1 00:00:15,264 --> 00:00:23,984 Speaker 1: Pushkin. I'm AJ Jacobs, and I wrote Trying to Live 2 00:00:24,024 --> 00:00:27,864 Speaker 1: a Day Without Plastic for the New York Times, and 3 00:00:28,024 --> 00:00:31,944 Speaker 1: it's the story of the week. For a little while 4 00:00:31,944 --> 00:00:36,064 Speaker 1: in college, I thought about becoming a professor. I would 5 00:00:36,104 --> 00:00:39,464 Speaker 1: have sucked, because when you write academic papers you have 6 00:00:39,544 --> 00:00:43,664 Speaker 1: to prove things. You need data and control groups and 7 00:00:44,064 --> 00:00:48,224 Speaker 1: large sample sizes. In journalism, you just go try something. 8 00:00:48,704 --> 00:00:51,704 Speaker 1: I have no idea what going into a cryogenic chamber 9 00:00:51,824 --> 00:00:54,184 Speaker 1: three times a week for ten weeks does to the 10 00:00:54,264 --> 00:00:57,544 Speaker 1: human body, but I do know how it felt, and 11 00:00:57,704 --> 00:01:00,824 Speaker 1: that's good enough for an article. There's one person who's 12 00:01:00,864 --> 00:01:03,424 Speaker 1: better than me at trying weird things and then whining 13 00:01:03,424 --> 00:01:07,064 Speaker 1: about them in print, my fellow stunt journalist and fellow 14 00:01:07,064 --> 00:01:10,904 Speaker 1: neurotic jew, A J. Jacobs, in the name of journalism. 15 00:01:10,904 --> 00:01:15,264 Speaker 1: He's read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, followed every single rule 16 00:01:15,264 --> 00:01:18,984 Speaker 1: in the Bible, and for his next book is following 17 00:01:19,024 --> 00:01:23,664 Speaker 1: the original intent of the US Constitution. Recently, an editor 18 00:01:23,704 --> 00:01:26,384 Speaker 1: from The New York Times called Aj with the most 19 00:01:26,504 --> 00:01:30,864 Speaker 1: ridiculous request of all to try to live without using 20 00:01:30,984 --> 00:01:40,584 Speaker 1: any plastic, writing his hard who's got that kind of 21 00:01:40,664 --> 00:01:44,304 Speaker 1: time when you're already busy trying to be John Stein. 22 00:01:44,584 --> 00:01:47,784 Speaker 1: So it turns on a mic, maybe twiddles and knob 23 00:01:47,864 --> 00:01:52,184 Speaker 1: because a journalist Frand has got in actual time auditory 24 00:01:53,064 --> 00:01:59,784 Speaker 1: single story. Just listen to smart people speak, conversation, filming 25 00:01:59,904 --> 00:02:13,864 Speaker 1: information is the story of the week. AJ. You are 26 00:02:14,024 --> 00:02:18,424 Speaker 1: our first repeat guest, So congratulations. I don't know if 27 00:02:18,424 --> 00:02:21,464 Speaker 1: we send up plaque. I want a plaque. I am 28 00:02:21,584 --> 00:02:24,144 Speaker 1: very honored. I was thinking I want to be the 29 00:02:25,024 --> 00:02:28,944 Speaker 1: Tony Randall to your Johnny Carson. That's a very old reference. 30 00:02:29,184 --> 00:02:30,824 Speaker 1: But I thought you were going to go with Oscar 31 00:02:30,904 --> 00:02:35,064 Speaker 1: levant to my Steve Allen. Wow, now that's even older. 32 00:02:35,104 --> 00:02:39,304 Speaker 1: I can Wow. That's a deep cut, very impressive. We 33 00:02:39,384 --> 00:02:42,424 Speaker 1: originally thought we would never have guests on twice, but 34 00:02:42,464 --> 00:02:46,704 Speaker 1: the listeners wanted you back. Well, I'm honored to be back. 35 00:02:46,784 --> 00:02:52,984 Speaker 1: Thank you listeners for demanding and boycotting. I assume you've 36 00:02:53,024 --> 00:02:56,704 Speaker 1: pulled off another incredible stunt. This time you tried to 37 00:02:56,704 --> 00:03:00,904 Speaker 1: live a day without using any plastic. Correct, no plastic? 38 00:03:01,464 --> 00:03:06,544 Speaker 1: First of all, how dare you? You liberals are trying 39 00:03:06,584 --> 00:03:09,744 Speaker 1: to make everything unfun? Take away our plast day? I 40 00:03:09,784 --> 00:03:13,624 Speaker 1: mean plastics? Great? You know what I came to appreciate 41 00:03:13,704 --> 00:03:16,424 Speaker 1: plastic is pretty great, and we do not want to 42 00:03:16,424 --> 00:03:19,784 Speaker 1: live in a world without plastic. It would suck plastics 43 00:03:19,864 --> 00:03:23,464 Speaker 1: in medical equipment, and there's so much that we need 44 00:03:23,544 --> 00:03:27,264 Speaker 1: for plastic. If not for plastic, I'd probably have children 45 00:03:27,264 --> 00:03:31,664 Speaker 1: with hundreds of women. Good to know. One of the 46 00:03:31,704 --> 00:03:35,144 Speaker 1: takeaways I got was, it's not just the plastic is 47 00:03:35,144 --> 00:03:37,304 Speaker 1: the enemy, because it's not always the enemy. The enemy 48 00:03:38,184 --> 00:03:46,584 Speaker 1: is people with plastic You've got. The enemy is single 49 00:03:46,704 --> 00:03:51,384 Speaker 1: use culture or throwaway culture. We throw away two hundred 50 00:03:51,464 --> 00:03:55,344 Speaker 1: million tons of plastic a year, and most of that 51 00:03:55,424 --> 00:03:59,224 Speaker 1: is single use. You know, the bags that we use 52 00:03:59,464 --> 00:04:02,584 Speaker 1: or the water bottles we use once and toss away. 53 00:04:02,744 --> 00:04:05,104 Speaker 1: They are just choking the earth. I want to go 54 00:04:05,184 --> 00:04:08,264 Speaker 1: through your day, So before the day starts, are you 55 00:04:08,464 --> 00:04:12,024 Speaker 1: nervous feeling confident? Like? What's your mindset there? Well? I 56 00:04:12,144 --> 00:04:16,304 Speaker 1: spent literally two months preparing for this day. What. Yeah, No, 57 00:04:16,464 --> 00:04:19,944 Speaker 1: it was impossible because I knew what I was getting into. 58 00:04:20,024 --> 00:04:22,984 Speaker 1: I knew that it was everywhere, so I had to 59 00:04:23,104 --> 00:04:25,904 Speaker 1: buy I mean I spent a lot of money on it, 60 00:04:26,064 --> 00:04:28,704 Speaker 1: Like I spent at least half of my writer's fee 61 00:04:28,864 --> 00:04:32,344 Speaker 1: on this on this project. And you get paid tens 62 00:04:32,384 --> 00:04:36,504 Speaker 1: of thousand dollars for a b second. Exactly how much 63 00:04:36,504 --> 00:04:39,584 Speaker 1: do you think you spent altogether buying non plastic things? 64 00:04:39,584 --> 00:04:42,544 Speaker 1: Certainly over a thousand dollars. How worried are you? I've 65 00:04:42,584 --> 00:04:44,664 Speaker 1: done two months of prep you kind of know what 66 00:04:44,664 --> 00:04:49,104 Speaker 1: you're getting into. Well, I am worried that it is 67 00:04:49,184 --> 00:04:53,464 Speaker 1: going to be an unpleasant day, but I was worried 68 00:04:53,504 --> 00:04:55,424 Speaker 1: about the end of the day. How am I going 69 00:04:55,464 --> 00:04:58,344 Speaker 1: to sleep because my mattress and my pillows are all plastic, 70 00:04:58,504 --> 00:05:00,784 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna I was at one point going to 71 00:05:00,824 --> 00:05:05,344 Speaker 1: sleep in the park and Central Park. Yeah, I'm like 72 00:05:05,424 --> 00:05:08,384 Speaker 1: a bale of hay. That was the plan. I mean 73 00:05:08,424 --> 00:05:13,064 Speaker 1: I actually I tried to order a plastic free sleeping 74 00:05:13,104 --> 00:05:17,104 Speaker 1: bag because most sleeping banks have plastic, and it didn't 75 00:05:17,104 --> 00:05:20,104 Speaker 1: come in time, so I ended up unable to sleep 76 00:05:20,144 --> 00:05:21,864 Speaker 1: in the park. So one of the things you did 77 00:05:21,864 --> 00:05:25,144 Speaker 1: to prepare as you ordered a book called Life Without Plastic, 78 00:05:25,384 --> 00:05:28,184 Speaker 1: The practical step by step guide to avoiding plastic to 79 00:05:28,264 --> 00:05:31,704 Speaker 1: keep your family and the planet healthy. Now, how did 80 00:05:31,704 --> 00:05:36,984 Speaker 1: that arrive? The book that arrived wrapped in transparent plastic 81 00:05:37,104 --> 00:05:40,464 Speaker 1: like a slice of American cheese, And when I got it, 82 00:05:41,024 --> 00:05:46,784 Speaker 1: I was simultaneously appalled and filled with joy because I 83 00:05:46,864 --> 00:05:50,304 Speaker 1: knew this is such a beautiful scene. In fact, the 84 00:05:50,384 --> 00:05:55,224 Speaker 1: first draft of this piece I led with that. I said, 85 00:05:56,224 --> 00:05:58,264 Speaker 1: I knew this was going to be a hard project 86 00:05:58,544 --> 00:06:03,544 Speaker 1: when I got my life without plastic book wrapped in plastic. Okay, 87 00:06:03,584 --> 00:06:07,104 Speaker 1: you had to replace your toothpaste, your toothbrush, your shampoo, 88 00:06:07,384 --> 00:06:11,344 Speaker 1: your liquid soap, take me through your morning ritual that morning, 89 00:06:11,424 --> 00:06:15,304 Speaker 1: and everything you used. Sure. Well, I've had to enter 90 00:06:15,384 --> 00:06:18,864 Speaker 1: the bathroom, which was a problem because the door knobs, 91 00:06:18,904 --> 00:06:22,544 Speaker 1: I found out, are all plastic coated, so I had 92 00:06:22,584 --> 00:06:25,544 Speaker 1: to get my wife Julie to open the door. Oh, 93 00:06:25,624 --> 00:06:27,944 Speaker 1: like a shop is gooy? Like she's doing all your 94 00:06:28,064 --> 00:06:32,584 Speaker 1: plastic touching for you. Yes, And that's when religious Jews 95 00:06:32,744 --> 00:06:35,064 Speaker 1: who aren't allowed to do things from Friday night to 96 00:06:35,104 --> 00:06:38,144 Speaker 1: Saturday night find someone who's not Jewish to do all 97 00:06:38,144 --> 00:06:40,584 Speaker 1: those things for them anyway, right and turn on the 98 00:06:41,784 --> 00:06:45,664 Speaker 1: do the light switching. Yeah, so she was my plastic 99 00:06:45,704 --> 00:06:50,824 Speaker 1: shops boy. I entered the bathroom and I had my 100 00:06:51,064 --> 00:06:54,704 Speaker 1: array of plastic free items. So I had a bamboo 101 00:06:54,744 --> 00:07:00,584 Speaker 1: toothbrush that I had bought online, which had boars bristles 102 00:07:00,624 --> 00:07:05,344 Speaker 1: made of boars hair because you can't normal bristles are 103 00:07:05,344 --> 00:07:10,464 Speaker 1: made of plastic. Was very ethical. I couldn't use my deodorant, 104 00:07:10,504 --> 00:07:13,544 Speaker 1: so I made my own deodorant out of tea tree 105 00:07:13,584 --> 00:07:20,184 Speaker 1: oil and lavender. I believe. What did you think of it? Well, 106 00:07:20,184 --> 00:07:25,264 Speaker 1: it smelled very cathedrally, but I would say that did 107 00:07:25,264 --> 00:07:28,264 Speaker 1: not stick with me. I do not use the tea 108 00:07:28,344 --> 00:07:31,944 Speaker 1: tree oil. But you can't use shampoo. So I bought 109 00:07:32,344 --> 00:07:35,744 Speaker 1: a shampoo bar, which is just what it sounds like, 110 00:07:35,784 --> 00:07:38,464 Speaker 1: a bar made of shampoo, and that one I actually liked, 111 00:07:38,624 --> 00:07:42,504 Speaker 1: and I've continued using shampoo. Really, your hair looks great, 112 00:07:42,584 --> 00:07:45,104 Speaker 1: by the way. I don't know if it's because of 113 00:07:45,144 --> 00:07:49,264 Speaker 1: the shampoo bar, but and it's apparently, according to them, 114 00:07:49,624 --> 00:07:53,424 Speaker 1: less expensive because you can get two hundred shampoos out 115 00:07:53,464 --> 00:07:58,064 Speaker 1: of a shampoo bar and it's ten bucks. So I 116 00:07:58,064 --> 00:08:00,864 Speaker 1: would say that was a win, the shampoo bar. And 117 00:08:00,944 --> 00:08:04,304 Speaker 1: that was just the first two minutes of my day. Well, 118 00:08:04,344 --> 00:08:07,104 Speaker 1: how quickly did you fail in the experiment to go 119 00:08:07,224 --> 00:08:10,064 Speaker 1: a day without plastic? I failed with then the first 120 00:08:10,064 --> 00:08:15,424 Speaker 1: five seconds five seconds seconds. Yes, you've planned out your 121 00:08:15,464 --> 00:08:18,104 Speaker 1: whole day. How could you not have anticipated whatever you 122 00:08:18,144 --> 00:08:21,464 Speaker 1: did wrong? Well, I woke up, I put my feet 123 00:08:21,504 --> 00:08:26,104 Speaker 1: on the floor, and the bedroom floor is made of nylon. 124 00:08:26,304 --> 00:08:29,344 Speaker 1: It's carpet made of nylon. I mean I could have 125 00:08:29,664 --> 00:08:32,104 Speaker 1: ripped up the carpet, but I don't think my wife 126 00:08:32,144 --> 00:08:34,944 Speaker 1: would have appreciated that. So, yeah, that was the first 127 00:08:35,024 --> 00:08:38,024 Speaker 1: violation I saw that Jacobs is being hardwood floor people. 128 00:08:39,504 --> 00:08:43,904 Speaker 1: Sorry to disappoint. I think overall I violated. I counted 129 00:08:43,944 --> 00:08:47,184 Speaker 1: about one hundred and sixty four violations, but it's probably more. 130 00:08:47,304 --> 00:08:49,624 Speaker 1: Were you walking around with a notebook just marking down 131 00:08:49,624 --> 00:08:52,664 Speaker 1: every time you felt I did. But the notebook itself 132 00:08:52,704 --> 00:08:56,704 Speaker 1: was a problem because pens I couldn't use, and most 133 00:08:56,744 --> 00:09:00,064 Speaker 1: pencils like this regular pencil has plastic all over it. 134 00:09:00,184 --> 00:09:04,984 Speaker 1: The eraser is plastic. The yellow paint has made with plastic. 135 00:09:05,464 --> 00:09:09,504 Speaker 1: So I had to get like a special cedar natural 136 00:09:09,544 --> 00:09:13,304 Speaker 1: eraser pencil to write stuff down, all right, And then 137 00:09:13,384 --> 00:09:16,904 Speaker 1: there was the next challenge was just getting dressed. Right, Yeah, 138 00:09:16,944 --> 00:09:22,504 Speaker 1: getting dressed was crazy because my entire wardrobe was filled 139 00:09:22,504 --> 00:09:27,704 Speaker 1: with plastic. Well, you wear a lot of latex, yes, exactly. Now. 140 00:09:27,704 --> 00:09:30,904 Speaker 1: I have a very boring wardrobe, you know, old Navy 141 00:09:30,904 --> 00:09:34,664 Speaker 1: Banana Republic, but it is filled with plastic, as is 142 00:09:34,944 --> 00:09:38,224 Speaker 1: every brand, even the high end brands. I did buy 143 00:09:38,384 --> 00:09:42,464 Speaker 1: some plastic free clothing. So I had plastic free underwear. 144 00:09:42,664 --> 00:09:46,304 Speaker 1: That sounds just like underwear, No, because the elastic in 145 00:09:46,344 --> 00:09:50,544 Speaker 1: your underwear is plastic and usually and so this was 146 00:09:50,584 --> 00:09:55,224 Speaker 1: a draw string boxer organic cotton underwear had to tie 147 00:09:55,264 --> 00:09:57,784 Speaker 1: your underwear. You had to tie your under Yes, it's 148 00:09:57,864 --> 00:10:00,704 Speaker 1: very time consuming. Not having plastic in your life is 149 00:10:00,744 --> 00:10:02,984 Speaker 1: about learning about the past though, like all the things 150 00:10:03,024 --> 00:10:05,864 Speaker 1: people had to do and how much harder things were. 151 00:10:05,904 --> 00:10:08,824 Speaker 1: On just the basic I couldn't use my iPhone or 152 00:10:09,064 --> 00:10:11,744 Speaker 1: any electronics, so that was like going into the pant 153 00:10:12,424 --> 00:10:15,024 Speaker 1: And I will say just one other point on the underwear. 