This Is Important – “Best Of Eps 76-80”

Podcast: This Is Important
Hosts: Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, Kyle Newacheck
Date: November 25, 2025

Overview

In this sprawling, joke-filled “best of” compilation, the Workaholics crew (Adam, Anders, Blake, Kyle) revisit and riff on stories from their youth, odd jobs, mall culture, and their enduring group dynamic. Throughout, they spiral into hilariously offbeat tangents touching on stoner rituals, failed athletic ambitions, mall nostalgia, and the enduring mystery of what makes something “important.” Along the way, there’s heavy doses of absurdity, self-deprecating humor, and unexpected sincerity befitting four friends who can’t help but crack each other up.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Ambitions, “Going Pro,” and Pickleball

Kyle joins the USA Pickleball Association to pursue late-blooming professional sports glory:
- “I’m in a long game here to try and be professional by, like, mid-50s, you know? So I have like 15 years…” (05:11)
- Group jokes about getting “stomped” by the older generation, and the delusions of athletic grandeur.
Blake sets his sights on fingerboarding (tech decks) as his professional future.
Adam, tongue-in-cheek, suggests he could go pro at beer-chugging or skeet shooting given five years of effort.

2. Youth Rituals: Smoking Weed, Birthday “31 Blunt Salute,” and Stoner Nostalgia

The Story: On Kyle’s 31st birthday during the Workaholics days, the group engineered a “31 Blunt Salute,” creating a tunnel of 31 lit blunts for Kyle to walk through, while Cypress Hill blasted.
- “It was 31 blunt salute...I had to walk down the tunnel and inhale everything.” (12:05)
- “If Instagram was cracking, that would have gone frickin’ viral, dude.” (12:21)
Work and Weed: Adam recalls smoking weed in the grocery store’s freezer, while Blake’s group used the code word “Russia” for smoke breaks.
- “We would go in the freezer and smoke weed, and then come out and there’d be a long-ass line for sandwiches.” (14:00)
- “Hey man, you want to go to Russia?” = code for smoking in the freezer (16:04)

3. Mall & Teen Culture: Malls as Social Event Central

Malls were the original ‘cross-school’ social scene, the only places to meet new people outside your bubble.
- “The mall was where all the schools came to one place… You’d see boys and girls you didn’t see every day.” (59:55)
The group reminisce about first “online flirting” via AOL and the thrill/awkwardness of being asked to expose themselves in the early days of cybersex.

4. Odd Jobs, Union Picket Lines, and Blue-Collar Stories

Adam talks about being on the picket line during a California grocery strike, pointing out the surreal boredom and weed-fueled camaraderie; his roommates were scabs (“apartment divided”).
- “All you did was smoke weed in a parking lot. We would drink 40s in my buddy’s van and play frisbee.” (38:00)
- “For me, it was just like, ‘Okay, we’re going on strike. I’m just holding a sign. I’m 19, I don’t give a...’” (39:15)

5. Pop Culture Riffs: Songs, Sketches, and Failed Castings

The group debates “funny” music from their youth (Barenaked Ladies, Bloodhound Gang), and the infectiousness of “irony” in '90s youth culture.
- “You thought pre-1998, irony didn’t exist?” (19:39)
Blake laments losing out to Daniel Radcliffe in the Weird Al biopic:
- “Daniel Radcliffe is playing Weird Al Yankovic. This needs to be an Internet campaign...This is a yell campaign!” (48:04)
Frequent shout-outs and callbacks to sketches from their early comedy days, Workaholics, and surreal narrative tangents (the birth of “Let’s Get Weird” at a Weird Al concert).
- “That was the moment that the Let’s Get Weird movement was born.” (68:39)

6. Mall Nostalgia, Glass Elevator Generation, and Mall Food

Lofty debate (and generational divide) about whether glass elevators were ever “mind-blowing.”
- “I remember being at a Doubletree in Waterloo, Iowa...There was a big Willy Wonka elevator...This is insane!” – Adam (42:52)
Reminiscing about Wetzel’s Pretzels, Mrs. Fields, Orange Julius, and Super Bowl party excesses.
Kyle references using prop mustaches and makeup tackle boxes from early Workaholics production days. (09:01)

7. Blue Collar Hijinks: Workplace Anecdotes

Adam slices his finger at the deli while stoned, tries to hide it from customers.
- “I’m making a sandwich for someone and I’m too stoned...and I just sliced my finger open…” (15:45)
Discussion about jobs at Vans, counting inventory as third key, and managing retail chaos.
The mandatory “Did you ever jerk off at work?” thread, which devolves into tales of stress relief as night assistants/downloaders in edit bays (71:10).
- “Allegedly, I definitely jerked off under my desk at the Workaholics office…” – Adam (70:53)
- “One of my first jobs, I was a night assistant… And yes… there’s downtime…” – Kyle (72:45)

8. Porno Tangents & Internet Culture

Recurring topic: the pervasiveness of “taboo” porn (stepbrother/sister, etc) in pop-up ads, and the frustration with modern internet porn tropes.
- “It really pisses me off…that’s so prevalent.” – Anders (121:58)
Consistent jokes about how quick one could “go pro” in gay porn (“go to LA gym and you’ll be cast if you’re cute!”).
- “I bet Blake would have a harder time getting into gay porno than he thinks he would.” – Adam (66:57)
Discussion of the “Dudes Gone Wild” phenomenon, parodying “Girls Gone Wild.”

