Podcast Summary: Zac Amico's Morning Zoo
Episode 80: Maddy Smith and Alex Tomaselli
Recorded: January 18, 2026 | GaS Digital Network
Episode Overview
This episode of Zac Amico’s Morning Zoo is classic drive-time chaos: Zac, with guests Maddy Smith and Alex Tomaselli, dive headfirst into twisted takes on weird news, personal stories, wild benders, and their signature blend of comedian banter. The tone is irreverent, rapid-fire, and openly “unhinged,” with dark humor and authentic moments coloring discussions about grave robbing, food routines, viral headlines, and some deeply personal and hilariously inappropriate stories.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
01. Canadian Comedy Trip & Food Talk
[00:38 – 05:14]
- Zac and Alex reminisce about a comedy trip to Toronto, focusing mainly on an epic poutine crawl – pastrami, butter chicken, tater tots, and more.
- Venues discussed include the Bovine Sex Club (not a strip club, but a heavy metal bar) and Catacombs Cabaret, a small, intimate 60-seater that doubles as a seance/magic venue.
- Zac recounts a "boys trip" with classic food excess and "stone decisions" like adding tater tots to poutine.
- Quote: “What a boys trip... So much poutine. Honestly unadvised.” – Alex [02:40]
- Zac shares a story about a late-night live podcast at the cabaret with circus acts and a mishap involving stapling his own forehead:
- Quote: “Had to take my fingernails and dig in my forehead again.” – Zac [06:17]
02. Grisly True Crime: Skeletons in PA & Serial Killers
[06:25 – 17:36]
- Shannon brings in one of the week’s weirdest (and grimmest) news stories: Over 100 human skeletons found in a Pennsylvania home—potentially a "horror movie come to life," with possible ties to grave robbing.
- Zac riffs on the logistical nightmare for police (“like doing a fucked-up jigsaw puzzle” [08:50]) and compares it to Ed Gein’s case.
- Related headlines:
- Body parts, including a skull, found off the Coney Island boardwalk—possibly tied to an active NYC serial killer.
- A mayor’s body, missing for 20 years, washing up in Washington State.
- Discussion about how bodies decompose and true crime misconceptions.
- Callback to West Memphis Three’s case, wrongful convictions, and the role of animal bites in confusing forensics.
- Maddy and Zac’s “dry food” vs. “wet food” conversation emerges from this segment—a recurring bit about road snacks and self-preservation while touring.
03. Food Fads, Diets, and Childhood Meals
[11:10 – 26:29]
- Zac discusses drinking only zero-sugar beverages and “dry food” (trail mix of mixed nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds) to avoid junk on the road.
- Maddy admits her own late-night frozen pizza habit; Alex and Zac debate brands.
- “Wet food” is explained as Zac’s guilty comfort—canned chili mac, mac and cheese with hot dogs, and even eating it cold (“It’s perfect nourishment” – Zac [25:05]).
- Riffing about the CEO of Campbell’s disparaging his own product (“basically that it’s for poor... extremely poor people” – Maddy [22:37]; “He said, don’t eat Campbell’s. We don’t even know what we put in it anymore.” – Alex [22:28])
- Air fryers vs. microwaves: unanimous praise for air frying leftovers and frozen foods.
04. Morbid Tech & Odd Apps: “Are You Dead?”
[28:09 – 30:43]
- Shannon describes the new Chinese “Are You Dead” app—single users must check in every 48 hours or alarms alert emergency contacts.
- Panel laughs about American and Chinese habits (everyone agrees they’d forget to check in quickly) and how it exposes aging and loneliness, particularly in China.
- Zac tries (and aborts) a dark “Mulan” joke, reflecting the show’s “edgy but aware” style.
05. Comedy Scene Gossip & Industry Realities
[31:06 – 35:39]
- Panel dishes about NYC/NJ comedy festivals, unpaying gigs, and "scammy" bookers dangling future spots.
- Anecdotes about comedians using “Wolf of Wall Street” extra appearances as credits, plus the grind of low-level standup.
- Maddie teases an upcoming horror movie appearance and the surprising drudgery ("It’s a long day, laying in blood” – Zac [35:53]).
06. Rooming on the Road & Sleep Stories
[36:01 – 39:30]
- Zac and Alex describe sharing hotel rooms as adults: snoring, sleeping positions, Italian modesty ("Never see each other fully naked,” – Alex [37:02]), and random sleepwalking poses.
