Show Notes:

Opening Day & Cellared Regrets

Cardinals Comeback: Recapping a 93-degree Opening Day in St. Louis, escaping the massive crowds at Ballpark Village, hitting Four Hands and Central Tap, and watching the Cards snap their Opening Day losing streak.

Beer Thirty: Cracking open a cellared 2017 Terrapin “Chubby Bunny”. The guys test out the 8.5% ABV S’mores Imperial Milk Stout and discuss the unfortunate metallic flavors that develop when a beer ages a little too long.

Rental Rehab & Spring Projects

Toilet Extraction: Josh details the massive water leak and rotted floor at his mother-in-law’s house. The culprit? A DIY flapper fix using a network cable and a Lysol cleaning wand stuck at the bottom of the plunger.

The Ghost Renter Returns: Josh shares another toilet leak disaster that rotted the floor at his own rental property, courtesy of the infamous Ghost Renter.

Lawn & Garden Updates: Greg discusses his spring prep, including throwing down Sunday’s Iron Boost lawn care product, germinating indoor seeds, and prepping 20-gallon fabric potato planters.

Snacks, Streaming & Upcoming DIYs

Snack Down: The guys try Sweet and Salty Caramel Bugles, agreeing they taste just like caramel corn, and reminisce about Frank Barone’s love for Bugles on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Ska & Punk: Getting hyped for an upcoming concert featuring 90s favorites The Urge and Less Than Jake.

What We’re Watching: Reviewing the Idris Elba Apple TV+ thriller Hijack, the wilderness survival show Extracted, watching classic Fear Factor episodes, and diving into the massive eating challenges on the Beard Meets Food YouTube channel.

Shop Talk Backlog: Greg previews his upcoming project list, which includes a vehicle rotor and brake pad job, and replacing a dryer vent hose.

Show Notes:

Beer Thirty & The Snack Down

Tropical Vibes: Cracking open the Flamingo Dance Party Tropical IPA (6.5% ABV with Mosaic and Sabro hops) and reminiscing about Urban Chestnut Zwickel and Boulevard classics. Chocolate Egg Face-Off: The ultimate holiday candy taste test: Jif Chocolate Eggs vs. Reese’s Chocolate Eggs.

Cruises & Cons

Cruisin’ with 311: Josh books his 9th voyage on the 311 Cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, sparking a debate on porthole versus balcony rooms. The Zoom Scam: Josh’s quest for a “free” cruise leads to a high-pressure Zoom pitch for a $10,000 wholesale travel club, featuring a very persistent, belly-baring salesman and a swift kick from the virtual meeting.

Local Happenings & Spring Projects

Main Street Pub Crawl: Breaking down the $70 price tag, the colored bracelets, and the nine participating stops for the Tanglefoot Pub Crawl happening right here in Festus. Spring Prep: Greg shares his spring lawn care plans using the Sunday subscription system and discusses his indoor gardening setup with grow lights for his tomato and pepper seeds.

Music, Movies & Nostalgia

Pointfest Letdown: Reacting to Staind headlining the festival and mourning the golden era of 90s alt-rock festivals. Festival Conflicts: Plotting a potential road trip to Chicago to see the 90s alt-rock band Failure, only to realize it perfectly conflicts with the local pub crawl. NOFX Drama: Breaking down the post-tour legal battles within NOFX following the premiere of their 40 Years of F—ed Up documentary.

Trailer Park: Analyzing the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer, the upcoming Daredevil season, Chris Evans returning in Avengers: Doomsday, and the Sadie Sink/Jean Grey rumors. RIP to a Legend: Remembering the life and the epic 196-episode Walker, Texas Ranger run of Chuck Norris. Top 5 Cartoon Theme Songs: A nostalgic dive into animated intros, featuring Denver the Last Dinosaur, The Flintstones, DuckTales, and M.A.S.K.

Shop Talk & The Ghost Renter

Flooring Nightmares: Josh details the grueling process of ripping up the floor and leveling out a high spot in his rental property. The Ghost Renter: A wild real estate story about a tenant who moved out to care for her sick mother but continued paying rent for three full years without ever living in the house.

