Podcast Summary: "We're Here to Help" — Episode 217

Title: Our First Intern & Why the Stinkeye, Stinkeye?
Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson & Gareth Reynolds
Special Callers: Tom (from New Zealand), Laura (from Virginia), Rebecca (from the UK)

Episode Overview

Episode 217 of "We’re Here to Help" is a quintessential ride through Jake and Gareth’s comedic yet genuinely supportive podcast: equal parts banter, heartfelt advice, and wild storytelling. This episode centers on two standout listener calls—a New Zealand teen grappling with reentry after a stay in a psych ward, and a Virginia woman with cancer seeking help with public “stink eye”—plus follow-ups on prior advice calls. In typical style, the hosts riff on awkward celebrity encounters, invent on-the-fly solutions, and infuse every moment with empathy and irreverent humor.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Moments

1. Celebrities, Awkwardness, and Encountering Daniel Day-Lewis

Timestamps: 03:03 – 15:17

• Jake shares an awkward story: Gareth recounts sitting across from Daniel Day-Lewis on a flight, describing the internal tension of being near a living legend.
  • “I didn’t even think he was a real human anymore.” — Gareth (04:52)
  • Describes DDL’s style: “He looked like Anthony Bourdain… cool tats, cool rings, cool vibe, cool guy. You know what I was wearing? Sweat outfit.”— Gareth (05:32)
  • Jake’s advice is reminiscent of a failed basketball celebrity encounter: “I love to watch you play.” (08:00)
  • Ultimately, Gareth did NOT speak to DDL, reflecting on how interacting might be more for himself than for the actor: “He’s given me enough.” (14:58)
• Relatable riffing: The hosts segue the story into a broad discussion of the weirdness of airports and seeing familiar faces in unfamiliar contexts.

2. CALL 1: Tom, 16, Newly Out of Psych Ward, Needs a Story for School

Timestamps: 19:06 – 33:04, with follow-up at 56:48 – 60:32

Tom’s Situation

• Tom, a 16-year-old from New Zealand who has OCD, recently spent time in a psych ward. He wants a more “fun” story for school about his absence.
  • “I really need a cool story to tell people at school.” — Tom (20:04)

Hosts’ Approach

• Empathy and Validation:
  • Gareth: “At 47, I think what you're doing is the right thing... a hard reset at your age is brave as hell.” (20:46)
  • Jake: “Taking care of your… mentals is the key to the game.” (20:57)
• Creative (and Comedic) Problem-Solving:

  • The trio brainstorm various lies for Tom to tell:

    • Teenage cooking show contestant
    • International video game tournament
    • The winner: Tom came to the States to intern on "We’re Here to Help"

  • They stage a fake intro on the show introducing Tom as the “intern from New Zealand,” complete with planned social media posts and “corroborating” details. (29:07 – 31:44)

    Standout Exchange:

    • Jake: “We have Tom, the first... The New Zealand Thunder, the first intern. Tom, welcome to the show.” (30:36)
    • Tom: “Just happy to be on the show. Happy to be the intern.” (30:55)
    • Tom later updates that the plan worked: “Everyone believed it. But what actually ended up happening is school wasn't working out for me, so I've actually left school and I've applied for a barbering course… It's much better. I'm feeling much better.” (57:56 – 59:08)

Outcome:

Tom reports back that the fake intern story worked; he was able to deflect difficult questions at school, and ultimately left to follow his real passion for barbering, with improved mental health (59:08).

