The Karol Markowicz Show: Stu Burguiere on Media, Mindset & the Future of… Everything

Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Karol Markowicz
Guest: Stu Burguiere
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with Stu Burguiere, host of Stu Does America and co-host of The Glenn Beck Program. Their lively conversation covers Stu’s journey in media, the evolution of talk radio and podcasting, the perils and pleasures of modern media saturation, fostering independent thought, predictions on health and society, and practical advice for life and parenting. The discussion is peppered with humor, personal anecdotes, and reflections on the state of American culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stu’s Path into Media and Radio

• Early Ambitions ([04:25])
  • Stu recalls being obsessed with sports radio from a young age and making his own “play-by-play” commentaries with friends.
  • Desire “to do something that wasn’t the boring stuff” about the news, blending entertainment and information.
• First Break and Glenn Beck Connection ([05:40]–[09:16])
  • Started with an entry-level promotions job at a Connecticut radio station, KC101.
  • Coincidentally, Glenn Beck was the morning host there—at a low point in his career.
  • Recounts a vivid story:

    “We had an event where listeners would come out and meet their favorite host. I kid you not, Carol, literally zero people showed up for this event. Zero.” (Stu, [08:11])

  • Their bond formed over this humility and hard work, with Glenn recognizing Stu’s unique drive for news talk radio.
• From Producer to Writer to Host ([11:24])
  • Stu’s early role was exclusively as a producer.
  • Shaped his voice through writing, being Glenn’s “head writer for years and years,” including books and speeches.
  • Discusses the significance of storytelling in building an audience.

2. The Podcasting Boom and Changing Media Landscape

• Proliferation of Podcasts and Content Creation ([11:06])

  • Karol comments on writers feeling forced to start podcasts; Stu jokes:

    “Please. Nobody read. Out of my space. Thank you.” (Stu, [11:28])

  • Describes how every media figure must now be “everywhere”—no longer just radio or writing, but also social media and multiplatform engagement.
  • Reflects on Rush Limbaugh as “the last guy who was able to do it exactly the way he wanted to do it... He didn’t have to tweet 50 times a day.” (Stu, [12:55])

• Performative Culture and Everyone as Broadcaster ([14:20])

  • “We’ve turned everybody into a broadcaster. We’ve turned everybody into a column writer. Everyone is mining their lives constantly for material, and I think that’s at least part of the reason everyone’s going insane.” (Stu, [15:04])
  • Both agree that knowing everyone’s opinions all the time can be overwhelming and unhealthy.

3. Mindset: Independence, Contrarianism, and Truth-Seeking

• Avoiding Groupthink and Contrarianism ([15:49])

  • Stu takes pride in making decisions “independently from everything going on.”
  • Warns against being reflexively contrarian just to be different.
  • Anecdote: Delayed watching Breaking Bad just to dodge the hype, but eventually recognized its merit.
  • Personal philosophy:

    “I’m always on that search of what’s actually true, rather than what the party believes today or what the president said or didn’t say... I really try to pull myself out of that, even if it annoys the audience at times.” (Stu, [16:52])

• Memorable on Pop Culture Hot-takes ([17:57])

  • Karol admits to annually tweeting that she doesn’t like Shawshank Redemption:

    “Once a year, my followers get to hear how Shawshank Redemption is actually a bad movie.” (Karol, [17:57])

  • Stu relates with his own skepticism about certain cultural phenomena, though concedes when things are actually good.

4. Future Trends: Health, Obesity, and Lifestyle

• Stu’s Five-Year Prediction: A Healthier Nation ([24:50])

  • Stu predicts a reversal in decades-long obesity trends, attributing it to new drugs (GLP-1s), changing attitudes, and a “rethinking” of health:

    “In the next five years we are going to wipe out the last 25 years of the increase in obesity. I think it’s, we’re gonna make incredible progress... if we can get that under control... the improvement in our health overall is going to be massively impactful...” (Stu, [25:15])

  • Karol and Stu discuss the broader impact of these changes—on addiction, mental health, and longevity.
  • Cites Peter Attia’s Outlive as a hopeful, wellness-anchored approach.

• Critical View on New Treatments and Social Response ([27:07])

  • Notes positive knock-on effects of new medications, including reduced addictions and improved health conditions.
  • Remains cautious about overhype but optimistic about holistic improvement:

    “Peter Attia talks about this in his book. It’s like the best drug being not a drug, but exercise. Right. People doing these things. I think there’s real hope here.” (Stu, [29:13])

5. Life and Parenting Advice

• Nugget for Parents: ‘Daddy, Watch’ ([29:47])
  • Stu’s practical, heartfelt advice for busy parents:

    “Every single time that happens to you, look at them. Stop what you’re doing, watch. And most importantly, when they’re done, they’re going to look at you and make sure you’re looking at them in the eyes when that happens.” (Stu, [30:05])

  • Emphasizes the lifelong impact of being present at moments meaningful to children.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We had an event where listeners were all going to come out and meet their favorite host. I kid you not, Carol, literally zero people showed up for this event. Zero.” (Stu, [08:11])
• “We’ve turned everybody into a broadcaster... and I think that’s at least part of the reason everyone’s going insane. So much of it is performative, and I don’t know that that’s healthy for everybody.” (Stu, [15:04])
• “I’m always on that search of what’s actually true, rather than what the party believes today or what the President said or didn’t say...” (Stu, [16:52])
• “Peter Attia talks about this... it’s like the best drug being not a drug, but exercise. Right?” (Stu, [29:13])
• “Every single time that happens to you, look at them. Stop what you’re doing, watch. And most importantly, when they’re done, they’re going to look at you and make sure you’re looking at them in the eyes...” (Stu, [30:05])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:26] — Introductions and early banter
• [04:25]–[09:16] — Stu’s path into media and Glenn Beck origin story
• [11:24] — Rise of podcasting, changing media, and writing as foundation
• [12:55]–[14:20] — Rush Limbaugh, multi-platform demands, media saturation
• [15:04] — “Everyone’s a content creator now” and its costs
• [16:20]–[17:57] — Mindset: independence, contrarianism, example of Breaking Bad
• [24:50]–[29:13] — Future prediction: health, obesity, wellness, changing attitudes
• [29:47]–[31:11] — Stu’s practical tip for parents: “Daddy, watch”

Tone & Language

The conversation is friendly, candid, occasionally self-deprecating, and often humorous—balancing light personal anecdotes with substantive reflections on media, culture, and society.

Summary

This episode is a rich, engaging exploration of media evolution, personal philosophy, and the future of wellness, peppered with the quirks and challenges of living in an age of constant connectivity. Stu Burguiere combines humor and wisdom as he discusses his unorthodox path in radio, the necessity of independent thought, optimism for coming health revolutions, and simple but profound advice for making meaningful connections with family. The tone remains thoughtful yet approachable throughout, offering useful insights for anyone navigating modern media—or modern life.