Air Travel Elitists (#190)

Mike and Doug catch up after a break, covering everything from luggage durability tests to the strange world of TikTok rabbit holes. They dive into echo chambers, politics leading up to the election, and the odd realities of air travel. 

Highlights:

• Doug’s quest for the toughest carry-on luggage.
• Mike’s deep dive into TikTok, from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to political spirals.
• The value of stepping out of echo chambers, and how air travel forces us to interact with different people.
• A chat on Trump, Kamala, the election landscape and feeling like elitists.
• Mike’s reflections on freedom after losing their Mormons on Mushrooms Instagram account.

Transcript

0:00

Like I'm gonna somehow without you knowing I'm a flat ear place and while you're at work, I'll be like, yeah, I know his secret hiding spots. Well, for a second there, was like, I was laughing and then I was like, wait, maybe I shouldn't tell my hiding spots. Yeah. And like you said, I don't have much space here in California to have a hiding spot. I'm running out of them. Yeah, you're running out of space. Although you're getting some space, right? Yeah, sign an apartment lease. Last week. Did you, so, yeah, I don't mean to get into the details. All right, well anyway, the details are, it's been a while since we recorded. It has been a while. Yeah. I've been liking your episodes with those people you've been interviewing and recording with. Yeah, that's been fun, but I'm a stag. Yeah. talk about. you know, I've been, God, I've been to New York and Austin and Boise. I've been all over the place. Yeah, I haven't been anywhere. I've been in California. Dude, my carry-on bag, I don't even know what you call it. Just my travel bag, you know, like my little thing that has the pop-up handle and you wheel it around and sometimes you check it and sometimes you can put it on the airplane with you. Yeah, yeah. shit. that it broke. Fortunately, it broke when I was at home unpacking. But the part of this story that to me is funny is have you ever read reviews for carry-on luggage? Well, cause so I had to buy new carry on luggage, you know? So I was like, so I was just like, well, top rated, carry on luggage or, you know, consumers choice, top rated luggage or carry on luggage reviews. Like that's what I typed into the Google. Dude, you can go to any website you want. I'm not kidding you. And one of the staple tests, like one of the professional reviewer. and then write a magazine article about it. everyone who has a website, anyone who does like professional reviews about luggage includes them hitting it numerous times with a baseball bat. I'm not kidding. It's like the test for the durability of your luggage is they take it into a lab and just beat the hell out of it with a baseball bat, specifically baseball bat. It's pretty funny. Are you serious? I don't know if this is funny to anybody at all in the world, but it was funny to me trying to buy a bag. No, the reason why I'm wondering about it, like I asked you that question, are you serious? Ha ha ha ha. Because what? I was realized, I realized I was both intrigued by it and was picturing all these like reviewers, you know, like I'm the New York Times luggage reviewer. Hold on. Hold on as the New York Times have a luggage reviewer. I don't know, I think you're telling me they might. I guess I am Travel Magazine's luggage reviewer or whoever. This is my job. So instead of being a food critic where you're just going around and eating at all the best places and being a snob about them all, your job is basically to always just beat shit out of a baseball bat. Dude, there's probably a baseball bat. There's like a luggage hitting department, right? Like there's because me or maybe it's just all the one person who's like, well, first things first, I smacked the fuck out of it with a baseball bat. Like that's, that's my first order of business. then I cranked it through security and I checked it in and I checked it out and I lugged it on a seven 37 and I lugged it on a seven 27 and I lugged it on a commuter plane and I. like stepped off a curb. There is one thing they're like, yeah, every time like we would, we would step off curbs to see if it like would break the wheels. This is all luggage review stuff. Like there's a whole market out there for luggage review stuff. And I gotta be honest with you, Mike, all this shit sounds insane, but I was reading it like, yeah, that's a really good point. Like sometimes I'll be like kind of like monkeying with my luggage and like pulling it. You step down from a curb and then you start getting that little click, click, click, click, in your one wheel, you know? Yeah. I'm going to be honest with you. I was laughing. I was howling laughing reading these reviews. Like these fuckers are hitting them with baseball bats and they're, you know, traveling like on a, like a, like a red eye to Cincinnati and they're like, they're stepping off curbs. And yet here I am at their website, like, shit, man. Thanks for the heads up dog. This is like a lot of good information to me. So did you get one? I like it. I pulled the trigger. got the one that was like the, like, they were like, this is our favorite one overall. Like, you know, they have categories. It's like most durable, most space available, most hidden, like most pockets and compartments, most fucking stylish. I just got the Samsonite whatever bullshit, you know, like, eh, good enough for me. It's good enough for Samsonite, it's good enough for me. just thinking I should, I think beating the shit out of a piece of luggage with a baseball bat feels so good right now. Dude, and by the way, evidently some of this luggage can take multiple swings from a baseball bat. Yeah, I'm saying I want to get the best luggage so that I can just like break that thing open. Yeah. Just crank away, man. And then if I can make a living off doing that, I'm sold. Okay, good. That's how I can just like simultaneously release all of my anger issues and support my family. And it's also like for me, a, like a crazy, first of all, let's, let's, I don't know what our expectations here are, but I don't know that like luggage reviewers are living this like, like life in a fast lane going to like huge cocktail parties, like meeting celebrities and stuff. don't know that that's their, like out on their yacht and they're like, I guess I got to spend a week reviewing the new Samsonite whatever. So I, you know, I don't know. I don't know what the cost benefit analysis is, but to me it was like a lesson in, damn, like we are so specialized. Like the internet has created this really wild world of specialization. Do you know what mean? So it's so funny to me, like when people talk about like how much information and how much misinformation is out there, it's just like, have information has created its own. Multiple economy. It's just weird to me. I don't know that's now I'm fucking high as shit It's a, well, can we talk about that for a minute? Because I've been sucked into TikTok lately. It finally happened to me. It finally happened that like, you know, it started with our TikTok and then like, was the only place I could go for information for the secret lives of Mormon wives. I mean, I was on Reddit for a while, but Reddit, they're behind, you know, they're all just like, they posted this on TikTok. mean, TikTok's the source for that thing. So you have to go, you have to go to the source. yeah, it's like the least lag time, right? But then over time, it's just really started to get me even to the point where it's like, I mean, I don't know if we want to get into politics, but we're two weeks in front of the election. like it's brought