Stef Rubino Brendan Walsh - Podcast Details

Shows

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe Albums Can't Drink Yet, Vol. 2: Green Day's "American Idiot"Green Day's "punk rock opera," American Idiot, celebrated its 20th birthday at the end of September, and, you know, we figured we'd celebrate along with it. In the second half of 2004, it was impossible to get away from the 4 singles spawned by this album, and it seems like it's only gained more popularity and acclaim in the years since. But was it really ALL that? Did American Idiot really have a lot to say about the state of the world in 2004, or was it just Green Day's attempt to make it bigger than they ever had before? We're trying...2024-10-151h 13

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWe're Still In Our 'Sexy Chef' Era: A Look at the Rise of Chefs as 'Sex Symbols'Something weird happened in the early 2000s...and we're talking about it in this episode. Before the rise of Anthony Bourdain and Top Chef, people didn't really think of chefs as achieving the same level of sexiness as rock stars or other artists. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, being a chef became one of the sexiest possible things someone could do. So, we decided to track the origins of this transformation & discuss how peculiar it is to see this profession constantly being touted one of the hottest jobs in our culture. You can find...2024-09-2453 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyDeclaring War on the "War on Christmas" ReduxThis week, we're bringing this episode back because it fits so perfectly in our current season! The "War on Christmas" isn't real. But you didn't need us to tell you that. This week, we're going in on our discussion of this Conservative talking point and getting the heart of why it keeps coming up in our culture. We talk the over 100 year history of the "War on Christmas," why Conservatives love to bring it up so much, and why Liberals need to stop trying to engage with it. We're not getting involved in the discourse over whether "Happy Holidays" is...2023-12-1444 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyDissecting Nu Metal's Cultural Chokehold with Dani JanaeThis week, we have a special guest with us to discuss the brief moment in the sun nu metal had at the very beginning of our decade for this season, 2003 - 2013. Dani shares the evolution of her relationship to nu metal as a young person, her thoughts on nu metal's impact on us & American culture, & what it was like to grow up & grow out of listening to it. We also have a few laughs at the expense of these bands, as well! You can find Dani on Instagram, Substack, or at her website. You can also listen...2023-11-281h 02

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyNo One Knows "The Real Housewives" Franchise Like Kayla Kumari UpadhyayaWe've got another guest episode for y'all this week. This time though, our guest is teaching us about something we know very little about: Bravo's The Real Housewives franchise. In this episode, our friend Kayla guides us through the concept of the show, some of its stand out moments, her favorite "wives," & why more queer people should be into it. And luckily for us, she gets into some of the darker sides of the shows, as well. You can find Kayla on Twitter and Instagram. You can read her work at Autostraddle or visit her website to...2023-10-031h 20

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyTalking the Best Hip-Hop of 2003 to 2013 with Craig of the Playa Hataz PodcastThis week, we have a special guest on our show to talk with us about the best hip hop artists of the decade we're focusing on this season. All three of us come from vastly different backgrounds when it comes to our tastes in music, & bring a lot of different considerations to the table. You might even be surprised which artists we bring into the conversation. We're sure you'll get something out of it even if you're not as into rap & hip hop as we are. You can listen to & watch the Playa Hataz Podcast, & you can...2023-09-261h 19

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWhat Happened to the Great American Sex Scandal?The title kind of gives this all away, but let us tell you anyways...This week, we're taking you back to a time when political sex scandals ruled the news & forced us all to learn more about one another than we ever wanted. On one hand, many of these were fun & provided fodder for lots of goofs over the span of several weeks. On the other, we're wondering why we gave so much of shit in the first place. We're talking about it, and reminding you (or teaching you) about some of the biggest ones of the period. 2023-09-061h 01

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyMen in Transition, Men on a Mission: Examining the Era of Bro ComediesWhat's better than getting together with your favorite "guys" & just HANGIN' out & doing STUFF? As two dudes who love that shit, we'd argue NOTHING. And this week, we're examining the era of the return of the bro comedies - those films where it's just a bunch of guys hangin' out & doin' stuff. We'll get into some of the definitions of what makes a bro comedy a Bro Comedy, what made them so attractive to us when we were younger (& why we still like them now), & what these movies can teach us about our lives. You can find...2023-08-2959 min

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"The End of the English Major": A Special Episode from Our Patreon VaultA lot of changes are happening around FGJG HQ so this week, we're giving you one of the Patreon extras we recorded back in Februrary. In this episode, we discuss Nathan Heller's 2023 article in the New Yorker titled "The End of the English Major." We break down what's good about the article, & we also get into the parts of the article that are completely off base. This a little different than the episodes we normally put out, but we're sure you'll still learn a lot from it (and hopefully, laugh a lot, too)! You can find Fat...2023-08-1551 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyTwo Dumb Guys Present The Dumb Guys' Guide to the Golden Age of Dumb Guy MoviesThis week, we're defining, describing, and rating famous Dumb Guy Movies released in the early 2000s and the aughts. We get into the differences between a Dumb Guy Movie and a regular, run-of-the-mill dumb movie, and take you through some of the most popular ones of the decade (2003 - 2013). We're sure you've experienced this phenomenon in your own life even if you weren't sure what to call it. If you want to pre-order the shirt mentioned in the introduction to last week's show, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠find it here⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...2023-06-201h 17

