Swimming Manhattan In Handcuffs And Stocking Stuffer Joy

Ever walked into a new gym with your stomach in knots and left wondering why you waited so long? That’s where we start—right at the edge of comfort—before we cannonball into one of the wildest endurance headlines we’ve seen: a 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan done in handcuffs. It’s part comedy of errors (bad puns included), part look at what drives people to push limits, and part reminder that courage often looks like showing up, finding a quiet corner, and getting the work done.

We unpack the psychology behind extreme feats and the gritty logistics of open-water ultra distances—currents, tide timing, safety crews, fueling—then ask a simple question: do you need outrageous goals to feel growth? Maybe not. Sometimes the smarter choice is the smaller one that compounds daily. That idea bridges us into our favorite kind of practical joy: stocking stuffers that aren’t afterthoughts. Think shea butter hand cream for winter skin, a milk frother that upgrades morning coffee, a multi‑tool pen that actually gets used, a slim belt bag for hands-free errands, and a discreet personal safety alarm that adds real peace of mind.

We share a few personal wins too, including a wraparound eye mask that turned out to be a sleep game-changer. From satin pillowcases to motion-sensing night lights to phone lens kits that make family photos pop, the theme is the same: small, smart tools can lighten the load and brighten the day. If you’re curating gifts, aim for items that see action within 24 hours and still feel essential in March.

Join us for honest laughs, a side-eye at clunky headlines, and a warm, detailed guide to tiny upgrades with outsized impact. Then weigh in: what’s a great stocking stuffer to give, and what’s the best one you’ve ever received? If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your notes help others find conversations that spark better habits and better days.

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Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to anamericanistblog@gmail.com and you'll be featured on the podcast. 

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Chapters

• 0:44 Morning Banter And Gym Nerves
• 1:31 First Visit Wins Over Doubts
• 2:14 Setting Up Two Main Topics
• 2:22 The Handcuffed Manhattan Swim
• 5:42 Motivation And Marathon Swimming
• 7:33 Pivot To Stocking Stuffers
• 8:58 Practical Picks And Personal Faves
• 12:38 Sleep Mask Revelation

