Podcast Summary
Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata
Episode: Nicole's In Her Pants Era
Date: November 5, 2025
Podcast Network: Headgum
Overview of the Episode
In this candid, hilarious episode, Nicole and Sasheer dive into conversations about bodily changes, the quirks of cereal mascots, fashion transformations, sleep struggles, and the intricate dance of friendship as life changes. The hosts navigate their trademark blend of vulnerability and humor, sharing personal anecdotes about health, nostalgia, relationships, and what it means to grow alongside your best friend.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bodily Talk and Getting Older
- Early Episode (00:27–03:11):
Nicole opens up about her missed morning routine, leading into a frank and comedic discussion about digestion, gynecologist visits, and how aging brings new bodily malfunctions.- Quote:
"Getting older fucking blows. It does. I don't want it. I mean, I don't mind getting older. It's not like the age thing that gets me. It's just like the body starts malfunctioning like an old refrigerator."
— Nicole (02:47)
- Quote:
- Sasheer connects body awareness to her directing 'The Vagina Monologues' in college.
2. Cereal Mascot Lore
- Mascots Get Personal (03:33–07:34):
A long, playful exchange on the real names and histories of iconic cereal and snack mascots, revealing their comedic take on branding and commercial nostalgia.- Quote:
"You're not wrong to think Cheetos should be in the name, but somehow it's not even. It's Chester and Cheetah."
— Sasheer (03:47) - Discussion about Trix Rabbit, Cheerios Kid and Sue, Captain Crunch, and who they'd be as snack mascots.
- Sasheer: Mermaid mascot for Cape Cod chips
- Nicole: "Gooby" the Goobers lady
- Quote:
3. Nut Butter Deep Dive
- Nutty Ventures (09:21–10:47):
Nicole shares her fascination with various nut butters, segues into a story about a date butter entrepreneur on Shark Tank, and the foibles of online shopping for niche foods.- Quote:
"You butter any nut if you try."
— Nicole (09:59) - Sasheer offers to set reminders to support Nicole’s culinary quest.
- Quote:
4. Calendar Mishaps and Sleep Struggles
- Life Organization (11:00–16:00):
Conversation about being surprised by forgotten calendar events and their shared inability to fall asleep easily, with musings on catching the "sleep wave."- Quote:
"Sometimes I'll just be in bed, eyes closed, not on the phone, nothing...and I'll look at my phone. I'm like, no, an hour and a half has passed, and I've just been laying here with my eyes closed."
— Nicole (13:04) - Both debug the mysterious phenomenon of falling asleep easily after middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks compared to at bedtime.
- Quote:
5. Termite Trouble and Tangents
- Household Pests (16:03–19:43):
Sasheer updates on dealing with a termite infestation, leading to a digression on how termites might prefer house wood because it’s "like the crusts cut off a sandwich."- Quote:
"Do you think termites like housewood better? Because it's, like, cut up for them...It's like when you give a kid a PB and J, you cut the crust off."
— Nicole (16:17, 16:29)
- Quote:
6. Food Storage in Pest Battles
- Food Storage (19:46–21:13):
Nicole shares practical tips learned from fumigating her home; double bagging and taping food, giving away groceries, and the ongoing joke that Sasheer never has food at home.
7. The Pants Era & Refashioning Clothes
- Fashion Evolution (22:00–24:53):
Sasheer suggests upcycling dresses into skirt-and-top sets, and making skirts into pants as a way to rejuvenate beloved but unworn clothes.- Quote:
"Because I am in my pants era. But I'm like, what if I go back to my dress era?"
— Nicole (24:53) - Sasheer mentions her journey converting a skirt into pants with a tailor.
- Quote:
8. Bringing Back "Player"
- Word Nostalgia (25:03–26:10):
Hosts riff on reviving the term "player" and the unique way it’s used, noting a "Players Club" with an apostrophe signifying ownership.
9. Pole Dancing, The Sopranos, and Gendered Masculinity
- TV & Gender (26:11–29:15):
Nicole opens up about watching The Sopranos, laughing at the club “Bada Bing” and its bee nipples logo, and discusses an episode’s surprising take on masculinity and oral sex.- Quote:
"Fellas, is it gay to eat out a woman?"
