We Are Using Big Cat For Clickbait | The Yak 2-13-26
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Barstool employees, including Pat and Mikey Betts, are participating in a 'Bald Stool' trip to Turkey for hair transplants.
- ❖Francis canned a comedy special about his marriage due to its ending, making the material feel dishonest.
- ❖A planned Barstool series with Alex Bennett was scrapped after she departed the company.
- ❖The 'Anus' podcast regularly 'cans' episodes if they are deemed subpar, sometimes every other month.
- ❖Brandon Walker's social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) are managed by other Barstool employees, Katie Stats and Ebo.
- ❖Comedian Francis recounts speaking at 14 of 16 weddings he attended, often the night before, comparing it to being asked to help move because you own a truck.
- ❖Ryan Whitney has a strong public feud with Benjamin Mintz, accusing him of being inconsiderate, grifting, and lacking self-awareness.
- ❖Comedian Shane Gillis is noted for being exceptionally generous in paying his opening acts.
- ❖Connor Griffin was asked out on a 'gay date' by his barber in Chicago's 'Boytown' neighborhood.
- ❖A Barstool 'dating show' previously featured a gay man who disliked women and was subsequently banned from a local bar.
- ❖The episode concludes with a 'piss pants' challenge for Z, after a 'best of seven' wheel spin resulted in a 4-0 sweep.
Insights
1Barstool's 'Bald Stool' Initiative and the Destigmatization of Hair Transplants
Several Barstool employees, including Pat and Mikey Betts, traveled to Turkey for hair transplant procedures, part of a publicized 'Bald Stool' initiative. Francis, who had a preventative hair transplant in Boston, notes the procedure's increasing accessibility and destigmatization. Brandon Walker, however, humorously laments the loss of hair loss as a target for 'busting balls,' highlighting a shift in societal acceptance.
Pat and Mikey Betts are going to Turkey for hair transplants (). Francis had a preventative hair transplant in Boston (). Brandon Walker expresses frustration about the destigmatization of hair transplants, reducing opportunities for comedic jabs ().
2The High-Stakes World of Content Creation: Canned Projects and Unposted Work
Francis revealed he scrapped a full comedy special about his marriage and attempts to have children because his marriage ended, making the material feel dishonest. He also had a multi-episode series with Alex Bennett that was never released after she left Barstool. Kate admitted to having over a thousand fully written but unposted blogs, struggling with self-critique. The 'Anus' podcast also regularly 'cans' episodes, sometimes every other month, due to perceived low quality.
Francis canned a comedy special about his marriage and kids because his marriage ended (). He also had a series with Alex Bennett that was never released after she left (). The 'Anus' podcast cans episodes every other month (). Kate has over a thousand unposted blogs ().
3Internal Barstool Feuds: The Ryan Whitney vs. Benjamin Mintz Dynamic
A significant point of contention within Barstool is the ongoing feud between Ryan Whitney and Benjamin Mintz. Whitney publicly criticizes Mintz for being consistently inconsiderate, grifting, and lacking self-awareness, citing examples like Mintz's airplane etiquette and ruining property. The hosts discuss how Mintz's unawareness is central to his 'charm' and how his perceived 'easy life' frustrates other hard-working employees.
Ryan Whitney's feud with Benjamin Mintz is discussed (). Whitney calls Mintz inconsiderate and a 'grifter' (). RA also rants about Mintz's airplane behavior and lack of awareness (). The hosts discuss Mintz's lack of awareness as part of his 'charm' () and how his easy life frustrates others ().
4The Comedian's Journey: From Club-Appointed Openers to Curated Shows
Francis detailed the progression of a comedian's career regarding opening acts. Initially, clubs appoint local talent, often leading to inconsistent quality or openers using the stage to hawk merchandise. As a comedian gains traction, they can demand to bring their own openers, ensuring companionship, trust, and a cohesive show that sets the stage for their act. Shane Gillis is highlighted as an exceptionally generous headliner in terms of opener pay.
Francis explains the financial struggles of early career comedians, making only a few hundred dollars net per weekend (). He describes the progression to bringing his own opener for companionship, trust, and to set the room (). Francis mentions Shane Gillis is exceptionally generous in paying his openers ().
Bottom Line
The 'Clavicle Guy' phenomenon (looks maxing, micro-dosing, bone smashing) represents a new extreme in online content creation, where individuals engage in self-destructive behaviors for aesthetic and viral appeal.
This trend highlights the increasing pressure on online personalities to push boundaries for engagement, potentially normalizing harmful practices among younger audiences seeking quick fame or perceived physical perfection.
Content platforms or mental health organizations could develop targeted campaigns or support systems to address the underlying psychological factors driving 'looks maxing' and similar extreme behaviors, fostering healthier self-image and content creation practices.
The discussion around William Howard Taft's legacy being overshadowed by the 'bathtub' story, and MLK drives being in 'bad' neighborhoods, suggests that public perception of historical figures and institutions can be inadvertently altered by seemingly minor or unrelated associations.
This indicates that branding and public relations extend beyond direct actions, as cultural anecdotes and local associations can significantly shape long-term public memory and sentiment towards individuals or entities.
Historical societies, educational institutions, or public figures could proactively manage their public image by creating compelling narratives that emphasize their core contributions, rather than allowing isolated anecdotes or negative associations to dominate their legacy.
Notable Moments
Discussion about children's freckles disappearing due to less outdoor activity, leading to a humorous debate about whether 'COVID killed freckles.'
This moment highlights a casual, observational take on societal changes and health, typical of the podcast's informal style, and sparks a relatable conversation about childhood experiences.
Brandon Walker recounts being fired twice from early jobs: once as a fall guy for stolen Pringles and once for allegedly smoking weed in a rental car he was cleaning.
These personal anecdotes reveal a more vulnerable and humorous side of Brandon, showcasing the often-absurd realities of early employment and mistaken identity.
The hosts discuss the changing landscape of wedding traditions, including the decline of gender-specific roles (best man/matron of honor), mixed-gender wedding parties, and the fading trend of elaborate wedding party entrances.
This segment offers a cultural observation on evolving social norms around marriage and celebrations, reflecting a broader shift towards more personalized and less rigid traditions.
The episode culminates in a 'piss pants' challenge, where Z is forced to urinate in his pants on camera after losing a 'best of seven' wheel spin.
This extreme and absurd segment is a signature 'Yak' moment, demonstrating the show's commitment to unscripted, often shocking, entertainment and its willingness to push boundaries for comedic effect, reinforcing its unique brand identity.
Quotes
"I was born into a lot of problems body-wise. My ears are misshapen. My torso is odd. I look like a potato. But this luscious head of hair is a blessing. And that's the one I'm going to ride to my death."
"I do feel like losing a way to make fun of somebody or busting their balls is is kind of we're losing a part of us."
"The first 40 years of your life you spend gaining friends and then the last 40 years of your life you spend losing them."
"Mint, I'm just somebody that will actually call you out cuz all these bar stool goons, they just laugh at him and they're not laughing with them. They're laughing right at him, right?"
"His entire existence is being a bad guy and he's unaware."
"I get asked out by gay men so frequently that I would never tell anyone."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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