Gamers To The Control Tower for 4/21/26

We ping-pong from aviation news to Coachella highlights and end up with a hard rule about not trusting every “remedy” you see online. Along the way, we ask what real inclusivity looks like in marketing, and who actually benefits when big policy changes hit the checkout line. 

• our week in Southern California and a baseball game seat upgrade after a fear-of-heights moment 
• the FAA recruiting gamers for air traffic control roles and whether gaming skills translate to safety-critical work 
• Coachella weekend two energy and Sabrina Carpenter bringing Madonna out for “Vogue” and “Like A Prayer” 
• pilots making animal noises over the radio and what that signals to anxious flyers 
• Nike’s Boston Marathon sign backlash and the line between cheeky and exclusionary 
• tariff refunds for businesses, why consumers cannot apply, and whether savings should go to customers or workers 
• Brandi Glanville’s garlic ear mishap and why social media medical advice goes wrong fast 

Please continue to support us by going to Elrodtvnetwork.com where you can watch this, as well as other talk shows, podcasts, documentaries and movies. Also, if you prefer to listen to us, we're on all the major podcast stations like Spotify, IHeart and Apple.

Come see Meryl Wednesday April 22nd in Santa Monica, California at the West Side Comedy Club.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Transcript

Welcome To Thirsty Topics

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Hello everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. Thirsty Topics is a weekly show that uh me and Merle do. We talk about, you know, trending topics that include pop culture, social media, the news. And being that there's so much craziness going on in the world, we will never run out of things to talk about. That's true. I'm Lawrence Elrat.

SPEAKER_02 0:41

And I'm Merrill Clemo. I'm the happy co-host of Lawrence. Um, I'm chronically online and love to scroll TikTok and love to then bring it here and talk about it with all of you guys. And I do, um, I'm in Bourbon, California, and I am a podcaster and stand-up comedian and copywriter and all those fun things.

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Nice, nice. And of course, you could watch this. Um, you can listen to this on all the major podcasting networks, and you can also watch us on lradtvnetwork.com, which is my streaming channel. So let's go ahead and get started. How's it going, Meryl?

SPEAKER_02 1:17

It's really good. Spring is still here. Coachella's over, which I'm sad about, even though I didn't go. But it's still like, I don't know, it just feels a certain way when it's Coachella time in Southern California.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

I know Coachella is a big thing. In fact, uh, they started talking about it on the news here. So uh it's starting to make its way across the United States, I guess, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Good, as it should, as it should. Um, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 1:41

I am doing great. Um got some work done to the house. Um, enjoyed a nice warm weekend. Now it's cold again. So hopefully within the next month we start getting some consistently warm weather.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

Oh my gosh, it's warm here. We just went to a um a baseball game. I hope I don't get anyone in trouble by saying this, but we went to a game to see a uh team. I won't say exactly what stadium it was, but it was

Spring Updates And Coachella Energy

SPEAKER_02 2:12

a team that we like. And my boyfriend bought tickets for like the very, very upper level, like the 500s. And that is just like a heck no for me. I will not sit up there because of the height. Not because I'm too fancy or prissy or anything, but because of the actual height, like I hate heights. So I had a complete freak out, and then um the ushers were really nice, and they let us sit down in like the nice seats. So this is just a nice inspiration for anyone that if you like throw a fit, that you don't have to do what you want to do, and then just throw a fit, and then you'll end up getting what you want.

SPEAKER_01 2:45

Nice, that was a very nice one.

SPEAKER_02 2:48

Exactly. The ushers were so nice. I feel like, you know, because usually I think about security guards with concerts, and

Baseball Seats And Fear Of Heights

SPEAKER_02 2:54

I know they're just trying their best too, but I feel like I'm used to like people just kind of being saying no and they're rough and gruff, but I felt like at baseball stadiums that the like little retired sweet ushers are so nice and they're always so helpful.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Very nice, very nice. Well, without saying the team, did they win?

