Handsome Podcast – Episode #66: Pretty Little Episode Released: November 21, 2025. Hosts: Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin (Tig Notaro absent), produced by Thomas Wuellette

Episode Overview

This “Pretty Little Episode” of Handsome brings the show’s signature warmth and playful banter, focusing on holiday planning, the art of gift-giving, Disney character favorites (with distinct nonbinary and LGBTQ+ perspectives), and honest advice for navigating creative careers in your 20s. Fans phone in with questions about meaningful presents and identity, and Fortune and Mae reveal personal stories and lighthearted moments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Catching Up: Chilly Weather, Foosball, and Family Holidays (00:35–06:49)

• Mae’s Foosball Fascination

  • Mae has been playing “a lot of foosball late into the night,” even watching documentaries on its WWII origins. She jokingly details:
    • “It was huge in Europe ... and then it’s like video killed the radio star. Once video game machines came in ... all those buildings became arcades.” (01:32–01:47)
  • Mae describes trash talking her friend during birthday foosball—using a “Debbie the hairdresser” persona for psychological edge.

• Thanksgiving Traditions

  • Fortune gears up to host her first full-family Thanksgiving since pre-COVID:
    • “I rented a house in my hometown ... everybody’s coming. You know, with my mom being sick, I’m just trying to make things a little more special when I can.” (03:49–04:33)
  • Fortune plans both Thanksgiving and her mother’s 80th birthday for memory-making.
  • Mae contemplates a Canadian-style “Friendsgiving,” since she misses her own family’s October Canadian Thanksgiving.
  • Hosting nostalgia: Fortune recounts broke 20s Friendsgiving where “Steve and I would be in charge of the turkey and drinks, and everybody else would bring the side dishes. ... Those are some of my favorite memories.” (05:37–06:12)

• Unusual Holiday Traditions

  • Mae brings up “Frozen Charlotte,” a hidden-figurine cake, sparking a reveal that Fortune is wary of “breaking a tooth.” (06:15–06:43)

2. Listener Question: The Most Exciting Gift You’ve Ever Given (06:49–12:59)

Caller Abby from Illinois: “What’s the gift you were most excited to give someone else—maybe so much you nearly let the secret slip?”

• Mae’s Answers:

  • A custom “Zorg” T-shirt (an inside joke painting) for her friend Joe, arranged so everyone at Joe’s birthday wore them—even the bartender.
  • An Airbnb near a hospital for a stressed friend with a sick mom: “That felt good because it was practical and helpful.” (08:12–08:17)

• Fortune’s Answers:

  • A “nice coat” she bought a girlfriend, her “first adult classy gift” (08:38–09:36):
    • “I was so pumped about it ... she loved it ... and we broke up a month later. But she still has the coat.” (09:26)
  • Discussion on risky gifts—puppies (“That would be a tough present to buy someone”) and art (“I’ve heard you’re not supposed to buy people art because art is so subjective.” 10:22–10:31)

• Notable Quotes

  • Mae: “I’m just going over all the times I’ve given people art ... and then realizing I’ve never seen it in their home.” (10:31–10:37)
  • Fortune: “You might think it’s amazing, another person’s like, eh.” (10:37–10:46)

• Abby’s Own Answer: (10:53–11:36)

  • Surprise Taskmaster-themed birthday (including a sculpted head trophy)
  • Surprise tickets for Fortune's Indianapolis show: “If you air this before Christmas, you’ll actually get to be the ones to tell her about the surprise!” (11:31)

• Discussion: Comedy Tickets / Experience as Gifts

  • Fortune: “Every person that has come to my show who has gotten it as a gift is like, this was the best gift.” (12:05–12:22)
  • Mae: “There’s a nice community vibe there—people are friendly ... people make friends in the lineup for the bathroom.” (12:22–12:34)

3. Listener Question: Favorite Disney Characters (13:39–17:42)

Caller Sam from Ohio: “Who’s your favorite Disney character and why? Especially interested in Mae’s answer, as many nonbinary friends have favorites.”

