Topic: Rocks

Author Yeganeh Torbati discusses her book "Stolen Revolution," describing a surprising social scene in Tehran where rock concerts sell out and young hipsters frequent cafes. The hosts express skepticism toward this narrative, suggesting the reporting may be influenced by intelligence interests to downplay the severity of the situation in Iran.

A discussion on whether corporations like OpenAI should be held criminally liable as "people" transitions into a segment about podcaster Darren O'Neill. O'Neill recently celebrated his 700th episode of "The Rock'n Roll Pre-Show" using AI-generated promotional videos. The hosts describe O'Neill as a "quintessential rock DJ" and joke about his "Fabio-like" appearance in the theater of the mind.

Eli the Coffee Guy warned producers that Gigawatt Coffee is running low on its Ethiopian Guji organic blend. Meanwhile, Linda Lou Patkin of Image Makers Inc. provided advice on whether to include "No Agenda Producer" status on a professional resume. She suggests it is a great addition for those in media or entertainment but should otherwise be kept on LinkedIn.

Four U.S. Army pilots were briefly suspended after performing a low-level flyby over Kid Rock's Nashville home, where the singer was seen waving and saluting. Secretary Pete Hegseth quickly intervened to lift the suspensions, calling the pilots "patriots." The incident sparked a debate over the use of military resources for personal displays, with some comparing it to informal "flybys" performed by pilots for friends in other contexts.

Adam Curry recounts the perks of his early fame, such as receiving free meals and swag at the Hard Rock Cafe in the 1980s. He explains how his MTV background helped him in business meetings but also required him to apologize for technical failures. Now in his 60s, he enjoys being recognized from the Joe Rogan Experience and podcasting, which often results in better seating at restaurants.

The history of Academy Award mishaps is revisited, including the 2017 "La La Land" and "Moonlight" best picture mix-up. Other notable moments mentioned include the 1969 tie between Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn, and Angelina Jolie's controversial 2000 appearance. The segment culminates with a replay of the 2022 incident where Will Smith struck Chris Rock on stage during the live broadcast.

Questions are raised regarding the validity of the Apollo moon landings, citing the loss of 10,000 telemetry tapes and the discovery that a moon rock given to the Netherlands was actually petrified wood. A recent study of the "Big Bertha" rock from Apollo 14 suggests it may have originated on Earth 4 billion years ago and was launched to the moon by an asteroid impact.

A donor from Madison, Wisconsin, completes his knighthood, becoming "Sir Paul, Knight of the Driftless Area." Another donor from Little Rock, Arkansas, promotes a new country-rock concept album titled "The Legend of Cartwheel Carter," which chronicles the life of a dirt track race car driver. The hosts acknowledge the "switcheroo" donation for Jeff Woodward.

The hosts sign off, directing listeners to their website and reminding them of the next live broadcast on Thursday. They mention the "Rock and Roll Geek Show" following their stream. The episode concludes with a musical montage featuring various show memes, including references to Puerto Rico, George Washington University, and political donations.

The hosts analyze the rise of "punk rock podcasting" exemplified by Nick Fuentes, who gains traction by violating social taboos. They contrast this with Dave Smith's admission of "audience capture," where podcasters tailor content to please their specific fanbases. The hosts assert that their own "value-for-value" model prevents them from falling into similar traps.

The hosts acknowledge high-tier donors and "Associate Executive Producers" for the episode. Notable contributions include a $3,333.33 "Rub-a-Lyzer" donation from Horton and support from small businesses like Little John's Candies and Gigawatt Coffee Roasters. Listener notes discuss topics ranging from bidet recommendations to moving away from Denver due to local politics.

The Kennedy Center Honors are characterized as a rejection of establishment entertainment norms, specifically noting that popular audience favorites rarely receive major awards. Sylvester Stallone is highlighted for never winning an Academy Award despite his commercial success with the Rocky franchise. A discussion of the band Kiss follows, including an anecdote about a high-quality tribute band performance in Seattle and the financial success of Gene Simmons.

A new Netflix documentary on Led Zeppelin has drawn criticism for failing to mention or play "Stairway to Heaven," arguably the band's most famous song. The film focuses on the band's early tours and the negative reviews they initially received from *Rolling Stone* magazine. The omission of the iconic track is seen as a bizarre oversight given its status as a standard in rock history.

Music legend Smokey Robinson, 85, is facing allegations of sexual assault and harassment from four former housekeepers. The plaintiffs allege repeated abuse occurring between 2006 and 2024 at his various properties. Robinson's management has not yet responded, and the District Attorney has not filed criminal charges.

New knights and commodores were officially recognized in a traditional ceremony involving the "blade, boast, and whistle." Reports from a large meetup in Round Rock, Texas, were shared, along with announcements for upcoming gatherings in the Netherlands and Georgia.

The show formally knights "Sir B of the Flying Chickens" and "Sir Uncle John" for their $1,000+ contributions. They promote No Agenda signet rings and provide an overview of upcoming listener meetups in Round Rock, Orlando, and the Netherlands. Adam Curry mentions plans for a future trip to Washington D.C. to meet with listeners and "spooks."

The episode concludes with a critique of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's televised performance playing guitar with a rock band in a Kiev bar. Critics argue the "staged" event failed to project a message of wartime desperation and instead appeared as a tone-deaf media stunt. The hosts sign off with a reminder of the next broadcast on Sunday and a final "adios mofos."

MSNBC host Joy Reid dismissed the Republican National Convention's featured guests, including Dana White, Hulk Hogan, and Kid Rock, as "tacky" or "failed" figures. Reid also drew a controversial comparison between Donald Trump's survival of an assassination attempt and Joe Biden's recovery from COVID-19, questioning why both aren't viewed as equal signs of physical strength.

Top donors are acknowledged, including the Baron of Old Bay. Author Jim Birkenstadt, known as the "Rock and Roll Detective," is highlighted for his book *The Beatle Who Vanished*, which investigates the disappearance of session drummer Jimmy Nicol, who briefly replaced Ringo Starr during the Beatles' 1964 world tour.

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to address a G7 summit, warning leaders about the ethical dangers of artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons. Prior to the summit, the Pope hosted over 100 comedians and actors at the Vatican, including Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, and Stephen Colbert. Viral footage also captured a personal interaction between President Biden and the Pope.