Are You Enjoying This?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "Are You Enjoying This?"

Episode Title: Are You Enjoying This?
Release Date: March 10, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand

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Introduction

In the "Are You Enjoying This?" episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Armstrong and Getty delve into the complexities of adolescent behavior, social dynamics among teenagers, and the evolving landscape of cultural icons. Through a candid and humorous conversation, they explore the challenges of connecting with the younger generation, the impact of societal changes on masculinity, and the diminishing reverence for traditional Hollywood figures.

Main Discussion

A. A Father’s Getaway with Teenagers

Armstrong opens the discussion by recounting a recent experience where he took his teenage son and two of his friends on a weekend getaway for his son’s birthday. He expresses uncertainty about whether the teens genuinely enjoyed the trip, highlighting the typical teenage aloofness.

Armstrong [02:42]: "Are you enjoying this? Is anyone enjoying this at all?"

B. Deciphering Teenage Behavior

Getty and Armstrong delve into the intricacies of teenage behavior, pondering why adolescents often appear detached despite engaging in enjoyable activities. They speculate that teenagers might feel the need to maintain a cool facade, masking their true feelings to fit in.

Getty [03:34]: "I don't know, it's that cool guy age."

Armstrong agrees, noting the effort teenagers invest in appearing "cool" and how it often results in them being less expressive or open.

C. The Cool Facade and Social Hierarchies

The conversation shifts to the societal pressures teenagers face to appear superior or unimpressed as a means of social stratification. A guest speaker joins, providing a developmental perspective on why teenagers might associate enthusiasm with childishness, leading to a veneer of indifference.

Guest Speaker [04:00]: "It's really important to teens too. That's why the, you know, the social ladder thing can be so brutal because anybody you can put below you elevates you..."

Armstrong relates this to observing the teens during their time at The Grove in Los Angeles, where despite being surrounded by attractive individuals and engaging environments, the teenagers remained engrossed in their phones, reinforcing the idea of their disengagement.

D. Declining Testosterone Levels and Masculinity

The discussion takes an intriguing turn towards the topic of declining testosterone levels among men, referencing an NPR feature where men at the station exhibited lower-than-average testosterone levels. This segue leads to a broader conversation about toxic masculinity and societal expectations of men.

Guest Speaker [06:35]: "Like way sub average."

Armstrong [07:13]: "And it’s rare that you see somebody who's reached their full potential pitching that sort of nonsense."

They discuss how these hormonal changes might influence male behavior, making some men appear emotionally flat or overly reserved, which in turn affects their social interactions and self-perception.

E. The Prevalence of Smartphone Addiction

Armstrong expresses his frustration with the pervasive use of smartphones, even during quality family time. He laments how smartphones have become the primary source of entertainment, diminishing real-world interactions and experiences.

Armstrong [11:13]: "...they spent looking at their phones when the three of them are together. That's just... it's the way the world's gonna be."

Getty concurs, emphasizing that even in good company, the allure of digital entertainment often takes precedence over engaging with the present moment.

F. The Erosion of Traditional Hollywood Prestige

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the waning influence of Hollywood as a cultural powerhouse. Armstrong nostalgically refers to the bygone era of movie stars like Bogie and Bacall, contrasting it with the current reality where celebrity culture is fragmented and less revered by the younger generation.

Guest Speaker [13:04]: "...if some famous actor and his old lady are bitching at each other in the streets. You see the video on TMZ."

Armstrong [13:13]: "That's not a bad point, actually."

They explore how the transparency and omnipresence of celebrities today, thanks to social media and constant media coverage, have stripped them of their once mythic status, making their personal lives and vulnerabilities public fodder.

Insights and Observations

• Teenage Social Dynamics: The need for teenagers to appear cool and in control often leads to emotional suppression and superficial interactions.

• Impact of Technology: Smartphones have become the dominant form of entertainment, even in the presence of engaging environments and quality company.

