"Parenting First Take" (and the Super Bowl Halftime Stakes) with Mina Kimes

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Parenting First Take" (and the Super Bowl Halftime Stakes)

Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre
Guest: Mina Kimes
Date: October 10, 2025

---

Overview

In this episode, Pablo Torre and Mina Kimes dive deep into modern parenting—a “Parenting First Take,” blending personal stories with the perennial cliches, joys, and anxieties of raising young kids. They riff candidly on their shared experiences as new parents, muse about the realities of gender norms in play, and openly discuss their own midlife milestones. In the second segment, they pivot hard into cultural analysis, dissecting the significance of Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl halftime show—what it reflects about the NFL, U.S. culture, and global pop stardom. The episode closes on an energetic note as both hosts try smelling salts for the first time—a hilariously relatable experiment.

---

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Parenting Confessions, Joys, and Realities

(Timestamps: 02:00–27:30)

Shared Experiences and Family Dynamics

• Pablo and Mina reflect on their parallel life paths, noting they're just two weeks apart in age. Both are weary (and proud) parents.
• Pablo: “Happy birthday. Belatedly to my birthday brother. Speaking of our familial relationship, that’s pretty wild.” (02:10)

On Sports for Kids & Parental Clichés

• The two swap stories about their children's first forays into sports and play classes; discussions encompass soccer, gym, and the logistics and values of being a “sports parent.”
• Mina voices excitement and concern about “ubering” her son everywhere for activities—a modern rite of passage for parents.
• Kimes: “It was a big part of my upbringing...I think for girls, playing team sports is so valuable.” (04:56)

Accepting Children's Uniqueness

• Mina reflects on how personality seems innate: “...the older my kid gets, the more I...believe I’m meeting him more than shaping him. He just is who he is.” (07:14)
• Pablo agrees: “We discover—we find out—more than we are able to inculcate.” (07:31)
  • Both reject the expectation of “Tiger Dad/Mom” destinies in favor of embracing their kids’ natural personalities.

Gendered Play & “Bro” Energy

• Mina describes her toddler’s truck-obsession while noting how easily kids fit into traditional gender roles, often by their own choosing.
• Mina: “He turned around and he had put a dump truck in the stroller. And he was pushing around the truck...instead of a baby doll. Because that was his most prized possession.” (08:30)
• Pablo and Mina acknowledge, with a wink, the irony of being progressive urbanites yet seeing their kids act out cliché gender scripts.

Humor, Discipline, and the Apple Juice Incident

• The conversation turns to small-child humor: fart machines, “poop” jokes, and the simple pleasure of making their kids laugh.
• Mina shares the saga of her son’s first taste of “pure uncut apple juice” at his birthday (“It was like the beginning of Requiem for a Dream”), leading to two weeks of insistent cravings (12:42).
• Both reminisce about growing up with (somewhat) strict parents and discovering “forbidden” foods as kids and teens.

Navigating Midlife While Parenting

• Turning 40 prompts gentle existential anxiety—Pablo and Mina discuss shifting priorities as their own birthdays grow less important than their children's.
• Kimes: “My son’s birthday is two weeks after mine…even ahead of my birthday…I was thinking much more about his birthday...it’s kind of subsumed me and my own personal milestones.” (16:00)

Notable Quote

• Mina Kimes: “Whenever people always ask me, like, what is the best thing about being a parent now?...It rewires you to see the world in a different way and makes you a more, like, simultaneously, like, a more optimistic and...anxious person.” (22:00)

---

2. The Super Bowl Halftime Show & Cultural Stakes

(Timestamps: 27:34–37:27)

Cultural Shifts and the NFL's Motivations

• Pablo and Mina dissect the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny as halftime headliner as a calculated business/cultural move, not a political statement.
• Pablo: “I just think it’s so funny that the NFL is like, suddenly this radically progressive institution because they chose the number one streaming artist in the world.” (28:02)
• Mina: “The politics are money, man...there's these aren't stands...they’re following the money, they’re following culture, they’re following the international audience.” (28:19)

Reactions & Representation

• Addressing political backlash (like Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s dismissive comments), Mina argues the presence of a global, Spanish-language star is inherently powerful in today’s climate.
• Mina: “To have the world’s biggest artist, take the world’s biggest stage is in and of itself inherently a radical and...it shows people that they're still represented and they still have soft power.” (34:02)
• The hosts note the increased negative reaction today compared to 10-15 years ago (“we were far more culturally adventurous…” (32:12)), pondering whether this signals a shift in national confidence and openness.

The Limits (and Power) of the Halftime Show

• Both question: when artists take the gig, how much is constraint vs. opportunity? How “radical” can a performance on America’s biggest stage really be?
• Mina: “The music itself is kind of enough at this moment. I really believe, like, it’s a big thing.” (35:10)
• Both agree: despite “controversy,” football viewership and halftime performance ratings remain massive.

---

3. Smelling Salts Saga & Closing Clichés

(Timestamps: 39:06–44:53)

The Smelling Salts Experiment

• Mina and Pablo sample smelling salts, imitating a recent NFL sideline trend. The reaction is instant and intense.
• Mina: “Oh, my God. I put it way too close to my face.” (41:34)
• Pablo: “You are actively crying right now.” (41:42)
• The sensation is compared to “getting shot with a chlorinated pool” (42:06), and they joke about feeling superhuman clarity—and mild trauma.

Clichés are (Sometimes) True

• Pablo wraps with the reflection that some cliches—about parenting, aging, or even “instant energy”—should not always dismissed.
• Pablo: “What I found out today is that these smelling salts, much like everything I’ve learned about parenting and everything I’ve learned about aging, is a cliche we should respect.” (44:20)
• Mina jokes that she’ll need to “innovate” bedtime stories and perhaps use smelling salts for inspiration.

