The Four Bests Podcast

fourbestspod

Four lifelong friends—Nate, Mac, Isaac, and Serge—grew up together in Pittsburgh, PA and have been inseparable for over 30 years. Now, they’re bringing their bond to the mic. Each month, they share the best moments from their lives, offering stories filled with laughter, reflection, and heart. In a world that can feel heavy, The Four Best Podcast is your monthly dose of light, friendship, and positivity.

  1. 18h ago ·  Video

    Episode 13: Actively Gamifying Life, Gen Z Career Moves, and Taekwondo Champions

    Episode Summary Welcome to Episode 13 of The Four Bests podcast! First, an important programming note: based on listener demand, the show is officially returning to its classic monthly format, with episodes dropping on the 4th of every month at 4:44 PM EST. Additionally, this episode features "three and a half bests" due to a technical glitch that lost Serge's original audio, but a special re-recorded segment was stitched in so you won't miss his massive martial arts update! Key Takeaways Combating High Cholesterol: Mac shares that his recent annual checkup revealed high cholesterol, a health trend that runs on the maternal side of their family. To combat it, he has cut down on ice cream and is focusing on movement by doing Yoga with Adriene every other day and walking five days a week. He is also loving his birthday gift from the guys: a pair of Shokz open-ear bone-conduction headphones that allow him to safely hear traffic while walking on streets without sidewalks. Gamifying Daily Discipline: Nate celebrates an epic 1,037-day streak on Duolingo, noting that he maintains a 600+ day "friend streak" with Isaac's daughter, Lydia. The group discusses the psychological benefits of gamifying daily tasks, from Nate's daily Wordle and crossword puzzles to Isaac's observation that Amazon fulfillment centers use video games at packing stations to keep warehouse employees mentally engaged. Isaiah's Career Level-Up: Isaac shares a proud dad moment regarding his son Isaiah's incredible work ethic. After striking up a conversation over his cowboy boots and welding helmet on a flight from Pittsburgh, Isaiah landed a side gig helping on a 1,000-acre Central Florida ranch. Seeking upward mobility and benefits, Isaiah also crushed a weld test to land a full-time, 50-hour-a-week job at Acrosa, a national company that builds highway traffic brackets. He is moving to a resort-style apartment in Central Florida that is strategically located just 15 minutes from both his new job and the ranch. A Taekwondo National Champion: In a special re-recorded segment, Serge reveals that he competed in the recreational bracket of the ATA Taekwondo Nationals at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Despite facing much larger opponents, Serge utilized his agility to take 1st place in Traditional Sparring, and also won 1st place in Forms after flawlessly executing a choreographed routine known as "Song number 5"! 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Schedule Update: The Four Bests is officially a monthly podcast again! Catch new episodes on the 4th of every month at exactly 4:44 PM EST. Get in Touch: Reach out to the guys at fourbestspod@gmail.com.

  2. Oct 28 ·  Video

    Episode 12 (Part 4): Nate's Best – Sweeping the Art Contest Awards at the Fair

    Welcome to the final segment of Episode 12 of The Four Bests podcast! This week, Isaac passes the mic to Nate to share his August 2026 best: celebrating his daughter Elsie's incredible success submitting her artwork to the Polk County Fair and the Oregon State Fair. The guys discuss the beauty of grassroots art communities, Elsie's creative process with YouTube tutorials and Lego dioramas, and the collective trauma of using the MS Paint bucket tool in the 90s. 🚨 Programming Note: Based on your feedback, we are returning to our classic monthly schedule! Starting with our next release, full episodes will drop once a month on the 4th of every month at exactly 4:44 PM EST. Key Takeaways The County Fair Sweep: Elsie submitted 14 pieces of art to the Polk County Fair—including paintings, drawings, and a diorama—and walked away with three 1st place, six 2nd place, and three 3rd place ribbons. The Judges Choice Reeboks: Nate gave Elsie a plain pair of white Reeboks for Father's Day, which she completely customized into a Toy Story theme featuring Buzz Lightyear and Woody. The shoes won a Judges Choice Award and are currently sitting in a display case at the State Fair. State Fair Traditions: Nate reflects on the magic of the grassroots art community, noting that he and Heidi have attended the Oregon State Fair every year for 26 years since they first started getting to know each other there in 2001. Elsie also took home two 3rd place ribbons at the state level, with one watercolor of Haystack Rock even getting moved up to the adult section for consideration. YouTube & Legos: Elsie draws inspiration from YouTube art tutorials to hone her craft, and frequently builds elaborate, movie-set style dioramas using Legos. 90s Digital Art Nostalgia: Praising Elsie's hands-on talent, the guys reminisce about the struggles of early digital art, specifically the pain of the MS Paint bucket tool accidentally turning the entire screen yellow, and the classic Spider-Man Cartoon Maker CD-ROM featuring Kraven. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Schedule Update: We are moving back to our monthly release format! Catch our next episode on the 4th of the month at 4:44 PM EST. Get in Touch: Reach out to the guys at fourbestspod@gmail.com.

