The Shane Dawson Podcast

Episode: Cruise Ship Conspiracy Theories!

Air Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Shane Dawson
Co-hosts: Ryland, Spencer, Sandy, Jared, and others

Overview

This lively episode of The Shane Dawson Podcast dives into the world of cruise ship conspiracy theories, mixes in plenty of off-the-rails humor, viral trends, and personal stories of sickness and mishaps. The crew discusses cruise line rumors, true crime at sea, internet phenomena, disappointing candy, and plays a hilarious game of “Trend it or End it.” Genuine camaraderie, self-effacing jokes, and personal confessions set the tone, while the infamous “Conspiracy Corner” delivers on the title’s theme.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Catching Up: Sicknesses, Shingles, and Resistance Tips (00:31 - 11:01)

• Chris is absent due to the flu, prompting stories about how everyone’s been constantly sick.
• Spencer reveals he had shingles, leading to a long, funny exploration of what it’s like, the pain ("it was the worst pain I've ever had, and I wanted to die" – Shane, [03:19]), and why he got it young (“Apparently, I have a really weak immune system,” – Spencer, [04:39]).
• Ryland and Sandy discuss immune system hacks, like putting VapoRub on feet (Sandy: “My mom says... this is why I don't ever get sick.” [01:56]), and the benefits of staying active.

2. More Mishaps: Dog Attack and Dermatology Appointments (11:07 - 15:44)

• Spencer shares how, after recovering from shingles, he got attacked (scratched) by a big husky dog while feeling better for the first time.
  • “I was like, finally, I feel better…walked by this guy…dog jumped at me.” – Spencer, [11:36]
• The story is met with disbelief and jokes about rabies and unlucky streaks.
• Jokes about the anxiety and awkwardness of dermatology appointments pepper the segment.

3. Mini-Trends: Candy Addictions & Comfort Foods (09:12 - 10:55)

• Spencer’s obsession with Nerds Candy Corn, likened to crack:
  • “It's like, I need it. I went to three different targets. None of them had it.” – Spencer, [09:39]
• Sandy raves about her sister’s homemade sourdough bread with celebrity-level excitement.

4. Game Time: “Trend it or End it” (18:48 - 36:38)

Premise: Discussing 2025’s social media and pop culture trends, voting as a group whether to keep them into 2026 or “end” them.
Notable Trends & Debates:

• Katy Perry in Space Memes – “We all needed something to laugh about.” (F, [21:06])
• K-Pop Demon Hunters – “The soundtrack is…the winner here. It’s so good.” – Sandy, [22:28]
• “Wicked” movie and Ariana Grande/Cynthia Erivo press tours:
  • Shane recounts humorous drunken attempts to see the movie, sitting front row, and aborting the mission. (“How are we going to walk out of Wicked? Like, that's such a bad...in the front row.” [26:41])
• Coldplay Kiss Cam – Lamenting “overused” viral trends consuming Instagram feeds.
• Dubai Chocolate – Most universally reviled trend (“They sell a fucking candy bar at circle K for $20.” – Jared, [35:38])
• Winner for “most over-it” trend: Dubai Chocolate.

5. Conspiracy Corner (40:44–63:41)

A. New Color-Theory “Dress” Meme (42:03 - 43:40)

• The crew debates a new viral image (pajamas): black & blue or white & gold?
  • “Is my shingle...Did shingles actually ruin me? Because I see white and gold…” – Spencer, [43:02]
  • Most see black and blue, except Spencer (who blames shingles).

B. AI & Deepfake Technology Fears (43:40 - 48:41)

• Shane plays a disturbing ad for an AI app recreating interactions with deceased relatives.
• Discussion about the emotional and supernatural implications (“...if they really want to talk to us, they will use technology...that to me is not great.” – Shane, [46:35]).
• The group is amazed by increasingly realistic AI-generated videos (esp. viral “person being hit at a carnival” clips).

C. TikTok Mystery: Why Shane Can’t Go Viral, But Others Can (48:41–51:52)

• Shane vents about never getting views for his own TikToks, but others’ “flow state” memes using his voice and old footage go viral (“I'm trending. Whoa, Whoa.” – Shane, [51:15]).
• Ryland bemoans the state of TikTok culture.

D. Mini Conspiracies & Life Updates (52:35–59:32)

• Mislabeled ghost kitchen foods: Best Greek food “ever” from DoorDash turns out to be from a hospital cafeteria.
• Discount store mysteries: People find BarkBox dog packages re-sold, complete with addresses, fanning theories about big brands’ marketing tricks.
• Revisiting the old Chuck E. Cheese pizza conspiracy and its enduring virality.
• Reese’s have “gone bad” – everyone tries recent Reese’s candies and agrees: the flavor and texture have changed for the worse (“They taste like plant protein...like a protein shake or something like that.” – Shane, Jared, [59:08–59:20]).

