Matt Mira (Nerdist, @midnight, FEaB) stops by Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend to talk growing up in Lowell, moving to Florida, loaning relatives money, meeting his fiance on Tinder, falling in love, early career ambitions, getting expelled from school, moving to Los Angeles, working as an Apple Genius and meeting Chris Hardwick at the Apple Store, collecting guitars, writing on @midnight, “tricking Atlanta,” losing hundreds of pounds (he once weighed so much he had to sleep on his knees), gastric bypass, eating through gastric bypass, ham planets and so much more. We also did a round of Just Me Or Everyone (click here to see the JMOEs from this episode).
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The scale is stupid. If anything it should be used a relative indicator (look up run chart statistical process control) in combination with periodic body fat measurements for exactly the reason he mentions, muscle weighs more than fat. It is somewhat apocryphal, but makes the point that Michael Jordan was said to be mathematically overweight. You know the guy who can carry his body, a basketball, and his tongue from the free throw line to the rim IN THE AIR!
Btw, it isn't THAT unhealthy (depending on how unhealthy one thinks it is) to be overweight. Not to mention, it is none of their business. Not even with the Obamacare/insurance cluster foible. If the government makes you pay for someone's insurance, and you mistakenly think that you know what makes their healthcare expensive, take that up with the government and your IQ.
Oh, and a 120 target weight is CRAZY. As a motivator it would be fine, though. As a demotivator it would be nuts. My close relative, if you get my drift, runs A LOT and is in your ballpark and has that target weight and thinks about it when they could be thinking about other stuff and it will never happen (because it shouldn't). I try to remember people who live in LA are different, but they can't fundamentally change biology.
The scale is stupid. If anything it should be used a relative indicator (look up run chart statistical process control) in combination with periodic body fat measurements for exactly the reason he mentions, muscle weighs more than fat. It is somewhat apocryphal, but makes the point that Michael Jordan was said to be mathematically overweight. You know the guy who can carry his body, a basketball, and his tongue from the free throw line to the rim IN THE AIR!
Btw, it isn’t THAT unhealthy (depending on how unhealthy one thinks it is) to be overweight. Not to mention, it is none of their business. Not even with the Obamacare/insurance cluster foible. If the government makes you pay for someone’s insurance, and you mistakenly think that you know what makes their healthcare expensive, take that up with the government and your IQ.
Oh, and a 120 target weight is CRAZY. As a motivator it would be fine, though. As a demotivator it would be nuts. My close relative, if you get my drift, runs A LOT and is in your ballpark and has that target weight and thinks about it when they could be thinking about other stuff and it will never happen (because it shouldn’t). I try to remember people who live in LA are different, but they can’t fundamentally change biology.
Interesting episode. I felt that Matt came off as pretty harsh about people with major weight issues. Perhaps it's because he won't allow himself to have compassion for them because he doesn't want to leave any openings for himself to go back to that place or something else, but even when Alison made her valid point that she doesn't want to fat shame and that she feels that some people hide behind saying that they're being mean about somebody who is fat because of their health instead of how it makes them look, he defended that position, not to mention that he is unapologetically amused by that sub Readit site that sounds pretty awful. Alison came off as compassionate while he seemed like a jerk about it to me.
Interesting, he said he was interested in looking at it. I never heard him make a blanket statement about it being “good”. In fact he stated that they say some terrible/abusive things about people.
If I can play armchair psychiatrist for a second- I would suggest that Mr. Mira likes that subreddit because the awful things he's thought and felt about himself for decades. Even now you can hear some of the negative feelings he has about it- so it makes sense that he'd feel a sense of validation when introduced to a group of people who often resemble his inner monologue, or people who say the things he was imagining that everyone else must think.
Interesting episode. I felt that Matt came off as pretty harsh about people with major weight issues. Perhaps it’s because he won’t allow himself to have compassion for them because he doesn’t want to leave any openings for himself to go back to that place or something else, but even when Alison made her valid point that she doesn’t want to fat shame and that she feels that some people hide behind saying that they’re being mean about somebody who is fat because of their health instead of how it makes them look, he defended that position, not to mention that he is unapologetically amused by that sub Readit site that sounds pretty awful. Alison came off as compassionate while he seemed like a jerk about it to me.
Interesting, he said he was interested in looking at it. I never heard him make a blanket statement about it being “good”. In fact he stated that they say some terrible/abusive things about people.
Totally entertaining episode. Matt has a great radio voice, I think the 'ham planet' reddit rabble is actually amusing, but might hurt some to hear. The smokers vs. fat people discussion was interesting, too. As usual, Allison brings it!
If I can play armchair psychiatrist for a second- I would suggest that Mr. Mira likes that subreddit because the awful things he’s thought and felt about himself for decades. Even now you can hear some of the negative feelings he has about it- so it makes sense that he’d feel a sense of validation when introduced to a group of people who often resemble his inner monologue, or people who say the things he was imagining that everyone else must think.
