This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Episode #605 – Memphis Crisp
Release Date: August 24, 2025
Guest: Solo episode (no guest)
Overview
In Episode #605, Theo Von delivers a signature, meandering solo episode full of riffs, deeply personal stories, tour reflections, humorous takes on current events, and heartfelt listener interactions. Major topics include tour burnout, his admiration for Philly culture and women, a memorable trip to Hulk Hogan’s funeral, gratitude to fans and the Mexican community, absurd news (radioactive shrimp, robot wombs), and poignant phone calls from listeners on topics from addiction to brotherhood.
Tone: A blend of absurd humor, southern storytelling, nostalgia, and moments of genuine emotional honesty.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Tour Life, Burnout, and Showing Up
- Theo opens up about feeling run-down from touring, humorously likening himself to “the Lord’s lava lamp” who keeps showing up regardless.
“I get burnt out, but I show up. You know, I’m that lava lamp, homie…the Lord’s lava lamp, dog.” (01:15)
- Notes on touring cities:
- Philly: Painted as a blue-collar, “bottomless” food-obsessed place, full of hard-lived moments and colorful locals (02:00–05:35).
- San Diego/Oceanside: Praises the Mexican community for “keeping this country going.”
- Gratefulness to fans for supporting the nearly-finished tour and excitement about an upcoming Netflix special to be filmed in New York City.
“Thank you guys for showing up and trying your best, too, and giving the live show a chance…” (07:25)
2. Women from Philly & The “Bottomless” Bit
- Extended riff about dating a Philly woman obsessed with “bottomless” brunches and food options.
“All chicks from Philly care about is getting bottomless meals. That’s it.” (03:15)
- Jokes escalate: bottomless eggs, bottomless ravioli, even bottomless coleslaw at a firehouse.
- Theo’s preference: wants a woman “who wants a bit of a bottom on things” (05:25).
3. Shout-out to Mexican Americans
- Heartfelt appreciation for Mexican Americans:
“I want to give a round of applause to all the Mexican people for keeping this country going…they’re the wind in the sail, man.” (06:05)
4. Hulk Hogan’s Funeral: Wrestling as Salvation
- Details the experience of attending Hulk Hogan’s funeral in Largo, FL with Kid Rock, among a parade of wrestling legends—including Ric Flair and Dennis Rodman (“Rodman kind of stopped [the casket]…like one last rebound” 12:10).
- Childhood Reflection: Wrestling as an “anything is possible” lifeline for poor kids growing up with little else to aspire to.
“I’m gonna say that our love for professional wrestlers was bottomless, bro. Point blank, homie. We just loved them…” (14:18) “Wrestling, to me, it felt like it was for poor people, bro…I think there was no barrier to entry…” (16:55)
- Nostalgic stories of backyard wrestling with friends and siblings, vividly comic, layered with gratitude and a sense of loss.
5. News & Absurdity — “Memphis Crisp” Moment
- Morgan Wallen refuses the Grammys: Theo muses about the emptiness of awards.
“You win a Grammy and then we have like six Grammys back behind a curtain, right?...and then that one rolls out from behind the curtain and hugs whoever wins. Dude, that would be great, bro. You telling me? I would love a hug from somebody’s grandmother…” (23:11)
- Missing Texas Woman living with African ‘tribe’ in Scottish woods: Relates to how women transform after experiencing new cultures (“took a lady to Rainforest Café; three weeks later she married a brother in St. Thomas…” 25:22).
- FDA warns of radioactive shrimp at Walmart: Questions the reality of such stories, says it’s probably a Marvel origin story for a new superhero, “Cocktail.” (29:12)
- Chinese robot wombs: Satirical take on artificial gestation, “Now you can have a little robot…your child is getting organized…Chinese manufactured.” (31:54)
6. Listener Calls
a. Shaky Jake (37:18)
- “Just got over a seizure, looking like David Bowie.”
- Theo riffs but gets sincere:
“We’ve all got something, man. So I commend you for putting it right out there, face forward, brother.” (38:46)
b. Relationship Advice: Why Hasn’t He Kissed Me? (39:32)
- Listener’s dating confusion: her new boyfriend hasn’t kissed her after two months.