154 00:10:15,144 --> 00:10:18,464 Speaker 1: This was an interesting twist was the New York Times 155 00:10:18,904 --> 00:10:24,184 Speaker 1: asked if I would feel comfortable posing only in my 156 00:10:24,304 --> 00:10:30,824 Speaker 1: underwear for the photographs. There's such perverts, they always are. Well, 157 00:10:31,304 --> 00:10:33,624 Speaker 1: I actually think it's a funny idea because it's like, 158 00:10:34,224 --> 00:10:37,664 Speaker 1: without plastic, we're naked, like everything is plastic. But even 159 00:10:38,264 --> 00:10:40,624 Speaker 1: if I were in shape, I just don't want to 160 00:10:41,144 --> 00:10:44,784 Speaker 1: force that on anyone. So I passed. But anyway, yes, 161 00:10:44,904 --> 00:10:48,384 Speaker 1: back to the clothes. I bought plastic free shoes because 162 00:10:48,384 --> 00:10:52,224 Speaker 1: the shoes are just filled with plastic sneakers and regular shoes. 163 00:10:53,224 --> 00:10:56,984 Speaker 1: This one I thought was interesting. My Banana Republic pants 164 00:10:57,064 --> 00:10:59,824 Speaker 1: which said in the label one hundred percent cotton. So 165 00:10:59,864 --> 00:11:02,704 Speaker 1: I'm like, okay. But then I checked with the Banana 166 00:11:02,864 --> 00:11:06,744 Speaker 1: Republic pr folks and they were very accommodating. They sent 167 00:11:06,824 --> 00:11:10,304 Speaker 1: me a detailed list. The woman did all this research 168 00:11:10,464 --> 00:11:13,144 Speaker 1: of every piece of plastic in there, and there were 169 00:11:13,144 --> 00:11:18,464 Speaker 1: tons the zipper, the zipper, lining, the pocket, lining, the threads. 170 00:11:18,944 --> 00:11:21,744 Speaker 1: So I did end up trying to rip the plastic 171 00:11:21,824 --> 00:11:27,104 Speaker 1: out of my Banana Republic pants, there by cutting myself. 172 00:11:27,144 --> 00:11:30,824 Speaker 1: I took a steel knife and I tried to rip 173 00:11:30,864 --> 00:11:33,664 Speaker 1: off the label and I cut myself and then I 174 00:11:33,704 --> 00:11:36,864 Speaker 1: couldn't put a band aid on because that's plastic. So 175 00:11:36,904 --> 00:11:42,264 Speaker 1: I had this plastic free paper gummy tape that I 176 00:11:42,304 --> 00:11:44,584 Speaker 1: had bought in case I needed it, and I did, 177 00:11:44,984 --> 00:11:47,424 Speaker 1: so I used that as my band aid. This is 178 00:11:47,464 --> 00:11:52,064 Speaker 1: why people used to die all the time. They didn't 179 00:11:52,064 --> 00:11:55,144 Speaker 1: have plastic, and they're doing stuff like this. It's a 180 00:11:55,224 --> 00:11:58,784 Speaker 1: dangerous life. I agreed. Yeah, plastic, as we say, it 181 00:11:58,824 --> 00:12:02,304 Speaker 1: has its uses, but it is also a huge disaster 182 00:12:02,504 --> 00:12:05,064 Speaker 1: that we did this gummy stuff stopped the bleeding, you know, 183 00:12:05,144 --> 00:12:07,984 Speaker 1: it did it did? It wasn't bad. And then you 184 00:12:08,064 --> 00:12:10,664 Speaker 1: go on the subway, which is challenging too because there's 185 00:12:10,784 --> 00:12:13,944 Speaker 1: plastic all over that thing, right, which already I knew 186 00:12:14,064 --> 00:12:17,824 Speaker 1: was a sin because there are so many subway parts 187 00:12:17,824 --> 00:12:22,384 Speaker 1: made of plastic. But at least I tried to not 188 00:12:22,504 --> 00:12:27,184 Speaker 1: sit in those famous orange plastic seats on the subway 189 00:12:27,304 --> 00:12:31,664 Speaker 1: New York Subway. So I had bought a Nordic teak 190 00:12:32,224 --> 00:12:36,424 Speaker 1: folding chair so that I would have my non plastic 191 00:12:36,504 --> 00:12:39,624 Speaker 1: place to sit, and I brought it on the subway 192 00:12:40,024 --> 00:12:43,264 Speaker 1: and I sat there. I did get one look from 193 00:12:43,264 --> 00:12:45,304 Speaker 1: a guy who is like, you know, please don't bother me, 194 00:12:45,344 --> 00:12:47,984 Speaker 1: Please don't bother me, Please don't bother Yeah, but most 195 00:12:48,024 --> 00:12:51,504 Speaker 1: of the people were buried in their phones. So you're 196 00:12:51,504 --> 00:12:54,464 Speaker 1: shopping at a natural food store. And what were the 197 00:12:54,464 --> 00:12:58,304 Speaker 1: problems you encountered at the natural food store besides all 198 00:12:58,304 --> 00:13:02,744 Speaker 1: the food being boring an awful Well, first of all, 199 00:13:02,744 --> 00:13:05,824 Speaker 1: I had to have all of my plastic free bags 200 00:13:05,864 --> 00:13:10,584 Speaker 1: with me, and plastic free produced bags. And then when 201 00:13:10,624 --> 00:13:14,944 Speaker 1: I got there, I couldn't buy any packaged goods because 202 00:13:14,984 --> 00:13:18,864 Speaker 1: all the packaging is plastic. So