Stavvy's World #151: Are You Garbage?

Host: Stavros Halkias
Guests: “Are You Garbage?” hosts Kevin (Kippy) Ryan, H. Foley, and crew
Date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Stavros Halkias joined by the hosts of “Are You Garbage?”, Kevin Ryan and H. Foley, bringing their signature blend of self-deprecating humor, blue-collar perspectives, and endless banter. Set in a temporary Manhattan studio at NYU, the crew reminisce about theatrical misadventures, dissect all manner of “garbage” lifestyle choices (especially around food, travel, and flying), and field wild listener calls—including a polyamory/paternity crisis and dealing with a Nazi tattoo artist. Expect stories about airport breakfasts, white trash ingenuity, hotel hierarchies, and a healthy roast of one another’s dietary habits and life decisions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Academic Past and Intelligence (01:10–05:40)

• Background Check: Each host humorously details their college GPA and intellectual decline after diving into comedy. Ryan discusses his academic ups and downs, mentioning a failed Shakespeare class, which sets off a tangent about who really belongs performing Shakespeare.
• Favorite Books: Half-remembered reading of Atlas Shrugged by Elvis, leading to playful accusations of faking intellectualism.
• Life Lessons: The group concludes that comedic knowledge comes at the expense of everything else.
  • Quote (03:53, Stavros): “It was like Flowers for Algernon. I just became an idiot all over again.”

2. Theater, Performing Arts, and Trashy Productions (06:00–14:00)

• Cultural Divide: The guys share nostalgia (and self-ridicule) around theater productions—children’s plays, community theater, and slapdash Shakespeare. Elvis recounts a disastrous Winnie the Pooh children’s theater story ("Piglet's house burned down") and how children's laughter was not the intended result.
  • Quote (11:09, Elvis): “My roommate goes, his house burned down... 200 kids just gasped.”
• High/Low Culture: Eldest confesses confusion at Broadway spectacle, preferring movies to the artifice of live theater.
  • Quote (13:45, Eldest): “Why are we all acting like this is good?”

3. Airport, Travel, and Food Rituals (15:54–42:00)

• Soda Preferences: Extended debate about diet sodas, loyalty to the Coke Freestyle Machine, and the joys/guilt of sugar-free options.
  • Quote (16:59, Stavi): “That’s my canvas—as far as I’m concerned, my large fountain Coke is a work of art.”
• Airport Dining: The guests defend their tradition of arriving early to JFK’s Palm Steakhouse for a pre-flight breakfast, prompting Stavi to roast the logic and food quality.
  • Quote (21:05, Stavi): “I’ve never eaten at a steakhouse in an airport because I’m not white trash that won the lottery, which I guess is what you are.”
• Second Breakfasts: The concept of eating two full meals before noon ("one at the airport, one on the plane") is dissected, shamed, then ultimately rationalized.
  • Quote (26:13, Stavi): “That is the sign your life is going good—when you can say no to a second breakfast.”
• Flight Snacks: Deep dive into best/worst in-flight snacks and subtle hierarchy among Biscoff cookies, chocolate shortbreads, vegan gummies, and even pistachios for the “healthy” illusion.

4. Planes, Armrest Etiquette, and White Trash Van Life (32:25–65:10)

• Seating Beef: Debate over aisle vs. window seat for fat guys; how to ethically get your bags post-landing; public bottlenecking etiquette.
  • Quote (36:34, Stavi): “Everyone’s urgency—as soon as that bell rings...where the fuck are you going? You’re standing there for pure anxiety.”
• Road Life: Descriptions of their tricked-out conversion van (captain's chairs, big-screen TV)—pride in trashy roots and cross-country travel.
  • Quote (63:54, Eldest): “A conversion van is another white trash thing, of course...and I’m so proud of it.”
• Van Memories: Childhood marvel at families with minivans and TV, wistfulness over lost family connections, and the dream of just cruising with snacks and cartoons.

5. Listener Calls and Advice Highlights

A. Polyamory & Paternity Crisis (68:01–80:04)

• Situation: Caller’s wife is pregnant after consensual group sex where another man “cream-pied” her—with worrisome doubts over paternity.
• Panel's Take:
  • If you let another man finish inside your wife, you "bought the ticket”; get a DNA test or you’ll obsess forever.
  • The only way to resolve is to have the awkward talk ASAP.
  • All acknowledge they'd struggle with similar boundaries.
  • Quote (73:38, Stavi): “You’ll just either have this conversation once now or have it in your head every day for the rest of your life.”

B. Guilt Over Pre-Relationship Hookups (100:13–108:46)

• Situation: Guy’s been with his girlfriend for 3 years, but she doesn’t know he previously slept with another (much older, alcoholic) coworker at their old job.
• Panel's Take:
  • Don’t mention unless it comes up organically—there’s no betrayal, only shame.
  • Quote (104:44, Stavi): “Only you are thinking about it... you didn’t betray her. It’s just kind of embarrassing for you.”

