The BOB & TOM Show Extra: Comedian Joe Dombrowski

Original Air Date: August 26, 2025
Podcast Host(s): Tom Griswold, Bob Kevoian, Kristi Lee, Guest Hosts/Producers
Guest: Joe Dombrowski

Episode Overview

This "B&T Extra" episode features comedian and former teacher Joe Dombrowski joining The BOB & TOM Show crew for an energetic, joke-filled conversation. The episode moves quickly between absurd news stories, personal house renovation tales, stand-up road stories, and a big reveal about Joe’s current life milestone. True to BOB & TOM form, the humor is fast, sharp, and peppered with playful roast-style banter.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Offbeat News Rundown (06:00–09:07)

• Claw Machine Rescue:
  The hosts share a recurring quirky news story about a child getting stuck in a claw machine in Ohio, delighting in the absurdity and riffing on party-themed variations.

  • Tom: "I heard it took them almost a hundred dollars in quarters before they... one of the guys was able to nail it." (06:12)
  • Concept for a "white claw machine" at Kristi’s parties, where guests would need “skill” to claim their beverage.

• Horror Teddy Bear Incident:
  Discussion of a grotesque teddy bear in California mistaken for being made of human skin, tracing it back to a horror artist.

  • Tom: "Be like if Ed Gein were at Build A Bear." (08:43)
  • Kristi: "More like Build A Scare, huh?" (09:00)

2. Welcome Joe Dombrowski! (09:12–09:33)

• Joe's distinct humor is on display immediately, joking about the show’s longevity and sharing his excitement about being invited back.
  • Joe: "He texted me...‘do you want to come back on Bob and Tom?’ And I said, 'He’s still alive? I’m excited.'" (09:20)

3. Joe’s Stand-Up Life and Springfield, Missouri Adventures (09:44–13:06)

• Joe talks about his road comic life, being home in Seattle (“for 12 more hours”) and prepping for a set in Springfield, MO at "The Blue Room.”

  • Discussion on the bizarre local attraction, "Fantastic Caverns."
  • Hilarious tale about being alone on a fourth-grade field trip tram wearing a “I just rode the Fantastic Cavern” shirt:
    • Joe: "I came out of this cave after a herd of fourth graders. A 6 foot 3 man with a mustache... This is... There’s something not okay." (10:36)

• Springfield’s "throwed rolls" restaurant, Lambert’s, also gets a shout-out, with everyone trading stories about catching (and dodging) rolls.

4. Joe’s Retro Home & Style Banter (11:19–13:39)

• Joe describes his 1960s-style house, complete with old paneling and an intercom:

  • "I was really going for something that reminded me of the AA meetings at the VFW. So I think I hit it on the head." (11:46)

• Joking critique of Kristi’s wardrobe gets its own moment:

  • Joe: "Last time you had... a flannel Carhartt. Now... something with Kohl’s cash." (13:19)

5. Stand-Up "Walk Up" Music (13:39–14:27)

• Joe reveals his signature walk-up song for stand-up shows:
  • "My song actually is 'Back That Ass Up,' and I walk out to [it] very proudly because I do got a little junk in the trunk." (14:08)

6. Joe's Life Off Stage: Podcast Listener Love & Murder Mystery Sidebar (14:46–16:27)

• Joe recounts his surprise at the depth and enthusiasm of the Bob & Tom fanbase:

  • "Everywhere I went in the city, people were like, 'Heard you on Bob and Tom.' Heard you on Boba Tom. I'm like, what show did I go on? It was fantastic. Your fans are ravenous. Ravenous." (15:46)

• He briefly references watching a murder mystery about a local gay bar, Gregg’s, and major documentary vibes in Indy.

7. Big Update: Joe’s Fatherhood Journey (16:27–20:38)

• Joe gives a baby update, sharing he and his husband are expecting via IVF/surrogacy.
  • Holds up ultrasound image:
    • Kristi: "Hold that back up. I couldn’t see that." (16:56)
    • Joe: "We just got done remodeling our nursery. We're having a baby." (16:39)
  • Tom asks about knowing the baby's sex and the increasingly elaborate nature of gender reveal parties.
  • Joe, on baby naming as a former teacher:
    • "It is very, very hard to name a baby when you used to be a teacher because... my husband will throw out these names and I have to shut them all down..." (19:38)
    • Also, his (joking) favorite: "Chaka Khan," and imagining two gay dads shouting for Chaka at pickup.
  • Joe: "I just want to go... be in the pickup line at parent pickup so I can look at this baby and yell for her and say, ‘sha Gon!’ Everybody sha..." (20:23)

Noteworthy & Memorable Quotes

• On Walk-Up Music:

  • "My song actually is 'Back That Ass Up' and I walk out to [it] very proudly because I do got a little junk in the trunk." — Joe Dombrowski (14:08)

• On Parenting as a Former Teacher:

  • "It is very, very hard to name a baby when you used to be a teacher because... my husband will throw out these names and I have to shut them all down." — Joe Dombrowski (19:38)

• On Bob & Tom Fanbase:

  • "Everywhere I went in the city, people were like, ‘Heard you on Bob and Tom. Heard you on Boba Tom.’... Your fans are ravenous. Ravenous." — Joe Dombrowski (15:46)

• On Outlandish News:

  • "Be like if Ed Gein were at Build A Bear and he built it." — Tom Griswold (08:43)
  • "More like Build A Scare, huh?" — Kristi Lee (09:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 06:00 – Claw machine rescue story and White Claw machine joke
• 08:08 – Grotesque teddy bear mistaken for human skin
• 09:12 – Joe Dombrowski joins the show
• 10:27–11:19 – Fantastic Caverns and Springfield tourism story
• 13:39 – Stand-up walk-up music: "Back That Ass Up"
• 14:46 – Joe surprised by Bob & Tom’s fanbase in Indianapolis
• 16:27 – Joe and his husband are having a baby (IVF & surrogacy)
• 19:38 – Teacher's challenge with baby names

Memorable Moments

• Joe singlehandedly reviving "Mustache in a Cave Full of Fourth Graders" as a new cringe-comedy story (10:36).
• The escalation of gender reveal party absurdity, with references to motorcycles, balloons, and alligators near grandmas (18:10–18:53).
• Joe imagining school pickup with a kid named Chaka Khan (20:23).
• Recurring bits roasting Tom's verbosity, Kristi’s shirts, and the horror teddy bear that wasn’t made from skin.

Episode Tone & Takeaway

Staying true to The BOB & TOM Show's blend of irreverence, fast ensemble chemistry, and guest spotlight, this episode is both a breezy catch-up and a window into the regular absurdities comedians encounter on and off the road. Joe Dombrowski’s stories are quick-witted, honest, and cheerfully self-deprecating, especially as he shares nervous joy about impending fatherhood. Listeners get insights into his comic process, road adventures, and personal milestones, all spiked with the show's signature punchlines.