Casuals with Katie Nolan | Episode Summary

Podcast: Casuals with Katie Nolan
Episode: Wife Guys, Bowl Picks, and WNBA Ethical Dilemmas (with Ashtyn Butuso)
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Katie Nolan
Guest: Ashton Battuso (Flagrant Mag, Off Ball)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into three main topics: the phenomenon of "wife guys" in sports (especially the NBA), current college football playoff storylines, and ethical discussions around seating at WNBA games and the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Katie is joined by Ashton Battuso, editor-in-chief of Flagrant Magazine and voice behind the Off Ball newsletter. With characteristic humor and candor, they banter through everything from NBA personal lives to college football absurdities, with regular contributions from the Casuals producer crew: Isabella (the sports newbie), Chris (editor), and Brady (producer).

Key Sections & Takeaways

1. Fun with Language and Email Openers (00:30–13:00)

• Australian/American Pronunciation Games: The pod opens with lighthearted banter about Australian vs. American pronunciations, led by Chris; e.g., "aluminium" vs. "aluminum" (04:50), "emu" (05:51), and "Macca's" for McDonald's (09:09).
• Cultural Differences: Segues into fun translation trivia like "flip flops" = "thongs," "peppers" = "capsicum," and "rooting" for a team = "barracking" (07:06–10:09).
• Pop Culture Sidebar: A voicemail about the animated Grinch movie leads to a nostalgic discussion of Benedict Cumberbatch (“Cabbage Patch”) and Tokyo Godfathers (11:43–14:23).

2. NBA Wife Guys: What, Who, Why? (18:05–39:16)

What Is a Wife Guy? (19:06–21:12)

• Definition: "Lives and dies by the wife. He just friggin rides for his girl and wants everyone to know." – Ashton (19:07)
• Origin: Discussion of the term’s public image (Try Guys, Ned scandal) (19:39–20:04).
• Key Distinction: Being a "wife guy" is about the public narrative, not just being married or supportive in private.

Ashton’s NBA Wife Guy Rankings (23:13–39:16)

• Summarized from #9 to #1:
  • #9 DeAndre Jordan: “His wife...they are so close...he’s doing the ‘she’s popping my zits and I don’t mind’ thing.” (23:18)
  • #8 Josh Hart: “Drinking his wife’s breast milk...he’s doing a breast milk ice cream situation.” (24:41 / 25:39)
  • #7 Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT): “Famously wrote Jordyn Woods a very long...birthday or anniversary letter...offering to fund her businesses.” (26:11)
    • Notable Quote: Chris reads: “You pick two businesses you want to start, and I will fund them. It’s time to take that next step, and I will walk with you step by step...” (27:11)
  • #6 Donovan Mitchell: “New in the wife guy game, but he’s crushing it; dating Coco Jones...he serenaded her to her own song courtside.” (29:02–30:07)
  • #5 Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Pretty much purely sexual. That guy loves talking about banging his wife.” (30:18)
  • #4 Jrue Holiday: “He and former soccer player Lauren Chaney...he’s been very open and down for her through health battles.” (31:39)
  • #3 Bam Adebayo: “Every now and then there’s a pairing where you just go, if you guys ever break up, we’re going to kill ourselves...the latest—wanting to have babies now.” (33:04–33:46)
  • #2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA): “Thanked his partner by name in his MVP speech, started bawling...even more important, he described staying home to do the baby and try on clothes while she’s out with friends.” (36:26)
  • #1 Russell Westbrook: “They’re like the originators of wife guy. Also were a basketball UCLA couple. He’s...always about her; they just laugh together.” (37:37–38:29)

3. Who Else Is a Wife Guy? (39:31–52:43)

Cross-Sport Wife Guy Candidates

• Kirk Cousins: “Kohl’s cash...Netflix ‘Quarterback’ doc, his wife buys his clothes, he genuinely seems to be about the ‘partner’ life.” (39:55–41:29)
• Pat Mahomes: “He’s not a wife guy; as much as Brittany is public and supportive, I haven't seen enough of him reciprocating.” (41:52–42:52)
• Jonathan Owens (Simone Biles’ husband): “He’s reformed, now seems very supportive after early missteps.” (42:57–43:51)
• Josh Allen: “Definitely a wife guy, especially since Hallie Steinfeld’s movie; he’s out there loudly being supportive.” (43:59–44:47)
• Dwyane Wade: “Yes, strong family guy, though Ashton notes her active list is for current players.” (44:53–45:13)
• Klay Thompson: “Deserves a shout for openly adoring and creating content with Megan.” (45:13–45:50)
• Stefan Diggs: “Big wife guy—if you mean he loves wives, maybe too much! But still rooting for him and Cardi B.” (47:03–47:49)
• Freddie Freeman (MLB), Kyle Juszczyk (NFL), George Kittle (NFL): “Solid cases made, but Ashton ambivalent on baseball; for Juszczyk/Kittle, wife-supporting content and podcasting put them on the radar.” (49:49–52:43)

4. WNBA Season Tickets Ethical Dilemma (53:36–56:43)

• Dilemma: Ashton gifted Katie a ticket to a Liberty game—discovering seats were in the handicapped section, neither is handicapped. They debate whether it’s ethical to use those seats if sold to/assigned by the team.
  • “I felt the whole time I couldn't get comfortable...In general, I still don't know what the right answer is.” – Katie (56:01)
• Resolution: Open question, inviting listener feedback and exploring the nuance (55:55).

