Overview of Ep 594 - Gooniverse (feat. Steve Gerben & Billy)
Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis host a freewheeling, conversational episode with guests Steve Gerben (Gerby) and Billy. The show is a long-form, comedic roundtable that mixes personal updates (training, travel, sickness), pop-culture reactions, political commentary, and raunchy, often explicit banter about sex, porn, and dating culture. The tone is casual, jokey, and occasionally abrasive — typical of the hosts’ style.
Guests & roles
- Matt McCusker — co-host; comedic banter, ads reads, observations on politics and media.
- Shane Gillis — co-host; narrator of many anecdotes, leads much of the teasing.
- Steve Gerben (Gerby) — guest; shares dating updates, line-dancing story, personal anecdotes.
- Billy — guest; contributes stories (sickness, training), jokes, and banter with the group.
Main topics discussed
Fitness, “looksmaxing,” and steroids
- Guests compare training, lifts (bench/squat), calisthenics, and body goals.
- Casual discussion about steroid use and public admissions (mentions Liver King admitting steroid use).
- Talk of platform shoes, tailored clothes, and the cultural idea of “looksmaxing.”
Liver King & influencer culture
- Reactions to Liver King (Brian Johnson) — admiration for his persona but criticism for admitting steroid use. Mentions clips like Liver King ordering big meals (Whataburger scene) and public meltdowns.
- Jokes about confronting or provoking Liver King; concern over his instability.
Politics and international events
- Trump’s public persona (“juice” returning, media moments on Air Force One) and memes around Venezuela.
- Short takes on Venezuela/Colombia events and sanctions; skepticism about long-term geopolitical consequences.
- Discussion of China’s demographics and potential geopolitical implications.
- Mentions of Gavin Newsom, AIPAC, and political optics/media narratives.
Entertainment and media
- Ad read: Amazon MGM/“Mercy” (movie), PrizePix sponsorship, American Express Business Platinum, Gold Bond.
- Mentions of Nathan Fielder’s “Rehearsal,” Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather, and other pop-culture touchpoints.
- Conversation about social media (Instagram reels, dating-content trends) and how viral clips shape behavior.
Dating, nightlife, and dancing
- Gerby’s attempts back in the dating pool; line-dancing, salsa, jive, and the “Fake ID” line-dance from the Footloose remake.
- Anecdote: Steve boxed a woman out on a crowded dance floor to get next to someone — became a running gag and minor confrontation among friends.
- Discussion about courting signals, flirting, “razzling,” and etiquette at dance/club situations.
Sex, porn, and fetish talk (explicit)
- Discussion of the book She Comes First (manuals for pleasuring women) and sexual technique.
- Deeply explicit conversations about porn subgenres, fetish terms (panty jobs, mano jobs), “gooning,” and unusual porn videos. (Content is sexual and graphic — listener discretion advised.)
Miscellaneous anecdotes
- Open-house story: spotting extremist symbols (14/88) painted in a garage — surprised reaction.
- Personal travel and illness (flu/COVID/allergy talk) — guests sharing who got sick and travel choices (avoiding “turd planes”).
- Random bits: 23andMe jokes (bearded dragon DNA result), being heckled at local events, golf/course antics and cart “bumps.”
Notable moments & quotes
- Liver King reactions: “I like the Liver King 1.0; 3.0 and admitting steroids — fuck that.”
- On people’s moral calculus with steroids: “Just lie until you die.”
- Steve on the dance-floor incident: friends debating whether he “boxed out” a woman — recurring comedic tension.
- On political theatrics: “Kidnapping — that’s a good word,” (jokingly referencing Air Force One remarks).
- Repeated comedic riff: sports/“tariffs” and how social media reels influence political sentiment.
Ads / Promotions (in-episode)
- Movie: Mercy (Amazon MGM Studios) — theatrical release promo.
- PrizePix — promo code Drench for $50 in lineups after first $5 play.
- American Express Business Platinum — pitch for business travel benefits.
- Gold Bond Cocoa Butter Glow — skincare ad.
Main takeaways
- Episode is conversational and wide-ranging: expect rapid shifts between fitness, politics, dating, explicit sexual chat, and personal anecdotes.
- The crew leans into shock humor and frank sexual talk; there are many off-color jokes and NSFW topics.
- Highlights include Liver King discussion, the line-dance/dating stories, and the explicit panty-job/gooner deep-dive — these are the episode’s most memorable (and potentially controversial) segments.
- The dynamic is friend-group teasing: calling out each other’s ego moves (boxing out on the dance floor, “looksmaxing”), with recurring warmth beneath the ribbing.
Who will get the most value
- Regular listeners of Matt & Shane or fans of long-form conversational comedy.
- People interested in male cultural talk about dating, fitness, and internet pornography subcultures.
- Not recommended if you prefer clean, political-only analysis or are uncomfortable with explicit sexual content.
Suggested clips / follow-ups to watch (mentioned)
- Liver King Whataburger clip (Liver King and large fast-food meal).
- Fake ID line-dance scene from the Footloose remake (YouTube) — the line-dance they reference.
- Nathan Fielder’s Rehearsal (HBO) — recommended by the hosts.
Content warning: this episode contains explicit sexual discussions, porn/fetish references, and coarse language.