Episode 147 -- Keep Spinning (Just Maybe Not Scrolling)

Dan was "sunburned". Nicole was ready. And somehow we ended up covering deep fakes, boner pill ads, and the future of flying -- all in one episode.

We kicked things off with breaking news: the British Prime Minister announced plans to ban social media for anyone under 16, going further than any country has gone before. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, X -- all off limits for kids. Nicole walks through what makes this different from Australia's version and why enforcement is the real question.

Then Dan brings the stats on America quietly breaking up with alcohol. The percentage of Americans drinking dropped from 62% in 2023 to 54% in 2025 -- a massive shift in a very short time. Gen Z is leading the charge, and the beverage industry is scrambling to keep up with non-alcoholic spirits, THC drinks, and whatever a dirty Mountain Dew is. Dan accidentally ordered one. He did not enjoy it.

Nicole drops a topic that had Dan immediately claiming he called it years ago: electric air taxis are officially happening this month under a federal pilot program. Planes that take off like helicopters, land in 150 feet, and could eventually make regional air travel look like an Uber. Dan has opinions.

Dan also has a DJI Mavic and a parachute man, and those things turned into a whole other story.

And yes, Dan accidentally listened to a very different kind of performance anxiety meditation on the Calm app before a post-prom trivia show. A month of interesting ads followed. You'll understand when you hear it.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts -- we drop new episodes every Wednesday. Until next time, Spinners. Keep spinning.

Dan and Nicole are back after a few weeks away, and they're jumping right in. After a quick catch-up on birthdays, anniversaries, and Nicole's notable failure to remember either of Dan's, the conversation takes off in all directions.

First up, Dan's been reading "Unreasonable Hospitality" -- the fascinating (and slightly creepy) story of one of the world's most celebrated restaurants and the lengths they go to make guests feel like they're the only person in the room. Hint: they know more about you before you walk in than you'd probably like. The gang also digs into the tasting menu experience and whether a $500-a-plate dinner with no choices is brilliant or just insane.

Then things get scary. AI-powered travel scams have officially gone next-level. Scammers are now creating fake hotel listings -- complete with AI-renovated photos that make dingy motels look like boutique resorts -- and some travelers are arriving to find no hotel at all. We're talking paid-in-full reservations that simply don't exist. Dan breaks down how it works, how to protect yourself, and why the advice to "just book direct" is easier said than done.

And finally: are you still paying $200+ a month for cell service? Dan made the switch to Mint Mobile and has some thoughts. Some very enthusiastic, slightly evangelical thoughts. It's good to be back. Come hang with us.

Episode 145: We Miss Spirit Airlines Now That It's Dead

Spirit Airlines vanished overnight (and a TikToker wants you to chip in $1.75 billion to bring it back). Survivor hits 50 seasons with MrBeast and Billie Eilish making cameos. AI chatbots are now inventing diseases that don't exist. And the guy who invented the Roomba wants to sell you a robot pet with bear-cub ears that drags you off the couch.

Plus: Dan survives post-prom trivia in small-town Minnesota, Nicole confesses her goth-era Winona Ryder phase, and we settle whether Jeff Probst is underpaid at $60 million.

New episodes every Wednesday. Live Mondays on Facebook.