Meanwhile, Greg is celebrating a massive channel milestone: hitting over 1 million views on a single YouTube Short! But we pull back the curtain on the harsh reality of creator monetization and reveal exactly how underwhelming that payout actually is.

In the Snack Taste Test, things take a dark turn. We brave the 2026 Easter novelty release from Frankford Candy: KFC Colonel’s Favorite Jelly Beans. While the Sweet Corn flavor is passable, the Fried Chicken and Gravy flavors taste exactly like old, burnt cooking oil.

We also dive into some massive theme park news, discussing the Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger. With 48 parks now under one umbrella and several being sold off to a Kansas City company, we debate what the loss of the DC Comics and Warner Bros. licenses will mean for classic rides like Batman and Mr. Freeze.

Grab a Trader Joe’s Barrel-Aged Stout and settle in!

In This Episode:

The Vegas Survival Guide: Def Leppard, 311 Day, The Sphere’s haptic seats, and why the West Grand Canyon is charging $25 for bad roast beef. Tech Glitches: Josh’s phone completely bricks itself on day three of his trip—and why putting it in the freezer only worked for 30 seconds. KFC Jelly Beans Taste Test: Sweet Corn, Fried Chicken, and Gravy jelly beans. It goes exactly as poorly as you’d expect. Theme Park Drama: Breaking down the Six Flags merger, park sales, and the new Hard Rock Cafe guitar hotel. YouTube Reality: Greg hits 1 million views on a Short and reveals the true $20 payout. Pop Culture Catch-Up: Michael J. Fox’s insane Back to the Future work ethic, Survivor hitting Season 50, the return of Scrubs, Russell Crowe in Unhinged, and Apple TV’s Shrinking. Music: Discovering the “Punk Hop” sounds of The Co-Defendants.

Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and let us know in the comments: What is the worst jelly bean flavor you’ve ever tried?

We kick things off with a taste test of a very questionable banana-flavored beer, talk about the wild success of a viral drawing stencil video, and run down a packed Las Vegas itinerary. Then, we get into the heavy hitters: what exactly is a “Xennial,” why growing up analog was actually a superpower, and our thoughts on the wild new trailer for the live-action Masters of the Universe movie.

Finally, we head into the “How to Fix It” workshop for a massive DIY update. From opening a literal “can of worms” with 100-year-old knob-and-tube wiring, to fighting rusty spark plugs and dealing with a haunted refrigerator, there is a lot to catch up on.

Grab a craft beer, pull up a chair, and let’s get into it!

In This Episode:

Going Viral & Vegas Bound: Greg’s YouTube channel hits a massive milestone, plus concert plans for Def Leppard, 311, and the Vegas Sphere. Beer – 4 Hands Brewery: We try the “Fat Elvis Absence of Light” peanut butter and banana beer (spoiler: it tastes like cheap bubblegum). The Toy Takeover: Why Ruby the Golden Retriever is forcing a new household toy-storage strategy. Music & Local Fun: Rumors of a new Tomahawk album, Mike Patton’s wild career, and reviewing the Game Show Battle Room in Chesterfield. Snack Time – Hostess Mini Donettes: Testing out the limited-edition Carrot Cake and Churro donuts. Pop Culture & Trailers: Reacting to Jared Leto as Skeletor in the new He-Man movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and why Toy Story 5 looks deeper than expected. The “Xennial” Micro-Generation: Discussing the “Oregon Trail Generation” (1977-1983), The Anxious Generation, and how growing up without smartphones shaped our independence. 134-Year-Old House Rehab: The $2,500 abandoned couch, repairing the “flying carpet” window rot, and discovering ancient knob-and-tube electrical wiring. The DIY Backlog: ChatGPT strategy fails, cleaning out a garage that smells like a dead animal, fixing a fridge that randomly loses power, and a brutal battle with a rusty V6 spark plug.

Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment down below! What was your favorite toy growing up, and would you keep that $2,500 abandoned couch? Let us know!