• Shifting Masculinity: Societal pressures and possible hormonal changes are influencing modern masculinity, leading to more reserved and less expressive male behavior.

• Decline of Hollywood's Influence: The modern celebrity landscape, characterized by overexposure and lack of mystique, has diminished the traditional allure of Hollywood icons among the youth.

Notable Quotes

• Armstrong [02:42]: "Are you enjoying this? Is anyone enjoying this at all?"

• Getty [03:34]: "I don't know, it's that cool guy age."

• Guest Speaker [04:00]: "It's really important to teens too. That's why the, you know, the social ladder thing can be so brutal because anybody you can put below you elevates you..."

• Armstrong [07:13]: "And it’s rare that you see somebody who's reached their full potential pitching that sort of nonsense."

• Armstrong [11:13]: "...they spent looking at their phones when the three of them are together. That's just... it's the way the world's gonna be."

• Guest Speaker [13:04]: "...if some famous actor and his old lady are bitching at each other in the streets. You see the video on TMZ."

• Armstrong [13:13]: "That's not a bad point, actually."

Conclusions

The "Are You Enjoying This?" episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary teenage behavior, the challenges of authentic communication in the digital age, and the transformation of societal norms surrounding masculinity and celebrity culture. Armstrong and Getty, supported by insightful contributions from a guest speaker, shed light on the generational gaps and societal shifts that define today's social landscape. The conversation underscores the importance of understanding and bridging these gaps to foster meaningful connections across generations.

Transcript

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[Armstrong]

Are you enjoying this? Is anyone enjoying this at all? It's one more thing. Armstrong and Getty. One more thing. I took my son and he, two of his best friends on a little getaway Friday for my son's birthday. And because they're teenagers, two 15 year olds and a 14 year old, I have no idea if they had a good time or not. I don't really know.

[Getty]

What do you mean?

[Armstrong]

Oh, you can't tell. Teenagers, you can't tell. They just, they, they gotta act so aloof all the time.

[Getty]

Oh, yeah.

[Armstrong]

Okay, now a lot of laughing to themselves and everything like that. And I heard them in their hotel room and they seem to be having a good time. But like in terms of just asking them question. Yeah, okay, cool. Right, Whatever. Just.

[Getty]

I don't know, it's that cool guy age.

[Armstrong]

The cool guy age. Oh, my God. The amount of time it takes to, to an effort to walk, dress, talk the way you got to be to be cool. Looks like a lot of work.

[Guest Speaker]

I'm usually pretty good at sussing out why, you know, kids and teenagers act in certain ways, developmentally speaking, the rest of it. But the whole, I don't like anything. I don't, I'm not sure what that's all about. You want to seem in control and do they associate? And this is all. I'm not saying this is insidious or anything because. Practically universal. Yeah, but do they associate enthusiasm with childishness?

[Armstrong]

I wonder. That's a pretty good one right there. But I felt like the three of them together, I mean, we did some pretty cool stuff and they saw some pretty cool stuff. And I felt like they each had to pretend to the other two that they weren't impressed for some reason, which left me thinking, why are we doing this? Is anybody enjoying this?

[Guest Speaker]

Feeling superior to things and people? It's really important to teens too. That's why the, you know, the social ladder thing can be so brutal because anybody you can put below you elevates you like on the class rank of coolness, which is just savage and it's terrible.

[Armstrong]

Well, here's, here's the perfect example to make my own point, I suppose. So we were at the Grove, which is a shopping Area in Los Angeles for people who don't know. Very cool, upscale, outdoor, beautiful day in la. Tons of people there and everything like that. And I let them walk around and do stuff. They got some food, the farmers market there, and they went around, shopped at some stores that they like and that sort of thing. I left them alone and I thought while I was walking around, I thought, they have got to be noticing the female contingent here. I mean, because it was, I mean, between the ages of like 15 and 30, you know, hot and cold, running la, tan, well dressed, attractive women. And I thought they got to be noticing teenage boys. Anyway, I brought that up on the Uber ride to the airport. Some attractive women there in place. Yeah, I didn't think so. But okay, now I know you're having to put on a front because that's ridiculous. I mean, you're in freaking lost, upscale Los Angeles. Unless you're all three gay, you're really trying too hard.

