Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "I've Brought Joy To People"

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts | February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and unscripted episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty are joined by executive producer Mike Hanson and news anchor Katie Green for a quintessential Armstrong & Getty mix of humor, news critique, pop culture, and offbeat observations. The conversation swings wide: abandoned classic cars, skepticism of elites, generational car nostalgia, major news headlines (Epstein files, US military moves, inflation, Iran, Ukraine/Russia), Olympic moments, technology's quirks, and thoughtful tangents on AI, education, and love. The hosts’ banter is sharp, irreverent, and laced with dry wit—a fan-pleaser for their Friday show.

Major Discussion Points

1. Abandoned Cars, Urban Weirdness, and Automotive Nostalgia

(03:10–11:05)

• The crew discusses a huge, classic car (Oldsmobile/Cadillac, ‘late 60s–70s) that’s been parked for weeks outside their studio.
• Mike Hanson jokes about “claiming” the car:
  “I thought, why don’t I just show up and take it? … It’s been sitting here on the street for I don’t know how long.” (04:02)
• They riff on the absurdity of modern urban life:
  “This is not the sort of place where you’d abandon a car. … What a weird world where there’s just tents and abandoned cars.” (04:36)
• Jokes about “Cal Unicornia” (California) and lax rules for abandoned vehicles.
• Extremely large classic cars (“land yachts”) spark nostalgia:
  “That era of cars...the back seat was literally plenty big enough for sleeping or loving or practically raising a family.” (06:36, Getty)
• Amusing digressions about teaching their kids to drive in massive old cars, and the hazards of potential “meth residue.”

2. The "Real" Epstein Scandal & Elites Above the Law

(07:20–09:04, 17:05–19:39, scattered)

• The crew critiques the media’s coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein files and their implications.
  • Joe Getty:
    “That’s the real Epstein scandal...the overclass of the rich and powerful live in impunity and flout the law and laugh about it.” (07:20)
• They question why high-profile people continued consorting with Epstein after his criminal conviction, discussing the culture of elite impunity (“world’s most exclusive clique”).
• Katie delivers news updates revealing DOJ surveillance of people searching Epstein files and tensions in how the case is handled.
  • Co-host:
    “DOJ keeping an eye on who’s searching for what...why would you do that?” (17:29)

3. Global Affairs: Aircraft Carriers, Iran, Ukraine & Modern Warfare

(09:04–10:00; 16:23–16:57; 35:10–41:04)

• Slightly tongue-in-cheek puzzlement over naming the US’s most powerful aircraft carrier after Gerald Ford.
• Analysis: second US carrier moving towards Iran signals seriousness not just “saber rattling.”
• News about Iran’s government using digital surveillance to track dissent.
• The Ukraine-Russia war:
  • Massive casualty numbers (2 million).
  • NATO held Operation Hedgehog (2025), drone warfare simulation drilling with Ukrainian experts—NATO forces fared poorly, illustrating how unprepared they are for modern battlefield realities.
  • Joe Getty:
    “The Ukrainians and the Russians are absolutely the experts in drone warfare right now. … Our people made terrible tactical mistakes.” (38:25)

4. Quick Hits & Notable News Coverage

(17:05–20:05)

• Inflation cooling, but the hosts poke fun at how the press frames it.
• Iran’s domestic crackdowns, leading politicians jailed.
• DHS up for partial shutdown amid debates on immigration enforcement.
• A missing-woman case (Nancy Guthrie) dominating cable news—hosts note the story seems to be a product of data-driven programming, not real newsworthiness.
• McDonald’s “GLP1 friendly” menu for Ozempic users:
  • “That’s the free market at work…McDonald’s realizes a lot of our customers are on GLP drugs.” (19:51)
• Study: Preteens glued to smartphones have higher rates of depression, addiction, and suicidality.
  • Getty lampoons the obviousness: “Right up there with the new study saying when you drop an object, it heads to the center of the earth.” (20:22)

5. Olympic Highlights & Absurdities

(20:44–22:34, 31:09–34:38)

• The hosts and their families have been enjoying Olympics coverage (via Peacock).
• Favorite events: snowboard cross, snowboarding “big air.”
• Chronicling snowboarder injuries:
  • “It’s like being Evil Knievel…this Mark McMorris…one of the best snowboarders out there.”
  • Injuries: femur break, concussion, induced coma, cracked bones: “That guy sounds like a crash test dummy.” (22:34, Getty)
• NBC issues an apology for misgendering a transgender skier, leading to a segment lampooning corporate fear of online outrage and self-censorship.
  • “They divide sports by sex, biological sex, because that’s the only kind of sex there is...but probably half a dozen lunatics [on Twitter] reacted to this.” (32:05)
  • Co-host:
    “If you ignore the first complaint, nothing would have happened...don’t adjust your entire corporate direction because of a handful of protesters.” (33:05)

