Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Cockroaches Are Having A Moment
Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty bounce from the bizarre new uses for cockroaches in technology, to the enduring value of scouting for kids, to a spirited critique of the American credit culture and the crumbling moral foundation of society. They cover campus controversies, the influence of foreign actors in U.S. education, and sprinkle in the usual Armstrong & Getty banter—including neighborly guilt trips about Christmas cookies. The tone is quick-witted, skeptical, and sometimes irreverent, maintaining the show’s trademark blend of humor and social commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cockroaches, Cameras & Military Tech

[02:59-03:40]

• The hosts discuss news that a tech company is outfitting cockroaches with cameras and microphones, touting their use in search and rescue, and note the German military’s experimentation with “cockroach backpacks” for surveillance.
  • “Cockroaches are having a moment...You can steer them around with a joystick. It’s pretty cool.” — Michael [03:24]
  • “Carrying cameras, bombs, whatever you need them to carry. Microphones.” — Katie [03:36]
• The segment is half in awe, half tongue-in-cheek skepticism, poking fun at the idea of being rescued by roaches.
• Memorable Moment: “All right, everybody. We’ve been trapped in this cave for days. But I’ve got some good news. A bunch of roaches just crawled in.” — Katie [03:21]

2. Scouting, Morals, and Fundraising

[03:40-08:16]

• Armstrong shares appreciation for scouting, not just for teaching survival skills but also for instilling leadership, patriotism, and moral grounding in youth.
  • “Can a country survive if it doesn’t have certain kinds of morals? Well, they teach those in scouting still. And I absolutely love that.” — Michael [03:52]
• The team discusses their annual goal to raise $100,000 so any family can afford for their child to join scouts. They read off comical and heartfelt donor pseudonyms and celebrate clever callbacks from listeners.
• Quote: “If you want your kid to join, don’t be held back by the couple hundred dollars it costs to sign up.” — Michael [03:53]
• Running joke about “dolphin” donations, playful banter about whales and dolphins (donation tiers), and recurring inside jokes about the show’s self-deprecating tone.

3. The Erosion of Shared Morals, Debt, and American Culture

[08:16-15:09]

• Armstrong and Getty revisit the classic question: can the U.S. function without a shared moral foundation? They reference the book Dominion by Tom Holland and America’s Christian cultural roots. “Our country’s morals were not from Buddhism, not Hindu, not Islam. It was Judeo-Christian...” — Jack Armstrong, paraphrasing a listener text [08:46] “A principle as foundational as ‘all men are created equal’ is straight out of Christianity.” — Katie [09:48]

• Armstrong tells a story from the Lyndon Johnson era, where it was once considered immoral—on Christian grounds—for the U.S. government to take on debt, contrasting it with today’s ubiquitous credit culture.

• The group discusses the shift from saving for purchases to the ease of debt and credit cards.

  • “My parents were super anti credit cards...the kind of people who used credit cards were living irresponsible lives. Nobody feels that way about credit anymore.” — Michael [12:18-13:07]

• They ponder whether it’s possible to recover a culture of fiscal restraint and individual moral self-control.

4. Foreign Languages & Emerging Technology

[19:00-20:44]

• The hosts riff about using translation technology (Ray-Ban smartglasses, et al.) to bridge language gaps in everyday life.
  • “That feature is really good, the translation feature…It shows up right in front of your eye.” — Michael [20:02]
• There’s lighthearted talk of using language tech at the nail salon or when dealing with cab drivers.

5. Campus Chaos: Ideology and Outside Influence in Academia

[27:18-37:23]

