Handsome Podcast: "Sophia Bush Asks About Freezing Time"

Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Special Guest: Sophia Bush (Question asker)

Episode Overview

In this delightfully meandering and heartfelt episode, comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin answer a question from actor and activist Sophia Bush: "If you could stop time for a day or a weekend, what would you do?" The trio explores nostalgia, the value of rest, cherished relationships, the allure of wellness retreats, and simple joys. Along the way, listeners are treated to stories of friendship, career tales, and the hosts’ signature banter—peppered with laughter, self-deprecation, and memorable reflections. The conversation exemplifies the podcast’s blend of humor, sincerity, and ridiculousness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Casual Catch-Up & Warm-Up (03:38–12:15)

• Opening Vibes: The hosts riff on the idea of welcoming songs for newborns, joking about singing to "a mother’s crotch" (03:37, Tig Notaro).
• Personal Updates:
  • Tig just wrapped filming Star Trek and is excited for a belated Valentine’s dinner with her wife, Stephanie.
  • Mae is hungover after hosting a party, leading to discussion of “hangxiety”:
    “You wake up and think, what did I say? Was that weird?” (07:11, Mae)
  • Party talk turns to choosing “game night vs. gay night,” with Mae preferring games over potential romantic entanglements.

Party Stories and Celebrity Interactions (12:15–18:00)

• Fortune shares about attending LAFC’s season opener with Will Ferrell.
• Discussion of being invited to high-profile games and the odd rituals that come with celebrity friendships:
  “He was like, I’ll let you but you have to wear that stocking on your face.” (10:49, Mae retelling Will Ferrell's joke)

(Optional Lighthearted Tangent) Oscars & Awards Chatter (14:00–18:24)

• The hosts imagine having just won an Oscar, cite the convoluted process for producer credits, and reflect on the duplicity of titles in TV and film production (16:06–17:33).

Late-Night TV Experiences and Wardrobe Mishaps (21:15–25:02)

• Mae recounts a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, where an intended telepathy magic trick “led to nothing”—which Tig particularly loves:
  “Tig loves things that lead to nothing.” (22:50, Fortune, all laughing)
• All hosts share stories of last-minute wardrobe decisions and the quirks of late-night show seating.
• A detour into pet updates: Tig’s dog is on steroids, creating a “cute and sad” pot belly, while Fortune’s dog Ginger regains energy after chemo.

Work-Movie Updates & Eva Longoria’s Directing Chops (25:34–29:33)

• Fortune is filming a new Netflix movie, directed by Eva Longoria:
  “She is so prepared. We are rarely sitting more than 20 minutes!” (26:45, Fortune)
• Praise for Longoria’s skills and the rarity of seeing female comedians in “wild and crazy” R-rated movies.

Recurring Themes: Being Cut from Movies, Nostalgic Connections (31:09–35:00)

• Tig and Fortune swap stories about being cut from movies, especially “Kristen Stewart movies,” confirming it as a weird badge of honor:
  “You’re not handsome until you’ve been cut out of a Kristen Stewart movie.” (34:54, Tig)
• The conversation playfully lands on the importance of friendship and connection in the entertainment world.

Listener Question: "If You Could Stop Time..." (40:13–58:16)

Sophia Bush’s Question (40:13)

“If you could stop time for a day or, I don’t know, a weekend, the whole world would just pause and you could continue, have a real break—what would you do?”

