Swimming Manhattan In Handcuffs And Stocking Stuffer Joy

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Ever walked into a new gym with your stomach in knots and left wondering why you waited so long? That’s where we start—right at the edge of comfort—before we cannonball into one of the wildest endurance headlines we’ve seen: a 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan done in handcuffs. It’s part comedy of errors (bad puns included), part look at what drives people to push limits, and part reminder that courage often looks like showing up, finding a quiet corner, and getting the work done.

We unpack the psychology behind extreme feats and the gritty logistics of open-water ultra distances—currents, tide timing, safety crews, fueling—then ask a simple question: do you need outrageous goals to feel growth? Maybe not. Sometimes the smarter choice is the smaller one that compounds daily. That idea bridges us into our favorite kind of practical joy: stocking stuffers that aren’t afterthoughts. Think shea butter hand cream for winter skin, a milk frother that upgrades morning coffee, a multi‑tool pen that actually gets used, a slim belt bag for hands-free errands, and a discreet personal safety alarm that adds real peace of mind.

We share a few personal wins too, including a wraparound eye mask that turned out to be a sleep game-changer. From satin pillowcases to motion-sensing night lights to phone lens kits that make family photos pop, the theme is the same: small, smart tools can lighten the load and brighten the day. If you’re curating gifts, aim for items that see action within 24 hours and still feel essential in March.

Join us for honest laughs, a side-eye at clunky headlines, and a warm, detailed guide to tiny upgrades with outsized impact. Then weigh in: what’s a great stocking stuffer to give, and what’s the best one you’ve ever received? If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your notes help others find conversations that spark better habits and better days.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Well, hello and good morning.
Oh, excuse me.
Wow, okay, I thought I'd clearedmy throat.
Apparently not.
It's this morning weather.
I don't why does cold weathermake your nose run all the time,
too?
Tell me that.
I don't know why, it drives mecrazy.
Well, I went to my gym for thefirst well, you know, I have a

(00:51):
week's past to go and check itout before I commit to anything.
And I went yesterday and I allday long yesterday.
My stomach was in a bundle ofnerves because I was like, I
don't know if I'm gonna like it,it's gonna be crowded.
I'm used to working out in thegarage by myself, nobody looking
or criticizing the way I workout, whatever.

(01:12):
And I know nobody's gonna watchme because I'm an invisible old
woman, so whatever.
But I went and uh the area thatI wanted to work out in was kind
of full, so I went upstairs andfound a spot.
You know what though?
I found a spot, I got my workoutdone and I liked it, I enjoyed
it.
So I'm going back again today.

(01:34):
I'm gonna use my week's past tosee if I like if I really,
really like it, and if I do,then I might commit to it and
go.
We'll see.
But I was just surprisinglysurprised in a good way that uh
I liked it.
Alright, that did not make anysense whatsoever.
Surprisingly surprised.
What the hell?
Okay, we need to move on.

(01:55):
It's early.
I have not had a lot of coffeeyet this morning, so forgive me.
We only have two topics here.
It was hard to find a bunch oftopics.
Alright, let's start with umthis one.
This dude swam 29 miles aroundManhattan in handcuffs.

(02:15):
Why?
I don't know.
Maybe they'll tell us.
And he had no idea the danger hewas in until he finished.
Excuse me, sir.
You didn't know the danger.
Bullshit.
You were in handcuffs swimmingin Manhattan in those waters.
Alright, he's not under arrest,but he sure could use a rest.

(02:35):
Oh, this is pitiful the way theystart this up.
That was not good.
He's not under arrest, but hesure could use a rest.
Come on, that's bad.
Boo yes.
In September in September, justa couple of months ago,
49-year-old New Yorker MichaelMoreau jumped off the southern

(02:56):
tip of Manhattan and didn'temerge until he'd swum up the
East River through the Harlemand down the Hudson to complete
the famed and formidable 28.5mile loop.
The flutter kicker.
He didn't he did it all inhandcuffs and in well under 10
hours.
That is kind of impressive, Iguess.

