Armstrong & Getty On Demand — "I Always Accept My Bodily Sensations"

Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty, with Katie Green
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode blends the Armstrong & Getty brand of irreverent news commentary with a few heartfelt moments, a dash of current events, and their ongoing fundraising campaign for scouting. The main themes include political travel bans, the concept of “mindfulness” (as sparked by Bhutan’s new project), “alcoholic personalities,” regime change rhetoric around Venezuela, the Rob Reiner family tragedy, and the value of scouting—a recurring subject this week. Throughout, the hosts deliver their signature mix of satire, skepticism, and sincere asides.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Travel Bans & Foreign Affairs (03:24–08:00)

• New US Travel Ban:
  Joe and Jack discuss the latest travel ban announced by Trump, affecting predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries (e.g., Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria).

  • Jack: “At least half of that list, you give me a comfortable pair of shoes and a compass and I can't find them. I don't know where they are.” (04:16)
  • Tone: Sardonic skepticism and borderline absurdist humor highlight the clumsy nature of U.S. foreign policy.

• Jack’s Geography Confession:
  The hosts mock their lack of world geography knowledge while listing banned countries, lampooning American ignorance.

2. Bhutan’s ‘Mindfulness City’ and Defining Mindfulness (05:00–09:05)

• Mindfulness City Concept:
  Jack introduces the Bhutanese plan to construct a “mindfulness city” built around their "Gross National Happiness" principles.

  • Joe: “They're just trying to measure the whole country's happiness.” (06:38)
  • Amusing confusion over whether “Gross National Happiness” is a translation error or wordplay.

• Mindfulness Defined:
  Katie provides a definition:

  • Katie: “A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations…” (08:41)
  • Jack (joking): “Oh, I'll accept my bodily sensations all day long.” (08:55)
  • Memorable Episode Title Comes From This Exchange.

• Alcoholics and Mindfulness:
  Jack connects mindfulness (or lack thereof) to “alcoholic personality,” referencing media confusion over Trump being called “an alcoholic personality” despite being a non-drinker.

  • Jack: “One of the main traits... is alcoholics' inability to live in today... just like a processing disorder, practically almost impossible to think about today.” (10:09)
  • Joe: “I've never heard in my whole life anybody express any awareness of that.” (11:00)

3. Gary Busey’s Goose Imitation — Surreal and Offbeat (12:47–14:18)

• Gary Busey Clip:
  The show plays a wild audio of Gary Busey imitating goose sounds as a “Christmas present.”
  • Jack: “My Christmas present is an old crazy man doing goose sounds. That's my Christmas present to you.” (14:01)
  • Banter about Busey’s “let your freak flag fly” social media.
• Notable Moment: Show self-reflects on how bizarre radio transitions can get.

4. Rob Reiner Family Tragedy / Nepo Babies / Celebrity Children (18:12–20:01)

• News Coverage:
  Katie summarises headlines involving the arrest of Rob Reiner’s son and the media coverage around it.
  • Joe: “So many people of fame and wealth... end up miserable, miserably unhappy. Not all of them—but you think being born the son of some big star is a launching pad toward happiness... you're wrong.” (19:53)
• Celebrity Parenting:
  Jack reflects on Michael Keaton moving to Montana to raise his son away from Hollywood.

5. Economic, International and Local Oddities (20:01–21:54)

• Economic News:
  • CBS: Employment news — moderate job growth, rising unemployment.
• China & Academia:
  • Free Beacon: Chinese investments in U.S. tech via Ivy League connections; fears of a “fifth column.”
  • Joe: “We have a fifth column right now... Nobody seems to care. It's insane.” (20:40)
• Last Pennies Sold:
  • Wall Street Journal: The final US pennies fetched $16.7 million at auction.
  • Jack and Joe mock the idea:
  • Jack: “If you said you paid 10,000 bucks, I’d think you’re an idiot.” (21:51)
• Babylon Bee Satire:
  • California family waits for permit to build a gingerbread house—commentary on red tape.

