Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "I'd Like To Take My Yule Log And..."

Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Guest: Paul Hellman (Scouting America)

Episode Overview

This episode features Armstrong & Getty's final live week before the holidays with a strong focus on charitable giving and Scouting America. The hosts discuss news stories including terror plots, anti-Semitism, and the tragic stabbing of Rob Reiner and his wife, but the core of the episode is a heartfelt interview with Paul Hellman, a volunteer leader in Scouting. The show blends serious news with trademark wit, holiday reflections, and appeals to help make Scouting accessible for kids.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Support for Scouting America (03:38–15:01)

• Charity Drive Launch: The hosts kick off a fundraiser to help cover costs for underprivileged kids to join Scouting.

• Personal Reflections: Jack shares how his youngest son’s involvement in Scouts has profoundly impacted him, emphasizing the program’s focus on values, leadership, and real-life responsibility.

• Interview with Paul Hellman:

  • Mission of Scouting:

    "Create leaders for tomorrow. Who's going to be our elected officials in 20 years from now. That's what we're creating." — Paul Hellman (06:05)

  • Youth Leadership Model: Scouts provides a “laboratory of learning”—a self-sustaining, youth-led environment where older kids mentor younger ones.

    “You have a 12 year old that becomes the patrol leader... responsible for the activities that the youth and his patrol will do on a camp out.” — Paul Hellman (06:58)

  • Servant Leadership: Emphasis on leading by serving others, with formal youth and adult leadership training.

    “You're never as much of a servant as when you're leading because you realize, oh, this isn't about me. This is about everybody but me.” — Joe Getty (08:19) “The leadership model that we try to use is called servant leadership... created by Robert Greenleaf.” — Paul Hellman (08:40)

  • Responsibility & Grit: Scouts teaches grit, responsibility, and respect through real tasks like organizing campouts.

    “People rise to your expectations, especially kids over.” — Joe Getty (11:21)

  • Cost of Scouting: It totals a few hundred dollars a year, which can be a barrier for many.

    “It's a couple hundred dollars a year to be involved in Scouting.” — Paul Hellman (12:38)

• Covid’s Impact & Patriotism:

  • COVID harmed local Scouting units, and fundraising is needed to help rebuild.

    “Covid caused us the inability to meet as a group... we're working hard... the funds... help us.” — Paul Hellman (13:30)

  • Patriotism remains central to Scouting:

    “We have the American flag on our uniform. We Recite the pledge of Allegiance before every single meeting.” — Paul Hellman (14:06)

2. Name-Driven Fundraising and Lighthearted Moments (20:07–21:47)

• The show humorously introduces a $25 minimum for listeners who want their funny names shouted out on-air when they donate.

  “Five bucks ain’t nothing right... But it’s close to nothing.” — Jack Armstrong (20:29)
  “Since inflation, it is pretty damn close to nothing.” — Joe Getty (20:34)

• Notable donor names: “succulent Chinese meal,” “Gavin’s hand game,” “Jack’s next wife,” and “prune runs.”

3. Satirizing ‘Decolonize Christmas’ Trends (21:01–24:08)

• The hosts mock social media influencers who offer “decolonized” holiday recipes, questioning the sincerity and logic behind such efforts.

  “Oh, I'd like to take my Yule log and just... I'm not a man of violence. And light a nice warm fire and explain to her how she's been misguided.” — Joe Getty (21:21)

• Extended riff on a gluten-free influencer and cultural inconsistency regarding “decolonizing Christmas.”

4. News Rundown: Crime, Antisemitism, Terror Threats (28:28–39:57)

• Rob Reiner Family Tragedy (28:28–32:04)
  • Coverage and reactions to the shocking murder of Rob Reiner and his wife by their son, prompting discussion about media language and Trump’s controversial social media post:

    “That’s an odd thing to do. Then he ends: ‘May Rob and Michelle rest in peace.’ Even though I just blamed you for your own death because you criticized me, you caused somebody to stab you to death.” — Jack Armstrong (31:45)

• Terror Attacks and Antisemitic Incidents (32:40–38:55)
  • Outrage over a shooting at Brown University and a pro-Palestinian terrorist attack in Australia;
  • The increasing frequency of anti-Semitic incidents, including shocking findings from an internal Columbia University report:

    “Columbia instructors singled out Jewish and Israeli students for personal scapegoating because of their real or perceived ties to Israel...” — Joe Getty (36:31)

  • Hosts discuss the global reach of radicalism (“globalize the intifada”) and a foiled New Year’s terror plot in LA.