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyStraight Men Talking (Laughing, Loving, Breathing, Fighting) About "The L Word"Happy Pride, everyone! In honor of Pride Month, we're diving into the wild universe of the original seasons of The L Word. We know, we know...this has been done many times over before but even though Stef does get into some of why they watched the show from its premiere in 2004 to its end in 2009, we're going to talk about some stuff we don't see other places covering: how straight (presumably white) men felt about the show's premiere and existence. You're probably wondering why their opinions matter, which they don't, but they're a lot funnier than you think.2023-06-131h 07

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyA Nation Bushwhacked By Bushisms: Power Ranking George W. Bush's Rhetorical "Errors"Some people might be trying to rewrite the story of George W. Bush's presidency, but not your brothers here at FGJG. This week, we're discussing Bush's distinct rhetorical style - what people call "Bushisms" - and the ways he used this caricature of himself to convince a nation that the expansion of our imperialism was both inevitable and morally sound. We're getting into the linguistic nitty gritty of it all, AND we're power ranking the top 10 Bushisms of all time. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find Stef on the web ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Brendan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...2023-05-231h 00

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyA Journey Through The Surreal World Of VH-1's "Celebreality" Television BoomWe've got a special treat in store for all you VH-1 Heads out there in the world this week. We're revisiting the wild, whacky, incredibly self-referential VH-1 "celebreality" universe from its origin: The Surreal Life. We discuss what The Surreal Life was/is, which "celebrities" were on it, and how exactly VH-1 helped usher in the brave, new world of being a celebrity not just for doing something important but also for doing nothing important at all. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find Stef on the web ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Brendan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!!! There's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠extra content...2023-05-161h 07

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyCelebrating the People's Champ: The Fat Guy, Jacked Guy Tribute to Paul WallThe title of this week's episode really says it all. This is the Fat Guy, Jacked Guy tribute to the best white rapper of the aughts: Houston's own Paul Wall. We're giving you all the Paul Wall knowledge you thought you'd never have! We discuss his background, his rise to fame, some of his biggest hits, & a lot of other stuff in between. Here are some links to the songs & videos we mentioned in the episode: Mike Jones ft. Slim Thug & Paul Wall - Still Tippin' Paul Wall ft. Big Pokey - Sittin' Sidewayz DJ Khaled...2023-05-021h 03

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"Sissy That Talk": Getting On About "RuPaul's Drag Race" With DawnThis week, we're joined by one of our beloved former students (& loyal Fat Guy, Jacked Guy listener & patron), Dawn, to talk about RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered on Logo in 2009. We discuss what Drag Race is, & we ask Dawn about all her favorite Drag Race everything. We also get into the cultural impact of Drag Race & why the queens who competed on the show have become such a mainstay in pop culture. It's a lot more significant than you think, & Dawn breaks it all down for us. You can find Dawn on Twitter (where she is most...2023-04-271h 04

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe Return of the Shag: On the Garage Rock Revival & "Indie Sleaze"This week, we're revisiting that moment in the mid-aughts when it seemed like everything underground was finally dredged up for everyone to enjoy. We're talking about the garage rock revival and the emergence of the "indie sleaze" scene, a time when roaring guitar-driven rock & roll helped build a culture of spontaneity and debauchery and...American Apparel bodysuits? It's the last of the youth-created and youth-led do-it-yourself scenes, and we're taking you on a little trip through some of it, particularly the early days of the scene and the music and fashion that defined it. Stef mentions a...2023-04-1858 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFascism Has Sick Abs: Rewatching Zack Snyder's "300"In this week's episode, we dive deep into the new millennium's version of Sparta by revisiting 2007's 300. We discuss everything 300 is bringing: the fascist propaganda, the anti-queerness, the idealized masculinity, the connections between the messages in 300 and the American politics of the period, and, of course, the ripped bodies of the actors who starred in the film and how they got them. If you've never seen the film, don't worry. You don't really need to. Plus, we got you covered on all the details you'll need to understand how much it sucks. You can find Fat Guy...2023-04-111h 05

