Loading summary
A
This is a headgun podcast.
B
Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking what time I'm supposed to meet my friends for dinner. Oh, no. I showed up an hour early and they seated me early. And now I'm really getting to know this talkative waiter.
C
Yeah, checking first is handsome. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.
A
Friends on the handsome part. Chatting with friends on the handsome part. Pretty little episode.
D
It's your friend, Till. Who is it?
B
That's May.
D
Is that May Martin over there?
A
That's me, May. Over here.
D
May, it's me, Tig. How are you?
A
I'm well. I look like Grandpa Joe in bed here.
B
Yeah, you do.
D
Yeah. And I look like Grandpa Joe, just with my face Right.
A
I did forget that we were recording until about.
D
That's not like you.
A
It's almost six minutes ago. And I'm so relieved that I. I got it together. Just.
D
Yeah. Yeah. And how did you get it together? Like. Because it doesn't look like you got it together from where I am. Because you're in be.
A
I'm in. Well, I'm in Venice in la.
D
Italy.
A
No, I wish. I'm in Venice at parvs and I complete. So I just. I've been scrambling. I have to borrow a laptop. And then the only room that doesn't have, like, children and busyness in it is. This is the bedroom.
D
Yeah.
A
So do you like Venice?
D
Yeah, I. It's a. It's definitely a different town than when I was there. It. It had a little more of a. I mean, a fully indie vibe.
A
Oh, really?
D
Yeah. On Abbot Kenny, I lived right around. Yeah. Yeah. Very indie. It was just like independent coffee shops, bookstores, little restaurants and that. There was nothing like what it is now.
A
I can imagine that. Yeah. Now it's like sort of yuppie and then mixed with really sketchy.
D
Yeah, well, I mean, Abbot Kinney is just like. Every big store is on there now. It's wild. It's really wild. But I still enjoy it. You know, it. It's just different. It's kind of similar to aspects of Austin. Like, I lived there when it had way more of, like, the Keep Austin weird vibe. Yeah. That. That they're famous for. And now there's, like, some weird pockets, but it's mostly, like, really high end. Cool.
A
Yeah.
D
Same with Denver. I mean, so Many places.
A
Yeah.
D
That are just like, wow, this is. This is different.
A
So, like, where does that end? Like, where are we headed? Is it. Well, then cyclical?
D
Yeah. I don't know. I mean, everything. There's such a. A leaning into, like, confrontation.
A
Yeah.
D
Yeah. And it's just. It's wild. But then I'm sure that'll be rejected. And then, you know, I hope it's.
A
We need a rebellion again, like, you going off Instagram. I hope that Gen Z eventually is like, we don't want any of this.
D
And, well, my kids, like, if I take a picture, video of them, they are, like, disgusted. Really?
A
They're like, remember with your mind.
D
Yeah. They're just like, stop. Stop taking pictures and videos of us.
A
Oh, I love that.
D
I'm so sorry, but you're right. What am I doing? But it's like, I want. I wake up and I walk into their room, and they're just, like, snuggled together, watching independently, watching their own. They have their iPad time in the morning, and they sit next to each other with their own shows. Like, Finn's watching baseball replays. Max is watching the Simpsons. But they also watch each other's screens, and then they'll reach over and pause each other's screens and rewind it without asking. It's like just one being. You know what I mean? It's cute.
A
Yeah, that's pretty cute.
D
And it's hard to just peek in and be like, good morning, guys, and then not just stand there going, this is. Let me cut this thing forever. Yes.
A
What's that quote like? The revolution will not be televised. I can't remember what it's from, but I do feel like that's the next. The next wave. It'll be live performance. It'll be like an underground thing. I don't know. I hope so.
D
Oh, I think it's. It's inevitable.
A
That's got to be right. I think people are going to look back and go, I can't believe that we let people use the Internet. It's so, so bad and addictive. I think they're gonna be like, that was crazy that we even let people near it.
D
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I. I'm three weeks.
A
Three weeks sober off Instagram.
