163: Jake's Faves: Hot Takes with Mr. H (Re-Release)

Summary

Episode Summary: We're Here to Help - Episode 163: Jake's Faves: Hot Takes with Mr. H (Re-Release)
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson, Gareth Reynolds, and Kevin
Guest: Mr. H (Jake Johnson)

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Introduction to the Re-Release

In Episode 163 of We're Here to Help, titled "Jake's Faves: Hot Takes with Mr. H (Re-Release)", the hosts Jake Johnson, Gareth Reynolds, and Kevin delve into the intriguing and humorous journey of Jake's innovative classroom strategy—Hot Take Tuesdays. This re-release not only revisits the original concept but also showcases its evolution and impact through Jake's experiences as a seventh-grade teacher transitioning into eighth grade with the same cohort.

---

The Birth of Hot Take Tuesdays

Jake Johnson introduces the concept of Hot Take Tuesdays, a classroom activity designed to engage seventh-grade students by sharing his strong opinions on various topics, encouraging students to respond and discuss. At [15:12], Jake explains,

“Every Tuesday morning, I'm frantically trying to think of a new hot take, a new thing to get them riled up.”

This method initially aimed to make English class more interactive and enjoyable but soon spiraled beyond Jake’s control as his students eagerly anticipated each week's provocative opinions.

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Challenges Faced and Seeking Solutions

As the school year progressed, Jake found himself overwhelmed by the relentless demand for new hot takes. At [16:06], he shares,

“Every Tuesday morning, I'm frantically trying to think of a new hot take... I do not know if you have ever had to face a 25 angry seventh graders before because you neglected to come with a hot take.”

Recognizing the unsustainable nature of this approach, Jake reached out for advice, leading to a collaborative brainstorming session with Gareth and Kevin.

---

Innovative Advice from the Hosts

Gareth and Kevin propose a strategic pivot to alleviate Jake's burden. Gareth suggests, at [21:50],

“Let me pitch you something, Mr. H... you do it by having each student present their own hot take in essay form.”

Kevin builds on this idea by adding,

“You still get to have the discussion. You still get to have a hot take on their hot takes.”

This collaborative effort results in a system where eighth-grade students take on the responsibility of generating and presenting their own hot takes, fostering independence and critical thinking while reducing the teacher’s workload.

---

Implementation and Success in Mr. H’s Classroom

Jake implements the hosts' suggestions with remarkable success. At [31:04], he recounts how dedicating his classroom to student-generated hot takes transformed the learning environment:

“I went strong. The kids were going crazy. Other teachers started noticing the positive impact...”

Students began to thrive, showing increased engagement and enthusiasm. One particularly memorable moment occurs when a student presents, saying a poignant hot take like,

“Nothing is better,” challenging the status quo and sparking deep classroom discussions ([43:01]).

Jake further enhances this initiative by organizing a Hot Take Festival, encouraging creativity and public speaking among students. The festival becomes a highlight of the school year, with students eagerly preparing their best arguments and even creating a Hot Takes Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions.

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Community Impact and Broader Adoption

The success of Hot Take Tuesdays extends beyond Jake’s classroom. At [34:37], Gareth highlights how other teachers are inspired to adopt similar strategies:

“We love being Mr. H. If anybody is a teacher... Please call it Mr. H's Hot Take Tuesday.”

Jake's approach not only engages his students but also garners praise from fellow educators and administrators, as evidenced when he receives commendation from his principal for being "pedagogically sound" ([34:37]).

---

Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, several memorable quotes underscore the program's effectiveness and the hosts' supportive roles:

• Jake Johnson ([15:03]): “From the great state of Massachusetts, the great commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

• Mr. H ([32:32]): “Your kids have figured it out.”

• Kevin ([21:46]): “You're the offensive line. If I'm the running back, I mean.”

• Gareth Reynolds ([44:13]): “You're the teacher of the year.”

These quotes reflect the camaraderie among the hosts and the positive transformation in Jake’s teaching methods.

---

Future Directions and Closing Thoughts

Looking ahead, Jake plans to further integrate Hot Take Tuesdays into his curriculum, ensuring that students continue to develop their argumentative skills. Gareth and Kevin express their admiration and support for Jake's initiatives, emphasizing the importance of adapting teaching methods to foster student engagement and autonomy.

At [45:02], Jake envisions expanding the Hot Take Festival into an annual event, celebrating students' creativity and critical thinking:

“We're designing the Hot Take Festival, which will happen one of the last Tuesdays of the school year.”

The episode concludes with hosts encouraging other educators to adopt similar strategies, highlighting the potential for widespread positive impact on student learning and classroom dynamics.

---

Conclusion

Episode 163 of We're Here to Help offers an insightful and entertaining exploration of innovative teaching strategies through Jake Johnson's Hot Take Tuesdays. With the collaborative support of Gareth Reynolds and Kevin, Jake successfully transforms a challenging classroom scenario into a thriving educational model that promotes student engagement and independence. This episode not only underscores the value of creative problem-solving in education but also celebrates the positive ripple effects such initiatives can have within a school community.

For those interested in implementing similar strategies or sharing their own experiences, the hosts invite listeners to email their questions to [e-mail], fostering a community of support and collaborative learning.

Transcript

[Jake Johnson]

With a five dollar meal deal with new McValue. You pick a McDouble or a McChicken, then get a small fry, a small drink and a four piece McNuggets. That's a lot of McDonald's for not a lot of money.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Prices and Participation may vary.

[Kevin]

McDouble meal, $6 in some markets for a limited time only.

[Mr. H]

And we are back with a re release Wednesday. And for the people who go, I don't like.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, okay, sorry.

[Kevin]

The free show's upsetting you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, exactly, sorry. The free pod.

[Mr. H]

Yeah. But there's ads and then. Oh, by the way, you guys, you gotta stop blaming Rob and. And Nat Attack and Sherlock for the ads. They don't put the ads in and neither did Shark.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And that's the ad company.

[Mr. H]

That's head go. And they got to recoup.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is as life in the podcast.

