Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast
Two stand-up comedians riff on news, personal anecdotes, history, and conspiracy theories with a loose, irreverent, and often dark sense of humor.
This is a classic 'two dudes talking' comedy podcast, elevated by the hosts' quick-witted chemistry and willingness to follow absurd premises into dark territory. Episodes are free-flowing conversations between friends, often including other comedians, that feel like eavesdropping on a private, unfiltered chat. While primarily a comedy riff session, the format occasionally shifts to a more focused, single-host interview when one of them has a genuine curiosity about a specific topic, like sunlight or oysters.
“The core distinction is the palpable chemistry between McCusker and Gillis, which creates a sense of intimacy and an 'in-joke' atmosphere for its large, cult-like following (who they call the 'D.A.W.G.Z.'). Unlike more structured comedy podcasts, its primary mode is a loose, riff-based hangout that finds humor in obscure news, historical oddities, and personal failings.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by stand-up comedians Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis, "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast" began in 2016. The show is a long-form conversational podcast that has become the top-subscribed channel on Patreon. Gillis, a Pennsylvania native, gained significant media attention after being hired and quickly fired from Saturday Night Live in 2019 over controversial remarks from a past podcast episode. McCusker, also from Pennsylvania, is an author and holds a Master of Social Work degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Credentials & credits
- Shane Gillis: Stand-up comedian, co-creator/star of Netflix's 'Tires'
- Shane Gillis: 'Beautiful Dogs' Netflix Special (2023)
- Shane Gillis: 'Live in Austin' YouTube Special (2021)
- Matt McCusker: Stand-up comedian, 'A Humble Offering' Netflix Special (2025)
- Matt McCusker: Author, 'Overlook: A Story About Drugs, Disappointment and the American Dream'
- Matt McCusker: Master of Social Work, Bryn Mawr College
Other ventures
- Shane Gillis: Co-creator of sketch series 'Gilly & Keeves'
- Shane Gillis: Co-creator of Netflix series 'Tires'
- Matt McCusker: Author
- Matt McCusker: Creator of 'Psych Naw' (psychological well-being project)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Ep 621 - LandlubbersJun 26, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 02Ep 620 - In Defense of Sunlight (feat. Rowan Jacobsen)Jun 18, 2026 · 1h 05m
- 03Ep 619 - Plus-Sized Problems (feat. Nate Marshall & Lemaire Lee)Jun 11, 2026 · 1h 17m
- 04Ep 618 - Officer Lemaire (feat. Charles Blyzniuk & Lemaire Lee)Jun 6, 2026 · 1h 06m
- 05Ep 617 - Irish Good MorningMay 29, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 06Ep 616 - The Four Heavens (feat. David Stuart)May 27, 2026 · 1h 02m
- 07Ep 615 - Slim Goodie (feat. Sheryl Underwood)May 20, 2026 · 1h 05m
- 08Ep 614 - iNastyMay 15, 2026 · 1h 04m
Notable episodes
- 01Ep 620 - In Defense of Sunlight (feat. Rowan Jacobsen)
A rare episode format where Matt conducts a long-form interview with an expert, author Rowan Jacobsen, driven by his personal curiosity about sunlight and oysters.
- 02Ep 619 - Plus-Sized Problems (feat. Nate Marshall & Lemaire Lee)
A representative example of the show's primary format: riffing on bizarre internet findings, in this case, a controversy within a plus-sized appreciation community.
- 03Ep 621 - Landlubbers
A classic episode featuring just the two main hosts, showcasing their core dynamic and conversational style as they riff on topics like nautical terms and yawning.
What you'll be asked on this show
The show is not a standard interview podcast; most episodes are co-hosted conversations without guests or with other comedians joining the riff session. In the rare instance of a formal interview, as seen with host Matt McCusker and author Rowan Jacobsen, the style is driven by genuine personal curiosity. [BEWZV89Fi1A] Matt opened by expressing his own interest in the guest's work on sunlight, used his personal experiences to connect with the topics, and followed his curiosity down interesting tangents, such as an extended discussion about oysters that arose organically. [BEWZV89Fi1A] The approach is less about a structured Q&A and more about having a fascinating conversation with an expert to satisfy his own questions.