---

Memorable Quotes

• On Parenting:
  • “He just is who he is. And I get the once in a lifetime experience of watching that become reality.” — Mina Kimes (07:15)
  • “We discover—we find out—more than we are able to inculcate.” — Pablo Torre (07:31)
• On Gender and Play:
  • “I like the idea of having an extremely large son...he doesn’t know his own strength.” — Mina Kimes (03:03)
  • “We are absolutely raising our children again...to just express the most traditional gender roles.” — Pablo Torre (09:08)
• On The NFL and the Halftime Show:
  • “The politics are money, man...that’s the only consistent principle, which is, like, growth.” — Mina Kimes (28:19)
  • “To have the world’s biggest artist...is in and of itself inherently a radical and...it shows people that they’re still represented.” — Mina Kimes (34:02)
• On Smelling Salts:
  • “I feel like I could kick 20 field goals.” — Mina Kimes (41:49)
  • “That went entirely in my left nostril and it felt like I just got shot with a chlorinated pool.” — Pablo Torre (42:06)
  • “I feel incredibly focused. I have instant energy and mental clarity. Holy...that should be illegal.” — Pablo Torre (42:41)
• On Aging & Clichés:
  • “It turns out longer than I planned on doing parents talk.” — Pablo Torre (24:50)
  • “Everything I’ve learned about parenting and everything I’ve learned about aging, is a cliche we should respect.” — Pablo Torre (44:20)

---

Notable Timestamps

• 02:00–07:30 — Parenting clichés & kids’ identities
• 08:08 — Gendered toddler behaviors, trucks, and books
• 12:42 — The Apple Juice anecdote
• 15:22 — Aging, parenting & existential chat
• 27:34 — AI, Bad Bunny, & the Super Bowl halftime show
• 34:02 — The politics and meaning of representation on the world stage
• 39:24 — Seahawks kicker, smelling salts in the NFL, and live experiment
• 41:34 — Smelling salts “kick in”
• 44:20 — Final reflections, “cliches we should respect”

---

Tone & Style

Friendly, hilarious, self-deprecating, and thoughtful—Pablo and Mina mix sharp cultural commentary with the vulnerability and absurdity of honest parenting. Their banter is packed with genuine warmth and the kind of insight that comes from years in sports journalism and, now, in the emotional trenches of parenthood.

---

In Short

This episode is a joyful, honest look at the messy, universal truths of modern parenting alongside a witty, nuanced take on how big cultural institutions chase relevance in a changing world. For listeners who want to feel seen—by parents and non-parents alike—this is comfort food, with a healthy jolt of smelling salts for good measure.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Pablo Torre Finds out I am Pablo Torre. And today we're gonna find out what this sound is.

[B]

I put it way too close to my face.

[A]

You are actively crying right now, right after this ad. Dude, did you order the new iPhone 17 Pro? Got it from Verizon, the best 5G network in America. I never looked so good. You look the same. But with this camera, everything looks better. Especially me. You haven't changed your hair in 15 years. Selfies check, please.

[C]

With Verizon, new and existing customers can get the new iPhone 17 Pro, designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever. Plus a new iPad and Apple One with eligible phone, trade in and unlimited ultimate best 5G source route metrics the United States 1H 2025 All Rights Reserve, Trade in and additional terms apply for all offers. See verizon.com for details.

[A]

Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? I wish I would stop. Thank you so much.

[D]

Take a breath. You're not alone. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals. Get matched with a therapist online based on your unique needs and get help with everyday struggles like anxiety or managing tough emotions. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[A]

AI.

[B]

Had the time of my life A I never felt this way before. From building timelines to assigning the right people and even spotting risks across dozens of projects, Monday Sidekick knows your business, thinks ahead and takes action. One click on the star and consider it done. And I owe it all to you. Try Monday Sidekick. AI you'll love to use on Monday.com. i can't remember who said it, but someone said that I have an older sister vibe with you, which I at first was I took as a compliment. But then I don't like being thought of as older than you. I'm only two weeks older than you.

[A]

Yes, I, I, I say all the time on the record that I've looked up to you as an older journalist.

[B]

For an older journalist.

[A]

So much of my career. Happy birthday. Belatedly to my birthday brother. Speaking of our familial relationship, that's pretty wild.

[B]

Libra Gang.

[A]

Libra Gang.

[B]

I induced, as you know, because I was like, I gotta have him on Pablo's birthday. The other reason was that he was trending gigantic.

[A]

Remains gigantic.

[B]

Still gigantic.

[A]

What's the toddler combine? What are his numbers look like?

[B]

I think so. We're about to have the 2. We haven't had the 2 girl appointment, but you get the percentile I'm pretty sure he's still 90th weight. Size is above average. He's definitely leaning out a little bit, though, now that he runs around.

[A]

So, you know.

[B]

But he's still very large.

[A]

You're disappoint.

[B]

I like the idea of having an extremely large son. He doesn't know his own strength, though. Like, sometimes he'll accidentally push me and I'm like, ow.

[A]

Yeah, I like. I. I just have Nino pushing a.

[B]

Sled, you know, like a blocking sled.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

He's very physical. He likes physical stuff. He goes to, like, baby gym. Does. Did Violet ever do, like, the little. Do they have that in New York? My gym, we did.

[A]

We did ninja class.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Various. Just like. Yeah. Padded floors that you can just like, bounce off of.

[B]

On one hand, you're like, this is like equinox money for someone to just like, sit on the floor with the children, roll around. But on the other hand, like, they do, like, balance beams and it's a lot of ball pits.

[A]

Yep. Violet showed up one day, or at least as I experienced it. Showed up one day at home and it was just doing, like, forward rolls. Just like repeated series of board roles. I was like, holy. Yeah.

