We Might Be Drunk Ep. 251: Dan Soder & Greg Stone

Release Date: September 29, 2025
Hosts: Sam Morril & Mark Normand
Guests: Dan Soder, Greg Stone

Episode Overview

This episode marks a milestone for the podcast ("Congrats on 250 episodes!" - Dan Soder, 00:06) with a classic hang: comics riffing on each other's lives, careers, and absurdities in the comedy world, all while reminiscing about their early days, discussing nostalgia, dissecting wild NYC moments, and trading stories about toys, club gigs, and legendary comics. Alongside the humor, the conversation dives into darker, more reflective territory about death, New York trauma, the strangeness of internet culture, and fleeting moments from their careers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kumail Nanjiani, Ripped Celebs, and Christ’s Workout Routine (00:10 – 01:00)

• The pod opens with banter about Kumail Nanjiani's physical transformation and the unrealistic expectations around male beauty.
• They riff on Jesus’ physique and comedic takes on religious icons needing workout tapes.
  • Quote: "Christ was on anabolic steroids. And that's why it's all shredded. That's why it's 4% body fat." – Dan Soder (00:39)

2. Comedian Lore: Ted Alexandro, Comedy in Queens, and Manifestos (01:01 – 02:30)

• Homage to Queens comedy legend Ted Alexandro, musings about comics retreating to the woods, and the fine line between 'making it' and 'Unabomber vibes.'
• Discussion of the Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski), his brother turning him in, and failed high school attempts at impressing women with explosives.

3. NYC Rats, Cat Behavior, and Growing Up in the City (03:00 – 07:00)

• Anecdotes about massive New York City rats and exterminators who resemble hockey enforcers.
  • Quote: "If there was a rat NBA, they're being recruited out of New York." – Dan Soder (05:01)
• Tangent about minor league sports movies (“Slap Shot”), and the bizarre mix of grit and nostalgia in their childhood obsessions.

4. Action Figure Obsessions & Toy Nostalgia (11:19 – 15:17; 20:03 – 26:18)

• Deep dive into childhood action figure collections; Star Wars, DC, Ninja Turtles, wrestling, and collecting as a thread to adult fidgeting or anxiety.
  • Quote: “I think you want something in your hand. It is the same reason you smoke.” – Sam Morril (12:06)
• Stretch Armstrong, Gak, and Creepy Crawlers are discussed with hilarious admissions of "eating the inside" (Mark) and how Gak prepared their generation for adult life.
  • Quote: “It was prepping us for cum.” – Dan Soder (14:51)
• Greg Stone joins and critiques the Marvel Legends line, leading to more nerd-heavy, self-deprecating jokes.

5. Comedy Festival Stories & Agent Woes (21:31 – 25:12)

• Tales from Montreal's Just For Laughs and JFL Chicago festivals: drinking, bombing meetings, and the pipe dreams of development deals.
  • Quote: “By the time we got up there, they go, Paradigm might sign you! ...I don't know, maybe we can go halvesies on a breakfast.” – Dan Soder (21:31)
• The harsh realities of industry churn, agents quitting, and how the business has changed for newer comics.

6. Hell Gigs in Long Island & Dealing with Rowdy Crowds (25:16 – 28:32)

• War stories from tough rooms like Belmore Brokerage and Maguire’s, and which comics (“Veeder, Tim Dillon”) could handle the chaos.
• The art of crowd work and adapting to regional audiences.

7. Comedy Memories: Comedy Central Presents, Nostalgia, and Old Specials (29:01 – 33:18)

• Debate on the disappearance (and digital return) of classic Comedy Central Presents specials.
  • Quote: "Where's that Comedy Central be smart? Go like, hey, we're going to bring it back... then everyone would get wild about it." – Dan Soder (30:06)
• Waxing nostalgic about specific comedy specials, elaborate themed sets, and how things got “cheapened” by digital production.

8. Aging, Hangovers, and Early Career Struggles (33:18 – 41:00)

• Self-deprecating humor about “aging fast” in comedy and what the lifestyle does to you.
• Real talk on handling hangovers, failed remedies (“charcoal pills—not working”), and the ritual of greasy food post-drinking.
  • Quote: "The only move is just pig out on like pizza, burger…" – Mark Normand (39:12)

9. Infamous Bits, Early ‘Hit Singles’, and ‘Cancel Culture’ (40:20 – 43:09)

• Reminiscing about first killer jokes, bit evolution, and how some don’t age well.
• The reality of out-of-context ‘comedy hate videos’ and the economics for online critics.
  • Quote: “They just want one of those guys to admit: Thank God you did something weird because now I get paid.” – Mark Normand (42:28)

10. Dark NYC Tales: Death, Scaffolding, and Grizzly Realities (48:47 – 57:13)

• Morbid (but funny) stories about seeing dead bodies, deaths in hospitals (Greg), and wild incidents witnessed in New York.
  • Quote: "I watched his soul come out of his mouth on the elevator with me, first day on the job." – Greg Stone (50:30)
• Explore how accidents, suicides, and infamous city mishaps (falling bricks, ACs) become part of New York lore.