  3. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Episode 12 (Part 3): Serge's 9-Month Secret, Taekwondo Tournaments & Green Belts

    Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 12 of The Four Bests podcast! This week, Nate hosts as Serge takes the mic to reveal a massive secret he has been hiding from the guys for the last nine months: he has been secretly training in Taekwondo! The guys react to a slideshow of Serge’s martial arts journey, debate his new status as a "local vigilante," and celebrate his impressive third-place sparring finish at his very first competition. Key Takeaways The Big Reveal: Serge shares his August 2026 best by revealing he has spent the last nine months secretly taking Taekwondo classes, successfully working his way up from a white belt to a green belt. A Family Affair (and a Free Trial): Serge started taking classes at the same studio as his son, Felix, largely because the studio offered the first two months free to parents to encourage discipline and family bonding. Sparring Success: Despite getting his foot stomped by a purple belt "ringer," Serge proudly announces that he placed third in the men's sparring division at his very first tournament. The Vigilante Threat: Nate and Isaac immediately joke that Serge's new skills make him a vigilante threat to toddlers, local governments, and the federal agents looking into his melted ice cream tax evasion habits. Mac suggests Serge should update his resume to list both his Six Sigma Green Belt and his Taekwondo Green Belt. Upcoming Tournaments: Serge is taking his skills on the road, preparing to compete at an upcoming ATA tournament at the Kalahari Waterpark in Ohio, followed by the National Championships hosted at the Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh this October. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: The podcast drops weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at exactly 4:44 PM Eastern Standard Time. Get in Touch: Reach out to the guys at fourbestspod@gmail.com.

  4. Oct 14 ·  Video

    Episode 12 (Part 2): Mac’s Best – The Family Board Game Renaissance

    Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 12 of The Four Bests podcast! This week, Serge takes the host's chair (after briefly laying off Nate for an administrative note error and debating the ethics of Riverside's AI voice cloning) as Mac shares his "best" from August 2026: diving deep into a family board gaming renaissance with his kids. The guys reminisce about the golden age of tabletop games, air out decades-old grievances over childhood game betrayals, and test their historical trivia knowledge on the oldest board game in human history. Key Takeaways Screen-Free Family Fun: Mac shares that his best of the month has been consistently playing board games with his kids, trading TV and screen time for creative, face-to-face family interaction. Thanks to games like the King of Tokyo: Monster Box edition (gifted by Serge) and the Harry Potter deck-building game, Mac loves finally having a parenting activity that is just as fun for him as it is for the kids. Co-Op Dominance & Childhood Memories: Isaac recalls getting hooked on modern cooperative games like Pandemic with Mac and Nate, though he admits his own family refuses to play it with him because he gets too dominant calling the shots. He also reflects on how special Sunday family game nights were for him growing up. The Infamous Spider-Manopoly Heist: The nostalgia quickly turns to betrayal as Serge calls out the guys for allying against him in Risk. The group also laughs about a legendary game of Spider-Manopoly where Isaac used a "charisma level 20" pitch to dupe Serge into trading away Boardwalk and Park Place for a measly $500. Escape Rooms & Magic: The Gathering: Serge shares a great moment watching things click for his eight-year-old son, Felix, while playing a one-time-use Escape Room Clue game. Meanwhile, Nate reveals he has fallen back down the Magic: The Gathering rabbit hole—starting with opening Spider-Man booster packs with patients, joining a Secrets of Strixhaven draft with a coworker, and buying up Marvel MTG cards. 3100 BC Price is Right Trivia: Isaac quizzes the guys on the oldest recorded board game in history, which turns out to be Senet from 3100 BC Ancient Egypt, followed by a nod to Milton Bradley's 1860 The Checkered Game of Life. During the guessing, Nate uses cutthroat Price is Right rules—guessing 4,999 BC right after Mac's 5,000 BC guess—to crush his younger brother one more time. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: The podcast drops weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at 4:44 PM Eastern Standard Time. Get in Touch: Share your own "best" or sponsor Serge's unapologetic habit of melting ice cream in the microwave by emailing fourbestspod@gmail.com.

