Do You Want a Frappucino?

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "Do You Want a Frappuccino?"

Release Date: June 9, 2025

Overview

In the "Do You Want a Frappuccino?" episode of the Armstrong & Getty On Demand podcast, hosts Armstrong and Michael engage in their trademark witty banter while delving into topics ranging from quirky pronunciations and over-the-top celebrations to customer service mishaps in everyday settings. The episode seamlessly blends humor with insightful commentary, offering listeners both entertainment and thoughtful reflections on modern social norms.

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1. The Frappuccino Pronunciation Debate

Timestamp: 00:35 – 01:03

The episode kicks off with a lighthearted discussion about the correct pronunciation of "Frappuccino." Armstrong and Michael debate whether it's pronounced "frappy" or "frappy," with Armstrong leaning towards not shortening it, contrasting with "shardy" for Chardonnay.

• Armstrong: "Do you say frappy? I don't say frappy. It's like people who say shardy."

• Michael: "Frappy."

This segment sets a playful tone, highlighting the often trivial yet amusing debates that can spark conversations.

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2. The Rise of Grandmother Showers and Overwhelming Celebrations

Timestamp: 01:07 – 04:08

Getty joins the conversation to discuss the increasing popularity of grandmother showers, presenting two contrasting opinions:

• Opinion 1: Grandmother showers are a heartfelt way to welcome someone into their new role as a grandmother.

• Opinion 2: They can be seen as inappropriate and tacky gift-giving events.

Armstrong expresses his frustration with the proliferation of celebrations, feeling that there's an overabundance of events demanding attendance, from birthday parties to graduations.

• Armstrong: "I've been complaining partially because it's ended the school year season of just... There's too many celebrations now, too many events."

Michael echoes this sentiment, emphasizing his preference for simplicity over grand festivities.

• Michael: "Everybody is supposed to go to all of them. A six-year-old's birthday party is an excuse for 40 adults to get together."

The hosts critique the extrovert-driven culture that prioritizes gatherings and social obligations, sometimes at the expense of personal comfort and preference.

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3. Customer Service: A Tale of Two Cafes

Timestamp: 04:35 – 09:48

The conversation takes a serious turn as Nalisa shares a distressing experience at Starbucks, where she sought immediate assistance for her husband experiencing kidney failure. The employee's rigid adherence to policy over empathy led to a harrowing ordeal.

• Nalisa: "Starbucks had a decision that day to pick policy or humanity, and they chose policy."

Armstrong and Michael dissect the incident, highlighting the impersonal nature of corporate policies that can sometimes overshadow human needs.

• Michael: "He seems like a monster... But I need to point out he got that way by dealing with the public, who probably constantly cut in line and lie."

In contrast, Nalisa's subsequent experience at Capital One Cafe was positive, with an employee promptly addressing her husband's medical emergency.

• Nalisa: "They just need ice water quickly."

Capital One's response underscores the importance of empathetic customer service, leading to a corporate statement praising their staff's actions.

• Capital One Statement: "Each and every day doing the right thing is one of our Capital One values."

The hosts use this juxtaposition to critique companies like Starbucks, suggesting that their training programs might need significant improvement to foster genuine care among employees.

• Armstrong: "I've never really had a job where he worked with the public. And I've been told...I would be a much better person if I'd ever had one job where I worked with the public."

Michael humorously adds to the critique by referencing Wells Fargo's notorious practices, further emphasizing the importance of authentic customer interactions.

• Michael: "Meanwhile, back at Starbucks... We've been in touch with this customer... as we continue to train our partners on the new code of conduct."

This segment serves as a commentary on the broader implications of customer service policies and the balance between maintaining order and showing compassion.

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4. Reflections on Public Interaction and Personal Growth

Timestamp: 07:07 – 09:40

Armstrong shares his limited experience with public-facing jobs, reflecting on how handling the public could influence personal demeanor.

• Armstrong: "I've never done a public job, really... Someone said to me one time, that's why you are the way you are, that I would be a much better person if I'd ever had one job where I worked with the public."

Michael humorously responds to Armstrong's musings, reinforcing the idea that constant public interaction can lead to frustration or a hardened outlook.

• Michael: "Introverts of the world, unite. But I can't make it that night."

The hosts blend humor with introspection, inviting listeners to consider how societal expectations around social interactions impact individual behavior and mental well-being.

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Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Armstrong & Getty provide a balanced mix of humor and critical analysis, encouraging listeners to reflect on societal norms, personal preferences, and the importance of empathy in everyday interactions. By addressing both light-hearted topics like pronunciations and more profound issues such as customer service ethics, the hosts create an engaging and thought-provoking discussion that resonates with a wide audience.

