Normal Men

Episode 18: Ignorance Is BLS ft. Layla al-Sheikh

The Normal Men are thrilled to welcome Layla al-Sheikh, a Palestinian scholar and activist, to help us understand the political roots of the genocide in Gaza and the path forward towards a Palestinian state. Then we get to talk about the nitty-gritty of the US labor market’s statistical system after some significant developments. Also on the menu: Disco Elysium, a defense of Oracle, and discussion of two of the biggest freaks inside the Trump Administration’s impressive roster of degenerates. You can follow Layla on Bluesky @diplomatofnight.com and her work is also available at to-our-land.ghost.io.
Chapters:
0:00 Disco Elysium & Gaming Debate8:05 Introducing Gaza & Guest Leila Al Sheikh11:07 Palestine-Israel Conflict History30:20 Erosion of Peace & October 7th Attacks43:28 Gaza Genocide & Shifting US Opinion1:05:43 International Recognition of Palestine1:15:50 US Jobs Report & BLS Controversy1:28:00 Outro & Random Banter
Chapters:
0:00 Disco Elysium & Gaming Debate8:05 Introducing Gaza & Guest Leila Al Sheikh11:07 Palestine-Israel Conflict History30:20 Erosion of Peace & October 7th Attacks43:28 Gaza Genocide & Shifting US Opinion1:05:43 International Recognition of Palestine1:15:50 US Jobs Report & BLS Controversy1:28:00 Outro & Random Banter

Episode 17: Ordering In, Hulking Out ft. Josie Riesman

This week the boys dive deep into food delivery and the political, economic, and technological forces that drive it…and the discourse around it. We’re also lucky to be joined by Josie Riesman, the author of the definitive book on wrestling promoter Vince McMahon. She helps us understand the role that Hulk Hogan specifically and wrestling played in shaping our politics and culture. You can follow her on Bluesky @josie.zone. Her work can also be found at josie.zone including Ringmaster: Vince McMahon And The Unmaking of America. Please note George’s audio sucks for this one and we’re really sorry about that but Ed has promised us the mics are in the mail.
Chapters:
0:00 Donkey Kong & Podcast Intro4:11 Fast Food Delivery & Jason Steen16:44 Jason Steen's Character & System23:43 App Addiction & DoorDash Economics39:04 Health, Cooking & Human Connection50:14 Guest Josie Reisman: Wrestling History1:09:47 Hulk Hogan: Controversies & Gawker1:18:10 Guest Outro & Farewell
Chapters:
0:00 Donkey Kong & Podcast Intro4:11 Fast Food Delivery & Jason Steen16:44 Jason Steen's Character & System23:43 App Addiction & DoorDash Economics39:04 Health, Cooking & Human Connection50:14 Guest Josie Reisman: Wrestling History1:09:47 Hulk Hogan: Controversies & Gawker1:18:10 Guest Outro & Farewell

Episode 16: The Shadowy Hand of the Brooklyn DSA

The Normal Men discuss the toxic effects on democracy and growth of high income inequality and the means of maintaining it (including crypto). Also on the docket: more Epstein and Glonzo discussion and regretfully a review of why New York politicians are being so weird.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Quebec Militia & Normalcy3:00 Economic Equality and Growth12:30 Concentrated Wealth and Political Power23:00 Trump, Epstein, and Political Fallout36:00 Murdoch, Media, and "Glonzo"47:00 NYC Mayoral Race: Mamdani vs. Machine1:03:00 2028 Presidential Race Outlook1:14:00 Final Predictions and Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Quebec Militia & Normalcy3:00 Economic Equality and Growth12:30 Concentrated Wealth and Political Power23:00 Trump, Epstein, and Political Fallout36:00 Murdoch, Media, and "Glonzo"47:00 NYC Mayoral Race: Mamdani vs. Machine1:03:00 2028 Presidential Race Outlook1:14:00 Final Predictions and Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Quebec Militia & Normalcy3:00 Economic Equality and Growth12:30 Concentrated Wealth and Political Power23:00 Trump, Epstein, and Political Fallout36:00 Murdoch, Media, and "Glonzo"47:00 NYC Mayoral Race: Mamdani vs. Machine1:03:00 2028 Presidential Race Outlook1:14:00 Final Predictions and Outro

Episode 15: Les Givrals Was Lost In A Poker Game Ft. Swolecialism

GOLIKEHELLMACHINE is back with a new recurring segment! The Men are also joined by one of their Normal friends to talk about the unhinged world of Texas politics. Also up for discussion: MacArthur Park in Los Angeles and the world of immigration.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Pepsi Debate2:53 Mailbag: Politics, Football & Patriots11:33 Mailbag: Rural Heartland Fascination16:10 Mailbag: Barricade Skills for Democracy21:57 Texas Blue Alerts & Flash Floods32:20 Texas Politics: Ken Paxton & Tim Dunn43:53 Houston's Diversity & Food Scene53:09 MacArthur Park Military & ICE1:01:13 Glonzo Principle & Epstein Files
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Pepsi Debate2:53 Mailbag: Politics, Football & Patriots11:33 Mailbag: Rural Heartland Fascination16:10 Mailbag: Barricade Skills for Democracy21:57 Texas Blue Alerts & Flash Floods32:20 Texas Politics: Ken Paxton & Tim Dunn43:53 Houston's Diversity & Food Scene53:09 MacArthur Park Military & ICE1:01:13 Glonzo Principle & Epstein Files