— Nicole (27:39) - They reflect on how TV tackles relationship dynamics and gender expectations.
- Quote:
10. Mob Movies, Friendships, and School Memories
- Pop Culture Tangents (29:15–32:01):
Conversation broadens to mob movie recommendations, childhood TV favorites, and hilarious recollections of school dynamics and stereotypes.
11. BuzzFeed Quiz Interlude
- School Nostalgia (31:14–45:10):
Nicole and Sasheer hilariously take a classic Bath & Body Works scent BuzzFeed quiz, reminiscing about school archetypes, childhood hairdos, lip gloss flavors, and sharing cringeworthy school crush stories.- Quote:
"I drew a picture of Foghorn Leghorn and I wrote...I tried to write, you're my sweetie, but I spelled it like sweat...the teacher intercepted it and he was like, 'you're my sweaty girl.'"
— Sasheer (39:05)
- Quote:
12. Listener Questions
a) Friendship Drifting When Romantic Timelines Change (47:06–54:10)
- Listener worries about drifting apart from a best friend after friend enters her first relationship.
- Nicole and Sasheer share their own adjustment period, reaffirm the normalcy of change, and suggest open communication and self-focus.
- Quote:
“Keep both bookmark in there...maybe communicating how you feel could be helpful too."
— Sasheer (51:36, 51:49) - They stress the importance of discussing feelings and setting intentions for “friend time.”
b) Classroom Mottos & Mantras (54:42–55:56)
- Future teacher asks for kid-appropriate mottos.
- Hosts praise:
"I like myself. I'm worth a lot. And you can't tell me that I'm not."
- Both agree; Nicole’s is “Just keep swimming.”
- Hosts praise:
c) Losing a Longstanding Friendship over Religion & Sexuality (56:41–64:08)
- Listener wonders if a lifelong friendship is lost after friend declines to attend his gay wedding due to religious reasons.
- The hosts advise a direct, vulnerable conversation, acknowledge shifting values as part of adulthood, validate the listener’s sadness, and hope for new supportive communities.
- Quote:
“It’s growing up—you change as a person, your friend changes as a person, and you start realizing your value systems…and if they don’t align, it’s possible you can’t really have this person in your life.”
— Sasheer (61:20)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Mascot Naming Confusion:
"Tony the Tiger. He's not the Frosted Flakes Tiger. He's just Tony."
— Nicole (04:06) -
On Sleep:
"I can feel like a wave happening...this is probably when my body wants to go to sleep, but because I noticed it now, I'm not going to sleep."
— Sashir (13:36) -
On Pant Eras:
"Maybe make them into pants. Because I am in my pants era."
— Nicole (24:53) -
On Changing Friendships:
“I think my advice is, since you are now on different chapters, maybe you close the book a little bit and keep your eyes on your own paper.”
— Nicole (51:36)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:27–03:11: Bodily changes & aging talk
- 03:33–07:34: Deep dive into cereal mascots
- 09:21–10:47: Nut butter experiments & Shark Tank tangent
- 11:00–16:00: Calendar mishaps, sleep struggles
- 16:03–19:43: Termite troubles, pest banter
- 22:00–24:53: Pants era & refashioning clothing
- 26:11–29:15: The Sopranos, masculinity, and TV tropes
- 31:14–45:10: BuzzFeed quiz, school memories & crushes
- 47:06–54:10: Listener Q1: Navigating romantic timeline shifts with friends
- 54:42–55:56: Listener Q2: Classroom mantras
- 56:41–64:08: Listener Q3: Friendship issues—religion, sexuality, and endings
Tone and Style
The episode is lighthearted and riff-heavy, blending Nicole’s bold comedy with Sasheer’s gentle snark and insight. They aren’t afraid of tenderness while staying ruthlessly silly. The energy is warm, relatable, and deeply honest—a true testament to best friendship.
Takeaway
“Nicole’s In Her Pants Era” is a celebration of evolving bodies, friendships, and wardrobes—with plenty of hearty laughs. Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep, facing friendship growing pains, or deciding whether to keep old dresses, Nicole and Sasheer remind us: change is normal, honesty helps, and it’s always worth laughing about life’s messes—with your best friend by your side.