(03:18):
Um to swim 28 miles.
I guess it's yeah.
I don't know.
It would take me a month.
Um Moreau's felony flavoredfeet.
God, why do they have to try tobe cute with their writing?
Moreau's felony flavored feetearned him two Guinness World

(03:40):
Records.
One for completing the longestopen water swim in handcuffs,
and one for becoming the firstand fastest swimmer to
circumnavigate the city'swaterways in shackles.
Why?
Why do anything?
Capri I cannot pronounce thisperson's last name.
Giazzomoro, a fellow marathonswimmer and member of Moreau's

(04:04):
support crew, asked sheconquered the same twenty
bridges swimmer aroundManhattan, albeit with the
luxury of her limbs on her 63rdbirthday in 2014, and said the
rush of the open water feels asillicit as Moreau's steel
trapped wrist symbolized.
After I swam, I'm high as akite.

(04:25):
Well, we don't care what she hasto say.
Let's fly, let's talk about theguy.
But Moreau's motivation, andthey spelled it M-O-A-T.
Y'all, this guy who this person,whoever, girl, whatever, is
writing this article needs tostop this nonsense.
But Moreau's motivation,motivation wasn't kink.

(04:46):
Okay.
It was part nautical nature,part unfinished business, and
part desire to probe the outeredges of mermaid mastery.
Okay.
I who wrote this?
I need to go back and figure outthe name of this person who
wrote this.
Right now I'm in hide, I'm inreader mode, so I can't see
anything.

(05:07):
Okay, whatever.
Moving on.
When I started hearing thesestories about people who had not
given up on the opportunities toreally test the limits, I
thought, why can't I do thisthing?
Well, maybe you could do it,just not do this particular
thing.
Why this particular thing?
Why swim in handcuffs?

(05:28):
Can you not think of somethingelse to do?
That was the beginning of myjourney of trying to figure out
how I was going gonna realize mypotential, he said.
And I knew I needed to do it inthe water.
Born to swim.
Moreau is a creative director onland and has long been a fish in
the water.
According to my parents, I couldswim before I could walk.
Okay, blah blah blah.

(05:49):
Uh let's see.
Moving on the challenge, settinga goal that didn't feel like a
victory lap of his youth.
The solution, ultra marathonopen water swimming, or
generally any non-pool, non-stopoutdoor swim over 10 kilometers.
Whoever knows however far thatis.
That's more than 40.

(06:11):
That's more than 400.
Oh my gosh.
That's more than 430 lengths ofa standard 25-yard pool, plus
the uncontrollable currents,conditions, and creatures of the
natural world.
Yeah, those creatures rightthere.
I'm out.
Nope.
Add in logistics likecoordinating boat traffic,

(06:31):
reading tides, and securing askilled crew.
That sounds that sounds like alot of work.
Um, this article goes on and onand on.
Uh I don't know.
If you want to finish readingthat, you can go finish it.

(06:53):
Well, why it's in handcuffs, whoknows?
I don't know.
I didn't get down that far intoit.
Don't care.
Oh, wait, you know what?
I want to go back and see if Ican find the author of this
stupid okay, go of this stupidarticle.
I'm sorry, bear with me.
Hide reader.
Okay, it is Anna Madeiris is there is the writer of that

(07:17):
article.
Alright, moving on.
I'm gonna hopefully be this ishopefully gonna be a uh helpful
article, this next one.
Who says size matters?
The 55 best stocking stuffersmake Christmas huge.
Okay.

(07:38):
Stocking stuffers are ourchances to throw in a wink, a
delight, and a hey, you deservethis moment before the big
Christmas present reveals.
While the main gifts tend tohover in more serious territory,
the little treasures tucked intothe toe of the stocking become
the high fives, laughs, and ohmy god, I needed this of

(08:00):
Christmas morning.
This is the truth.
Last year I got some theselittle uh almost miniature wool,
I don't I call them washcloths,they're not washcloths, like
miniature cloth makeup removersthat you can wash and reuse that
my sister-in-law gave me in astock for a stocking stuffer
type thing.
I love them, I use them everysingle day.

(08:22):
Okay, um, we hunted down giftsthat'll actually land no okay,
come Christmas morning, itemsthat feel like more than just an
afterthought.
I'm talking useful, playful,maybe even a little cheeky,
because if you're going to dropanything into a loved one's
stocking, let it inspire genuinejoy.

