Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode features singer-songwriter Teddy Swims joining the hosts to discuss his upbringing in Conyers, Georgia, his early days playing in metal and hardcore bands, and his journey to musical success. The guest and hosts share stories about teenage petty crimes, working tough odd jobs like carrying sod at age twelve, and their mutual appreciation for fast food and nostalgia. Teddy explains his transition from playing small venues to headlining major arenas while maintaining a down-to-earth perspective rooted in his working-class background.
Throughout the conversation, the discussion highlights the contrast between the guest's past struggles—including dropping out of beauty school and spending time in jail—and his current status as a successful touring artist. They explore humorous anecdotes about homemade weed, backyard wrestling with older men, and eccentric parental decorations, all contributing to the comedic evaluation of whether the guest grew up classy or trashy.
- Keep your nicotine use manageable if you cannot quit entirely, as the guest still relies on nicotine pouches. 33:09
- Opt for high-protein, low-calorie meal prep hacks like mixed tuna salad to stay on track during busy travel schedules.
- Maintain your connection to spontaneous street performances even when playing massive arena tours to keep music alive. 1:03:58
- Support your parents and honor your roots when you achieve financial success, just like buying your dad a truck. 39:29
Chapters
- 0:00Show Intro and Tour Announcement
Hosts introduce the podcast and announce the upcoming army of garbage tour dates.
- 2:06Meet the Guest: Teddy Swims
Hosts welcome singer Teddy Swims, highlighting his new album and tour.
- 2:54Teddy’s Origin Story
Teddy recounts his upbringing in Conyers, Georgia, and early musical influences.
- 5:21Early Life and Family Dynamics
Discussion of Teddy’s split family, parents’ occupations, and childhood challenges.
- 9:34High School Years and Music Beginnings
Teddy describes his high school experience, football, theater, and first band.
- 14:14Adolescent Adventures and Risks
Teddy shares stories of drug dealing, petty crime, and early exposure to the music scene.
- 38:31Transition to Professional Music Career
Teddy explains how he moved from local bands to a national touring act and his first big check.
- 39:58Lifestyle, Finances, and Current Life
Teddy talks about his current living situation, family, and how he spends his earnings.
- 40:34Podcast Intro and Host Banter
The hosts kick off the episode with lighthearted chatter and a brief introduction to the show.
- 41:58Tour Bus Essentials and Nutrition
The conversation shifts to the practicalities of touring, focusing on the bus setup and the host’s protein-packed diet.
- 44:11Show Night Preparation and Rider
Discussion moves to how the host prepares for a performance night, including meal timing and the stage rider requirements.
- 45:49Sound Check Process and Stage Logistics
The hosts delve into the details of sound checks, crew coordination, and the challenges of performing in large arenas.
Highlights
- 3:31
The guest explains how his guitar player's dad, Rodney, inspired them in high school and eventually joined them on stage at Red Rocks to sing Bon Jovi.
- 7:48
No Child Left Behind Graduationstory
The guest describes how the No Child Left Behind policy and an independent credit-recovery program allowed him to graduate high school despite getting mostly zeros in his senior year.
- 14:19
Vanilla Extract Weed Scamstory
The guest admits that as a middle schooler, he and his friends used to sell low-quality weed enhanced with vanilla extract for ten dollars a gram.
- 19:50
The Greatest Backyard Wrestlingstory
The guest recalls participating in serious backyard wrestling matches with grown men on a trampoline as a 13-year-old in Macon, Georgia.
- 35:39
Spending Senior Year in Jailstory
The guest shares that he missed the first week of his senior year of high school in the Rockdale County Jail after getting busted for selling marijuana.
- 55:54
Mo's Southwest Grill Loopholestrategy
The guest shares a strategy he used as a broke aspiring musician, entering multiple phone numbers at Mo's Southwest Grill to earn free entrees after ten visits.
Quotes
“The voice is, uh, out of control. Crazy.”
H. Foley · 2:41 “I graduated at the lowest of my, yeah, class because of that, cause it was just a bunch of zeros, but.”
Unnamed speaker · 9:10 “I was, I was in a band called Herok Bear and I mean, you could still find the, the EP on YouTube and it's, it's god awful, but”
Unnamed speaker · 37:45 “A lot of just bullshit, but these days it's like, I've got some boiled eggs in there, you know, got some, got to, dude, I just bought this.”
Unnamed speaker · 42:33 “And that's what live music's meant to be, you know? So always gotta keep live music, live music still, you know?”
Unnamed speaker · 1:03:58 “I just want to be at the fucking house. But I think I really, I really want to, I, I think Greece would be beautiful.”
Unnamed speaker · 54:11
Sponsored segments
- areyougarbage.com 0:08–1:41
- Rocket Money 20:54–22:06
- BetterHelp 22:07–23:29
- Whole Foods Market 41:30–42:33
About this episode
Are You Garbage presents singer and songwriter Teddy Swims! You know Teddy Swims from his music career, his chart-topping global smash hits "Lose Control" and "The Door," The Breakfast Club, Impractical Jokers, Take Your Shoes Off, Sundae Conversation, Dr. Phil LIVE, Mythical Kitchen, Bertcast, Late Night, The Late Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and so much more! Thanks for watching AYG Comedy Podcast. Love youse guys. Come to a live show! Watch AMERICAN GARBAGE: https://youtu.be/77zGwlLffWk?si=6E9dBr63JY7HgP9t AYG 2026 Live Shows: https://areyougarbage.com/pages/live-shows NEW AYG MERCH: https://areyougarbage.com/ Live Shows: https://areyougarbage.com/pages/live-shows PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AreYouGarbage MERCH: https://areyougarbage.com/ Sponsored By: Rocket Money: Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://www. RocketMoney.com/GARBAGE Promo Code: GARBAGE BetterHelp: If you've thought about trying therapy with our long-term partner, BetterHelp, insurance options may now be available nationwide, with an average copay for eligible members of just $23 per session. If you've been waiting to start therapy, BetterHelp works with more than 125 health plan networks, and eligible members have an average copay of just $23 per session with insurance. Don't have insurance or don't live in the United States? You can still get 10% off your first month. Visit https://betterhelp.com/garbage to explore your payment options. Promo Code: GARBAGE Comedians H. Foley and Kevin Ryan are self proclaimed GARBAGE. Each week a new stand up comedian gets put to the test. Steal shampoo from hotels? Own a George Foreman Grill? Ever worn JNCO Jeans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
14,363 words · 5 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Atlanta
- Mo's
- Kroger
- Barclay Center
- Misty Menthol Ultra Lights
- Conyers
- Aldi's
- Ugly
- Delta 360
- Delta SkyMiles
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated