Jon Hamm asks about impactful books

Summary

Handsome Podcast Episode Summary

Title: Jon Hamm Asks About Impactful Books
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Release Date: December 3, 2024

---

1. Introduction and Holiday Announcements

The episode kicks off with Mae Martin announcing an exciting holiday treat for listeners: a live-streamed "Holly Bobs" extravaganza scheduled for Saturday, December 21st. Mae emphasizes the opportunity for fans worldwide to join the event, which includes a replay available for an entire week. At [01:15], Mae enthuses:

"We're putting on a Holly Bobs live streaming extravaganza and you can watch live from anywhere in the world."

Fortune Feimster follows up by promoting her newly released Netflix special, "Crushing It," urging listeners to watch it immediately to support her work. Tig Notaro adds her enthusiasm, encouraging fans to watch the special while it remains fresh.

---

2. Hosts' Projects and Personal Updates

The trio shares updates about their current projects and personal endeavors:

• Fortune Feimster proudly discusses her Netflix special, detailing the inspiration behind her distinctive pink suit, which symbolizes the podcast’s celebration of diverse definitions of "handsome." At [04:25], Fortune states:

  "Our pod celebrates all kinds of handsome, forging your own path of what handsome looks like."

• Tig Notaro talks about her ongoing shows in Toronto at Comedy Bar and her role in filming "Star Trek." She humorously muses about potentially wearing a pink suit in her next special, prompting laughter from the group.

• Mae Martin shares her excitement about performing at Largo on December 4th with Stephanie Allen and hints at upcoming shows with Brett Goldstein, keeping the audience informed about her active schedule.

---

3. Lighthearted Conversations and Comedy Bits

The hosts engage in amusing discussions about mountain goats and bears, blending humor with personal anecdotes:

• Tig Notaro reveals her fascination with mountain goats, prompting a playful exploration of their incredible agility. At [12:43], Tig shares:

  "I was watching mountain goats on YouTube, and I just couldn’t stop. They jump from vertical wall to vertical wall perfectly."

• Mae Martin and Fortune Feimster join in the fun, debating the differences between regular goats and mountain goats, and even delving into quirky topics like swingers and flamingos as symbols within their comedic dialogue.

These segments showcase the hosts' camaraderie and their ability to weave humor seamlessly into their conversations.

---

4. Jon Hamm's Question: Impactful Books

The highlight of the episode arrives when Jon Hamm poses a thought-provoking question to the hosts:

"What was the first book that ever truly affected you?" [30:36]

a. Tig Notaro’s Response

Tig reminisces about her childhood favorite, "Amelia Bedelia," highlighting the character's literal interpretations and how it influenced her comedic style. At [35:22], Tig shares:

"Amelia Bedelia takes things literally... I just thought she was the funniest character."

She further reflects on darker literary influences from her adolescence, mentioning "A Prayer for Owen Meany" as a profound impact, though this is later revealed to be Jon Hamm's input rather than her own.

b. Mae Martin’s Response

Mae delves into her diverse reading history, mentioning several books that shaped her perspective:

• "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark": Mae recalls the spine-chilling tales that captivated her as a child. At [35:22], she describes:

  "Every story was like two pages... Taylor Po was a big part of my experience."

• "The NeverEnding Story" and "My Side of the Mountain": These books fueled her imagination and desire for adventure, despite not being a nature enthusiast.

• "The Comic Toolbox": An early guide to comedy that provided Mae with exercises to explore her creative side. She reflects:

  "It was like taking tension in your life and exploring it through comedy."

Mae emphasizes how these books offered comfort and inspired her to find her unique voice in comedy.

c. Fortune Feimster’s Response

Fortune speaks passionately about "Charms for the Easy Life" by Kay Gibbons, a book that resonated deeply with her personal experiences and understanding of feminism. At [45:25], she explains:

"It was the first time I read a book that I could really see myself in... it was about a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter."

Fortune highlights how the book mirrored her own life in a matriarchal family, empowering her to embrace her strength and identity. She also touches upon the influence of biographies, acknowledging her admiration for real-life stories that shape one’s outlook.

---

5. Reflections on Reading and Personal Growth

Post their individual responses, the hosts engage in a meaningful discussion about the role of reading in personal and professional development:

• Tig Notaro mentions how rereading old comedy clips leads her to cringe, recognizing the evolution of her comedic style influenced by early literary inspirations.

• Mae Martin shares a nostalgic moment about reading "The Comic Toolbox" during a tense family trip, finding solace and direction in creating comedy from life’s challenges.

• Fortune Feimster connects her reading habits to her familial influences, expressing a desire to read more and acknowledging the importance of books in maintaining mental acuity as they age.

The conversation underscores the profound impact that books have had on their lives, shaping their careers in comedy and acting while fostering personal growth and resilience.

---

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Events

As the episode nears its end, the hosts reiterate their promotion of Fortune's Netflix special, encouraging listeners to watch and engage with their work. They also remind fans about the upcoming live-streamed holiday spectacular on December 21st and promote their newly released merchandise available at handsomepod.com.

Fortune closes with a heartfelt endorsement:

"Watch it now because soon it won't hold up."

Mae and Tig echo this sentiment, urging listeners to support their projects and stay connected through social media channels. The episode wraps up with warm farewells and enthusiastic endorsements of each other’s work, reinforcing the tight-knit community of the "Handsome" podcast.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mae Martin [01:15]:

  "We're putting on a Holly Bobs live streaming extravaganza and you can watch live from anywhere in the world."

• Fortune Feimster [04:25]:

  "Our pod celebrates all kinds of handsome, forging your own path of what handsome looks like."

• Tig Notaro [12:43]:

  "I was watching mountain goats on YouTube, and I just couldn’t stop. They jump from vertical wall to vertical wall perfectly."

• Tig Notaro [35:22]:

  "Amelia Bedelia takes things literally... I just thought she was the funniest character."

• Fortune Feimster [45:25]:

  "It was the first time I read a book that I could really see myself in... it was about a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter."

• Fortune Feimster [06:04]:

  "We celebrate all kinds of handsome... forging your own path of what handsome looks like."

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of the "Handsome" podcast masterfully blends personal updates, humor, and profound discussions about the books that have shaped each host's life. By featuring a thoughtful question from Jon Hamm, the hosts delve into their literary influences, offering listeners insightful perspectives on how impactful books can mold one's creative and personal journey. The episode not only entertains but also inspires, highlighting the enduring significance of reading in fostering growth and resilience.

Transcript

[May Martin]

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[Tig Notaro]

Like you know to check that you've got your smartest friends with you before trying out a new escape room.

[May Martin]

Yeah, checking first is smart, so check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. This content is intended for audiences in the US Only. Savings vary. Terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and.

[Thomas Willette]

Affiliates Northbrook, Illinois Audible's best of 2024 picks are here. Discover the year's top audiobooks, podcasts and originals in all your favorite genres, from memoirs and sci fi to mysteries and thrillers. Audible's curated list in every category is the best way to hear 2024's best in audio entertainment, like a stunning new full cast production of George Orwell's 1984 heartfelt memoirs like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's lovely one. The year's best fiction like the Women by Kristin Hannah and Percival Everett's brilliantly subversive James Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Go to audible.com imagine and discover all the years best waiting for you.

[May Martin]

Hey Handsomes. We have a huge holiday treat to tell you about. On Saturday, December 21, Handsome is putting on a Holly Bobs live streaming extravaganza and you can watch live from anywhere in the world.

[Tig Notaro]

So get your tickets at our social media page or@dimensional typewriter.com Again, the show.

[May Martin]

Is Saturday, December 21st and your ticket includes a replay you can watch for an entire week. So what are you waiting for? Go get your ticket.

[Fortune Feimster]

This is a Headgum podcast.

[May Martin]

Head and Handsome Pot chatting with friends on the Handsome Pot Chatting with friends on the Handsome Pot.

