I Don't Watch the News

Summary

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Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: I Don't Watch the News
Date: September 8, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts – Armstrong & Getty

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Armstrong and Getty blend their trademark humor and genuine storytelling, centering around the theme of stepping outside your social comfort zone—specifically, making connections with neighbors at a cul de sac barbecue. The hosts also riff on a beloved viral video of a child explaining why he doesn’t watch the news, using it as a charming starting point for deeper conversation about healthy neighborly relationships, introversion, and even a bit of Jello nostalgia. The episode is lighthearted, relatable, and filled with memorable moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Viral "Apparently" Kid & Media Nostalgia

• Armstrong shares a classic viral news clip (01:13), where a young boy is interviewed at a fair and hilariously describes his experience, culminating with the line:

  “Apparently, I’ve never been on live television before, but apparently sometimes I don’t watch the news because I’m a kid...”
  (Child Interviewee, 02:08)

• Hosts Reflect on Internet Fame (03:14):
  Armstrong worries aloud about what became of the kid, joking about the perils of viral fame:

  “I hope he isn’t something horrific now, is he?... Being cute 10 years ago is not an excuse for everybody to dig into your life.”
  (Armstrong, 03:14; Getty, 03:16)

2. Stepping Out of Introversion at the Neighborhood Barbecue

• Armstrong confesses his introverted nature (05:12), admitting he dreads such gatherings but is always glad he overcomes it:

  “Because I’m an introvert…I dread those sorts of things. I wish I didn’t.”

• Emphasis on Community (06:23):
  Armstrong extols the value of forging neighborhood bonds, sharing stories of delicious homemade food and the genuine connections made between adults and kids.

  “It was so flipping wholesome. It was just out of control wholesome.” (Armstrong, 05:58)

• Getty jokingly laments the disappearance of Jello from gatherings, adding levity:

  “Whatever happened to jello? Why don’t you young people eat jello?” (Getty, 06:23)

3. The Unexpected Upsides of Going Social

• Armstrong recounts the joy and practicality that comes with knowing neighbors (07:29):

  “I want them [his kids] to realize the advantage of knowing your neighbors…You know, ‘Hey, I’m going to be gone for the next week. If a moving van shows up, that’s not me.’”

• Follow-up from Getty (07:18):
  Getty echoes the sentiment, indicating he’s learned to always go because, “You’ll be glad you went. You will be glad you went, go. And I do.”

4. Neighbors Sharing Stories—The Heart Attack Incident

• Armstrong recounts a harrowing story from a neighbor (08:10) about a heart attack, humorously describing his own lightheaded response:

  “Oh, I had to sit down … I was getting lightheaded. Things were black. Why does that happen?” (Armstrong, 08:35)

• Modern Medicine’s Miracles (09:04):
  Armstrong shares the neighbor’s recovery time:

  “…total time, he said, from when his wife parked the car and he walked into the ER to where he was headed home, a new man was 47 hours.”
  (Armstrong, 09:04)

5. Joy in Simple Community and Quirky Wisdom

• Running theme: Finding joy and reassurance in neighborhood community, illustrated through stories, food, and even jokes about Jello flavors (Armstrong & Getty, 09:59).
• Final neighborly wisdom and jokes (10:10):

  “You can pick your nose, you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your neighbors or your family.”
  (Armstrong, 10:10)
  Getty's reply:
  “You can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your neighbors. And you certainly can’t pick your neighbor’s nose.”
  (Getty, 10:22)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Armstrong, on introverts going to gatherings:

  “If you are an introvert like me, go to these things. I’ve never regretted going to something like this.” (06:40)

• Getty, on Jello’s questionable flavors:

  “The green lime. Have you ever had a lime in your mouth? It tastes nothing like lime. It’s a lie. That Jello is a lie.” (07:59)

• On modern medical miracles:

  "…from when his wife parked the car and he walked into the ER to where he was headed home, a new man was 47 hours. That’s just modern miracles, man." (Armstrong, 09:04)

• On community's practical benefits:

  "You know, just that sort of stuff. It's so handy for your neighborhood." (Armstrong, 07:45)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:13 – Armstrong introduces the viral “Apparently kid” news clip
• 02:08 – Child gives his legendary “apparently” quote
• 05:12 – Armstrong discusses his introversion and dread of social gatherings
• 06:23 – Getty reminisces about Jello as a forgotten staple
• 07:29 – Armstrong emphasizes the value of knowing your neighbors
• 08:10 – Story about neighbor’s heart attack and its physical effect on Armstrong
• 09:04 – Neighbor’s rapid medical recovery described
• 10:10 – Classic “you can pick your nose…” neighbor joke and friendly banter

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

The tone is warm, humorous, and grounded in everyday reality. Armstrong & Getty blend self-deprecating wit with encouraging reflections on the value of personal connections, especially in an era where social isolation is common. Memorable anecdotes—both lighthearted and serious—make the episode a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to stronger community, lasting friendships, and some unexpectedly great stories.