• Mae’s Answer:

  • Identifies with Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast: “Lumiere is kind of a nonbinary icon in my mind.” (14:34–14:39)
  • Loves oddballs and sidekicks: Abu (Aladdin), Sebastian (Little Mermaid), Flounder, Zazu (Lion King). “I always like the characters that aren’t involved with the love plot ... they’re the fun ones.” (14:52–15:01)
  • Trivia: “Do you know who did the voice of adult Simba? ... Matthew Broderick.” (16:05–16:07)

• Fortune’s Answer:

  • Favorite: Sebastian (The Little Mermaid): “Mine’s Sebastian,” then sings part of “Kiss the Girl” (15:16)
  • “The sidekicks are the funniest!” (15:36)
  • Teases upcoming character “Nibbles” from Zootopia 2, and reveals the hosts (Mae, Tig) also voice characters.

• Mae on Villains as Queer Icons:

  • “Ursula is a gay icon. All the villains are pretty gay ... Flotsam and Jetsam, her little eels. Jafar is pretty gay.” (16:26–16:32)
  • “I’m gonna go with Lumiere ... in terms of gender identity.” (16:44)

• Sam’s Own Answer:

  • “Peter Pan ... his energy and his zest for life ... super playful and silly. Apparently a lot of nonbinary folks love Peter Pan as well.” (17:42–18:03)
  • Mae: “Of course! Peter Pan. ... There’s definitely a queer vibe ... a cheeky little rebel.” (18:03–18:22)

4. Listener Advice: Starting a Creative Career in Your 20s (18:31–22:57)

Caller Mira (from Durham, NC, now in Japan): “I just graduated college and moved to Japan for my first job, but I know I want to do something creative—art, theater. Where do you even start? It’s scary, you have to pay bills, and I feel time is running out...”

• Mae’s Advice:

  • “Get a day job adjacent to the arts so you’re around it ... I worked box office at a comedy venue.”
  • “Classes are great. ... You meet people who end up being collaborators. ... You could still have a day job and transition.” (20:55–21:08)
  • Be proactive: “You can go to a pub and book a night ... and make your own stuff.” (21:29–21:53)

• Fortune’s Advice:

  • “It’s always helpful having a focus ... hard when you don’t know what you want to do.”
  • “I was an entertainment journalist first ... talking to people, doing the thing I wanted to do, even if I wasn’t quite in it yet.”
  • “Take classes, get better in that field ... you just never know where that’ll lead.” (20:49–21:08)
  • “Set specific goals for what you want to hit.” (22:01)
  • Find a buddy: “Sometimes just going to shows is intimidating alone, but if you go with a friend you can tag-team and meet people.” (22:07–22:25)
  • “You don’t get to necessarily make money right away doing the thing you want to do. Sometimes you have to do just a job to pay the bills while still having that goal. ... Be patient.” (22:38–22:57)

• Supportive Note:

  • Mae: “Also, you’re young. Enjoy Japan!” (22:28–22:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Foosball: “It’s video killed the radio star. Once video game machines came in, all those buildings became arcades.” – Mae Martin (01:46)
• Making Holiday Memories: “I just don’t want to, you know, not do cool things with everybody when we can.” – Fortune Feimster (04:33)
• On Personal Gifts: “I’m just going over all the times I’ve given people art ... and then realizing I’ve never seen it in their home.” – Mae Martin (10:31)
• Disney Sidekicks: “I always like the characters that aren’t involved with the love plot ... they’re the fun ones.” – Mae Martin (14:58)
• Creating Your Path: “Sometimes life just happens, so just be patient with yourself.” – Fortune Feimster (22:38)
• Queer Disney Iconography: “Ursula is a gay icon. All the villains are pretty gay.” – Mae Martin (16:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Foosball, chilly weather, Friendsgiving nostalgia: 00:35–06:49
• Best gifts ever given (plus listeners): 06:49–12:59
• Disney favorites and queer-coded sidekicks: 13:39–17:42
• Creative career advice for unsure 20-somethings: 18:31–22:57

Tone & Vibe

Relatable, funny, full of affection and gentle ribbing. The hosts are supportive, candid about struggles, and quick to find the humor and tenderness in daily life. The episode feels like a catch-up between old friends—which, for many listeners, it is.

Conclusion

Another warm, witty episode of Handsome, blending light personal storytelling with substantive answers to heartfelt listener questions. The hosts champion meaningful experiences and community, sprinkle in gospel truths about following creative dreams, and celebrate the offbeat, the sidekick, and the queer-coded wherever they find it. This one is ideal for anyone seeking comfort, a laugh, or permission to try new things without fear.