Rick flies solo this week and tackles one of comedy’s newest identity crises: when did Instagram followers become a stage credit? Comics and content creators may both be performance artists, but they are not the same thing — and Rick breaks down why that distinction matters.

He also reacts to the supportive and mean-spirited comments sparked by his viral post about the New England Patriots stepping in to avenge the Bills’ loss in Denver, because nothing unites the internet like football and misplaced confidence.

Then it’s listener email time. Rick weighs in on when Christmas lights officially cross from “festive” to “concerning,” how to navigate modern outrage without losing your mind, and whether we’ve become just a little too dependent on tech to function as adults.

In the second half, Rick runs through the headlines that are grinding people’s gears and delivers his signature hot takes — common sense, no panic, minimal pearl-clutching.