Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata
Episode: Sasheer Saw a Woodpecker in Real Life
Date: October 1, 2025
Overview
In this lively and laugh-filled episode, Nicole and Sasheer meander through everyday dilemmas, delightful anecdotes, and friendship philosophies. From sleep struggles and the pitfalls of AI, to home improvement mishaps, unexpected wildlife sightings, geography debates, and classic advice for listeners, the pair offers a candid look at their day-to-day bestie banter. The episode’s core, as usual, revolves around their easy, hilarious chemistry and ability to turn the mundane into the memorable.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Struggles of Falling Asleep
Timestamps: 00:16–01:44
- Both Nicole and Sasheer commiserate over their inability to fall asleep easily, often getting distracted by phones, movies, cleaning, or journaling.
- Nicole tries to journal when she can’t sleep, but admits, "These are just things I've done. This doesn't mean I go to sleep immediately." (00:34, Nicole)
- Sasheer observes that Nicole transitions from awake to asleep seamlessly during trips, but Nicole says she only struggles in her own bed.
Memorable moment:
Sasheer: "You're Katy Perry. Wide awake." (01:37)
2. Celebrity Space Missions & Grocery Store Analogies
Timestamps: 01:44–04:15
- The duo riff on the oddities of celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King going to space and wonder about the real scientists who have to accompany them.
- Sasheer likens solo missions to a grocery store trip, saying, "If I have a mission, if I'm going to the grocery store, I'm not picking up friends to come with me." (03:23)
3. Cooking Fails & TikTok Recipe Workarounds
Timestamps: 04:15–06:32
- Nicole and Sasheer reminisce about their failed attempts to cook a pasta dish by watching recipe videos repeatedly without ever reading the caption.
- Sasheer shares how she now screenshots recipes when captions are missing, causing mild chaos for her partner John.
Notable quote:
Nicole: "You're just watching the video play, and you're like, basil mozzarella. And I was, like, furiously trying to type it as you're reading it, instead of pausing..." (04:03)
4. Skepticism About AI
Timestamps: 05:03–06:32
- Both hosts express skepticism about the proliferation of AI, especially AI-branded products ("AI glasses") and intrusive tech.
- Sasheer: "I don't trust anything named Gronk. That's the name of a smart thing. Gronk." (05:19)
- Nicole is especially baffled: "What about these are AI because it's like artificial intelligence. Like, it has to be doing something on its own. These are glasses. What are you talking about?" (06:06)
5. Movie Night: Lucky Number Slevin Review
Timestamps: 06:56–08:46, 27:03–28:13
- Sasheer watched Lucky Number Slevin for the first time, was amused by the 2000s' aesthetic, and recommends it as a "fun movie" once you get through initial confusion.
- The cast list and Josh Hartnett’s hair receive special shoutouts.
- Nicole and Sasheer lament the current state of movie streaming ("Why do I have to get this thing to watch the thing?" – Nicole, 26:55) and pine for the days of Blockbuster.
6. Wildlife Encounters & Misconceptions
Timestamps: 09:31–11:55
- Nicole excitedly shares her real-life sighting of a woodpecker in her yard, initially describing it as wearing a "red hat," which Sasheer finds dubious until presented with video evidence.
- Sasheer learns what a woodpecker actually looks like, admitting, "That's not what I thought a woodpecker would look like." (11:09)
Highlight:
Nicole: "It had, like, a red hat. No, not a hat. No, it was like I saw a real bird." (09:42)
- Sasheer also has animal stories—her local raccoon takes baths in the pool.
7. Neighborhood Antics & Trash Finds
Timestamps: 11:59–16:38
- Nicole describes her neighbor who mows the lawn with scissors and sometimes asks for ginger ale or milk for her dog, which seems to be the cause of its upset stomach.
- They both joyfully recount the joys and pitfalls of scavenging trash furniture, with stories spanning from New York to LA and college days.
- Discussion of outdoor furniture’s limitations (it never actually lasts outside).
8. Dollhouse Decor and Creative Play
Timestamps: 17:02–19:57
- Sasheer has fond memories of wallpapering her trash-found dollhouse with miniature supplies from Michaels.
- Nicole recalls her Barbies were essentially "unhoused," living wherever in her own house.
Memorable exchange:
Sasheer: "I can't believe your, like, dolls didn't have a home. You had homeless dolls, unhoused dolls, if you will." (19:49)
9. The Geography Segment: “Where Is This State?”
Timestamps: 28:23–33:36
- The duo attempt to recall US geography, struggle to place Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and discuss which states are considered "the South" or "the Midwest."
