Macrodosing: Barack Obama Says Aliens Are Real | Feb 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Macrodosing dives into the recent viral comments by former President Barack Obama about the existence of aliens, sparking a wide-ranging conversation about presidential credibility, conspiracy theories, the blurry lines of truth in media, and a good dose of sports, AI, Olympics, and cultural commentary. Hosts Big T, Arian Foster, Jake, and Madeline provide a humorous, sometimes irreverent but insightful take on the week's biggest talking points, weaving between the existential (aliens, AI), the everyday (Olympics, quitting nicotine), and the absurd (mogging and swim-up bars).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Obama's Alien Comments and Presidential Credibility

• Obama’s Viral Alien Clip
  • The group reacts to Barack Obama’s recent viral interview where he affirmed the existence of aliens before quickly walking back his comments.
  • Big T is annoyed: "Here's why I'm pissed about Obama. What the f--- with that alien thing, dude. Oh, that sucks." (08:45)
  • Arian speculates it was a "planted question" and believes Obama’s answer was meant to be lighthearted, but agrees that presidential words carry weight. (09:17)
  • Jake reads the situation as a statistical observation: “I think he thinks of it like we all think. … The Drake equation. It has to be, but I didn’t look at it like, he knows he has confirmation.” (10:25)
  • The gang discusses Fermi’s Paradox and how public figures can muddy waters by joking while in positions of authority.
  • The group pokes fun at the idea of bringing Obama onto their podcast for a speed round and muses about how powerful that interview bit has become.

2. Olympics Banter & Curling Controversy

• Discussion transitions to the Winter Olympics' "cool factor" and why most of them only care about hockey and curling.
• Big T: "As far as I'm concerned, the Winter Olympics is one giant tournament to celebrate the United States playing hockey against Canada in the finals." (18:24)
• Light-hearted debate on whether figure skaters or hockey players could better transition to the other's sport, including comparisons to "football players doing gymnastics or gymnasts playing football."
• Madeline: "I think the figure skaters would be better at hockey than vice versa."
• Curling cheating scandal: the crew recounts an incident of a curler possibly violating etiquette, sparking a conversation about “gentleman’s sports.”
• The US having a 54-year-old curler and local curling bars (Kaiser Tiger) add to the comedic take.

3. Sports Updates: Golf, Pregnancies, and Mogging

• Big T shares a golf update: "Colin Morikawa won this week at Pebble. That was dope." (24:20)
• Conversation on professional golfers' personal milestones correlating with their wins (“the hack to golfing is just having sex with your wife”).
• Betting on golfer Jake Knapp and searching for a fan nickname (eventually settling on "Napkins" after several humorous suggestions).
• Arian (on fake cousin reveal): “Oh, you could have. ... It's not a common—there aren't many Knapps out there.” (31:34)

4. Personal Updates: Quitting Nicotine

• Big T details his attempt to quit nicotine, his side effects, and his method ("I wake up in the morning, I put the pouch in my pocket. I'm like, I have it here, but I'm not gonna use it." (42:26)
• Others chime in with encouragement and stories of quitting routines, sympathizing with the struggle.
• The segment highlights the show's mix of humor and openness about personal issues.

5. AI, Automation & Tech Anxiety

• Jake introduces Claude, an AI agent akin to ChatGPT, and talks about integrating it with his Discord.
• Jake (on the rise of AI): "He is basically training the AI to take his job." (47:43)
• Discussion about Amazon and the push for employees to train AI systems that could replace them.
• Philosophical tangents on the dangers and limitations of AI, referencing the Bruce Willis film Surrogates.
• Big T calls out obvious AI-generated content and skepticism about AI's readiness: "I don't think that AI is ready to take over the world. I don't think it's anywhere close." (54:35)
• Arian and Jake discuss the resilience of society: "Society is very good at finding things to call work and paying people for it." (59:08)
• Big T ties AI anxiety to broader worries about happiness, technology, and social shifts.

6. Social & Cultural Commentary

• Handwriting Discourse:
  • Debate over why "every girl" had similar handwriting in school and whether that's learned or innate.
  • Madeline: "I didn't have that cute girl handwriting... It's just tradition passed down, I believe." (72:13)
• Discussion on schoolwork, AI cheating, blue books, and the decline of cursive writing.