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Transcript

[Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Armstrong]

I don't watch the news. It's one more thing. Armstrong and Getty.

[Getty]

One more thing.

[Armstrong]

So we had our, our cul de sac barbecue, which I guess they have every year on my cul de sac. I've only been there a year, so it's my first one and I was.

[Getty]

That's nice though. That's a very traditional American thing to do.

[Armstrong]

It is awesome. It is fantastic. I wish I didn't dread those sorts of things because I'm always happy when I go, um, I'll talk about that in a second. First I wanted to get this on. I was just. I got fed this on my Instagram feed for some reason and I clicked on it. We've played clips from this for years, but I hadn't seen the whole thing in a very, very long time. Just wanted to get it back on. In case you haven't heard it, it's very charming. It's a little kid, he's at a county fair and it's just your typical local news interviewing kids on the midway and they stick a microphone in the face of this kid and ask him about a ride and it's just very charming.

[Child Interviewee]

What did you think about the ride? It was great. And apparently I've never been on live television before, but apparently sometimes I don't watch this. I don't watch the news because I'm a kid and apparently every time, apparently grandpa just gives me a remote after we watch the Powerball.

[Getty]

It's the Powerball.

[Child Interviewee]

Tell me about the ride. What'd you think about the ride? Well, it was great. Why? Because apparently you're spinning around and apparently every time you get dizzy. Yeah. All you do is get dizzy.

[Armstrong]

Is it fun?

[Child Interviewee]

Yeah. And I've never ever been on live television. I never ever be on live television.

[Announcer]

Are you excited?

[Child Interviewee]

Yeah. And apparently I already went down the super Slide. When I went down the water, I was scared half to death. I just freak out.

[Armstrong]

Okay, Okay.

[Child Interviewee]

I need his name.

[Armstrong]

Oh, that is so freaking cute.

[Getty]

That. It really is.

[Armstrong]

We have that video on our website, armstrong and getty.com.

[Getty]

Because apparently kid 10 years ago.

[Armstrong]

The video is good too. I hope he isn't something. He isn't something horrific now, is he?

[Getty]

Don't Kendall him.

[Armstrong]

I don't want to know that. He's a grown up.

[Getty]

Yeah. Being cute 10 years ago is not an excuse for everybody to dig into your life.

[Armstrong]

No. And the great thing is she just goes to ask this little question, this little kid, a question about the ride and he takes the microphone from her. Takes the microphone. Well, apparently I've never been on live news before. I don't watch the news.

[Getty]

Apparently you do.

[Armstrong]

Oh, God, that is great. Anyway, I love kids. Kids are so fantastic. And the way he.

[Getty]

He mimics the, you know, the foe. Very interested in this voice after grandpa watches the Powerball.

[Armstrong]

But apparently I got out the slide, I get very dizzy. So there were kids at the cul de sac barbecue. So I get. I move into this cul de sac and there's like six houses there and a little circle there, which is how cul de sacs work. And one of the neighbors, shortly after we moved there, came over and introduced herself and was very interested in me and my life and my kids and their ages and what school they go to and everything like that. And we ended up exchanging numbers and she always says hello. And then I've gotten to know my very next door neighbors who are younger. They're quite a bit younger. They're like in their mid-30s and got two young kids and I really like them. And then they. I got a text from the older couple. They've all been there for decades and that they're having a. We have an annual barbecue and we'd like you to come. And they told me what to bring and when it is and all that sort of stuff. So. And because I'm a. What do you call people who don't like to be around other people?

[Getty]

Introvert.

[Armstrong]

Introvert. Because I'm an introvert. I just. I dread those sorts of things. I wish I didn't. I mean, there was nothing to not like about any of these people, but it is going to be around people. I don't know when I could just be in my house, in my cave, in the dark, alone or with my kids and. But I forced myself to go because I wanted the kids to go because I know it's good for them and to show that getting to know your neighbors is a really good idea and all the benefits that come with that and all that sort of stuff. So we went. Food was freaking fantastic. Got some of these old older people, they, they look for the opportunity to bring out their recipes, you know, because their kids are all grown and gone and everything like that. They were like two different kinds of homemade gnocchi and just all this different sort of stuff is fantastic.

[Getty]

Wow.

