Hoot’n & Holler’n With Matt Mitchell

Things (and People) We'd Leave in 2025

The gang reviews Matt's list of 11 things he'd like to leave behind in 2025, ranging from Katy Perry to Labubus to a pair of numbers we dare not say out loud. 

The People You Only See in Small Towns

In this episode of Hoot'n & Holler'n, the guys take a deep dive into the very specific types of people you’ll find in every small Southern town. If you’ve ever lived near one gas station, you already know exactly who we’re talking about.

From the mechanic everybody trusts (but who might keep your truck for two years), to the gas station regulars who know more local gossip than the newspaper, to porch-sitters who double as landmarks, we’re naming characters you’ve definitely met. Along the way, we argue about bagels, Conecuh sausage, questionable fuel quality, horse guys, gas station etiquette, and the unspoken rules of small-town life. It’s nostalgic, unfiltered, and aggressively familiar—in the best way possible.

Stocking Stuffers & Childhood Scars

The boys kick off a chaotic Christmas episode by debating decorations, dodging imaginary squirrels in the studio, and reminiscing about the chaotic Rankin & Bass classics that shaped their childhoods. From beloved VHS tapes and questionable 80s choir memories to heated takes on Christmas music—Mariah Carey, Sinatra, Elvis, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the tragic saga of “Christmas Shoes”—no seasonal soundtrack is safe.

Then the nostalgia train really leaves the station as everyone shares childhood Christmas stories: begging adults to hurry up and open presents, sneaking peeks at gifts, getting tricked by parents, and receiving some truly wild gifts (including a framed chicken photo and silky “banana hammock” underwear). The crew also laments the decline of old-school Christmas light displays and lovingly roasts today’s LED-synced neighborhood décor.

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Hot Dogs, Pay Phones & JCPenny Crimes

This week on Hoot’n and Holler’n, the crew takes a nostalgic stroll through the golden age of malls when KB Toys was king, Sears still mattered, and the smell of popcorn from The Peanut Shack basically was cologne. From abandoned anchor stores to stolen wallets at JCPenney, Toys “R” Us bankruptcy gossip, the death of fountains and wishing wells, and the true chaos of Costco on a Saturday—this episode hits everything from childhood wonder to adult irritation. Along the way, we spiral into hot dogs, Kirkland beer, mall zombies, body shop outfits, and a revelation that Joey was clearly born to be the size-appropriate horror-movie villain.

Inside SEC Culture with FunnyMaine

In this episode, we’re joined by Alabama comedy legend Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson—creator of the long-running “how Bama fans watch” videos and one of the sharpest, funniest voices in Southern football culture. We talk about rivalry week energy, which fanbases crave his respect the loudest, why Tennessee may secretly lead the nation in trash talk, and how the chaos of college football fuels what we do. FunnyMaine also shares stories of meeting Coach DeBoer, hanging out with RollTideWillie, being embraced by players and fans across the SEC, and how his content has grown over more than a decade of Saturdays.

Whether you’re SEC-obsessed, comedy-obsessed, or just love hearing two Southern creators talk shop, this one hits.

Check out FunnyMaine: funnymaine.com

His merch: rundaball.com

Our merch & Southern-made goods: gettinplaceshop.com

Dusty Slay on Growing Up Southern

Comedian Dusty Slay joins Hoot’n and Holler’n for an hour of Southern storytelling, comedy wisdom, and pure chaos in the best way. Dusty walks us through his wild late-night TV experiences, growing up in an Alabama trailer park, and why breaking down country songs has become one of his most beloved bits. We dig into hecklers, crowd work, touring the South, Travis Tritt conspiracy theories, and Dusty’s dream of doing a full two-hour, no-opener stand-up show like an old-school legend.

If you love Southern humor, country-music deep dives, and behind-the-scenes comedy talk, this episode delivers big laughs and even bigger stories.