they have these bulk bins. 203 00:13:18,984 --> 00:13:20,904 Speaker 1: That was my plan. That's why I went there to 204 00:13:20,944 --> 00:13:25,664 Speaker 1: buy some bulk walnuts and bulk oatmeal and things like that. 205 00:13:26,584 --> 00:13:30,024 Speaker 1: First of all, one problem was the bins themselves are 206 00:13:30,064 --> 00:13:32,944 Speaker 1: made of plastic. Yeah, oh yeah, they're always plastic. Yeah, 207 00:13:32,984 --> 00:13:35,104 Speaker 1: So I just had to suck that up. And then 208 00:13:36,264 --> 00:13:39,984 Speaker 1: I couldn't use the little the little Scoopers, so I 209 00:13:39,984 --> 00:13:43,824 Speaker 1: had brought my own, like a steel little Scooper from home. Well, 210 00:13:43,864 --> 00:13:45,984 Speaker 1: you're a full on crazy person, so you've taken your 211 00:13:45,984 --> 00:13:49,544 Speaker 1: own like ladle from home, like metal ladle, which if 212 00:13:49,544 --> 00:13:51,824 Speaker 1: they see you putting it in there, the whole story 213 00:13:51,864 --> 00:13:53,864 Speaker 1: has to be shut down for health code violations. But 214 00:13:53,944 --> 00:13:57,104 Speaker 1: you put this Scooper in that's right. But I think 215 00:13:57,184 --> 00:14:00,064 Speaker 1: the the otter part was when I tried to pay, 216 00:14:00,384 --> 00:14:05,144 Speaker 1: because I couldn't pay then any normal way, because I 217 00:14:05,144 --> 00:14:08,504 Speaker 1: couldn't pay with credit card plastic. I couldn't pay with 218 00:14:09,104 --> 00:14:14,544 Speaker 1: the iPhone or Apple pay plastic. But I couldn't even 219 00:14:14,744 --> 00:14:18,784 Speaker 1: use dollar bills. Oh really, they have plastic in them somewhere, 220 00:14:18,864 --> 00:14:22,944 Speaker 1: Plastic threads all throughout our bills, and the higher denominations 221 00:14:23,024 --> 00:14:27,664 Speaker 1: have a plastic thread to the reflective thing I've seen 222 00:14:27,704 --> 00:14:31,384 Speaker 1: that the holograph thing, so to prepare, I had actually 223 00:14:31,544 --> 00:14:38,424 Speaker 1: collected hundreds of coins and I paid by quarters and nickels, 224 00:14:38,824 --> 00:14:41,744 Speaker 1: and it was very awkward and unpleasant because I was 225 00:14:42,224 --> 00:14:46,424 Speaker 1: stacking up, you know, nineteen dollars and two cents in quarters, 226 00:14:46,504 --> 00:14:48,784 Speaker 1: and there were people behind me in the line, and 227 00:14:48,864 --> 00:14:52,064 Speaker 1: I was I had to, you know, I'm so sorry, 228 00:14:52,144 --> 00:14:53,944 Speaker 1: are you explaining that you're writing about this for the 229 00:14:53,984 --> 00:14:56,384 Speaker 1: New York Times and or you just to try to 230 00:14:56,384 --> 00:14:58,104 Speaker 1: make it go fast and get through it. I did 231 00:14:58,144 --> 00:15:01,664 Speaker 1: explain to the guy at the cash register. I said, 232 00:15:01,704 --> 00:15:03,944 Speaker 1: I'm so you know, I'm trying to live without plastic. 233 00:15:04,384 --> 00:15:07,704 Speaker 1: And he actually had a very nice response was he said, 234 00:15:07,784 --> 00:15:10,704 Speaker 1: I meditate every more morning so that I can deal 235 00:15:10,784 --> 00:15:14,264 Speaker 1: with turmoil like this, which I thought was a very understanding. 236 00:15:15,024 --> 00:15:17,944 Speaker 1: Oh really, that just seems like health food store. Fuck you. 237 00:15:20,344 --> 00:15:22,184 Speaker 1: So you just ate the raw food from the natural 238 00:15:22,224 --> 00:15:26,184 Speaker 1: food store, That's right. I just ate raw walnuts and 239 00:15:26,904 --> 00:15:31,184 Speaker 1: an oatmeal. I wanted to try to cook food, but 240 00:15:31,304 --> 00:15:35,304 Speaker 1: I can't use any ovens or toasters or microwaves. So 241 00:15:35,344 --> 00:15:38,144 Speaker 1: I was going to try to set a fire, and 242 00:15:38,264 --> 00:15:41,544 Speaker 1: I actually bought like a plastic free fire starting kit. 243 00:15:41,664 --> 00:15:45,544 Speaker 1: But it's like, you know what, burning down the apartment. Also, 244 00:15:46,024 --> 00:15:50,304 Speaker 1: maybe a bridge too far. So you had granola and walnuts. 245 00:15:50,544 --> 00:15:52,624 Speaker 1: That's your whole meal. Like what else did you eat 246 00:15:52,664 --> 00:15:55,704 Speaker 1: that day? Well? I did go to our local deli 247 00:15:55,824 --> 00:15:59,704 Speaker 1: and I got some spinach leaves and ate those and 248 00:16:00,064 --> 00:16:02,944 Speaker 1: again try to get them to use my scoop instead 249 00:16:02,984 --> 00:16:06,304 Speaker 1: of theirs, which they didn't. They didn't appreciate, but they serve. 