Lou Penrose on KFI

It’s called a “sleep divorce” — when perfectly happy married couples ditch the shared bed and sleep in separate bedrooms over snoring, light sleeping, or one partner running too hot under the covers, and the trend is catching on.  

Meanwhile, people are begging hotels to slap QR codes on the nightstands so guests can tip housekeepers, room service, and valet staff since almost no one carries cash anymore — but Lou still says cash is king on vacation.  

Stevie Nicks, the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice (Fleetwood Mac and solo), opened up on a podcast about meeting her idol Janis Joplin as a young singer at a San Francisco festival — and it did not go well. 

Lou’s also peeved that Big Bear, where he Airbnbs his cabin, won’t get even a single feather from the late famous bald eagle Jackie, while McDonald’s sales keep sliding — and it might not just be the economy, but the chain overcomplicating its menu with endless new launches. 

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Jackie’s remains will head to the National Eagle Repository to be distributed to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes for religious and cultural purposes — but the Big Bear community where she lived gets nothing. Animal communicator Lori Cowen claims she spoke with Jackie’s partner Shadow (who may already have a new romantic bird interest) before Jackie’s death, and later had a similar conversation with Jackie herself while she was at the Ojai Raptor Center.  

Listeners are split on whether Lori is completely cuckoo or just cleverly monetizing the emotions people feel toward beloved animals. Lou, for his part, does not want Jackie taxidermized, and the hour revisits the teary end of Lori’s chat with Jackie, who reportedly gave permission to share the conversation knowing there’d be plenty of unfriendly comments. Finally, 7UP is changing its formula to be more lime-forward than lemony — which Lou points out will only make it even better in a margarita. 

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Back-to-school shopping is already in full swing in early August, and Lou is not alone in wondering when September stopped being the start of the school year. Some Arizona kids reported back as early as July 15. Meanwhile, LAUSD is rolling out a new lunch menu this year that looks award-worthy on paper — Lou reads it out and delivers his official verdict.  

Grocery prices have jumped about 30% over the past five years, leaving shoppers in sticker shock. Coffee and eggs have cooled off, but produce is still through the roof, and more people are putting food on credit cards or dipping into savings just to eat.  

In insurance news, single Californians are still paying higher car rates than married ones after the state Supreme Court upheld the practice. And in earthquake news that’s a little too close for comfort, stress on the San Andreas Fault is now higher than it’s been in a thousand years. Are we ready for the Big One? 

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People are falling in love with their AI companions, and Lou predicts that human-robot marriage is coming — and it’ll eventually land in the Supreme Court. China is already cracking down on AI boyfriends and girlfriends to fight loneliness and emotional dependence on chatbots.  

Daily cannabis use has now officially overtaken daily alcohol consumption in the US, but with so many Southern Californians on GLP-1s, will the weight-loss drugs put a dent in local weed sales? Speaking of herbal highs, a woman offered Lou a toke of coca leaves this week — that’s proto-cocaine, people.  

It’s peak ice cream season, but the fancy gelato shops have gone so over-the-top with creative flavor names that lines are out the door while everyone demands a taste before committing. Whatever happened to simple bubblegum from Baskin-Robbins?  

Finally, genetically modified hypoallergenic dogs are becoming a real thing for allergy sufferers. 

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Even when money’s tight, some things are still worth the splurge. Financial expert Rachel Cruze says she’ll always pay for Instacart and Costco runs, airport valet, quality jewelry she can pass down, a solid financial team, and a good face serum. Lou’s personal luxury list? A top-tier washer and dryer, high-end vodka, and expensive bedding.  

After Taco Bell’s shredded-lettuce disaster, Chipotle and Qdoba are now dealing with a salmonella outbreak tied to tainted jalapeños linked to a California distributor that imported them from Mexico — the illness has already hit 27 states.  

In South Florida, C.L.A.S.S. Soiree Steakhouse is offering a private dining experience with one strict rule: you have to be naked. Listeners immediately want to know how they sanitize the seats. And Lou reminds everyone that the old Palm Springs Suns minor-league team used to welcome nudists to the ballpark — because that’s just how they do it in the desert. 