[Guest Speaker]

At least say. I don't know about the chicks, but the dudes were pretty fresh or fly or whatever people say these days. Fly. That one goes back like 25, 30 years, doesn't it? You know, that reminds me. Oh, I've got to find that. Hang on, I'm going to make a note to myself. Even as we speak, NPR did a feature about dropping testosterone levels and they had all the men at the NPR station test their testosterone.

[Armstrong]

I haven't had an erection in a decade and a half and they're all.

[Guest Speaker]

Like way sub average.

[Armstrong]

Oh, really?

[Guest Speaker]

Like every dude using finger quotes who worked there was like, sorry, but in the parlance of today's youth, a real beta male.

[Armstrong]

Wow.

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, like a effeminate fella. And that does not shock. It amuses me in a way and it confirms what I've thought. But which came first? I mean, is there something about working at NPR that drives down your testosterone levels? It could happen. Or is that just a certain sort of person?

[Getty]

I think it's a type and there's a lot.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah. Oh, I would agree.

[Armstrong]

Yeah, I, I know some. Yes, Michael, go ahead.

[Michael]

I hope it's nothing that these guys have been taught, like in school, like, oh, we don't engage in toxic masculinity.

[Armstrong]

No, it's not that. No, I don't think my son and his friends have that. It was just a. I gotta be unimpressed. It makes me cooler to be unimpressed. I think that's what it was.

[Guest Speaker]

God, yeah. I mean, if you are a normal, healthy young man and you see an attractive Woman with whom your very biology cries out for you.

[Armstrong]

Right.

[Guest Speaker]

To couple and produce young.

[Armstrong]

Right.

[Guest Speaker]

You can say, if you say she's really good looking, I'm gonna hit you with a bat. She's hot.

[Armstrong]

Bam.

[Guest Speaker]

Ow, ow, ow. She's really cute. Bam.

[Amy Brown]

Ow.

[Guest Speaker]

God, stop. You can't help yourself. I didn't think so. Although again, they're teenage la. I give so much latitude. Adolescence is so hard and complicated. Now, if you're 26 and you're the guy says, I don't think she's good looking.

[Armstrong]

Oh my God, that's pathetic.

[Guest Speaker]

Oh, it's so pathetic.

[Getty]

I dated.

[Guest Speaker]

Oh, I get it. Because you're such a stud and could have any woman on earth, the top 2% of women isn't quite hot enough for you. I get the message you're trying to send and it's sad.

[Getty]

I dated a guy like that in high school and it was insufferable. He could not, he could not be amused by anything. And I just remember going like, are you, are you too cool for everything? I'm not understanding this. And he, he actually. I don't know that he's grown out of it, to be honest with you. 36.

[Guest Speaker]

Now, I've got to be vague about this to protect the innocent, but there was somebody I know very, very well who was dating a young man who was very attractive, very smart, great future ahead of him. But not to overstate it, but he definitely had a Mr. Spockish personality where he wasn't like super delighted by much or he was just emotionally very flat, very cool, very reserved. I mean, like very. And this is, you know, this is beyond your teenage years. And I just, I think that's probably just the way he was made.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. I gotta believe in that case, since he was attractive and you said had a bright future. Most of the people have known past being a teenager, like, you know, high schooler. High schoolers different. As you've said, it's just part of the thing. For whatever reason. But like, yeah, you're. You're 30 years old and you're not impressed by anything or anyone. I've known a plenty of like, real losers. I mean, you, your dating prospects are not good. Your financial prospects are not good. So obviously that's a protection mechanism. If you pretend you're not interested in anybody in this bar because, you know, you feel like none of them are interested in you, that is. Helps protect you. Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