me to all these sites or like these things of these reels of people just like, look guys, ignore the polls. Here's all the reasons why Kamala's got this. It's over. Like it's over. We're seeing the signs Trump. Trump's team's actually just starting now to spin. They know that they're going to lose. So now they're just spinning, or they know they're not going to win. So now they're just spinning the narrative of how we didn't lose. They're more pumping the stop the steal. Yeah. dude, it's so crazy watching those things, bro. Cause it's like, cause we share a Tik Tok. Like I see the same shit you see. And it's just like those weird things of like, you know, you can go down a rabbit hole of people being like, why won't they just like, nobody will say, did Donald Trump lose the election in 2020? Like more and more people suddenly are like, yeah, no, I don't know. It's crazy. By the way. Sorry, go ahead. no. So all the points they're making make so much sense. Like to the point where I'm like, shit, it calmed down my anxiety on the election. And then I'm also like, but this is what they mean to be in an echo chamber. You know what I mean? Like, did I spiral into something that would soothe my, that I'm like, these facts make so much sense. Just like someone on maybe the far right gets into their. echo chamber and they're like, there's no way, there's no way, Trump loses this thing. No way. Everyone I got on tick tock and everyone just talks about how he's already got this in the back. Man, that's so strange because like, it's interesting to hear you say that because I feel like Reddit is a more curatable, like I see what I wanna see on Reddit, you know what I mean? But on TikTok, I do see like, we're pro Trump and here's what's up with Trump. And I see, here's what's up with Kamala. Like, just so you, I don't know, Mike, I don't think that Kamala has it in the bag. I'm worried. I think Trump might win. I think Trump's going to win. So you see what I mean? You're in that TikTok space. And I'm in the one. I don't see any of those. And by the way, I have to admit something. We don't share TikTok. We do with Bombadilio, but I got sick of seeing all the golf videos. So what are you saying? What are you talking about? know, I created a personal TikTok so we could do, remember we were trying to do the two way. We were trying to on Bob Badilio on TikTok, we were trying to do, and I think eventually we can get that to work. So I'm glad I have my own TikTok, but I started scrolling on my own TikTok. So I get my own stuff. Okay, hold up a second. You did say one thing that I gotta like, I am not in the, I am not being convinced by TikTok that Trump's gonna win. I'm telling you that I am worried that we're about to find out just how sexist and racist America is. That's what I'm telling you. Yeah. And so what I'm saying is that you start. Yeah. the cosplaying Trump working up at Donald's, is this stuff making you laugh? I just, this is what we're resorting to now. And then also like the, his comment about, who was it? I mean, who was he talking about that he saw in the locker room and Arnold Palmer. He was basically just like finished his rally talking about Arnold Palmer problems. say his name. Arnold Palmer's cock. Dude, he's such a nut. Like I'm telling you, I am telling you right now, Mike, if Trump had no power over people, like if he had no influence and no like political aspirations, this dude would be funnier than Borat. Like this would like, if Trump was a, was a satirical character that was like a comedian in a fat suit, like it's like, it's really like Louis CK in a, in a fat suit this whole time. It would be Kaufman. It would be like Andy Kaufman esque as far as like legendary comedy. Like the shit that the shit that Trump says, that word is all like, yeah, well, I mean, I guess that's not too bad. Like if you just if you just have someone else read it in a normal person's voice, it's insane. Like it is insane. I've actually seen TikToks with that where people are just reading Trump quotes and they just say it in a normal voice. Dude, what a gold mine. What a gold mine. so what I'm trying to say with that is that you're seeing the algorithms responding to your current you. And where I'm saying, man, I'm pretty convinced Kamala's got this. We're going to be dealing more with the aftermath of stop the steal because it's not, it's not only going to be a win, but I think it's going to be a pretty decisive win for I hope you're right. I hope in fact, Mike, I hope it's such a decisive win that people can't even convince themselves to be like, okay, let's let's storm the cap. Like, let's try to like overturn the election. And we can kind of have this sort of collective breath of, hey, we probably should disagree on some things. But but let's let's Let's not make that our whole fucking identity. Like let's just talk about things and disagree and agree. And sometimes it's like, why not? Why not? I know I sound like an optimist. I mean, we can go down a hippie path here, because wouldn't it be awesome if like, yeah, they take a deep breath and we both go, okay, we've obviously haven't been listening enough to each other here. Like we've been shouting at each other, we've been blaming each other and we created a weird fucking baby. We've created a weird fucking man baby to show to both of us just how we haven't been listening. Yeah, he's, I do, I do. think that like, I don't know, man. I hope that's, because here's why I get concerned. I try to like check myself about this, because I think I'm guilty of it. And more so people who vote on the same side of the aisle as me, sometimes are even guiltier of like, of that, I guess we all are, but just of that thing of like, Okay, everyone who doesn't agree with me is a villain. Everyone who's on the other side of an opinion than me is literally Hitler and they're literally a villain, pedophile. It's like, God, maybe I'm the problem. Do you know what I mean? Like I hate getting into this shit, Mike, when I'm high. By the way, Mike, we smoked. of joy before we started this, right? So that's why we're kind of being a little silly, I guess, right now. I don't Yeah. If this episode so far makes no sense because we've talked about luggage reviewing and Donald Trump. Welcome to Mormon Son Mushrooms. We're going to spend the next conservatively 45 minutes talking about your options for carry on luggage. Can we go? I know this is like, sorry, I'm back on the one track mind here. My mind has been sucked into this conversation about not listening and being guilty of stuff. And it's interesting because I've been guilty in a couple of different ways. Because I was super hardcore conservative growing up in Mormon. And... to the point where I remember thinking, I remember having a conversation like soon after my mission, and this is when I was even starting to feel doubt. So maybe this was part of me like in my cognitive dissonance of like coming back from a mission, seeing that there's a bigger world out there, but wanting to hold on to these, to the one true political party, you know? And so I remember even having a conversation with someone being like, isn't it so weird how the liberals are just wrong on everything? How could they be so, how could they? Doesn't that just show you that there's one true side? Because it's not like they're wrong on some things and right on others. No, they're just wrong on everything. Man, that's such a good point, so true, Mike. And then that's where I was at. then to the point where I completely 180 and maybe it coincided with my loss of belief in Mormonism. So here I go from Mormon, believing Mormon to atheist to a hardcore conservative to a pretty like liberal liberal. And, but so I