Overview

Mangria signing events became complex logistical operations with hundreds of attendees, highlighting Adam's direct engagement with fans while revealing the behind-the-scenes challenges of celebrity product promotion, including transportation mishaps and missing photo documentation.

The podcast explores how fear-based bureaucracy (exemplified by BevMo's refusal to allow bottle signings) leads businesses to self-restrict activities unnecessarily, contrasting with individuals like "Pete" who demonstrate resourcefulness and determination to achieve their goals despite obstacles.

Michael Strahan's transformation story illustrates how negative experiences (being overweight and nicknamed "Bob") can become powerful motivational catalysts, teaching the value of hard work and personal accountability.

Artie Lang's addiction journey reveals how heroin progressively consumed his life and career, progressing from recreational use to dependency while maintaining a demanding work schedule, ultimately leading to a suicide attempt and subsequent recovery.

The discussions about parenting, government accountability, and over-medicalization of normal human experiences reflect broader societal tensions between personal responsibility and institutional systems.

Content

Mangria Signing Event in Portland (2013)

Adam describes a massive Mangria signing event in Portland with approximately 500 people
The event took place around 5:30-6:00 PM in a large "booze blimp hanger" style liquor store, with Adam's show scheduled for 8:00 PM
Adam planned to take a photo with every single person in line and hired a photographer to efficiently process the crowd
Attendees were supposed to be able to find their photos on a website/Facebook page

Transportation Mishap

Adam experienced a chaotic transportation situation with a driver who had significant communication and navigation challenges
The driver couldn't understand directions or communicate effectively in a common language
They were trying to reach the event venue located in an industrial park
A young staff member provided a map with directions, but the driver drove in the opposite direction
Adam and his companion became increasingly concerned about arriving on time for the event
Adam humorously compared the situation to characters like Latka and Balky
They noted that visual maps should be universally understandable, like IKEA instructions

The Mystery of the Missing Photos

A major dispute emerged about the whereabouts of a memory card containing photographs from the event
Different accounts of what happened:

- The photographer claims he handed the memory card to Mike in a plastic case as Mike was getting into a town car - Mike insists he never received the card - The photographer says he would email the pictures but also handed Mike the physical memory card

The group tried to track down the missing photographs, with everyone asking "where are the pictures?"
Adam expresses confusion and frustration, humorously suggesting the photos might be with "God," "the devil," or "Satan"
Adam notes that the Seattle pictures are available on Facebook as a potential consolation

Further Investigation of the Missing Photos

Adam discusses his conversation with Mike about the SD card incident
Mike claims he never saw "the kid" after main brew and didn't receive anything
There's speculation about who might have received the SD card, with Katie Lang mentioned as a potential recipient
Adam acknowledges Mike was stressed and busy during the event, which could have led to him not remembering receiving something
Adam suggests Mike might have been handed something without fully registering it

BevMo and Bureaucratic Over-Caution

Adam criticizes BevMo's refusal to allow bottle signings due to fear of potential legal or regulatory consequences
He sees this as part of a broader trend of businesses preemptively restricting activities to avoid potential trouble
Key themes include businesses "punishing themselves" out of fear of government entities and overreaction to potential risks
As a workaround, Adam planned to pre-sign Mangria labels and attach them to bottles
They eventually started signing bottle bags as a compromise
Adam argues that consenting adults should be able to have items signed if they wish

Pete and the Parking Lot Signing

Adam describes signing bottles for a fan named Pete in a parking lot, comparing it to a morally justified act of civil disobedience
Pete is described as a well-put-together, successful man who:

- Bought a case of bottles to be signed - Drove an expensive Porsche Panamera (valued around $135,000) - Methodically helped Adam sign an entire case of bottles in about 28 seconds

Adam and Mike ended up getting a ride to the airport from Pete in his luxury vehicle
There's a brief anecdote about a chef who approached them after a show at the Aladdin Theater in Seattle around 12:30 AM and offered Mike a sirloin salad

The Sirloin Salad Incident

Adam describes Mike eating a sirloin salad by hand in the back of Pete's expensive Porsche while being driven to the airport
Additional details about Pete:

- Works in the space tourism rocket division for the founder of Amazon - Appears to be resourceful and determined