250 00:16:06,424 --> 00:16:08,584 Speaker 1: It's you in a plastic container. Well, I brought my 251 00:16:08,624 --> 00:16:12,464 Speaker 1: own content. Of course. Do you think every crazy person 252 00:16:12,624 --> 00:16:14,864 Speaker 1: that you see in New York City is just writing 253 00:16:14,864 --> 00:16:19,504 Speaker 1: a story for the New York Times? Yes, yes I do. 254 00:16:22,424 --> 00:16:27,384 Speaker 1: That explains all most behavior. A. J. Jacobs is about 255 00:16:27,424 --> 00:16:31,504 Speaker 1: to face his greatest plastic free challenge yet, walking his 256 00:16:31,664 --> 00:16:36,624 Speaker 1: dog without a plastic bag. But first, our sponsors are 257 00:16:36,624 --> 00:16:39,464 Speaker 1: going to try and sell you some plastic wrapped in 258 00:16:39,544 --> 00:16:51,864 Speaker 1: some more plastic. Okay, So the scariest part for me 259 00:16:52,064 --> 00:16:55,344 Speaker 1: and how you felt, was towards the end of the day, 260 00:16:55,464 --> 00:16:58,024 Speaker 1: you go to walk your dog in New York City, 261 00:16:59,424 --> 00:17:02,584 Speaker 1: you're gonna try and do it without plastic, right, which 262 00:17:02,664 --> 00:17:05,544 Speaker 1: is it's a horror movie. Yeah, that you're right. That 263 00:17:05,704 --> 00:17:09,064 Speaker 1: was the most terrifying part of the day. First of all, 264 00:17:08,944 --> 00:17:13,264 Speaker 1: I had bought a plastic free leash and harness, so 265 00:17:13,304 --> 00:17:15,664 Speaker 1: I had to put those on. But what do I 266 00:17:15,744 --> 00:17:19,144 Speaker 1: do about the poop bags? Because of course you have 267 00:17:19,184 --> 00:17:22,904 Speaker 1: to pick up poop in New York, and even the 268 00:17:23,264 --> 00:17:27,224 Speaker 1: sustainable poop bangs still are made of plastic. So I 269 00:17:27,264 --> 00:17:31,384 Speaker 1: had read these blogs from plastic free dog owners and 270 00:17:31,504 --> 00:17:34,544 Speaker 1: they recommended bringing a shovel, like you got to bring 271 00:17:34,584 --> 00:17:37,864 Speaker 1: a shovel and like a gardening shovel, like a full 272 00:17:38,104 --> 00:17:40,824 Speaker 1: that's what they recommended. I didn't, you know, I didn't have. 273 00:17:41,024 --> 00:17:44,824 Speaker 1: I had a spatula, so that's what I had. I 274 00:17:44,904 --> 00:17:47,504 Speaker 1: brought a spatula along. You brought a spatula with you, 275 00:17:47,824 --> 00:17:49,424 Speaker 1: I did. I didn't know what else to go. I 276 00:17:49,424 --> 00:17:51,504 Speaker 1: didn't have a shovel. I looked a bit of a dog. 277 00:17:51,544 --> 00:17:54,504 Speaker 1: Are we talking about, like what breed of this it is? 278 00:17:54,904 --> 00:17:58,024 Speaker 1: You know? Thirty pounds? So a spatula would have done it, 279 00:17:58,064 --> 00:18:00,344 Speaker 1: maybe too scoop. I don't want to get it too much. 280 00:18:00,584 --> 00:18:03,584 Speaker 1: But luckily I never had to use the spatula, so 281 00:18:03,784 --> 00:18:07,024 Speaker 1: we never got to see that. So your dog did 282 00:18:07,024 --> 00:18:09,624 Speaker 1: not poop for the entire day. Well, I just do 283 00:18:09,744 --> 00:18:13,264 Speaker 1: the night the night walk, So my wife Julie did 284 00:18:13,304 --> 00:18:16,544 Speaker 1: the day walk, and were the odds going in there 285 00:18:16,544 --> 00:18:18,384 Speaker 1: that you were going to be? You know, haven't used 286 00:18:18,384 --> 00:18:21,344 Speaker 1: the spatula. It's about fifty fifty. I'm glad you asked. 287 00:18:21,464 --> 00:18:24,064 Speaker 1: And then the plan was to take the use the 288 00:18:24,104 --> 00:18:27,024 Speaker 1: spatial and do what carry it where I was going 289 00:18:27,064 --> 00:18:29,544 Speaker 1: to carry it to. We have a garbage can on 290 00:18:29,584 --> 00:18:31,704 Speaker 1: the corner, and I was just gonna pop it in 291 00:18:31,744 --> 00:18:33,824 Speaker 1: the garbage can. I didn't know what else to do. 292 00:18:34,104 --> 00:18:36,984 Speaker 1: What would you have done in the situation? You you 293 00:18:37,024 --> 00:18:39,704 Speaker 1: are a veteran stunt journalist. How would you have solved 294 00:18:39,704 --> 00:18:43,904 Speaker 1: the problem? That is a tough one that I think 295 00:18:43,904 --> 00:18:46,504 Speaker 1: you did the right thing, Okay, I think that a 296 00:18:46,584 --> 00:18:49,344 Speaker 1: part of me would have been hoping, as a stunt journalist, 297 00:18:49,464 --> 00:18:52,544 Speaker 1: that the dog would poop just for the story. Agree. 