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe "War On Terror" 20 Years Later: Somehow, People Still Think It Was A Good IdeaThis week, we're wrapping up our month-long relitigation of the media produced in response to the "War on Terror" and the American War in Iraq. We discuss our experiences being part of the anti-war movement as teenagers, get into the criticisms launched by some famous entertainers and performers and the public's reaction to those criticism, and review an editorial written by David Frum for the The Atlantic THIS month. And as always, it's fuck George W. Bush forever in the Fat Guy, Jacked Guy universe. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠...2023-03-3051 min

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"You Should Sit With This": Two Documentaries on the "War on Terror" Everyone Should WatchMarch 20th, 2003 was the start of the American War in Iraq. That means this week is the 20th anniversary of that day, and as we've been covering all this month, we're here to talk about some of the most important media of the period. In this episode, we discuss the oft-forgotten "War on Terror" documentaries No End In Sight (2007) and Restrepo (2010). We break down the content of the documentaries, discuss the problems they're highlighting in further detail, and get into why it's so important for people in the U.S. to grapple with this information right now. Today, as...2023-03-231h 02

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyKathryn Bigelow Takes Us to the "Trenches": Examining "The Hurt Locker" & "Zero Dark Thirty"In the late 2000s and early 2010s, people were growing wary of the "War on Terror," and Hollywood was starting to respond. In this episode, we examine Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal's "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty," two vastly different films where Bigelow and Boal try their best to critique the "war" while also showing the horrifying realities of its perpetuation. We get into our own thoughts on the films, whether or not they're actually successful in conveying what we think they're attempting to say, and seriously question why we dared to watch/rewatch these movies back-to-back...2023-03-161h 00

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyLet's Talk WMDs (What Michael Moore Documents): The Power (?) of "Fahrenheit 9/11"Since it's the 20th anniversary of the start of the American War in Iraq this month, we're covering the media produced in response to the start of the war and its immediate aftermath. We're kicking things off by discussing one of the first mainstream documentaries to come out as critical of the war: Michael Moore's 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11. We discuss the content of the film, the strange criticisms of it, and we get into the role of journalists and critics when it comes to addressing horrifying events in our world. We laugh about a few things, particularly what a loser...2023-03-0756 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuySpit In My Food & Call Me "Stupid": The Mean Brit Chef InvasionIn the mid-aughts, a new craze took over American audiences: they wanted to watch mean British people on their TVs talk down to other Americans (and essentially, them, too). This little infatuation, starting with Simon Cowell on American Idol, grew into a full on obsession by the time the late aughts came around. In this episode, we discuss this strange kink and its effect on our culture, specifically as it pertained to American food TV. We'll get into the separate rises of two of the meanest, nastiest British chefs around and discuss why and how each man's legacy still...2023-02-281h 03

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyIt's Guido Time! A Look Back at the Chaos & Beauty of MTV's "Jersey Shore"The cabs aren't here, but this episode on MTV's Jersey Shore is. Take a little trip with us to Seaside Heights, New Jersey where we'll reminisce on some of the most ridiculous characters that have ever graced our television sets. We'll discuss the concept of the show, Italian-American cultural stereotypes and subcultural performance, and we'll get into just what sets Jersey Shore apart from other reality shows. If you've never seen the show before, don't worry...we got all the details for you. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can...2023-02-141h 12

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyTaking PEDs (Podcast Enhancing Drugs) To Talk 2008's "Bigger, Stronger, Faster"The early aughts were filled with steroid and performance enhancing drug usage scandals. Athletes from Barry Bonds to Lance Armstrong were being brought in for questioning related to their uses of these sweet, sweet anabolic elixirs. In 2008, Chris Bell set out to examine the anabolic steroid panic in his documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster. In this episode, we discuss the doc, Bell's actual messages about American culture, and why BSF is still important right now. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here.2023-02-0759 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrom Borat to Burgundy: A Guide to the Quoting YearsThere was a rarely discussed phenomenon going on a little before and all the way through the decade 2003-2013, and this episode is an attempt to set the historical record straight on it. That's right, we're talking about what Brendan has dubbed "The Quoting Years." Remember all that time you spent with your friends repeating lines from your favorite films and television shows? Well, get ready to stroll down memory lane with us. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. 2023-01-3154 min

