Episode Title: We're Here to Help
Episode Number: 177
Featuring: Nick Kroll
Release Date: June 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In Episode 177 of We're Here to Help, hosts Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds team up with comedian and actor Nick Kroll to provide advice on a range of listener-submitted issues. This episode delves into quirky family dynamics and relationship challenges, blending humor with heartfelt solutions.

Main Call: Navigating an Obsessive Father's Behavior

Caller: Nicole from Vancouver, BC
Issue: Nicole seeks advice on how to address her father Jim's unusual obsession with crows, which has begun to disrupt their neighborhood.

Nicole's Dilemma:

Nicole explains that her father has become increasingly fixated on crows over the past decade. He names individual crows and spends his walks loudly calling them, which has started to unsettle neighbors and make her family self-conscious.

"Every time my dad goes outside... he is cawing at the top of his lungs for Russell all around the neighborhood." ([17:36])

Discussion Highlights:

• Understanding the Behavior:
  Jake and Gareth explore whether Jim's actions are merely eccentric or indicative of deeper issues. They acknowledge the blend of humor and concern in Nicole's predicament.

• Potential Solutions:
  The trio brainstorm creative strategies to help Nicole's father moderate his crow-calling without causing him distress.

Gareth Reynolds: "Maybe we can get in your dad's ear about the idea that using... you're speaking crow gibberish." ([30:02])

Advice Pitches:

1. Anonymous City Council Letter:
   Gareth suggests composing a faux official letter from the city council addressing Jim's crowing behavior, emphasizing its impact on the community.

   "We value your contribution to the community, but the crowing at the crows needs to stop immediately." ([43:32])

2. AI-Enhanced Feedback:
   Jake proposes using AI to simulate crow responses to Jim's calls, illustrating the futility and potential misunderstandings of his actions.

   "You could also go around and interview some of the people who are talking shit about your dad and then show that to him." ([36:34])

3. Photo-Based Intervention:
   Combining their longstanding prank bit, Jake and Gareth offer to create framed photos of themselves making goofy faces and have Nicole display them at home. The idea is that Jim, upon seeing these images, might realize the silliness of his own behavior.

   "We're going to send you a bunch of these photos, and we'll have them framed then... you'll take one down if you take one of your things down." ([72:10])

Notable Quotes:

• Gareth Reynolds:
  "You can't take your passion and start crowing down the middle of the street." ([27:02])

• Jake Johnson:
  "You’re a grizzly with boxing gloves, but he’s winning." ([64:50])

Secondary Call: Conflict Over Art Taste in Relationships

Caller: Gene from Chicago, IL
Issue: Gene is struggling with her boyfriend's poor taste in art after moving into a new apartment together. His bold and mismatched art choices clash with her preference for neutral, light-themed decor.

Gene's Dilemma:

Gene describes how her boyfriend insists on displaying eclectic and often garish artwork, such as a panda with boxing gloves and cartoon mash-ups, which she finds off-putting and out of sync with her aesthetic preferences.

"Everything represents him, no matter how horrible." ([53:28])

Discussion Highlights:

• Balancing Aesthetics:
  Jake and Gareth discuss the importance of maintaining individual tastes while creating a harmonious living space.

• Compromise Strategies:
  They suggest practical solutions, such as dedicating specific areas for each person's artwork or incorporating humorous pieces that can lighten the mood.

Gareth Reynolds: "We need to make him think that he's getting an extra. We might have to take some away." ([64:52])

Advice Pitches:

1. Curated Gallery Walls:
   Encouraging Gene to collaboratively create a gallery wall that includes both her neutral pieces and selectively chosen bold artworks from her boyfriend. This approach aims to blend styles without one overpowering the other.

2. Humorous Art Integration:
   Proposing the addition of funny, self-deprecating posters featuring Jake and Gareth to introduce humor and reduce the perceived seriousness of the art conflict.

   "We're going to send you a bunch of these photos... so when he says one less, you go, I'll take one down." ([72:10])

Notable Quotes:

• Gene:
  "If this doesn't work, I will put him on blast and shame him into this." ([53:07])

• Jake Johnson:
  "He wants to feel seen. He's trying to come out in that way." ([61:30])

Hosts' Personal Updates and Banter

Between calls, Jake and Gareth share updates about their personal lives and upcoming projects, maintaining a lighthearted and relatable atmosphere.

Jake Johnson: "I got a movie coming out the next week, June 6th... It's funny but kind of suspensey." ([80:22])

Gareth Reynolds: "We've been taking these photos for 10 years... This has been so fun." ([70:29])

Additional Highlights and Listener Interactions

The episode includes brief interactions with other listeners, offering quick advice snippets and humorous takes on various topics, reinforcing the podcast's friendly and supportive vibe.

Lauren from Arkansas: "The ideal sleeping temperature is between 60 and 67 degrees... my idea is that instead of Piggly and Mo..." ([86:52])

Conclusion

Episode 177 of We're Here to Help masterfully combines humor with practical advice, addressing both unconventional family issues and common relationship conflicts. With the added dynamic of Nick Kroll, the hosts deliver engaging solutions while maintaining their signature comedic flair, ensuring listeners are both entertained and informed.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Nick Kroll:
  "There's sometimes, like, if there's a topic that I think I want to do stand up on or if there's sometimes, like, if I'm writing something for my show." ([00:58])

• Gareth Reynolds:
  "What we're going to recommend is we're gonna... get him to watch an Italian singer sing gibberish, and he's gonna go, what?" ([34:18])

• Jake Johnson:
  "You're a grizzly with boxing gloves, but he's winning." ([64:50])

• Nicole:
  "He thinks he's communicating and, like, letting them know that he cares about them." ([31:06])

• Gareth Reynolds:
  "We're all fans of you... we're gonna do a letter." ([48:54])

Production Credits:
Produced by Rabbit Grimm Productions
Executive Producers: Rob Hollis, Jeff Porter, Natalie Hollis
Associate Producer: Jesse Thurston
Editing, Mixing, and Mastering by [Editor's Name]
Theme Song by Oliver Raleigh

Please note that all advice provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Listeners should consult professionals for serious matters.