Recorded from a rental car on the top level of a Houston parking garage, Bryce, Ryan, and Tyler get real about what it takes to stay sharp when the schedule is relentless and the dirt is unforgiving.

They dig into the invisible side of Monster Jam: how confidence is built (and how fast it can disappear), why seat time matters more than talent alone, and the uncomfortable truth about “homework” that separates drivers who grow from drivers who just show up. They also address the online noise, how comments can hit harder than people realize, and why the sport needs more transparency without giving ammo to the wrong crowd.

Then the tone flips into pure truck-nerd fun with a “dream truck” draft that turns into a debate about what makes a monster truck truly special: the feel, the landing, the look, and the fan connection.

End result: part locker-room honesty, part masterclass on confidence, and part bench-racing chaos, the perfect setup for a big weekend in Houston.

Bryce, Tyler, Bari, and Ryan kick things off in Houston by immediately roasting each other about media duty, missed calls, and who is and is not doing interviews. From there it turns into a full “boys trip” recap, with Tyler and Ryan recounting King of the Hammers in all its glory: sleeping three deep in a Jeep Wrangler for days, barely functioning, and somehow surviving on gas station logistics, wet wipes, and questionable footwear decisions. The stories peak with two instant classics: Tyler absolutely dismantling Dave Cole at pool inside a wildly over the top desert compound, and Calvin Raymer showing up at Chocolate Thunder like a human highlight reel and putting on a show right in their faces.

The middle of the episode pivots into a hilarious candy draft that turns surprisingly intense. Everyone argues what counts as “top shelf” candy, Bari’s dessert obsession gets exposed, and the crew debates Nerds, Airheads, Spree, Reese’s (and whether they have changed), and the universal hatred for Almond Joy. It’s a perfect snapshot of locker room banter that somehow becomes an actual thesis on taste, adulthood, and self control.

Then the conversation shifts into something deeper: Monster Jam’s identity crisis between entertainment and true competition. The guys break down recent point deductions, the frustration of getting punished for accidents versus intent, and how blanket rules can end up impacting the best drivers most. They debate whether the sport should lean harder into objective rules to legitimize competition, or admit it is primarily about putting on an unforgettable show for fans. That opens a broader discussion about social media pressure, influencer entitlement, and why genuine fan communities like the Monster Jam moms are actually helping the sport more than “content leeches.”

They close by landing on what matters most: the locker room culture. Even when the rules are messy and seasons feel frustrating, the relationships, the behind the scenes crew, and the shared respect are the foundation. Bryce wraps it with a call for reviews and listener questions, and Bari ends the only way he can: “Let’s go get some Reese cups.”

It’s the first Gears & Nachos episode of 2026 and Bryce Kenny is joined by Tyler Menninga and special guest Bari Musawwir for a wide-open, hilarious, and surprisingly deep garage session from San Diego.

The guys bounce from real-life chaos (HOA headaches, “backflow” inspections, and the thankless job of being too likable) straight into the heart of Monster Jam: how confidence can make or break an entire weekend, why “shut your brain off” isn’t the full story, and how the sport is evolving into a reaction-time game at the highest level. They recap the San Diego and Anaheim weekends, talk about fragile-versus-tank truck psychology, dialing in shock settings, and how one small issue can snowball into a rough stretch until you finally get that one clean event that resets everything.

They also dig into the one-hit Skills format, why combos are becoming the new separator, and how track design can either create flow or force drivers into isolated “moments.”

Plus: rising talent talk (including the buzz around Pauken III), simulator habits, cross-threading debates, snack-table accusations, and the kind of off-the-rails banter that only happens when you stick three Monster Jam drivers in a room and hit record.