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"Madonna's 2 Kinky Kisses": The Girl-on-Girl VMAs Kiss That Rocked The World20 years later, and it seems like the kisses between Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards have never been more relevant than they are right now. This week, we're examining the legendary kisses, their aftermath, and how they impacted and continue to impact queer culture and the broader culture at large. We get into some reporting from the period, and we discuss the discourse around "queerbaiting." You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support...2023-01-2452 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyExamining "The Massacre": 50 Cent's Tribute To His Own InvulnerabilityThe title is pretty self-explanatory BUT this week, we're revisiting one of the albums of the decade that dominated the charts even if it ultimately had very little artistic merit: 50 Cent's "The Massacre." We talk about 50 Cent's persona, each track on the album, white listeners' racial imaginations and their impact on commercial hip hop, Brendan's mom's connection to G-Unit, and the album's cultural relevance in 2005 and now. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support us on Patreon!!! There's...2023-01-1757 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWe're Entering the New Year's Rockin' Eve Time WarpAll right folks, WE'RE BACK. As you (hopefully) heard in our trailer for Season 2, we're using this new season to do a deep dive into the cultural and political phenomenon that dominated the decade between 2003 and 2013. You might be wondering why we chose this particular time period, and we promise that question is answered very thoroughly in this introductory episode to the new season. We're happy to be back, and we hope you'll join us for all we have in store! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef...2023-01-1041 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFat Guy, Jacked Guy Season 2 Coming Soon!Here's a little trailer for our new season coming to your ear holes and brain matter on January 10th! Get ready! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support us on Patreon!!! There's extra content for Patreon supporters, as well as opportunities to interact with us in other ways besides listening to the podcast. We appreciate any and all help you can provide, and we hope to keep this going for a long, long time. Thank you in advance f...2022-12-2702 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyAll We Want For Christmas is Class Warfare: We Talk Anti-Capitalist Christmas MoviesIt's our last episode of the year, y'all! We know that many of you are going to be watching Christmas movies over the next week, so we wanted to weigh in on some of our favorite Christmas movies that urge us to challenge the capitalist hell and system of consumerism we're all forced to live in. We give you the run down on some Christmas holiday history and then get into our critiques of these very fascinating and important films. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on...2022-12-201h 00

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyDeclaring War on the "War on Christmas"The "War on Christmas" isn't real. But you didn't need us to tell you that. This week, we're going in on our discussion of this Conservative talking point and getting the heart of why it keeps coming up in our culture. We talk the over 100 year history of the "War on Christmas," why Conservatives love to bring it up so much, and why Liberals need to stop trying to engage with it. We're not getting involved in the discourse over whether "Happy Holidays" is more inclusive than "Merry Christmas"...we're just making fun of everyone who does. ...2022-12-1344 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe Definitive Netflix Dating Show Power RankingsThis week, we're going all-in on one of Brendan's favorite frivolous pleasures: the Netflix dating show. He performed six whole months of experiential research to bring you (and me) these power rankings. Of course, we also get into the ins and outs of the shows and share some criticisms about their concepts. Brendan's rankings are likely to surprise and delight you! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support us on Patreon!!! There's extra content for Patreon supporters, as well as opportunities to interact...2022-12-0656 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuySorry TikTok, Helen Keller is REALThis week, an unfortunate conversation Brendan had with his students led us to investigate this whole spreading conspiracy theories on TikTok a little further. In this episode, we're talking about the very real person Helen Keller, for sure, but we're also talking about how we're stuck in a cycle of DISinformation that is bolstering our predatory capitalist society and changing our realities as we know them. And of course, we can't help goofing about the collapse of society as we know it. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find...2022-11-2955 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyLeaves Falling Have Nothing On These: Our Top 5 Fall Movies with Alex SteedThis week, we have a very special treat for you all (and for us)! We invited the cohost of one of our favorite podcasts, You Are Good, to come talk autumnal films with us and he accepted. In this episode, we break down our favorite fall movies with Alex Steed and get to listen to him talk about his, as well. This is a real treat for those of you who love to hear three brothers goofing about the magic of cinema, the splendor of the fall season, and death. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy...2022-11-221h 28

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWhere Have All The Lesbian Bars Gone?Aside from being the spookiest month of the year, October is also LGBTQ History Month and you should know by now that this is a queer and queer-adjacent podcast, so we conceived this episode in the spirit of that. In this episode, Stef gets into some of their own personal experiences at gay bars and lesbian bars (and "queer nights") over the years and also gives both a very brief history of the conception and function of the lesbian bar in the U.S. and some perspective on how and why there's only 24 of them left in the whole...2022-11-0846 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyYour Job Isn't REAL: We Talk Bulls**t Jobs!In this week's episode, we're really getting INTO IT. We're talking some labor history, capitalism's pitfalls, and David Graeber's conceptualization of "bulls**t jobs." We also discuss our own feelings regarding work and selling our labor to live, and of course, we laugh a little, too. If you're as tired of the system as we are, then this one is for you! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. And you can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support us on Patreon!!! There's extra content for Patreon supporters...2022-11-011h 06