[B]

That's a real. Did she want to do gymnastics? She. Did she play sports?

[A]

She's in soccer.

[B]

How's that going?

[A]

She is one of the most methodical and deliberate but slow dribblers. Like, the videos are of her just, like, making sure she is perfectly nudging this along. But she is the slowest and most careful of all of the. Yeah. Prospects in that class.

[B]

Did you play soccer growing up?

[A]

I played through grade school.

[B]

Just through grade school.

[A]

The Manhattan Kickers.

[B]

Did you. You stuck with basketball till in grade school?

[A]

I. I tap.

[B]

Did you play any sports after grade school?

[A]

No. I mean, Wait. Yes. Varsity. Lincoln Douglas, Debate.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Do you now want to brag about your high school soccer career?

[B]

No. I just can't believe this has never come up. As you were a sports writer, that you abandoned sports after. I mean, elementary school.

[A]

People just looked at me and they were like, this guy must have the credibility to talk about the greatest athletes in the world. They didn't really ask. Follow ups. Wow. You played varsity soccer?

[B]

I did. And I played club soccer through high school as well. So I played a lot of soccer and it took up a lot of time and energy, and that is something I'm not quite looking forward to. Like, the ubering aspect of being a sports parent where you're just driving them Places constantly, it sounds like, but it was a big part of my upbringing and important. I, I think for girls, playing team sports is so valuable.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, look, right now Violet is so young that it's all obviously co.

[B]

Ed, but when she's in games and you're on the sidelines and you start having opinions about the tactics, that's when you become a sports fan. Yeah, I can't wait for that.

[A]

So, by the way, relatedly, what I'm realizing as like a sports parent to be is that also a lot of these cliches are true. Like parenting, my feelings, my circuitry being activated. Violet, who started kindergarten. Now, last month, September, there was a point where we, Liz and I brought her to the, to the, to the curb and put her on the yellow school bus. And there's a point at which she's like waving out the window of this yellow school bus, like receding across the horizon line. And I'm like crying. Yeah, I'm like, of course. Like, I'm just, I'm just that. I'm that guy. I'm that dad.

[B]

Now everybody said that.

[A]

But then you go to like the sports side of it and you're like, ah, yes. Valuable lessons about teamwork.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And what it means to stand up for yourself and how to assert yourself in mixed gender environments. And I'm like, oh, yeah, this is, this is also real.

[B]

There's a reason why all the cliches about parenting end up. It's a pretty universal experience. The same feelings and concerns are activated for everybody.

[A]

Give me a non parenting cliche that you believe in that you think people should be aware of.

[B]

Like a take, like a hot take, essentially. You want a take?

[A]

We're doing parenting first take.

[B]

Oh. Oh. I mean, this one is increasingly. The older my kid gets, the more I. And this, maybe this is a cliche, so maybe it's a bad answer, but I believe I'm meeting him more than shaping him.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

He just is who he is. And I get the once in a lifetime experience of watching that become reality. But it's for all the time I spend worrying about the tiny little things. What if we don't do this language thing? What if he starts preschool? Ultimately, he just kind of is who he is.

[A]

Yeah, we are. We discover we find out more than we are able to like inculcate. We can't all be everybody. I think part of, part of all the sports parenting stuff is that you want to be like Richard Williams or Earl woods or whatever. And it's less that and More like figuring out, oh, this is who I'm living with.

[B]

Yeah. And that's going to be a big. Like, he might not want to play sports right now. He looks so physical and active and he loves tumbling. And he's like just a boy in every. Like, just such a boy. I mean, my son is just such a little bro.

[A]

What does that mean when you're two?

[B]

I can tell you what it means. I got him a. His little. He's part of this toddler crew. And I got him this little stroller they all had because they were all fighting over another kid's show. It's clearly a hot item on the playground. So I got him a little one from Target. And the next day I saw him with the stroller and he turned around and he had put a dump truck in the stroller. And he was pushing around the truck.

[A]

In the stroller instead of like a baby doll.

[B]

Yes, instead of a baby doll. Because that was his most prized possession. I feel like that pretty clearly illustrates what a little bro. Dump truck and big bus weren't his first words, but they were maybe his first compound words. Big bus, dump truck, forklift. Are you not exposed to any of this? Cause you have a little girl. Like, the little boy universe. Like, for example, he has so many books about trucks, it's crazy. The most popular kids, like just, goodnight, construction site, trash truck. There's so much content around trucks.

[A]

I like that. We are absolutely raising our children again. Or allowing our children to just express the most traditional gender roles.

[B]

Allowing is the key.

[A]

Yeah. I thought that Violet was into construction as a kid. As a kid.

[D]

And she.

[A]

And she is. But then compared to my nephew. Yes. Miguel, who is like, younger and like, there is an amusement park of trucks. It's like, sit in a tractor.

[B]

If a trash truck, especially one that makes noises, drives by my son, it'll be like full, big Bugs Bunny eyes, heart eyes. Everything stops.

[A]

Pepe Lebu turns around.

[B]

We have to sit here. We have to watch it, we have to comment on it. And then he can't tear his eyes away from it. He thinks it's the best thing the world.

[A]

I'm looking up. Okay, this is. This is what it is. Diggerland.

[B]

Oh, my God. That sounds like his dream.

[A]

Berlin Township, New Jersey. The one and only construction theme and water park in the U.S. look at this. Hold on there.

[B]

So she's just not into this stuff anymore.

[A]

She is, but it's just like she's wearing princess stuff. And I'm like, just.

[B]

But like, look, there's like crane, truck, excavator, digger. I. The other thing about these truck based books is they're all like cinematic universes. Do you ever go to. We just go to Barnes and Noble and like hang out. So you go to the kids section now. It really is like all content. Like there's obviously a lot of original and new ones. But if there's a hit like Good night construction site, then there's like 20 spin offs like Good night construction site, Valentine's Day edition there'll be. Because every single one of these popular books has a full spin off series and you have to get them all.

