Armchair Expert – “Mom’s Car: Jackie Tohn”
Date: October 7, 2025
Guests: Jackie Tohn (actor, comedian, singer), Sam Morril (co-host/driver), Aaron Weekley (co-host)
Episode Format: Casual “carpool” conversation, interspersed with Uber Eats pickups, candid stories, philosophical questions, and listener advice.
Episode Overview
This episode takes listeners on a ride—literally—with Jackie Tohn, best known from “GLOW” and Netflix’s hit “Nobody Wants This.” Joined by Sam Morril and Aaron Weekley, the hosts embark on deliveries around LA, discussing everything from breakout roles and awkward encounters to the moral conundrums of pet ownership and Instagram-era relationships. The tone is rowdy, unfiltered, and full of improvisational humor.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Opening Banter and Rideshare Antics
- The trio jump right into the chaos of food delivery, poking fun at the “high performance shitbox” they’re driving.
- Quote (Jackie Tohn, 01:29): “You pop three AAA batteries in the back of this bitch and she just—”
- They riff on odd food smells, restaurant mysteries, and near-misses with novice violinists.
- Quote (Jackie Tohn, 03:21): “It smells like someone opened their asshole into my throat. Into the back of my throat.”
2. Electric Cars & Evacuation Stories
- Jackie expresses anxiety about electric vehicles during LA evacuations.
- Quote (Jackie, 01:39): “Everything scares me. All the fires scared me. Us losing power scared me.… I just got a gas car.”
3. Hidden LA Gems & Odd Car Washes
- Jackie shares a funny story about being locked in a “car wash” that was just an empty parking lot (04:59).
- The conversation veers into the complications of carrying cash and digital tipping.
4. Jackie’s Breakout with “Nobody Wants This” & Jewish Representation
- Jackie recounts surprising recognition and the sensation of being on a “cultural juggernaut.”
- Quote (Jackie, 07:32): “First one girl came up to me… 'I just love the show and the Jewish representation and the whole thing.'”
- They discuss the show’s massive streaming numbers: “800 million. Most streamed comedy of all time.” (Jackie, 08:25)
5. Fame, Relatability, and Awkward Medical Moments
- Dax (via Sam) and Jackie swap stories about a notorious podiatrist (“parrot head,” “buffet head”) who was both highly skilled and creepily inappropriate.
- Quote (Jackie, 10:10): “If you need anything else, you just bring that hot little body back in here.”
- They reflect on shared experiences, boundaries, and humorous medical mishaps.
6. The Glenn Saga: Passing on a Soulmate Dog
- A heartfelt, circuitous tale of how Jackie came to adopt Glenn—the group’s beloved, dander-heavy rescue dog.
- Quote (Jackie, 24:54): “That’s my soulmate. There’s really no question that he’s my soulmate. I mean, on more than 20 occasions, I’ve cried looking at him…”
- Dax “locks” Jackie in with Glenn for a weekend, spurring her commitment and challenging her previous dog ambivalence.
7. Moral Dumbfounding: Would You Eat Your Dead Pet?
- Presenting the infamous philosophy thought experiment: a family eats their dead dog to “avoid waste.”
- Jackie’s Take (29:23): As a vegetarian, she finds the idea disturbing, but admits the taboo around eating dog is arbitrary compared to other animal meat.
- Quote (Jackie): “If you eat all sorts of meat…and you are Richard Christie’s family. It’s not the end of the world. Especially if you didn’t kill it to eat it, that would be beyond.”
- The group summarizes: While it’s uncomfortable, food taboos are deeply cultural.
8. Trigger Warnings & Podcast Responsibility
- Sam reflects on listeners requesting trigger warnings on tough topics (e.g., eating disorders or trauma).
- Quote (Sam, 31:16): “My show’s about addiction and trauma and molesting. That’s what the show is. Do you need to be reminded every episode...?”
- Jackie empathizes, but stresses the need for listeners to manage their own boundaries.