Maybe he didn't say it was “good”, but when Alison asked if it made him feel bad, he did say that it never made him feel bad and called it fascinating more than once. He also said that he wished he had had something like that around to make fun of him when he was 17 and very fat, because maybe it would have kicked his butt into gear to do something about his weight sooner. It even sounded like he wished that he had been made fun of for being fat as a child.
Totally entertaining episode. Matt has a great radio voice, I think the ‘ham planet’ reddit rabble is actually amusing, but might hurt some to hear. The smokers vs. fat people discussion was interesting, too. As usual, Allison brings it!
Maybe he didn’t say it was “good”, but when Alison asked if it made him feel bad, he did say that it never made him feel bad and called it fascinating more than once. He also said that he wished he had had something like that around to make fun of him when he was 17 and very fat, because maybe it would have kicked his butt into gear to do something about his weight sooner. It even sounded like he wished that he had been made fun of for being fat as a child.
Ialso think that it could be that he thinks that he's better than those people, because he pulled himself out of it. He doesn't seem to show a lot of compassion or them, even when Alison expressed feeling bad that people with weight issues might be feeling bad after listening to this episode. He really never gave an inch, even after she'd expressed her misgivings about the discussion. She brought up soking verses weight and he disagreed with her on that point. She asked if he felt bad when he read the site and he said that it never made him feel bad about himself and even said that he had wished that it had been around when he was a kid. She said that she thought people said that they're only concerned about the health of overweight people as a cover for being bothered by how they look and he pretty much dismissed that idea. I certainly don't think he's a bad guy at all, but I do think that he feels like he's left a group that he more scorns than has compassion for. I also think that there's some psychology there that hasn't been addressed. At any rate, he and Alison definitely have different takes on the topic.
On a different note, it's interesting that his parents seem to be drained of money, but were able to send him to private school for his high school years. I feel for him when it comes to his family dynamics of his siblings regularly asking him for money. I imagine that would certainly cause resentment and lack of respect for them after awhile. It's sweet that he has a different take on his parents though, even though they need money from him sometimes too. I was a little unclear about if they ask him for money for themselves, or for the siblings or both?
On a more frivolous note, I'm surprised that the restaurant that they mentioned charges a dollar more to put sandwich fillings into a salad instead of bread. I'd think that salad greens wouldn't be more expensive than the quality bread that I assume they're using.
Great Episode– Two things that have help me w/ my thyroid condition
1. Take your thyroid pill at Night— this helped me soooo much
2. Get this book ASAP – Thyroid Sexy by: Gena Lee Nolan- there also
A FB pg
http://www.officialgenaleenolin.com
hope this helps
Ialso think that it could be that he thinks that he’s better than those people, because he pulled himself out of it. He doesn’t seem to show a lot of compassion or them, even when Alison expressed feeling bad that people with weight issues might be feeling bad after listening to this episode. He really never gave an inch, even after she’d expressed her misgivings about the discussion. She brought up soking verses weight and he disagreed with her on that point. She asked if he felt bad when he read the site and he said that it never made him feel bad about himself and even said that he had wished that it had been around when he was a kid. She said that she thought people said that they’re only concerned about the health of overweight people as a cover for being bothered by how they look and he pretty much dismissed that idea. I certainly don’t think he’s a bad guy at all, but I do think that he feels like he’s left a group that he more scorns than has compassion for. I also think that there’s some psychology there that hasn’t been addressed. At any rate, he and Alison definitely have different takes on the topic.
On a different note, it’s interesting that his parents seem to be drained of money, but were able to send him to private school for his high school years. I feel for him when it comes to his family dynamics of his siblings regularly asking him for money. I imagine that would certainly cause resentment and lack of respect for them after awhile. It’s sweet that he has a different take on his parents though, even though they need money from him sometimes too. I was a little unclear about if they ask him for money for themselves, or for the siblings or both?
On a more frivolous note, I’m surprised that the restaurant that they mentioned charges a dollar more to put sandwich fillings into a salad instead of bread. I’d think that salad greens wouldn’t be more expensive than the quality bread that I assume they’re using.
Great Episode– Two things that have help me w/ my thyroid condition
1. Take your thyroid pill at Night— this helped me soooo much
2. Get this book ASAP – Thyroid Sexy by: Gena Lee Nolan- there also
A FB pg
http://www.officialgenaleenolin.com
hope this helps
I really hope “Ham Planet” isn't a set in the new JJ Abrams Star Wars version.
I really hope “Ham Planet” isn’t a set in the new JJ Abrams Star Wars version.
