Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: Share & Rizz & Tell
Guests: Mina Kimes, Dan Le Batard
Date: July 26, 2024

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pablo Torre is joined by Mina Kimes and Dan Le Batard for a lively, insightful “Share & Tell” conversation. Together, they dive into how personal style shifts, meme culture, and internet lingo like “brat” and “rizz” influence politics, workplace dynamics, and personal identity. Highlights include the unexpected meme-ification of Kamala Harris, the teachability (or not) of charisma, and a playful debate about the meaning and ownership of names.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan’s Surprising Fashion Transformation

• Topic: Dan Le Batard’s “reinvention” through wardrobe.
• Discussion: The group jokes about how just a few new items have led to everyone perceiving Dan differently, with Dan revealing he’s swapped out his longtime skate shorts for proper pants.
  • Quote (Dan Le Batard):
    “Valerie has bought four pairs of pants and four shirts on the Internet. Two jackets, and everyone thinks it’s a reinvention... All I’ve worn for 15 years is skateboarder shorts and my brother’s hats.” (00:40)
• Mina and Pablo’s reactions: Playful banter about early TV wardrobe mishaps and the invisibility of sweatpants on televised punditry.

2. Visuals, Memes, and the New Politics

• Topic: The viral transformation of Kamala Harris’s public image after the nomination shift, due to meme culture (“brat summer”) and influencer endorsements (notably from Charli XCX).
• Key Insight: The group explores why Harris has succeeded on social media—her meme-ification is grassroots, not campaign-engineered.
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “You can’t force a meme... These are not focus grouped. None of it has been deliberate. Rather, it’s young people on all these platforms seeing something in her.” (08:01)
• Media Comparison: Contrast with awkward attempts at meme culture by previous candidates (e.g., Hillary Clinton’s “I’m just chilling in Cedar Rapids”; 10:32).
• Cultural Observation: Harris is embracing a “zanned out aunt” persona, accidentally becoming more likable and relatable (11:34, 12:02).

3. Authenticity vs. Distance in Viral Culture

• Irony Factor: The meme embrace is “not earnest”—it’s young people enjoying Harris with a layer of ironic detachment, not straightforward fandom.
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “It’s a way for the young left in particular to embrace her without embracing her.” (13:11)
• Pablo Analogy: Connects this to Dan’s radio persona, where being the “butt of the joke” is part of the appeal.
  • Quote (Pablo Torre):
    “You’re not entirely in on the best jokes of your show... You are being laughed at and laughed with.” (13:31)

4. Does Meme Culture Matter for Elections?

• Skepticism & Caution: The hosts debate whether online popularity (memes, TikTok, “vibe shifts”) translates to electoral outcomes, cautioning against confusing online enthusiasm with broader appeal.
  • Quote (Pablo Torre):
    “Social media has the capacity to be more of a cul de sac, where you spin around with people that are already there, as opposed to an on ramp to normie culture.” (17:44)
• Mina’s Counterpoint: TikTok has more genuine influence over the news awareness and attitudes of young voters than old-school outlets like the New York Times.
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “Many young people I have encountered in my life get their news from TikTok. And I know that’s a scary sentence.” (19:01)
• Dan’s Reflection: The shift is less about optimism and more a relief from doom.
  • Quote (Dan Le Batard):
    “I’m not totally sure that what is resonating is hopefulness. It’s just an ounce better than hopelessness.” (19:44)

5. Rizz in the Boardroom: Charisma as a Teachable Skill?

• Article Review: The group laughs over the Wall Street Journal’s “Is Riz the Secret to Getting Ahead at Work?”—a how-to guide for adults desperate to learn what is essentially charisma.
  • Quote (Dan Le Batard):
    “The idea of learning charisma as a leadership technique…seems awfully calculated and something I’m not capable of.” (23:14)
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “There is nothing more off-putting than someone asking you a question and then hearing that same person ask that question to anyone else. That doesn’t tell me you have Riz. That tells me you’re a sociopath.” (25:22)
• Pablo’s Take: Points out the contradiction—true charisma is perceived as effortless, yet “Riz 101” is all about fake signals and calculated charm.
  • Quote (Pablo Torre):
    “Charisma to me implies …that you are effortlessly naturally this way. And this is such a mechanical thing...” (28:04)
• Mirroring: The panel discusses “mirroring” as a leadership or sales tactic—adopting the accent or lingo of one’s audience.
  • Memorable Moment: The segment with Mina’s accidental Southern accent being compared to Brian Kelly’s infamous “family” LSU introduction (30:33).

