Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "We're Really Impressed With Your Profile"
Date: August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode weaves through a classic Armstrong & Getty blend: sharp takes on the news, spirited debates about culture and policy, reflections on mental health, a warning about sophisticated job scams, and a foray into bizarre real-life encounters. Central themes include skepticism toward mandatory mental health screenings for children, the mediation process in international conflict, and the increasing cunning of online scams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cat Food Burger & Michelin Star Chefs (03:47–04:38)

• The hosts riff on the latest food stunt: a "Catkin Clock Burger" supposedly made with cat food.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Joe Getty jokes, "I've never eaten cat food before... it's tasty." (03:51)
  • Michael retorts, "I don't like stunt food. It's stupid." (04:08)
  • Joe: "I don't doubt that a Michelin starred chef could take cat food and put enough stuff in it to make it taste delicious." (04:12)

2. Ukraine, Russia & Mediation Lessons (04:53–09:38)

• Joe and Michael dig into mediation, using a listener text from a veteran mediator to dissect international negotiations, particularly Russia-Ukraine.
• Key Insights:
  • The neutrality of the mediator is paramount. Perceived bias destroys the process. (05:34)
  • Both sides often claim to “want to keep fighting” as a strategy to retain leverage, not because it is true. (06:54)
  • Comparisons are made to divorce mediation: unlike war, prolonging a divorce brings no advantage. (07:37)
• Notable Quote:
  • Joe: "Putin does get some advantage out of just dragging it out while that dance goes on." (07:47)

3. Mental Health Screenings for Children: Sense or Harm? (10:00–15:35; 19:55–23:55; 28:46–29:26)

• Sparked by Abigail Shrier’s book Bad Therapy, the conversation questions the effectiveness of mandated mental health screener questionnaires in schools.

• Both hosts are deeply skeptical of forced private screenings, suggesting they risk gross misdiagnosis, overreach by state, and unintended psychological harm.

• Cited research: Stephen J. Morse notes a 97% false-positive rate in suicide screeners. (12:21)

• Quote: Michael: "There is no proof that mental health screeners have ever been shown to improve mental health outcomes." (11:09)

• Liberal and conservative perspectives are represented, with respect shown for opposing professionals.

• A thoughtful parent/mental-health-professional listener email adds nuance, explaining why kids are questioned privately (protecting honesty in at-risk scenarios). Still, the hosts are wary about building protocols around the rare cases of abuse. (12:45–15:08)

• Quote: Joe: "I just think it's a weird way to craft society with the assumption going forward you're all horrible, lying people... until we find out otherwise." (14:13)

• Discussion broadens to the philosophical: does the state's role in raising children—as seen in Marxism—creep in through such policies? They question "trauma" as a diagnosis, warning against the expansion of state power into parental roles. (20:49–23:55)

  • Quote: Michael: "...it is 100% the God of the state should raise your children, not you. Which is progressivism from the early 20th century. It's Marxism..." (23:35)

• Abigail Shrier’s Conclusion:

  • Joe reads: "The vast majority... are not mentally ill, but they are lonely, worried, scared, and bummed out. Schools ought to supply them with reliable bolsters to the human spirit...higher expectations, greater independence, and responsibility, far, far less screen time..." (28:46)
  • Michael and Joe recall how challenging adventures, like hiking with Scouts or grueling family trips, build real confidence—contrasting with what they see as modern overprotection. (29:26)

4. Text Scams & Job Fraud: ‘We’re Really Impressed With Your Profile’ (31:06–36:03)

• Michael shares a detailed account of a sophisticated text-based job scam referencing the episode's title.
• The message appeared legitimate, referencing a real company ('aQuint'), and promised high pay for remote work, but was exposed as a data-harvesting and identity theft ploy.
• Quote: Michael: "It looks really good. It's just a really, really good spoof." (32:52)
• The hosts lament that increasingly clever scams prey on the desperate or vulnerable, especially job seekers. Michael mentions concern for his daughter, who is autistic and searching for a job, making her a likely target.
• They fantasize about vigilante justice against scammers. (35:05)

5. Scam Awareness & Phishing Warnings (36:08–36:36)

• Joe discusses the surge in fraudulent messages purportedly from services like PayPal, Apple, or eBay. The intent is to get recipients to click links and compromise their info.

