Zac Amico's Morning Zoo
Episode 0052 – Scott Chaplain and Jarrett Campbell
GaS Digital Network | October 12, 2025
Episode Overview
This berserk, laughter-packed installment of Zac Amico's Morning Zoo brings together host Zac Amico with comedians Scott Chaplain and Jarrett Campbell for a wild ride of drive-time chaos. The trio riff on nicotine addictions, high school reunions, haunted houses, pro wrestling’s decline, Nazi subculture oddities, cursed serial killer memorabilia, Halloween controversies, and a lot more. As always, Zac’s brand of darkly irreverent humor keeps things lively, weird, and unfiltered—just as listeners expect.
Main Discussion Segments
1. Nicotine War Stories and “The Grift”
[02:28–06:45]
- Zac celebrates not having used nicotine since January, but admits he’s tempted to go back, especially on road trips.
- They reminisce about various smokeless tobacco products: “Zyns are fine, man. It’s like the vaping and smoking you want to stay away from.” – Jared Campbell [02:50]
- Stories of misguided high school pranks: Zac describes pranking a kid (Abdel) into thinking beef jerky was real dip. The kid’s subsequent “addiction” and vomit-inducing initiation into actual dip are gleefully retold.
- “I watched a little Arab boy turn green in real—I mean wintergreen, dude.” – Zac Amico [06:07]
2. Why High School Reunions Are Pointless
[06:48–09:43]
- Zac debates attending his 25-year high school reunion, ultimately deciding against it after advice from Mike Lawrence.
- “Like, oh man, you’re doing so well, what you do looks cool. Yeah, well, I’m not gonna get it. I’m just gonna get... all the girls I went to high school with talking about how their kids are their life.” – Zac Amico [07:35]
- Jarrett and Zac compare small-town dynamics: nostalgia, everyone’s life paths, and why the friends you want to see are the ones you already keep in touch with.
3. Wedding MC Stories & The Comedy of Awkward Gigs
[09:45–13:02]
- Jarrett shares about being asked to MC small-town weddings: “I’ve agreed to it twice. You know what, it is again? Small town. So, I was like, fuck it, I’ll do it. And it’s fine… but I won’t do it again.” – Jarrett Campbell [11:34]
- Zac shares regrets about not hiring a drag queen MC or Beetlejuice impersonator for his own wedding, and how pro MCs can “make or break” weird family events.
- Discussion of “Beetle House”—a Tim Burton-themed NYC bar, and the fun of eclectic character MCs at events.
4. Coyote Ugly, Childhood Films, and Bar Life
[13:11–15:24]
- Jarrett describes repeated late-night trips to “Coyote Ugly”—and how the reality is more desperate than the movie.
- “It’s like the strippers, before they go to the strip club, they’re working at Coyote Ugly... just this weird fucking environment...” – Jarrett Campbell [13:26]
- Zac explains the origin of “coyote ugly” (waking up next to someone you’d chew your own arm off to escape) [14:50].
5. Hookups and the Fetishization of Anonymous Encounters
[16:00–18:12]
- Zac recounts a friend’s risky fetish for ultra-anonymous one-night stands—sneaking in and out without any conversation.
- “That sounds like an Uber preference!” – Scott Chaplin [17:14]
- They mock the logistical dangers, including accidentally entering the wrong home or child’s room.
6. Wrestling Talk – The Decline of the Industry
[21:00–30:00]
- The panel, all Attitude Era fans, bemoan WWE’s modern state, unaffordable event tickets, and waning excitement.
- Nostalgia for peak “attitude” and “ruthless aggression” eras:
- “It was the first time I realized if I was a kid now, there’s no way I would give a fuck.” – Scott Chaplin [21:22]
- “We act like [Stone Cold] was like Hogan, where he was on top for like 20 years… he was only big for a couple years.” – Zac Amico [22:55]
- Outrage at WrestleMania ticket prices, and the gross commercialization under TKO. “WrestleMania 42, the highest price tickets are $42,219.” – Scott Chaplin [25:19]
Saudi WrestleMania and Pro Wrestling’s Weirdest Corners
[27:21–32:44]
- Zac confesses he’s never watched a Saudi event and derides their censorship—e.g., women wrestling in Power Ranger outfits.
- Anecdotes about Saudi royalty requesting dead wrestlers (!) and being appeased with stand-ins.
- Griping about AI videos using deceased wrestlers and infamous low-points like China’s "Royal Rumble" porn spoof.
- Zac reveals his friend Tommy Pistol played “Mean Gene” in that parody: “Former sketch comedian turned porn legend.” [29:49]
7. High School Nazism, Racist Tattoo Checks & Doc Martens Lore
[43:43–48:39]
- The crew riff on tattoo mishaps, including stories of swastika tattoos, horror at family events, and the coded laces of Doc Martens representing different subcultural affiliations (and white supremacy icons).
