After a two-week hiatus, Greg and Josh kick off 2026 with spilled beer and an uninvited guest (Ruby the Golden Retriever). This hour-plus deep dive covers everything from the shrinking St. Louis craft beer scene and local tornado recovery to the 1986 pop culture peaks and the final verdict on the Stranger Things finale.

What’s on Tap

The Beer: No Problem IPA – Friendship Brewing Company. A 7.7% Hazy IPA that’s citrus-forward with major nostalgic “High C” vibes.

The Deep Dive: Discussing the Closed for Storm documentary (Jazzland/New Orleans) and the parallels to the ongoing recovery in St. Louis’s Delmar neighborhood.

The “Beta” Life

Suspended Terror: Josh recounts taking the nephews to the Union Station Rope Course. A bargain at $12.50, even if it feels like a near-death experience.

Snack Test: Premium Beef Jerky with Old Bay seasoning.

New Discoveries: Why we are suddenly into shuffleboard.

Pop Culture & Nostalgia

1986 Rewind: Reminiscing about Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the release of the Beastie Boys’ License to Ill.

Connect with Stuck in Beta

This week, Greg and Josh celebrate the holidays with Alpha Brewing Company’s He-Man-themed “I Have The Sipster” APA. Greg stresses over his ambitious plan to bake thirteen different types of cookies (plus peanut brittle!) while trying to keep his kitchen—and his kids—under control. The guys also recount a legendary trip to St. Louis icon Crown Candy Kitchen for a BLT the size of a brick and a milkshake that defies physics.

Plus: A disappointing salted caramel chip tasting, essential table saw safety tips to keep your fingers attached, and the definitive Top 5 Christmas Songs playlist (featuring Run DMC and Wham!).

Soda Wars, Crazy Drivers, and the Toys We Never Got!

Greg and Josh break tradition this week by swapping their usual craft beers for a blind taste test of holiday cranberry sodas! The guys discuss the shocking price of stadium beers, reminisce about their 30-year “Guys’ Night Out” tradition, and recount a chaotic encounter with an unhinged driver.

Also on the show: A deep dive into the “Top 5 Toys We Never Got” (featuring He-Man and Optimus Prime), a review of limited-edition White Fudge Oreos, and a candid look at their recent DIY projects—including a lighting upgrade that takes the basement from “boobs to cans.”

UPS Mishaps, Christmas Beer, and the Grinch Meal

Join Greg and Josh this week as they dive into the holiday madness and tackle the big questions: Is the McDonald’s Grinch Meal worth it? (Spoiler: It involves dill pickle seasoning!) And who keeps stealing their porch snacks without dropping off the packages? The guys break down the hilarious security footage!

Also on the menu: A review of Schlafly Christmas Ale and a segment on their DIY channel, How to Fix It Workshop, revealing their upcoming projects. Get ready for a dose of festive fun and their unique perspectives on life’s little absurdities!

Vintage Stouts, Holy Beer, and Spicy Meat!

Join Greg and Josh as they dive into the holiday spirit with a five-year-old Bourbon County Stout (if it hasn’t expired yet!) and discuss whether Goose Island’s anniversary beer gets better with age. They try Jack Link’s intriguing Mango Jalapeño Beef Jerky, discuss the surprising news that Rogue Ales is closing its doors after 37 years, and cover the controversy around Pope Francis receiving a Chicago beer. The main event? Your hosts reveal their Top 5 Winter Drinks you need to warm up right now! Plus, hear their takes on the wild new season of The Chair Company.

Busted Turntables, Hot Honey Chips, and Voltron Beer!

Join Greg and Josh for an episode packed with holiday cheer, beer reviews, and auto repair! The guys discuss their Friendsgiving leftovers, the ongoing saga of repairing Greg’s vintage turntable, and the surprising deliciousness of Mike’s Hot Honey chips. Plus, they dive deep into 4 Hands Brewing’s Voltron IPA series, debate the best Thanksgiving TV specials (including the famous Charlie Brown feast), and reveal the secret lives of classic action figures like Voltron. Get ready for some great laughs and even better debate!