Had not heard of Matt until listening to first half of this ep. I had to turn it off. Everyone has family stuff and people that get irritating and what-not, but this guy has a serious problem with judging everyone and everything in his life on a really harsh scale. I recognized it right away because I was like that for a looooooooong time and it made me a miserable human being. Don't ever want to go back to it and don't want to hear it from someone else. Perusing the other comments here, I see I have done myself a favor by turning it off early. I'm kind of peeved though, because I'm deprived of my very special Alison time. 🙁
Had not heard of Matt until listening to first half of this ep. I had to turn it off. Everyone has family stuff and people that get irritating and what-not, but this guy has a serious problem with judging everyone and everything in his life on a really harsh scale. I recognized it right away because I was like that for a looooooooong time and it made me a miserable human being. Don’t ever want to go back to it and don’t want to hear it from someone else. Perusing the other comments here, I see I have done myself a favor by turning it off early. I’m kind of peeved though, because I’m deprived of my very special Alison time. 🙁
I know what you mean. I like Matt on The Nerdest podcasts, but he did seem like a harsh judge of people on this episode. Alison was great though and I'd advise that you still listen in order to hear her insights. She talks a lot about how she's feeling right now (which was admittedly a little sad to hear) and displays her typical compassion, even when it wasn't being shown by the guest. Again, I like Matt, but I don't think he showed his best self in this interview, despite Alison's attempts to give him opportunities to clarify. I did think it was an interesting interview, but I was disappointed by Matt's harsh outlook on struggling people. I think he did some venting that most people normally keep between close friends, which might have been some of the issue here. I saw a comment that somebody made on Twitter that said that they learned more about Matt in one episode with Alison than they had in five years of him on The Nerdest podcast.
I know what you mean. I like Matt on The Nerdest podcasts, but he did seem like a harsh judge of people on this episode. Alison was great though and I’d advise that you still listen in order to hear her insights. She talks a lot about how she’s feeling right now (which was admittedly a little sad to hear) and displays her typical compassion, even when it wasn’t being shown by the guest. Again, I like Matt, but I don’t think he showed his best self in this interview, despite Alison’s attempts to give him opportunities to clarify. I did think it was an interesting interview, but I was disappointed by Matt’s harsh outlook on struggling people. I think he did some venting that most people normally keep between close friends, which might have been some of the issue here. I saw a comment that somebody made on Twitter that said that they learned more about Matt in one episode with Alison than they had in five years of him on The Nerdest podcast.
Can you give examples. I feel like I listened to a different podcast.
People sure seem to be judging people harshly for judgimg people harshly, but maybe I'm judging people too harshly for judging people for judging people.
How different was this from how Jo Koy spoke openly about his relationship issues?
Oh wait, he was judging the reddit people who were judging people!
He had to sleep on his knees. He had his stomach cut out.
On the other hand, short of having his stomach cut out there may not have been anything he could have done. For some people no willpower is enough.
Can you give examples. I feel like I listened to a different podcast.
People sure seem to be judging people harshly for judgimg people harshly, but maybe I’m judging people too harshly for judging people for judging people.
How different was this from how Jo Koy spoke openly about his relationship issues?
Oh wait, he was judging the reddit people who were judging people!
He had to sleep on his knees. He had his stomach cut out.
On the other hand, short of having his stomach cut out there may not have been anything he could have done. For some people no willpower is enough.
Just saying things like his siblings “aren't good at life” and when he was meeting his fiance on Tinder he was delighted she had a certain type of job, that his siblings are a certain age and thus shouldn't have certain types of problems or traits, etc. He also seemed to judge himself harshly as well – which is par for the course. Not my thing & didn't want to hear it.
Just saying things like his siblings “aren’t good at life” and when he was meeting his fiance on Tinder he was delighted she had a certain type of job, that his siblings are a certain age and thus shouldn’t have certain types of problems or traits, etc. He also seemed to judge himself harshly as well – which is par for the course. Not my thing & didn’t want to hear it.
All the things that Badabingo said…along with his hard stance about basically condoning making fun of overweight people, even when Alison gave him more than one opening to back down from it. He stuck to basically defending it and finding it amusing. I just think that's pretty harsh and Alison obviously did too.
All the things that Badabingo said…along with his hard stance about basically condoning making fun of overweight people, even when Alison gave him more than one opening to back down from it. He stuck to basically defending it and finding it amusing. I just think that’s pretty harsh and Alison obviously did too.
I think we mostly agree, I'm just giving him a bit of a pass because his negative feelings (regarding hamplanets etc) are rooted in trying to distance himself from the negative feelings he had in/has about his former life.
Re: salads vs bread- I think you're right. I wonder if it isn't a cost issue, but just one of those things they know they can get away with charging more for.
I think we mostly agree, I’m just giving him a bit of a pass because his negative feelings (regarding hamplanets etc) are rooted in trying to distance himself from the negative feelings he had in/has about his former life.
