Podcast Summary: "This Is Important"

Episode 261: Grasping For Penis Elongating Straws
Release Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Adam DeVine, Anders Holm ("Ders"), Blake Anderson, Derek Waters
(Episode Description: Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, and Kyle Newacheck seriously discuss some very important topics.)

Overview

Episode 261 features the signature chaos and camaraderie of the "This Is Important" crew as they veer from penis elongation gadgets and midlife workout regimens to tales of quiz show humiliation, live tour war stories, and a candid (and hilarious) attempt to analyze a panned Ice Cube movie. Along the way, the gang sprinkles in personal anecdotes, teases upcoming live events, and reflects on the trials and triumphs of friendship, work, and aging ungracefully.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Weighted Vests, Fitness, and “Maximizing” in Middle Age

• [03:16] Derek reveals he’s podcasting in a weighted vest, embracing a midlife fitness journey:
  • “Listen, it’s time to take it to the next level. I podcast with a weight vest on now.” - Derek Waters
• Adam jokes about midlife attempts to get shredded, referencing human growth hormones and Marvel movies (03:27).
• The group jokes about the correlation between aging and shrinking penises, setting the comedic tone for the segment.

2. The Absurd World of Penis Elongation Devices

• [04:29 - 05:40] Blake brings up weighted penis extenders found on Amazon:
  • “There’s weights that you hang at the end of your penis… supposed to elongate you. It stretches you out over time.” - Blake Anderson (04:37)
  • Derek and Adam run with the visual, riffing on the desperation involved (“You’re grasping for straws, as they say.” - Blake, 05:40).
  • They speculate on the tipping point where men consider these gadgets (“If you’re stuck at five and you’re like, I just need one more…” - Derek, 06:00).
  • Adam sums up, “Such a specific type of dude…your dick has to be so small…” (05:35)

3. Dumb and Dumber on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’

• [13:45 - 23:13] The group relives Adam and Ders’ recent appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (and previously, Blake on Celebrity Jeopardy):
  • Multiple gags about their lack of trivia prowess and comparing performances.
  • Adam: “We were going for the $124,000 question….and, you know, we lost. We lost.” (14:36)
  • Blake ribs them for not using his “Phone a Friend” lifeline.
  • They dig into the stress of being on camera, bantering versus brainpower, and celebrity game shows as a pressure cooker.
  • “It exposes how stupid you just might be.” - Blake Anderson (16:21)
  • Adam’s take: “I really loved it. I thought it was so fun and I thought we were pretty funny.” (16:05)
  • Discussion on whether working “blue” (raunchy, off-color material) could ever be shed for cleaner, more lucrative standup (11:40-12:20).

4. Game Show Fallout and Charity Causes

• They debate whether winnings were split for charity and talk up the personal value of their contributions. (15:08-15:50)
• Adam: “Children’s Miracle Network…a network of children’s hospitals that I’ve supported and I am a brand ambassador for, so I love it.” (73:29)

5. The Las Vegas and Cruise Announcements

• [34:45 - 38:44] Adam teases two big TII Nation events:
  • The first ever TII Cruise: Feb 22-26, 2026, Tampa to Cozumel (“Cabins are filling up!”)
  • A Las Vegas live show during F1 weekend (November 20th at The Cosmopolitan), with a breakdown of pre-sale logistics.
  • Discussion of gender split on the cruise (“60% girls and 40% guys right now…") (35:13-35:31), joking about the lack of a “sausage fest."

6. Stories from Live Tour Chaos

• [44:14 - 47:59] Blake and Adam recount Chicago’s live tour show and Blake’s infamous on-stage nap (or “power down”), Kyle’s breakdancing cameo, and bizarre audience reviews.
  • “Blake fall asleep on stage for 17 minutes, did not talk, did not say a word.” - Adam DeVine (45:58)
• They share memories—good and bad—from various stops on their tour.

