TBTL #4615: “Grills Just Want To Have Fun”

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh

Episode Overview

This Tuesday edition of TBTL dives into the quirky mysteries of everyday domestic life, from Luke’s perplexing pizza oven conundrum to Andrew’s search for the coziest bar in Seattle. The hosts reflect on changing media landscapes (media consolidation, movie theaters vs. streaming), reminisce about the enduring weirdness of name confusion, and share listener thoughts about the show’s evolution. If you love rainy weather stories, long-winded mysteries with surprisingly mundane conclusions, and gentle roasting between good friends, this episode is for you.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. The Pizza Oven Mystery

[03:34–19:33]

• Luke finally tells the “mystery” he teased earlier: After a trip, he found his heavy, locked-wheel pizza oven had been bizarrely moved across his storm-battered deck. Despite security footage only showing time-lapse stills ("deck, deck, deck—then... pizza oven!"), the only thing moved was the oven—lighter objects nearby were untouched.
• Possible explanations: Luke and his dad debate whether it was wind or a person. Luke is skeptical, noting, “There's no way the wind could do this because so much other stuff… was unmoved.” [09:09]
• Resolution: A repeat event after strong winds confirms it really was the weather.

  "But then the wind did me a favor... it solved the mystery for me by once again trying to move the pizza oven." — Luke [18:48]

• Humorous family tangent: Luke’s mother “steals” his beloved literary magazine, THE SUN, echoing her history of borrowing sunglasses and forgetting to return them.

2. Bar and Café Coziness: Andrew’s Friday Night Out

[20:33–37:02]

• Andrew skips Luke's Livewire show, opting instead for a solo bar adventure inspired by cozy Midwestern family restaurants he visited while back in Cleveland.
• Disappointment in Seattle bars: He finds local spots either too “divey” or too “angular and super high ceilings” to replicate the homey Midwestern feel. 13 Coins and Vons come close, but the weather is brutal and the cost of drinks and appetizers is shockingly high.

  “Seattle doesn’t do cozy well...or it's almost cosplaying cozy.” — Andrew [27:00] “It was $77 for a nice evening and I tore through a big chunk of that book. I really enjoyed my time there. But...three drinks, an appetizer, and a bread on the side, and you’re getting damn near 100 bucks with tip.” — Andrew [36:35]

• Weather woes: Both hosts share their battle with historic windstorms, connecting the pizza oven incident to Andrew’s almost-lost hat:

  “It was moving pizza ovens. It was bedeviling public radio hosts. Myself is the public radio host in question.” — Luke [30:58]

3. Seattle Restaurant/Nightlife Observations & Traditions

[37:02–40:49]

• Andrew and Luke reminisce about high prices, changing bar and broiler atmospheres, and old Seattle haunts.
• Discussion on expense: Andrew expresses mixed feelings about discussing restaurant costs, considering political aspects like living wage, but admits that eating out in Seattle feels notably more expensive than in the Midwest.

4. Upcoming TBTL Holiday Zoom Party

[42:29–43:50]

• Andrew pitches a TBTL holiday Zoom party where listeners can share traditions or just hang out (December 19, 5pm PT/8pm ET).
• Luke and Andrew banter about how to sign up (“tbtl.net—click that big button!”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On modern phone plans (Portlandia tape):

  “I love that tape from Portlandia...there is old enough that they refer to it as web.” — Andrew [05:21]

• On magazine theft:

  “I said, ‘I think that’s theft. You stole my magazine?’” — Luke [14:15]

• Wind and podcasting:

  “This is not interesting because I’m describing something visual and this is an audio medium. For us. I feel like we’re the last holdouts where we think of podcasting as audio.” — Luke [09:09]

• Generational magazine nostalgia:

  “We’re not living in the era of big magazine that you and I grew up in.” — Andrew [15:20]

• On the cost of going out:

  “It is an interesting dynamic around here… people around the country are like, what? You saw blueberries for $10 a pint? But it really is notable when the check comes.” — Andrew [35:52]

Listener Support & Name Confusion

[44:10–47:02]

• Donor thank-yous to listeners with lighthearted riffing on the confusion between Kristens, Kirstys, and Kirstens:

  “Kristens, the Kirstys and the Kirstens. It’s too close together...You write names that are too similar to each other, my friend.” — Luke [46:01]

• “Let’s Make Names Great Again” banter: Luke praises “Michael Smith” as an “incontrovertible name” [47:02], Andrew teases him for “real, let’s make names great again vibe.”