should at least come in with this, and I think I do for the most part, with a little more awareness because I have been on the other side. I know what it's like to feel that way. But then also I judge myself. I still feel like, I think there's, here's what it is. I think there's still a judgment because it's like, I believe that I've leveled up in a way that like I was at this place. Now I've learned things and so I'm in a more enlightened place than, I mean, is that shitty to say? Is that just, I guess there's a part of me that really feels that way. It's like, I was Mormon. I know what it's like to be Mormon. I know what it's like to just fully just like love it and think I'm never going to leave. And then now from this side. feel like I know more and I've and so it's hard for me to look back and be like, maybe they maybe they could be right. You know what I mean? to totally. And I think about that a lot because I would hate, there's no really other way around it though. if, maybe because there are members of the church that have explored all of the same kind of stuff that we've explored, right? As far as like, not even opposite of the church, but just like 360 degrees around the pin point. of the church is existence, right? It's not just like line A to line B, or it's not like point A to point B in a single line. It's not like either believing Mormon or not believing Mormon. there can be anything outside of that and in between, right? So there are people like that, but I think it's fair for us to feel that way because there are a lot, and you know a lot of these people that I'm talking about. There are a lot of people that... will argue or sort of like be condescending about our leaving the church, who haven't even read the church's material. Like not only have they not read our material, but they've not read the Vogue of Mormon. For sure not the Old Testament. For sure not the New Testament. They got some scripture mastery, they know some quotes, they know the basic stories. Dude, I remember getting back from my mission and almost like as a way to be a dick, like almost as a way to challenge people. I would ask them to just like, if they've read the book of Mormon, please just sort of explain to me the basic chronology. Like just tell me what happens in the book of Mormon. And it was like my way of like making people feel shitty. Sorry, I went on a, I went on a little bit of a tangent there, but the, the, thing I'm coming back to you is I don't think it's shitty of you to feel like you know more than people who don't know as much as you or haven't read as much as you or haven't like spent as much time. It's not just about reading, like maybe about exploring other, other religions, other belief systems, other alternatives, whether that's a podcast or a documentary or a book or whatever. So I don't think that's, I don't think that's wrong of you to feel that way, to feel like a sense of, well, I feel like I have no more things. And one, one other, like a synonym of knowing more things. can be enlightenment. Like the word you said and you kind of were feeling like, I'm not sure if I can say that. I think it's okay to say that. But there are, like I said, there are people that know all that stuff and still believe. And so it's just like this concept of faith. Faith, that's why I was, remember I was trying to tell you that faith is fucking me up lately? this is why, because of this convert, like because of this shit. Faith is such a weird concept to me. I can't understand it. I cannot understand faith, Mike. Please explain it to me if you want to. Or we can just change the subject. you see, in faith, it's hope for things that are speaking of scripture, faith, these things hope for and not, so, whatever the whatever. No, okay. We can get into that in a minute, but like, I do like what you're saying here. And so there's a confession here in a way of like, so comparing this politically as well, it's like, I could see how my conservative mindset. was a way of protecting me from fear and change, was a way of grasping to some sort of certainty. I believe my conservative, both political and religious was that, a way of, you know, Mormonism, it's this thing of eternity is always never changing, almost. It's like, it's a permanent, it's a gripping to something. And I feel like that's what it felt like when I was a conservative. I just was trying to hold onto the truth and the the, the, the, you know, like, I was scared to let go. And so when I see someone who's ultra conservative, I kind of go, they're in that state. They're in that frame of mind. And I have been there. I can empathize with that, but also like, come on, lean into fear, let go. There's a, there's a beautiful world on the other side of this. I, I'm, and so therefore, because I have that attitude, I'm not really listening. Maybe there's a different reason why they're concerned. Maybe that was the reason why I was conservative, but maybe they have a different reason and I'm not listening because I'm just like, come on, grow up, grow the fuck up. I mean, can I say something even more condescending? I don't think this is very far off because the... There is a thing that happens to a person when they say not only, maybe I'm wrong, after a lifetime of feeling like I'm for sure right, like I'm for sure right about the nature of existence and the nature of God and the nature of... of why humans are here on this earth. Like I was right and the only right one. So someone like that, and that's not just true in Mormonism, there's devout Catholics, there's devout Muslims, I mean there's all sorts of place. But like Baptists, but not only considering maybe I'm wrong, but coming face to face with your own self and saying, I think I've been wrong this whole time. That, that, that does correspond. mean, it's not causation correlation type of thing, but it does, does sometime, it does often correspond with the basic tenants of the light, the right versus the left. The right is simply I'm right about how we should live our lives and we ought to be governed by it. And so therefore I want to say what other people can and can't do. The left is a little bit saying, look, there's gonna be people different than us and they're gonna do things differently and we gotta widen the tent and invite others into that. And that's why the thing like, a lot of the political divide comes along with the divide of God. Like the thing of like homosexuality is a God thing. There are so few pragmatic atheist scientists out there that are like, I just think homosexuality should be outlawed. There's just not very many of those. Same with the abortion thing. This is stuff about God has spoken somehow through somebody or in some way, and my way is the right way and ought to govern how other people live their lives. People who are pro-choice aren't saying, okay, we're now mandating abortions, people who are pro-choice are saying, look, I don't know, other people's experience is gonna be a little bit different than mine, and the law ought to allow for other people to make their own decisions about their own lives, right? Yes, yes. No, because here's what it is for me. You're hitting on the head. It's this feeling of like I've stepped into I've challenged what I was raised with. I've had that feeling of, shit, what if I was wrong about everything? To now, holding the view that, look, I may be wrong about almost everything, and I'm open to that. But you know what? But you know what? You know what I am right about? the fact that you are not right. Damn dude, that's, that's, that's, that's pretty hardcore. The, the, of all the things that I probably am wrong about, the thing I'm right about is that you are not right. Is a pretty fucking