Nadie Sabe Nada: H.T.R. (High Intensity Training)

Date: 17 March 2018
Hosts: Andreu Buenafuente & Berto Romero
Location: Teatro Lara, Madrid

Overview

This episode of Nadie Sabe Nada centers on Andreu Buenafuente and Berto Romero’s signature blend of live improvisational comedy, audience interaction, and riffing on everyday absurdities. Broadcasting from the Teatro Lara's intimate Sala Membrives, the hosts playfully tackle topics ranging from confusing gym trends—especially High Intensity Training (H.I.T./H.T.R.)—to linguistic oddities, personal confessions, and audience questions, all with their trademark banter and self-deprecating humor.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Falso Inicio y el Teatro Lara

[00:30–02:30]

• The show begins with the “falso inicio” ritual, where the hosts humorously bicker about how to start the program before formally launching it, poking fun at their own format.
• Highlights:
  • Berto introduces the Teatro Lara as their new venue and jokes about Spanish surnames (Membrives), with the audience immediately drawn in to a relaxed, convivial atmosphere.
  • Quote:
    • Berto: “Me encantaría llamarme Membrives, daría una extremidad” [01:16]
    • Andreu: “Tú ya tienes nombre de cantaor antiguo… Alberto Romero” [01:27]

2. Café Sizes & Naming Absurdity

[03:20–06:05]

• Berto’s comedic account of visiting Starbucks and navigating the baffling coffee size terminology (“tall”) and asking for a cardboard sleeve, leading to a wider critique of double standards in branding simple things.
• Quote:
  • Berto: “Esto que te lo bebes de un trago y no vuelves a cagar sólido en una semana, eso es el pequeño” [04:17]
  • Andreu: “Han trasladado los tamaños americanos… Café fuerte, espresso, esto es como ketamina.” [04:40]

3. Audience Questions: Gym Risks & High Intensity Training

[08:30–17:19]

• Q: Why is going to the gym considered good if overusing muscles and the heart could “wear them out”?
• Discussion drums up a critical and humorous take on sudden obsession with fitness—especially among middle-aged people unprepared for it.
  • Berto describes people suddenly exercising intensely and dying: “He hablado con médicos y me han dicho eso está pasando.” [09:06]
  • Andreu observes social overconfidence, especially in Spain, with people ignoring recommended physical exams.
  • They discuss fitness fads and the emergence of “High Intensity Training” (HIT/HTR) sessions imported from the U.S., which promise rapid results with extreme, short workouts.
    • Quote:
      • “Esto viene de Estados Unidos… en 16 minutos te estalla el puto corazón, venga.” – Berto [11:51]
    • Audience member Íñigo helps define “High Intensity Training.” [12:25]
    • They riff on the absurdity and possible dangers of EMS (electro muscular stimulation) training, sharing anecdotes about overdoing it and people nearly passing out.
• Recurring insight: Social impatience (‘la era del ansia’) has permeated even exercise, with everyone wanting “todo rápido.”
• Quotes:
  • Andreu: “Esta es la era, efectivamente, como decimos a veces, del ansia, todo rápido, todo concentrado… La sociedad en expreso.” [13:52]
  • Berto: “Yo creo que el gimnasio se reducirá a una máquina con electrodos… una descarga como la que dio vida a Frankenstein.” [16:51]

4. Reverse Questions Game

[25:30–34:08]

• A listener, Atrus, suggests a challenge: answer a question without reading it aloud, and let the other deduce what the original question was.
• Berto’s reply: “Para que los padres también tengan un juguete” (The answer: so parents also have a toy). The audience and Andreu try (unsuccessfully) to guess the question.
• Andreu’s answer: “Hay varias maneras de abrir una puerta.” Berto and the audience attempt to deduce the original question.
  • The question: “¿Por qué en las tiendas de reparación de zapatos también duplican llaves?” [33:35]
• Both find the challenge unexpectedly difficult, with much comedic digression about word games and local idioms.
• Quotes:
  • Andreu: “Si cobraran por cada pregunta que sale, ya verías tú.” [06:26]
  • Berto: “Atrus nos ha lanzado un reto muy jodido.” [31:04]
  • Berto (on idioms): “En Reus dicen ‘me ha callado como un puta’… Traducido queda raro.” [26:27]

