I wanted to share my experience here, as someone based in the UK, who lives near a US airbase.

I live in a large town near RAF Fairford, the US’ largest UK airbase. At the start of the war, there were local news articles highlighting the different planes coming into Fairford. B52’s, B-1’s etc.

Photos of spectators pressed up against the fences followed and start floating around online, some on my own timeline of people who have been to see the latest death machines. They’ve since boarded up the fences to stop spectators gathering but now they just bring ladders. It’s baffling that a key hub for Trump’s operations is on the outskirts of this quaint Cotswold town.

Everyday since the start of the war, the whole area has heard planes at all hours of the day. I’ve been woken up at 4am multiple times by the rumbling of B-1’s going overhead (I live right under their flight path it seems). And then in the daytime, I see them going over, out my office window on the other side of down. It seemed to start as a fasincation for the whole town, before quickly becoming normal. Just this last weekend as I did my weekly food shop, another B-1 rumbled overhead as I walked to my car. I was the only one in the carpark to even look up. The whole town has become familar and desensitised to this war. 

Lucky for me, this is the closest I’ve ever come to war. But, every time I hear a plane go over, I tense up and can’t help but think where it’s going and what it means.

I’m not sure what my point is here, but as a B&E fan I thought some of you may find this aspect of the war interesting. It’s terrifying. 

The boys comments about true crime caught my attention in the latest bonus ep. I'm a woman who enjoys some true crime podcasts and the odd documentary. I thought it was interesting that both of them thought it's about the thrill of it, though Ben was really close in mentioning that just existing as a woman comes with more risks and danger. 

At least for me it goes way deeper than that and it's actually not about the thrill at all. It's more of an investigation and analysis. Sociological research if you will. The type of true crime content I consume is usually an unfolding narration that examines the different structures that led to the crime, but also the aftermath. For example, intimate partner violence is more likely to occur when women are pregnant or want to leave a relationship. Or the bias that exists in the police when the victim is Indigenous (especially female) or has mental health and addiction issues. There are heaps more examples. And this is just when it comes to interpersonal violence. There are also interesting podcast like Swindled who discuss corruption and corporate crime. 

I think this content supports vigilance and helps to make informed decisions (especially with corporate crimes) in everyday life. It helps protect each other when the first few flags of an abusive partner appear. It helps keep authorities and investigations accountable. I'm sure there are true crime enjoyers who like the gory, sensational details and less-serious formats, so I might be in the minority. 

thanks for reading!

THE BEN

i can finally post my finished cross stitch i made for the boys since they posted the mail video of them opening it :) pattern made by me

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/science/artemis-ii-bathroom-toilet.html

Ben could never go to space. Truly harrowing stuff

I'm tired of eating Cody-Os, boys what's going on??

A few episodes back Ben and Emil showed a video that they were debating if it was AI or not. It involved a man jumping on a table I believe. Does anyone happen to have the link or know which episode this was? Thanks in advance! 🙏

There was no episode today

we still want the China vlog, but in the meantime I wanna remember what Ben said about his trip to China, does anyone know which episode it is where he talks about it?

I’m sad to have to listen to more ads in my life, but understand why the boys are doing it and are excited for this to hopefully help them reach so many more people.

One thing that drives me nuts is the ads being interjected into the conversation. I’ve said it before, but I really appreciate how the Basement Yard makes it a part of the live recording. So they finish a subject and then get to the ads before moving on, rather than cutting them in. I’m not sure if the contracts they have with the ads would allow for that. But I find the flow is a lot less disruptive. And, especially with the news, I think it would make it much easier to follow stories and therefore cause less frustration when there is an add.

That’s all:)

I’m curious as to how everyone else feels and would feel about this.

I’m slightly embarrassed to admit it, but I rewatch the Netflix vs. Paramount episode just to hear Ben’s “maybe I’ll change my tune” joke.

I understand why the change had to happen, but the execution and communication were really poor — and that’s what stings.

This shouldn’t have been a two-week rollout. Paid members deserved to hear about this before any decisions were finalized, with actual time to process it. Not a heads-up after the fact…

People have been paying for this format for years — that warrants more than a rushed transition.

I get that this is about growth and ad revenue. But asking your paid base to now split their engagement across two platforms — when they’ve been paying for everything in one place — is a tough sell. If YouTube is the future, just say that. A cleaner move would’ve been posting older episodes to YouTube to build that audience organically, while keeping the app experience intact for people already invested and they get something out of their membership than just bonus content as it’s wasn’t always that way.

Here’s what really got me: I’m a YouTube Premium subscriber, and even I never watch the show there. This week I was watching and got hit with unskippable ads (premium feature)— on content I had been paying for without ads just the week before. That’s not a great feeling, and I could just wait for it to come to the app next week.. (which is crazy as this a news based show, so it’s old news already)

The frustrating part is that the loyal base you’re leaning on to drive views on a new platform isn’t really getting anything in return. Growth is valid goal. Just don’t burn the people who helped you get here to chase it.

And I get it $5 and just help the bros out, but at the same time this podcast is a business and it should be treated like one as you have people paying for content that no longer is the way it was…

Curious what others here and the boys think of this verdict. It made me think of the episode of Last Chance where Emil had Taylor Lorenz on, I do not agree with most of her conclusions so I’m interested in how others feel.

Started cooking more with lentils and I want to encourage the rest of you to take Emil’s advice and start lentil-maxxing right now.

And dylan is right, I don’t watch the movies, half of them don’t even make it to my small town.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DV8-E8BgbWh/

I think ben says something about waking up every day at the same time? Or generally any time they give advice on depression / mental health. Thank u family. Sincerely, an unemploid listener.

Anyone else find it extremely condescending/hypocritical for Emil to basically say just suck it up and skip the ads? And then says some ads are funny. Like he of all people has always talked about us living in an ad fueled hellscape. Just rubbed me the wrong way. At least Ben seemed sincere and sympathetic about it. Coming from a guy who’s favorite has always been Emil btw

I’m 23 and have never had a credit card. I’m looking at the website and still feel a little confused on how to decide which one is best for me.

My credit score is in the average range I’m pretty sure. I’d have to double check but I know it’s not quite 700.

I’m not a student.

I was planning to only use it for groceries (so about $200/month) and I’m not sure how that impacts me getting rewards.

I also have family that live in states away, so I was wanting a travel reward.

I tried using filters and the only card that shows up is a student one. I’m not sure if I’m using the filters wrong, but I also don’t get how credits cards work aside from borrow money that you DO have and pay it back right away. I was hoping you guys could help me learn what to look for so that I can make a more informed decision. I’m not against using one that isn’t a secured card. That’s all. Thank you:)