mic drop sentence. what? And I'm not right. That's the whole point. I'm not right. But the one thing I am right about it. Yeah. Unless it's like, so why can't we just be in this together and respect everyone else's like ways of doing things and like, call out bullshit when, and so I guess this is helping me resolve that in there because I'm, I've, okay to speak out and challenge those who just think they're fucking right. Exactly. Did you hear her scream? Okay. That's why I'm reacting so crazily. Cause I'm, yeah, it's on my end. There's some, there's some major, there's some major Fortnite going on in this, in this home tonight. Yeah. So sorry about that. Dude, by the way, it all happened so instantly that I heard that screen, processed it and looked at the little, you know, the little like, what are my decibel levels or whatever on the, on on the screen. and saw it register. I was like, shit. Yeah, my child is going to be on the recording, I think. I don't think there's any way for us to get rid of that. yeah, dude, maybe who knows? Hey, well, we went in a different direction than I was expecting to go. And I just sort of kind of lost my train of thought. I know. I have a thing. I want to bring two of these things together, man. good, yeah, okay. So as I've been traveling and breaking my bags, You I had sort of like a minor, I wouldn't call it like any sort of like moment of enlightenment, but maybe like some minor, like I had a minor revelation, okay? Yeah. Okay. So you're talking about like echo chambers through TikTok, through Reddit, through even through our social networks, through like who we expose ourselves, like who we get much exposure to in the workplace, like to be honest with you, you know what I mean? by the way, is this a revelation for all mankind or a revelation for Doug? Okay, okay. I would not dare receive revelation for even more than myself. Like not even for my family, don't think I'm... Listen, I am no longer worthy priesthood holder and I am no longer worthy of receiving revelation for even my children. I mean, my children, they revolt against it anyway. My revelation is like Father Lehi coming down and a bunch of laymen and Lemuel's being like, all right, crazy. There's dad doing his crazy shit. I'm so proud of those kids. Like I'm so proud of my kids that like any, if I tried to give them some kind of bullshit like that, they'd be like, Nope, no, you guys have to do your own thing and you're the parents and you can try, but we ain't, we ain't going, you know what I mean? I didn't even get even one Nephi, man. I'm so glad. Some self-righteous little asshole running around your house trying to dictate what everybody else does like, okay, go build that fucking boat now. Chill out, Nife. you. want to hear you preach. I want to hear your revelation. Well, like I said, now it's already been built up too much. It was just a fun moment for me and it kind of ties together the two things, the two major topics that we've had so far. Do you know why, you know people, I don't think there's very many people who wouldn't say like, like most people will tell you like, I like people watching. you know a good place to go people watching is the beach or the mall or airports or you know what I mean? Do know why people watching an airports are so like air air travel is such a crazy thing, right? You're just exposed to like the craziest people you're like, it's weird being in an airport. You're just like, what is this person? Where could they possibly be going? They're like carrying like a black garbage bag into the airport and you're like, what the fuck is going on? So it's like, because the airport forces you out of your echo chamber. There's no there. There you are on top of each other in these little tiny villages like you like you're like, I guess your gate would be like the closest thing you have to a home. But like beyond your gate, there's like a tiny little neighborhood with that has like a Hudson News place where you can, you know, get like a little tray of charcuterie weirdly and like a bottle of water or a magazine. Who who is buying who is keeping magazines and business right now? Like airport, who's buying a magazine? That's the only place I see him. Me too. Yeah, well, I guess maybe like... I guess they're still in grocery stores. Anyway, we don't have to go into that. Yeah, it's weird. Who's buying magazines? I don't know what people are doing. Anyway, you're just exposed to people who not only just like things like don't agree with you on religion or don't vote the same way you do. I mean, you're exposed to people that are like, I don't even believe in the same like system of governance that you believe in. Like I don't even believe in democracy. You're not, you're exposed to like the craziest people. in the world. And some of them obviously don't know how to travel. They're so prepared. like, do you have to bring everything in that carry on bag that you're trying to fit on? I mean, every little thing imaginable. Dude, it's the weirdest thing. I've never, I've never gotten on an airplane and not had that like somewhere in my vicinity. You're just like, bro, are you cooking eggs? are you, like, are you actually like boiling eggs and peeling them right now? What is happening over there? Like, why do you have a little Ziploc baggy filled with boiled eggs? You got on an airplane thinking this was going to be an okay thing to just open up a open up like a Ziploc bag and it's not even Ziploc, it's like the fucking great value brand of zipping locking bag. And it's like, here's my five day old salmon and boiled eggs that I've brought onto this airplane. Weirdly, I don't know what the fuck is going on. got this like little travel contraption that like, but it expands out really big and it's just, but then I can pack it real tight in this thing where I've got like 500 other things I'm stuffing into this oversized like backpack that you usually backpack with. Dude, Like, godspeed! I'm over here with my book that I brought that I'll probably not read on the plane. Dude, I, I, I, I, I, I, no place. I a minimalist more than in air travel? I wish that dude, I am such an, I'm such an efficient little Spartan when I travel. I wish I could bring that to the rest of my life where it's like, all I need is like a bottle of water, a little, a little, little baggie of Biscoff cookies and my earbuds. That's all I need. And there's like, Everything else is in the bag. You know what I mean? Like in the bag, I just pull out and I just walk away. Meanwhile, know, people get like when people are getting off the airplane, you're like, when did you even come in? I didn't even notice you come in and stuff three overhead bins with like a unicorn stuffed animal. Like you're a 48 year old woman. Why do you have a unicorn stuffed animal and you've got it on the airplane? Like fine, you leave it at home, but you have a carnival size prize. like unicorn that like drapes around your body and you're carrying it through the airport? What's going on here in your life? That's what I love about airports. It's so weird to me. Mike, I'm telling you right now, I think I'm an elitist. Like all this shit we talk about like being these little softy left-wing liberal snowflakes. I am telling you, I am a elitist Republican snob when I fly on an airplane. There are times when I'm on an airplane and I'm like, I'm just gonna be honest with you, Mike. There are times when I'm on an airplane where I'm like. People talk about inflation being too high. I don't think inflation is high enough. If these weirdos can afford air travel, get these fucking weirdos off my airplane. They're my airplane now. Like suddenly I'm like, suddenly I'm like the host of Delta and I'm like, get