290: Unexplainable Reddit Stories.. Ft Damien Haas
Evaluation and Summary
Two Hot Takes episode 290 features guest Damien Haas from Smosh joining host Morgan to discuss a collection of unexplainable and paranormal Reddit stories. The episode promises to cover six distinct narratives: a gnome sighting, a girlfriend allegedly possessed by her grandmother, a sighting of "The Smiling Man" (a creepypasta-adjacent entity), a mysterious basement discovered inside a meat shop, mysterious messages left by a deceased grandmother and friend, and a palate-cleansing story about a bird acting as a guardian angel. The framing suggests these are genuine Reddit submissions that defy rational explanation, with the hosts providing commentary and analysis. Damien Haas's presence as a guest co-host indicates the episode leans into entertainment and comedic banter alongside the paranormal content. The show notes emphasize subscriber engagement (mentioning a 1 million subscriber goal for a 10-hour episode 300) and include standard podcast infrastructure: Patreon bonus content, merchandise links, and sponsor reads from State Farm and Credit Karma. The episode runs 1 hour 38 minutes, suggesting substantial time devoted to story discussion and host reactions. The tone appears to blend genuine curiosity about unexplained phenomena with entertainment-focused commentary, typical of the Two Hot Takes format which combines Reddit story analysis with personality-driven discussion.
Verdict: A competent but unremarkable entry in the paranormal podcast genre that delivers on its title promise but lacks evidence of originality, depth, or standout entertainment value.
Comedy rubric
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Laugh density n/a
Show notes provide no specific evidence of comedic moments, timing, or jokes that landed; cannot assess without hearing the actual episode
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Originality of material 2/5 31%
Reddit paranormal story compilations are a well-established podcast format; gnome sightings, possession narratives, and creepypasta references are familiar paranormal tropes
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Chemistry and delivery n/a
No details about host interaction quality, timing, or rapport between Morgan and Damien Haas provided in show notes
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Substance 3/5 23%
Six distinct stories promise solid content, but show notes reveal no depth of analysis, investigation, or insight—just story titles and a palate cleanser
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Delivers on its title 4/5 23%
Title promises unexplainable Reddit stories and the episode delivers exactly that: six paranormal/eerie narratives from Reddit with a guest co-host
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Value for time 3/5 23%
98 minutes for six stories suggests reasonable pacing, but without evidence of tight editing or compelling analysis, the length could include padding
Worth it if you enjoy Reddit paranormal story compilations and want to hear Damien Haas's commentary alongside Two Hot Takes' established format.
Content flags
- Ad-heavy Multiple sponsor reads (State Farm, Credit Karma) plus Patreon promotion, merch links, and YouTube subscription push in show notes suggest significant ad load relative to content
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.
Show notes
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