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:30

Well, hello and good morning. Oh, excuse me. Wow, okay, I thought I'd cleared my throat. Apparently not. It's this morning weather. I don't why does cold weather make your nose run all the time, too? Tell me that. I don't know why, it drives me crazy. Well, I went to my gym for the first well, you know, I have a week's past to go and check it out before I commit to anything. And I went yesterday and I all day long yesterday. My stomach was in a bundle of nerves because I was like, I don't know if I'm gonna like it, it's gonna be crowded. I'm used to working out in the garage by myself, nobody looking or criticizing the way I work out, whatever. And I know nobody's gonna watch me because I'm an invisible old woman, so whatever. But I went and uh the area that I wanted to work out in was kind of full, so I went upstairs and found a spot. You know what though? I found a spot, I got my workout done and I liked it, I enjoyed it. So I'm going back again today. I'm gonna use my week's past to see if I like if I really, really like it, and if I do, then I might commit to it and go. We'll see. But I was just surprisingly surprised in a good way that uh I liked it. Alright, that did not make any sense whatsoever. Surprisingly surprised. What the hell? Okay, we need to move on. It's early. I have not had a lot of coffee yet this morning, so forgive me. We only have two topics here. It was hard to find a bunch of topics. Alright, let's start with um this one. This dude swam 29 miles around Manhattan in handcuffs. Why? I don't know. Maybe they'll tell us. And he had no idea the danger he was in until he finished. Excuse me, sir. You didn't know the danger. Bullshit. You were in handcuffs swimming in Manhattan in those waters. Alright, he's not under arrest, but he sure could use a rest. Oh, this is pitiful the way they start this up. That was not good. He's not under arrest, but he sure could use a rest. Come on, that's bad. Boo yes. In September in September, just a couple of months ago, 49-year-old New Yorker Michael Moreau jumped off the southern tip of Manhattan and didn't emerge until he'd swum up the East River through the Harlem and down the Hudson to complete the famed and formidable 28.5 mile loop. The flutter kicker. He didn't he did it all in handcuffs and in well under 10 hours. That is kind of impressive, I guess. Um to swim 28 miles. I guess it's yeah. I don't know. It would take me a month. Um Moreau's felony flavored feet. God, why do they have to try to be cute with their writing? Moreau's felony flavored feet earned him two Guinness World Records. One for completing the longest open water swim in handcuffs, and one for becoming the first and fastest swimmer to circumnavigate the city's waterways in shackles. Why? Why do anything? Capri I cannot pronounce this person's last name. Giazzomoro, a fellow marathon swimmer and member of Moreau's support crew, asked she conquered the same twenty bridges swimmer around Manhattan, albeit with the luxury of her limbs on her 63rd birthday in 2014, and said the rush of the open water feels as illicit as Moreau's steel trapped wrist symbolized. After I swam, I'm high as a kite. Well, we don't care what she has to say. Let's fly, let's talk about the guy. But Moreau's motivation, and they spelled it M-O-A-T. Y'all, this guy who this person, whoever, girl, whatever, is writing this article needs to stop this nonsense. But Moreau's motivation, motivation wasn't kink. Okay. It was part nautical nature, part unfinished business, and part desire to probe the outer edges of mermaid mastery. Okay. I who wrote this? I need to go back and figure out the name of this person who wrote this. Right now I'm in hide, I'm in reader mode, so I can't see anything. Okay, whatever. Moving on. When I started hearing these stories about people who had not given up on the opportunities to really test the limits, I thought, why can't I do this thing? Well, maybe you could do it, just not do this particular thing. Why this particular thing? Why swim in handcuffs? Can you not think of something else to do? That was the beginning of my journey of trying to figure out how I was going gonna realize my potential, he said. And I knew I needed to do it in the water. Born to swim. Moreau is a creative director on land and has long been a fish in the water. According to my parents, I could swim before I could walk. Okay, blah blah blah. Uh let's see. Moving on the challenge, setting a goal that didn't feel like a victory lap of his youth. The solution, ultra marathon open water swimming, or generally any non-pool, non-stop outdoor swim over 10 kilometers. Whoever knows however far that is. That's more than 40. That's more than 400. Oh my gosh. That's more than 430 lengths of a standard 25-yard pool, plus the uncontrollable currents, conditions, and creatures of the natural world. Yeah, those creatures right there. I'm out. Nope. Add in logistics like coordinating boat traffic, reading tides, and securing a skilled crew. That sounds that sounds like a lot of work. Um, this article goes on and on and on. Uh I don't know. If you want to finish reading that, you can go finish it. Well, why it's in handcuffs, who knows? I don't know. I didn't get down that far into it. Don't care. Oh, wait, you know what? I want to go back and see if I can find the author of this stupid okay, go of this stupid article. I'm sorry, bear with me. Hide reader. Okay, it is Anna Madeiris is the re is the writer of that article. Alright, moving on. I'm gonna hopefully be this is hopefully gonna be a uh helpful article, this next one. Who says size matters? The 55 best stocking stuffers make Christmas huge. Okay. Stocking stuffers are our chances to throw in a wink, a delight, and a hey, you deserve this moment before the big Christmas present reveals. While the main gifts tend to hover in more serious territory, the little treasures tucked into the toe of the stocking become the high fives, laughs, and oh my god, I needed this of Christmas morning. This is the truth. Last year I got some these little uh almost miniature wool, I don't I call them washcloths, they're not washcloths, like miniature cloth makeup removers that you can wash and reuse that my sister-in-law gave me in a stock for a stocking stuffer type thing. I love them, I use them every single day. Okay, um, we hunted down gifts that'll actually land no okay, come Christmas morning, items that feel like more than just an afterthought. I'm talking useful, playful, maybe even a little cheeky, because if you're going to drop anything into a loved one's stocking, let it inspire genuine joy. Amen. Okay, so they have oh that I like this right here. I'll get this for the gent for sure. It's a like a back scratcher, but it has detachable parts you can put on different headings of it. Uh alright, shea butter hand cream. Yes, I will take that any day of the week. Oh, yes, the milk frother wand. I would love one of those. And then you have best for the handyman multi-tool pin set. Oh, this is interesting. Best for password forgetters, the personal internet address, password, and logbook. Uh best for beauty queen teens. No, not get it for the teens. The teenagers don't need this. Grace and Stella under eye mask. I'll take that. Yes, thank you. Best for the winter wellness, liquid IV hot chocolate hydration multiplier. I love how they take regular hot chocolate and rebrand it and rename it with these hot topic keywords. It's it's hilarious. Best for the busy person. Oh, look, a fanny pack, a Lululemon, everywhere, everywhere belt bag. Uh yes, I'll take that, please, because I could wear that to tunica. I love yep. Best for the home chefs, kitchen aid ribbed soft silicone oven mit set. We have those, but we could probably use another set. Ours are getting pretty old. Best for hot girl walks. She's a birdie personal safety alarm. Oh, I like that. I could get that for my doc for my daughter and my daughter-in-law. Put on their keychains. It's a little key fob. You put on your key fob, I guess. Uh stuff the stocking with something practical. She's birdie personal safety alarm. Is especially great for college students, city dwellers, and anyone who appreciates additional safety at our arm's reach. Best for FaceTime friends, your cell phone stand holder. Moving on, moving on, moving on. Oh, this is interesting. Best for the aspiring photographers, your phone camera lens kit. Oh, this is interesting. They have these like little lenses that will fit over your iPhone lens. It's cool. I like that. Alright, best stocking stuffer for the foodie.$25 gift cards. Um, let's see. Oh, I have always wanted one of these. I'm gonna ask the gym to get me one. Best for beauty sleep, bedshore satin pillowcases. I need me a satin pillowcase, probably. You know, the gent got me this copper, Tommy Copper eye uh sleep mask. Well, I say it's not a sleep mask per se. It's promoted as an ice mask for like migraines and headaches. They say to put it in the freezer, then you can wear it. It's like it's like a total wrap around your head thing. Uh, it's all one piece, though. It just slides over your head, over your eyes. It says it's good for migraines and headaches and stuff like that. Now, I don't have migraines and headaches, but uh I didn't put it in the I made him, I made him I didn't let me open it. He got it for me for Christmas, but I opened it early because it's I wanted to use it as a sleep mask. So I used it last night. Oh my gosh, I'm hooked. I love it. Now I didn't put it in the freezer, of course. But oh, I love this thing, it's so wonderful. I slept so good last night. All right, moving on. Let's see. Uh, what else? What else do we have here? Socks, of course. LL Bean Adult. I would like those socks, yes. But let's see, what is it? I'm trying to move on to some actual what? Oh, this is kind of cool. Best to avoid stumbling in the dark. Lumilex toilet light with motion detection sensor. That's fun, I think. I guess. Best for the sporty kid. Um, sonic fin football. Then it has some stuff for the pets, has ornaments, it has a tinted lip balm. That's always a good one to put in. Oh, people could always use lip balm, right? Um, so there you go. There it goes on for more and more. So this is the question of the day. What okay, maybe it's a two parter. What is a good stocking stuffer to give? And what was your best stocking stuffer received? Okay, there you go. That's it. I gotta go. Thanks for listening. Happy Thursday.