Re: salads vs bread- I think you’re right. I wonder if it isn’t a cost issue, but just one of those things they know they can get away with charging more for.
He was fine, making what you like to hear and “best” synonymous presumes a lot.
He was fine, making what you like to hear and “best” synonymous presumes a lot.
Okay then. I should say that I hope he didn't display his best self, because if it was, he's not a guy I'd like to be around or listen to in other interviews. I haven't listened to The Nerdest in a long time (I have a bunch waiting in my iTunes to get to), but I hadn't noticed this side of him when I was listening. I'm less in a hurry to get back to my backlogged Nerdest episodes now though, I'll have to admit. I do like Chris Hardwick a lot though.
Okay then. I should say that I hope he didn’t display his best self, because if it was, he’s not a guy I’d like to be around or listen to in other interviews. I haven’t listened to The Nerdest in a long time (I have a bunch waiting in my iTunes to get to), but I hadn’t noticed this side of him when I was listening. I’m less in a hurry to get back to my backlogged Nerdest episodes now though, I’ll have to admit. I do like Chris Hardwick a lot though.
His sibling issues go deeper than their career choices. He's talked about this on a few hostfuls and mentioned a snippet on this show that he helps his family out. Not going into details here, but they're not a good situations. Should matt have sparred you the details? I don't know. What I do know is Alison wanted to know, and she got her answers and conversations. If you've ever listened to the nerdist, nobody ever brings their issues to the show, except maybe on hostfuls.
His sibling issues go deeper than their career choices. He’s talked about this on a few hostfuls and mentioned a snippet on this show that he helps his family out. Not going into details here, but they’re not a good situations. Should matt have sparred you the details? I don’t know. What I do know is Alison wanted to know, and she got her answers and conversations. If you’ve ever listened to the nerdist, nobody ever brings their issues to the show, except maybe on hostfuls.
I didn't have a lot of issues with him talking about his family and his problems with them, since family dynamics does interest me and I certainly don't mind it when other guests and Alison talk about their family issues, but that coupled with other attitudes throughout the show made him a little much for me. I think the stuff about overweight people left me with a less than great impression of him, since I have people close to me in my life who struggle pretty seriously with weight issues who do not deserve to be ridiculed. Alison is right that people feel like they have a right to point out when people are “fat” more than any other vice.
I didn’t have a lot of issues with him talking about his family and his problems with them, since family dynamics does interest me and I certainly don’t mind it when other guests and Alison talk about their family issues, but that coupled with other attitudes throughout the show made him a little much for me. I think the stuff about overweight people left me with a less than great impression of him, since I have people close to me in my life who struggle pretty seriously with weight issues who do not deserve to be ridiculed. Alison is right that people feel like they have a right to point out when people are “fat” more than any other vice.
Ok, but he never once argued they “deserved” it. He said he found it interesting/absorbing. Reading and being sucked into something is not the same as saying that thing is good/right. Also, people do have their other vices pointed out quite frequently I feel. At least some vices. I think it's a tough vice b/c eating is a necessity, but I'm not sure it's accurate to say it's the most looked down upon. I think you are taking like he's making fun of people which I don't think is the case at all.
Well considering it’s called “Nerdist” this is not a surprise lol
Ok, but he never once argued they “deserved” it. He said he found it interesting/absorbing. Reading and being sucked into something is not the same as saying that thing is good/right. Also, people do have their other vices pointed out quite frequently I feel. At least some vices. I think it’s a tough vice b/c eating is a necessity, but I’m not sure it’s accurate to say it’s the most looked down upon. I think you are taking like he’s making fun of people which I don’t think is the case at all.
I wouldn't have thought of it except when Alison tried to say that she felt bad that they might be making people feel bad, he was pretty dismissive about it, he said that the site was fascinating, and he said that it never made him feel bad and that he wished that it had been around when he was a teen. He did not specifically say that they deserved it, but all of what he said and the amused tone that he used suggested as much. As I said before, everytime that Alison tried to give openings for him to soften or clarify his stances a little, he didn't take them and even reiterated them. Likewise, when she said that she felt bad about possibly making people feel bad about themselves, he made it clear that he didn't think she should worry about it.
I wouldn’t have thought of it except when Alison tried to say that she felt bad that they might be making people feel bad, he was pretty dismissive about it, he said that the site was fascinating, and he said that it never made him feel bad and that he wished that it had been around when he was a teen. He did not specifically say that they deserved it, but all of what he said and the amused tone that he used suggested as much. As I said before, everytime that Alison tried to give openings for him to soften or clarify his stances a little, he didn’t take them and even reiterated them. Likewise, when she said that she felt bad about possibly making people feel bad about themselves, he made it clear that he didn’t think she should worry about it.