[Fortune Feimster]

Cheers.

[May Martin]

Welcome to the Handsome Pod. I am a refreshed, revived co host of the Handsome Pod. I'm your friend May Martin, joined of.

[Tig Notaro]

Course by your dear, dear friend Tig.

[Fortune Feimster]

Notaro and Fortune Feimster. I love that you're refreshed.

[May Martin]

Guys, look out. You're going to be dazzled by my personality. I feel like I've been really a quivery little shrimp the last few eps. I'm gonna be oh today. It's gonna be explosive.

[Tig Notaro]

Wow. When does it get started?

[May Martin]

Maybe about 20 minutes in. You're gonna notice a spike.

[Fortune Feimster]

You are smiling a lot.

[May Martin]

Yeah, I'm back in la. I'm like, I slept a bit. I'm feeling good.

[Fortune Feimster]

Good.

[Tig Notaro]

That's nice.

[Fortune Feimster]

We like it when you're refreshed and not a I wouldn't have said, you are a quivery shrimp.

[May Martin]

Oh, you wouldn't. That wouldn't have been your choice of.

[Fortune Feimster]

No.

[Tig Notaro]

That's what I said. No.

[Fortune Feimster]

But you do seem to have a pep in your step, and we like that.

[May Martin]

Yeah, I feel like it'll be a process catching up on, like, the sleep deficit. But yeah, I'm feeling. I'm feeling good. But I'm, like, eating my favorite foods again and like, ooh, what are your favorite foods? Oh, well, microwavable meals. You know, Amy's frozen microwavable mushroom risotto, you know.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh. Oh, gosh.

[Tig Notaro]

What a delicacy. Couldn't get that in Toronto, huh?

[May Martin]

I'm sure you can.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, I know you can.

[Fortune Feimster]

It didn't taste the same, right?

[May Martin]

It doesn't taste the same.

[Fortune Feimster]

You know, put less chemicals in Toronto.

[May Martin]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

I have a pep in my step because today is the release of my new Netflix special, Crushing It.

[Tig Notaro]

It's called Crushing It.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's called Crushing It.

[Tig Notaro]

That's amazing.

[May Martin]

That's so very exciting.

[Fortune Feimster]

I'm very proud. As you guys know, putting out a special. It's a whole long, two year, however long process. And yeah, just very pumped for people to watch it. I hope people will watch it.

[Tig Notaro]

And is it top secret right now that you're wearing a pink suit?

[Fortune Feimster]

It's not top secret anymore.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay. Word is out.

[Fortune Feimster]

Well, I was said in our pretty little episode that our pod inspired me.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Because I really love our. You know, not to be vain, but I really love our photo of us.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Our hands. Our main handsome photo. Because we look very handsome.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

And I wanted to just. Yeah, I wanted to go with that feeling. And so I had a custom made suit made. And it's pink. It's pink.

[Tig Notaro]

Very handsome.

[Fortune Feimster]

I even say in the special, if you watch, there are two references to our podcast, so our listeners will have to let us know if they call either of those.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, my God, I can't wait.

[May Martin]

I like, in my. In my mind, you had in your closet, like a gown picked out to wear and then the suit next to it and you're umming and ahing between the two. And then you threw the gown out and you went with the suit.

[Fortune Feimster]

That's right. I mean, I. One of the. One of the references is pretty is like right off the bat.

[May Martin]

Really?

[Fortune Feimster]

Mm.

[Tig Notaro]

Wow.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, my God.

[Tig Notaro]

I can't wait for this thing to drop.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's here, baby. Today.

[Tig Notaro]

You know what you should do to promote the special is be a guest on the handsome pod.

[May Martin]

That's actually There I am. Meta idea. Do you think we should do an episode ever where one of us asks the question?

[Fortune Feimster]

Just the question. Ask.

[Tig Notaro]

We'll put it on the list, right, Thomas?

[Fortune Feimster]

You know, yeah, put it on the list, Thomas. But for now, put on the list. Watching my special on Netflix, Crushing it.

[May Martin]

Were you at all influenced by. I think I said early on in the pod that, like, one of the only things I know about fashion is my mom told me pink is very flattering to your complexion. I held. And I've, like, held onto it my whole life where I'm like, you want to glow, Wear pink. And. And I think you are glowing.

[Fortune Feimster]

Thank you. Well, I do. I wanted something bright that caught people's eye, and I do like that. Our pod has a. We celebrate all. You know, handsome can mean so many things to so many people who are presenting themselves in the way that is best for them and feels good and is authentic to them. And I like the pink and the suit and the play on. Just kind of forging your own path of what handsome looks like.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, that's so cool. I'm a little jealous that I didn't think to do that, but I'm also not filming a special right now.

[Fortune Feimster]

That's right. Yours already came out, and it was awesome.

[May Martin]

When you release something, whether it's like a special or a show or something, how good are you at staying off social? Like, do you read all the reviews and social media and stuff, or are you. Do you stay off?

[Fortune Feimster]

I'll glance.

[Tig Notaro]

I read reviews. You do?

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah, I'll read reviews.

[Tig Notaro]

If.

[Fortune Feimster]

If anyone reviews it, I would probably read it. Just because they don't review a lot of standup, I don't think I'll read maybe some Instagram comments to see if it's resonating with people, if they like it. But I'm not, like, scrolling every. Every line.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, Yeah. I don't. I don't deep dive on it at all. I'm really curious because I feel like sometimes when there's reviews, I learn things about myself that I was blind to.

[May Martin]

You know, like, Tig does her trademark thing where she touches her left shoulder, and you're like, do I?

[Tig Notaro]

Well, yeah. I remember the New York Times did a piece on my Taylor Dane story.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

And they said how it was, like a signature thing of mine that I repeat things over and over, and I never noticed that. And it's not just in that story, it's in several bits of mine. Jokes, stories, whatever. I never realized that. And anyway, so aside from being Curious what people have to say. I do find that I learn things, or maybe reviewers say things that maybe I knew deep down. And then, you know, and then reading it and I'm like, I think they are right. Even if it's like a negative thing. But, yeah, I don't. I can't. Even if it's just like a post of me with my cat. Like, I can't deep dive on all of the responses to what people have to say.

[May Martin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Well, because comedy, it's like art. It's subjective. You know, some people. I know some people are going to love it and find it hysterical and other people would hate it.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

And there's no control over that. I mean, all I try to do is like, all of us when we have a special come out is you just have to get people to watch it because that's the only way to get another one. Yeah.

[May Martin]

Seriously.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's just trying to be that, you know, there's so many voices of male comics out there and they get so much attention. And I think us trying to get different points of view out there is important.

[Tig Notaro]

That's why you gotta throw on a pink suit.

[Fortune Feimster]

That's right.

[May Martin]

Yeah, man.

[Tig Notaro]

Maybe. You know what? My next special, I'm gonna wear a pink suit.

[Fortune Feimster]

Seeing you in all pink would be pretty funny.

[Tig Notaro]

And then may you do your next special in pink.

[May Martin]

Yes.

[Tig Notaro]

Come on. Are you working on new material? Maybe.

[May Martin]

Yeah. I'm pumped to be. To have some time that. Truly, this has been the craziest six months ever. And I'm so pumped to have any time. I'm going to. Yeah, I'm going to be. I have no idea what I want to say or.

[Tig Notaro]

So you haven't started writing? You haven't, like, notes or gone on stage or done a set or anything like that?

[May Martin]

I haven't done a set in. Yeah, about six months, which is the longest I've been maybe since I was a teenager. But then. But before the six months, I had like half an hour of new stuff that I'm going to go back to that probably isn't relevant to me at all anymore. You know, like that I'm.

[Fortune Feimster]

I saw you were going back up at Largo. That's starting again.

[May Martin]

Yeah. Going.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Going back up at Largo and things here and there.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Yeah. I'm excited.

[Fortune Feimster]

Well, you're going to have a lot to say.