6. Chameleons and Code-Switching: Social Adaptability

• Mina’s Admission: Recognizes her ability to change tone or persona in various settings, crediting her Air Force upbringing and diverse experiences.
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “If I am this way, it’s probably because I lived in so many different places growing up because my dad was in the Air Force.” (31:45)
• Pablo on Likeability: Questions whether this flexibility is a virtue or just an unconscious “desire to be liked.” (32:31)
• “Who Has the Most Riz?”
  • Consensus: Mina, hands down.
  • Quote (Mina Kimes):
    “I’m not gonna apologize for being naturally popular.” (31:45)

7. Name Dilemmas: Identity and Autonomy

• AITA Segment: They debate a Reddit post in which “Arthur,” a 15-year-old, wants to go by “Dex” instead of his unfashionable family name.
  • Quote (Dan Le Batard):
    “This is literally the first time I have considered whether your name is yours or whether it belongs to your parents.” (35:08)
• Mina on Naming Kids: Shares her process in naming her son Nino—balancing uniqueness, family heritage, and anticipation of his own future preference.
• Pablo Reveals: He went by “PB” (a family nickname) until high school, then shifted to “Pablo” for fear of being called "pee-pee."
  • Quote (Pablo Torre):
    “I got to freshman year of high school and I was like, I can’t— I can’t have people thinking my name is ‘pp’ and I bailed on my entire identity.” (38:56)
• Light-hearted Sidebar: Harmless ribbing about all the ways their names have been mispronounced or mangled. (44:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kamala Harris’s accidental virality:
  “She has become a figure that is likeable through no actual intent of her own.” — Pablo Torre (11:34)

• On meme culture and electoral politics:
  “I do think that social media has the capacity to be more of a cul de sac... as opposed to an on ramp to normie culture.” — Pablo Torre (17:44)

• On charisma in the workplace:
  “There is nothing more off putting than someone asking you a question and then hearing that same person ask that question to anyone else…That tells me you’re a sociopath.” — Mina Kimes (25:22)

• On personal names and identity:
  “This is literally the first time I have considered whether your name is yours or whether it belongs to your parents. When does it become yours?” — Dan Le Batard (35:08)

• Light-hearted acceptance:
  “Do I have the most riz of this trio? Do we all agree?” — Mina Kimes (32:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dan’s Fashion Reinvention: 00:33–03:34
• Kamala Harris Meme Phenomenon: 06:12–13:31
• Does Online Popularity Equal Votes?: 15:01–19:44
• Can Charisma (“Rizz”) Be Taught?: 23:07–29:40
• Mina’s Southern Accent Clip: 30:05–30:41
• Who Has the Most Riz?: 32:58–33:08
• AITA: Arthur/Dex Name Dilemma: 34:54–39:55
• Naming and Identity Stories: 39:55–45:48

Style & Tone

The episode is marked by quick wit, sharp cultural observations, and genuine curiosity—full of inside jokes but accessible commentary. The panel blends high and low culture (Wall Street Journal and Reddit, viral memes and academic criticism), never taking themselves too seriously.

Conclusion

The trio closes with a round of light-hearted self-discovery—realizing that “finding out” sometimes means seeing yourself through the internet’s chaotic, playful, and occasionally ruthless lens. Whether discussing politics, charisma, or how to be “brat” (cool) in any setting, the episode asks what it means to connect in an age of perpetual reinvention and meme-speed change.