[Kevin]

This is the podcast world coming in. You know, it's good the Wednesday listen there or don't listen. Wednesdays are. We're adding some new pepper to an older stew. Whatever.

[Mr. H]

And I'll tell you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And I'll tell you why we're doing it because we like this.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Mr. H]

And I'll tell you another thing. Gareth and I are losing money on Wednesdays.

[Kevin]

We're down. We're literally paying for the show you don't like on Wednesdays.

[Mr. H]

We're paying for you guys to get mad at.

[Kevin]

We're paying for negative spam comments. It's a failing, by the way.

[Mr. H]

That is 2025 and that is the Internet.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Mr. H]

Where you're like, we're having a little bit of fun.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You know what?

[Mr. H]

Financially, this is a mistake. But let's do it. Why I'm enjoying talking to you right now, Gareth.

[Kevin]

I also enjoy. This is why the comments. Well, you get greedy with the couple good ones. Four good one. Ow.

[Jake Johnson]

Ow.

[Mr. H]

So you and you and I view it differently. I think. I think you, you view it more so I don't view the good ones as like feel good. I view it as if we're on Shark Tank. This is our test audience. If you always hear everyone. You got to test the.

[Gareth Reynolds]

If I'm.

[Mr. H]

You know, why I might be becoming. I got real bad news for myself.

[Kevin]

This is good.

[Mr. H]

I might not be Barb. I might be Mr. Wonderful.

[Kevin]

Oh, Jesus, Jake.

[Mr. H]

And think about it.

[Kevin]

Get help. Call the show.

[Mr. H]

You know what I would ask for on every single one?

[Kevin]

What you want one per. Well, $1 on everything in perpetuity.

[Mr. H]

Of course I would. That's a great fucking deal. Stop it's the most.

[Kevin]

It's like he's got a catchphrase bid.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But one out of 100.

[Mr. H]

He gets it.

[Kevin]

I know. I mean, why does he even talk on that show? Everyone's crafting interesting deals with notepads and shar and there's equations and then he's like, I want $1 on everything you make forever.

[Mr. H]

You're Robert, I'm Mr. Wonderful. So today is a re release and I gotta tell you, Gareth, I got excited about the one I picked.

[Kevin]

Okay, what do you mean one? You picked an episode or a call.

[Mr. H]

A caller.

[Kevin]

Oh. So we're going through the trajectory of a call life.

[Mr. H]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

Okay.

[Mr. H]

I think that's a fun way to do it. I think, I think there's a fun way to do these where I have a hard time remembering what was what and where the follow ups are.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Mr. H]

So I thought one thing we could do. We started hitting with celebs, which was fun. We did Samberg, we did Maxi G, we did Lamorne.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm.

[Kevin]

We're trying to appease the audience who's not into the Wednesdays. So what did you do?

[Mr. H]

I went Mr. Hot takes.

[Kevin]

Oh, wow.

[Mr. H]

And I'm doing three. And we're doing three Mr. L calls back to back to back.

[Kevin]

Producer Jesse here, the guys are saying.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. L, but it's actually Mr. H. And then he.

[Mr. H]

Natak has been talking to him. He's got a follow up coming in May for his big festival. So it won't be part of this, but this will be a refresher and then we'll bring him back and as soon as we record that, we'll air it. But what a joy this son of a has been for me, for you, for our show, for creating what the reason when I thought we were done after season one, when I realized we're coming back and we might be back for a while, is because of the community. Not only did this guy just call in with a thing and we found out hot takes. The thing that got me very excited was we started getting emails from other teachers saying, please let Blank know. I started doing hot takes with my sixth grade class and it's really working. So many teachers are using this technique and are writing in that we don't tell the audience about because there's no jokes. Did they just say like his. His stuff is so helpful? My students are getting up and talking. We're all having fun. Well, I'm like, this is hilarious.

[Kevin]

I know, like I really hated school. And I know when I. When we first heard of this. I was like, dude, this. I would be so excited to do a hot take if we ever do a live show. Where does he live? Do we remember?

[Mr. H]

I think Massachusetts.

[Kevin]

We got to get Mr. L to come in, even just do a call or a video.

[Mr. H]

Yeah. Here's my only fear.

[Kevin]

I know I could tell you weren't into it right away. You got that Mr. Wonderful face.

[Mr. H]

But I'll tell you why.

[Kevin]

Robert let me take this snowboard off. Whoop. I'm bleeding my ankles out.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So one thing I do to Gareth.

[Mr. H]

Now that makes me laugh, and I know triggers them, which also makes me laugh, is when Robert does something really hacky on Shark Tank. Like, they'll be like, one of the people pitching will be like, so I've.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Got this fun thing where I have.

[Mr. H]

Glitter on my nose and I'm glitter nose. And without anyone asking, Robert goes, I'll do it.

[Kevin]

And he.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He runs up, puts glitter on his face. He fell and cut himself. So I just send the clips and.

[Kevin]

You and you laughing. Oh, I watching. Or is this like, he. It'll all of a sudden be him, like, in, like, a sleeping bag. That cools you down. And he'll just be rolling on the ground going, I'm an earthworm. I'm an earthworm. And I'll just be like. And I.

[Gareth Reynolds]

By the way, that is it.

[Mr. H]

I'm an earthworm.

[Kevin]

And I'm just sitting there, just going. It's like the inner me I try to stifle. Like, when we were doing Jamila's podcast yesterday, there was so many times I was like, just watch. Just watch.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Let Eric cook.

[Kevin]

Let him cook. Let him cook.

[Mr. H]

Growing up is so hard, believe me. You know, I have the same thing.

[Kevin]

Oh, yeah.

[Mr. H]

Just shut up.

[Kevin]

Just shut up sometimes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Shut up.

[Kevin]

It'll work. Everything will work. Everything will work. It's a nightmare. A night. It's hell.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Where were we?

[Kevin]

The Mr. L flying in. Your only issue.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, yes, Said my only issue is.

[Mr. H]

When we did the. Thank you for getting us back. When we did the 100th episode live.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Mr. H]

Our Patreon experiment, which, you know, JKJ didn't love as much as the shark and Gareth.

[Kevin]

Right.

