The No Such Thing as a Fish hosts in the bathroom at Mean Doses Taproom in Wellington
In a bar upstairs on Wellington’s Tory Street, fans of an internationally acclaimed podcast will soon be able to hear a secret, exclusive episode – but they will have to go to the bathroom to do so. Recorded in a corner of Mean Doses Taproom by three out of four of the No Such Thing As A Fish team before their Wellington show in November, it is an Easter egg for dedicated fans. The bar began playing episodes of the podcast in its bathrooms a while back, and soon enough it was drawn to the podcasters’ attention by a listener.
Dan Schreiber, one of the show’s four regular voices, explained: “It was very random. One day we just received a video from someone who listens to us in the inbox saying, ‘Did you know that if you go to the toilets in this pub called Mean Doses in Wellington, your podcast is on loop?’ And then more and more people started sending it in to us.”
“So we thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if one day we could make an episode for this place, but we didn’t know how that would be possible, we were toying with the idea of doing it in the office,” he said. “…so we decided to book a whole tour around it,” co-host Anna Ptaszynski said.
Mean Doses Taproom venue manager David Wood said he could not believe it when Schreiber got in touch.
“I freaked out a bit,” he said. “It was the verified Dan Schreiber, a bit of a celebrity to me after listening to him for ten years. I messaged back and said ‘yes please, oh my god, I thought you were joking.'”
Wood had been a fan of the podcast since the beginning, but the inspiration came from a bar in Sydney, called the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, which played old cricket commentary in the bathrooms. No Such Thing As A Fish set a similar mood. “It works really well, because it’s just short facts, and you’re only in there briefly,” he said.
On the night of the recording, the bar launched a special edition No Such Thing as a Chocolate Fish beer, a rich, chocolatey, berry-infused stout with a chocolate fish jammed onto the rim. The hosts crammed into a curtained corner of the bar, mics clipped on, levels checked, and a handful of fans and bar staff jostled for a vantage point.
New Zealanders might count themselves lucky when any big act tacks a local show onto the end of its tour schedule – let alone one’s favourite podcast. But this was not the show’s first trip to New Zealand, as they first appeared on the Opera House stage in May 2018. Schreiber said it came down to the listener data, which consistently showed they could confidently book a nice big room.
This tour marked the show’s 10-year anniversary. With more than 500 regular episodes and 100 more of extra content, it sat at number four in the New Zealand Apple Podcast charts at the time of the special episode’s recording, and number two in the comedy category.
Schreiber, who is half Australian, said the hosts often came across New Zealand in their fact-finding research. “There was a scientist that worked out that if you’re walking on ice you should take your socks off, put your shoes on and put your socks over your shoes, that’s the best way to walk on ice. That’s here, that’s in New Zealand.”
As for the secret episode, Wood said it was not available to listen to just yet – but the Mean Doses team would be making a big fuss about it as soon as it was. “It will be playing on repeat in the toilet for at least the first couple of months.”
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FAQs
- What inspired the exclusive episode at Mean Doses Taproom?
- How did the hosts react to the fan discovery?
- What special edition beer was launched for the recording?
- Where did the hosts previously perform in New Zealand?
- What milestone did the tour mark for the show?
- How did the hosts incorporate New Zealand into their research?
- When will the secret episode be available for listening?
- What special experience did fans have at the recording session?
- How did the venue manager react to being contacted by the podcast hosts?
- What was the significance of the podcast playing in the bathrooms?
The inspiration came from a bar in Sydney that played old cricket commentary in the bathrooms, prompting the No Such Thing As A Fish team to create a similar experience with short facts for listeners.
The hosts were surprised and excited when they found out that their podcast was playing in the bathrooms of Mean Doses Taproom in Wellington.
A special edition No Such Thing as a Chocolate Fish beer, a rich, chocolatey, berry-infused stout with a chocolate fish jammed onto the rim, was launched on the night of the recording.
The hosts first appeared on the Opera House stage in May 2018, marking their initial trip to New Zealand before the special episode recording.
The tour marked the show’s 10-year anniversary, with a significant number of episodes and high rankings in the New Zealand Apple Podcast charts.
The hosts often came across interesting facts about New Zealand in their research, such as a scientist’s tip on walking on ice, which they shared with their listeners.
The secret episode recorded at Mean Doses Taproom will be available for listening in the bathrooms on repeat for at least the first couple of months.
Fans and bar staff had the opportunity to witness the hosts recording in a corner of the bar, creating a unique and memorable experience for all attendees.
The venue manager, David Wood, was thrilled and excited when contacted by Dan Schreiber, considering him a celebrity after listening to the podcast for years.
Playing the podcast in the bathrooms added a unique and entertaining touch to the bar experience, providing short and interesting facts for patrons during their brief visits.
Conclusion
The exclusive episode recorded by the No Such Thing As A Fish hosts at Mean Doses Taproom in Wellington provided a special experience for dedicated fans, showcasing the creativity and engagement of the podcast team. With a special edition beer and a unique recording location, the event marked a memorable milestone in the show’s 10-year journey. Fans can look forward to enjoying the secret episode in the bathrooms of Mean Doses Taproom, adding an extra element of surprise and delight to their visits.
Tags:
No Such Thing As A Fish, Podcast, Mean Doses Taproom, Wellington, Exclusive Episode