Our Strange Addiction

1. Tall students face a classroom seating dilemma

Timestamp: 00:02:47 to 00:05:49

Bob explains that he always sat in the back row during law school because his height would block shorter students from seeing the board, which confused professors since he still asked frequent questions. Wade adds that alphabetical seating in eighth and ninth grade forced him into the front row with a 6-foot-4 afro, completely blocking the view for a 4-foot-9 classmate behind him. The trio concludes the bit by joking about how fan merchandise exaggerates their height differences.

Significance (Low): Highlights how rigid classroom seating policies ignore physical differences and create awkward social dynamics for both tall and short students.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

Neutral sources: Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

2. Police interrupt Mark's ghost-hunting stream

Timestamp: 00:05:50 to 00:09:43

Mark recounts going ghost hunting on a live stream with Jardon, only to see flashing lights outside and get ordered out of the building by police. Although they initially feared they were being swatted, officers were actually searching for a burglar who had broken into a neighboring business and fled behind the buildings. Police patted down the group and placed Mark's pocketknife on a desk, which disappeared by the time they were cleared to go back inside.

Significance (Medium): Illustrates the persistent anxiety live streamers face regarding swatting, even when a police response turns out to be an unrelated neighborhood crime.

Sources in support: Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

Neutral sources: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

3. Mark views ghost hunting as adult make-believe

Timestamp: 00:09:44 to 00:14:13

Mark explains that ghost-hunting radio frequency sweepers simply cycle through local radio stations, turning paranormal investigation into an improv exercise. He argues that leaning into the make-believe is fun and harmless for adults, whereas acting like a cynical party pooper ruins the entertainment. Bob agrees with the entertainment value but draws a hard line against manipulative psychics who exploit grieving people to sell books.

Significance (Medium): Separates harmless theatrical entertainment in paranormal content from predatory cold-reading practices that target grieving audiences.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

Neutral sources: Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

4. Wade's dachshund Presley suffers severe back injury

Timestamp: 00:14:14 to 00:16:40

Wade shares that his dachshund Presley woke up yelping in severe pain and was diagnosed with two spots of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Presley lost the ability to use his back legs and was placed on three medications along with 8 to 12 weeks of strict bed rest while awaiting a neurology consultation.

Significance (Medium): Highlights the sudden physical and emotional toll of managing intervertebral disc disease in dachshunds while balancing family recovery.

Sources in support: Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

Neutral sources: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

5. War Dogs blends Battlefield scale with logistics

Timestamp: 00:16:42 to 00:23:29

Wade and Bob praise the multiplayer game War Dogs, comparing it to a three-team version of Battlefield mixed with Squad and economy mechanics where players buy loadouts each life. They explain that solo players can skip frontline combat entirely to run supply trucks, fly helicopter taxis, build bases, or level up as medics by injecting teammates with stimulants. Mark decides to get the game after hearing how accessible the logistics roles are for someone rusty at fast-paced shooters.

Significance (Low): Demonstrates how sandbox shooter games can attract older or less twitch-focused players by rewarding non-combat logistics and support roles.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

6. Bob and Wade introduce the Pitch Black box challenge

Timestamp: 00:25:39 to 00:36:26

Bob reveals the episode's main activity: he, Wade, and Mark each have a 36-pack Pokémon Mega Evolution 5 Pitch Black booster box to open on camera in an effort to get Mark addicted. Wade explains key collector terminology to Mark, including master setting a collection, performing the energy card trick to hide potential God Packs, and hunting for the seven Secret Rare chase cards. The three begin cutting open their first packs as Wade pulls an early Rampardos ex.

Significance (Medium): Establishes the mechanics of modern trading card pack openings and how rarity tiers drive collector excitement.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

Neutral sources: Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

7. Scoring card pulls by visual descriptions and art

Timestamp: 00:36:27 to 00:45:56

Bob sets the scoring criteria for the episode, awarding points for strong pulls like ex and Full Art cards as well as for creative verbal descriptions of the artwork. Wade notes that collecting for favorite Pokémon and recurring card illustrators—such as claymation or crocheted card styles—is much more enjoyable than obsessing over resale value. Mark pulls his first ex card, a Mega Slowbro ex, while Wade immediately counters with a Full Art Rampardos.

Significance (Low): Shows how recurring illustrators and tactile art styles like claymation give common trading cards appeal beyond financial value.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

Neutral sources: Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier))

8. Mark pulls a Full Art Gholdengo and Tremendous Bomb

Timestamp: 00:45:57 to 00:54:56

As the trio works toward the halfway mark of their boxes, Mark pulls a Rampardos ex, a Full Art Gholdengo, and a Full Art Tremendous Bomb trainer card. Bob mentions that the Full Art Gholdengo is his friend Antoine's main chase card in the set, prompting Mark to joke that Antoine cannot have it. They also reflect on how expensive packs have become compared to buying cards with childhood allowance money.

