Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "My Grind is Too Coarse"

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Armstrong & Getty (Joe, Joe Keddie) with Katie

Main Theme

This episode focuses on the joys—and pitfalls—of pursuing “hipster” hobbies, from home espresso-making to blacksmithing and baking bread. The hosts explore what draws people to these old-timey, hands-on crafts, share personal stories, and grapple with the difference between genuine satisfaction and performative trendiness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trials and Triumphs of Home Espresso

[00:35] Joe kicks off with a classic home barista problem:

• He’s struggling with his new espresso machine, wrestling with grind size, extraction time, and variables in pursuit of the perfect cup.
• Joe describes a fleeting victory (“the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had” [02:02]), immediately followed by repeated failures. He highlights the tedium—and reward—of perfecting a craft.

[02:13] Quote:

“How coarse is your grind? … I might have said skateboarding… but it’s coffee.”
—Joe Keddie

2. The Hipster Stereotype—Mockery and Relatability

Joe reads the hilarious “Most Hipster Man in the World” bit [01:20], poking fun at over-the-top artisanal obsessions.

• They laugh at beard oil, typewriters for babies, and bar fights over Fleet Foxes lyrics.
• Joe admits he’s mocked these “hipster” pursuits, but questions where mockery ends and genuine appreciation begins ([08:23]).

[02:19] Quote:

“He is the most hipster man in the world.”
—Joe Keddie

3. Old Hobbies in Modern Times

Joe’s friend, a blacksmith and IT guy, inspires a discussion about the fulfillment found in tangible crafts:

• Blacksmithing, sewing, and baking as meaningful, grounding activities.
• Joe’s son, Henry, loves watching blacksmiths at fairs; they recently spent time witnessing the craft in person ([03:58]).
• Satisfaction seems rooted in making or mastering something yourself—contrasted to their “modern crap” jobs ([06:37]).

[04:45] Quote:

“It is kind of funny how many of the hipster conceits… are old timey, like… you look like you just came off the Prairie in 1840.”
—Joe Keddie

4. The Psychology of Doing vs. Showing

The hosts differentiate between performative hipsterism and genuine learning:

• Katie brings up her dad’s passion for baking sourdough—“Larry’s loaves” ([07:46]–[08:17]).
• Joe reflects on the “caveman” satisfaction from being self-sufficient: “There’s something that goes on there, that doesn’t happen with a lot of the modern crap we do.” ([06:54])
• They continue to lampoon the “showboaty conceit” side but respect the real effort and reward in difficult hobbies ([09:08]).

[08:23] Quote:

“There’s way worse things I could be doing with my time than trying to figure out how to perfect my espresso beans. Or him with his blacksmithing… he finds it so much more rewarding… there’s something that goes on there.”
—Joe

5. Finding Purpose and Community Hobbies

Keddie discusses how retirement satisfaction often comes from cultivating meaningful, hands-on interests ([06:58]). Examples include:

• Master gardening (raising orchids)
• Breadmaking
• Building things with your hands

[07:46] Quote (Katie):

“One of [my dad’s] favorite things to do on the planet right now is he makes killer sourdough bread… we call them Larry’s loaves.”

6. The YouTube and Podcast Economy

The conversation shifts to the way people now monetize their hobbies through platforms like YouTube:

• There are “coffee channels” with millions of followers—something unimaginable a decade ago ([11:15]).
• The democratization of expertise (“If you’re good at something and you got a bit of a personality… you can turn it into a life” [11:58]).
• They joke about the overabundance and casual nature of podcasts today ([12:25]-[12:57]).

[13:25] Quote:

“It’s interesting how many people have carved out a niche for themselves. A big niche. You shouldn’t even really call it a niche. If you got 3 million people tuning in, that’s not a niche.”
—Joe

7. Satirical YouTube Channel Concepts

The group brainstorms intentionally bad, deadpan YouTube channels:

• Keddie: “Build beautiful birdhouses. Triple B channel… the joke would be, I suck at it” ([13:44]).
• Katie: “Well, I’d watch the hell out of that.” ([14:12])
• Keddie thinks of the same premise but with cakes ([14:35]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Note | |---------------|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:20 | Narrator (Comedy) | “He grows his own beard oil. His bicycle has no brakes because stopping is for sellouts…” (full “Hipster Man” riff, tongue-in-cheek satire) | | 04:45 | Joe Keddie | “It is kind of funny how many of the hipster conceits… are old timey, like… you look like you just came off the Prairie in 1840.” | | 06:54 | Joe | “There’s something that goes on there, that doesn’t happen with a lot of the modern crap we do.” | | 08:23 | Joe | “There’s way worse things I could be doing with my time than trying to figure out how to perfect my espresso beans…” | | 09:08 | Joe Keddie | “That’s investing yourself in learning something and overcoming the challenges. That I totally respect.” | | 11:58 | Joe | “If you’re good at something and you got a bit of a personality… you can turn it into a life.” | | 13:25 | Joe | “It’s interesting how many people have carved out a niche for themselves. A big niche. … that’s not a niche.” |

Engaging Discussion Highlights with Timestamps

• [00:35–03:13]: Espresso struggles, hipster comedy, and the pitfalls of obsession
• [03:25–05:11]: Blacksmithing as a modern hobby, “old timey” trends, and fulfillment
• [06:37–09:14]: The deeper satisfaction of hands-on crafts versus tech jobs and modern work
• [11:15–13:34]: Monetizing hobbies (YouTube, podcasts), and the ease of becoming a broadcaster
• [13:44–14:47]: Humorous brainstorms for intentionally terrible YouTube channels

Tone & Language

The tone remains self-aware, sardonic, and humorous—filled with affectionate ribbing of “hipsters” and themselves. The hosts blend genuine existential musings with playful mockery, keeping the energy informal and relatable.

Summary

This episode offers a thoughtful, amusing meditation on why people dive into time-consuming, hands-on hobbies. From espresso to blacksmithing and bread baking, Armstrong & Getty (with Katie) walk the line between ironic detachment and authentic appreciation. They ultimately find value, community, and even joy in pursuing “old timey” skills—regardless of whether they’re seen as hipster clichés. The proliferation of hobby-based YouTube channels and podcasts is held up as a sign both of changing times and the universal human need for purpose and self-expression.