Podcast Summary: Handsome – "Jenna Fischer asks about irrational fears"

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Guest: Jenna Fischer
Theme: Exploring irrational fears—personal stories, coping mechanisms, and the comedy found in anxieties that don't always make sense.

Episode Overview

In this lively and hilarious year-end episode, comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin are joined by Jenna Fischer (Pam from The Office) to tackle the universal topic of irrational fears. With trademark playful banter, the hosts and Jenna share their own irrational fears, debate their origins, and swap awkward, spooky, and often relatable stories. The episode weaves heart, humor, and a surprising dose of existential dread—while always keeping it light.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

Warm-Up: End-of-Year Reflections and Banter

[02:12-11:02]

• The hosts bring infectious energy as they recount the chaos and emotional exhaustion of 2025, joke about podcast listener demographics, and celebrate the new year upcoming.
• Fortune's dog Biggie makes an appearance, with a running joke about his "horny AF" behavior (06:15), leading to quips about projecting one's feelings through their pets.
• Mae and Tig bond over a dislike for stressful or overly feminine wardrobe fittings, with Mae expressing discomfort at being styled in clothes that don’t align with their identity (23:30).

On Success & Community

[28:36-31:12]

• Fortune shares excitement about the podcast nearing 50 million downloads:
  “We're about to cross 50 million downloads on this podcast... That's a lot in two and a half years.” — Fortune Feimster [28:37]
• Mae mentions receiving a fan-made Toronto escape room chart, underscoring the podcast’s diverse listener base and personal connections (29:33).

Icebreaker: "You look like Bryan Adams"

[31:20-33:49]

• Mae recounts being mistaken for Bryan Adams at a diner, leading to playful teasing and a singalong: “Did you start singing? 'I got my first real 16...'” — Fortune Feimster [31:50] “Is that offensive to you?” — Tig Notaro [32:18]

Main Event: Jenna Fischer’s Question

[38:09-38:34 | 51:01-51:50]

• Jenna Fischer poses her question:
  “Do you have an irrational fear? A fear that you know, intellectually, doesn't make any sense… but how do you deal with it?” — Jenna Fischer [38:12]

Tig’s Big Fear

[38:34-41:07]

• Tig immediately confesses her uniquely specific fear: “I am scared… there is somebody under the bed or in the closet who is going to jump out and then throw me off the balcony.” — Tig Notaro [39:03]
• She further admits:
  “It's so irrational that I'm going to reveal myself as nuts right now.” [38:56]
• Mae and Fortune empathize and compare notes on anxieties around balconies and heights.

Mae and Fortune’s Fears

[44:12-45:08]

• Mae discusses recurring dreams about her teeth crumbling, which Fortune and Tig find surprisingly common and analyze for deeper meanings: “Mine are my teeth crumbling out...” — Mae Martin [44:02]
• Fortune reveals a lingering trauma from being knocked into a water fountain as a child, causing irrational caution around public fountains:
  “I've always had this fear... of my teeth just smashing into it.” — Fortune Feimster [44:13]

Spiders, Deep Water & Ghosts

[53:10-54:46]

• The talk spirals into the supernatural: “I think that there’s a ghost in my closet... and it opens on its own all the time.” — Jenna Fischer [51:23]
  • The group jokes but also expresses genuine freak-outs over unexplained phenomena, haunted houses, and how to coexist with potential ghosts.

Coping with Irrational Fears

[55:00-57:09]

• Fortune recounts growing up in a famously haunted house and keeping a knife under her bed out of fear.
• The hosts agree on the value of rituals—like saging the house or calling in a “ghostbuster”—to address fears, no matter how irrational.
• Mae shares feeling comforted by community and honest conversations about anxiety.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On describing irrational fears:
  “I'm scared to reveal this because I'm scared somebody's gonna do this.” — Tig Notaro [38:58]
• On wardrobe fitting discomfort:
  “To you these seem like just neutral T shirts, but to me… I'm in hell.” — Mae Martin [23:36]
• On spider retaliation:
  “The retaliation being that they, like, talk to their friends and a bunch of them come get you.” — Fortune Feimster [53:35]
• On haunted houses:
  “My house growing up was, like, wildly haunted... and every people move out of this house every five years.” — Fortune Feimster [55:09]
• On community:
  “This is like one of the most successful long term relationships I’ve had.” — Mae Martin [29:04]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:12] – New Year’s Eve energy & “girl” banter
• [06:15] – Fortune’s horny dog story
• [23:30] – Wardrobe fitting anxieties
• [28:37] – Milestone: 50 million downloads
• [29:33] – Escape room chart gift from a fan
• [31:50] – Mae mistaken for Bryan Adams
• [38:12] – Jenna’s question on irrational fears
• [39:03] – Tig’s fear of being thrown off balconies
• [44:02] – Mae’s teeth-crumbling dreams
• [44:13] – Fortune’s water fountain trauma
• [51:23] – Jenna’s haunted closet story
• [55:09] – Fortune’s haunted childhood home
• [61:49] – Hosts’ upcoming tour dates and closing gratitude

Tone and Style Highlights

• The episode is irreverent, confessional, and warm, with each host maintaining their distinct comedic style—dry (Tig), exuberant (Fortune), and quirkily philosophical (Mae).
• Even when discussing genuine anxieties, the tone remains supportive and full of laughter.

Closing Thoughts

The episode closes with gratitude to listeners, jokes about haunted houses, and an invitation to keep sharing both laughter and irrational fears as part of the Handsome community. With an undercurrent of “we’re all weird, and that’s okay,” the episode reminds the audience that irrational fears are universal—and sometimes, a good ghost story or balcony panic attack can be the ultimate icebreaker.

For Listeners Who Missed It

• Expect honest, wildly funny anecdotes—and a cathartic, inclusive dialogue about fears you might have (or now just picked up!).
• Standouts include Tig’s hyper-specific hotel balcony fear, Fortune’s haunted house upbringing, and Mae’s existential teeth nightmares.
• Jenna Fischer fits seamlessly, offering her own spooked closet tale, while the trio delivers plenty of quotable lines and palpable camaraderie.

Missed the show? No problem—keep it handsome, talk to your ghosts, and maybe double-check under the bed next time you check into a hotel.