The Bobby Bones Show – September 18, 2025

THURS PT 2: How Much Money Did Bobby Make On 'Dancing With The Stars'? + New Crime On The Rise + Bobby Messaged A Celebrity That Made Him Feel Old + Scammer Called Our Show!
Host: Bobby Bones
Co-hosts: Amy, Mike, Lunchbox, Morgan, Ray

Episode Overview

This lively episode of The Bobby Bones Show covers a wide range of topics, from a surprising uptick in museum heists, celebrity payday revelations, and a hilarious scammer call, to moments of self-reflection triggered by generational shifts and celebrity encounters. Bobby also reveals, in detail, how much he made on “Dancing With the Stars,” discusses the oddity of getting older in the public eye, and navigates playful, insightful group banter about everything from social media to marriage statistics.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Museum Heists On The Rise

[03:02 – 12:18]

• Amy shares that museum heists are increasing, citing a $700,000 gold theft in Paris and a priceless Pharaoh’s bracelet stolen in Cairo.
• The team debates museum security and recalls the 1911 Mona Lisa theft, with Bobby noting, “If you had something that was worth a million dollars or had a million in cash, you’d think they would guard it the same” (03:26).
• Discussion spirals into what the crew would do if transported back in time, comedic hypotheticals about robbing or warning passengers off the Titanic, inventions they couldn’t replicate, and the limits of retroactive knowledge.
• Quote – Bobby: “It sucked to live back then, knowing all the things we have now: the two things—hot water and air conditioning.” (07:32)
• Ends with a mix of humor, exploring how little they'd be able to bring to the past besides cheating at gambling, and how much society's changed.

2. Justin Bieber’s Coachella Payday & Pop Culture Whiplash

[12:18 – 15:31]

• Lunchbox reports Bieber will be Coachella’s highest-paid act ever, over $10 million, negotiating the deal himself and cutting out certain agent/manager fees.
• Discussion of the other headliners, with a diversion into the “booty-shaking” halftime show by Karol G at an NFL Game.
• Cross-generational confusion and comic discomfort as the team realizes how little they know about newer stars and Latin pop.
• Quote – Bobby: “This is when you realize, one, you’re too old for the young part of pop culture...I don’t know any of her music.” (14:21)

3. Viral News: Escaping Nuns & Near-Miss Flights

[15:43 – 18:39]

• Eddie shares a story about Austrian nuns escaping a retirement home to return to their school, inspiring comparisons to “Thelma & Louise.”
• Morgan recounts how Spirit Airlines’ pilots nearly crossed paths with Air Force One, with air traffic controllers shouting “Get off your iPad!”—debate ensues over whether this was a real warning or a joke.
• The team laughs, wonders about modern airline equipment, and marvels at the near-miss.

4. Scammer Calls the Show!

[19:09 – 20:21]

• Voicemail Segment: The show receives a scam call about a supposed Comcast Xfinity bill discount.
• The crew breaks down classic scam tactics and reminds listeners to be vigilant.
• Quote – Bobby: “They just throw 10,000 of them out there and if they get two calls, Eureka, right?” (20:07)

5. Dancing With the Stars: Bobby’s Earnings Revealed

[22:13 – 31:21]

• Annual media interest returns: Bobby appears in a new E! Online article, and rumors resurface about him "cheating" on DWTS.
• He clarifies what “cheating” meant: using extra studio time, no rule-breaking, just extra practice.
• Money Breakdown:
  • Signing bonus: ~$110-120K for committing and doing the first 4 weeks
  • Weekly pay: Additional $10K per episode past week two, escalating to $50K for the finale
  • Total: “All in, it was close to $400,000.” (25:50)
  • No winner’s bonus—just the finale check.
• Describes living arrangements, career outcomes post-show, and how ABC recruited him.
• Quote – Bobby: “I never had the goal of being on Dancing with the Stars. They came to me and said, ‘We want you...’” (26:35)
• Details pressure, his determination to win, and teammates’ skepticism.

