Podcast Summary: "I've Had It" – Manifest This, As*holes

Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Special Guest: Cal Penn
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "I've Had It" is a lively, irreverent rant-fest where hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, joined by producer Kylie, sound off on life's daily annoyances, cultural gripes, and political pet peeves. Special guest Cal Penn, actor and activist, adds his unique perspective and humor, as the crew covers everything from tip fatigue and pop-up ads to airport etiquette, faux food allergies, and performative "manifesting" culture. The episode maintains its signature blend of pointed social commentary and sharp, self-aware comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Paid Content Double-Dipping

• Pop-up Ads for Paid Subscribers
  • Angie complains about being bombarded by pop-up ads even after subscribing to news sites. She hates the “trick suck” ads that redirect you away from the page when you try to close them. (00:55)
  • Jennifer calls it “double dipping” and agrees it ruins the experience:

    “The popups, the constant unsolicited advertisements and when you’re on a page, these things are popping up without your consent.” (01:54)

  • Both recognize the value of supporting real journalism but draw the line at excessive, sneaky ad practices.

Airport & Escalator Etiquette

• Oblivious Airport Behavior
  • Jennifer vents about people stopping at the top of escalators, causing a logjam, especially frustrating when she's traveling with her well-trained dogs. (03:10)
  • She compares New York’s directness favorably to Oklahoma’s politeness:

    "In New York ... you can say very sincerely, 'What are you doing, man? You got to move out of the way.' ... In Oklahoma, I have to tiptoe around." (04:33)

  • Both hosts agree airport walkways should be treated like traffic: you pull over if you need to stop. Jennifer coins the “c*nt for order” as an act of justified rudeness for public safety. (07:19)
  • Angie admits she sometimes unwittingly commits these annoyances herself but strives to be more New York:

    “The older I get, the more New York I become. ... I just don’t care. Just shut the fuck up, move on. We’re not doing this.” (06:05)

Sandwich Shop Saga & “Karen Backfire”

• Mismatched Orders and Accountability
  • Pumps recounts an awkward interaction where her sandwich order was misheard, and she was scolded by the employee to “listen better.” She admits she might have been distracted but wonders aloud if the “Karen” stereotype backfired on her. (10:14)
  • Jennifer playfully accuses Pumps of likely being at fault based on their history, and underscores that the “customer is always right” mentality can fuel entitlement. (12:27)

Language Quirks & Running Jokes

• The “2020 26” Bit
  • The group laughs over Angie’s habit of awkwardly pronouncing the year (“2020 26”), which has become an inside joke, infecting Kylie and others. It’s seen as endearing rather than annoying. (09:15, 14:10)

Listener Mail & Reviews

• “Fat Ass” as a Term of Endearment

  • Kylie reads a five-star review clarifying that when Angie uses “fat ass,” it’s not about size but the vibe:

    "When I call you a fat ass, it has nothing to do with your ass ... it’s just a good, satisfying thing to say." (15:06)

• “Raw Dogging” Workouts

  • A listener accuses Jennifer of being a “psychopath” for working out at the gym without headphones, enduring noises unaided. Jennifer embraces the label and details her strict rules against social media during workouts, contrasting it with others hogging gym equipment between sets to scroll Instagram. (16:16 – 19:37)

News & Culture Quick Takes

• Denmark Bans Small Talk

  • Kylie reports on an experiment in Denmark where offices banned small talk for a week, decreasing burnout and increasing productivity. Both hosts fantasize about such a policy, admitting small talk is draining, though essential to their line of work. (20:22)

• Women Over 40 Having More Babies Than Teens

  • The hosts cheer the news that women over 40 are now having babies at higher rates than teens, contrasting the pressures in conservative “Bible Belt” states with the freedom and benefits of later-life parenting. Jennifer calls it:

    “A much better mental headspace to have a child than in your 20s.” (23:57)

  • They blast conservative outrage over women delaying family in favor of careers, framing it as a rebellion against sexist, prescriptive social norms. (25:32)

Cal Penn Joins: Grievances & Insights

Manifestation Culture

• Cal’s #1 “Had It”:
  • Pet peeve: “Manifesting” as influencer speak. Cal critiques the shallow idea that visualizing success or “putting energy out there” is enough to achieve life goals, calling for credit to action and planning:

    “It’s coming up with a plan, right? ... The mood board of energy is not that.” (35:57 – 36:54)

  • Jennifer and Cal lampoon the social media influencer who credits their Birkin-Learjet lifestyle to manifestation rather than privilege or wealth.