[A]

Has Nino gotten a whiff of like words he shouldn't say and does he know about.

[B]

Yeah, there's a few. Yeah.

[A]

What are the words that I don't?

[B]

It's scatological stuff.

[A]

It's a, I mean it is. Saying poop to Violet is like the funniest thing in the world.

[B]

Yeah. My brother in law got him a fart machine that makes different signs of farts. And he is just at the age where he understands it's funny now because he sees people's reactions. He's starting to develop like humor now. Right. And starting to see people's reactions. By the way, do you think people enjoy hearing us talk about our kids or. Because I, I, I, I sometimes realize that if people don't have kids, I, I really try to remember they do not want to hear about your kids.

[A]

I, I feel like that's a risk I'm willing to take.

[B]

Not here. Let's talk about our kids.

[A]

My take, my last take in the kids section of today's programming is like, it's okay to not throw a birthday party.

[B]

Ooh, that's a hot take.

[A]

Because what I've learned is that every kid needs to invite every other kid and it's a whole thing. And there are a zillion of them every weekend.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I just think we cannot do that. We cannot.

[B]

You want to opt out?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm sure your 5 year old daughter would be totally cool with not having a birthday party while everyone else in.

[A]

Her class does wait for Violet to find out that we're not throwing her a birthday party at Diggerland.

[B]

So Nino just had a birthday party. It was Elmo themed and it was what?

[A]

Themed.

[B]

Elmo themed.

[A]

Elmo themed. Great.

[B]

Yes. Yeah. So I was just asking around like, what kind of stuff do I have to get? And all my parent friends were like, you gotta get this, this, this, this. So what I didn't account for was it was Nino's first exposure to juice. Apple juice.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

In particular, he's never had like pure uncut apple juice.

[A]

That kind of.

[B]

At this party. So it was in a little play area, so the kids were all penned in. Which was the kind of most important thing at this age. And every time I turned around, he would be like. It was like watching like the beginning of like Requiem for a Dream. And I swear to God, that party was two weeks ago. I wake up, I take him down to get his breakfast. And he looks at me and he goes, apple juice. And I'm like, we don't have that. And he gets so mad. And it's been two weeks and he's still thinking about the high of drinking. He drank like four apple juices at his birthday.

[A]

So can you blame him? I mean, it's good, you know, it's gonna. It's. This is like what happens when your parents are super strict. The strictest parents raise the most uncontrollable.

[B]

I wasn't allowed to eat sweets growing up at all. No, we were, but not like we ate like a lot of fruit. I didn't have like junky cereals. So when I would go to like my friend's houses, like Lucky Charms.

[A]

Holy.

[B]

Oh my God.

[A]

Encountering a loose charm. Damn.

[B]

Did you ever eat in college? The charms out of the Lucky Charms?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I got to college and I was a menace with the bad for you foods in cafeteria.

[A]

Like, Lindsay discover that they just sell stuff in an Oreo.

[B]

Oh my God.

[A]

Just stuff.

[B]

I also, like, gained a lot of weight because I stopped playing soccer. Like, not a lot of weight, but like, I didn't realize that. It turns out when you don't work out five hours a day, you can't have Taco Bell four times a day. It took me a while to learn that lesson. But no, I'm not even that strict with Nino's food. It's just. Just literally. It's funny, cuz he's had like cake and cookies and it's. Nothing has hit like apple juice has hit his system. Nothing.

[A]

You gotta get that, that apple juice live read on your show.

[B]

I know. Sponsor me. He saw me drinking a beer and thought it was apple juice and got mad the other day. He was like, mama, apple juice. I'm like, this isn't apple juice. It's special mama drink.

[A]

Special mama drink. The subtext of all of this is that both of us are now 40 years old. I know, I hate it. I know. You're wrapping yourself in A very luxurious sweater.

[B]

Thanks. It's really soft.

[A]

Looks very comfy. If you're like me, which I think you are to a degree, you're not trying to think a lot about that.

[B]

Like, mortality.

[A]

Mortality. Like, what is it? Look, I had a great birthday. I choose not to dwell so much on, like, yeah, what is this? What does this mean? What does this mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know. Does it. Did it hit you?

[B]

Not so much in, like, I'm taking stock of my life and what I'm doing with it more so it does. It does feel like, wow, I'm in a really different phase of my life. But I would say a lot more of that is having. It's because my son's birthday is two weeks after mine, and I think it was funny for me to, like, have his birthday. But even ahead of my birthday, which is, like, supposed to be this big, momentous birthday, I was thinking much more about his birthday and planning it and what that means. And I suppose that's been such an overwhelming change in my life and how I see the world and think about things and all of that, that it's kind of subsumed me and my own personal milestones, if that. Does that make sense?

[A]

Yeah. I mean, it's a long way of saying yes, I, too, do not choose to engage with what this means for me personally.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's the most conventional dividing line of we were young, now we are not. And I think both of us benefited and in my case, at least, like, you know, took pride in the fact that look at everything that I'm up to, and I'm not even this age yet. And now I am that age now.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And I feel very proud. And this is not a woe is me in any way. It's just. It's just. I think everybody feels like they're still young, is my hypothesis. Like, we're not unique in that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But, you know, it's undeniable that we are not.

[B]

You know what I think, I feel now that I think is very much like, wow, I'm a geriatric millennial, and I'm 40. And the biggest difference between me and is I. And I don't think this was true 10 years ago when I was 30, thinking about people in their 20s. And maybe some of this is due to having a kid. But, like, I worry a lot more for people who are younger than me, and I don't envy them. And I think it's a really hard time to be in your 20s. It's a really Hard time to be growing up. And I don't think I felt that way when I was like, when I turned 30. But I don't think that's about me and my age so much as it is, like, the world and the state of things.

