Smosh Reads Reddit Stories

Did They Really Post That? w/ Mari Takihashi | Reading Reddit Stories

February 7, 2026

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  • The first Reddit story established that OP was NTA for replacing non-responsive cousins' photos on a phone case with dog pictures, as the grandfather found it hilarious. 
  • The second story revealed a friend who consumed virtually all of the OP's and her husband's food, including supplements and destroying a ceramic pan, while staying at their house, leading to a ban from their home. 
  • The D&D story concluded with the revelation that the group, including the DM, was intentionally targeting the OP by letting enemies focus on them to allow the 'real players' to have easier encounters, confirming OP was NTA. 
  • The discussion surrounding the Reddit story about drawing an ugly portrait for a deceased classmate concluded that while the OP's initial intent was likely pure, the final 'asshole' verdict stemmed from retrospectively making the tragic event about themselves rather than the deceased. 
  • The hosts acknowledged the complexity of grieving, especially in high school settings, noting that judging how others grieve can often be a projection of one's own feelings. 
  • The final Reddit story about cheating in a wing-eating contest due to a genetic advantage in spice tolerance was overwhelmingly dismissed as NTA, comparing the OP's natural ability to that of professional athletes. 

Segments

Subscription Management Ad Read
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Rocket Money manages subscriptions, alerts users to price increases, and helps cancel services directly from the app, saving users an average of $378 annually.
  • Summary: Subscription costs have significantly increased over five years, prompting the use of management apps like Rocket Money. This app lists all subscriptions, sends payment reminders, and alerts users when prices rise. Users can cancel unwanted subscriptions directly within the app without needing customer service contact.
Odoo Business Software Ad Read
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(00:00:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Odoo is an all-in-one business platform integrating CRM, accounting, inventory, and e-commerce to replace software overload.
  • Summary: Running a business is complicated by using multiple disconnected software applications for different functions. Odoo offers a fully integrated, easy-to-use platform that covers essential business needs like sales, inventory, and HR. Businesses can try Odoo for free at odoo.com.
Podcast Intro and Guest Welcome
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(00:01:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Shayne Topp and Spencer Agnew welcome Smosh legend Mari Takahashi to the ‘Smosh Reads Reddit Stories’ episode focusing on AITA stories.
  • Summary: The episode of ‘Smosh Reads Reddit Stories’ is titled ‘Did They Really Post That? w/ Mari Takihashi | Reading Reddit Stories’ and features Mari Takahashi as a guest. The hosts briefly reminisce about past content associated with Mari, noting the episode’s focus on classic AITA scenarios.
Cousin Photo Replacement Story
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(00:03:20)
  • Key Takeaway: OP was NTA for replacing cousins’ photos with dog pictures on a phone case after they ignored three warnings to submit their own pictures.
  • Summary: OP requested photos from nine cousins for a phone case gift for their grandpa, warning that non-responders would be replaced by pictures of OP’s dog. Three cousins failed to submit photos, resulting in images of the dog in a sombrero, pumpkin patch, and chicken costume appearing on the case. The grandfather found the result hilarious, but the cousins’ parents demanded an apology.
Food Consumption Story and Guest Ban
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(00:09:51)
  • Key Takeaway: OP is NTA for banning a friend from their home after he consumed nearly all their stored food, including supplements, during a 17-day house-sitting period and mocked OP for requesting replacement of a destroyed pan.
  • Summary: A friend, Kay, stayed at OP’s house for 20 days initially, showing poor contribution habits regarding groceries. Later, while house-sitting for 17 days, Kay ate everything in the fridge, freezer, and pantry, including two jars of jam, a Costco olive oil bottle, and husband’s creatine supplements. When asked to replace a ceramic pan he destroyed, Kay mocked OP, leading OP to ban him from the home, despite the husband suggesting otherwise.
Roommate Conflict Over Boyfriend Photo
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(00:24:23)
  • Key Takeaway: OP was judged as the asshole for responding ’ew’ to a picture of their roommate’s boyfriend, escalating existing tension in a chaotic living situation.
  • Summary: OP has a chaotic living situation with a roommate involving a Great Dane, cleanliness issues, and control struggles, leading to OP and friends avoiding the roommate. When the roommate sent a picture of her boyfriend, OP responded with ’ew,’ which caused the roommate to explode, claim regret over meeting OP, and tell OP not to wake up before blocking them.
Passport Bro Accusation Story
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(00:35:01)
