The Shane Dawson Podcast

Episode: The Mountain DEWmsday Conspiracy Theory!

Release Date: February 15, 2026
Host: Shane Dawson
Co-Hosts: Ryland Adams, Morgan, Vicki (Mom), Spencer, Jared, Chris, others

Episode Overview

This episode is a caffeine-fueled gathering packed with signature chaos, dark humor, and "brutally honest" stories from Shane and friends. It blends personal anecdotes, food reviews, conspiracy chatter (including the Mountain Dew theory and deepfakes on Instagram), AI anxiety, and unexpected true crime. Regular and surprise guests (including family members) ignite recurring debates about everything from caffeine and fast food to internet privacy and optical illusions.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Caffeine Overload & Health Talk (00:22–04:45)

• Energy Drinks and Caffeine Routines
  The gang jokes about their caffeine habits, including Starbucks orders, cold brew hacks, and the physical effects of too much caffeine.
• Gender and Caffeine Tolerance
  Shane asks, "Why are women so good at holding their caffeine?" (02:38).
  Morgan shares, "I used to drink three a day, and I had to stop because I was having heart palpitations. And I think it was making me severely depressed..." (03:16).
• Quirky Supplements and Kardashian Sex Pills
  The hosts riff on supplements, especially those promoted as libido boosters by celebrities.

2. Arby’s “Meat” Controversy & Impromptu Food Segment (05:04–15:00, 26:02–29:55)

• Morgan's Arby’s Defense:
  "I am sick and tired of all of slandering Arby's...there are Arby's girls keeping them in business, and I am one of them." (06:22)
• The group orders Morgan’s favorite Arby’s meal "live" and promises an honest review later.
• When the food arrives, they review the iconic Jamocha shake, curly fries, and classic roast beef sandwich.
  • "I don't like coffee ice cream." (Shane, 26:26)
  • "I appreciate you all trying something for me." (Morgan, 29:14)
• New Segment Proposal:
  Shane suggests, “Should this be an ongoing segment where every episode we try everybody somebody's favorite bascool Order?” (29:00)

3. Conspiracy Games & Atlantis Anecdotes (08:00–25:00)

• Quiet Talking/Whisper Game:
  Teams compete in a lip-reading game, filled with inside jokes and escalating laughter.
• Nostalgic Trip to Atlantis:
  The crew reminisces about sneaking into the Atlantis resort, sparking relatable vacation woes as a family.
• Coming Out Story:
  Ryland shares a heartfelt, comedic coming out moment at the airport:
  "And just so you know, I'm gay." (18:16)

4. AI, Deepfakes & Elderly “Baddies” on Instagram (33:34–41:01)

• Baddie Bethany Conspiracy
  Shane uncovers the oddities of “grandma influencer” accounts, suspecting many are AI-generated.
  "This is a completely AI generated Internet personality...and it's not a real person." (36:56, guest voice)
• Philosophical Anxiety:
  "It's going to get to a point where we cannot detect whether it's really that person or AI. And that is scary." (37:08)
• Audience Response:
  The hosts express betrayal and sadness learning their favorite inspiring accounts might be fake.

5. Mountain Dewmsday: The Main Conspiracy Theory (41:12–45:13)

• Theory Explored:
  Every time Mountain Dew releases a new flavor, something “bad happens” that correlates with the name.
  • Shane: "These new flavors, there's three of them. There's Mountain Dew White Out, Mountain Dew Code Red coming back, and Mountain Dew Voltage. And then Spencer goes, 'Well, white out already happened.'"
  • "They're combining these tragedies together to make, like, USA...White Out, Code Red, and Voltage...That's the USA for 2026. Like, I feel like this is scaring me." (44:08)
• Group debates whether the flavor releases are predicting or reflecting real-life disasters.

6. Dress Color Debate Returns (45:13–48:07)

• A New Viral Illusion:
  The infamous "What color is the dress?" resurfaces—pink and white or blue and gray?
• Chris: "I see blue." (45:58)
  Morgan: "I see pink and white from over here." (46:27)
• The hosts laugh and argue as their family divides, echoing renewed internet arguments.

