The Nateland Podcast – Episode 281: Mount Everest (December 3, 2025)

Hosts: Nate Bargatze, Aaron Weber, Dusty Slay
Absent: Brian Bates (out sick)

Overview

This episode of The Nateland Podcast takes a comedic yet insightful look at the topic of Mount Everest, meandering through stories of hiking, achievement, and the absurdities that surround the world’s tallest mountain. Nate, Aaron, and Dusty, joined in spirit by the ailing Brian Bates, discuss everything from the spectacle and commercialization of Everest to personal stories of getting in over your head—literally and metaphorically. They pepper the conversation with trademark banter, old stand-up bits, and musings on ambition, triumph, and failure, all delivered in their signature, easygoing style.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sick Days, College Football, and the Reluctant Absence of Bates ([00:42] – [11:51])

• The episode opens with light-hearted chatter about Brian Bates being out sick, leading to a humorous run on “old timey diseases” like mumps and polio.
• Anecdotes about drooling in sleep and the relative seriousness of various childhood illnesses.
• Nate shares details of attending a pivotal Vanderbilt football game and recounts being part of locker room celebrations—emphasizing how much Bates missed out.
• Discussion of college football playoff drama, biases in playoff committees, and the tendency of big-name teams (e.g., Notre Dame) to receive favorable treatment.

Quote:
“Bates is out cold because, I mean, this was a big a...this podcast. And he was going to come with me to the ... game.” – Nate ([05:33])

2. Stand-Up Updates, Thanksgiving, and Celebrity Meetups ([25:44] – [27:44])

• Dusty recounts appearing on The Tonight Show and meeting Tim Allen.
• The group discusses the value of asking seasoned comedians about their first late-night TV appearances.

Quote:
“I got to meet Tim Allen. He was great. Very nice. Talked to him for a bit about his first time doing Johnny Carson.” – Dusty ([26:57])

3. Listener Comments: On Balloons, Bathrooms, and Schizophrenia Commercials ([27:47] – [44:42])

• The hosts read and riff on user-submitted comments—stories range from crazy bathroom stall encounters to front-yard dumpster pools in Florida.
• Audience stories about sending balloons with messages and receiving calls from far-away finders segue into a mini-history of the Macy’s Day Parade balloons.

Quote:
“A house where I grew up in Florida had one. Of course, it wasn’t as much as a pool as it was a 30-yard dumpster lined with a tarp…” – Listener (‘Cam Rom’), read by Nate ([32:25])

4. Jokes About Climbing: From Banff to Mount Everest ([46:01] – [56:04])

• Nate dusts off an old joke about attending a corporate talk from an Everest climber: “What’s your Mount Everest?” “His Mount Everest was Mount Everest!” ([46:34])
• The group relives grueling hiking trips—12 hours in Banff, Montana—and the surreal experience of rejoining regular society after such an expedition.

Quote:
“We walked in, and it was like, we might as well have just been on the moon and came back, because everybody’s normal. And you’ve just been out for 12 hours.” – Nate ([49:39])

5. The Realities of Everest: History, Logistics, and Dying at the Summit ([59:02] – [94:32])

• Everest Facts: At 29,000 feet, Everest is the highest point above sea level, but not technically the tallest base-to-peak mountain (that’s Mauna Kea).
• First Ascent: Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Sherpa) first summited in 1953, refusing to state who set foot on the summit first, illustrating the team spirit of the achievement.
• Modern Commercialization: Thousands attempt Everest annually, leading to overcrowding and shocking amounts of trash and abandoned climbing gear. Sherpa guide Kami Rita has climbed it a record 31 times.
• Dangers and the 'Death Zone': Above 8,000 meters (~26,000 ft), oxygen is so low that survival is limited. Many climbers die and their remains become landmarks.
• Overcrowding: The infamous summit queue—sometimes dozens waiting to snap a summit photo. The accomplishment can feel diminished due to the crowds.

Quote:
“He died upset with what it was like... he was like, just... the over-commercialization of it... and all the trash and everything up there.” – Aaron on Sir Edmund Hillary ([80:51])

Quote (on dying short of the peak):
“Imagine dying before the death zone. You didn't even make it to the death…” – Dusty ([84:22])

6. Reflections: Why Climb? Ambition, Regret, and Sherpa Humor ([67:25] – [95:05])

• The discussion turns philosophical: What drives someone to conquer Everest? Is it the achievement, the story, or the challenge?
• The hosts weigh whether feats of endurance “count” if thousands have done them, or if the Sherpas (who guide and rescue multiple expeditions each year) are the real MVPs.
• They joke about how dying (or being immortalized as a frozen landmark, like “Green Boots”) is the only way to truly 'last' on Everest.

