TBTL Episode #4553: "Get Your Mind Out Of Grandma’s Pantry"

Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh

Overview

In this Friday edition of TBTL, Luke and Andrew lean into their classic friendly banter, catching up on sleep deprivation, nostalgic radio memories, golf anxiety, the fascinating world of expired pantry goods, and their complex relationships with naps and donuts. They dive into domestic projects, the culture of napping, and take listener feedback, all while maintaining the show's unique, good-natured tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Andrew's Sleep Deprivation & Mariners Recap

Timestamps: 04:25–08:26

• Andrew admits he's running on little sleep after attending a Mariners baseball game that went into 12 innings, followed by a late night at a neighborhood bar ("The Vibe"), and then a late-night podcast queue with his cat, Bingo, needing extra attention.
• "You've got about, I'm guessing 40, maybe 50 good minutes with me before I completely crash out." (Andrew, 04:25)
• Sleep deprivation makes Andrew more alert initially, but he anticipates crashing by midday—likely while perusing the "Grandma's Pantry" subreddit.

2. The "Grandma's Pantry" Subreddit

Timestamps: 08:26–10:59

• Both hosts delight in the Reddit community where people post photos of decades-old pantry staples ("a shaker of Parmesan cheese that expired in 1999"), found in relatives' kitchens.
• For Andrew, it serves up major nostalgia: "It's such great nostalgia. It's not about, like, showing, oh, look how gross this food has gotten. It's more like, oh, my God. Do you remember when this common product had this label?" (Andrew, 09:08)
• Luke, while playfully referencing the phrase in the episode title, cautions listeners to keep it clean.

3. The Social Stigma of Napping

Timestamps: 10:59–15:37

• Andrew discusses the guilt and stigma around midday naps, especially when living with someone more productive. He describes the internal negotiations over accidental naps and work procrastination.
• Both agree: napping is often unfairly stigmatized, particularly if tied to "carousing” the night before.
• "I don't think there should be [a stigma against napping]. I'm not here to shame any nappers... It should not be stigmatized." (Luke, 11:04)

4. Afternoon Cat Cuddles & Pet Grief

Timestamps: 12:29–15:37

• Andrew shares a heartfelt story about his cat Bingo, who, following the loss of fellow cat Professor Bananas, has become more affectionate and established a daily "lap-napping" ritual.
• "He just marched right onto my lap and without any ado, just sat down, made himself comfortable, and in moments was sleeping. And then once he falls asleep, he starts rolling over on his back and stretching his legs all over the place and like, poking my belly and all this stuff." (Andrew, 14:39)
• Both hosts reflect on the evolving relationships with pets and how their routines change after loss.

5. Weekend Preview: Golfing Nerves & Family Gatherings

Timestamps: 16:23–23:14

• Luke is preparing for his first full round of golf in 25 years alongside his brother, Sammy—expressing anxiety at his lack of practice and fear of being assigned strangers in a foursome.
• "It's a long day of doing this... I'm just feeling—if we get paired up with two other people, are they going to make a foursome? Because they do that sometimes." (Luke, 17:26)
• He describes juggling family plans: a miscommunication leads to a weekend with both sibling hangout and in-laws visiting, requiring home upgrades and lots of cleaning.

6. Home Improvement Panic & DIY Mishaps

Timestamps: 23:14–32:03

• Luke describes his frantic efforts to finish DIY projects before guests arrive: painting built-in cabinets, installing drywall, and (unsuccessfully) coordinating with carpet installers.
• Frustration mounts after an installation is canceled: "When I tell you it was so hard for me to not be so, like, brusque with the carpet person because I had had my expectations up here, and now they were being dashed against the rocks of reality." (Luke, 27:41)
• The hosts riff on “managing expectations” and the emotional rollercoaster of home ownership.

7. Golf Questions—Physical and Social Anxiety

Timestamps: 31:06–39:58

• Andrew, a non-golfer, quizzes Luke on the logistics (what is "par," can you get sore, the etiquette around strangers)—which opens conversation about aging, small talk fatigue, and social pressure.
• Luke discusses how his priorities have shifted: "I used to have a much higher interest in conversations with complete strangers than I do now." (Luke, 32:03)

8. Golf Culture and Regional Stereotypes

Timestamps: 39:58–41:29

• The hosts joke about the types of golfers drawn to rural courses versus urban courses, pondering what sociopolitical signals they might encounter, referencing "Let's Go Brandon" shirts vs. "protect my money" style conservatism.

