"He Didn't Float. He Must Be Guilty!" – Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Release Date: March 6, 2025 | Host: iHeartPodcasts

In the episode titled "He Didn't Float. He Must Be Guilty!" from the Armstrong & Getty On Demand podcast, hosts Armstrong and Getty navigate a blend of contemporary concerns and historical reflections with their characteristic humor and insightful commentary. This detailed summary captures the essence of their discussions, highlighting key points, notable quotes, and the overall flow of the conversation.

1. Considering Rolling Loud CA 2025: Safety and Preparations

Armstrong's Dilemma Armstrong kicks off the episode by contemplating taking his 15-year-old son to the Rolling Loud CA 2025 music festival in Inglewood, California. He expresses uncertainty about the safety of such events, particularly concerning the demographic and potential risks involved.

"I’m trying to research it and that's why I threw it out to you listeners. Would it be safe for me to go with my son?" ([02:52])

Getty's Insight and Listener Engagement Getty shares an email from a local Airbnb host, offering a glimpse into the expected crowd dynamics.

"Crowds before and after will be urban youth... generally probably okay, but transitional space is the problem." ([04:39])

He emphasizes the unpredictability of such events, comparing it to places like Disneyland and pondering the actual risks involved.

Personal Anecdotes on Concert Safety The conversation shifts to personal experiences at various concerts. Armstrong recounts attending events where fights erupted but never felt personally endangered.

"I’ve been to lots of concerts that were fights, freaking everywhere and all kinds of stuff. And I didn’t feel like I was gonna die." ([07:28])

Katie adds a similar sentiment, sharing her experience at a country concert where brawls broke out, underscoring that safety concerns transcend music genres.

"Yeah, yeah, it was. That was that show in itself." ([08:15])

2. Delving into Medieval Justice: Trial by Ordeal and Combat

Introduction to Medieval Justice Armstrong transitions the discussion to a historical topic, expressing fascination with medieval justice systems.

"I just read this yesterday on some history Twitter thread... there were the three ordeals in old timey medieval justice." ([08:26])

Types of Ordeal Explained He elaborates on the three primary forms of trial by ordeal used to determine guilt or innocence:

1. Ordeal by Fire

   • Procedure: The accused carries a red-hot iron for nine feet; after three days, they must show their hands.
   • Outcome: Healed wounds indicate innocence; unhealed wounds suggest guilt.

   "If the wounds had started to heal, they were considered innocent." ([09:15])

2. Ordeal by Water

   • Cold Water Ordeal: Tied hands and feet thrown into water.

     • Floating signifies innocence.
     • Sinking implies guilt.

     "If you float, you're innocent. If you sank, guess you were guilty." ([09:50])

   • Hot Water Ordeal: Retrieving a stone from boiling water.

     • Similar to the ordeal by fire, healing after three days denotes innocence.

     "If your hands began to heal after three days, you were innocent." ([10:09])

3. Ordeal by Combat

   • Procedure: Two individuals engage in physical combat to settle disputes.
   • Outcome: The victor's side is deemed innocent.

   "Two individuals would fight in combat and the winner would be declared innocent." ([10:24])

Humorous Interlude on Trial by Combat Getty interjects with humor, referencing modern pop culture to illustrate the absurdity of such practices.

"They had that in the Game of Thrones that Jamie Lannister... I choose trial by combat." ([11:33])

Armstrong and Getty engage in witty banter, imagining contemporary scenarios where trial by combat might be applied, further emphasizing the outdated nature of these methods.

Armstrong: "If he’s the former high school chess champion and a weedy little dude, I might say, hey, get your RV off my land. You want to settle this in trial by combat?" ([11:03])

Getty: "Run a little trial by combat, big man." ([11:47])

3. Concluding Reflections: Bridging Past and Present

Modern Comparisons and Lessons The hosts draw parallels between medieval justice and today's legal systems, pondering the evolution of determining guilt and innocence.

Armstrong: "The whole jury trial thing is a fairly recent invention... we're not smarter. Like our brain power isn't greater now than it was in 1300." ([10:33])

Final Thoughts on Safety and Justice Armstrong wraps up his musings by reflecting on the importance of research and informed decisions, both in attending events like Rolling Loud and understanding historical justice systems.

"I’m trying to do more research so I don't end up in a bad situation." ([07:28])

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Armstrong: "He didn't float. I guess he's guilty." ([02:32])
• Getty: "This is the smartest beast on the planet back then as now." ([10:28])
• Armstrong: "I didn’t feel like I was gonna die." ([07:28])
• Getty: "Run a little trial by combat, big man." ([11:47])

Summary

In "He Didn't Float. He Must Be Guilty!", Armstrong & Getty seamlessly blend discussions on the safety of contemporary music festivals with an engaging exploration of medieval justice systems. Through personal anecdotes, humorous exchanges, and insightful reflections, the episode offers listeners a thoughtful yet entertaining examination of how far we've come in both event safety and legal processes. Whether contemplating taking a son to a large festival or pondering the efficacy of historical trial methods, the hosts provide a balanced perspective that is both informative and relatable.