Handsome Podcast – "Pretty Little Episode #53"

Release Date: August 22, 2025
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Producer: Thomas Willette

Episode Overview

This episode of Handsome is as delightfully meandering and intimate as ever, featuring comedic hosts Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin (Tig Notaro absent this episode), who riff on personal expression (tattoos, tank tops), identity, queer culture, and the games that define family and friendship. As always, they answer questions from listeners—including some married superfans—balancing wit, vulnerability, and playfulness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fashion, Self-Image, and Tattoos

• Tank Top Energy: Mae admits to wearing a tank top due to the heat, reflecting on how it impacts their personality and self-image.
  • “I'm just seeing how it feels, how it affects my personality. I'm going to try and wear it a lot this summer.” (01:15 – Mae)
• Tattoo Talk: Mae discusses the chronological tattoos marking significant years, jokes with Fortune about running out of real estate, and fantasizes (humorously) about getting a belly button face tattoo.
• Piercings vs. Tattoos: A playful debate about pain, with Fortune revealing pierced ears and a fondness for Asheville’s queer scene T-shirts.

Notable Quote

• "You look tough." (01:30 – Fortune to Mae)
• "It makes me want to get more tattoos. Really go the whole hog." (01:40 – Mae)

2. Queer Community, Demographics, and Fluidity

• Asheville’s Lesbian Census: They analyze Fortune’s shirt “10,000 lesbians can’t be wrong” by googling Asheville’s population (~100,000) and riff on lesbian census taking and mountain lesbian bat signals.
  • “I just joke that the lesbians in Asheville are, you know, on the mountain somewhere. And when someone comes to town, that is some representation. The bat signal goes out.” (04:23 – Fortune)
• Queer Fluidity & Spin the Bottle: Mae discusses the increased openness of women about queerness; relays stories about spin-the-bottle games and the surprising enthusiasm of straight men at such parties.

Notable Quotes

• “I feel like there are more ladies I think are becoming curious these days, don't you think?” (04:57 – Fortune)
• "I always notice when I introduce spin the bottle, it's always the straight guys that are so excited to have an excuse to kiss each other." (06:16 – Mae)

3. Games, Family, and Friendship

• Foosball, Pinball, and Custom Games: Mae shares about post-tech-support foosball matches and considering joining pinball tournaments. They brainstorm creating a custom Handsome pinball machine.
  • “You might end up buying your own pinball machine at some point.” (07:22 – Fortune)
  • “And at one point, you get the most points if the ball goes up and it goes between two boobs and gets motorboated.” (07:51 – Mae)
• Listener Questions – Games with Family: Caroline from Omaha asks about family games. Mae reminisces about Scrabble, cribbage, poker, and a quirky “loon club” their grandfather created involving a night walk around a snowy house at age two.
  • “You had to walk around the perimeter of the cottage at night by yourself... I was two. Was anyone watching me?” (13:14 – Mae)
• Family Game Dynamics: Discussions of game-induced competitiveness, especially in Scrabble, leading Mae’s parents to divide tiles for fairness after “a moment where someone ripped the board in half.” (15:34 – Mae)

4. Listener Questions: Favorites and Playing Favorites

• Married Fans Annie and Anna: Pose the question of secret favorites (child, pet, sibling, friend).
  • Fortune gleefully recalls getting her grandmother to admit (on video) she was the favorite grandchild, a fact she later had “confirmed” by a celebrity medium.
    • “Hi Nana, who’s your favorite grandchild?... and she looked around side to side and then pointed at me.” (18:36 – Fortune)
• Children, Pets, and Emotional Bonds: Mae and Fortune discuss choosing favorite pets (Biggie the dog wins over all), and the notion of wanting to “be a safe place for a kid.”
  • "I think he's just there, you know, that, like, soul dog, those soul dogs they talk about." (21:53 – Fortune)
  • "I want kids in my life. I want to… be a parent. I don’t really care how it happens.” (20:34 – Mae)
• Favoritism Reveal: The listeners, Annie and Anna, boldly state Fortune is their favorite host—awkward but hilarious!
  • "Our favorite is Fortune. We love you, Fortune. And also Tig and Mae." (23:02 – Annie and Anna)

5. Advice (or Lack Thereof), Crying on the Pod, and Authenticity

• Advice Requests Lacking: Despite repeatedly asking, the hosts note listeners rarely write in seeking advice, joking about their own lives being “in shambles.”
  • “We’re kind of going through it right now.” (25:18 – Fortune)
• Show’s Emotional Range: Recent episodes have been heavy and tearful, a contrast to their usual silliness—something the hosts embrace.

Notable Quote

• "We cover all the emotions on this pod." (25:51 – Mae)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Spin the Bottle & British Comedy Kissing Games: Mae tells a memorable story about a high school-style kissing game at the Edinburgh Fringe with Brett Goldstein, laughing about moments of post-game reflection.
  • "One person would get unfolded and lie on a bed and then one by one we would kiss them... and then they had to say who the best kisser was." (09:36 – Mae)
• Mae’s Family’s Approach to Games: The tale of their parents meticulously splitting Scrabble tiles for fairness stands out for both warmth and comic absurdity.
• Pets as Soulmates: Fortune's earnest reflection on her dog Biggie as her “soul dog” offers a heartfelt close to the "favorite" discussion.

Important Timestamps

• 00:58 – Mae’s tank top and self-image
• 03:30 – Asheville’s lesbian population
• 05:15 – Women’s fluidity and changing attitudes
• 06:16 – Spin the bottle and the enthusiastic straight guys
• 07:04 – Foosball and pinball obsession
• 07:51 – “Motorboating” pinball idea
• 11:20 – Listener question: Caroline asks about family games
• 13:14 – The “loon club” story
• 15:34 – Scrabble drama and competitiveness in Mae’s family
• 16:29 – Caroline’s fast card game (Spit)
• 17:09 – Listener question: Playing favorites
• 18:36 – Fortune’s favorite-grandchild obsession
• 20:34 – Mae on wanting kids
• 21:53 – Fortune on her “soul dog” Biggie
• 23:02 – Annie and Anna declare Fortune their favorite host
• 25:41 – Emotional episodes and the show’s range

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The chemistry between Fortune and Mae is easygoing, vulnerable, and raucous, capturing the joy of queer friendship, family quirks, and listener connection. The episode balances light banter—about body art, camping tools as lesbian accessories, and pinball fantasies—with authentic emotional beats about family rituals, the complexity of favorites, and the evolving identity of their show. Regular fans will appreciate the callbacks, while new listeners will find welcome, realness, and plenty of laughs.

Want to join in?
Submit a question at speakpipe.com/handsomepod and follow them on socials @handsomepod.