Rick opens the show with a confession: he’s crossed the 200-pound line, and that’s the point where something has to change. For Gen X guys balancing work, family, and a slowing metabolism, the dad bod can sneak up quickly—and sticking to a plan is easier said than done.
Evan follows with “Fat Guy Science,” presenting five tough decisions every middle-aged guy faces when trying to manage his weight.
In the second half, Liz puts Rick and Evan through a 10-question health and diet survey, evaluating their habits and determining how realistic their chances are of getting back on track.
The crew talks about why people fall off the fitness wagon, how to push past the feeling of resignation about gaining weight, and what a realistic game plan looks like.
Sponsored by APC Pest Control and Royal Pizza. 🍕💪
In this episode of Small Town Scuttlebutt, the crew dives into the ever-blurring line between comfort and basic public standards. Rick opens the show with a proclamation that’s apparently more controversial than it should be: pajamas should not be worn on airplanes. Inspired by a recent Boston Globe reader survey, the conversation explores whether showing up to a flight dressed for bed is harmless comfort or a sign that the bar for public behavior keeps getting lower.
In the mid-show segment, “Cabin Pressure,” Evan puts the group through a series of real-world scenarios that test the boundaries of airplane etiquette. From questionable wardrobe choices to in-flight habits that drive fellow passengers crazy, the crew weighs in on what’s acceptable and what should probably stay grounded.
In the second half, Liz zooms out to examine the broader trend of public etiquette slipping in everyday spaces. From small annoyances to full-blown social faux pas, the group debates whether these behaviors are just part of a more casual culture—or signs that common courtesy is quietly disappearing.
Plus: sponsor shoutouts to Winslow Design and Perez Martial Arts!
In this one-on-one episode of Small Town Scuttlebutt, Rick talks with friend, sponsor, and local business owner Rolando Perez about his family’s journey from Cuba to the United States. His family left by boat during the Castro era with $47 and the risk of being captured. Although Rolando was only two years old at the time, he shares stories passed down to him — including an uncle sentenced to five years of hard labor cutting sugar cane after a failed attempt to defect, and a grandmother arrested for selling coffee to support the family.
At a time when immigration is often discussed in negative terms, Rolando offers a different perspective. Now a grandfather and owner of a martial arts business, he reflects on his life, his family’s sacrifices, and why he believes the United States offers opportunity.
Listen for a firsthand account of perseverance, family history, and perspective.
In this one-on-one episode, Rick sits down with his friend and barber, David Ssewanyana, to hear the incredible story behind the man holding the clippers. David shares what inspired him to leave Uganda, what it actually took to become a U.S. citizen, and the sacrifices most people never see.
At a time when immigration is often reduced to headlines and hot takes, this conversation brings it back to the human level — one journey, one dream, and one hard-earned opportunity.
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.
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.
Rick and Liz return from the holiday break ready to catch up—while Evan attempts to recover from a Monday Night Football hangover. The gang dives into the late-night suburban scandal of a Ding-Dong Ditch gone wrong: When are you officially too old for this prank? And is there an appropriate, HOA-approved time window for sprinting away from someone’s front door?
Rick shares how he accidentally landed his first viral moment thanks to a Patriots fan outside Gillette Stadium who gifted the world a middle finger and a perfectly timed F-bomb. The conversation somehow spirals (as it does) into thoughts on VR porn and sex robots.
Plus, GameStop’s upcoming “Trade Anything Day” is coming. Are you ready!?
An article in the Boston Globe asks a big question: Why are so many young, ambitious women suddenly convinced a woman's natural place is in the home? Liz brings the highlights, and the gang unpacks the tension between ambition and contentment with plenty of laughs.
But first! Rick shares a text exchange with a woman from the Boston comedy scene who was outraged—outraged—that he didn’t book a single woman on his last show. What a misogynistic monster, right? Rick gives his side of the story (including the fact that he invited five women) so you can decide whether he’s the villain… or just caught in someone else’s outrage spiral.
Also, it’s Christmas time, which means one thing: you can put up your tree before Thanksgiving without society judging you. Evan’s ready, Liz has opinions, and Rick’s already tangled in lights.
All that and more on this week’s Small Town Scuttlebutt.
This week on Small Town Scuttlebutt, the gang digs into stories about neighbors who make you question humanity. One guy gets reported to the HOA because his garden looks too nice. Another woman tells her neighbor to stop looking at her dog because it makes the dog upset. Are these people real—or just suburban fever dreams? Meanwhile, Rick’s growing a mustache strictly for Instagram clout, Evan’s riding high on a spike in YouTube traffic, and Liz’s teenage son continues to redefine “misplaced priorities.” It’s judgmental, relatable, and 100% Scuttlebutt.
The gang sounds off on the latest parenting trend: birthday gift registries for kids. Is this thoughtful or just tacky consumerism wrapped in a bow? Plus, a new “New Rick vs. Old Rick” moment as he wrestles with how to handle an airline inconvenience — Zen traveler or vengeful passenger? Liz questions when it’s time for kids (and adults) to hang up the Halloween candy bag, and Evan reels in a massive fish — along with a boatload of online haters. It’s a classic mix of accountability, absurdity, and laughs from the Scuttlebutt crew.
This week on Small Town Scuttlebutt, Rick kicks things off with big news about a new comedy show he’s hosting. Then Evan dives into the NBA gambling scandal with his trademark mix of excitement and conspiracy. Finally, Liz opens up about her 17-year-old son’s shifting priorities and the parental struggle of trying to keep a teenager grounded in reality.
Three hosts. Three stories. One show cut short because of a spam call that stopped the recording going into the second half.
When does “living with Mom” stop being traditional and start being tragic? There is a growing trend of grown men staying home while their mothers head to work—and pay the bills. Also, Rick enjoys a trip to NYC while hoards of angry people in his small town assemble on street corners for No King's Day, Evan gets caught in a coven of witches, and Liz falls in love with a chatbot!
In this episode, Rick talks with Richie Welch — a contractor by day and a stand-up comedian by night. Richie represents the fourth generation of his family working at Welch Corp, a major player in Boston’s construction and redevelopment scene. When he’s not on a job site, he’s performing or producing comedy shows around Boston.
Rick and Richie also get into parking etiquette, New England sports teams, and the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade — plus a few other topics along the way.