Casuals with Katie Nolan - Episode Summary

Episode: Aces, MVPs, Raw Dogs, and the Worst People Sitting Behind Home Plate
Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Katie Nolan
Guests/Panel: Brady, Dan, Chris, Isabella, Kate Kennedy
Podcast Theme: A lively, accessible catch-up on sports for everyone, blending current headlines with irreverent banter and sharp wit.

Episode Overview

This week, “Casuals with Katie Nolan” covers a packed slate in sports, with the main focus on the WNBA Finals, NFL Week 6 hot takes and oddities, MLB playoff updates, and an extended side-eye at the notorious people found behind home plate at baseball games. The group also banters through some standout soundbites, viral moments (“Should I Have Said That Out Loud?”), notable listener emails, and some world sports and pop culture detours.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Housekeeping & Community Notes

• RIP Sister Jean: Reflecting on the legendary Loyola University basketball team chaplain following her passing.
  • “RIP to Sister Jean, you’re a legend…” (04:03, Katie Nolan)
  • Discussed cultural impact during March Madness; timeline confusion.
• Ryan Blaney’s NASCAR Playoff Trouble:
  • Blaney (a podcast “chair”/inside joke) exited early with a tire issue.
  • Playoff implications: He gains no points; needs “a lot of luck and a lot of good driving” (05:16, Dan).
• Listener Emails Gone Awry:
  • Received a misdirected inquiry about wrestling lessons.
  • Playful speculation about why their podcast gets these odd emails.
  • “What about Casuals with Katie Nolan Mail.com gives wrestling lessons.” (06:36, Katie)

2. WNBA Finals: Las Vegas Aces Dominate

• Aces sweep Mercury for third title in four years
• A’ja Wilson’s historic run:
  • First in NBA/WNBA history to win scoring title, MVP, championship, and Finals MVP in a single season.
  • Joins Bill Russell as three-time MVP and champion in a four-year span.
  • “Asia Wilson’s fucking nasty.” (13:18, Katie)
• Co-Defensive Player of the Year:
  • Wilson shares title with Alana Smith—debate around split awards.
• Kathy Engelbert Boos:
  • “Commissioner gets booed” as a rites-of-passage, compared to male league commissioners.
  • “Every commissioner…their job is to absorb boos.” (14:56, Katie)
• Asia Wilson & Bam Adebayo relationship:
  • Fans enjoy seeing stars supporting each other publicly.
• (Misguided) Calls for Becky Hammon to “move up” to NBA:
  • Pushback on the idea that NBA is the “ultimate” for women’s coaches.
  • “We can’t be treating the NBA like it is the ultimate goal…Working in women’s sports [doesn’t mean] one day…make it to the men’s version.” (18:16, Katie)

3. NFL Week 6: “Should I Have Said That Out Loud?”

• Chiefs-Lions “Bullying” Incident (20:21):
  • Brian Branch admits punching JuJu Smith-Schuster was childish, says he was bullied.
  • Katie riffs on what “bullying” means in football vs. middle school.
  • “Did they pretend the boy that you liked wanted to take you on a date?” (21:32, Katie)
• Jets’ Passing Woes (23:53):
  • Jets finish London game with negative net passing yards.
  • “The four of us would not have finished last in the NFL.” (23:54, Brady)
• Bengals Loss & Jamar Chase Quote (26:01):
  • Bengals fall to Packers; Joe Flacco’s age debated.
  • Jamar Chase preps for Steelers:
    • “We know Steelers gonna try to come in and raw dog us and kill us, but we’re gonna be ready for that challenge.” (26:01, Jamar Chase)
  • Room dissolves into semi-horrified laughter.
  • “Should I have said that out loud?” (26:20, Katie)
• Tez Johnson’s MVP Mix-up (28:06):
  • Thought crowd chanting MVP was for him, not Baker Mayfield.
  • “I was like, I ain’t do nothin’ this year…they talking about Baker, Tez!” (28:27, Tez Johnson, Bucs receiver)
• Tua and Dolphins Dysfunction (30:26):
  • Tua Tagovailoa openly critiques team’s leadership and conduct in player meetings.
  • Questioned for possibly deflecting blame given his own lateness—Katie invokes “I Think You Should Leave.”
  • “It’s like: ‘We are all looking for the guy who did this.’ And it’s you.” (31:40, Katie)