  • Key Takeaway: OP (a man in a five-year relationship with an Italian man) was NTA for crashing out after his friend Emma flirted with his boyfriend and then called OP a ‘passport bro’ and accused him of having a ‘white savior complex.’
  • Summary: OP, who is in a five-year relationship with Luca, an Italian man he met in Italy, visited Canada where his friend Emma aggressively flirted with Luca. When OP defended his relationship boundaries, Emma insulted OP by calling him a ‘passport bro’ and accusing him of exploiting Luca’s lack of English fluency. OP retaliated by referencing Emma’s Omegaverse Yaoi reading, leading to mutual anger and friends siding against OP.
Grieving Memorial Etiquette Clarification
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(00:51:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The OP clarified their motivation for bringing a portrait to an open memorial was to corroborate their artistic skill, not to make the deceased’s death about themselves, despite the final verdict.
  • Summary: The OP explained they were grieving and that the class artist mention was to prove they were not a bad artist, justifying their inclusion among closer friends at the memorial. The memorial was open, and others brought items like chocolates and pencils, which the deceased loved. The verdict rendered by the community was ‘asshole’.
Rocket Money Savings Challenge Ad
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(00:52:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Rocket Money offers a 60-second savings challenge involving linking accounts, canceling unused subscriptions, and setting financial goals, potentially saving members up to $740 annually.
  • Summary: The challenge involves downloading the Rocket Money app, linking accounts to identify and cancel subscriptions, and setting savings goals. Users can also upload bills for the service to attempt lowering them, only paying if savings are found. The app boasts over 186,000 five-star ratings.
PC Richard & Son Mattress Sale
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(00:53:28)
  • Key Takeaway: PC Richard and Son is running a President’s Day sale featuring up to $800 off adjustable mattress sets and up to $300 credit for other store items.
  • Summary: The store uses a four-step fitting process conducted by experts to ensure a perfect mattress fit. The sale includes free delivery on mattresses priced at $399 and up, excluding Manhattan. The company emphasizes service alongside competitive pricing.
Revisiting Portrait Mockery Fallout
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(00:54:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts agreed that being told one’s artistic tribute was unwelcome at a sensitive time, especially as a teenager, would cause a strong negative reaction.
  • Summary: The consensus leaned toward understanding the OP’s reaction as a teenager grieving and using art as an honorific expression, even if, in hindsight, they made the situation about themselves. The act of someone saying ’ew’ to the drawing was deemed very hurtful, regardless of the OP’s social standing in high school.
Analyzing Grief Competition Dynamics
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(00:55:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Judging how someone grieves is complex, often serving as a projection of how individuals judge their own grieving processes.
  • Summary: The situation involved multiple layers of teenage grief, making it difficult to draw clear lines of right and wrong, especially years later. The hosts ultimately agreed that as an adult looking back, the OP made the situation about themself, but as a teenager, the reaction was understandable. The advice given was to let the situation go due to the high school context.
Wing Eating Competition Genetic Advantage
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(01:01:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The OP possesses a rare genetic quirk where their body does not register capsaicin normally, granting them a significantly higher spice tolerance for eating competitions.
  • Summary: The OP won free wings by competing in a hot pepper eating contest, leading friends to accuse them of cheating due to their natural advantage. The hosts compared this genetic advantage to that of professional athletes like Michael Phelps, concluding the OP was not cheating. The OP later updated that their power extends to not feeling pain on the way out.
Smelling Salts Experience Anecdote
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(01:04:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Smelling salts create an intense, immediate reaction akin to being slapped in the face, causing tears and a massive adrenaline rush, often used to wake up before physical exertion.
  • Summary: One host described using smelling salts alone, noting the experience is not painful but overwhelming, feeling like adrenaline floods the entire body. The effect is immediate and intense, making one feel like they ‘see God’ momentarily.
Post-Segment Wrap-up and Shoutouts
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(01:08:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Mari Takahashi, found at Atomic Mari online, is currently enjoying life and has no specific projects to promote.
  • Summary: The hosts expressed enjoyment of the stories, particularly the wing-eating segment. Mari Takahashi thanked the hosts for having her and confirmed her social media handle. The episode concluded with standard sign-offs and previews for upcoming content.