Mini Oven 54: We start with a good laugh as Mario puts Franco on the spot, asking for his advice on recession-proof stocks and how to counteract the effects of Trump’s tariffs. We’re not that kind of show…

What’s cookin’ in The Oven today:

- They’ve revived the Dire Wolf, with that said, which animals would you bring back from extinction? Shoutout to THE Ray Romano, Woolly Mammoth, Carrier Pigeon, Hedwig, Sea Cow, Dodo Bird, Megalodon, Dinosaurs (did they really exist?), Woolly Rhinoceros, Saber-Toothed Tiger, & the Barbary Lion. 
- The Oven is going to Tuscany?
- Which animal do you wish they replaced with the Dire Wolf? Mario is quick to say rats, or all rodents, and snakes. But Franco warns him that’s not a great idea and he should learn from Bryce Mitchell’s mistakes. He even says we shouldn’t kill spiders either because they help control other insect populations. Wait, Geese & Swans have teeth?! Franco’s getting rid of them first. 
- Baseball season’s here and Mario wants to know Franco’s favorite Sunflower Seed flavors. We love Chinook Seedery & David Seeds. 
- Which movies have the best soundtracks? Coach Carter, A Night at the Roxbury, The Hangover, Get Him to the Greek, Never Back Down, The Longest Yard, Kong: Skull Island, Shrek, & High School Musical. How about Adam Sandler’s decline?
- Apparently, Rob was a very talented singer in High School. He was in All County Chorus and NYSSMA. Franco vents about our old chorus teacher, Mrs. Conte.
- La Aroma de Cuba, hit us up! Mario loves their “El Jefe” & “Immensa” cigars & we wish they’d answer our DMs and emails. 
- On Hinge, we have to compete with the hot guys and now ugly guys too?! Mario’s ability to look in and out of shape at the same time & his upcoming trip to Scottsdale. Should he delete Snapchat? 
- Shoutout to Eric at Ridgewood Station Tavern: We never saw this Osama bin Laden 9/11 question coming…
- What kind of travelers annoy you? Hogging the armrest, leaning your seat back, & bringing a meal on a flight, FaceTiming in public without headphones, traveling in sandals or flip flops, eating halal on the train, bogging down the moving walkway, and taking up too much overhead space. 

#funny #viralvideo #travel #podcast #movies 

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Mini Oven 53: Mario opens up with a funny story involving Franco and his truck. Then we talk about our new camera set up while Franco bashes Mario’s gray sweatpants, hairline, & SNL Season 50 hat. 

What’s cookin’ in The Oven today:

- What’s an unattractive physical feature that you find attractive? Colored hair, freckles, beauty marks, wandering eyes, lazy eyes, bangs, cankles, and a bush?!
- There’s nothing worse than… sweating after the shower, needing to poop after the shower, waking up more tired after a nap, getting your food last, forgetting to put your phone on do not disturb, biting into rotten sunflower seeds, failing to put bed sheets on, getting stuck behind a school bus, using wet bathing suits, socks, or blankets, and not dressing warm enough. 
- Mario & Rob even hit us with a little “They say” involving a Nappuccino. 
- P.S. Don’t invite Franco over if you have a no shoes rule
- What are the best pasta shapes? Rigatoni, Spaghetti, Farfalle, Tortellini, Pappardelle… Miss us with the Ravioli
- Do you expect a reply when you share a Reel?
- Which are your top streaming services? We even discuss some of our favorite shows like 1923 & Silent Library 
- Do you keep leftover fast-food sauces?

#comedy #food #podcast #streaming #coffee

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We’re celebrating our 100th episode at one of our favorite spots - Ridgewood Station Tavern in Wantagh, NY. Joining us are Vinny and Tom, aka Lavish Life, your favorite country music and EDM duo. They drop a huge secret on us, sorry for the "bleeps"!

