We're Here to Help: Episode 213

Trash Hole Shark & Wrestling Gators (with Andy Roddick)
October 1, 2025 | Headgum

Episode Overview

Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds are joined by tennis legend Andy Roddick and recurring guest Steve Berg for an irreverent, advice-filled episode. The gang tackles two main listener calls: one about a competitive approach to taking out the trash called "Trash Hole," and another on how to find friends (and maybe more) as a sober, non-athletic participant in a small-town run club. As always, their advice is part empathetic, part off-the-wall, and full of signature banter.

Meet the Crew and Guest

• Hosts: Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds
• Guests:
  • Andy Roddick (tennis legend, host of the Serve podcast)
  • Steve Berg (actor and frequent contributor)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter: Acting, Pickleball, and Tennis [01:09–10:54]

Highlights:

• Jake and Andy talk about acting together on "Dink":
  • Jake confesses his anxiety playing sports in front of extras on set.
    • “I look at that pickleball and I’m like, I don’t want to be hitting right now. I hate this.” (Jake, 02:15)
  • Andy reflects on nerves as a pro athlete:
    • “It’s basically just scary because of consequence...I was scared because I’m not as good as the person I’m trying to beat today.” (Andy, 03:19)
• Fun discussion on the importance of legs in tennis, led by Brad Gilbert’s leg obsession:
  • “Before you knew it, I was like looking at every man’s legs and being like, now that guy’s got some powerful legs.” (Jake, 05:24)
• Stories about Brad Gilbert’s texting style:
  • “Like 70/30 on spelling any word correct, by the way.” (Andy, 06:46)

Memorable Quotes:

• “You’re throwing a goddamn snowflake.” (Andy, 24:28)
• “My favorite part about the Gilbert text is the amount of just unnecessary emoji after emoji…” (Jake, 07:17)

2. Advice Call #1: Nadine—Trash Hole Shark [14:44–39:19]

Caller: Nadine, 32, from Oakland (calling from Ibiza)

Issue:
She invented a game called "Trash Hole"—tossing her trash bags off her home landing into the trash bin below. It was fun until a few misses led to her fiancé banning the game. She wants advice on getting her groove—and "Trash Hole" privileges—back.

Key Discussion & Advice:

• Jake reframes the call as being about “the yips” (loss of a skill due to nerves):
  • “Now, I think what this call’s really about is the yips. Nadine, have you ever heard of the yips?” (Jake, 18:42)
• Andy and Steve dig into “training” and practice:
  • “Even Michael Jordan practiced free throws. Are you opposed to like, going out there and, like, training?” (Steve, 22:07)
  • “Trash hole montage.” (Andy, 22:16)
• The crew brainstorms bet-based solutions:
  • “Listen, you don’t like touching the bags. I don’t like not pin trash hole. Let’s meet in the middle. Let’s both play Trash Hole. Winner stays on.” (Andy, 25:27)
  • “What if you challenged your fiancé to a round of Trash Hole with real fun stakes?” (Jake, 25:04)
• Engineering the practice routine:
  • “Grab a black garbage bag that are stronger and…find anything that weighs the same…then start moving your target…” (Jake, 28:43)
  • “Get the terms of the bet while he thinks you suck at this.” (Andy, 29:58)
• On authentic engagement:
  • “You don’t have the yips because there’s no way someone would say, let’s gamble on your problem. And you go, yeah, that sounds great.” (Andy, 27:10)

Action Plan Recap [31:09–39:19]:

• Write up a contract with specific terms: trash in = reward; trash miss = Nadine cleans up.
• Film practice montages and the competition.
• Treat it as a hobby: get a "Trash Hole" jersey, review tape, engineer practice bags, have fun.

Notable Exchange:

• Jake (re: Nadine practicing):
  • “Turn it into a Rocky montage.” [29:42]
• Andy: “We’re gonna get you to be the number one Trash Hole in Oakland.” [38:34]

3. Advice Call #2: “Anonymous"—Sober at Loggers & Joggers [39:48–61:34]

Caller: 26, recently sober, recently single, living in a small town.

Issue:
Wants to meet friends (and maybe date), but the local brewery’s run club (“Loggers & Joggers”) involves running and drinking, neither of which appeal to him. How to participate and fit in?

Key Discussion & Advice:

• The crew explores angles for participating without running or drinking:
  • Andy: “You organize the run club. You are responsible...You get to help with all the things.” [41:24]
  • Jake: Suggests faking a mild injury to explain non-participation: “I’m hurt, but I want to power through a little with you. You know how much credit you would get for running one mile with a wrap on your ankle?” [45:06]
• Calling out comedic extremes:
  • Jake: “I think a cast is fun. I think it’s way too much commitment.” [46:24]
  • Andy (when finding out caller is sober): “You don’t want to jog or drink. And Loggers and Joggers. This is madness.” [48:08]
• A genuine conversation about loneliness, community, and authenticity:
  • Jake: “The game of trying to socialize as a single 26-year-old while sober is a fucking nightmare.” [49:09]
• Proposal: become the group’s unofficial caterer (craft wings/pigs in a blanket/gator dogs) as a unique way to build rapport and community:
  • “If you brought gator dogs, dude, shoot… that’s like making an old war buddy in five minutes.” (Steve, 52:50)
• Execution plan:
  • Attend, attempt a jog, mildly "injure" yourself in real time (“tweak the ankle”), become the cheerleader/snack-bringer, and build friendships from there.
• Andy warns on overdoing fake injuries:
  • “Don’t undersell the pain...you’re understated from there on out, but it’s a big yell understated.” [59:34]

Notable Quotes:

• “You better make enough gator dogs, man.” (Andy, 57:46)
• “If two guys both have scooters and they’re handing me gator dogs…and they didn’t run—not my friends.” (Jake, 55:41)
• “What were you doing? Catching the gator.” (Jake, 56:04)

Outcome:

Caller commits to trying the show’s approach—joining, faking an injury during the run, and bringing special food to become the group’s social glue.

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “You’re throwing a goddamn snowflake.” — Andy (24:28)
• “Turn it into a Rocky montage.” — Jake (29:42)
• “Get the terms of the bet while he thinks you suck at this.” — Andy (29:58)
• “You don’t have the yips because there’s no way someone would say, let’s gamble on your problem. And you go, yeah, that sounds great.” — Andy (27:10)
• “The game of trying to socialize as a single 26-year-old while sober is a fucking nightmare.” — Jake (49:09)
• “You better make enough gator dogs, man.” — Andy (57:46)
• “If two guys both have scooters and they’re handing me gator dogs…and they didn’t run—not my friends.” — Jake (55:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:09–10:54] — Actor-athlete banter, pickleball, and tennis philosophy
• [14:44–39:19] — Caller: Nadine (“Trash Hole Shark”) — practice, bets, and mission to reclaim her title
• [39:48–61:34] — Caller: “Anonymous” (Run Club) — navigating social spaces as sober and non-athletic, community creativity

Episode Tone and Style

• Playful, irreverent, comedic, and supportive.
• The hosts and guests riff, tease, but also deliver surprisingly practical, empathetic advice—always prioritizing the caller's agency and fun.
• The group’s style leans heavily into bits, but lands on genuine warmth and camaraderie.

Summary

This episode delivers the quintessential "We're Here to Help" experience: comedic problem-solving from a panel who takes the caller’s perspective, not themselves, too seriously. Whether it’s inventing “trash hole” sports contracts or hacking small-town social circles with gator dogs, the hosts and Andy Roddick model the spirit of supportive, outside-the-box friendship—with plenty of quotable nonsense along the way.