Does the Meat Need to be Submerged?

Summary

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Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Does the Meat Need to be Submerged?"

Date: June 18, 2026
Hosts: Jack & Michael

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Episode Overview

In this lighthearted, relatable episode, Jack and Michael dive into the domestic drama of cooking as Jack finally faces a long-postponed personal challenge: making crock pot pot roast for his kids. The conversation expands into reflections on childhood meals, the art and anxieties of home cooking, and funny moments of culinary confusion. The duo banter about favorite recipes, culinary confidence (or the lack thereof), and the joy—and stress—of feeding a family.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jack’s Crock Pot Breakthrough

• Jack shares his triumph at finally using a crock pot (after owning one for years), inspired by family and friend recommendations.
  • “I have finally, finally opened up the box, gotten out the crock pot and put something.” (01:21, Jack)
• He seeks to recreate his mom’s roast beef—a beloved childhood dish.

2. Crock Pot Rookie Mistakes & ChatGPT Wisdom

• Jack consults ChatGPT for guidance, revealing a common misconception:
  • “Chat GPT... said, no, no, no, no. If you have it completely covered, it'll ruin it. But that's a common beginner mistake.” (02:39, Jack)
• Discussion about meat and potatoes not needing to be fully submerged due to the combined cooking effects of steam and heat in a crock pot (02:32–03:00).

3. Nostalgic Foods & Family Recipes

• Jack & Michael reminisce about their favorite childhood meals:
  • Pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and lasagna all make the list (03:31–06:00).
• Michael proclaims:
  • “I have never understood jokes about meatloaf. Maybe my mom made really good meatloaf, and my wife makes really good meatloaf. Oh my God. That's at the... top items in the food pyramid. To me, it's delicious.” (04:42, Michael)

4. Cooking Talent: Perceived vs. Actual Difficulty

• Self-deprecating humor about lack of cooking skill:
  • “I have no talent.” (05:53, Jack)
• Michael counters:
  • “It's... there's not much to it. You just—it's layers. You got to cook the noodles, but—” (05:56, Michael)
• Jack humorously corrects Michael’s terminology:
  • “No, don't say noodles... Italians don’t like the word noodles. Noodles is Asian food. Pasta.” (06:03, Jack)

5. Parental Guilt & Single Parenting Challenges

• Jack honestly reflects on parenting struggles:
  • “My biggest failing, absolutely, as a single parent, has been the providing meals for my kids. I just... I've never cooked. I don't like it.” (06:16, Jack)

6. Hesitancy, Uncertainty, and Culinary Anxiety

• Michael empathizes with the fear of “getting it wrong” in the kitchen, especially with meat and fish (10:01–10:31).
• Encouragement to try, learn, and improve—“Generally, it'll come out okay. You learn something, it'll be better the next time. Nobody will die. Probably.” (10:33, Michael)

7. Humor & Memorable Banter

• Michael riffs about what you can throw in a crock pot:
  • “You could throw a dead cat in there if you wanted.” (04:11, Michael)
  • “Ooh, tender. Falls right off the tail.” (04:14, Jack)
• Endearing oddities: Jack eats “roast beef with ketchup,” Michael calls himself a hypocrite for adding ketchup to meatloaf, and both wax poetic about sandwiches (02:33, 05:15).

8. Passing on Traditions & Summertime Memories

• Jack shares a fatherly moment, observing his teenager’s summer adventures with friends—an evocative nod to fleeting youth (08:28–09:07).