Mike's unconventional eating behavior included:

- Eating cuts of beef with no utensils - Offering pieces of salad to Adam and Pete - Determined to finish the salad rather than discard it at the airport

Adam suggests Pete represents a type of person who knows what they want, finds a way to achieve their goals, and makes decisions based on their own moral compass

Michael Strahan's Early Life and Work Ethic

At 9 years old, Strahan wanted an expensive $1,200 BMX bike
His father challenged him to earn half the bike's cost
Strahan worked hard, cutting grass in military housing projects to earn the bike
The experience taught him the value of working for something versus being given it

Strahan's Personal Transformation

At 13, Strahan was overweight and nicknamed "Bob" (meaning "booty on back")
The nickname initially hurt his feelings but became a motivational turning point
He was inspired to improve himself physically:

- Bought Jane Fonda workout tapes and did exercise routines - Met Herschel Walker and was motivated to do push-ups and sit-ups - Used negative comments as motivation for self-improvement

Was made fun of by his brothers for being overweight
His motivation came from being teased and wanting to prove himself

Discussion on Family and Parenthood

Adam discusses childhood obesity as a serious long-term health issue
Suggests early weight problems can impact health into adulthood
Highlights the potential positive impact of intact family structures and supportive parenting
A caller named Joey calls about a potential paternity question due to confusing blood type inheritance
Adam strongly advises against seeking unnecessary "closure" or digging into potentially painful personal histories
Argues that the parent who raised you is your true father, not necessarily biological parentage
Adam shares he was born to very young parents (father 18, mother 15)

New York City Experiences

Adam describes an uncomfortable encounter on a crowded subway where he was standing close to a seated person
He enjoys walking long distances, particularly in New York City
Described walking from Trump Tower to Ground Zero
Highlighted the enjoyment of spontaneous stops (taverns, watching baseball, etc.) during urban walks
Contrasted walking experiences in New York vs. Los Angeles

Personal Habits and Routines

Adam discusses the "pat down" - a habitual check for wallet and keys when leaving a location
He argues that men are more methodical about tracking their belongings compared to women with purses
Personal anecdote: Adam went to see the movies "Rush" and "Gravity" with his wife Lynette
During "Rush", he lost and then retrieved his keys from the theater seat
His wife claimed she has a "special pouch" in her purse to keep track of items
Ironically, two days later, she forgot her phone in the theater, contradicting her earlier assertion

Tom Rhodes Podcast and Travel Stories

Tom Rhodes discusses his upcoming live podcast show in Austin, featuring six handpicked local comedians
He highlights Austin's emerging comedy scene, mentioning the Moon Tower Comedy Festival
Tom writes a travel column for Huffington Post
Recently traveled to Greece and Italy in September
Shared a personal story about getting into a fist fight in Ireland:

- Occurred during his honeymoon - Happened shortly after his sister's death from breast cancer - He punched someone defending a friend - Broke his finger during the altercation

Cultural Fighting Behaviors

The speakers discuss fighting as a cultural phenomenon, particularly in Ireland and Scotland
They suggest historical herding cultures developed fighting reputations to protect property and daughters
There's a theory that certain behavioral traits can be passed down through generations
In England and Ireland, street fighting appears more common
In the United States, gun prevalence potentially reduces physical confrontations due to fear of fatal consequences

Government Shutdown and Stenographer Incident

The partial government shutdown ended after 16 days
Obama signed a bill preventing national default
Debt ceiling extended through February 7th
Current spending levels authorized through January 15th
A well-known House stenographer had a public outburst after the bill was signed:

- She went to the microphone and began screaming - Key quotes included "He will not be mocked" and references to God and the Constitution - She claimed the nation is "not one nation under God" - Suggested the Constitution was written by Freemasons "against God" - Was removed from the House and taken to a hospital

Government Accountability and Stenographers

The speakers discuss potential ways to make government more accountable, including:

- Stadium seating around Congress where citizens can heckle - Trading cards with politicians' voting records - A "fantasy government draft"

The conversation focuses extensively on stenographers as a profession:

- Discussing the psychological toll of transcribing difficult/graphic court proceedings - Questioning the relevance of stenography in the digital age - Speculating about the unique skills and training required