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyEveryone Loves to Feed Ghosts: “Halloween” Around the WorldWell, folks, Halloween is literally right around the corner, so we thought we'd take some time to talk about it. This week, we’re introducing you to some "Halloween" traditions from our own childhoods to those of our ancestors and of other places we care about. We get into the spooky origins of Halloween and how it differs from place to place. Along the way, we ask some questions, have some laughs, and talk about the connectedness of everything. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. And you can find Stef on the we...2022-10-2754 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyJust Two Brothers Pitching Horror Movie Ideas to Each OtherSince it's "spooky season" (as the kids say), we've been talking a lot about our opinions on some of the most popular horror films of all time. For this episode, we're doing something a little different. Brendan challenged us both (himself and Stef) to come up with our OWN ideas for horror movies we'd like to see on the big (or little) screen. We recorded our pitches and our discussion of them, so you get a front row seat to this horror movie think tank and writing workshop! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter...2022-10-1847 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWe Watched Some Horror Films From 1979 So YOU Don't Have To!For this week's episode, we asked our dear patrons over at the Fat Guy, Jacked Guy Patreon to help us pick a year in horror to review together, and we ended up with 1979! So, we spent several hours together watching, taking notes on, and discussing some of the landmark horror films of that year. In this episode, we give your our thoughts, our opinions, our analyses, AND our rankings of these important pieces of terrifying art. Trust us, we get DEEP! Of course, we do goof on a couple of them, too. You can find Fat Guy...2022-10-111h 07

Fat Guy, Jacked GuySpiraling Into Personal Dread: We Break Down Our Top 5 "Favorite" Horror FilmsWell, it's October and y'all know what that means...it's time to talk about some spooky shit. This week, we're easing into a month's worth of spooky, scary, creepy, crawly content by discussing our individual top 5 "favorite" horror films we've ever seen. We also discuss our relationships to horror films and how we came to love them. Of course, we'll get into some of the specifics of the films we chose and why we chose them. We hope you're here for the spooks and goofs because god knows we are! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy...2022-10-041h 12

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"Plucky Upstart Cryptids": A Round-up of Some Other Cryptids We LoveWell, September is coming to a close which means it's time for us to close out this accidental Cryptozoology-themed month we've been having here at FGJG. This week, we're mostly talking about some of the lesser known, less talked about, more "indie" (if you will) cryptids from around the world. We get into some of the weirder ones, discuss what they are and their origins, and just talk very generally about what cryptozoology means to us and to the world. We know you'll find some cryptids to love here, too! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy...2022-09-2745 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrom Where We're From: Skunk Ape, the Official Cryptid of FloridaThis week's episode is a little bit of a crossover because we're talking about Florida's one and only cryptid: the Skunk Ape. We're going deep into Skunk Ape lore and discussing the history of Skunk Ape sightings, along with the possible origins of this Everglades mystery. Don't worry, Florida heads, we also discuss Dave Shealy's role in what we currently know about the Skunk Ape. Even if you think you know all you need to know about the Skunk Ape, we guarantee you'll learn even more. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram...2022-09-2055 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyLake Monsters Are On the Ballot! We Talk Nessie, Champ, & Friends.It's a BIG week over here at Fat Guy, Jacked Guy, folks. And that's not hyperbole! Why? Because this week we're diving headfirst into the murky depths of the cryptozoology world and exploring one of Brendan's childhood (and lifelong) passions: lake monsters! We'll get into some of the myths about lake monsters, why these myths might have popped up in the first place, and we'll talk about some lake monsters from around the world. Of course, we also get into some deeper stuff about the importance of curiosity and wonder, too. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked...2022-09-1355 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyExtraterrestrial Lifeforms Aren't Colonizers!: Aliens & UFOs in Pop Culture, Pt. 1This week, we're talking about UFOs and aliens and the roles these mysterious aircrafts and beings play in our collective imagination and in popular culture. We get into the history of UFO sightings and how stories of travelers from far off space places came into our cultural consciousness and the "lessons" those narratives are trying to impart on us. We also goof about our experiences with aliens and alien-related media (and about the government!!), and we each decide which alien film we'd keep if someone made us toss out the rest! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked...2022-09-0656 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyF-Guy, Fat Bye. J-Guy, Nice Try. Let's Talk "F-Boy Island" with Dustin Brookshire!This week, it's our 30th episode! Can you believe it? 30 weeks of FGJG! To celebrate, we had an illustrious guest and our friend, Dustin Brookshire, with us to discuss the beauty and horror that is HBOMax's F-Boy Island. We get into the ins and outs of the show, talk about the F-boy aesthetic, the reasons we all watch the show in the first place, and which F-Boys and Nice Guys really left a lasting impression us. This isn't exactly an educational episode, but it is A LOT of fun! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram...2022-08-301h 12

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrontline Report: Teaching in the "Stop W.O.K.E." StateYour brothers have been having a rough time getting back into the swing of things at school given all the stuff teachers have to deal with right now, especially those of us who teach in Florida. So this week, we're talking about the ways teachers have been maligned over the last few years, how that's helping stoke the fires of the nationwide teacher shortage, and how these wild, new laws are impacting both our desire to stay in the profession and our ability to do our jobs and do them well. Don't worry, even though all of that is...2022-08-231h 01