Notable Quotes:

• Armstrong: "Do you say frappy? I don't say frappy." [00:43]

• Michael: "Everybody is supposed to go to all of them." [02:14]

• Nalisa: "Starbucks had a decision that day to pick policy or humanity, and they chose policy." [05:24]

• Michael: "Extroverts rule the world." [04:12]

• Michael: "Introverts of the world, unite. But I can't make it that night." [04:28]

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Note: Advertisements and promotional segments have been excluded from this summary to focus on the core content of the episode.

Transcript

[Michael]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Trust and Will Announcer]

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[Armstrong]

Son, your grandpa and I used to work on this car together. And when I'm gone, I want you to have it. Wow.

[Michael]

Thanks, dad.

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[Armstrong]

A Frappuccino or not? It's one more thing. Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

One more thing.

[Armstrong]

Or do you say frappy? I don't say frappy. It's like people who say shardy.

[Michael]

Frappy.

[Armstrong]

I don't say frappy or shardy. Shardy.

[Michael]

I've known one guy who said shardy and could pull it off, but he was a unique guy.

[Armstrong]

Yeah, it takes a certain sort of person.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah. Chardonnay.

[Armstrong]

Yes.

[Michael]

That was taking me a second. Okay, got it.

[Armstrong]

Do. Is this first one need any set up here, Michael, before we get to the Frappuccino now let me just.

[Michael]

I'll explain it a little bit.

[Armstrong]

Just.

[Michael]

Couple goes into a Starbucks and.

[Armstrong]

No, we're doing the other one. Man.

[Michael]

Oh, sorry. No, this one doesn't actually.

[Armstrong]

Okay, here we go.

[Getty]

There are definitely two opinions about grandmother showers. Opinion one, Grandmother showers are a lovely way to welcome a friend or co worker into their new role. Opinion 2, Granny showers are inappropriate and tacky gift grabs. So which is it if a group of co workers gets together and has a lunch where they celebrate someone becoming a new grandmother. It's a lovely way to welcome somebody to this new stage of life. But when the grandmother shower rivals the shower for the actual parents, that's where it crosses a line.

[Armstrong]

That's grandmother shower etiquette. We talked about the grandmother shower becoming a thing last week. I've been complaining partially because it's ended the school year season of just. There's too many celebrations now, too many events.

[Michael]

Everybody is supposed to go to all of them. A six year old's birthday party is an excuse for 40 adults to get.

[Armstrong]

Together or whatever the gathering that happened near me the other day for some girl because she's getting out of fifth grade. So is everybody got it? Am I a bad person if I don't Go. Great. You got a high school graduation. Big deal. All the other ones for you and your family. Do whatever you want, but I ain't coming.

[Michael]

Yeah, with gifts too.

[Armstrong]

Yeah, and gifts. Is it a gift grab? Are all these gifts?

[Michael]

I think it's.

[Armstrong]

I think it's the whole extroverts rule the world thing. Any reason to get together and have a celebration and put on fancy clothes and stand around and talk and drink. Any of the more the merrier. And I'm like, no. Your kid moved on from 8th grade. Fantastic. I ain't coming to your house.

[Michael]

Now granted, I'm a bitter misanthrope and have been for, you know, practically my entire life. But the idea that all of my parents, friends should gather and celebrate me graduating from high school. Why? That's what I was supposed to do. I showed up to class, I got decent grades, they gave me a diploma, which I'll never look at again. Why are we having a party? It's like a giant look. Joe isn't an F up party. Look, he. He did it.

[Armstrong]

Yeah, I. My son played in the band for the seniors graduating for his high school. They played Pomp and Circumstance over and over and again like you do when you're in the band. But I pulled up to pick him up and the crowd there because the graduating class. This is a small schools like the same size as my graduating class. And there were five times as many people there. So it just extended family. More just. You gotta treat it that way, I guess. When. When I graduated, I think it was mostly just mom's dad, so. Right. You got 80 students, you got 160 parents. You go on your way.

[Michael]

Giant celebration for everything.

[Armstrong]

For everything.

[Michael]

To the grindstone. Just do what you're supposed to do.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. Anyway.

[Michael]

But again, I think you nailed it. Extroverts rule the world.

[Armstrong]

Yeah. They figured out that gender reveal parties can be a thing. Another reason for a party. Not just the husband and wife on their own. Get the news and maybe clink glasses or something, I don't know. But make a party out of it.

[Michael]

Introverts of the world, unite. But I can't make it that night.

[Armstrong]

No, I can't be there. Either send me a text or.

[Michael]

Don't know how it goes.

[Armstrong]

So this one you can set up here. What's the Starbucks situation? Michael?

[Michael]

The Starbucks situation is a couple goes into Starbucks and so it's a husband and wife and the husband has a medical emergency and it gets handled.

[Armstrong]

Very poor. Okay.

