The Breakfast Club - IDKMYDE: America Loves Sayings

Episode Date: February 4, 2025

America was built on sayings, but some of them don’t exactly hold up under pressure. From ‘bootstraps’ to ‘the American Dream,’ today’s episode of IDKMYDE breaks down the catchy phrases that shaped our history with humor and hard truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on The Daily Show and In Your Ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in-depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dressing. Dressing. Oh, French dressing. Exactly. Oh, that's good. I'm AJ Jacobs and my current obsession is puzzles. And that has given birth to my podcast, The Puzzler. Something about Mary Poppins?

Exactly. This is fun. You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to The Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. People, my people, what's up? This is Questlove. at Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. People, my people, what's up? This is Questlove. Man, I cannot believe we're already wrapping up another season of Questlove Supreme. Man, we've got some amazing guests lined up to close out the season.

But, you know, I don't want any of you guys to miss all the incredible conversations we've had so far. I mean, we talked to A. Marie, Johnny Marr, Eve, Jonathan Schechter, Billy Porter, and so many more. Look, if you haven't heard these episodes yet, hey, now's your chance. You gotta check them out. Listen to Questlove Supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

What if you ask two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Mini Driver, and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast, and now Mini Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entirely new set of guests our seven questions, including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe and Cord Jefferson. Listen to Mini Questions on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Seven questions, limitless answers. On today's episode of I Didn't Know, Maybe You Didn't Either, let's talk about America for a second.

You know, this country wasn't just built on the hard work of enslaved African Americans and innovation. Oh no, America was built on sands. Yeah, sands. We love a good sand. Like one of the most classic American sands is pull yourself up by your bootstraps.

I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know maybe you didn't need I didn't know I didn't know I didn't know What you need to do is pull yourself up by your bootstraps. That's like the national anthem of personal responsibility in America, ain't it? But here's the thing, it's not even practical. Like who came up with that? You ever tried to pull yourself up by your bootstraps? Physics won't even let you. You're just standing there yanking on leather straps in the position that the sisters had Andy Dufresne in in Shawshank

Redemption. If you've never seen the movie you won't get the reference. Moving right along. My point is due to, it is not even possible to pull yourself up by your boot straps. Another saying in America, the American dream. Oh, we saw that one hard. If you work hard and stay focused, you'll be successful, right? It sounds good, but they never talk about that fine print that's on the American dream that says unless someone decides that they don't like your success.

For example, Jack Holley. My man Jack was living out his dream. Owned businesses, land, part of a bank. He was basically the Oprah of Slocum, Texas. But then 1910 rolls around and instead of being celebrated, a white mob rolls in and says, nah, you've been having too much success, Negro. And they destroy everything. One of his sons killed, his businesses gone, generational wealth torched. And yet, somehow the same folks who did all that are the ones still walking around today saying, why can't y'all pull yourselves up by your bootstraps? Well,

listen, Karen, we tried. Y'all stole the boots, the straps, and then burnt down the shop. Another saying that we love in America, history repeats itself. Oh, America lives by this one. Because Slocum wasn't the only time this happened. Tulsa's Black Wall Street, same thing.

Rosewood, same thing. Look, anytime a black community got a little too successful, somebody showed up with some matches and some insecurity. Oh and one more saying United we stand divided we fall. Alright, coming from a country that's been divided since day one. That saying should also come with a disclaimer. Terms and conditions apply. Side effects include systemic racism and selective memory. So while we remember these sayings, let's not forget these slayings of families like Jack Holley and massacres like Rosewood and Tulsa.

And we know America loves its sayings, but maybe it's time for some new ones. How about if you see someone thriving, let them keep surviving. How about that? Or here's a good one. Stop burning up other people's s***. If you got some new sayings we should add in 2025, hit me up on my social media at BDOT TV. That's BD A H T TV. Okay.

Bye. John Stewart is back at The Daily Show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere

else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Dressing. Dressing. Oh, French dressing. Exactly. Oh, that's good.

I'm AJ Jacobs, and my current obsession is puzzles. And that has given birth to my podcast, The Puzzler. Something about Mary Poppins? Exactly. This is fun. You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to The Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. People my people, what's up? This is Quetzalove. Man, I cannot believe we're already wrapping up another season of Quetzalove Supreme.

Man, we've got some amazing guests lined up to close out the season. But you know, I don't want any of you guys to miss all the incredible conversations we've had so far. I mean, we talked to A. Marie, Johnny Marr, Eve, Jonathan Shecter, Billy Porter, and so many more. Look, if you haven't heard of these episodes yet, hey, now's your chance. You gotta check them out. Listen to Questlove Supreme on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What if you ask two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Minnie Driver, and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast and now Minnie Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entirely new set of guests our seven questions including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe and Cord Jefferson. Listen to Minnie Questions on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Seven questions, limitless answers.