Podcast Summary: The Yak — "Big Cat and Brandon DOMINATED Their First Morning Workout" (Feb 17, 2026)

Main Theme

This episode of The Yak revolves around the launch of Big Cat and Brandon Walker’s "fitness journey" after their first morning workout, sparking lively ribbing, camaraderie, playful competition, and plenty of tangents on topics from Chinese New Year to nostalgia, viral internet moments, and the art of making pointless lists. The show blends barbed banter and genuine encouragement as the crew debates self-improvement, sports, haters, apologies, and personal quirks.

Key Points & Discussion Highlights

1. Big Cat & Brandon's Fitness Kickoff (03:39–13:14)

• The Workout Experience:
  • Big Cat and Brandon did their first morning workout and describe it as humbling but invigorating.
  • Both are shocked by how difficult the routine is. Brandon admits he couldn't finish but is eager to try again.
  • The group alternately mocks and encourages them.
    • Notable Quote:
      “It took me about 35 to 40 minutes to catch my breath.” —Brandon Walker (03:40)
    • Brandon on Commitment:
      “Let's just build a habit together.” (04:11)
    • PFT on Consistency:
      “The next time I don't do that workout will be the day I die.” —PFT (12:09)
• Philosophy on Working Out:
  • Kyle Brandt points out that Big Cat and Brandon, being “hulking, respected, moguls,” don’t “need” muscles for respect, whereas he works out for credibility as a smaller guy.
    • Kyle: “Without muscles, I'm a Seabiscuit Thespian Extra.” (06:05)

2. Joking, Self-Deprecation, and Support

• Reviewing Their Attempt:
  • The gang roasts the workout, equating some moves to “what old women do in the water” (08:56), but then admits it looked—and was—tough.
  • They review their own video and break down moves, with frequent laughs at their performance and “dead arms.”
    • Big Cat: “Brandon, you’re hanging in there.” (10:00)
    • PFT on self-image: “I look tan and good.” (09:41)

3. The Power of Lists (50:09–71:11)

• Brandon’s Impromptu Lists:
  • The group invents a game: someone creates a list (ex: “Alabama, Chocolate, Bananas Foster, Giraffes”) and the rest guess what links them.
  • Most lists are random; sometimes the game is to simply enjoy the absurdity.
    • Big Cat on lists: “You can just make a list and put anybody on it.” (49:37)
• Steven’s “Prime” List:
  • Steven Cheah’s “Prime” list stumps the group (prime time, sexual prime, Amazon prime), leading to jokes about number primes and steakhouse rankings.

4. Chinese New Year & Family Traditions (13:00–18:20)

• Steven Cheah shares Chinese New Year customs:
  • Cleaning, showering at night, family dinners, and receiving red envelopes.
  • Group riff on translation quirks and immigrant parents, with affectionate ribbing about language and family.

5. Apology Corner (28:53–30:56)

• Kate publicly apologizes for mistakenly roasting a fitness influencer, Malibu Fitmax, not knowing he was a wounded veteran, and encourages others to check out positive content creators.
  • Kate: “I got so many DMs yesterday…And you are correct. And I like to say I'm sorry.” (29:33)
• Ice-down-the-shirt Incident/ Michael Jordan Defense:
  • The crew revisits a viral MJ clip, debating if the GOAT was odd or just getting ice out of a kid’s shirt.
    • Lighthearted mock-appologies and banter follows.

6. Side Tangents and Nostalgia

Internet & Childhood Fads (83:04–84:39)

• Pogs, Pokémon cards, and the rise of nostalgia products (Board, TMNT Pizza Restaurant).
  • Big Cat: “It’s getting to that point where people have money to spend on childhood dreams…” (83:27)

Beach vs. Pool Laugh Debate (54:14–71:11)

• Passionate debate: Is a pool by the beach better than the beach? (PFT and Kyle vote pool, Brandon defends the beach.)

7. Sports Lists and Rankings (74:30–80:54)

• Quarterback Rankings Debate:

  • Brandon and crew dissect Bleacher Report’s ranking of top 99 NFL QBs, with spirited argument over placements (especially Dan Marino).
    • Brandon: “There's no chance Steve Young's better than Dan Marino.” (76:55)

• Degree of Sports Difficulty List:

  • They discover an old ESPN “toughest sports” list, debating if bull riding is harder than badminton and if tennis or wrestling is more grueling.

8. Body Maintenance, Aging, & Mortality (94:45–107:24)

• Problems of Back Pain & Aging:

  • Stories about thrown-out backs, shrinking height, and the inevitability of physical decline.
    • Kate: “I used to be five-nine…now I’m like five-five. My pants…That’s why I fold my pants now.” (95:12–95:22)
    • General consensus: Physical prime is late teens–mid-20s; 32 is when excuses run out.

• On Mortality & Stoicism:

  • PFT shares how thinking about mortality fosters perspective and stoicism.
    • PFT: “If you can’t control it, do not give it any time. If you can control it, give it all your energy.” (107:28)

9. Prepping for Tomorrow's “Haters Ball” (51:54, 110:08–113:49)

• Hate List Teaser:
  Crew brainstorms how to make their “hate lists” creative and fun but not mean-spirited. Brandon: “We're gonna have a whole episode based on hating.” (108:11)
• Discussion of how to dress (“evil,” “pimpsuits,” “mustaches”) for the upcoming theme.

10. Random Bits & Recurring Segments

• Live gauntlet challenge with Hank (102:12)
• Debate over buying things from IG/TikTok ads (89:19)
• Kate in Audubon Magazine (birding documentary shout-out) (85:45)
• Banter about steakhouse decor (Lincoln’s flag—99:54)
• Closing with shout-outs to vlogs, next episode, love for the audience (116:03)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You guys are doing this marionette choreography, choreographed little sequence because you know you don't have to…You guys are massive, you're respected…I'm a theatrical jockey. I'm tiny.” —Kyle Brandt, on fitness (05:27–06:16)
• “The next time I don’t do that workout will be the day I die.” —PFT (12:09)
• “Sorry, I sweat through my sweatshirt yesterday…I've been wrong and I'm an idiot.” —Kate, Apology Segment (29:34–30:24)
• “Without muscles, I’m a Seabiscuit Thespian Extra.” —Kyle (06:05)
• "You can just make a list and put anybody on it." —Big Cat, on pointless lists (49:37)
• “If you can’t control it, do not give it any time.” —PFT, on stoicism (107:28)
• "Titties are better than sex." —Brandon Walker, listing his favorite things (62:38)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Start of Show / Banter: 01:30
• Big Cat & Brandon's Workout Recap: 03:39–13:14
• List Game Debut: 50:09–56:04 (multiple returns throughout episode)
• Apology Segment: 28:53–30:56
• Chinese New Year Customs: 13:00–18:20
• Quarterback Ranking Debate: 74:30–80:54
• Sports Difficulty List: 77:51–80:54
• Body Maintenance & Aging: 94:45–107:24
• Haters Ball Prep / Hate List Discussion: 51:54, 110:08–113:49
• Closing & Shoutouts: 116:03

Tone & Vibe

True to The Yak’s spirit, this episode is packed with friendly roast battles, candid admissions, inside jokes, list-making mayhem, and the occasional moment of sincerity about aging and self-improvement. The group’s irreverent but optimistic take on self-care, pop culture, haters, and the importance of being able to laugh at oneself makes the episode both relatable and hilarious, whether you’re there for the jokes, the sports takes, or just the camaraderie.