The show is primarily a two-host conversational comedy format, with episodes frequently featuring guest comedians who join the riffing. The dynamic is that of friends amusing each other, often escalating absurd scenarios or finding dark humor in tragic news. [4basaUXTV_s] On rare occasions, the format shifts to a one-on-one interview, where one host (typically Matt) explores a topic of personal interest with an expert guest. [BEWZV89Fi1A]
Questions the host keeps coming back to
7 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What is your background?”
Used at the start of a rare expert interview to establish the guest's credentials and origin story.
- Q.02
“What subjects did you naturally gravitate towards when you started writing?”
This question seeks to understand the guest's core passions and intellectual interests.
craft
1- Q.01
“How did you get into [specific career path, e.g., ghostwriting]?”
A follow-up question to explore a specific, interesting part of a guest's career.
personal
2- Q.01
“Can you break down some facts about [topic of personal interest, e.g., oysters]?”
The host asks this to satisfy his own curiosity about a niche topic the guest is an expert on.
- Q.02
“Are [surprising fact, e.g., oysters] really alive when you eat them?”
A direct follow-up to confirm a surprising or shocking detail shared by the guest.
mindset
1- Q.01
“How would you summarize the idea of [complex concept, e.g., knowing you're right when everyone else is wrong]?”
This is asked to get a concise, memorable takeaway on a complex philosophical or scientific idea.
future
1- Q.01
“What's next for you? What are you thinking about doing?”
A standard closing question to inquire about the guest's future projects.
Signature segments
- · D.A.W.G.Z. (fan community name)
- · Riffing on obscure news stories
- · Darkly humorous takes on tragic events
- · Free-flowing, tangential conversations
- · Inside jokes and callbacks
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically other stand-up comedians who share the hosts' sensibility and can seamlessly join the free-flowing, tangential conversations. Less frequently, an author or expert (like Rowan Jacobsen) is booked for a more focused, curiosity-driven interview by one of the hosts. [BEWZV89Fi1A]
- Rowan Jacobsenon Ep 620 - In Defense of Sunlight (feat. Rowan Jacobsen)
- Nate Marshallon Ep 619 - Plus-Sized Problems (feat. Nate Marshall & Lemaire Lee)
- Lemaire Leeon Ep 619 - Plus-Sized Problems (feat. Nate Marshall & Lemaire Lee)
- Shawn Gardinion Ep 618 - Officer Lemaire (feat. Charles Blyzniuk & Lemaire Lee)
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Based on the evidence, sponsors include male-focused brands like BlueChew, as well as mainstream podcast advertisers like BetterHelp and PrizePicks. The target demographic appears to be young to middle-aged men who are fans of stand-up comedy.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast?
- The podcast is hosted by American stand-up comedians Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a weekly conversational comedy podcast. Most episodes are free-flowing conversations between the two hosts, sometimes with guest comedians, where they riff on various topics. Occasionally, one host will conduct a long-form interview with an expert on a subject of personal interest.
- Is this an interview podcast?
- Primarily, no. While they have had guests for interviews, the vast majority of episodes are comedic conversations and riff sessions between the co-hosts and their comedian friends, not structured interviews.
- Why was Shane Gillis fired from SNL?
- In 2019, days after being announced as a new cast member, Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live after clips from a 2018 podcast episode surfaced in which he used derogatory language and racial slurs.
- What does 'D.A.W.G.Z.' mean?
- 'D.A.W.G.Z.' is the affectionate name the hosts use for their fanbase, often referenced in show descriptions and on their Patreon.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, with exclusive content available on their Patreon.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Shane Gillis - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [02]Matt McCusker - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [03]About - Shane Gillisshanemgillis.com
- [04]Books - Matt McCusker | Official Websitemattmccusker.com
- [05]Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast Official Websitemssecretpodcast.com
- [06]Gilly And Keeves | Official Websitegillyandkeeves.tv
- [07]Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast | iHeartiheart.com
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