[Mr. H]

And one of them was when we brought Luke in, the Rubik's Cube guy. And it was really fun at first, and then I didn't know what we're doing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, so what I like about our.

[Mr. H]

Show is when the premise in the.

[Kevin]

Game is clear, if we ever do a Boston show.

[Mr. H]

Yes.

[Kevin]

Which, again, we're in a hypothetical World.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I know.

[Kevin]

But let's say we do one great town, great venues. Let's say we do one of those very Trump. I was worried that you were going to point that out. Great city, great venues.

[Mr. H]

He jumped into it.

[Kevin]

Hello.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll be back.

[Kevin]

Don't worry.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, way better than New York.

[Kevin]

The patient just got out of surgery. So don't worry.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's a wonderful city. Throwing the tea in the Boston.

[Kevin]

We'll have Mr. Lynch. He just is a part of the show. I think we could really.

[Mr. H]

So like we would. We would curate a bit where he comes in.

[Kevin]

Yeah. You can open for us with a hot take or something.

[Mr. H]

Yeah. Or do like the announcing after each thing.

[Kevin]

Yeah, right.

[Mr. H]

He has a hot take.

[Kevin]

Just a little something.

[Mr. H]

Yeah, I think so too. By the way, for all the people saying they miss the shark. We do too. I have reached out to Kevin said when you are ready, sir, we will have you on as a guest helper.

[Kevin]

Be great.

[Mr. H]

So it'll be a lot of fun to be fun. I missed the shark. There is. But I also love Nat Attack and Wobby wob.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Mr. H]

And I and I just went in their studio for the Justin Long one.

[Kevin]

Great.

[Mr. H]

It's great. It's fun. And so I think it's fun. It's worth going in there every once in a while just for the. We experienced it season one when you and I went in, we were like it's just a fun new energy.

[Kevin]

Oh yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So whenever.

[Mr. H]

If there's any excuse, every once in a while it's fun. I know the commute can get intense so we'll just figure out those days. But every once in a while.

[Kevin]

I agree. It definitely is fun. Yeah.

[Mr. H]

So everybody enjoy hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is one of our.

[Mr. H]

I don't even want to say best anymore because after on 350 calls we have so many goddamn great calls. I was going through old calls and I'm like, you know what? These Wednesdays are going to be fun because we got a lot and I like stacking them and so if anybody has recommendations.

[Kevin]

Oh yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

For a re release like a 1.

[Mr. H]

2 and a 3, a first call, a second call and a follow email the show. Comment on the socials. Go ahead.

[Kevin]

Well, if you're gonna do that, how helpful would it be for you to tell us what episode these calls are from? That would do the numbers.

[Mr. H]

That would look a lot. I know.

[Kevin]

I. I will also say while we talk about a great runner on the show, we are working on something behind the scenes now that talk about a Wednesday Runner.

[Mr. H]

Yeah, that's gonna be special.

[Kevin]

We've got something special coming. So, yeah, I'm saying for the haters.

[Mr. H]

I agree. Yeah, I agree. And a lot of people are going to say, this doesn't seem like the show. And we're going to say, we agree.

[Kevin]

I'm gonna say, hey, I don't think we've.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We've never laughed harder.

[Kevin]

I'm in a cold sleeping bag, rolling around on the ground, saying, I'm an earthworm. I'm an earthworm.

[Mr. H]

And I'm saying, I want a dollar on every sleeping bag.

[Jake Johnson]

Sold.

[Kevin]

All right, anyway, enjoy the show. And without further, further ado.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This episode.

[Mr. H]

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[Gareth Reynolds]

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[Mr. H]

Then you're charged month after month after month.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You're throwing money away. The subscriptions are there, but you're not using them, damn it. You're paying for nothing. Jack, get your head out of your butt cheeks.

[Kevin]

I literally, two days ago with Rocket Money, found a thing that I was like, Wait, what? Oh, yeah. I was like, I signed up for the delivery thing and I used it once, and then here it is. It's. I'll tell you what it's. They were probably laughing about me until I put Rocket Money to work. We love Rocket Money. We talk about Rocket Money a lot because it has over 5 million users and has saved a total of $500 million in canceled subscriptions, saving members up to $740 a year. When using all of the app's premium.

[Gareth Reynolds]

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[Mr. H]

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[Kevin]

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[Mr. H]

They have a huge variety of options, from hotels to vacation rentals. And I know I can find exactly what I'm looking for. I found booking.com has something for everyone and especially someone like me. I used it when I went to San francisco. I used booking.com when I just went to Portland. I used booking.com when I went to New York City and I will continue to use booking.com because it works for me and I'm a man who likes it easy.

[Kevin]

This July am planning a trip with I'm not going to tell you who, but friend of show let's say that. And he and I are just looking for a nice little area in the middle of nowhere to hang out and have some fun with a couple of buddies of ours. And we are using booking.com and the booking.com apple to find the perfect place. A place in the middle of nowhere with a pool. But I know that If I use booking.com I'm going to be able to find the right place to stay. Find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com booking.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Mr. H]

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[Kevin]

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[Mr. H]

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[Kevin]

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[Gareth Reynolds]

Hello and welcome to the podcast. We're here to help. You've got Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds and The Honkin Blue Mr. Kevin, recently married. Can we get your name please?

[Jake Johnson]

We're going to go with Hank for today.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Great fake Hank. And how old are you, Hank?

[Jake Johnson]

I am in my 40s.

[Gareth Reynolds]

40S. And where are you calling from, Hank? In your 40s?

[Jake Johnson]

From the great state of Massachusetts, the great commonwealth of Massachusetts.

[Kevin]

Well done. Good pivot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, so Hank, 40 mash. What can we do for you today?

[Jake Johnson]

So I am a seventh grade teacher. Respect. And I don't know how familiar you are with seventh graders. They don't love going to school. I Teach English. They especially don't love going to English class sometimes. And I try to start my class every day just in a way that's fun, engaging, usually not related to class. Something to get us talking. This year, my students became very interested in my outlandish opinions and stubborn takes on things.

[Kevin]

Okay.