these fucking weirdos off of my airplane. They're cooking eggs. thank you for like, hold on, hold on a second. This, this elitist thing, that's what I'm trying to say. This whole episode is just being, insane. Like I feel like I'm an elitist asshole and, and I think it's okay. I think I looked down on, you know, I love my Mormon family and friends, love them to death. I love the Mormon people. I just think they're in a fucking cult and like, come on guys, grow up. And I feel the same way about, definitely Trump supporters, but like, I just feel the same way. It's just like, okay, no, come on. I don't know. I was like, no, come on, that was all I had to say. No, I like that. Dude, there's nothing more elitist than that. He just said, no, come on. Like honestly, dude, the world needs people. Like, listen, the world is courteous. Like for the most part, we are all courteous. We just need somebody to be like, we do. We need somebody to be like, no, no, come on, no. It was the title of an episode of you enough's enough you guys enough is a fucking enough and I was watching I was watching clips of Trump's presidency someone aired the whole thing like in case you in case you forgot how it ended let me let me show you how it ended and Just the whole shit show of it and it just got you guys enough's enough Enough is enough. The thing that I love though, Mike, I love enough is enough, it applies. I like to apply it to like when I'm also in an emotional thing. But like you saying, you looking down your nose at people going, no, come on. That has a different energy to it, bro. That has a different energy to it than enough is enough. Like I want you, Mike, I want you to be like my little shoulder devil. when I travel who when I look over at the dude in like 15 E, you know, D E F. So he's in the middle seat and I look over at him and he's opening that little bag of fucking scrambled eggs and salmon. I want you to just turn to him and go, no, no, come on. And by the way, everyone else in the plane wants you to say that. Everyone in the plane is thinking the same goddamn thing except for this one. Fucker! It's just like, I don't know that there's a world going on around me. I couldn't care less about these people. Everyone smell my eggs. It's like, what? And when I see a comment on TikTok and they're commenting on some video defending the Mormon Church because they're just like, yeah, but we really, it's more about Christ now and this and just no, no, we're done. We're done with this shit. No, no. Anyway, have you gotten to your revelation yet? I want to hear your revelation. It was a revelation that like the whole revelation, the whole thing we've been talking about is that you're forced to face entities not even within echo chambers that are like counterbalancing your echo chamber. You're interacting with people who like sometimes you're like, dude, we look kind of the same, but I don't know that we're from the same planet earth. are you wearing a skin suit? What's happening? And also. You're wearing a skin suit and your fucking tank top is three sizes too small! Stop sitting next to me on an airplane and sweating on my shoulder! No, no. Okay. So that's what, was my revelation is that like the, the reason that air travel is so fascinating and the reason it's like the topic of like every comedian, like it's like a wealth, like it's just like that, that well don't run dry is because it is a, it is an experiment in the spectrum of people. Cause it's like, dude, everyone is traveling through the air for some goddamn reason that their aunt died or they're going to a company like Someone whose aunt died and some guy who's going to a conference and someone who's like trying to sneak out of the country illegally. Like all three of them are sitting like three seats in a row just next to each other. It's like, what the fuck are we? Are we like, who are you? So with that, also judge them. But I but dude I have to I have to honest with you Mike. I apply that same judgment to myself So it's not like I'm it's not like I'm like Do you know what I mean? I am like Boy, you better hurry off this airplane. You better not hold up anybody. You better not hold up anybody at security You better know how to scan your fucking ticket You better know how to like put your luggage up in the overhand Compartment and sit your ass down a bugger your seatbelt ASAP. Like I am NOT I mean when I I'm huge but when I sit next to somebody I like make myself I get uncomfortably thin and small and I like lean to the side. Meanwhile, people like man spreading on top of me and I'm like, bro, you're five, six. Give me some fucking space. Anyway, sorry, I totally interrupted you. No, but I think you're hitting the point I was trying to make because it's like, you know, I'm trying to say here that I'm trying to feel the difference between, for example, when I was Mormon and I've talked about this, walking around airport, walking around like Disneyland and seeing people, well, especially as Mormon, like in an airport, you're in the Salt Lake airport and you know who's not wearing their garments. And you're looking around and you're like, man, I hope they just, you know, learn the truth someday. And... You know, or you see this cute little family in front of you and lying at Disneyland or whatever. like, but they're, you know, the mom has like a tank top. this would just be such a good Mormon family, you know, if they only knew the gospel. and. Yeah. the same thing now when we see a little Mormon family and you're like, if only they knew the truth, right? We still do that shit. I, fact, I have, have a list of people who it's like, these would be some of my favorite ex Mormons. I can't like, I cannot wait to have a beer with this person when, it's, when it's time. You know? Yeah. you mentioned the garment thing. Did you hear that there's a change to the garment? yeah, I found out about it on TikTok. Well, I didn't know the details, but I know that for women you can get, it's supposed to be worn in more like humid climates and stuff, I think women are kind of... Utah counts, it gets like 9 % humidity every now and then. are out of their goddamn mind if they're trying to like specify it to region. Yeah, right. Try again. But it's like an inch or two like in so you can you can wear a sleeveless shirt now as a woman and your garments are covered. So no, none of the cap sleeves like. like the scoop neck? what are we, what are we, or like the think, I don't know. I think it probably skips lower. I think they just got more sexier. Dude, let me see a little more of that Mormon cleavage, please. Come on, bring it out. And so changes like this, it's kind of like, fucking finally. I I sent you that one of I don't forgot the guy. He's hilarious. This ex-mormon. should point people to him. where he's like, them shoulders out, right? Or show me them shoulders. Yeah. It's like Mormon God in 2024, finally, after 300 years. He's like, show them, show them, I can't do the delivery, but show them their shoulders. Show me their shoulders. Mike, sick is it that like the church's whole thing is like, wow, divine revelation and like the Lord, like what we live with the day of a prophet and shit like that. Bro, look outside your window at the political climate, at the climate of the world, floods, hurricanes, like wars, rumors of wars, shit going down in the middle East, shit going down in Russia, shit going down everywhere. And then God's whole deal is like, Hey, president Nelson, come here. want to tell you something. I think we got to tackle this garment thing. I think that's primary number. That's the first issue. Number one is I want to, I want to whisper a few things about what you can and can't do with these