11. Random Tangents: Lemon Party, Rotten.com, and Internet Scars (43:09 – 48:38)

• Brief but classic detour into infamous internet shock sites (lemonparty, Rotten.com, Faces of Death), highlighting both the trauma and comedy of encountering these as kids.

12. End of an Era, Chest Hair, and Shaving Mishaps (66:00 – 68:07)

• The group ends with the lighter side of male grooming—who can pull off a V-neck, chest hair envy and accidental shaving disasters.
  • Quote: “You ever seen a dog when they get a haircut too short? That’s the energy.” – Dan Soder (67:25)

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• "Testosterone juice killed Christ." – Dan Soder (00:30)
• “If you see a 6’4” guy walking down 3rd Avenue with that voice – he knows Qui-Gon.” – Mark Normand on Dan Soder’s Star Wars trivia (10:33)
• “I got a suede jacket. Kills.” – Mark Normand, plugging Quince, while reminiscing about podcast sponsors (35:25)
• “I watched his soul come out of his mouth on the elevator with me, my first day on the job.” – Greg Stone, on death in the hospital (50:30)
• "Lemon party was a little more fun. It was upbeat because you go, ‘ew’, but also funny.” – Mark Normand and Dan Soder, discussing internet legends (43:16)
• "It was prepping us for cum." – Dan Soder, on Gak (14:51)
• “The only move is just pig out on like pizza burger.” – Mark Normand, on hangovers (39:12)
• “Those old men were like, well, no one will ever find out. No, Reginald’s gonna take a picture, and it’s just for us.” – Dan Soder on the mystery of Lemonparty (45:06)
• “You ever seen a dog when they get a haircut too short? That’s the energy.” – Dan Soder (67:25)
• "Have you tried chasing him off a cliff? He’ll stay in the air for a while, but eventually he’ll drop." – Greg Stone, pitching cartoon logic for Castro assassination attempts (63:53)
• “The only good thing he ever did. Arguably, the only good thing my dad ever did.” – Dan Soder, about his dad hiding a Batman figure for him (14:09)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:06 – 01:00: Opening banter, Kumail’s “hotness,” Christ’s abs
• 01:02 – 02:40: Ted Alexandro, Astoria comedy roots, Unabomber inside jokes
• 03:00 – 06:00: NYC rats, exterminator stories, Slap Shot movie nostalgia
• 11:19 – 15:17: Action figure collections, Gak, toy nostalgia peaks
• 21:31 – 25:12: Montreal comedy fests, agent mishaps
• 25:16 – 28:32: Tough Long Island rooms: Reputation and recovery
• 29:01 – 33:18: Comedy Central Presents, how comedy special production has changed
• 39:12 – 41:00: Hangover cures, self-care failures
• 43:09 – 45:45: Lemon party, Rotten.com, Faces of Death retrospectives
• 48:47 – 57:13: NYC sudden-death stories, accidental deaths, falling bricks/AC units
• 66:00 – 68:07: Chest hair, V-necks, shaving comedy
• 68:53 – End: Plugs, jokes about rushing to Penn Station, closing laughter

Summary Tone and Style

The conversation is fast, riff-heavy, and packed with in-group references and bleak NYC wit. The mood jumps from dark (suicides, deaths, grizzly city mishaps) to absurd and nostalgic (toys, internet pranks, failed hangover cures), always swinging back to the camaraderie and shared absurdity of the stand-up grind.

Guests’ Contributions

• Dan Soder: Stories from the old NYC scene, action figure and nostalgia rants, reflective about career arc and comedy changes.
• Greg Stone: Hospital tales, action figure knowledge, and interjects with dry, sly humor.
• Mark Normand & Sam Morril: Keep energy up, provide cynical punchlines, drive nostalgia, and steer discussion toward both the personal and absurd.

Final Thoughts

For fans of inside baseball comedy talk, New York war stories, and darkly funny reflections on growing older (and odder) in stand-up, this episode is densely packed with laughs, jaw-dropping stories, and the comfort of comics making each other (and listeners) feel less alone in the weirdness.