7. Wearable AI, Privacy, & TikTok Dread (48:13–52:44)

• Discussion of New AI Devices:
  The team reacts to OpenAI’s and Apple's forthcoming camera-equipped wearables, raising privacy worries:
  "Who's gonna own the rights to the footage ... Is this footage to being warranted if, like, the government needs to see it?" (49:44)
• TikTok Updates and User Tracking:
  Shane: "They can actually show you ads outside of TikTok...track you through those? Allegedly. Just a theory." (51:07)
• Creepy Search Suggestions:
  Reports of unsettling TikTok search terms popping up after the update (“Beware of the man who speaks in...”, “Leave America now.”), sparking concern about hidden messaging.

8. Lighter Moment: Hollywood Flops (52:44–54:35)

• Shane mocks American Sniper's baby-doll scene:
  "That's a baby doll. That's crazy. Listen, shout out to Bradley for making it work. He likes. And that's so funny." (54:06)

9. Conspiracy Corner & True Crime (54:41–64:00)

• Giant Rock & Sound Baths (Jared’s Segment)
  Jared describes the mysterious Giant Rock in the Mojave Desert—its history as a homestead, its UFO lore, and the alien sound bath Integratron.
  • “The largest free-standing boulder in the world...In the 1940s...the government got wind of this guy living under this rock...in order to get him out of it, they threw smoke bombs...he had a bunch of dynamite under this rock.” (55:26–56:32)
  • “He got visited from what he said was aliens that came from Venus. These were, like, the common visitors who told him that this rock is extremely sacred.” (57:05)
• True Crime with Vicki
  Vicki recaps a tragic, recent family murder, detailing the investigation, evidence, and ongoing court case:
  • "He booked a room at the hospital...left his cell phone behind...that's what he's using as his alibi." (63:14)
  • “The poor kids have lost their parents and then just left.” (62:52)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Caffeine:
  "I have a girly energy drink in the fridge, and after, like, two sips, my heart started palpitating." — Shane (02:53)
• Arby’s Defense:
  "I am one of the Arby's girls keeping them in business.” — Morgan (06:22)
• Mountain Dewmsday:
  "They're combining these tragedies together … that's the USA for 2026." — Shane (44:08)
• On AI:
  "It's going to get to a point where we cannot detect whether it’s really that person or a real person or AI. And that is scary." — Guest (37:08)
• Creepy TikTok:
  "I gave you too many chances to leave America. Now literally. What the fuck is going on?" — Shane (52:00)
• Family Color War:
  "I see both." — Shane (46:28)
• Coming Out:
  “And just so you know, I’m gay.” — Ryland (18:16)

Notable Segment Timestamps

• Caffeine and Supplements: 00:22–04:45
• Arby’s Discussion: 05:04–15:00, food arrives at 26:02–29:55
• Whisper/Quiet Talking Game: 08:00–16:12
• Sibling Stories and Atlantis: 14:07–19:19
• AI Deepfakes on Instagram: 34:09–41:01
• Mountain Dewmsday Theory: 41:12–45:13
• Dress Color Debate: 45:13–48:07
• Wearable AI/Privacy Worries: 48:13–52:44
• Hollywood Baby Doll Gaffe: 52:44–54:35
• Giant Rock UFO Lore: 54:41–59:19
• True Crime Story: 59:33–64:00

Recurring Themes & Running Jokes

• Food as Unifier and Divider:
  Arby’s is both lauded and roasted; their order review spawns a possible new segment (“Order Up”).
• Family Dynamics:
  Sibling banter and parental quips heighten the sense of informal, unscripted chaos.
• Paranoia with Playfulness:
  Conspiracy theories—AI, Mountain Dew, privacy—are delivered with humor, but also a measure of genuine unease.

Tone & Style

Loosely structured, fast-paced, and irreverent. The group blends dark humor, self-deprecation, and sharp pop culture observations. Tangents and debates are a feature, not a bug. The chemistry and quick wit between friends and family drive entertainment as much as the “official” topics.

Conclusion

A packed, laughter-filled journey through modern anxieties, nostalgia, and internet oddities, often veering from the absurd to the alarmingly real. Conspiracies and social commentary blend with personal vulnerability, a signature of Shane’s podcast style, inviting listeners to both laugh and wonder—what’s real and what’s artificial, online and off?

“Nothing fake about that. Nothing fake.”—Shane, on Arby’s, after an hour of debating what in life is real (41:02)