The Grit City Podcast

The Grit City Podcast crew is back with another Hangover Sunday, and this week's episode proves once again that a simple weekend recap can go almost anywhere. Jeff, Scott, Mike and C-Note kick things off by talking about the podcast itself. After years of making Grit City episodes, the crew has noticed a major increase in listeners, with downloads reportedly tripling over the previous month and a half. They take a moment to thank the longtime listeners, welcome the newcomers and remind everyone about the Grit City Discord, Patreon and the growing collection of classic episodes. Then Jeff gets into the main event: the 2026 Tumwater Artesian Beer Fest. Jeff spent the weekend hanging out with friends, including Ken Carlson, before heading into the festival. The group wasn't exactly made up of professional beer drinkers, but that didn't stop them from sampling the local scene. The festival featured beer, cider, mead and plenty of fruit-forward drinks, including strawberry, huckleberry, watermelon basil and blueberry offerings. There was also plenty of food. Puget Sound Pizza gets a shout-out for serving enormous slices, while the guys discuss barbecue, food trucks and eventually making a stop for ice cream afterward. Being the designated driver wasn't a bad deal either, with discounted admission and free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. The weather also played a role. What was expected to be an overcast day turned sunny and hot, leaving people baking in the unexpected Northwest sunshine. Fortunately, the crew had a solution: food, drinks and eventually ice cream. Jeff also puts the Grit City hotline to work with some genuine on-location reporting. Festival attendees check in with their names and what they're drinking, giving listeners a little taste of the event directly from the crowd. Of course, no Hangover Sunday would be complete without several completely unrelated detours. The crew revisits some classic Grit City history, including the early days of the podcast, old sponsors, conventions and a bizarre story involving a giant carrot costume that apparently looked enough like a hot dog to cause some confusion. From there, the conversation travels into the world of strange internet rabbit holes before landing on something much more wholesome: professional disc golf. The guys discover just how serious the professional disc golf world has become, including a major tournament at The Preserve. Eventually, naturally, they return to beer. The crew debates hazy IPAs, traditional IPAs, hops, yeast, fruit flavors and the difference between craft beer and the kind of "garage beer" people drink when they aren't thinking too hard about what they're drinking. And then the conversation takes a hard turn toward food. A bizarre peanut butter, potato chip, barbecue sauce and pita bread creation gets discussed with the seriousness of a culinary crime investigation. The guys then move into an argument over American cheese before somehow landing on Cincinnati chili spaghetti and the strange combination of spices—including cinnamon and cloves—that goes into it. Finally, the episode reaches its logical conclusion: incredibly hot wings. The crew remembers a meal involving wings so brutally spicy that everyone eventually gave up. One person even managed to rub the sauce into his eyes, turning an already painful meal into a full-blown disaster. Beer festivals, disc golf, carrot costumes, craft beer debates, bizarre sandwiches, Cincinnati chili and nuclear-level wings. It's another weekend in the world of Grit City—and another perfectly chaotic Hangover Sunday. 00:00 – Cold Open Chaos The episode starts with the usual Grit City technical confusion before the intro. 01:18 – Welcome to Hangover Sunday Jeff, Scott, Mike and C-Note kick things off and admit everyone had a big weekend. 02:13 – Grit City Is Growing The crew thanks listeners after noticing downloads have roughly tripled over the previous month and a half. 03:11 – The Grit City Archives A look back at the show's older interview episodes, the early days of podcasting, and recording interviews in the back of bars. 05:53 – Old Episodes Become Local History The guys talk about people and businesses from the early Grit City days that aren't around anymore. 06:04 – The E.J. O'Donnell Story A conversation about one of Grit City's longtime sticker partners and how one former contact went on to build a successful business. 07:47 – Call the Grit City Hotline The crew promotes the listener hotline and talks about the new AI-generated jingles. 10:46 – Tumwater Artesian Beer Fest 2026 Scott recaps his weekend at the Tumwater Artesian Beer Fest and hanging out with Ken Carlson and friends. 11:19 – Ken Carlson, Beer & A Very Reluctant Beer Drinker The crew talks about Ken, his work, his writing, and bringing a reluctant beer drinker along for the festival. 12:26 – DD Discount, Pizza & Festival Food Being the designated driver has its perks, including cheaper admission, free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. 