Topic: Toast

Data from the tech platform Toast reveals that California is the worst tipping state in the U.S., with an average tip of 17.2%. In contrast, Delaware residents top the list by tipping over 21% on average. The hosts discuss the evolution of tipping standards from 15% to 20% and express frustration with modern digital payment screens that prompt for tips on simple retail transactions.

The "Tip of the Day" focuses on black garlic, a fermented product originally from Korea that reportedly helps lower blood pressure. Despite its appearance, it is described as having a sweet, chocolate-like flavor and a texture similar to roasted garlic. The hosts discuss the 4,000-year-old origins of the recipe and the specialized process required to create it.

The hosts review several "house ads" for podcasts, including "Burnt Toast," Mo Rocca's "Mobituaries," and Hillary Clinton's "You and Me Both." They critique the production quality and messaging of Clinton's podcast, which features Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The segment highlights the saturation of the podcast market by established media figures.

Lara Logan's new show on Fox Nation, which originally shared the "No Agenda" title, features an investigation into Mexican cartels. The report highlights how cartels have expanded their portfolios beyond drugs into human smuggling, oil theft, and the multi-billion dollar avocado industry. The hosts joke that millennials are inadvertently supporting drug cartels by consuming avocado toast.

A new project aims to document specific cultural markers and linguistic habits associated with the millennial generation. Terms identified include avocado toast, "dropping T's" in speech, bone broth, and small-batch artisan products. The hosts debate the origins and relevance of these trends.

The hosts open with a discussion of the 2018 World Cup, noting South Korea's victory over Germany and the resulting advancement of Mexico. One host performs "The Toast Song" on a recorder, a recording captured from a previous live pre-stream. The conversation transitions into the timing of the current news cycle and political events.

Millennials are characterized as being immune to traditional advertising but susceptible to "small batch" and "handcrafted" marketing that justifies higher prices. Examples include $16 avocado toast and $10-per-pound pickles in Berkeley that are identical to cheaper versions in ethnic delis. In Austin, a single dill pickle in a sealed bag is reportedly sold for $8 at high-end grocery stores.

A repetitive segment focuses on the creation of "really good toast" and the process of reformulating bread at Mission Pie. The word "toast" is looped extensively to create a rhythmic audio track.

The hosts discuss "drunkorexia," a trend where college students skip meals to offset alcohol calories. They also mock the "artisanal toast" trend in cities like Austin, jokingly suggesting that the next big food scam will be rebranding "gruel" or "bread and water" for high prices.

A new food trend in San Francisco involves selling artisanal toast for four dollars a slice, which the hosts identify as a potential "slave depression food." They compare it to the evolution of mac and cheese from a gourmet item to a cheap staple. The segment features a clip from a bakery owner describing the popularity of simple comfort foods in high-end cafes.