10 Things That Don’t Belong on the Thanksgiving Table

It’s Thanksgiving time at Hoot’n & Holler’n, which means: zero salads, infinite rolls, and several emotionally charged opinions about banana pudding. Matt, Joey, Eric, and Drake kick off with their usual cultural analysis — aka complaining about Ollie’s and Big Lots — before diving headfirst into the most sacred Southern holiday of all: the one about food.

In this episode, we debate the “10 Things That Should Never Appear at a Southern Thanksgiving Table” including:

• Texas toast (a carb criminal)

• Charcuterie boards (Ritz crackers wearing monocles)

• Cold butter (prison behavior)

• Spoons (literally unnecessary)

We also explore:

• Why monkey bread counts as a survival item

• Who brings seven extra people to Thanksgiving

• The spiritual connection between Chinette plates and personal pride

• The annual “waiting to eat until cousin Chad shows up” starvation ritual

If you’ve ever fasted until 1pm just to immediately fall into a coma beside a cooler you’re using as a chair — congratulations, this episode is about you. 🦃✨

(Featuring real quotes from the show such as “Thanksgiving’s coming up… it’s a big day” and “This is a stab-and-stuff holiday.”) 

Southern Fried Spirits

Buckle up for a haunted road trip through the South’s spookiest drive-thrus! In this Halloween special, the Hoot’n and Hollern crew serves up a platter of ghost stories from your favorite chain restaurants — because even the afterlife can’t resist a combo meal.

From the Drive-Thru Whisperer haunting a Jack’s in Parrish, Alabama, to the Footlong Phantom stalking a Subway in Yazoo City, the boys swap ghost tales that are equal parts creepy and country. You’ll hear about a Waffle House specter that strikes at exactly 2:19 a.m., a Burger King play place with tiny phantom footprints, and even a hairless creature lurking outside a Popeyes in Louisiana.

In true Hoot’n and Hollern fashion, it’s all laughter, light scares, and Southern charm — with a side of gravy, naturally.

Things That Actually Scare Us Now

In this episode of Hoot’n and Holler’n, the crew starts off with the real pressing questions—like how many air fryers is too many—before celebrating a brand-new baby in the family. From sleepless nights and luxury diapers to wild DoorDash mishaps, they cover the chaotic, hilarious realities of adult life.

Then, with Halloween looming, the guys shift from childhood fears of ghosts and monsters to the very real horrors of adulthood: missing trash day, surprise work meetings, and road hazards that’ll make your blood run cold. Plus, we hear a truly unforgettable story involving a foggy night, a family of raccoons, and a sound no one will forget.

It’s a mix of parenting panic, late-night food debates, and spooky grown-up anxieties—all delivered with the usual Southern humor and camaraderie you’ve come to expect.

 

Check out our website where you'll find merch, previous episodes, and more: https://www.hootnandhollern.com/

Gas Station Blockbusters

This week on Hootn and Hollern, Matt, Eric, Drake, and Joey take a nostalgic trip down the aisles of long-gone video rental stores. From the rise of mom-and-pop shops to the reign of Blockbuster, the crew remembers the thrill of snagging a new release off a fully stocked wall and the terror of late fees that could rival a mortgage payment.

They swap stories about shady tanning-bed/video-store combos, bootlegging DVDs before release day, and even gas stations that doubled as “mini Blockbusters.” The conversation veers into the quirky rules of back-room “adult sections,” libraries quietly moonlighting as game rental hubs, and the eternal mystery of why every shop was named some variation of Mega Hits Video Express Corner.

Things get delightfully off the rails when Matt tries vaping for the first time, sparking comparisons to neon-lit rental shops and their questionable side hustles. The guys also dive into weird marketing tricks—from misleading movie covers to Netflix’s algorithm pulling the same stunt decades later.

It’s a hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt look at the end of an era, where VHS tapes, DVDs, and even Redbox all had their moment before streaming took over.

Check out our website where you'll find past episodes, merch, music playlists and more: https://www.hootnandhollern.com/