[A]

So that's a fair point.

[B]

Well, so your kid to kind of bring this full circle is three years older than mine.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What is something that I have to look forward to in the next three years as we now turn two?

[A]

It's. It's the greatest. Oh, God. To be the most cliche person. Like, still to me, the. The. The feeling I chase the most like a drug.

[B]

Apple juice is your personal apple juice.

[A]

Sweet, sweet juice. It's just Violet laughing.

[B]

And so she still laugh at your jokes and.

[A]

But what's happening is that she is laughing less on command.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so it used to be a tickle was just, like, enough 100 success rate.

[B]

Oh, no, I can't. I.

[A]

And now it's just sort of like, oh, no. There's. There's. You know, she used to ask for, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

There's this thing we do where she's like, I created these. Or maybe she created these two characters. Barnaby and Theodore. Theodore is a rabbit, Barnaby is a lion. And I would tell her a story, a Barnaby and Theodore story in which, like, I just tell her, like, one.

[B]

Day you were making your. Making him up on riffing. Okay. Storyteller.

[A]

Just. Just, you know.

[B]

You know, people use chat GBT to do this now for their kids. I. It's so depressing to me. Yeah.

[A]

Just like, putting in.

[B]

Yeah. Like, make up a story about a rat.

[A]

You're a great dad. You love to tell your kids stories about. So I'm just, like, making. But now it's like, the bar is like, I need to be better at it. Yeah.

[B]

You got to level up.

[A]

Yeah. So I've been accused of, like, and Violet hate something like. That was too short. I'm, like, trying to end the story, and I need to, like, have character development.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

My go to move is like, something.

[B]

To look forward to. This sounds challenging. And.

[A]

But it. What it is, is like.

[B]

But when it.

[A]

When you succeed, it feels more like communication.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where there's a back and forth. I'm like, that's true.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

This is different, but fulfilling.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And you feel like you're just, like, actually getting to know that person more.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like, I can't just do the story where they get hit with a shrink ray, which is like 90% of my.

[B]

Barbecue is that your avatar is a lot of shrink rays.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And there's a guy who lives on the 10th floor of our building who has a shrink ray. And we always go to visit this guy Jim, and he has a shrink ray.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And she's like, you gotta. We gotta bury up God.

[B]

I am now you've given me a fear I didn't even know I had, which is the day that my son stops finding everything I do to be the funniest thing in the world. I think I've mentioned this before. Like, I'll pull out stuff from, like, 90s humor. He thinks I invented smoking. He's like, wow, my mother's comedic genius. She should be playing the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Play her a million dollars. These jokes are incredible.

[A]

He also, like, do not go in there.

[B]

My.

[A]

Like, these are all Jim Carrey.

[B]

My character is the tickle monster. And he. And I. And I give him a look, and he just knows it's coming. He just loses it and he starts running away.

[A]

So I do that too. And I think you have a character. We call it a tickle monster.

[B]

Oh, but IP violation. That's my character.

[A]

Tickle monster, parentheses Pablo's version.

[B]

Do you do, like, a menacing walk towards him?

[A]

I just do. I do this. Oh, that's your move to index fingers.

[B]

And I. I walk like I'm in the ring. Like, I flip my hair forward and, like, crawl. It's actually quite terrifying. It's amazing. Maybe that' he screams and runs away.

[A]

I just like how so far, all of your mothering is ripping off movies you've seen. This has inspired me to whip out Opposite Day.

[B]

Opposite Day.

[A]

It's like, that's a violet. That's a great picture. On Opposite Day.

[B]

All right. Got her? Got her. No, but that. I think what you're describing is, like, you know, whenever people always ask me, like, what is the best thing about being a parent now? And there's. There's a million things I could point to and kind of how it rewires you to see the world in a different way and makes you a more, like, simultaneously, like, a more optimistic and negative person. Or like, negative is the wrong word. Anxious. Like, having a child in this world at this moment, like, I feel better than ever about humanity because I witness, like, oh, this pure sunshine. But then you're also, like, you feel concerned all the time and scared. So that. That's big. But I think what you talked about is something that I think is maybe the best part of all, which is, you know, a Child is. Is their own person. You're meeting them and they get. They surprise you every day in new ways, in, you know, some frustrating ways. But, like, when you get older, you lose your, like, capacity to be surprised in. In a pleasant way. And to have someone who reminds you that that exists is really nice.

[A]

Also. The next phase, I'm thinking about, like, kindergarten. Like, we just visited Violet's class, and I'm like, you see, and maybe at 2, Nino's already doing this. But, like, the self portrait.

[B]

Oh, gosh, yeah.

[A]

And you just sort of, like, see how they see themselves.

[B]

That's really interesting how they see you, how they draw you in a funny way.

[A]

Oh, she has drawn me. Violet will draw portraits where after, like, there's a disagreement with me and Liz in which she wants. She, like, loves seltzer. That is her apple juice, actually.

[B]

And so she deceives called spicy water. When did kids start doing that Spicy water? Is that an LA thing? Maybe it's an la. They all call it spicy water in.

[A]

LA over here on the East Coast. We know. We know it as seltzer. Whatever the hell you guys are, are. Are lying to your kids about. We have. We have seltzer. Anyway, the point being, like, Violet drew a picture of her next to me and Liz, and she's, like, crying and, like. And like, we have, like, a can of, like, seltzer that. She's, like, what? She's. She expresses her emotions.

[B]

She's crying because you won't give herself.

[A]

Yes. It's like, emotionally holding us hostage by depicting us.