Episode 14: Caked Up

It was a pretty rough week as far as news goes so the boys focus on the lighter things in life: unhinged Twitter accounts transvestigating NFL running backs, the best mass transit system south of DC, the meaningful victories for Congressional staffs that kept bad stuff out of the Republican reconciliation bill, and the latest bonfire of Elon Musk’s vanity known as the America Party. We also have full analysis of what emerged from the Senate and its brutal implications for American society.
Chapters:
0:00 Derrick Henry Transvestigation & Tackle8:32 July 4th & Orlando MLS Hate14:52 Florida Sports & Atlanta Traffic Woes23:56 Good News: Bill's Blocked Provisions35:23 Bad News: Bill's Dire Consequences53:42 Everglades Detention Facility Horrors1:01:13 Elon Musk's America Party & Grok
Chapters:
0:00 Derrick Henry Transvestigation & Tackle8:32 July 4th & Orlando MLS Hate14:52 Florida Sports & Atlanta Traffic Woes23:56 Good News: Bill's Blocked Provisions35:23 Bad News: Bill's Dire Consequences53:42 Everglades Detention Facility Horrors1:01:13 Elon Musk's America Party & Grok

Episode 13: (You Can’t) Escape From New York Ft. Detective Pikajew

The Normal Men welcome New York political observer and union activist Detective Pikajew to chat about the huge win for Zohran Mamdani in that city’s mayoral primary as well as some union business. Also: loaded words and their definitions, an extremely bad Supreme Court case, and Tillis taps out in the Old North State. Follow our guest Detective Pikajew on Bluesky @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Mamdani's NYC Win15:36 Polling Miss & Youth Vote23:24 Gender, Franken & Mamdani's Support31:12 Intifada, Zionism & Gillibrand39:00 NYC Legal Services Unionization54:36 SCOTUS Nationwide Injunctions Ruling1:10:12 North Carolina Senate Race1:16:26 Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Mamdani's NYC Win15:36 Polling Miss & Youth Vote23:24 Gender, Franken & Mamdani's Support31:12 Intifada, Zionism & Gillibrand39:00 NYC Legal Services Unionization54:36 SCOTUS Nationwide Injunctions Ruling1:10:12 North Carolina Senate Race1:16:26 Outro

Episode 12: One Man Out, One Man In

We say good bye (for now) to one of the Men before welcoming a new Man in his stead. The updated quartet then gets down to business discussing the US attack on Iran, the information environment, and the best ways to use AI. For show notes, links to our socials, and a transcript of this episode, check out normalmenpodcast.com! The Normal Men are supporting Time Out Youth via a Prideraiser during June! For every goal Charlotte FC (soccer team) scores in June, pledge a donation amount. At the end, you'll donate the pledge amount multiplied by the goals scored. A pledge link is available at peark.es/prideraiser!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Co-host Banter5:59 US Strikes on Iran25:33 Geopolitical & Economic Impact37:50 Glonzo and Misinformation49:14 Fascism and Elite Acceptance56:43 AI and Cognitive Debt1:04:49 Outro and Plugs

Episode 11: Something Good Is Happening Somewhere

One of the Normal Men has to go on hiatus, but three soldier on to talk about a vegan on a rampage, Israel’s attack on Iran, No Kings Day protests, and the disconnect between national politics and local reaction.
For every goal Charlotte FC (soccer team) scores in June, pledge a donation amount. At the end, you’ll donate the pledge amount multiplied by the goals scored.
Chapters:
0:00 Vegan Tofu & Lab-Grown Meat5:47 Welcome & Housekeeping8:15 Israel-Iran Hot War30:35 US Domestic Unrest & Military38:51 Legal Battles: National Guard & Marines46:42 No King's Day & Army Parade52:30 Local Police & Democracy Breakdown59:58 Optimistic Note & Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Vegan Tofu & Lab-Grown Meat5:47 Welcome & Housekeeping8:15 Israel-Iran Hot War30:35 US Domestic Unrest & Military38:51 Legal Battles: National Guard & Marines46:42 No King's Day & Army Parade52:30 Local Police & Democracy Breakdown59:58 Optimistic Note & Outro

Episode 10: Faine Would I Fly, Yet Fear I To Fall

This week, we welcome our first guest, Faine Greenwood, to talk about drones, Elon Musk and the purgatory party train that is Bluesky.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Ukraine Drone Attack1:55 Drone Tech & Covert Operations5:40 Drone Terrorism & Reproducibility11:30 Drone Costs & Cartel Use15:50 Drone Limitations & China's Influence20:00 Civilian Drone Uses & Protests23:40 Musk vs. Trump Feud & Fallout36:50 Pride, Blue Sky & Alf Hogg47:00 Blue Sky Habits & Outro
Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Ukraine Drone Attack1:55 Drone Tech & Covert Operations5:40 Drone Terrorism & Reproducibility11:30 Drone Costs & Cartel Use15:50 Drone Limitations & China's Influence20:00 Civilian Drone Uses & Protests23:40 Musk vs. Trump Feud & Fallout36:50 Pride, Blue Sky & Alf Hogg47:00 Blue Sky Habits & Outro

Episode 9: De Cuckstoel Es Bezet

This week, we talk about Elon Musk (again) and his drugs, what his missteps mean for DOGE, new news on tariffs, and the Trump Administration’s war on the legal system.
Chapters:
0:00 Podcast Intro & Elon Musk's Downfall5:00 Elon's White House Exit & Shiner10:00 Elon's Health & Doge's Future15:00 Joni Ernst's Impunity & Danger20:00 Doge, Project 2025 & Bureaucracy25:00 Doge's Internal Conflicts & Firing28:00 Tariffs & International Trade Court36:00 Supreme Court & Major Questions Doctrine41:00 Trump vs. Legal Establishment54:00 Outro & Pride Month Fundraiser