14:10 – Ice Cream Saves the Day The crew discovers the simple beauty of post-festival ice cream—and the heat starts becoming a problem. 15:19 – On-Scene Reporting from Tumwater Scott talks about calling into the Grit City hotline from the festival and getting some real-time reactions. 16:21 – Live from the Beer Fest Festival-goers check in with their names and drinks, including strawberry cider, huckleberry cider, watermelon basil cider and blueberry jam ale. 17:25 – The "Jimmathy" Problem The guys discover a suspiciously named drink and debate whether they're comfortable with it. 18:42 – How to Do a Proper Grit City Check-In The crew explains the strategy behind approaching strangers at events and getting them on the hotline. 19:07 – Fruit Beers, Mead & the Steam Mule A deep dive into the festival's flavored drinks, huckleberry mead and one particularly questionable-sounding "Steam Mule." 20:22 – Wristbands, Sunshine & Camp Stamp Cameras The guys discuss the festival's wristband system, unexpected sunshine and Scott's photography setup. 22:28 – Mead, Cider & Braggot A stop at Acorn Brewing leads to a discussion about mead, cider, beer and the mysterious hybrid drink known as braggot. 23:13 – What Exactly Is a Black & Tan? A quick beer education session turns into another Grit City tangent. 24:58 – The Giant Carrot That Looked Like a Hot Dog An old workplace story involving a giant carrot costume somehow looking like a hot dog. 25:32 – The Night Side Distillery Days The crew remembers an old sponsor, conventions and a particularly memorable case of flavored vodka. 26:02 – The Carrot Incident Explained The legendary carrot story gets the full treatment. 29:00 – The Internet Rabbit Hole The conversation turns toward strange online rabbit holes and the kind of stories that always seem to end with demons, dimensions and doom. 33:26 – Disc Golf Has a Pro League?! The crew discovers just how serious professional disc golf has become, including a tournament at The Preserve. 34:00 – Skip Aces & the Disc Golf Tour A surprisingly enthusiastic discussion about professional disc golf and Minnesota's top courses. 40:00 – Minnesota, Family & Pay-What-You-Can Events The conversation shifts into Minnesota culture, family stories and the idea of events using donation-based admission. 45:57 – PorchFest, Conventions & Finding Something to Do Every Month The guys discuss PorchFest, local events and the dream of having enough business-related excuses to attend conventions constantly. 46:50 – Are Microbreweries Disappearing? A conversation about the changing craft beer scene and the future of small breweries. 50:00 – Hazy IPAs & Why They Taste Fruity The crew debates IPAs, hazy IPAs, hops, yeast and why some beers taste more like citrus than traditional beer. 56:35 – Midwest Beer vs. Garage Beer A discussion about regional beer preferences and the idea of a "garage beer." 57:28 – The IPA Weekend The guys admit the conversation has basically become an extended beer discussion. 59:59 – The Peanut Butter, Potato Chip & BBQ Sauce Situation A bizarre food combination involving peanut butter, potato chips, barbecue sauce and pita bread gets put on trial. 01:02 – American Cheese Controversy The crew debates American cheese, melted cheese and whether American cheese belongs anywhere near pizza. 01:03 – Cincinnati Chili Spaghetti The conversation turns to Cincinnati chili, spaghetti and the surprisingly complicated ingredients involved. 01:04 – Spaghetti vs. Chili: The Family Food Debate A discussion about childhood food traditions turns into another culinary argument. 01:08 – Nuclear Wings The guys remember an encounter with brutally hot wings that eventually defeated everyone at the table. 01:09 – The Food Disaster Files The episode closes with stories about bad restaurant experiences and the strange food-related luck of the Grit City crew.

Some episodes begin with a carefully planned topic. Others start with admitting you accidentally drank too much while sitting on the couch. This week's Hangover Sunday definitely falls into the second category. The crew checks in after another Pacific Northwest weekend filled with everything from lawn mowing marathons and postponed range trips to geocaching adventures and a family visit to Mount Rainier. As always, the conversation celebrates everything that makes living in the Northwest special—cool weather, incredible scenery, and those hidden places that seem too beautiful to be real. Then... someone brings up sporks. What starts as a joke turns into a surprisingly convincing argument that the humble spork might actually be humanity's greatest eating utensil. Childhood memories of school lunches, camping gear, Kentucky Fried Chicken meals, and everyday practicality make for one of the funniest conversations of the episode. Of course, being the Grit City Podcast, the discussion couldn't stay on utensils forever. The conversation shifts into the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence. The crew explores new AI companion devices capable of creating custom personalities, voice interactions, and