It's Christmas week! Merry Christmas Jokers. It's been arguably the toughest year in our young history but this episode making it out is proof that there's always light at the end of the tunnel, otherwise that's not a tunnel. Jesus loves you and there's always something past whatever you're going through at the moment.
Now, before we begin, just know this: at some point in this episode, P.T. Barnum himself gets summoned into the studio, and no one emotionally survives it — least of all Lil B.
Anyway—
This episode pulls the glittery circus curtain straight off the myth of P.T. Barnum, the man Hollywood rebranded as a singing, dancing, top-hat philanthropist. But behind the jazz hands and catchy choruses lies a much messier truth: Barnum was a hustler, a hoax machine, a PR genius, a chronic exaggerator, and occasionally… a menace.
We time-travel through his childhood scams, schoolyard “magic bean” startups, his first big hoax (selling the public a 161-year-old woman), the infamous Feejee Mermaid, and the creation of the American Museum — the original headquarters of vibes-over-facts. Then we follow him into the circus era, where elephants became walking billboards and sideshows transformed everyday people into spectacles.
Through mock interviews, reenactments, interruptions by Barnum himself, Lil B’s heartbreak, Shalewa’s disappointment, and Prof Prof being generally unhelpful, we break down the real story behind “The Greatest Showman.”
This isn’t the Barnum from your musical playlist.
This is the Barnum who would’ve sold that playlist to you for triple the price — and thrown in a fake mermaid for good measure.
Step right up, Jokers.
The humbug awaits.
Shalewa Holmes once said, “The yam is but a distraction,” which is not a sentence you expect from a world-class detective, but here we are.
Anyway—
In this investigative sequel, we go deeper into the yamification mystery — past the folklore, beyond the juju science, straight into conspiracy territory. Sherlock Shalewa Holmes returns with his most unhinged deduction yet, breaking down the seven possible culprits behind Nigeria’s favourite supernatural threat: spiritual leaders, fraudsters, Nollywood, ritualists, parents, the yam industry… and yes, the mysterious Yam Mafia.
But the rabbit hole doesn’t end there.
We hear fresh witness testimonies from people who swear they almost turned tuber. We get an undercover confession from a masked yam seller whose business model depends on “special yams.” And we take calls from the newly launched Yam Alert Hotline, where one representative is doing her absolute best not to scream at the chaos unfolding on the phone lines.
This episode explores the politics, paranoia, and profit surrounding a myth that has shaped generations — and asks the question the government really doesn’t want you to ask:
If yamification isn’t real…
why does everyone know someone who “almost turned”?
Welcome to The Other Side of Yam — where superstition becomes evidence, evidence becomes conspiracy, and every N500 note on the floor suddenly feels like a trap.
Everybody say HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAYO! This is our first ever episode on my birthday and we're talking about... checks show notes
Dear lord 🤦🏾♂️, well, enjoy!
People always say “don’t pick money from the ground,” but nobody warned us the consequence could be… turning into lunch. Okay maybe they did.
Anyway—
In this investigative mockumentary, we dive headfirst into one of Nigeria’s most chaotic superstitions: the myth that picking ground money can turn you into a yam. Yes. An actual yam. The kind your aunty boils for Sunday lunch.
From whispered market rumours to distorted survivor testimonies, from Nollywood’s obsession with dramatic tuber transformations to that viral Ibadan incident that had people shouting “yamification!”, this episode uncovers the cultural roots — and absolute madness — behind one of our most persistent urban legends.
We explore the folklore, the fear, the juju science, the moral lessons, the scam-prevention theory, and the accidental comedy woven through generations. Along the way, Prof Prof breaks down the sociology of yam myths, two market boys make terrible life choices, and Inspector Chukwudi (a.k.a. The Yam Whisperer) tries to get promoted while being slapped by civilians.
And just when you think it can’t get more ridiculous, Shalewa Holmes arrives to investigate the conspiracy behind it all. Because if people really are turning into tubers… someone out there is benefitting.
This is superstition meets satire, urban legend meets detective story, and fear meets fufu.
Welcome to the Duality of Yam — where every warning your parents ever shouted suddenly makes too much sense.