9. Reluctance to Fry & Fast Food Appeal

• Jack resists getting a fryer or attempting fried chicken at home; prefers quick, simple meals.
  • “I can have a hot dog with mustard every night for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.” (11:01, Jack)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Crock Pot Myths:
  "According to Chat GPT, that's a common beginner's mistake, thinking that the meat needs to be submerged..." (02:34, Jack)
• On Meatloaf’s Reputation:
  “I have never understood jokes about meatloaf... Oh my God. That's at the... top items in the food pyramid.” (04:42, Michael)
• On Culinary Terminology:
  "No, don't say noodles. Italians don't like the word noodles. Noodles is Asian food. Pasta." (06:03, Jack)
• On Cooking Anxiety:
  “A lot of hesitancy to cook is uncertainty of how it's going to come out. Generally, it'll come out okay... Nobody will die. Probably.” (10:33, Michael)
• On Dinner Satisfaction:
  “I just hate it. I don't understand people liking to cook... seems like a lot of work for little payoff.” (10:43, Jack)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:21 — Jack’s Crock Pot Journey Begins
• 02:32–03:00 — Crock Pot Cooking Q&A (& ChatGPT Advice)
• 03:31–06:00 — Childhood Favorites and Recipe Reminiscing
• 06:16–07:41 — Single Parenting & Cooking Guilt
• 08:28–09:07 — Reflections on Teenage Summers
• 10:01–10:43 — Cooking Fears & Family Kitchen Dynamics
• 11:01 — Jack’s Minimalist Food Philosophy

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Tone & Style Notes

The episode is full of good-natured ribbing, self-deprecating humor, and candid confessions. Jack’s exasperation with cooking is met by Michael’s gentle encouragement and playful teasing. The conversation is relatable, warm, and punctuated by personal anecdotes—making it especially appealing for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by dinner or nostalgic for Mom’s cooking.

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Summary

This episode is a breezy, comedic exploration of the awkward, earnest process of feeding a family and learning new skills (even reluctantly). The hosts’ personal stories and mutual teasing make for an enjoyable listen, and their memories might just inspire listeners to rediscover childhood comfort foods—or to give the crock pot another chance.

Transcript

[Karen & Georgia (My Favorite Murder)]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jack]

Guaranteed Human

[America 250 Announcer]

this July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party, hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Experience music, performances from major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history. It's more than just fireworks. Learn more about this landmark celebration at america250.org,

[Karen & Georgia (My Favorite Murder)]

hi, it's Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ionic 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. Want the full story? Take a listen. She starts dating Howard Hughes, and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. So she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamar and Billie Jean King, presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Goodbye.

[Jack]

Does the meat need to be submerged? It's one more thing. Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

One more thing. Wow.

[Jack]

What I have finally, after the suggestion coming to me from friends, family, co workers and listeners for years as a single parent trying to figure out how to feed my kids, as a guy who can't cook, I have finally, finally opened up the box, gotten out the crock pot and put something.

[Michael]

Wow. How long was it gestating the crock pot?

[Jack]

Just stating it before he burst it.

[Michael]

Yeah, I mean, it's been a decade, right?

[Jack]

I've had a few. I think I got one for when I got married. Well, now we use that one. So I. That's good because I gave it to you. Huh?

[Michael]

I'm the one that gave it to you.

[Jack]

That one we used a lot.

[Michael]

A lot.

[Jack]

I washed that thing a million times, which is fine. Stuff in a crock pot's good. I can't believe I'm just getting around to it. And I'll tell you what. Chat GPT. As usual, chatbots helping a lot. It had all the most. Like I said, I want. I want to have roast beef like my mom made it. I'm just picturing a plate of roast beef with ketchup on it that, you know, just falls apart under your fork. Roast beef with the potatoes.

[America 250 Announcer]

It's so good.

[Jack]

And it told me how to make

[Michael]

ketchup on roast beef. You rube.

[Jack]

You don't.

[Michael]

Oh, no.

[Jack]

It's so good. Oh. Anyway, according to Chat GPT, that's a common beginner's mistake, thinking that the. The meat needs to be submerged because the amount of broth that I put in there, the meat's sticking out over the top of it. And it said, no, no, no, no. If you have it completely covered, it'll ruin it. But that's a common beginner mistake. I said, how about the potatoes? They're not submerged either. No, that's perfectly fine. It cooks in a combination of the. The liquid and the steam and the heat and everything in there for eight to 10 hours. So anyway, one thought that I was having, and if. If this turns out even close to the stuff that. The way my mom made it, which was probably. If I ask her, she'd probably say, yeah, that's something I threw together on busy days because it was so dang easy and it takes no, you know, skill or time. But it's so delicious. I can't believe I'm just getting around to trying it now.

