What's Our Podcast? with Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney

Episode: Drew Afualo
Date: March 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and irreverent episode, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney (of SNL fame) are joined by TikTok sensation, author, and podcaster Drew Afualo. As is the show's running bit, Beck and Kyle still don’t know what their podcast should be about—and hope their guest can guide them. The conversation bounces from music and childhood creativity to internet trolling, viral fame, and (somehow) an in-depth, comedic exploration of Viking funerals. Drew brings humor, candor, and confidence as the trio delight in both deep and deeply silly riffs, all while illuminating the power and pitfalls of online culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Banter: Scatting, Vibrations, and Childhood Bands

[00:32–09:05]

• Beck and Kyle engage in playful scatting, attempting (badly) to impersonate Louis Armstrong and David Lee Roth, with running commentary from Richelle, their producer.
• They physically "vibrate" and joke about teaching their audience to do the same at a live show.
• Nostalgically, both recount formative musical experiments:
  • Beck played in a guitar-driven comedy hip-hop duo, ska band (“Cord is a Monkey Now”), and more.
  • Kyle recalls attempts at bands with names like “Prop 84” and his “Instruments of Intelligence” high school rap group—complete with a live, self-conscious rap sample (“I utilize vinyl tracks…”).
• Quote:
  • Kyle: “I utilize the efforts of talented cats. I utilize my beats to bring hip hop back.” [08:24]
• Both agree that old creative work often feels cringey in retrospect, yet brought happiness at the time.

On Podcasting, Friendship, and the Art of the Clip

[09:05–10:28]

• The hosts reflect on how they’re spending more time together than since their SNL days, and how the little quirks that once annoyed them have softened.
• They riff on what goes viral:
  • “Some people love controversy. The internet is all about controversy.” (Beck) [09:52]
  • Kyle jokes about trolling listeners with random “controversial” takes, e.g., “A blanket can’t get me warm.”
• The format is set: guests come on to pitch what their podcast should be about.

Introducing Drew Afualo: TikTok Fame, Identity, and Red Flags

[10:40–13:05]

• Drew is celebrated for her viral videos, especially “red flags in men,” calling out misogyny, fatphobia, and transphobia online.
• Key insight: Drew hails from the Inland Empire, is Samoan, and is noted for pronouncing it correctly:
  • “For everybody listening, it’s Samoan.” (Drew) [18:05]
• The group runs through red flags from Drew’s TikTok: loving Wolf of Wall Street, Joe Rogan obsession, calling women “females,” etc.

Drew’s Journey: From NFL Dreams to Viral Advocacy

[22:33–28:41]

• Drew shares her background in sports journalism, her (ultimately unhappy) dream job at the NFL, and her post-firing pivot to content.
  • “I climbed the mountain. I just really didn’t like the view.” (Drew) [23:30]
• Her viral ascent started with rant videos and culminated with her infamous “red flags” video.
• Viral Responsibility: She’s equally amused and shocked by online hate, noting the strangeness of people using their real names to send hateful messages.

Internet Hate, Clapping Back, & Platform Ethics

[28:41–37:54]

• Drew describes posting 5–6 responses per day in the early days, driven by both boredom (pandemic) and a sense of justice:
  • “I love to talk looks... That was my thing because... I think the Internet has... given people, like, anonymity, virality has really poisoned this well of, like, ‘Oh, I can be famous too if I say awful things about someone.’” (Drew) [29:00–29:42]
• She refuses the “take the high road” advice, arguing that respect must be mutual and trolling deserves roasting.
• The trio discuss how “confidence” comes from within, not male validation—a stance that resonates strongly with Drew’s following.
• Memorable quote:
  • “Respect begets respect… The minute it’s not, it’s on.” (Drew) [30:01]

Impact & Safety: The Cost of Outspokenness

[37:09–40:51]

• Drew receives many messages from people who’ve left abusive relationships or found empowerment because of her videos.
• She describes the real dangers and stress—doxxing, death threats, and platform pushback—but stresses its importance:
  • “Women deserve the freedom and the space to breathe online, and you can’t anymore… That was what kept me going.” (Drew) [39:00–39:30]
• By now, she jokes, “I cleaned the streets... It’s no longer Gotham anymore. It’s suburbia now.” [40:51]

The Viking Death Podcast (Guest-Pitched Premise)

[42:28–54:03]