[Jake Johnson]

And so they asked me to start something called Hot Take Tuesdays, which every Tuesday I would give them my opinion on something. I would rant about it, and they get to respond.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Love this.

[Kevin]

Great.

[Jake Johnson]

The problem has become. This has grown out of control. Most Tuesday morning trying to think, okay, yes, yes, without the eyebrows.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Right.

[Jake Johnson]

Every Tuesday morning, I'm frantically trying to think of a new hot take, a new thing to get them riled up. And the more I build on it, the more they expect. They have not let me get out of it. I've tried sunsetting it. I've tried forgetting it for a Tuesday. I do not know if you have ever had to face a 25 angry seventh graders before because you neglected to come with a hot take.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's a. That's a no bueno situation.

[Jake Johnson]

No, it's. There is a only certain amount of outrageous take. Sure. As an individual have.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, so you want some pictures on some new hot takes.

[Jake Johnson]

I want some new hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll tell you. Hank. Hank, I'm going to tell you what we're not doing. We're not getting you out of Hot Take Tuesday.

[Kevin]

I might.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm not. Because Hot Take Tuesday is great. I hated seventh grade and I hated English. If I had Hot Take Tuesday, I would like it.

[Kevin]

Well, it's the reason why Hot Take Tuesday is great is because a. You've obviously created something popular, but also for the kids. It does. It gives that I would go to the bathroom every. You just want a few minutes away from class.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Agreed. Hot Take Tuesdays are great. So what is the specific question that we can help you with? Hank and can. Rather than call you Hank, is there a last name we can call you? Now that you're the teacher, we call you Mr. Churchill.

[Jake Johnson]

Ms. How about Mr. H. Mr. H.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So, Mr. H, what is the specific question?

[Jake Johnson]

So, originally my idea had been, well, I teach seventh grade. I just needed a bank to get through the rest of the school year. However, I recently learned I will be going on to eighth grade with the same students.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, that's good.

[Jake Johnson]

They do not need. They. They do not know this. So I now need to either come up with an entire year's worth of how do I come up with hot takes or.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Or Something new.

[Jake Johnson]

Drop the hottest take on them at the end of the school year and then hopefully come in next year. And they are not demanding me to rant about Crocs or ketchup, but.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So Let me ask two winners. Mr. Mr. H, but what are your thoughts on Crocs?

[Jake Johnson]

Crocs are the dumbest thing that have ever been invented. And if you want to really fight with a room full of seventh graders, tell them that they have taken the worst part of two footwear. No, no. Heel and the top and put them into one.

[Kevin]

Oh, come on. I don't want to push back.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. And Mr. H, what do you make a ketchup?

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Ketchup is the grossest condiment one can have. It is just tomatoes and sugar and it is nothing else. And no reasonable person should be putting it on anything.

[Kevin]

I'm addicted to Hot Take Tuesday already. What is your. What would you say is your most controversial hot take?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Gotta be ketchup. For seventh graders. Catch about everything.

[Jake Johnson]

Crocs. Crocs hit them. The food takes hit them pretty hard. Another problem, that is that they have grown. Now, my most recent Hot Take Tuesday. Are you guys familiar with what is called mukbang?

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What is it?

[Kevin]

Mukbang?

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Kevin]

It is. I'm probably with you on the. Mukbang is basically on YouTube where people eat. Eating. Basically eating on camera.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's your take?

[Kevin]

People eat a lot of it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. What's your hot take on mukbang?

[Jake Johnson]

Well, it was not a hot take on mukbang. I accidentally made a mukbang because I, at 44 years old, had revealed to him I had never eaten a mango before in my life.

[Kevin]

What the fuck?

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's your hot take on mangoes?

[Jake Johnson]

What? I started as a hot take on mango jelly beans. They're gross. And what about regular mangoes? And I said, I don't know.

[Kevin]

What are you, a sloth? You never had a mango?

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's your. What's your hot take on fruits?

[Jake Johnson]

See, now there is a hot take on fruits. Strawberries. Great. Honeydew. Melon. Fantastic. Watermelon. Get out of town.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Honeydew. What's your hot take on veggies?

[Jake Johnson]

On what?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Vegetables.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, I love vegetables. Big fan of vegetables. Okay, so you should eat more vegetables.

[Kevin]

I can't believe you.

[Jake Johnson]

Every vegetable you don't like, you're gonna like when you're old and an adult.

[Gareth Reynolds]

By the way, Mr. H, you're my favorite teacher.

[Kevin]

You know why? His hot takes are great. There's a stance.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Kevin]

He's got a Take. Yes, it's a take. It's great.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So the question today, because I could play hot takes with you. This, my entire English class might be.

[Kevin]

A side podcast, but yeah, Hot takes. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hot takes with Mr. H. By the way, that's a podcast.

[Kevin]

Not a bad idea.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So the question is, is next year you're going to eighth grade with the same kids. They love hot take Tuesday, so they love it. I don't think there's a world that you get rid of hot takes.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But for. I have an idea. Let me pitch you something, Mr.

[Kevin]

I got one too.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So here's what I would pitch to them and you pitch it. Your hot take on the last day of school is, I am going to be your teacher next year. But we are doing something fundamentally different because you are no longer babies in the seventh grade. You are young adults of the eighth grade. Each week, one of you is assigned the hot take platform. But you need to write a little speech of your hot take in essay form and then read it to the class on a Friday. And we as a community take you down. Because for seventh graders, it's all Mr. H. But in eighth grade, I took a year. I trained you. It is now time for your written.

[Kevin]

Hot take completely where I was.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Really?

[Kevin]

Yes. That I think is the move. You're going to take the workload off yourself. The kids like it. You still get to have the discussion. You still get to have a hot take on their hot.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Which you will.

[Kevin]

I think that's the way to do it. What do you think?

[Gareth Reynolds]

What do you think about that, Mr. H of the franchising it out?

[Jake Johnson]

See, I like the pitch. I like the pitch.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's your hot take on?

[Jake Johnson]

Very delicate.

[Kevin]

Okay, well, take on the hot take pitch.