Show Notes Beer 1: Left Hand Brewing Peanut Butter Milk Stout. Verdict: Smells like peanut butter but tastes like artificial, bitter dark chocolate. Beer 2: Bluewood Brewing Battle Stag “Cherokee Street” Brown Ale. Verdict: A malty, nutty, and roasty redemption from the first round.

The Rental Saga: Josh recounts the weirdness of a tenant who ghosted and left a fully furnished unit, complete with a stocked fridge and pantry. Half-Assed Productions: Greg’s “Half-Assed TV” channel gets a sudden boost from a vintage Rotadraw toy review. Garage Logic: Troubleshooting a truck that shudders at 50mph—is it the spark plugs or the ignition coils?. Snack Review: Target’s “Chili Chews”—strawberry bites with a spicy kick that are surprisingly addictive.

Pop Culture & Tech:

The return of Fear Factor and the baffling trends of TikTok. Josh’s struggle to recover his Facebook and email accounts. Wonder Man review and why Iron Man 3 is better than you remember. Watching Alex Honnold climb Taipei 101 and the anxiety of Free Solo.

Local Events: Apathy toward the Super Bowl (Patriots vs. Seahawks?) but excitement for the Soulard and Festus Pet Parades.

Show Notes Weather Report: Surviving the 8-10 inches of snow in Festus, MO, and the joy of two consecutive snow days.

Beer of the Week: Maplewood Brewing Fat Pug Oatmeal Milk Stout (Chicago, IL). Verdict: A solid 5.9% ABV with notes of dark chocolate and coffee. Perfect for a cold day. Flashback: Realizing they reviewed a similar Horchata Yeti almost 10 years ago.

Health Check: Josh’s return to the doctor after four years, the struggle of finding a new provider, and the looming reality of “the box” (colonoscopies) and shingles shots.

Diet & Snacks: Josh’s attempt at the “Bobby Approved” anti-inflammatory diet (avocado oil and Clancy’s chips). Snack Review: Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese chips. (Verdict: Surprisingly good).

News from the Cooler: Kansas City’s potential ban on small liquor bottles and single cans to curb litter and crime. Weird Brews: The Columbia Sportswear x Breakside Brewery collaboration “Nature Calls”—a beer made with water filtered through… bear poop?

TV Talk: Greg’s Top 5 TV Theme Songs (and the ones you always skip). Thoughts on The Sopranos (too long?), Severance (too slow?), and the unnerving nature of The Big C.

Nostalgia: Remembering Budweiser Black Crown and the Platinum era.

The Drink & The Snack

The Beer: Horchata Yeti by Great Divide Brewing. A creamy, 9.5% ABV imperial stout featuring rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. It’s dessert in a glass with zero boozy bite. The Snack: Righteous Felon Meat Sticks. The guys put these to the test to see if they live up to the hype.

Life in Beta

Morty’s Legacy: Greg shares a touching (and unplanned) lesson in grief and resilience following the passing of the family hamster. Cutting the Cord: Josh breaks down why he finally axed Amazon Prime after a shipping disaster and realized the $180 annual fee just wasn’t adding up. The Big Win: We’re officially sponsored! We discuss our first brand deal—a $200 partnership for a specialized electrical diagnostic tool. ?????

Pop Culture & Nostalgia

The Balzac: Remember the toy that was basically just a balloon inside a heavy-duty cloth sack? We revisit the marketing genius (and the odd name) of this 80s/90s staple. On the Bookshelf: A look at Michael J. Fox’s memoir, Future Boy, and the unbelievable story of how he filmed Back to the Future and Family Ties at the same time. Top 5 Comfort Movies: The definitive list of movies that feel like a warm blanket, featuring Dumb and Dumber and Mallrats.

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. Industry News: A look at the closing of Minglewood (Cape Girardeau) and Friendship Brewing’s Wentzville location.

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. Stranger Things: Did the Duffer Brothers stick the landing? We break down the series finale and the strategic holiday release.

Connect with Stuck in Beta Hosts: Greg & Josh Topic: Life, Tech, and the 80s/90s nostalgia that keeps us updated.

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!).

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.”