Overview of How Long Gone — Episode 924 (Chris Black & Jason Stewart)
Chris and Jason trade stories from a quick Las Vegas trip and riff on travel, food, nightlife, spa culture, celebrity news, and internet culture. The episode is a loose, conversational roundup: opening with Vegas anecdotes (contramar opening, airport/TSA moments), moving into spa/sauna observations and dinner/music recaps, and closing with pop-culture takes (Tiger Woods, Marc Jacobs doc, AOC, Bo Burnham, Drewski) and a few personal vignettes (gift‑card shopping spree, plane crowd characters). Several sponsor reads (Factor, BetterHelp, Squarespace, Venmo Stash) are woven in.
Key topics discussed
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Vegas trip highlights
- Stay at the Fontainebleau-inspired hotel, Contramar Cantina opening party and PR dinner.
- DJ from Mexico City, cumbia remixes, Palomas and Margaritas, and Gavin DeGraw rooftop performance.
- Tasting notes: multiple tostadas, seafood, desserts, coffee cocktails with Licor 43.
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Airport/TSA stories
- Observations about quirky plane crowds (Burbank→Vegas).
- TSA anecdote: a traveler pulled aside with many half-used bags of all-purpose flour—comic speculation about why.
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Spa & sauna trend
- Spa massage and relaxation lounge, co‑ed vs bros‑only spaces.
- Critique of “sauna rave” / group sauna trend — calls it the “pickleball of saunas” and questions longevity.
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Pop-culture / celebrity commentary
- Tiger Woods car-crash discussion, driving under influence speculation, the “pill-driver car” idea (Range Rover).
- Marc Jacobs documentary (Sofia Coppola) reaction — interesting facts, not as emotionally revealing as expected.
- AOC item: reported campaign spending on ketamine therapy and takes on political optics.
- Bo Burnham’s Inside and its cultural reception.
- Drewski stunt / viral content — respect for the production effort.
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Personal anecdotes
- “Body” tracked‑set sighting in Vegas and attendant commentary.
- Gift-card experiment: using physician-referral Visa gift card to splurge at Zizomers and Happier Grocer — a mini “play” experiment.
Notable anecdotes & segments
- “Body” tracksuit: humorous eyewitness description of a matching camo leisure set with the word “body” printed across the rear — commentary about confidence, Vegas aesthetics, and accompanying dubious partner.
- Contramar Cantina (Vegas): hosts impressed that Contramar recreated its seafood quality; hors d’oeuvre reboots (e.g., “tostaritos”) and a long, multi-course press dinner culminating in rooftop Gavin DeGraw.
- TSA flour incident: suitcase full of partially used flour bags sparks comic speculation and criticism of TSA interactions.
- Spa + sauna culture: heated praise for a good massage and the “reboot lounge,” plus skepticism about experiential/party saunas (lights/boombox) becoming mainstream.
- Gavin DeGraw performance: short, effective set (three songs), cozy lounge vibe—he wore a pork-pie hat.
- Gift-card “play” experiment: treating a small afternoon as a chance to spend freely to recreate childlike playfulness.
Memorable lines & insights
- “The sauna-ing trend is sort of like pickleball to tennis.” — framing group sauna as a fleeting social trend.
- Observations about travel culture: Vegas flights attract very specific crowds (stripper/DJ express).
- On digital detox: reference to Cal Newport’s argument — reducing phone dependence is a social priority akin to how exercise became mainstream.
Sponsors & promos mentioned
- Factor Meals — promo: Factormeals.com/howlong50off and code HowLong50Off (50% off + free breakfast for a year; new customers, qualifying subscription).
- BetterHelp — promo: betterhelp.com/howlong (10% off).
- Squarespace — free trial at squarespace.com/howlong; code howlong for 10% off website/domain purchase.
- Venmo Stash — cash‑back program (up to 5% cash back on selected brand bundles; T&Cs apply).
(Note: these were read during the episode; terms/availability apply.)
Takeaways & recommendations
- If you’re in Vegas and value high-quality seafood, Contramar’s Vegas outpost is worth checking (impressive sourcing, creative small plates).
- Spa days with a solid massage + downtime can make short trips feel restorative; be skeptical of gimmicky “sauna rave” formats.
- Airport observation: packing and organization often dictate how TSA encounters feel — and make for interesting human theater.
- Small, intentional splurges (gift‑card “play” experiment) can be a useful psychological reset for some people.
- Cultural watching: Marc Jacobs doc on Hulu, new Chrisley content, and trending internet moments (Bo Burnham, Drewski) are current touchpoints.
Quick episode log (for reference)
- Opening: Burbank→Vegas flight & people-watching
- Vegas party: Contramar opening, DJ, cumbia remixes
- TSA and airport anecdotes (flour)
- Spa description, sauna trend debate
- Dinner recap and Gavin DeGraw mini-concert
- Gift-card shopping experiment and movie outing (Marc Jacobs documentary)
- Pop-culture roundup: Tiger Woods, AOC, Bo Burnham, Drewski
- Closing: tease of upcoming guests, thanks to PR/hosts
This summary captures the main beats and color of the episode so you can decide which segments you might want to listen to in full.