Here’s what we discuss:
⁃ How Vinny and Tom connected to form Lavish Life, and their first remix of Morgan Wallen
⁃ The delicious spread of food at Ridgewood
⁃ Sign, Feature, or Drop? Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, or Zach Bryan. Shouts to Rick Rubin.
⁃ Marry, One Night, or Ghost? Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, or Carrie Underwood
⁃ In honor of The Summer of ‘99 and Beyond Festival: Creed or Nickelback? What is Grunge music?
⁃ If you could only listen to one genre of music, which would it be? Tom’s baseball career got him into country. Which songs are must-haves for a batting practice playlist? What would your walk-up song be?
⁃ What have they learned from Post Malone’s ability to move from genre to genre?
⁃ The respect for Country music, its growth, and its ability to stay traditional but also move towards contemporary. Mario’s experience seeing George Strait perform All My Exes Live in Texas live. 
⁃ An embarrassing karaoke story
⁃ What drove them to mix country music and EDM? Their remix of “Last Night”. Do they like the term YeeDM? They consider themselves the Country Chainsmokers. & Shoutout to Country Swag. 
⁃ Stories from their shows at EDC in Vegas with Tiesto, Martin Garrix, & DJ Snake’s manager
⁃ Their creative process: What comes first? The beat or the lyrics?
⁃ Having Italian parents & telling your parents you’re chasing your dream instead of taking the “safe” route. Taking criticism from friends who don’t support or believe in you. Life is short, do what excites you. 
⁃ What’s one NYC, Long Island, or Nashville backdrop they’d want for a set? From the Hamptons, Pirate’s Cove, Jones Beach Theater, Aldean’s, MSG, The Paramount & Gavin DeGraw, they’re all over the place with this one. 
⁃ What’s their secret sauce for success?
⁃ Is it “on Long Island” or “in Long Island” and is Westchester “Upstate”?
⁃ Their upcoming single “Nobody but You” with Brody Clementi
⁃ Their respect and admiration for Jimi Hendrix & Derek Jeter

#funny #music #podcast #edm #country 

Franco is taken back by Mario’s getup before they sit down with former MLB catcher and World Series Champion, Pat Cantwell. 

Here’s what we discuss:

• Why did Mario and Pat choose catching?
• Is catching the hardest position in all of sports? or is it hockey goalie?
• The challenges of playing during the COVID pandemic
• Winning a World Series with the Texas Rangers beside his former college teammate Travis Jankowski - Shoutout Stony Brook!
• Choosing to play college baseball for Coach Matt Senk at Stony Brook University was the best decision Pat ever made
• The best advice Pat received at Stony Brook
• Our favorite ballparks: Alex Box Stadium and the fans at LSU & Oriole Park at Camden Yards
• What it’s like catching Jacob deGrom’s and Aroldis Chapman’s slider
• The toughest pitchers he’s faced: Ranger Suarez & Lance McCullers Jr.
• The MLB’s new rules, mainly the pick-off rule (disengagement rule). It doesn’t seem to be affecting catchers, like Freddy Fermin & Logan O’Hoppe. 
• We don’t see many guys like Greg Maddux & Kyle Hendricks in the game anymore - Does Pat believe in analytics?
• Pat’s most outlandish mound visit story involving a pitcher who blacked out and almost puked at the University of North Carolina
• Our top 5 catchers of all time: Yadier Molina, Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Iván “Pudge” Rodriguez, & Buster Posey…. Forget Franco, we’re leaving out Mike Piazza and Salvador Pérez, but Jorge Posada and Joe Gerardi have our hearts. What about Javy López?
• Woodz Custom Baseball Gloves, Nike Huarache Cleats, Omaha & Nike Baseball Bats, & Franco’s 3 NCAA no-hitters
• Some more of Pat’s favorite places to play: T-Mobile Park, Myrtle Beach, Frisco, Round Rock & Buffalo
• Who has/had the best walk-up songs? deGrom, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mariano Rivera, Bryson Stott & CC Sabathia
• Big League Chew, Gatorade flavors, Chinook Sunflower Seeds, the best clubhouse snacks, & the best mascot… Mr. Met? Phillie Phanatic?
• Pat wishes he could catch a bullpen for Nolan Ryan… we still love Robin Ventura though…

#funny #podcast #mlb #baseball

Mini Oven #52: Mario and Franco are back to debate the biggest questions of our time: Is Jason Kelce officially the better Kelce? Does playing tag count as a real sport? And most importantly, could you safely land a Boeing 747 if both pilots collapsed mid-flight?

