Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: "Share & Smooch & Tell with Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne"

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Pablo Torre (The Athletic)
Guests: Katie Nolan, Dan Soder
(Note: Despite the title, the transcript features Katie Nolan and Dan Soder as primary guests.)

Brief Overview

This episode explores the intersections of personal boundaries, the artifice of acting, social media habits, and cultural perceptions around relationships—both real and performed. Through playful banter and candid confessions, Pablo, Katie, and Dan wander from tales of being "blindsided" by comedian guests to awkward reflections on on-screen intimacy and broader questions about authenticity in both showbiz and everyday life. The group also touches on trending topics, from celebrity body image to the cultural "work wife" phenomenon, infusing each segment with humor and revealing self-awareness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast Dynamic & Recap of Recent Episodes

[02:15 – 04:42]

• Light-hearted banter about being late to record, fan-made merch, and social media interactions.
• Catch-up on previous guest ("Hamburger"), who sent a heartfelt thank-you that moved the crew.
• Notable Quote:

  “Dear Pablo, mere words cannot express my gratitude for align me best guest on your podcast...” – Reading of Hamburger’s message, [03:37]

• Katie Nolan describes her sense of “missing out” and reflects on surprise moments with guests.

2. Social Media Habits and Annoyances

[05:01 – 06:45]

• The trio discusses Instagram etiquette, following/follower philosophies, and the transactional nature of engagement.
• Dan Soder’s minimal online presence prompts a playful interrogation from Katie.
• A lament for the “old days” of Twitter:

  “The website that used to be all about the character limit, that taught me how to make things—it made me funnier—now... it’s 18 paragraphs from a billionaire about how business works.” — Katie Nolan, [06:23]

3. The Structure of the Podcast & Shifting Norms

[06:48 – 07:54]

• Pablo admits the show's structure is now looser and more freeing:

  “…now I just see this so genuinely as relief. And I mean that in every sense… This feels like a nice change of pace.” — Pablo Torre, [06:58]

4. On-Screen Intimacy and Monogamy: Can You Act Kissing?

[09:03 – 16:16]

• Main thread: Katie admits she’d struggle with acting in intimate scenes, seeing it as “embarrassingly monogamous.”
• The group references the “Superman Smooch” controversy—fans commenting on the partner of actress Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, after her chemistry with Superman actor David Corenswet:

  “…all of these people are in his mentions making fun of him for being cucked by yum yum delish Superman?” — Pablo Torre, [12:23]

• Dan acknowledges that online commentary amplifies insecurities:

  “…whatever capability you have to overcome just the smooching Plus, a third party jumping in and being like, ‘you should be upset about this,’ I think would make you… feel worse.” — Dan Soder, [12:59]

• Case study: Neil McDonough, who refused to kiss other women on-screen for personal reasons, describes being shut out by Hollywood.
• Katie reflects on confusion between real and fake, especially as acting blurs those lines in a “deepfake” era:

  “...I think we need to know what's real and what's fake because things are starting to get a little go.” — Katie Nolan, [14:28]

• The group agrees that creating “fake chemistry” is a true skill, and for some, it’s simply not possible.

5. The “Work Wife” Phenomenon & Emotional Boundaries

[24:49 – 26:18]

• Benign flirtations with “work wife” and “work husband” labels—Rob (a producer) is cited as Pablo’s “work wife.”
• Rob sends a lookalike photo, prompting playful side conversations about male celebrity doppelgängers.

6. On-Screen Roles, Peabody/Emmy Experiences, and Roles That Got Cut

[27:01 – 31:03]

• Dan recounts being cast for a one-line part in "Succession" that was edited out, relating the stress of minor acting gigs.

• "I'm effectively a lamp." — Katie Nolan, on walk-on roles and the pressure to perform accurately on-set [29:45]

• They joke about the dangers of “stealing the show” with a minor role and contemplate hypothetical spin-offs ("Hey Captain").

7. Watching Partners on Screen – Jealousy, Vulnerability, and Comic Relief

[33:33 – 35:01]

• Katie refuses to watch Dan’s romance scenes, admitting she’d struggle seeing a partner in “Smooch City.”