garments. It's like, Whoa, have you thought about trying to help solve children's children going to bed hungry? No, I didn't think about that one because it's a perpetual cycle. There's just nothing you can do about it. And it's a test of faith. Children dying in the streets is a test of my faith, so they gotta keep dying in the streets, but I'm sure glad I can wear... wear tank top! So, of, so I think this podcast is now going to be two middle-aged dads discover TikTok. Cause I saw this TikTok that was so good. It was of Russell Nelson, the prophet in this day and age. was an interview of him and his second wife. And she's describing of how when he gets like, he's talking again now. He lets her know that the Lord's speaking to him and he goes and has a special time with God where he gets the revelations. This is a real interview with the two of them. And so, yes, and then there's a TikTok that cuts to his diary where he writes it all down. And it's just like, but it's, this is the, it's like scribbled, many temples, much temples are like, it's stupid shit like that, like two. to our church and just like this taking up a whole, like all these like mini little revelations that he's had over like the eight years that God's spoken to him about. Anytime, anytime he's starting to realize, you know, they're in like a little marital scuffle or something like that. Like they're kind of not getting along or they're, you know, she's made a point and he's like, he's like, I don't know. I think I might be wrong on this one, but I sure as hell don't want to apologize. He's like, Lord's talking to me. I gotta go. Hey, just a reminder that you're arguing now with the Lord's mouthpiece here on the planet earth, right? You fucking idiot. Which, by the way, what's more Mormon than that? That's the doctrine and covenants we're describing right now. So here we are criticizing Russell Nelson for doing the exact… But at least, you know what though, at least Joseph Smith had the balls to actually come up with some cool shit. That's right dude. Instead of Michael let him wear tank tops. Joseph Smith was like, dude we fucking saw three kingdoms and the streets were paved with literal gold and God was like, I have trodden the winepresser. Look, like at least Joseph Smith was making an effort. Russell Nelson's like, yeah, you can have coffee flavored ice cream, I guess. I don't know. It's fine. Or he's like, thus saith the Lord, go bri this property for me, and if you don't, you're gonna burn in like, it's gonna be really bad dude, you're gonna burn in like the fire. Go build a temple in this place where people are begging you not to build a temple. where you have to go, like go build a temple. But also I want you to sit through 18 months worth of city council meetings in some fucking podunk Texas town and fight the residents of this town who are like, no, we don't want you to build this temple right here. No, no, God said so. Whoa. okay. Well, you guys have $120 billion and we're a town of. 38,000, guess we can't fight you. It's like build your fucking temple wherever you want. Dude, that shit is going on right now in the United States of America, We just keep doing the same shit. Yeah. I was not making anything up just now when I just said that whole tirade? I've seen on TikTok, I've seen some of the video of the council meetings. you are a fucking TikTok queen. Like I'm loving you so much right now where you're just like getting your hard hitting news from TikTok. And now I'm condescending to you. Remember when I admitted to being addicted to TikTok a couple of weeks ago? Now I've gotten kind of over it and I'm like, Mike, you fucking TikTok addict, I'm judging you. Well, Doug, if you just scroll a little faster past the women in calf skirts, then the algorithm will know you want something else. dude, listen, I'll tell you what. Okay. Fine. You know what? I tried to, I tried to branch out a little bit and you know what my favorite tick tock currently is. What is it? I can't remember his name. He's the closing pitcher for the Mets. Dude, have you seen the TikTok of his entry music? when he comes from, you know, dude, baseball is such a weird sport. It's like, okay, this guy's the closer. So here in the bottom half of the eighth inning, we're going to swap out pitchers, turn off all the lights, start flashing strobes. And this guy has to run by himself from the fucking, you know, right field bullpen all the way to the pitcher's mound. And dude, people are cheering for him and the music is playing and the dude who I'm talking about from the Mets. guess I never saw that happen. I watched most of the, well, I guess I following along for most of it, but I didn't see. Well, it wasn't in the, it wasn't in the series against the Dodgers. It was in the previous series. He's running out there and his music is goes hard. And it's like this. And then suddenly Mexican horns come on and it's like, it's like, Holy shit. This is the best thing I've ever, like, I'm getting the chills watching this guy run out to the mound to throw the ball 12 times. I'm just like, fuck yeah, dude, go get a Mets guy. I want my own Darth Vader theme song. dude, it's like, what if, it's like, what if Darth Vader wasn't afraid to use horns, like trumpet trombones? Like it goes hard. That shit goes hard. I'll send you, I'll send it to you, man. That's my favorite tick tock. Why wouldn't I send it to you? probably have a better TikTok than me at the moment. I'll give you that. One thing I... baseball pitchers entering, people arguing about politics, and girls playing golf. Mine right now is everyone being like, you guys, here's all the evidence. This is, Kamala's got this and they know it. And some, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, I've kind of, it's kind of, now they're promoting season two and it's just getting desperate. just, I've lost interest right now. By the way, I lasted for eight episodes this first season. I'm just going to say, I don't think 20 episodes season two, I think they're going to have to get, I think the Utah novelty wears off. But maybe I'll be around for season two, we'll see. But I've just been skipping the promo videos. And then I've got a lot of singers on there, people like us putting music out. Yeah, I do like coming across people who are just like pouring their heart out, you know what I mean? Like I'll sit and watch that kind of shit. That's good stuff. Yeah, I agree. Dude, we have gone off the rails. but can I talk about one more thing before we get back on the road? What do mean? Please, what are you talking about? Get back on the rail. Like this whole thing is just like a clusterfuck. for our listeners. Go on, Perry the lead, why don't you, Mike, go ahead. Well, one of the, reason why I've been on TikTok so much is our Instagram was shut down. Our Mormons on Mushrooms Instagram. Yeah, we haven't talked about that. yeah, we, I think I mentioned it on the, on the podcast I did with Anne that we just released. And, know, I was kind of bummed at first. I was kind of like, you know, we had put a lot into the TikTok or the Instagram and built it up. And then it's like, and it was our way of connecting with people. was like our window into. Yeah, that's true. events and I would, you know, share the mushroom events and do lives there. But we tried to appeal it. This happened to us three years ago. We got reported for something. They never say what. And then we appealed it and they immediately re-insay the account. So I thought the same thing would happen this time, but I appealed it they're like, nope, we will review your account and you're done. Yeah. So I was kind of bummed. How you feeling now? I'm curious about that because you texted me about it and it