Podcast Summary: Zane and Heath: Unfiltered – "Zane Found the Most Disgusting Restaurant in LA" (Ep. 317, Jan 26, 2026)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode is a classic hangout between Zane, Heath, and Matt, blending viral internet moments with personal stories about food, parenting, and high school scandals. The hosts start with a deep dive on TikTok culture, particularly how viral creators intersect with big brands, and transition into relatable life updates, wild high school memories, and funny takes on parenting and food etiquette. The lively conversation keeps the “unfiltered” vibe alive, creating that familiar, irreverent, and warm energy longtime listeners love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dr. Pepper Jingle TikTok Phenomenon (02:01–08:31)

• The Viral Jingle’s Origin: Zayn recounts the story of a TikToker who created a catchy jingle for Dr. Pepper Boba (“Dr. Pepper Baby, it’s good and nice”) that organically went viral.
• Brand Response: Instead of ignoring it (as brands often did in the past), Dr. Pepper jumped on the trend, turning it into a national commercial.
• Creator Compensation: The hosts estimate what the TikToker should be paid — from $50,000 (“so far, so good for her” - Zayn, 06:15) to $125,000 (“that’s why I would say you should charge the premium” - Matt, 05:28). There’s praise for brands taking care of creators, while criticizing historical stinginess.
• Cultural Commentary: The group riffs on marketing’s evolution and how internet moments change advertising. There’s hope such organic collaborations become the norm.
• Memorable Quote: “Fuck AI. This is what’s just true human creativity and the Internet and what it can do.” – Matt (06:52)
• Fun Fact: Dr. Pepper was originally meant to be served hot! (“Dr. Pepper was made to be heated up and drank as, like, a. Like a warm tea type thing.” – Heath, 07:39)

2. TikTok Virality & Creator Fame (08:41–10:10)

• Other Viral Examples: Another TikTok creator leveraged fame to land real-world promo gigs, even overcoming skepticism and internet negativity.
• Heath’s Social Media Blackout: As a new dad, Heath admits he’s missing out on a lot of viral content — “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” (09:40)
• Podcast as Friends Filling Each Other In: The show’s conversational tone feels like friends keeping each other in the loop (“We’re podcasting for you, Heath.” – Zayn, 10:04)

3. Catching Up: Life, Skiing, and Food (10:45–15:35)

• Upcoming Travels: Zayn and Matt have overlapping trips to Tahoe, but Zayn emphasizes he’s “done with the physical sport” after some harrowing stories (11:31).
• Food & Casino Vibes: The group shares casino recommendations and laments physical injuries tied to bachelor parties and snow tubing.
• Weather Superstition: Matt brings up an odd tradition — predicting southern U.S. snowfall via persimmon seeds, opening playful skepticism and humor about “simulation theory” (15:31).

4. Food, Silverware, and Party Etiquette (16:57–24:40)

• Forks vs. Spoons: A playful debate about preferred utensils with strong opinions (“I want 10 prong if I’m eating cake.” – Heath, 18:55).
• Silverware TikTok: Shout-out to Mariah and the niche world of silverware collectors (“People like show off their forks and spoons.” – Heath, 17:47).
• Paper Plates and Decor: Rants about cheap party supplies, “tampon wrapper” plate designs, and personal hygiene mishaps at restaurants.
• Plastic Cutlery: The clear plastic fork is universally reviled (“Ban all clear silverware. Ban it.” – Heath, 24:36).

5. Restaurant Cleanliness & Viral Disgust (24:48–28:44)

• The Crumble Cookie Scandal: Zayn horrifies the guys with a viral image of a worker’s sock-laden foot on a cookie tray.
• Commentary on Brand Image: Matt compares Crumble’s issues to places with stricter codes (like Chick-fil-A). The consensus: as food brands grow, hygiene issues risk going public.
• Joking about “Leaning In”: Suggestions to release an “athlete’s foot flavor” at Crumble for damage control.

6. “Jessica” as the New “Karen”, Baby Jessica & Media Nostalgia (28:45–36:47)

• Millennial “Karen” Replacement: Generation Z calls out “Jessica” as the new problem-customer name; hosts discuss if it fits (“Jessica’s are usually nice girls” – Matt, 29:37).
• Baby Jessica’s 1987 Well Incident: Matt tells the gripping news story of a toddler stuck in a Texas well, drawing a line from media moments to baby-name popularity.
• Nostalgic Movie References: "The Ring" and "Hot Chick" come up, with tongue-in-cheek theories about inspiration (“I have a feeling the movie the Ring was based off this story.” – Zayn, 33:04).