Significance (Low): Captures the social dynamic of trading card collecting, where pulling a friend's chase card immediately sparks playful rivalry.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

9. Literal Pokémon names and paired card artwork

Timestamp: 00:54:57 to 01:04:03

While ripping through the middle of their boxes, the hosts poke fun at literal Pokémon naming conventions like Koraidon and Miraidon serving as rideable bicycles, Klefki being a set of keys, and Trubbish being a trash bag. Bob pulls a Full Art Silvally, which Wade explains pairs side-by-side with the Secret Rare Gladion's Final Battle card so the light rays connect across both illustrations. Mark also pulls a Full Art Thievul and a Full Art Fomantis as they reach the halfway point.

Significance (Low): Highlights how connected panoramic artwork across multiple cards encourages collectors to chase specific pairs.

Sources in support: YouTube: Distractible Podcast (Podcast Channel)

10. Mark pulls the Secret Rare Morpeko ex

Timestamp: 01:04:04 to 01:12:35

In the second half of the box opening, Mark pulls a Mega Chandelure ex and its Full Art variant, jokes about feeling the dopamine pathways of addiction forming, and reminisces with Bob about playing World of Warcraft in college. Moments later, Mark pulls a textured Morpeko ex with two gold stars at the bottom left, which Wade and Bob confirm is a Secret Rare—one of the seven rarest cards in the entire Pitch Black set.

Significance (High): Delivers the climax of the episode's competition as the novice collector pulls the single rarest card across all three booster boxes.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

11. Card grading standards, PSA 10s, and scalpers

Timestamp: 01:12:36 to 01:21:02

Bob looks up Mark's Secret Rare Morpeko ex and notes it sells for $22 ungraded or $67 as a PSA 10, though Mark's copy has slightly off-center silver borders. Wade and Bob explain how grading companies evaluate border centering, corners, and 3D surface scans, with Wade sharing that Molly pulled an ungraded $1,200 Prismatic Evolution Umbreon that could be worth $7,000 as a PSA 10. They agree that opening packs with friends is fun like gambling, though scalpers hurt the hobby.

Significance (Medium): Explains the strict physical tolerances required for top trading card grades and why raw pull values differ wildly from graded prices.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

12. Final pack tallies yield nearly identical hit rates

Timestamp: 01:21:03 to 01:32:32

The hosts race through their remaining packs to see if anyone can pull a God Pack or another Secret Rare before the boxes run dry. When they count their hit piles of ex and Full Art cards, Wade finishes with 15 hits (8 Full Arts and 7 ex cards), Mark counts 15 hits including his Secret Rare, and Bob finishes with 16 hits after pulling a late Delphox ex. They marvel at how mathematically consistent the booster box pull rates are across all three boxes.

Significance (Medium): Provides an empirical look at booster box distribution, showing each 36-pack box consistently yielded 15 to 16 hit cards.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

13. Mark wins the episode and Bob plugs Scary Tapes

Timestamp: 01:32:33 to 01:41:30

Bob tallies the final podcast scores, awarding 18 points to both Mark and Wade for their small talk and card hits, plus a 1-point bonus to Mark for pulling the Secret Rare Morpeko ex. A tiebreaker wheel spin lands on 'Drank the Most,' giving Mark another point for finishing a full cup of coffee and securing his victory to host the next episode. They close by advising listeners to only buy cards at MSRP to beat scalpers and promoting the new Scary Tape anthology book.

Significance (Medium): Determines Mark as the next Distractible host and leaves listeners with practical advice to avoid paying scalper prices for trading cards.

Sources in support: Bob (Host of Distractible (@muyskerm)), Mark (Co-host and Competitor (@markiplier)), Wade (Co-host and Competitor (@LordMinion777))

Chime Paid Sponsorship (Low severity)

Type: Commercial

Chime is a paid sponsor of this Distractible episode, with Mark reading a promotional segment for Chime's banking services and SpotMe feature.

Significance: The sponsorship is confined to a dedicated mid-roll ad break and does not influence the hosts' discussion of video games or Pokémon cards.

Self-Promotion of Scary Tapes and Merch (Medium severity)

Type: Commercial

Bob, Wade, and Mark promote their own Distractible merchandise and the newly released Scary Tape anthology book.

Significance: The hosts have a direct financial interest in praising the anthology book's print quality and encouraging listeners to buy their products.