The Grit City Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Minnesota”

GCP: Hangover Sunday - Beer Fest, Carrot Dogs & Nuclear Wings

GCP Media — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:45:00 -0700

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.

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GCP: Saturday Night Grit - Road Rage, Alien Encounters, and Bachelorette Party Antics

GCP Media — Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700

Road Rage, Alien Encounters, and Bachelorette Party Antics: A Saturday Night Grit Extravaganza!

Welcome back to another thrilling episode of the Grit City Podcast, your go-to source for candid conversations, unexpected tangents, and plenty of laughs! In this special Saturday Night Grit, Jeff, Scott, and Mike take us on an unforgettable journey from the sun-drenched bachelorette party scene in Scottsdale, Arizona, to the deepest corners of the universe with eye-opening discussions about UFOs and alien life.

The episode kicks off with the usual banter, including weather updates from Minnesota (it’s "absolutely lovely" there!) and Scott's recent truck customizations, which, as you might expect, involve a few raunchy jokes. But the real party starts when we get a live call-in from Kaysha, our listener on her bachelorette trip in Scottsdale. Kaysha and her "flower hoes" (her affectionate term for her bridesmaids!) give us a hilarious glimpse into their girly pop Airbnb, complete with pink walls and baby animal décor, their plans to tear up Old Town Scottsdale, and the inevitable hangover awaiting them. The guys offer their congratulations and some rather unique advice, including Scott's suggestion of a "weiner hat" – thankfully, a plushy one was eventually clarified!

From there, the conversation takes a sharp turn into the relatable world of road rage. Mike, ever the mellow one, confesses to mild bumper-riding, then shares a truly wild Navy-era anecdote involving a PT Cruiser, a lifted Suburban, and a quickly deflated aggressor. The discussion then moves into the philosophy of road rage, with Mike introducing his brilliant coping mechanism: assuming everyone driving like an asshole has "explosive diarrhea." It’s a hilarious, yet surprisingly effective, way to maintain sanity on congested roads, especially around Tacoma's infamous freeway merges!

Jeff then recounts a recent trip to Eastern Washington for a memorial, providing a vivid description of Yakima's transformation and an unforgettable encounter with a mobility scooter. He also reflects on shifting family dynamics, the surprising embrace of legal weed by formerly "anti-weed" relatives, and his newfound ability to navigate family "vipers" thanks to counseling – a testament to personal growth that even gets a nod from Mike.

But what would a Grit City Podcast be without a touch of the unknown? The conversation pivots to some genuinely thought-provoking science talk, starting with the discovery of liquid water and ancient life beneath Antarctica's ice. This leads into the fascinating implications for life on other icy planets like Europa. The guys then delve into the recent release of UFO files by the U.S. government, sparking a debate about their authenticity and the potential for distraction.

This segues into the highly anticipated "favorite UFO theories" segment. Scott shares his passion for the "underground people" theory, drawing parallels to ancient hominin fossils found in the Star Cave System and Native American legends of "ant people." Mike then drops his "Jupiter Ascending" inspired theory: Earth is merely a "crop" of life force, cultivated by an advanced alien civilization, poised for harvest. It's a deliciously dark and compelling idea that has Jeff equally intrigued.

The episode wraps up with a consensus on the sheer statistical impossibility of Earth being the only planet with intelligent life. They muse on the vast distances of space, the limitations of human technology, and the idea that, in the grand scheme of things, humanity might just be a fascinating (and often chaotic) experiment in an intergalactic zoo. The final thought, inspired by the movie "Don't Look Up," highlights the disturbing reality that even undeniable evidence of impending doom wouldn't convince everyone in today's gaslight-prone world.

Despite the deep thoughts and wild theories, the episode maintains its signature Grit City charm, punctuated by laughs, call-outs to listeners, and heartfelt well wishes for Kaysha's upcoming wedding and Sino's recent good news.

So buckle up, grab a Snickers bar (preferably a cold one from the fridge!), and prepare for an episode that will make you laugh, think, and perhaps even question everything you thought you knew about road rage, alien life, and bachelorette parties.

Listen to the full episode and explore more at www.gritcitypodcast.com!

Chapters with Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro and Soundcheck
0:01:37 - Welcome to Grit City Podcast & Weather Updates
0:02:19 - Scott's Truck Customizations (and some raunchy jokes)
0:03:19 - Kaysha's Bachelorette Party Shoutout
0:06:45 - Live Call-in from Kaysha and her "Flower Hoes"
0:07:01 - Scottsdale Bachelorette Party Details and Plans
0:08:50 - Bridesmaid's Perspective on Kaysha's Party
0:10:04 - More on the Wedding Hierarchy and Groom's Praises
0:11:17 - Scottsdale Vibe, Matching Gear, and Free Drinks
0:13:30 - The "Plushy Weiner" and Wing-Woman Strategies
0:15:03 - Kaysha Returns: Bail Money and Family History
0:16:13 - Wedding Planning Stress & Jeff's Muting Mishap
0:17:30 - May the Fourth (and Fifth, and Seventh, and Eighth) Be With You
0:18:41 - Star Wars Dress-Up at Work and Wookie Costumes
0:20:04 - Scott's Bathroom Stalker Strategy at Conventions
0:21:08 - Lemmy and the Eighth of May
0:22:06 - Road Rage: Dash Cams and Mike's Mellow Approach
0:25:03 - Jeff's Road Rage Incident with a Semi Truck
0:30:21 - Mike's Commute Philosophy: Everyone Has Explosive Diarrhea
0:33:17 - The Futility of Aggressive Driving
0:36:40 - Uncle Monty's Memorial & Eastern Washington Trip
0:38:00 - Yakima's Transformation and Mobility Scooters
0:39:07 - Family Dynamics, Weed Legalization, and Vipers
0:41:07 - Jeff's Counseling Progress and Controlled Temper
0:41:40 - The Long Drive Home and Pee Breaks
0:43:03 - Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Commercial Parody
0:43:56 - Taking Care of Our Planet vs. Colonizing Mars
0:44:26 - Humans as a Virus: The Matrix and Joe Rogan
0:45:25 - Moss, Civilization, and Resource-Driven Growth
0:46:16 - Antarctica's Subglacial Lakes and Ancient Life
0:48:26 - Exoplanet Discovery and the Vastness of Space
0:49:49 - UFO Files: Trump's Release and Skepticism
0:51:39 - The Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System (PURSE)
0:54:12 - Favorite UFO Theories: Scott's Underground People
0:55:20 - Homo Naledi, Star Cave System, and Rock Climber Hands
0:57:04 - Ant People Legends and the Dogon Tribe
1:00:08 - Jeff and Mike's UFO Opinions: The 1% Rule
1:01:05 - Military Tech vs. Alien Sightings
1:02:00 - Boeing's 10-Year Future Tech and Smart Kids
1:04:09 - Other Intelligence Out There
1:05:03 - Mike's Roswell Upbringing and Childhood UFO Sighting
1:07:05 - Hubris, Space Travel Challenges, and the Moon's Distance
1:10:35 - Mike's Favorite UFO Theory: Earth as a Crop (Jupiter Ascending)
1:12:42 - The Zoo Hypothesis and Our Inability to Comprehend
1:13:58 - "We'll Be Back in One Now" - Our Indifference to Alien Contact
1:14:59 - "Don't Look Up" - The Real-World Gaslighting Analogy
1:16:16 - Happy Mother's Day & Sino's Arrival
1:17:13 - Outro and Podcast Promotion

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Saturday Night Grit: Valentines, OnlyFans, AI Bosses, and Digital Prostitution

GCP Media — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0800

Jeff, Scott, and Mike open this Valentine’s Day edition of Saturday Night Grit with a mix of Space Needle clichés and hard-hitting societal questions. The crew tackles the controversial intersection of digital platforms like "Fans Only" and the legal definition of prostitution, questioning how these digital footprints impact future employment and decision-making skills. This leads into a deep dive into the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, sparked by a recent prediction from Microsoft’s AI CEO that white-collar tasks could be fully automated within the next 18 months. The guys debate whether we are facing a cultural plateau or a necessary "equal opportunity" shift that will force a resurgence in true human creativity.

The tech talk continues with a look at how AI is already reshaping entertainment—from Greenland-themed GTA 6 trailers to high-end transcriptions and the "magic tricks" of search algorithms. The hosts weigh the "cool factor" of futuristic tech like eVTOL flying cars at the Olympics against the gritty reality of a job market where office workers and creative professionals alike face obsolescence. Amidst the chaos of the digital future, Mike also settles the debate on Minnesota’s geography, jokingly labeling the region as "Southern Canada" while discussing the unique logistical challenges of living in the northernmost state of the lower 48.

Turning to matters closer to home, the team shares a heartfelt call to action for the Tacoma community regarding a local favorite. They discuss the devastating fire at Side Piece Kitchen and the long road to recovery for its owner, Hailey, following a severe kitchen accident that resulted in major burns. This powerful segment serves as a vital reminder for listeners to check their fire extinguishers and establish household fire drills. The episode wraps up with a wild recap of Super Bowl prop bets—including the legendary striker who turned a field run into a $50,000 payday—and a final plea to support the local entrepreneurship and "standing with Hailey" through her recovery.

Show Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Valentine’s Day Blues and Space Needle Clichés
06:36 – The "Fans Only" Debate: Digital Cam Sites vs. Legalized Prostitution
12:09 – AI Transcriptions, Greenland GTA 6, and Porn Translations
14:09 – The 18-Month Deadline: Microsoft’s AI CEO on White Collar Jobs
17:14 – Will AI Kill Creative Jobs? The Value of Human Boredom
20:12 – Pop Music vs. AI Art: The Coming Culture Shift
25:40 – Flying Cars at the Olympics: The Future of eVTOL Vehicles
30:53 – Engineering Wing Stress and Homemade Harriers
35:13 – Local Spotlight: Standing with Hailey and the Side Piece Kitchen Fire
39:14 – Home Safety 101: Fire Extinguishers, Flash Burns, and Drills
46:41 – The Hotline: A Mysterious "Inspirational" AI Voicemail
52:15 – Super Bowl Sunday Recap: Striking for $50k and Prop Bet Odds
55:40 – Gladiators and Sports: The Ultimate Political Distraction
58:52 – Seattle Parade Crowds and Greasing the Light Poles
01:01:21 – Southern Canada: The Unique Geography of Minnesota
01:03:04 – Final Call for Support: Standing with Hailey through Recovery

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GCP: 1-855-GRITCPC

GCP Media — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

1-855-GRITCPC
1-855-474-8272

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GCP: New Year's Eve - Chit Chat Edition

GCP Media — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0800

Ring in 2026 with the Grit City crew! In this laid-back "Chit Chat" edition, Jeff, Scott, and Mike navigate the confusing world of live New Year's countdowns across the globe. From the technical glitches of YouTube streaming to deep dives into 90s dating shows and the future of AI, this episode is a nostalgic and futuristic romp through the final hours of 2025.

Key Takeaways

The New Year’s Illusion: How parents use early countdowns to trick their kids into going to bed early.
90s TV Deep Dive: A hilarious look back at shows like Elimidate, Singled Out, and In Living Color.
The "Teatro ZinZanni" Saga: Mike shares his experiences with dinner theater and the mysterious "Mr. PP’s Clubhouse."
The Future of AI: A serious (and slightly terrifying) discussion on AI’s power consumption and whether the universe itself is just a "natural version" of AI.

Timestamped Chapters

[01:40] Introduction and the search for a live ball drop.
[03:50] Time zone confusion: Why does Canada get New Year’s before the US?
[07:05] Discussion on "Grinds" coffee pouches and nicotine alternatives.
[11:35] 2026 Resolutions: From having more fun to avoiding felonies.
[19:15] Watching the Arc de Triomphe light show in Paris.
[21:10] The redacted Epstein files discussion.
[26:50] Nostalgia Trip: Carson Daly, Dick Clark, and 90s dating shows.
[38:15] Rick Moranis and the potential for a Goonies 2.
[43:50] The dinner theater experience: Teatro ZinZanni.
[62:30] AI Deep Dive: Google Gemini, power bottlenecks, and simulation theory.
[69:40] Lucid dreaming and state checks.
[77:00] Final New Year’s toast and sign-off.

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MR. P.P.'S CLUBHOUSE - Teatro ZinZanni Seattle — You’re invited to play with your food at Mr. P.P.’s Clubhouse
New Year's Eve - Wikipedia — New Year's Eve in the Gregorian calendar refers to the evening—or commonly the entire day—of the last day of the year: 31 December.
Lucid dream - Wikipedia — In the psychology subfield of oneirology, a lucid dream is a type of dream wherein the dreamer realizes that they are dreaming during their dream.
ElimiDate - Wikipedia — ElimiDate is an American reality television dating show in which one contestant chooses between four contestants of the opposite sex by eliminating them one by one in three rounds. On August 11, 2006, it was announced that the show would not be renewed for the 2006–07 season due to low ratings,[1] and it went out of syndication after September 5, 2006.
Blind Date (American TV series) - Wikipedia — Blind Date is an American dating game show. The show was originally hosted by Roger Lodge from 1999 until 2006, and was later hosted in narration by Nikki Glaser from 2019 until 2020.
Singled Out - Wikipedia
InsideAI - YouTube — AI news, features, safety, jailbreaking and social experiments
AI Might Let You Die to Save Itself | Lawfare — In recent simulations, leading AI systems blackmailed their human users—or even let them die—to avoid being shut down or replaced.
AI system resorts to blackmail if told it will be removed — Artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic says testing of its new system revealed it is sometimes willing to pursue "extremely harmful actions" such as attempting to blackmail engineers who say they will remove it.