D
Three weeks off of Instagram. It is completely fine. Like, I. I just. Like, there was nothing I was missing. There's no. It's just like, I. There's things where it's like. As I've mentioned, I mentioned on that one episode where it's like, oh, it's fun to kind of like, I guess brag that, like, oh, I'm on this project coming out or oh, I did this. But it's also like, people will see it. Like, I don't need to make the announcement. It's fine. You know, I wonder.
A
I feel like weed was so linked to counterculture in the past. And not that. I mean, I got into so much trouble getting in cars with strangers and stuff, trying to find weed as a teenager. I don't want that for young people. But now that it's so. It's like a weed store is like an Apple store. Like, where does that counterculture come from? I don't know. Yeah.
D
Well, it's even just in gay culture that like it used to, used to be and, and now it, it's. It's not at all. Really. Yeah, I mean, of course there, there is different. I, I just mean specifically gay. I'm not talking about like trans or non binary, but like being gay is, Is borderline, almost mainstream in ways, you know?
A
Well, in some places, but.
D
Well, that's what I'm saying is like borderline. Because in some place, like it is not. I am obviously not talking about places where this doesn't apply. I'm just talking about how in like, like LA TV shows and.
A
Yeah, yeah.
D
Just there's like a gay character. That. That's what I mean. Like mainstream, like. Oh, yeah, of course there's a gay character. Yeah. No, it was so recent. Mm. Very, very, very. And even coming out, like, there's so many stories of young people feeling like coming out is lame. You just don't even come out. You just, you just are.
A
Yeah.
D
And you let spreads. Yeah. And you just let the world catch up with what you're doing. And again, I'm not saying that's everywhere with everyone, but it's. There's that borderline of it of there's. It's. It's different.
A
Yeah. I hope, I hope. I mean that pride is a protest, that slogan. I hope that. I think that. I wonder this year. I hope that it feels like that again. Anyways, how you doing on the.
D
I'm. I'm doing well. I, I slept last night. I've had the most insane 10 days, 11 days and just one of those crazy back to back travel.
A
Yeah.
D
Every day, land someplace, have meetings and things and then no sleep. Travel. I went to sleep and I got my best night of sleep in years. It is wild. I was startled when I woke up, like, what happened? Oh my God, did I sleep? I slept. Oh my God. I slept yeah.
A
What do you dream about?
D
There were no dreams.
A
Oh, good. That's good. So then you're. Yeah.
D
No, if you dream, that means you're. You're in a deeper sleep.
A
Oh, really? Okay.
D
Yeah.
A
Sometimes, though, I wake up exhausted from. From dreaming nightmarish things. Like last night, I dreamed I was stabbed by a haunted blade that cursed me. And when it stopped me, I started speaking with a British accent. That was the dream. And I woke up like this. I was making this weird noise.
D
Are you still recording your night noises?
A
No, I've taken a break and I need to get back into it.
D
Yeah. Because I would love to have heard.
A
Yeah. Should we listen to some questions?
D
I would love that. That's why we're here.
A
Yeah.
D
That's why we're queer. Get used to it.
A
Get used to it.
E
Hi, handsome. My name is Sarah and I'm in Portland, Oregon. I have a question for you about research and science and nature. I'm wondering if you had access to any amount of money and all the knowledge in the world and there was a question about nature that you wanted answered. Whether that be something botanical, biological, ecological, hydrological, mycological. Yeah. You get it. Yeah. What would it be? What would you research and why?
A
Okay. Sarah's smart. I mean.
D
Yeah. She knew all of the ickle words.
A
Yeah. Mycological. Whoa.
D
Yeah.
A
Well, mine would be cosmological. It's just that, like, I need some answers to things like black holes and.
D
Oh, talk to Max.
A
Yeah, I. I would like to. Yeah.
D
Yeah.
A
I need. I mean, it's just the big questions of. About. Yeah. Whether the laws of physics apply everywhere in the universe. Whether quantum entanglement. Black hological.
D
Black holgical.
A
Black holgical.
D
Yes.