- Theo advises:
“A lot of men out there don’t even do kissing anymore…Kissing’s from damn 1800s or whatever.” (41:00)
“If you want to kiss them, kiss them.” (43:34)- Points to changing gender dynamics, dating fears (“Me Too” effects), and encourages the caller to take initiative.
c. First-Time Father, Farrier from the West Coast (Jake Smith) (44:21)
- Asks for fatherly advice.
- Theo:
“You’re gonna be fine. If you can handle working at a zoo…But just know that you got to emotionally raise a child. If you don’t teach a child how to feel, they’re gonna spend the rest of their life wandering around how to feel, homie.” (46:00)
d. Staying in Touch with an Ex’s Parent (Emmy) (47:34)
- Emmy wonders if it’s OK to maintain a relationship with an ex-boyfriend’s mom.
- Theo validates:
“I believe we get pieces of relationships from different people…a lot of that’s been a lot of my life…” (48:40)
- Reflects on how relationships morph and the importance of accepting love from different sources.
e. Dealing With Alcoholism & Anger (Jake from Illinois) (51:11)
- Listener shares he’s struggling with alcohol and how anger is damaging his relationship.
- Theo shares his own experience:
“Anger has been a big problem of mine over the years…Unrealistic expectations of others…Those can be a blessing. That’s a gift.” (52:14) “Nothing changes if nothing changes, baby.” (55:46)
f. Brotherhood & Family (Miles) (59:32)
- Listener moved by Theo’s brotherhood material; recently bonded deeply with his own older brother after seeing Theo live.
- Theo:
“Brothers, older brothers…We should have a special day for them…You’re always trying to be your older brother, but be yourself…” (61:10)
- Reminisces about the emotional significance of brothers in his life and the idea that people fill sibling roles for one another.
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On Burnout:
“These anos, which are Mexican years, are rattling on…Things just speed up and I get burnt out…I feel like I’m just an empty eight ball bag…” (00:50)
-
On Philly women:
“All chicks from Philly care about is getting bottomless meals. That’s it.” (03:15)
-
On Childhood and Wrestling:
“Our love for professional wrestlers was bottomless, bro. Point blank, homie.” (14:18)
-
On Death of a Hero:
“Part of me wanted to stay longer…just to kind of, you know, mill around…I just felt really lucky to go…” (21:00)
-
On Recognizing Support:
“You’re casting a spell into your child’s heart every time you look at him.” (45:55)
-
On Addiction and Change:
“Nothing changes if nothing changes, baby.” (55:46)
-
On Sibling Bonds:
“A moment with my brother where I know that he loves me…That’s the feeling I want to feel when I’m leaving.” (61:20)
Notable Segments (with Timestamps)
- Philly “bottomless food” riff:
02:30–06:00 - Mexican Americans appreciation:
06:05–06:45 - Hulk Hogan funeral & wrestling nostalgia:
08:35–21:00 - Absurd news (robot womb, radioactive shrimp):
26:35–36:45 - Listener calls:
37:18–66:29
Thematic Threads
- Burnout and resilience: Theo’s exhaustion but also his commitment to showing up.
- Nostalgia and gratitude: Wrestling as a touchstone for hope, the importance of small joys in childhood, role models.
- Humor as connection/coping: Even heavy subjects like addiction, grief, and loneliness are approached with comic levity, but never dismissively.
- Finding family where you can: Integrating people—ex’s parents, friends, mentors—as family.
- Shifting cultural norms: Whether dating, awards, or artificial wombs, Theo riffs on societal change with a healthy skepticism and curiosity.
- Direct listener support: Theo treats listener stories with empathy and respect, often drawing from his own struggles for connection.
Final Thoughts
This episode is pure Theo Von: heart, humor, stream-of-consciousness storytelling, with an open line to the audience. The show touches on themes both silly and sincere, balancing ridiculous news headlines with moments of existential warmth and practical street-level advice. Whether you’re in it for the laughs or the life wisdom, it’s a quintessential installment of This Past Weekend.
Listeners looking for a standout moment:
Do not miss the extended reflection on childhood wrestling fandom (12:00–19:00) for both laughs and deeper feels. The Philly riff (02:30–06:00) and the emotionally charged listener calls (from 37:18 onward) showcase the wide spectrum of what Theo’s podcast offers.