Look, if a goat ever introduces itself as “Commander of the Northern Armies,” just leave. Don’t ask questions. Don’t wait for subtitles. Just… leave.
Anyway—
This episode picks up right where the foolishness peaks. The goats have multiplied, organized, unionized, and somehow declared themselves landlords of the Galápagos Islands. What started as a handful of abandoned livestock has escalated into one of the most absurd ecological battles ever fought, and we’re documenting every wild moment.
We travel through decades of destruction, scientists losing their minds, park rangers chasing goats up volcanoes, military generals refusing to be threatened by livestock, and the legendary rise (and mysterious disappearance) of Maximus Goátimus Meridius. Yes, the one who speaks through a diplomat fluent in Pig and Goat Latin.
From helicopter raids to the betrayal of the Judas Goats, from the Tortoise Summit of 1995 to the final eradication campaign, this is the fully unhinged chronicle of a war the world pretends never happened.
Welcome to the finale of the Galapagoat saga.
Apparently, the entire ecological collapse of the Galápagos Islands started because some pirates were hungry and forgot to pack food when travelling. Yes. That’s genuinely the inciting incident of this episode.
Anyway—
In this chaotic, mockumentary-style dive, we trace how a volcanic archipelago went from “accidental punishment island” to the stage where the goats begin their quiet, innocent march toward becoming a full-blown ecological menace.
We meet pirates who never should’ve had livestock privileges, a bishop who did not mince words about how much he hated the place, Charles Darwin spiraling into an existential crisis because the birds were stressing him, and the blue-footed boobies who genuinely didn’t ask to be part of all this.
This is where the saga begins, the origin story that sets up one of history’s most unnecessary wars. A war between man, nature, and goats who really should’ve just minded their business.
Welcome to the beginning of the Great Galapagoat War.
Skill Issue is a comedy documentary about why people hate being bad, and how we evolved to blame ourselves for everything.
This episode does exactly what no one asked for — it investigates why two words have taken over gaming, group chats, offices, family dinners, and that one friend who blames “network” for everything.
Why listen?
Because the world is on fire, but laughing at your own incompetence is free.
Because you’ll learn something weird and almost useful.
And because deep down… you know the problem might actually be you.
Connect with the host and the pod on social media for more fun content and updates.
on IG: https://instagram.com/whatajokepod?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
on X: https://x.com/whatajokepod?s=21&t=aim75UE7QrGvf8rbnP9YZA
Your favourite comedy podcast is back! For real this time!
And this is about to be THE craziest season yet.
Connect with the host and the pod on social media for more fun content and updates.
on IG: https://instagram.com/whatajokepod?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
on X: https://x.com/whatajokepod?s=21&t=aim75UE7QrGvf8rbnP9YZA
History. Boring, right?
Well that's the history you're used to, but on What a Joke, we KNOW our history... or do we?
On the sequel to our uncritically unacclaimed game show episode 'Know Your History', we have two new guests playing to win absolutely nothing!
It's absolutely hilarious.
Miss me?
(Is that even a question?)
This might come as a shock to some of you, but no, the podcast is still running, and while this isn't the start of the new season. It's somewhere around the corner.
Earlier this year, we celebrated the 4th year of the show going live with a live listening party in Lagos, Nigeria. If you weren't there, here's a teeny weeny sample of the awesomeness you missed!
(PS: Catch me at Ouida's open mic night this thursday if you're on the Lagos mainland!)
Connect with the pod on social media for more fun content and updates.
on IG: https://instagram.com/whatajokepod?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
on X: https://x.com/whatajokepod?s=21&t=aim75UE7QrGvf8rbnP9YZA
Merry Christmas Jokers, we’re at the end of another season (and another year). Hope you take it easy and have a wonderful rest of your holidays. See you next year!
Join the Joker Hub community at this link https://chat.whatsapp.com/D21kS7Vtoqw1WBaWagFpDv
Connect with the pod on social media for more fun content and updates.
on IG: https://instagram.com/whatajokepod?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
on X: https://x.com/whatajokepod?s=21&t=aim75UE7QrGvf8rbnP9YZA