TBTL #4684: "Hungry, Hungry Hypnos" (March 16, 2026)
Hosted by Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh, with special guest Susie Burbank

Episode Overview

In today’s energetic Monday edition, Luke and Andrew blend comic banter, nostalgia, and thoughtful observations as they catch up on their weekends, family visits, and recent pop culture events. The main topics: a hypnotist improv show, childhood memories of Seattle sports legends, dealing with misinformation online, Oscars audio quirks (featuring Matt Berry), and the joys and pitfalls of library DVD watching and book buying. Special guest Susie Burbank (Luke’s mom) joins to discuss family, ADHD, back pain, and navigating the digital world. The tone is classic TBTL—affectionate, irreverent, meandering, and full of inside jokes and regional flavor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up, Weather, and Oscars Chatter

[01:09-03:39]

• Luke and Andrew check in from their respective studios, comment on the weather in Southern Washington, and note the episode’s place in their “collector series.”
• Oscars recap: Luke didn’t watch, preferring a New Zealand mystery DVD with his mom, but references Conan O’Brien hosting and expected winners.
• Luke vents about the Oscars’ audio mix—“the music is so loud you can barely hear the announcer”—and is validated by social media posts on the same complaint.

Notable Quote:

“The Oscars should not win the Oscar for audio mix.” – Luke [03:04]

2. Welcoming Special Guest: Susie Burbank

[04:19-10:41]

• Susie discusses a recent back injury (tweaked by bending down for a dime), compares back pain stories, and reports improvement thanks to hot pads and sciatica “flossing.”
• Luke recalls pulling his neck pre-9/11, attempting to wash his hair in a Rome hotel sink.

Notable Quote:

“My growing up years, like my great aunt used to say, ‘Susan Marion, give your tongue a sleigh ride.’” – Susie [11:15]

3. ADHD Reflections & Writing Aspirations

[09:04-13:15]

• Susie submitted a personal story on distraction (ADHD-related) to The Sun magazine but hasn't heard back.
• She elaborates on her lifelong distractions and diagnosis of ADHD as an adult; confirms she takes mild ADHD medication.
• Andrew dives into the phrase “give your tongue a sleigh ride,” tracing its supposed origins to Seattle sports (Bill “the Beer Man”), but Susie insists her aunt coined it decades earlier.

4. Legendary Seattle Sports Vendors & Ballpark Memories

[13:16-18:05]

• Fond reminiscence of ballpark personalities: Bill “the Beer Man” (sweaty, booming voice), Rick “the Peanut Guy” Kaminsky (famous for behind-the-back peanut tosses), and “Tuba Man.”
• Luke recounts seeing his childhood basketball coach as “the cat wrangler” on the Kingdome Diamond Vision.
• The group mourns Tuba Man’s tragic end and remembers colorful characters who made live sports memorable.

5. Navigating Misinformation Online

[19:47-24:37]

• Susie admits she briefly believed a false report about Marshawn Lynch’s death, illustrating the hazards of viral fake news.
• Luke cautions parents against new scams involving AI voice cloning and urges “never ever send money” in response to distress calls, regardless of apparent authenticity.
• Discussion on vetting internet news, checking reliable sources, and cross-referencing before reacting.

Notable Quote:

“With AI and with these videos... it's harder and harder to separate facts from fertilizer.” – Luke [20:02]

6. Dazzling Donor Segment

[27:04-35:01]

• The show thanks Denny Gammer (Edmonds, WA), who shares rich radio nostalgia: listening to distant hits on WLS as a kid, tuning into Husky baseball on KCMU (before KEXP), and discovering TBTL as an extension of his love of talk radio.

7. Gift Strategies & The Odd Joy of “Hipprov”

[46:18-57:14]

• Luke describes Becca’s family’s thoughtful gift tradition: buying group tickets to live experiences (this time: a hypnotist improv show in Salem, OR).
• Full breakdown of the “Hipprov” experience: 20 volunteers, hypnosis, improv scenes managed by Colin Mochrie (of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), and convincing comedic performances by hypnotized audience members.
• Luke, previously skeptical, is surprised by the participants' confidence and improv skill, now believes hypnosis can induce a true “flow state.”
• Andrew remains the “doubting Thomas,” referencing a past experience with planted audience members, but is intrigued by the anecdotal evidence.

