Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: "Our Election-Free Share & Tell" with Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne

Date: November 12, 2024
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne

Overview

This special "Share & Tell" episode is intentionally designed as a time capsule recorded before the 2024 Election, offering listeners a playful, stress-free break from the political noise. Host Pablo Torre, joined by comedian Michael Cruz Kayne and media personality Katie Nolan, embarks on a meandering, laughter-filled exploration of their favorite comfort videos and curious snacks, sprinkled with personal anecdotes, live demonstrations, and irreverent banter. The episode's purpose is clear: escape, comfort, and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Premise: Escaping the Election (00:28)

• The episode is recorded “strategically two days before Election Day happened,” deliberately avoiding any discussion of elections or current news.
• The share & tell format serves as “a reprieve explicitly from what everybody else must have been talking about for the last week or so.” (Pablo Torre, 05:19)

2. Wardrobe Finds & The World’s Largest Kaleidoscope (02:27 – 05:00)

• Michael recounts buying a “short-sleeved” sweater and gauze pants at the world’s largest kaleidoscope in the Catskills, describing the eccentric attraction and the limited sweater options.
• “It was nice to go shopping and go, oh, I can only choose from these five sweaters... Instead of going, I want a sweater. Let me Google sweater. Let me find any sweater ever sold.” (Michael Cruz Kayne, 03:52)
• Discussion morphs into jokes about shopping constraints and the benefits of analog, in-person experiences.

3. Emotional State & Comfort Rituals (05:51 – 07:01)

• The trio jokes about how people might be emotionally reacting to Election Day, with “the vibes are fraught,” “vibes are off,” and general joking about anxiety.
• Katie says: “Wherever it is, I’m just trying to be... Could I be asleep now instead of whatever’s happening?” (Katie Nolan, 06:16)

4. Share & Tell: Comfort Videos

a. Björk Disassembles a TV (07:01 – 12:23)

• Katie’s comfort video: A young Björk from the ‘80s taking apart a TV, blending childlike wonder with poetic pseudo-science.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Björk: “This looks like a city, like a little model of a city... I read that in a Danish book this morning.” (08:55)
  • “You shouldn’t let poets lie to you.” (Bjork, quoted by Katie, 11:12)
• The hosts reflect on the lost art of curiosity before the internet, and Björk’s ability to make sense of the world “in a way that is enough for her.” (Michael, 11:40)
• Katie: “She’s almost like an element or something.” (07:46)

b. “I Like Turtles” Viral Clip & Analog Virality (13:00 – 14:47)

• Pablo plays the “I Like Turtles” viral news clip, sparking nostalgia for a pre-TikTok internet.
• They delight in the innocence and authenticity of early viral content.
• Michael: “I want to be clear: I was giving mine back. I didn’t ask for it. He gave it back to me... But I don’t pay for it.” (14:42)

c. Shakespeare’s St. Crispin’s Day Speech (15:06 – 17:30)

• Katie’s unexpected selection: Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V rousing speech.
• “It hits both the part of me... from the beginning of time masculinity of which I have extremely little and then also the pretentious part of me that’s like, well, I do love the Bard.” (Katie Nolan, 16:36)
• The trio riff on what St. Crispin’s Day actually is, landing humorously on saints, fried chicken, and cereal names.

d. Horse Hoof Cleaning (18:47 – 19:15)

• Michael confesses his satisfaction watching horse hoof “gunk” removal videos, comparing them to (unsettlingly graphic) pimple popping – but for animal feet.

