TBTL #4652: An Adrian Monk With A Bob Belcher Rising
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Main Theme & Episode Overview
This episode of TBTL is a delightful blend of lighthearted banter, a thrilling tale of lost-and-found heroics, Seattle trivia, and in-depth meanderings through daily life. Luke and Andrew discuss everything from cashing checks and technological quirks to a suspense-filled adventure tracking down a lost phone on a city bus. The episode highlights the joys and absurdities of modern existence, sprinkled with classic TBTL inside jokes, pop culture, and a meaningful story about trust and human decency.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Opening Goofs and Surreal Storytelling
[00:00 – 01:32]
- Andrew starts with an intentionally absurd, comedic basketball fantasy sequence ("bottom of the fifth quarter and the baskets were loaded"), referencing sports tropes and pop-culture figures (e.g., "Le James Braun", "Seth Curry").
- The segment sets a goofy, irreverent, and playful tone for the episode.
2. Beans Banter and TBTL's Signature Silliness
[01:14 – 01:41]
- The hosts riff on beans with exaggerated, faux Western accents:
- Andrew: "Beans. I love beans. Big, fat, hot, juicy beans."
- Luke: "Now, don't get me going on beans."
- They build on each other's nonsense, embracing the show's tradition of playful, meaningless tangents.
3. The Check-Cashing Process: Contrasts & Technological Paranoia
[04:08 – 08:14]
- Andrew and Luke discuss the gig economy, specifically being paid by local NPR-related shows for podcast guest spots.
- Humor in their contrasting approaches to cashing checks—Andrew lets them pile up, Luke cashes immediately and is suspicious of mobile deposits:
- Andrew: "I'm not great with mail...I kind of put it in a pile." [06:10]
- Luke: "This is my most Andrew thing...I will never trust the photography around the check." [07:03]
- Both marvel at the "Andrew Walsh Principle" (a sticker urging immediate deposit).
4. Weird Tech Glitch: Scrambled Check Photos
[07:46 – 09:41]
- Luke had trouble sending a photo of his check receipt; his phone blurred it automatically.
- Andrew theorizes the photo was corrupted rather than being an intentional security feature.
- They speculate about Apple security and "bad internet places."
5. Prepping for the Seattle Now Podcast—Finding Out the Topics
[09:45 – 11:54]
- Andrew shares the anticipation of waiting for the producer’s list of discussion topics for another podcast.
- Relief at the lighthearted topics: "Public transportation, TV commercials, grocery shopping, Seahawks."
- They insert self-deprecating humor about how trivial these matters are—a "treat" to get easy content.
6. The Heroic, Speed-esque Lost Phone Adventure
[12:05 – 52:19]
- The Story Unfolds:
- Genevieve (Andrew’s partner) realizes after coming home that she’s lost her phone—likely somewhere on her commute.
- She uses “Find My Phone", which is surprisingly efficient—on her Pixel/Google account—displaying her phone’s location on Google Maps.
- The phone is tracked moving through the city, suspected to be on a city bus ("the 40 line").
- The Chase Begins:
- Andrew: "We should just get in the car and track that thing."
- Turns his phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot so Genevieve can use her laptop to follow the phone location while driving.
- Real-time Strategy and Anxiety:
- They triangulate the phone’s position with maps, try to intercept the bus, and debate routes to outpace it.
- Andrew takes a "hurried but steady" approach to avoid speeding tickets that could cost them precious time.
- Film Comparisons:
- Referencing Speed, Sneakers, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Knight Rider:
- Luke: "Sandy Bullock and Keanu Reeves, I can see it."
- Lengthy tangents on Knight Rider lore and pop culture “AI powered” cars.
- Referencing Speed, Sneakers, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Knight Rider:
- Climactic Retrieval:
- After various failed attempts to get ahead of the bus, they finally spot it in Belltown.
- Andrew: "I saw a bus, and it had two numerals on the back...4 and 0."
- Genevieve, armed with her laptop, sprints onto the bus and, after some suspense, joyfully returns with her phone, which had been turned in by a fellow passenger.
- Andrew celebrates the decency of bus riders and the heroism of the bus driver.
- Luke, delighted: "That's an amazing story. I can't believe you guys pulled that off."
