Normal Men

Episode 35 - Light, Sweet, Crude

The majesty and the mystery of Lane Kiffin, what on earth is up with oil, war crimes in your war crimes, and optimism in Tennessee.
Chapters:
0:00 The Boston Molasses Disaster5:00 College Football: ACC & Lane Kiffin22:20 Global Oil Market Dynamics35:00 OPEC, EVs, and Geopolitical Oil Play50:00 Oil Geopolitics: Russia, Venezuela, US1:01:00 Trump Admin War Crimes & Fallout1:11:00 Tennessee Special Election1:23:50 Episode Wrap-up

Episode 34 - Mail Gobblin’ ft. golikehellmachine

Talking turkey, taking questions, slandering yams, and giving thanks with distinguished alumnus golikehellmachine.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Blue Sky Food Discourse2:22 Podcast Intro & Trump's Post6:13 Vehicle Must-Haves & Deal Breakers12:56 Friendsgiving & Dinner Guests19:37 Thanksgiving Music & Gravy Debate29:53 Hosting & Turkey Debate38:53 Dealing with Racist Uncle46:33 Lightning Round: Sides, Pies & Trolls57:01 Outro

Episode 33 - Straight to Jael ft. Jael Holzman

Green energy and touring finances with Jael Holzman of Heatmap and Ekko Astral (@jael.bsky.social), the Epstein Files, and Peak Trump.
 
listen to Horse Glue by Ekko Astral here:  https://ekkoastral.bandcamp.com/album/horseglueand submit questions for mailbag here:  https://golikehellmachine.com/2025/11/16/thanksgiving-mailbag/
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Casual Food Chat5:20 Energy Transition & Policy16:00 Fossil Fuel Influence & Geothermal30:00 Political Risk & Media Critique42:30 Echo Astral & Music Life58:30 Jeffrey Epstein Email Dump1:26:00 Epstein's Political Impact1:37:30 Has Trump's Era Peaked?1:46:00 CBP in Charlotte & Outro

Episode 32 - Brain Cramps ft. Haydon

Normal Man Haydon (@haydonmp.bsky.social) joins us to talk about strokes and those who may have had them!  In addition to that premortem, shutdown perimortem and election postmortem.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Trump's Health & Guest4:10 Analyzing Trump's Health Signs15:40 Transparency, Aging, Public Office24:20 Cognitive Tests for Presidents35:00 Stroke Risks & Longevity Obsessions43:30 Government Shutdown: The CR Deal1:01:00 Shutdown Politics & Caucus Dynamics1:15:00 House Democrats' Frustration1:24:00 Post-Election Analysis & 2024 Outlook

Episode 31 - No Jeep Til Brooklyn

Truck Talk returns with harsh words for Stellantis, SNAP impact discussion (human edition not macro edition), and just-in-time election previews (at 43:50).
 
please help some people out at:https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7634
Chapters:
0:00 Jeep Wrangler & Stellantis Woes5:00 EV Range & Hybrid Benefits10:00 ICE vs EV: The Value Argument27:10 Normal Men Intro & Feeding America30:00 SNAP Funding Cliff & Consequences40:00 Political Blame & Election Forecasts44:30 Virginia & New Jersey Governor Races55:00 New York City Mayor & Betting1:05:00 Final Thoughts & Charity Call

Episode 30 - Planned Platnerhood ft. Liz Sepper

Prof. Liz Sepper joins us to talk state of play on reproductive rights (remember those?), we do the needful on Graham Platner, and the Trump Administration prepares to Thanos SNAP.add'l reading:  
Hospital system outcomes in Texas:https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston
George's coffee table:
https://bittersoutherner.com/magazine

Episode 29 - Gam-Gam Got Hands ft. Don Moynihan

The incomparable Don Moynihan (@donmoyn.bsky.social) joins us to talk administrative burden, No Kings gets people in the streets, and there are hijinks in Argentina.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & College Athletics System7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & College Athletics System7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout

Episode 28 - George Takes Portugal

On the joys of travel, Chinese tariffs and mineral access, and appropriate appropriations.
Chapters:
0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro

Episode 27 - Frog in the Streets and a Freak in the Sheets

A Normal Man returns to take us through the unpleasantness in Portland, we break down the shutdown, and sans George the video game freaks get digital.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Portlandia Ad2:59 Portland Occupation & Absurdity13:43 Legal Status of Portland Occupation22:39 Fox News & Media Critique25:38 Oregon Political Unity & ICE32:47 Government Shutdown in DC41:44 Shutdown Impact & Future50:05 What We've Been Up To1:00:13 Outro & Yarvin Quote
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Portlandia Ad2:59 Portland Occupation & Absurdity13:43 Legal Status of Portland Occupation22:39 Fox News & Media Critique25:38 Oregon Political Unity & ICE32:47 Government Shutdown in DC41:44 Shutdown Impact & Future50:05 What We've Been Up To1:00:13 Outro & Yarvin Quote

Episode 26 - Feckless v Flaccid

With special guest Eva Cantor (@machete.gay on Bluesky).  George talks us through some real economic growth, Propter breaks down pre-snap federal shutdown reads, Eva talks us through a whole lot of violent extremism, and the gun touchers geek out.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro, Eric Adams, and Podcast Setup12:24 Economic Growth and Tariffs25:58 Government Shutdown and Politics45:36 Cheer Wine and Glonzo49:24 Extremism: Shooters and Motivations1:06:35 Gun Culture and Violence Normalization1:18:56 Positive Ideation and Metric System