Top 8 'Inside-Joke-Instigating' Comedy Podcasts to watch with friends for a hilarious night in
There's a special kind of magic in an inside joke. It’s a secret language, a tiny, hilarious world built for just you and your friends. It’s that one weird phrase you all shout, the obscure reference that sends everyone into a fit of laughter while outsiders just look on, bewildered. These moments are born from shared experiences, and let’s be honest, finding new, laugh-out-loud experiences can be a challenge.
The classic "movie night" is great, but sometimes it feels a bit… passive. You want the engagement, the non-stop commentary, the feeling of discovering something brilliant together. This is where the modern, slightly chaotic, and utterly wonderful solution comes in: watching comedy podcasts. No, not just listening—watching. Seeing the hosts' expressions, their barely-contained laughter, and their on-screen chemistry adds a whole new layer to the experience. It’s like inviting the world's funniest people to your living room for a night.
So, cancel your plans, text the group chat, and get the snacks ready. We’ve curated the ultimate list of comedy podcasts that are practically guaranteed to become your friend group's next great source of inside jokes. These are more than just shows; they're hilarious, quotable, and perfectly designed for a memorable night in.
1. My Brother, My Brother and Me (MBMBaM)
The Vibe: Imagine three hilarious, good-natured brothers—Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy—sitting down to solve the internet's most bizarre and unanswerable questions. Sourced from the depths of Yahoo! Answers and listener submissions, MBMBaM is an "advice show for the modern era" that rarely offers any practical advice but always delivers absurd, spiraling comedic bits. Their chemistry is effortless and infectious, making you feel like the fourth, non-speaking sibling in the room.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The entire premise of the show is to take a strange, mundane question and build a ridiculous universe around it. These bits often evolve into legendary, series-long running gags. Your group will latch onto a specific "haunted doll" saga, a nonsensical fast-food idea, or a particularly strange character the brothers invent. Before you know it, you'll be asking each other if you've seen "The Garfield Monstrosity" or yelling "Shrimp! Heaven! Now!" for reasons no one else will ever understand.
Pro Tip: Start with a "Best Of" compilation on YouTube to get a feel for their style. A classic episode to dive into is "The Garfield Monstrosity," a perfect example of how a simple question about lasagna can descend into beautiful, comedic chaos. Watching their animated segments also adds a fantastic visual layer to their most iconic bits.
2. SmartLess
The Vibe: Hollywood heavyweights Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett are close friends, and it shows. The format is simple yet brilliant: each episode, one of the hosts brings on a mystery guest that the other two know nothing about. The result is a blend of genuine surprise, sharp-witted banter, and fascinating conversations with everyone from scientists and authors to A-list actors and presidents. Bateman is the dry anchor, Arnett is the gravelly-voiced instigator, and Hayes is the wildcard of pure comedic energy.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The comedy here comes from the hosts' dynamic. You'll find yourselves quoting Arnett's over-the-top compliments, Bateman's deadpan reactions, or Hayes's chaotic segues. The fun of watching as a group is trying to guess the mystery guest along with the hosts and seeing their authentic, often hilarious, reactions when the big reveal happens. Their constant, light-hearted roasting of each other feels just like a conversation with your own friends.
Pro Tip: Don't just pick an episode based on the guest. The best ones are often when the hosts are clearly fascinated or completely out of their depth. The episode with physicist and author Sean Carroll is a fantastic example of them trying (and hilariously failing) to keep up, leading to some of their best comedic moments.
3. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
The Vibe: This is the ultimate podcast for your foodie friends (and even those who just like to laugh at foodies). Comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster invite a guest into their "dream restaurant" to choose their favorite starter, main course, side dish, dessert, and drink. Acaster plays the role of a cantankerous, wish-granting genie, while Gamble is the cheerful host trying to keep things on track. The conversations are always about more than just food; they're springboards for hilarious anecdotes and personal stories.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The rigid format combined with the chaotic hosts is a recipe for running gags. The "secret ingredient" (an ingredient the guest secretly hates) always leads to a dramatic reveal and a hilarious rant from James Acaster. Your group will inevitably start debating the merits of "papadums or bread," judging each other's dream menus, and adopting Acaster's oddly specific food-related grievances as your own. It’s a show that gives you a whole new, funny vocabulary for talking about food.
Pro Tip: After watching an episode, have everyone in your group build their own "Off Menu" dream meal. It’s a fantastic conversation starter and a great way to learn everyone’s weirdest food opinions. A must-watch episode is the one with comedian Nish Kumar, which features one of the most memorable and chaotic stories ever told on the show.
4. Bad Friends with Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino
The Vibe: If your friend group's humor leans toward the edgy, chaotic, and wonderfully unpredictable, Bad Friends is your holy grail. Comedians Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino have a bizarre, hilarious, and sometimes genuinely touching chemistry. The show has no real format; it's just two incredibly funny people riffing, telling outrageous stories from their lives, and pushing each other's buttons in the most entertaining way possible.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The show is built on recurring characters, made-up scenarios, and the hosts' very distinct personalities. You'll find yourselves quoting Bobby’s signature laugh or Andrew's "Cheeto" persona. Their dynamic with their producer, Rudy, and their "uncles" adds another layer of inside jokes for fans to latch onto. This isn't a podcast for the easily offended, but for the right group, it’s an endless source of absurdly funny material.
