Kennedy Saves the World – "Hibernation Season"

Host: Kennedy
Guest: Jimmy Failla
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and personal episode, Kennedy welcomes comedian Jimmy Failla back from his Thanksgiving travels to talk “hibernation season”—that special time of year when comfort food, family, and finding humor in the strange quirks of American cities take center stage. The two friends swap hilarious stories about Thanksgiving feasting, road trips, and urban oddities, all through their shared lens of freedom, gratitude, and irreverent wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving on the Road—San Francisco & West Coast Adventures

• Jimmy’s Thanksgiving Itinerary:
  • Jimmy details his “West Coast swing” for Thanksgiving: San Luis Obispo for stand-up, Vegas for the weekend, and unexpected experiences in San Francisco.
    • [01:22] “We flew west for Thanksgiving because... I had a stand-up show in San Luis Obispo on Friday… Vegas on Saturday and Sunday. Here we are now Monday.” —Jimmy Failla
• Defending San Francisco:
  • Despite the city’s reputation, Jimmy and Kennedy agree its beauty and culture persist, especially outside its roughest neighborhoods.
    • [02:09] “What makes San Francisco cool is still there…. I think San Francisco is probably in a better place than Portland is.” —Kennedy
    • [02:41] “Portland just quit. You know, I have family that actually live in Portland and they're too wed to the idea of their insane ideology.” —Jimmy Failla
• Urban Humor & Grit:
  • Jimmy paints a comedic but real portrait of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district.
    • [03:07] “Most of Frisco was combined to the one, obviously the Mission area, you know, the Tenderloin. And if you do drive through it is very tender.” —Jimmy Failla

2. Thanksgiving Dining: Traditions and Urban Oddities

• Dining Decisions:
  • Jimmy skipped his beloved prime rib tradition to honor the turkey holiday, eating at Boudin (sourdough haven) and later at his favorite Pine Crest Diner. He describes the unique atmosphere—open-air chaos meets classic diner.
    • [04:37] “Thanksgiving at the Pine Crust, it was... you just eat in this magical diner inside a fishbowl because everybody's looking at you while they shoot up and stuff. And there's a romance to that if you're a good family man like myself.” —Jimmy Failla
    • [05:38] Kennedy acknowledges the bittersweet reality: “If you're shooting up and selling your... on Thanksgiving, like you're not in the best era of your life.”
• Gratitude & Perspective:
  • The two reflect on the importance of finding gratitude, even amidst urban struggles.
    • [05:57] “You have to be grateful for the moments that you have when you're together. You know, it's like on the inside looking out, just enjoying some sweet, sweet grub.” —Kennedy
    • [06:07] “This conversation began with us. San Francisco is actually not that bad nowadays. And it ended with me eating turkey in an open air heroin market.” —Jimmy Failla

3. The Brined, Buttered, and Smoked Turkey Saga

• Kennedy’s Culinary Adventure:
  • Kennedy triumphantly shares her brined, Traeger-smoked turkey story, crediting Jimmy’s wife Jenny’s detailed recipe.
    • [06:40] Kennedy gives the step-by-step:
      • Brined turkey with garlic, citrus, fresh herbs, brown sugar, apple cider, and extra salt in a five-gallon bucket.
      • Added compound butter under the skin for extra flavor and moisture.
      • Smoked it for six hours until perfection was achieved.
    • [08:00] “It was by all accounts, the most delicious turkey that any of us had ever consumed... Traeger should really sponsor us because our affection for Traeger is so genuine.”
• The Emotional Labor of Feeding Others:
  • Kennedy highlights the love and intention behind preparing a holiday meal:
    • [11:01] “For food nurturers, like that's why Thanksgiving is so important... It is our way of showing people how much we love them.”
    • She describes the effort and precision put into every dish: perfect mashed potatoes, cupcake-tin mini Dutch apple pies, and perfectly timed courses.

4. Post-Thanksgiving Feasts: Stand-Up, Road Food, and Family Traditions

• Jimmy’s San Luis Obispo Show & Epic In-N-Out Run:
  • After a successful Friday stand-up show (with his son Lincoln opening!), Jimmy recounts their late-night ritual: ordering “three 4x4s” (quadruple cheeseburgers) each at In-N-Out—lettuce-wrapped for “dignity.”
    • [12:12] “We order three of them a piece. 12 hamburgers a piece. Now there's no bun. It's served on lettuce. Because I'm not an animal. I'm not going to eat the bun, okay?”
    • [13:49] “It was the greatest thing. We ate 12 hamburgers each.”
• Travel Traditions and Celebrating Regional Food:
  • Kennedy praises the joys of indulging in local specialties when traveling, echoing appreciation for shared experiences (and calories).
    • [13:49] “There's something to be said for just diving into regional food wherever you are. And that's one of the best things about going on the road…”

Memorable Quotes

• On West Coast urban identity:

  • “I live in New York, so I really can't point the finger at another city as I'm getting chased by a pantless time traveler on the 1 train.” —Jimmy Failla [01:38]

• On San Francisco’s reputation:

  • “It's really easy for everyone to poop on San Francisco. But… I know it's still in there... what makes San Francisco cool is still there.” —Kennedy [02:09]

• On Thanksgiving in a rough neighborhood:

  • “Thanksgiving at the Pine Crust, it was... you just eat in this magical diner inside a fishbowl because everybody's looking at you while they shoot up and stuff.” —Jimmy Failla [04:37]

• On the turkey prep:

  • “Gently massaged it under the skin of the turkey, all over, up and down, up and around in the crevices. It was its own form of erotica.” —Kennedy [07:47]

• On food’s emotional role:

  • “That's why Thanksgiving is so important. Because it is our way of showing people how much we love them.” —Kennedy [11:01]

• On American gluttony (humor):

  • “One meal at a time, America. We can do this. I love Amen. Make America fat again.” —Jimmy Failla [14:25]
  • “Hibernation season is here. We'll shed it all for bikini season. But not today, Satan.” —Kennedy [14:33]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Jimmy explains his Thanksgiving travel circuit and San Francisco's reputation: [01:15–03:55]
• Discussion of urban decay, humor, and gratitude in tough cities: [04:04–06:25]
• Kennedy's detailed Traeger turkey adventure and discussion of food and love: [06:40–08:58]
• Appreciation for food nurturing and Thanksgiving meal perfection: [11:01–11:54]
• Jimmy’s post-holiday stand-up show and In-N-Out burger challenge: [11:54–13:49]
• Closing banter on hibernation season and loving America’s gluttonous traditions: [14:25–14:44]

Episode Tone and Takeaways

Warm, irreverent, and heartfelt, this episode blends Kennedy and Jimmy’s sharp humor with honest appreciation for both America’s foibles and its feast days. Their playful banter, observation of urban oddities, and commitment to food, family, and freedom make “Hibernation Season” a relatable and uplifting listen—perfect for anyone needing a laugh (and maybe a recipe).