  5. Oct 7 ·  Video

    Episode 12 (Part 1): Isaac’s Best – The 5 AM Coffee Walk

    Welcome to Episode 12 (Part 1) of The Four Bests podcast! Mac takes the host's chair this week as Isaac shares a heartfelt "best" reflecting on his 12-year daily routine of taking a 5:00 AM morning walk with his wife, Rachel. The guys discuss the physical and mental health benefits of getting those morning miles in, the importance of intentional time in a marriage, and how to avoid jet lag through extreme dedication to an Eastern Standard Time walking schedule. Key Takeaways The 5 AM Walk: Isaac reflects on the special morning routine he shares with his wife, Rachel, which involves waking up at 5:00 AM every day to walk their 16-year-old dog for an hour while drinking coffee. Starting in Rhode Island: The tradition began back in 2014 when the couple lived in Rhode Island, serving as a way to intentionally connect before Isaac's demanding work schedule kept them apart for the rest of the day. Beating Jet Lag: Isaac is so dedicated to this routine that when he travels for work to the West Coast, he stays on Eastern time and goes for his walks at 2:00 AM, much to the confusion of locals. Unplugged Connection: The three-mile morning stroll provides a private, quiet space for Isaac and Rachel to vent about work, discuss what is going on with their kids (Lydia and Isaiah), and stay perfectly in sync. The Science of Walking: Nate drops some knowledge on the mental and physical health benefits of early morning walks, noting that regular exercise works as well as an antidepressant and releases BDNF to promote brain health and neuroplasticity. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: The podcast drops weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at exactly 4:44 PM Eastern Standard Time. Get in Touch: Reach out to the guys at fourbestspod@gmail.com.

  6. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Episode 11 (Part 5): The 5th Wednesday Summer Media Special

    Welcome to a very special bonus segment of The Four Bests podcast! Because September 2026 gifted the calendar with a rare fifth Wednesday, Nate, Isaac, Serge, and Mac are taking a break from their standard monthly recaps to host a special roundtable on the best media they consumed this past summer. The guys cover everything from addictive audiobooks and standalone sci-fi films to physical CDs and a return to grounded superhero storytelling. Key Takeaways Nate’s Best: Nate kicks off the special episode by recommending the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobook series by Matt Dinneman, which he discovered through his cousin Sarah Rogers. Narrated masterfully by Jeff Hayes, the series drops survivors of an alien invasion into a comedic, violent, and irreverent video game-style universe complete with loot boxes and leveling up. Isaac’s Best: Breaking out of his 90s television rut, Isaac shares his experience taking Lydia and Isaiah to the theater to see the newest Tom Holland Spider-Man movie. He praises the film for ditching the exhausting galactic-level stakes to tell a grounded, character-driven New York story that recaptured the nostalgia of seeing the original Tobey Maguire films at the Waterfront in Pittsburgh. Mac’s Best: Mac shares that he bought a physical CD of Josh Groban's new May release, Cinematic. He breaks down the tracklist of classic movie themes, noting that Groban's own father plays jazz trumpet on the Moon River cover, and shares that the album successfully transitioned his daughter Ella into an Adele fan. Serge’s Best: Serge highlights the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary as his top summer media. He appreciates that it is a satisfying standalone sci-fi story, praises the unique "bro-ship" between Ryan Gosling's character and an alien rock named Rocky, and expertly dodges Nate's highly questionable jokes about the movie's power dynamics. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: The podcast drops weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at 4:44 PM Eastern Standard Time. Get in Touch: Share your summer media favorites by emailing fourbestspod@gmail.com, or follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @Forebest Pod.