[Jake Johnson]

I like the pitch, but you got to be really delicate with seventh graders. I think a way to get angry.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, but explain will find a way.

[Jake Johnson]

To get angry at it all. And they. They just want to build they like. So the mango thing. My last video, I had to eat a mango for the first time on camera in front of.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What's your hot take on parent teacher conferences?

[Jake Johnson]

My hot take? Well, I'll tell you one hot take on parent teacher conferences on kids that I can't give my seventh graders. If you want to hear that I do that. Your seventh grade kids are pretty much just you drunk.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Amazing.

[Kevin]

Great hot take.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay, it is. That is what teaching seventh. If you wonder if you have your own children and you wonder what they are like at school, great.

[Kevin]

That's a great.

[Jake Johnson]

And there you are, sir.

[Gareth Reynolds]

H. What's your hot take on hot takes?

[Jake Johnson]

They are exhausting. They are. My hot take on hot takes is very something. They also have to be done. Right. I did stand up comedy for a few years.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, I could tell.

[Jake Johnson]

No, I know the value of having something crafted versus just, just rushing through it.

[Kevin]

Okay. I think here's the problem with our initial pitch, which we both signed off on, is it. It might feel like additional homework. Here's what I'd say. Why don't we do it? You say this to the kids. You. After the year of hot takes, you've run out of your own hot takes. So what you're doing is every Wednesday or after hot take Tuesday, you get class submitted hot takes. And that is sort of audience submitted. The class submits things that you could do a hot take on. And that way they kind of feel like they're involved in it, but you still get to have the wheel.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What do you think, Mr. A twitcher hot take.

[Jake Johnson]

I have already pitched that to them and they come up with nothing. And in fact, their response to that from me was, it's your hot take. You need to have the opinion on something. To which I said, well, then we won't have them.

[Kevin]

And you are really.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'll tell you what's happening.

[Kevin]

Turned it into a hot take.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So can I tell a quick story that is shows me as a kid version of Mo from Three Stooges Cannot wait. When I was in maybe a little bit younger, I think I was fifth grade, my buddy Kent and I got in a lot of trouble in school. And the school therapist was kind of a hippie guy named Mr. Ditt Hart. D I T H A R T. And he realized my mother was in the hospital, out with my sister. Kent's parents were working. We didn't. We were alone a lot. So they thought we were getting in trouble for attention. So he said, come to my therapist. He was a cool dude. This was the 80s. He was still connected to the late 60s, early 70s, hippie vibe. Cool sweater, big beard. And he said, how about this? You guys feel like you don't have any control. So the next hour is your hour. I'm not the boss. You're not the kids, you're the boss. So either me or Kent said, we appreciate that, Mr. Dick Fart. And he had a ball in there and a little hoop. And we go, can you pass us the ball, Dick Fart, so we can shoot? And he said, I'd rather you not call me Mr. Dick Fart. And we said, it's our hour. Dick Fart.

[Kevin]

Dick Fart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And it went so sideways for him and so funny for us. After the one session, he said, I don't need to see you two guys anymore. And his experiment was over.

[Kevin]

The look on his face where you immediately hacked his beautiful plan with Dick Fart, where it's like, well, I obviously. Dick Fart. I didn't think was coming at me right away.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And you realize I'm being cool to you.

[Kevin]

Pass the ball, Dick Fart. All right, we're not doing this again.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm going to give you 15 minutes and send you back to school, you little pricks. And we were like, feels more right. So.

[Kevin]

Later, dick fart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So, Mr. Hill, you're in a spot where you can't keep doing hot takes is what you're saying. Because if you could, you would just be doing it.

[Kevin]

Yeah, I got another pitch.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Go ahead.

[Jake Johnson]

Correct.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, okay.

[Kevin]

Why don't we do this? We're. We're done. We're retiring it. We're no longer doing hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hate this.

[Kevin]

What we are doing, it's not great. But what we are doing is still giving you the platform to have a bit of a rant. But it's no longer going to be just generated by you. What if you do? Every week you bring in an. In the news story that you kind of rant about. So you find a weird story from the news, which there's tons of, you bring in that weird story, you walk the kids through it, and you kind of rant on that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. H. Hot take on that.

[Jake Johnson]

I like it. I'm honestly thinking that the best direction is again, they want the stupidest. They're not interested in the news.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Kevin]

Well. But I'm talking about man holds up liquor store with alligator in Florida.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I think we're going in the wrong direction, Mr. H. And Gareth, I think.

[Kevin]

Call me Mr. G, please.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It would be Mr. R. Okay, that's better.

[Kevin]

Thank you, Dick Fart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I became Dick Fart.

[Kevin]

Yeah, Dick Fart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Get out of my classroom. So here's what I'm thinking. And I know this look. I'm not pitching you something easy, but guess what else isn't easy. Here's my hot take. 8th grade ain't easy. 7th grade is easier if you were teaching the same 7th grade you keep hot. Take Tuesday. The unfortunate reality is you little brats, you grew up over summer. You do one Tuesday, I do the next Tuesday. A different student does the next Tuesday, I do the next alt. So you've got to Incorporate them doing them, because that is the beginning of getting ready for high school. That is. That is a fun way to do an essay. You have your thesis statement. My thesis statement is like mango jellybeans are disgusted. Paragraph one proves it. Paragraph two proves it. Paragraph three proves it. And in conclusion, they are disgusting because of all said reasons. That is what you're learning in eighth and ninth grade. You're just showing them how to do it in a fun way in seventh. The hot take for them is, I know you don't like it, babies, but mommy and daddy are done cutting your chicken because you're in eighth grade. Guess what? There was an era where your parents wiped your butt. Then one day you wipe your own hot takes. Half yours, half mine. When you get to high school, it's all your hot take.

[Kevin]

And this is your first hot take of the year.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, the first hot take of the year. Yes, the first hot take of the.

[Kevin]

Year is how you wanted to stop hot takes. They wouldn't let you. So here's the hot take on how to hot take.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Guess what, Mr. H, here's a friggin turn when they all go, no, no, we don't like it. And you go, here's another hot take. You'll be graded on it. Your hot take gets a grade that goes towards your actual grade and will be on your frigging report card, babies.