9. Listener Advice: “Husband Only Wants Miniskirts & Instagrams Girls”
-
The Dilemma: A woman’s husband (57) will only have sex if she wears miniskirts; he obsesses over Instagram models in similar outfits. She’s uncomfortable but confused—is this normal?
-
Advice Highlights:
- Jackie: Talk to your partner. Are you, yourself, getting your needs met?
- Sam: Fantasy life is private—don’t police thoughts, but a lack of intimacy or empathy is concerning.
- Aaron: Couples should have their own fantasy lives; honesty and communication are key.
-
The group wonders if the age gap and possible power imbalance contribute to the dynamic.
- Memorable Exchange:
- Sam (38:54): “My just gut tells me this guy has some intimacy issues…objectify her in a way that she fits into this category of what he likes…”
- Jackie (40:00): “This isn’t the way that I want to have sex all the time. I want to be looking at your face sometimes.”
- Memorable Exchange:
10. Roleplay, Sexuality & Relationship Openness
- They riff on the awkwardness of sexual routines, fetishes, and fantasy disclosure in long-term partnerships.
- Aaron and Sam share stories of adolescent sexual adventures (“jacked under the table”), leading to humorous confessions and laughter (44:52).
11. Showbiz Anecdotes & “Celebrity Jeopardy” Bragging Rights
- Jackie shares her “Celebrity Jeopardy” underdog story—beating Neil deGrasse Tyson and advancing to semifinals.
- Quote (Jackie, 48:32): “I won my episode. And then I went on to the semifinals which have not aired yet…”
- Old-school acting tales: booking “Sesame Street” as an 11-year-old after learning to pogo stick and breaking her nose before filming (52:04).
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- On the stinkiest Uber Eats order ever:
- Jackie: “It smells like someone opened their asshole into my throat.” (03:21)
- On fame from ‘Nobody Wants This’:
- Jackie: “800 million. Most streamed comedy of all time.” (08:25)
- On a creepy doctor encounter:
- Jackie: “If you need anything else, you just bring that hot little body back in here.” (10:10)
- On adopting Glenn the dog:
- Jackie: “That’s my soulmate…on more than 20 occasions, I’ve cried looking at him.” (24:54)
- On the dog-eating thought experiment:
- Jackie: “If you eat all sorts of meat…and you are Richard Christie’s family. It’s not the end of the world.” (29:23)
- On the Instagram miniskirt dilemma:
- Sam: “My just gut tells me this guy has some intimacy issues…objectify her in a way that she fits into this category…” (38:54)
- Jackie: “This isn’t the way that I want to have sex all the time. I want to be looking at your face sometimes.” (40:00)
- On “Celebrity Jeopardy”:
- Jackie: “I won my episode. And then I went on to the semifinals which have not aired yet.” (48:32)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:09–05:30 — Car ride banter, electric cars, weird food pickups.
- 07:30–08:57 — Jackie reflects on fame, Jewish representation, and “Nobody Wants This.”
- 10:10–11:43 — Awkward podiatry stories and medical inappropriateness.
- 22:01–25:40 — The Glenn the dog saga: adoption and commitment.
- 29:23–32:09 — Moral conundrum: family eats the dead dog; wider conversation on food taboos.
- 31:16–32:09 — Trigger warning debate in podcasting.
- 33:19–42:12 — Listener advice: sexual habits, Instagram, and marital satisfaction.
- 48:32–51:18 — Jackie’s “Celebrity Jeopardy” adventure.
- 52:00–54:19 — Jackie’s “Sesame Street” story and breaking her nose right before filming.
Conclusion
This episode is classic Armchair Expert: raucous, deeply human, and sneakily profound. Jackie Tohn’s comedic energy drives candid explorations of fame, commitment, food taboos, intimacy, and why every dog owner probably ends up in tears. Whether they’re swapping therapy-worthy Uber tales, fielding unfiltered advice, or learning pogo stick skills, the conversation is equal parts warm, self-deprecating, and uproariously honest. A must-listen for fans of sharp-edged vulnerability and the messiness of being truly human.
