We're Here to Help — Episode 205: Find Your Switzer & Like a Prayer

Podcast: We're Here to Help
Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson & Gareth Reynolds
Producer: Headgum

Overview

This episode is classic “We’re Here to Help” — a blend of comedic banter, deeply unnecessary digs at one another, and an earnest attempt to help listeners with their uniquely specific dilemmas. Episode 205 is a cornucopia of ongoing bits (the “Steve Calendar”), show traditions (making decisions through competition and voting), and emotional depth, as Jake and Gareth return to hallmark themes: friendship, closure, and how the hell do you (actually) help someone you barely know? The two main storylines:

1. Helping Joe in Milwaukee create a triumphant “farewell tour” for his legendary pub trivia night;
2. Mediating an emotional, hilarious, and ultimately crowd-decided contest for Detroit Lions season tickets between two exes, Sophie and Aaron, featuring a memorable “Like a Prayer” sing-off.

Key Segments & Insights

I. Patreon Theatrics: Steve Berg’s Calendar & The Helpy Awards

Timestamps: 00:49–05:53

• The hosts recap the ongoing saga of Steve Berg's “sexy calendar” photo shoot — the fulfillment of a lost bet, with details about the shoot including “two bridges,” a rotisserie chicken, and a series of heavily themed looks (50s bad boy, outdoorsman, Deadhead, car wash, etc.).
• Gareth riffs: “Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, if you’re not excited to see this calendar, then you’re listening to the wrong show.” (03:23)
• The “Helpies,” their new annual award for best caller, are introduced. Nominations are open — listeners should email a voice note nominating amazing past callers, with a calendar prize at stake.

II. Friendship Game Update

Timestamps: 06:12–08:10

• Ongoing project: The “friendship game” — helping listeners who need new friends. Gareth reports Sarah from Philly, who needs a skate buddy, is crushing the vote tally.
• Voting call to action: “Sarah is running away with the competition. Go to weneedtopick.com/friendshipcastingone and vote today.” (07:49)

III. Show Evolution & New Listener Advice

Timestamps: 08:25–09:31

• Jake and Gareth reflect: if starting the show now, don’t go back to the very beginning — season two is where the magic starts (“Rabbit Granite” is suggested as a great jumping-off point).
• Episodes will now be broken into “seasons” with their own vibes, ending at each new year.

IV. Caller One: Joe’s Milwaukee Trivia Farewell

Timestamps: 14:11–41:09

Caller: Joe (from Milwaukee, WI)

Dilemma: Joe’s run a packed weekly pub trivia for a decade at Blackbird bar, winning Milwaukee’s “Best Trivia Night” award four out of eight years. But now, regulars won’t vote for him anymore — they don’t want the bar busier. Joe wants advice on inspiring folks to help him win one last time before retiring on top.

The Spirited Brainstorm

• Farewell Tour Branding:
  Jake: “What if we do Joe’s final year? The Farewell Tour… And we’re looking for my replacement. But the only way to really do it is you need to win this year and then the new person wins next year. Now it’s sealed.” (22:09)
• Finding the New Trivia Host:
  Gareth proposes a “Barry Switzer moment” (after the legendary Dallas Cowboys coaching handoff): use a voting platform to nominate Joe’s successor, cross-promote both the “final year” campaign and his legacy.
• Campaign Vibe:
  T-shirts, buttons, banners, QR codes — turn the last year into Joe’s “David vs. Goliath” campaign against bigger, corporate trivia nights.

  “It’s a full campaign and I think the website, which I really like that Gareth is pitching, shirts… Can this little trivia game in this little 85-seater win?” — Jake (27:14)

• Direct Action:
  • Take a break mid-trivia, have everyone vote on the spot via QR code, treat it like “Simon Says” for trivia.
  • Possibly low-key sabotage rival trivia nights (hilarious, but everyone agrees that’s crossing the line).
  • Enlist Gareth’s stand-up shows in Milwaukee to shout out Joe’s trivia, push QR code flyers, and amplify the on-the-ground campaign.

Notable Quote

“I think leaning into getting real kitschy with campaign stuff—hats, buttons, flyers, going to other trivias, and making my team name ‘Vote for Blackbird Bar Trivia Instead of This One’...” — Joe (31:32)

Action Plan

• Build a “we need to pick” website for replacement voting and campaign cross-promotion.
• Make Joe’s final year a hyper-local event, collaborating with the podcast for extra visibility.
• Set up an appearance at Gareth’s hometown shows.
• Plan a follow-up for the big results in January.

