TBTL #4630: “One Tick Pony” — Detailed Episode Summary
Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Theme: Word-Nerdery, Nostalgia, and the Annual Listener-Curated TBTL Words of the Year
Episode Overview
This episode blends TBTL’s signature playful banter and deep-dive word nerd energy as Luke and Andrew riff through a listener’s annual list of notable, unusual, or otherwise “handsome” words mentioned on the show throughout the past year. Sprinkled with nostalgic TV references (Get Smart, Inspector Gadget), light self-mockery, and the meta humor of analyzing their own language usage, the episode is a victory lap through TBTL’s quirky, lovable territory.
Key Discussion Points & Segments
1. Cold Open: Podcast Crossover Skit (00:00–01:25)
- The show opens with a spoof from “Guys Outfits,” a fictitious fashion podcast, before TBTL abruptly takes over.
- Memorable mock banter about beige shorts, gym shorts with “fun pockets,” and CVS receipts.
- Transition: Andrew and Luke jokingly compare pod intros.
Notable quote:
"Yeah, Brad, what are you keeping in all those fun pockets? I just got a really long CVS receipt. I'm obsessed with it." — Brad Henderson (01:14)
2. Banter & Show Setup (02:12–03:16)
- Luke and Andrew settle in, marking the tail end of 2025 and episode #4630.
- Luke introduces the “TBTL Words of the Year,” crowdsourced from listener Kristen.
- Cueing up friendly self-deprecation (“He’s a real word generator,” Luke says of Andrew), they promise a mix of vocab fun and classic TBTL digressions.
Notable quote:
“As we sort of enter the home stretch here, the final days… we are going to go through the TBTL words of the year.” — Luke Burbank (02:43)
3. Classic TV Nostalgia: Get Smart & Maxwell Smart Memories (06:09–11:36)
- A trip down TV memory lane! Luke and Andrew reminisce about childhood favorites, dissecting “Get Smart” and Don Adams’ ubiquity as Inspector Gadget.
- Play a clip of the iconic “Cone of Silence,” followed by the theme song and trivia about composer Irving Zathmarie.
- Touch on cartoons, Gilligan’s Island, and the roots of their TV tastes.
Notable Moments:
- Andrew: “He plays a bumbling investigator in both of them.” (08:25)
- Luke: “I was getting so much Don Adams in my life…” (08:03)
4. Listener Kristen’s “Words of the Year” Game (11:54–33:50)
A core segment where the hosts read and define unusual words that came up on TBTL in 2025, as tracked by listener Kristen. They quiz, correct, and amuse one another, using the discussion as a springboard for stories and personal quirks.
Sample words discussed:
- Kakistocracy: Government by the worst (“Do you remember using it?” — Andrew, 15:04).
- Luke: "It's a government that is run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous people." (15:16)
- Alacrity: Brisk, cheerful readiness.
- Luke: "She accepted the invitation with alacrity." (18:53)
- Triptych & Diptych: Art with three/two panels.
- Andrew nerds out: "I used to make triptychs a lot in photography." (19:02)
- Ossify vs. Calcify: Comparing terms for hardening/getting rigid over time.
- Laughs as both define the terms in sync: “We hit that at the exact same time.” — Andrew (25:32)
- Cosseted: Overly pampered or protected.
- Luke: "Usually…not in a good way…he's being cosseted." (26:31)
- Solicitous: Showing concern/interest vs. sounding negative.
- Both admit to always thinking it sounded negative, learn it’s actually about care/concern.
- Obsequious: Excessively servile or attentive (28:39)
- Disincentivize: To discourage, usually with an economic slant (30:07)
- Pernicious: Harmful, subtly or gradually (31:49)
- Reticent: Hesitant or reluctant OR, properly, “not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily.”
- Both realize they misused it, conflating reticent with hesitant. (32:51)
- Facetious: Humorously flippant about serious topics, not just joking (33:48)
Notable Quotes:
- “There’s going to be a quiz. We should quiz the listeners at the end of this!” — Andrew (28:50)
- “Honestly, I would literally listen to a podcast… just taking a big unwieldy word… and then just playing how it’s pronounced and what it means.” — Luke (29:16)
5. Digression on Campus Quads and Quad-lingo (33:50–38:19)
- The pair riff on the etymology and usage of “quadrangle” vs. “quad” when describing university courtyards and spaces, with personal anecdotes from both about their campus experiences.
- Andrew recalls the “Krensman Quadrangle” at Northeastern University; Luke links to UW’s famous cherry-blossom quad.
6. Donor Thanks and Bittersweet APM History (38:19–49:11)
- Segment to thank several TBTL daily donors, with characteristically affectionate asides.
- Notable tribute to their former boss, Steve Nelson, and dialogue about TBTL’s path through APM (American Public Media) and back to independence.
- Lush with inside-baseball on show funding, changes over time, and the importance of listener support.
Notable Quotes:
- “I don’t think we’d have a show [without Steve Nelson and APM].” — Luke (43:16)
- “I used to call myself Producer Andrew, but that’s because my background was in producing. I didn’t actually produce TBTL…” — Andrew (45:30)
- “The fundraising strategy was applied to the show…when we went out on our own again, we had…John Sklaroff.” — Luke (45:49)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Mics, Mutes, & Microphone Bleed:
- “It’s a cone of mostly silence…” — Luke (05:09)
- “Imagine like Animal from the Muppets without the drums set, but with the same general physical movement.” — Luke (03:52)
On Linguistic Pet Peeves:
- “My mom loves to use ‘facetious’ when she means sarcastic…anytime you want to use ‘facetious,’ just say ‘sarcastic’…” — Luke (33:27)
On the Show's Enduring Quirkiness:
- “That’s a crutch for me as well…easy but sounds smart, that’s my real wheelhouse.” — Luke on ‘disincentivize’ (30:37)
- “Never hear anything with Isus in the name that’s good…” — Luke on ‘pernicious’ (32:14)
On TBTL’s Longevity:
- “Here we are, and I would say stronger than ever. We have a pretty good system going…” — Luke (49:20)
Important Timestamps
- 00:00–01:25: Satirical cold open from “Guys Outfits”
- 02:12: True TBTL opening begins, show setup
- 06:09–11:36: Extensive “Get Smart”/Don Adams nostalgia and audio
- 11:54–33:50: Main segment — listener’s “Words of the Year” list, word definitions/game
- 33:50–38:19: Discussion of “quadrangle,” campus quads, and their cultural context
- 38:19–47:49: Donor thank-yous, including Steve Nelson/the APM transition history
- 47:49–49:20: Reflection on the growth, support, and future of TBTL
Episode Tone and Style
The episode captures TBTL’s hallmark: goofy, affectionate, self-aware, meandering, and gently intellectual. They regularly poke fun at themselves (and each other), while earnestly exploring language, memory, and the craft of podcasting—making it inviting for diehard fans and newcomers alike.
Summary Takeaway:
This episode is a quintessential TBTL installment—equal parts nostalgia, linguaphile’s playground, and cozy friendship. For listeners, it’s a playful brain workout, a comfort listen, and a celebration of the peculiar, enduring world Luke and Andrew have built, one “collector’s episode” at a time.