Podcast Summary
Nadie Sabe Nada: “El estado contra las suscripciones por email”
Hosts: Andreu Buenafuente, Berto Romero
Date: 17/06/2017
Podcast: SER Podcast
Main Theme
The episode maintains the classic spontaneous, comedic style of “Nadie Sabe Nada,” centering on the absurdities of audience measurement, the global spread of their podcast listenership, and everyday frustrations—anchored by the titular sketch about the bureaucracy and illogical customs of unsubscribing from unwanted email lists. As always, Andreu and Berto blend observational humor, quick improvisation, and playful banter with the live audience.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Warming Up: Global Listeners and Absurd Statistics
[03:35-11:22]
- The duo discusses a recent audience report received from their station, filled with detailed and, for them, largely incomprehensible statistics about their online listenership.
- They fixate humorously on the long tail—countries where only a handful or even a single person tunes in.
- Notable examples: Rwanda and Jamaica (28 listeners), territories like the Faroe Islands (4), and even one courageous listener in the Congo and Somalia.
- Quote (Buenafuente):
“¿Cómo se vive escuchar el programa en soledad, sin ninguna complicidad con nadie más? Estás tú allí con los auriculares...”—[10:48]
- Discussion leads to a playful shout-out to these “oyentes heroicos” and speculation about the life of a solitary fan in remote places. The hosts invite them to get in touch.
Quickfire Questions & Personal Anecdotes
[11:27-18:12]
-
Pineapple on Pizza:
- Berto declares it a horror:
“Yo creo que la piña no es ni un alimento, es una especie de bulbo raro.”—[11:59]
- Berto declares it a horror:
-
Television and Children:
- Berto shares how his son uses the TV as a mirror to dance.
- Andreu jokes about children’s tendency to stand too close to screens.
-
Failure vs. Not Trying:
- Both agree it’s better to try and fail than not try.
- Mock-coach moment:
“La satisfacción de acostarte sabiendo que al menos lo has intentado.”—[15:17]
-
Self-help and Coaching:
- Berto recommends the movie “Mystery Men” and satirizes the self-improvement industry’s clichés.
Comedic Medical Advice & The Burden of Organs
[18:12-25:39]
- In a fake medical segment, Berto plays “Dr. Romero”, dispensing summer hydration tips and mocking health shows.
- “Recordad, hidrataros muchísimo. Y buscar la sombra. ... Esto lo dice vuestro doctor, no cualquier imbécil que se pueda dar cuenta.”—[19:13]
- Leads into a discussion: Why do internal organs get to complain when overworked, given their pampered, sheltered existence?
- “Haz tu puto trabajo y cállate.”—[23:13]
- Andreu and Berto riff on organ “laziness” and compare it to how people accustomed to indulgence seem to fare well—until suddenly they don’t.
The Absurd Courtroom of Email Unsubscribes
[27:29-34:48]
- Prompted by a listener, they muse on the irony of unsubscribing from email spam only to receive a confirmation email.
- “¿Por qué cuando te das de baja de una suscripción de publicidad por email te envían la confirmación de baja por email?”—[27:29]
- Escalates into an improvised courtroom sketch, with Andreu and Berto repeatedly swapping roles as judge and lawyer; much confusion and character glissando.
- “Declaro a la empresa Youporn...”—[33:21]
- Classic line (Buenafuente):
“No condeno a Yupor a no mandar ya más mails de los cojones. ... Cuando uno te dice que no le mandes, no le mandes más.”—[33:42]
More Listener Questions, Cultural Observations, and Refranes
[35:16 onwards, scattered]
-
Nicolas Cage: ¿Bueno o malo?
- Berto: “A muerte con Nicolas Cage.”
- Fun defense of his odd career choices and presumed likeability.
-
Escalator Etiquette:
- How many steps behind must you stand to not creep on the person ahead?
- Leads to a bit on mime and a story about performing an escalator mimic in Africa, where the joke fell flat due to unfamiliarity with escalators.
-
Weapons Jargon:
- An audience Q&A reveals that “llevo la 9” (I have the 9mm) is current underworld slang, spiraling into more criminal vernacular jokes.
-
Inventing Proverbs (Refranes):
- Improvised and increasingly surreal proverbs:
“Cada zapato que cae al suelo es susceptible de llevarlo un abuelo.”—[48:56]
“Si hay jaleo y a veces llueve, saca del bolsillo la 9.”—[49:36]
- Improvised and increasingly surreal proverbs:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Como un matrimonio esto, ¿No?” —Andreu, on the banter with Berto [05:46]
- “Nos gustaría hablar contigo, amigo Congo, que estás ahora mirando las estrellas, porque en Congo es de noche o... hay una estrella que se ve y estás allí en Congo ahora.” —Berto, poetic shout-out to their lone Congo listener [10:25]
- “Haz tu puto trabajo y cállate.” —Berto, to the organs [23:13]
- “Esto es un juicio muy raro porque estamos usted y yo. Normalmente hay dos partes, pero la otra no.” —Andreu, courtroom improv [32:20]
- “No condeno a Yupor a no mandar ya más mails de los cojones.” —Andreu, summing up the anti-spam frustration [33:42]
- “A muerte con Nicolas Cage.” —Berto, quick defense of the actor [35:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Global Listeners and Statistics: [03:35-11:22]
- Pineapple on Pizza, Children & TV, Failure: [11:27-15:17]
- Self-help Satire: [15:17-17:14]
- Summer Health Advice/Organ Complaints: [18:12-25:39]
- Absurd Email Unsubscribe Courtroom: [27:29-34:48]
- Listener Questions, Nicolas Cage, Escalators: [35:16 onwards]
- Inventing Proverbs: [48:56-50:13]
Tone & Speaker Dynamics
True to the podcast’s name and format, the episode is packed with improvisational humor, playful rivalry, and affectionate digs, both among the hosts and directed at themselves and their audience. The language is colloquial, irreverent, and peppered with spontaneous asides, breaking the fourth wall for comedic effect.
Summary for New Listeners
If you haven’t listened, this episode exemplifies what “Nadie Sabe Nada” does best: two seasoned comedians riffing on the randomness of modern life, from the trivial (pineapple on pizza) to the technologically ridiculous (spam unsubscribe confirmation), laced through with musical interludes and constant audience engagement. The core is always laughter, intelligent absurdity, and the celebration of not knowing (and not caring) what comes next.