[May Martin]

Oh, man, I am. I got to get into the bear story. I got, you know, there's a lot to unpack for. Sure.

[Tig Notaro]

I love that you're like, boy, am I ever. I've got to get into the bear story.

[Fortune Feimster]

Bear story number one.

[Tig Notaro]

Number one. And the list ends there.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

If you just talk about bears the whole time, that's still. That's a solid special.

[May Martin]

Right. If I just narrow it down, really.

[Tig Notaro]

I've gotten really into mountain goats lately.

[May Martin]

Really?

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Oh, I'm a big fan.

[Tig Notaro]

Are you really?

[May Martin]

Yes.

[Tig Notaro]

Like, I am so deeply obsessed with mountain goats and have been forever. Like, whenever I'm driving through the mountains with my family, I always tell my kids, look for mountain goats, because they will just be standing on the wall of a mountain.

[May Martin]

Like, on a vertical.

[Tig Notaro]

On a vertical. Yes. Question.

[Fortune Feimster]

I have a question.

[Tig Notaro]

Go to YouTube. Fortune just raised her hand. Go to YouTube.

[Fortune Feimster]

What is the difference between a goat and a mountain goat?

[Tig Notaro]

Wait, is this a joke?

[Fortune Feimster]

Is it just that the goats on the mountain.

[Tig Notaro]

Wait, have you not seen a mountain goat fortune?

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't. I guess not.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay. A goat.

[Fortune Feimster]

They look different.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, I mean, they've got the body of, like, a barrel, and then they've got, like, little kind of stick legs and then cloven hooves, and then they stand on a vertical wall.

[May Martin]

They're definitely more stick and impressive.

[Tig Notaro]

It does seem hard. It is insane that this animal exists on a wall.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

And, like, what compelled. But what compels them to do it? Like, I guess they're looking for little plants to eat and stuff, but then they've got to get down from there at some point, and you never see that.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh. Oh, well, let me tell you something out here in. I am not somebody that looks at YouTube or, like, I. You. I'm not in YouTube world.

[May Martin]

Okay.

[Tig Notaro]

So I'm in Toronto. I had a couple of days off, and they were slow days, and I. And I'm telling you, I think about mountain goats all the time. And so one day, I thought while I was in my kitchen, I thought while I was singing about mountain goats, I thought, I bet they're on. I bet I could find some mountain goats on YouTube.

[May Martin]

Hell, yeah. You could?

[Tig Notaro]

Yes. And I went over to my computer and I put mountain goats into YouTube. And, oh, boy, did that entire day go away. I was watching them jump from vertical wall to vertical wall and zigzag between two mountains. Do you understand? And, like, land perfectly fine on, like, a ledge that's as big as a kernel of corn, and they just stand there.

[May Martin]

But it gives you. It gives you hope, because it gives me hope, because I'm like, I could. We could do anything, because these guys don't look like, they're built to climb. They're, like you said, a barrel. And some stick legs. Like, they can barely bend their legs, and yet they're, like, the most agile.

[Tig Notaro]

And there's not to bring up bears again, but bears, wild cats, eagle, eagles drag these animals away.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, my God.

[Tig Notaro]

And they just live on a wall. Anyway, I can move. I'll move on. But how did I get to this? Why not?

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't know.

[Tig Notaro]

But I know you just said you're a fan.

[Fortune Feimster]

A fan of mountain goats.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, I'm always trying to wedge it in somewhere, but. Oh, I was talking about it on stage. Because the day that I just. An entire day went to me looking at mountain goats on YouTube. And I am not exaggerating. Fortune, thank you for that.

[May Martin]

Were you trying to sneak in the sound?

[Fortune Feimster]

I did something and I just hit my sound effects.

[Tig Notaro]

You hit your Cinderella noise.

[May Martin]

That's the sound of a day evaporating through the mountains.

[Tig Notaro]

That's what Fortune's gas sounds like. Now. Listen. Okay, so after I watched mountain goats all day, I had a show at Comedy Bar here in Toronto. And I went up there, and as soon as I walked on stage, I was just so full of mountain goat energy, and I just started ranting and raving about them.

[May Martin]

Are you a Capricorn?

[Fortune Feimster]

Good question.

[Tig Notaro]

You mean, like, with.

[May Martin]

Is your star sign, Captain?

[Tig Notaro]

No, no, I'm Aries.

[May Martin]

Okay. Okay. I'm Aries.

[Fortune Feimster]

Wait, as opposed to what, Tig?

[Tig Notaro]

Wait, what do you mean, as opposed to?

[Fortune Feimster]

You were like, am I Capricorn? In what way?

[Tig Notaro]

Well, yeah, I guess I was pretty sure that you meant that in astrology. But what are you?

[Fortune Feimster]

What kind of Capricorn do you think I am?

[May Martin]

Did you think I said Capulet, like in Romeo and Juliet?

[Tig Notaro]

Listen, I was still thinking about mountain goats.

[May Martin]

Right.

[Fortune Feimster]

Sorry.

[Tig Notaro]

What's your sign?

[May Martin]

Taurus. I'm the bull.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay. And Fortune, what are you?

[Fortune Feimster]

I'm a Cancer.

[May Martin]

Don't say that about yourself.

[Tig Notaro]

And Thomas. You're June, right?

[May Martin]

Is that Gemini? No, you're not.

[Tig Notaro]

You're May.

[May Martin]

He's shaking his head.

[Thomas Willette]

I'm a Virgo.

[Tig Notaro]

Wait, are you May?

[May Martin]

Virgo is September.

[Tig Notaro]

September.

[May Martin]

That's hot. Most.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's September.

[Tig Notaro]

September 7th.

[Fortune Feimster]

Sixth.

[Tig Notaro]

Sixth.

[Fortune Feimster]

Definitely a Virgo.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, we just met people that I've.

[May Martin]

Been in love with have been Virgos. Like. Like, most of the people have been between kind of mid August and end of September. Really significant relationships for me.

[Tig Notaro]

I've been in love all over the place.

[May Martin]

Tig, I think you should get a mountain goat tattoo or something. Like, I think the way I'm electrified by bears right now, you're lighting up about these goats and I think you need to lean in.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay, well, I'm not a tattoo person, I'll be honest.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah, me neither.

[Tig Notaro]

I'm just not, you know, I don't, I just don't want a tattoo on my body.

[May Martin]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't want the pain.

[Tig Notaro]

I can't even claim that I'm terribly attracted to tattoos either. Yeah, I think they look cool on people, but like, I'm not like, oh, I gotta get myself a tatted up lady, you know? Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First.

[May Martin]

Like, you know, to make sure your flashlight has batteries before a big camping trip.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, check in first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. This content is intended for audiences in the US Only. Savings vary terms apply All State Fire and Casualty Insurance company and Affiliates Northbrook.

[May Martin]

Illinois hello ladies and germs, boys and girls, and everybody in between. The Grinch is back again to ruin your Christmas season with Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast. After last year, he's learned a thing or two about hosting, and he's ready to rant against Christmas cheer and roast his celebrity guests like chestnuts on an open fire.

[Tig Notaro]

You can listen with the whole family as guest stars like Jon Hamm, Britney Broski, and Danny DeVito try to persuade the mean old Grinch that there's a lot to love about the inseparable holiday season. But that's not all. Somebody stole all the children of Whoville's letters to Santa, and everybody thinks the Grinch is responsible. It's a real Whoville who done it. Can Cindy Lou and Max help clear the Grinch's name? Grab your hot cocoa and cozy slippers to find out.

[May Martin]

Follow Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. Unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad free by joining Wonder plus in the Wonder app, Spotify or Apple Podcast. I have one. I mean, I have. I have about 20 tattoos, but I have one on my 20. I've talked about this one before that says oatmeal on my wrist. And I got it because this, this woman, I was like 16 and she was older and she drew it on my wrist in a kind of flirtatious way, and I got it tattooed to surprise me.