[Kevin]

Well, that is a great way to maybe present it as a. Are you in or are you out? Either we are.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You don't give them an option.

[Kevin]

Okay. All right then. Yeah, I like that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So then you prove it and you go. Now, am I making you guys do them all? No, I do every other one. Mr. H. This is a good solution, but it ain't comfortable.

[Jake Johnson]

No, I mean, again, I teach middle school, so I live in discomfort. I'm on board with this too, because I tell my students all the time I am the most stubborn old man already they will ever meet.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

And this is just. I will prove it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. And then here's the catch. Because most likely in a full year, each student's gonna have to do two or three hot takes. When their hot takes get better at the end of the year, you know it. Then the final day, you give your hot take on an assessment on their hot takes.

[Kevin]

How about this? We do the Hotties, where you're giving awards away for the best hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jake Johnson]

I might change the name of them. I don't know if I'm going to call them the Hotties, as I call kids up to the front of the room.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I think that's fair. I think that's fair.

[Kevin]

Well, you guys enjoy your weirdo world.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. H. That's why you're you and he's Mr. R. And Mr. R doesn't teach at his school. He lives in a jail cell.

[Kevin]

And Mr. R also doesn't feel bad when Dick Fart tries to shame him.

[Mr. H]

Mr. H. Good luck.

[Kevin]

Mr. H.

[Jake Johnson]

Hello.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hello. How are you?

[Jake Johnson]

I am good. How are you guys?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Good. We know this is a follow up, but that's all Gareth and I know.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay. Well, I. I called in a few months ago. You guys referred to me as Mr. H. Hot Takes. I was a teacher. I'm a teacher and I got caught up in hot take.

[Kevin]

We've talked about you. Yeah, just like off the air. Just because you were a great personality and what a great problem. So what's going on? Hot takes.

[Jake Johnson]

So let me start before I forget, just to say thank you. Because you guys killed it.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, it was when I called.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sure.

[Jake Johnson]

I wanted you guys to get me.

[Kevin]

Out of it, right?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jake Johnson]

And you pushed hard back against that and said, no, there's a way to shift this on to the kids. And so I had a few months to kind of do this, and I dove right in. So I had been doing these hot takes. It had been a chore. I had been trying to come up with stuff. And then I knew if I just went with the hot takes and really leaned into them and showed the kids what I could do or what I. What I thought they were, then I could shift. I could. I could get them to give it to me. Yep, I really leaned in. I went strong. You know, sweatpants and pajama pants are both the same thing. I refuse to wear them. Right.

[Kevin]

Great.

[Jake Johnson]

In the summer. Summer is great. Beaches, ice cream, they both stick. So I kept doing. These kids are going crazy. They eventually start talking about them. I have other teachers coming up to say, hey, what's going on with the hot takes? I've got kids emailing me from their house to say their parents prepared hot dogs the wrong way, according to me. And it just kept growing. So eventually another teacher, also the soccer coach, came up to me and said, hey, I can't shut these kids up about hot takes. I said to him, you, you come in and do one.

[Kevin]

Oh, wow.

[Jake Johnson]

Brought in a guest, hot take. The kids recruited him. He came in, he gave a rant about how his friends made fun of him for eating Domino's, but he was going to stand by and say, domino's Was underrated.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Great. That's a hot take.

[Kevin]

It's one that Kevin would like. Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He had Domino's last night.

[Jake Johnson]

It was.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, my God. Okay, keep going.

[Jake Johnson]

I. Greg Crump the kids. Parmesan, if you will. Hey, how I would change hot takes for my students next year without telling them most of them would be my student next year.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Great.

[Jake Johnson]

And said that I was going to get the kids to do it. They got jealous, so they committed to it without knowing what they were committing to, Starting to tell me what they wanted to give their hot takes about.

[Kevin]

Wow.

[Jake Johnson]

So we start school in a week. I've got a slideshow ready to go. I've got my first couple of hot takes ready to go. Just to set the pace for the year.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Can you. Can you send us the. Can you send us the slides?

[Jake Johnson]

I sent Kevin one by one, unfinished slide, but I sent him the hot take intro, which is just how I'm going to introduce it to the kids. Jake, you had had a great pitch about how they were old enough, and I wanted to use the audio, but you dropped about five friggins in it. So I had sweared. I think he said frigate.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't know.

[Kevin]

Frigate's fine.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, but I hear you. Okay, fine.

[Jake Johnson]

Maybe not that. Maybe not the first week of school.

[Kevin]

From your English teacher, Mr. H. I understand.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I understand, Mr. H. Mr. Hat. Okay, so we're trying to get in to say, but if not, no matter what, we'll post anything you send us about it. But so basically, Mr. H, you're back. Not only you back, you're better than ever. Because now it's like. It's a teaching tool. And the kids are into it.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, the kids are super into. And I gotta say, like, I am terrible at, like, not telling people things. So I ended up confessing to my boss, the principal, the assistant superintendent of the district that I had called into a podcast show with the name Hank. They listened to it. You guys were described as pedagogically sound.

[Kevin]

Now you tell him that if he.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Wants to get the compliment. Oh, what's that word mean for the shark?

[Jake Johnson]

It's like education thing. It's about, like, how you teach.

[Kevin]

Listen, okay, I'm sorry I got so heated. It just sounds like the guy who molested. Yeah, that's great. That's a big win. And you feel good. I mean, we. Because what you've done now is something you wanted to retire has now become your calling card.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's exactly right.

[Kevin]

And something that, I mean, when you think. When I think Back to school. I was so bored by school. Little things like this would keep me going.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hot takes would be a guy like your and a guy like my thing the best.

[Kevin]

That's the chance to release to show your actual action document in some hundred percent. So. So you've really flipped it. So I guess what we're asking is probably.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, quickly. We've got.

[Kevin]

We've got.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We've got your first slide of hot takes.

[Kevin]

Oh, wow. Can we. Are we. I mean, is it a spoiler if we.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No. These kids. Aren't we. If school starts from in a week.

