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Plays here stream straight from our feed. Prefer your own app? Hit “Listen on Spotify,” or find us wherever you get your podcasts.In this episode
Reese busts out of the basement to make it “three amigos” for a cautionary tale every first-timer needs — the debit-card hold that froze a guest's four grand — plus Gary's genuinely handy breakdown of how Carnival's onboard holds stack up. Charitable causes, a misspelled “Karen Ball,” and Reese's unrepeatable tip-photo suggestion round out a loose, laugh-heavy hour.
What they covered
Topics on deck
Debit-card holds disaster
How Carnival's rolling holds stack up
The misspelled “Karen Ball” post
Reese's “Faces of Horror” charity
Cash-tips-on-a-bed photo
Virtue-signaling debate
Group Cruise #1 to Alaska
Don’t miss
Moments worth the wait
- Reese returns to fanfare — a triumphant welcome back for the third amigo.
“Dude, it is so awesome to be able to be in an episode other than FRGC with your Reese… This is history making right now.”
- The core debit-card lesson — plainly stated for every first-timer.
“do not tie your debit card to your carnival account… Be aware. They simply don’t care after they have your money.”
- Gary walks the holds — exactly how Carnival's charges stack up day by day.
“If that charge goes through, Carnival lets you off the ship. If it doesn’t go through, Carnival makes you go see guest services before you leave the ship.”
- The “Karen Ball” gag — the running joke over the poster misspelling the cruise line.
“How did this guy freaking miss the carnival four times? But he spelled it right one time.”
- Calling the tip photo — Gary's verdict on the cash-on-the-bed post.
“why in the hell do you have to post? I did this for this person. I 100% feel that it is virtue signaling.”
- Reese's deadpan pitch — his off-the-wall idea for what the guests should have spelled out.
“We had sex on this bed… Give them something that’s going to enhance their life.”
Golden nuggets
Running bits & lore born here
- Reese “locked in the basement” — the bit returns, along with his “president of the cult members” title.
- The noir “these are their stories” opener — the “golden boys” verdict-style intro sets up the debit-card tale.
- CruisingSwag & DuckSoaps — the “loyal listener” reverse-coupon that charges you extra, plus the Halloween scent line, cruising ducks, and Willie Nelson's “On the Pond Again.”
- President's Day dude's cruise ad — now with shirtless Abraham Lincoln, not just George Washington.
- Group cruises — Group Cruise #1 to Alaska (40 booked) and a teased Podcastaways-only 2026 sailing.
- Reese's stand-up plug — Oklahoma City's Indigo Lounge, Oct 25 — plus “save the foosball tables” and the “unique, special, and loved” sign-off.