The Official TBPN Glossary: Every Inside Joke, Explained
If you have ever jumped into a Technology Brothers Podcast Network livestream mid-episode and felt like John Coogan and Jordi Hays were speaking a language you almost — but not quite — understood, you are not alone. Every great show develops its own lexicon, and TBPN has built an entire dialect over years of daily live broadcasts from 11 AM to 2 PM PT on YouTube and X.
This glossary is your Rosetta Stone. Bookmark it, share it with a friend who just discovered the show, and slap a TBPN sticker on your laptop while you study up.
A - D: The Foundation
"Actually, let me push back on that" — The phrase that precedes every disagreement between John and Jordi. It has become so iconic that listeners count how many times it appears per episode. Some fans have even turned it into a drinking game (we neither endorse nor discourage this).
"Big if true" — The show's shorthand for any rumor that sounds too good or too catastrophic to be real. Originally borrowed from internet culture, it has taken on a life of its own in the TBPN universe. You can find this phrase on some of our most popular t-shirts.
"Check the tape" — When John or Jordi makes a prediction and wants it on the record. This is the verbal equivalent of planting a flag. When the prediction comes true months later, you will hear "I said check the tape" at least three times in a single episode.
"Dead product walking" — A label applied to any tech product or service that the hosts believe is doomed but hasn't been officially killed yet. The accuracy rate on these calls is disturbingly high.
E - L: The Middle Ground
"Explain it like I'm a VC" — A riff on "explain it like I'm five," used when a guest starts getting too deep into technical weeds. The implication: VCs need things explained simply because they only understand pitch decks and TAM slides.
"Galaxy brain take" — Reserved for opinions so contrarian, so layered in irony and meta-analysis, that they either represent genius or complete madness. There is no middle ground with a galaxy brain take.
"Have you considered that you're wrong?" — Jordi's signature gentle challenge, delivered with a smile that makes it impossible to be offended. It has become a fan favorite and appears on mugs and tumblers in the store.
"I'm not mad, I'm disappointed" — The response to any major tech company doing something predictably anti-consumer. Used at least once per week, usually directed at a company whose stock price is somehow still going up.
"Let the record show" — A companion phrase to "check the tape," used when real-time events are confirming a previous prediction. Often accompanied by a dramatic pause and a sip from a TBPN-branded mug.
M - R: Peak TBPN Energy
"Main character energy" — Applied to any CEO, founder, or tech figure who is clearly trying too hard to be the center of attention. Past recipients include various executives who shall remain nameless (but longtime listeners know exactly who).
"Narrative violation" — When reality contradicts the prevailing media narrative. This is one of the show's most important analytical frameworks, and it comes up whenever consensus opinion gets challenged by actual data or events.
"Peak and valley" — The show's way of describing the hype cycle for any technology. Everything in tech has a peak (irrational exuberance) and a valley (despair and "I told you it was a scam" takes). The truth usually lives somewhere in between.
"Ratio'd in real time" — When a guest or caller makes a take so bad that the live chat immediately revolts. The beauty of streaming live on YouTube and X is that audience feedback is instantaneous and merciless.
S - Z: The Deep Cuts
"Skin in the game" — The ultimate credibility test. Anyone can have an opinion about crypto, AI, or any technology. But do they have skin in the game? Are they building, investing, or using it daily? This phrase separates commentators from practitioners in the TBPN worldview.
"The algorithm has spoken" — Used when a clip from the show goes viral. John and Jordi have a complicated relationship with algorithmic distribution — they understand it deeply but also recognize its absurdity.
"Touch grass" — The hosts' recommendation for anyone (including themselves) who has been too online. Sometimes the best tech analysis comes from stepping away from the screen entirely.
"Venture-scale copium" — When a startup or investor is clearly in denial about a failing product or thesis, but the amounts of money involved are so large that the cope operates at venture scale.
"We're so back / it's so over" — The emotional pendulum of tech Twitter, distilled into two phrases that the show uses to track market sentiment. Often both phrases apply to the same company within a single trading week.
"Zero to one moment" — A nod to Peter Thiel's book, used when something genuinely novel happens in tech. These moments are rarer than people think, which is why the phrase carries real weight when John or Jordi deploys it.
How to Use This Glossary
Now that you are fluent in TBPN, here are a few ways to put your knowledge to use:
- Impress fellow listeners: Drop a "narrative violation" in casual conversation and watch heads nod in recognition.
- Rep the culture: Many of these phrases appear on official TBPN t-shirts and stickers. Wearing them is the equivalent of a secret handshake.
- Play TBPN Bingo: Use this glossary to build your own bingo card for the next live stream. Mark off each phrase as it appears during the 11 AM - 2 PM PT broadcast.
- Onboard a friend: Send this page to anyone who has ever asked "what is TBPN?" — it is the fastest way to get them up to speed.
The Glossary Is Always Growing
New bits emerge constantly on the show. John Coogan and Jordi Hays have a talent for coining phrases that stick, and the community has a talent for amplifying them. If we missed your favorite, let us know on social media.
In the meantime, gear up with the phrases that define the TBPN experience. Browse our full collection of phrase-inspired drinkware, tees, and stickers in the TBPN store. Every item is a conversation starter — and now you have got the glossary to back it up.