Casuals with Katie Nolan

Episode: Tom Brady, Alix Earle, Darts, Heels, and Your Guide to the NFL Playoffs
Air Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Katie Nolan
Guests/Regulars: Isabella, Chris, Brady

Overview

This episode of Casuals with Katie Nolan is a lively and welcoming whirlwind for sports fans of all types, recapping the end of the NFL regular season, previewing the playoffs, and dishing on the biggest stories—including Tom Brady and Alix Earle’s rumored romance, a viral darts moment, heels in sports, fantasy football glory, and more. With Katie’s trademark humor and the "Casualties" crew’s playful banter, the show blends pop culture and sports in a way that feels more like recess than homework.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kicking Off: Holiday Catch-Up & LeBron’s Trademark Attempt

• LeBron vs. Taco Tuesday: The show opens with Katie ribbing Brady for just learning that LeBron James once tried to trademark "Taco Tuesday." The group jokes about the absurdity:

  • “He was saying it a lot on his Instagram and... tried to trademark it... people were like, no, that’s been said and will continue to be said through all time. It’s not your thing.” — Katie (00:42)

• Holiday Wrap: The team recaps holiday episodes and shouts out audience engagement.

2. Katie’s Video Game Obsession

• Katie reveals she’s deep into Arc Raiders, a post-apocalyptic scavenging game, acknowledging the risks of letting it take over her life.
  • “I’m trying to hurry through this so I can get home and play again. It’s trouble.” — Katie (04:12)
• Brady and Isabella share stories of video game scavenging, emphasizing the universal joy of crafting over combat.

3. Emails from Listeners: Darts Drama & Relationship Vibes

Luke Littler: Young Darts Phenom, "Heel Turn"

• Katie shares listener emails about 18-year-old darts champion Luke Littler, who responded to being booed at Worlds with:
  • “You guys pay for tickets and you’re paying for my prize money. So thank you.” — Luke Littler (06:41, email read)
• Group discusses fans resenting young talent and embracing villain energy:
  • “Sometimes you just gotta turn him heel, brother.” — Brady (07:13)
  • “You can’t say nothing to me when I win a championship... Okay, win then... I won, so leave me alone.” — Katie (08:28)

Sweetness Amidst the Internet’s Noise:

• Listener praises Dan’s guest appearances/genuine chemistry with Katie.
  • “There are so many men on the Internet loudly hating women... it was nice to listen to a man who clearly loves his.” — Emma’s email (09:08)
• Katie reflects on the pros and cons of “couples content”—it’s not their focus, but authentic.

4. NFL Season Eulogy: Saying Goodbye Team-by-Team

Guide to Segment (11:56 – 46:00)

Katie and team say goodbye to eliminated NFL teams in order of draft pick, each with a memorable note or weird stat:

• Raiders: 3-14, New head coach Pete Carroll, likely draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza—who is delightfully dorky about his music tastes.

  • “I like to have a little pop to get that positive feel... ready to learn.” — Mendoza (16:33)
  • Katie pokes fun at his love for "Moves Like Jagger" and "Sweet Escape" as “throwbacks.” (17:09–18:00)

• Jets: Historic anti-feat—no defensive interceptions all year (20:48).

  • “They didn’t intercept a single pass all season. Not in the good way.” — Katie (20:44)

• Giants: TE Theo Johnson was "out—illness," but spotted courtside at a Knicks game, updating fans on his own Instagram: “I’m not sick.” (23:14)

• Browns: Myles Garrett sets new sack record.

  • “My favorite thing about Myles Garrett is he’s got an all-time smirk.” — Katie (25:12)

• Bengals: Joe Burrow gifts O-line real fossils this year (dinosaur, bear, mammoth) instead of swords—divided opinions.

• Chiefs: All eyes on potential Travis Kelce retirement, but Katie’s “don’t care unless it’s real” (31:09). Donna Kelce’s reality TV debut flagged.

Isabella’s Fantasy Football Glory

• First year, first championship—Isabella wins her league while still learning waiver wires (42:34).

  • “I won the whole league.” — Isabella (42:36)
  • “What do you fucking mean!?” — Katie (42:40)

• Katie, Chris, and Brady marvel at Isabella zigging while others zag and picking McCaffrey unburdened by injury history.

5. NFL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW (59:56 – 71:12)

Katie (with Isabella’s “casual” picks) quickly runs through matchups, player storylines, and TV times—with signature irreverence and inside jokes.

