How to Get Scammed! w/ Joe List | Are You Garbage Comedy Podcast w/ Kevin Ryan & H. Foley
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Joe List lost a large bank check, representing a significant portion of his savings, after mailing it to himself via a street mailbox for an investment, and it has been missing for weeks.
- ❖List spent $175 on a USA-themed sweatshirt, which led to an awkward interaction with a Russian Starbucks barista who perceived him as aggressive.
- ❖The hosts and guest humorously debate the 'classiness' of various actions, from wearing sports jerseys at home to paying for a fellow comedian's hotel stay (with a gender-biased motive).
- ❖Joe List admits to ordering $50 worth of McDonald's delivery daily, even when his wife cooks, and using his building's lobby bathroom for privacy.
- ❖The group identifies several plot holes in 'The Shawshank Redemption,' including the implausibility of the suit fitting and the physics of the sewer pipe escape.
- ❖List's parents, despite being retired and sharing one car, refuse to drive his car from Massachusetts to New York City due to city driving anxiety.
Insights
1The Peril of Outdated Financial Practices
Joe List recounts sending a substantial bank check, representing a large portion of his savings, to himself via a street mailbox for an investment. This check has been missing for weeks, causing significant financial anxiety. This highlights the dangers of using traditional, less secure methods like physical mail for large financial transactions in an era where digital transfers are standard.
List states, 'I went to the bank, got a bank check for an undisclosed amount of money, mailed it to him. I It's like two weeks. I forgot about it. I mailed a check. Two weeks later, I'm like, 'Hey, you never told me you got it.' He's like, 'I haven't gotten that.' And it it's a bank check, so it comes out of the account.' He later confirms he put it in a 'blue box on the street.'
2The Subjectivity of 'Class' in Consumerism and Social Interaction
The podcast frequently revolves around the 'Are You Garbage?' premise, where the hosts and guest debate whether certain actions or purchases are 'classy' or 'trashy.' List's $175 USA sweatshirt, his daily McDonald's habit, and even his decision to partially cover a female comedian's hotel bill are all subjected to this comedic scrutiny, revealing how personal values and perceptions shape views on consumer behavior and social etiquette.
List discusses his $175 USA sweatshirt: 'This is about this about $175 sweatshirt right here.' () and the hosts debate if it's classy (). He also details his daily McDonald's order: 'I order McDonald's delivered every day. I get like $50 McDonald's sent to me.' (). Regarding the hotel, he says, 'If it was a man, would I have done it? Absolutely not.' ()
3Unexamined Flaws in Beloved Narratives
The discussion about 'The Shawshank Redemption' reveals how deeply ingrained and beloved stories can contain significant logical inconsistencies that go unnoticed by many viewers. The hosts and guest point out several plot holes, from the ill-fitting warden's suit to the physics of the sewer pipe escape and the protagonist's knowledge of a specific meeting spot after decades in prison.
The hosts discuss plot holes in 'The Shawshank Redemption,' including the suit fitting ('Why does the suit fit though? Doesn't make any sense. Big flaw in that movie.' ), the poster not being taut enough to rip (), the pressurized sewer pipe (), and the protagonist's knowledge of the outside world after 20 years ().
Lessons
- Avoid mailing large bank checks via public mailboxes; opt for secure wire transfers or in-person delivery for significant financial transactions.
- Review the terms and conditions of investment accounts and confirm receipt of funds with your financial advisor to prevent money from being lost in transit.
- Be mindful of how personal attire or actions might be perceived by others, especially in sensitive social or international contexts, to avoid unintended offense or awkwardness.
Notable Moments
Joe List recounts an awkward interaction at Starbucks while wearing his USA sweatshirt, where a Russian barista seemed timid, making him feel like 'Homelander' asking for papers.
A fan of the podcast told Scott Hamilton, a boyhood idol of one of the hosts, to listen to an episode where the host had jokingly called him 'a big bald homo,' leading to Hamilton's disapproval.
This demonstrates the real-world consequences of comedic banter and the unexpected reach of digital content, even to niche audiences or public figures.
Joe List details his parents' refusal to drive his car from Massachusetts to New York City, despite needing a car and him offering it, due to their anxiety about city driving.
This illustrates a common generational and geographical divide in comfort with urban environments and highlights the challenges of family logistics.
Joe List describes his preference for 'home poops' and his routine of using the quiet, larger public bathrooms in his apartment building's lobby or gym for privacy and comfort.
This offers a humorous and highly specific insight into personal habits and the lengths people go to for comfort and privacy, even in shared spaces.
Quotes
"I'm wearing the USA shirt. She probably thinks I'm like, 'Where the [expletive] you from, lady? Let me see some papers.'"
"I went to the bank, got a bank check for an undisclosed amount of money, mailed it to him. I It's like two weeks. I forgot about it. I mailed a check. Two weeks later, I'm like, 'Hey, you never told me you got it.' He's like, 'I haven't gotten that.'"
"I order McDonald's delivered every day. I get like $50 McDonald's sent to me."
"I took a savings account, wrote it down in a check, put it in the US mail, and have not seen it in 3 weeks."
"I poop in the lobby of my building a lot cuz it's uh it's a quiet little spot. Nobody goes in there."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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