[Michael]

Are we talking like a pot roast?

[Jack]

Yeah, pot roast.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Corn, carrots, and potatoes that I threw in there and, you know, onion soup mix on top, and hopefully it's going to come out delicious.

[Michael]

Yeah. See, to me, the only sauce needed is the sauce, the broth, the fixings there. What do you call it? The juice.

[Jack]

Yes. Michael, you got to try a pork loin. Pork loins are great in crock pots.

[Michael]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack]

I'm gonna try all kinds of things. If this works out. Can I just throw a fish in there? Like the tat on and its tail and everything?

[Michael]

You could.

[Jack]

I was thinking about this.

[Michael]

You could throw a dead cat in there if you wanted.

[Jack]

Ooh, tender. Falls right off the tail.

[Michael]

You gotta slow cook it, huh?

[Jack]

Ah, this mouser is tender.

[Michael]

Boy.

[Jack]

What's your, like, among your favorite things that your mom used to make? Because I'm thinking about. I'm trying to do a better job of cook for my kids and roast roast beef in the crock pots. One of the things my mom would make that was so good.

[Michael]

I know you and I agree on this. I got to go right to the meatloaf. I have never understood jokes about meatloaf. Maybe my mom made really good meatloaf, and my wife makes really good meatloaf. Oh, my God. That's at the. One of the top items in the food pyramid. To me, it's delicious.

[Jack]

How much. How much talent involved in a meatloaf? Because I was thinking about, like, some of the stuff I love Got to

[Michael]

make sure it's not dried out.

[Jack]

I love my mom's fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. But I'm not going to be able to make that. I just thought meatloaf possibly. Yes, Michael.

[Michael]

See, the beautiful thing about meatloaf, before Michael steps up, is that it's fabulous for dinner. And a little Worcestershire sauce and. Yeah, I indulge in a little ketchup in that. Hypocrite. You're right. Guilty. But then the next day, it's even freaking better on a sandwich. A meatloaf sandwich. I'm drooling like a dog over here just thinking about it.

[Jack]

That's what I was gonna put in a crock pot. Yes, Michael, that's what I was gonna say.

[America 250 Announcer]

It's better.

[Michael]

The next day, I caught that sick.

[Jack]

Oh, what did your mom make that you really liked, Michael? Lasagna.

[America 250 Announcer]

Really good.

[Jack]

That requires talent also. I. I have no talent.

[Michael]

Oh, no, no, no, no.

[Jack]

It's.

[Michael]

It's. There's not much to it. You just. It's layers. It just layers. You got to cook the noodles, but.

[Jack]

No, don't say noodles. But the Italian. You're from Italy. Italians don't like the word noodles. Noodles is Asian food. Pasta.

[Michael]

Gotta cook the pasta that's right for the gabagol.

[Jack]

I've said this on the air many, many times. My biggest failing, absolutely, as a single parent, has been the providing meals for my kids. I just. I. I've never cooked. I don't like it. I know a lot of people really love it. I hate it. And I've never done it. So I'm. And I. And I'm unwilling to learn.

[Michael]

You gotta have a living cooking maid, like Alice from the Brady Bunch.

[Jack]

I should have. I did have an au pair for a summer and a sitter who needed someplace to live. And I had an empty bedroom. So I said, live here and I won't charge you to sit. So that was my au pair, but she's from a foreign land and her food smelled horrible, so I never asked her to cook.

[Michael]

Wow. Wow. What foreign land? You willing to say

[Jack]

don't? I wouldn't ask her to park my car.

[Michael]

Oh, okay. Fair enough. Wow. That leaves several choices, but close enough. Yeah. Yeah. I liked it in the homes of folks from other cultures and immediately been overwhelmed by the cooking smells. And not in a good way either.