Top Story: Netflix/Warner Bros. Merger and the Decline of Movie Theaters

[52:05–63:40]

• Major concern: Netflix’s rumored acquisition of Warner Bros. could spell the end for big-screen movies as we know them, with streaming platforms disincentivized from large theatrical releases.
• Andrew’s skepticism: Sees danger in further media consolidation and the loss of access for indie theaters.

  “It’s almost literally sickening to me...these billionaires, billionaires with gross ties to gross people, fighting over this stuff. It’s so much more important than Coke and Pepsi to me, and it’s just…it’s so dispiriting.” — Andrew [57:40]

• Luke’s “Train Dreams” plug: A beautiful, small-budget movie shot in the Pacific Northwest, watched on Netflix.

  “It is phenomenal. It is really beautiful…almost no financial upside that I could see.” — Luke [64:06]

• Reflection on changing formats: Both wonder if attention spans and demand will kill long-form films.

  “Are we going to have the attention span to watch an hour-and-a-half-long movie? …I think eight minutes is about all I have in me these days.” — Luke [59:47–60:08]

TV & Movie Pet Peeves: On-Screen Inaccuracies

[66:40–73:10]

• Andrew critiques Pluribus & Shetland: Annoyed by unrealistic uses of cameras and actor blocking for the sake of “cool shots” (e.g., flipping a camcorder’s viewfinder away, detectives talking unnaturally over their shoulders to the camera).

  “There’s literally no reason for her to do that [with the viewfinder]… The only reason they flipped it the other way was because whoever was shooting it...knew it would be a cool effect…” — Andrew [68:33] “I would have been so annoyed if I was the actor who had to deliver the lines that way, because…this is not how I would stand, but the director is like, ‘No, it’ll look better!’” — Luke [71:52]

Listener Voicemails: The Mobius Strip of TBTL

[83:20–95:25]

• Kathleen in Bloomington, MSP Airport, calls to say she binge-listens new and old shows and finds eerie overlaps in topics years apart.

  “It’s a fascinating parallel universe that I’ve really enjoyed...Spotify says that [I’m in the] top 1% of listeners.” — Kathleen [85:56]

• Andrew & Luke discuss show transitions, “Good luck to all” catchphrase origin:
  • Andrew reflects on feeling like an interloper after Jen’s departure and the sometimes tough transition with longtime listeners:

    “There was a lot of public discourse about whether or not I belonged on TBTL...But there were plenty of nice people saying, ‘I’m loving this.’” — Andrew [89:13]

  • Luke admits he never clocked the controversy, just happy not to be solo anymore:

    “You were like a lifeline to me. I was so stoked to have you here…” — Luke [92:37]

Closing Segment

• The episode wraps with classic TBTL gratitude and meta-jokes about the show itself, promising more “imaginary radio” tomorrow.
• Final sign-off:

  “No mountain too tall.” — Luke
  “And good luck to all.” — Andrew [95:25]

Episode Highlights (Timestamps Recap)

• Pizza Oven Mystery: 03:34–19:33
• Andrew’s Cozy Bar Quest: 20:33–37:02
• Windstorm & Livewire Show: 30:36–36:35
• TBTL Holiday Party Announcement: 42:29–43:50
• Media Merger Discussion: 52:05–63:40
• TV Show Directing Pet Peeves: 66:40–73:10
• Listener Emails/Show History: 83:20–95:25

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their signature self-deprecating, lightly absurd, meandering banter. Familial and warm with listeners; inside jokes abound, with gentle ribbing and nostalgia. Episode exemplifies TBTL’s charm: mundane mysteries, nostalgic tangents, and the feeling you’re listening in on two old friends.

For New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential TBTL installment, with running gags about family quirks, Seattle weather, media trends, and a healthy dose of meta-podcasting. No context necessary—just settle in for an unrushed chat about the weirdness of life and friendship.

Power Out!