Pro Tip: Because the show is so character-driven, it's best to start from an earlier episode to understand the core dynamics. However, jumping in on any episode with a guest you like is also a great entry point. The visual component is key here, as Bobby Lee's physical comedy and reactions are often the funniest part of the show.
5. This Is Important
The Vibe: For anyone who misses the chaotic energy of the show Workaholics, this is your reunion. Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, and Kyle Newacheck get together to discuss… well, anything and everything. The title is deeply ironic, as they typically talk about the most trivial, ridiculous, and unimportant things imaginable. It’s the unfiltered, hilarious energy of four best friends who have been making each other laugh for over a decade.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: Their conversations are littered with catchphrases and callbacks that your group will quickly adopt. Phrases like "The Dudes are Pissed," "I'm PISSED now!", or their "Water trash/Water champ" classifications will seamlessly integrate into your friend group's lexicon. The joy is in watching them try to make each other break, creating an atmosphere that feels less like a produced show and more like you're just hanging out with them.
Pro Tip: Put this on when you want pure, unadulterated, low-stakes fun. There are no heavy topics here, just pure comedic riffing. A great way to enjoy this is to have it playing in the background during a game night, letting the waves of chaotic energy fuel your own fun. The episode "The Difference Between Dudes and Guys" is a perfect encapsulation of their vibe.
6. Hey Babe! with Sal Vulcano & Chris Distefano
The Vibe: Take one part lovable, easily flustered comedian (Sal Vulcano of Impractical Jokers) and one part high-energy, fast-talking "Chrissy D Chaos" (Chris Distefano), and you get Hey Babe!. This podcast is pure, unscripted chaos. They argue about trivial topics with the passion of a Supreme Court hearing, from whether a hot dog is a sandwich to the best way to eat a cookie. Their friendship is the heart of the show, and their wildly different energies create a perfect comedic storm.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The show is an engine for inside jokes. From "Crispy" Sal to Chris’s constant mispronunciations and conspiracy theories ("the Zazaaaaa"), every episode drops at least three new things to quote. Their recurring segments, like debating user-submitted "What If" scenarios, are perfect for group viewing because you can pause and argue about the topic yourselves before hearing their ridiculous takes. It’s a show that actively invites you into its world of nonsense.
Pro Tip: This is a fantastic show to watch with friends who have strong, silly opinions. Pause the video during one of their debates and have your own group vote on the topic. The episode where they dissect the "Twelve Days of Christmas" is a seasonal classic and a brilliant example of their hilarious dynamic.
7. The Basement Yard
The Vibe: Sometimes, the best comedy comes from the most relatable places. The Basement Yard, hosted by Joe Santagato (and often co-hosted by Frank Alvarez), feels less like a produced podcast and more like you’re eavesdropping on two genuinely funny friends hanging out in a basement. They talk about childhood memories, current events, weird news stories, and answer absurd "would you rather" questions with a refreshing honesty and humor that’s incredibly easy to watch.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The humor is so grounded in everyday life that your group will constantly be saying, "That is SO true!" or "I remember that!" Joe's unfiltered rants about common annoyances are highly quotable, and their ridiculous hypothetical scenarios are perfect for sparking your own conversations. My friend, a big fan of Goh Ling Yong's focus on authentic communication, pointed out that this show’s appeal comes from how real their friendship feels, making the humor land even harder.
Pro Tip: Use their "Would you rather?" or "What's the better invention?" segments as a template for your own group game. Go around the room and have everyone answer before playing the hosts' takes. It’s a fantastic way to turn a passive viewing experience into an interactive one.
8. No Such Thing as a Fish
The Vibe: For the friend group that loves trivia, witty banter, and a healthy dose of British humor, look no further. This podcast comes from the "QI Elves," the researchers behind the beloved UK panel show QI. Each week, Dan, James, Anna, and Andy gather to share the most bizarre, fascinating, and hilarious fact they’ve learned that week. The show is fast-paced, incredibly clever, and will leave you both smarter and laughing uncontrollably.
Why It's an Inside-Joke Goldmine: The jokes here are the facts themselves. You'll find yourselves constantly bringing up these obscure tidbits in future conversations. "Did you know that the British government has a plan for a zombie apocalypse?" or "Remember that story about the woodpecker that stored 300kg of acorns in a wall?" These facts become your group's secret trivia knowledge, perfect for breaking an awkward silence or just making each other laugh.
Pro Tip: The video version often includes pictures and short clips related to the facts, which really enhances the experience. This is a great "palate cleanser" podcast—it’s so information-dense and funny that you can watch a single 15-minute segment and have a great time. Challenge your friends to see who can remember the most facts by the end of the night.
Laughter Is Better When Shared
The next time you're planning a night in, consider swapping the two-hour movie for a few episodes of a great comedy podcast. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe the best memories are forged in moments of shared joy, and there’s no purer joy than laughing so hard you can’t breathe, surrounded by your favorite people.
The beauty of this experience isn't just the immediate laughter; it's the comedic echo that follows. It’s the inside joke you text the group chat a week later, the obscure quote you drop that makes everyone erupt in laughter all over again. You're not just watching a show; you're building your group’s unique comedic identity.
So, which hilarious podcast will be the soundtrack to your next get-together?
What are your go-to comedy podcasts to watch with friends? Drop your recommendations in the comments below—let's build the ultimate list for a hilarious night in!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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