TBTL #4663 "Valentine's Stay" — Podcast Summary

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Theme: Valentine's Day plans, the end of iconic memes, podcast dynamics, gift-giving anxieties, and the demise of traditions — all through TBTL's signature meandering, comedic banter.

Episode Overview

This episode of TBTL finds Luke and Andrew navigating the approach of Valentine’s Day with their usual blend of personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and absurd tangents. They riff on generational humor, dissect fleeting internet jokes versus enduring traditions, and debate the pressures of holiday gift-giving. Listener messages spark a detour through the world of archival storage and its connection to personal security—and there's a healthy dose of nostalgia for viral podcasts and memorable podcast events.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Changing Landscape of Humor: 69, 420 … 6-7? (04:46 - 07:28)

• Nostalgia for Outdated Jokes: Luke regrets a quick "69" joke, prompting discussion of how numbers like 69 and 420, once generational comedic mainstays, are losing their luster with today's youth.
• New Generational Humor: Andrew references a photo circulating online where "6-7" is apparently the new funny number with younger people, signaling how cultural touchstones inevitably shift.
• Aging Into Irrelevance: Luke muses, “Why would 69 come back? That's gonna die with us. And that's fine, by the way. Things change.” (06:48)

2. Podcast Formats & Fleeting Fame (07:28 - 12:38)

• "My Dad Wrote a Porno": The duo reminisces about breakout hit podcasts based on singular, quirky events, questioning how creators handle sustaining creativity beyond a viral moment.
• "Who Shat on the Floor at My Wedding": Luke recalls another favorite podcast that turned a bathroom incident into a full-fledged, friendship-fueled show, driving home the appeal of unscripted camaraderie over concept.
• Meta-TBTL: “What we're doing...this is recession proof because we’ve never talked about anything interesting.” — Luke, on the enduring mystery of TBTL’s appeal (12:38)

3. Valentine’s Day Plans & Gift-Giving Anxiety (13:10 - 24:14)

• Booking Difficulties: Luke shares his struggles booking a romantic getaway or staycation for Becca on Valentine’s, discovering many hotels/Airbnbs are solidly booked.
• Gift Planning: Andrew describes the low(er) expectation environment he’s cultivated with Genevieve, contrasting it with Luke’s elaborate February obligations (Addie’s birthday, Becca’s, Valentine’s, post-Christmas).
• Gift Logistics: Luke orders Becca’s gift shipped to her Oregon address to save on sales tax, staging a "do not open the mailbox" drama.
• Relationship Humor: Luke: “It’s where I do my laundry. That's how we celebrate. I romantically do my laundry.”

4. The Big Box Store Credit Card Trap (24:40 - 33:19)

• Luke’s Michael’s Credit Card Regret: Succumbing to the lure of “20% off,” Luke signs up for a Michael’s store credit card, then describes the ensuing headache of forgotten payments, aggressive collections, and never-quite-closed accounts.
  Quote: “It's crazy how quickly it goes from ‘Hey, sign up for the card, it's 20% off!’ to ‘We will end you.’” (28:03)

5. The Surprising Cost (and Joy) of Framing (33:19 - 35:37)

• Both hosts marvel at the cost of custom framing, with Luke admitting a newfound affection for Michael's framing department, and Andrew recalling failed DIY framing attempts.
• Quote: “Of the many things that have surprised me about adult life, how much custom framing costs has...is in the top five.” — Luke (33:34)

6. Online Shopping Bloopers & Cart Confusion (35:37 - 41:14)

• Andrew details a saga of misplaced Old Navy orders, accidental duplicate carting, and the growing comfort with e-comm disorganization.
• Andrew: “It just was such a relief to know that I was not absolutely losing my marbles.” (41:14)

7. Listener Dazzling Donors Shoutouts (41:29 - 53:27)

• Suzanne Olson: Longtime listener, mountain biking enthusiast, promotes Crank Sisters (an inclusive riding group) and her art Instagram @sjorunner. “Send it!”
• John Takamoto: The original TBTL "goatman," shares memories as longtime Stens (TBTL listeners) page admin, and calls for Sean Detorre’s return to the show.

