Handsome – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson ask about siblings
Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Special Guests (Question Contributors): Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson

Overview

This laughter-filled episode of Handsome is all about siblings: the memories, the messiness, the love, and the surprises. The show’s three hosts—Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin—catch up after a long spell apart, share personal updates and stories, and enthusiastically field an on-air question from Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, who bring warmth and nostalgia with their sibling inquiry.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

Reunion and Emotional Catch-up [02:05–09:46]

• The hosts remark on the rarity of being together in-person due to busy touring and filming schedules.
  • Mae Martin: “I can't believe we're together. I know. We haven't been in the same room for a while.” [02:29]
• Tig shares news about a film she produced (“Come See Me in the Good Light”, about Andrea Gibson & Megan Fowley), prompting a discussion on grief, legacy, and the heartbreaking presence of someone through their art.
  • Tig Notaro: “It was one of the first moments that made me feel like Andrea was actually gone… when somebody leaves behind so much art…” [04:17]
• The trio dives into how grief manifests, stages of grief (“Do you think those are legit, the stages of grief? Are they still around? People say, like, you go, like, have you hit angry yet?” – Mae Martin, [06:10]). They joke about “making it” as comics by naming their tours after their emotional states.

Mae’s Therapy Retreat Adventure [10:00–29:38]

• Mae details a weeklong, tech-free therapy retreat, including mishaps (toad omens, smashing a “vase” [14:11]), grueling days, pillow-bashing, and raw emotional release.

  • Mae Martin: “I beat the shit out of this pillow for 45 minutes without stopping. And you're not allowed to stop. And I was...I went into some primal instinct.” [15:53]
  • After a full-moon walk and another toad encounter, Mae realizes the retreat’s importance (“I think it meant stay, but in a toad, like… And then…So I did stay. And I'm glad I did, because by the end, I'm okay.” [21:18])

• Takeaways: Bonding with strangers, the universality of shame and complicated family feelings, learning to discern “what’s mine and what’s other people’s”, and the eternal pull of farm-fresh biscuits.

• Memorable exchange:

  • Tig Notaro: “Look, I love a retreat, you know, I love breathing. I love meditation. I love veganism. I'm. I'm perfect for this.” [25:51]

Fortune on Work, Family, and Grief [37:31–45:47]

• Fortune discusses her fulfilling filming gig—appreciating the joy and camaraderie on set.

  • Fortune Feimster: “It just feels like that pure like comedy experience where you're just like with a nice person.” [38:02]

• She opens up about family challenges, emotional vulnerability, and her mom’s health struggles: nine-hour airport delays, the toll of illness, and how comedy helps her compartmentalize.

  • Fortune Feimster: “I just think it all finally caught up to me where I was like, I'm sad about this, of course.” [41:57]

• Tig offers support, mentioning resources for families dealing with serious health issues and shares a comforting quote from Andrea Gibson’s documentary:

  • Tig Notaro: “‘Just call everything love. Everything you're feeling, everything that's happening, just call it love.’” [44:46]

The Question: Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson on Siblings [46:24–68:02]

Introduction

Michelle and Craig’s charming video question asks:

“What's one of your favorite childhood memories with a sibling?” [47:38]

Hosts’ Reflections

• Potential Sibling Podcasts:

  • Tig’s brother works in sports radio; Fortune’s brothers run a fishing business. They joke about hypothetical family podcasts blending their different worlds.
  • Fortune: “I mean, I would try to make the fishing this more exciting because I'm like, what, we're just gonna hear about fishing?” [49:40]

• Favorite Sibling Memories

  • Mae: Mischievous week with her brother while parents were away (“as soon as the taxi pulled away to the airport... we got a can of whipped cream, came back, threw on the wrestling, and it was so joyful” [54:16]). As adults, she was touched watching her brother engage a tour guide in England.
  • Fortune: Family trip across Spain with her brother and mom (role reversals: “my mom was kind of the child”), recent sibling bonding weekends, and her older brother being emotionally supportive during their parents’ divorce:
    • Fortune: “He would have them [his college friends] write me letters... because he asked them to help look out for me.” [58:21]
  • Tig: The evolving relationship with her brother, especially seeing him as a loving “girl dad”:
    • Tig: “…to come back when she was turning one and to see my brother just loving getting her in her little dresses and putting bows in her hair...” [61:13].
      Stories about upending her brother’s Santa Claus belief and handling all the “trouble” as the younger sibling.

• On Family Support: Both Tig and Fortune reflect on their brothers’ reactions to their careers—accepting, supportive, proud in the “boyish” way.

Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson’s Own Answer [66:09–68:02]

• Michelle: Their makeshift room divider, tossing a square pillow over the top, inventing “events” with different one/two-handed catches.
  • Michelle Obama: “I would throw the little, small square pillow that we had over the top and you would catch it...and we would have different kind of events. One would be the two hand catch, one would be the one hand catch, one would be the offhand catch.” [66:14]
• Craig: Christmas mornings in their small apartment, the anticipation and their parents’ creativity—makeshift chimney and fireplace, always waiting for Michelle to wake him up first to check for Santa.
  • Craig Robinson: “...she [their mom] created a makeshift chimney...corrugated paper that looked like a chimney and put it over our radiator...because she and dad painted...Because our dad was an artist...But you always got up first. And you never went out to check for Santa...unless you woke me up.” [67:25]

Closing Reflections [68:02–end]

• The hosts bask in the wholesome nostalgia and humor of Michelle and Craig’s stories.
  • Tig: “That was so cool having Michelle and Craig ask a question.” [68:33]
• Joking about their “train wreck” appearances compared to the Obamas’ polish, and encouraging fans to share the episode, buy merch, and check out their respective comedy tours.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I beat the shit out of this pillow for 45 minutes without stopping.” – Mae Martin [15:53]
• “Just call everything love. Everything you're feeling, everything that's happening, just call it love.” – Tig Notaro (quoting Andrea Gibson) [44:46]
• “As soon as the taxi pulled away to the airport...we got a can of whipped cream, came back, threw on the wrestling, and it was so joyful.” – Mae Martin [54:16]
• “He would have them write me letters...because he asked them to help look out for me and I, that would always be a memory of him that I really cherish.” – Fortune Feimster [58:21]
• “What, you think she doesn't look good in that? This is her color.” – Tig Notaro (on her brother and his daughter) [61:30]
• “I could listen to them tell stories all day long.” – Fortune Feimster (about Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson) [68:06]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 02:05 — Hosts Reunite & Personal Updates
• 04:17 — Andrea Gibson Film: Grief & Legacy
• 10:00 — Mae’s Therapy Retreat Story
• 15:53 — Primal Pillow Beating at the Retreat
• 25:51 — Tig on Loving Meditation, Veganism, and Retreats
• 37:31 — Fortune on Comedy Work & Family Health
• 44:46 — “Call It Love” (Andrea Gibson quote)
• 47:10 — Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson Question Intro
• 54:16 — Mae’s “Whipped Cream & Wrestling” Memory
• 58:21 — Fortune’s Letters from College Friends
• 61:13 — Tig Describes Her Brother as a “Girl Dad”
• 66:14 — Michelle Obama’s Pillow Toss Memory
• 67:25 — Craig Robinson’s Christmas Memory

Tone & Vibe

The episode is honest, self-deprecating, and deeply warm. There’s a trademark blend of comedy, vulnerability, and genuine affection for family—both the ones you’re born into and the ones you find along the way. The hosts handle both the hysterical and the heartfelt, making this episode resonate with anyone who’s ever loved, or been exasperated by, a sibling.

For further info, ticket links, and merch, check out handsomepod.com or the hosts’ individual websites.