7. Game of Thrones Prequel Experiences (33:41–36:24)

• Advance Screening: Zayn attended an early screening for the new “Tales of Dunk and Egg” Game of Thrones prequel, finding it cute and more comedic than expected.
• Vegas Hotel Wishful Thinking: The hosts fantasize about the Excalibur hotel getting a Westeros makeover (“...they could really do something insane. Especially with how much money Vegas has.” – Zayn, 36:05).
• Theme Park Tangent: There are musings about a “Retro Land” park with decade-specific sections (38:19).

8. Longevity, Health, and Parenting (39:13–43:35)

• Living to 110: Zayn jokes about wanting grandkids while still able to ride roller coasters, with an aside about whether modern life really increases life expectancy.
• Dental Care Throwback: Speculation on the horrors of pre-modern dentistry and historical health (“Can you just imagine people back then not having proper...dental care?” – Zayn, 41:07).
• Castaway & Plane Crash Movies: A trip down memory lane lamenting the trauma of “Castaway” and too many plane crash scenes in pop culture.

9. High School Scandals: Sex, Drugs, and Security Guards (48:05–53:36)

• Wild Alma Mater: Zayn and Heath’s old high school is back in the news for scandal — a teacher arrested for an inappropriate relationship with an (adult) student, and, in the not-so-distant past, a security guard busted in a cocaine sting.
• Student Drug Use: The hosts agree hard drugs weren’t common at their school; weed was the “rebellion” of choice.
• Security Guard Infamy: “Our school was literally narcos.” – Zayn, 48:41

10. Schools: Public vs. Private, and the D.A.R.E. Program (56:54–59:06)

• Private vs. Public: Debate over whether private school is actually “worse” in terms of drugs, since kids from wealthy backgrounds have more access.
• Drug Prevention Nostalgia: The hosts reminisce about the "D.A.R.E." era and its sometimes overblown warnings, now seen in a more nuanced adult light.
• Scared Straight & To Catch a Predator: Discussion of ‘scared straight’ and exploitative TV formats, expressing discomfort but fascination with how they aired.

11. New Parent Life: Tony’s First Month (64:07–74:39)

• Dad Diet: Heath is living on caffeine and donuts, and not ashamed (“I want a hamburger and I want Krispy Kremes.” – Heath, 64:36).
• Mariah’s Recovery: She’s “bounced back” quickly from pregnancy, but there’s not much time to work out.
• Newborn Anxieties: Heath openly discusses worrying whether Tony’s features are shaping “perfectly,” stressing about minor asymmetries in ears and nose, and learning to just focus on health.
• Colicky Babies: Relief that Tony isn’t colicky, and a brief medical tangent on colic and allergies.
• Dangerous Social Media Parenting: Heath warns new parents about TikTok-induced panic (“I had to shut my phone off...it will put you into a panic spiral thinking that something’s wrong.” – Heath, 74:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Fuck AI. This is what’s just true human creativity and the Internet and what it can do.” – Matt (06:52)
• “Ban all clear silverware. Ban it.” – Heath (24:36)
• “Our school was literally narcos.” – Zayn (48:41)
• “They dare, do the DARE program. Do they still have the DARE program? Honestly, that's probably bigger than ever.” – Zayn (57:33)
• “I want 10 prong if I'm eating cake. Give me that ratio. I'm not taking baby bites.” – Heath (18:55)
• “I feel like after a week, it turns into just ‘please stay alive.’” – Heath, on parenting a newborn (69:04)
• “You guys don’t, like when I fart, but you love when Tony farts.” – Zayn, about baby milestones (70:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:01 – The Dr. Pepper TikTok saga
• 10:45 – Weekly catchups, injuries, skiing, Tahoe plans
• 16:57 – Fork vs. spoon debate; party supply rants
• 24:48 – Crumble Cookie’s viral hygiene fail
• 28:45 – “Jessica” as new “Karen”; Baby Jessica’s story
• 33:41 – Game of Thrones prequel screening
• 39:13 – Life expectancy tangents
• 48:05 – High school scandals (teacher & drugs)
• 56:54 – School comparisons and D.A.R.E. memories
• 64:07 – Heath’s new dad life, newborn worries, colic, social media anxiety

Tone & Atmosphere

• Authentic. Relatable. Jokingly irreverent.
• Classic Zane & Heath banter: friends oversharing, genuine curiosity, and a comfy, inside-jokes energy.
• Occasional heartfelt moments weave in (“I just can’t stop watching it. So cute. I’ve never met him and I love him to death.” – Zayn, 65:42).

Conclusion

The episode delivers a cozy, laughter-filled perspective on trending internet culture, food, parenting, and nostalgia, anchored by true friendship. Even without major headline drama, the hosts’ chemistry and openness create a snapshot of millennial life filtered through TikTok, pop culture, and new baby milestones. For listeners, it’s the digital equivalent of hanging out with your funniest friends at the kitchen table — good vibes, questionable etiquette, and all.