A
Black, ecological and. Yeah. It's about the fabric of our. Of our universe. That's what I want to know. Like on and. And on. The smallest, most quantum level. Because they're so. It's so mysterious. Like, there's so much that we just go, wow. Yeah. That's crazy.
D
We just accept it and it all kind of make like it all feeds into itself and works together and it's like, wow. It just does that, I guess.
A
Yeah. Like particles can be in two places at once and we just go, wow. Okay. I think we know nothing. So. Yeah. I think it would be about that. Dimensions and things. Yeah. What about you?
D
Dimension and logical.
A
Dimensional. Logical.
D
Checking.
C
Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking for vegan restaurants when I'm in a new town. Missed opportunity. Yesterday was my last day in town, and I just learned there's an amazing vegan poboy restaurant I didn't get a chance to visit.
A
Yeah.
B
Checking first is handsome. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary, subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.
D
I don't know if mine is quite right, but I think I'm just. I'm curious what. And I really am scared of and intrigued by simultaneously the discussions around AI But I wonder, as destructive as it is, will it potentially be helpful in ways with nature and the planet and climate change and. Or is that just insane? I mean, I.
A
It's really hard when there's, like, experts saying both things about.
D
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
So you're saying, like, could it actually escalate a big awakening for us? Maybe like, it. Yeah.
D
Or find ways to. Yeah. Fix or inform us.
A
Yeah.
D
In. In ways to. Like, there's a hurricane coming or an earthquake. You know, could. AI Wildfires.
A
Yeah. Why are we not seeing that yet? Like, my. My big conspiracy theory is that something's going on in the oceans. Like, ORCA are planning things, or aliens live down there. Something's happening. Because I'm like, why have we not by now fed in whale sounds to AI, decoded what they're saying, and we're communicating with whales? That seems so easy.
D
Well, let's get started.
A
Let's get on that.
D
You know, let's get down there and record those guys.
A
I want to hear what they're talking about. And there's some shady stuff going on. Like, the government just came out and said it's illegal to talk to dolphins. And it's like, why'd you make that law suddenly? What are you afraid of them telling us?
D
Wait, where did you see this?
A
Thomas? Is that real?
D
Also can't be real.
A
Two guys recently have claimed that they were kidnapped by dolphins to build underwater cities. They were Florida guys. I don't know.
D
Are you sure that you're getting actual information?
A
I don't know.
D
Another reason I had to get off Instagram.
A
Yes. Seriously.
D
Like, I'm like, is this a real cute baby squirrel I'm looking at?
A
Yeah.
D
Is this a real news story? And then I was like, so there
F
is something called the Marine Mammal Protection act, and it. It makes it illegal to try to interact with dolphins because you could, you know, mess up their vibe. You know, let's see. I'm just trying to read, for example, when adult Dolphins become accustomed to getting food from people. Their young might. May not learn to forage.
D
Okay, yeah, but does it say you can't talk to them?
F
Yeah, I'm not seeing anything about talking.
D
Okay.
A
Is it illegal to talk to dolphins?
D
Is it illegal to wave two dolphins?
A
Oh, it. It says that it's. No. Yeah, you're right.
E
Yeah.
D
Sarah's answer.
A
Well, also, can I say that it is wild that so many of the people who created AI and the CEOs of these companies have. Have quit and are saying this will destroy us, and we cann using this. And we're all just like, ah. Anyway, they made it. They created it.
D
Yeah.
A
Yeah. Let's see what Sarah has to say.
E
I think for me, a long time ago, I read about a study about a scientist who had recorded, like, radio frequencies or something of plants and how they changed when things in the environment changed or a human walked by. And it was how, like, plants communicate with each other. So I'd want to know what plants were saying about us and about each other. Thank you so much for all the joy you've brought to me. I've listened to every single podcast. Every one.
A
Thanks.
D
Does she mean every podcast ever made or ours?
A
Not just ours. Yeah.
D
Thank you, Sarah.
A
But also, that is very juicy. Thinking about the trees, communication networks, their roots and things and.
D
Yeah, yeah, in there, something like. You were talking to the jar. It wasn't a tea, it wasn't a plant, but you're talking some things. And rice, right? Yeah. Which is basically, you know.
