The Yak – Donny Do Science Episode 2: Dreams and Nightmares | January 29, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Yak, the Barstool crew—Big Cat, Kyle, Donnie, Brandon, Kate, Mark Titus, Johnny (Chef Donnie), and more—explore the nebulous world of dreams and nightmares, focusing on Johnny's (Chef Donnie's) unique approach to “science” and his latest presentation. Amidst the usual chaotic humor and tangential storytelling, the group tackles wacky outfits, guinea pig crises, LeBron’s tributes, hypnotism, and a meandering but entertaining deep dive into the science (and personal experience) of dreaming.

1. Yak Chaos and “Whack Fits” (01:32–11:00)

Main Points:

• The show opens with members discussing their “whack fits” (intentionally goofy or mismatched outfits).
• Lively banter about fashion fails, why certain outfits are considered "whack," and Brandon's lobster shirt.
• Kate talks about "the agony of buying trendy boots you hate."
• Memorable moment: "I guess this jersey's awesome." – Donnie, about Kyle's attempt at whack fashion (02:36)
• Light roasting and complaints about changing, with tangents about Slim Jims and studio mishaps.

Notable Quote

“You can wear it to normal.” – Big Cat on Nick’s surprisingly cool ‘whack’ attire (11:40)

2. Mississippi Ice Storm & The Brandon Saga (03:17–11:40)

Main Points:

• Brandon is distracted by real-life problems: a family member’s house crushed by a tree in Mississippi due to a major ice storm.
• The cast jokes about Brandon's unique approach to dealing with crises, talking to a senator, and making “calls.”
• Commentary on Southern states dealing with infrastructure issues—told with empathy but in typical Yak style.

Memorable Segment:

• “He was in our meeting today. He stood up and said, ‘That’s a senator,’ and left.” – Big Cat (10:51)

3. Guinea Pig Invasion: Kyle’s Basement Woes (18:44–23:15)

Main Points:

• Kyle reveals his family has gone from two to fourteen guinea pigs, resulting in chaos.
• Absurd attempts to visualize the guinea pig enclosure using cast members as spatial references.
• Discussion about how to get rid of unwanted rodents, with suggestions ranging from “give them to a pet store” to “release them in the wild” (which wouldn’t end well).
• Tommy (Kyle’s son) is allegedly holding a “guinea pig summit” at school to offload animals.

Notable Quote:

“Your mom’s basement is a fuck fest.” – Kate (19:42)

• Thread runs through the show as updates come in from Tommy and Kyle’s mom, both asserting conflicting plans for the guinea pigs.

4. Life Overhauls, Clothes, and Fashion Anxiety (11:41–16:21)

Main Points:

• Donnie expresses a desire to "get rid of all my clothes," exploring the idea of a total style reset—reinforced by existential wardrobe angst from others.
• Arguments for and against stylists, with lots of self-deprecation.
• Brief consensus: the Yak crew cannot pull off a cool look, even accidentally.

Quote:

“I care about how I feel, not how I look. Sweatshirts are all I care about.” – Donnie (13:13)

5. LeBron James Tribute Videos & NBA Chatter (25:29–29:14)

Main Points:

• Short debate about LeBron’s 8th tribute video in Cleveland and how throwback Cavs uniforms he once debuted are now retro.
• Is LeBron overpaid? Is it cool/annoying to have multiple superstars on the same team?
• Hypotheticals: Giannis and LeBron teaming up with Steph Curry on the Warriors.

Notable Quote:

“He could probably play for, like, 10 more years, right?” – Mark (26:50)

6. Tommy Walker Grows Up (29:19–31:31)

Main Points:

• The Yak crew collectively realizes Tommy, long a fixture on the show as a child, is now almost 16 and will be driving soon.
• Reflections on time passing quickly—COVID’s first mention, staff turnover at Barstool.

7. West Coast Antics: San Fran, NorCal vs. SoCal, Stephen Cheh’s Vacation (43:07–55:57)

Main Points:

• The team debates—and mocks—the “correct” way to refer to San Francisco, NorCal vs. SoCal, and local terminology.
• Stephen Cheh reports in remote from his extended pre-birthday Bay Area vacation, sparking teasing about his “chick energy” and questions about his biking competence.
• The Yak demands proof via live video: after skepticism, he finally rides a bike (“I think he knows how to bike”—Big Cat, 57:30).

8. Waiting for Donnie’s Dreams Presentation (46:28–70:11)

Main Points:

• Building comedic tension as Donnie (Chef Donnie/Johnny) prepares his “Dreams and Nightmares” science presentation, while the crew jokes about how long it’s taking.
• Banter about dreams, the agony of running (or faking) charity races, and a viral “guy who runs 10Ks in weird places.”

9. Donny Do Science: Dreams and Nightmares Presentation (70:11–129:20)

A. Setup and Antics

• Donnie enters, irritated (after being prodded/teased).
• “You know these aren't going to fit...”—Donnie, frustrated at being asked to put on promo Noble shoes over his own (70:50).
• Discussion of bedtime rituals: Donnie regularly “beasts” (binges Mr. Beast videos) before bed, to Johnny’s concern.