298 00:18:52,624 --> 00:18:55,904 Speaker 1: There was a little part of me that was like, yeah, 299 00:18:55,984 --> 00:18:57,664 Speaker 1: it would be better for the story. And so the 300 00:18:57,744 --> 00:18:59,304 Speaker 1: end of the day, you're going to go to sleep, 301 00:18:59,344 --> 00:19:01,344 Speaker 1: but like you said, you can't sleep in your bed 302 00:19:01,384 --> 00:19:03,824 Speaker 1: because the mattress has plastic at it, right, And you 303 00:19:03,904 --> 00:19:06,024 Speaker 1: decided not to sleep in Central Park and build a 304 00:19:06,064 --> 00:19:09,584 Speaker 1: hay bow, right, I ended up just trying to go 305 00:19:09,624 --> 00:19:12,784 Speaker 1: to sleep on I do. We do have a little 306 00:19:12,784 --> 00:19:15,024 Speaker 1: wood floor, so I went on the wood floor just 307 00:19:15,184 --> 00:19:20,904 Speaker 1: with a sheet and my pillowcases. I couldn't use a 308 00:19:20,904 --> 00:19:23,624 Speaker 1: pillow so I stuffed them with like one of my 309 00:19:23,624 --> 00:19:26,504 Speaker 1: plastic free shirts and I tried to sleep there for 310 00:19:26,544 --> 00:19:28,624 Speaker 1: about an hour and I kind of gave up and 311 00:19:28,704 --> 00:19:32,584 Speaker 1: went to bed. And that was the sad end two 312 00:19:32,944 --> 00:19:35,184 Speaker 1: the day when I've done stuff like this and I 313 00:19:35,264 --> 00:19:38,064 Speaker 1: have to kind of like give up. There's a huge 314 00:19:38,224 --> 00:19:41,704 Speaker 1: irrational part of me that's like very unwilling to give up, 315 00:19:41,744 --> 00:19:43,184 Speaker 1: and it's like, no, I'm just gonna do it. Do 316 00:19:43,264 --> 00:19:45,264 Speaker 1: you feel that when you were like laying on the floor, like, no, 317 00:19:45,304 --> 00:19:46,624 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try and make it to the night even 318 00:19:46,624 --> 00:19:48,664 Speaker 1: though it doesn't make a difference to the reader. Do 319 00:19:48,664 --> 00:19:51,064 Speaker 1: you feel that pressure or my crazy Yeah, no, I 320 00:19:51,144 --> 00:19:54,384 Speaker 1: totally feel that pressure. My kids were like, what the hell, 321 00:19:54,584 --> 00:19:57,864 Speaker 1: No one's gonna know. Yes, But I was like, you 322 00:19:57,904 --> 00:20:02,264 Speaker 1: know what I feel. I can't write the article properly 323 00:20:02,304 --> 00:20:06,264 Speaker 1: if I cheat, if I know that I've cheated. So 324 00:20:06,384 --> 00:20:08,704 Speaker 1: you know, even though I failed, well, I guess part 325 00:20:08,704 --> 00:20:13,464 Speaker 1: of the point of the article that is literally impossible, 326 00:20:13,544 --> 00:20:16,544 Speaker 1: and that failure is built in because plastic is so 327 00:20:16,624 --> 00:20:21,224 Speaker 1: omnipresent in our lives. So by failing, I was succeeding. 328 00:20:21,704 --> 00:20:24,624 Speaker 1: How's that spin? I just didn't realize how much plastic 329 00:20:24,824 --> 00:20:27,264 Speaker 1: was around us till I read your story, Like, how 330 00:20:27,264 --> 00:20:29,024 Speaker 1: did they get this way? Was there a point in 331 00:20:29,144 --> 00:20:34,864 Speaker 1: history where everything started becoming plastic? Yeah, plastic is relatively new. 332 00:20:34,904 --> 00:20:38,224 Speaker 1: It was about one hundred years ago. And this I 333 00:20:38,264 --> 00:20:42,104 Speaker 1: didn't get into the article, but I love the origin 334 00:20:42,304 --> 00:20:48,384 Speaker 1: story is crazy and weirdly ironic because one of the 335 00:20:48,504 --> 00:20:54,024 Speaker 1: first ever commercial uses of plastic was to help the environment, 336 00:20:54,104 --> 00:20:59,144 Speaker 1: to help wildlife because billiard balls were made of elephant 337 00:20:59,184 --> 00:21:04,184 Speaker 1: ivory and they were running out of ivory and someone 338 00:21:04,264 --> 00:21:07,304 Speaker 1: held a contest, what can we replace the ivory with 339 00:21:07,704 --> 00:21:09,664 Speaker 1: and build your balls? And that was one of the 340 00:21:09,704 --> 00:21:14,904 Speaker 1: first uses of plastic. So that started out okay, But 341 00:21:14,984 --> 00:21:19,624 Speaker 1: then in about the seventies things got really ugly, and 342 00:21:19,944 --> 00:21:22,704 Speaker 1: that's where we entered the age where we were just 343 00:21:22,904 --> 00:21:26,304 Speaker 1: using things and just tossing them away after one use, 344 00:21:26,424 --> 00:21:32,024 Speaker 1: and that was cups and the infamous straws, bags, bottles, 345 00:21:32,504 --> 00:21:36,224 Speaker 1: and that, to me is where the real damages. So 346 00:21:36,744 --> 00:21:39,024 Speaker 1: what's the response been to the story since it came out. 347 00:21:39,864 --> 00:21:42,424 Speaker 1: I got a very good response. I mean, people felt 348 00:21:42,464 --> 00:21:44,944 Speaker 1: motivated and they said, you know, I can't believe there's 349 00:21:44,944 --> 00:21:48,344 Speaker 1: this much single use plastic. I'm going to change my habits. 350 00:21:48,464 --> 00:21:52,224 Speaker 1: I got one critique which I totally agree with. Those 351 00:21:52,224 --> 00:21:56,984 Speaker 1: are the worst, Yeah, and that is that plastic is 352 00:21:56,984 --> 00:22:00,744 Speaker 1: a huge problem. But the solution should not all be 353 00:22:00,904 --> 00:22:05,824 Speaker 1: on individuals. We can do some cut down on our 354 00:22:06,064 --> 00:22:09,984 Speaker 1: single use plastic, but the real solution has to come 355 00:22:10,024 --> 00:22:16,824 Speaker 1: from government policy, from corporate policy, from new inventions like 356 00:22:16,904 --> 00:22:20,024 Speaker 1: new types of bioplastic, which some of them are actually 357 00:22:20,064 --> 00:22:24,384 Speaker 1: quite promising. So I feel the article placed too much 358 00:22:24,424 --> 00:22:29,224 Speaker 1: emphasis on individual responsibility as opposed to like a higher 359 00:22:29,384 --> 00:22:32,984 Speaker 1: policy level. Okay, here's my challenge for your next stunt piece. 