    “This story has huge global significance. This might be what we’re dealing with as a planet for quite some time.” — Jack Armstrong (34:52)

• Switching to Positive Action:
  Jack notes the value in focusing on the Scouting fundraiser amid difficult news:

  “I’m glad this is a week we’re raising money for something good because there’s just a lot of bad news and I’m kind of tired of it.” — Jack Armstrong (38:55)

5. Christmas Movies: Nostalgia vs. Modernity (44:02–50:18)

• Charlie Brown Christmas: Jack praises the timelessness of this 60-year-old classic, its awkward silences, religious message, and subversion of commercialism.

  “It is really quite the amazing art if you haven't seen it in a while... There's something about the layout of that story and the art of it that is compelling.” — Jack Armstrong (47:48)

• The hosts contrast earnest traditions (“A Charlie Brown Christmas”) with irreverent holiday films like “Bad Santa” and “Family Guy.”

  “It is frequently very, very funny.” — Joe Getty (49:55, re: Bad Santa)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 06:05 | “Create leaders for tomorrow. Who's going to be our elected officials in 20 years from now. That's what we're creating.” | Paul Hellman | | 08:19 | “You're never as much of a servant as when you're leading because you realize, oh, this isn't about me. This is about everybody but me.” | Joe Getty | | 12:38 | “It's a couple hundred dollars a year to be involved in Scouting.” | Paul Hellman | | 14:06 | “We have the American flag on our uniform. We Recite the pledge of Allegiance before every single meeting.” | Paul Hellman | | 20:34 | “Since inflation, it is pretty damn close to nothing.” | Joe Getty | | 21:21 | “Oh, I'd like to take my Yule log and just... I'm not a man of violence. And light a nice warm fire and explain to her how she's been misguided.” | Joe Getty | | 31:45 | “That’s an odd thing to do. Then he ends: ‘May Rob and Michelle rest in peace.’ Even though I just blamed you for your own death because you criticized me, you caused somebody to stab you to death.” | Jack Armstrong | | 34:52 | “This story has huge global significance. This might be what we're dealing with as a planet for quite some time.” | Jack Armstrong | | 36:31 | “Columbia instructors singled out Jewish and Israeli students for personal scapegoating because of their real or perceived ties to Israel...” | Joe Getty | | 38:55 | “I’m glad this is a week we’re raising money for something good because there’s just a lot of bad news and I’m kind of tired of it.” | Jack Armstrong | | 47:48 | “It is really quite the amazing art if you haven't seen it in a while... There's something about the layout of that story and the art of it that is compelling.” | Jack Armstrong |

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 03:38–15:01 — Interview with Paul Hellman / Scouting America & Charity Drive
• 20:07–21:47 — Fundraising Humor & Listener Names
• 21:01–24:08 — Decolonize Christmas Satire
• 28:28–32:04 — Rob Reiner Family Tragedy and Trump Reaction
• 32:40–38:55 — Antisemitism: University Reports and Global Attacks
• 44:02–50:18 — Christmas Movie Reflections: Charlie Brown vs. Irreverent Modern Classics

Tone & Language

The episode blends heartfelt advocacy (for Scouting), exasperation and dark humor (on tragic news), sharp satire (on social fads and politics), and warm nostalgia. Jack and Joe’s conversational, irreverent style is preserved, with moments of sincerity especially in their push for charitable action.

For Listeners: Key Takeaways

• Main Theme: Empowering and supporting youth through Scouting, especially for families who can’t afford the costs.
• Big Picture: The episode balances serious current events (crime, anti-Semitism, global terror) with the redemptive power of community engagement and the importance of holding onto tradition — whether through supporting Scouting or revisiting classic holiday films.
• Call to Action: Donate to help kids join Scouts at armstrongandgetty.com.