3. CALL 2: Laura, Traveling with Hidden Disability, Gets the “Stink Eye”

Timestamps: 33:06 – 55:21; creative hat design riff: 47:44 – 54:28

Laura’s Situation

• Laura, mid-late 30s, from Virginia, has late-stage, slow-growing cancer. She needs boarding assistance on planes—a fact invisible to other passengers. She gets “the stink eye” when she boards early.
  • “I do have a chronic and serious medical condition that you would never, ever know just by looking at me... I get the stink eye so bad from people.” (34:49 – 35:20)

Advice and Comedy Brainstorm

• Options Pitched:
  • Over-the-top comedic props when boarding: fake baby, neck brace, fake limp, kazoo, beeping “medical device” noise, “Price is Right” entrance.
    • “Put it in your backpack and then right before you get on, you wrap it up in a towel and…shake it and you go like, okay, okay.” — Gareth on the fake baby gag (40:24)
    • “What I want you to do—I would load myself up with the fight for life stuff. Ribbons. I would make sure that I would go, pink hat.” — Jake (42:07)
• Empowerment and Boundary-Setting:
  • “Fuck these people.” — Gareth, encouraging Laura not to care about stares (43:50)
  • “If someone gives you a stink, I consider going, can I help you?” — Gareth roleplaying confrontation (43:03)
• Settling on a Fun, Assertive Solution:
  • Develop a hat saying things like “Why the Stink Eye?” or “Easy There, Stinkeye.”
  • Laura: “What about a shirt that says, hey, stink guy. You good?” (47:31)
  • Laura’s final pick: “Easy there, stinky.” (54:28)
  • The hosts promise to have a hat made and send it to her.

4. Follow-Up Call: Rebecca & the Legendary Comb-Over (“Budgie Nest”)

Timestamps: 60:48 – 69:13

• Recap:
  Rebecca, originally called about her uncle’s wild “back to front” comb-over (“Budgie Nest”). Hosts had previously advised orchestrating a windy scenario (boat ride) to expose the combover.
  • “The guy in China who goes from back to front.” — Gareth (61:15)
• Result:
  Couldn’t execute the comb-over reveal, but played the episode for a (hair-thinning) friend, who was inspired to shave their own head instead:
  • “He looks good. He looks really good. It had been like clinging on.” — Rebecca (62:39)
• Comedic riffs:
  On “budgies” (small birds): “Calling a bird a budgie is one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard.” — Gareth (64:51)
• Call-to-action:
  Jake and Gareth encourage listeners at the “comb-over decision point” to share before & after photos, and playfully pitch “Budgie Nest” as a Halloween costume.

Notable Quotes & Exchanges

• “I look like a guy who was auditioning to be BG and Sopranos and they said, no thanks. You don't look tough. You just look sloppy and goofy.” — Gareth (05:45)
• “Everyone has an opinion now… If someone gives you a stink, I consider going, can I help you?” — Gareth (42:42)
• “You have the best excuse in the book, so if I were you, I would load myself up with the fight for life stuff. Ribbons. I would make sure that I would go, pink hat.” — Jake (42:11)
• “So the hat is going to be… Easy there, stinky.” — Laura (54:28)
• “All you have to do is take your hair from the back. It’s such an easy costume. You take your hair... push it forward, and you go, what are you? Budgie Nest.” — Gareth (68:19)

Key Timestamps

• Celebrity / Daniel Day-Lewis story: 03:03 – 15:17
• Tom calls in from New Zealand: 19:06 – 33:04 (main) & 56:48 – 60:32 (follow-up)
• Laura calls in re: “stink eye” at airports: 33:06 – 55:21 (hat design riff: 47:44 – 54:28)
• Rebecca’s comb-over follow-up: 60:48 – 69:13

Tone & Style

The episode is fast-paced, playful, and deeply human. Jake and Gareth’s banter disarms even the toughest problems with humor, while showing compassion and real empathy toward every caller. The advice, while frequently ridiculous, ultimately aims at making life easier and more fun for listeners.

Summary Takeaways

• For listeners with hidden illnesses: Consider playful ways to deflect unwanted attention or judgment, but feel empowered not to explain yourself. "Easy there, stinkeye" hats are now canon.
• For teens returning to school after tough times: Sometimes a creative story helps, but the right choice is always the one that preserves your peace of mind.
• For anyone facing a “comb-over crisis:” Shave it, own it—or give us your best “Budgie Nest” for posterity.

This episode perfectly captures "We're Here to Help’s" blend of unfiltered humor and sincere support, showing that laughing while you figure things out is always an option.