[Jake Johnson]

I. I will say, bizarrely, the kids aren't listening to how we're here to help. But the co teacher, one of my classrooms. We had never talked about the podcast. She listened to it and the day I came out called me out when she walked in the building.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Amazing. By the way, this is great what you have up here. How can I share my hot takes? Hot taken on the day of your hot take, have two to three slides prepared that slate your case. Be prepared to defend your opinion and your honor as we all push back. You have no more than five minutes, so use your time. What? Mr. H. This is excellent.

[Kevin]

You have schooled up the hot takes like you have a hot take syllabus. Basically.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is excellent, man.

[Jake Johnson]

It is extra credit.

[Kevin]

They will get double extra credit if.

[Jake Johnson]

They completely change my mind on something.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, so if they win, they get extra credit.

[Kevin]

This is. This is phenomenal.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I totally agree. You know what? I would like any other teacher hearing this.

[Kevin]

Yeah. To use franchise.

[Gareth Reynolds]

To franchise. To use hot takes to get your students hot take.

[Kevin]

Want to fight club Hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But we've. It's got to be called do you want your real name or Mr. H. Let's go.

[Jake Johnson]

Let's go with my. Let's go with. I love a good pseudonym.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I love being Mr. Hi, guys. So guys, if anybody is a teacher, because we get a lot of emails that people are teachers and they're, you know, with the students and you want to do a hot take Tuesday with your students, please call it Mr. H's Hot Take Tuesday. Please follow up with us about it. But I think you've started something here that I know. If I were a kid, the best. This would be my favorite day. I would think about it. I would do homework.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Cause I would try to have a really weird hot take that really made the people in the classroom laugh. And I would really. If the teacher said to me, you've convinced me, I would be like, see, I am Smart.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'm not as dumb as my test scores.

[Kevin]

Exact same.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And it would change it.

[Kevin]

Exactly.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I'd have confidence.

[Kevin]

Exact same.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's exactly.

[Kevin]

Huge win. You've done great work. Because it's really like even just looking at the packet you put together, like your deck. It's awesome.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's awesome. So before we go.

[Kevin]

Yeah, do it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. H, what's your hot take on this podcast?

[Jake Johnson]

My hot take on this podcast is that if you are listening to it just for a comedy podcast, you're doing it wrong. This is truly an advice podcast. And if you are thinking about calling it and you want to get in there, listen to you guys. Yes. And it don't nobody don't, you know, and just open your mind. Don't go in with the solution you want and hoping you get the solution you want just in a funny or zanier way, which had been my initial idea. But Colin, listen to you guys. You guys know what you're talking about.

[Kevin]

Open mind, open heart.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We're here to help. Mondays and Thursdays.

[Kevin]

And let me ask one more thing. Just because we have a teacher who really knows his shit. Mr. H. Our advice. What are you going to give us as far as our grade?

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's right.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, you know what? Here's what you're getting. You're not just getting an A, you're getting a phone call home that says Mrs. Reynolds.

[Kevin]

Wow.

[Jake Johnson]

This is Johnson.

[Kevin]

Wow.

[Jake Johnson]

Your kids have figured it out.

[Kevin]

The call neither of our mothers ever got.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Ever. Mr. H, here's my hot take on you. We love you, man.

[Kevin]

Love you, buddy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is the best. Great work. Thank you for teaching these kids. You're inspiring a generation of hot takers. This couldn't be a more feel good ending. And we appreciate you. Please call back with a follow up because it'd be nice to hear from you.

[Kevin]

Absolutely.

[Jake Johnson]

Yes, absolutely. You guys, thank you. The impact on my classroom, huge. Couldn't have foresaw this without you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

As good as it gets.

[Kevin]

Thank you, Mr. Hill. Appreciate it, buddy.

[Jake Johnson]

All right, have a good one, guys.

[Kevin]

You too, buddy. Bye. Hello.

[Mr. K]

Hello.

[Kevin]

Welcome back, whoever you are.

[Mr. K]

Oh, thanks for welcoming me back. It's good to be back.

[Kevin]

Who is this person?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sounds like hot takes.

[Kevin]

Well, yeah, it could be. Who? We know you're a follow up. We just know you have great energy. What's your name and what was your first call or your last call?

[Mr. K]

Now? Jake. Got it in one.

[Jake Johnson]

Jake.

[Kevin]

It is Hot takes. Yeah, it's me. Hot takes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

How you doing, brother?

[Mr. K]

I'm doing great. I am Listen, part of the reason I'm excited is just because. Gareth, you said I was on your Mount Rushmore. And that has been filling my head for. For weeks, since I heard it.

[Kevin]

Need a big head to be on Mount Rushmore.

[Mr. K]

So you'd be chiseled.

[Kevin]

Now, let's just say again, you're. We call you. I want to guess Mr. K. What do we call you?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. H. Mr. H. Mr. H. Mr.

[Kevin]

H. I know you're on my Mount Rushmore. I don't want to insult you. No, you are, because you are like, I feel like we ring the bell on you every time we catch up with you. So what is going on? As you know, or if you people who maybe are not familiar, you are a teacher. You were giving hot takes for a while to your students. Things that made you riled up, hot thoughts you had. And then eventually that became too much. We suggested that you start giving the students the spotlight for them to come in with hot takes so you could still kind of carve out your niche at your school. That worked and now it's sort of caught on and it's a trend. So is that a pretty good summation?

[Mr. K]

That is a very good summation. I would say the latest update is if I were to ask you, what do you think best case scenario would have been? I think I beat it.

[Jake Johnson]

We are killing it.

[Kevin]

Okay, what's going on?

[Jake Johnson]

Well, recently we have started.

[Mr. K]

We have started Design the Hot Take Festival, which will happen one of the last Tuesdays of the school year. Holy Think Science fair. But for hot takes.

[Kevin]

Awesome.

[Mr. K]

Check out the library inviting people in to come in to argue with my classes about their heart takes. They are very excited for it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I think that's excellent.

[Kevin]

Okay, this is great.

[Mr. K]

We are booked. My class is booked months out. I have teachers who want to come in and give and give hot takes. I'll tell you, I've had like. I knew it was success. The very first student one of the year, the kid finishes, looks right at me and says, when can I go again?

