The Wayback with Ryan Sickler | Episode #93: Frankie Quiñones

Release Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Wayback, comedian and host Ryan Sickler takes a trip down memory lane with fellow comedian Frankie Quiñones. The focus is on childhood memories, family traditions, cultural identity, and the small but significant experiences that shape who we become. In classic Wayback fashion, the conversation is warm, funny, and nostalgic—packed with personal stories ranging from Little League triumphs to sneaky childhood adventures, and from the joys of fresh tortillas to the shock of the Northridge earthquake.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Frankie Quiñones' New Comedy Special

• First Hour Stand-Up Special: Frankie's debut hour-long special, Damn, That’s Crazy, is out on Hulu, produced/directed by Ali Wong.
  • Quote: "It's my first one hour special and it's produced and directed by my home girl, Ali Wong." (Frankie, 03:23)
• Previous Work: Frankie had a half-hour special for HBO Max previously.

Family Cars and Station Wagon Memories

• Childhood Car Rides: Frankie reminisces about riding in the backwards-facing seat of a station wagon and the old Volvo in his family.
• Lowrider Impala: Frankie's dad drove a 1965 Impala with a distinctive chain steering wheel, a point of pride but also a workout to drive.
  • Quote: "My dad used to have a 65 Impala with the little chain steering wheel." (Frankie, 05:02)
  • Ryan’s Quip: "No airbag. That is going right through your chest." (Ryan, 06:00)

Growing Up in Southern California

• Neighborhoods: Frankie talks about growing up in San Fernando, Pacoima, Oxnard, Chatsworth, and Camarillo. Chatsworth was seen as an "upgrade," though the family lived in a small apartment.
• Big Family Energy: Multiple cousins and relatives were always nearby, and the front yards of relatives' homes were combined for maximum play space.
  • Quote: "Their front yards, they live next door to each other, so they combine the front yards. So, you know, it's had like a big play space." (Frankie, 16:40)

Church, Dancing, and Early Performance

• Cultural Catholicism: The family attended Catholic church but mostly for cultural/holiday reasons, not strict religious adherence.
  • Ryan’s Joke: "A funeral. Sunday school. Funeral. Sunday school." (Ryan, 08:10)
• First Stage Experience: Frankie first got on stage singing at his family's apostolic church.
  • Quote: "That was the first time I got on stage... I’ll be killing it. Hey, with the mic." (Frankie, 10:42)
• Folk Dancing: Encouraged by family (and cute girls), Frankie got into Mexican folk dancing in elementary school, performing at local events, parades, and even big LA Galaxy games.

Grandparent Central: After-School Rituals

• Daily Ritual: After school, Frankie and his cousins would gather at their grandparents’ houses for fresh homemade flour tortillas, beans, and Kool-Aid—a daily feast.
  • Quote: "Every day my grandma would make a fresh stack of homemade flour tortillas, a pot of beans and a jug of Kool Aid. And that was all we needed, bro." (Frankie, 14:41)

Bubbling Springs Park & Outdoor Adventure

• Crawdads and Creeks: At Bubbling Springs Park in Oxnard, Frankie would catch crawdads ("I was a part of that problem," he jokes, about over-catching leading to crawdad extinction in the creek).
  • Quote: "Rest in peace the crawfish of Bubbling Springs and Oxnard." (Frankie, 20:04)
• Fishing with Dad: Story of sneaking into exclusive Westlake Village to fish illegally with his dad, often getting tickets but always catching “some trout for tacos.”
  • Quote: "We would sneak in there, bro. Me and my dad. And my dad, you know, we do some illegal fishing. But I think he got like three or four tickets there." (Frankie, 20:54)

Little League All-Star

• Baseball Beginnings: Inspired by his dad, Frankie played Little League, made All-Stars, and joined travel teams (“the Wild Stallions”).
  • Quote: "I was a little baller, homie. I was a little scrappy, scrappy dude. Lead off, you know..." (Frankie, 23:59)
• Family Expectations: "I had to be in sports either I had to be in sports or I had to have a job." (Frankie, 22:37)
• Coaches & Memories: Reminiscing about Coach Alejo and childhood games at the military base’s CBC fields in Oxnard.

Sneaking Out for Baseball Practice (Fake Body Prank)

• Classic Childhood Rebellion: Frankie tells the story of being grounded by his mom, yet sneaking out to practice by building a convincing fake body in his bed (pillow, helmet, stuffed Goofy).
  • Quote: "But she wasn't as mad as I thought, dude. She was so impressed of how good I made the fake body look. And she knew I went to baseball practice." (Frankie, 29:13)
  • Ryan’s Observation: "You got one by her. You know what I'm saying?" (Ryan, 30:01)

1994 Northridge Earthquake Memories

• Living through the Quake: Frankie describes sharing a room with his sister, trophies raining down from shelves during the quake, and trying to protect her.
  • Quote: "I jump on my sister, and I'm like, o. I'm being a hero right now. And I just feel my trophies hitting me on my back like, oh, ah, first place." (Frankie, 33:14)
  • Ryan’s Callback: "First place hurts more, bro. They're bigger... definitely wasn't a participation award right there." (Ryan, 33:22)

Family Style and Musical Influences

• ’80s Family Photos: The nostalgia is enriched with discussions of old family photos, hairdos, and fashion.
• Music at Home: The house was always filled with old school funk, especially Rick James—so much so, Frankie's sister is named Christina Marie after Teena Marie.
  • Quote: "They went to Rick James' funeral... My mom would always be, she till to this day. Oh my Ricky Rick. My Ricky Rick." (Frankie, 35:02)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Mexican Folk Dancing and Family Pride:
  "When he sees his grandson repping like that, you know, how could you not just be like, ah, yes." (Frankie on his grandfather, 12:17)
• On Snacking at Grandma's:
  "All you need is a little bit of butter. You go. And then you have one of those, and you go play a little bit." (Frankie, 16:19)
• Reflecting on Childhood Laughter at Church:
  "Some of the hardest times I've laughed are when you're not supposed to laugh. And my brothers and I would start laughing in church." (Ryan, 10:02)
• Mom’s Toughness:
  "She's from the projects, bro, and oldest of all her siblings. So she just, like... She's got a real fire in her." (Frankie, 31:07)

Notable Timestamps

• [03:23] — Frankie plugs his special, “Damn, That’s Crazy”
• [05:02] — Frankie describes his dad’s Impala and chain steering wheel
• [10:42] — Frankie sings “This Little Light of Mine” at church
• [14:41] — The daily after-school food ritual at Grandma’s
• [20:04] — “Rest in peace, the crawfish of Bubbling Springs...”
• [23:59] — “I was a little baller, homie.” Little League memories
• [29:13] — The fake body/prank to sneak out of the house for practice
• [33:14] — Surviving the Northridge earthquake and the "trophy defense"
• [35:02] — Mother’s love of Rick James and naming his sister after Tina Marie
• [38:16] — Final plug for Frankie’s special

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is warm, funny, self-deprecating, and deeply personal. Both comedians riff on their own family quirks and shared working-class roots while drawing out the universal nostalgia of ‘80s and ‘90s kids growing up in tight-knit, lively, sometimes chaotic, and always-loving households.

Closing Note

Frankie wraps up with a grateful shoutout to Ryan and one more mention to catch his Hulu special, Damn, That’s Crazy. The episode is a whirlwind of family love, slapstick childhood rebellion, cultural pride, and the music, food, and memories that make home feel forever close.

For stories of old-school cars, big families, childhood troublemaking, and performing Mexican folk dance for your abuelito, this is a quintessential "Wayback" trip—don’t miss it.