[Jack]

Right. Yeah.

[Michael]

And the food I would probably enjoy, but it's like.

[Jack]

Open the windows. It smells horrible. We need to call a plumber. So something has gone wrong.

[Michael]

Yeah. Somebody did put a cat in a crock pot of smell around here. Yeah.

[Jack]

But I would like to recreate some of the stuff that I really, really enjoyed as a kid. And definitely the crock pot meals. I can do that.

[Michael]

Tell you what, you. I don't know, you know how cooperative your. Your older boy is these days, but lasagna, if the three of you divided up, you know, you're the head of the pasta committee, you're dealing with the sauce, which frankly, can be pouring it out of a jar, and that's fine.

[Jack]

Jar sauce is so much better than it used to be.

[Michael]

Oh, yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah. Yeah. And then somebody browns the meat or whatever, you can go sausage, you can go ground beef, you can grow. Go vegetarian if, you know, you got limp wrists or whatever. Many choices. And the cheese, you got to have the ricotta.

[Jack]

Speaking of my older son, last night he came home. He was out with some of his friends, and he came home and there was a car out front. I said, who's that? And he said, oh, it's. He named his two friends. He said, we're gonna go do some stuff. And they were laughing in there at the music playing. And I was thinking, oh, my God, this is the summer between his sophomore and junior year of high school. Three guys headed out into the night. Does it get any better than that?

[Michael]

In my recollection, I don't know what

[Jack]

they did or what they were going to do or hoping to do, but, yeah, those are some pretty good times in your life. I was happy for him that he's getting to have them.

[Michael]

Yeah. Hear, hear. Yeah, Good times. You've made me wistful.

[Jack]

Don't let your meatloaf. Don't let your hot dog stand. Don't let your wrist watch. All good suggestions.

[Michael]

Right? Right. Jack, get yourself a fryer so you can make that fried chicken.

[Jack]

I don't see myself doing that. Just pop it right in there. Like a lot of work. What, you just throw it in there? Yeah, you just throw it in there and out comes fried chicken. I find that hard to believe.

[Michael]

You got a batter to thing, right? The chicken. You gotta have breading on there. Michael, do you have any idea what you're talking about? No, I just.

[Jack]

I hate to see him be so defeated over food.

[Michael]

Well, yeah, because it's not that hard. But uncertainty, it's funny. I'm very, very slow at prep, and my wife is very fast.

[Jack]

Your mise en place is not good.

[Michael]

Pardon me?

[Jack]

Your mise en place.

[Michael]

It has been acting up lately. I'm taking an anti inflammatory but. But she is less so now. But really hesitant about cooking meat because she's afraid she won't get it right. And fish. Really afraid to cook fish. And I'm like, yeah, it'll be fine. I'll cook it. So, you know, we're like Jack Spratt and his and his wife. A lot of hesitancy to cook is uncertainty of how it's going to come out. Generally it'll come out okay. You learn something, it'll be better the next time. Nobody will die. Probably.

[Jack]

My hesitancy is I just hate it. I don't understand people liking to cook.

[Michael]

There's no way do you hate it? That's what I'm trying to get behind.

[Jack]

There's not one tiny aspect of the process.

[Michael]

Fear. I don't think overcome the fear seems

[Jack]

like a lot of work for a little payoff. I think it's because I don't enjoy eating enough. I think that might be it.

[Michael]

And yet you eat like a grizzly bear, man. I can have a hot dog Contradictions

[Jack]

with mustard every night for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.

[Michael]

Yeah, there you go. Well, cook out talk then.

[Jack]

Well, I guess that's it.

[America 250 Announcer]

This July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party. Hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Experience music, performances from major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history. It's more than just fireworks. Learn more about this landmark celebration [e-mail]

[Karen & Georgia (My Favorite Murder)]

hi, it's Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. Want the full story? Take a listen. She starts dating Howard Hughes and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. So she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamar and Billie Jean King. Presented by The Hyundai Ioniq 5. Goodbye.