A
Yeah.
D
A plant. Ish.
A
Yeah, you're right. And it was molding. And mold is living, isn't it?
D
Yes, it is.
A
See, we know this stuff. We don't need eyesight.
D
Yeah. We're scientists. No, I don't need any more information.
F
My dearest handsomes, this is Mark in Bristol in the uk. I'm a huge sitcom fan. They've got me through some very difficult times, and I'd like to know who is your favorite sitcom character of all time and why?
A
Oh, wow, that has. I got a little shiver of excitement there at this question.
D
I know exactly who mine is.
A
Do you?
D
Yeah, I do.
A
I wonder if I know you well enough to guess, but I. Oh, let's hear. Is. Is it someone from, like, Wagon Train or something?
D
From the Waltons?
A
From the Waltons, yeah.
D
No, that wasn't a sitcom. I think I've talked about one of my favorite sitcoms of all time was Good Times. Good Times, Yeah. It was just such an incredible balance of comedy and intense drama. And all in a half hour and whatever, 22 minutes. I mean, I loved everyone, but I really loved the dad. In fact, he died in the past year or two. His name was John Amos, and he was like, just. I don't know, like, there was something about him. His, like, the love for his kids and his wife and Was so intense, you know?
A
Yeah.
D
And. And it was all. It was, you know, the seven. Did I already say that? It was the seventies. Oh, okay. And it was this. This black family in. You know, they were. They were a struggling family, but there was, like, that. They were a family.
A
I love that.
D
You know, like, broke and, like, trying to make their way and, like, having some real issues, but, man, was the comedy there. And I. That's who comes to mind right away is John Amos.
A
I wonder if you unconsciously, because you feel that passionately about your family unit, you kind of have that quality of like, these are my. I ride or die for these people.
D
Yeah. Yeah. This is my little crew. This is our team, you know?
A
Yeah.
D
I love. He was. He was like. He would get real mad, though. Like, whereas.
A
Yeah.
D
All the. The all. You know, every. Every version of. Or every. What am I trying to say?
A
Iteration.
D
Every end of the spectrum, you know, like, fun, funny, angry, intense, sad. All of those things. Whereas I. You know, when Max and Finn act up, I'm like, did I tell you how I correct them?
A
Oh, yeah. You go, yeah.
D
I go, guys, I love the power.
A
It's so cool. So, yeah, I like that. You didn't go for, like, a wacky character. You went for the. Yeah. The main goal.
D
You gotta see good times.
A
I gotta see good times.
D
I haven't seen it in years, but I think it holds. I would imagine it holds up.
A
I'm gonna say I have two favorites that come to mind. Both of them, I think, are, like, crushes, really. One is Karen on Will and Grace. Megan Mullally. I just.
D
Her voice.
A
I met her once, and I'm such a big fan. And the voice and the. Her timing is so good. She's just really effortless. And then I got to go. Elaine Bennis. Elaine. And I'm. I was a Seinfeld fan growing up, but not massively, but I was an Elaine fan because she's the heart of the show. And without Elaine, it would have been all just sardonic and kind of. But she really. She's such an amazing actor that you really buy it, even in these insane situations. And. Yeah, it just made the show what it was. Yeah. Deep. Elaine Fenn. Yeah. Those are my answers. Should we hear what Mark says? I wonder if there'll be British ones. Like the Royal Family is a British sitcom that everyone loved.
F
My favorite is gotta be Megan Mullally's Karen from Will and Grace. I could just watch clips of Karen over and over again all day. I think she's comic genius. But I would love to see the three of you in a three hander sitcom together. I think ye, you gotta make that happen. Okay. We love you guys.
D
Thank you, Mark. Yeah, Three's come. We'll remake Three's Company.
A
Yeah. Perfect. Never seen it, but yeah. Imagine the three of us. Do you think you would be. I feel like you would be the kind of like Fortune would be the wackiest character, don't you think?
D
Well, yeah, of course.
A
Yeah. Fortune would be kind of coming in every morning like a ball of energy singing of course I'd be in a crisis always. And you'd be kind of dryly receiving it all and commenting on
D
works.
