TBTL Episode #4556: "Deer Me" – Summary
Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank (from Madrona Hill Studio) & guest co-host Phyllis Fletcher (in for Andrew Walsh)
Episode Overview
On this Wednesday edition, Luke hosts from his foggy home studio, carefully whispering so as not to disturb two baby deer lounging outside his window, declaring their tranquility as his "main KPI" for the day. The episode features guest co-host and long-time friend of the show Phyllis Fletcher, filling in for Andrew Walsh. The pair dive into nostalgic Seattle memories, dish about the recent passing of viral Olive Garden reviewer Marilyn Haggerty, and indulge in a lengthy, affectionate dissection of their ongoing complicated relationship with The Howard Stern Show. The episode maintains TBTL’s signature goofball, conversational tone with plenty of tangents, listener messages, and delightful asides.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Deer in the Yard and the Pursuit of Quiet (01:27)
- Luke begins the show whispering so as not to disturb two baby deer sunning themselves just outside his studio:
“Disturbing these two baby deer, or I should say, not disturbing them, is...my prime directive today...It’s my main KPI.” (01:28)
- Sets the tranquil, slightly absurd mood for the episode.
2. Seattle Nostalgia and Childhood Artifacts (04:06 - 08:43)
- Phyllis and Luke reminisce about growing up in Seattle:
- Stories about old phones—Phyllis’ coveted yellow Sculptura phone and the elusive Pac-Man phone.
- Nostalgia for Seattle landmarks, neighborhoods, and defunct local businesses:
- “I have started following a couple of these old Seattle vintage Seattle Instagram feeds...all they do is post pictures of shit I remember from when I was a kid.” (06:32)
- Lamenting how their presence in Seattle, especially on Aurora Avenue, can be tough on significant others forced to listen to endless memory-lane stories.
3. Howard Stern Show Analysis and Podcast Culture (08:43 - 20:09)
- Deep-dive on the current state of The Howard Stern Show:
- Both have been listeners and fans for decades, now grappling with Stern’s evolution and growing self-delusion.
- Questioning rumors about Robin Quivers’ (Stern’s co-host) health—skeptical about purported controversy:
- “If even the New York Post had published something about Robin Quivers passing away, would it have not hit your radar and mine?” (11:51 – Luke)
- Stern’s ongoing antagonism toward podcasting and his apparent self-obfuscation of what his show actually is:
- “The Howard Stern show is a podcast. I mean, to me it is.” (13:44 – Luke)
- “Now it’s become like a deliberate self-obfuscation.” (14:14 – Phyllis)
- Phyllis reveals she now mainly listens to the wrap-up show highlight reel due to emotional fatigue:
- “I have a hard time listening to a complete show now. I don’t want to listen to him lie to me. I really can’t deal with him lying to himself, and hearing other people be complicit in that.” (16:03)
- Both wonder who will fill the “Howard Stern–shaped hole” in media when the show ends, especially given the disappearance of classic call-in talk shows.
4. Listener Support and Donor Appreciation (22:32 - 32:17)
- Shout-outs to donors from various states, with tangents about each location and personal childhood travel stories.
- Discussion of east vs. west Washington, public transportation childhoods (Phyllis), and quirky anecdotal connections to towns like Olympia.
5. Remembering Marilyn Haggerty and Reconsidering Online Kindness (32:18 - 41:21)
- Remembering the iconic “Olive Garden Review”:
Marilyn Haggerty, beloved for her earnest, viral review of Olive Garden in Grand Forks, ND, has passed at 99.- Anthony Bourdain’s defense of Haggerty’s sincerity praised:
“He met with her and went on to publish a book of her columns, also writing its foreword.” (34:11 – Luke)
- Both hosts share memories of their own first Olive Garden visits (after graduations, for family celebrations, and, in Luke’s case, an awkward “purity watch” dinner).
- Reflection on how internet culture has shifted toward more kindness and away from punching down:
- “I feel like in this day and age...our reflex is no longer to make fun of somebody who is just kind of living their life blissfully unaware.” (40:21 – Luke)
- Anthony Bourdain’s defense of Haggerty’s sincerity praised:
6. 3D Printing Tangent: Is It Really Printing? (41:32 - 45:10)
- Luke vents skepticism about the trendiness of “3D printing,” specifically for houses—arguing most “printed” things are just robotically extruded/plopped materials:
- “I think that the term 3D printing is being overused. I don’t think we’re printing these things. I think we’re making them.” (44:26 – Luke)
- Phyllis adds a classic visual—likens the process to squeezing out Play-Doh.