virtual characters. From building digital tour guides to recreating fictional personalities, they discuss both the impressive possibilities and the limitations of today's AI tools. That naturally leads to a larger question: What happens to jobs? The hosts share perspectives from technology, manufacturing, retail, and creative industries, discussing how AI is already reshaping employment. While automation is replacing certain tasks, they also argue that human creativity, craftsmanship, and genuine personal connections may become even more valuable in an AI-saturated world. The conversation wraps with concerns over personalized pricing, automation in grocery stores, and the importance of continuing to support artists, creators, and independent businesses through purchases and platforms like Patreon. As always, Hangover Sunday delivers exactly what listeners expect: friends sitting around having honest conversations that somehow wander from lawn mowing to sporks to artificial intelligence without ever feeling forced. It's funny, thoughtful, occasionally ridiculous, and unmistakably Grit City. Join the GCP Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/yuEq7e2Ed4 Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open & Hangover Sunday Begins 01:18 – Welcome to the Grit City Podcast 02:00 – Weekend Recap: Hangovers, Lawn Mowing & Shooting Plans 04:05 – Mount Rainier, Geocaching & Pacific Northwest Appreciation 06:20 – The Great Spork Debate Begins 08:05 – Childhood Memories of Sporks & School Lunches 09:10 – AI Companion Devices and Custom Digital Personalities 14:20 – Building Your Own AI Character 18:30 – AI, Automation & Job Security 22:00 – Will AI Replace Office Jobs? 26:00 – The Future of Artists, Creators & Supporting Local Talent 30:00 – Retail, Grocery Stores & AI-Powered Pricing 33:00 – Closing Thoughts & More AI Rabbit Holes

Hangover Sunday - PorchFest, Rainiers, Glamping & Finding Your Doppelganger Sometimes the best weekends don't need a big plan—they just need good friends, great weather, and enough stories to fill a podcast. This week's Hangover Sunday episode is exactly that. The crew kicks things off by sending their thoughts to C-Note and his family before diving into a recap of one of the busiest weekends they've had in a long time. Scott shares his experience exploring Tacoma PorchFest, one of the city's most unique community events. Live music spills from neighborhood porches, comedy shows pop up inside local businesses, and the entire 6th Avenue district transforms into one giant celebration of Tacoma culture. Along the way, the guys talk about meeting Migs from KISW, checking out SOS Pro Wrestling, discovering new bands, reconnecting with friends, and enjoying one of those rare Pacific Northwest summer days where everything simply comes together. The conversation shifts from neighborhood festivals to another Tacoma tradition—a Tacoma Rainiers game at Cheney Stadium. While the Rainiers may not have had their best day on the field, Scott explains why minor league baseball remains one of the best entertainment values around. Great seats, cold beer, hot dogs, and an afternoon with friends make the final score almost irrelevant. Jeff balances out the city adventures with a weekend getaway to Suncadia Resort near Cle Elum. Instead of roughing it, he experiences what can only be described as "luxury camping," complete with mountain scenery, hiking trails, golf, wildlife, and enough amenities to make even the least outdoorsy person appreciate a weekend in the Cascades. The discussion turns into a celebration of everything that makes Washington State such an incredible place to explore. As always, the conversation refuses to stay on one track for long. The crew eventually wanders into a surprisingly entertaining discussion about doppelgangers, accidental family discoveries through email, genealogy, and whether everyone has someone else walking around who looks just like them. It's another classic Hangover Sunday episode filled with laughs, local recommendations, random tangents, and the kind of conversations that happen after a weekend well spent. Whether you're looking for your next Tacoma adventure, planning a Rainiers game, or just want to hear friends swap stories, this episode has something for everyone. If you've ever been to PorchFest, found your own doppelganger, or have a great Pacific Northwest weekend story, the crew wants to hear from you. Give the Grit City Podcast a call at 1-855-474-8272 or 1-855-GRITCPC and you might hear yourself on a future episode. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to Hangover Sunday 01:40 - Missing C-Note and a heartfelt message 02:40 - Tacoma PorchFest recap begins 09:45 - Tacoma Rainiers game experience 18:10 - Finding your doppelganger 22:40 - Jeff's luxury glamping trip near Cle Elum 31:00 - More Pacific Northwest travel talk and weekend adventures 40:00 - AI, technology and random rabbit holes (approx.) 49:00 - Listener callouts and weekend reflections (approx.) 58:00 - Wrapping up another Hangover Sunday (approx.)