[Tig Notaro]

I'm sorry Flirtatious. Drawing oatmeal. Oh, writing the word oatmeal on you or drawing a bowl of oatmeal on you?

[May Martin]

Right in the word terrible.

[Tig Notaro]

Flirting.

[May Martin]

Yeah. Neither is very flirtatious. But she was like, what do you.

[Fortune Feimster]

Think of this bowl of oatmeal?

[Tig Notaro]

What about overnight oats?

[Fortune Feimster]

Mate, have you ever had oatmeal with raisins in them?

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, my gosh. Sexy Fortune.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, my God.

[May Martin]

If I close my eyes.

[Fortune Feimster]

Do you like cinnamon or brown sugar in your own?

[Tig Notaro]

Go to YouTube and look at Fortune's sexy face.

[May Martin]

Yeah. Also, I don't know why I said if I close my eyes, I want to see this. That's part of.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah. May. Don't close your eyes.

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, my.

[Fortune Feimster]

You want to have some oatmeal with this?

[May Martin]

Oh, my.

[Fortune Feimster]

That's what Jaz gets. Yes.

[May Martin]

Do you ever do that in, like, in her ear? Like, right in her ear?

[Tig Notaro]

No.

[Fortune Feimster]

She would be horrified.

[Tig Notaro]

As am I. As am I.

[Fortune Feimster]

You're not turned on too? All right. To each their own.

[May Martin]

But I always remember that when. So this woman was trying to help me choose a tattoo, and so she was drawing, like, different options, and one of the ones she drew that I was close to getting was a seat belt across my whole chest. It was true.

[Tig Notaro]

I would get that over oatmeal.

[Fortune Feimster]

Really?

[Tig Notaro]

I mean, that is such a funny idea. I almost want that. But that's good. And then would you have the buckle on there, too?

[May Martin]

Yeah, I'm sure around my hip would be the buckle.

[Fortune Feimster]

That is a large tattoo.

[Tig Notaro]

I know. That's a good one. Whose idea was that?

[May Martin]

That was hers. And I was so on the fence about whether to get that or oatmeal. Thank God I went with the tiny oatmeal.

[Tig Notaro]

No, no. Oh, my God. Have you had a seat belt? That is so good.

[May Martin]

Oh, my God.

[Fortune Feimster]

You're all about safety.

[May Martin]

All about safety.

[Fortune Feimster]

Buckle up. Click it. Or ticket. That would be under the seatbelt. Click it. Or ticket.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. You get pulled over by the cops, you take your shirt off, you're like.

[Fortune Feimster]

I was.

[Tig Notaro]

You rip your shirt open.

[May Martin]

Okay.

[Tig Notaro]

So I'm, you know, neck deep in mountain goat life. You're neck deep in bear life. What about you, Fortune? It can't be Biggie.

[May Martin]

It can't be Biggie.

[Tig Notaro]

It can't be Biggie. No.

[Fortune Feimster]

Because of course.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Baby bear.

[May Martin]

You need, like, an animal energy that you're channeling for last section of the year.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Okay.

[May Martin]

The special coming out the pink to me says flamingo. Like, is that a Sexy.

[Fortune Feimster]

Flamingos are very sexy.

[Tig Notaro]

Don't get Fortune talking sexy again, because.

[Fortune Feimster]

Tell us why fortune. Flamingos are the sign of swingers.

[May Martin]

Are they really?

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah. I talked about in my last special, Good Fortune. I said that there's ways you can let people know that you're a swinger. And flamingos in your yard is one of those signs.

[May Martin]

No.

[Fortune Feimster]

Which gets very confusing in Florida and at my mom's house.

[Tig Notaro]

So wait, you can just swing by someone's house if you see it for swingers, if you see a flamingo in the yard, you can just go, ring a ding.

[May Martin]

I don't think swingers means that you can just swing by that anyone can swing by.

[Fortune Feimster]

There's more to it.

[Tig Notaro]

It's.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's a flamingo or upside down Pineapples.

[Tig Notaro]

Hello.

[May Martin]

Hello.

[Tig Notaro]

Pineapple together but upside down.

[May Martin]

Interesting.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah. I don't know why upside down, but that's a sign of swingers. I didn't invent this. I just heard about it.

[Tig Notaro]

Now, Fortune. Would you ever consider being a swinger? And what is a swinger? Like, you're. Like. You're in couples and you trade off, I think.

[Fortune Feimster]

So. Like, keys in the bowl.

[May Martin]

Is it that specific? Or is it just like, we part, like, we'll hook up? Like.

[Fortune Feimster]

I think it's like a key party. Right? Wait, wait.

[Tig Notaro]

What is a key party? I don't even know what that is.

[Fortune Feimster]

Here are the rules.

[Tig Notaro]

Everybody tell us in your sexy voice.

[May Martin]

Please tell us. Sexy.

[Fortune Feimster]

Everybody. Okay. Welcome to our party. This is the. This is the key party.

[Tig Notaro]

Now, wait, this isn't sexy. This is not the cheesy voice you did.

[Fortune Feimster]

She's doing rules.

[May Martin]

She got really shy all of a sudden.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah, I'm very shy. The night is young. So here's what's gonna happen.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Is that better? Yeah, here's what's gonna happen. Everybody's gonna take their car keys out, okay? And some people have the keys where the keys, like, you can, like, murder someone with the key, and then there's other keys where the thing goes into the thing and it's just a rectangle. It doesn't matter.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay. You can still murder people that you.

[Fortune Feimster]

Put in the bowl represents you.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay?

[Fortune Feimster]

What you're going to do is you're going to put your hand into the bowl, like you're pulling out a number, and when you grab a pair of keys, you're going to say, whose keys are these? And then the person whose keys they are. Guess what? You're gonna f. I couldn't say it. You have sexual relations you did say it.

[Tig Notaro]

What do you mean you couldn't say it? You said.

[Fortune Feimster]

I said it. Okay. You kind of came all the way out.

[May Martin]

Yeah. You kind of wheezed it.

[Fortune Feimster]

I wheezed it. That's happened as a keyboard.

[Tig Notaro]

So you pull the keys out and that's who you're.

[Fortune Feimster]

That's who you're with. That's a swinger party, baby.

[May Martin]

So you got to make sure no bugs that you're into every. I mean, I don't.

[Fortune Feimster]

You be careful with that guest list.

[May Martin]

And I don't drive, so I'm going to have to be putting in.

[Fortune Feimster]

You got it.

[Tig Notaro]

You can put in your house key.

[Fortune Feimster]

Just take a key. It doesn't matter.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay, so swingers. I thought swingers were like. I thought that was two couples. And then you kind of do si do with the swap. Yeah, there's.

[Fortune Feimster]

Listen, there's no rules to swinging. Yeah, I think that's also. That's also allowed. Swap and swapping partners.

[May Martin]

Okay, so. So we're thinking Flamingo may be too confusing if that's your energy.

[Fortune Feimster]

No, I'm.

[May Martin]

Oh, you're in fun.

[Tig Notaro]

Okay, wait, you're into the idea of swinging?

[Fortune Feimster]

No, I haven't done that, but I.

[Tig Notaro]

Like the idea of it.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't. This isn't. This is a lights off body. You know what I mean?

[May Martin]

Well, no one said anything about the lights.

[Tig Notaro]

We're talking about your desires.

[Fortune Feimster]

But I think they're the ones that are lights on, baby. Anything goes. We're poking holes.

[May Martin]

Right.

[Fortune Feimster]

Whoa.

[Tig Notaro]

And then what if Jax came to you and said, I would like to check something out. Swing myself over yonder.

[May Martin]

Swing myself over yonder.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't know.

[Tig Notaro]

You'd have to cross that bridge.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Across Sarah Perel on the phone and be like, stare.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, yeah, she'd be good to talk.

[May Martin]

How do we navigate this? And she'd be like, what would it feel? What would it feel like to you?