• “Here's your wife cheating on you. Roll it, boys.” — Katie Nolan, [34:46]

• Pablo feigns instigating drama by threatening to play more intimate clips.

8. Celebrity Endorsements, GLP-1 Medications, and Body Image Complexity

[41:44 – 47:10]

• Discussion pivots to Serena Williams’ endorsements for GLP-1 weight loss medications (Row), the ethics of celebrity health advice, and implications for young fans.

• "She is the paragon of female athleticism..." — Pablo Torre, [43:29]

• Katie is uneasy with Serena as a spokesperson, concerned that admitting to using weight loss drugs creates conflicting messages for self-image.

• "What my issue is… watching it in execution—and it’s not destigmatizing, it's actually reinforcing the shame that’s associated with it by saying that she's coming clean about it.” — Katie Nolan, [47:09]

9. Economic Divide in Healthcare

[49:29 – 49:50]

• Dan points out the likely future of weight-loss drugs as a class marker—those who can afford them vs. those who can't.

• "...once everybody's on this, there’s going to be a very visible line between who can afford it and who can't." — Dan Soder, [49:29]

10. Comic Relief and “Palate Cleansers”

[51:53 – End]

• The group reminisces about childhood braces, early haircuts, and bullying—turning vulnerability into comfort and laughter.

• “Once those braces came off... I was a king... Dupixent, baby.” — Dan Soder, [41:12]

• Katie’s elementary school photo becomes the final “palate cleanser,” cementing a tone of warmth and nostalgia.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Dear Pablo, mere words cannot express my gratitude…” — Hamburger’s thank you [03:37]
• “The website that used to be all about the character limit... is now... 18 paragraphs from a billionaire...” — Katie Nolan on Twitter [06:23]
• “...now I just see this so genuinely as relief.” — Pablo on running a loosely structured show [06:58]
• “...I'm embarrassingly monogamous.” — Katie Nolan [09:03]
• “...how does her partner in real life feel now that all of these people are in his mentions making fun of him for being cucked by yum yum delish Superman?” — Pablo Torre [12:23]
• “Creating fake chemistry is the antithesis to me of what my whole life is about.” — Katie Nolan [15:26]
• “I'm effectively a lamp.” — Katie Nolan [29:45]
• “Here's your wife cheating on you. Roll it, boys.” — Katie Nolan [34:46]
• “She is the paragon of female athleticism...” — Pablo Torre [43:29]
• “...it’s not destigmatizing, it’s actually reinforcing the shame...” — Katie Nolan on Serena Williams’ endorsement [47:10]
• “...once everybody’s on this, there’s going to be a very visible line between who can afford it and who can’t.” — Dan Soder [49:29]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [02:15 – 04:42]: Opening banter, Hamburger story, and merch talk
• [05:01 – 06:45]: Instagram follow-wars, social media etiquette
• [09:03 – 16:16]: Smooch City—debate on acting, real/fake intimacy, and the Superman controversy
• [24:49 – 26:18]: "Work wife" phenomenon, emotional boundaries at work
• [27:01 – 31:03]: Dan’s bit parts and the inside baseball of being a TV extra
• [41:44 – 47:10]: Serena Williams, GLP-1s, the cultural tangle of body image
• [49:29 – 49:50]: Economic divide in health and medicine
• [51:53 – End]: Childhood nostalgia, palate cleanser, and closing warmth

Tone & Style

The episode is filled with quick, dry wit, self-deprecation, and earnest dialogue that oscillates between incisiveness and absurdity. Katie’s blend of vulnerability and comedic timing, Dan’s sardonic humor, and Pablo’s earnest curiosity fuel a conversational warmth that turns even personal or tough topics into approachable fare. The trio never sidesteps complexity or discomfort—they lean in, laugh, and land on honest admissions.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out stands out for its blend of pop culture scrutiny, self-aware humor, and real vulnerability. From smooching on-screen to the ramifications of celebrity body talk, it delivers laughs, fresh perspectives, and a sense of camaraderie. At its heart, it’s a rich, talky exploration of how we blur the personal and the performative, whether online, at work, or in love.

(For those who haven’t listened, this summary provides a roadmap of the themes, inside jokes, and meaningful exchanges that defined the episode—no ketchup required.)