Hangover Sunday: Fireworks, Fallout & Forest Mysteries Nothing says Hangover Sunday quite like trying to recover after Independence Day while your neighborhood sounds like an active war zone. This week's episode starts exactly where you'd expect—with everyone comparing Fourth of July experiences. From window-rattling mortars and terrified pets to exploding garages and fireworks landing on rooftops, the crew shares stories that are equal parts hilarious and terrifying. They also revisit the questionable decisions many of us made growing up with bottle rockets, Roman candles, and whatever fireworks we could get our hands on in the '80s and '90s. As always, the conversation quickly veers off into unexpected territory. The crew shifts from neighborhood explosions to another kind of power: AI. With massive data centers popping up across the country, they discuss the growing demand for electricity and water, the environmental impact of modern computing, and whether micro modular nuclear reactors could become the future of powering AI infrastructure. The discussion covers everything from nuclear submarines and radiation safety to how communities might react if small reactors became common. Of course, this wouldn't be Grit City Podcast without a conspiracy detour. The second half of the show explores Washington State's long history of strange disappearances, Missing 411 cases, Bigfoot lore, Mount Rainier mysteries, and the eerie reputation of the Pacific Northwest's forests. Inspired by a recent Why Files interview with researcher David Paulides, the crew debates whether these stories are simply the dangers of the wilderness—or something far stranger. The result is another classic Hangover Sunday episode that effortlessly bounces between comedy, technology, personal stories, conspiracy theories, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're here for the Fourth of July mishaps, curious about the future of nuclear-powered AI, or fascinated by the mysteries hidden in Washington's forests, there's something for everyone in this week's conversation. As always, if you've got your own unbelievable fireworks story—or a strange experience in the woods—give the Grit City Podcast crew a call and join the conversation. Chapters Timestamps are approximate from the transcript. 00:00 – Hangover Sunday kickoff after the Fourth of July 01:35 – Everyone's Independence Day recap 06:00 – Fireworks gone wrong and neighborhood war zones 10:00 – Photography, drones, and backyard fireworks 13:00 – The best (and worst) fireworks stories from childhood 17:45 – Roman candles, YouTube rabbit holes, and "Put It In Reverse Terry" 18:15 – AI data centers and America's growing power problem 20:00 – Micro modular nuclear reactors explained 23:00 – Water usage, politics, and the future of AI infrastructure 27:00 – Nuclear energy myths vs. reality 36:00 – Washington forests, Missing 411, and unexplained disappearances 40:00+ – Bigfoot, national parks, and Pacific Northwest mysteries

The Grit City crew is back for another laid-back Friday Night Hangout, proving once again that no topic is too weird and no rabbit hole is too deep. Jeff, Scott, Mike and C-Note kick things off catching up while Brogan enjoys some time in Louisiana. The conversation quickly turns to Summer Con in Puyallup, where the hosts discuss how the convention has evolved from what felt like a giant celebrity meet-and-greet into a more traditional fan convention complete with vendors, gaming and community networking opportunities. Festival season also gets some love as the crew reminisces about the Artesian Brewfest in Tumwater. Jeff shares his cautionary tale about skipping sunscreen and paying the price, while the group remembers good cider, good company and a surprisingly family-friendly atmosphere. Naturally, things take a turn into classic Grit City territory after an image mishap inspires an extended discussion about "penis fingers," complete with a reminder that listeners can always call the GCP hotline to share their own strange life experiences. Scott then recaps a recent trip to the Northwest Pinball and Arcade Expo and a post-show meetup at Camp Bar before diving into an evening at Tacoma Comedy Club to see comedian Jim Norton. C-Note recounts his first comedy club experience and the crew talks about Norton's storytelling style, long career and reputation as one of stand-up's more unapologetically honest performers. The biggest rabbit hole of the night, however, involves an astonishing LEGO controversy. Scott shares the ongoing story of a collector whose valuable Star Wars LEGO collection was allegedly caught up in a consignment dispute involving a Bricks & Minifigs franchise. The story expands into lawsuits, YouTube investigations, body camera footage, Airbnb complaints, alleged police misconduct and online fundraising efforts, leaving everyone amazed at how bizarre and complicated internet justice can become. It's another perfect Friday night with the Grit City crew—equal parts local events, comedy talk, internet sleuthing and completely ridiculous detours that somehow make perfect sense when you're hanging out with friends. Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open & Settling In The crew gets the mics rolling and prepares for another Friday night hangout. 01:37 – The Whole Gang (Mostly) Returns Jeff, Scott, Mike and C-Note check in while Brogan enjoys Louisiana. 02:10 – Summer Con in Puyallup Talking celebrity guests, vendors, panels and the evolution of local conventions. 04:30 – Artesian Brewfest Memories Beer, cider, sunscreen regrets and family-friendly festival vibes. 05:45 – Penis Fingers & Listener Hotline An accidental image discovery spirals into one of the weirdest conversations of the night. 07:55 – Northwest Pinball Show Recap The crew reflects on hanging out at Camp Bar after the arcade and pinball expo. 08:40 – Jim Norton at Tacoma Comedy Club Scott and C-Note review their night seeing comedian Jim Norton and discuss comedy clubs. 16:20 – The Great LEGO Scandal An unbelievable story involving consigned LEGO collections, franchise disputes, lawsuits and internet investigators. 19:00 – Utah, YouTubers & Questionable Policing The LEGO saga takes an even stranger turn involving arrests, body cams, Airbnb drama and allegations of misconduct. 22:00 – Internet Justice: Good, Bad and Weird The guys debate the power of online communities, crowdfunding and accountability.