5. Radio Language: “Transistor,” Technical Confusion, and Personal Confessions

[37:05–46:50]

• Playful debate about why we call a TV a "televisor" but not a radio a "radioescuchador," leading to banter with a SER technician, David, who tries (and somewhat fails) to explain what a “transistor” is and how radio works.
• Notable exchange:
  • David: “Una resistencia es un componente de silicio o de germanio que hace una serie de cosas que no vienen al caso.” [38:44]
  • Berto: “Eso ya a mí me da una sensación de respuesta… con cara y no.” [38:52]
• Launch of the improvised section “Confesiones Extremas,” in which Andreu admits:
  • “Nunca he entendido cómo funciona la radio… pues yo voy a dedicar mi vida a esto. Estuve en esto 20 años. No sé cómo va, pero como yo hablo, tú me oyes, pues ya con eso te…” [46:10]
• Berto’s commentary: “Pues me parece bonito. Y solo deseo no caer nunca en manos de un médico que piense lo mismo de su trabajo.” [46:21]

6. Audience Interactions & Absurd Observations

[47:36–52:06]

• The hosts navigate the audience and field bizarre, endearing, or trivial questions and confessions:
  • Example: “Yo no entiendo el fax.”
  • Respectful yet deadpan exchange about being tweeted a photo of a “Buenafuente” lookalike in a costume ad.
    • Berto: “Yo con mis seguidores lo que quiero darles es sinceridad. No te voy a engañar para que tú seas feliz con mentiras. Tú me envías eso y a mí no me produce nada.” [51:32]
• The panel hits on themes of honesty, proximity with listeners, and accepting not having answers to everything (literally, “nadie sabe nada”).

7. Language Peculiarities & Closing

[52:29–53:55]

• The hosts debate how to translate the Catalan phrase “de unido” and riff on the impossibility of finding an exact Spanish equivalent for its adaptable meaning.
  • Quote:
    • Andreu: "Sirve para todo y no sirve para nada también.” [52:42]
• They suggest starting next week’s show from the catacombs, inviting key audience members as recurring “characters”.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On new fitness trends:
  • Berto: “Es como hacer ejercicio, muy poco, pero muy a saco.” [12:05]
• On the need for patience:
  • Andreu: “La sociedad en expreso… ya que estás dentro, la dinámica de gimnasio, pues haz eso, no? Estás dentro y quieres acelerar procesos…” [13:52]
• Berto’s self-deprecating health philosophy:
  • “Yo si cierras una puerta fuerte del aire, a mí me puede tirar suelo, soy muy frágil, lo que pasa es que me trato con mucho cariño, con mucho cuidado, nada de esfuerzo siempre.” [15:19]
• On the mysteries of technology:
  • Andreu: “Nunca he entendido cómo funciona la radio…y lo bonito que es. Decir, bueno, voy a dedicar mi vida a esto.” [46:10]
  • Patricia/Audience: “Yo no entiendo el fax. Los mensajes llegan y luego un papel aparece. No lo sé.” [49:06]
• Meta-humor on show format:
  • Berto: “No me gusta cómo llevan el programa.” [48:24]

Timestamps Reference for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | Falso inicio y presentación | 00:30–02:30 | | Café y tamaños en Starbucks | 03:20–06:05 | | Preguntas del público & gimnasios | 08:30–17:19 | | High Intensity Training (HIT/HTR) debate | 10:10–17:19 | | Reverse Questions game | 25:30–34:08 | | Radio/transistor technical banter | 37:05–46:10 | | Confesiones extremas | 46:10–49:17 | | Interacción con el público | 47:36–52:06 | | Debate sobre “de unido” y cierre | 52:29–53:55 |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the light, quick-paced, and ironic tone characteristic of Nadie Sabe Nada. Buenafuente and Romero riff on each other's remarks, looping private jokes and audience asides. The mood shifts fluidly from comic skepticism about modern trends (fitness, technology) to friendly ridicule and philosophical resignation about the inexplicability of life’s details. Audience participation is treated with equal parts mischief and affection.

For Newcomers

This episode is a prime example of Nadie Sabe Nada: spontaneous, candid, and packed with circular humor about the foibles of everyday life. Expect running gags about gym culture, technical ignorance, language peculiarities, and the comedy of not having any real answers—true to the show’s name.

Summary prepared by a podcast summarizer—no one really knows anything, but now you almost do.