Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: Share & Tell & Fast & Furious with Katie Nolan, Amin, Pablo, and Not Charles Barkley

Date: March 21, 2024

Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Katie Nolan, Amin Elhassan

Episode Overview

This episode is a spirited blend of nostalgia, candid storytelling, and playful commentary as Pablo hosts Katie Nolan and Amin Elhassan in-person for a classic "Share & Tell" session. The trio reminisces about their infamous celebrity Zoom party from early pandemic days, explores Amin’s viral basketball fail and fasting for Ramadan, and gets an irreverently heartfelt download on the best (and weirdest) of TikTok as Congress weighs its possible ban. The group’s trademark banter is woven with sincere cultural discussions, sports insights, and, above all, laughter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pandemic Zoom Party: Celebrity Chaos & Go-Karting (00:31–14:32)

• Reminiscing about 2020: The gang revisits their April 2020 lockdown-era stunt—trying to lure celebrities into a spontaneous Zoom call. They reflect on how, in those early, uncertain days, "Zoom bombing" was fresh and risky, making the whole thing slightly chaotic and a little illicit.
• Go-kart Nostalgia: They recount memories from the 2019 ESPYs and Mario Kart-style go-karting, with Amin taking pride in his gaming prowess and Gary’s “cheating” with a souped-up kart.
• Celebrity Lineup: The original Zoom saw surprise drop-ins from Jaleel White (Urkel), Andrew Schultz, Mike Schur, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Travis Kelce, Scott Hanson, Andrew Siciliano, Bob Ley, Clayton Kershaw (confused and shirtless), and more. The hosts laugh about the mayhem, including Katie’s drunkenly enthusiastic roll call: “Who invited you?”
  • Memorable moment: "I got hammered. Very drunk." – Katie Nolan (06:28)
• Unlikely Pairings & Missed Connections: There were unexpected pairings (Red Zone hosts Scott Hanson and Andrew Siciliano), and the hosts share regret over favors cashed in for celebrity no-shows—like Charles Barkley and Jimmy Kimmel.
  • Notable quote: "I ruined your guys’s friendships with people. I’m so sorry. Good segment, though." – Katie Nolan (14:14)

2. Amin on Ramadan: Fasting, Kindness, and Cravings (14:32–22:55)

• Explaining Ramadan: Amin delivers a primer: 30 days of fasting from dawn to dusk—no eating, drinking, or sex (including "solo acts"). He emphasizes the greater challenge is personal virtue—patience, kindness, and mindset.
  • "That is a huge, honest to God, that is the hardest part for me... just to keep my mind pure and not to be reactive—especially when you’re hungry." – Amin (16:01)
• Purpose and Experience: Amin notes fasting is partly to empathize with the less fortunate, and he finds camaraderie in shared struggle with other Muslims.
• Cravings & Commercials: Weirdest cravings strike, often for foods he never desires—like Red Robin or Little Caesars’ "Crazy Puffs."
• Timing & Traditions: Ramadan moves 10 days earlier each year (lunar calendar), making winter fasts easier than summer. Celebrations culminate with Eid, beginning with a required breakfast, group prayer, and days of family gatherings.
  • "You have to eat when you wake up because you have to signify, I’m not fasting anymore." – Amin (21:56)

3. Viral Infamy: Amin’s Basketball Fail & Internet Memedom (22:55–34:26)

• The Viral Miss: Amin describes how a video of his warmup jump shot—recorded during a women’s pro celebrity game—blew up online for being "deliberately" awful. He didn’t even know it went viral until after the game. - Hilarious meta: The comedian KevOnStage used the clip to promote his own show. - "The first thing I actually pay attention to is the back of my head and how the hair is filled in pretty nicely… the medication’s working!" – Amin (28:35)
• Public Reaction: Friends like Sue Bird reached out: "Is this real?" It was so bad, even close friends thought it was AI or a joke.
• Context and Defense: Amin explains it was a freak slip with a lighter (women’s) basketball, and not representative of his actual game.
  • "The reality is, and this is when Katie says, oh, like, oh, what are the odds? Like, this is why I don’t feel the need to really defend my shooting form." – Amin (33:03)
• Ramadan’s Influence: Pablo jokes that enduring this viral embarrassment while fasting is "truly a test," the kind you’d make up for a movie script.

4. TikTok on the Chopping Block: Best of Dan & Katie’s Soundboard (36:22–47:23)

• Countdown to a Ban: Discussing Congress’ potential TikTok ban, Katie leads an audio tour of her and fiancé Dan’s favorite TikTok memes, explaining how these snippets have become the “soundtrack” of their relationship.
  • "We quote these TikToks. They’ve become, like, a real part of our relationship." – Katie (37:59)
• Personal Soundboard: Katie plays select viral clips: a sniffly fishing kid ("Do you don’t have any fish foods?"), “You and your iced coffee,” odd children, filter fails, voice effect gags, and enduring in-jokes between her and Dan.
  • "This is really a soundboard of, like, Dan and Katie’s favorite weird children they’ve seen." – Pablo (43:48)
• Cultural Commentary: The segment reveals personal context to TikTok’s impact, blending humor and relationship dynamics.
• Group Dynamics: Amin gently teases Katie’s taste, while Pablo sardonically votes to “ban TikTok”:
  • "Katie Nolan’s taste in TikToks is the Amines follow through of Internet curation." – Pablo (48:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:28] Katie Nolan: "I got hammered. Very drunk."
• [10:38] Pablo Torre: "Travis Kelce showed up... he had a line that reminded me of, like, at the time. Was he doing, like, an Adam Sandler impression? 'I still don’t know why I’m in here.'"
• [16:01] Amin: "That is a huge, honest to God, that is the hardest part for me—just to keep my mind pure and not to be reactive."
• [21:56] Amin: "You have to eat when you wake up because you have to signify, I’m not fasting anymore."
• [28:35] Amin: "The first thing I actually pay attention to is the back of my head and how the hair is filled in pretty nicely… the medication’s working!"
• [33:03] Amin: "The reality is... this is why I don’t feel the need to really defend my shooting form."
• [37:59] Katie: "We quote these TikToks. They’ve become, like, a real part of our relationship."
• [43:48] Pablo: "This is really a soundboard of, like, Dan and Katie’s favorite weird children they’ve seen."
• [48:14] Pablo: "Katie Nolan’s taste in TikToks is the Amines follow through of Internet curation. Holy Katie... Stop playing weird children on your cell phone."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:31 – 14:32: Pandemic Celebrity Zoom Party & Go-Karting Memories
• 14:32 – 22:55: Amin Explains Ramadan & Shares Personal Fasting Stories
• 22:55 – 34:26: Amin’s Viral Basketball Fail and Its Fallout
• 36:22 – 47:23: TikTok Ban Debate & Dan/Katie Soundboard Showcase
• 47:23 – End: Playful Recap, Last TikTok Jokes, and Closing Banter

Tone and Language

The episode exemplifies the show’s irreverent, quick-witted style. Pablo’s hosting is playful but probing, letting Katie’s whimsical spirit and Amin’s deadpan humor shine. The conversation flows with genuine affection, sharp self-awareness, and a willingness to poke fun at themselves and each other. It’s both a love letter to their inside jokes and a cultural snapshot of Internet life and sports camaraderie.

In Summary

This episode captures the freewheeling, emotionally honest energy of Pablo Torre’s “Finds Out” project, mixing sports, culture, and digital life. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for both ritual and ridiculousness, and a trove of stories that will make you smile—whether or not TikTok gets banned.