Notable Quotes:

“My sense of improv… is that the people that are good at it... are basically in a hypnotized state themselves.” – Luke [54:00]
“You want to believe magic, but… there’s always that part of you going ‘but, how do I know they’re not plants?’” – Andrew [57:15]

8. The Mechanics of Group Belief: Hypnosis vs. Childhood Faith

[61:47-64:14]

• Susie likens being hypnotized to church experiences (being “slain in the spirit”)—the power of wanting to believe and group suggestibility.
• Luke separates the two: “The people who were speaking in tongues were bad at it… because that’s not a real thing,” whereas the hypnotized improv subjects seemed truly uninhibited and creative.

9. Oscars Announcer Talk: Matt Berry, Audio Mishaps, and More

[68:30-77:20]

• Recap of Matt Berry’s turn as Oscars announcer (this year live, possibly from London). Luke laments how the audio mix hindered the comedic value of hearing Berry read nominee names.
• The hosts riff on the tradition of “fun” announcers (Nick Offerman last year), and treat listeners to humorous deep-voice announcer bits from the Howard Stern show.

Memorable Moment & Quote:

Matt Berry (Oscars bit):
“Well, I’ve always been a fan of Benicio Del Toro, Sigourney Fever, and of course, Basil Rathbone.”
Conan: “Sorry to tell you, Matt, Basil Rathbone died almost 60 years ago.”
Matt Berry: “Is that right? Well, that’s live TV for you.” [74:19–75:02]

10. Media Nostalgia: Library DVDs, Book Mishaps, Background Movies

[77:20-85:11]

• Luke talks about watching a New Zealand DVD series from the Kitsap Library, despite falling behind on “modern” shows—embracing the chance to watch things he’d never pick himself.
• Andrew shares his comedic frustration upon receiving a novella-thin book (The Crying of Lot 49) for vacation, due to online shopping; Luke relates his own experience accidentally receiving an Art Bell book without its gloriously illustrated cover.

11. Extended Aftershow (The Badlands): Mascots, Uniforms & College Sports

[86:33–95:46]

• Andrew recalls a painful memory of a Browns banner (“Losing is a Work of Art”) being confiscated, leading to a discussion of teams’ mascots—particularly the “Dawgs”/“Dogs” of both Cleveland and UW, their spellings, and branding oddities.
• They dive deep into the appeal (or lack thereof) of “Bow Down to Washington,” “Dubs” the mascot, and the changing nature of college sports fandom.
• Andrew admits his fascination with uniforms and the “uni-head” culture (“I am a mere child compared to Ders and Nick Jarin”).

Memorable Quotes & Lighthearted Banter

• “We’re the number one show in hospitals and on sinking riverboat casinos.” – Andrew [00:49]
• “Stop saying daddy.” – Luke [00:41]
• “Give your tongue a sleigh ride… [it] means take a break, stop talking…” – Susie [14:54]
• “If you get a call that sounds like us, and we’re saying, ‘I’m in trouble’... do not send money.” – Luke [21:06]
• “The public library is where it’s at.” – Luke [79:09]
• “I cannot imagine myself… being so befuddled by a hypnotist that I thought my belly button went away.” – Luke [68:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:04] Oscars audio mix complaints
• [04:19–10:41] Susie Burbank guest segment/back pain/ADHD
• [13:16–18:05] Seattle sports vendor legends remembered
• [19:47–24:37] Misinformation, AI scams, fake Marshawn Lynch news
• [27:04–35:01] Dazzling donor: radio love, Seattle history
• [46:18–57:14] Hypnotist improv show breakdown, skepticism vs. belief
• [68:30–77:20] Oscars announcer nostalgia, Matt Berry bit, deep voice riffing
• [77:20–85:11] Library DVD & book-buying hijinks
• [86:33–end] Mascots, uniforms, and the culture of college sports

Tone & Style

Laid-back, self-deprecating, and rich with regional references and inside jokes. The hosts’ chemistry remains as strong as ever, anchored by a genuine love for daily minutiae, personal storytelling, and gentle ribbing—both of each other and the world at large. Susie Burbank’s guest appearance brings warmth, humor, and poignant reflection on aging, health, and the challenges of adapting to an ever-evolving media landscape.

“No mountain too tall.”

“Good luck to you all.”