7. Publishers Clearinghouse and “Forever Payments” Scandal (47:09 - 53:20)
- Conversation about the collapse of Publishers Clearinghouse:
- The heartbreak of “$5,000 a week for life” prize suddenly disappearing.
- Anecdotes from real “winners” who suddenly stopped receiving checks.
- Phyllis references having a “windfall plan” in her notes app, noting how no one expects such eventualities.
8. Voicemail Roulette: Listener Messages (54:01 - 59:12)
- Hosts read a couple of randomly selected voicemails:
- First: Pure joy about “The Badlands” recurring segment.
- Second: Three-part update from a listener in Maine—on loving her TBTL sticker, feminist nostalgia (Ms. Magazine and NOW), and commiseration with Whole30/food struggles, connecting them to Luke’s past “turkey and pickle” lunches.
- Leads into more Stern conversation—paralleling Luke’s past food regimens to Stern’s ascetic eating.
9. Back to Stern — Semaglutides, Life Satisfaction, and Show Dynamics (61:02 - 64:59)
- Discussion on Stern staff using weight loss drugs (semaglutides):
- How Stern’s resentment stems from pride in years of self-denial.
- Admiration for staffer Gary “Fafa” Dell’Abate’s well-balanced, content personal life despite show roasts.
- “When you look at everyone right now, I think Fafa has the best life, and he’s the happiest and most satisfied with what he’s built for himself.” (62:55 – Phyllis)
- The segment ends with Luke narrating a real-life “Bambi reenactment” as four baby deer and two mothers frolic in his yard.
10. Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On deer tranquility:
- “If I have to end the show early, I absolutely will. Disturbing these two baby deer...not disturbing them, is my prime directive today.” (02:09 – Luke)
- On nostalgia/phone stores:
- “I had to buy the phone at the store...It took me a number of serious adult relationships to figure out that it’s so annoying to be a person that is married to me or dating me who is in Seattle.” (07:58 – Luke)
- On the Stern show malaise:
- “I have a hard time listening to a complete show now. I can’t deal with him lying to himself, and hearing other people be complicit in that.” (16:03 – Phyllis)
- On tech levers & Andrew’s absence:
- “If I seem a little less than fully engaged with you...it is, believe it or not, more mental energy than I thought it would be to handle all the, like, audio, I had you muted...” (04:07 – Luke)
- On kindness evolution online:
- “A significant number of people have gotten the memo that it’s not...right. Like, I do, I feel like in this day and age...our reflex is no longer to make fun of somebody who is just kind of living their life sort of blissfully unaware.” (40:21 – Luke)
Notable Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Quote | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:27 | Luke quietly describes “not disturbing” the deer as his KPI for the day. | | 04:06–08:43 | Seattle nostalgia chat—Sculptura phone, Pac-Man phone, and vintage Seattle sites. | | 09:05–20:09 | Howard Stern Show deep-dive: podcast culture, rumormongering, show’s future, staff dynamics. | | 22:32–32:17 | Donor acknowledgments, childhood travel tales, Olympia stories. | | 32:18–41:21 | Remembering Marilyn Haggerty, Olive Garden discourse, evolution of internet kindness. | | 41:32–45:10 | 3D printing skepticism; “Is extruding concrete really printing?” | | 47:09–53:20 | Publishers Clearinghouse “forever payment” collapse discussion. | | 54:01–59:12 | Voicemail roulette—listener wins and the “Badlands.” | | 61:02–64:59 | Howard Stern encore: weight loss talk, Fafa Dell’Abate’s best life, happy deer in the yard. | | 65:15–65:51 | Announcement: Jen “Flash” Andrews returns tomorrow. |
Ending & Preview
- Luke wraps up with a lively play-by-play of the growing herd of baby deer in his yard and thanks Phyllis for co-hosting/supporting TBTL.
- Preview for tomorrow: Jen “Flash” Andrews drops by to talk about the Emmys and more.
Tone and Style
- Language: Playfully conversational, self-aware, nostalgic, with meta-humor about TBTL itself and its relationship to The Howard Stern Show.
- Dynamic: Warm, rambling, and often self-deprecating; tangents are embraced as features, not bugs.
- Listener Involvement: Multiple shout-outs, references to listener messages/feedback, and abundant in-group references (“The Badlands,” etc.).
Power Out.