Normal Men
George Pearkes
Normal Men is four guys talking about the news. We want to help explain what's happening in the world around us and have some laughs along the way. And we think you might enjoy hearing what we have to say, as long as you don't mind a bit of normalcy in a world without much of it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 18, 2025 • 1h 19min
Episode 37 - Rated NY-17 ft. Mike Sacks
We interview Mike Sacks, who is running for Congress in NY-17; people are doing more mass shootings; Propter sounds robotic; and what is truth, really?
Mike Sacks (https://bsky.app/profile/mikesacks.bsky.social) is running for Congress in the New York's Fightin' Seventeenth: (https://bsky.app/profile/mikesacks.bsky.social/post/3lmev4vf4hc2n)
Learn more here: https://www.mikesacksforcongress.com/
Give his campaign money here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mike-sacks-donate
Early corvid scholarship by Mr Sacks: https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/cb488d23-ab03-42be-994b-1fe5b2054038
An AI-generated video of a crow sledding on a frisbee: https://www.facebook.com/reel/864322122972412
Dec 10, 2025 • 1h 19min
Episode 36 - Blue Devils and the Deep Red Sea
Infant diction, Noted Underdogs Duke, birthright citizenship, c-c-c-cocaine, coffee: black.
Norwegian outreach: https://bsky.app/profile/norwayinusa.norway.no/post/3m4bcalmg7s2u
Coffee, black: https://bsky.app/profile/bmhughes.bsky.social/post/3m6wc33skm22z
Dec 2, 2025 • 1h 24min
Episode 35 - Light, Sweet, Crude
The majesty and the mystery of Lane Kiffin, what on earth is up with oil, war crimes in your war crimes, and optimism in Tennessee.
Nov 26, 2025 • 58min
Episode 34 - Mail Gobblin' ft. golikehellmachine
Talking turkey, taking questions, slandering yams, and giving thanks with distinguished alumnus golikehellmachine.
Nov 19, 2025 • 1h 54min
Episode 33 - Straight to Jael ft. Jael Holzman
Green energy and touring finances with Jael Holzman of Heatmap and Ekko Astral (@jael.bsky.social), the Epstein Files, and Peak Trump.
listen to Horse Glue by Ekko Astral here: https://ekkoastral.bandcamp.com/album/horseglue
and submit questions for mailbag here: https://golikehellmachine.com/2025/11/16/thanksgiving-mailbag/
Nov 13, 2025 • 1h 32min
Episode 32 - Brain Cramps ft. Haydon
Normal Man Haydon (@haydonmp.bsky.social) joins us to talk about strokes and those who may have had them! In addition to that premortem, shutdown perimortem and election postmortem.
Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 7min
Episode 31 - No Jeep Til Brooklyn
Truck Talk returns with harsh words for Stellantis, SNAP impact discussion (human edition not macro edition), and just-in-time election previews (at 43:50).
please help some people out at:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7634
Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 39min
Episode 30 - Planned Platnerhood ft. Liz Sepper
Prof. Liz Sepper joins us to talk state of play on reproductive rights (remember those?), we do the needful on Graham Platner, and the Trump Administration prepares to Thanos SNAP.
add'l reading:
Hospital system outcomes in Texas:
https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston
George's coffee table:
https://bittersoutherner.com/magazine
Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 33min
Episode 29 - Gam-Gam Got Hands ft. Don Moynihan
The incomparable Don Moynihan (@donmoyn.bsky.social) joins us to talk administrative burden, No Kings gets people in the streets, and there are hijinks in Argentina.
Oct 17, 2025 • 1h 36min
Episode 28 - George Takes Portugal
On the joys of travel, Chinese tariffs and mineral access, and appropriate appropriations.