[Armstrong]

I know. It was so good. And my kids ended up really, really liking it. And the, the old guys were talking to my kids and one of the old guys has got a couple of cool cars. So my son, who's super into cars, got into conversation with him and they just, they had a really great time. And some of the people had little kids and there was even a baby there. And it was just. It was so flipping wholesome. It was just out of control wholesome. Yeah.

[Getty]

I was at a similar gathering and what I said to the kids was, whatever happened to jello? Why don't you young people eat jello? It's a perfectly delicious side dish, sometimes without fruit, sometimes with fruit a variety of colors.

[Armstrong]

And I don't have any points ground up cattle hooves. I don't have any point to this story other than if you are an introvert like me go to these things. I've never regretted going to something like this. And then of course, once we spent, we ended up being there for, wow, like two hours sitting around and folding chairs in a circle with the kids playing in the middle and, and all of us eating and talking. And once you've gone and you get to know people, then you don't. Your introvert is, is you don't have to worry about your introvert anymore because, you know, these people, they aren't people you don't know. They're people you do know.

[Getty]

Yes.

[Armstrong]

And then all the.

[Getty]

I've had exactly the same experience and now I've. I've finally learned it to the point I say, you'll be glad you went. You will be glad you went go. And I do. Yeah.

[Armstrong]

And I'm glad my kids had the experience because like I said, I want them to to realize the advantage of knowing your neighbors and all that sort of stuff. And I've already got that with my next door neighbors. Now I have with more of them are like, you know, hey, I'm going to be gone for the next week. Of a moving van shows up and starts unloading everything from my house. That's not me, you know, that sort of thing. Or keep an eye on the house. Or the other day it was a text my neighbor and I'm not going to be home for a while. Is there any chance one of your kids could go let the dog out? I'll pay him a little bit. You know, just that sort of stuff. It's so handy for your neighborhood.

[Getty]

Now, the red jello is allegedly cherry and it tastes somewhat like cherry, but the green lime. Have you ever had a lime in your mouth? It tastes nothing like lime. It's a lie. That jello is a lie.

[Armstrong]

Couple of them ended up being listeners, which was interesting. And so that was cool. I like that they were. They were happy I was there. One guy, though, younger guy, he was the youngest adult male there and he's like 42, I think, like that. He had a heart attack last year. And I made the mistake of asking me asking him about it because I couldn't handle the story. You ever had anybody tell you their story about a heart attack?

[Getty]

I have.

[Armstrong]

Oh, I had to sit down.

[Getty]

I'm getting shortness of breath thinking about having heard the story, never mind actually listening to it.

[Armstrong]

Yes, Michael. I can't take it. Oh, he started telling the story and how it unfolded over the day and everything like that. I was getting lightheaded. Things were black. Why does that happen?

[Getty]

I know. It's. It's practically universal though. I think, oh, my God, I had.

[Armstrong]

Somebody launch into a story like that the other day and I had to sit down and.

[Getty]

So funny.

[Armstrong]

But the most amazing thing at the end of it was with modern medicine and everything they do total time, he said, from when he. His wife parked the car and he walked into the ER to where he was headed home. A new man was 47 hours.

[Getty]

Wow.

[Armstrong]

That's just modern miracles, man.

[Getty]

Wow. Boy, got that young. That's.

[Armstrong]

I am getting a little lightheaded just thinking about the story. Should have. Oh, sorry I brought that up. That's weird that a story like that can have an effect on you.

[Getty]

I know.

[Armstrong]

Is it your brain, Is it your brain thinking this could happen to you? Or.

[Getty]

But shouldn't your brain be thinking, okay, listen carefully to this. This is a way to avoid.

[Armstrong]

Well, that's why I asked.

[Getty]

Make a good decision, right? This is important and. Oh, I'm glad I heard that. No, no, instead you just want to.

[Armstrong]

Faint, crack your head on the noki bowl. That's no good anyway.

[Getty]

And unlike other side dishes, Jello can be molded into a series of pleasing shapes.

[Armstrong]

Oh, and what's the other saying about neighbors? Which is true. You can pick your nose, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your neighbors or your family. Anyway, I'm very, very blessed. I have great neighbors, thank God.

[Getty]

You can pick your nose, but you can't pick your neighbors. And you certainly can't pick your neighbor's nose.

[Armstrong]

Well, you shouldn't.

[Getty]

I believe. You certainly shouldn't. Right?

[Armstrong]

Make sure you know your neighbors well.

[Getty]

I had them come over to feed.

[Armstrong]

My pets and well, they squatted in my house. So still trying to get them out. Well, I guess that's it.

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[Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.