[Jake Johnson]

Wow.

[Mr. K]

We got it.

[Jake Johnson]

We got it.

[Mr. K]

And we've been firing an all cylinder since. We've got great hot takes. I mean, some of the kids, we have a wall at the back of my classroom that is just pictures of all of the kids after they've done their hot take.

[Kevin]

Mr. H, let me ask you this because this is a win. I mean, obviously this is a win that keeps winning. This feels very shark tanky in that we just sort of. Yes. Anded. And you've taken it off on your own. And we did very little, honestly. But you've heard a lot of hot takes out of all those hot takes you've heard from your students. What is the best? What is the one where you're like, goddamn, that's pretty good.

[Mr. K]

So it's not one I agree with. But the best worded in all of my students have agreed with this one is a kid stood up in front of the classroom and just said nothing is better. Spicy. And he went on a rant about.

[Jake Johnson]

How everything has gotten changed.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Actually. Mr. What are some other hot takes? What are some other hot takes the kids have had?

[Kevin]

That one is great.

[Mr. K]

We did. You can retract an apology after it's given was one that got the kids fired up. They got a good one. We had one that had a great follow up this week. Speaking of follow ups, kids on Tuesday had two boys in one of my classes. They know they're in a class with a lot of the girls who are athletes. So they rank sports. And to poke the bear, they put all of the girls sports. The girls in the class were playing at the bottom just to.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Just to get a reaction.

[Kevin]

Wow.

[Mr. K]

And so the next day was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It's kind of like a wasted day. Anyway, we did put your money where your mouth is Wednesday. And those two boys had to go out and play field hockey, volleyball. It didn't go so great for them.

[Kevin]

Boy, oh boy.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Mr. H, to me, you're the teacher of the year.

[Kevin]

You're the teacher of the year. And I think for our show it's. This is truly when we come up with our advice or what the show is going to be. Never do we think, I mean, you are the running back as far as you have taken this and just run with it. It's impressive.

[Mr. K]

You are the offensive line. I want to push back that you guys didn't do anything because I originally called, wanted to get out of it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

And the very true thing you made.

[Mr. K]

Clear was there was no getting out of this.

[Jake Johnson]

So you guys are the offensive line. If I'm the running back, I mean.

[Kevin]

I would say we're the GM and the coach, honestly.

[Mr. H]

So.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So Mr. H, what's your hot take of the future? What's going to happen next with later this year, next year and going forward with Mr. H's hot takes?

[Mr. K]

It is going to be a permanent part of my classroom. We have part of the hot take festival is going to be getting future kids in here to look at it to see how hot takes are made. So they Come in.

[Jake Johnson]

Hot Takes.

[Kevin]

A museum.

[Mr. K]

A museum.

[Mr. H]

What about a Hall of Fame?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Just gonna say, for Hottest takes, when kids come back to the school, they can have a photo.

[Kevin]

Well, that's what should be the end of the Hot Takes Festival. Someone should get inducted into the Hot Takes hall of Fame.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And this year's the first annual.

[Mr. K]

That could be it. One of my kids did suggest that they thought we should vote at the Hot Take Festival and the winner should have to give their hot take in front of the entire school.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Mr. K]

Sounded a bit intimidating, but is an idea.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's a great idea. And whoever gets voted and does that gets their photo. And every year there is one kid who does that. And so part of the thing is, if you're in Mr. H's class, you're like, I kind of want to be the person.

[Kevin]

Yes.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Who wins. Really?

[Kevin]

It's hot H o f. And then.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What you're really hoping for in like, 15 years is one of those Hot Takes hall of Famers has, like, a great career.

[Kevin]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And does something and then comes back and goes, like. Visits the school and goes, like, when I did Hot Takes, I realized that I could fly fighter jets.

[Kevin]

Yeah, sure.

[Mr. K]

Yeah. And I like that. Career trajectory. I think that's it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You're doing it, man.

[Kevin]

That's great, Mr. H. Well, Mr. H, thanks again, guys.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We love you, buddy. Thank you for the call. This was great.

[Kevin]

Shall I ring the bell even though we can't hear it? I'm ringing it.

[Mr. K]

Yeah, ring the bell.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's ringing right now. You just can't hear it.

[Mr. K]

It's glorious. I'm hearing it in my head.

[Mr. H]

Me too.

[Kevin]

Thank you, Mr. H. Keep us posted, Mr. H. And thank you for what you're doing.

[Mr. K]

We will. Thank you for what you guys are doing. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Kevin]

That's what I was fishing for. See you, bud.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We're Here to Help is hosted by Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds.

[Mr. H]

If you'd like to be on the.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Show, please email us your question at. Helpful podcast. And if you want to watch video episodes of We're Here to Help, you can go to our [e-mail] heretohelpod to see our entire catalog. We're Here to Help is produced by.

[Jake Johnson]

Rabbit Grimm Productions executive producers Rob Hollis.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Jeff Porter, and Natalie Hollis.

[Kevin]

Associate producer, Jesse Thurston.

[Jake Johnson]

Editing, mix and master by Chris Faller.

[Kevin]

Theme song by Oliver Raleigh. The COVID artwork is by James Fosdike. Animation by Andrew Strlecki. And if you'd like to see Gareth do stand up on the road. Go to garethreynolds.com Remember, all of the advice given on We're Here to Help is for entertainment purposes only, and all listeners should be adults and make their own decisions.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All video episodes of season one are available now on Patreon, and season two video episodes will be available every Monday starting January 20th. Go to patreon.com forward/heretohelpod.

[F]

Hi, I'm Rachel Bilson. And I'm Olivia Allen and we host the podcast Broad Ideas. Yes, that's now on Headgum. On our show, we chat with people like Brittany Snow, Lucy Hale, Kristen Bell, Margaret Cho, Jake Johnson, and so much more.

[Kevin]

And we talk about all the things you would talk about with your best.

[F]

Friend, like your periods and mental illness and the food you ate for lunch. Most important, listen to Broad Ideas on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.