MISCHKE: Days of Our Lives
Garage Logic — Gamut Podcast Network
January 10, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Garage Logic channels the trademark musings of host Tommy Mischke (filling in the seat of "The Mayor" Joe Soucheray), blending quirky current events, philosophical observations, and nostalgic storytelling. Mischke takes listeners on a winding, thoughtful journey—beginning with the strange phenomenon of sand theft around the globe, reflecting on the broader human drive for gain (and its pitfalls), and spinning off into a vivid riff about the enduring soap opera, "Days of Our Lives." Along the way, there’s plenty of signature Mischke banter, listener calls, and reflections on the oddities and routines of daily life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Stolen Beaches: Sand as the New Gold
(00:50 – 07:45)
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Mischke opens by warning vacationers to wonder: "Is this beach stolen?"
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He explains the global sand shortage, the rise of "sand mafias," and the targets of illicit beach theft—epitomized by the notorious Jamaican heist of 500 truckloads of sand.
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Mischke marvels at the lack of legal frameworks regarding sand ownership and moves to a wider observation on human ingenuity for self-advancement, often bordering on the absurd or unethical.
“I am not joking with you. I am as serious as death. Sand is a fundamental component in the production of glass, in the production of concrete, in the production of silicon chips that power our phones. But not all sand is created equal.” (03:05)
2. Money, Greed, and Emotional Emptiness
(07:45 – 13:30)
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Mischke delivers an extended meditation on the universal quest for money, distinguishing between need and greed.
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He argues that greed stems from emotional emptiness, with people using possessions and cash as substitutes for deeper fulfillment.
“Life for the bulk of humanity… appears to me to be mostly figuring out how to get some cash. What are the best ways? What's an easy way to get some money? What's illegal but a way where I won't get caught?” (05:15)
“Greed often stems from emotional emptiness. We're not satisfied in our emotional lives, so we look to fill the void with money. Things.” (08:35)
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Mischke links greed with envy and insecurity, suggesting modern society is pervaded by a relentless dissatisfaction.
“Have you met the person yet in this life who has said, I have enough, I'm good. My dream is to hear those words from a 45 year old.” (08:15)
3. Sands Through the Hourglass: Reflections on "Days of Our Lives"
(13:30 – 22:00)
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The phrase "like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives" triggers Mischke’s existential musings—and a nostalgic flashback to his neighbor watching the soap opera.
“Our days are like sand through an hourglass. I would think about that in my front yard as I looked over at that next door neighbor lady watching the television screen and picking things off her skin.” (11:36)
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Mischke humorously imagines an alternative, more morbid soap opera: "The Day the Sands Run Out," where each episode chronicles someone’s last day.
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He recounts the surprisingly complex, sometimes grim storylines that have given "Days of Our Lives" its historic 60-year run.
“That sand has been moving for 60 years. Is it that good of a show?” (16:38)
“One of the longest running storylines involved the rape of Mickey Horton's wife Laura by Mickey's brother Bill… Another love triangle between lounge singer Doug Williams and Alice's daughter Addie, and Addie's own daughter Julie proved to be popular…” (18:44)
4. Soap Operas, Real Life, and the American Household
(22:00 – 28:00)
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Mischke recalls cleaning offices as a kid and discussing soap operas with an older woman who argued that soap operas mirror real life more than nighttime TV.
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He details the prevalence of soap operas in the 1970s and shares a story about “meter readers” and the peculiarities of American domestic life then.
“Tommy, people make fun of soap operas. But I want to tell you, my experience is real life is more like what I see on the screen in a soap opera than in any of these other nighttime programs that are so popular.” (22:54)
5. Listener Call-In: Paradise on the East Side, Bank Robbery, and Radio Intimacy
(29:19 – 39:16)
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Mischke calls a longtime listener, Matt, who works as a banker on the east side of St. Paul. They share banter about the reputation of the neighborhood and the oddity of bank robberies being so easy (if you believe the power of a note).
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Matt expresses what Mischke’s radio/podcast presence means to him personally.
“I remember being 16 years old in my parents house and listening to you... Come to find out, the whole world loves you Tommy.” (33:18)
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Mischke reflects on the ambiguous joy and embarrassment of public appearances, referencing doing remote broadcasts on rooftops and the pressure of living up to audience expectations.
“I like to imagine there's just the one person out there. I'm talking to them.” (33:49)
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Matt reveals it’s his wife’s birthday; Mischke serenades her ("Happy Birthday, Jess") and closes with the hourglass metaphor linking the episode’s themes.
“She's right smack dab in the middle of life. I mean, just in the middle of life... Tell her for me. Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” (37:56–38:21)
6. Eccentric Observations: Sharks, Biting, and New York City
(39:17 – 43:30)
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Mischke shares that the number of people bitten by others in New York City vastly outpaces shark attacks worldwide—a launching pad for a surreal riff involving a fictional mayor and the oddities of city life.
“The annual number of worldwide shark bites is 10 times less than the number of people bitten by other people in New York City… and it will still not be as dangerous a beach as walking the streets of New York City, where you will be 10 times more likely to be bitten.” (41:10)
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He launches into a mock conversation peppered with Jaws references, blending deadpan humor and the absurd.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Global Sand Theft and Greed:
“Have you met the person yet in this life who has said, I have enough, I'm good. My dream is to hear those words from a 45 year old.” (08:15) -
Existential Humor:
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. Our days are like sand through an hourglass… I imagined that soap opera just featuring people screaming. It's all leaving. All of it is going away.” (12:05) -
On the Absurdity of Soap Opera Plotlines:
“No wonder it's around 60 years later. Seinfeld didn't have that.” (21:54) -
Listener Connection:
“It feels like you're talking to just me. It always has… and come to find out, the whole world loves you Tommy.” (33:18) -
Radio Philosophy:
“I like to imagine there's just the one person out there. I'm talking to them. I had a note from a sales guy today saying, hey, would you ever like to do a public appearance? No, don't want to do that. Not sure what they had in mind.” (33:49) -
Birthday Moment:
[Sings] “Happy birthday, dear Jess / Happy birthday to you” (38:26) -
On City Danger and Human Biting:
“The annual number of worldwide shark bites is 10 times less than the number of people bitten by other people in New York City… where you will be 10 times more likely to be bitten.” (41:10)
Segment Timestamps
- Sand Theft & Human Greed: 00:50 – 07:45
- Greed, Envy & Emotional Emptiness: 07:45 – 13:30
- "Days of Our Lives" & Hourglass Metaphor: 13:30 – 22:00
- Soap Operas & Real Life: 22:00 – 28:00
- Listener Call-in (Matt, the Banker): 29:19 – 39:16
- Shark Bites & NYC Mayoral Skit: 39:17 – 43:30
Overall Tone
Mischke’s signature style comes through with wry, thoughtful storytelling, riffing on the banal and the bizarre, poking fun at everything from soap opera melodrama to New York’s supposed dangers while always bringing it back to the quirks and realities of daily life in Garage Logic. The show is at once nostalgic, philosophical, and playfully absurd—a slice of “common sense” with an eccentric flourish for anyone missing Joe Soucheray's take but delighted by Mischke’s own unique logic.