Office Ladies Podcast – Second Drink: Safety Training (September 22, 2025)

Overview

In this "Second Drink" episode, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey deliver a warm, insightful, and often hilarious deep dive into "Safety Training," Season 3, Episode 19 of The Office. Marking the one-year anniversary of their rewatch podcast, they share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, answer fan mail, discuss on-set memories, deleted scenes, and the emotional backdrop of the episode’s theme. Notably, Angela opens up about her family's experience with depression, giving the episode a personal and poignant conclusion.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anniversary Reflections & Podcast Milestones

• [02:26] The episode marks the one-year anniversary of the Office Ladies podcast.
• [10:42] Sam (producer) surprises Jenna and Angela with masks of their own faces—a nod to memories discussed in the episode, causing much laughter and light-hearted horror:

  "Oh my God. This is so disgusting. Disturbing." (Angela, [12:04])

• Instead of fast facts, the hosts opt to answer frequently asked questions from listeners.

2. Behind the Scenes: "Safety Training"

a. Character Comedy & Deleted Moments

• Discussion kicks off with Andy’s return from anger management, where he requests to be called “Drew.”
• The writers had great fun with Andy’s transformation, as reflected in “candy bag alts” (alternate lines):

  "I'm a new man with a new name and a whole lot of techniques for controlling the grumpies. Also, a new car, Honda Insight. Andy didn't care about fuel efficiency. Drew's seen An Inconvenient Truth nearly twice." (Angela, [04:08])

• On Andy’s attempt to bond with cookies:

  "When people think of Andy, they think of hate and anger. When people think of Drew, they think of baked goods." (Angela, [05:59])
  "These cookies have no flavor." (Jenna, as a deleted scene's in-character quip, [06:10])

b. "Candy Bag Alts": The Writers’ Playground

• The hosts want a behind-the-scenes “candy bag alt” feature:

  "I would watch, like, just a stack of candy bag alts... That’s a bonus feature Dave Rogers that I would watch." (Angela, [07:26])

• The alternate Andy talking head on endorphins as a “friend making device” is particularly memorable.

c. Warehouse Hijinks

• This episode spotlights the warehouse team, with Patrice O’Neal (Lonnie) cracking up cast members.

  "When Lonnie is going at Michael in the warehouse, you see John break. He kind of covers it by looking to camera and pretending he's Jim, but it's not Jim, it's John." (Jenna, [08:24])

3. Mailbag: Frequently Asked Questions

Conference Room Seating

• [13:07] Seats are assigned for every meeting with sticky notes, planned for camera angles and reactions.

Hearing the Documentary Crew

• [14:27] Greg Daniels chose not to include the voice of the documentary crew to allow viewers to connect more with the characters.
• Sometimes voices were dubbed (Ken Kwapis, Dave Rogers); there was debate about revealing the documentarian’s identity.

Multiple Directors

• [18:41] Multiple directors are a necessity given the workload: each episode takes three weeks per director (prep, shoot, edit).

Angela Speaks Indonesian

• Angela offers an Indonesian phrase for a fan [20:41], reflecting on her upbringing and love for languages.

Impactful Fan Mail

• Emotional moments as listeners share how the show and podcast have helped them through hardship.

4. Detailed Scene Analysis & Easter Eggs

Reception Area Plant Obsession

• Angela notes the ever-changing plant at Pam’s desk—a running gag even fans haven’t spotted.

Andy’s Nicknames

• Jenna lists all of Andy’s nicknames from the show bible ([32:00]):

  "Nard Dog, Boner, Champ, King, Butt, Iceman, Puke, Ace, Buzz... And in this episode, he asks everyone to be called Drew. In the next episode, he gives himself the nickname Will Do."

Jim’s Unkindness to Andy

• Both hosts call out Jim for refusing to call Andy "Drew" – “What a jerk.” (Angela, [35:12])

Safety Training Day: Warehouse vs. Office

• Craig Robinson’s performance as Darryl is highlighted for natural comedic delivery.
• [39:02]

  "It never seems scripted. Right. Like, everything about his cadence... It’s so natural." (Jenna)

• The baler machine in the warehouse is discussed as a real, working machine provided by Olympic Wire and Equipment ([40:19]).
• The elevator vs. stairs conundrum is explained, with both hosts preferring the stairs due to the cramped fake elevator ([77:00]).

5. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• Andy’s Friend-Making Device ([06:52]):

  "If you can get people to laugh with you, they will feel as if they're having sex with you. I just had sex with Phyllis, Kelly, Stanley, and Meredith, and it was fantastic."

• On Michael wanting to best the warehouse crew:

  "He just wants to be cool, Jenna." (Angela, [46:20])

• Deleted scenes:

  "There was so much from all of this parking lot that they had to cut..." (Angela, [78:47])

• On Creed eating a potato:

  "I definitely bit right into that potato, and it wasn't half bad." (Creed, as relayed by Angela, [69:28])

6. Technical Details & Production Stories

• Shooting the roof scene was technically challenging—sound and bright sun made it difficult to capture both Michael and the crowd ([53:13]).
• Extensive use of stunt harnesses and a specially-rigged safety cable for roof scenes ([63:28]).
• The infamous watermelon gag required up to twelve takes:

  "It was either take 11 or 12. I guess by some miracle, it landed on the trampoline and it hit the car perfectly." (Jenna, [65:10])

• The rental car used cost $6,500 to repair after the watermelon stunt ([68:30]).

7. Deleted/Alternate Scenes

• Karen’s missing parking lot subplot—she’s absent from the critical rescue moment due to a cut storyline where she attempts to get to know officemates.
• Several deleted scenes didn’t appear even on the DVD extras (e.g., Mindy “finding a corpse” made of watermelon).

8. Closing Reflections: Emotional Themes

• Angela shares honestly about her nephew's struggle with depression:

  "I just would want anyone listening out there to know that you're not alone and that you are loved." (Angela, [91:07])

• Suicide prevention hotline information is provided:
  • 1-800-273-8255 or text ‘TALK’ to 741741 ([92:16])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 02:17 | Opening / Masks gift | | 10:42 | Office Ladies’ One-Year Anniversary | | 13:07 | Mailbag: Assigned Seats | | 14:27 | Mailbag: Documentary Crew Debate | | 18:41 | Mailbag: Why Multiple Directors? | | 20:41 | Angela speaks Indonesian | | 22:42 | Fan letters about podcast’s positive impact | | 29:36 | Reception plant obsession | | 32:00 | Andy’s nicknames rundown | | 36:32 | Office vs. Warehouse Safety Meetings | | 39:02 | Praise for Craig Robinson’s “realness” | | 53:13 | Shooting the roof & technical challenges | | 63:28 | Watermelon stunt logistics | | 68:30 | Rental car damage cost | | 69:28 | Creed eats a potato (and confirmation) | | 71:36 | Dwight unshuns Andy for the bouncy castle | | 77:00 | Stairs vs. elevator for outdoor scene entrance| | 78:47 | Deleted parking lot scenes | | 84:24 | Karen’s cut scenes explained | | 91:07 | Angela opens up about depression | | 92:16 | Suicide hotline info & personal reflection |

Notable Quotes (w/Attribution & Timestamps)

• "Oh my God. This is so disgusting. Disturbing." — Angela, on the face masks ([12:04])
• "I would watch, like, just a stack of candy bag alts... That’s a bonus feature Dave Rogers that I would watch." — Angela ([07:26])
• "When Lonnie is going at Michael in the warehouse, you see John break... but it's not Jim, it's John." — Jenna ([08:24])
• "What a jerk." — Angela, about Jim refusing to call Andy “Drew” ([35:12])
• "It never seems scripted. Right. Like, everything about his cadence... It’s so natural." — Jenna, about Craig Robinson as Darryl ([39:02])
• "You live a little sweet, nerfy life, sitting on your biscuit, never having to risk it." — Warehouse worker to Michael ([46:12])
• "I definitely bit right into that potato, and it wasn't half bad." — Creed, relayed by Angela ([69:28])
• "If you can get people to laugh with you, they will feel as if they're having sex with you. I just had sex with Phyllis, Kelly, Stanley, and Meredith, and it was fantastic." — Andy’s (deleted) talking head, read by Jenna ([06:52])
• "What I wouldn't give to be able to talk to my nephew and tell him how much we love him." — Angela ([92:32])

Final Notes

• The episode is a celebration of The Office’s enduring community, the process of making the show, its comedic legacy, and the real-life struggles that sometimes parallel its narratives.
• The hosts’ candor and friendship shine through, balancing humor with heartfelt vulnerability.
• Listeners are reminded they are not alone, echoing the core message of empathy within both the podcast and The Office itself.

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.