Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: I Am At The Bottom Of The Totem Pole
Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Notable Contributor: Katie Green
Overview
This episode blends sharp wit, social commentary, and the duo's trademark banter, tackling issues ranging from aging protest movements and the Epstein case to the reality of doing business in California, ongoing equity debates in education, and even breaking giraffe news. Amid serious discussions on geopolitics and cultural trends, the hosts continually infuse irreverence and observational humor, making this episode both engaging and thought-provoking.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Protest Culture: Old Hippies & Young Activists
[01:16-02:13]
- Hosts’ tongue-in-cheek “General Managers” of the day are “90-year-old white hippies” and “angry young 21-year-old women.”
- Jack and Joe riff on the generational overlap in protest culture, poking fun at the motivations of both groups.
- “Old hippies trying to relive the civil rights era and youngsters who just want to yell about something because they really ought to be getting laid and getting jobs, but they're not doing that.”—Joe Getty [01:26]
- They question the impact of noisy protestors and highlight the professionalization of demonstrations, referencing paid protestor practices.
2. Social Etiquette and Selfish Conversation
[02:16-03:17]
- Observational bit about how people ask “How are you?” mainly to talk about themselves.
- “Because that's why you ask. Because you want to tell them how things are going for you.”—Jack Armstrong [02:40]
- The interplay exposes levels of (accidental) selfishness in everyday chit-chat.
3. Epstein Case & Power Dynamics
[03:57-06:18]
- Anticipation of Congress reviving the Epstein case.
- Joe delves into the history of Epstein's preferential treatment, underscoring how wealth and connections manipulate justice.
- “Be the richest guy in Manhattan and have lots of powerful friends because that gets you some really cush treatment.”—Joe Getty [04:51]
- Armstrong and Getty analyze motivations behind special treatment: transactional (favors), threatening, or emotional (desire for association).
4. Ukraine War & Geopolitical Theater
[06:32-09:02]
- Massive Russian attack on Ukraine, skepticism about ceasefire prospects.
- Joe highlights the UN Security Council farce, with Russia and China supposedly overseeing Ukrainian security.
- They discuss Putin’s trolling suggestion to repeat the 1994 Budapest agreement—seen as intentionally provocative.
- “That was 100% a troll.”—Joe Getty [08:49]
5. Newsom, California, and Business Hostility
[20:01-23:26]
- Play and discuss the Bed Bath & Beyond CEO’s viral statement about refusing to do business in California due to regulations, taxes, and crime.
- “California has created one of the most over regulated, expensive and risking environments for businesses in America.”—Jack Armstrong (quoting CEO) [20:24]
- Highlight the net loss of private-sector jobs vs huge growth in government jobs—calling the state’s economic health into question.
- “How does one state gain 300,000 government jobs in a year?”—Jack Armstrong [23:09]
6. California Education & Equity
[23:36-25:56]
- Critique of California’s new math guidelines, which they argue lower standards in the name of “equity.”
- “The California mathematics framework is built on the ideology that equity means... lowering standards for everyone.”—Joe Getty [24:50]
- Link to how educational policy, particularly in public (government) schools, can be a vehicle for ideological indoctrination rather than excellence.
7. Media and Cultural Framing
[25:56-28:10]
- Criticism of the New York Times coverage framing Trump’s museum directives as “making diversity taboo.”
- Armstrong’s recent museum experience:
- “Every plaque you read has something about climate change or colonialism. Everything. You can't read about... an ancient beaver without getting hit with something...”—Jack Armstrong [26:37]
- Discussion of how even mainstream institutions have become agents of political ideology.
8. Tech & AI Market Fluctuations
[14:43-15:19]
- AI and Big Tech are driving the market, but skepticism arises after new reports: most companies see little ROI.
- “95% of companies polled had not seen returns on their AI investments. And that made everybody freak out.”—Jack Armstrong [14:50]
9. Pop Culture, Weird News, and “Shreking”
[17:22-18:01], [34:27-34:49]
- The team learns about the new dating term “shreking”—dating someone you're not attracted to, believing they’ll treat you better.
- “Everything doesn't need a name. Being a bad person is just being a bad person.”—Joe Getty [18:01]
- Brief but hilarious carnival cruise brawl over chicken tenders at 2 AM.
- Major “giraffe news”: scientists recognize four distinct giraffe species.
10. Evolution and Perspective on Time
[30:01-33:19]
- Armstrong shares how his son is fascinated by evolution; they discuss the new realization of multiple giraffe species and the complexity of biological evolution.
- “Human beings can't even conceive really of a thousand years... So the idea that we could conceive of 350 million years is hilarious.”—Joe Getty [32:23]
- Fun fact: We are closer on the timeline to the T-Rex than the T-Rex is to the Stegosaurus.
11. Listener Engagement & Mailbag
[35:32-40:12]
- Thoughtful mailbag segment, including corrections from eagle-eared listeners and discussions of educational history, social justice, and geopolitics.
- Humorous "official start" oversight and mock sanctions.
Notable Quotes
-
On Protesters’ Motivation:
“You lure them, you dupe them, you swindle them into sharing their feelings first to give you permission. I would argue that is far worse.”—Joe Getty [02:49] -
On California’s Business Climate:
“This decision isn’t about politics, it’s about reality.”—Bed Bath & Beyond CEO [20:01]
“California's job growth has been dominated by government and government dependent jobs... while they lose 154,000 in the private sector.”—Joe Getty [22:36-23:01] -
On Education Policy:
“The California mathematics framework is built on the ideology that equity means... lowering standards for everyone that they're going to eliminate any ability to achieve in math, to take advanced math. Everybody's going to be mediocre in math in the name of equity.”—Joe Getty [24:50] -
On Media Framing:
“Every plaque you read has something about climate change or colonialism or white people taking over something.”—Jack Armstrong [26:37] -
On Evolution:
“Human beings can't even conceive really of a thousand years. So the idea that we could conceive of 350 million years is hilarious.”—Joe Getty [32:23]
Additional Memorable Moments
-
Paid protesters:
Discussion about how many protests are now staffed and subsidized by professional organizations and paid participants.
"We pay people to show up to protests and yell. That's what this is."—Jack Armstrong [11:18] -
Dating Trends:
The term “shreking” generates both bewilderment and debate over whether being practical in dating is actually wrong.
“Doesn't that seem right? Maybe just a good idea. No, getting past just looks...” – Jack Armstrong [17:48] -
Listener Corrections:
Listeners not only spot a missing “official start” to a previous episode but send in an in-depth analysis of a supposed “racist dog whistle,” spoofing hyper-vigilance in modern culture [36:46-39:13].
Timestamps of Important Segments
- Protesters & Protest Culture: 01:16–02:13, 10:02–11:19
- Epstein and Justice: 03:57–06:18
- Ukraine War Analysis: 06:32–09:02
- California Business Climate: 20:01–23:26
- California Education & Equity: 23:36–25:56
- Media and Museums: 25:56–28:10
- AI & Tech Markets: 14:43–15:19
- Shreking & Dating Trends: 17:22–18:01, 34:27–34:49
- Giraffe/Evolution Discussion: 30:01–33:19
- Mailbag & Listener Feedback: 35:32–40:12
Tone & Language
Armstrong & Getty are characteristically irreverent, blending skepticism and satire. Their tone swings between playful cynicism and serious cultural critique, maintaining levity even as they tackle tough topics.
This episode is a wide-ranging look at contemporary American anxieties: from culture war skirmishes, economic malaise, and political theatre, to odd news and the vagaries of modern courtship—always filtered through the Armstrong & Getty combination of sharp insight and relentless ribbing.