Podcast Summary: Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: "Share & Tell on Location Among the Stars, with Mike Golic Jr., Mina Kimes and Pablo"

Date: April 11, 2024
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Mike Golic Jr., Mina Kimes
Location: Los Angeles

Episode Overview

This special "Share & Tell" episode brings Pablo, Mike Golic Jr., and Mina Kimes together in person in Los Angeles for a wide-ranging, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation on astrology, digital overload (especially email), suburban vs. city nostalgia, and, in classic PTFO fashion, a draft of strip mall chains. The trio bounce between personal anecdotes, social commentary, and playful banter, revealing their quirks, friendships, and philosophical takes on how modern life is lived (and coped with).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Vibes and Beard Oil Marketing

Segment: [00:34–04:22]

• The episode banter kicks off with Pablo marveling at Golic Jr.’s "resplendent" beard and probing his grooming choices.
• Golic Jr. confesses he chooses beard oil like an “idiot” based on label appeal and the presence of a dog icon:

  "I walked through Target and I looked at the one that label appealed to me most because I am an idiot." — Mike Golic Jr. [01:07]

• Group laughter at the absurdity of “dog branding” in men’s products leads to jokes about marketing to “masculinity” (“Bro-ic”).
• Mina wonders aloud about men actually using animal-branded products:

  “I just can’t imagine wanting a product that a dog uses.” — Mina Kimes [02:44]

2. Astrology: Sincerity, Skepticism, and Uncanny Accuracy

Segment: [04:22–19:18]

• Pablo shares how he first engaged with astrology, recounting an interview with Andrea Mallis—a real-life sports team astrologer.

  “She was the official astrologer for the Oakland A’s during the Moneyball era.” — Pablo Torre [04:46]

• He plays an excerpt from his own chart reading, with flattery about his Libra qualities (“balanced, fair, sees both sides”).
• Golic Jr. and Mina reveal their astrological leanings:
  • Golic Jr.: Used to read his daily horoscope at Notre Dame; once got a “six-star day” thanks to a friend in the student paper [06:56].
  • Mina: Claims to reject astrology, yet admits Virgo traits fit her eerily well [07:36].
• The trio deep-dive into the accuracy of their signs, reading Cosmopolitan descriptions and reflecting on traits:
  • Pablo and Golic Jr. (“Libra”): Social, approval-seeking, indecisive, overthinkers, lovers of gossip.
  • Mina (“Virgo”): Organized, detail-oriented, self-critical, humble, obsessed with control, secretly fun, loves gossip.
  • Everyone finds humor and a little discomfort in how exposed they feel.
• Pablo reflects on email disorganization as a symbolic "Libra" trait, clashing with Mina’s “Virgo” orderliness.

  “My approach to scheduling my day is comically incompetent compared to Mina.” — Pablo Torre [27:33]

• Notable Quote:

  “I just need... I like the feeling of, like, approval, and then I’ll move on. I’m not going to interrogate it much deeper than that.” — Pablo Torre [13:14]
  “As a Virgo, it’s not about controlling others, it’s about controlling myself and my environment.” — Mina Kimes [16:31]

3. Digital Clutter: Email, Choice Overload & Internet Fatigue

Segment: [19:18–35:04]

• Mina brings up Ezra Klein’s NYT article “Happy 20th anniversary Gmail. I’m sorry, I’m leaving you,” opening a broader discussion about digital overload.
• Each reveals the state of their inboxes:
  • Pablo: 3,798 unread; Golic Jr.: 3,708 unread — “Libra gang, we’re out here.” [22:20]
  • Mina: Just 7 (!), which astounds the others [22:39].
• Pablo and Golic are unbothered by their sprawling inboxes, using search functions or ignoring unread counts, while Mina must clear hers daily, treating it as a “to-do list.”
• The conversation expands to digital abundance: photos, music, access—too much choice diminishing meaning, intentionality, and satisfaction.

  “I’ve stored everything and I’ve saved nothing.” — Citing Ezra Klein [33:14 via Golic Jr.]

• Mina reflects on how overwhelming abundance makes it hard to savor or retrieve meaningful moments.
• Golic Jr. describes using old-school tools—a whiteboard, physical alarm clock—to reclaim focus and separate digital life from real life [29:02].
• Notable Moment: The group laughs at Pablo cohabiting his inbox with another “Pablo Torre” in Argentina, completely unfazed at letting someone else’s bills pile up [30:35].