Key Matchups & Picks (all times Eastern):

• Rams @ Panthers (Sat 4:30pm, Fox): Katie jokes about Stafford's "immortal" sleep bus.
• Packers @ Bears (Sat 8pm, Prime): Rivalry game, lots of “heated trash stories” from radio callers.
• Bills @ Jaguars (Sun 1pm, CBS): Isabella picks Bills, not sure why. Katie references the “Duuuuval” chant.
• 49ers @ Eagles (Sun 4:30pm, Fox): Isabella picks the Niners for the vibe.
• Chargers @ Patriots (Sun 8pm, NBC): Katie relishes “drubbing” of Miami, but flags concerning off-field criminal accusations against two Patriots.
• Texans @ Steelers (Mon 8:15pm, ESPN/ABC): Isabella sides with Steelers due to boyfriend's father; Katie riffs on Aaron Rodgers’s mysterious wife.

Notable Playoff Banter:

• Multiple jokes about “heated rivalry” (the Netflix hockey romance show); “They never kiss, though. I keep hoping, but they never do.” — Katie (62:46)
• Discussion on how Isabella might pick new teams week-to-week, especially the Bears—“Is it weird to have a couple teams?” (63:04)
• "Go Pates!" (New England accent for Patriots) said and repeated in solidarity (90:48–91:04)

6. Pop Culture: Tom Brady & Alix Earle

• The show interrupts football to deep-dive the viral New Year’s Eve rumors: Tom Brady and TikTok “Get Ready With Me”-star Alix Earle were seen together on St. Barts.
  • “Those two are dating.” — Katie (51:13)
  • Katie and Dan debate if the physicality is romance or “just drugs” (51:05)
  • Tom’s accidentally-on phone flashlight becomes a metaphor for dad vibes (53:19)
  • “As a future old... nothing makes you feel more gray... than your flashlight being on” — Katie (53:19)
  • Social media post by Alix hints at new beginnings. Tom’s own “cryptic” IG post seemingly alludes to her; jokes about the 20+ year age gap and Leo DiCaprio club rules.
  • “If you’re Braxton Berrios, are you honored or devastated?... You are no longer the football man if she ends up dating Tom Brady.” — Katie (54:26)

7. Who Got Fired? (Black Monday / Sports Firings Game) (74:18–82:26)

Brady quizzes Isabella on which coaches, athletes, or staffers were fired in the annual “Black Monday” carnage and other sports job shakeups.

• Surprising results (e.g., all of Gabon’s national soccer team “fired” by their own government).
• Marshawn Lynch: cussed on ManningCast and, of course, was not fired.

8. Short Sports News & Big Weddings

• Nafisa Collier: Out 4–6 months, ankle surgery, will miss WNBA Unrivaled.
• Christy Mewis & Sam Kerr: Get married; Katie fawns over the gowns and the heated rivalry made real.

9. What to Watch This Week (87:31)

With Chris’s Rec Guide:

• College Football Playoff: Ole Miss vs. Miami, Thursday Jan 8, 7:30pm ESPN. Lane Kiffin’s split football/basketball allegiances noted.
• Women’s Super League Soccer: Chelsea vs. West Ham, Sunday Jan 11, 7am ESPN+ / YouTube. All-in for Sam Kerr.
• NFL Playoffs Highlight: Chargers @ Patriots, Sunday 8pm, NBC. “Go Pates!” cheer rounds out the show.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Luke Littler’s heel moment:
  “You guys pay for tickets and you’re paying for my prize money. So thank you.” — Luke Littler (06:41)

• Katie on championship haters:
  “I won, so leave me alone. And I love that.” (08:28)

• Fernando Mendoza’s music picks:
  “My guilty pleasure song is The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani.” (17:48)

• On Isabella’s fantasy win:
  “I won the whole league.” — Isabella (42:36)
  “What do you fucking mean!?” — Katie (42:40)

• Tom Brady/Alix Earle speculation:
  “Those two are dating.” — Katie (51:13)

• On Tom Brady in a club:
  “As a future old... nothing makes you feel more gray... than when your flashlight is on and you are unaware.” — Katie (53:19)

Tone & Style

• Warm, irreverent, goofy banter between real friends
• Mix of sports analysis, earnest curiosity, and loving mockery of sports culture
• Welcoming to newbies—no “old men in suits” sports talk here!

Episode Structure

• Intro: Jokes, fast catch-up, and setting the agenda (NFL, music, viral moments).
• Listener Emails: Darts, romance, reflections on representation.
• NFL Eulogy: Goodbye to eliminated teams, with trivia and hot takes.
• Fantasy Football Win: Celebrate Isabella’s ascent, dissect strategies.
• Pop Culture Sidetracks: Tom Brady, Alix Earle, random sports gossip.
• NFL Playoffs Preview: Rapid picks, TV info, unique angles.
• What Else Is Happening: Black Monday firings, weddings, injuries.
• Recommendations: What to watch this week, focusing on diversity.
• Sign-off: Warmth, loving shoutouts, tease for the next episode.

For anyone who missed the episode, this summary should leave you fully caught up—sports news, pop culture antics, inside jokes, and the “heated rivalry” spirit all included, minus the ads and extraneous bits. Casuals continues to make sports engaging, fresh, and fun for everyone—no expertise required!