Bad Haircut | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #684

Bad Haircut Woes [00:00:00]

• The speaker begins by expressing a feeling of not knowing how to start the day or a sentence.
• He describes a recent bad haircut that left him feeling "haircut shame" and frustration.
• He felt so self-conscious about his haircut that he imagined "even the birds wouldn't look at me."
• He humorously recounts a conversation with a bald friend about bad haircuts, which quickly became a "cul-de-sac."

  "I'd said like, I'd want a half inch off. And the first thing he does is just rip two inches off of everywhere."

The Disastrous Camper Trip [00:08:42]

• The speaker recounts renting a camper with two friends, Bizzle and Zeta, for a 3000-mile trip through Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan.
• The camper, rented from a company called "Right," was in terrible condition, with "every bump... turning into a nightmare."
• Utensils, bolts, and even window sills would fly around the camper with every movement.
• The speaker describes the camper as if "a bunch of kids had put it together the night before with tape and hope."

  "And you'd think the next bump, you're like, oh, it's not going to make that sound again. You're like, but dang, but dang, but dang, but dang."

Camper Mayhem Continues [00:09:56]

• The camper's condition worsened, with light fixtures falling and the oven malfunctioning.
• The speaker humorously states they "left one third of that thing" across various highways, with animals and even AA meetings seemingly moving in and out of it.
• They had to stuff towels and blankets into every crevice to mitigate the chaos.
• Despite the nightmare, they "huddled up in the front and we made it through every single moment."

  "It was like, say if somebody took a AutoZone, right, and turned it upside down and put it in the back of your fucking car and made you drive over 72,000 speed bumps for no reason at all."

Unexpected Roadside Attractions [00:13:02]

• The group visited the Field of Dreams baseball game and received a Twins hat.
• They went fishing in what the speaker described as a "data center cooling pond" in Wyoming, Illinois.
• During fishing, they "caught" old TV show episodes, data leaks, and even Ashley Madison emails.
• One friend caught a "three gigabyte Excel sheet" and they threw back old Seinfeld and Vine episodes.

  "We threw back a couple old Seinfeld episodes that were on Blu-ray, just some Seinfeld downloads."

ATV Adventures and River Cruise [00:15:41]

• The group went ATVing in Marcellus, Michigan, despite the muddy conditions due to rain.
• The speaker found the muddy ATV experience to be "one of the funnest things" he had ever done, describing the mud's smell vividly.
• A highlight was a cruise down the Chicago River through downtown, which he called "one of the neatest things I've ever gotten to do."
• They also experienced the Midwest's corn culture, with various corn-themed offerings.

  "And when those tires would go through it, just, just the fucking bowels of Christ would open up and just hit you right in the fucking snout, honky."

Macklemore's Tour Removal [00:18:05]

• The speaker mentions Macklemore was removed from the Ed Sheeran tour for speaking out about Palestine and Gaza.
• Macklemore had shown imagery of atrocities on screen during his performance.
• Patriots owner Robert Kraft reportedly did not want such communication at his venue.
• Ed Sheeran's band also dropped out, causing a "big fallout."

  "Macklemore was removed from the tour. As well, Ed Sheeran's band dropped out. It's been a big fallout."

Reflections on Gaza and Atrocities [00:19:12]

• The speaker reflects on Macklemore losing his job for speaking out about what he considers the "biggest atrocity that we've witnessed in our lifetime."
• He describes the situation in Gaza, mentioning drone strikes and the killing of children.
• He criticizes the narrative that Hamas is hiding, questioning how a four-month-old child could be involved.
• The speaker notes how people scroll past such events on social media, distracted by trends and sales.

  "The Israeli government has turned Gaza into like a video game basically for killing people."

Desensitization and Societal Distractions [00:22:20]

• The speaker discusses becoming "immune" to the news of suffering, scrolling past images of war and its victims.
• He suggests this desensitization might be a test of how much discomfort people can handle.
• He contrasts the attention given to trivial matters like the McRib returning or a new Marvel movie with the ongoing conflict.
• The speaker questions the focus on entertainment and celebrity news when such significant suffering is occurring.

