Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Wayback with Ryan Sickler
Episode: 109: My Twin Brother Derek PART 2 | The Wayback w/Ryan Sickler – Baltimore Junkyard Series #109
Date: January 29, 2026
Guests: Ryan Sickler (host), Derek Sickler (twin brother)

Episode Overview

This episode features comedian Ryan Sickler sitting down with his twin brother, Derek, for a collection of uproarious, nostalgic, and occasionally poignant stories from their Baltimore childhood and wild early adulthood. The conversation is fast-paced, irreverent, and deeply personal, giving listeners a front-row seat to the kind of brotherly banter and shared memories that shape families. This is Part 2 in a series reflecting on their upbringing, family dynamics, infamous neighborhood escapades, and the idiosyncrasies of growing up Sickler in Baltimore.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. The Infamous Bird Feeder Incident

[06:39 – 09:37]

• Derek recounts the story of using a scoped rifle to shoot a neighbor's bird feeder, turning it into a childhood contest to see who could spill the most seed.
• Neighborly justice arrives when a local kid catches Derek in the act, confiscates the gun, and demands they buy a replacement feeder.
• Ryan is wrongly accused and gets in trouble with the neighbor while mowing the lawn, unaware of his brothers' misdeeds.

Notable Quotes:

• “We're just popping this thing. Boom, boom...the seeds are all coming running out of it." – Derek ([07:46])
• "I'm like, man, I'm yelling at her, telling her, nobody shot the bird feeder like we shot the bird feeder." – Ryan ([08:40])

2. The "Oscars," Basement Animals, and Urban Legends

[09:41 – 10:23]

• Discussion of neighborhood kids and their fascination with exotic pets (including an "Oscar" fish that could eat anything, even chipmunks or shaved gerbils).
• The siblings reminisce on bizarre basement scenes and local urban legends (like feeding rodents to predatory fish).

3. Pranks and Childhood Terror

[10:29 – 14:13]

• Recounting an elaborately staged prank involving a Teddy Ruxpin doll, an audio cassette of creepy voices, and a plan to scare their brother Russell by convincing him Michael Myers lived nearby.
• The caper includes monster masks, scratching at windows, and coordination with their younger brother Todd—resulting in an epic scare and their dad storming out in his underwear to restore order.

Notable Quotes:

• “This motherfucker screamed like nobody's ever screamed.” – Ryan ([13:10])
• “Dude, he had to come out there in the middle of getting some ass. She was so mad that we were torturing her son. We're like, this is what we do here, man.” – Ryan ([14:03])

4. Sibling Shenanigans: Beatdowns, Door Tricks, and Parental Discipline

[14:13 – 16:15]

• The brothers swap stories about tricking their mother using shoestrings to pull the bedroom door shut—bracing for inevitable discipline.
• Flashbacks to the “ass-whoopings” with objects like metal lunchboxes and broomsticks, and how their mother's mood could flip instantly when the phone rang.

Notable Quotes:

• “She'd be screaming at you, bloody murder...and then the phone would ring...‘Hello?’" – Derek ([15:54])
• "Nobody. No kids deserve to get their ass beat like we got our ass beat." – Ryan ([17:57])

5. Lighting Matches in the Closet & Lessons from Mom’s Boyfriend

[18:01 – 19:06]

• Derek tells the story of being forced to light a whole box of matches as a “lesson” from their mom’s much-disliked boyfriend.
• The story escalates with Derek setting off the whole box at once, filling the house with smoke, and the brothers laughing about the absurdity of the supposed discipline.

6. Crabbing Stories & Boat Mishaps

[21:12 – 22:47]

• The brothers reminisce about going crabbing with their dad—motors getting stolen, early-morning outings, catching bushels of blue crabs, and the unique childhood those experiences gave them.
• Bittersweet recollections of their father, including losing his glasses while grabbing for a giant crab.

Notable Quotes:

• “There’s nothing like going home and steaming those [crabs] right out of the water.” – Ryan ([21:45])

7. Teen Risk-Taking: Jumping Cars & Crashing Dad's Honda

[22:47 – 25:08]

• The conversation turns to youth daredevil stunts: launching their cars over hills near the neighborhood (Lion's Mill Road) and the consequences, including broken vehicles.
• Derek confesses for the first time about how his rightful-of-way, “point-proving” crash led to their dad’s Honda never running right again, much to Ryan’s surprise.

Notable Quotes:

• "Basically that's why we lost the car." – Ryan ([24:35])

8. Sports, Dads, and 1980s Little League

[25:08 – 26:16]

• Remembering their dad's ever-present support at their games, and coaches who smoked during batting practice—things unimaginable today.

Notable Quote:

• “That guy would smoke cigarettes while he's helping you bat. He's going like this, and the smoke's going to your eyes. You're like, God damn.” – Ryan ([20:42])

9. Living Rough: The “Enchanted Hills” Apartment and Roach Motels

[26:19 – 31:59]

• Hilarious and horrifying tales from their first post-high school apartment: realizing they’re the only white tenants, rampant drugs and crime, Papa John’s refusing delivery, and abject filth (including roaches everywhere and people tossing others’ laundry on the floor to use the machines).
• Neighbors like Adolph (the opium-loving school bus driver), and misadventures with the police raiding their complex.

Notable Quotes:

• “It got to the point where we just kept our dishes under sheets on the dining room table... everything, dude.” – Ryan ([29:56])

10. Epic Parties & the Final Bash at 9:12

[32:06 – 33:26]

• The legendary July 3, 1991 party, where over 200 people descended on their tiny house—years before “Project X.” Bouncers, fistfights, and neighborhood drama ensue.

11. Wildest Childhood Antics: Hydrant Mischief & Bridge Jumping

[34:06 – 37:54]

• Derek confesses to hijinks involving opening fire hydrants with a stolen city wrench, leading to local drought reports and media coverage. Afterward, he throws the evidence into the reservoir.
• Daring bridge jumps into the reservoir become an adolescent right of passage, leading to injuries, vomiting blood, and hefty cash bets.

Notable Quotes:

• “That was 100ft from the top of the bridge rail to that water...at that time, it’s nine, 100ft. And everyone, not everyone but a piss blood for like two months.” – Ryan ([36:10])
• "For 50 bucks, I flipped and then didn’t know what to do after that." – Derek ([36:38])

Notable Sibling Dynamics

• The Sickler brothers bond through mischief, shared grievance about strict parents, and scrappy Baltimore upbringings.
• Both marvel (and laugh) at having survived with no serious legal trouble, crediting each other, their Dad, and Grandma for keeping them on a mostly straight (if not always narrow) path.

Closing Sentiments

[38:02 – 38:06]

• The brothers exchange a heartfelt “I love you,” reflecting the foundation of love beneath the chaos.
• Ryan encourages listeners to leave feedback so the “Baltimore Junkyard Series” can continue.

Notable Quotes:

• "I love you. This was great. Thank you for doing this." – Ryan ([38:02])
• "You're welcome, Ryan. I love you, too." – Derek ([38:05])

Episode Takeaways

• The theme of finding humor and resilience through adversity and wild times shines throughout the conversation.
• Ryan and Derek’s stories are deeply Baltimore, raw, honest, and relatable for anyone who survived a rowdy childhood.
• Nostalgia, being “back home,” and sharing old war stories with your siblings is as powerful as ever.

For full authenticity, all quotes reflect the casual, unfiltered tone of the Sickler brothers.