[Fortune Feimster]

What would you feel if that happened?

[May Martin]

See? Okay, that's the key to Tig's pants fortune. Sexy voice did nothing for you. But if I did a stare.

[Fortune Feimster]

Throw it up and I did it.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. I'd follow May all the way home. And then where are you? What are you feeling these days, May? As far as, like, swing in and do si do in. And keys in a bowl.

[May Martin]

Or are you like, I'm down? I feel like. I think it's situation specific. I think it really depends who you're with and what the vibe is. But, yeah, I mean, I'm very pro Keys in the bowl.

[Tig Notaro]

And then.

[Fortune Feimster]

So what if.

[Tig Notaro]

What if somebody. What if somebody grabs keys in the bowl and then they were like, that was fun. And then your person wants to grab those keys out of the bowl again. Are you like a grab them one time and move on, or are you like, okay, I guess we're opening the door to a bunch of key grabbing.

[May Martin]

It so depends, right? I feel like if I'm present for it, then. Then all bets are like, you know what I mean? If you're a couple and then you're all involved. I don't know. I don't know. It really depends. But I think I'm open to what I have.

[Fortune Feimster]

Maise the lights on person, lights on pineapple. Pineapple does not need to be a part.

[May Martin]

But I feel like we're getting more of an insight Tig into your feelings about it, because you're like, no, what if they want to do it again? And now what if.

[Fortune Feimster]

What are these rules?

[May Martin]

Yeah. You know what I'm picturing? I'm picturing that, like, the key party starts and there's some orgy happening, and then the camera kind of pans up and Tig's like a mountain goat on the wall. Like, Tig, you're just. You're perched on a vertical wall, and you're the ceiling just being like, well, look down there.

[Tig Notaro]

Looky there.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, man. Gosh. How do we get on these topics?

[May Martin]

I don't know.

[Tig Notaro]

Was this my mountain? Yes, it is your fault. You turned it into a sexy con. I was just trying to talk about mountain goats.

[Fortune Feimster]

That is true.

[Tig Notaro]

And then. And then you started getting everything all sexy.

[Fortune Feimster]

Y'all brought up flamingos, and I told you what flamingos stand for. That's it.

[Tig Notaro]

So this goes back. It traces back to you. You were the one that brought up swingers. And then I was like, what does that even mean?

[Fortune Feimster]

And what are the rules?

[May Martin]

Did you know that flamingos are only pink because they eat shrimp? And if they didn't eat shrimp, they wouldn't be pink. They're only pink because of their diet.

[Fortune Feimster]

Maybach.

[May Martin]

Maybach. And did you know that? Like, I think I've talked about this. It's one of my favorite things to Google. If you Google teenage flamingo, it's one of the only animal species where it has the most awkward adolescent phase. Like a human. Like, it just looks like, why am I alive? And it's still kind of. It hasn't turned pink yet.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's lanky legs.

[May Martin]

It's all.

[Tig Notaro]

Hasn't had a shrimp Yet.

[May Martin]

Probably hasn't had enough shrimp yet. Yeah, yeah. Teenage flamingos.

[Fortune Feimster]

One of my faves did not know about this. Well, thank you for sharing.

[Tig Notaro]

Mayfact. What just happened was that Thomas. That was Thomas.

[Fortune Feimster]

Is that our new mayfect signal?

[Tig Notaro]

I think it's our old one.

[Thomas Willette]

I had that for a while back.

[Fortune Feimster]

I knew that. I knew that. We've had a Mayfact in a minute.

[Tig Notaro]

So should we move on to our questioner this week? Speaking of handsome.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

I mean, I mean, basically, if you have a dictionary on hand, which I would assume every listener does when they listen to our podcast, because we do use very advanced language and we learn so much. And it's good to just keep an encyclopedia and dictionary near you, because if you open a dictionary and you look up handsome, you will see me, fortune, may. And our questioner. And Thomas.

[May Martin]

And Thomas.

[Tig Notaro]

Thomas, Absolutely. Today's questioner is an actor best known for his Emmy winning portrayal of Don Draper on Mad Men. He also starred in the latest season of Fargo as well as the morning show.

[May Martin]

Oh, boy.

[Tig Notaro]

Jon Hamm is asking today's question.

[Fortune Feimster]

Ba ba voom. So sexy that Mr. Ham.

[Tig Notaro]

Go to YouTube. Go to YouTube.

[May Martin]

Can you, Fortune, can you, like, come out of a birthday cake for me on my birthday?

[Fortune Feimster]

Waiting for you. Yeah. Hamson. Hamson.

[Tig Notaro]

No, John Hamsum.

[Fortune Feimster]

There you go.

[Jon Hamm]

Hey, handsome pod, it's Jon Hamm and I have a question for you guys.

[May Martin]

I have a surprise.

[Fortune Feimster]

We're ready for a first team rehearsal. Nine minutes early.

[Jon Hamm]

Thank you. What was the earliest you've ever been called to set? Was it nine minutes? What was the first book that you ever read that truly affected you? I will wait for your answer.

[Tig Notaro]

Offline.

[Fortune Feimster]

Can I just.

[Tig Notaro]

Can I just tell you? So I flew from Toronto back to LA to film one day on the morning show. And when I was filming John do this question, the lighting was really terrible and Jen grabbed a lighting thing and stood behind me to light John.

[May Martin]

Jennifer Aniston was your grip.

[Tig Notaro]

Jennifer Aniston was the grip on my shoot. And that was that crazy laugh in the background too. If you heard, that's incredible. That's Jen. But the publicist, the morning show publicist was watching the whole thing go down. And then after we finished, she goes, I cannot believe I didn't pull my phone out and film Jen lighting this question.

[May Martin]

Yeah, that would have been funny.

[Fortune Feimster]

Well, Jen loves the handsome pod. We know that.

[Tig Notaro]

She does love the handsome pod. And you know who really loves the handsome pod? Pod is Jen's private chef. I think I've Told you all that.

[Fortune Feimster]

You did tell us and we want to. We tried to invite ourselves over for dinner. Yeah.

[May Martin]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what happened.

[Tig Notaro]

And word got out, but.

[May Martin]

Word got out.

[Tig Notaro]

No invitation happened.

[May Martin]

Cool, cool, cool, cool.

[Fortune Feimster]

I'm available for Jen's Christmas party too.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. Just putting it out there. But yeah. So when I filmed John, when Jen and I filmed John, we got him looking handsome because we got that lighting.

[Fortune Feimster]

He looked very handsome. He's a handsome fellow.

[Tig Notaro]

He is so handsome.

[Fortune Feimster]

Because Don Draper was the like, like classic handsome.

[May Martin]

I mean he looks like he's from that era, right? That's like, it's perfect casting. He's got that like old time movie star kind of. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, books.

[Fortune Feimster]

At first he said first book and I was like, oh God. First book. I'm like, goodnight moon.

[May Martin]

Yeah. Hungry. Hungry Caterpillar Spark something uncommon this holiday with just the right gift from Uncommon Goods. If you haven't finished your holiday shopping yet, don't panic. We've got a secret source for incredible original gifts and that's Uncommon Goods. They've got unique handpicked gifts for everyone on your list, all in one spot. Gifts that spark, joy, wonder, delight. And that is exactly what I wanted. Feeling.

[Tig Notaro]

I have a friend who loves hiking but always gets dehydrated. So I got them the crossbody water bottle bag. It's a stylish hands free bag that holds a 32oz water bottle as well as your keys and wallet with an adjustable strap. It comes in a bunch of colors, but I picked sage.