5. Gummy Bear Challenge & Lethal Shooter (19:50 – 26:30)

• Inspired by viral basketball trainer Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, Pablo introduces a challenge: shooting gummy bears into a water bottle.
• Key Moments:
  • Experiencing the difficulty (“Why is he out of breath?... You gotta imagine, right?” – Michael, 20:39)
  • Debate over water bottle regulations, technique, and Lethal Shooter’s credentials.
  • The trio attempt the shot, with much laughter, missed attempts, and general chaos.
  • “I dropped one in my crotch. Ready? Here we go. Guaranteed make. Kobe.” (Katie, 26:32)

6. Sports Teams on Public Transit & NYC Attitude (27:15 – 30:20)

• Katie brings up the Detroit Pistons taking the NYC subway due to marathon road closures — and how that togetherness led to “an unusually high number of assists.”
• They discuss New York’s famous nonchalance toward fame.
  • “Even if you see someone, you sort of feel like as a New Yorker it’s your job to pretend that you don’t give a shit.” (Katie, 29:37)
  • “You’re on the subway just like me, bro. Yeah. Oh, you make $10 million a year. Well, guess what? There’s a guy on this train... and we’re the same to him.” (Katie, 30:18)

7. Uncrustables: NFL Snack of Choice (31:00 – 36:39)

• The group samples Uncrustables (PB&J sandwiches with the crust removed, mass-produced and frozen), discussing their popularity and “elevated” taste when toasted.
• NFL Stats: “NFL teams go through anywhere from 3,600 to 4,300 uncrustables a week... as a whole easily at least 80,000 uncrustables a year. Denver has the highest reported consumption here: 700 a week.” (Michael, 32:21)
• They debate the merits for regular people (“Why would you need it?” – Michael) and riff on crustless bread.
• Memorable Metaphor: “The crust serves a purpose. It’s like, why don’t they make skinless people?” (Michael, 35:46)
  • Katie: “Wow. I just got my mind blown on that one.” (Katie, 35:54)

8. Call-backs, Ouroboros, Recaps (38:04 – End)

• The episode closes with a roundtable of what everyone “found out” today, returning to earlier themes.
  • Michael: “Red Bull hires people, pays money to people, who will teach other people. Dwight Howard to female athletes.” (38:08)
  • Katie: “The world’s largest kaleidoscope is fine. Yeah, it’s fine. And that’s good enough for me.” (39:08)
  • Pablo: “I found out that I still like that kid who likes turtles.” (39:44)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Analog shopping: “It was nice to go shopping and go, oh, I can only choose from these five sweaters... Instead of going, I want a sweater. Let me Google sweater.” (Michael, 03:52)
• Björk wisdom: “You shouldn’t let poets lie to you.” (Bjork, quoted by Katie, 11:12)
• Shakespeare as hype: “It hits both the part of me... the masculinity...and also the pretentious part of me that’s like, well, I do love the Bard.” (Katie, 16:36)
• NYC humility: “You’re on the subway just like me, bro...well, guess what? ...and we’re the same to him.” (Katie, 30:18)
• Uncrustables metaphor: “The crust serves a purpose. It’s like, why don’t they make skinless people?” (Michael, 35:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------| | 00:28 | Election-free premise/Share & Tell setup | | 02:27 | Catskills kaleidoscope shopping story | | 05:41 | Emotional state of “Election Day” jokes | | 07:01 | Björk TV video & discussion | | 13:00 | “I Like Turtles” clip | | 15:06 | St. Crispin’s Day speech | | 18:47 | Horse hoof cleaning comfort | | 19:50 | Lethal Shooter/gummy bear challenge | | 27:15 | Detroit Pistons on NYC subway | | 31:00 | Uncrustables taste test and NFL stats | | 36:39 | Crustless bread/skinless people metaphor | | 38:04 | What did you find out? Callbacks/recap |

Tone & Style

The episode brims with quick-witted, irreverent humor, a sense of relaxed camaraderie, and love for the quirky and analog. The hosts mock themselves as much as the world around them, circle back to running gags (Invisalign, “I Like Turtles,” pants, crusts/skin), and lean into collective nostalgia.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode offers an oasis from high-stakes news, filled with offbeat comfort videos, taste tests, and authentic, hilarious conversations about everything except the headlines. If you want to laugh, reminisce, and discover oddly satisfying internet rabbit holes with some of sports media’s sharpest minds, this is your reprieve.