9. Movies and Comedy: Hot Takes and Debates

Prolonged argument over the merits of Tim Burton’s Big Fish:
- “I was so pumped to go into that movie…and then it took its departure to bad movie land.” – Anders (131:00)
- “That movie kicked butt. That’s one of my favorite movies of all time.” – Kyle (126:17)
Mini-deep dive on the mechanics of aggressive skating, tech decks, and whether one could become “elite” in niche fields given five years.
- “The level of respect Ders thinks we need to give to tech deck pros…” – Adam (108:01)

10. Sentimental and Nostalgic Moments

The group takes a moment to show love for Bob Saget upon his passing:
- “What a great TV dad, man. RIP to a goat.” – Blake (115:12)
Loving, hilarious debate over which Workaholics member would be which Full House character, with detailed breakdowns of Uncle Jesse’s “getting domed up in the car” lore.
“Don’t ruin a good story with the truth” – a Newacheck family axiom, sparking a discussion on the merits of tall tales (128:01)

Notable/Memorable Quotes

On “Professional Pickleball” Ambitions:
"I'm in the long game here to try and like be professional by…mid-50s, you know?" – Kyle (05:11)
On Birthday Rituals:
"It was 31 blunt salute...I had to walk down the tunnel and inhale everything." – Kyle (12:05)
On Smoking at Work:
"We would go in the freezer and smoke weed and then come out and there’d be a long-ass line for sandwiches." – Adam (14:00)
On Teenage Mall Culture:
"The mall was where all the schools came to one place." – Blake (59:55)
On Union Strikes:
"For me, it was just like 'Okay, we’re going on strike,'…I’m 19 years old, I don’t give a." – Adam (39:15)
On the “Let’s Get Weird” Origin:
"And that was the moment that the Let’s Get Weird movement was kind of born." – Blake (68:39)
On Pro Career Pipe Dreams:
"The level of respect Ders thinks that we need to give to tech deck pros..." – Adam (108:01)
On Porn Tropes:
"It really pisses me off…that’s so prevalent." – Anders (121:58)
On Sincerity and Storytelling:
"Don’t ruin a good story with the truth. That’s what their [the Newacheck family] is." – Kyle (128:01)

Memorable Moments & Running Gags

Kyle’s Pickleball Aspirations (04:00-06:00)
The “31 Blunt Salute” Story (10:45-13:30)
Mall, Glass Elevator and Food Court Debate (41:00-45:00)
Rant on Step-Sibling Porn (and Clueless) (122:11-122:49)
Big Fish Movie Fight (126:00-132:00)
Full House Characters Recast with the Guys (117:04-118:34)
Jungle Juice, Monster/Vodka Heart Attack Story (133:00-134:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[05:11] – Kyle on going pro in pickleball
[12:05] – Kyle describes the “31 blunt salute” birthday
[14:00] – Adam smokes weed on deli freezer shift
[38:00] – Adam on the boredom/fun of picket line jobs
[48:04] – The group reacts to Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al
[68:39] – The “Let’s Get Weird” chant is born
[121:58] – Anders’ rant on porn pop-ups/step-sibling prevalence
[126:22] – [132:00] – Big Fish argument (pro/con)

Tone and Style

The episode is wildly irreverent, full of inside jokes, group banter, and overtly off-color humor. In between bits, the group’s chemistry is clear; they alternate from friendly roasting to nostalgia and even genuine friendship/admiration. Their language is consistently casual, profane, self-aware, and rooted in “dude culture” humor.

For Listeners

This episode offers a rollicking ride through the group’s inner circle, making it a great primer for anyone interested in the "Workaholics" brand of overgrown-teenage comedy, pop culture reference, and stoner storytelling. Newcomers will enjoy the loose, unscripted format and vivid storytelling; longtime fans will find a treasure trove of callbacks, references, and new embarrassing admissions.

Summary compiled and organized for clarity, faithful to the language and comedic tone of the original show.

