Podcast Summary

Podcast: Don’t Listen To Us with Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody
Episode: Astrology, Farts, and Mistakes We Made
Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Lemonada Media

Episode Overview

In this vibrant, multi-generational episode, actors Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, joined by their son Gideon, tackle real listener questions ranging from childhood mistakes and creativity to how technology has reshaped daily life. The show shifts between humor and candid wisdom, with memorable moments involving a whoopee cushion, a child’s advice question, and a surprise guest segment on astrology with astrologer Isabel Wilder. The tone is warm, authentic, and frequently playful, perfectly capturing the chaos and intimacy of family conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Banter, Farts & Whoopee Cushion (00:21–01:28)

• The episode launches with classic Patinkin-Grody family banter, featuring playful teasing about farts and the introduction of a self-inflating whoopee cushion as a running joke and “punctuation” tool for topics Kathryn doesn’t like.
  • Memorable quote:
    Kathryn (01:10): “I’m going to keep it and I’m going to use it as punctuation for what I don’t like today.”

2. Grandparenting & Driving Anecdotes (01:35–03:02)

• Mandy reflects on being a grandparent and the anxieties that come with caring for grandkids, especially concerns about safety while driving.
  • “I’m nervous about having a heart attack at any moment while they’re in the pool or in the car and I’m gonna drive into like an oil tanker.” — Mandy (02:16)
• The family jokingly debates who among them is the worst driver, revealing their humor and candor about foibles.

3. Listener Question from 4-Year-Old Alex: Childhood Mistakes (03:03–09:01)

• [03:24] Listener Question (Alex, age 4): “Tell me about a choice you made when you were a kid and what did you learn from it?”
  • Mandy’s Response: Shares a story about copying slapstick violence from The Three Stooges, accidentally hurting his sister, and learning the difference between TV and real life.
    • “My parents really, really got upset and they made me realize that real life was not the same as Three Stooges…” — Mandy (04:15)
  • Kathryn’s Story: She recalls mocking a Spanish teacher in high school, getting a bad grade, and missing out on a coveted scholarship, learning the consequences of her behavior and the importance of effort, regardless of how she felt about the class.
    • “I thought I was a pretty special kid… But I just thought because I was so special that I’d get a decent grade. And I didn’t.” — Kathryn (06:08)
  • Both reflect on the idea that adults are really "old kids"—that childlike rules and joy still apply.

4. “The Olden Times” – Life Before Cell Phones (11:12–19:04)

• Prompted by Gideon, the discussion turns to how communication worked before cell phones.

  • Answering Services and Commitment: Kathryn describes relying on answering services and how people honored plans, with less last-minute flakiness.
    • “You made commitments, you made plans. That was the biggest difference. You didn’t have the opportunity…to flake out all the time.” — Kathryn (12:29)
  • Mandy’s Memory: “Twice a day at lunchtime, I would check to see if I had any messages on my machine. I’d press star 33. I remember.” (13:36)
  • “You didn’t jam pack the day full of inconsistency or insecurity, thinking maybe something better is going to happen.” — Kathryn (13:58)
  • Both reminisce about spontaneous street encounters and the slower, more human pace of life.

• Memorable Advice:

  • “My favorite thing about time and people in appointments. I went to an audition once with Chris Walken...He said, ‘Let’s get the fuck out of here!’ And we left. And it was one of the greatest things I ever did.” — Mandy (19:11)

5. Listener Question (Sarah): Artistic Creativity and Storytelling (20:29–28:48)

• Sarah’s Email: An art teacher and illustrator struggling to find her own narrative for a book asks for advice on storytelling.
  • Kathryn’s Advice: Think of storytelling as “pearls on a string”—start with the visual impulse, create many illustrations inspired by nature, and let the story emerge organically rather than forcing a linear narrative.
    • “I wouldn’t worry about the beginning, the middle and an end… Just make up those different visuals.” — Kathryn (23:07)
  • Gideon’s Insight: Emphasizes that sparking a child's imagination is itself a valuable response to “the times.”
    • "Anything that encourages a child's imagination, problem solving… is helping." — Gideon (23:56)
  • Mandy’s Comfort Zone: Describes lack of comfort in new formats (like podcasting), feeling like he’s “walking a tightrope,” but feels most alive singing on stage and telling stories through song choices that speak to him.
  • Kathryn’s Comfort Zone: Loves live theater but finds TV/film less intuitive, laughing about her confusion around filming multiple takes.

