The Dollop: The Past Times with Dorian DeBose

Episode 141 | September 5, 2025
Hosts: Dave Anthony, Gareth Reynolds
Guest: Dorian DeBose

Main Theme / Purpose

In this episode of "The Past Times," comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds are joined by Dorian DeBose for their signature deep-dive into history, using a randomly selected 1902 edition of the "McMinnville News" from Oregon as their comedic springboard. The trio riff on odd, dark, and surreal moments from America's past as reflected in century-old local news, using their discovery to fuel hilarious tangents on class, culture, and modern parallels.

1. Guest Introduction & Banter (02:33-05:33)

• Welcoming Dorian DeBose
  • Dorian makes his third appearance, prompting Gareth to joke about him taking over as co-host.
  • Discussion of Dorian’s move from Kansas City to New York and his live show “Evil Shark Tank,” where comedians pitch satirical “evil” business ideas.
• Notable Quote:
  • “We had somebody bring in a white nationalist American Girl doll, which is just American Girl.” – Dorian (04:37)

2. Guess the Year and Setting the Scene (05:33-08:38)

• The hosts challenge Dorian to guess the year of a randomly selected newspaper.
  • Dorian: 1897
  • Gareth: 1909
  • Year Revealed: 1902 (Dorian wins)
• Playful banter about the show’s rules: “You can’t go over in this game, as we’ve said many times.” – Dave (06:46)
• Riff on Ireland, race, and the latest social media trends regarding Black and ginger solidarity.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • “Are we now on Merch allowed to say a podcast hosted by three black men?” – Gareth (08:26)

3. Small Town America, Population & Geography (08:38-12:07)

• Introduction to McMinnville, Oregon; the trio speculate on its existence and joke about small towns being “gotten rid of.”
• Tangent about the “whitest states in America” sparked by a discussion of Alaska’s demographics.
• Notable Quote:
  • “When you go to Anchorage and I was genuinely… I was like, this is—it’s white. It’s white.” – Gareth (10:43)

4. Sensational 1902 News — Dynamite Suicide Confession (12:07-16:10)

• Headline: "Schoolboys today found a written confession purported to have been made by the unknown suicide who Friday blew his head off with dynamite."
• Trio reacts with shock, finding absurdity and horror in the news:
  • “That’s not—that—you’re not gonna miss. You’re not gonna wake up in the hospital. Dynamite…” – Dave (12:31)
• The confession reveals the suicide’s guilt in an 1894 murder, which led to wrongful conviction of another man.
• The comedians joke about the “American-ness” of a dynamite suicide.
  • “It’s so over the top. That’s—very American.” – Dorian (14:24)
• Observations on the justice system, “20-year murder sentence—those are the days.”

5. The Dead Letter Office – Postal Chaos (18:03-24:08)

• Article about unclaimed and misaddressed mail—millions of dead letters, many containing cash, stamps, and valuable papers.
• Gareth proposes a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” sweepstakes to open dead letters (19:27), to much approval.
• Discussion of the sheer scale of misdirected mail and rampant opportunities for pilfering.
• Notable Quote:
  • “If you ever get in this… You gotta do it faster. You have no choice. It’s like Dance Dance Revolution.” – Gareth (50:14 referring to dancing at gunpoint, but echoes this section’s absurdity)

6. Gilded Age Philanthropy – Carnegie and Riches (24:08-27:01, 56:20-58:08)

• Tangent about Andrew Carnegie, industrialists’ “philanthropy,” and how giving tiny sums won immense praise.
• Dorian recounts reading Carnegie's Wikipedia controversies, observing how he repeatedly fled the country during crises.
• Philosophical notes on the illusion of generosity from the ultra-rich, comparisons to Jeff Bezos.