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyDiogenes Was the First Crust PunkYou've seen 'em on the streets of your favorite cities. You've heard people talking about them. Maybe you've even had a few friends who said "Goodbye" to all this capitalist bullshit and joined ranks with other people just like them. This week, we're talking about all things gutter punk: the music, the style, and, especially, the CULTURE. We explore some of the main particularities of the gutter/crust punk lifestyle, and we discuss the philosophical origins of some of their most important values. Of course, we make a lot jokes about this "totally normal" society we are all forced...2022-08-1657 min

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy46 Questions to Ask Your "Bae" OR Your BrotherThis week, we did something we've been meaning to do for y'all for a while. It's a little bit of a surprise so we won't give too much away here, but let's just say things get very vulnerable and a little goofy (as always). If you've ever wondered about some of our deepest and most intimate thoughts on our lives and how we live, this is the episode for you. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. And you can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Support us...2022-08-091h 02

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyMustachioed, Big-Bellied Man Meat: A History of StrongmanYou read that correctly, folks. This week, we're stone lifting and bench pressing our way through the history of one of the most niche and mysterious sports in the world: the Strongman competition. In this episode, we get into some of the lore surrounding Strongman's history, the ancient roots of the sport, what it's like now, and the back stories of some of the most famous Strongmen and strength performers in all of written history. We know this one's a long one, but that's because there was simply much more to talk about in regards to this topic than...2022-08-021h 31

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyYou Can't Beat the Apocalypse: On Survivalism and PreppingYou can probably already tell from the title, but we'll just tell you anyways: this week, we're talking all about survivalism and prepping. No, not the kind you're thinking of...the kind where people believe the world is going to end (soon) and do everything in their power to get prepared to live in a post-apocalyptic future. We get into some of the specific orientations survivalists have in terms of what they're prepping for, a brief history of survivalism and prepping as we know it, and why the idea of it bothers us so goddamn much. This is episode...2022-07-261h 16

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyA Brief History of Backpacking from an Ambitious Italian Lawyer to Linen Elephant PantsThis week, we're going around the world with just the clothes on our backs and one change of underwear and socks. That's right, folks, we're talking about the worldwide phenomenon known as backpacking. In this episode, we get into the very early history of backpacking as a concept, how backpacking has evolved since then, and what backpacking looks like now. Along the way, we discuss some of the problems inherent with this kind of travel and goof on some of the cultural features that have become characteristic of this popular hobby. You can find Fat Guy, Jacked...2022-07-191h 08

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrom Where We're From: Wilton Manors is the Gayest Island in the World!In the newest installment of our series "From Where We're From," we're exploring the history and culture of Wilton Manors, FL, A.K.A the gayest island in the world. We dive deep into some basic facts about Wilton Manors, its history, and how it became the little haven for LGBTQ people that is today. Along the way, we discuss some of what's missing in the historical record on Wilton Manors and why it's important that we fix it. Whether you're from South Florida or not, this episode has a little something for everyone, and as usual, lots of...2022-07-1256 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyCaptain Ahab Was a Real (Moby) Dick: We're Talkin' Sperm WhalesYou read that correctly...we're back again with another deep dive on animals. This time, we're talkin' American Literature's favorite creature: the sperm whale. In the episode, we talk sperm whale basics and why such a large industry was built around the mysterious substance they carry in their heads. We also get into Herman Melville's relationship with these illustrious creatures and how much better they are than us (humans). We got a few good puns and a whole lot of whale goofs, but you'll still walk away approximately 17% smarter after listening! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked...2022-06-281h 03

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyGod-dam, We're Talkin' Gun-dam with Mark Sturdivant!This week, your brothers aren't teaching...they're getting taught! That's right. For the first time in the history of this podcast, we have a special guest: our brother-in-teaching and Mobile Suit Gundam enthusiast, Mark Sturdivant! In this episode, Mark teaches us all about the somewhat underground craze that is Mobile Suit Gundam model kit production. He gives us a brief history of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and helps us understand why these kits are growing in popularity. Since we have no prior knowledge of this whatsoever, we also ask Mark a lot of questions about the kits and...2022-06-211h 01

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyTalkin' (M. Night) Shyamalan: Breaking Down Our Top 5 FilmsIt's our 20th episode (!!!!), so we thought we'd go big for y'all. This week, we took on a topic that's a little bit of a point of contention for your favorite brothers: the work of M. Night Shyamalan. We ranked our top 5 Shyamalan films, and then, in this episode, we discuss our rankings and broke down why we made those choices. Overall, Brendan has a hard time really buying what Shyamalan is selling (for good reasons), while Stef is a bit more forgiving and is all-in on Shyamalan and the worlds he tries to construct in his films. It d...2022-06-141h 18