Cruise Ship Conspiracies & True Crime (61:14 – 72:52)

Cruise Line Food Conspiracy: Laxatives in Food? (61:14 – 63:16)

• Listeners ask: Are cruise lines adding laxatives to the food so people’s poop is easier for the plumbing systems?
  • Shane calls it “kind of genius,” and the crew dives into possible explanations (preservatives, gravity differences, overeating buffet food).
• Jared confirms cruises dump waste at sea once 12 miles offshore.
• Spencer shares rumors about airplane waste getting dropped mid-flight.

True Crime: The George Smith Cruise Mystery (64:33 – 72:52)

• Sandy presents a 2005 cruise ship disappearance: George Smith, newlywed, vanishes after a night of heavy drinking, possibly foul play.
• Intertwined with theories of Russian mafia, mistaken suicide, insurance settlements, and the lack of modern surveillance.
• “These four guys saw this guy flaunting everything that he had…They put something in his drink, took him back to his hotel, and threw him overboard. And that's it.” – Jared, [71:17]
• The case remains unsolved, and the victim’s family still seeks answers.

Notable Quotations & Moments

• On aging and sickness: “Is this what happens when we get old? Everybody just gets sick constantly?” – Shane, [01:13]
• On candy obsession: "Like crack… this is the best candy in the world." – Spencer, [09:39]
• On life's randomness: “My ass fell out. Like, all my nerves, they all broke.” – Shane, describing the anxiety of going viral unexpectedly, [49:18]
• On viral trends: “Trend it or End it?” – repeated as the battle cry for the game [20:07]
• On AI replacing human contact: “...if they really want to talk to us, they will use technology...that to me is not great.” – Shane, [46:35]
• On cruise ship bathrooms: “That many people pooping on a cruise...If I gotta poop, I'll poop in anything. I'll poop in a Stanley.” – Shane, [61:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Shingles & Illness Stories: 00:31–11:01
• Spencer’s Dog Attack Story: 11:07–13:43
• Nerds Candy Corn Addiction: 09:12–10:55
• “Trend It or End It” Game: 18:48–36:38
• Color Theory Dress Revisited: 42:03–43:40
• AI & Deepfake Fears: 43:40–48:41
• Shane’s TikTok Trend: 48:41–51:52
• Hospital Cafeteria as Doordash Restaurant: 52:35–53:38
• Reese’s Candy Tasting & “Decline”: 56:35–61:06
• Cruise Ship Food & Waste Conspiracies: 61:14–64:16
• True Crime at Sea (George Smith): 64:33–72:52
• Rylan’s Humorous Recap: 73:05–77:01

Memorable, Funny, or Weird Moments

• Comparing the latent chickenpox virus to being gay: “Shingles lives in you. It's like being gay.” – Shane, [04:56]
• Awkward dermatologist stories: "I'll get naked in the lobby." – co-host, [08:57]
• Home remedies discussed, like VapoRub on the feet.
• Shane’s meltdown over being TikTok-viral without his own effort.
• The whole crew taste-tests Reese’s and finds them “like dry plant protein.”
• True crime wrap-up with a call for crowd-solving and rewards.
• Everyone reflects on their favorite moment of the past year – a sweet section with personal highlights.

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is classic Shane Dawson: irreverent, self-referential, packed with ad-libs, deeply personal stories, and genuine interest in conspiracy theories—especially those with a humorous undertone. The crew’s chemistry makes even health woes and true crime stories funny and engaging. The “Conspiracy Corner” and “Trend it or End it” segments are standout highlights, and the episode balances ridiculous anecdotes with poignant questions about technology, internet culture, and even the supernatural.

For Listeners Who Missed It

• Expect plenty of laughs, wild tangents, “old-person” illness stories, and trendy internet jokes.
• Trend recaps and debates are a central focus (lots of shade thrown at Dubai Chocolate).
• True crime lovers get a detailed cruise ship mystery.
• Conspiracy theorists will enjoy tangents about cruise waste, color-theory crazes, and viral marketing stunts.
• If you ever doubted the decline in Halloween candy quality, this episode will validate your suspicions.
• The vibe is breezy, banter-fueled, and perfect for fans of Shane, internet trends, or just messy group chats.

Best Quote Summarizing the Show:
"We're a lot. But we had a fantastic time with all of you." – Shane ([77:11]).

Next episode: Back in two weeks!