1. EachPod

90 Gas Station Art | Discombobulated with Bobby Jaycox

Author
Bobby Jaycox
Published
Tue 08 Jul 2025
Episode Link
None

Ever caught yourself nodding politely while your Uber driver shares their life story at 3 AM? Or perhaps you've been that driver, watching a clearly intoxicated passenger try to maintain a conversation? This episode dives headfirst into the bizarre social ecosystem of rideshare culture from both sides of the app.

Between announcing a packed summer tour schedule (come see me in Seattle, Portland, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, and my Canadian debut in Edmonton!), I'm unpacking the strange intimacy that forms in the backseat of a stranger's car. From crying in an Uber only to have the driver suggest that "tipping makes her feel better" to pretending to be asleep while a driver monologues about their time in Afghanistan – these fleeting connections reveal so much about how we navigate modern life.

The episode takes some philosophical detours too, like imagining reincarnation as a Chipotle-style ordering system where you select your next life experience: "White guy, comic, COVID, poor... with a side of Ubers for the table." It's absurd, yes, but also a telling reflection on the conveniences we've built around ourselves. Between hemorrhoids and luxury gas stations selling $700 artwork, are we really living our best lives?

What emerges is a surprising yearning for simplicity – a dream of owning a van with just enough space for a dirt bike, learning to do wheelies, and reconnecting with something tangible in a world increasingly mediated through screens and apps. Whether building trampolines with friends' kids or spotting baby birds learning to fly, there's something deeply satisfying about experiences that don't require a five-star rating afterward.

Check out my tour dates and come see me live! And if you notice a gap in my schedule and think I should perform in your city, slide into my DMs – I need to fund this dirt bike dream somehow!

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