Quote (Sherpa perspective):
“I'd have him [Sherpa record-holder] come sit in the front row as they start their speech…‘Now, please tell us about your one time.’” – Nate ([94:50])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On College Football and Life’s “Mount Everest”:

  • "What's your Mount Everest?...Keep in mind, this guy's Mount Everest was Mount Everest." – Aaron, recalling Nate’s old stand-up ([47:09])

• On Climbing’s Aftermath:

  • “We walked in, and it was like, we might as well have been on the moon and came back, because everybody's normal. And you've just been out for 12 hours.” – Nate ([49:39])

• On Everest Tourism:

  • “When people climb Mount Everest, are they at the peak?...Are they putting an arm around it, waving a flag?” – Dusty ([59:54])

• On Sherpas' Accomplishments:

  • “There was one dude...has climbed Mount Everest the most times, 31 times...Just another day at the office.” – Aaron ([94:13])

• On Deathly Ambition:

  • "Imagine dying before the death zone. You didn’t even make it to the death..." – Dusty ([84:22])

• On Regret:

  • “You like to think about regrets in the last moment of life.” – Aaron ([95:35])

• On Outdoing Each Other:

  • “I would like to have that guy [the 31-time Sherpa]...come sit in the front row as they start their speech …‘Now, please tell us about your one time.’” – Nate ([94:50])

Key Everest Facts from the Episode

• Height: 29,032 feet (5.5 miles); highest point above sea level ([59:02])
• First climbed: 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay ([60:13])
• Death Zone: Above 8,000 meters (~26,000 feet), oxygen too thin to sustain life ([84:58])
• Current commercialization: Up to 1,000 climbers/year; $35,000–$100,000 per expedition ([67:02])
• Record: Kami Rita Sherpa—31 summits ([94:13])
• Notorious features: Dead bodies as landmarks (“Green Boots,” “Rainbow Valley”) ([90:19])

Comic Relief & Tangents

• Front-yard pools made from lined dumpsters: “Not sure I've seen a man with more confidence…just living life, floating around in his front yard dumpster pool.” ([32:25])
• Balloon anecdotes and the Macy’s Parade history—$100 reward for finding a parade balloon in the 1920s–’30s ([42:52])
• Over-medication and “normalizing” heartburn and schizophrenia via commercials ([29:44])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:42] – Show opens, Bates’ illness & “old timey diseases”
• [07:46] – College football playoff talk
• [25:44] – Thanksgiving and Tonight Show update
• [27:47] – Listener Comments
• [32:25] – Dumpster pool anecdote
• [46:01] – Everest segment begins (old joke and Banff hike)
• [59:02] – Everest facts: height, base-to-summit, “death zone”
• [60:13] – First ascent, Hillary and Norgay
• [67:02] – Modern Everest, cost, and numbers
• [80:51] – Hillary’s regrets about commercialization
• [84:58] – “Death Zone” explained
• [90:19] – “Green Boots” and “Rainbow Valley” (dead body landmarks)
• [94:13] – Sherpa record (31 summits)
• [98:12] – Comparisons of personal mountain hikes

Tone & Style

As always, the tone is irreverent, observational, and full of playful jabs—both at each other and at the broader absurdities of life, aspiration, and human frailty. Tangents flow freely; insights are delivered through the lens of self-deprecating humor and southern logic.

Closing

The episode closes with talk of future tour dates—Nate’s upcoming performances, Aaron’s East Coast stops, and Dusty’s casino gigs—plus well-wishes for the perennially missed Brian Bates.

Final sentiment:
“Mount Everest is fun. It is fun. Let’s go do it.” – Aaron ([95:58])

In Summary

For both fans and first-time listeners, this episode offers a blend of laughter, relatable storytelling, and a surprising amount of Everest trivia—all delivered with the camaraderie and comedic timing that defines The Nateland Podcast. Whether you’re contemplating your own “Everest” or just grateful your “death zone” is surviving Thanksgiving dinner, the episode reminds listeners that life’s greatest peaks (and pitfalls) are best approached with a sense of humor.