6. Feeling Old: Messaging a Celebrity

[32:43 – 34:56]

• Bobby messages a well-known internet personality for encouragement.
• Gets a positive reply, but with a twist: the celebrity credits Bobby as “the voice of my childhood,” revealing the generational shift.
• Quote – Bobby: “Time marches on...where someone’s like, I used to listen to you in the car when I was a kid...and I’m, like, sending him a message being like, dude, keep up the good work.’” (34:47)
• Comparison to “Rockin’ Rod” nostalgia and embracing one’s evolving image.

7. Generational Trends: Screens, Social Media, and Division

[39:48 – 44:15]

• The team discusses generational categories (Gen X, Millennial, Gen Z) and the revelation that Gen Z spends less time outdoors.
• Bobby confesses, “I love screens. It’s my favorite thing. The world is at your fingertips.” (40:56)
• Talks Bo Burnham’s stand-up about “the knowledge of the world at our fingertips vs going to bed.”
• Deep dive into today’s divisive social media climate, echo chambers, and foreign interference.
• Quote – Bobby: “Sensibility doesn’t get clicks...you always want to be more outrageous than the next person...sports isn’t what’s dividing our country.” (43:10)
• The real world, they agree, is not as polarized as online spaces.

8. Marriage, Divorce, & Societal Changes

[47:51 – 55:55]

• Deconstructing the “half of marriages end in divorce” myth: US divorce rates have declined since the 1980s, which is partly attributed to older average marriage ages.
• Bobby and Amy probe historical data:
  • 1970 women’s average marriage age: ~20-21
  • Today: ~28.5
  • Men’s today: ~30
• Insights about credit laws for women (Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974).
• Debate on whether marrying older is easier/harder (“set in your ways” vs. knowing what you want), evolving relationship dynamics, and the inevitability—and necessity—of conflict.
• Quote – Amy: “Even if I get married young and stay married as a couple...you're going to be married to a different wife, and being married to a different husband over and over again...how you evolve together.” (53:48)

9. Notable Lighthearted Moments

• The Frog/Cricket Prank

[44:52 – 47:28]

• Bobby tricks everyone with a tiny toy that makes realistic frog noises, causing a hilarious mini-mystery over where the sound’s coming from.
• Quote – Bobby: “Tell me this isn’t hilarious. Listen to it again.” (46:11)
• Laughter ensues as the crew falls for the trick until Bobby confesses.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On museum security
  • “If you had something...worth a million dollars...you should guard that the same.” — Bobby (03:26)
• On aging and pop culture
  • “You realize...you’re too old for the young part of pop culture.” — Bobby (14:21)
• On celebrity DMs and time passing
  • “Time marches on...I used to listen to you in the car when I was a kid...and now I’m reaching out.” — Bobby (34:47)
• On DWTS earnings
  • “All in, it was close to $400,000.” — Bobby (25:50)
• On social media polarization
  • “Sensibility doesn’t get clicks...be more outrageous than the next person...that’s what’s splitting our country.” — Bobby (43:10)
• On marriage and personal growth
  • “You’re going to be married to a different wife, and being married to a different husband over and over again...how you evolve together.” — Amy (53:48)
• On wedding ages
  • “[Back then]...the average age for women getting married...was around 20...now it’s about 28 and a half.” — (50:03-51:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:02 — Museum heists discussion
• 12:18 — Bieber’s Coachella payday & pop culture reflection
• 15:43 — Nuns’ escape & Spirit/Air Force One near-miss
• 19:09 — Scam call breakdown
• 22:13 — Dancing with the Stars: earnings & legacy
• 32:43 — Bobby’s DMs reveal aging in the public eye
• 39:48 — Generational differences & impact of social media
• 47:51 — Divorce statistics and shifting marriage trends
• 44:52 — The frog prank

Podcast Tone & Dynamics

True to Bobby Bones Show style, the episode is energetic, irreverent, and self-aware. Hosts bounce seamlessly between tongue-in-cheek hypotheticals, sincere admissions about aging and relevance, and sharp observations on the modern media landscape, relationships, and internet scams.

For New Listeners

This episode provides a great example of the show's trademark mix: real-life anecdotes, honest talk about entertainment and money, smart social commentary, and spontaneous hilarity. Whether you’re here to learn how much reality TV stars make, marvel at the absurdity of modern life, or just laugh at a frog sound prank, this one has something for everyone.