- Zac’s tendency to fall asleep in bathtubs results in mild self-injury and concerns (“If my wife finds me, my fat arms and legs sticking out with my whole ass in the tub.” – Zac [38:13])
- Relationship banter—accommodating snoring, giant beds, and the comedy of domestic routines takes center stage.
07. Neighborhood Characters: Life in Bay Ridge
[55:56 – 57:29]
- Zac shares about life in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, among multi-generational residents, “ultimate guido” neighbors, and old-school habits.
- The generational divide: old residents hate “all these Amazon boxes”; panel riffs on the absurdity of the new delivery world.
08. Headline Rapid-Fire:
A. Sinister Package in Reservoir [40:37 – 42:14]
Uncovered after eight feet of water receded, the package contained brass knuckles and an old handgun—likely decades old, possibly “the one that got Jimmy Hoffa.”
B. OnlyFans Models Arrested on Flight [42:49 – 46:31]
Two models boast about being arrested after refusing to move out of first class, documenting their drama on social media.
- Zac: “That is such hot bitch privilege.” [45:20]
- Discussion on the disparity in treatment compared to if a man had done the same.
C. Alcohol, Planes, & Trump Prohibition Rumor [47:02 – 50:06]
A fake TruthSocial post about Trump supporting prohibition circulates; Shannon debunks it on air.
D. Drugs, Punk Friends, & Living Off-Grid [53:04 – 54:46]
Tales of wild friends hiding heroin, crossbows, and Mein Kampf; the odd paths “couch-surfing” misfits can take.
E. Mattel’s Autistic Barbie [58:12 – 60:33]
Discussion (with jokes and genuine skepticism) about Barbie’s new “inclusive” model—flappy hands, fidget spinner, avoiding eye contact.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the PA Skeletons Case:
“It’s gotta be like doing a fucked-up jigsaw puzzle.”
—Zac [08:50]
On Ed Gein:
“Not serial killer vibes. No, he was more just a little freak. Grave robber. Collecting vulvas...”
—Maddy [07:57]
On "Dry Food" as a Touring Comic:
“I buy the big can of mixed nuts from Amazon and I put in raisins and sunflower seeds. Now it is my dry food on the road so that I don’t buy crap.”
—Zac [12:23]
On Rooming While Touring:
“We’re both Italian, so we never see each other fully naked.”
—Alex [37:02]
“My new one... If I can’t sleep, I’ll put on the hot water and sit on the edge of the tub. But then I fall asleep and fall backwards.”
—Zac [37:37]
On the Old Neighborhood:
“Oh, dude, when I moved in, the joy on old white people’s faces was like, ‘A white person!’ They were so excited.”
—Zac [56:15]
On OnlyFans Models Arrested at the Airport:
“That is such hot bitch privilege... Especially if that’s your seat and they just got their pussy juice all over it.”
—Maddy [45:22]
On Food Realities:
“I eat them out of the can cold... My wife says it looks like when Daniel Stern got arrested in Dennis the Menace.”
—Zac [21:58]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment/Event | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Toronto Trip & Food Recap | 00:38–05:14 | | The Great Stapler Incident | 05:18–06:17 | | 100 Skeletons in PA House | 06:25–10:36 | | Serial Killers & Decomposing Bodies | 17:01–20:32 | | Zero Sugar Drinks & Dry Food Routine | 11:10–12:37 | | “Are You Dead?” Chinese App | 28:09–30:43 | | Comedy Festival Scams | 31:06–35:39 | | OnlyFans Models Booted From Plane | 42:49–46:31 | | Trump’s (Fake) Prohibition Post | 47:02–50:06 | | Mattel’s Autistic Barbie Banter | 58:12–60:33 | | Zac's Brooklyn Neighborhood Life | 55:56–57:29 |
The Morning Zoo Tone
The episode is a whirlwind of R-rated banter, quick-witted dark humor, and wildly candid personal stories, leaning on camaraderie and lived comic experience. Zac is self-deprecating, “degenerate-positive,” and gleefully irreverent. Maddy is sharp and down-to-earth, with no patience for bullshit; Alex brings dry, slightly world-weary humor. The result: pure chaos, deeply entertaining for anyone who loves comedy’s rougher edges.