V. Caller Two: The Detroit Lions Ticket Sing-Off

Timestamps: 45:16–84:58

Callers: Sophie & Aaron (Detroit, MI)

Backstory: Exes. Split season tickets. Broke up. Original show plan was a singing contest (episode with Judd Apatow), but Sophie ghosted due to anxiety — now they're back, seeking closure and official ticket ownership.

The Rematch — With Real Stakes

• Getting to the Competition:

  • Sophie and Aaron must agree on a format before competing — some suggestions include trivia, pleading their case, singing Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”
  • Aaron: “It depends on what the competition is.” (57:51)
  • Consensus: Each gets one minute to make their pitch for the tickets. Sophie sings; Aaron pleads her case.
  • Both agree that whoever wins must pay for the tickets — not just get them for free.

• Sophie’s Minute (Singing “Like a Prayer”):

  “Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone / I hear you call my name and it feels like…” (72:00–73:01)
  Sophie’s voice is strong, passionate, and “brought the heat,” making the most of the show’s musical contest tradition.

• Aaron’s Minute (Earnest Plea):

  “I paid the waitlist fee, which she did not… the account is in my name. I bought all the playoff tickets, including the expensive ones last year… and I did show up for that first call and humiliated myself for the tickets.” (80:23–81:24)

  • Cites lifelong fandom, original waitlist, actual payments, and “suffering through all the bad years.”

Vote Goes to the People!

• All listeners are directed to vote at weneedtopick.com/lionstickets before the first home game.
• The results will be revealed on a follow-up episode.

Quotes & Highlights

• Jake: “I gotta say, from a dud of a first call, this has turned into a top 10 for me. From dud to stud.” (84:00–84:04)
• Gareth: “Both very good. I have no idea who’s going to win.” (82:09)
• Sophie (after singing): “I’m going to bring some singing to the mix, since I flaked the first time.” (71:26)
• Aaron (on her plea): “Also, I bought a lot of cute outfits for the season that I cannot return because it’s past the return window.” (81:04)

Tone & Takeaway

• Uproarious, occasionally chaotic, and full of genuine emotion and self-deprecation. Jake and Gareth volley between goofball counseling and actual mediation, making space for vulnerability (“Anxiety is a real thing… I truly have zero judgment”) and humor.
• The “Parent Trap”/rom-com bit about their exes’ chemistry is played up but with genuine warmth.

Memorable Quotes

• Jake: “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re not excited to see this calendar, then find another show. There’s a billion of them.” (03:23)
• Gareth: “Anytime I’m in a bar and someone sets up a speaker for karaoke or trivia, I’m like, ‘No. Out.’” (19:20–19:34)
• Joe: “I think leaning into getting real kitschy with campaign stuff—hats, buttons, flyers, going to other trivias, and making my team name ‘Vote for Blackbird Trivia Instead of This One’... just so the host has to read it out.” (31:32)
• Aaron (Lions ticket competition): “I bought a lot of cute outfits for the season that I can’t return because it’s past the return window.” (81:04)

Important Timestamps

• Introducing Steve's Calendar / Helpies Awards — 00:49–05:53
• Friendship Game Voting Update — 06:12–08:10
• Guidance for New Listeners & Season Structure — 08:25–09:31
• Joe’s Trivia Farewell Plan — 14:11–41:09
• Detroit Lions Ticket Competition – Part 1 (Sophie & Aaron Explained) — 45:16–57:02
• Minute Pitches: Sophie Sings, Aaron Pleads — 71:03–81:46
• Voting Call-to-Action & Wrap-Up — 82:00–84:58

Final Thoughts

Episode 205 is a superlative display of Jake and Gareth’s strengths: improvisational empathy, ruthless joking, and creative solutions for otherwise small problems. The show continues to blur the lines between advice, game show, and slice-of-life, serving deeply invested listeners as well as complete newcomers.
For fans: vote, listen for your moment, and, as always, expect the unexpected.

Vote: WeNeedToPick.com/LionsTickets
Contact: helpfulpod@gmail.com
Video: Patreon.com/heretohelppod

(Summary by Podcast Summarizer, 2025 — all ad reads, intros, and outros omitted)