Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: A Play On Words That Involves Vomit
Date: January 23, 2026
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Overview
In this lively and fast-paced episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, joined by producer Michael and newswoman Katie Greener, deliver their signature blend of current events, media critiques, pop culture riffs, and personal anecdotes. The main highlights include sharp commentary on US politics, neuroscience insights about learning and curiosity, a satirical performance-art idea involving "regurgitated" facts, heated discussion of Don Lemon’s controversial activism, and reflections on snow days, athleticism, and the NFL’s global ambitions.
The episode’s title—“A Play On Words That Involves Vomit”—arises from a humorous segment about learning and memory, ending in a comedic proposal for a performance piece involving the literal regurgitation of facts.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. "Clips of the Week" – Political Satire and Media Commentary
[00:26–03:19]
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The team recaps the week’s political highlights and absurdities through their "Clips of the Week," poking fun at Donald Trump, Gavin Newsom, and other media personalities (notably Don Lemon).
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They riff on pop-culture references, such as Trump as a "T. Rex" and Newsom as "Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken" ([01:35], Katie Greener).
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Example of satirical banter:
"Donald Trump, he’s a T. Rex. You mate with him or he devours you."
— Don Lemon ([01:30]) -
Armstrong and Getty lampoon political theater and the overwrought tone of political punditry.
2. On Learning: Curiosity, Motivation, and the Science of Memory
[06:09–13:29]
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Joe Getty shares a summary of research from the Annual Review of Psychology about how motivation and curiosity impact memory:
- When genuinely curious, the brain enters “sponge mode” (an “interrogative state”) and absorbs information better—including peripheral details ([08:07], Joe Getty).
- Stress-induced, “exam-cramming” learning (with noradrenaline in play) is contrasted—students absorb isolated facts under pressure, but without deep understanding ([09:33–12:32]).
- Personal anecdotes about being able to memorize lots of details when motivated (e.g., car facts) but struggling with uninteresting school subjects.
- The team discusses whether it’s possible to “force” oneself into curiosity, with Joe suggesting “reframing” tasks as puzzles or learning how things work in real life ([13:53]):
"Your brain treats questions as puzzles worth solving."
— Joe Getty ([13:54])
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The segment closes with Joe floating the idea of a performance art piece:
"I'm gonna stick my finger down my throat and I'm gonna vomit...and what I vomit is going to be a bunch of statements of things that are true, and I'm gonna look at the audience and say, 'I'm just regurgitating facts.' Isn't that brilliant?"
— Joe Getty ([12:54])
This becomes the episode's titular "play on words" involving vomit, to much laughter from the crew.
3. Don Lemon: Media, Activism, and Public Discourse
[15:28–29:53]
- Joe and Jack critique Don Lemon’s role as an activist-journalist, especially regarding his involvement in a protest that disrupted a church service in Minneapolis.
- The discussion critiques Lemon’s "self-importance," perceived hypocrisy, and his insistence on framing events as rooted in white supremacy ([25:54–26:54]).
- A memorable rhetorical volley:
"When he cuts himself shaving, does he bleed self-importance?"
— Michael ([26:55]) - Joe opines:
"What a piece of crap he is. Anyway, he was part of the mob of protesters, rioters that made it impossible to conduct a Christian church service..."
— Joe Getty ([22:22]) - They play audio of Lemon tying criticism to white supremacy and respond with sarcasm and exasperation.
- A segment ("Don, Truly a Sour Fruit") features Don Lemon in a comedically tangled street debate about whether entering the country illegally is a crime or just breaking the rules, which leaves him verbally outmaneuvered by passersby ([27:42–29:14]).
- Joe observes:
"They've got him completely flummoxed and tied up in knots...It's just a couple of people walking down the street..."
— Joe Getty ([29:25])
- Joe observes:
4. Athleticism, the NFL, and Changing Sports Science
[17:21–18:33]
- The hosts discuss the apparent leap in athleticism in modern football—citing data, evolution, improved training and nutrition, and anecdotal remarks.
- Listeners weigh in via text, noting that today’s best women athletes could outperform men from 30 years ago in some sports, underlining advances in human performance.
5. Karl Rove, Trump, and Presidential Historiography
[18:33–21:51]
- The pair discuss Karl Rove’s Wall Street Journal article critiquing Trump’s second-term behavior.
- They question whether Trump has truly changed or if the perception is shaped by media environments and shifting political alliances.
- Joe posits:
"He cracks way too many eggs when he makes an omelet. He cracks like the three eggs and then five more in the carton."
— Joe Getty ([21:09]) - They predict Trump’s historical ranking may improve with time ("He'll go up," [21:10], Michael).
6. Snow Days, School Policy, and Remote Learning
[30:10–32:48]
- Jack expresses nostalgia and mourning for traditional snow days, sharing anecdotes from childhood, while lamenting new policies replacing snow days with Zoom classes ([31:28]).
- Joe cynically suggests the shift is partly about funding and indoctrination, not education:
"We're here to indoctrinate the kids into hating their country and into neo-Marxism. We don't care if they learn a damn thing."
— Joe Getty ([32:17])
7. The NFL’s International Expansion and Flag Football
[32:55–33:38]
- The crew discusses the NFL’s push for global popularity and youth flag football, wondering about its appeal and commercial prospects abroad.
8. Final Thoughts and Banter
[33:48–35:18]
- The episode closes with lighthearted “final thoughts” from all cast members, featuring stories of snow days, powderpuff football, and affectionate digs at NFL officiating culture.
- Armstrong and Getty sign off urging listeners to follow, subscribe, and review their podcast.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On learning and curiosity:
"Curiosity is akin to putting the brain, what they call charmingly, 'sponge mode.' It doesn't just absorb the thing we're curious about, it soaks up everything around at that moment."
— Joe Getty ([08:07]) -
On stress and memory:
"Stress activates the amygdala... with less help from the hippocampus, which is known to destroy canoes and drown the people in them. I'm sorry, I'm just... It's Friday. I'm through."
— Joe Getty (jokingly, [11:39]) -
On Don Lemon:
"When he cuts himself shaving, does he bleed self importance."
— Michael ([26:55]) -
On Trump’s “omelet” style:
"He cracks way too many eggs when he makes an omelet. He cracks like the three eggs and then five more in the carton."
— Joe Getty ([21:09]) -
On snow day magic:
"I don't know if there is a feeling as great as my mom coming in and telling me, they canceled school today."
— Jack Armstrong ([30:46]) -
On the demise of snow days:
"God, you're taking away one of the greatest things on Earth, the snow day. If Zoom worked, it would make sense... but they don't work."
— Michael ([32:23])
Useful Timestamps
- Clips of the Week & Political Satire: [00:26–03:19], [03:19–05:00]
- Learning, Curiosity & Brain Science: [06:09–13:34]
- Don Lemon, Activism, & Public Debate: [15:28–29:53]
- Karl Rove, Trump, and History: [17:02–21:29]
- Snow Days & School Policy: [30:10–32:48]
Tone & Style
The episode maintains Armstrong & Getty’s trademark irreverence, wit, and rapid-fire banter. The tone veers between sarcastic, reflective, and occasionally biting, especially when discussing public figures or cultural trends. Even through serious discussions, humor is ever-present—often undercutting or highlighting the absurdities of contemporary news and media.
This thorough recap delivers the key ideas, memorable jokes, and social critiques from "A Play On Words That Involves Vomit," providing a vivid sense of the episode for those who missed it.