6. Scouting Fundraiser and Personal Testimonies (25:31–29:10, 41:23–43:15)

• Why Fund Scouting?
  Jack passionately pitches donations so less advantaged kids can participate, citing the good it does, especially teaching old-fashioned values and patriotism.
  • Jack: “Just for me, just seeing a whole bunch of... young men saying the pledge of allegiance and salute in the flag—Jesus. It fills me with a warmth I can't imagine...” (26:39)
  • Both discuss how scouting builds character, self-reliance, and citizenship.
• Touching Listener Letter:
  Joe reads from a former Scout about a boy overcoming self-doubt on a wilderness trek:
  • Listener: “Mr. Anonymous, I'm never gonna say I can't do something ever again.” (42:30)
• Donation Status:
  Current total: $62,543 of their $100,000 goal. (28:29)

7. Venezuela Crisis and Regime Change Talk (29:17–36:57)

• US Blockade on Venezuela:
  Trump has ordered a naval blockade targeting oil tankers—a big saber-rattling move against Nicolas Maduro.
  • Jack: “He threatened the US military presence would, quote, only get bigger and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before...” (30:13)
• “Our Oil, Our Land?”
  Confusion and jokes about how Venezuela could “give back our oil and land.”
  • Jack: “How did Venezuela end up with some of our land?” (30:43)
• Regime Change Skepticism:
  Hosts discuss the perils and messy outcomes of forcible regime change, referencing Russia’s history, the Monroe Doctrine, and U.S. global ambitions.
  • Joe: “Frequently power vacuums reward the most vicious, not the most auspicious.” (32:53)
  • Jack: “We haven't had a lot of that [transparency],” regarding motives for intervention (35:43)

8. Cat Theft and Amazon Delivery Oddities (24:48–25:23, 43:23–44:25)

• Amazon Driver Steals Cat:
  Brief and comic discussion about a news story involving an Amazon delivery driver stealing a customer’s cat.
  • Jack: “I think if you can fog a mirror, you probably qualify to drive for Amazon.” (25:30)
• Amazon Drivers with Mexican Plates:
  Listener anecdote about apparent non-citizens making Amazon deliveries in San Diego.

9. Upcoming Trump Speech (35:40–37:12)

• Primetime Presidential Address:
  Discussion about which networks will carry Trump's speech, cynically suggesting they do so for ratings or hoping Trump will say something inflammatory:
  • Joe: “Trump always unspools plenty of rope to hang himself with.” (37:04)

10. Misc. Humor & Recurring Themes

• Mailbag Segment:
  Includes letter from an Eagle Scout, political jokes left unspoken, and listener reaction to Trump’s comments on Rob Reiner’s family.
• Gentle Parenting (Teased, Not Explored):
  Briefly referenced, to be discussed further in the future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe: “People, not just kids ... kids rise to the challenge you give them. If you make everything soft and easy ... then nobody accomplishes anything.” (42:45)
• Jack (ironic): “My Christmas present is an old crazy man doing goose sounds.” (14:01)
• Katie (mindfulness definition): “A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations...” (08:41)
• Jack: “Just for me, just seeing a whole bunch of ... young men saying the pledge of allegiance and salute in the flag—Jesus. It fills me with a warmth I can't imagine because it's just so not what you see in the year 2025.” (26:39)
• Joe: “We have a fifth column right now in the US and it's ... super well established and connected. Nobody seems to care. It's insane.” (20:40)
• Listener (Scout story): “I'm never gonna say I can't do something ever again.” (42:30)
• Joe (regime change): “Frequently power vacuums reward the most vicious, not the most auspicious.” (32:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• New Travel Ban/Foreigners: 03:24–08:00
• Mindfulness/Bhutan: 05:00–09:05
• Mindfulness Definition/Bodily Sensations: 08:41–09:05
• Alcoholic Personalities Discussion: 09:05–12:13
• Gary Busey Goose Clip: 12:47–14:18
• Rob Reiner & Nepo Babies/Miserable Celebrity Children: 18:12–20:01
• Economic/Media Headlines Roundtable: 20:01–21:54
• Scouting Fundraiser Appeal: 25:31–29:10, 41:23–43:15
• Venezuela Blockade & Regime Change: 29:17–36:57
• Trump Speech Coverage: 35:40–37:12
• Listener Mail (Eagle Scout story): 41:23–43:15

Summary

This episode covers a wide swath of topics in the Armstrong & Getty style: news satire, earnest appeals for good causes, and offbeat moments (like Gary Busey’s honking). Recurring motifs include playful self-deprecation, skepticism towards political narratives, and heartfelt advocacy for youth development. The discussion of mindfulness, “alcoholic personalities,” and regime change in Venezuela showcase the show’s ability to juxtapose mental health and global politics through their distinctive, sometimes irreverent lens.

If you want news and laughs mixed with a dose of old-fashioned civic boosterism, this is a strong episode to catch. And as always, they urge you to support their scouting fundraiser at armstrongandgetty.com.