Stand Up Scuttlebutt

You saved the money. You booked the trip. You just want five days without nonsense. So why is some guy named Todd up at 6:03 AM claiming four pool chairs with towels?

This week, Rick kicks things off with a proclamation: Resort chair-saving is not just annoying — it’s a moral failure. For those who are simply trying to escape the daily grind, nothing says “relaxation” like fighting territorial warfare over a chaise lounge.

Evan introduces “OK or Not OK?” and puts vacation behavior on trial with five scenarios that will absolutely divide the room.

Then, Liz takes us into the deep dive on “Vacation Brain” — the idea that when people travel, courtesy checks out before the luggage does. Is vacation brain a real mental shift or is it just entitlement with a boarding pass?

This week's episode is brought to you by APC Pest Control and Royal Pizza!

Improv instructor and actor Jared Todd Littlejohn joins Rick to break down why improv comedy is so entertaining—and why its lessons matter way beyond the stage. From truly listening to trusting your instincts, Jared explains what makes improv work when it’s done right.

The conversation also covers his work using improv for team building with the Boston Celtics, how collaboration beats ego every time, and why being a positive, uplifting presence is an intentional choice—especially when negativity feels like the default setting.

No yelling. No outrage. Just laughs, insight, and a reminder that “Yes, and…” might be the most useful mindset we’ve got right now.

Rick is joined by Boston-area comic and neighbor Kathe Farris for an episode that perfectly sums up New England living at its finest. They kick things off with the New England Patriots heading to another Super Bowl and how casually cool it is to live near the stadium—especially when a flyover rattles your house.

They recap the blizzard and their wildly different survival strategies: Kathe did the responsible thing—stocked up, shoveled, and stayed warm—while Rick opted to sleep outside under a tarp next to a fire like a man auditioning for a show on the History Channel.

Then they dig into doing comedy later in life, how it compares to the younger crowd coming up now, and why experience beats chasing trends every time.

In the second half, Kathe unveils the latest creations from her Go Cork Yourself collection—hand-painted corks featuring everyone from John Cena to Eleanor Roosevelt to David Hasselhoff. You’re going to want one. Possibly several.

Rick flies solo this week and tackles one of comedy’s newest identity crises: when did Instagram followers become a stage credit? Comics and content creators may both be performance artists, but they are not the same thing — and Rick breaks down why that distinction matters.

He also reacts to the supportive and mean-spirited comments sparked by his viral post about the New England Patriots stepping in to avenge the Bills’ loss in Denver, because nothing unites the internet like football and misplaced confidence.

Then it’s listener email time. Rick weighs in on when Christmas lights officially cross from “festive” to “concerning,” how to navigate modern outrage without losing your mind, and whether we’ve become just a little too dependent on tech to function as adults.

In the second half, Rick runs through the headlines that are grinding people’s gears and delivers his signature hot takes — common sense, no panic, minimal pearl-clutching.

It’s the heart of a New England winter, so Rick, Liz, and Evan talk about the real, practical ways people keep themselves sane when it’s dark, cold, and relentless. Whether it’s staying active, leaning into competition, or just finding small daily rituals that make winter feel survivable, they break down how different personalities handle seasonal affect disorder without losing their minds.

Then they dig into a viral post from a dad who admits he hates playing with his kids—is that an uncomfortable truth a lot of parents relate to, or a line that shouldn’t be crossed? And finally, they debate the growing pushback against Dry January and make the case for doing the opposite just to keep a social life alive through the winter.

Rick is sidelined with the dreaded man cold, so Liz and Evan take the wheel and ease everyone back into reality after a long Christmas break. They cover the emotional whiplash of re-entering responsibilities, renewed hope around the Patriots, early excitement over Drake Maye, and the unsung heroism of a wife who bakes like a champion while surviving New England winters. Then it’s rapid-fire time with a few speed rounds of Know Your Podcast Host, where things get revealing… and possibly concerning.

Rick goes one-on-one with Melissa Rush, a Boston-based stand-up comedian, for a candid conversation about comedy, ADHD, and modern adulthood. They discuss living with ADHD—and whether it’s a disability or a superpower—dating after divorce, and the realities of promoting stand-up comedy on social media.

Rick and Melissa also talk comedy in and around Boston, reflect on college life in the 1990s, and share personal takeaways from the events and cultural shifts of 2025. Honest, funny, and relatable, this episode is a grounded look at comedy, focus, and figuring things out as you go.

Rick goes one-on-one with comedy buddy Mike O’Brien, a man who somehow balances three full-time identities: stand-up comic, Boston Duck Boats tour guide, and the go-to “guy on the street” anytime a local TV news crew needs a quote right now. If there’s a microphone within 50 feet in Boston, Mike has opinions—and he’s not afraid to share them.

The guys dig into the real issues facing society today, like bathrooms in Boston, proper men’s room etiquette, the logic (or lack thereof) behind all-gender bathroom designations, and—naturally—their personal rankings of the city’s best places to pee. From there, the conversation shifts to the ever-growing pressure for comics to crank out Instagram content just to stay relevant. Is posting clips basically a stage credit now? They debate.

They also kick around future-planning fantasies—living off-grid versus staying planted in the city—sprinkle in some Boston sports talk, and unload a few hot takes on phone apps they love, hate, and absolutely refuse to learn. It’s a classic Scuttlebutt episode: comedy, common sense, and way too much thought put into bathrooms.

We kick things off with Liz doing her absolute best to maintain composure while telling a story about beavers—yes, the animal—and failing spectacularly. Immaturity levels are high early.

Then Rick and Evan break down (and role-play) a very real email exchange between Rick and the corporate real estate company he leases office space from. There’s a late fee, a request for accountability, and a firm refusal to budge. Is Rick right to push back, or is this just the cost of dealing with “the system”? You decide.

In the second half, Liz brings an AITA submission from a dad who’s not thrilled with his wife’s insistence that their daughter’s boyfriend pay for everything. Chivalry, expectations, and what we’re actually teaching kids—all up for debate.

Small problems. Big reactions. And at least one conversation that probably didn’t need to happen… but did anyway.

Rick kicks off the show with his annual adventure: attempting to buy his wife the perfect birthday gift. He and Evan both admit that surprising their wives is statistically impossible, emotionally hazardous, and spiritually defeating. Liz assures them this is universal—her husband can’t pull it off either.

Then the gang dives into the national meltdown over the new Pantone Color of the Year. Why is everyone suddenly triggered by… a shade? It’s just a color, not a geopolitical threat. But as always, Small Town Scuttlebutt is here to react to the overreactions—one hue-induced panic attack at a time.