was like, yeah, this man, this is kind of bad news. Maybe, you know, it's kind of what the vibe of your text was. And then what? it's been one of the best things that's ever happened to me, Like, so I had even started to, so the timing of this was interesting because I'd started to, we released our first episode on YouTube and I was going to do more YouTube episodes. Cause I was like, look, I just want to get out there more. And I felt like YouTube would be fun. and that's where the growth is kind of like, maybe we can, I don't know, get out there more. And. What this showed me though, cause like it's same thing with Instagram. Like I mostly posted like the first couple of years of doing it, I think I was having more fun doing it. But the last few years I haven't been as active on there. Cause I was like, look, I just don't want to. And I'm only posting just to be like, Hey, come check out this episode. And Doug, we have all the listeners I want. It's gonna be honest. Like there is a part of me that's always wanted this thing to grow. You know, there's a part of me that's always been there and maybe it's a self validation thing. It's like the more listeners and more validate, you know, but then we got off to a hot start and I think I got scared because it's like, Whoa, if this grows too much more than it's like, you know, we got that Rolling Stone interview. were like, it was just this kind of like building in a way that felt scary to me. And plus I didn't. Yeah. Sorry, I'm just agreeing with you. Please. it's been, it just had a great steady listener. I love it. And so I don't want it to. So the only reason I was on YouTube was for that. The only reason I was posting on Instagram was for that. And it's freed me up to be like, I don't need to do shit. I don't want to do. We've got, I've got, I just want to talk and I just want to do this. I wanted, I want to talk to people I love my best friend, Doug, and bring on cool people. have cool conversations, and if people find it, they find it. Well said, man. I, It was kind of weird for a while there, huh? one of the cool things about, I mean, don't know who's listening to this and I don't know how they feel about it. The people that I ever get to interact with, I think by nature of the thing, they are complimentary, right? But for a while there, we had some exposure that it wasn't all complimentary and there was... Dude, think we, dude, we had a, we were chatting with Tony and Christie recently and Christie brought up, remember at that one solstice when that lady was like, just chewing me out, talking about how I represent toxic masculinity and I sound like a frat boy and she hates me. Like she hates, she's like, this is Doug from Mormons on Mushrooms. I hate you. And Christie, know, I, Christie brought it up and was like, yeah, man. When that was happening, she was like, I was. I was about to go to the mats and she was like, I was about to beat this lady's ass. And it's just like, yeah, dude, that, that stuff was, I don't know. That stuff was a little dodgy for a while there, wasn't it? It's like, I'm really, I really like what we, what we do right now. Like we kind of get a little silly. God knows what we're going to talk about. We've talked about politics so much and we talk about like fucking air travel for a solid 30 minutes. I don't know what the hell we've been talking about, but I just, This is like what I love. This is like my therapy, man. I love this. This is like my, this is my forced, cause you know, you'll text with your friends and you'll talk on the phone with your friends, but it's kind of hit and miss. And there's like a thing, dude, you and I, it's, I think it's one of my favorite things about my life. Same. Mic drop. I'm, I'm, I'm, but I do want to point out that it's like, and that's why I want to keep doing this. No matter if everyone stops listening or, or everyone starts listening. Like if like, and the good thing about having like, you know, few thousand or a few million listeners. If you're not on this fucking Instagram or YouTube. Who cares? I don't have to read what they're saying about me. don't have to read about like, I don't have to read any of that shit. And I don't have read, I don't have to also read about the things that they love about me. I can just do what I love and not give a shit what anyone says. And it's like, holy shit, I'm free. I think I text you the next day, I'm like, Doug, I feel so free. I feel like something unlocked in me. And it completely changed. I love the interview I did with Anne recently. It completely changed the way I came into that interview, I feel like. it's changed that I even told you, Doug, I've been more of a stickler of like trying to be sober on the podcast. And then I was like, Doug, let's smoke it. who has ever listened to our podcast disagrees with what you just said. So was like, Doug, I wanna smoke a joint. wanna have like, we're on your back deck, just smoked a joint kind of chat. If people love it, they love it and if they hate it, they hate it. They'll find something that's more of their vibe. Hey, can I give you, I want to compliment you real quick. So I've got about 20 minutes left of that episode with Anne. And you know, I love, I love, I especially love listening to episodes that I'm not on. Cause it's like, it's like new and fresh for me, you know, it's exciting. But that one-on-one shit is hard, dude. Like you, because like sometimes when, when it's like, you know, you and me or, we're interviewing somebody. or I don't know why I'm having a hard time spitting this out. Like when there's, when it's you and me talking, it's super easy cause we just, we know each other's vibe, you know? But, but sometimes we'll be interviewing somebody and it'll kind of be like that back and forth. And one of us will kind of pick up for the other one where the other one's just like, bro, I'm out of questions. Like I got to do it. happens all the time for me. And that dude, your conversation with Ann does not feel like that at all. It feels like a you and me type of thing where you're just chatting it up. I mean, it's like same with like, you know, Kelly and like you guys it's awesome, but that one with Ann's really cool to hear the back and forth, you know. Yeah, I think I was more nervous about that one than I've ever been. Because there is a difference too. is there a difference when I've, because I've done a few episodes like with Stephanie before or like with Serva, but like Serva has her own podcast. Stephanie is, she's hosted episodes of the podcast and she's also been very public on social media. So she, it feels like with another host in a way, you Right. Well, when you and Stephanie and Kelly are going, it's kind of like three hosts just chatting it up. Do you know what mean? But like, And Anne is well spoken, but I don't know if she's been in. So I was more nervous going into that one than I've been in a long time. I remember before you're like, I'm not going to be your Tyler Durden anymore. know what I mean? And so I was like, where have I leaned on Doug as a crutch in this? especially with like holding space in the interviews. So I tried to bring a little more like a homie Doug vibe with me instead of just outsourcing it to you, you know? Holy shit. That was like the... Love that. I love what you just said. Yeah, go ahead, sorry. Yeah. I really love that. Dude, you do a such a good job of it too. and Anne is so professorial. You know, she's like, that's right. Mike, like there's so many, I started feeling like I was like getting gold stars. was like, shit. Yeah. Like good guy. Good job. Good job coming up with that. Mike, like she, cause she, she had so much information and knowledge. She would just tell you all these