• In a major segment, the show examines the rise of politicized university courses, specifically a Princeton anthropology class titled “Gender Reproduction and Genocide in Gaza,” equating the Israeli-Hamas conflict with the Holocaust.
  • “If there’s some sort of award for this, I think it may win it. Princeton University…is launching a new anthropology class on gender reproduction and genocide in Gaza…being taught by a noted Palestinian feminist who has made provably false claims that Hamas did not kill any babies or rape women on October 7th.” — Katie [28:20]
  • They read from the syllabus, mocking “critical theory” jargon.
  • Armstrong notes, “Somebody’s paying a lot of money to have their kid take that class.” [30:05]
• The hosts highlight donations (like $100 million from Jeff Yass to the University of Austin) aiming to re-establish universities as centers of true academic rigor and a pushback against “left-leaning faculty indoctrination.”
  • “The feedback mechanisms of higher education are broken…The purpose of higher education should be…so they can flourish and contribute to society. By that standard, success should be measured by how graduates are doing. And that’s not happening anymore.” — Katie, quoting Yass [32:23–33:37]
• They point out the influence of foreign governments (Qatar, China) in funding U.S. universities, sometimes to the point of facilitating spying or ideological indoctrination.
  • “Between the Qataris pumping money in so schools teach up with the Muslim Brotherhood and down with the Jew and the Communist Chinese sending their spies to America masquerading as scholars, it is some serious rot.” — Katie [36:43]

6. The Christmas Cookie Exchange Dilemma

[38:08-42:21]

• Jack recounts neighborly holiday gift giving in his cul-de-sac and wonders aloud if receiving homemade cookies obliges him to give a homemade treat in return. He goes into detail about his son’s less-than-perfect attempt at baking sugar cookies, debating whether to hand those out or try a different approach.
  • “My bar for how good a cookie sugar cookies gotta be before I eat it is, you know, right here...But it's like the old sex joke. It's like sugar cookies and sex—you know, even when it's bad, it's pretty good.” — Michael [40:46]
  • “Maybe make them a meatloaf or something. Something completely different.” — Katie [42:07]
• The hosts riff on awkward gifting etiquette, dry cookies, and the perils of child-made baked goods.

7. The State of Holiday Spending & Donations

[45:40-48:18]

• The show shares data on holiday spending, noting a large percentage of Americans plan to spend less or buy fewer gifts due to financial pressure.
  • “42% of Americans plan to spend less this holiday season…given a lot of other numbers we’ve heard with maxed out credit cards and record numbers of people being behind on their car payments…” — Michael [45:40]
• They tie this to fundraising efforts for scouting, reiterating the importance of even small donations.
  • “If everybody did [just $25], we’d hit our goal easily.” — Michael [48:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Armstrong & Getty—the most depressing radio show ever.” — Michael [05:03] (self-mocking running gag)
• [On moral decline and credit]:
  “I think culturally you need to conserve that Judeo-Christian basis of living to make this all work.” — Michael [08:43]
  “Pleasure over responsibility.” — Katie [11:29]
• [On critical theory academia]:
  “If there’s some sort of award for this, I think it may win it. Princeton University…is launching a new anthropology class on gender reproduction and genocide in Gaza..." — Katie [28:20]
• [On foreign influence in education]:
  “University of Michigan’s partnership with the CCP linked Shanghai school brought Chinese spies to campus…a scale far outpacing any other US School.” — Katie [34:53]
• [On awkward holiday traditions]:
  “I’m 60 years old. I should probably give up the idea that I’m ever going to send out Christmas cards, because I never have…” — Michael [38:37]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cockroach Tech Segment: [02:59–03:40]
• Scouting Fundraiser & Banter: [03:40–08:16]
• Morality, Credit & Debt: [08:16–15:09]
• Translation Technology Chat: [19:00–20:44]
• Campus Chaos & University Ideology: [27:18–37:23]
• Christmas Cookie Gifting Dilemma: [38:08–42:21]
• Holiday Spending & Donations: [45:40–48:18]

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• The hosts maintain a conversational, irreverent, and slightly skeptical tone, blending serious reflection with absurd comedy.
• The show offers engaging, broad social critique coupled with personal anecdotes and playful group dynamics.
• Despite all the chaos, Armstrong & Getty circle back repeatedly to themes of community, moral grounding, and the small ways listeners can make a positive difference.

Additional Resources

• Donate to the Scouts initiative: Armstrongandgetty.com
• Book referenced: Dominion by Tom Holland

This summary captures all main segments and flavor of “Cockroaches Are Having A Moment,” providing a thorough, timestamped guide for anyone who missed the show.