7. International Incident – The Miracle of the Flags (32:39-40:59)

• Story about an American sailor in Chile sentenced to death for knocking down a policeman, supposedly saved at the last second by the British and American consuls physically wrapping him in both flags.
• Trio calls out the clear apocryphal vibes:
  • “The story is absolute bullshit.” – Dave (38:12)
  • Jokes about this being the fantasy of flag-waving nationalists.

8. Class Satire: Royals, Groceries, and Out-of-Touchness (40:59-44:01)

• Tangent comparing rich Americans and British royalty’s disconnection from daily life.
• Gareth recounts George Bush’s infamous “laser scanner” grocery incident.
• Wonders whether King Charles wipes his own ass or brushes his own teeth: “Even if I was rich... I'd be like, hey, I'll brush my teeth. Stop it.” – Gareth (40:59-41:05)

9. Oregon Frontier Antics – Dances at Gunpoint (45:08-54:32)

• Wild local news story: A series of dog poisonings leads to one neighbor making another dance a clog at gunpoint across the prairie, ultimately extracting a $75 IOU.
• The comedians riff on this escalating farce, imagining the dynamics of gunpoint clog-dancing and how a modern-day equivalent would spin out.
• “He brought him all the way to his own house? ...The method of transportation does not have a plan.” – Dave (52:13-52:22)
• Legal comedy: The wronged dancer sues, leading Dorian to dub it “a total Drake move.”

10. Cheese Factories and Town Aspirations (66:42-67:59)

• Brief, absurd article: Wilhelmina, Oregon will soon get a creamery and cheese factory, then all it needs for town status is a drugstore, doctor, and lawyer.
• Trio mock the optimism:
  • “All I need is biceps, chest muscles, abs, better lower body, core strength, and another 4 inches and I could be a bodybuilder now.” – Gareth (67:27)
• Extended riffing on “almost-a-town” logic and personal analogies (almost having a car, being almost a fish etc.)

11. Additional Noteworthy Segments

• Telegraphists’ Paralysis (62:01-66:36):
  Early form of carpal tunnel from repetitive telegraph key motion, sparking a series of increasingly absurd masturbation jokes, culminating in the group recognizing Gareth as “a charity masturbator.”

• Octopus Cities (44:46-45:03):
  Dorian exults in the rise of future octopus civilizations:

  • “I hope the octopus culture that comes after us learns from this.” – Dorian (44:01)

• Disqualifying for Kingship (59:35-61:24):
  Story from the Book of Judges about maiming kings, prompting a comic auction about which finger the hosts would be willing to lose.

12. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That’s not shocking and yet so horrible.” – Gareth, discussing the king disqualification story (60:23)
• “The philanthropy he's doing is really impactful and super important. I'm glad to support it every day. Every other billionaire should die.” – Dorian (57:58)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Guess the Year Game: 05:33–06:43
• Dynamite Suicide Confession: 12:07–16:10
• Dead Letter Office / Postal Mishaps: 18:03–24:08
• Gilded Age Philanthropy: 24:08–27:01; 56:20–58:08
• International Flag Rescue Story: 32:39–40:59
• Class Satire Conversation: 40:59–44:01
• Octopus Cities/Economic Fatalism: 44:46–45:03
• Prairie Gunpoint Dancing: 45:08–54:32
• Cheese Factory Town: 66:42–67:59

Conclusion

Dorian DeBose brings energy and sharp perspective to the episode, sparking comedic chemistry over the recurring absurdity and dark hilarity of historical news. The episode is full of playful race and class banter, riffs on the American justice system, and endless metaphors for American ambition and mismanagement. The trio wring every ounce of humor from Gilded Age philanthropy, lost mail, prairie justice, and the chasm between rich and poor—proving the past is rarely less weird than the present.

Dorian’s parting praise:
“Honestly, the kind of dancing that if I saw probably wouldn’t shoot you, if I’m being honest. And that’s a high compliment.” – Gareth (68:13)

Find Dorian:

• Instagram: @verbose_dubose
• Evil Shark Tank info: see Dorian's socials