The Gist Mike Vuolo & Bob Garfield: "Life Is a Flat Pizza Bagel"
18 snips
Nov 24, 2025 
Join Mike Vuolo, co-host of Lexicon Valley and a linguistics expert, alongside veteran journalist Bob Garfield, as they dive into the playful world of memes and language. Discover the origins of the 6-7 meme, tracing its roots from Skrilla's drill track to viral youth culture. They discuss competitive 'word of the year' selections and explore the etymology of 'gist,' revealing its fascinating evolution from legal jargon to Nigerian slang for gossip. Plus, enjoy anecdotes about pizza bagels and cultural food quirks!
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Wild Escalation Wins Exchanges
- Mike Pesca argues Trump's extreme escalation often wins exchanges by making opponents' critiques seem mild and ignored.
- Escalation functions as a strategic advantage because it forces disproportionate attention onto the escalator, not the original issue.
Pizza Bagel Memories And Massapequa
- Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield trade personal memories about being labeled 'pizza bagel' and regional culture in Massapequa.
- Vuolo recounts family and mall experiences to illustrate the term's social usage and oddities.
Origin: 6-7 Points To A Philly Street
- Shane O'Neill reached Skrilla and uncovered that '6-7' refers to 67th Street in Philadelphia and boosted Skrilla's audience.
- The revelation shows how niche references can power viral spread while remaining opaque to mainstream users.
