Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck - Aug 31 2025

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck
Date: August 31, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

In this Sunday Hang episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton blend intelligence and humor as they dig into the everyday decline of etiquette, personal stories from airports and airplanes, viral moments, a summer movie review, a fascinating military aviation feat, and reflections on leadership, perseverance, and negativity in public discourse. The tone is conversational, witty, and at times self-deprecating, as the hosts riff on cultural irritations, sports, and politics with their signature banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Decline of Public Etiquette

(00:21 – 04:11)

• Public rudeness on the rise: Buck laments the widespread disregard for public etiquette, citing examples like speakerphone conversations in public and especially the phenomenon of people cutting in lines.
  • "I think that etiquette in public places is on a steady decline...the barbarians feel like they can act poorly." (Buck, 00:21)
• Airplane etiquette: Clay shares stories about improper behavior when exiting airplanes, railing against people who rush the aisle after landing.
  • Only exception: genuinely late for a connection and polite about it. Otherwise, skipping the line is “a savage indefensible move.”
  • "Do not walk in front of people in the rows in front of you. It is a savage indefensible move." (Clay, 01:51)
• Lines elsewhere: Roller coasters and church—line-cutting is unacceptable everywhere.
  • "Just behave like a decent, civilized human being. Wait your turn when the plane lands." (Clay, 03:40)

Notable Quote:

• "There are rules." (Buck, 03:32)

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2. Can You Hit a Major League Fastball?

(04:11 – 06:04)

• Hypothetical challenge: Buck wonders if an ordinary person could make contact against a professional pitcher throwing straight fastballs given ten chances.
  • Clay believes the intimidation and speed make it nearly impossible.
  • "I would be so scared. I think I could." (Clay, 04:32)
  • "I don't think you realize how insanely fast that ball would get to the plate...even if they're saying they're going to throw strikes." (Clay, 04:42)
• Buck’s confession: Hasn’t faced anything over 50–60 mph; both hosts readily admit to being out of their league.
  • "I don't even want to. Like, I would be terrified, I think." (Clay, 05:53)
• Suggestion: Try this out for charity, “Tunnel to the Tower.”

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3. Summer Movie Review: F1

(06:04 – 08:10)

• Clay’s take: Reviews the Brad Pitt F1 movie as “fun, engaging,” with no political agenda—just an enjoyable summer film drawing on Days of Thunder and Top Gun vibes.
  • "Older race car driver, younger race car dynamic. And it was super cool. Well done. Enjoyable summer movie." (Clay, 06:47)
• Buck’s angle: Will wait for at-home viewing to avoid annoying audience behavior—phone use, talking, rudeness in theaters.
  • "I will watch it at home where I do not have to be around other human beings because they always ruin the movie." (Buck, 07:14)
  • Light riff on Brad Pitt’s universal appeal—a moment of Clay teasing his own supposed “Brad Pitt status” in his house.

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4. Aviation Feat: Family Connection

(10:18 – 13:07)

• Military history spotlight: Buck shares a viral video from 1963 of his wife’s grandfather, Lt. James Flatley, landing a massive KC130F Hercules on the USS Forrestal—the only aviator to do so unarrested.
  • "People didn’t realize this. There’s video up...of then lieutenant, now Admiral Flatley landing...with a C130 Hercules. The first and only aviator to ever accomplish that. Pretty cool."(Buck, 10:54)_
• Aviation talk: Clay marvels at the daring nature of the feat and ribs Buck for not following in the family’s piloting footsteps.
  • "All the men in your…family are super badass naval and fighter pilots...and meanwhile, you’re just in the plane, no idea what’s going on." (Clay, 11:45)
• Listener question: How did Flatley get the plane back off the carrier?, launching fun speculation and more admiration for test pilots.