Is Thanksgiving dinner better on a pizza? Greg and Josh put DiGiorno’s limited-edition Thanksgiving Pizza to the test—complete with roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans, crispy onions, and a gravy drizzle on Detroit-style crust. The flavor combo impresses them more than expected, but the turkey texture? Not so much. Still, this holiday experiment earns a shockingly solid B+ and inspires ideas for making your own leftover-Thanksgiving pizza at home.

The feast continues with a review of Bell’s Red Hearted IPA, courtesy of Greg’s neighbor Bobby. With pine, citrus, and caramel notes, it scores an easy A from both hosts. From there, the debate begins: When is it socially acceptable to start playing Christmas music? And is canned cranberry jelly the superior form?

Post-Halloween decorating dilemmas lead into talk of Gremlins 3 rumors, vintage turntable restoration problems, and the mysterious reason their workshop videos blow up months after posting.

In this episode:

DiGiorno Thanksgiving Pizza taste test

Tune in to “Pizzagiving” for holiday hype, weird snacks, craft beer, and classic Stuck in Beta chaos.

A childhood urban legend comes back to life when Greg hears a branch snap during a solo hike — and instantly remembers the terrifying tale of a crossbow-wielding boy said to roam the woods. Some fears, it seems, never fade.

This week, Greg and Josh dive into October nostalgia, swapping spooky childhood stories and reliving the thrills that once kept them awake at night. From the lost art of real trick-or-treating to today’s “Trunk or Treat” events, the hosts explore how Halloween has evolved — all while sampling Michigan’s Ore Dock Porter, New Belgium’s fiery Atomic Pumpkin ale, and the Takis Zombie chips, a strange mix of habanero heat and sour cucumber that neither host plans to revisit anytime soon.

Between laughs and goosebumps, they reflect on the simple joys of evening dog walks, a heartbreaking roadside moment, and the satisfaction of restoring a vintage Magnavox turntable cabinet.

Greg and Josh are feeling the pinch in this week’s Stuck in Beta Podcast. From $100 surprises at Lowe’s to cable companies that treat “new customers” better than loyal ones, the guys unleash some well-earned rants about the everyday expenses that drive us all crazy.

They swap customer service horror stories — including a cashier too busy texting to notice a $75 overcharge — and share a clever hack for beating Spectrum’s price games: cancel, re-sign, and save.

Halloween season brings a lighter mood (and maybe a sugar rush) with a brutally honest taste test of Angry Orchard’s Thriller Pack, featuring Sinful Apple, Berry Bewitched, and Headless Pumpkin. The guys also chat family fun with Girl Scout badges, Home Depot workshops, and Halloween decoration repairs that put their DIY skills to the test.

Whether you’ve battled bad customer service, overpaid for internet, or just love a good fall cider review, this episode delivers relatable laughs and real-life gripes — with a seasonal twist.

What happens when a pilot gets kidney stones mid-flight? Josh’s Montana vacation takes a terrifying turn in this week’s episode of Stuck in Beta Podcast. From the breathtaking beauty of Glacier National Park to the chaos of flight delays and medical mayhem, Greg and Josh unpack a trip full of highs, lows, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Between tales of Big Sky Country adventures and unexpected turbulence, the duo samples Four Hands Brewing’s Schnucktoberfest lager — lighter, hoppier, and more divisive than they expected. Add in a debate over Everclear vs. Tropidelic concerts, some highly questionable Pringles Mingles, and a look ahead to Halloween prep and horror-movie marathons, and you’ve got an episode overflowing with fall flavor.

From gassy dogs to DIY animatronic skeletons, the guys prove once again that everyday misadventures make for the best stories.

Whether you’re into travel tales, craft beer reviews, or Halloween nostalgia, tune in for an entertaining mix of turbulence, tunes, and tasty brews.