We also dive into:
- Juan Soto shutting down a heckler in the best way possible
- The growing war between "real" sports and backyard games (Pickleball, we're looking at you)
- The absolute chaos of Power Slap—is it a sport or just sanctioned masochism?
- The warning labels we should all come with (Franco's is definitely "Will call you five seconds after he texts you")
- The ultimate childhood throwback—what song instantly takes you back?

And yes, we answer the age-old question: If Franco was on his deathbed, what would Mario ask him?

In the end, Mario decides to go on a rant about Ozempic, its downsides, and how it is depleting the slim thick population.

Make sure to like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star review if you're feeling generous (or if you just want to help us win the podcasting equivalent of a backyard bocce tournament).

#JasonKelce #Pickleball #JuanSoto #PowerSlap #Podcast #SportsDebate #LandingAPlane

Mini Oven #51: The episode begins with us arguing over whether or not Mario can sit so comfortably while he wears those gray sweatpants. Franco is tired of looking at certain parts of Mario’s body while he makes clips of their episodes. He pleads with Mario to stop wearing gray sweatpants

Then, we showcase our new 3D printed gifts from Drake aka ProjectTrill over at PT Studios. Franco has a good laugh as Mario struggles to guess what a particular item is called.

Piggybacking off of our last episode, we jump into lies our parents told us. But the conversation gets interrupted by Mario’s stutter and the fact he’s struggling after giving up coffee for lent. Franco hasn’t given anything up but shares a personal story about Uncrustables.

Back to the lies, Franco’s ice cream man didn’t actually have bugs and, as a kid, his Mom was unavailable after 8pm. Mario shares why he never got into the habit of biting his nails, what his Dad thought about driving with the lights on, how he feels about scrambled eggs on an egg sandwich, and why he hates thin sliced cold cuts.

Next, Franco says he was speaking with a reputable doctor before he’s rudely interrupted by Mario hocking a loogey on set. This disgusts everyone in the room and the ruckus continues for a few minutes until Phyllis helps clean up.

After the chaos, Franco explains that the doctor warned him about the dangers of Monkeypox in NYC. Franco thought he could pick Mario’s brain about this and Chickenpox, since Mario is always talking about how he used to work in the healthcare field, but Mario brings nothing to the table other than a third nipple and ignorance with this one.

Last question - Mario wants Franco to build his best baseball player based on arm strength, speed, contact, power, and IQ. Mario requests Franco utilizes the individual skills of current MLB players to build this juggernaut player. Franco decides to go with Elly De La Cruz, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Luis Arráez, & former Long Island Titan, Ramon Laureano. Unfortunately, Mario showcases his lack of knowledge when it comes to baseball and mixes up Vladimir Guerrero with Vladdy Jr. Rob gives his blessing to this list, before Franco & Mario heckle him about Francisco Lindor & Juan Soto.

Of course, Franco squeezes one more in and asks Mario where one place is he wouldn’t let his girl go for her Bachelorette party. Nashville, Fort Lauderdale & Mario’s toxicity - all getting called out in this one.

Mario and Franco dive into a mouthwatering conversation with Don Donneruno, better known as The Cake Don. Broadcasting from his iconic cupcake shop in Huntington, NY, they discuss Don’s incredible journey from an office job to becoming a cake artist and entrepreneur. He shares how a single cake post changed his life, the power of perseverance, and how social media plays a crucial role in creative success. Don even promotes Alex Hormozi's style of collaboration.