This Is Important – “Best Of Eps 76-80”

Podcast: This Is Important
Hosts: Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, Kyle Newacheck
Date: November 25, 2025

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Ambitions, “Going Pro,” and Pickleball

Kyle joins the USA Pickleball Association to pursue late-blooming professional sports glory:
- “I’m in a long game here to try and be professional by, like, mid-50s, you know? So I have like 15 years…” (05:11)
- Group jokes about getting “stomped” by the older generation, and the delusions of athletic grandeur.
Blake sets his sights on fingerboarding (tech decks) as his professional future.
Adam, tongue-in-cheek, suggests he could go pro at beer-chugging or skeet shooting given five years of effort.

2. Youth Rituals: Smoking Weed, Birthday “31 Blunt Salute,” and Stoner Nostalgia

The Story: On Kyle’s 31st birthday during the Workaholics days, the group engineered a “31 Blunt Salute,” creating a tunnel of 31 lit blunts for Kyle to walk through, while Cypress Hill blasted.
- “It was 31 blunt salute...I had to walk down the tunnel and inhale everything.” (12:05)
- “If Instagram was cracking, that would have gone frickin’ viral, dude.” (12:21)
Work and Weed: Adam recalls smoking weed in the grocery store’s freezer, while Blake’s group used the code word “Russia” for smoke breaks.
- “We would go in the freezer and smoke weed, and then come out and there’d be a long-ass line for sandwiches.” (14:00)
- “Hey man, you want to go to Russia?” = code for smoking in the freezer (16:04)

3. Mall & Teen Culture: Malls as Social Event Central

Malls were the original ‘cross-school’ social scene, the only places to meet new people outside your bubble.
- “The mall was where all the schools came to one place… You’d see boys and girls you didn’t see every day.” (59:55)
The group reminisce about first “online flirting” via AOL and the thrill/awkwardness of being asked to expose themselves in the early days of cybersex.

4. Odd Jobs, Union Picket Lines, and Blue-Collar Stories

Adam talks about being on the picket line during a California grocery strike, pointing out the surreal boredom and weed-fueled camaraderie; his roommates were scabs (“apartment divided”).
- “All you did was smoke weed in a parking lot. We would drink 40s in my buddy’s van and play frisbee.” (38:00)
- “For me, it was just like, ‘Okay, we’re going on strike. I’m just holding a sign. I’m 19, I don’t give a...’” (39:15)

5. Pop Culture Riffs: Songs, Sketches, and Failed Castings

The group debates “funny” music from their youth (Barenaked Ladies, Bloodhound Gang), and the infectiousness of “irony” in '90s youth culture.
- “You thought pre-1998, irony didn’t exist?” (19:39)
Blake laments losing out to Daniel Radcliffe in the Weird Al biopic:
- “Daniel Radcliffe is playing Weird Al Yankovic. This needs to be an Internet campaign...This is a yell campaign!” (48:04)
Frequent shout-outs and callbacks to sketches from their early comedy days, Workaholics, and surreal narrative tangents (the birth of “Let’s Get Weird” at a Weird Al concert).
- “That was the moment that the Let’s Get Weird movement was born.” (68:39)

6. Mall Nostalgia, Glass Elevator Generation, and Mall Food

Lofty debate (and generational divide) about whether glass elevators were ever “mind-blowing.”
- “I remember being at a Doubletree in Waterloo, Iowa...There was a big Willy Wonka elevator...This is insane!” – Adam (42:52)
Reminiscing about Wetzel’s Pretzels, Mrs. Fields, Orange Julius, and Super Bowl party excesses.
Kyle references using prop mustaches and makeup tackle boxes from early Workaholics production days. (09:01)

7. Blue Collar Hijinks: Workplace Anecdotes

Adam slices his finger at the deli while stoned, tries to hide it from customers.
- “I’m making a sandwich for someone and I’m too stoned...and I just sliced my finger open…” (15:45)
Discussion about jobs at Vans, counting inventory as third key, and managing retail chaos.
The mandatory “Did you ever jerk off at work?” thread, which devolves into tales of stress relief as night assistants/downloaders in edit bays (71:10).
- “Allegedly, I definitely jerked off under my desk at the Workaholics office…” – Adam (70:53)
- “One of my first jobs, I was a night assistant… And yes… there’s downtime…” – Kyle (72:45)

8. Porno Tangents & Internet Culture

Recurring topic: the pervasiveness of “taboo” porn (stepbrother/sister, etc) in pop-up ads, and the frustration with modern internet porn tropes.
- “It really pisses me off…that’s so prevalent.” – Anders (121:58)
Consistent jokes about how quick one could “go pro” in gay porn (“go to LA gym and you’ll be cast if you’re cute!”).
- “I bet Blake would have a harder time getting into gay porno than he thinks he would.” – Adam (66:57)
Discussion of the “Dudes Gone Wild” phenomenon, parodying “Girls Gone Wild.”