  "It's like, here's just another legless Arab kid that some family is babysitting now in Texas or, and it's like a, I think it's like a test."

Personal Struggles and Sobriety [00:30:33]

• The speaker admits to being back on his medication and feeling overwhelmed.
• He describes the conflicting feelings of needing everything to be perfect while simultaneously feeling incapable of achieving it.
• He attended an AA meeting which helped alleviate the feeling that the day was "impossible."
• He reveals a recent tough time maintaining sobriety, struggling to accumulate sober days.

  "I had to go to an AA meeting. Thankfully I didn't have to, but I went to an AA meeting and it was really great."

The Path to Recovery [00:32:15]

• The speaker explains he had fallen out of his program work, contact with God, and working with his sponsor.
• He is currently 45, almost 46, days sober and feels more hopeful.
• He emphasizes the importance of being "brutally honest" with his sponsor, even about small fears or wrongdoings.
• Honesty with a trusted person has been a "saving grace" and helps him be more honest with himself.

  "I think I've always had a tough time being like really honest about some stuff. And I think sometimes when I'm not really honest with somebody else, I it's, it's, it's hard for me to be really honest with myself too."

Listener Call: Stained Glass Jesus [00:36:30]

• Cody from Brooksville calls with a moral dilemma about retrieving a stained glass Jesus from his childhood home, now owned by a Spanish-speaking family.
• He lost his childhood home after his father had a heart attack.
• The speaker humorously advises against stealing the Jesus, highlighting the potential difficulties and cultural insensitivity.
• He jokingly suggests a "40-minute window" for the theft, comparing the caller to Nicolas Cage.

  "You could break into a Mexican home and steal a lot of shit, bro. They'll probably give it to you. You feel me? But bro, you could, you could break into a, you could, bro, you, you could sneak into a Mexican home and steal a lot of things, bro."

Listener Call: Daughter's Self-Esteem [00:41:16]

• Jamie, a 40-year-old mother of two, calls for advice on how to help her daughter feel better about their life situation.
• Her daughter is embarrassed about riding the school bus due to their living in a rundown trailer.
• The speaker shares his own experience of riding his bike to school to avoid being seen on the "poor bus."
• He suggests a crucial conversation where parents express love, explain the temporary nature of their situation, and emphasize their strength as a family.

  "And I'm so proud of you and I love you. And, um, there's going to be a year or two. Let's say, let's try and have a goal where it might be a little tough here."

Listener Call: Sobriety and Overwhelm [00:51:07]

• Rick from New Jersey, with 12 years of sobriety, calls feeling overwhelmed after the birth of his second son.
• He's been reaching out to help others but realizes he needs help himself.
• He expresses the temptation to drink again but doesn't want to lose everything.
• The speaker, Trevin, acknowledges Rick's situation and expresses gratitude for his call.

  "I've always been the type of reach out and help people and help others and, you know, take care of myself last and just, uh, getting really overwhelmed right now."

Rick's Journey and Resilience [00:53:19]

• Rick shares his past struggles, including a 500-pound weight, gastric bypass surgery, a cancer diagnosis, and the loss of a baby.
• He was diagnosed with cancer again and was in a "really rough mental space," considering drinking.
• The birth of his five-year-old son, Luca, and the upcoming arrival of another baby provide motivation.
• He credits focusing on his family and not dwelling on the cancer diagnosis for helping him stay sober.

  "Well, cancer will help with that weight loss, huh? Well, no, I used to be, I used to be 500 pounds."

Gratitude and Shared Experience [00:56:44]

• Trevin expresses gratitude for Rick's call and shares his own current sobriety of 46 days.
• He emphasizes that talking to other alcoholics helps and thanks Rick for sharing his struggles.
• They discuss the upcoming baby, named Adam, and offer encouragement.
• Trevin reiterates the importance of taking things "one day at a time."

  "And I'm, I'm, I'm grateful for that. And I'm happy. I don't have to do it alone, dude."