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5. Lessons from Trump: Owning Opinions and Leadership

(13:23 – 16:19)

• The "Trump speed" lesson: Clay draws a football analogy to discuss how Trump’s unapologetic, “full speed ahead” style altered public discourse and helped him weather cancel culture.
  • "You cannot slow down when you share an opinion and tiptoe up to it...If you tiptoe up, you get beat. You cannot win going half speed." (Clay, 14:00)
• Personal experience: Clay relates being targeted by cancel attempts and how owning your take, not apologizing, is the only way to persevere in the public arena.
  • "That should be a lesson for everybody out there in larger public sphere. If you have a take, own it. Go full speed through it. It's when you tiptoe or apologize that you get wrecked." (Clay, 14:35)
• Positivity vs. “energy vampires”: Buck and Clay discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people and avoiding those who drain your energy.
  • "Energy Vampires. They suck all of the good energy. There's tons of them…To the extent that you eliminate energy vampires...it really is a huge portion of the population." (Clay, 15:55)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If we were in, you know, ancient times, like they would be ostracized...Like they should be banished forthwith."
  – Buck Sexton on public speakerphone use (00:41)

• "Don't cut people in the roller coaster line. Producer Ali says, when you're leaving church, don't skip the pew in front of you. Don't jump in line in communion."
  – Clay Travis (03:40)

• "I don't know why people can't act like they're civilized...It drives me nuts."
  – Buck Sexton (03:33)

• "I will watch it at home where I do not have to be around other human beings because they always ruin the movie..."
  – Buck Sexton (07:14)

• "If you have a take, own it. Go full speed through it. It's when you tiptoe or apologize that you get wrecked."
  – Clay Travis (14:35)

• "Energy Vampires...They just come and they feast and they take everything good and they devour it."
  – Clay Travis (15:55)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Plane/Public Etiquette Grievances: 00:21 – 04:11
• Could You Hit a Major League Fastball? 04:11 – 06:04
• F1 Movie Review: 06:04 – 08:10
• Viral Military Aviation Feat: 10:18 – 13:07
• Lessons from Trump, Cancel Culture, Positivity: 13:23 – 16:19

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Tone and Final Thoughts

This episode illustrates Clay and Buck’s chemistry: irreverent, honest, and highly relatable. They weave together everyday annoyances, pop culture, military history, and political philosophy, all with a goal of encouraging self-improvement, boldness, and surrounding oneself with positivity—not negativity. Their advice to "own your take" and cut out "energy vampires" resonates, making this a fun and thought-provoking listen for fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

Sunday Hang is brought to you by.

[Clay Travis]

Chalk Natural supplements for guys, gals and nothing in between. Fuel your [e-mail] Bold, reverent and occasionally random. The Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck podcast starts now.

[Buck Sexton]

Playing etiquette stuff, which I think is unfortunately, maybe I'm just. I'm just old and grumpy now, which is probably true. Irrespective of how this conversation goes. I think that etiquette in public places is on a steady decline. And I think increasingly the barbarians feel like they can act poorly and then be outraged and intimidate people when anyone tries to say, hey, can you actually be considerate and respectful of those around you? The best example of this is I really think that the speakerphone conversation and public people are winning right now. Like they should be losing. They should be. If we were in, you know, ancient times, like they would be ostracized from our city state. Like they should be banished forthwith. And yet they increasingly are like, what? What? It's just like having a conversation. It's not just like having a conversation, actually. You're shouting and we're all hearing this mechanical voice coming out. Okay, so anyway, I could go on this stuff all day, but tell me the situation of the plane, the plain line cutting lady that's getting so much attention right now.

