The Yak | Episode Summary: “We've Given Tate and Mintzy a New Assignment”
Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Big Cat, KBNoSwag (Kyle), Nick, Brandon Walker, Rone, Lil Sas, Kate, Steven Cheah, and more
Overview
This episode of The Yak is a freewheeling, classic group discussion featuring Big Cat, KB, Nick, and the crew delving into various Barstool office happenings, random sports talk, comedic office frustrations, and the unveiling of a hilarious content experiment: "TaskRabbit Mintzy." Listeners are treated to locker-room banter, Chicago sports rants, strategy debates about office rec leagues, and a behind-the-scenes look at how recurring Yak bits take shape.
Main Segments & Key Discussion Points
1. Wake Up Barstool Recap & Office Chatter
Timestamps: 00:00–19:00
- Brandon's Migraine Woes: Brandon details his tough morning struggling with a violent migraine and missing “Wake Up Barstool,” leading to relentless teasing from the crew (“You should go home!” / “You can't get made fun of for leaving if you leave now…”).
- Game Room Debates: The team jokingly debates the usefulness of foosball and shuffleboard, then launches into a passionate critique of “The Great Escape” retail stores.
- Quote (Big Cat, 06:42): “A foosball table in a man cave is like cones in an arcade – it just takes up space. Shuffleboard, though, that’s what you want.”
- Patio Furniture Rant: The cost, comfort, and pointlessness of outdoor furniture is dissected. The running joke: Is "The Great Escape" a money-laundering front?
- Quote (Brandon, 09:21): “Every spring, I get antsy for outdoor furniture, but the prices always tell me—No. Stop.”
2. Steven Cheah’s (Mis)adventures in Gambling
Timestamps: 19:00–39:00
- Che’s Ladder Challenge Fails: Steven Cheah’s gambling cold streak gets a full roast. The group receives an email urging them to “be nicer to Che,” which they do—until he loses another impossible bet, triggering further jokes.
- Quote (Big Cat, 22:34): “It would be so funny if you lose three in a row. Che, you have to lose this bet now, for history.”
- The “Be Nice to Che” Dilemma: Discussion of fan emails critiquing show bullying evolves into self-aware banter about office dynamics.
3. Sylvie vs. Swirsky: A Chicago Sports Radio Beef for the Ages
Timestamps: 39:00–57:29
- **Big Cat walks the crew through a legendary on-air rant by Chicago radio host Sylvie, destroying Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky for being, in his words, a “rat” and “bad guy.”
- Quote (Sylvie, via Big Cat, 46:18): “He’s a guy that will shake your hand and stab you in the back. He is one of the worst people out there.”
- The Power of Local Sports Rants: They revel in radio as a medium for beefs, speculate about Swirsky’s reputation, and draw parallels to infamous Hollywood divas (Chevy Chase/Ellen).
4. Rec League Basketball Meltdowns & Strategy
Timestamps: 57:30–01:28:20
- Ownership Rumors and Team Coaching Struggles: The show gets a call-in from Coach Bets and Mikey Bets to discuss the Yak basketball team (mired in a losing streak).
- They riff on the threat of “ownership” attending games, team morale, starting lineups (“Are the players happy they signed up for this?”), and the possibility of instituting an NBA-style fine system.
- Quote (Nick, 01:11:18): “If you win a game, just leave forever. Parades. Retire undefeated. You won the championship. That’s the happy ending.”
- Bathroom Catastrophes: A vivid, comedic side story emerges—clogging a toilet at a therapist’s office and the social logistics of “worst places for a clog.” Leads to a chain of toilet and embarrassment stories.
5. Unveiling “TaskRabbit Mintzy”: New Content Assignment
Timestamps: 01:28:21–01:55:44
- The Pitch: Nick suggests signing up Ben Mintz (Mincy) for TaskRabbit, but transparently identifying him as “not proficient in anything, but extremely cheap.” The plan: film Mintzy attempting real-life tasks for strangers at bargain prices (hanging TVs, painting rooms, “anything imaginable”).
- Quote (Nick, 01:36:48): “We’re gonna be honest in the profile: can’t do anything, but will do everything for $5. The cheapest there is.”
- Mintzy and Tate Dynamic: Tate agrees to shepherd Mincy through TaskRabbit assignments, with dreams of how hilariously wrong basic jobs could go.