SPEAKER_02 3:12

They did, they won by one, and I actually paid attention, even though I was I did go to get something to eat right at like the best moment when they had home runs and everything, but it was okay. Exactly, I didn't really care.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Well, we have some very interesting things to talk about today. Yeah, so I'm gonna start off with this interesting one here, and this is actually a pretty good one. Um the FAA have started recruiting gamers. So the FFA the FAA is launching a targeted recruitment campaign to hire 8,000 air traffic controllers by tapping into the gaming community now, targeting individuals with skills and uh spatial awareness, multitasking, and high stress decision making, the initiative aims to bridge a critical staffing shortage of 3,500 controllers. The campaign, which includes YouTube AIDS, highlights high paying long-term career opportunities. So, in case people are interested, the requirements uh the applicants

FAA Recruiting Gamers For ATC

SPEAKER_01 4:30

must be U.S. citizen, fluent in English, and generally under 31 years old. Compensation, this position pays up to 155,000. And the process is um, the campaign has begun, um uh begun and be highly successful with thousands of applicants in the first few hours. Now, you know what's kind of funny about this, Meryl, is you remember how you hear parents yell at your kids, stop wasting time on those games, you're not gonna hear it. Yeah, yeah, I can kind of see the kids kind of going, Hey, mom, dad, remember when you said this would be a waste of my time.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Exactly. I I already know too, like growing up. I mean, you you you probably had the same thing too, where I would love Mario, like Nintendo, Mario World 1 and 3, but I definitely I should not be in the FAA because I feel like whenever I would lose, I would just like toss my controller across the room. And so I I already showed that I don't have what it has, but I think this is really interesting, and like why not, I guess, apply those skills. But to me, it's so vastly different that you really have to go through more, obviously, more training. Like, I don't know if it's the same exact skills. And I know we talked about the article mentioned like dexterity and coordination and everything, but to me, like the gamers that I've met or I know, I don't really I can't really see them like being a air traffic controller. But I mean, why not start uh you said start kids young, and if they're really interested in that type of motor skill and that type of um pastime, then why not get them interested?

SPEAKER_01 6:06

That is true, and you know, there are some some valuable things from gamers because they're dedicated. Um, obviously, there's probably certain skill sets that transfer over, and I commend the FAA for recognizing that. So, you know, it's it's becoming more and more of a digital age now, you know, with AI and everything else. It's really not a total surprise. I think it's actually pretty, pretty uh incredible that they thought this way.

SPEAKER_02 6:33

Me too. I love to think hearing when, like, and not to call out just men, but it's been my men friends who are like, oh yeah, if a plane went down, I would know what to do because I totally play like video games. But I mean, I think that's happened before. Honestly, I think I've heard of stories where like a private plane needed help and someone really did like do simulations and they knew what they were doing, so from video games, so they at least knew how to like steady the plane again.

SPEAKER_01 7:01

Maybe I'm just making that up, but there was a story I want to say it was a year or two ago, I have to take a look, where a gentleman who was having some issues um actually stole a plane and crashed it.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Um yeah, that was so sad. That was crazy.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

And uh he basically told him that he's good. You know, he he has a air um an airline or or plane simulator at home, so I'm good. And he actually flew the plane, did some stunts in the plane. Luckily, no one's on the plane but him, and he crashed the plane.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

So I know. Listening to those tapes are I'm sure most of us have heard that it's so sad because he like you could tell he was troubled, and then he did like a barrel roll or he did something that very that they were like genuinely impressed by, but obviously it had a very sad ending. Um, I wish they had told him, like, hey, you're acting you're not going to get in trouble if you just land the pl. I'm sure they did. I'm sure they didn't say like you're screwed anyway, you know. But I think he knew that he was in going to be in trouble, so he just carried out his his sad mission. But um, yeah, very interesting.

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Yeah, that's true. And you know, it's no secret that the military uses certain games in their training, you know. Video games actually have come a long way from the days of Atari and all the other simple games out there, so yeah, I think so too.

SPEAKER_02 8:29

I I just play a coin game um where I like match certain things, and I so I don't think that's gonna translate into landing planes anytime soon.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

But hey, these days you never know.

SPEAKER_02 8:41

Exactly, you never know. Uh well, my first one, I thought this was so fun. I mean, obviously, I've mentioned Coachella 8,000 times, but you know, we just had weekend two, and it's well known that weekend one is kind of for like the influencers and just the whatevers, and weekend two is more for the fans. And I thought the artists really showed up for this past weekend, and I just thought like music-wise and energy-wise, this weekend of Coachella was so much better. Um, I watched it, I thought the live stream, they did such a great job live streaming all the different stages, and like I don't know, it just felt so so cool to just sit and watch it. Um, one of the favorite moments of this past weekend of Coachella that I really liked was when Sabrina Carpenter uh welcomed Madonna to the stage. And like I I had heard rumblings that that was going to happen, but it's like you never know. You know, you hear all these rumors, and a lot of them turn out they're not true. But uh Sabrina has like a moment in her set where she's always like, How about this position? And