[May Martin]

Uncommon Goods looks for products that are high quality, unique and often handmade or made in the US they have the most meaningful out of the ordinary gifts anywhere. They even have gifts you can personalize. To get 15 off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com handsome that's uncommongoods.com handsome for 15 off. Don't miss out on this limited time offer. Uncommon Goods. We're all out of the ordinary. Sleep is the best. It's also so important and we don't prioritize it enough. And that includes the thing that we're sleeping on. That's right. I'm talking about your pillow, but more specifically your pillowcase. That's where Blissey comes in. You've heard us talking about Blissey because they're the best pillow around. I've been giving Blissey pillowcases as gifts, left and right and center and let me tell you, they're a hit. I use Blissey myself wherever I go. It's great. For my skin, good for my hair. Blissey's pillowcases are better than synthetic satin, come in a ton of colors and patterns, and they're hypoallergenic with a hidden zipper. Blissey's been featured on Good Morning America, the View Live with Kelly and Mark, and its dermatologist. Recommended. Everybody loves them. They have over 2 million fans. And you could be next because you're a listener. Blissey's offering 60 nights risk free, plus an additional 30% off when you [e-mail] handsome. That's B L I S S Y.com handsome and use code handsome to get an additional 30% off. Your skin and hair will. Thank you.

[Fortune Feimster]

But first book that really stuck with us.

[Tig Notaro]

I mean, you laugh, but one of my childhood books really was. But I have an older one. But, man, give it to us. Okay, I'll give it to you. I was so into. And I believe I've talked about this before. I talk about it all the time. But Amelia Bedelia.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, yeah.

[May Martin]

So she's. What's the deal with her? What's her vibe?

[Fortune Feimster]

What is the deal with her?

[Tig Notaro]

With Amelia Badille, what is the deal? She takes things literally.

[May Martin]

Right.

[Fortune Feimster]

I couldn't remember either. What.

[Tig Notaro]

When I was in elementary school and it was story time and you get in a little circle and teacher reads and you choose a book and whatever. I was always raising my hand, like, requesting Amelia Bedelia. I just thought she was the funniest per. Like, she was a housekeeper, I think. And I always give the example of the people that she worked for. Would leave a list of things for her to do.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

And one of the things on the list, which is hilarious, is draw the drapes.

[Fortune Feimster]

Draw.

[Tig Notaro]

And she took it literally. She sets up an easel and she draws the drapes. And I was a. Cackling.

[May Martin]

I feel like this would have inspired early. Take bits like. Yeah, like. Like, I can picture, like, your mom being like, hop in the shower. And you're like, oh, hop in the shower.

[Tig Notaro]

Like, yes. Yeah, yeah. It was so my sensibility, and I think it really influenced my comedy, honestly. Yeah. But then when I was older, I think in junior high school, school, maybe I can't remember the year, but I was really into. I mean, I'm very into music, but I was. I was very into the Story of Sid and Nancy.

[May Martin]

Oh, yeah, you talked about this. It's a. There's a book that I need to read. Yeah. That. Oh, that like, electrified you. Their toxicity.

[Tig Notaro]

And you were like, yeah, it's called. And I Don't want to live this life. And it's written by Nancy's mother.

[May Martin]

Can I tell you something? I have it. I wrote down the name of it to look up when you told me that. And then the other day, I opened the notes on my phone, and I thought I had got really depressed and just written a really sad note. I don't want to live this life anymore. I was like, oh, my God, when.

[Fortune Feimster]

Did I write that?

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. No, no, it's just a book that really. I don't know why. It.

[May Martin]

I think maybe, like, the Grid. I think when you're a teenager, like, you're drawn to that grittiness and that.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah, real life story. Yeah, yeah, real life story. Written about. I mean, I was so into the Sex Pistols. I was so into the Sid and Nancy story. I had seen the movie. I had. And then I found out about this book, and like I said, I think I read it three times.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Wow.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. As a kid, and it's very dark. Very, very dark. But really, really interesting. Very sad. Yeah, I'm drawn to that kind of stuff. I like dark and sad.

[May Martin]

Me, too. Fortune, what about you?

[Fortune Feimster]

Well, I'll give you two books. I have that one, like, earlier childhood book that always resonated with me. It was Tuck Everlasting.

[May Martin]

What's this?

[Fortune Feimster]

It's about the God. I don't remember the details, but the broad sense of it was that he wanted to live forever and thought that that was the greatest thing. I'm pretty sure that's the book. Hold on.

[Tig Notaro]

Sounds like I really made an impression.

[May Martin]

Classic Fortune.

[Fortune Feimster]

Google. Am I mistaking it with something else? Okay, wait. Oh, God.

[Tig Notaro]

Take your time. Take your time. This is good. This is good for podcasts.

[Fortune Feimster]

What's it? Not this book.

[Tig Notaro]

Fortune's Googling and sifting through her phone now.

[Fortune Feimster]

It feels like this isn't the book. It definitely feels like it's whatever book I'm thinking of. I thought it was Tuck Everlasting. He wanted to live forever, but I can't remember why.

[May Martin]

And was he, like, a little.

[Fortune Feimster]

Wait, let me Google. Did Tuck.

[Tig Notaro]

Can I just tell you, Jon Hamm is such a handsome man. He is also so smart, so well read. He's all of these. He really is. He's such. He's such. He's got a lot of may facts. He's got a lot of information. He's lived a lot. A lot of lives. Love that. And I think he'd be really disappointed in our responses.

[Fortune Feimster]

Okay, this is. I am, right?

[Tig Notaro]

Oh, okay.

[Fortune Feimster]

He wanted to Live forever, but I can't remember why. Or someone wanted to live.

[Tig Notaro]

But you've already said this.

[Fortune Feimster]

Okay, so something about someone in the book or. Or had to live forever. I don't remember if it was a good thing or a curse. But you think it's. You think you want this.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, why don't you just speculate a bunch about what you think the book might have been, and then you see.

[Fortune Feimster]

Everybody get older and die and you're alone and it's not. So it's not the awesome thing you thought it was.

[May Martin]

It's a kids book.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't remember me. Oh, my God.

[Tig Notaro]

I'm gonna tell John not to listen.

[Fortune Feimster]

To this, but the moral of the story was when you say you want something to last forever. I don't want this to end.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Because I want this to last forever.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

You don't really want that because the beauty of life is getting older and going and growing and getting wisdom and learning and.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

If you just stay the same at one place, everything passes you by. And it's sad.

[May Martin]

Right.

[Fortune Feimster]

There's more to the story. But I don't remember. I just remember that was changed your life lesson afforded lesson.

[May Martin]

Because when.

[Fortune Feimster]

When I was in college, I remember saying I'm. I'm scared to graduate because it's so good that I. I want this feeling to last forever. And I'm sad to leave. And my mom had me read that book.

[May Martin]

Oh.

[Fortune Feimster]

Because it was less. That lesson was in there of like, it's. You don't want this to last forever.

[Tig Notaro]

When you were in college, your mother had you read a children's book?

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't think it's a children's. I don't know if it's a children's book or not. I don't think it's a children's book. But it's not a.

[Tig Notaro]

There's no way to know. This is the book that I don't think.

[Fortune Feimster]

And anyway, she was right. Because I've had a thousand cooler things happen since then that I never thought was possible because I thought this was as good as it's gonna get. Yeah.

[May Martin]

But in a way, Ginger could have just told you that lesson. Maybe she did.

[Fortune Feimster]

Maybe I didn't even read the book. That's probably. I don't. I feel like maybe I didn't read the book. It's feeling like maybe my mom just told me this lesson. Okay. Let me tell you about a book I did read. Or may. Why don't you tell us a book and then I'll go back to the book I did read.

[May Martin]

Okay. I also have to. The earlier one is a book called Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Yeah, we are disappointing Jon Hamm here for sure. This is not like a literary list, but it was a collection of short stories. If you saw the COVID you'd be like, oh, fuck. Yeah, I remember that. It was way too scary. And every story was like two pages or something. And there was this one story in it called Taylor Po. And I feel like for some reason Thomas would know about Taylor Po. But basically this guy, he's like a hunter, and he catches this creature and. And takes its tail, but the creature gets away. And then every night he's in bed and he hears, Taylor Po. Taylor Po, give me back my tailey, Po. And I was like, I was so scared. And then it comes into his. And because he eats the tail and it digs into his stomach and gets its own tail back. And I was, oh. And I think there was another one about a guy who eats bubble gum and there's spider's eggs in it or something. Anyway, it was really scary and Taylor Po was like a big part of my.

