TBTL Ep. #4616 "AtmosPhilip Rivers" — Detailed Episode Summary

Date: December 10, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh

Episode Overview

This episode of TBTL finds Luke and Andrew tackling a trio of classic TBTL topics: the persistence of odd podcast PR emails and AI-generated media outreach; the U.S. State Department’s typeface drama as it relates to “wokeness”; and the bizarre sporting spectacle of the Indianapolis Colts potentially starting 44-year-old Philip Rivers at quarterback. Along the way, the guys riff on kitchen apps, applesauce nostalgia, cats versus robots, and the enduring charm of Adam Sandler.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast “Action!” Cold Open & NPR Confusion (00:00–01:40)

• Luke and Andrew riff on the concept of saying “action” before recording, parodying movie/TV behind-the-scenes clichés.
• Andrew, goofing, confuses NPR with the NRA, kicking off the episode’s gentle, self-deprecating tone.
• Memorable exchange:
  • Luke: "Action's usually reserved for film shoots… but if you insist, we could do that. Yeah." (00:22)
  • Andrew: "Are you still on the nra? Npr? Was it nra?" (00:36)

2. Atmosphere Report: Rain, Rivers, and Coffee (01:50–02:47)

• Luke broadcasts from his rain-lashed Madrona Hill home, describing the Columbia River at record-high levels and the landscape altered by intense weather.

3. Main Topics Announced

• Woke Fonts at the State Department (02:47)
  The U.S. State Department’s switch in official font (from Calibri to Times New Roman) because Calibri was deemed "too woke."
• 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers? (03:13)
  The Seahawks’ next opponent may start Philip Rivers, age 44, stirring speculative dread and sports movie parallels.

4. The PETA Mug Saga & Animal-Friendly Idioms (04:00–13:29)

PETA Outreach and Animal Idioms:

• Luke received a "Feed Two Birds With One Scone" mug from PETA, referencing TBTL’s history of promoting kinder animal idioms.
• Andrew, half-miffed and half-chuckling, insists he’s the “real idiom innovator” who should get the animal-related swag.
• Listeners and fellow podcasters reportedly received similar PETA outreach, suggesting a generic PR campaign.

Andrew: "You have the right to accuse me of sour grapes here… I feel like I've been the larger champion… I'm over here burning, and I'm just looking for a way… to take this joy away from you, Luke." (07:26)

Discussion of PETA's Mixed Reputation:

• Both hosts reflect on PETA’s polarizing reputation and the organization’s skill at earned media stunts.
• They express a nuanced take: PETA’s impact is debatable, but their idiom campaign is, at minimum, amusing and potentially positive.

5. PR Spam, Podcast AI Scraping & Realize the Matrix Is Watching (13:29–23:13)

• Andrew reads an AI-generated PR email that awkwardly references podcast details, obviously crafted by scraping transcripts (“prairie dogs kissing”).
• Discussion on how PR pitches now feign real listenership using scraped, transcribed podcast content.

Luke: "Podcasts that we do now… are all being transcribed now automatically… and clearly what they're doing… is just doing some sort of a search and scrubbing the internet for podcasts… using their terminology, and then reaching out…" (10:05)

• Further speculation about PR people, or even bots, creating instant, “personalized” outreach.
• Discovery: PETA’s “fan” Wes is revealed to have similarly spammed other shows at lightning speed; perhaps only barely a real person.

Andrew: "I'm now wondering if Wes is even real… best case scenario, he's getting an alert. Worst case scenario, he ain't even real. He is also a bot…" (21:12)

6. Home Delivery, Kitchen Tablets, and the Religion of NYT Cooking (24:44–35:10)

Luke's NYT Cooking Conversion:

• Luke waxes poetic about the New York Times Cooking app, grocery shopping with saved recipes, and his plans to “dedicate a tablet” for kitchen duty.

Kitchen Tech & Dedicated Hardware:

• Andrew reminisces about dreams of using iPads in the kitchen, debates best tablets for recipes, and shares printer-taped-to-cabinet hacks.
• Both bemoan the lack of "artisan" non-tech-giant tablet options and realize the kitchen appliance market is an oligopoly.

7. Listener Support & Donor Thank-Yous (39:33–47:02)

• Luke and Andrew thank a slate of TBTL donors, spinning their usual in-jokes (dark money, casino markers).
• Luke: "What you’re listening to, my friends, is 100% listener-supported podcasting. We don't have any dark money behind us. It's highly transparent…"

8. Apple Sauce, Dad Food, and the Lunchables Generation (43:00–48:49)

• Hilarious tangent about the “weird foods” Luke’s dad brings home: strawberry applesauce, Vienna Fingers, and Uts pretzels.
• Andrew: “I am not the Lunchables generation… the idea of gogurt makes me sick. Eating out of a tube…” (47:16)
• Conversation on applesauce's place in childhood meals and the differences in food nostalgia.

9. Top Story: The War Over Fonts and “Wokeness” at the State Department (50:45–59:15)

Explaining the Serif/Sans Serif Divide:

• Luke confesses he’s finally learned what “sans serif” means.
• Andrew gives an impromptu typography lesson, explaining font choices (Times New Roman: "serif", Calibri: "sans serif").

