Top Shelf Stories
In a world that often shuns the uncomfortable, we embrace it with open arms—and open laughs. Our candid narratives around our stories assure you that awkwardness is a shared human experience. Tune in, enjoy the ride, and maybe learn a thing or two.
Episodes
We trade stories about the objects and memories that pull us back, from a WWII razor set lost in a dice game to the stubborn hunt for an Atari Lynx. One of us keeps nothing, one of us keeps everything, and the argument lands on what nostalgia is really worth.
• sounds, smells, and simple triggers for memory
• the WWII cigarette trades and the seven-day razor set
• collecting rules and finding treasure...
We argue about youth sports that bench kids while asking parents to fund the program. One father shares how his 13-year-old showed up, worked hard, and never saw the field, sparking a hard look at size bias, safety claims, and what coaches owe developing players.
• the costs and promises of select and club teams
• the politics of tryouts and who you know
• a 13-year-old wide receiver who never gets a ...
We trade jokes about hairlines and pride, then dig into size, intimidation, and what counts as a real fight. A raw story about an alley jump from a graffiti rivalry reframes how fast conflict escalates and why most fights end in seconds.
• shaving vows, hair as identity, confidence tests
• size and presence shaping social outcomes
• redefining what a real fight looks like
• the backpack jump and t...
We go from loose jokes to a grounded talk on nicotine, routines, and the thin line between a habit and a compulsion. We unpack vape bans, explain cravings to kids, and test whether “routines” are comfort or cage.
• defining addictions versus routines and why it matters
• nicotine cravings explained in simple terms
• Wisconsin vape ban, legal workarounds, and confusion
• parents talking to kids abo...
We trade raw, funny, and painful school memories to ask why bathroom rules often ignore biology and dignity. From a first-grade accident to a gym-class puddle, a fierce grandpa, and a strict teacher who still taught respect, we trace how authority can help or harm.
• bathroom limits leading to real harm
• a grandfather confronting school leadership
• discipline versus dignity in gym class
• how...
We turn a routine elevator ride into a raw story about claustrophobia, control, and the messy, human way real rescues happen. Humor keeps us afloat, but the takeaway lands hard: trust your gut, know the exits, and don’t be afraid to choose the stairs.
• owning a lifelong fear of small spaces and what triggers it
• the moment the elevator dies and the buttons fail
• calling for help, waiting, and manag...
Three friends trade jokes about hot chicken and sponsors before one story takes center stage: a blade tip snaps while cutting rubber flooring and lands in an eyeball. We relive the slow-motion moment, the bad instincts avoided, the strapped-down exam, and the simple rule that could prevent it all.
• why rubber skate flooring grabs blades and stores energy
• how a blade shard ended up in the center of an e...
Three dads test the myth that boys are harder when they’re young and girls are tougher as teens, swapping stories from soccer fields, sleepovers, and chaotic living rooms. We push on what “structure” really means and share small tactics that make big differences.
• comparing boy energy with girl focus at practice
• first reactions to becoming a girl dad
• concert trips, marriage dynamics, and time awa...
Tony, Jay, and Chris dive into the nightmarish experience of buying a vehicle from a dealership, exposing the tactics, frustrations, and time-wasting procedures that make it one of modern life's most dreaded transactions.
• Dealerships routinely keep customers for 4-5 hours before completing a vehicle purchase
• Modern vehicles are built with planned obsolescence, using plastic parts instead of durab...
We dive into the therapeutic power of live music and the unforgettable experiences that come with concert-going culture. Chris shares his impressive tally of 104 Umphrey's McGee shows and the unique connections formed in their fan community.
• Concerts as full experiences: buying tickets in advance, planning travel, arranging accommodations
• The mystery of Chris's friend getting kicked out of a...
The guys reunite after a brief hiatus to discuss one of their biggest dinner debacles ever, involving a Wing Stop order gone terribly wrong. They delve into the chaos that ensued when an order was mistakenly sent to a location 70 blocks away in a sketchy neighborhood.
• Debating whether boneless wings are actually wings or just glorified chicken nuggets
• Discussion of a lawsuit against BW3s for falsely a...
We explore the unexpected health consequences following years of pandemic precautions and debate whether our immune systems are now paying the price for extended isolation.
• J shares how his son experienced a 15-day fever, culminating in an ambulance ride to the hospital
• Both strep throat and influenza diagnoses led to nearly a month of illness for J's son
• The entire household except for J&a...
Three friends reflect on their complicated relationship with golf, from childhood obsessions to adult misadventures and the unexpected joys found in a sport that's simultaneously frustrating and addictive.
• Tony recounts learning golf at age 12 with his friend Jeff, playing endless rounds at a par-three course called Zoblocky
• Golf took a backseat when teenage interests emerged, but returned as an ...
Three dads navigate the murky waters of online child safety, debating the real dangers of popular platforms like Roblox and why one father made the drastic decision to ban it from his children's devices.
• Shocking discovery of predatory behavior on Roblox, a platform with 65 million concurrent players
• Chris Hansen's involvement in exposing online predators targeting children through gaming pl...
Three sports enthusiasts share their wildest and most memorable live sporting event experiences, from bench-clearing baseball brawls to electrifying UFC matches in Milwaukee.
• The thrill of watching a bench-clearing brawl at a Milwaukee Brewers game after a pitcher punched a player named Siri
• Using a mom's handicap parking tag to score prime tailgating spots at the stadium
• The unique experie...
Chris reluctantly becomes a camper owner when his wife fulfills her longtime dream of buying a tow-behind camper for $1,000 from Facebook Marketplace. What follows is a hilarious journey into the unexpected realities of RV ownership, from towing nightmares to bathroom etiquette.
• Wife has wanted a camper for years, talking about fixing one up and eventually finding the perfect one
• Purchased a 2002 Keys...
We share a nightmare hotel experience that occurred at the start of our family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains, featuring an abandoned front desk, malfunctioning room equipment, and a tennis ball under the bed.
• The hotel nightmare begins with a 45-minute wait at an unmanned reception desk
• Phones ring unanswered throughout the hotel while guests stand helplessly in the lobby
• Room amenities ...
Our magical Disney World adventure takes an unexpected turn when we encounter an army of gigantic Florida cockroaches during the Phantasmic nighttime show at Hollywood Studios. What begins as an exciting family outing with prime seating quickly transforms into a horror show as hundreds of enormous roaches emerge from a manhole cover, creating waves of panic throughout the audience.
• Giant cockroaches the siz...
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