7. Pop Culture: F1, Baseball, and “War of the Worlds” (the Cube Version)

• [48:26 - 58:15] Adam recaps his F1 Las Vegas experience:
  • “Hundreds of thousands of people that come in for the F1 race. And then there’s just celebrities everywhere…it’s kind of crazy.” (48:40)
• The group discusses going to Cubs games, neon pink hats in childhood, and the ritual of ignoring the game in favor of ballpark ambience.
• The crew debate Ice Cube’s new movie War of the Worlds (Amazon Prime). Blake tries (and fails) to articulate what makes it a “trip,” leading to a meta debate on what counts as a strong podcast take.
  • “It’s just a dude talking to the screen…a lot is going on around him, but it’s all something that someone programmed.” - Blake (63:30)
  • “Blake, you’re such a nice guy…but this vanilla, this nothing that you’re giving us, does not make good podcasting.” - Adam (66:28)
  • (Much laughter as Blake defends “nuanced comedy.”)

8. Advice, Apologies, and Inside Jokes

• The episode closes with thank-yous, corrections, and more running gags: Adam’s childhood pink Cubs hat, storytelling from tours and charity events, and the enduring challenge of planning guy trips as adults.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On weighted penis devices:

  • “There’s several ways to elongate your penis without the use of substances…with the use of products like weights tied to the end of your penis.” —Blake (05:05)
  • “You sound like a reindeer with a dingle belt.” —Derek (05:25)

• On game show failure:

  • “It exposes how stupid you just might be.” —Blake (16:21)
  • “Shows the character of a man to kick someone when they’re down.” —Adam (16:56)
  • “I had fun. You were funny. I just am like…’why did I do this?’ And the answer is charity.” —Ders (13:21)

• On cruise gender stats:

  • “It’s 60% girls and 40% guys right now. So for everybody thinking it’s going to be a real C fest…” —Blake (35:13)
  • “I think girls, they just plan a little better.” —Adam (71:54)

• On the Ice Cube movie ‘War of the Worlds’:

  • “It’s not good. But it’s fucking weird because the whole movie is…” —Blake (60:27)
  • “Blake, you’re such a nice guy…but this vanilla, this nothing that you’re giving us, does not make good podcasting.” —Adam (66:28)
  • “Nuanced comedy…For all my boarders who really deal in nuanced comedy, thanks for hanging with me.” —Blake (67:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Weighted Vests and Penis Devices: 03:16 – 06:45
• Game Show Recaps and Roasts: 13:45 – 23:13
• Las Vegas and Cruise Announcements: 34:45 – 38:44
• Live Tour War Stories: 44:14 – 47:59
• F1, Baseball, and Chicago Tales: 48:26 – 58:15
• War of the Worlds (Ice Cube Movie) Review and Debate: 59:00 – 67:05
• Wrap-ups, Takebacks, Charity Chat: 73:13 – 75:27

Tone & Style

True to “This Is Important” form, the episode is irreverent, self-deprecating, and alternately juvenile and heartfelt—often in the same sentence. The crew isn’t shy about riffing on each other, embracing awkward silences, or beating a running joke into the ground (especially if it involves genitals, drinking, or taking L’s on national TV).

Useful for New Listeners

If you’re new to the show, this episode captures everything beloved by fans: the balance of comic banter, inside jokes, unapologetic depth (or lack thereof), and rare moments of sincerity. From their embrace of physical and emotional discomfort (wearing weights, public humiliation) to the ongoing quest to push TII Nation into ever more ridiculous adventures, the boys prove—once again—that nothing is too trivial or too embarrassing to be "important."

Episode Highlights at a Glance:

• [03:16] Weighted vests and fitness at midlife
• [04:37] Penis weights discussed
• [13:45] Millionaire game show recap
• [34:45] Cruise and Vegas show announced
• [44:14] Tour mishaps (Blake’s nap on stage)
• [59:00] War of the Worlds (Cube) “review”
• [73:13] Charity and takebacks

Closing words:
“I love children’s hospitals. I think…” —Adam (73:29)
“This is an iHeart podcast.” —Blake (78:28)

For event tickets and more info, visit thiscruiseisimportant.com