7. The Michael Jordan Daytona 500 Incident

• The crew discusses a viral clip of Michael Jordan appearing to touch a kid repeatedly at a race-win celebration.
• Big T: "It's weird, dude. It's weird. It's just weird." (75:05)
• The group debates whether there are innocent explanations (like ice down the shirt), but all agree the clip is hard to watch neutrally in today's climate.
• Arian counts "16 strokes/touches/caresses," leading to awkward and funny banter:
  • Jake: "Yo, strokes is not the word to use there, my God." (81:55)

8. Miami "of Ohio" vs. "Miami"—and Rating College Conferences by Attractiveness

• Madeline and Big T deliver a spirited exchange on whether Miami University should be called "Miami" or "Miami of Ohio."
• Madeline: "If you see a really, really hot woman... good chance she went to Miami." (88:46)
• The group ranks US college conferences (SEC, Big 12, ACC, etc.) by perceived student attractiveness, peppered with region-based hot takes and jokes:
  • Big T: "I've got news for you—every school has hot chicks." (93:26)
• ChatGPT refuses to rank by attractiveness, adding to the meta-joke.

9. Teed Off: Restaurant Woes and Tipping Gripes (Valentine's Day)

• Arian vents about waiting at a restaurant despite having a reservation and facing forced gratuity charges.
• The team riffs on the proliferation of prix fixe menus and double-dipping on tips:
  • Big T: "You gotta wake up pretty early in the morning to fool Big T." (100:31)

10. Mogging, Frame Maxxing, ASU Frat Leaders, and Internet Subcultures

• Extended riff on “mogging,” “frame maxing,” and the bizarre internet lore of ASU frat leaders, Gigachads, and “looksmaxers”—a sendup of online subculture.
• Inside jokes about mogging each other, and a deeper dive into the absurdly competitive world of these subcommunities.
• Big T: "It is like a soap opera about nothing, about absolutely nothing. ... It's like a comic book mixed with WWE mixed with brain damage." (107:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Big T on Obama’s Alien Comments:
  "Here's why I'm pissed about Obama. What the f--- with that alien thing, dude. Oh, that sucks." (08:45)

• Jake on AI and Tech Layoffs:
  "He is basically training the AI to take his job." (47:43)

• Arian on Society’s Resilience:
  “Society is very good at finding things to call work and paying people for it.” (59:08)

• Big T on Olympic Hockey:
  "As far as I'm concerned, the Winter Olympics is one giant tournament to celebrate the United States playing hockey against Canada in the finals." (18:24)

• Arian on Professional Sports and Pregnancies:
  "This is what happens in golf all the time. ... The hack to golfing is just having sex with your wife." (27:47)

• Jake on Michael Jordan Touching Scandal:
  "Yo, strokes is not the word to use there, my God." (81:55)

• Madeline, defending Miami of Ohio:
  "If you see a really, really hot woman... good chance she went to Miami." (88:46)

• Big T on College Attractiveness Rankings:
  "I've got news for you—every school has hot chicks." (93:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Obama’s Alien Comments / Authority of Presidents: 08:45–10:47
• Winter Olympics & Curling Cheating: 12:29–22:03
• Golf & Jake Knapp Fan Club: 23:01–35:56
• Quitting Nicotine & Self-Control: 38:07–44:58
• AI, Jobs, & Tech Fears: 47:02–63:06
• Handwriting, School, and Cursive: 70:07–74:08
• Michael Jordan Daytona 500 Incident: 74:28–83:05
• Miami 'of Ohio' Identity & Conference Rankings: 86:19–98:50
• Restaurant Waiting/Gratuity Rant: 84:06–100:25
• Mogging & Online Subculture Soap Opera: 102:08–107:31

Tone & Flow

• The tone oscillates between irreverent humor, candid personal admissions, and pointed cultural or technological critique.
• The crew is unafraid to call out their own ignorance or confusion and frequently uses running in-jokes and playful ribbing to engage both each other and listeners.
• Long tangents are laced with genuine insight, often circling back to bigger themes of authority, authenticity, and the nature of modern work, community, and media.

Conclusion

This lively episode of Macrodosing covers an impressive range of topics under the umbrella of Obama’s claim that “aliens are real.” The hosts blend topical news, sports updates, tech talk, personal stories, and the ever-present absurdity of internet culture, offering both laughs and food for thought—ideal for listeners who want to keep up without taking it all too seriously.