Snack Food Discussions

The conversation covers several random topics about snacks:

- Unusual Pringles flavors (holiday dessert chips like pumpkin pie, pecan pie) - Bugles snacks and their nostalgic appeal - Observations about food marketing creating increasingly elaborate flavor combinations

Adam describes an experience eating Bugles snacks on an airplane:

- Limited options and inability to easily switch between snacks - Compulsive eating behavior despite not enjoying the flavor - Repeated opening and closing of the Bugles bag - Eventual surrender to eating the entire bag

Artie Lang's Book and Addiction Story

Artie Lang discusses his new book "Crash and Burn", which chronicles the last four years of his life
Book details:

- Currently ranked around 130-140 on Amazon charts - Covers the last four challenging years of Artie's life - Title originally considered was "The Disheveled One"

Heroin addiction insights:

- Artie describes how heroin addiction progressively consumed his life - He reached a point where he needed heroin just to feel normal - Addiction impacted his ability to function, especially while traveling for work - First time was backstage before performing three shows - Snorted heroin after being told it was "better for your liver" than painkillers - Immediately recognized the euphoric effect and realized he was "in trouble"

Artie's Work Schedule During Addiction

Artie discusses his intense work schedule while struggling with drug addiction:

- Took about six months to progress from snorting to considering shooting heroin - Maintained a grueling schedule: Howard Stern Show 6am-10am, then flying to do comedy shows - Managed to stay functional on drugs for about four years

Performance impact:

- Started "nodding out" on national radio - Claimed he was still funny and could deliver comedic moments even while high - Howard Stern and team were aware of his drug issues - Offered Lang eight months off with job guaranteed - Lang ultimately chose to leave

Artie's Personal Crisis and Recovery

Artie discusses a past suicide attempt, describing it as a "cry for help" with only surface-level cuts
His mother and sister were planning an intervention on the morning they found him
Personal trauma discussed:

- His father became a quadriplegic after falling 30 feet while working on a roof - Artie felt guilt about not accompanying his father that day

After the self-harm incident:

- Spent 4 days in the hospital - Underwent mandatory psych ward evaluation - Spent a month in the psych ward followed by 3 months in a rehab facility near Miami - Did not work for 1 year and 8 months

Financial situation during recovery:

- Had a financial safety net from previous work - Continued receiving royalties from book ("Too Fat to Fish") and TV shows - Received a $126,000 royalty check two weeks after rehab

Career comeback:

- Developed comedy material from rehabilitation experience - Planning a second Comedy Central special about his recovery - Resumed touring and working - Received offers from DirectTV

Career Reflections and Mental Health

Artie discusses transitioning from a sitcom to working with Howard Stern, whom he considers his generation's "Johnny Carson"
The speakers discuss mental health labels and spectrum disorders, specifically autism and bipolar disorder
They critique over-medicalization of normal human emotional experiences
They suggest that experiencing mood variations is natural and not necessarily a disorder
The speakers express empathy for genuinely autistic individuals who face significant challenges

Political Discussion

Election results discussion focusing on:

- Bill de Blasio becoming New York's mayor - Chris Christie winning re-election as New Jersey's governor

The speaker's perspectives:

- Supports Chris Christie, describing him as a "guy's guy" - Appreciates Christie's personality and Jersey roots - Notes de Blasio is the first Democratic mayor of New York in 20 years

Additional political observations:

- Compared Bloomberg to a non-traditional Republican - Mentioned Rob Ford, the Toronto mayor who admitted to smoking crack - Discussion of Rob Ford's admission to smoking crack cocaine but denying being an addict

Miscellaneous Topics

Kansas City Royals Mascot Incident:

- Mascot threw a tinfoil-wrapped hot dog into the stands - Fan reportedly suffered serious eye injuries including detached retina - Debate about team liability for mascot-related injuries

Social Media/Celebrity Commentary:

- Katy Perry surpassed Justin Bieber in Twitter followers (46.48 million vs. 46.47 million) - Discussion of her public image and perceived messaging

Reference to Charles Bukowski's tombstone inscription "don't try"
Japanese cultural observation about a burger wrapper with a woman's closed mouth image to help women eat without appearing to open their mouth widely in public

Tom Rhodes + Artie Lange