[B]

So Nino doesn't draw yet because he's 2. He can only draw, like, a squiggly, angry line. But he. In terms of, like, representation of me, he does something that is also equally very telling or at least kind of gets to me. If there's a commercial and there's an Asian woman, he'll point to it and say, mama.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[B]

And I'm like, nino. My guy doesn't always have to be the Asian woman. We don't all look the same. I know you're two.

[A]

Yeah, there's. There's. I don't know. I. I could do parents talk. It turns out longer than I planned on doing. Parents talk.

[B]

People love it. No, they don't.

[A]

Feeling safe in your home is one of the most important things in life. You might be scared of fire or burglary or, you know, maybe they're somewhere between zero and three active federal investigations related to your reporting going on. At the same time, Whatever it is that Keeps you up at night. Simplisafe is there to help you sleep better. Simplisafe isn't just a home security system that responds. It is actually designed to stop crime before it happens. They utilize AI powered cameras that detect threats while they are still outside your house. And they alert real security agents. And this is the real game changer. The agents take action while the intruder is still outside. They confront the intruder. They let them know they're being watched on camera and that the police are on their way. They can even play a loud siren and trigger a spotlight. That is real security. But don't just take my word for it. Simplisafe has been named best home security system by the U.S. news & World Report five years running. With no long term contracts or hidden fees. You are free to cancel anytime. Plus there's a 60 day money back guarantee so you can try it and see for yourself. I know. I'm excited for my system to show UP and the 24. 7 protection it's going to provide. And right now listeners can save 50% off on SimpliSafe home security system at simplisafe.com Pablo that's S I M P L-I S A F E.com Pablo dude, did you order the new iPhone 17 Pro? Got it from Verizon, the best 5G network in America. I never looked so good. You look the same. But with this camera, everything looks better. Especially me. You haven't changed your hair in 15 years. Selfies check please.

[C]

With Verizon, new and existing customers can get the new iPhone 17 Pro, designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever. Plus a new iPad and Apple One with eligible phone trade in and unlimited ultimate best 5G source root metrics the United States 1H 2025 All Rights Reserve Trade and additional terms apply for all offers. See verizon.com for details.

[A]

Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? Stop.

[D]

Thank you so much. Take a breath. You're not alone. Let's talk about what's going on. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals and online therapy makes it convenient. See if it's for you. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[A]

My timeline this week has been AI slop and bad bunny takes.

[B]

Yeah, and sometimes the two merging.

[A]

I. I just think the NFL from this perspective, from like the cultural perspective, this is what I wanted. I actually did want to talk about what a transition.

[B]

How do we get from.

[A]

Oh God, this is. I'm so good at storytelling.

[B]

You should have. Should have been. From, like, the kids book part.

[A]

There is a shrink ray.

[B]

Speaking of bad bunnies who are running away.

[A]

Speaking of Theodore, A good bunny. I want to tell you about a bad bunny. I just think it's so funny that the NFL is like, suddenly this radically progressive institution because they chose the number one streaming artist in the world.

[B]

Yeah, I know. It is kind of wild that for all of the. Whenever people ask me about the NFL and, like, you know, politics of it, this is. Obviously, during the Kaepernick era, there was more of a discussion around this, but now that that's, like, kind of in the rear view, I always say, like, the politics are money, man. Like, I don't know what to tell you guys. Like, this is not there. There's. These aren't stands. Like, they're what. But it is very funny that, like, this institution, which is, I don't think, perceived as being on one side or the other. The culture war has gone back to back with Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. I know that's, like, pretty interesting, right? But yeah, like, they're following the money. They're following culture. They're following the international audience, especially with this move, which is any. Like, it's impossible to watch. If you actually watch football in the last few years and not recognize that it's, like, the fight as a priority for the NFL right now with games.

[A]

Overseas, it's very telling that they, like, according to reporting, wanted Taylor Swift and went to Bad Bunny. Like, the motive in both is there are demographics we would love access to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And there are zillions of people Right. In those demographics. And as they say in the Simpsons, money can be exchanged for goods and services. So we want more money. But then, like, I'm looking at the coverage of this, as always, and some of this is the most predictable. But like, the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson says, quote, well, it sounds like he's not someone who appeals to a broader audience. So that's his take on, like, why Bad Bunny is just like this. That's a.

[B]

That's a lot of decision in and of itself. A crazy sentence that the speaker of the House is weighing in on. Bad Bunny playing wanted.

[A]

Lee Greenwood.

[B]

Does he do. He does one of the USA songs, right? Lee Greenwood.

[A]

Yeah. He does the one song, the only song, God Bless the usa. I'm not, like, a giant Bad Bunny fan. It's not that I dislike him. I just haven't listened to a lot of his music. It's very clear to me, though, among my.

[B]

He was right. Mike Johnson was right. I don't know any.

[A]

We talked about it.

[B]

We both watched. I'm 40. I don't know.

[A]

Yeah. You're rewatching the Mask. Meanwhile, the streaming artist astride popular culture is escaping our view. But it's just very clear that, like, if you speak Spanish.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you live in and around this continent, he's the guy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's not to say, like, how dare you not know who Bad Bunny is? It's merely to say, like, look how much money Bad Bunny is going to bring to the bottom line of a sport that has only one consistent principle, which is, like, growth.

[B]

The reactionary stuff I've seen has been along either one of two lines, one of which is that a lot. I think most of his music is not in English, so that's a thing. Or that he himself did a. Has been outspoken about not performing in the US Right now because of the ice crackdown. And he had a residency in Puerto Rico that I think I read. Summer was like. It was like a GDP booster. Like, it was like, crazy, the amount of money injected into the economy, which.

[A]

Is, again, technically part of the United States.

