Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: I Don't Have Trouble With Crabs
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This episode of Armstrong & Getty dives into American cravings for fast food, the allure of nostalgic junk eats, and shifts into a candid, critical discussion on the modern body positivity movement. The team unpacks recent events around influencers turning away from radical body positivity culture and explores the psychological phenomenon known as 'crab bucket mentality.' The conversation blends humor, personal anecdotes, and pointed social commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. McDonald's Cravings & Fast Food Nostalgia

• The episode kicks off with a discussion about cravings, specifically a pregnant woman's desire for McDonald's.
• Notable moments:
  • Katie (Hunter Woodhull) shares her recent order, expressing that sometimes you just need “that certain taste and smell” unique to McDonald’s.
  • Armstrong admits to enjoying his trip to McDonald's with his kids:
    • “It's not good for you, but it was frigging good.” (Armstrong, 04:09)
• The hosts debate old-school menu favorites, with tongue-in-cheek mockery about new items versus “the classics.”

Timestamps

• 02:55–03:44: Discussion about the McDonald's craving and menu choices.
• 03:53–04:19: Armstrong shares his family’s recent indulgence and the appeal of McDonald's fries.

2. The Body Positivity Movement – A Radical Shift

• Armstrong introduces the story of Gabriella Lascano, a prominent body positivity influencer who has turned away from the movement after experiencing declining health and backlash over her desire for change.
  • “You got a former body positive influencer who's come out and said, these people are radicals and I was brainwashed.” (Armstrong, 04:19)
  • Lascano, who was once featured in magazines promoting self-love “at any size,” expresses that as she aged, she became uncomfortable with her substantial weight and struggled with daily activities.
  • The community’s reaction was hostile when she expressed a wish to lose weight for health, accusing her of betrayal and fat-shaming.
• The hosts point out the movement's increasingly radical stance, noting its rejection of weight loss even for health reasons.

Timestamps

• 04:44–06:12: Armstrong summarizes Lascano's journey and the toxicity of extreme body positivity.

3. Social Media, Peer Influence & Groupthink

• Katie (Hunter Woodhull) reflects on her own experiences with online body positivity communities:
  • “These pages would just end up in my For You, and like you said, it was a way to make big girls feel better about themselves. But then it really turns you away from any push to get healthy.” (Hunter Woodhull, 06:12)
  • Points out that the groups not only push back against fat-shaming but actually discourage any efforts to get healthier.
  • Getty likens it to peer pressure among drinkers or stoners:
    • “Every drunk wants everybody else to have another drink too...every stoner wants everybody to get high and just because, you know, that's true. Better about yourself.” (Getty, 06:54)
  • Armstrong draws a distinction—other unhealthy behaviors aren’t celebrated via a national “be a drunk” movement, but a dangerous parallel exists in the way some treat obesity advocacy.
• The tone is critical but empathetic, focusing on wanting people “to not die prematurely,” rather than shaming.

Timestamps

• 06:12–07:26: Reflections on social media influence and community hostility regarding weight loss.
• 07:26–07:45: Discussion on intentions—concern for health vs. “fat-shaming.”

4. Crab Bucket Syndrome & Cultural Barriers to Self-Improvement

• The hosts pivot to the concept of ‘crab bucket syndrome’—the idea that people pull down anyone trying to better themselves, analogous to crabs dragging each other back into the bucket.
  • “The flip side of that is...the metaphor about crabs pulling the other crabs back down into the bucket if they try to climb out. It's...a terrible malady.” (Getty, 08:35)
  • Armstrong shares a personal story from his youth, experiencing backlash for aspiring to attend college:
    • “I was around that...grown men in their 40s who...really trashed that whole idea [of going to college]. Like you're being a traitor to your class or something.” (Armstrong, 09:08)
• The hosts agree that such mentalities discourage self-improvement and reinforce negative cycles.

Timestamps

• 08:35–10:05: Extended discussion of 'crab bucket' mentality in various communities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Getty: “It's like every drunk wants everybody else to have another drink too.” (06:54)
• Armstrong: “There wasn't a giant nationwide 'be a drunk' movement in which you talked about how great it is to be a drunk and shamed anybody who had anything critical to say about it, because that'd be crazy.” (07:06)
• Getty (on crab bucket): “The metaphor about crabs pulling the other crabs back down into the bucket if they try to climb out. It's...a terrible malady.” (08:35)
• Armstrong (self-mockery): “I don't have trouble with crabs. You can talk about too much work. I don't want to put that much.” (10:14)
  • Leads to show title joke:
  • Getty: “That needs to be the title of the podcast.” (10:22)
  • Armstrong: “Yeah, I should put that on my bumble page. Right on the profile.” (10:28)

Tone and Flow

The conversation oscillates between satirical banter and earnest commentary. The hosts use humor to diffuse tension but do not shy away from blunt critique of modern social trends and peer pressure dynamics. Personal anecdotes keep the discussion relatable, while references to internet phenomena and mainstream celebrities ground the subject matter in contemporary culture.

Segment Timestamps for Quick Reference

• 00:00–02:38: Ads & show intro
• 02:38–04:19: McDonald’s cravings and food nostalgia
• 04:19–06:12: Story of Gabriella Lascano and doubts about body positivity
• 06:12–07:45: Social media and the peer pressure of the body positivity movement
• 07:45–10:05: Crab bucket mentality and personal stories of backlash against self-improvement
• 10:05–10:36: Joking about podcast titles and crabs

Summary

This episode explores the shifting boundaries of the body positivity movement, highlighting real consequences for individuals who depart from ideological orthodoxy. Through anecdotes and sharp commentary, Armstrong & Getty discuss broader issues of peer influence, societal barriers to personal growth, and the complex relationship between encouragement and enablement. The “crab bucket” metaphor underlines the dangers of cultures—online or otherwise—that penalize ambition and improvement, whether in health, education, or lifestyle.

Perfect for listeners interested in the interplay of cultural trends, personal freedom, and the ongoing debate between self-acceptance and self-improvement—all served up in Armstrong & Getty’s trademark irreverent, yet thoughtful, style.