- Hilarity ensues as they bicker over questionable maps and things feel off-scale, especially Wyoming’s prominence.
Notable quote:
Nicole: "Like, I feel like someone's having an agenda. Yeah." (31:56)
10. US Territories and Uncontacted Tribes
Timestamps: 34:07–39:39
- Thanks to their producer Ali, the hosts learn about US territories, including American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Nicole brings up North Sentinel Island and the fascinating, hostile-to-outsiders Sentinelese people.
- Sasheer is captivated by the idea of an uncontacted, mysterious people and jokes about wishing to be that mysterious herself.
11. Dreaming of Island Retirement
Timestamps: 39:41–46:01
- Both hosts muse about retiring to an island—Guam and Okinawa are considered, with Ali providing detailed travel logistics.
- Nicole imagines herself on Okinawa, coming full circle as her ancestral home.
- Sasheer dreams about befriending the Sentinelese tribe in her old age, “Maybe they'll be like, turtle. And I'll be like, whoa, you know the word turtle?" (45:36)
12. Listener Questions & Advice Corner
Timestamps: 46:53–61:56
12.1 Traveling with Friends
- A listener seeks tips for traveling across Europe with a best friend.
- The duo advise having conversations about expectations, daily routines, sleep habits, and meal plans.
- Nicole: “Do you need a white noise machine to go sleep?” (48:51)
12.2 Dealing with an Interrupting Friend/Roommate
- Another listener asks how to handle a roommate who constantly interrupts.
- Both share their own struggles and stress the importance of honest but loving communication.
- Sasheer’s therapist's advice: “Hey, girl, I was talking here.” (52:39)
- Nicole explains, “It could be as like, like as understanding as possible...I love hearing you talk, but it's a little hard for me to like get my opinions in a conversation." (56:09)
Notable anecdote:
Nicole once had to tell Sasheer to stop wiggling her fingers in her face, and it worked after repeated reminders.
12.3 The Peanut Butter & Jelly Knife Debate
- Sasheer ignites a debate: do you use one knife, two knives, or even a spoon? Ali says knife and spoon; most others use a knife.
13. Sleep Positions: Deep Thoughts
Timestamps: 60:48–61:49
- Nicole cannot sleep on her stomach or back due to back pain; prefers her side.
- Sasheer sleeps on her side or tummy for deep sleep, on her back when napping lightly.
Notable Quotes
- Sasheer: "I don't trust anything named Gronk. That's the name of a smart thing. Gronk." (05:19)
- Nicole: "You're just watching the video play, and you're like, basil mozzarella. And I was, like, furiously trying to type it..." (04:03)
- Sasheer: "That's not what I thought a woodpecker would look like." (11:09)
- Nicole: "I can't believe your, like, dolls didn't have a home. You had homeless dolls, unhoused dolls, if you will." (19:49)
- Sasheer: "Maybe they'll be like, turtle. And I'll be like, whoa, you know the word turtle?" (45:36)
- Nicole: “Do you need a white noise machine to go sleep?” (48:51)
- Sasheer (therapist advice): “Hey, girl, I was talking here.” (52:39)
Tone & Style
- Lighthearted, playful, and confessional. Nicole and Sasheer exchange quick banter, self-deprecating humor, and supportive affirmations, often laughing at their lack of knowledge or the everyday absurdities they encounter. The episode is filled with warmth and relatable friendship energy.
Timestamps of Key Segments
- 00:16 — Sleep difficulties & bedtime distractions
- 01:44 — Katy Perry space mission/grocery store metaphors
- 04:15 — Cooking & TikTok recipe troubles
- 05:03 — AI skepticism & product confusion
- 06:56 — Movie night: Lucky Number Slevin
- 09:31 — Nicole’s woodpecker story
- 11:59 — Neighborhood animal antics
- 14:08 — Trash furniture finds
- 17:02 — Decorated dollhouses & Barbie homelessness
- 28:23 — Geography segment: Where’s Utah? What’s the South?
- 34:07 — US territories & uncontacted tribe discussion
- 39:41 — Dreaming of island retirement
- 46:53 — Listener questions (traveling with friends, interrupting roommate)
- 60:48 — PB&J knife debate and sleep position discussion
Final Thoughts
This episode perfectly encapsulates the off-the-cuff magic that makes Best Friends so inviting: two comedians, reveling in playful nonsense, supporting each other through real annoyances and big questions alike, and reminding listeners that best friendship is equal parts heartfelt conversation and unstoppable laughter.