"Handsome" Podcast – Pretty Little Episode #65

Date: November 14, 2025
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Mae Martin (Fortune Feimster absent)

Episode Overview

This "Pretty Little Episode" (a shorter edition due to Fortune Feimster’s absence) finds comedians Tig Notaro and Mae Martin chatting candidly about their odd daily quirks, coffee mishaps, neighborly exchanges, and animal encounters before diving into listener questions about Shania Twain dreams and staying authentic as a creator. Lively stories, thoughtful advice, and lots of dry humor keep the energy up, even in Fortune’s absence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fortune's Absence & The Origins of "Pretty Little Episode"

• [00:54] The episode opens with Tig and Mae explaining that Fortune Feimster can't join because she's moving, lacks internet, or (as Mae jokes) "she's having an orgy."
• They note it’s the first time in the podcast’s history that the hosts arrived before their producer, Thomas.

2. Quirky Phrases & the "Inst" In-Joke

• [02:23] Mae shares an inside joke: whenever she or a friend uses an unusual word or phrase in text, they add "[inst]" to indicate "I never say that."
• Tig: "It was so subtle and not weird because other people say it all the time, but it would never normally come out of my mouth..." [02:51]

3. Tig’s Anti-Lid Coffee Routines & Neighborhood Observations

• [03:30] Tig describes why she never uses plastic coffee cup lids — she's convinced she's "pouring plastic into [her] mouth."
• This leads to comically detailed stories about constantly spilling coffee during morning walks, capped by a moment where she accidentally pours cortado down her neck:
  • Tig: "I'm scratching my neck with a coffee cup in my hand. Where else is it gonna go?" [05:31]
• Both hosts discuss the familiar faces and their unofficial “mayor” roles in their neighborhoods.

4. Getting to Know (or Avoiding) Neighbors

• [06:58] Mae recalls her parents' overenthusiastic neighbor-bonding in a Greek village, leading her to keep distance from her own neighbors to avoid too much friendliness.
• Tig shares the story of her neighborly exchange: jars of homemade lentil soup for Stephanie’s vegan banana bread — “Something that we’ve done for almost eight years.” [08:21]

5. Animal Intrusions at Mae's

• [08:25] Mae’s backyard turns into a “Disney movie” as a skunk, raccoon, and possum arrive together, drawn by cat food intended for a stray named Dean.
  • Tig: "That sounds like the animal lottery to me." [09:06]
• Tig mentions a friend who, against all advice, feeds raccoons, calling them her “children.”
  • Mae: "She got eaten by raccoons." [10:05] (jokingly)

6. Listener Question #1 – Where Would You Go with Shania Twain?

[11:30]

• Annie (Caller): "If Shania Twain appeared and said, ‘Let's go, girls,’ where would you be going and who would go with you?"
• Mae’s answer: Amusement park with “girl pics,” wearing a propeller hat, and references an intimate, comedic moment when Shania’s music played in a romantic setting.
  • Mae: "She can call me a girl. She can do no wrong." [11:45]
• Tig’s answer: Calls back to a viral party bus incident with "Glenn, Abby, Sarah Paulson, Holland Taylor... Amanda Kloots," joking that Ellison “hugged [her] so hard she broke [her] ribs.” [13:32]
• Tig also reflects on emotional significance:
  • "If Shania said, 'let's go, girls,' I would see that as an Andrea sign... Like, we're going to Andrea town." [14:16]
• Annie’s own answer: "Getting on a private jet to Australia, or brunch with her mom friends without the kids." [14:46]

7. Staying True to Yourself as a Creator (Listener Question #2)

[16:37] – Gabby’s Question:

• Gabby, a spoken word poet, asks, “How do you stay true to yourself and not cave into pressure to ‘stay relevant’ or fit algorithms, especially as an online creator?”
  • Expresses worry about the "hamster wheel" of content creation.

Advice from Hosts:

• Mae: Rejects forced content creation; instead, focuses on fostering creativity and collaborating with inspiring friends.
  • “It's thinking laterally. How do I cultivate inspiration in my life?... How can I generate more of that feeling?” [19:35]
• Tig: Strong stance on genuine inspiration:
  • "I can't make myself create things unless it comes naturally.. to actually sit down and force myself to find something funny, I can't do that." [18:15]
  • "I don't think it's good to think about [the audience]." [20:17]
• They agree: the most meaningful art comes from personal specificity and what excites the artist, even if it’s not the “relevant” thing.
• Mae: "When I think about the things that have really, like, lit me on fire as a fan... It's always weird. Like Pee Wee Herman... or Twin Peaks." [21:27]

8. Comic Brainstorm – Mae’s Next Comedy Special

• [22:01] Tig (playfully): "You accidentally just said the title of your next stand-up special: Sticking to My Guns... and you’re in a tank top." [22:13]
• Mae loves the idea, jokes about the irony of NRA fans being tricked by the title.

9. Podcast Philosophy & Sign-Off

• Tig sums up their “do what you love” philosophy:
  • “As artists and performers, you have to make sure you’re enjoying what you do.” [23:00]
• Mae: “That’s always the thing that people end up connecting with—the specificity.” [23:26]
• They thank listeners, remind them to submit questions, and poke fun at the “fun, dumb, and silly” nature of the show.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tig Notaro:

  • "I'm scratching my neck with a coffee cup in my hand. Where else is it gonna go?" [05:31]
  • "I can't make myself create things unless it comes naturally... if something naturally strikes me, I make a note." [18:15]
  • "As artists and performers, you have to make sure you're enjoying what you do." [23:00]
  • "This show is exactly what this show is." [23:31]

• Mae Martin:

  • “She can call me a girl. She can do no wrong.” [11:45]
  • "It's thinking laterally. How do I cultivate inspiration in my life?" [19:35]
  • "When I think about the things that have really, like, lit me on fire as a fan of people, it's always weird..." [21:27]

• On their podcast style:

  • "It's dumb and it's fun." –Mae [23:46]
  • "Sometimes it's tear jerky." –Mae [23:52]
  • "Fun, dumb, and silly." –Tig [23:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Coffee & Lidless Mishaps: 03:30 – 05:36
• Neighborhood & Neighbors: 06:06 – 08:25
• Animal Antics at Mae’s: 08:25 – 10:23
• Q1: Shania Twain Hypothetical: 11:30 – 15:17
• Q2: Artistic Authenticity: 16:37 – 22:22
• Podcast Philosophy & Sign-off: 23:00 – 24:19

Takeaways

Even on a scaled-down episode, Tig and Mae deliver a mixture of irreverent routines and sincere advice. Their stories and answers highlight the importance of authenticity, the comedy in everyday life, and the friendships that animate both their personal worlds and their podcast.