[Fortune Feimster]

I heard of Taylor Po.

[Tig Notaro]

And Thomas was nodding, yes. You're familiar with Taylor Poe?

[May Martin]

Yeah, I remember that book.

[Tig Notaro]

The one I was thinking of.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't think it's in that book.

[Tig Notaro]

Though, was the Green Ribbon.

[May Martin]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Not the green Ribbon.

[May Martin]

Not the green Ribbon, which was that the ribbon was tied around a girl's neck. Yeah.

[Thomas Willette]

And, you know, bad things would happen if it, like, came off.

[Fortune Feimster]

Whoa. Yeah, it was scary reading some intense stuff.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. Really getting in there, like later in life.

[May Martin]

The Neverending Story, that book and My side of the Mountain, about a kid who runs away and lives in a hollowed out tree and he's got a buddy who's a ferret and just like the fantasy of the solitude of nature and being like 11, and you just live in the woods and he learns to do everything himself. That was big for me. Yeah. I mean, not that I'm a nature person at all or have ever been outside, but.

[Fortune Feimster]

An adventure seeker. You're an adventure seeker, though.

[May Martin]

Yeah. I was like, wow, that sounds good. Anyway, good night.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah. Yeah, those are great.

[May Martin]

I mean, in my teens, I read a lot of, like, the, Like Jack Kerouac's diaries that are just transcribed and. And that kind of like pretentious stuff that I was, you know, like, oh, I gotta be like. Like Bob Dylan's autobiography and stuff.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, yeah, sure.

[Tig Notaro]

Got to.

[Fortune Feimster]

I did Read a book.

[May Martin]

Here we go.

[Fortune Feimster]

In college. And then it was from a North Carolina author. Her name's Kay Gibbons.

[May Martin]

Okay.

[Fortune Feimster]

She made it on the Oprah's Book Club list at one point. Not for this book, but the book she wrote. A book that I think would maybe only interest someone that grew up where I'm from or in a matriarchal family. The book was called Charms for the Easy Life. And I. It was the first time that I read a book that I could, like, really see myself in a book, because it's about a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter. And it was very much of what my life looked like at the time. My grandmother had just passed. She was very matriarchal head of our family. The, like, glue that held everybody together. My mom was, like, at that time, she was kind of finding herself and on her journey. And then I was this, like, rule follower, responsible kid trying to, like, people please and do the right thing all the time. So the book follows that family. It's kind of. It was kind of an early book on, like, Southern feminism, which was very rare at that time because you. We were coming from a time where men were very much the, like, center of the families and the decision makers, and, like, everything kind of revolved around them. And I went to a women's college, and it was the first time I didn't know I was gay, but it was the first time that I started learning about feminism and the difference of, like, being in a classroom where I didn't realize how little we got called on. In high school, things were starting to get pointed out to me that I never.

[May Martin]

Yeah, you were questioning those paradigms and all the ingrained. Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

So my English teacher in college had us read that book, and I. It really blew me away to, like, see a family like that where men were not necessary and the women were that fellas. But the women were so strong. The grandmother, in particular was, like, such a. She was a natural healer. And it takes place in rural North Carolina, and there were a lot of similarities there with me and my grandmother. And, like, the. The girl, like, her grandmother passed, and her feeling that when it happened, that was very similar to me. And, yeah, it was just. It came at a time in my life where I was like, oh, this is, like. I could see myself in that book, and just. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things that I had not, you know, being from the south, really thought about before in terms of finding your power or whatever that is your strength.

[May Martin]

Tig. I'm amazed you never read Huckleberry Finn because it feels like that's the life you lived. Like, I feel like Huckleberry Tig. That's. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

You know, I was out actually having my Huckleberry adventures. Yeah. But I was so obsessed with comedy when I was little. I've become less and less enchanted by it.

[May Martin]

But I actually, I remember When I was 11, we went on a family trip to Rome and the four of us, and it was just a tense trip. My parents were fighting, everyone was fighting. But I had this book called the Comic Toolbox that was like how to be a comedian. And if I read it now, it would probably be a joke. Like, it was like how to write a sketch. And it was like two pages how to write a standup bit. But it had little exercise books in it, like, that you fill out. I wish I had it because I remember being like at the Vatican and, like sitting in the corner scribbling in this book. And it was a real comfort to me because it was like, take whatever tension in your life and explore it. And yeah, the Comic Toolbox.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, that's why I, you know, why mountain goats are my go to right now. That's a lot of tension for me that I'm dealing with. But did you feel like that actually put you on? What was it helpful and insightful, even if you laughed at it now, like, at the time, I mean, it must have been like, oh, I'm holding the key to all comedy, right?

[May Martin]

Totally. Yeah. It was kind of like one of those books like the Artist Way or something that was like, oh, you have something to say and you just need to figure out your point of view. And. Yeah, and I was, yeah, like 11.

[Fortune Feimster]

Got a lot to say. Yeah, Steve Martin's book is really good. He. He was such a huge stand up, like, selling out, like giant, like, arenas. And then in like one day, she's like, I don't want to do. I don't do this anymore. That part of his career.

[Tig Notaro]

And then he's just like off playing a banjo, you know?

[May Martin]

Yeah, I respect that a lot.

[Tig Notaro]

One year when I was nominated for a Grammy, I was asked to present at the whatever, you know, the Grammy or you know how the award shows have the daytime thing and then the nighttime thing. And Steve Martin and Edie Burkell had recorded an album to get. I mean, they, they collaborate a lot. And it was at those daytime awards, a lot of times big stars don't show up to that. And so it was like a whole day of presenters calling out Names and no one. Huge names. And they're like, Bueller.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

Bueller could not be here today. And in his place we will accept this award and then you move on to the next one. And so I announced Steve Martin and Edie Burkell and I'm a huge fan of both of theirs. And I'm like thinking, of course they're not going to be here. And then I see like one of my biggest comedy heroes and musical heroes walking to the stage towards me. And I was like, are you kidding me?

[Fortune Feimster]

Wow.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. It's really such a fun and experience unexpected moment, especially because nobody was showing up. But yeah, that's. It's just an interesting trajectory and it just shows you that you can move on and reimagine your life and do different things and you could become a mountain goat.

[May Martin]

You could become. This is. I could become a pencil salesman. I keep fantasizing about going door to door selling pencils and you will. Thank you. Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Is that a dream?

[May Martin]

Yeah, I keep. I don't know why I always come back to a pencil salesman.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, you can't get those in stores.

[May Martin]

Well, yeah, exactly. There's a real appetite for them.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. You gotta take them door to door.

[May Martin]

Those Steve Martin albums, like, my parents had the vinyls and I was so, like, I would just sit like so tense in my body listening to them. Like, I couldn't believe it that you could be so irreverent. And when he's like, excuse me. I was like, oh, my God.

[Fortune Feimster]

Which Nell's like, not irreverent at all?

[May Martin]

No, not at all. It's like so tame.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah, I know.

[Tig Notaro]

It's so wild. When you watch comedians from long ago. And I'm not saying Steve Martin is hacky, but even like you watch Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce, you're like, I.

[May Martin]

Would have walked out.

[Tig Notaro]

It just doesn't even seem like cutting edge or groundbreaking. And it's because they were the first.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

And there's been so many people that have emulated their style. And I mean, God, even watching my old comedy, which I do all the time, I mean, whenever I have free time, I have this on loop.

[Fortune Feimster]

At your house?

[Tig Notaro]

No, but when I do see old comedy of mine or hear it or something, you know, I'll be on tour and something will come on the radio when I'm driving around and I'm like, oh, cringing.