Thoughts & Prayers Culture

• The group drags the “thoughts and prayers” response to mass shootings and social crises as empty performance:
  > “The prayers doesn’t help. What you need to do is put action into ... if it were, we wouldn’t have all these massive school shootings.” (37:33)

Tipping Fatigue & Corporate Exploitation

• Tipping After Tax

  • Cal objects to restaurants calculating the tip percentages after tax, making tips higher than intended:

    “Don’t tell me it’s 25% if it’s actually not 25% of what I ordered." (40:52)

• Point-of-Sale Tip Prompts

  • Jennifer rails against being prompted for tips for self-service transactions, noting it dilutes the real service industry and allows corporations to dodge livable wages:

    “There is an abuse going on. Tip abuse. And it’s harming people in the service industry.” (41:43)

  • Cal highlights Sugar Fish as a model no-tip restaurant chain that pays staff a living wage.

• On Corporate Greed

  “Is there a psychosis to once you become a billionaire, you just become a horrible person?” (44:26)

Relationship to Zoran (NYC Mayor)

• Cal describes his long acquaintance with Zoran, NYC’s new mayor, and his pride in Zoran’s progressive advocacy—especially for working-class and immigrant communities. (46:08)
• Jennifer and Cal discuss Zoran’s ability to connect across lines, even with Trump, attributing success to authenticity and “full-blown conviction.”

  “He stands up. If he sees an injustice, he stands up to it immediately.” (56:00)

Game Segment: “Had it or Hit it”

(Commences at 61:37)

1. Faux Food Allergies

   • Cal, severely allergic to tree nuts, rails against non-medical “preferences” being passed off as allergies. He’s especially exasperated by “gluten-free” friends who cheat at 2 am:

     “You're not dying! … There are people who medically cannot have gluten, and you are now screwing it up for everybody else by pretending.” (62:53)

   • Jennifer coins “histrionic allergy disorder.”

2. Smartphone Chargers

   • The group lambasts the endless upgrades and incompatibilities in charging cords, calling for a universal standard:

     “At some point, we have to call a racket a racket.” (65:27)

3. Fad Drugs (e.g., Ayahuasca retreats)

   • Cal mocks Silicon Valley types who pay huge amounts for “spiritual” drug trips but frames his annoyance as being with the over-sharing, not the use itself:

     “It’s only irritating when you have to hear about it. … He just got back from Burning Man. We need to keep our distance for six weeks.” (66:15)

4. ICE & Racial Profiling

   • Both hosts and Cal call for dismantling ICE and discuss the Kavanaugh Supreme Court ruling enabling racial profiling. Cal points out the increased risk for the poor and non-celebrities, despite his own privilege. (68:30)

5. Broader Politics & Progressive Hope

   • The discussion turns to supporting sanctuary cities, marginalized communities, and the importance of not ceding the idea of “America” to the right:

     “I’m still a believer that we have to keep showing up and doing the right thing.” (76:45 – 78:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pop-up Ad Rant:

  "I’ve had it with that. They’re double dipping.” – Jennifer (01:50)

• On Airport Etiquette:

  “Airport hallways should be treated like a roadway. A highway.” – Jennifer (07:15)

• On Manifesting:

  “Either you’re talking about planning, or you’re talking about luck.” – Cal Penn (35:14)

• On “Thoughts and Prayers”:

  “All hat, no cattle.” – Jennifer (38:08)

• On Tipping Machines:

  “Tip abuse ... The worst are the Sunday church crowd.” – Jennifer (41:17, 41:36)

• On Millennials & Delayed Births:

  “I think 40 is a much better mental headspace to have a child than in your 20s.” – Jennifer (23:57)

• On Performative Alphas:

  “I’m so, so sick of these Alphas, like, celebrating the biggest, dorkiest villains in America.” – Jennifer (80:57)

Timestamps for Reference

• 00:55 – Pop-up ads for paid content
• 03:10 – Airport/Escalator Etiquette
• 10:14 – Sandwich shop "Karen" episode
• 15:00 – Listener reviews & “Fat Ass” term
• 16:16 – 19:37 – Raw dogging the gym & social media
• 20:22 – Denmark bans small talk
• 23:57 – 25:32 – Women over 40 having babies
• 34:39 – Cal Penn’s grievances (manifesting)
• 40:52 – Tipping after tax
• 46:08 – Cal on Zoran, NYC mayor
• 61:37 – Had it or Hit it Game (faux allergies, chargers, fad drugs, ICE, etc.)
• 76:45 – Hit it or Had it on the USA

Tone & Style

• Language: Unapologetically blunt, peppered with profanity, sarcasm, and affectionate insults.
• Vibe: Candid, self-deprecating, and banter-heavy, with warmth and pointed, often left-leaning social commentary.
• Highlights: Personal anecdotes, recurring inside jokes, and direct listener engagement.

Final Thoughts

This episode encapsulates the "I've Had It" ethos: cathartic complaining paired with cultural and political snark, managing to be both funny and fiercely opinionated. The mix of pettiness (pop-ups, bad tippers), policy (ICE, reproductive rights), and personal quirks (year misstatements, sandwich drama) makes it compelling listening for anyone who wants to laugh and rage along with the hosts.

For the full experience and even more unfiltered wit, check out the episode or visit I've Had It’s page.