• Drew pitches a parody show: “You guys should teach people how to do Viking death.” [42:28]
• The next segment is a mock-podcast on Viking funerals:
  • Discuss the mechanics (body, boat, flaming arrow), party atmosphere, environmental issues, and other afterlife options (mummification, mass Viking deaths, etc.).
  • Running gag: Who pushes the boat? Who shoots the arrow?
  • “You wrap the body… place them in a smaller canoe, and then a really big, strong man, obviously, pushes the canoe out… and someone else, maybe someone wearing glasses, shoots an arrow…” (Drew) [45:54–46:16]
  • They wonder about Viking helmet fashion, horn sizes, and petty Viking culture.
• Discussion veers to whether you could legally perform a Viking funeral today and other alternatives like “Disney Sprinkles”—a joke about surreptitiously sprinkling ashes at Disneyland.

Life, Death, and Silliness

[54:03–58:23]

• Goofs about being mummified and “Night at the Museum” come to life.
• “I think burial is actually not as environmentally friendly as cremation.” (Kyle) [52:26]
• Drew aligns herself with the Viking way (“I’m a large woman. Built for winter. A nice swing first. I would say.”) [55:32]
• They joke about planning a group Viking death for the future (“Let’s all die at the same time so we can all have Viking deaths at the same time.”) [57:06]

Wrap-up: Shoutouts and Final Thoughts

[58:24–62:28]

• The classic show close: “Name a person you know named Eric”—for the Viking Eric the Red/Eric the Viking connection.
  • “Eric Stonestreet. Do you know him personally? No, but I would like to get to know him well.” (Kyle) [59:52]
• Drew plugs her two podcasts—The Comment Section and Two Idiot Girls—plus her book Loud and upcoming projects [61:42].
• Heartfelt exchange of compliments; Drew calls both hosts “comedy legends” [62:10].

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I climbed the mountain. I just really didn’t like the view.”
  – Drew [23:30]

• “Respect begets respect… The minute it’s not, it’s on.”
  – Drew [30:01]

• “Women deserve the freedom and the space to breathe online, and you can’t anymore… That was what kept me going.”
  – Drew [39:00–39:30]

• “I cleaned the streets... It’s no longer Gotham anymore. It’s suburbia now.”
  – Drew [40:51]

• “You wrap the body… place them in a smaller canoe, and then a really big, strong man, obviously… pushes the canoe out… and someone else, maybe someone wearing glasses, shoots an arrow…”
  – Drew [45:54–46:16]

• “I’m a large woman. Built for winter. A nice swing first I would say. Yeah. I have a of lot, a lot in common to Vikings.”
  – Drew [55:32]

Segments and Timestamps

• [00:32–09:05] – Musical riffs, scatting, and band stories
• [09:05–10:28] – On going viral, podcast format meta-chatter
• [10:40–13:05] – Drew’s social media persona, red flags, TikTok intros
• [22:33–28:41] – Drew’s backstory, NFL to virality
• [28:41–37:54] – Dealing with trolls, self-worth, value systems
• [37:09–40:51] – Impact of advocacy, personal safety online
• [42:28–54:03] – Viking Death podcast skit, funeral rituals
• [54:03–58:23] – Silliness about death, burial choices, Viking pride
• [58:24–62:28] – Name-an-Eric, plugs, and mutual admiration

Tone, Energy, and Listener Experience

• High-energy, loose, and deeply playful, but with undercurrents of sincerity especially in discussions of internet hate and resilience.
• Drew brings a fearless, comedic, and compassionate authenticity, balancing well with Beck and Kyle’s dry, absurdist style.
• The Viking death tangent exemplifies the show’s spirit: running with the silliest guest idea possible, mining both actual history and completely made-up facts for comedic gold.

For New Listeners

Even if you haven’t heard the episode, you’ll walk away with:

• Insights into the creative process and self-reflection of three different comedic paths (mainstream, online, and hybrid).
• Smart, honest talk about handling hate, advocacy for marginalized identities, and the points where comedy and activism collide.
• Genuinely funny (and occasionally profound) moments on everything from childhood dreams to the way we process—and ritualize—death.
• A window into Drew Afualo’s outspoken, unshakeable confidence and the internet’s shifting culture of call-outs.

Drew Afualo: Find her at @drewafualo and check out her podcasts The Comment Section and Two Idiot Girls, her book Loud, and other projects soon to come.