Debating Accessibility & Aesthetics:

• Hosts address that sans serif fonts are preferred for accessibility, especially by those with impaired vision or partial literacy.
• They critique Marco Rubio’s claim that Times New Roman is somehow “less DEI,” noting it was only the standard for the last 20 years.
• Memorable quote:
  • Luke: “To me, that's just broadly speaking how all this stuff kind of goes. It's like, it's not harder for me to read Calibri, and maybe it makes it easier for someone else, so let's just do it.” (58:00)

10. NFL Tangent: The 44-Year-Old Man and the Indianapolis Colts (60:22–74:47)

The Dennis Quaid Movie That Is Philip Rivers:

• The Colts plan to start Philip Rivers, age 44, against the Seahawks. Both hosts treat this like a sports movie plot come to life.

• • Luke: “It’s a movie starring Dennis Quaid… he’s going to throw for 360 yards and the Seahawks are going to lose. I don't like this narrative!” (63:19)

• They speculate on when a football player is "old"—on the field and in life.

NFL Owner Characters—From Jim Irsay to Mark Davis:

• The conversation morphs into a survey of eccentric pro sports owners:
  • Jim Irsay’s musical ambitions.
  • The Dolan family's “straight shooters.”
  • Mark Davis’s iconic Raiders bowl cut.
• Applause for Colts co-owner Carly Irsay-Gordon, who dons a headset on the sidelines and “really seems locked in.”

Luke: "It is the most badass thing — seeing her on the sidelines… I just love the idea that she could be the new model for what NFL ownership looks like.” (72:25)

11. Adam Sandler & ‘Mixed Nuts’ Mini-Deep Dive (81:02–89:06)

• Brief shift to Sandler appreciation, referencing his dramatic turns (Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems) and the enduring weirdness/tenderness of “Mixed Nuts.”

• Andrew plays a delightful audio clip from Mixed Nuts:

  • Adam Sandler: "I wrote, ‘Save the Dolphins.’"
  • Liev Schreiber: “Did you do ‘Life is a Beach?’”
  • Sandler: “Oh, I wish…” (83:09)

• Chirpy talk about Sandler’s reputation surge and family awards ceremony stories.

12. Odds & Ends: Basketball Pickup Games, End of the Show Energy (89:26–91:14)

• Luke and Andrew muse about Tim Kurkjian possibly being "the sweaty guy who fouls too much" in pickup basketball.
• Andrew’s dog Bingo signals the show has run long, wrapping things up in typically TBTL fashion.
• Closing Ritual:
  • "No mountain too tall."
  • "And good luck to all." (91:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |---------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–01:40 | Opening banter about “action,” film, NPR vs. NRA | | 01:50–02:47 | Weather and location update | | 02:50–04:00 | Episode main topics preview | | 04:00–13:29 | PETA mug, animal idioms, outreach, and rivalry | | 13:29–23:13 | AI-spam PR emails, transcript scraping, bots | | 24:44–35:10 | NYT Cooking, kitchen tech, tablets, kitchen hacks | | 39:33–47:02 | Donor thank-yous, TBTL financial transparency | | 43:00–48:49 | Applesauce diversion, food nostalgia | | 50:45–59:15 | State Dept. fonts, “wokeness,” accessibility | | 60:22–74:47 | Philip Rivers, NFL owner riffs, Carly Irsay Gordon | | 81:02–89:06 | Adam Sandler/Mixed Nuts/Punch-Drunk Love appreciation| | 89:26–91:14 | Pickup bball talk, wrap-up, pet interference, outro |

Notable Quotes

• Andrew (on PR pitches):
  "I'm now wondering if Wes is even real... he is also a bot programmed to send a cordial email when PETA is mentioned." (21:12)
• Luke (on kitchen tablets):
  "If you were to happen into my kitchen when I'm mid cooking project, you would just see me... with multiple printouts, painters taped up to the cabinets." (28:10)
• Luke (on inclusive fonts):
  "It doesn't impact me negatively, and it might impact someone positively. Why not?" (58:00)
• Luke (about the Rivers situation):
  "It's a movie starring Dennis Quaid ... he's going to throw for 360 yards and the Seahawks are going to lose." (63:19)
• Andrew (encapsulating the whole episode):
  "I'm like a guy who's talking to his friend who recently stopped drinking, and I'm going to dangle a beer in front of you right now, which is like the worst thing..." (35:10)

Episode Tone & Style

TBTL’s signature mood prevails—casual, self-effacing, gently absurd, and digressive but always heartfelt. The hosts excel at stringing together everyday neuroses, pop culture archeology, and friendly disgruntlement, making even PR spam and font arguments sound like urgent news—as befits a show that's truly "Too Beautiful To Live."

For the Listener Who Missed It

This episode is a quintessential TBTL stew: a blend of cranky fun with digital modernity, sports oddities, kitchen tech, gentle self-doubt, and recurring gags. If you tune in, expect laughs, affectionate bickering, some hilarious lines about animals and font drama, plus a dash of nostalgia for applesauce, old iPads, and Adam Sandler’s unexpectedly tender movie roles.