[Clay Travis]

It's gone. It's gone mega viral. And I don't know if we have a short segment of the conversation, but I think it went mega viral because to your point, there is no sort of common behavior. And I would say on an airplane, and everybody who's ever been on an airplane at some point in time, you probably have experienced this. The plane lands, okay? You're allowed to stand up. People who try to rush past you and gain like five rows in overall exiting of the airplane earnestness. You get out faster if you don't have a flight that you have to rush to. And if you do, you're being like, hey, I'm so sorry, my flight is going to take off in 10 minutes. The flight's delayed. Could I please go past? And you can talk to people around you in advance. And you can. Everybody kind of gets a sense for that. Sometimes even the flight attendants will say, hey, would everybody stay seated? We've got a few people who have to get to a flight that. But jumping people is infuriating. Don't do it. If you are listening to us, do not walk in front of people in the rows in front of you. It is a savage indefensible move. But for the limited exception, I said, where you're trying to rush to catch.

[Buck Sexton]

A flight, there's not enough room for everyone to take down their overhead luggage. So people wait, and there's not enough room for everyone to stand in the aisle. So you have to be orderly and civilized and allow the people ahead of you to go. You know, I've seen both ends, as you know. Recently, I was running late for a flight, uh, and I asked a couple of very kind people if I could cut them in the security line. But I showed them my ticket, and they. They're like, you are gonna miss your flight. Like, you gotta get your. Get your butt in gear. And then it's funny because a week later, same thing happened to me. Some guy showed me, and I'm like, yeah, of course you can cut me in the line or, you know, whatever, and. And everyone in the line let him go, because you could prove that there's a need. Same thing with the connection. If somebody has a connection, they have to get. We're all cool with that. But I'm, you know, this is not nom.

[Clay Travis]

There are rules.

[Buck Sexton]

Like, I don't. I don't know why people can't act like they're civilized when they're. It drives. It drives me nuts.

[Clay Travis]

Don't skip just like when you're waiting in line for a roller coaster if you actually like fun, unlike Buck. Don't cut people in the roller coaster line. Producer Ali says, when you're leaving church, don't skip the pew in front of you. Don't jump in line in communion. Just behave like a decent, civilized human being. Wait your turn when the plane lands. Making America better and. And more considerate every single day. Sundays with clay and Buck.

[Buck Sexton]

If a major league pitcher. And maybe there's a viral video in this clay, maybe you could ask somebody if a major league pitcher said, I'm going to throw full heat, but I'm going to throw them down the middle. I'm not going to try sliders or any of that stuff. Do you think you could make their ball contact if you had 10 pitches?

[Clay Travis]

No, I don't, because I think, first of all, I would be so scared. I think I could.

[Buck Sexton]

This is an un. This is a rare time when I'm. I'm the arrogant one, apparently, on this.

[Clay Travis]

I don't think you realize how insanely fast the ball would get to the plate, even if they're saying they're going to throw strikes.

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, I haven't played since Little League, so my version of Baseball in my head, and I was in the eighth grade, I think. So my version of baseball is not, I think, like a camp.

[Clay Travis]

Just because they say they're gonna just hum it right down the middle for you, they still might pitch a little bit inside. Like, I think seeing they all throw a hundred miles an hour now, I don't think most people know what a hundred miles an hour feels like just to stand.

[Buck Sexton]

I don't think I've ever seen. I don't think I've ever been standing at the plate and seen a ball going more than like 50 or 60. I think probably that's. Does that sound.

[Clay Travis]

I'm just telling you, it would be the intimidation factor of hearing that. I think the number of people they could meet. You basically just have to start swinging as soon as the pitch is thrown.

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, I think, Clay, we just get you to ask one of these major league pitchers, hey, can I get into, like, the practice area or whatever? I need 10 pitches on video. And if you know what I mean. And like, we. We do something for like, I don't know, tunnel the tower.

[Clay Travis]

I'd rather. I'd rather you try it than me, actually. This is one of the rare. Like, I.

[Buck Sexton]

All right.

[Clay Travis]

I'm nervous. I don't want to. By 100 mile an hour fastball. I don't even want to. Like, I would be terrified, I think.

[Buck Sexton]

Well, I was pretty wimpy about that, too. Probably why I stopped playing baseball.

