Casuals with Katie Nolan

Episode: “Gotham FC, Belichick Family Thanksgiving, and GOAT Weird Sports Injuries”
Air Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Katie Nolan | Panelists: Isabella (sports newbie), Chris (master editor), Brady

Main Theme

This episode is a quintessential post-Thanksgiving romp: a chaotic, hilarious exploration of the latest in sports, culture, and oddly specific fandom, all through the signature “Casuals” lens. Katie and her squad get into everything from listener mail and beloved rivalries, to Gotham FC’s stunning NWSL title, spicy Belichick family drama, the ethics of drafting your girlfriend—and a wild, bracket-style journey through sports’ weirdest injuries.

1. Kicking Off: Listener Emails, Running Jokes, and Rival Love (02:22–11:58)

• Listener Mailbag: 'Let's Go Pates' and Podcast Lingo (04:23)
  • Multiple listeners share how the in-show term “Pates” (mispronunciation of ‘Pats’ for Patriots) has infiltrated their real-life fan circles.
    • “I screamed, ‘let’s go pates!’ forgetting that maybe my group wouldn’t understand the reference…” – Katie, quoting a listener [05:16]
    • Panel reminisces about coining “Pates” and take pride in the inside joke spreading.
• On Embracing Rival Talents (06:54)
  • Listeners and hosts confess grudging respect or affection for rival teams and athletes.
    • Brady: “My rival high school’s field was so soft—cushy little clouds on my feet. They suck and can go to hell, but little cushy clouds on my feet.” [08:29]
    • Chris: Loving Nick Daicos on the despised Collingwood Magpies (AFL), despite fan pain [08:40]
    • Isabella: Her rival high school yielded NBA star Karl Anthony Towns [09:00]
• High School Principal Scandal Story (09:54)
  • Unexpectedly spicy: a listener connects Brady’s high school to a principal’s arrest for solicitation after a basketball game, and claims Brady “broke the news” to local radio.
    • Brady: “The story was too juicy. I mean, he was fine. Kind of took a little ding to the reputation at that point.” [11:31]
• Ryan Blaney Baby News (12:46)
  • Panel congratulates NASCAR’s Ryan and Gianna Blaney on their new baby, joking about family naming conventions.

2. Gotham FC’s NWSL Cinderella Run (18:45–23:26)

• Historic Championship Recap (18:45)
  • Gotham FC become the first 8-seed to win a playoff game, let alone the NWSL championship. They vanquished a “historically good Kansas City team.”
    • Katie: “To go from worst to first…incredible ending to the season.” [19:14]
  • Rose Lavelle scores the lone goal, wins MVP. Postgame antics discussed, including family fireball shots on field.
• Rose Lavelle x Kelly O’Hara Interview Clip (20:17)
  • Real, unscripted joy: O’Hara offers a beer, Lavelle hesitant, sings a line from Taylor Swift, then ducks out.
    • Katie: “The most Rose thing is that she's like, ‘yeah…No, I don’t. And I can’t.’” [21:01]
• Megan Rapinoe’s Sideline Commentary & Emily Sonnett Hype (21:37)
  • Rapinoe vouches for Emily Sonnett’s “psychopathic” intensity, pivotal defensive stop, and reputation as “best shit-talker in the NWSL.”
    • Isabella: intrigued by descriptions of Sonnett’s attitude.

3. WNBA Draft Dilemma: Should Dallas Draft Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend? (23:42–27:44)

• Dallas Wings Hold #1 Pick Again (23:42)
  • Panel discusses unique scenario: should Wings select Azzi Fudd (girlfriend of phenom Paige Bueckers, last year’s #1 pick)?
    • Katie: “Is it more intriguing to pick the future of your franchise’s girlfriend—or more risky?” [24:39]
  • Panel debates pros and cons. “What if they break up?” and potential for “it couple” marketing magic.
    • Chris: “If they think she's the best overall talent, they should absolutely take her.” [27:14]
    • Brady: jokes about off-court drama affecting on-court chemistry (“Feed me the ball. Yeah, if you empty the dishwasher.”) [26:05]
  • Discussion brackets into workplace romantic entanglements and the precedent of splitting up WNBA couples.

4. NFL News: Justin Tucker’s Wild Return and Bill Belichick Thanksgiving Drama (29:03–44:27)

• Justin Tucker’s Controversial Tryout (29:03)
  • Saints to evaluate Justin Tucker after suspension for personal conduct policy violation (“sexually inappropriate behavior”). Panel is unimpressed.
    • Katie: “At this point, why bother? It’s just…get a new guy.” [29:37]
  • Mentions underused kickers like Rodrigo Blankenship.
• NFL & Fantasy Musings: Eagles Blow Lead, Cowboys Hype (31:10–33:12)
  • The Eagles collapse against Dallas, but panel agrees the Cowboys still “don’t feel good.” [31:39]
  • Casual sidebar: Isabella dominates fantasy, benching George Pickens [32:07–33:12]
• Belichick Family Feud & Thanksgiving Speculation (35:13–44:27)
  • Recap: Steve Belichick’s wife Jen reportedly confronted Bill and his girlfriend Jordan Hudson in a public, 40-minute meltdown, putting Steve in an “impossible spot.”
    • Katie: “I feel like the biggest shock is that it’s the son’s wife [standing up]. Kind of love that she’s got the balls to say something.” [36:18]
  • Panel speculates on the Belichick Thanksgiving and Jordan Hudson’s unwelcome reshaping of the family dynamic. [39:13–44:27]
    • Wild card: Hudson posts about supporting Bill at “adult male football league competitions”; also, she threatens to sue Pablo Torre. [42:16]
    • Panel discusses the legal absurdity: “She would have to open up to discovery…” – Brady [43:05]

