TBTL #4546 House Of Flies – September 3, 2025
Main Theme/Purpose
In this episode, Luke Burbank and Andrew Walsh dive into a classic TBTL blend of everyday absurdities, comfort banter, and homegrown horror. The centerpiece is Andrew’s real-life “house of flies”—a grim saga of rodents, decomposition, and a biblical outbreak of flies in his basement. From pest control and the realities of homeownership to tangents about state fair food, credit card professions, and livestock ethics, the episode masterfully oscillates between comic misery, relatable minutiae, and cultural commentary.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Andrew’s Pestilence Saga: From Rodents To Flies
[03:52–21:39]
- Rodent/Horror Chronology: Andrew recaps discovering a foul smell in his basement, suspecting a dead critter in the wall. This led to pest control efforts and the unexpected twist—flies, not rodents, became the main issue.
- Cat as Pest Deterrent: Luke previously suggested using Andrew’s cat, Bingo, as a live deterrent. Andrew reports partial success, but the house is soon beset by swarms of flies.
- Fly Explosion: One day, Andrew finds 8-10 flies clustered at a window, realizing they must be emerging from somewhere near the baseboards, likely having hatched from eggs in the mystery carcass.
- Primitive Pest Control: Old-school flypaper strips are hung. Initially, nothing happens; by mid-morning, they are “shock-a-block” with flies. Andrew also vacuums live flies with a Dyson, but finds both methods disgusting.
- Gallows Humor: The graphic descriptions escalate, including Andrew tallying 30+ flies on a strip and getting “gaggy”—“It is such an awful thing to be dealing with. Genevieve and I will stand there... and say, ‘Genevieve, it's grim.’ And she says, ‘It is grim. It is very, very grim.’” ([18:22])
- Resolution and Coping: They believe the cycle is winding down, but describe the psychological aftereffects: “...even when you get them out of the car... that sense memory on your skin, it doesn’t go away.” ([38:53])
Memorable Quotes
- Andrew: “It just represents pestilence... I just keep on saying the word pestilence.” ([21:39])
- Luke: “Are you familiar with the Brad Pitt movie? 5. ...Are you familiar with the Morgan Freeman movie seven?” ([11:27])
- Andrew: “I cannot tell you how absolutely revolting... I’m almost getting gagged.” ([14:19])
2. Reminiscing: Flies In The Outback
[34:08–39:14]
- Shared Trauma: Andrew relates the basement flies to a prior road trip with Luke through the Australian Outback, where gas stations required “biblical” fly-swatting strategies.
- Banter & Memory Gaps: Both recall tactics to keep car doors shut and fly windows down, but quibble over the accuracy of their memories.
- Sense Memory: Both note the “phantom” feeling of flies on the skin long after the event.
Notable Quote
- Luke: “...when you would step out of the car, 40 flies would land on you. It’s a very unpleasant experience.” ([38:53])
3. State Fair Food & Ethics Of Livestock Eating
[43:44–77:22]
- Luke’s State Fair Observations: Luke details his visit to the Oregon State Fair, finds the fair’s food uninspiring, and rants about people eating generic chicken strips instead of state fair exclusives.
- Andrew’s Take: Defends people’s right to eat as they please, but prefers not to indulge in over-the-top fried fair food.
- Livestock Pavilion Dilemma: Both reflect on the paradox of celebrating the cuteness and intelligence of animals that are destined for slaughter and eating, musing on pig intelligence and the ethics of meat eating.
- Cultural Traditions: Andrew expresses distaste for cute animal mascots advertising their own meat—“I am really done with ads or signs... of the animal you’re about to eat dressed up like a chef.” ([76:55])
4. Podcaster Not A Profession? Credit Card Applications & Odd Jobs
[55:28–68:29]
- The Alaska Airlines Atmos Card: Luke details signing up for a premium credit card, highlighting their “overly specific” occupational list—podcaster not included.
- Absurd Job List: The hosts laugh over obscure options such as “Cigarettes Distributor,” “Vending Machine Operator,” “Senior Political Figure,” and “Auctioneer,” questioning why “media” is missing.
- Meta Commentary: “Are there more gemologists than podcasters currently? One wonders.” (Luke, [03:00])
Notable Quotes
- Luke: “If you want to know my brand, Andrew, I’ve had multiple listeners say, hey, are you signing up for this?” ([55:56])
- Andrew: “Vending machine operator—not owner—even?” ([63:00])
- Luke: “I see some videos on TikTok and I wonder if maybe that could be my post-podcasting career—vending machine king.” ([63:14])
5. Voyeurism Or Curiosity? Andrew’s Webcam Admission
[48:11–54:35]
- Subreddit Confession: Andrew admits he’s captivated by a subreddit featuring open, unsecured security cameras around the world—not in private spaces, but cornfields and beaches.
- Luke and Andrew debate whether this counts as “voyeurism,” agreeing on its curious, non-creepy nature.
- Andrew: “I do feel like it is voyeurism. And I will take the slings and arrows for that. ...But my guess is the idea of voyeurism is staring in on—does it always have to be people?” ([52:25])
6. Email Corner: The Real Origin Of The Baby Carriage Scene
[77:54–85:44]
- Correction Time: Listener Elisa/Elyssa gently corrects last episode's assertion that The Untouchables originated the iconic “baby carriage on the stairs” sequence—it’s an homage to Battleship Potemkin (1925).
- Discussion on Early Cinema: This spins off into musings on silent film stunts (Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd) and the cinematic roots of slapstick and spectacle.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Andrew, feeling bugged out: “I am almost getting gagged now, just not for effect. I’m getting a little, like, my—the hair on my arms is standing up a bit.” ([14:19])
- On Bingo the Cat’s lackluster response: “It's time for him to earn his keep a little bit, you know?” ([31:08])
- Luke on the jobs list: “Cigarettes distributor, which by the way, I hope and pray cigarettes are a contracting industry in this country... seems more niche to me than us...working in the media.” ([62:07])
- Andrew on the flypaper: “Imagine, like going to wash your hands in the sink and having that hanging over your head. These just pieces of paper and I’m changing them out every day.” ([16:31])
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Main rodent/fly saga: 03:52–21:39
- Outback fly reminiscence: 34:08–39:14
- Fly removal techniques: 14:19–18:22, 26:40–27:51
- House of Flies gallows humor: 18:22, 21:39, 76:55–77:22
- Credit card job rants: 55:28–68:29
- Voyeurism/camera confession: 48:11–54:35
- State Fair and animal ethics: 43:44–77:22
- Iconic film correction: 77:54–85:44
The TBTL Vibe
The episode is classic TBTL: whimsical, gross, philosophical, and self-deprecating in equal measure. Luke and Andrew’s blend of curmudgeonly humor and genuine curiosity makes even fly infestations and state fair food debates sound compelling. If you crave a podcast that finds the comedy and humanity in everyday disasters and idle obsessions, this episode is peak TBTL.
End Note: For all the pestilence, existential shrugs, and inside jokes (“No mountain too tall...”), House of Flies is a reminder that sometimes misery really does love company.