C. Nazi Tattoo Artist Dilemma (86:41–93:14)

• Situation: Caller discovers mid-sleeve that their tattoo artist is a Holocaust denier/Nazi sympathizer.
• Panel's Take:
  • Most infrastructure in the South is built by similar idiots; unless it’s a hate symbol, just finish the tattoo or switch artists as you feel comfortable, but there’s no moral requirement to remove it.
  • Quote (89:03, Stavi): “You’ve enjoyed the work of anti-Jewish conspiracy theorists many times, if you’ve ever had any infrastructure done in the South.”

D. Cop Neighbor’s Aggressive Dog (110:42–117:39)

• Situation: Caller’s mom and dog repeatedly “attacked” by police neighbor’s loose dogs; fear of escalating by involving animal control.
• Panel's Take:
  • Best to approach reasonably, not combatively, and stress shared interest in dog safety; the “cop” angle is likely overblown.
  • Quote (113:31, Eldest): “If they kill your dog, their dogs will get put down. Everyone loses. Just go talk to them.”

E. Adult Parental Divorce (94:06–99:56)

• Situation: Caller, an only child, struggles as parents divorce at age 27.
• Panel's Take:
  • It’s not about you; don’t get involved. Focus on your new relationship with each parent and avoid being mediator.
  • Quote (95:57, Stavi): “If you let this affect you, there’s something wrong...it’s nostalgia. This is better for everybody.”

6. Dieting, Ozempic/Zepbound, and Food Addiction (117:44–124:53)

• Semaglutide Tips: Caller gives clinical advice about injection site for weight loss drug—“stick closer to the belly button.”
• Admittance of Food Addiction: Panel gets honest about how food is their true vice and comfort, regardless of diet hack.
  • Quote (122:58, Stavi): “I’m doing a lot of stuff pretty well...except every once in a while, I throw 3,000 calories down my gullet.”
• Food Guilt: Hilarious confessions about scarfing English muffins alone at night, and how even protein bars get wolfed down like candy.
  • Quote (124:00, Elvis): “It’s not like I eat a box of English muffins...wait a minute—no, I just can’t stop.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On College Knowledge Loss:
  • “Once I started comedy for real, I was like, alright, this is where my brain is going… I cannibalized all my knowledge to be better at comedy.” (03:26, Stavi)
• On Children’s Theater Mishap:
  • “His house burned down. 200 kids just gasped.” (11:09, Elvis)
• Defending Airport Traditions:
  • “I’m not white trash that won the lottery, which I guess is what you are.” (21:20, Stavi)
• Debating Plane Exit Etiquette:
  • “You're standing there for pure anxiety. It's also this weird, ‘I have to get off first.’” (36:34, Stavi)
• On Listener’s Group-Sex Baby Dilemma:
  • “You decided your wife is a group project.” (70:29, Stavi)

Memorable Moments and Tone

• Raucous laughter about terrible theater costumes, disastrous children’s plays, and their “fat conversations” around celebrities.
• Self-aware, anti-elitist pride in white trash traditions: the conversion van, airport steakhouse breakfast, and the joys of Coke Freestyle machines.
• Brutally honest yet compassionate listener advice—"you gotta have the tough conversation" or "don't bring up embarrassing hookups unless you have to."
• Banter bordering on the absurd—physical comedy, playful insults ("You're too fat for the window seat"), and gleeful confessionals about failed diets or car mishaps.
• Endearing humility and solidarity about weight struggles and addiction—mixed with genuine practical tips from the audience.

Episode Timeline / Timestamps

| Time | Segment / Highlight | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:10–05:40 | Academic pasts, intellectual decline, comedy vs. college smarts | | 06:00–14:00 | Tales of trashy theater, performing arts, and cultural divides | | 15:54–42:00 | Airport routines, soda machines, and the ethics of second breakfasts | | 32:25–65:10 | Plane/seat etiquette, road trips, conversion van stories | | 68:01–80:04 | Polyamory & paternity listener call | | 86:41–93:14 | Nazi tattoo artist dilemma & advice | | 94:06–99:56 | Adult children of divorce advice | | 100:13–108:46| Pre-relationship hookups guilt | | 110:42–117:39| Dog attacks & cop neighbor dilemma | | 117:44–124:53| Weight loss medication advice & food addiction confessions |

Closing

The episode encapsulates the “Are You Garbage?” ethos: pride in humble roots, roast-your-friends camaraderie, and a willingness to talk openly about shame, addiction, and real life messiness. Mixing wild storytelling with sincere listener problem-solving, it's a hilarious, chaotic, and oddly heartwarming hang.

Upcoming:

• Are You Garbage live at the Met in Philly: Dec 13
• Stavros at the Wilbur in Boston: same week (Dec 13)

“I just have to say, what makes everyone happy is 20 boxes of pizza in the corner of a room, even at the Venice Film Festival.”
—Stavi (44:41)

A must-listen for longtime fans and anyone who loves a bit of trash with their comedy.