6. Technology, AI, Generational Change, and Education

(35:24–36:14; 44:08–48:47)

• Riffs on ChatGPT and Grok: with clever prompting, you can tease out biases or get them to parrot your opinions.
  • “You lead it, it figures out what side you’re on, and then it just joins in...this is not good.” (36:02)
• Aerobic exercise found as effective as antidepressants for many.
  • “I can imagine how if you’re depressed and someone hits you with ‘what you need is to get out and ride a bike’...you’d think go after yourself.” (36:55)
• AI in education: teachers must adapt by reducing “crappy assignments that can be done by AI”; oral defenses are stronger against cheating.
  • Cites book “More Than Words”—writing is uniquely human, AI can’t truly “write.”
• Plato quote: "written work is inferior to oral communication."

7. Romantic Life, Love, and Social Commentary

(44:38–45:39, post-ad segment)

• Valentine’s content teased: “36 questions to make someone fall in love with you” and discussion of love in AI contexts.
• Anecdote: Olympic athlete getting engaged at finish line—banter about fair proposals versus pressured ones.

Memorable Quotes

• “This is not the sort of place where you’d abandon a car...What a weird world where there’s just tents and abandoned cars.”
  — Michael Hanson (04:36)

• “That’s the real Epstein scandal...the overclass of the rich and powerful live in impunity and flout the law and laugh about it.”
  — Joe Getty (07:20)

• “I used to snort cocaine off toilet seats. And yeah, I know this disease will kill me if I don’t.”
  — Quoting RFK Jr. in a news segment (11:36)

• “That era of cars...the back seat was literally plenty big enough for sleeping or loving or practically raising a family.”
  — Joe Getty (06:36)

• “The Ukrainians and the Russians...are absolutely the experts in drone warfare right now…and our people made terrible tactical mistakes.”
  — Joe Getty (38:25)

• “If you ignore the first complaint [about misgendering], nothing would have happened…don’t adjust your entire corporate direction because of a handful of protesters on Twitter.”
  — Co-host (33:05)

• “This Mark McMorris…he’s like a crash test dummy…being Evil Knievel.”
  — Joe Getty (22:17)

• “Aerobic exercise rivals antidepressants in large review...not surprising.”
  — Joe Getty (36:14)

• “Writing is more than words; it’s a distinctly human activity, and even though AI can predict words, it can’t really write.”
  — Quoting listener Tim in Jacksonville, FL (47:35)

• “The horror of Communism-Stalinism is not that bad people do bad things. … It’s that good people do horrible things thinking they are doing something great.”
  — Quoting Slavoj Žižek, discussed by Getty (45:39)

• “I have brought joy to people.”
  — Joe Getty, joking about others enjoying his own mishaps (27:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Abandoned Oldsmobile & Urban Oddity: 03:10–07:09
• Epstein File Reactions & Elite Impunity: 07:20–09:04; news at 17:05–19:39
• Aircraft Carrier & US/Iran Tensions: 09:04–10:00; 16:23–16:57
• Memories of Land Yacht Cars & Teaching Kids to Drive: 10:00–11:05
• RFK Jr. Cocaine Quote: 11:36–12:08
• Olympic Highlights & Athlete Injuries: 20:44–22:34; 31:09–34:38
• NBC Misgendering Controversy: 31:09–33:36
• ChatGPT, AI, and Tech Tangents: 35:24–36:14; 44:08–48:47
• Ukraine, NATO, and Modern Warfare: 35:10–41:04
• Valentine’s, 36 Questions, and Love in the Age of AI: 44:38–45:39
• Žižek on Communism: 45:39–46:19
• Mailbag: AI in Teaching, Plato on Writing: 47:35–48:11

Tone & Style

• Wryly skeptical, often irreverent.
• Free-associative and deliberately meandering, but quick to return to sharp, insight-rich commentary.
• Characterized by banter, self-deprecation, and quick humor.
• Commentary frequently employs sarcasm, "dad jokes," and playful mutual ribbing.

For New Listeners

This episode is a classic Armstrong & Getty ride: inventive, unscripted, topical, and acutely observant, especially on the flaws of modern institutions, media, and societal trends. The banter is fast and natural, moving from the lighthearted (old cars, Olympic stunts) to the serious (elite corruption, war, tech’s impact on meaning) while keeping listeners both amused and informed.