4. MLB Playoffs: Heartbreak and Hijinks

• Orion Kerkering’s Bungle Ends Phillies’ Postseason (35:05):
  • Described the fielding mistake, emotional fallout, and teammates’ support.
  • “You know right away he’s making the wrong decision…But something about that visual cue of seeing the runner right there…” (36:16, Katie)
  • “The last mistake always feels like what cost you the game, but…it shouldn’t have been.” (37:38, Katie)
• Dodgers & Mariners Advance:
  • Dodgers lead against the Brewers; Mariners surprise with sweep in Toronto.
  • Noted toxicity of US-Canada banter escalating beyond fun.
• People Behind Home Plate: Baseball’s Real Villains
  • Clothing and odd behavior (butt plug sweatshirt; “Big Dumper”/lava lamp; sparkly suit guy in Toronto; “Marlins Man”; “scorekeeping” superfan Amy).
  • “Sometimes people dying to be thought of as interesting…some of the most ‘look at me’ in the world.” (41:01, Katie)
  • Harshest curse: “I’m hoping a paper cut right before you eat salt and vinegar chips…hope you bite your tongue and then while trying not to bite that area, you bite the other side of your cheek…” (44:17, Katie)
  • Favorite random: Smile movie guerrilla marketers, meme coins (“Can we not green dildo the baseball playoffs?”)
• Wacky In-game Moments:
  • Recommends looking up a complex double play that left the center fielder baffled:
    • “Do I know the rules of baseball?”

5. Notable Quick Hits and Global Sports

• LeBron James Sidelined (46:14):
  • Misses his record 23rd Lakers opener with sciatica—cue jokes about injuries usually for “pregnant people or old people.”
  • Long callback to LeBron’s infamous “decision” and baffling sponsorship announcements.
• NCAA Considering Allowing College Athletes to Bet on Pro Sports (50:41):
  • Discussed pending proposal and potential complications as college/pro sports lines blur.
  • Cites Venmo scandals as one factor.
  • “That feels like a can of worms that someone just pulled the can opener out of…” (50:41, Katie)

6. Women of the Week: Gamer Mom Supreme (51:52)

• Florida Woman Wins Mortal Kombat Tournament With Baby:
  • Legion—gamer tag—wins local fighting games event while holding her 5-day-old child.
    • “Our daughter’s so chill around noise and car rides. Possibly because I traveled so much while pregnant. Never want to stop doing things that I love…” (Legion’s X post)
  • Banter about whether the husband should have taken the baby after losing to her—deep TikTok/mom labor division speculations.

7. Listener “Did You See That?” Segment

• Minnesota Women’s Hockey:
  • Remain undefeated, Abby Murphy’s scoring dominance. Big matchup vs. Ohio St. ahead:
    • “12 goals through 6 games ain’t bad. That’s insane.” (56:40, Katie)
• Bathurst 1000 Viral Moment:
  • Australian driver crashes, gets handed a beer by a fan as he walks off.
  • Explained as peak “Aussie” energy.

8. What to Watch This Week

• EPL: Liverpool vs. Manchester United, Sunday 10/19, 11:30am ET, USA Network.
• NHL: Bruins (undefeated) vs. Mammoth(s?), Sunday 10/19, 7pm ET, NHL Network.
• Curling: 2025 Pan Continental Curling Championship—Australia vs. Philippines, Monday 10/20, 8pm ET, Curling Channel ($20 tournament pass).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On WNBA Finals crowd:
  • “It sounds like she’s surrounded by locusts. That’s crazy.” (14:56, Katie, re: Engelbert being booed)
• On inappropriate player phrasing:
  • “Should I have said that out loud?” (26:20+, recurring segment)
• On notorious baseball fans:
  • “I really hope for the worst for you. Stop waving. We see you…” (44:17, Katie)
• On LeBron’s injury and PR:
  • “Sciatica had a decision to make as well.” (49:11, Katie)
• Sports Fandom Life Logic:
  • “We experience time in a linear way…that’s the only reason why the last mistake always feels like what cost you the game…” (37:38, Katie)
• Jamar Chase on Steelers:
  • “We know the Steelers gonna try to come in and raw dog us and kill us, but we’re gonna be ready for that challenge.” (26:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sister Jean & Housekeeping: 04:03–07:33
• WNBA Finals Recap: 12:45–19:00
• NFL Week 6 & “Should I Have Said That Out Loud?”: 20:03–34:15
• MLB Playoff Drama & Notorious Fans: 34:58–46:14
• LeBron News & Betting in College Sports: 46:14–51:39
• Woman of the Week (Gamer Mom): 51:52–55:52
• Listener “Did You See That?”: 55:52–58:23
• What to Watch This Week: 61:20–63:41

Tone & Style

• Smart, rollicking, and accessible, the episode is rich with side-stories, digressions, and irreverent but sharp insight.
• Panel energy is punchy, playful, and familial—the jokes land because everyone’s comfortable, and sports jargon is routinely explained for new fans.
• Pop culture references abound (Mean Girls, I Think You Should Leave, LeBron’s “The Decision,” TikTok).
• Encourages exploration of sports as fun, social, and weird, not just stats and seriousness.

For New Listeners

If you missed the episode and want a spirited, catch-all sports breakdown that doesn’t assume you’re fluent in the games, this is your jam. You’ll get big headlines (and memes), sharp analysis light on jargon, and permission to enjoy sports for the chaos, the drama, and sometimes, the snacks.