Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Episode: HTDE: AI, War, and Exercise, with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Peter Sagal (NPR)
Notable Guests: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kyle Orland, Tim Carmen, Joey Logano

Episode Overview

This episode of "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!"—subtitled "How To Do Everything"—delivers its trademark blend of news, humor, and oddball advice, centering on three diverse themes: avoiding unwanted AI answers from Google, decoding the mysterious Pentagon pizza index, and the eternal struggle for exercise during long commutes (with advice sought from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger). Regular hosts Mike and Ian are joined by journalists, experts, and celebrity guests, producing an episode brimming with wit, insight, and memorable moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beating Google’s AI Overviews (00:46–03:32)

• Problem: Users are frustrated with inaccurate AI-generated search results crowding out traditional search listings.
• Tip from Kyle Orland (Ars Technica):
  Use a curse word in your Google search—this overrides AI responses and reverts to the classic “10 blue links” list.
  • Quote: “If you want to get rid of those AI overviews, all you have to do is put a curse word into the search engine box…” – Kyle Orland (01:01)
  • Discussion on SafeSearch and insider speculation (“Gemini” AI refuses curse words and defaults back to normal search).
  • Environmental impact tangent: AI searches use more energy, but Kyle notes, “...the doordash burrito is probably doing more harm than thousands and thousands of AI searches.” (02:50)

2. The Pentagon Pizza Report – A Bizarre War Predictor (03:42–07:03)

• Background: Conspiracy-adjacent theory: Spikes in Pentagon-area pizza orders could foreshadow major military events.
  • Quote: “Sometimes, very occasionally, I would say very rarely, those spikes correlate to a major world event.” – Tim Carmen (04:23)
• Process insight: Getting pizza into the Pentagon requires special security clearance and pizzas are X-rayed by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.
  • Fun visual: “I asked if a large pizza would fit through the X ray machine and they said yes, it would.” – Tim Carman (06:26)

3. The Commuter’s Dilemma: Can You Exercise in Your Car? (07:03–20:02)

Listener Question (Elizabeth):

Wants practical, safe ways to exercise during her two-hour daily commute—she’s the driver.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Take (08:45–12:12)

• Initial advice: Focus on driving for safety; he shares his habit of abdominal bracing while behind the wheel.
  • Quote: “When I drive with the car, I would just suck in my stomach and hold it as long as I can...” – Arnold Schwarzenegger (09:14)
• Blunt, iconic perspective: Don’t try to combine driving with serious exercise; use other hours in your 24-hour day for the gym.
  • Quote: “You don’t cook in the toilet. In the toilet, you… okay. And that’s what you do in the toilet. And then you’re in the kitchen… So we have to find places where it is appropriate.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger (11:40)
• Memorable moment: Arnold’s dry demeanor and old-school practical ethos (“Forget about the idea...”) make for comic tension.
  Ian teases listeners to “try and hear the exact moment Arnold Schwarzenegger…starts hating Mike and I...” (08:54)

Testing Car Exercise Plans with Joey Logano (NASCAR Champion): (12:27–18:49)

Mike and Ian, joined by trainer Juan Camilo Acevedo and NASCAR driver Joey Logano, assess the safety and practicality of commuter workouts:

• Jefferson Curl (13:03)
  • Immediate veto for safety: “No, this is a hard no. You can’t put your head down… while you’re trying to drive.” – Joey Logano (13:24)
• Modified Hamstring Curl (14:14)
  • Plausible on cruise control: “As you drag your feet back, so can work… only negatives…your floor mats are gonna wrinkle up.” – Joey Logano (14:48)
• Resistance Band Arm Extensions (16:18)
  • Impractical, funny visual: “You’re gonna have one hand on the wheel, and you’re gonna have to ask Jesus to take the wheel with the other hand.” – Joey Logano (17:09)
• NASCAR-specific insight:
  • Race car seat restricts movement; the real workout is just driving (“I don’t need to add more.” – 17:34)
  • Joey dispels bathroom myth: drivers sweat out fluids, don’t stop to pee.
• Car pushing workout: Extreme and definitely not street-safe.
• Hosts’ disclaimer: Do these exercises only while safely parked, or with a professional driver on a closed course.

4. Out-of-Office Helpers: Hilarious Community Follow-Up (22:32–27:52)

The hosts revisit their offer to be out-of-office contacts for listeners, resulting in some delightfully odd email and phone interactions.

• Peggy’s signature update: Mystery solved; signature retrieved.
• George’s microscope education:
  • Listeners get a crash course in the confocal microscope.
  • Sound advice: “Always be sure to turn off the laser after you leave. Otherwise it becomes a very expensive problem afterward.” – George (27:21)
• Hosts bemused at engagement:
  • Quote: “I think we keep being surprised that people are actually responding to these out of office messages.” – Ian (26:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker / Segment | Quote / Highlight | |-----------|-------------------|-------------------| | 01:01 | Kyle Orland | “If you want to get rid of those AI overviews, all you have to do is put a curse word into the search engine box...” | | 05:43 | Tim Carmen | “You cannot be a delivery driver and just pull up to the Pentagon and walk in and have 12 pizzas…” | | 09:14 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | “When I drive with the car, I would just suck in my stomach and hold it as long as I can...” | | 11:40 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | “You don’t cook in the toilet. In the toilet, you… okay. And that’s what you do in the toilet...” | | 13:24 | Joey Logano | “No, this is a hard no. You can’t put your head down… while you’re trying to drive.” | | 17:09 | Joey Logano | “You’re gonna have one hand on the wheel, and you’re gonna have to ask Jesus to take the wheel with the other hand.” | | 27:21 | George | “Always be sure to turn off the laser after you leave. Otherwise it becomes a very expensive problem afterward.” |

Segment Timestamps

• AI Search Tip (& Energy Discussion): 00:46–03:32
• Pentagon Pizza Report: 03:42–07:03
• Listener Exercise Question & Schwarzenegger Interview: 07:03–12:12
• Car Exercise Trials with Joey Logano: 12:27–20:02
• Out-of-Office Message Follow-Ups: 22:32–27:52

Style, Tone, & Final Thoughts

The episode matches “Wait Wait…”’s wry and warm vibe: full of tongue-in-cheek advice, honest commentary, relatable oddities, and rapid banter. Arnold’s straight-talking sensibility provides an excellent comedic contrast to the hosts’ playful irreverence. The in-car exercise experiments are both hilarious and instructive—more cautionary tale than actual fitness guide.

The show closes with another clever callback as Ian and Mike marvel at the human ingenuity of outwitting AI, and the absurd joy of being entrusted with listeners’ work emergencies—no matter how minor.

For listeners pressed for time: Tune in for Arnold’s classic advice (09:14–12:12), NASCAR’s inside view on driving-as-exercise (14:14–18:49), or try Kyle’s trick for beating Google’s AI answers (00:46–03:32). And if you’re ever emailing a Pentagon pizza order, don’t forget the X-ray.