The Hosts’ Answers:

• Mae Martin:
  • Would take her co-hosts to Disney or Joshua Tree to make new memories together (41:03).
  • Fantasizes about “just not getting out of bed” for 13 hours, nostalgic for teenage lazy days (42:16).
  • Loves the idea of a structured “wellness weekend” with meditation, journaling, vegan food, and watching the sunrise together.
    • “I love structure. I love being told what to do.” (46:11)
  • Also sets up icebreaking “telepathy tables” at her parties for fun.
• Tig Notaro:
  • Imagines “living off the grid,” being a “trad dyke”—homesteading, growing food, disconnecting from the world’s chaos (44:23).
  • Would host a wellness retreat for herself and the others, with early mornings, meditation, cooking, journaling, swimming, art, and vinyl (45:14–45:21).
  • Shares that using a CPAP machine was giving her more anxiety than rest, so she ditched it (43:06).
• Fortune Feimster:
  • Looks to the past, wishing to visit her grandmother before she got sick to “just have a conversation with her, knowing what I know now” (48:08).
  • Values “getting more time with somebody you don’t get to have time with.”
  • Also cherishes recent moments with her aging mother, especially a cruise during a tough personal time.
    • “Even as an adult, you still need or want your mom.” (51:43)
  • Touchingly notes she found a long-lost DVD of her grandmother she hopes to watch soon (50:44).

Additional Notable Moments:

• The hosts reflect on the beauty of recording or documenting memories with loved ones.
• Mae: “I’m scared I’d freeze time just to catch up on sleep and books, but then panic that I’m wasting it.” (52:06)
• Fortune: “It’s like a Black Mirror episode—if you froze time for one thing, it would affect another.” (52:33)

Sophia Bush’s Answer & Reactions (56:03–57:13)

• Sophia:
  • Would either “lay in my backyard and read a book” in LA, or “walk around the city and look at all the people, frozen in time” in New York.
  • Realizes her wish to make time for reading books she buys.
• The hosts reflect that none of them pick wild or criminal escapades like robbing a bank; all long for simple pleasures, connection, nature, or peace (57:16).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Party Dynamics:
  • “It’s either we’re having game night or gay night.” (08:17, Fortune)
• On Wellness:
  • “Just running through the pasture with the kids with no shoes on. Just a total trad dike.” (44:21, Tig)
• On Regret and Nostalgia:
  • “Freezing time for me just symbolizes getting more time with someone you don’t get to have time with.” (48:03, Fortune)
• On Simple Joys:
  • “The simple things in life. It sounds like that’s what we’re all interested in.” (57:16, Tig)
• On Friendship:
  • “You’re not handsome until you’ve been cut out of a Kristen Stewart movie.” (34:54, Tig)
• On Sophia’s Relationship:
  • “That’s the goal. It was just such a sweet, flirty, funny combo.” (54:32, Mae, on Sophia and Ashlyn)

Important Timestamps

• Welcome & Banter (03:38–04:47)
• Hangovers, Parties & "Game Night vs. Gay Night" (05:59–08:27)
• LAFC Opener & Will Ferrell (10:19–11:12)
• Oscars Producer Credits Explained (16:06–17:33)
• Kimmel Appearance Story (22:03–23:11)
• Dog and Pet Updates (24:31–25:32)
• Career Update—Eva Longoria as Director (26:05–27:35)
• Being Cut from Movies (Kristen Stewart Stories) (32:09–34:54)
• listener question: Freezing Time (40:13–58:16)
• Sophia Bush’s Answer (56:03–57:13)
• Reflecting on Simplicity (57:16–57:43)

Tone and Style

• Warm, irreverent, vulnerable, and playful.
• The episode moves smoothly from roasting each other and telling embarrassing stories to heartfelt admissions about family, longing, and the desire for meaningful pauses in life.
• Frequently self-aware, undercutting any sentimentality with quick humor.

For New Listeners

This episode is a perfect encapsulation of Handsome: equal parts ridiculous and real, balancing industry tales with sincere introspection. It’s a warm group hang with three beloved comedians contemplating the fantasy of extra time and, ultimately, revealing how much they value friendship, healing, and the small, sweet moments of life.

Key Takeaway:
When asked what they’d do if they could freeze time, Tig, Fortune, and Mae—all in their own hilarious way—dream of more connection, laughter, healing, and presence, not grandeur. It’s the people and peace that matter most—plus maybe a little meditation, Disney, or a well-worn “telepathy table.”