[Clay Travis]

Sundays with Clay and Buck. I did. Buck, want to give a positive movie review because I know we talked about Superman. I still have not seen Superman. I imagine many of you have because it's one of the biggest movies of the summer. But I did go see another big movie of the summer, and I am not a crazy, knowledgeable F1 racing expert. So please, I'm sure many of you out there that love F1 are going to tell me the things you didn't like about the realism associated with the movie. I thought F1 was really good. Brad Pitt, fun, engaging. No like, political agenda other than, hey, let's just try to make a fun movie. Had elements of Days of Thunder, elements of the Top Gun, Maverick movie. Older race car driver, younger race car dynamic. And it was super cool. Well done. Enjoyable summer movie. If you need enjoyable summer movie reviews.

[Buck Sexton]

My brother saw it too. You see it Friday, I think you guys.

[Clay Travis]

Saturday.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah. So he saw it this weekend. He agreed with you. He thought it was good. And he said. He said that you would like the movie. And I said, great, I will watch it at home where I do not have to be around other human beings because they always ruin the movie by talking and being on their phones and doing annoying rude things. So. And he said, ah, yes, I forgot that I was talking to the grumpiest 43 year old ever, but I at.

[Clay Travis]

Least told you it's a good movie, you'll appreciate this. So they had all the movie previews running beforehand and some of them were like the Conjuring, which is one of the scariest movies ever. But then they also showed Downton Abbey down and I turned to my wife and I'm why would they.

[Buck Sexton]

Downton Abbey?

[Clay Travis]

Yes, Downton Abbey. I was like, why would they be advertising that? She said, oh, every woman in here loves Brad Pitt. And, and that's why they're showing this. And I said, oh, that's interesting. So I said, Brad Pitt's a little bit like me. Men want to be him and women love him. And my wife just laughed. I actually, she did not have a lot of respect for my Brad Pitt analogy.

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[Clay Travis]

Now you can stream Fox News live on the Fox one app. Stay on top of breaking news and the biggest stories live as they happen. All from the Fox voices you trust, bringing you the coverage you won't find anywhere else.

[Buck Sexton]

Start your 7 day free trial today. Offers are subject to change. Go to Fox one for complete terms and conditions. Fox one we live for live streaming now.

[Podcast Announcer]

Hey there. I'm Mary Kathryn Ham. And I'm Carol Markowitz We've been in political media for a long time. Long enough to know that it's gotten, well, a little insane. That's why we started normalely a podcast for people who are over the hysteria and just want clarity. We talk about the issues that actually matter to the country without panic, without yelling, and with a healthy dose of humor. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the truth seriously. So if you're into common sense, sanity, and some occasional sass, you're our kind of people. Catch new episodes of Normally every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

[Clay Travis]

Sunday Drop with Clay and Buck Something.

[Buck Sexton]

Pretty cool over the weekend that just popped up on my radar. I didn't share this out. An account called Turbine Traveler which is about 25,000 followers. He shared a video from 1963 of Lt. James Flatley making history by landing a KC130F Hercules, the largest and heaviest aircraft ever to perform unarrested full stop landings and unassisted takeoffs on the USS Forrestal. So Lieutenant James Flatley, test pilot, naval ace, and now Admiral Flatley. Just want to tip my hat to him Clay. He is my grandfather in law, my wife's grandfather and I hope he might be listening and we'll send him this but pretty cool. People didn't realize this. There's video [e-mail] of then lieutenant, now Admiral Flatley landing on a on the USS forestall with a C130 Hercules. The first and only aviator to ever accomplish that. Pretty cool. The video is awesome.

[Clay Travis]

I saw the video. The video is really really cool. If you want to check that out, it's [e-mail] and you're gonna have to, I mean all the men you're gonna have to learn how to fly. I mean all the men in your carry side of the family are super badass naval and fighter pilots and everything else. And meanwhile, I mean you're just in the plane, no idea what's going on.