And it's been said of bigotry and I think it's right that a lot of it springs from people who are desperate to feel superior to someone.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

And they don't have any rational basis on which to feel superior. They go with, you know, skin color or whatever.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. Because I'm picturing a particular person I know, and I've known several people like that. Not impressed with anybody's car or house or anything like that. And because they are never gonna have anything worth a crap. So it just makes it easier, I guess, all the way around. Pretty sad and transparent. So it doesn't bother me. I mean, I feel. I feel bad for somebody who has to do that to get through the day, but. Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, it's psychological self protection. I ran into somebody like that recently too, and it hurt my heart because, you know, they're not a bad person. But it was definitely a rationalizing thing. It's similar to, you know, the only way you can be successful is because you're a cheating, you know, white person or whatever.

[Armstrong]

And.

[Guest Speaker]

And it's rare that you see somebody who's reached their full potential pitching that sort of nonsense.

[Armstrong]

Oh, and one more thing on this. And I'm just going to have to accept this at a certain level. I fight it in my own home. I've talked about this a lot, like the staring at your phone. I don't want you doing it in the car with me. I don't want you at the dinner table. But this was my son and his friends. This was kind of their weekend for his birthday. So I'm not going to tell them how to interact with each other. But it's amazing how much time they spent looking at their phones when the three of them are together. That's just, I mean, it's just. It's the way the world's gonna be. And I, you know, and I can't change it. But I just thought, wow, it's like.

[Getty]

The main form of entertainment even when you're in good company.

[Armstrong]

Right. And like, and we're riding around in these Ubers through Los Angeles and there's all kinds of freaking cool things everywhere you go or unique things you've never seen before. And I thought, you know, I pointed out a couple of. A couple people and they glance up for their phone for a second and go back to their phone. I finally gave up on that and just not interested in observing anything in the world other than. And they're playing games on their phone, then looking at the game on their phone. All right. I guess. Yeah. I've never seen the Hollywood sign before. Oh, that's another thing that's another thing I picked up. And that makes perfectly good sense. The younger set has no interest in Hollywood. That thing is dead. As soon as like 45 year olds grow old enough to be dead. I don't know what the cutoff is. But the younger generation, there's no such thing as that. I grew up with, like Hollywood movie stars being a thing. It's not with the younger generation. They don't even know what they're talking about.

[Guest Speaker]

Staying at a hotel right next to or right down the street from Warner Brothers Studios.

[Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

Thinking, oh, man, that's where right now. None of that.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. That doesn't mean anything to the younger crowd. Which, man, I don't know if Hollywood's aware of that. They probably are, but I wonder what that is.

[Getty]

I could be all the streaming services maybe getting lost in the.

[Armstrong]

I think it's just so diffuse, I.

[Guest Speaker]

Guess, in video gaming. And. Yeah, that's. That's part of it. Plus there's more transparency in the world these days. So you just. You don't think of movie actors as these distant superior race of humans beings that you'll never know, you'll never touch, you'll never hear from. They just exist on the silver screen or at carefully orchestrated publicity events. Now if. If some famous actor and his old lady are bitching at each other in the streets. You see the video on tmz.

[Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

Or they go out without makeup or seen going into a public bathroom in a park or whatever you think, there he goes, Ben Affleck pooping. I'll be damned. You didn't get that with Bogey and Bacall?

[Armstrong]

No. You did not get their humpbulgart pooping. Yes, Michael.

[Michael]

No, I was gonna say younger people, they can film themselves. So it's nothing special to be on tv. It's like, well, geez, I do that all the time.

[Armstrong]

That's not a bad point, actually.

[Guest Speaker]

Oh, excellent point.

[Armstrong]

I say. Well, that is the podcast observation of the day. Congratulations, Michael.

[Michael]

Well, I guess that's it.

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