[B]

So I think some of the background I've seen is, well, he's been critical of this country. And I said this to you, but the craziest part of it all to me is, like, there's a lot that's wild about it. I feel like if he was announced As a performer 15 years ago, it wouldn't have been controversial. And it's wild. Like, that's in, like, a crazy thing. Right. Like that we're moving backwards in terms of, like, how these things are perceived. But don't you feel like that's true if this was 20.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

12 or whatever?

[A]

I feel like we were far more culturally adventurous.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In terms of, like, what we're willing to tolerate as a matter of, like, what.

[B]

Or open to political news. Yes. Right.

[A]

So in terms of what the super bowl is like, there are two ways to see Bad Bunny agreeing to do it.

[B]

That's interesting, too.

[A]

So he agrees, despite all of this, knowing, by the way, that the NFL, in terms of its general cultural signaling.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is again, if they are progressive, it is in the service of an economic motive.

[B]

Right. And so what are you. What are you aligning. Yeah. What does it mean to do it.

[A]

Yeah. And recently the signal had been, of course, we want to get along with this administration from the NFL. Yes. We're not going to whatever we're end racism in the end zone. Blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. It ended, we ended racism and those end zones, enough touchdowns were scored, mission accomplished.

[B]

His side of it, I think is really interesting, right, because like I said, he has been taking this, what was perceived as a principled stand and that's what led to some of the backlash. And I saw some folks kind of accuse him of selling out, you know, and I think I don't agree with that personally. There's two things. One, let's see the show first, like just starting there, right? Like maybe before we talk about what he is and isn't accomplishing with this. And let's see it. Right. I think that's a thing. But I also think, like at this particular moment in American history when so many Latinos in this country are being targeted, harassed, families, ripped apart. I mean, I live in Los Angeles and seeing like just hard working people afraid to go work to work and congregate in public. But a moment while this is happening.

[A]

The fear could not be more real.

[B]

To have the world's people, biggest artist, take the world's biggest stage is in and of itself inherently a radical and more than. Maybe that's the wrong word. It's a powerful. Like it. It shows people that they're still represented and they still have soft power. And I don't think that's insignificant. I don't. And it's a reminder of one, what art is capable of in moments like this where we all feel pretty futile. You know, I think a lot of artists feel like, what are we even doing? And also like, of values that this country is supposed to be about, which is like celebrating difference. And that's. So he has the opportunity, I think, to do something like, kind of important.

[A]

I will point out that, like, when Kendrick reformed and yeah did his show, it was less political than it was certainly, like racially conscious.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And personally insulting to Drake. Like the question there was like, what is Kendrick gonna say about Drake? And he said, quote, quite a bit. And Samuel Jackson played a role that was very well cast but was not like, accurate.

[B]

Hitting you over the face with. Yeah, like politics.

[A]

I with politics. So in that way, like, you always wonder when the NFL makes this choice. And again, this is a job that is not paid. Halftime performer is not a paid job. It is a job that you get paid through the exposure and platform, which is unparalleled. As you said, the question is always like, is there an agreement to just like understand we're playing to the biggest and only really the only Big room left in this country.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Please don't abuse that privilege.

[B]

I think I was in the kenner thing. I was interested in that regard. I was like, is he gonna do something? I remember when lady Gaga performed, that was also like, is she gonna say, like, is there gonna be. And routinely. No, no. It's been just about the music, I think. You know, I guess what I just feel strongly, though is like the music itself is kind of enough at this moment. I really believe, like, it's a big thing.

[A]

But yes, hearing Spanish on the super bowl halftime show feels. To your point, it does feel radical given what everything else is signaling to Spanish speakers in America.

[B]

I think back to the Kendrick, by the way, performance and there was so much. This is sort of connected to what you're saying about, like, what's actually popular and what do people really want and who was actually like, you know, there was all that talk about, like, people are going to change a channel. Nobody changed the channel. The ratings were insane. And no one's going to change the channel this time.

[A]

They could put a football on a table and they would drop millions of game sucks.

[B]

Yeah, right.

[A]

Like a literal football. I mean, like a children's book football.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

With like a talking face on it.

[B]

I have one of those, actually at my house. People give me so much football stuff for my kid. He now knows how to. He says hut, hut, hike when he sees it.

[A]

Hut, hut, hike.

[B]

He probably listens to bad bunny. He's two. Probably knows the words Hugo.

[A]

He wants that. What's it? What's Manzano? Hugo de Manzano Dame Hugo Mas Hugo Himmy Moss.

[B]

He says moss actually when he wants more stuff. He's a big moss guy. Liv Moss.

[D]

Did I talk too much?

[A]

Can't I just let it go?

[D]

Take a breath. You're not alone. Let's talk about what's going on. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals. And online therapy makes it convenient. See if it's for you. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[A]

AI.

[B]

Had the time of my life a I never felt this way before. From building timelines to assigning the right people and even spotting risks across dozens of projects, Monday sidekick knows your business, thinks ahead and takes action. One click on the star and consider it done. And I owe it all to you. Try Monday Sidekick AI you'll love to use on Monday.com looking for pieces that.

[D]

Go places and last decades Discover the fall Edit from Banana Republic Founded in 1978, Banana Republic creates classics with character that carry you from adventure to the city and everywhere in between. Think shearling line leather that feels lived in. Sweaters spun from the finest wool and cashmere. And effortless pieces designed for the journey, grounded in heritage, reimagined for today and made to last. Explore the fall edit [e-mail].

[A]

What do we find out today.

[B]

That we. Apparently, you're not gonna talk about football.

[A]

Oh, we did. We had a. Oh, there was a football story I wanted to talk about. Yeah, no, genuinely, I am interested in. In the. There's this football story that I want to actually talk about.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It's a Seahawks story.

[B]

A Seahawks story.

[A]

Okay, so what's the name of your kicker again?

[B]

Jason Myers.