5. Social & Sports Gossip: Love Lives & Miss Universe Fails (44:28–71:14)

• Athlete-Celebrity Couples

  • Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld go public at his college jersey retirement—cutesy brim-bumping hats [34:00]
  • Jack Hughes (NHL) spotted on date with pop star Tate McRae, fresh off a bizarre hand injury at a team dinner. Katie and Isabella critique Tate’s music/dance skills. [45:56–46:42]

• GOAT Weird Sports Injuries (Prompted by Jeff’s listener email; 46:55–58:57)

  • NHL:
    • Dustin Penner injures back “eating pancakes.” [47:58]
    • Eric Johnson tries to brake a golf cart with his foot, tears knee ligaments. [48:49]
    • Craig Anderson cuts hand on frozen chicken. [49:30]
    • Tyson Barrie gets cut wrestling a teammate; Dan Boyle sliced by falling skate. [50:15]
  • MLB:
    • Marty Cordova allegedly misses games after falling asleep in a tanning bed—panel suspects a cover-up (plastic surgeon burns). [51:22, 58:19]
    • Joel Zumaya injures arm via Guitar Hero; Adam Eaton stabs hand on DVD packaging. [52:17, 53:15]
    • Clint Barmes breaks collarbone carrying Todd Helton’s deer meat (panel questions why it's called “deer meat” and not “venison”). [53:36]
    • Jeremy Affeldt cuts hand on frozen burger patties; Vince Coleman run over by tarp machine; Cespedes flees wild boar, twists ankle.[55:35–57:27]
  • Panel’s tone: playful, with skeptical “no way” reactions and validation when Isabella sniffs out the “tanning bed” story as suspicious.

• Miss Universe 2025 Oddities (63:51–71:14)

  • Miss Mexico wins; Norway rocks a disturbing “dead salmon” costume.
  • Miss Jamaica falls off stage, ends up in ICU. [66:12]
  • Miss Great Britain fake falls as a metaphor for her life.
  • Miss Chile goes viral by pretending to snort powder on TikTok (“said it was makeup”).
  • Katie: “Can you really be the Miss of the whole Universe if not a single alien shows up?” [70:34]
  • The competition is riddled with controversy, resignations, and allegations of rigged outcomes.

6. Rapid-Fire Updates: F1, Sports You Can Watch This Week, and Cricket for Casuals (58:57–76:45)

• F1 Las Vegas Recap (58:57–63:31)

  • Chris explains: McLaren drivers DQ’d for technical illegalities discovered after the race, left Max Verstappen right back in the hunt for driver’s title.
    • “Less than the thickness of a human hair, but the FIA regulates it…” – Chris [60:02]
  • Katie hilariously complains about how Las Vegas physically blocked free public views of a street race.
  • Fashion Alert: Beyoncé’s F1-ready outfit gets panel approval.

• Thanksgiving Sports Watch Guide (73:42–75:57)

  • Turkey Day TV: Packers-Lions, Chiefs-Cowboys, Bengals-Ravens
  • College basketball alt: Richmond-Furman (11am!), North Carolina-Michigan State, Duke-Arkansas
  • Saturday: Michigan-Ohio State headliner
  • Cricket Ashes News: Chris beams as Australia demolishes England in shortest Ashes test since 1880s; panel remains lost on cricket stats.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She starts singing…and then goes. And that’s an end.” – Chris, on Rose Lavelle stopping mid-Taylor Swift lyric [20:52]
• “It’s almost weirder if they don’t [draft Fudd].” – Katie, on the WNBA girlfriend scenario [27:00]
• “At this point, why bother? It’s just…get a new guy.” – Katie, on Justin Tucker’s comeback [29:37]
• “Somebody stand up and say like, thanks for all your help, Jordan. We’re actually on a tight window…” – Katie, on Jordan Belichick [38:38]
• “I love metaphor for her inviting children to her candy factory.” – Brady, mocking Miss Great Britain’s pageant performance [68:03]
• “Can you really be the Miss of the whole Universe if not a single alien shows up?” – Katie [70:34]

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|---------------| | Listener Emails & Inside Jokes | 04:23–12:46 | | Gotham FC NWSL Recap | 18:45–23:26 | | WNBA Draft: Should You Draft Your GF? | 23:42–27:44 | | Justin Tucker/Belichick Family Drama | 29:03–44:27 | | Jack Hughes/Tate McRae & Injuries Bracket | 45:56–58:57 | | Miss Universe Strange Events | 63:51–71:14 | | F1 Disqualifications & Beyoncé Sighting | 58:57–63:31 | | What to Watch This Week/Cricket | 73:42–76:45 |

Tone & Vibe

Unpretentious, self-aware, and infectiously funny. Katie’s panel hoists niche sports talk with the same enthusiasm as pop culture scandal, and every bit of knowledge is fair game for laughter or learning. The show’s signature: making sports accessible without dumbing them down, and giving as much airtime to wild off-field sagas as to actual scores.

For new listeners:
You’ll come out knowing the top games this week, why “Pates” is a thing, the best high school sports scandal stories, and more about sports injuries and Belichick Thanksgiving drama than you ever thought you’d want—but you’ll want all of it.