Damaged Ones Podcast
Temporada 1
por Mike Garcia & Sarah Altland
On this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland dive into one of the most quietly frustrating parts of modern dining: forced tipping. Let’s be clear — we’re not anti-tipping. If someone gives great service, we’re more than happy to show appreciation. But when a tip is automatically added, suggested at ridiculous percentages, or quietly slipped onto the receipt, it stops feeling like gratitude and starts feeling like coercion. Mike and Sarah unpack the growing trend of restaurants and delivery apps pushing the responsibility of paying workers’ salaries onto customers — and why that approach might actually be turning people away instead of helping workers. Then the conversation takes a wild turn into what Sarah calls the Burger Wars. With the launch of McDonald’s new Arch Burger, something strange is happening in the fast-food world: CEOs are suddenly appearing in marketing videos biting into burgers in the most grotesque way possible. Is this awkward, uncomfortable content accidental… or is it secretly brilliant marketing designed to go viral? From tipping culture to bizarre fast-food advertising, nothing is safe in this episode. 🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a forced tip screen or wondered why burger executives suddenly look like they’ve never eaten food before, this episode is for you. 👉 Subscribe, follow, and share The Damaged Ones Podcast, and tell us: Is forced tipping fair… or is the system completely broken? 🍔💸
This week on Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland are diving straight into the chaos. We’re talking about Bonnie Blue reportedly sleeping with over 1,000 men in 24 hours — plus another 400 — and now news circulating that she’s pregnant. Look, adults can make their own choices. We’re not here to police anybody’s life. But we are here to talk about consequences. Because when the cameras turn off and real life kicks in — especially when a child is involved — the conversation changes. Can someone in that space truly pivot to a “normal” life? Is that even fair to expect? We unpack all of it. Then we react to the female influencer who allegedly washed her underwear in a hotel coffee pot — yes, you read that right — and is now reportedly being sued by the hotel company. We talk about clout culture, why people keep pushing the line for attention, and how social media has completely warped common sense. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s exactly the kind of conversation people are thinking but not saying out loud. If you like real conversations without the fake moral high ground, hit play now. 👉 Subscribe, leave a review, and send this episode to the friend who always says, “There’s no way people are actually doing this.” Yes. Yes, they are.
On this episode of The Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland dive headfirst into two modern plagues: generative AI hysteria… and people weaponizing incompetence. Mike is fired up over the lazy take that “AI is the future” and it’s going to replace Hollywood actors, artists, and filmmakers. He breaks down why that narrative is not only exaggerated, but wildly ignorant of what’s actually happening in the creative landscape — especially when it comes to AI slop versus real craft, real performance, and real storytelling. Meanwhile, Sarah tackles something way closer to home: people playing dumb on purpose. From “I just don’t know how to do it” energy in relationships to selective helplessness becoming normalized, she unpacks why weaponized incompetence is quietly eroding accountability — and why more people are fed up with it. It’s heated. It’s uncomfortable. It’s honest. If you’re tired of surface-level conversations and want the raw, unfiltered breakdowns, hit follow, leave a review, and send this episode to someone who needs to hear it.
Damaged Ones is back — and we’re not playing it safe. Mike Garcia and Sarah Altand dive headfirst into the uncomfortable corners of modern culture — from people forming intimate relationships with themselves, AI, and even inanimate objects… to the woman who famously “married” the Eiffel Tower. We unpack the rise of sex robots as companions, question what society considers acceptable versus disturbing, and draw a hard line when it comes to ideas that should never be normalized. Before we crack open that can of worms, we catch up on Billie Eilish reclaiming her narrative after last week’s controversy — doing what she does best: commanding attention. We also break down the viral “Subway Queen” moment and make a passionate plea to bring Dodgeball back to its rightful place in pop culture. It’s chaotic. It’s uncomfortable. It’s hilarious. And somehow… it all makes sense. 🎙️ If you like your conversations unfiltered and your takes honest, hit play now. Then subscribe, share it with a friend who loves messy debates, and join the conversation — because we’re just getting started.
On this episode of Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland get into why celebrities need to stop using their platform to lecture people on politics — and why it always comes with consequences. We start by breaking down Billie Eilish’s comment, “no one is illegal on stolen land,” and why it sounds ignorant when it’s coming from someone who’s never had to live with the real-world impact of those ideas. Mike digs into how sociology actually plays a role here, and why catchy slogans don’t equal understanding. At some point, entertainers should entertain — not preach. In the second half, Sarah reacts to what’s coming out of the Epstein files, and it’s heartbreaking. We talk about who was involved, who enabled it, and how deep the rot goes in Hollywood. The more that comes out, the clearer it is just how protected and immoral that world really is. This episode is blunt, uncomfortable, and honest. If you’ve got a story, an experience, or something you need to get off your chest and want your voice heard, reach out directly. Email Mike at mike@voiceofgarcia.com. No filters. No PR spin. Just real people talking about real damage.