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They still can’t keep the kids from cliff-jumping at San Diego’s Sunset Cliffs. One teenager took a running leap this week, cracked his tailbone on the edge in an eyewatering wipeout, and the viral video hasn’t slowed anyone down — is this the new form of aura farming?  

Over in Santa Cruz, 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams pulled a 10-year-old boy from drowning, and the grateful dad is singing his praises. Ryder credits his training and fellow guards. Lou’s listeners jump in with their own lifesaving stories, including Ronald Reagan’s record of more than 70 saves as a young lifeguard, plus Lou’s own near-miss falling through the ice on New York’s Lake George as a kid.  

Meanwhile, while everyone else races toward AI, Chili’s is staying old-school — the chain tried robot servers, declared it a flop, and is doubling down on real people instead. 

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Best Foods (the folks behind Hellmann’s mayo) is running a summer campaign asking America to name its ultimate sandwich — and the regional opinions are flying. Is it a BLT? A turkey club? Grilled cheese? Bologna and cheese on Wonder Bread? Classic PB&J? Or the legendary leftover Thanksgiving sandwich? Bonus debate: If the turkey had been the national bird instead of the bald eagle, would we still be eating it so enthusiastically?  

In happier news, Minnesota seniors scored a big win. 82-year-old Anita LeBrun successfully fought for the “Grandparents Happy Hour” bill, so residents in assisted living can now legally enjoy a pinot grigio (or whatever they prefer) with friends. Cheers, Anita!  

MTV just marked its 45th anniversary, the network that turned the music video into an art form. And Carly Simon, 83, has shared a health update: she’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. One lingering question remains — did she really write “You’re So Vain” about Warren Beatty? 

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Happy 45th birthday, MTV! The channel launched August 1, 1981, and Lou was there from the start, calling in requests and soaking up the golden age of music videos. His personal favorite? Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home,” with anything Van Halen running a close second. MTV also served up plenty of Pat Benatar and way too much “Video Killed the Radio Star.” And remember when Billy Squier’s super-artsy video allegedly sank his career overnight? 

Lou also revisits “The Real World” (how real was it once they kicked Puck out?) and shares the story of Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson tossing a guy who was harassing a woman at a show.  

It’s not just MTV’s birthday — “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” turned 55 this weekend, too.  

Taco Bell is still recovering from the shredded-lettuce parasite nightmare that caused explosive diarrhea and is fighting back with one-day $1 deals to boost sales. Lou then discusses the concept of “airport divorce” — splitting up at the terminal to avoid a pre-flight fight. Lou, ever the romantic, is not a fan. 

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Comic-Con is going off in Lou’s hometown of San Diego. This year’s crowd feels different — more kids and families thanks to a new ticketing setup, plus tons of free outdoor events, including Green Day playing on top of an ice-cream van.  

Pickpocketing is spiking during events like San Diego Pride, with phones getting lifted left and right. One thief learned the hard way not to mess with the ladies at lesbian bar Gossip Grill.  

It’s shaping up to be a sharky summer as warmer waters off Santa Monica Pier push great whites closer to swimmers. Lou’s advice if you meet one face-to-face? Stare it down and punch it in the nose. Good news for Taco Bell fans — the shredded-lettuce diarrhea scare is over, and for one day only the classic ’70s Enchirito was back on the menu for a buck. And in political heat, California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton traded an awkward slap over street tacos versus licensed Mexican restaurants. 

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The California governor’s race is turning into a street-taco showdown — Democrat Xavier Becerra is singing the praises of unlicensed sidewalk tacos while Brit-born Steve Hilton seems confused about the difference between street and restaurant versions.  

First-time homebuyers are getting priced out of Southern California and heading for greener (and cheaper) pastures, with one San Diego couple’s move to Tennessee going viral after the wife retired at 40 — cue the jealous comments. Lou isn’t too worried about foreign investors buying California homes; he thinks the real problem is why locals can’t afford them in the first place. One of his favorite secret getaways is Smith Lake in Alabama, where he once rented a boat from a guy named Squirrell. Are you tempted to leave California, or like Lou do you stick around for the nature, the women, the weather, and the vibe? Meanwhile, back-to-school season is already bearing down in late July — what happened to September? Let kids live! Lou’s already deep into lunchbox shopping and still misses the old Adam-12 one he carried as a kid. 

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