CuzWords

John Giddens

5.0 (1)
Comedy

On CuzWords, two cousins dig into the things that matter and the things that absolutely don’t. From serious takes to pointless tangents, it’s a mix of honest opinions, good-natured jabs, and that one argument that never really ended. Think of it as your weekly dose of cousinly chaos.

16h ago

Boots, Butter & Bad Ideas

Episode 40 has absolutely no business making this much sense... because it barely has a topic. John and Michael start by talking competitive Halo before somehow finding themselves discussing airline food, passenger rail, flying drones, Waffle House nutrition, sushi buffets, breakfast casseroles, Chamber of Commerce meetings, radio, TikTok attention spans, TV nostalgia, How I Met Your Mother, why women remember outfits forever, and whether guys could wear mismatched shoes without anyone noticing. Along the way they debate XM Radio, emergency broadcasts, business networking, old TV shows, graphic T-shirts, and Michael somehow invents a company that makes bulletproof helmets after being asked what business he'd start. It's one of those classic CuzWords episodes where the destination doesn't matter nearly as much as the conversation getting there.
Jul 27

The Encrapification of Everything

Episode 39 starts with Halo... and somehow stays there a lot longer than either cousin expected. John and Michael dive into Microsoft's latest Halo release, why charging $80 for essentially a remaster rubbed longtime fans the wrong way, whether Xbox has officially surrendered the console war, and why nostalgia can only carry a franchise so far. From there they spiral into Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, movie casting, Marvel's current direction, Rick & Morty, forgotten Halo maps, Forge mode, and why modern entertainment keeps chasing remakes instead of creating something new. The second half shifts from gaming frustrations to real-life ones as Michael gives an update on the never-ending bed bug saga, roof repairs, pest control nightmares, and why owning a home sometimes feels like a full-time job. John also shares how LegalShield unexpectedly helped solve a business problem and why having a lawyer send one letter can change everything. It's an episode about getting older, watching your favorite franchises change, and discovering that adult life somehow has even more boss battles than Halo ever did.
Jul 20

Is a Hot Dog a Taco?

Episode 38 starts with one simple question: "How's life been?" For Michael, the answer is... expensive. Within the span of two weeks he dealt with a leaking roof, bed bugs, a broken oven, pest control mishaps, emergency home repairs, and enough unexpected expenses to make Dave Ramsey proud. From there, the cousins naturally drift into what they do best: talking about absolutely everything. They revisit Halo, wonder why modern gaming has lost its magic, debate whether PCs have officially replaced consoles, and ask the important question nobody else is asking: Is a hot dog actually a taco? Somehow that leads into classifying lasagna, banana pudding, pot stickers, food trucks, childhood injuries, Papaw's questionable home medical procedures, old family memories, Saturday morning cartoons, and why getting older isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. It's another classic CuzWords episode where the destination was never the point.
Jul 13

Thick Bottoms and Dyslexia Fonts

Episode 37 starts with Fourth of July cookouts, leftover hot dogs, and Michael trying to watch the World Cup while pretending to pay attention to the podcast. From there, the cousins dive into Banana Ball, the state of modern baseball, a man who allegedly bought 16 beers at a game, and whether everything on the internet should now just be assumed to be AI. Then Madison makes a discovery that might explain something he's wondered about his entire life: he may be dyslexic. After trying a font specifically designed for people with dyslexia, reading suddenly goes from feeling like "walking through sand" to "gliding over water." What follows is a surprisingly deep—and frequently hilarious—conversation as Michael desperately tries to understand exactly how John's brain processes the letters B and D, why Madison has always hated subtitles, and whether this discovery means he might finally become an anime guy. The conversation then turns to privacy-focused phones, the massive 17,000 mAh battery and built-in projector of the Tank 5, and John's plan to see whether a smartphone could completely replace his laptop and desktop. Could our phones eventually become our computers, gaming consoles, AI assistants, and everything else? The cousins wrap things up with personal AI servers, robots doing household chores, whether the future will look more like The Jetsons or Mad Max, and the old internet theory that The Flintstones and The Jetsons might actually exist in the same universe.
Jul 6