On this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia is fighting through a brutal cold while he and Sarah Altand jump back into the AI conversation — this time reacting to reports that Amazon has laid off thousands of workers as it continues to lean harder into automation and AI. Mike and Sarah make one thing clear: AI can be a tool, sure — but the idea that it will replace humans entirely? They’re not buying it. From creativity to decision-making to basic human instinct, they break down why betting against people is a long-term losing game — and why Amazon’s current path might come back to bite them. Along the way, Sarah gives an update on her ongoing mice problem (yes… it’s still happening), and Mike has a few very honest words for Ariana Grande, responding to her recent comments about how people should retaliate against what’s going on in the world today. It’s messy. It’s opinionated. It’s human. And that’s exactly the point. 🎧 LISTEN NOW, and if this episode hits a nerve: Subscribe to the podcast Leave a review Share it with someone who’s tired of being told humans are “replaceable” Because no algorithm replaces lived experience.
On this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, Sarah Altland opens up about dealing with a full-on mice infestation in her home — and how small household problems can spiral fast if you don’t catch them early. That leads into both hosts sharing real, unsettling stories about homes catching fire, near-misses, and practical ways to stop everyday accidents from turning into full-blown disasters. Then, we dive into the meat and potatoes of the episode as Mike Garcia breaks down the psychology behind reality TV game shows like Beast Games — why people justify betraying others for money, how moral lines blur under pressure, and what national television reveals about human behavior when survival, greed, and validation collide. If you’ve ever asked yourself “What would I do for life-changing money?” — this episode might make you uncomfortable in the best way. 🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and if this episode hits a nerve, share it with someone who loves deep conversations that don’t pull punches.
On this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland reflect on the Stranger Thingsdocumentary now streaming on Netflix — and walk away with more empathy than expected. After seeing the pressure, scale, and responsibility placed on the Duffer Brothers, we couldn’t help but feel for them. We praise the incredible work from the production team, set designers, and everyone behind the scenes who helped build one of the biggest pop culture worlds of our time. But even with all that respect, we still land on the same conclusion: the ending was… mediocre. Was it burnout? Studio pressure? Fan expectations? Or all of the above? We break down the theories, the warning signs, and why massive success can sometimes be the very thing that breaks a story. 🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation. If you agree, disagree, or have your own theory — leave a review, share the episode, and let us know what you think really happened.
This week on The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland go all in on Stranger Things Season 5 — and nothing is off-limits. From a finale that left us cold to gaping plot holes, a laughably incompetent military, zero real character deaths, and a once-terrifying villain who feels completely neutered, we break down exactly where the show went wrong and why it hurt so much as longtime fans. ⚠️ Warning: This episode contains heavy swearing and full spoilers for all of Season 5. If you haven’t watched it yet, come back later — because we don’t hold back. We loved this world, these characters, and this story… which is why we’re so brutally honest about what worked, what didn’t, and what should have happened instead. 👉 Now it’s your turn: Did Season 5 stick the landing for you, or did it completely drop the ball? Let us know your thoughts, theories, and hot takes — we want to hear them. Leave a comment, send a message, or tag us on social with your reaction. If you enjoy raw, unfiltered takes on the stories we all care about, make sure to follow, download, and share The Damaged Ones Podcast so you don’t miss what we tear into next.
As 2025 comes to a close, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland take a moment to slow down and reflect. In this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, we answer three simple—but heavy—questions: What scared us this year? What humbled us? And what ultimately rewarded us for pushing through? We also talk about Sarah’s very real brush with disaster after a brutal Christmas-time cold that nearly took her out and had to go to the ER. Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Every listen, every download, every message—none of this exists without you. Your support this year meant more than we can properly put into words. We’ll be taking a short break for the New Year and will return the following week on January 10th. Merry belated Christmas, happy holidays, and we wish you an incredible, healthy, and powerful New Year!!! If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s been through their own battles this year. We’ll see you in 2026—stronger, clearer, and ready to go. For anyone that wants to get into the business of Voiceover or acting as a whole, feel free to visit https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com, and email both Peter Pamala Rose & Astoria Redhead!