A
Yeah.
D
Who wants to make this?
A
Yeah.
D
Yeah. Well, that was delay. Yeah, absolutely. Always is, always will be, always will be. I'm going to be in Albany, New York. Come on out and see me in Peekskill, New York. And Clayton, New York. And Spokane, Washington. Eugene, Oregon, Louisiana. I have some dates. Rochester, New York, Colorado Springs. Go to tignotaro.com for all show information.
A
Eugene, Oregon. There's Jerry Garcia's widow, has a weed farm up there and his daughter in Eugene, Oregon. He's got a deep connection to Eugene.
D
Anyways, well, none of what you just said is surprising.
A
Yeah, I am on June 10th at Largo in LA and that's kind of it for live shows. Oh, I'm in Guelph and Yellowknife in mid July kind of doing music festivals. But check out maymartin.net and also please keep submitting your questions to us and your advice requests to speakpipe.com handsomepod we love hearing it.
D
We sure do. And until next time, keep it Pretty Handsome.
B
Pretty Handsome Handsome is hosted by me, Fortune Feimster, Tig Notaro and May Martin. The show is produced, recorded and edited by Thomas Wuellette. Email us@handsomepodmail.com and follow us on social media at handsomepod.
A
What a podcast. What a podcast. That was a headgum podcast.
B
Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. And not checking if I'm supposed to prepare a toast for my friend's birthday party. Uh oh. Turns out she was expecting some thoughtful words before cutting the cake. And now I'm on the spot. Good thing I'm a professional funny talker.
D
Yeah.
C
Checking first is handsome, so check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.
Podcast: Handsome
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Original Air Date: May 29, 2026
Episode Theme: Fielding listener questions about research, science, nature, and sitcom favorites, with all the hosts’ signature wit, warmth, and unpredictable humor.
In this lively episode, Tig Notaro and Mae Martin (without Fortune Feimster this time) reconnect from different locations and dive into topics ranging from shifting urban cultures and the longing for counterculture, to the powers and perils of AI, to the secret lives of plants—and finally, the deeply personal world of favorite sitcom characters. With smart, funny digressions and genuine moments, the show blends absurdity, pop culture love, and earnest curiosity about the world.
(00:49 – 06:46)
(06:46 – 08:00)
(08:00 – 09:20)
(Question from Sarah, Portland, OR)
(09:23 – 16:23)
“If you had access to any amount of money and all the knowledge in the world and there was a question about nature you wanted answered… what would it be? What would you research and why?”
(Question from Mark, Bristol, UK)
(16:49 – 21:34)
“Who is your favorite sitcom character of all time, and why?”
| Time | Segment | |----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:49 | Hosts catch up; Venice LA chat, urban shifts | | 03:31 | Mae on leaving Instagram and Gen Z rebellion | | 04:44 | Counterculture, kids, documenting vs. living | | 05:23 | Tig on ‘sober’ Instagram experience | | 07:05 | Changing queer culture / mainstream visibility | | 08:47 | Mae’s haunted blade dream story | | 09:27 | Listener Sarah’s science question | | 10:06 | Mae: Cosmological mysteries answer | | 12:08 | Tig: AI for climate and planet | | 13:19 | AI decoding whale speech / dolphin law riff | | 16:49 | Listener Mark’s sitcom character question | | 18:12 | Tig: Good Times dad reflects family values | | 20:27 | Mae: Karen and Elaine sitcom crushes | | 21:38 | Joke: The three hosts as sitcom archetypes |
The conversation is smart, irreverent, and full of both dry and zany humor—true to the hosts’ personalities. They move swiftly from heartfelt social critique to absurdist banter, with Mae’s playful speculation and Tig’s deadpan delivery keeping things unpredictable and endearing.
This episode is a perfect microcosm of “Handsome”: deep questions made funny, silly questions given surprising depth, and genuine camaraderie throughout. Whether you want musings on plants and black holes, or just well-observed sitcom nostalgia, this episode delivers plenty to think about—and laugh at.