Podcast Summary: High and Mighty – Episode 493: Jobs (w/ Alex Goldman)

Release Date: November 21, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 493 of "High and Mighty," hosted by John Gabrus and featuring guest Alex Goldman, the duo delves deep into the topic of jobs. This episode explores their diverse work experiences, sharing both amusing anecdotes and heartfelt reflections on the roles they've held over the years.

1. Opening Banter and Setting the Stage (00:02 – 04:28)

The episode begins with John Gabrus promoting Prize Picks, a daily fantasy sports platform, highlighting its features and urging listeners to sign up. After the promotional segment, John introduces Alex Goldman, leading to a light-hearted conversation about regional differences, particularly focusing on New Jersey and Connecticut.

Notable Quote:

• John Gabrus [00:02]: "Prize Picks is the best way to win real money this football season."

2. Early Work Experiences (04:28 – 24:21)

John's Diverse Job History: John shares his plethora of jobs before and during his involvement in the entertainment industry. From lifeguarding to working at video stores, John emphasizes the variety and the lessons learned from each role.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [06:39]: "Podcasting is, as my comedy bang bang character Gina Lombardo calls it, DVR'd radio."
• John Gabrus [10:06]: "Lifeguarding is the best job I've ever had."

Alex's Early Employment: Alex discusses his stint as a video store clerk at Liberty Street Video around 1999-2000. He reminisces about the unique environment of an indie video store compared to large franchises like Hollywood Video, highlighting the presence of diverse movie genres and an unexpected porn section.

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [07:37]: "It had the only video store in town that had a porn section."
• Alex Goldman [16:50]: "I had a paper route when I was nine... I felt like a millionaire."

3. Teenage Jobs and Learning Responsibility (24:21 – 35:02)

John's Lifeguarding Experience: John elaborates on his lengthy tenure as a lifeguard from age 16 to 23, describing it as a formative experience that imparted responsibility and maturity. He shares memorable interactions, such as working with older colleagues and handling the pressures of lifeguarding in a bustling environment.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [11:57]: "This gave me some mat[urity]."
• John Gabrus [12:46]: "You had to save lives."

Alex's Paper Route and Early Independence: Alex reflects on his paper route at age nine, emphasizing how it taught him independence and financial responsibility, especially during his parents' divorce. He shares humorous yet insightful stories about managing his earnings and interactions with neighbors.

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [16:50]: "I was making $100 a month and felt like a millionaire."
• Alex Goldman [19:34]: "I grew up real fast."

4. Middle to Later Jobs: Subway, Bartending, and Struggles (35:02 – 49:04)

Subway Sandwich Artist: Alex discusses his role as a sandwich artist at Subway during his college years at the University of Michigan. He highlights the social interactions, the allure of unlimited subs, and the light-hearted misconduct like taking home extra ingredients.

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [26:38]: "I was a sandwich artist... Flirting with women."
• John Gabrus [35:07]: "Subway fucked up... I love Italian heroes."

Bartending and the Extent of Jobs: Both hosts share their experiences with multiple jobs during their youth, including bartending and lifeguarding. They emphasize the financial benefits and social aspects of these roles, while also humorously touching on the less glamorous parts, such as dealing with intoxicated patrons.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [12:46]: "You had to save lives."
• Alex Goldman [24:25]: "I did flower delivery, which was great."

5. Challenging and Unfulfilling Jobs (49:04 – 56:15)

John's Production Assistant Role at VH1: John recounts his time as a PA at VH1, working on "Best Week Ever." He describes the lack of structured oversight, the freedom to wander, and the superficial perks that masked the core responsibilities of the job.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [39:22]: "The worst job ever was temping at Lehman Brothers... They hated the way I looked."

Alex's Experience as an Orderly: Alex talks about his challenging role as an orderly at a Texas state institution for the developmentally disabled. He discusses the emotional and physical demands, including assisting residents with intimate care tasks.

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [47:38]: "I had to wipe men's asses."
• John Gabrus [48:18]: "That's an eye opener when you have to wipe a man's ass."

6. Temporary Work and Career Transitions (56:15 – 72:01)

John's Temp Work Struggles: John shares his frustrations with temporary jobs, highlighting the lack of job security, poor pay, and the superficial corporate culture he encountered, particularly at Lehman Brothers.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [42:18]: "They know I'm barely helping or whatever."
• John Gabrus [54:08]: "Things are not great with temping."

Alex's Telemarketing Challenges: Alex reflects on his telemarketing job for a nonprofit, describing the disheartening aspects of the role and the minimal financial rewards despite aggressive sales targets.

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [64:44]: "I did not make that much from commission."
• John Gabrus [65:00]: "You didn't put me on hold."

Career Shifts and New Ventures: Both hosts discuss their transitions from various jobs to their current pursuits in media and content creation. Alex introduces his new podcast "Hyper Fixed," aimed at solving listeners' problems through narrative storytelling, akin to his previous work with "Reply All."

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Goldman [72:01]: "I wrote a letter to my landlord... please don't report me to the credit agency."
• John Gabrus [75:09]: "Follow Hyper Fixed and support Alex."

7. Reflections and Final Thoughts (72:01 – 79:38)

Mutual Appreciation and Promotion: John and Alex express mutual respect and appreciation for each other's work in podcasting and media. They encourage listeners to support Alex’s new venture, "Hyper Fixed," and reflect on the impact of their shared experiences with various jobs.

Notable Quotes:

• John Gabrus [77:34]: "But Daddy Zaslav can eat a dick, bro."
• Alex Goldman [77:49]: "This was a lot of fun. Thank you so much for having me."

Key Takeaways

• Diverse Employment Experiences: Both hosts highlight the breadth of their job histories, emphasizing how each role contributed to their personal and professional growth.

• Challenges of Temporary and Low-Paying Jobs: The episode underscores the difficulties associated with temp work and low-wage roles, including lack of stability, poor pay, and minimal job satisfaction.

• Valuable Lessons from Early Jobs: Early employment, such as lifeguarding and working in a video store, provided foundational skills like responsibility, independence, and financial management.

• Emotional and Physical Demands: Jobs in caregiving roles, such as being an orderly, entail significant emotional and physical challenges that leave lasting impressions.

• Career Transitions and Pursuit of Fulfillment: Both John and Alex discuss their journey from varied employment to pursuing passion projects in media and content creation, illustrating the pursuit of fulfilling work over merely functional roles.

• New Ventures in Podcasting: Alex’s new podcast "Hyper Fixed" represents his commitment to storytelling and problem-solving, continuing the legacy of his influential work with "Reply All."

Notable Quotes to Remember

• John Gabrus [10:22]: "I started lifeguarding... the best summer job I've ever had."
• Alex Goldman [16:50]: "I had a paper route when I was nine... I felt like a millionaire."
• John Gabrus [39:22]: "Without Internet, like, cell phones, they couldn't keep up..."
• Alex Goldman [47:38]: "I had to wipe men's asses."

Conclusion

Episode 493 of "High and Mighty" offers an engaging exploration of the hosts' varied work histories, blending humor with honest reflections on the challenges and rewards of different jobs. Through their stories, listeners gain insight into the complexities of employment and the personal growth that stems from diverse work experiences.

For more insights and stories, subscribe to "High and Mighty" on your preferred podcast platform and follow the hosts on their social media channels.