It’s John Farrar, the resident movie and TV nerd here at Pix, popping in as the guest editor for today’s Worth the Listen. While my expertise is in cinema, there’s one particular podcast I can confidently say I know more about than almost anyone. It’s a show that has been with me through every stage of my adult life and is responsible for some of the hardest laughs I’ve ever had. Described by the hosts as "a show about nothing," it truly is the pinnacle of escapist entertainment, and a piece of content that I look forward to every Monday morning. I’m talking about The Basement Yard. Keep reading for a deep dive into why I love the show, how it has evolved over the years, and why you should give it a listen.

Meet Joe Santagato and Frank Alvarez, two lifelong best friends from Astoria, Queens, who have been making videos together since grade school. Their distinctly New York personalities are a huge part of the show's charm, whether they're reminiscing about their childhood antics, doing hilariously exaggerated impressions of New York accents, or bonding over their shared love of hot dogs at Yankee Stadium. But what really makes The Basement Yard work is their contrasting personalities. Joe is the quick-witted, sarcastic voice of reason, while Frank is his loud, animated, and unpredictable counterpart. To give you an idea of their vibe, Joe trains for marathons, wears trendy watches ("Billionaire Joe" is his nickname for a reason), and reads personal development books, while Frank is obsessed with Megazords, thinks he can beat a chimpanzee in a fight, and claims his body is "mostly scars" (a long-running inside joke for fans of the pod). Together, they're a comedic match made in heaven.

Now, if the image above makes The Basement Yard look a little too "bro-coded" for your taste, I can assure you, it's anything but your typical dude podcast. I've even seen them affectionately dubbed "the only two straight men allowed to have a podcast" by members of the queer community. Beneath all the yelling, outrageous tangents, and horrible takes, there's a genuine warmth to their friendship that's impossible to fake. They're funny and genuinely good-hearted guys who aren't afraid to be vulnerable or make complete fools of themselves. It's the kind of show that makes you feel like you're hanging out with two old friends, even if you've never met them.

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The show was originally hosted by Joe and former Vine legend and comedian Danny Lopriore. Because they weren’t lifelong friends and didn’t have decades of shared history, they got to learn about each other on the show in real-time. It made for some unforgettable clips (the "you're a rat!" bit is a fan-favorite) that had me wheezing, as well as some heartfelt talks about dealing with panic attacks and living with mental illness. This period of The Basement Yard was short-lived, but it’s worth mentioning because the episodes with Danny are some of my all-time favorites.

Best B.F.E. episode to listen to: The Basement Yard #184 - The Friendship Test

One day, our beloved Danny decided to leave The Basement Yard to pursue his own endeavors. It was a tragic day for listeners, but the mourning was quickly put to rest when it was announced that Frankie, Joe’s bestie and a familiar face on the program, would be stepping in as the new half of the podcast.

Truthfully, it took me a while to come around to Frankie as a new co-host and the vibe he brought to the show. Don't get me wrong, he was always funny and clearly has a good heart, but his determination to never say anything that might offend anyone felt a little overbearing, especially on a show that thrived on unfiltered conversations. At times, it felt like he was walking on eggshells rather than just speaking his mind.

But as time has gone on, the yin and yang of Joe and Frankie’s dynamic has really grown on me. Frankie is married and a father of three, while Joe is engaged with no kids. As they tell stories or debate their unpopular opinions, there's often a hilarious clash between Joe's child-free perspective and Frankie's 'just wait until you have kids' mentality.

Best F.E. episode to listen to: RIP To Frank's Balls | The Basement Yard #406

If I've done my job, I've convinced at least a few of you to give The Basement Yard a listen—or better yet, a watch. Seriously, the video version is even funnier. It’s free on every podcast platform, but if you want an extra episode every week, you can subscribe to their Patreon. Not that Joe and Frankie need the free publicity—with more than 52,000 Patreon subscribers, they're running one of the biggest podcasts on the platform. And with memberships starting at $5 a month, that's at least a quarter of a million dollars in monthly revenue. Just imagine making that kind of money by sitting around and talking shit with your best friend. Talk about living the dream!

But what I appreciate most is that, despite their meteoric rise, Joe and Frankie still seem like the same down-to-earth guys they've always been. They haven't lost the authenticity, self-deprecating humor, or genuine friendship that made the show so special in the first place. After all these years, listening to them still feels like hanging out with a couple of old friends. And that's the magic of The Basement Yard.

If you give it a shot and find yourself craving more of that same type of conversational "podcasts about nothing," I've got you covered. Below are three more of my favorite podcasts where the only real premise is a group of friends getting together to yap.

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If you're not familiar with Brittany Broski (you might recognize her as "kombucha girl"), do yourself a favor and change that immediately. One of the funniest personalities on the internet, Brittany hosts a delightfully unhinged talk show where celebrity guests must prove themselves worthy of joining her royal court. It's absurd, unpredictable, and consistently hilarious. Plus, the episodes are only 20-40 minutes and her most recent episode features—you guessed it—The Basement Yard boys.

If my praise for the Danny era of The Basement Yard has you curious, I've got good news: He's still making people laugh on his own podcast! Lopsided delivers the same chaotic, unfiltered humor that made Danny such a memorable co-host, with plenty of ridiculous stories and moments of heartfelt vulnerability. For longtime Basement Yard fans, it's like catching up with an old friend. And in a world filled with 1-2 hour-long podcasts, I think we can all appreciate a podcast that offers short and sweet 25-minute episodes.

Few people can turn an ordinary conversation into something as effortlessly hilarious as Caleb Hearon. Whether he's swapping ridiculous stories with fellow comedians or getting surprisingly philosophical with celebrity guests, his razor-sharp wit and impeccable comedic timing make every episode feel like you're eavesdropping on the funniest conversation at a party.

John Farrar went to film school, spent a few years as an editor, then accidentally built an audience online by sharing his passion for cinema. He covers film and TV for Pix Media, interviews the people behind some of your favorite shows and movies, and has never once successfully talked himself out of buying a movie ticket.