The Shane Dawson Podcast

Episode: Denny's Conspiracy Theories!

Date: October 12, 2025
Host: Shane Dawson
Co-Hosts: Ryland, Chris, Jared, Sandy, and more

Overview

In this episode—part raucous hangout, part season finale—the Shane Dawson crew celebrates the grand finale of their "Farmer's Got Talent" competition, shares personal updates (from hand, foot, and mouth disease to diet struggles), roasts and unravels a wild Denny's conspiracy, and dives into classic "Conspiracy Corner" and "True Crime" segments. The episode is packed with humorous banter, genuine emotional moments, and fresh internet folklore.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up and Chaos

• Diet Trials & Ketosis:
  • Jared and Sandy detail their strict no-sugar, high-fat diet, testing for ketosis with finger-prick blood monitors and even oil pulling with coconut oil.
  • Humorous takes abound (“If we quit now, I'd feel proud of myself.” – Jared, 04:47), with Chris quipping about using coconut oil as lube (05:06).
• Shane's Health Update:
  • Shane reflects on his streak of illnesses and recent bout with hand, foot, and mouth disease caught from his kids—leading to isolation, blisters, and eventually wearing gloves in Vegas to hide his healing hands.
  • “Having kids has broken me... And also they get sick, I get sick.” (05:30)
• Vegas Stories & Meeting Ashlee Simpson:
  • Shane hilariously documents his Vegas trip, hiding his hands and fabricating tales for why he's wearing gloves, culminating in an emotional meet-and-greet with Ashlee Simpson—who (unknowingly) helped save Shane and Ryland’s relationship with her music (13:09–15:37).
  • “Because of you... we are married and we have two kids.” – Shane to Ashlee Simpson (15:05)

2. Aging and Slang with the Crew

• Feeling old at concerts (“half the people there were sitting down... their knees hurt”—Jared, 16:54), not understanding Gen Z slang (“6 7,” “goss”), and attempts to create their own trends spark plenty of laughs and a bit of existential dread.

3. Finale: Farmer’s Got Talent

[Segment Starts: 22:00]

• The top five acts—three singers (Felicia, Hannah, Gianna), one superfan crafter (Sarah), and a rap duo (Mallory and Marcie)—each present their talents.
• Group is consistently awed and emotionally moved:
  • “That made me cry. That was so good.” – Shane on Felicia (25:01)
  • “She wrote that and the lyrics were incredible!” – Shane on Hannah’s original dark piano ballad (28:34)
  • “She could win The Voice. Like, incredible.” – Shane, echoing the escalating talent bar (25:21, 31:38, 41:44)
• Judges (the podcast crew) agree—it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, and praise each act’s vulnerability, detail, and dedication.
• Ultimately, Sarah’s hand-crafted Pod Boo Boos win unanimously, for emotional impact and creativity.
  • “It was jaw dropping. The mini Sally lives on the set forever!” – Ryland (47:08)

4. Local Love Segment Turns Conspiracy

[Begins: 52:15]

• Shane introduces a new local business segment by ordering food from a supposedly authentic-sounding Mexican restaurant “Banda Burrito”—only for the packaging and address to reveal it's a front operated by Denny’s.
• The crew investigates and uncovers a fake website, menu item rebranding, and Denny’s long history of spinning up virtual brands on delivery apps.
  • “Denny’s has created a fake authentic Mexican restaurant on Postmates… and it’s just fucking Denny’s.” – Shane (54:13)
  • “If you were trying to support a local business… you just find out you’re supporting Denny’s, who did not need your money.” – Ryland (57:17)
• Broader discussion reveals this is a common tactic by major chains, raising questions about transparency in food delivery.

5. Conspiracy Corner: Pizza Hut & Virtual Kitchens

[60:02]

• A listener tip leads to speculating that “Pizza Hut” on delivery apps might be a Chuck E. Cheese operation in disguise, reminiscent of past delivered-pizza conspiracies.
  • “Chuck E. Cheese has created a Doordash kitchen called Pizza Hut. And they’re sending out pizzas like this.” – Jared (61:55)

6. Amusement Park Mishaps & Existential Dread

• Viral videos of roller coasters getting stuck and AI doomsday TikToks spawn a mix of horror, jokes about old age, and rapid-fire commentary on technology-induced disaster.
  • “AI literally is going to use us as batteries?” – Shane (66:09)

7. Classic Conspiracies & True Crime Stories

[Jared’s Segment: 67:53; Sandy’s Segment: 72:19]

• Philadelphia Experiment:
  • Jared goes deep on the folklore that the U.S. military teleported a ship in WWII, causing “people to be embedded in the metal” and sparking timelines and Mandela Effect theories.
• True Crime: The "Trunk Murders"
  • Sandy recounts the story of Winnie Ruth Judd, who dismembered two friends and transported their bodies by suitcase in 1931, then went on to escape custody repeatedly before dying at age 93.

8. Ryland’s Rapid Recap

[79:32]

• Ryland gives an Oprah-style summary—reminding listeners about ketosis, coconut oil, Vegas adventures, Farmer’s Got Talent winner Sarah, and the Denny’s conspiracy, with a final plug for merch and Patreon content.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On wearing gloves in Vegas:
  • “I was not contagious. My doctor cleared me a week before that… But when you get hand foot mouth disease… you just get these crazy blisters all over your body.” – Shane (07:12)
• On ketones and honesty:
  • “We could easily eat something and just not tell each other.” – Jared (03:23)
• On Denny’s Reveal:
  • “Denny’s has so many of these fake restaurants on Postmates…” – Shane (58:20)
• On Farmer’s Got Talent Winner:
  • “What I love about this is the mini Sally lives in the set forever. These pod boo boos will live in the set forever.” – Ryland (47:08)
• Conspiracy Theories:
  • “So imagine half a body sticking out of the floor of the boat… as it was shifting through time.” – Jared (68:15)
• Confronting the AI Apocalypse:
  • “Extinction isn’t the worst; the worst is still being alive in a world where you’re no longer allowed to disintegrate.” – AI TikTok quote, reaction from crew (65:53)

Timestamps by Key Segment

• Personal Catch Up (Ketosis, Health, Vegas): 01:58 – 16:26
• Farmer’s Got Talent Finale (Submissions, Judging, Results): 22:00 – 47:54
• Denny’s “Local Love” Conspiracy/Reveal: 52:15 – 59:29
• Conspiracy Corner (Pizza Hut, Ride Mishaps, AI): 60:02 – 66:09
• Philadelphia Experiment & True Crime: 67:53 – 79:11
• Ryland’s Recap and End: 79:32 – End

Tone & Language

True to form: casual, self-aware, with openhearted sharing, sharp comic edges, and genuine enthusiasm for their listeners and talented fans.

For New Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This episode offers a cross-section of what makes Shane’s podcast community tick: deep internet folklore, behind-the-scenes peeks into the hosts’ messy, relatable lives, and laugh-out-loud group energy. Plus, with the Farmer's Got Talent finale, it captures the listener-creator connection that defines the show.

Congratulations to all Farmer’s Got Talent finalists, Sarah in particular—and keep your eyes peeled on delivery apps. Your “local” burrito just might be a Grand Slam in disguise.