9. Nostalgia for NPR’s Friday Roundtable

Timestamps: 42:51–46:33

• Luke reminisces about listening to All Things Considered’s Friday political roundtable (Robert Siegel, David Brooks, E.J. Dionne), which New York Times recently revived as a podcast. The sound of Robert Siegel’s voice brings him back:
  • “Robert Siegel…is the medicine that I need on this Friday.” (Luke, 46:33)
• Robert Siegel’s reflection on the communal joy of laughing with strangers at a movie (the new Naked Gun) resonates deeply.

10. Listener Voicemail: The Wonders of Breakfast Pizza

Timestamps: 54:06–58:58

• A listener calls in to defend the honor of Quick Trip (the "QT"/Midwest chain, not "KT"), extolling their breakfast pizza—scrambled eggs, sausage, gravy, bacon—as a beloved regional staple.
• Luke and Andrew looking at photos agree it seems “pretty good” but worry they’d need an immediate nap after consumption.

11. Snack and Donut Shame: Internal Food Rules

Timestamps: 58:58–65:33

• The conversation turns to late-night cravings (sweets, peanut butter on random bread products) and deeply ingrained food “rules” from childhood—how things like eating chips from the bag or eating two donuts somehow trigger guilt.
• "A donut is almost by definition a tease for me. I'll see a box of donuts. They look good...one donut doesn't feel like enough, but if I ate two, I'd feel bad about myself." (Andrew, 61:52)
• Both hosts acknowledge the random, arbitrary rules governing enjoyment of treats, and reflect on the importance of not overthinking occasional indulgence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On sleep deprivation and plans gone awry:
  "On a day when I would have been more responsible the night before, I would have just turned over and gone back to sleep after my first alarm went off. But this time I was like, nope, don't trust your secondary and tertiary alarms." (Andrew, 07:40)

• On “Grandma’s Pantry” Subreddit:
  "It's not about, like, showing, oh, look how gross this food has gotten. It's more like, oh my God. Do you remember when, like, this common product had this label?" (Andrew, 09:08)

• On napping shame:
  "I feel like there's a stigma around napping." (Andrew, 10:59)

• On family and pet routines:
  "[Bingo] just marched right onto my lap and without any ado, just sat down, made himself comfortable, and in moments was sleeping." (Andrew, 14:39)

• On house projects and expectations:
  "It's so hard for me to not be so, like, brusque with the carpet person because I had my expectations up here and now they're being dashed against the rocks of reality." (Luke, 27:41)

• On golf nerves:
  "I'm worried about being tired of mishitting the golf ball and of Sam having to go, all right, you'll get there." (Luke, 19:03)

• On late-night peanut butter improvisation:
  "You're ending up putting, like, peanut butter and honey on half of a hot dog bun, and you're horfing it over the sink, and you're like, this isn't what I wanted…But I needed something sweet." (Andrew, 60:33)

• On why donuts are fraught:
  "If I eat one, I'm not satisfied. But if I ate two donuts, I'd feel bad about myself." (Andrew, 61:52)

• On nostalgia & public radio:
  "Robert Siegel…is the medicine I need on this Friday." (Luke, 46:33)

Segment Highlights (with Timestamps)

• 04:25–08:26 — Andrew recounts post-Mariner’s game high; Friday sleep crash predictions.
• 08:26–10:59 — Delighting in the "Grandma's Pantry" subreddit.
• 10:59–15:37 — Napping shame and evolving pet bonds.
• 16:23–23:14 — Luke's golf anxiety; family weekend logistics snowball.
• 23:14–32:03 — Stymied home improvement: drywall, paint, and the curse of planned perfection.
• 31:06–39:58 — Golf Q&A: social and physical pressure; small talk aversion.
• 42:51–46:33 — Robert Siegel’s radio roundtable returns; communal movie joy.
• 54:06–58:58 — Listener’s ode to Quick Trip’s breakfast pizza.
• 58:58–65:33 — Snack improvisation, hot dog buns, and donut shame.

Tone, Style & Takeaway

True to TBTL form, the episode brims with engaged, self-reflective banter. Luke and Andrew poke fun at their quirks, honor their anxieties, and create a cozy, communal atmosphere for listeners. The episode swings from the silly (expired Iron Kids bread) to the poignant (pet grief, nostalgic media), mixing comfort and comedy.

Perfect for: TBTL fans, podcast newcomers, and anyone who appreciates candid, relatable talk about life’s minor absurdities, pet love, food guilt, and accidental home chaos.

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