- Notable Quotes:
- Luke: "That is like, like freaking awesome. That's flipping awesome. In the words of Fernando Mendoza." [49:01]
- Andrew (Genevieve’s account): "She came skipping off the bus...the guy just gave Genevieve her phone." [47:40-47:54]
- Humanity’s Goodness:
- Both reflect on how most people are good, and how such experiences can restore faith in humanity.
- Luke: "Most people are generally good, and every once in a while you get an outlier…" [20:58]
7. Monkees, Neil Diamond, and Cultural Nerdery
[53:10 – 58:39]
- While doing donor thank-yous, the conversation derails into Monkees trivia, Neil Diamond’s songwriting, and a murder board for "Last Train To Clarksville."
- Luke: "Steven Curtis Chapman...so your instincts are right here, Andrew." [53:21]
- Andrew: "Take the last train to Brampton..." [54:40]
8. Donor Acknowledgement & Sincere Thanks
[52:51 – 57:26]
- Expressing genuine appreciation to TBTL’s "morally upright" donors—directly linking the spirit of goodness from the phone story to their community of listeners.
9. Blursday Messages:
[58:52 onward]
- Regular celebratory birthday shout-outs ("Blursdays") from and for listeners, packed with humor, heart, and TBTL community in-jokes.
- Includes tangents about zodiac signs, spelling "gray" and "color" with British affectations, and Andrew’s mild synesthesia.
10. Upcoming Show Teasers & Closing
- Teasing tomorrow's show: Andrew’s home renovations, more Seattle stories, and Luke’s quest for the ultimate Super Bowl viewing plan.
- Luke: "The basement could be...10 hours of show, only beginning to scratch the surface." [72:03]
- The legendary sign-off: "No mountain too tall, and good luck to all."
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
1. The Heroic Chase
- Andrew: "We should just get in the car and track that thing." [21:18]
- Luke: "That is like, like freaking awesome. That's flipping awesome." [49:01]
- Andrew (on bus finally appearing): "Like a beacon in the night in front of us, I saw a bus, and it had two numerals on the back of it. 4 and 0. My Genevieve, that's your bus." [38:44]
- Andrew (Genevieve returns): "I just see Genevieve come into sight off the bus, literally jumping up and down and waving at me with her phone in one hand and her laptop in the other and running to the car." [45:54]
2. Faith in Fellow Humans
- Luke: "I think most people are generally good, and then every once in a while you get an outlier…" [20:58]
- Andrew: "He just gave Genevieve her phone and she came skipping off the bus…" [47:54]
3. Knight Rider & 80’s Nostalgia
- Luke: "Michael Knight, a lone undercover agent saved from death by a billionaire who fights crime alongside Kit, an indestructible—wait for it, Andrew—AI powered supercar. AI powered." [32:45]
- Andrew: "Why did he have to go to some mysterious, like, mansion? ... The rest of the series doesn't have to have anything to do with him having a new face." [29:52]
4. Technology Paranoia
- Luke: "I will never trust the photography around the check." [07:03]
- Andrew: "I'm not great with mail...I kind of put it in a pile." [06:10]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Absurd Basketball Opening: [00:00 – 01:32]
- Beans Banter: [01:14 – 01:41]
- Check-Cashing and "Andrew Walsh Principle": [04:08 – 08:14]
- Weird Photo Security/Tech Glitches: [07:46 – 09:41]
- Preview of Seattle Now Podcast Topics: [09:45 – 11:54]
- The Lost Phone "Action Movie" Story: [12:05 – 52:19]
- Donor Thank Yous & Monkees/Neil Diamond Sidebar: [52:51 – 58:39]
- Blursday Messages & Listener Community: [58:52 – end]
- Closing/Preview of Next Episode: [71:16 – end]
Tone and Style
The episode is packed with TBTL’s signature mixture: playful absurdism, cultural asides, heartfelt storytelling, warm community vibes, and an unfiltered window into two friends riffing on life’s weird little moments. The tone swings from silly (beans riffs), to intense and suspenseful (the bus chase), to reflective and earnest (discussing human decency).
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
If you haven’t listened to this episode, you missed a vintage TBTL story: a phone-losing ordeal turned action caper, heartfelt appreciation for everyday good people, and a parade of tangents from Seattle transit to 80s TV lore. It’s a perfect summation of the TBTL ethos—absurd, heartwarming, and always ready to celebrate the mundane as something worth telling.