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyRighting Wrongs: Redoing Brendan's 4th Grade State ProjectDid you ever completely bomb an assignment that, in retrospect, seemed really easy for your young self to do? Well, in this episode, Brendan is taking us back in time to his 4th grade classroom in order to redo his state project on the state of Louisiana. Brendan blasts us with facts about the amazing Bayou State, and in between, we talk about our experiences in Louisiana and what we love about New Orleans. It's sure to make you nostalgic, and maybe, just maybe, it'll give you the confidence to right some wrongs of your own. You...2022-06-071h 13

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"We WILL Help You Maximize Your Earning Potential! Guaranteed!"OK, no, we can't help you do that. And we're sure you can probably guess that we wouldn't want to help anyone do that, anyways! What we can do and what we DID do is discuss the people who capitalize on claims just like the one in our title. This week, we're diving into one of the most annoying and shameful grifts of them all: LIFE COACHING. That's right, we decided to break the life coaching profession down for y'all so you can see just how dangerous and predatory it is. In this episode, we discuss the culture and...2022-05-311h 07

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFiguring Out Fashion: Conservative (Patriotic???) Dad T-ShirtsEpisode DISCLAIMER: We had some trouble with the audio for this week's episode. You'll notice a little static in the beginning up to the 5:20 mark. PLEASE do not let it get in the way of listening to this week's goofs. Have you ever wondered what the deal is with those mildly-threatening, somewhat aggressive conservative (or patriotic?) shirts you often see middle-aged men wearing out in public? Well, in this week's episode, we're doing a deep dive into this unfortunately popular fashion choice. We'll talk about the few most common categories of these shirts and joke a lot...2022-05-241h 19

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe Heat is ON: A Short History of "Going to the Beach"Things are heating up in South Florida, and all we can think about is relaxing on the beach with our friends and a couple of brews. This isn't an unusual feeling for us but it does make us wonder...what do we really know about how we got there in the first place? What made people brave the elements and make beachgoing and beach vacations cultural mainstays around the world? In this episode, we discuss our own personal connections to the beach, what brought people from the cities to the beach in the first place, and how beachgoing has...2022-05-171h 02

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrom Where We're From: An Ode to the New England LobstermanThis week, we're taking a ride up the coast of the great Northeast to visit some of Brendan's regional mainstay: the Maine lobsterman. We discuss the history of lobster eating, the history of lobster fishing in New England, whether lobster is really all that fancy, and what might be in store for the future of the industry. Throughout the conversation, Brendan teaches Stef of about different aspects of New England, and the brothers make connections between the lobstermen and climate change. It's a fun conversation on a topic people don't think as much as they should about! Join us!2022-05-101h 11

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWhere Have All the Stuntmen Gone?And where have all our conversations about stunt acting gone? Why don't we see as much stunt acting in action films as we used to? BETTER YET, where have all our mid-budget blockbuster action films gone and how do we get them back? This week, your brothers are talking all things stunt acting and action films. We discuss the history of stunt acting in Hollywood; our childhood fascinations with the wild fights, car chases, and explosions of some of our favorite action films of the 80s and 90s; and what the present and future looks like for these kinds...2022-05-0347 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe BBC Lied to You: Talkin' Papua New GuineaThis week, we're taking a little trip to one of the places in the world that people seem to "know" but not know anything about: Papua New Guinea. In this episode, we discuss some basic Papua New Guinea facts about what life is like there; about the diversity of the people, the plants, and the wildlife there; and we discuss many aspects of the culture that we're sure you know very little about. Of course, we also talk about how places like Papua New Guinea are exoticized and fetishized, and how we contribute to that problem without fully recognizing...2022-04-261h 08

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFrom Where We're From: Key Lime Pie (Is THE Florida State Dessert)This week, we're exploring one of the most important creations from Stef's home state of Florida: the Key Lime Pie, king of desserts. We discuss how key lime pie came to be and what makes it such an important facet of Florida's culinary culture while decrying the Florida legislature's most recent decision to make strawberry shortcake the official state dessert of Florida. Along the way, we make connections between this and the larger, more detrimental attacks currently happening on the people who have made Florida the whacky, wondrous, weird ass place that it has become. You'll probably be wondering...2022-04-1946 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWhat's the Deal with Hack Comedy??Well, it turns out there's a lot more to it than you think! This week, we're exploring the history and conventions of hack comedy and how it impacted our understandings of comedy as we were growing up. We'll introduce you to some of the most well-known hack tropes, and hopefully, teach you a thing a two about why these tropes seem to work so well on general audiences. Of course, we're goofing and making plenty of our own jokes along the way! You can find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. And you can find...2022-04-1245 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyYabba Dabba Destroy the Ruling Class!It's our 10th episode, y'all! Wow! Can you believe it? We hardly can! This week, we're discussing the anti-capitalist themes and messages that seemed to be mainstays in the 90s children's and family films that we grew up watching. We use the 1994 feature film The Flintstones as our frame, but along the way we touch on other popular movies of the time, how we feel these movies impacted us, the reasons these films exist in the first place, and how we must destroy the Cliff Vandercaves of the world. Not to toot our own horns, but this is a...2022-04-0547 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWe Came for the Bear Sex: On Marian Engel's "Bear"That's right, folks...we're doing the thing we do every single day, but we're doing it with y'all. This week, we're discussing Marian Engel's seminal 1976 novel, Bear. This episode truly has it all: jokes about human-bear sexual relations, imagining human genitalia on animals, digressions on the genius of M. Night Shyamalan, and, ultimately, why this novel is so much more important than people seem to let on or think. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. You can also find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. As always, thank...2022-03-291h 00