  7. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Episode 11 (Part 4): Erie Day Trips, Stardew Valley Milestones, and Rock Tic-Tac-Toe

    Welcome to Part 4 of Episode 11 of The Four Bests podcast! This week, Isaac, Mac, and Nate pass the mic to Serge to share his "best" from July 2026. Serge discusses a spontaneous family day trip to Lake Erie, celebrating family milestones, and the unique ways he connects with his kids through nature and co-op gaming. The guys also dive into a passionate endorsement of the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle deck-building game. Key Takeaways A Spontaneous Erie Trip: Serge’s mother-in-law suggested a day trip to Erie, which ended up falling on her and her husband's 44th wedding anniversary, as well as Serge's nephew Hunter’s birthday. Water Tic-Tac-Toe: While enjoying the beach, the family collected incredibly smooth rocks and sea glass. Serge's daughter, Tesla, surprised him in the water by using two smooth rocks to scratch out a Tic-Tac-Toe board so they could play right in the lake. A Five-Year Gaming Milestone: Serge shares that he and Tesla finally completed the main mission of the cooperative farming simulator Stardew Valley after five years of playing together. They successfully rebuilt the in-game community center, defeated the corporate JojaMart, and unlocked the challenging Ginger Island. Co-op Gaming Chaos: The group discusses the highs and lows of cooperative gaming with kids. Serge talks about trying to keep track of Felix in a new game called Big Walk, where Felix frequently falls off cliffs and has to use flares to be found in the dark. The Hogwarts Battle Endorsement: Mac shares his success teaching his younger kids the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle deck-building game. Isaac chimes in to say that he and Lydia were completely unbeatable at the game until Isaiah joined their team, caused a loss, and was subsequently banned by Lydia from playing with them again. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at exactly 4:44 PM EST. Get in Touch: Share your own "best" or game recommendations by emailing fourbestspod@gmail.com, or follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @Forebest Pod.

  8. Sep 16 ·  Video

    Episode 11 (Part 3): Mac’s Best – The Semi-Quincentennial & Lake Erie

    Welcome to Part 3 of Episode 11 of The Four Bests podcast! This week, Nate takes over hosting duties as Mac shares his best of July 2026: a family trip to Erie, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the 4th of July and America's 250th anniversary. The guys discuss the magic of seeing fireworks through a child's eyes, share some hilarious and highly questionable past firework memories, and reminisce about a rather unconventional 30th birthday kidnapping. Key Takeaways A Semi-Quincentennial Celebration: Mac shares that his best of the month was taking his family up to the Erie bayfront to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Because his kids usually go to bed early, this was their very first time seeing fireworks, and they were absolutely transfixed. Avoiding the Storm: The Kravitz family originally found a perfect viewing spot on the grass by the lake, but an incoming thunderstorm forced them to retreat to the hotel. They ended up watching the July 3rd fireworks display from the hotel's infinity pool deck instead. Kidnapping Serge: Discussing Lake Erie prompts Isaac to bring up Sergey's 30th birthday, where the guys threw Sergey into a burlap sack, put him in a vehicle, and drove him to a water park in Erie. The Michigan Mortar: Isaac and Serge recall a Fourth of July in Michigan where a neighbor gave them a leftover firework to light in the street. Expecting a small fountain, they were shocked when it shot 40 feet into the air and exploded like a professional-grade mortar in the middle of the suburbs. Living Through The Kids: Nate reflects on how the magic of certain events, like fireworks, fades as an adult. He notes that getting to witness these moments freshly through the eyes of nieces, nephews, and children brings the joy right back. 📅 Release Schedule & Contact New Episodes: The podcast drops weekly on Wednesdays (the fourth day of the week) at 4:44 PM Eastern Standard Time. Get in Touch: Reach out to the guys at fourbestspod@gmail.com or find them on X.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Four lifelong friends—Nate, Mac, Isaac, and Serge—grew up together in Pittsburgh, PA and have been inseparable for over 30 years. Now, they’re bringing their bond to the mic. Each month, they share the best moments from their lives, offering stories filled with laughter, reflection, and heart. In a world that can feel heavy, The Four Best Podcast is your monthly dose of light, friendship, and positivity.

Information

  • Creator
    fourbestspod
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Four Bests Podcast