[Fortune Feimster]

Oh, yeah. Oh my God. I just used to yell punch lines all the time.

[May Martin]

Yellow punchlines is a great time.

[Fortune Feimster]

It just like I thought in my head, that the louder I was, the funnier it was.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

And that.

[Fortune Feimster]

Really excited.

[Tig Notaro]

Sometimes it works, though.

[Fortune Feimster]

Sometimes it was okay. But I do watch some of those old clips with, like. I just can't believe it. But that's part of comedy, you know? Hopefully.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, yeah, Evolving as a. An individual comedian, but also comedy evolving in general.

[Fortune Feimster]

It's. Yeah. Because even comedy's in such a different place now because I feel like it was never. It was rarely personal back in the day. Yeah. It was observational.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

And now I feel like people are like, who are you?

[May Martin]

What do you feel?

[Fortune Feimster]

You know, what do you. People seem to want to know more about your personal life than comedy was before.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Can I say that? The Neverending Story, that book that a guy I was dating got it for me and wrote a little inscription and gave me rainbow gloves. He was a lot older, and I was, like, obsessed with him. And then I found out he gave the exact same book to this a different girl the same Christmas, and he wrote the same inscription word for word.

[Tig Notaro]

Dirty rat.

[Fortune Feimster]

And the rainbow gloves.

[May Martin]

And the rainbow gloves.

[Tig Notaro]

Dirty rat, yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

God, he's. I've never read that book, but I'm also now not going to never read it.

[Tig Notaro]

I'm so sorry you went through that, man.

[May Martin]

Thanks.

[Tig Notaro]

Should we hear what John has to say?

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[Tig Notaro]

Remember him?

[Fortune Feimster]

I bet he has a. I bet he has a smart book.

[May Martin]

What if it's Amelia Bedelia?

[Fortune Feimster]

Is he gonna ha our answers? Of course he doesn't want to read Charms for the Easy Life, How Dare Or Tuck Everlasting.

[May Martin]

Tuck Everlasting is a mystery to me.

[Fortune Feimster]

Still, by the way, I realized I did not read that book. It was a lesson my mom gave me. My mom reads like a book every three days.

[Tig Notaro]

He is going to hate this episode. Okay, let's hear what he has to say.

[Jon Hamm]

The first book that ever truly affected me was a book by John Irving called A Prayer for Owen Meany. I found it to be spiritual and amazing and intense. And it was one of the first books I ever read that wasn't assigned to me. And it made me want to read all of John Irving's books, which I then did.

[Fortune Feimster]

I knew it was going to be something.

[Tig Notaro]

That's a good answer. Yeah.

[May Martin]

Now I'm thinking of all smart answers.

[Tig Notaro]

It's too late.

[Fortune Feimster]

Have I ever read a deep book? I've read a lot of biographies.

[Tig Notaro]

I love biographies.

[May Martin]

But you remember how when we were kids, like, you would tease someone for being a bookworm? And now I feel like. Like people reading books are like Geniuses that anyone who has the attention span. Now a kid reading a book, it's like, oh, my God. Thank God. You're incredible. And back then it was like bookworm.

[Fortune Feimster]

I don't know why I don't read more. Because seriously, my mom and grandmother both read like were at the library constantly. And both could read a book every two to three days. Finish it.

[May Martin]

I know. Why. Fortunately.

[Fortune Feimster]

Why?

[May Martin]

Best fiends. The phone game that you ruined my life with.

[Fortune Feimster]

I know. Sorry, bud.

[May Martin]

We gotta get off it and we gotta get back into breathing.

[Fortune Feimster]

I gotta. I gotta read. I gotta read more. This is Jon Hamm. Thank you for reminding us Books.

[Tig Notaro]

Thank you, John Hamm. Thank you, John Ham.

[Fortune Feimster]

Reading is good. It is good for our brains too. Especially as we get older. We need to. We need to keep reading.

[May Martin]

I am reading. Since I finished filming, I am reading a book for the first time in like a year. I'm reading Lullabies for Little Criminals. It's a Canadian book. It's a kind of story, coming of age story of this girl's life on skid row. It's really good.

[Tig Notaro]

Wow.

[May Martin]

Would recommend.

[Tig Notaro]

Sounds interesting.

[May Martin]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

Cool.

[Tig Notaro]

Well, we did it again, friends.

[May Martin]

We did it again. We pulled it off.

[Tig Notaro]

Wow.

[Fortune Feimster]

You guys.

[Tig Notaro]

And you did keep your spirits up, May.

[Fortune Feimster]

You did.

[May Martin]

Look, I don't know if I dazzled everyone, but I definitely give them the old razor dazzle. That was good.

[Fortune Feimster]

I will just remind people one more time, if you're looking for something fun to watch, please, please watch my new Netflix special streaming now called Crushing It.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah. And watch it right now that it's come out because soon it won't hold up.

[Fortune Feimster]

Watch it now.

[May Martin]

And it could be one of the things that impacts you greatly as a young.

[Tig Notaro]

But it could be a special that people are using as an example of what doesn't hold up. So watch it now.

[Fortune Feimster]

You should watch it because I was inspired by the book Duck Everlasting in order to make this special and see the handsome shout outs and let us know if you caught those and if you want to post them and tag us. I wouldn't mind that.

[May Martin]

Have some viewing parties. And tigers, put on a pink suit.

[Fortune Feimster]

Yeah.

[May Martin]

Oh my God. Everybody wear a pink suit.

[Tig Notaro]

Wear a pink suit. Tag us in your pink suit. And yeah, watch Fortunes Incredible special. I saw it live before she taped and it was. She crushed it. She's not lying about in that title.

[Fortune Feimster]

She crushed it.

[Tig Notaro]

Yeah.

[Fortune Feimster]

You know where else people can have viewing parties?

[May Martin]

Where?

[Tig Notaro]

In your pants.

[Fortune Feimster]

We have a very exciting announcement because the holidays are upon us.

[May Martin]

Oh boy.

[Fortune Feimster]

Tell them what they can expect for their holiday pleasure.

[May Martin]

Well, on December 21st we are doing a holiday spectacular at Dynasty Typewriter and we're going to live stream it. It's like what a perfect excuse to get together with your pals, dress up like Santa Claus, put your keys in a bowl and watch our holiday special live streamed from anywhere in the world December 21st.

[Tig Notaro]

And then other really good news is that we have new [e-mail] including, get this comfy sweatpants.

[May Martin]

You asked for them, you got them.

[Fortune Feimster]

Anything you guys would like to plug?

[Tig Notaro]

I want to plug my ongoing shows in Toronto at Comedy Bar. These audiences have been incredible and I I'm working through this material, having a great time while I film Star Trek.

[May Martin]

And check out my Instagram for I post about shows but also I'm at Largo December 4th, so December 4th are.

[Tig Notaro]

You there with Stephanie Allen?

[May Martin]

Yes, I'm there with Stephanie Allen and then I think I'm gonna do some random shows with Brett Goldstein soon as well. So keep keep an eye out.

[Tig Notaro]

Nice review rate. Subscribe to the podcast subscribe to YouTube and share your favorite episodes with friends so we can continue to build our community. And until next time, keep it handsome.

[May Martin]

Handsome is hosted by Me, May Martin, Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster. The show is produced, recorded and edited by Thomas Willette. Email [e-mail] and and please follow us on social media Handsomepod.

[Fortune Feimster]

What a podcast Podcast.

[May Martin]

What a podcast. That was a headgum podcast.

[Tig Notaro]

Handsome's the audio version of my comedy special hello Again is available everywhere. Just in time for the holidays. Go to tignotaro.com to get a copy for you and a loved one.

[May Martin]

Now some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First.

[Tig Notaro]

Like you know to check out online reviews before buying that new tech gadget you saw advertised on social media.

[May Martin]

Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. This content is intended for audiences in the US Only. Savings vary. Terms apply. Allstate Firing Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates Northbrook, Illinois.