- “Very specific experience. I don’t think a lot of people get Nazi checked.” – Zac Amico [48:13]
- Informative digression: different lace colors denote different (often racist) meanings [47:11].
8. Obscure Jewish Rituals and Toilet Humor
[48:55–52:22]
- Zac shares a deep-dive curiosity: Orthodox Jews pre-rip toilet paper for the Sabbath to avoid “work” and the odd workaround systems.
- “Try asking a non-Jew to rip Torah.” – Informative voice [49:45]
- Roundtable jokes about helping strangers in public bathrooms.
- “But to go to a stranger is ballsy.” – Zac Amico [50:07]
9. Serial Killer Memorabilia Culture
[53:00–59:19]
- Zac and Shannon (“researcher/assistant”) geek out over Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans acquiring Ed Gein’s infamous cauldron, displayed in his haunted museum.
- “Would I go see this? Yes. A hundred percent.” – Zac Amico [54:34]
- Zac name-drops his own collection of Ed Gein artifacts and his friend Babette's “pulley system” from Gein’s farm.
- “Tell you what, the pulley system’s a bit fucking much, dude.” – Jared Campbell [58:38]
- Jokes about the modern trend of celebrities buying haunted/true-crime locations, e.g. Matt Rife’s Annabelle House.
10. Halloween Displays Gone Too Far
[36:11–41:20]
- Discussion of a man arrested for terroristic threats after decorating his lawn with body bags labeled “Mayor,” “District Judge,” etc.
- Debate over a controversial ICE/deportation-themed skeleton Halloween display—“Town is split” over whether it’s offensive.
- Reflections on past Halloween costumes that would never fly today (“in blackface,” “border patrol vs. Mexican”).
- “Just to think how inappropriate that was... not that long ago.” – Zac Amico [41:45]
11. Haunted House War Stories and the Business of Making People Pee Themselves
[60:46–63:52]
- Zac reminisces on working in haunted attractions, getting punched, dealing with fake complaints, and collecting trophies from guests who lost costume parts or literally pissed themselves:
- “How many people piss their pants that night? You got, like, two or three a year.” – Zac Amico [64:07]
12. Trans Panic at the School Board
[66:30–69:06]
- Play-by-play of a California mom who stripped to a bathing suit at a school board meeting to protest trans-inclusive locker-room policies.
- “She makes a point for a school that their kid can no longer attend.” – Jared Campbell [68:45]
- Panel mocks her execution and the true fallout for her child.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- “I watched a little Arab boy turn green in real—I mean, wintergreen, dude.” – Zac Amico [06:07]
- “Like, oh man, you’re doing so well, what you do looks cool. Yeah, well, I’m not gonna get it... I’m just gonna get all the girls I went to high school with talking about how their kids are their life.” – Zac Amico [07:35]
- “It’s like the strippers, before they go to the strip club, they’re working at Coyote Ugly...” – Jarrett Campbell [13:26]
- “That sounds like an Uber preference!” – Scott Chaplin [17:14]
- “WrestleMania 42, the highest price tickets are $42,219.” – Scott Chaplin [25:19]
- “Very specific experience. I don’t think a lot of people get Nazi checked.” – Zac Amico [48:13]
- “Try asking a non-Jew to rip Torah.” – Informative voice [49:45]
- “Tell you what, the pulley system’s a bit fucking much, dude.” – Jared Campbell [58:38]
Key Timestamps
- Nicotine and Chewing Tobacco Stories: [02:28–06:45]
- High School Reunion Rant: [06:48–09:43]
- Wedding MCs, Beetlejuice Bar: [09:45–13:02]
- Coyote Ugly Bar & Phrase Origin: [13:11–15:24]
- Wrestling Nostalgia and Critique: [21:00–30:00]
- Saudi Wrestling Pay-Per-Views: [27:21–32:44]
- Controversial Halloween Displays: [36:11–41:20]
- Doc Martens Lace Code & Nazi Checking: [43:43–48:39]
- Jewish Shabbat Toilet Paper Discussion: [48:55–52:22]
- Serial Killer Collecting and Zak Bagans: [53:00–59:19]
- Haunted House Employee War Stories: [60:46–63:52]
- Trans Panic School Board Mom: [66:30–69:06]
Tone and Style
Unfiltered, fast-paced, dark, and self-deprecating. The show's mood veers from gleefully juvenile to grimly reflective, all lubricated by sharp comic timing and complete irreverence for sacred cows.
Recommended For
Listeners who love morning zoo mayhem, dark humor, wrestling nerd-dom, true crime trivia, and unapologetic banter about taboo social and cultural topics.