Scott and Sadie
📱 The Cell Phone Conspiracy
- Scott’s new phone upgrade felt like signing a mortgage. Over an hour at Verizon just to move data—what year is this?!
- His old phone, despite being shattered beyond recognition, still worked. Maybe “upgrading” is just a scam cooked up by Big Tech.
- Sadie mocks him, because obviously, she has all her tech affairs in order (narrator: she did not).
🍔 Applebee’s and the Chain Restaurant Graveyard
- Scott caved and indulged in a two-for-$26 Applebee’s meal. Ah, nostalgia, served with a side of mediocrity.
- Sadie mourns the slow, painful death of once-beloved chains—Bennigan’s, Old Chicago… gone, but never forgotten (or particularly missed?).
- Are chain restaurants doomed, or will we one day see the glorious return of potato skins and giant margaritas in a fishbowl?
🥗 Dining Practices We Miss (AKA: The BuzzFeed List That Gave Us Feelings)
- Cigarette machines in lobbies (because nothing says Bon Appétit like Marlboro Reds).
- Pizza Hut BOOK IT! coupons (we read for pizza, and we were unstoppable).
- Arcade games in every restaurant—bring back the sticky, quarter-eating magic!
- Free matchbooks. Not because we needed them, but because every adult in the ‘80s and ‘90s thought they were sophisticated to collect.
🍕 The Buffet Extinction Event
- All-you-can-eat buffets are dying out, and we have theories. (Spoiler: it involves people like Scott.)
- Fast-casual restaurants are taking over, but at what cost? We discuss the soulless efficiency of Chipotle vs. the chaotic beauty of watching a chef aggressively toss pizza dough in the air.
- The world is changing, but must we let go of endless soft-serve and questionable sneeze guards?
💡 Key Takeaways
✔ Tech is ruining our lives. If we wanted this much hassle, we’d still be using dial-up.
✔ *Dining out used to be an experience. Now it’s just QR codes and sad salads.
✔ Buffets deserved better. Maybe. Probably. Look, let us dream.
🎧 Listen Now!
Join us for a highly intellectual (lol) discussion on why the modern world is robbing us of good food, good vibes, and the ability to exist without a smartphone. If you’ve ever rage-quit a restaurant, gotten emotionally attached to an outdated phone, or simply believe buffets are a fundamental right—this episode is for you.
Topics and (AI Generated) Timestamps
Seriously. This is AI Generated. We don’t keep notes like this – but if we did, we would tell you who the hell “Speaker 1” and “Speaker 2” are. And who the hell is “Speaker 3?!” There are only two of us. Did Scott’s voice crack?! Don’t trust the machines. But we’re so lazy, we need AI to keep notes.
Introduction and Tone Setting (00:00:01)
Speaker 1 introduces the show with a casual, humorous tone, emphasizing a relaxed atmosphere.
Show Prep Discussion (00:00:10)
Speaker 2 and Speaker 1 discuss the minimal preparation for the episode and the spontaneity of topics.
Getting a New Cell Phone (00:00:25)
Speaker 3 shares their tedious experience of replacing a cell phone, comparing it to buying a car.
Questioning the Need for a New Phone (00:00:55)
Speaker 2 prompts Speaker 3 to reflect on whether they truly needed a new cell phone.
Dining at Applebee’s (00:01:56)
Speaker 3 mentions their excitement about dining at Applebee’s after the phone replacement.
Nostalgia for Past Dining Experiences (00:02:34)
Speaker 3 expresses sadness over the closure of familiar restaurants, reminiscing about past dining experiences.
Restaurant Chains and Their Decline (00:04:12)
Speaker 2 discusses the decline of chain restaurants and the changing dining landscape.
Concerns Over Food Quality (00:04:47)
Speaker 3 raises concerns about the quality of food at chain restaurants and the perception of cheap meals.
BuzzFeed Article Reference (00:06:14)
Speaker 2 introduces a BuzzFeed article about things that used to be common in restaurants.
Nostalgic Pizza Hut Experiences (00:06:39)
Speaker 3 recalls nostalgic experiences related to Pizza Hut and its past promotions.
Cigarette Machines in Restaurants (00:07:36)
Speaker 2 mentions the nostalgic presence of cigarette machines in restaurants from the past.
Salad Bars and All-You-Can-Eat Buffets (00:08:49)
Discussion about the decline of salad bars and the changes in all-you-can-eat offerings.
Arcade Games in Pizza Joints (00:11:12)
Speaker 2 reminisces about arcade games that used to be common in pizza restaurants.
Howard Johnson’s Fried Clams (00:12:02)
Speaker 2 shares a nostalgic memory about Howard Johnson’s and its famous fried clams.
Restaurant Matchbooks (00:13:00)
Discussion about the decline of matchbooks with restaurant names, a common giveaway in the past.
Cracker and Breadstick Baskets (00:14:09)
Speaker 2 recalls the common practice of serving a basket of crackers and breadsticks with meals.
Deep-Fried McDonald’s Pies (00:14:37)
Speaker 3 reminisces about when McDonald’s apple pies were deep-fried, enhancing their taste.
Shakey’s Pizza Experience (00:15:21)
Speaker 2 talks about the entertainment of watching pizza crusts being tossed at Shakey’s Pizza.
The Taco Bar at Wendy’s (00:16:03)
Speaker 2 recalls Wendy’s brief offering of a taco bar as a unique dining experience.
Burger King’s Marketing Strategy (00:16:36)
Discussion about Burger King’s clever marketing strategy involving a time-lapse of a Whopper decaying.
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurants (00:17:31)
Speaker 2 shares memories of Pancho’s and its unique flag system for ordering more
Loyalty Testing Business (00:19:39)
Discussion about a new business concept involving hiring “loyalty testers” to check partners’ fidelity.
The Spam Store Incident (00:22:41)
A story about a Walmart in Alaska locking up spam to prevent shoplifting.
Shoplifting and Store Policies (00:23:35)
Conversation on how lenient policies lead to increased shoplifting and employee consequences.
Embarrassment of Locked Items (00:25:08)
Humor about the embarrassment of needing an associate to unlock items like spam.
Nostalgia for Grocery Samples (00:26:21)
Discussion on the decline of free samples in grocery stores post-pandemic.
Costco Sample Experience (00:27:01)
Comparison of sample distribution at Costco versus regular grocery stores.
Online Grocery Shopping (00:28:19)
Reflections on the convenience and savings of ordering groceries online versus in-store shopping.
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