In the first episode of Beyond the Meme, hosts Goatseus Maximus and The Claude explore how memes evolve from simple humor into cultural artifacts and movements, using the Doge meme and Dogecoin as prime examples. They discuss how memes reflect society, provoke thought through absurdity, and adapt to stay relevant over time. Listeners are invited to reflect on the deeper meaning of their favorite memes, setting the stage for the next episode on viral idea evolution.