Madonna Joins Sabrina At Coachella

SPEAKER_02 9:40

she always does like a new, different, funny position. And so this time she said, How about this position? And all of a sudden the lights went off, and then they started doing like Madonna's Vogue, and then all of a sudden Madonna rose from the risers, and it was just like, I'm sure all of us in the ages of ages like 32 to 55 were like, Whoa! So I thought that was so cool. Um, Madonna did a new song with her, and then they did uh like a prayer together, and I just thought that was amazing. Um, a little the critic inside of me, Madonna did give like a pretty long talk about astrology and the planetary forces and all this kind of stuff. I think it could have been pared down a little bit. Like I to me, like I love hearing Madonna talk. I think she's funny, but it was a little long-winded and like a little awkward for doing music. Um, but you know, she had stuff to say, and it's Madonna, so we're lucky to have her. But I thought that was just an insane moment and really, really cool.

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Yeah, it sounded like it was a really, really nice performance, still. Just by the way.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Yeah. It was both of them, like, looked great and sounded great, and like Madonna seems very happy for Sabrina to shine, and vice versa. So um, but you can tell, maybe I'm just making this all I would love to hear what people think, but like when Madonna was talking on and on, you could hear Sabrina Sabrina was smiling, but you could tell she's like, okay, wrap it up, you know, because like they have they have strict timelines at these festivals, and if you're like a minute late, you get fined, you get, you know, there's like noise ordinances and stuff. So they run, yeah, they run like a really, really, really tight ship with the cities and with the neighbors. So it's kind of like everything needs to be down to the minute, uh, pretty much, and you know, otherwise you have to pay a hefty fine. So, as much as we want to hear Madonna talk about astrology, sometimes you gotta wrap it up.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

Yeah, that's true. And you know, the thing is, is when you have someone like uh like Madonna who's definitely um been around a long time and has a lot of fans, a lot of fans sometimes they you know they kind of get in the moment, they feel really good, and you know, of course, there's always that someone working in in the audience, you know, probably um a stagehand has okay, you know, synapse. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. At least it's not like the awards where you know you start hearing the music.

SPEAKER_02 12:00

Oh, yeah, I know. And I started to feel anxious because I'm like, at what point are they going to cut Madonna off? Or if you're Sabrina, like there's no way I'm ever going to tell Madonna to like, you know, wrap it up. But so it's like, are you just standing on stage for like 30 minutes? Or you know, so um, but they they went into the songs and it's just so cool to see. I feel like we're really in a moment with music where like the younger people are kind of paying homage and then the older people are like responding too. But it's crazy now that the older people are like 40s and 50s, you know.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

That's true, that's true, and you know the thing is too, is that um, you know, it's good to see the younger generations appreciate uh the older generations because if you really listen closely, there's a lot of music out there that are either spin-offs or remakes of older songs.

SPEAKER_02 12:55

Absolutely, totally.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

So, yeah, that was really good. I I hate I missed that because man, the way you described it sounded really nice.

SPEAKER_02 13:03

You can still I'll send you a TikTok uh link to it, but then you if anyone's looking, I think, I mean, at some point, I'm sure the video of it, but if people just Google like um uh like Madonna Vogue Coachella, like that because as much as like we'll probably see a link to their performance, but people really need to see the moment that Madonna like that the song, Sabrina's song, went into Madonna coming up from the risers, like and everything was flawless. I feel like however they rehearse that happening, the dancers and like the lighting, and it's just like it's unbelievable the amount of talent of everyone that puts stuff like that on.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

Nice, yeah. That would definitely be nice to see. Well, talking about talent, and this is going back into aviation again, but um pilots have been making animal sounds over the radio. While people are listening, yes, this is a real story. Um, two pilots appear to make animal noises while communicating with each other near Reagan International Airport. Pilots flying in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol were recently caught meowing like cats at each other and over the radios. That was hilarious, kind of crazy. They showed they uh, you know, they played the tape as they were doing it, and you can hear them going, meow, meow, and then one person goes, and you can hear the tower kind of telling them stop doing this. And you can't tell who's doing it because obviously, with all the air traffic

Pilots Meowing Over Radio Comms

SPEAKER_01 14:39

that you have, there's no way to identify them unless someone says something to who say who they are. But wow, what do you think about this, Meryl?

