Office Ladies Podcast: "The Paper" Ep 8 – "Church and State"
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Air Date: February 25, 2026
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Jenna and Angela break down Episode 8 of "The Paper” ("Church and State"). They offer behind-the-scenes tidbits, hilarious personal stories, a particularly memorable nostalgia segment about smells, and dig deep into the world of “church and state” in journalism, all while sharing lots of laughs with their co-hosts and guests, including some fun feedback from director Matt Sohn.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Late-to-the-Party Pop Culture Segment (03:02–05:57)
- Topic: Jenna’s idea for a segment called "Late to the Party," where the hosts discuss pop culture that they're slow to discover.
- Show Featured: "Heated Rivalry"
- Jenna, Angela, and Sam discuss the show’s character depth and focus on hockey as a business (not just sport).
- Notable quote:
- "It's mostly hot sexy time or the anticipation of hot, sexy time..." – Angela (04:51)
- Discussion about finding time as busy parents to watch shows alone, and comparisons to “Stranger Things.”
2. Fan Chit Chat: Nostalgic Smells (06:10–12:30)
- Caller: Charissa D. from Queen Creek, AZ asks if the ladies have a scent that instantly puts them in a good mood.
- Angela’s Picks:
- Play-Doh smell transports her to childhood memories.
- Texas sage reminds her of her family farm.
- Notable quote:
- "That smell as you drive through the pasture of that sagebrush is so distinct. I would just breathe it in..." – Angela (08:55)
- Jenna’s Picks:
- Old Spice (dad/grandpa), gassing up the boat (oil/gasoline).
- Notable quote:
- "Things that came to mind were Old Spice aftershave...my grandpa wore it, so that brings up great memories." – Jenna (09:50)
- Sam’s Answer:
- Callery pear tree, which "smells like cum" (11:13)
- Funny moment: “We have a cum tree.” – Jenna (11:34)
- Matt’s Answer:
- Scent of Clinique Happy, worn by his first girlfriend.
- Discussion: How scents trigger strong, sometimes odd, memories; advice about using the senses to stay present.
3. Episode Breakdown: "The Paper" – Church and State (15:35–end)
3.1 Cold Open and Summary (15:35–17:52)
- Ned discovers Mare has been sleeping in the office due to plumbing issues; there’s comedy about sharing expensive shampoo.
- Costume trivia: Mare’s Sturgill Simpson tee was chosen by the costume designer, aligning with her character’s taste.
- Notable quote:
- "I'm like, maybe it's a business? I don't know. Is it a band? … It's a guy. And he's so good!" – Jenna (17:51)
- Notable quote:
3.2 The Sewer Clog & Softies’ Man Mitts (18:25–27:42)
- Big city “Fatberg” clog caused by non-flushable wipes (aka Man Mitts).
- Ken’s push to spin the product as revolutionary, Ned’s ethical pushback ("separation of church and state").
- Memorable line:
- “I'm not calling your ass wiping glove the penicillin of personal hygiene.” – Ned (24:05, paraphrased by Jenna)
- Real-life trivia: “Man Mitts” resemble actual products called “Shittens”—a disposable glove for wiping kids. Fun fact research by Jenna.
- Deep dive into real-world “Fatbergs”:
- The massive Whitechapel Fatberg in London described in grim detail (27:38)
- Memorable quote:
- “You might be asking yourself, can I see the Fatberg? … It’s on display!” – Jenna (26:30–26:51)
3.3 Side Story: Esmeralda the Stage Mom (29:57–44:22)
- Esmeralda drags her son Mateo out of school to audition for “Kid Mitts,” rewrites his lines, then hijacks the audition herself in the most cringe-worthy way.
- “It’s like this Freaky Friday moment where she stands in front of the camera … so, so awkward.” – Angela (44:00)
3.4 Journalistic Ethics & Office Shenanigans (33:56–38:22)
- Ken orders staff to stop the Man Mitts exposé; Ned insists on journalistic integrity.