How NOT to Fix a Toilet

Episode 36 has everything—from 100-degree Alabama heat to accidentally becoming the most infamous customer a local restaurant has ever seen. Michael returns from singing at a Missouri wedding where everything was performed completely a cappella, shares hilarious stories involving his mom introducing her 33-year-old son as someone who "wants to be a sports broadcaster when he grows up," and compares Midwestern potlucks to Southern ones. Then comes the story everyone will remember. Trying to be helpful after finding a broken toilet somehow turns into accidentally shattering the porcelain tank lid inside a restaurant bathroom. Between the owner, the awkward silence, and earning the nickname "Toilet Smasher," it quickly becomes one of the funniest stories ever told on the podcast. The cousins also dive into generational differences, theories about leaded gasoline and empathy, the changing nature of violent crime, World Cup fever sweeping America, why international visitors are falling in love with Buc-ee's, and why America may be even better than many people realize. It's another classic CuzWords episode full of stories that somehow go from heartfelt... to completely unhinged in a matter of minutes.
Jun 29

Can You Open a Subway Inside Another Subway?

CuzWords Episode 35 begins with an impromptu Wednesday recording as Michael prepares to travel for a family wedding and the cousins settle into another relaxed conversation. The discussion starts with excitement surrounding Halo's upcoming Campaign Evolved, leading to stories about growing up with Halo, favorite controllers, forgotten gaming memories, and the games that shaped their friendship. Along the way, they explore social media habits, streaming services, house hunting, fast-food nostalgia, gym culture, and the realities of adulthood—from mortgages to changing priorities. The episode concludes with an extended conversation about entrepreneurship, free markets, and the role of government, using everything from pressure washing businesses to private firefighters as examples in a thoughtful (and often humorous) debate. It's a wide-ranging episode that blends gaming, business, philosophy, and everyday life into another uniquely CuzWords conversation.
Jun 22

She Traveled the World and Found Paradise... I Mean, Parasite

CuzWords Episode 34 features a special guest appearance from cousin Jennifer (aka Jen, aka Squeaks), whose unique lifestyle and travel experiences provide one of the show's most diverse conversations to date. Jen shares stories from years of backpacking, long-distance hiking, international travel, and outdoor adventures, including completing the Appalachian Trail, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, navigating grizzly bear territory, and auditioning for Survivor. The conversation also explores family memories, childhood stories, and the different paths each cousin has taken in life. Along the way, they discuss risk-taking, personal growth, travel, and the lessons that come from spending years exploring unfamiliar places and cultures. One of the episode's most memorable segments focuses on Jen's long health journey, including a mystery illness that ultimately led to the discovery of a persistent parasite affectionately nicknamed “Pete,” creating both challenges and plenty of unexpected humor. The episode closes with discussions about adventure, health, outdoor living, and the importance of embracing experiences that push us beyond our comfort zones. It's a fun and thoughtful episode about family, resilience, exploration, and the stories that connect us no matter how far we travel.
Jun 15

Forest Fire vs. Tornado: The Movie

CuzWords Episode 33 begins with Michael recovering from one of the worst bouts of food poisoning he's ever experienced, which somehow leads directly into a discussion about forgotten English words like hither, thence, and thither. After a brief and unsuccessful attempt at becoming a language podcast, the cousins shift gears into movies, internet culture, and independent creators turning small online projects into major productions. That quickly spirals into discussions about the Backrooms movie, Red vs. Blue, and why Hollywood always ruins things once they become successful. Things really go off the rails when the conversation turns toward hurricanes, particle accelerators, nuclear bombs, and the completely reasonable question: What would happen if we dropped a nuke into a hurricane? From there, the cousins accidentally create the “Catastrophe Cinematic Universe,” featuring tornadoes, forest fires, tsunamis, solar flares, and a retired Dust Bowl being recruited for one final mission. The episode wraps up with fitness talk, cheat meals, fasting, bone broth, soccer injuries, and an argument over whether getting kicked by a soccer player hurts more than getting hit in the shin with a spinning 25-pound bar. It's science, stupidity, and cousin logic at its finest.

On CuzWords, two cousins dig into the things that matter and the things that absolutely don’t. From serious takes to pointless tangents, it’s a mix of honest opinions, good-natured jabs, and that one argument that never really ended. Think of it as your weekly dose of cousinly chaos.

Creator

John Giddens
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

42
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© John Giddens
Show Website

CuzWords