360 00:22:33,264 --> 00:22:38,464 Speaker 1: Can you go a year without doing any stunts? No, 361 00:22:38,584 --> 00:22:41,784 Speaker 1: I don't think I could, But I have to say 362 00:22:42,464 --> 00:22:46,864 Speaker 1: I feel very lucky because I've find it fascinating. It's 363 00:22:46,904 --> 00:22:49,624 Speaker 1: a it's a fun way to make a living. That's 364 00:22:49,664 --> 00:22:55,144 Speaker 1: why you're our first return guest. Well, I am honored. 365 00:22:55,304 --> 00:22:58,664 Speaker 1: I want more. I want more of your mom on. Well, 366 00:22:59,144 --> 00:23:01,384 Speaker 1: now that's few talk. Now we're gonna have to fight 367 00:23:03,464 --> 00:23:05,024 Speaker 1: no one says I want more of your mom to 368 00:23:05,104 --> 00:23:09,584 Speaker 1: me get the way with it? All right, right, let 369 00:23:09,624 --> 00:23:12,224 Speaker 1: me rephrase, let me rephrase, I would like to hear 370 00:23:12,344 --> 00:23:16,184 Speaker 1: more of your mother's views on your podcast. All right, 371 00:23:16,184 --> 00:23:19,624 Speaker 1: thought we can accommodate. A. J. Jacobs. You wrote another 372 00:23:19,624 --> 00:23:22,064 Speaker 1: amazing article trying to live a day without plastic for 373 00:23:22,104 --> 00:23:24,744 Speaker 1: The New York Times. Thank you for coming back on 374 00:23:25,024 --> 00:23:26,784 Speaker 1: You're very kind after what we did to you the 375 00:23:26,784 --> 00:23:30,664 Speaker 1: first time. You know, and I didn't listen because I 376 00:23:30,744 --> 00:23:33,384 Speaker 1: was scared, so who knows what you did. But I've 377 00:23:33,424 --> 00:23:36,424 Speaker 1: listened to every other episode, so thank you for that. 378 00:23:36,904 --> 00:23:42,384 Speaker 1: We'll send you a teacher. I'm not sure why A. J. 379 00:23:42,664 --> 00:23:45,984 Speaker 1: Jacobs became the guy every editor calls with story assignments 380 00:23:46,024 --> 00:23:49,424 Speaker 1: about doing a day with or without something. How about this, 381 00:23:49,944 --> 00:23:52,864 Speaker 1: How about editors spend a day assigning stunt stories to 382 00:23:52,904 --> 00:23:55,944 Speaker 1: a writer besides A. J. Jacobs. I need some work 383 00:23:55,984 --> 00:24:01,104 Speaker 1: over here, So editors, if you're listening, I'm totally willing 384 00:24:01,144 --> 00:24:04,224 Speaker 1: to go a day without all kinds of things you 385 00:24:04,304 --> 00:24:08,424 Speaker 1: name it, I'll do it for a day. At the 386 00:24:08,584 --> 00:24:11,824 Speaker 1: end of the show, what's next for joel Stein? Maybe 387 00:24:11,864 --> 00:24:16,904 Speaker 1: he'll take a nap voke around online. Our show today 388 00:24:16,984 --> 00:24:21,824 Speaker 1: was produced by Mola Board and Nishav Bencutt. It was 389 00:24:21,984 --> 00:24:26,144 Speaker 1: edited by Lydia Gencott. Our engineer is Amanda kay Wang 390 00:24:26,784 --> 00:24:31,144 Speaker 1: and our executive producer is Katherine Girardo. And our theme 391 00:24:31,184 --> 00:24:34,264 Speaker 1: song was written and performed by Jonathan Colton and a 392 00:24:34,344 --> 00:24:37,224 Speaker 1: special thanks to my voice coach Vicky Merrick and my 393 00:24:37,264 --> 00:24:41,984 Speaker 1: consulting producer Laurence Elasnek. To find more Pushkin podcast, listen 394 00:24:42,064 --> 00:24:45,824 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 395 00:24:45,864 --> 00:24:49,064 Speaker 1: to your podcasts. I'm joel Stein and this is the 396 00:24:49,104 --> 00:24:52,944 Speaker 1: story of the week. I went to this store as 397 00:24:53,064 --> 00:24:56,704 Speaker 1: part of my research in downtown New York. It was 398 00:24:56,824 --> 00:24:59,584 Speaker 1: very sleek and very minimalist. But it was called the 399 00:24:59,704 --> 00:25:02,544 Speaker 1: No Package Store, and they said is nine to nine 400 00:25:02,584 --> 00:25:07,944 Speaker 1: point nine percent plastic free and they sold the world's only, 401 00:25:08,104 --> 00:25:14,624 Speaker 1: according to them, only biodegradable vibrator. Wait. I actually I 402 00:25:14,664 --> 00:25:17,664 Speaker 1: did buy it. I haven't used it, but I do 403 00:25:17,824 --> 00:25:19,784 Speaker 1: have it just because I thought it was funny. So 404 00:25:19,824 --> 00:25:23,024 Speaker 1: I can't say whether it's good or bad. But how 405 00:25:23,024 --> 00:25:28,064 Speaker 1: does it vibrate without batteries? Do you just use your arm? Like? 406 00:25:28,144 --> 00:25:30,904 Speaker 1: Does it workout? That's not a vibrator