[Buck Sexton]

I don't even like when I'm on commercial and the seats touching my knees in front of me. You know what I mean? I'm not really made for like real, real daring do up in the sky. That's not really my thing. So I'm very appreciative of those who do it though.

[Clay Travis]

KK Dan wants to ask you a question. I don't know the answer to this. Good question.

[Buck Sexton]

Hey Buck, how did flatly get that airplane back off the carrier? Just curious. I I do not know how Lieutenant Flatley carries Grandpa. I don't know.

[Clay Travis]

I mean, did he take off? I mean, to get. I mean that's. Or did they just have to go into. Into harbor and like. That's a great question, but now you got a question to follow up with.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah. How you could land that thing. I mean, just keep in mind sometimes it's tricky to land an incredibly nimble, you know, like F16 or F14 Tomcat or an F16 or an F18. You know, air.

[Clay Travis]

Air care.

[Buck Sexton]

Aircraft carrier landings. I've obviously never done one. But from the various members of my in laws who have done this, it's not an easy thing. When you've got a small nimble plane, the biggest plane in the world at the time would be quite a challenge. And you have your margin for error very small.

[Clay Travis]

Haven't we lost like just three airplanes on aircraft carriers that accidentally went off and sunk?

[Buck Sexton]

Oh, yeah.

[Clay Travis]

I mean, in recent history here, just recently.

[Buck Sexton]

And people lose their lives because of aircraft, particularly on landing is really tough.

[Clay Travis]

So, yeah, Sunday sizzle with Clay and Buck. I do think this is going to be one of the lessons of Trump. I think Trump has a steel spine and maybe he understands innately media better and saw through the BS earlier than a lot of other people did because Buck was saying, hey, you know, if you had said, I think there's probably maybe some truth to it, you know, a decade ago, hey, I think Michelle Obama is an entitled spoiled brat bitch, people would have been like, my God, we've got to cancel this guy. That's not an opinion you can actually have. And I think one of the real lessons of Trump that other people are learning, and I had to learn it because people came and tried to cancel me all the time for years, is you cannot slow down when you share an opinion and tiptoe up to it. And the analogy that I always had was, if you're an athlete in football, the best thing that somebody can say about you is you play downhill on defense like you would see a play, you diagnose it and you just go balls to the wall and try to wreck the opposition. If you tiptoe up, you get beat. You cannot win going half speed. And I think Trump has recognized with what I would say is Trump speed, hey, I'm not going to be perfect in everything, but I'm going to go with such speed in mostly the right direction that people are going to fall off of me and ultimately we're going to move the country in a better direction. I think that should be a lesson for everybody out there in larger public sphere. If you have a take, own it. Go full speed through it. It's when you tiptoe or apologize that you get wrecked. And I think there's a football analogy there. And I think a lot of guys out there who were linebackers or safeties that played downhill to attack, that's the way you have to live. So there's a little bit of a TED Talk for everybody today.

[Buck Sexton]

That was. It was inspiring stuff.

[Clay Travis]

Well, I'm filled with gratitude. Unlike Michelle Obama, who only wants to wine, I. Every day I wake up and I'm like, man, what another. Another awesome day. I feel so much joy.

[Buck Sexton]

One of the most important things I think people find as they get older is surrounding yourself with people who choose to be positive day in and day out is one of the best ways to improve your life in the day to day and to limit to the greatest extent possible people who choose to be negative and complain all the time, because you can always find things to come. There's endless things to complain about and everyone can find them.

[Clay Travis]

Great phrase on that. Energy Vampires. They suck all of the good energy. There's tons of them. Everybody's got them in their lives, their. Their circles. To the extent that you eliminate energy, vampires, they just come and they feast and they take everything good and they devour it. It really is a huge portion of the population. Unfortunately, we try to give the opposite of energy. Vampire. We're blood transfusers here.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an I Heart podcast.