things, you know, about like, dude, she doesn't do so much shit, you know? And when she was talking about the earth and like, When she was talking about like, we, we, we work too quick to gender the earth as mother, you know? And she was like, well, there's also father energy and there's like male and you're just like, yeah. And like it obviously unlocks some shit for you. And you just started spilling the beans. And she's like, that's right, Mike. And I was like, yeah, Mike, I was like kind of cheering for you a little bit. know what's interesting? There's no question after listening to that interview, who did more of the readings in school? You You know, and there was one point where it's like, shit, I don't think I'm keeping up with her here, but I've got it. I've got to like, I felt like it was like Tweedledum trying to like dumb it down for me a little bit, but that was a felt sense that I had. I think I kept up with her pretty well, but like it was, I did feel like there was that felt sense of like trying to like, yeah. Well, I'll tell you like, like she was quoting extracurricular stuff. like you guys were gonna like geek out on something you had read for school or something that you learned in some eco psychology class or so. don't, sorry if I'm using the wrong words here, but like you guys would really get together on something. And then she'd be like, yeah, that author that you just mentioned that you just quoted wrote also three other books that I just decided to read. Cause I love him so much. And she would like be like, she would say all these things and you would just be like, yeah, well that, that's such a cool way to connect those things, because what it makes me feel like is this, this and this. And she'd like, that's right, Mike. I was like, yay, Mike. okay, good, good. I do, I found that I am a feeler learner. Like I have to feel it to learn it. If I don't feel it, it doesn't sink in, you know. dude. Plus dude, sometimes reading all that shit gets old. It's like, alright. else read it to me. You know what I mean? Can Sir Ian McKellen please read it to me? Thank you. Well buddy, think maybe this is it. I think this was everything I wanted to be and needed to be. Hey, okay. Last thing I'll say is I'm getting a vasectomy tomorrow. So send it out on a wing and a prayer and pour one out for all my, pour one out for all my future homeboys that won't be coming our way. I'm gonna send you some blessings. I've learned some incantations. Well, I haven't really, but I'm gonna try. Not in a condescending, like that's not a mockery. I'm gonna send some real heartfelt love to you, is what I'm trying to say. this is me you're talking to. I hope you send me like condescending mocking incantations that are like all about, you no longer have manhood and you're no boys can ever swim again in your waters and you fucking loser. I hope you send me all that shit. here's why I'm saying this, because I've just started doing my own shit and calling in my own directions and like calling in my people. But I think some people would if some moment were flying the wall and heard how I call in directions, they'd be like, this bro is not taking this shit seriously enough. This this white boy is not, you know, that's but I'm like, no, this is how I call in the directions. And this is how my people come. And I got to be real, I got to be real or they don't come. If I get too serious about it and be like, You know, you just get like the spirits of the north and get really into it. You know what my, you know what my, my spirits say? They're like, he's pretending he's, he's, he's posing. Come on, man. You want us to come, you got to be real with yourself. Mike, this is like huge! This is huge shit though, this is good! I'm going to send some vibes with my spirits in the way I know how. Hey, yeah, I could use it. Thank you. I'll take it. I'll take what I can get. And also we did talk about that earlier and I guess I'd just like to mention that there is a cool thing, right? That, I mean, you're talking about calling in spirits and you're talking about, like you and I were talking about our alters and stuff like that, light a couple of candles and like really play music for them and like address them and interact. And we kind of like admitted it to each other. Like we were confessing something weird too, huh? I was like, yeah. I was like, I do it too. It's like almost like the first time you and your buddy, you know, we're like, Hey, I, I masturbate. It's like, same bro. reminds me of Doug, a little bit of a reverse of our conversation when we were hinting if we left the church. Yes. Yeah, exactly. Dude. That's what I was just gonna say. It was like, it was like, we've come full circle where now we're admitting this shit to each other of like, Hey man, I've been lighting candles and singing to my altar and they talked back to me. You're like, me too. You know, Well, you know what I was doing last night? I was not even, he really like singing to the figures on your altar. I was like, they were singing with, were possessing my body for a bit and singing in different voices. And I think that's what you were talking about too. But like. Yeah, dude, get some choirs going. I feel like it is freaky in the best way. guy who always wants to do a little jig. But I got this one guy who thinks he has more of a beat and more of like a... Rapy vibe, but not rap. I can't rap. I don't have a rap. I haven't found any rapper yet. But kind of just like more of like a... Then I got like a very like bossa nova type guy. Like what comes in. I love your bossa nova guy. Hey, speaking of trying to rap, like I have been trying to like figure out, it would be cool if I had a song where I let myself explore rap, because I love rap. You know what I mean? Yeah, and you're good at it. And, but here's the thing, what I was gonna say is like, every time I try to put it in some of my own like lyric, like, okay, let me see if I can rap over this real quick. Guess what it ends up sounding like? I'm the mother flipping Ram, not so, like I get into flight of the Concorde shit, dude. I start getting like so weird about that. Well, I mean, I hear you. I hear you, but I'm over there wanting to like, like I want to do some like real stuff that comes like right out of my heart. And it's like, you maybe I sound like Jay-Z or Eminem. Like I want to sound like I'm or Jack Harlow or somebody like just I want to put some bars together that has like some flow that sounds like I'm whipping and sipping. But like instead, I'm just like, I'm the mother flipping round. Not so risotto, pop, prostoros. You know what you should do? This is Bleacher's guy, Jan Adanoff. If you can find some vocal modulation to put on your voice, it frees you up to say all the weird shit you want to say because you're not... It's almost like you do a little vocal modulation on it. He does like auto-tune or something. like, that just allows me to just like... Do whatever he wants. say whatever shit I want to say. Maybe that would work. say my shiiiit? Okay, I'm gonna get- I'm gonna get- I wanna- I wanna voice him. Well, I just was singing Bo Burnham just now, but like I wanna get like a voice- I do wanna get an auto-tune thing. Like, what would I even- what do you even get? I don't even know where- do, I'll do research on TikTok. Well, actually, and you do research on Tik Tok and I'm going to go to the reviews of voice modulation software and hardware and see who likes it. Who's fucking it up with baseball bats and who's dropping it off with third stories and all that shit. Ah-ho, like, if you're out there and you got it this far, like, put your hands in the air and say yeah, cause like, I don't know what the fuck this thing is. haha