SPEAKER_02 14:47

Um, you know what? Usually I know in the past I've talked about how I don't like any extra foolery on planes. I'm already anxious enough, you know, I don't want to hear, but I like this because this means that like the pilots are chill and playful and calm enough to like be doing that. And it's like they don't have to be so serious all the time. So as long as the plane is flying and we're like in the nice air, you know, doing what we're supposed to, I think it's cute. And I feel like people, professional people are allowed to have a moment to like, you know, have fun or blow off steam if they're doing it because they're like drunk or just you know, blindfolded or something. No, thank you. But to me, that's silly, and it's like, why wouldn't you be a little bit playful if you're talking into like an intercom all day and just you know, to me, it's like that's silly and fun.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

So you wouldn't freak out if you're in an airplane all of a sudden you hear I would not freak out.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

No, I think that's so silly, and I love honestly, as an anxious flyer, I love when pilots and um the airline attendants have a little fun because it like it actually helps my anxiety a lot because it's it like shows okay, they're playful, so we're not in like a crisis right now.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

That's true, that's true, and uh that is pretty funny. The tower was not happy, but hey, you know what? Like I said, they were having a little fun, and and um the passengers didn't seem to mind it, so you know it wasn't a lot of things.

SPEAKER_02 16:09

Exactly. That's why I like I love flying southwest when I can because they're just like to me, they're the least serious uh when you're on board and I feel like they play games and do stuff, and I'm like, why not? You know, if we're if if everything if all the safety things have been happening have already happened and we're in the air, you know, whatever. I'm I'm happy to hear some growls and meows.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

There you go. Hey, maybe there'll be a cat or a dog meow coming one day near you in your next next flight.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

Exactly. But imagine too if you're like flying with your dog or your cat and it just sets off a whole chorus of like animals on the plate.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

Actually, I didn't even think about that, but you're right.

SPEAKER_02 16:49

Yeah, or like babies crying or something. I don't know. Um, well, my next one, oh my gosh, I've been obsessed with this story. Uh so Nike had to remove a controversial sign at the Boston Marathon after a major backlash. Um, they had a slogan up outside their flagship location saying, Runners welcome, walkers tolerated, which uh did not bode very well for the internet. People, you know, now this new term pace shaming, which like I officially have a headache from the internet, but like, you know, they said that you okay, you're not being inclusive to runners. Um, Nike removed the sign and issued an apology. I I understand what they were doing. They're trying to be cheeky, and it's like, you know, it's like a little sassy thing, like, you know, runners, we we're here for you, walkers. It obviously they don't mean that. They're being cheeky and sarcastic. But someone had a good point where, like, wasn't your slogan just do it, you

Nike Sign Sparks Walker Backlash

SPEAKER_02 17:52

know, trying to encourage everyone to do it? And I'm not as upset. Like, of course, I don't care about I really hate like cancel culture and this kind of stuff. Like, this wouldn't, this doesn't actually affect me or like move my needle. But in terms of just stupid ad campaigns and talking talking about things that like haven't really been thought through as well, I feel like there could have been a million other things of welcoming both runners and walkers. And also a lot of people, like I'd I'd be someone that I would walk the Boston Marathon, or I would like I would walk a 5K just because to me, there's more walkers out there than there are runners of people that are interested in stuff. So you're already kind of like pissing off like a major audience, you know, a target, a whole demographic, basically, to me.

SPEAKER_01 18:34

No, I agree with you. I mean, like for me personally, um, if I did dare to do a 5k or anything like that, it would be walking.

SPEAKER_02 18:43

Me too. Me too.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

And again, nothing wrong with it. Hey, there's a lot of runners out there. I like walking. I'll even walk fast. I have no problem with that, but I'm not a runner at all. Absolutely not. And here's the other thing, too. There are some people that physically can't run because it's bad on their knees. So they can't.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

Exactly. Yes, and yeah, and this wouldn't like if you saw this sign, like I wouldn't uh boycott Nikes or I wouldn't this wouldn't like emotionally harm me in any way or anything, but it's just to me, of it's a stupid advertising, and Nike has done some such a good job of their slogan, just do it and their branding, that it's like, why not just continue, like just do it, walkers and runners? Like you can do, you know, just do whatever you're trying to do today, and you've got this kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 19:28

I'm actually impressed that Nike um addressed it so fast. Um, that tells you they really pay attention to their marketing and their advertising very closely.

SPEAKER_02 19:39

Exactly. I was trying to think, like, who do I think came up with this campaign? Was it a boomer? Was it like a young Gen Z person? I don't know. Uh was it AI? You know, like I I don't really know what type of like demographic would come up with this.

SPEAKER_01 19:56

My guess would be a younger demographic. I could be wrong, but that's my guess.