[Nalisa]

I could have possibly blacked out. It could have had A more dramatic impact on my body. My kidneys could have possibly just shut down. And he just started sweating. He's like, I don't feel well. He started leaning over, and then he started vomiting. I was frantic. I think I was crying at that point. The employee looked at me and was like, you need to get in line. And then I repeated what I said. I'm like, but my husband, he's in kidney failure. We just need ice water quickly. And he looked at me again and was like, you need to get in line. Starbucks had a decision that day to pick policy or humanity, and they chose policy.

[Armstrong]

Wow, that's. Well, might be some. Might be on some of the training, but you got a poor employee there who would not hand. Hand an ice water to the person who says, I'm having kidney failure.

[Michael]

I will be standing for the defense in a moment. Yes, certainly. That's my husband right there. He's in stage four kidney failure. I need. I just need water fast for him. You need to get in line. But my husband, he's in kidney failure. We just need the ice water quickly. You need to get in line. Nightmarish, terrible, bad employee.

[Armstrong]

On the other hand, they sell bottled water there. I would have just grabbed a bottle of water and given it to him. That's what I'm.

[Michael]

I'll be right back. Yeah. Yeah. On the one hand, he seems like a monster. He seems like an inhuman monster, a bitter human being, a she of a human, really, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. But I need to point out he got that way by dealing with the public, who probably constantly cut in line and lie. And you deal with the public for 10 minutes, man, you hate humanity.

[Armstrong]

It's like the third person that day.

[Michael]

That told him they're having kidney failure.

[Armstrong]

He's like, not.

[Michael]

Not doing this again. I suggest, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that he was driven to that apparently inhumane behavior by the inhumane behavior of the public.

[Armstrong]

Yeah, get behind the lady who says she's got eye cancer and the other good one has got pancreatic cancer. And I'll get you your stuff as I can. All right?

[Michael]

And I heard on the radio it was 50% off for grandmothers today.

[Armstrong]

What?

[Nalisa]

Get in line.

[Armstrong]

My coffee's too hot.

[Michael]

My coffee's too cold. Everybody shut up.

[Armstrong]

I have never done a public job, really. I worked at a hardware store for a while, but I mostly sorted nails and assembled ceiling fans. I've never really had a job where he worked with the public. And I've been told before that in Fact, I had a someone say to me one time, that's why you are the way you are, that, that I would be a much better person if I'd ever had one job where I worked with the public, which might be true.

[Michael]

So after being turned away at Starbucks, Nalisa, which is the wife, ran into Capital One Cafe and an employee acted quickly to get a cup of ice water. Okay, so that went well. So, of course, the head of retail bank channels and operations at Capital One has made a statement. First and foremost, we're glad the person facing a medical emergency is doing much better. We're proud of the way our Capital One Cafe ambassadors handle themselves. Each and every day doing the right thing is one of our Capital One values. And we believe that shows up in the work we do day in and day out.

[Armstrong]

Here at Bank One Trust, we take kidney failure seriously. And anybody needing liquid will always get it and a good interest rate on their home at Bank One Trust or whatever.

[Michael]

Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to open up accounts for people who didn't ask for them and charge them fees. Actually, I have no evidence that Capital One ever engaged in any activity anything like that.

[Armstrong]

Who did that? That was Wells Fargo. Right?

[Michael]

Wells Fargo.

[Armstrong]

Oh, my God.

[Michael]

Meanwhile, back at Starbucks. Okay, back where they just as soon kick in the face as give you a sip of water. Sam Jeffries with Starbucks Media. Starbucks Media Relations sent this statement. We've been in touch with this customer over the past few weeks to listen, apologize and make this right. And we hope to welcome them back to a store of their choice to give them the Starbucks experience they should expect. As we continue to train our partners on the new code of conduct we're working to ensure great experience, blah, blah. Communicate openly, blah. Kindness, blah. Consideration, blah. Outside of our policies, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[Armstrong]

Oh, the poor baristas that are now are going to get some sort of long training where. Actors. I've got kidney failure. What should Madison do when she finds out a customer has kidney failure? A, mock him, B, get him an ice cold water, or C, tell him to get back in line.

[Michael]

I'm saying, A, get a kidney. I'm sorry, that answer was incorrect. You need to retake this module.

[Armstrong]

Way to have bad kidneys. Yeah, that would have said.

[Michael]

Well, I guess that's it.

[Trust and Will Announcer]

The following heartwarming yet informative scene is brought to you by Trust and will, son.

[Armstrong]

Your grandpa and I used to work on this car together. And when I'm gone, I want you to have it.

[Trust and Will Announcer]

Wow, thanks dad doesn't count. What you need is a will. Luckily, trust and Will makes it easy. Designed by attorneys but customized by you, you can easily create a state specific, legally valid document that actually counts. Now let's let the engine do the talking. Am I right? Start your [e-mail] use offer code, count for 20% off and make it count. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. For details, see trustandwill.com this is an iHeart podcast.