6. Special Guest: Isabel Wilder and Astrology (29:08–42:16)

• Introduction & Skepticism: Isabel Wilder, a professional astrologer, joins, sparking a discussion about skepticism, openness to new forms of self-understanding, and the role of astrology across cultures and centuries.
  • “There’s so many ways...we are trying to make ourselves better human beings and understand this crazy planet we’re on." — Kathryn (31:47)
  • Isabel dismantles astrology “sun sign” stereotypes, explaining its nuanced approach and ancient roots (Mesopotamians, Greeks).
    • "It’s generations of people who’ve paid attention to the patterns of human behavior as they relate to celestial movement." — Isabel (38:46)
  • Venus in the Birth Chart Game: Isabel guides the family through a playful reveal of which parent’s Venus was in Capricorn vs. Sagittarius—a small demonstration of astrological interpretation.
    • "Venus in Sagittarius is...philosophizing...Venus can roam... [In] Capricorn, there’s more of a sense of stability…." — Isabel (36:16)
  • Kathryn expresses past bias, but also a transformative experience with astrology that left her open-minded.
  • Family jokes about their pet’s astrological sign; Isabel is quick to clarify the real meaning behind different signs and encourages not reducing people to “nice” or “not nice” based on their chart.
  • Isabel’s business, Fifth House Pottery, is mentioned as a way for listeners to connect.

7. Invitation to Kids and Listeners (42:35–43:21)

• Gideon invites children everywhere to submit questions, songs, and advice (“kid song hour”) to the show.
  • “If you’ve written a song, please just sing it in a voice memo and send it to us. We’d love to hear that inspiration.” — Gideon (43:02)
  • Mandy proposes making a children’s album with submissions to benefit charity.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "I’m going to keep it [the whoopee cushion] and I’m going to use it as punctuation for what I don’t like today." — Kathryn Grody (01:10)
• "Adults are just old kids." — Mandy Patinkin (08:08)
• "You made commitments, you made plans... You didn’t have the opportunity…to flake out all the time." — Kathryn Grody (12:29)
• "My favorite thing about time and people in appointments…Chris Walken…said, ‘Let’s get the fuck out of here!’" — Mandy Patinkin (19:11)
• "I wouldn’t worry about the beginning, the middle and an end… Just make up those different visuals." — Kathryn Grody (23:07)
• "Anything that encourages a child's imagination, problem solving… is helping." — Gideon Grody Patinkin (23:56)
• "It’s generations of people who’ve paid attention to the patterns of human behavior as they relate to celestial movement." — Isabel Wilder (38:46)
• “If you’ve written a song, please just sing it in a voice memo and send it to us. We’d love to hear that inspiration.” — Gideon Grody Patinkin (43:02)

Major Timestamps

• 00:21 – Whoopee cushion & farty humor
• 03:03 – Listener Alex (4): Childhood mistakes & lessons
• 11:12 – "Olden Times" tech talk: Pre-cell phone social life
• 20:29 – Listener Sarah: Artistic storytelling and creativity
• 29:08 – Isabel Wilder joins for astrology segment
• 34:54 – Astrology's origins and deeper meanings
• 42:35 – Invitation to children: Questions & songs

Conclusion

This episode beautifully blends childish play (farts and whoopee cushions), deep introspection (childhood mistakes, creativity struggles), nostalgia (life before digital tech), and curiosity about the mysterious (astrology). Beneath all the laughter is practical, lived-in advice and warm encouragement for listeners to embrace imperfection and ask big questions at any age. Especially memorable is the family’s ongoing commitment to honest storytelling, encouraging listeners—of all generations—to connect, wonder, and never quite grow up.