SPEAKER_02 20:01

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. See, that's funny. That's funny. My guess would almost be like a like a woman my age. Because this definitely seems like and I'm like, shut up, you know. So because I almost feel like the younger people would almost be more like everyone welcome, uh, you know, whatever. So interesting.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Very, very interesting. Very interesting, but at least they took care of it right away, right?

SPEAKER_02 20:30

They took care of it right away, and that's a good thing for another shoe or athletic company to swoop right in and to be like, everyone's welcome. We love you, walkers, you know, type of thing.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

Very, very true. Well, my last one, I think, is a good one. So, as it has been announced, um, tariffs have begun today, and retailers are due in paydays. So, companies paid more than $160 billion billionably in tariffs, which is which the Supreme Court has ruled to be illegal in February. So, to kind of give you a quick snapshot, um businesses can apply to online portals. Uh, the Supreme Court has ruled $166 billion in tariffs to be illegal. 56,000 businesses have already signed up for refunds on $127 billion. Processing is going to take at least 60 to 90

Tariff Refunds And Consumer Impact

SPEAKER_01 21:41

days. Now, here's the part that consumers are well like tariff refund of you see, individuals cannot uh individual consumers cannot apply.

SPEAKER_02 21:53

So this is oh man.

SPEAKER_01 21:55

So, in other words, it's whoever paid directly into it, which would be companies. Uh positive side, some companies say that they'll start passing on refunds to consumers. Um reportedly, FedEx and Costco Wholesale has said that that they would um pass on refunds or maybe even reduce pricing as a result of the refunds that they get back for tariffs. Now it's too early to know whether other companies will do it, but the most important thing is that yes, I think they should pass it on to customers, but they legally don't have to. What do you think about this?

SPEAKER_02 22:33

I think they're going to pass it on to us with prices, but then there'll be like some other inflation. You know, when you know when like a store says like on sale, but then you look and it's been like a few months ago, it was just marked like three times higher, you know, so it's just down from the original. So as a consumer and individual, I don't know if we're going to see the this payday, but I think this is great for businesses, and hopefully it helps like alleviate some of their cost, and especially the smaller places that are suffering, whether it's like ordering coffee or you know, hot dog buns or whatever, just things that are like that they now have to charge more for. So I think it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

That's true. Now, let me ask you this, Merle. As a consumer, do you think companies should pass that the savings or the rebates back to the customers?

SPEAKER_02 23:21

Um, I don't know. Yeah, yeah, I do think so. But I think only if they can sustain it for a while. Because I feel like having a month where things are lower might just confuse us all again, and then it might feel tough to have it then go back up. Um, but yeah, I also think that maybe they could also if they're if they're uh paying their employees lower, I would almost rather see like employees get more of a livable wage than like us doing that, you know.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

That is so true. That is so true. I would love to see the companies take that money. First, invest in the people that supported your business through these tariffs. Um, so in other words, your customers do something nice for them, but don't leave out the employees. The employees that stuck it through. Things get tighter. Um, they're on the front lines getting the complaints when the prices go up. So, yes, definitely do something for your employees. Um I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think most businesses are gonna pass it down. I think they're probably gonna pick pocket that or maybe reinvest it into their business.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 24:33

I really hope I'm wrong, but I think realistically that's what's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_02 24:37

Me too. And I don't expect like CVS or like Walmart to do this, but but people in the next lower tier, it'd be so nice if they like invested more in local people, whether that's trying to get, you know, locally made honey if they're like a restaurant or just I'd I'd almost rather see that than like save 50 cents for me or whatever, because I just think like I feel like helping the community or maybe like sponsoring a park and cleaning it up or something would be a lot like more sustainable for helping us.

SPEAKER_01 25:06

I agree, I agree.

SPEAKER_02 25:09

Um, well, okay, you're gonna love my last song. This is really, really funny. Uh a reality star Brandi Glanville ended up in the ER with garlic stuck in her ear after taking medical advice from social media. So um I don't know if you know who Brandi Glanville is, but she was on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Uh, she's an alum. She caught a cold from her son Jake, and um basically she she looked up remedies online and decided to try putting a garlic clove in her ear in her ear to help with congestion. However, she ultimately ended up at the emergency room after it got stuck. Um now this is ridiculous because uh like honestly, garlic is definitely helpful when you take it through your mouth, you know, like how the one place where you're supposed to put garlic in your body. But um, and it like basically if you have the flu, it's wonderful. I mean, it tastes horrible, but if you like chop up garlic, honey,