9. Movies and Comedy: Hot Takes and Debates

Prolonged argument over the merits of Tim Burton’s Big Fish:
- “I was so pumped to go into that movie…and then it took its departure to bad movie land.” – Anders (131:00)
- “That movie kicked butt. That’s one of my favorite movies of all time.” – Kyle (126:17)
Mini-deep dive on the mechanics of aggressive skating, tech decks, and whether one could become “elite” in niche fields given five years.
- “The level of respect Ders thinks we need to give to tech deck pros…” – Adam (108:01)

10. Sentimental and Nostalgic Moments

The group takes a moment to show love for Bob Saget upon his passing:
- “What a great TV dad, man. RIP to a goat.” – Blake (115:12)
Loving, hilarious debate over which Workaholics member would be which Full House character, with detailed breakdowns of Uncle Jesse’s “getting domed up in the car” lore.
“Don’t ruin a good story with the truth” – a Newacheck family axiom, sparking a discussion on the merits of tall tales (128:01)

Notable/Memorable Quotes

On “Professional Pickleball” Ambitions:
"I'm in the long game here to try and like be professional by…mid-50s, you know?" – Kyle (05:11)
On Birthday Rituals:
"It was 31 blunt salute...I had to walk down the tunnel and inhale everything." – Kyle (12:05)
On Smoking at Work:
"We would go in the freezer and smoke weed and then come out and there’d be a long-ass line for sandwiches." – Adam (14:00)
On Teenage Mall Culture:
"The mall was where all the schools came to one place." – Blake (59:55)
On Union Strikes:
"For me, it was just like 'Okay, we’re going on strike,'…I’m 19 years old, I don’t give a." – Adam (39:15)
On the “Let’s Get Weird” Origin:
"And that was the moment that the Let’s Get Weird movement was kind of born." – Blake (68:39)
On Pro Career Pipe Dreams:
"The level of respect Ders thinks that we need to give to tech deck pros..." – Adam (108:01)
On Porn Tropes:
"It really pisses me off…that’s so prevalent." – Anders (121:58)
On Sincerity and Storytelling:
"Don’t ruin a good story with the truth. That’s what their [the Newacheck family] is." – Kyle (128:01)

Memorable Moments & Running Gags

Kyle’s Pickleball Aspirations (04:00-06:00)
The “31 Blunt Salute” Story (10:45-13:30)
Mall, Glass Elevator and Food Court Debate (41:00-45:00)
Rant on Step-Sibling Porn (and Clueless) (122:11-122:49)
Big Fish Movie Fight (126:00-132:00)
Full House Characters Recast with the Guys (117:04-118:34)
Jungle Juice, Monster/Vodka Heart Attack Story (133:00-134:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[05:11] – Kyle on going pro in pickleball
[12:05] – Kyle describes the “31 blunt salute” birthday
[14:00] – Adam smokes weed on deli freezer shift
[38:00] – Adam on the boredom/fun of picket line jobs
[48:04] – The group reacts to Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al
[68:39] – The “Let’s Get Weird” chant is born
[121:58] – Anders’ rant on porn pop-ups/step-sibling prevalence
[126:22] – [132:00] – Big Fish argument (pro/con)

Tone and Style

For Listeners

Summary compiled and organized for clarity, faithful to the language and comedic tone of the original show.

Best Of Eps 76-80

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Summary

This Is Important – “Best Of Eps 76-80”

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Ambitions, “Going Pro,” and Pickleball

2. Youth Rituals: Smoking Weed, Birthday “31 Blunt Salute,” and Stoner Nostalgia

3. Mall & Teen Culture: Malls as Social Event Central

4. Odd Jobs, Union Picket Lines, and Blue-Collar Stories

5. Pop Culture Riffs: Songs, Sketches, and Failed Castings

6. Mall Nostalgia, Glass Elevator Generation, and Mall Food

7. Blue Collar Hijinks: Workplace Anecdotes

8. Porno Tangents & Internet Culture

9. Movies and Comedy: Hot Takes and Debates

10. Sentimental and Nostalgic Moments

Notable/Memorable Quotes

Memorable Moments & Running Gags

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone and Style

For Listeners

Summary

This Is Important – “Best Of Eps 76-80”

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Ambitions, “Going Pro,” and Pickleball

2. Youth Rituals: Smoking Weed, Birthday “31 Blunt Salute,” and Stoner Nostalgia

3. Mall & Teen Culture: Malls as Social Event Central

4. Odd Jobs, Union Picket Lines, and Blue-Collar Stories

5. Pop Culture Riffs: Songs, Sketches, and Failed Castings

6. Mall Nostalgia, Glass Elevator Generation, and Mall Food

7. Blue Collar Hijinks: Workplace Anecdotes

8. Porno Tangents & Internet Culture

9. Movies and Comedy: Hot Takes and Debates

10. Sentimental and Nostalgic Moments

Notable/Memorable Quotes

Memorable Moments & Running Gags

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone and Style

For Listeners