[A]

So the Jason Myers thing in which your Seahawks beat the Cardinals in a very dramatic, super dramatic fashion from 52. The kick wobbles but makes it through. And the Seahawks winning at the gun. This field goal was clutch.

[B]

Clutch. Yeah.

[A]

And it came with this, like, warning label around, like a prohibited substance.

[B]

I don't. It was not prohibited smelling. So he took a big whiff of smelling salts, which are not prohibited if you bring your own. Which that might be the only instance in recorded history of drugs being okay. If you bring your own. They're not drugs.

[D]

Sorry.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Spanned substances. BYO team provided smelling salts, but clearly it worked. Cause he banged that sucker in. It's weird to me that you haven't done this on this show. It feels like something way up your alley to try smelling salts.

[A]

Do we have the salts?

[B]

No one has the salts lying around.

[A]

Yeah. Bringing the salts in.

[B]

Wait, you really. Oh, my gosh. How did I predict this?

[A]

I almost forgot. I'm like, what is the one thing we prepped?

[B]

Oh, my God. I've never actually.

[A]

Yeah, you're experienced.

[B]

This instant energy and mental clarity. How long does it last?

[A]

I don't know. A fleeting moment. 100% natural. This is boom, boom nasal stick.

[B]

Mine says instant energy and mental clarity. And it has kind of like a monster energy looking logo. Where did you guys buy this? On the Internet. Let me see. Let's see the ingredients on that one.

[A]

It says ideal for athletes in tiny text down the bottom.

[B]

Ingredients, ammonium carbonate. This feels more illicit. Yeah, So I just. I just shake it and then unscrew it.

[A]

They're saying, don't put it too close to your face. This is Mina Grimes trying selling salts.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

Too close to my face. I put it way too close to my Face.

[A]

You are actively crying right now.

[B]

I feel like I could kick 20 field goals.

[A]

Ah.

[D]

Oh.

[B]

Strong.

[A]

Holy. Oh, geez. You know what? That.

[B]

That felt like getting one nostril, too.

[A]

That went entirely in my left nostril, and it felt like I just got shot with a chlorinated pool. Like, Jesus Christ.

[B]

Yes, it's the chlorine feeling, but, like, times a million.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Did it give you. I mean, if I was.

[A]

My. My left eye is tearing. My left nostril. My right nostril I think is congested.

[B]

Oh, this is. It can't be that strong on the sideline because people would be freaking out constantly.

[A]

I'm ready to podcast.

[B]

Geez.

[A]

Boost focus.

[B]

I do feel focused.

[A]

I feel incredibly focused. I have instant energy and mental clarity. Holy. Yeah, that should be illegal.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

This should be illegal.

[B]

Do you think this would actually help you kick a field goal?

[A]

I feel like I could kick a hole through this wall. Oh, God. Wow.

[B]

Yeah, that is. I. I see. I always thought it was not like that. I. I thought it was more like a coffee type feeling, not like a being injected with compound V type feeling. I feel like somebody just walked up, hit me with the opposite of a tranquilizer.

[A]

I just don't think I'm going to forget that smell for the rest of my life. It's just like, it just permanently. I just sold a share of my brain to this ripoff monster energy drink smelling salt.

[B]

You hit it, though. It really does feel like jumping into, like, a pool that's been, like, chlorinated.

[A]

Because too many kids have been peeing in it and they, like, know they got to really chlorinate it. Like, that's what the inside of my brain smells like.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Can you imagine just, like, doing this before NFL Live?

[B]

I don't think this would actually help my performance in any ways because I feel focused, but not in a good way.

[A]

Do you feel focus, strength, and energy, which are the three icons that are.

[B]

I definitely don't feel strength. I feel like somebody with a gigantic hand slapped me in the face. Trying to describe to the podcast audience what's going through my mind right now. I. I feel like I dunked my head in cold water. I pulled my head out, somebody slapped me in the face.

[A]

What I found out today is that these smelling salts, much like everything I've learned about parenting and everything I've learned about aging, is a cliche we should respect.

[B]

That's a good one. Yeah. I learned that I'm going to have to start innovating my own stories for my kid, which I haven't even thought about that. Like, we have to start getting more creative and maybe I'll have to take some of those before bedtime.

[A]

I know what Barnaby and Theodore are doing next. They're ripping some salts.

[B]

Somebody stop me.

[A]

Pablo Torre finds Out is produced by Walter Averoma, Maxwell Carney, Ryan Cortez, Juan Galindo, Patrick Kim, neely Loman, Rob McRae, Matt Sullivan, Claire Taylor and Chris Tuminello. Our studio engineering by RG Systems sound design by Andrew Burcic and NGW Post Theme song as always by John Bravo and we will talk to you.

[D]

Looking for pieces that go places and last decades? Discover the Fall Edit from Banana Republic. Founded in 1978, Banana Republic creates classics with character that carry you from adventure to the city and everywhere in between. Think shearling lined leather that feels lived in sweaters spun from the finest wool and cashmere and effortless pieces designed for the journey, grounded in heritage, reimagined for today and made to last. Explore the Fall edit [e-mail] For 140 years MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with local communities and expanding access to care. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org.

[B]

G' Day USA it's Toni here from the Tony and Ryan podcast. My best mate and I, we make.

[C]

A podcast together every day. Daily laughs.

[B]

But you don't have to take our word for it.

[A]

Ali listens to the show from North Carolina.

[B]

Why should other people in the US.

[A]

Listen to this podcast?

[B]

They're just gonna make you laugh your ass off and make you be a better person. Start your day off better, end your day off better. Whenever you listen to the podcast, you're just gonna fall in love. Well, no one's ever said anything that nice before, so I love it.

[A]

I love it too.

[B]

Listen to Tony and Ryan.