4. Suburbia vs. City: Nostalgia, Community, and Belonging

Segment: [35:04–45:10]

• Golic Jr. introduces Julie Beck’s Atlantic article on suburb hate, sparking a roundtable on childhood environments.
• They compare growing up:
  • Mike: A classic New England suburb—“white picket fence,” nostalgia for cookie-cutter spaces [36:56].
  • Mina: Military kid in various American suburbs, warm nostalgia for chains and malls but lives in LA.
  • Pablo: Grew up in Manhattan, finds suburbs alien; got his driver’s license at 27 [37:30].

  “For me, the suburbs has always been this place of… this feels alien and eerie.” — Pablo Torre [38:05]

• Pablo defines a city as “walkable, neighborhood-based, anti-car culture, comfort with crowds and noise,” which he never saw in the suburbs [41:40].

5. Draft: The Dream Strip Mall Chain

Segment: [45:10–end]

• In a playful, competitive “draft,” the trio each picks the ultimate strip mall chains to create their fantasy suburban shopping center.
• Order (with quick rationales and reactions):
  1. Pablo: Pizza Hut (“Book It” nostalgia; others immediately tease him for a “rookie mistake”) [46:43]
  2. Mina: Barnes & Noble (“Books, movies, coffee—high-value anchor,” [47:14])
  3. Golic Jr.: Chili’s (“For years, same meal every time—personal tradition,” [47:30])
  4. Golic Jr. (snake draft): Sharper Image (“Peak strip mall—Golic family lore,” [48:00])
  5. Mina: Outback Steakhouse (“Family’s special occasion place; Bloomin’ Onion love,” [48:15])
  6. Pablo: Auntie Anne’s (“Sometimes you’re just there to huff some pretzel fumes, man. Zero calories. Delicious. Every time.” [49:22])
• Tangents about after-school jobs, hangout rituals, and nostalgic diner gatherings fill out the draft chatter.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Beard Oil Choices:

  “I walked through Target and I looked at the one that label appealed to me most because I am an idiot.” — Mike Golic Jr. [01:07]

• On Libra Traits:

  “It cuts to the core of me. That cuts to the core of us.” — Pablo Torre [12:57]
  “It’s the approval… the tendency to overthink, which, yeah buddy, they got me dead to rights on that one.” — Mike Golic Jr. [13:28]

• On Mina’s Virgo Nature:

  “On the day the Emmy—I know, just Emmy-nominated Mina Kimes… left unchecked, this modesty can turn into a self-confidence dip and their critical inner judge can take over, highlighting their flaws and negatives at max volume.” — Pablo (quoting Cosmopolitan) [15:11]
  “As a Virgo, it’s not about controlling others, it’s about controlling myself and my environment.” — Mina Kimes [16:31]

• On Digital Clutter:

  “I have almost an eclipse glasses relationship with my inbox. I’m not gonna look directly at it.” — Pablo Torre [24:29]
  “I’ve stored everything and I’ve saved nothing.” — (Citing Ezra Klein) [33:14 via Golic Jr.]

• On Suburb Nostalgia:

  “You made the memory inside that [cookie-cutter place] with the people there.” — Mike Golic Jr. [44:01]

• On Pizza Hut Pick in the Strip Mall Draft:

  “I was gonna say, Pizza Hut taught me how to read.” — Pablo Torre [46:48]
  “Such a rookie mistake.” — Mina Kimes [46:43]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Beard Oil & Masculine Marketing: [00:34–04:22]
• Pablo’s Astrology Reading: [04:22–06:21]
• Horoscopes & Chart Comparisons: [06:21–19:18]
• Gmail/Email Overload and Productivity: [19:18–35:04]
• Suburban Nostalgia vs. City Childhoods: [35:04–45:10]
• Strip Mall Chain Draft: [45:10–end]

Tone & Atmosphere

• Smart, playful, self-deprecating, and occasionally deeply sincere
• Brimming with inside jokes, light mockery among friends, and candid self-assessment
• The in-person energy adds a special spark, with frequent laughter and moments of unguarded honesty

This episode is a quintessential PTFO listen: equal parts hilarious hangout and unexpectedly insightful reflection on the mundane details (and little pleasures) of modern life. Whether you grew up in a city or a suburb, have 100,000 unread emails or strive for inbox zero, you’ll likely feel both recognized and amused.