​"You have to let it fester."
​Welcome back to a heavy-hitting episode from the Best of the Last Year of Radio series. Opie is joined in-studio by the late, great Carl Ruiz and the hilarious Sherrod Small and boxing legend Gerry Cooney for a session that perfectly captures the raw, unfiltered chemistry of this era.
​We’re diving deep into the archives to bring you the stories that defined the "Last Year." From the absurdity of bringing a gaming console to a Vegas bachelor party to the "Jedi Mind Trick" Carl used to navigate the world of high-end strip clubs, nothing is off-limits.
​
Inside this episode:
​The Vegas Chronicles: Strip club etiquette, "Legs and Eggs," and the mystery of the bachelor party Xbox.
​Culinary Hot Takes: Why Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn is the only steakhouse that matters and the guys' definitive review of Pringle-crusted fried chicken.
​Family Dynamics: The infamous strategy of skipping Mother's Day calls to "let it fester" and Carl’s son's legendary performance as a "wall and a tree" in a school play.
​Hard Truths: The guys react to an Army Veteran being done dirty by a funeral home and Carl breaks down the high-stakes world of stolen luxury watches.
​Nostalgia: A rare mention of Opie and Anthony grabbing a beer and the "fist in the mouth" nerd fight that nearly derailed the show.
​Stop the scroll and hit subscribe as we keep the spirit of real radio alive in 2026.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Stacy shows up with enough booze and Benton’s ham to start a small war, Vic gets emotional over Alabama barbecue, Carl nearly throws hands over ice-cream sandwiches, and the whole studio turns into a drunken food orgy while they roast Comey, Putin’s hockey goals, Little People Big World drama, and every TV personality they hate. Pure chaos. Bring a napkin… and maybe a designated driver.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Carl’s off playing Food Network star, so Opie ditches Manhattan for a sweaty Brooklyn stroll with Chris Distefano… and immediately runs into Yannis. What follows is pure chaos: $8 smoothie flirting, American-flag purity tests, limp-dick philosophy, haunted Long Island death houses, sage-vs-ghosts debates, and a pilgrimage to an actual mobbed-up barber shop while everyone’s dripping sweat and questioning their ancestry. History Hyenas energy, zero chill.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Opie survives 2.5 hours of traffic hell, nearly pees in a Gatorade bottle, and storms Chris Distefano’s brand-new (completely empty, aggressively gray) Bay Ridge apartment. Cue the classic Islanders edible meltdown story, a smoothie-shop flirt mission, a judge-roasting speeding-ticket lie, fire-escape paranoia, and a neighborhood stroll that somehow involves Chinese soup, Revolutionary War graves, and Yannis. Pure chaos. Pure Bay Ridge.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Stacy brought in the moonshine, so you know things got off the rails fast. Opie joined by the legendary Carl Ruiz, Vic Henley, and Sherrod Small for an afternoon of pure, unfiltered comedy.​We’re drinking "shine," laughing our asses off, and roasting each other as only we can. From Vic losing his wallet, Opie can sh*t anywhere, Carl says India sucksr and Opie's WILD Fraternity stories, this is the crew at their absolute best—raw, loud, and incredibly funny. Grab a drink and hang out with us.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

A heartfelt tribute to Gary of Ubon's Barbecue, the legendary pitmaster, storyteller, and friend of the show. Hear his hilarious jokes, wild stories, and that unforgettable blues singing. The comedy world lost a real one. 


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Carl Ruiz is forced to drive 17 hours to Memphis with the wife and kids (thanks, Roland), plans to buy a CB radio with a giant whip antenna… all while Opie, Sherrod, and E-Rock lose their minds. Plus Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire drops in live. Pure chaos.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Opie finally tracks down a missing Carl Ruiz, who's been off the grid for days in Miami — no phone, living like it's 1988, drinking champagne, driving a rented Ferrari in a Hulk Hogan shirt and clogs. Pure chaos, wild stories, and a heartfelt tribute to their late friend Gary from Ubon's Barbecue. Classic Opie & Carl.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

Dr. Ian Smith joins Opie, Chef Carl Ruiz and comedian Mark Normand. Carl casually destroys an insane amount of sugar on air — Reese’s, cookies, Hawaiian Punch, fruit snacks, and more — while the doctor breaks down exactly what it’s doing to his body.Carl explains his “live every day like you won the lottery” philosophy after watching his super-healthy dad get hit with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 62. The conversation gets real about sugar addiction, school lunches, food deserts, pre-diabetes, and how the food industry engineers the “bliss point” to keep you hooked.Topics covered:

• How much sugar the average American actually eats
• Why Carl refuses to “save for the future”
• Hidden sugar in “healthy” foods (yogurt, ketchup, vitamin water, etc.)
• School food industry corruption
• Sugar withdrawal horror stories
• Keto, artificial sweeteners, and realistic ways to cut back

Featuring: Dr. Ian Smith (author of Blast the Sugar Out), Carl Ruiz. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t stop eating sugar… this is it. )Drop a like if Carl’s snack pile stressed you out

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.

​It is one of the most surreal and unbelievable moments in rock history. Opie and Chef Carl Ruiz look back at the legendary jam band patriarch, Colonel Bruce Hampton.
​During his star-studded 70th birthday concert, the Colonel collapsed on stage during the final encore. Because of his notorious history of onstage pranks, the musicians kept right on jamming and the crowd kept dancing, completely convinced it was all part of the act. We dive into the shocking footage, the confusion of that night, and the wild legacy of a music icon who truly died doing what he loved.
​Follow the show: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/opie-carl--6679362/support.