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWe Were "Ghosting" Before It Was CoolThis week, your favorite biological brothers discuss their relationship to everyone's favorite supernatural entities: ghosts! Mostly, we discuss the different kinds of apparitions as identified by the "experts" but along the way, we discuss some ghost-related media we love and why Americans—in particular—seem to be plagued with these paranormal phenomena. As usual, there's tons of goofs on the journey, but we do some important analysis, too. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. You can also find Fat Guy, Jacked Guy on Twitter and Instagram. As always, thank you for...2022-03-2244 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyTwo Brutes Talkin' FruitsThis week, we're discussing the beauty and majesty of one of nature's greatest gifts: fruit! That's right...you read that correctly, we're literally just talking about fruit. But not just fruit in general...we're discussing some of the rarest fruits we could find and our experiences with them (if we have 'em!). Along the way, we discuss the fruits of our childhood, our thoughts about the cultural impacts of eating and sharing fruit with other people, and why we love it so damn much. It's one of the sweetest journeys on the podcast so far! View the...2022-03-1558 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyLooky Here, Partner, It's Our First Time Talkin' About the Rodeo!Grab your boots and lassos, we're doing a deep(ish) dive into the history and culture of the rodeo. Along the way, we discuss the major rodeo events, where cowboys come from, how capitalism ruins everything, and how much money it would take to get us on the back of a bull. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. As always, thank you for listening! If you're really into the podcast, please leave us a review. And if you're REALLY into it, please feel free to share on social media and...2022-03-081h 06

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyFiguring Out Fashion: Aloha ShirtsThis week, Brendan's curiosity about our favorite type of shirt leads us to a discussion on the history of Hawai'i and the colonization of the Hawaiian islands. We also discuss East Asian immigration to the islands, the "Boogaloo Boys," the reasons fashion designers really suck sometimes, why these shirts are having a bit of a renaissance right now, and lots of other stuff in between. Quick disclaimer: there is a slight sound problem at the 43 minute mark for about 60 seconds. You can still hear our voices just fine, but we wanted to make y'all aware of the...2022-03-0150 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyJames Bond: The Scab Who Shagged Us AllOn this week's episode, Stef's research into what James Bond actually does for a living yielded some pretty surprising results about the West's favorite spy. We also discuss Ian Fleming's general weirdness, Dominican diplomats, American and British geopolitics, JFK's final thoughts, why some people simply don't deserve to get some, and lots of other stuff in between. You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. As always, thank you for listening!2022-02-2253 min

Fat Guy, Jacked Guy"Hi, we're Fat Guy, Jacked Guy! Welcome to Cawsville!"This week, your two favorite brothers in goof are taking on the topic of crows, ravens, and the birds of the Corvid family because, to put it simply, no one ever talks about the crows! We'll also discuss the "controversial" subject of animal and human intelligence and why we're so afraid to admit that birds might just be a little smarter than us. Watch 007 (the bird) solve that meat puzzle! You can find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. As always, thank you for listening!2022-02-1547 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyWhat Do You Do With 2 Podcast Hosts Talking About Irish Sea Shanties?...Obviously, you listen to them talk about the reasons sailors sang shanties in the first place. Digressions include discussions on how bad it sucks to have to sell your labor, the self-sustaining economics of port life, how Brendan wants to beat up "big brothers," how easy it is to write a Tall Tale, and so many things in between. Here are some recorded versions of the shanties mentioned in the episode: "Drunken Sailor" "Paddy, Get Back" "Big, Strong Man" "All For Me Grog" You c...2022-02-0848 min

Fat Guy, Jacked GuyThe Only Things You Remember from "Wild, Wild West" (1999)......if you remember anything from Wild, Wild West (1999). We talk inventions, Jon Peters's weird demands, and the fact that no one ever mentions the real causes of the Civil War in this movie that is centered around...the fact that the South lost the Civil War. If you'd like to view the slideshow Stef created for the episode, please check it out here. You find Stef on the web here and Brendan here. Thanks for listening!2022-02-0148 min