- Ken’s “reply-all” paper trail for plausible deniability:
- “In our work… there’s always some person… just part of the reply-all chain. That’s Ken.” – Jenna (35:20–35:55)
- Reference to real workplace personalities who claim credit.
3.5 Behind-the-Scenes: Man Mitt Lab & Robotic Prop (44:36–46:07)
- Extended cut reveals the “Man Mitt” laboratory with a custom, endlessly-wiping robotic arm.
- “The prop now lives in Greg Daniels’ office!” – Matt Sohn (45:29)
3.6 Climax: The Great Paper Dump & Evidence Retrieval (49:13–59:25)
- Ken & Travis dump incriminating files in a Universal backlot pond — fun behind-the-scenes revealed by Matt Sohn, including set constraints and pond demolition (49:51).
- Travis secretly saves files, which later arrive via drone to Mare.
- Ken is blackmailed into letting the story run and reinstating Ned.
3.7 Resolution: The Power of Sales, Teamwork & Fatbergs (59:25–61:40)
- The newspaper staff rebrand Man Mitts as kitchen wipes; Ned’s sales talents help save the company.
- “Should Ned be in sales? Yes. Why isn’t he? Lean into what you’re good at, Ned.” – Angela (60:43)
- Final Ned talking head ties together ethical journalism, quitting in protest, and selling 200,000 “kitchen wipes.”
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
- On pop culture lateness:
- “Can we have a podcast where we discuss pop culture but, like, way after it’s past its prime? … Let’s call it Late to the Party.” – Angela (03:04–03:12)
- On office “church and state":
- “We have to have a separation of church and state. We have to separate these two entities.” – Paraphrased from Ned (24:29)
- On the Fatberg:
- “It was 250 meters long ... weighed 130 tons, or about the same as 11 double-decker buses.” – Jenna (25:34)
- “It started to sweat under the glass. And then it started changing colors...” – Jenna (27:14)
- On kids’ pranks:
- “Do people still TP houses? … What are youth hijinks today?” – Angela & Jenna (48:19–48:53)
- On ethical dilemmas:
- “If you don’t let me tell this story, I’ll quit running the paper.” – Angela paraphrasing Ned (55:32)
- On workplace dynamics:
- “There’s always some person … part of the reply-all chain … that’s Ken!” – Jenna (35:52)
Behind-the-Scenes & Fun Facts
- Sturgill Simpson shirt was chosen to reflect Mare’s taste, based on discussions between Chelsea (actress) and the costume designer.
- The Man Mitt robotic arm prop is real; Greg Daniels kept it in his office!
- Pond scene was shot at the Universal lot, and the producers were allowed to pollute it only because the body of water was about to be removed.
- Two jump scares in the episode were written specifically for big reactions – a Michael Komen specialty.
Fan Contributions & Q&As
- Leighton R. asked about the pond filming location for the rowboat scene; answer provided by Matt Sohn.
- Yasmine from Dallas inquired about Ken’s scream – confirmed scripted and actor-driven.
Around the Town (41:16–43:15)
- Mount Baker Boys Wrestling big win; baby chicks with creative names in St. Charles, Illinois; Clearwater, FL’s giant rubber ducky festival.
Memorable, Humorous Moments
- Angela’s confusion about slang: "Oh, what do they say? They're snatched? No, that's old ladies that get facelifts." (05:03–05:10)
- The “cum tree” smell discussion was especially irreverent and got big laughs (11:13–12:27).
- Props and gifts: Recollections about a Nicolas Cage sequin pillow left behind at a Yankee swap (33:01).
Outro
- YouTube news: Animated highlights from old episodes, featuring personal photos, are now available.
- Special thanks: Shout-outs to Chelsea Fry, Matt Sohn, and the Office Ladies community.
This episode is a quintessential Office Ladies installment—full of friendship chemistry, nostalgic laughs, and a meticulous (if slightly tangential) exploration of a very funny "The Paper" episode. Whether you’re interested in behind-the-scenes factoids, the social awkwardness of “stage moms,” or just a deep dive into the world of Fatbergs and office politics, there’s a lot to love in this recap!