We have a couple of laughs as we discuss topics from baseball rivalries, viral divorce cakes, to the quirks of sports fandom. Don makes a bold prediction about the artist Devon Rodriguez - hint, it has something to do with the President of the United States. Speaking of POTUS, Mario shares how an online troll used Donald Trump's recent tariffs to throw shade at The Oven Podcast. We even talk about the power of social media trends, turning online hate into merch-worthy moments, and the secret to pushing through creative blocks. Plus, we dive into the age-old debate—can you ever switch your favorite sports team? Mario credits Tino Martinez for the reason he's a Yankee fan and Don shares a story about a time he made a cake for Tino. And of course, we taste-test some delicious cupcakes live on air.

From the highs and lows of restaurant reviews to the power of branding in a digital world, we explore what it means to adapt and thrive in today's landscape. We also share our takes on viral Yelp reviews, AI-powered cake designs, and the future of content creation.

The age-old debate: Is Queens part of Long Island? The back-and-forth banter sets the stage for a discussion filled with nostalgia, food memories, and the love of local culture. From reminiscing about childhood trips to Jones Beach and deli sandwiches to discussing the best beach destinations, we share our personal experiences growing up in and around New York.

We also explore the deep connection between food and memory—what would a Long Island-themed cake look like? A beach-themed cake with all the iconic food spots? Don shares his vision, tying in personal moments that shaped his love for baking.

The conversation then takes a turn towards adventure, with Franco's firsthand account of playing baseball in Australia - from moving to a foreign country alone to convincing Australian kids to trade cricket for baseball.

But perhaps the most inspiring moment of this episode is the incredible full-circle story of making a cake for Alex & Steve Cohen, the owners of the New York Mets. What started as a seemingly impossible dream turned into a friendship and an experience that reaffirms the idea that the universe has a way of aligning things when you put good energy into the world.

As the episode wraps up, we emphasize the importance of checking in on your friends—especially the ones who seem the strongest. A simple call, a meal, or a conversation can make all the difference. Whether it's talking about Anthony Bourdain’s influence or sharing a laugh over inside jokes, we leave with a powerful reminder: kindness and connection matter.

Chef, DJ, Social Media Guru, and creator of Hug The Chef, Al Fenza, sits down with us and shares his outlook on life, good vibes, and scaring the Devil. He thinks “Life is Beautiful” is an unbelievable movie and believes that movie is a state of mind. In his eyes, the most gangster thing in the world is being a family man. 

Then, he explains the difference between the overly judgmental New York Italians vs the Italians from the Motherland. He hates the word “influencer”?! He also has a lot to say about the haters and issues he’s had with certain Long Island restaurant owners. Franco asks Al about his time in culinary school under the iconic French Chef, Jacques Pépin, and Al shares a hysterical story about a time Jacques caught him cheating. 

Al opens up about smoking and shares the lack of understanding his parents had about it growing up. He also admits he’s addicted to Matthew McConaughey’s tuna salad. But, he’s all about balance and strives to eat mainly organic foods. 

Time for the best of the best - Al shares his favorite spots for burgers, tacos, & egg sandwiches. Leading into a time where Al forgot where he was and the current plane accident crisis in the world right now. Back to the bests, who wants Italian? Al thinks there's a pizza problem on Long Island. Franco asks what’s one smell that brings Al back to his childhood, and we were not expecting his answer. Back to the kitchen, Al shares a dramatic and humorous story about a wild experience he had with a client. 

Wait a minute, Al’s Grandma bought Pamela Anderson’s infamous tape?… Then a conversation about unsolicited pictures leads us into a seat at Al Fenza’s Chef Table, where food pairs with music. 

The pace changes as we talk about Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at the Super Bowl - Al compares it to the Art of War. Somehow, Drake then Compton leads to Al reminiscing about his Grandma. From there, Al vents about agencies, influencers, paying for followers, social media engagement, and separating the real from the frauds. He even fills us in on what’s going to be the new foot fetish - big girls eating. We also discuss the meaning of securing the bag and how some lack the work ethic to make it happen. 