8. Reviews, Mascot Memories & The "Goat" Movie (53:30 - 61:16)

• Steph Curry’s "Goat" Animated Movie: The hosts dissect baffling headlines that expect Steph Curry’s basketball stardom to translate to film production success.
  Luke: “You'd expect an animated basketball movie with four time NBA champion Steph Curry as the producer to be an easy layup. So why is Goat such a brick?” (55:19)
• Mascot Reminiscing: Extended tangent on beloved sports mascots, Houston Astros (and Oilers) nostalgia, and the origin of the TBTL goatman.

9. Chipotle’s Price Increases and the "Protein Panic" (65:14 - 76:39)

• K-shaped Spending: Chipotle is hiking prices 1–2% by targeting its high-income ($100k+/yr) customers, betting they won’t notice or care due to “protein” trends.
  Quote: “We learned that 60% of our core users are over $100,000 a year... That gives us confidence that we can lean into that group in a more meaningful way.” (68:06)
• TBTL hosts lampoon the rise of “high-protein” everything, fads in nutrition (like hydration and protein fixation), and the Instagram health influencer-industrial complex.
• Luke: “Protein or perish. That’s a show title.” (73:00s)

10. Iron Mountain, Security, and Listener Stories (77:12 - 84:45)

• Iron Mountain, originally a mushroom mine, becomes a document preservation/nuclear apocalypse security vault.
• Listener Matt’s Experience: Short stint as an Iron Mountain driver reveals the extreme security culture and training regimen.
  Luke (reading): “By 1950, [founder] Knaust was looking for alternative uses for his mine... amidst widespread Cold War fears in protecting corporate information from nuclear attack...” (79:09)

11. On Skipping Big Events and Finding Your Own Joy (85:13 - 86:47)

• Listener Maddie shares a voicemail validating Andrew’s parade-avoidance: “Instead I took a nap because I was just kind of tired.”
• Andrew finds kinship, reminding listeners parenthetically: “The fact that the parade happened brought me joy... I just didn’t want to be in the heart of things.” (63:28)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Andrew on generational jokes:
  “I'm not really young. I don't really know. But... even if it's not humor, the notability of [6-7] is that it is not sinking — even if I'm noting it, I guess the youth have won. It's working. It's working.” (05:04)

• Luke on credit card hawking:
  “It's amazing how quickly it goes from like, ‘Hey, sign up for the card is 20% off’ to like, ‘We will end you.’ …The entire thing is bright red. You're in so much trouble with Synchrony Bank.” (28:03)

• Luke on fad dieting:
  “Years from now we'll look back and we'll go, remember when we all lost our mind around protein?... There's this protein for protein’s sake or protein or perish.” (73:00s)

• Valentine’s meta-humor:
  “It’s Valentine’s stay. It’s a new thing. Everybody’s doing it, and it’s where I do my laundry.” — Luke (14:38)

• Listener validation:
  “My responsibilities to family, friends, other loved ones... have been described as subterranean.” — Andrew on intentionally low-key expectations (20:18)

• On enduring TBTL:
  “What we’re doing... is recession proof, because we've never talked about anything interesting.” — Luke (12:38)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Generational Humor and Number Jokes: 04:46–07:28
• Podcast Impact & Will-They/Won’t-They Dynamic: 07:28–12:57
• Valentine’s Plans & Gift-Giving: 13:10–24:14
• Michael’s Credit Card Story: 24:40–33:19
• Custom Framing Costs: 33:19–35:37
• Online Shopping Fails: 35:37–41:14
• Dazzling Donors: 41:29–53:27
• Steph Curry's "Goat" Movie: 53:30–61:16
• Chipotle, Price Hikes & Protein Fads: 65:14–76:39
• Iron Mountain Origin Story & Listener Matt: 77:12–84:45
• Listener Maddie on Napping vs. Parades: 85:13–86:47

Takeaways

• TBTL remains a podcast about nothing specific except the hosts’ friendship, persistent curiosity, and audience interaction.
• Humor evolves, but the urge to riff on the absurdities of daily life endures.
• Holidays like Valentine’s simultaneously bring out our best intentions and deepest anxieties—but maybe a “Valentine’s stay” (with laundry) is the only real tradition that lasts.
• Listener contributions, from dazzling donors to voice memos, remain a lifeblood—fueling both nostalgia and comedic fodder for Luke and Andrew.

"No mountain too tall..." — And, of course, good luck to all.