5. WNBA CBA Situation & New Leagues (57:00–64:27)

• Current State: Deadline looming for new collective bargaining agreement. Players want 34% revenue share (currently 9%, compared to NBA’s 50%). (57:17–58:18)
• Compromises: League raising salary minimums/maximums, but removing housing and expanding season—problematic for players who move often and earn less. (57:50–58:15)
• Project B: Worry that stars and money will shift to new alternative leagues (Project B, Unrivaled). “If all these people sign up...they may not play in the WNBA at all.” – Ashton (58:56)
• Unrivaled: Roster talk, new expansion teams, and critique of branding ("Hive" and "Lunar Owls" names) (60:10–63:45).

6. College Football: The State of the Pac-12, Bowl Picks, and Light Chaos (68:20–74:36)

• Oregon State, PAC-whatever status: “We now have eight teams, I believe so. That's not the Pac-12, but…Whatever. Someday…” – Ashton (68:39)
• Feelings of Abandonment: Ashton is still sore about Oregon, Washington, UCLA, USC jumping ship w/o bringing in their rivals for “the greater good.” (69:41–70:34)
• College Football Playoff Quick Picks: Ashton and Katie run through matchup predictions and vent the absurdity of bowl sponsors (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl), the chaos of rankings, and more (71:42–74:03).

7. WNBA, NFL & Ethical Gray Areas (74:20–88:52)

• Scandals and Amnesia: Discussion about sports figures (e.g., Chauncey Billups, Jameis Winston) whose past allegations/scandals have been erased from public memory as new fans ignore or are unaware of past stories. (65:04–68:19)
• Fantasy Football Check-In: Isabella, the rookie, laments her late-season loss but strategizes with the help of the crew going into the fantasy playoffs. (80:27–88:52)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “If you see me, if you like me, leave me alone.” – Isabella, about creating enemies if she loses her fantasy league (85:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wife Guy Criteria: “You’re either a wife guy or you’re not. To have a wife and not be a wife guy...” – Katie Nolan (21:06)
• Breast Milk Bit: “Josh Hart is drinking his wife’s breast milk. Now, listen, I’m neutral on it. But it’s happening.” – Ashton (24:41)
• Wife Guy Secular Growth: “I think he’s on a good path.” – Ashton, on Jonathan Owens’ journey (43:49)
• Sports Amnesia Reality: “They always go in the same folder in my mind… which is like, I don’t know anything about this, but I know people know everything about it.” – Katie (41:29–41:40, on Lord of the Rings vs. Harry Potter, but echoes the episode’s theme)
• Ethical Quandary: “If you’re two able-bodied folks…sitting in a handicapped access area…what is the correct thing to do?” – Katie (55:33)
• WNBA Revenue: “What the players want is something like 34% rev share. What they have is nine.” – Ashton (57:17)
• Katie on College Football: "Every leaf I unturn, I go: I don’t wanna fix that." (71:14)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:30–13:00 | Opening Confusion & Email Pronunciation Games
• 18:05–39:16 | Ashton Battuso Interview on NBA Wife Guys
• 39:31–52:43 | Debating Wife Guys Across Sports
• 53:36–56:43 | WNBA Season Ticket Dilemma
• 57:00–64:27 | WNBA CBA & New Leagues
• 68:20–74:36 | College Football Conference Chaos & Bowl Picks
• 80:27–88:52 | Fantasy Football Playoff Strategy

Episode Tone & Format

Katie Nolan’s signature playful, self-deprecating, and highly conversational style shines throughout—smart, irreverent, and collaborative, with real expertise woven into pop-cultural, sometimes absurd, observations. Ashton Battuso brings deep basketball and WNBA knowledge with equally sharp wit. The broader crew adds supportive, lively commentary, anchoring the show in a warm, accessible energy.

For New Listeners

This is a quintessential example of why Casuals stands out: it’s a welcoming, irreverent, but well-informed take on the sports world—just as likely to teach you about the WNBA’s financial structure as giggle through NBA gossip or sports linguistic trivia. If you’re sports-curious but allergic to hot takes, this is your jam.

For direct feedback, listener emails/voicemails, or to submit your own “wife guy” candidate, reach the crew at casualswithkatienolanmail.com or 646-801-0043.