Podcast Summary: Armstrong & Getty On Demand Episode: “Grow Some Testicles, Man!” (September 15, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers around the recent firing of several individuals who publicly expressed joy over the murder of Charlie Kirk, a polarizing political figure. Armstrong & Getty probe the boundaries of free speech, “cancel culture,” and personal responsibility in the age of social media. They contrast the current firings based on extremist, celebratory speech with cases where workers were dismissed for holding mainstream, albeit controversial, opinions (like “all lives matter”). The hosts also touch on societal tribalism, social media’s toxic amplification effect, and lighter fare about neighborly behavior.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Charlie Kirk Incident and Social Media Fallout

• The podcast opens after a series of ads with the hosts referring to the recent firing of numerous individuals for “gleeful comments about the brutal murder of a young man, Charlie Kirk.” (04:30)
• Employers terminated these employees after screenshots of their social media comments were shared.
• Discussion: Is this a form of “cancel culture,” or fundamentally different because it involves celebrating violence?
  • Jack Armstrong: “If I'm an employer…I can't believe you're so stupid, you post something like that with your name attached. Anybody that's stupid, I don't want working for me.” (05:39)
  • Joe Getty: Offers a counterpoint, exploring the nuanced difference between expressing an unpopular opinion and celebrating violence.
• The first case study is a Microsoft DEI department lead, who admitted posting nasty comments and, though not fully repentant, resented being fired.
  • Joe Getty: “Interesting that he was repentant, then admitted not the least bit repentant.” (07:18)
  • Clip from fired employee: “You take my job…my security…my money, my life, my food off my plate because I don't like Charlie Kirk? That's not okay…it is not okay…grow some testicles, man, because I felt joy that day. I can't help how I feel.” (07:56)

2. Cancel Culture: Is This the Same Thing?

• The show examines whether these firings are equivalent to examples from the left, where people were dismissed for views like “all lives matter.”
  • Joe Getty: “The idea that I'm gleeful over the murder of a young man…and now his children will not know their father—yeah, I don't want to work next to you…It's vastly different than saying, 'I believe there are two sexes.'” (10:20)
• Armstrong & Getty argue that the difference is between speech expressing a mainstream (if disfavored) political belief, and speech expressing joy at a political murder—framing the former as protected, and the latter as sick and firing-worthy.
  • Jack Armstrong: “People were fired even when…they just meant 'I don't think anybody should be killed by the police.'” (12:02)
  • Joe Getty: “It’s a different phenomenon…The result may look really similar. I would argue it is different.” (12:28)
• They read a listener email calling for free speech protections even for “brainwashed lefties” expressing vile opinions, yet stand by personal responsibility for speech.

3. Social Media Amplification, Tribalism, and Political Violence

• Discussion covers the unique dangers social media brings, amplifying the most extreme opinions and degrading civil discourse.
• Reports about the FBI investigating accounts that seemed to have foreknowledge—or to predict—the date of Kirk’s murder.
  • Joe Getty: “Posts…appeared to indicate foreknowledge of the assassination…mention the conservative activist by name, fantasize about his death…‘It’d be funny if someone like Charlie Kirk got shot on September 10th. LMAO’ posted on September 3rd." (31:09)
  • The hosts stress that if such posts are real, it suggests a serious conspiracy; if fake, it's still a tragedy of online culture.
  • They lament even wishing violence on political opponents: “If you're listening right now, and you would be happy if somebody on the left got gunned down, you're wrong…that's the end of the country if we start embracing that.” (36:50)
• The difficulty in breaking out of blame cycles between political tribes: “Both sides think the other side is worse than we are. But we'll never get out of this if we do that.” (16:17)
• Armstrong & Getty reference social media’s amplification of fringe voices as toxic for democracy:
  • Jack Armstrong: “We only hear the craziest ones…It may not work. This may not work.” (49:40)

4. Case Study: The Meltdown of ‘Angry Skirt Guy’

• Armstrong & Getty play a viral clip of a man (dubbed “Angry Skirt Guy”) reacting melodramatically after being fired for celebrating Kirk’s murder.
  • Clip: “I was just fired from my job. I was just fired from my job. Now I have nothing but this. I have nothing anymore…” (45:26-45:43)
  • The hosts mock both the over-the-top reaction and the practice of filming meltdowns for the internet.
  • They see this as representative of a “sickness” unique to the hyper-online left, but note a “whiny streak” can sometimes appear on the right too. (46:43)

5. Lighter Fare: Neighborly Guilt over Donut Gifting

• Jack shares a lighter, self-deprecating story: he gives his new neighbor leftover donuts as a “gift,” then feels guilty for not being truly generous.
  • Jack Armstrong: “The problem is he thinks I’m better than I am. See, that’s where I feel guilty…Maybe I should aspire to be the person I’m pretending to be.” (25:02-25:14)
  • This leads to friendly ribbing and jokes about modern standards for neighborliness and honesty.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On firing for celebrating violence:
  • “You're a tired human being. That's mean. That's what I think of you.” — Jack Armstrong (08:18)
  • “Glee that a young man was shot in the throat for politics…now his children will not know their father. Yeah, I don't want to work next to you.” — Joe Getty (08:40)
• On Cancel Culture vs. Public Decency:
  • “The difference between the cancel culture of the left and these people losing their jobs… the idea that I'm gleeful over the murder…was sick 50 years ago. It was sick 20 years ago. It will be sick, I pray to God, 25 years from now.” — Joe Getty (10:20)
• On Social Media Outrage:
  • “What is the mindset of filming these meltdowns and posting them for the world? It's its own sickness that we've got.” — Commercial Announcer/Katie (46:16)
• On neighborly gestures:
  • “I was basically getting rid of leftovers…you think I drove to the donut shop specially…No, I just didn’t want the donuts in my house.” — Jack Armstrong (21:45-22:55)
• On the future of the country:
  • “If you're listening right now, and you would be happy if somebody on the left got gunned down, you're wrong. You couldn't be more wrong. That's the end of the country if we start embracing that.” — Jack Armstrong (36:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cancel culture and the Kirk murder firings: 04:30 – 12:28
• Listener email on free speech: 12:28 – 13:58
• Social media, FBI investigation, and conspiracy speculation: 30:48 – 37:14
• Lighter segment: Donut gifting & neighbor guilt: 20:39 – 25:19
• 'Angry Skirt Guy' meltdown and analysis: 45:24 – 47:13
• Discussion on the dangers of social media amplification: 49:00 – 49:49

Original Tone Preserved

Armstrong & Getty maintain their usual blend of pointed sarcasm, banter, earnest moralizing, and cultural commentary throughout. The tone is irreverent and critical, but also reflective, particularly regarding the dangers of political tribalism and the erosion of civil norms online.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This show offers a candid, often brash discussion of the consequences of expressing extreme views online, the limits of free speech in the workplace, and the tribal, performative nature of modern internet culture. It’s both a critique of current trends and, in lighter moments, a look into the hosts' everyday dilemmas around honesty and decency.