Later, Al shares his experiences from selling hummus in Montauk and what he learned about Johnny Depp. He also talks about Leonardo DiCaprio’s relationship with fans. Next, Al admits which city he believes has the best food. He chats about his appreciation for Taylor Swift & Insane Clown Posse. Finally, Al talks about his dream dinner guests, Elvis Presley & Walt Disney. “Haters just wanna be your friend” - Al Fenza.

Mini Oven # 50
We start off with shouting out our guests on set, Kristen of New Yawk Bites & Giuliana. Then, we talk about our experiences at Gregory's Coffee in Melville and share our favorites, the Salted Caramel Cold Brew & the Biscotti Testarossa.
Would you rather be hunted or fished? Mario's hoping for one shot, one kill, and Franco neglects the fact that there are gators and sharks out there.
Do you let girls toss your salad? Franco doesn't even understand the phrase and immediately regrets asking once Mario discloses the meaning. Rob is quite surprised by Mario's answer and asks if he's been having bad dreams or something.
Do you pluck your nose hairs? Mario buzzes or waxes his and Franco is concerned about the hair when he gets older. Apparently, Franco can't pluck a nose hair without sneezing and says he did his research. Plucking of nose hairs can activate the trigeminal nerve leading to a sneeze. Mario also expresses his displeasure with eyebrow threading.
Do I look cute today? Franco almost slipped up here.
Should the New York Yankees change their facial hair requirements? We're in agreement with this one and it's about maintaining a standard and tradition. The athletes who truly want to be there won't care about facial hair. Mario goes off on a beard and tattoo tangent and Franco shares the Devin Williams day 1 facial hair situation with the Yankees.
When is it too early or too late to call someone? The rules are back - Don't call Franco at 5am and Mario once again with his list of variables. Thank God Franco is growing up though.
UFC time - who wins in Seattle? Henry Cejudo or Song Yadong? This leads to a Luke Rockhold vs Chris Weidman debate and then onto Mario routinely being told he looks like Weidman.
What are some of the most under the radar foods? Key lime pie and pistachio ice cream cause a ruckus. Rob chimes in with burnt ends and Franco calls Mario an old man for saying Knish. Mario talks about his love for Burger City in East Meadow and states a knish must be eaten after your burgers, not before.
What are foods you love, but would never touch as a child? Eggplants is at the top of our list, followed by guacamole, rye bread, and Franco can't help himself and brings up pistachio ice cream again. Can't forget about Franco's love for milk either.

0:00 - Packed House & Gregory’s Coffee
1:26 - Would You Rather?
2:57 - Tossing Salad
5:37 - Nose Hairs
7:32 - Yankees Facial Hair Rule
10:18 - When is it Too Early or Late to Call?
12:11 - UFC in Seattle
13:30 - Under the Radar Foods
16:33 - Foods I’d Never Eat as a Kid, But Love Now
20:07 - Thanks For Coming
20:40 - Underdog Fantasy & Dubby Energy

Mini Oven #49: Rob is ready to talk his ish while we admire our new couch, thanks to our girl Alli. In honor of the cold weather, we start by getting into our top 3 soups and Franco isn’t convinced chowder and bisque are considered soup. Then, Franco is not happy with Mario’s take on Philly Cheesesteak versus Chopped Cheese and tells him to get cultured! Mario expresses concern regarding his cigar before an argument breaks out over Lunchables. Unfortunately, Mario has an accident, but Franco keeps the conversation rolling into Red Dye 40 & Gatorade. We then share a secret that our exes know about us and talk about our go-to hotel room bed selections. Would anyone like anything? Mario’s hoping they don’t. We welcome back Franco after he missed Chef Eric LeVine’s episode. What do you think about Franco’s take? Does Chef remind you of Seth Rogen? One more before we go: What’s the best side from a fast-food restaurant?