6. Crazy Old Lady Theater: Condo Model Shoot Meltdown (36:36–39:03)

• Michael sets up a viral video where an irate Florida neighbor accuses a team of models and photographers of “pimping” and trespassing at her condo complex.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Angry Neighbor: “Maybe in Missouri you may carry on as you do, but not in Florida. Pimp!” (38:01)
  • After the interaction, the model team responds with Midwestern politeness: “I hope it gets better. And God bless from Missouri...” (38:37)
• The hosts debrief the encounter, reflecting on the oddity and spectacle of the fashion industry.

7. High-End Shopping and Lifestyle Reflections (40:02–42:43)

• Joe and Michael discuss the world of luxury shopping, with humorous and practical takes on the absurdity of $500 shirts and the deeper value of wealth and charity.
• They consider launching in-store donation initiatives (“Buy this, or donate the difference to charity”).

8. Satirical & Entertainment Notes (46:25–47:43)

• Lighthearted segment about Mark Hamill quipping he’d leave the country if Trump were re-elected but couldn’t get his shift at Arby’s covered.
• Dismissive critique of a New York Times article about "the cooled and the cooked," lambasting claims about climate change, labor, and income inequality.

9. Final Thoughts Segment (48:41–50:49)

• Quick team reflections on streaming service costs, “Shreking” (not explained in transcript), and climate anxieties.
• Michael jokes about forming a squad to hunt scam artists, while Joe injects humor about common cultural references and climate fears.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I've never eaten cat food before... It's delicious. It's tasty." – Joe Getty (03:51)
• "The neutrality of the mediator is paramount. This might speak to the way Trump is handling things..." – Joe Getty (05:34)
• "There is no proof that mental health screeners have ever been shown to improve mental health outcomes." – Michael (11:09)
• "If you do the statistical calculation, you discover the false positive rate is about 97% in screening for suicidal intentions." – Michael quotes Stephen J. Morse (12:21)
• "But the having every parent leave the room when you ask my kid questions, I just, I couldn't be more against that." – Joe Getty (15:08)
• "It is the God of the state should raise your children, not you. Which is progressivism from the early 20th century. It's Marxism." – Michael (23:35)
• "We're really impressed with your profile." – Michael, reading scam text (31:06)
• "It looks really good. It's just a really, really good spoof." – Michael (32:52)
• "Maybe in Missouri you may carry on as you do, but not in Florida. Pimp!" – Angry Neighbor (38:01)
• "Just because you can buy a $500 shirt doesn't mean you should buy a $500 shirt." – Michael (41:08)
• "People have been working out in the heat since the dawn of time, you realize." – Joe Getty (50:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cat Burger Segment: 03:47–04:38
• Russia/Ukraine Mediation Logic: 04:53–09:38
• Mandatory Mental Health Screenings: 10:00–15:35; 19:55–23:55; 28:46–29:26
• Job Scam Story: 31:06–36:03
• Scam Awareness: 36:08–36:36
• Crazy Old Lady Theater: 36:36–39:03
• Luxury Shopping & Giving: 40:02–42:43
• Climate Change Satire: 46:41–47:43
• Final Thoughts: 48:41–50:49

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is classic Armstrong & Getty: humorous, skeptical, and intellectually restless. The hosts challenge bureaucracy and received wisdom (especially in mental health and education), warn listeners about clever scams, and foster a no-nonsense but compassionate outlook on issues from war to daily life. Their style is conversational and sharp, with a willingness to poke fun at themselves, their guests, and the culture at large.

Whether discussing government overreach, personal resilience, or online fraud, Armstrong & Getty urge listeners to stay skeptical, seek real human connection, and beware the creeping “help” of both state and scammer.