(08:43):
Amen.
Okay, so they have oh that Ilike this right here.
I'll get this for the gent forsure.
It's a like a back scratcher,but it has detachable parts you
can put on different headings ofit.
Uh alright, shea butter handcream.
Yes, I will take that any day ofthe week.
Oh, yes, the milk frother wand.

(09:03):
I would love one of those.
And then you have best for thehandyman multi-tool pin set.
Oh, this is interesting.
Best for password forgetters,the personal internet address,
password, and logbook.
Uh best for beauty queen teens.
No, not get it for the teens.
The teenagers don't need this.

(09:24):
Grace and Stella under eye mask.
I'll take that.
Yes, thank you.
Best for the winter wellness,liquid IV hot chocolate
hydration multiplier.
I love how they take regular hotchocolate and rebrand it and
rename it with these hot topickeywords.
It's it's hilarious.
Best for the busy person.

(09:45):
Oh, look, a fanny pack, aLululemon, everywhere,
everywhere belt bag.
Uh yes, I'll take that, please,because I could wear that to
tunica.
I love yep.
Best for the home chefs, kitchenaid ribbed soft silicone oven
mit set.
We have those, but we couldprobably use another set.
Ours are getting pretty old.

(10:05):
Best for hot girl walks.
She's a birdie personal safetyalarm.
Oh, I like that.
I could get that for my doc formy daughter and my
daughter-in-law.
Put on their keychains.
It's a little key fob.
You put on your key fob, Iguess.
Uh stuff the stocking withsomething practical.
She's birdie personal safetyalarm.
Is especially great for collegestudents, city dwellers, and

(10:28):
anyone who appreciatesadditional safety at our arm's
reach.
Best for FaceTime friends, yourcell phone stand holder.
Moving on, moving on, moving on.
Oh, this is interesting.
Best for the aspiringphotographers, your phone camera
lens kit.

(10:49):
Oh, this is interesting.
They have these like littlelenses that will fit over your
iPhone lens.
It's cool.
I like that.
Alright, best stocking stufferfor the foodie.
$25 gift cards.
Um, let's see.
Oh, I have always wanted one ofthese.

(11:10):
I'm gonna ask the gym to get meone.
Best for beauty sleep, bedshoresatin pillowcases.
I need me a satin pillowcase,probably.
You know, the gent got me thiscopper, Tommy Copper eye uh
sleep mask.
Well, I say it's not a sleepmask per se.
It's promoted as an ice mask forlike migraines and headaches.

(11:34):
They say to put it in thefreezer, then you can wear it.
It's like it's like a total wraparound your head thing.
Uh, it's all one piece, though.
It just slides over your head,over your eyes.
It says it's good for migrainesand headaches and stuff like
that.
Now, I don't have migraines andheadaches, but uh I didn't put
it in the I made him, I made himI didn't let me open it.
He got it for me for Christmas,but I opened it early because

(11:56):
it's I wanted to use it as asleep mask.
So I used it last night.
Oh my gosh, I'm hooked.
I love it.
Now I didn't put it in thefreezer, of course.
But oh, I love this thing, it'sso wonderful.
I slept so good last night.
All right, moving on.
Let's see.
Uh, what else?
What else do we have here?

(12:16):
Socks, of course.
LL Bean Adult.
I would like those socks, yes.
But let's see, what is it?
I'm trying to move on to someactual what?
Oh, this is kind of cool.

(12:37):
Best to avoid stumbling in thedark.
Lumilex toilet light with motiondetection sensor.
That's fun, I think.
I guess.
Best for the sporty kid.
Um, sonic fin football.
Then it has some stuff for thepets, has ornaments, it has a
tinted lip balm.
That's always a good one to putin.

(12:59):
Oh, people could always use lipbalm, right?
Um, so there you go.
There it goes on for more andmore.
So this is the question of theday.
What okay, maybe it's a twoparter.
What is a good stocking stufferto give?
And what was your best stockingstuffer received?

(13:21):
Okay, there you go.
That's it.
I gotta go.
Thanks for listening.
Happy Thursday.