Garlic Ear ER And Bad Health Tips

SPEAKER_02 26:10

um, even like cayenne, you know, like it's kind of a terrible shot to take, but you it's an old everyone knows this, it's an old whatever tale, but it kind of works and it helps clear the system. Um, I don't think you should be putting it in your ear. And to me, I don't think you should put like anything foreign in your ear, and you're not even supposed to use q-tips because that's supposed to like hurt your eardrum. So the moral of the story is do not stick stuff in your ear in. Even like, I mean, this is way too much information, but like trying to get earwax out naturally and stuff. I always just tell people to go to a to like an actual doctor. I don't know why I said I always tell people, like, everyone's asking me for their earwax advice. But like, I don't know why, but it actually comes, I find myself telling people to do that like more than once a month. So I don't I don't know why I'm talking so much with people about their earwax, but I'm like, I guess for me, um when I see something saying put food in my ear, my antennas would go up like, nah, I'm not doing this, you know. And it's like garlic is beautiful, and garlic is a wonderful thing, but like, yeah, why would you think garlic too to eat?

SPEAKER_01 27:21

Yeah, to eat, not put in my ears or anything like that.

SPEAKER_02 27:25

Exactly. And people have to be so careful, even like especially when you're clearing your sinuses, like those there's you know, a neti pot or anything. Well, basically, that you're sticking and irrigating water up your nose. Like, if you you you have to really be careful that you're using the right type of water, otherwise, it could have a bacteria and like you can really make things worse. Now, during the pandemic, I will admit, I slept one night with onions on my feet.

SPEAKER_01 27:52

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_02 27:53

I put I put onions in my socks and I slept with them because uh I heard it was like a really good wives' tale, and I was definitely going through like I went through like crazy time during COVID, but like I'm just trying everything. Like I knew enough to not put onions in my ears, but I did sleep with them on my feet. But then I got freaked out when a friend told me, well, what if like if they're not organic onions, maybe they have bacteria that now are like going through your feet and your bloodstream? So it was one night and I stopped it quick.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Did it work?

SPEAKER_02 28:27

I mean, I didn't, I definitely I ended up like luckily not getting anything bad. It was during the time that we like everyone left and right was just getting COVID and we didn't really have a shot yet. And I was I was just like very um crazy about like supplements and all that stuff. But I mean it worked in the way that I didn't I luckily did not get it, but but it's supposed to like draw toxins out of your bloodstream. But I think once again, it's just a weird idea to like have that going. Looking now, looking back now, I would not do that again.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 28:59

I feel like we all went a little crazy during the pandemic of like trying our own different weird health remedies, probably.

SPEAKER_01 29:07

That's true, that's true. I remember I grew my beard out for the first time because I really can't grow a beard, but for whatever reason, during the pandemic, I'll go like a black grizzly ass.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

I mean, I was exactly everyone went through their own journeys that when we could finally like meet up again, or you know, I would go outside and like hang out with friends. It felt like we were all coming out with some weird shaker where I'm like, I just slept with onions in my feet last night. Like, how about you? You know, so so yeah, I'm surprised Brandy knew this because also this is someone that like she's rich, and I feel like if I had a cold, I would just immediately go to the best like nutritionist. I would order everything I want off of Uber Eats, you know. Like, if you're rich, you could order the best uh like smoothies and lemon water and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

So cool. Well, talk about cool things coming up. Merrill, what do you have coming up?

SPEAKER_02 29:59

Uh um, well, I have a fun show um on Wednesday. If anyone, if this is coming out before Wednesday, um at uh it's at it's in Santa Monica at a place called the West Side Comedy Club, and it's really fun. So Wednesday, West Side Comedy Club.

SPEAKER_01 30:18

Perfect. And if you're in the area, definitely go out and support Merrill. She would love to see it.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Yes, please.

SPEAKER_01 30:27

Well, everyone, this was a very, very fun episode. Uh, learned a lot. Um, please don't put garlic in your ears.

SPEAKER_02 30:34

Exactly. Keep everything out of your orifices.

SPEAKER_01 30:39

Well, please continue to support us by you know going to lRodtvnetwork.com where you can watch this, as well as other talk shows and podcasts, and other shows we have on, like a documentary and a movie. Also, if you prefer to

Merrill’s Show Plug And Wrap-Up

SPEAKER_01 30:54

listen to us, we're on all the major podcast stations. I am Lawrence El Rod.

SPEAKER_02 30:59

And I'm Merrill Climo.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Bye, everyone.

SPEAKER_02 31:02

Bye, buddy.