B. The Presentation Itself (75:04–129:20)

1. The Chinese Dream Question (75:04–81:15)

• Presentation opens with confusion over whether Chinese people "dream the same" as Americans.
• Deadpan joke: “The Chinese invented dreams. You can do anything.” (77:08)
• Meandering discussion about language in dreams and cultural attitudes.

2. Dream Definitions—Literal vs. Metaphorical (82:17–84:39)

• Centers on MLK Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech—is a vision for civil rights a literal dream?
• Johnny asserts: “Dream by my definition... you gotta be asleep.” (84:39)
• Disqualifies any “dream” unless it happened during sleep.

3. The Three Categories of Dream (87:29–91:05)

• Johnny classifies dreams:
  • Standard "dreamer"
  • Nightmare
  • "Dreamy nightmare"
• Each explained via funny, confusing slides (movie posters, historical figures).
• For dreamy nightmares: “On paper… these are all great things I like to do, but something was wrong every time.” (92:09)

4. Johnny’s Actual Dreams (93:11–98:03)

• Shares a string of personal dreams, from mundane to odd:
  • Dreamt he slept through a ski day
  • Messed up French in a cooking dream
  • Recurring “sleep paralysis” where a roommate is trying to get into his room
  • A “boyish” dream of pool hopping with Stephen Cheh (lying on their stomachs, kicking feet)

5. Reinventing Dreaming: Donnie’s Methods (99:05–104:13)

• Advocates for deliberate dream interruption:
  • Most vivid dreams occur after waking at 4–5 AM, then returning to sleep.
  • “If we could find a device to wake you up at 4AM to make you dream… that’s what I want to invent.” (101:37)
  • Ideas for gentle “haptic feedback” alarms; links to greater dream vividness

6. Johnny’s Hypnotist Era & Mystery Pills (105:32–114:58)

• Shocking revelation: Johnny saw a personal hypnotist in NYC, Jeffrey Rose, twice monthly, paying $250 per session for “hypno-sessions” and unregulated fish oil “brain” pills.
• “He would ask, ‘What do you want me to implant?’ ... then he would say ‘Let’s knock off nicotine.’” – Johnny (110:32)
• “The pills… you were supposed to take them every couple hours…keep one everywhere.” (107:23)
• Admits, “He might have been a charlatan. Nice guy, but...”
• Questions about effectiveness, whether this hypnotist still has “control” over him

7. The “Grand Unifying Theory” Digression (104:45–104:58)

• Johnny attempts to relate dream research to quantum mechanics and Stephen Hawking, muddling physics and sleep science:
  • “I’m basically Stephen Hawking but for sleep.” (104:54)

8. Ethical, Existential Finale (116:14–129:20)

• Ultimately, Johnny decides a dream is “whatever you want it to be”—wishes, sleep visions, personal aspirations.
• Anguished closing: “Looking back, I wish I’d never told anyone about my dreams or my hypnotist.” (116:24)
• Reflections on vulnerability, being open about weird life decisions, and the crew’s love for Donnie’s presentations.
• Johnny’s “dream device” (Kickstarter sleep mask, $700, waiting 5+ years) is questioned for legitimacy but still excites him.

Key Quotes:

“I need more Donnie in my life.” – Donnie (123:41)
“He is a guy who’s at the cutting edge of science. He’ll try anything.” – Donnie (126:03)
“That guy right there has a better life than anyone in this room.” – Kyle (129:18)

10. Closing Banter & Reflections (129:20–131:30)

• The crew marvels at Donnie’s trust in odd people and products, his openness, and his singular worldview.
• Consensus: Chef Donnie’s brain and tales are essential Yak content; “Donny Do Science” is the most anticipated segment post-Super Bowl.
• Brainstorm: Do a CIA-only slide deck next time.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Kyle on guinea pigs: “Your mom’s basement is a fuck fest.” (19:42)
• Donnie on dreams: “I care about how I feel, not how I look. Sweatshirts are all I care about.” (13:13)
• Donnie on sleep method: “The most vivid dreams always happen when I wake up at 4 a.m. and go back to sleep.” (100:08)
• Johnny on wish fulfillment: “Does cancer affect dreams? Yes, it makes them come true.” (115:41)
• Big Cat after Donnie’s hypnotist reveal: "Is reality that bad for you you want to dream this much?" (122:29)
• Brandon, stunned: “He was a medical captive for five years in New York, red pills, getting hypnotized...” (124:42)

Episode Flow & Tone

• Loose, rollicking, self-aware. The Yak embraces unexpected tangents and the quirks of its participants.
• Irreverent but vulnerable. Jokes about personal problems, pop psychology, fashion, and mental health create space for candid moments.
• Community. Strong group dynamic, with everyone simultaneously roasting and supporting each other; special affection for Donnie’s idiosyncrasies.

For First-time Listeners

This episode blends absurd humor, oddly profound observations, and true-life weirdness into a microcosm of The Yak’s appeal. Come for the guinea pig saga, wacky boots, and NBA debate—stay for Donnie’s unfiltered sleep “science,” hypnotists, brain pills, and boyish dream journeys. You'll leave laughing, slightly confused, and wanting Donnie to present on every topic in existence.

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