Mile High Club w/ Mark Normand! | Are You Garbage Comedy Podcast w/ Kevin Ryan & H. Foley
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Mark Normand considers not stealing at self-checkout a 'rich' feeling, implying his usual practice is to pilfer small items.
- ❖The hosts and Normand express frustration over modern businesses charging for previously free amenities like bread, bags, and even ketchup.
- ❖Mark Normand does not have health or car insurance, seeing it as a way to save money, despite the inherent risks.
- ❖The experience of a 'late checkout' at a hotel is framed as a luxurious, king-like feeling.
- ❖A 'garbage' move is using all sick days immediately after giving two weeks' notice at a job.
- ❖The hosts and Normand debate the 'trashiness' of taking family photos at funerals because everyone is dressed up.
- ❖Mark Normand recounts a home invasion where the thief only took cash, leaving electronics, suggesting a 'crackhead' motive.
- ❖The 'Mile High Club' phenomenon is attributed to heightened emotions and horniness experienced during flights.
Insights
1The 'Self-Checkout Tax' and the Illusion of Wealth
Mark Normand humorously frames not stealing at self-checkout as a 'rich' feeling, indicating his common practice of taking small items as a 'tip' for performing the cashier's job. This highlights a common, albeit illicit, consumer behavior driven by a sense of being exploited by self-service systems.
Mark Normand states, 'Sometimes I'll go to the self-checkout and not steal and I feel like a king. Like what an upstanding citizen I am. I could have taken those raspberries.' ()
2The Erosion of Free Amenities and the Squeeze on Consumers
The hosts and guest lament the widespread trend of businesses, particularly restaurants and hotels, eliminating previously complimentary services and items (e.g., bread baskets, ketchup, late checkouts, plastic bags). This reflects a broader economic shift where companies pass costs onto consumers, leading to a perception of declining value and increased 'nickel-and-diming.'
Kevin Ryan notes, 'Every restaurant used to give you, you go to a Mexican restaurant, they put chips and salsa on the table. Now it's $5. No more bread baskets. No more bags... The ketchup was was extra money.' ()
3The Comedian's Perspective on Personal Finance and Risk
Mark Normand reveals a highly unconventional approach to personal finance by not having health or car insurance, viewing it as a cost-saving measure. This contrarian stance, while risky, offers a glimpse into a mindset that prioritizes immediate savings over long-term security, common among some in less traditional careers.
When asked about healthcare, Normand states, 'I've never had it. I still don't have it. You know how much money I've saved not having it? You're just throwing money away every month.' () He later confirms he also lacks car insurance ().
4The Psychological Impact of Travel and Confined Spaces
The hosts and Normand discuss how being in confined travel environments like cruise ships or airplanes can heighten emotions, leading to unexpected behaviors or feelings. This psychological effect, where the sense of being 'stuck' or facing potential danger amplifies primal urges, is humorously linked to phenomena like the 'Mile High Club.'
Normand explains, 'The plane makes your emotions go up. That's why you cry during movies on plane. Yeah. So I think you get horned up too more. Everything is uh heightened.' ()
Bottom Line
Mark Normand's strategy of not having health or car insurance is presented as a radical cost-saving measure, despite the obvious risks.
This highlights a segment of the population, particularly those with unpredictable income or a strong aversion to recurring costs, who opt out of traditional insurance systems, gambling on their health and safety.
For insurance providers, this indicates a need for highly flexible, low-cost, or 'pay-as-you-go' models that might appeal to individuals who perceive traditional plans as an unnecessary expense.
The observation that 'garbage' behaviors, like stealing from self-checkout, are seen as a 'tip' for performing unpaid labor, reflects a subtle rebellion against automation and perceived corporate greed.
This mindset suggests a growing resentment among consumers who feel they are doing more work (scanning, bagging) without receiving any benefit, leading to a justification for minor theft.
Retailers could explore loyalty programs or small, immediate discounts for self-checkout users to reframe the experience as a benefit rather than an imposition, potentially reducing 'shrinkage' from such 'tips'.
Lessons
- Re-evaluate your spending on everyday amenities that were once free; consider if the perceived value aligns with the new cost.
- Before giving notice at a job, review your company's sick day and vacation policies to maximize any accrued benefits.
- Reflect on the 'garbage' behaviors you might engage in, and consider the underlying reasons, whether for humor, rebellion, or convenience.
Notable Moments
Mark Normand's vintage car breaks down on the turnpike, leading to a series of 'dirt bag' favors, including a stranger towing it and a mechanic friend fixing it without proper paperwork.
This story exemplifies a 'trashy' yet resourceful approach to problem-solving, relying on personal connections and bending rules rather than formal services, highlighting a subculture of mutual aid among certain groups.
A childhood story of a prank phone call where a pervert asked the host about his mom's underwear, which his mom later overheard on voicemail.
This anecdote underscores the vulnerability of children and the unexpected ways they can be exposed to disturbing situations, creating lasting, albeit comedic, trauma.
The host recounts being hit in the head with a pot by his mom, requiring stitches, and his decision to keep quiet at the hospital to avoid CPS involvement.
This dark comedic story illustrates the complex dynamics within dysfunctional families, where loyalty and self-preservation can override reporting abuse, and how such incidents can be held as leverage.
Quotes
"Sometimes I'll go to the self-checkout and not steal and I feel like a king. Like what an upstanding citizen I am. I could have taken those raspberries."
"I've never had [healthcare]. I still don't have it. You know how much money I've saved not having it? You're just throwing money away every month."
"The plane makes your emotions go up. That's why you cry during movies on plane. Yeah. So I think you get horned up too more. Everything is uh heightened."
"It's like a song on the radio. You hear it once and hear two weeks later."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
STILL SIPPIN W/ POUR MINDS, KARLOUS MILLER & MONEYBAG MAFIA | 85 SOUTH SHOW
"The 85 South Show hosts and guests Poor Minds and Moneybag Mafia engage in a hilariously unfiltered discussion covering relationship dynamics, unexpected business ventures, and the pervasive influence of TikTok, all while sharing their unique perspectives on life's absurdities."
Tracy Morgan Claims He Is the King of New York and Started the Riverboat Brawl, Talks Reggie Dinkins
"Tracy Morgan delivers a masterclass in comedic chaos, claiming to be Jacques Cousteau's grandson, the 'King of New York,' and the instigator of the infamous Alabama riverboat brawl."
Jokes On Us | Reading Reddit Stories
"The Smosh crew dissects a series of Reddit stories about pranks gone wrong, from an 'apple-tarian' diet that ended a relationship to a boyfriend's psychological torture with a beeping device, revealing the fine line between humor and emotional damage."
Ep 594 - Gooniverse (feat. Steve Gerben & Billy)
"The hosts and guests dive into a chaotic mix of personal fitness goals, political commentary, bizarre internet subcultures, and hilariously awkward social encounters, all while maintaining their signature irreverent humor."