Podcast Episode Summary:

Something You Should Know – BONUS: You Might Also Like: David Greene Is Obsessed
Episode Date: November 18, 2025
Host: David Greene
Guest: Tig Notaro (comedian, writer, actress, podcast host)

Main Theme and Purpose

This special episode features a cross-promotion of David Greene’s podcast, David Greene Is Obsessed, focusing on “obsessions” and what drives people’s deep fascinations. Greene interviews comedian Tig Notaro, whose personal and family journey with plant-based eating and veganism serves as the launching point for an in-depth, open conversation about health, loss, resilience, nourishment, and everyday joys—both serious and quirky.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Nature of Obsessions (03:30–05:00)

• David Greene describes his aim with the podcast: to uncover what lies beneath people’s intense fixations—how childhood, personality, and trauma can fuel obsessions.
• “Obsessions are a window into someone’s soul. We just follow the conversations where they go. And I expect things are gonna get raw, they're gonna be joyous, they're gonna be wild—sometimes funny as hell, anger inducing. But I hope you'll just be along for the ride.” – David Greene (03:05)

2. Tig Notaro’s Plant-Based Journey & Definitions (05:00–09:59)

• Tig differentiates “vegan” (a broader lifestyle of reducing harm to self, others, and the planet) from “plant-based” (primarily about diet).
  • “Vegan is like a more whole way of living. You try to do as little harm to yourself and others and the planet. And then plant based is very much specifically about what you eat.” – Tig Notaro (05:36)
• She leans toward veganism but admits she “can’t claim I’m doing the most top notch job” due to things like old non-vegan clothing (07:34).
• Tig’s family—her wife, writer Stephanie Allynne, and their twin sons—also eat plant-based, with the kids given autonomy on diet decisions as they grow.

3. Motivation & Impact of Going Plant-Based (09:59–13:45)

• Prompted by recurring health issues, documentaries, and the persistent (but daunting) nudge to try, Tig fully shifted to plant-based eating during a two-week tour.
• Major surprise: She found it “changed my whole relationship with food. ...So much more energy, I felt so much lighter, I felt more clarity just in my brain.” (11:12)
• “It was quite literally the opposite [of tasteless]. ...I saw a difference in how I felt.” – Tig Notaro (10:06; 11:01)

4. Becoming More Conscious & Dealing With ‘Slip-ups’ (12:00–14:25)

• The commitment involves ongoing awareness: reading food labels and catching hidden animal products is part of the process—and sometimes she accidentally breaks her streak.
  • “I've been vegan now for eight years, and I often think, I wonder how much I've accidentally consumed.” (13:00)
  • Fun anecdote: fantasizing about Oprah revealing the “wagon of animal products” she's consumed by mistake (13:25).

5. Health Crisis, Trauma, and Control (14:49–19:34)

• Tig details the severe medical crises and losses she faced in 2012: pneumonia, a near-fatal C. diff infection, her mother’s accidental death, a breakup, and breast cancer diagnosis within months.
• “I just know I don’t want to end up as sick as I was in a four-month period of time in 2012. Like, I never want to be there again. ...It is my North Star to not end up sick, hopefully.” – Tig Notaro (18:00)
• Switching to plant-based was partly a way to reclaim some agency over her life and health.

6. From Illness to Stand-Up: Using Vulnerability (19:34–28:58)

• Tig narrates how she processed her cascade of trauma through stand-up, including the iconic show at Largo in LA after her cancer diagnosis:
  • “Hello, good evening, I have cancer.” (24:50)
• The show’s success demonstrated how candid humor about grief and illness can deeply resonate.
  • “I always say it was like the exact perfect people there to receive that information.” (27:00)

7. Lasting Legacy of Trauma, and Trusting Life Again (29:56–31:23)

• Asked whether she fears repeating her past misfortunes, Tig says, “It hasn’t happened. ...But I also think I have a very realistic perspective on life. ...It really has made me learn to trust life and trust what’s coming, even if it’s not great.” (30:40)

8. Parenting, Identity, and Joy in Family Life (31:23–34:00)

• Tig describes an episode where her young sons were surprised to learn their moms were gay—showing their acceptance and the normalcy their family projects onto difference.
  • “I’ve joked that, like, man, what did they think I was? The butler? Who did they think I was?” (33:39)
• Their sons now proudly lead with “I have two moms.”