- Task Roulette Ideas: The crew brainstorms a “wheel of tasks”—Mincy as haircutter, caterer, babysitter, or handyman, cackling over likely accidents and damages.
- Behind the Scenes Negotiation: Mincy negotiates time off for a “content” trip to Mexico, leading to an existential bit where Big Cat repeatedly says he “doesn’t care” if Mintzy goes—leading Mincy to spiral as to whether he actually should.
- Quote (Big Cat, 01:51:09): “If your boss says, ‘I don’t care,’ how would you react? I’d think about it for years.”
6. Food Finds, Trying New Things, & “The Wheel of Experience”
Timestamps: 01:55:45–02:15:10
- Dana Beers’ List: Dana details his project to try every food (“Bruschetta, Reubens—I’m not scared of menus anymore!”). The group jokes about making a ‘Try Everything’ wheel, including wild cards like “stand up comedy,” “restaurant sabotage,” and even “try slurs” (tongue-in-cheek and quickly reeled in).
- Quote (Kyle, 02:05:10): “Have you ever been tempted to hit a kid? Go to a grocery store, find a misbehaving kid, and just smack them.”
- Authenticity and Clicks: Che contends there’s no point lying on the show, and the team affectionately debates the limits and absurdity of their “try everything” concept.
7. Video Game Addiction and Being “That Guy” Who Sleeps In
Timestamps: 02:15:11–02:34:21
- Zach/TJ’s Immersive Gaming Tales: Zach tells a story of being fired by his own dad for missing work due to gaming all night. The group shares their own risky “sleeping guy” moments, creative alarm clock strategies, and family interventions.
- Quote (Zach, 02:24:39): “I went home after getting fired—my mom still made a good meal. I played video games to take the pain away.”
- Accountability and Growth: Zach is asked how many more times he’ll sleep in this year and predicts “seasonal” offenses (“Probably 4 times, once a season”).
Notable Quotes & Moments
Big Cat on Office Dynamics:
- “We are just nice to people who are blatantly lying to us on the show…but now I know.”
On Cheah’s Losing Bets:
- “If you can keep losing minus 500 bets, it’s one of the greatest runs of all time.”
On TaskRabbit Mintzy:
- “You’re gonna have to walk Mincy through this. He’s not gonna be able to sign up on his own, but we’re gonna do it!”
On Taking Off for Mexico:
- Big Cat: “Do you want to do content?”
Mincy: “Sure!”
Big Cat: “Yeah, I don’t care. Toss me something if you want.” (01:53:40)
Dana’s “Try Everything” Philosophy:
- “My life is significantly upgraded. I’m not scared of menus anymore.”
- “Have you ever tried saying the n-word? … Just kidding, don’t answer that.”
On Chicago Sports Radio Grudges:
- “He’s a guy that will shake your hand and stab you in the back.” – Sylvie (via Big Cat, 46:18)
Memorable Segments (with Timestamps)
- Patio Furniture, “The Great Escape” Rant: 07:50–13:15
- Steven Cheah’s Minus-500 Bet Saga: 22:00–30:00
- Chicago Radio Rant Recap (Sylvie vs Swirsky): 45:30–51:00
- Therapist Office Toilet Disaster: 01:02:30–01:06:45
- TaskRabbit Mintzy Content Planning: 01:28:30–01:50:15
- Dana’s “Try Everything” Wheel Run: 02:00:00–02:10:00
- Zach’s Story: Fired for Gaming, Eating Dinner with Dad anyway: 02:18:15–02:22:50
Conclusion
This episode is a riotous slice of Yak life—half the show is riffing on office struggles, half is logistics for some of Barstool’s most unhinged bits. Fans get a peek at classic Yak: barbed camaraderie, left-field inspiration (TaskRabbit Mintzy is born!), plus rampant speculation on what new flavors, tasks, and sports metaphors the crew will try next. The loopy rapport and sheer banter make it a perfect snapshot of Barstool’s offbeat sports-irreverent culture.
Missed This Yak? Here’s Your Takeaway:
- “TaskRabbit Mintzy” is coming (watch this space).
- The Chicago sports radio world is savage—and hilarious.
- Office rec league basketball remains a comedic tragedy.
- If you want to reinvent yourself, try every food—and maybe every activity—you come across.
- Always check who’s left a mess in the therapist’s bathroom.
Podcast fans: Expect even more chaos and TaskRabbit misadventures in the episodes ahead!