher had the coolest vibe?”
• 80:09 – Elementary school memories, episode close

Episode Tone & Style

• Language: Casual, playful, sometimes darkly humorous; candid swearing and irreverence typical of The Basement Yard.
• Dynamic: Joe and Frank riff off each other naturally, alternating between serious analysis (especially on the documentary subject) and quick-hit comedic tangents.
• Audience: Fans of true crime, nostalgia, pop culture, and the unique podcast rapport of longtime friends.

Summary:
Episode #520 of The Basement Yard seamlessly blends shock and levity as Joe and Frank process the deeply disturbing “Unknown Caller” case, reflect on their own values regarding family and forgiveness, and then lighten the mood with classic banter about spelling, hypothetical million-dollar walks, and 90s pop culture. The episode showcases both the hosts' capacity for empathy and their commitment to making even the darkest subject matter amusing and relatable.