9. Tig’s Obsessive (But Healthy) Recipes (34:41–39:09)

• Shares her “overengineered” morning smoothie, packed with raw oats, wild blueberries, avocado, banana, seeds, raisins, dates, almonds, etc.
• Star recipe: “Tater Time”
  • Plate of raw spinach, plain baked potato topped with pico de gallo (not salsa), sliced avocado, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.
  • “You must take a piece of everything in each bite.” (37:45)

10. New Obsessions: Acting Technique and Star Trek Role (40:13–43:18)

• Working on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy pushed Tig to take acting more seriously—she’s now “obsessed” with technique, learning lines, and growing as an actor, connecting more deeply with her wife Stephanie over their shared love of performance craft.

11. Quirky Food Obsessions and Family Traits (43:18–47:39)

• Host and guest bond over a shared affection for half-popped popcorn kernels. Tig recommends sorghum pops as a healthier alternative.
• Humor in would-be entrepreneurial ventures: “Let's keep it on the DL, and you and I can start our own [half-popped popcorn business].” (46:09)

12. Loving Quirks of Partners (47:21–47:45)

• Tig reflects that her wife’s main “obsession” is safety, much needed after Tig’s “wild” Mississippi childhood.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• “If you dig deeper, there's a lot there about my social anxiety, about wanting a consistent connection with a community, about wanting to know that I can come to a place where I'm always accepted.” – David Greene (03:00)
• “There’s the joke that is very true that, like, you don’t have to ask somebody if they’re vegan. ...People that eat plant-based, it’s like, it’s like I’ve found Christ.” – Tig Notaro (04:02)
• “I was truly shocked. ...I did not expect to see results and I thought, okay, if I go plant-based for these two weeks on the road, worst case scenario is I ate healthy for two weeks.” – Tig Notaro (14:49)
• “If you put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, it’s going to break down over and over and ultimately die an early death. And if you put like really, really good fuel in your car, it’s going to run forever.” – Tig Notaro (15:34)
• “I went on stage and talked about the four months of hell I had been going through. ...I walked out on stage and said, ‘Hello, good evening, I have cancer.’” – Tig Notaro (24:50)
• “Life can shift on a dime. ...I should just take this opportunity because I knew I was about to go into surgery and treatment and recovery and all of this stuff.” – Tig Notaro (23:17)
• “The fun and wonderful thing about life is we don’t know what’s around the corner. ...I don’t feel fearful. I just want to be prepared.” – Tig Notaro (30:40)
• On "Tater Time": “You must take a piece of everything in each bite because, yes, it is so delicious. And I beg anyone to argue with me.” – Tig Notaro (37:45)
• “My wife’s obsession for me is a quirky obsession.” (46:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• The nature of obsessions and plant-based introduction: 03:30–06:36
• Plant-based vs vegan and Tig’s journey: 06:36–11:12
• Personal health and family diet shift: 11:12–14:25
• Health crises and reclaiming control: 14:49–19:34
• 2012: cascade of loss and stand-up as catharsis: 19:34–28:58
• Parenting, family, and normalization of difference: 31:23–34:00
• Obsessive recipes and “Tater Time”: 34:41–39:09
• Learning acting and Star Trek: 40:13–43:18
• Popcorn quirks, sorghum, and partner obsessions: 43:18–47:39

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, humorous, and deeply reflective—shaped by Tig Notaro’s trademark dry wit and resilience. Despite discussing trauma and hardship, the episode feels uplifting and encouraging, full of practical wisdom about food, self-care, learning, and loving others for their quirks. Listeners come away with both recipes and food for thought—about accepting unpredictability and finding joy in what obsesses us.

Resources, References, and Further Listening

• Handsome (Tig Notaro’s podcast)
• Upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series (Jan 2026)
• Come See Me in the Good Light (Andrea Gibson documentary, Apple TV)

This summary captures the heart of the Tig Notaro interview with David Greene, spotlighting both the life-changing power of personal obsessions and the specific details (and fun digressions) that make this episode richly rewarding—even for those who haven’t listened.