TBTL #4671: “Oh, What A Feeling When Your Cat Is In The Ceiling”
February 25, 2026
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Episode Overview
This episode centers around classic TBTL banter, a gripping (and hilarious) saga of Andrew’s cat Bingo getting obsessed with his basement ceiling, musings on animal antics, airport travel class warfare, why TSA PreCheck might be coded as a class/political signifier, animal empathy (including a viral Japanese monkey), and, naturally, a detour through the ethics and evolution of Girl Scout cookie sales. The show delivers its trademark blend of story-driven chatter, relatable anecdotes, and affectionate ribbing—peppered with notable TBTL running gags and listener interactions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Cat in the Ceiling: Bingo's Obsession (03:31–14:47)
- Andrew’s “Bingo Problem”:
Andrew confesses it’s the first time he's truly had a “Bingo problem” with his normally chill cat. Explains Bingo’s penchant for finding high/cubby spaces, culminating in Bingo discovering a ceiling crawlspace in their unfinished basement. - The Incident:
Bingo clambers up via various household surfaces (bookshelf, Adrian the contractor’s shoulders, the fridge) into makeshift ceiling gaps, experiencing newfound freedom and stoking an obsession to return. - Measures Taken:
Andrew and Genevieve try blockading the crawlspace with heavy fabrics, pillows, and reinforce against further Bingo break-ins. - Cat Psychology:
Luke draws a comparison to his cat Bubbles’ similar penchant for trouble and hypothesizes, referencing Temple Grandin, about cats’ desire for cozy/confining spaces. - Notable Quotes:
- Andrew: “He’s got a frantic nature to him. He needs to get back up at the ceiling.” (10:12)
- Luke: “Oh, what a feeling when your cat’s obsessed with the ceiling.” (13:19)
- Andrew: “He is, in the parlance of our household, full of beans.” (09:35)
- Practical Anxiety:
The segment is a master class in blending real concerns (pet safety, home damage) with comedic flair.
Memorable Moment
[13:19] Luke: “Oh, what a feeling when your cat’s obsessed with the ceiling.”
2. Airport Security & The Politics of Travel Programs (17:13–22:59)
- TSA PreCheck Saga:
Luke vents over (now-dropped) plans to halt TSA PreCheck during a funding standoff, asking if the move was politically motivated to target travelers who might skew more urban, affluent, college-educated, or Democratic. - Andrew’s Take:
Pushes back, noting high-frequency business travelers may trend more conservative or upper class; both agree “CLEAR” truly represents airport stratification. - Sign Rage:
Andrew recalls his rage at a TSA sign advertising PreCheck by implicitly disparaging their regular service:[24:22] “You are providing a service that you are saying is so bad that we have to buy your better service.”
3. Listener Dazzle: Donor Messages & Family Outings (27:31–35:15)
- Dazzling Donors:
TBTL reads listener shout-outs (including fun asides about donor kids’ names), jokes about shared scooter/skating memories, and riffs on airplane travel with large families. - Airplane-building Donor:
Will in Mountlake Terrace is building a plane from a kit, prepping for med school at midlife—all while working as a government lawyer. The hosts marvel both at his time management and at the courage to fly something self-built.
4. Monkey Business: Viral Empathy for Japan’s ‘Punch’ (48:21–53:21)
- Punch the Monkey:
A baby macaque in a Japanese zoo, rejected by its mom, has become a phenomenon for bonding with a stuffed orangutan (which has since sold out at IKEA).- The hosts express heartbreak and empathy for Punch’s plight, with nods to Sarah McLachlan-soundtracked ASPCA ads.
- The story resonates with Andrew’s own childhood affinity for plush animals, drawing connections between animal psychology and childhood development.
- Crowd Impact:
The monkey’s popularity has spiked zoo attendance. - Memorable Quote:
[51:24] Andrew: “As a person who grew up having trouble connecting with peers and had a very strong connection to stuffed animals in my life... it’s like this toy is his everything.”
Memorable Moment
[53:02] Luke: “Jon Stewart really on my list because yesterday his hot take on the matter was maybe the mom is onto something. He was anti-punch.”
5. Girl Scout Cookies: Hot Takes & Changing Times (54:28–62:12)
- Modern Cookie Sales:
Luke broaches controversy: Do online mega-sales by viral Girl Scouts “count” as classic accomplishment? Andrew gently highlights how times have changed, reminding “everything is ecommerce now.” - Cookie Nostalgia:
Luke recounts childhood disappointment losing a beef jerky sale contest to a classmate’s airplane-factory-assisted sales. - Flavor Debate:
They review preferred cookies—Andrew is a Tagalongs/Rods guy, neither loves plain shortbread or coconut-heavy Samoas. - Memorable Quotes:
[60:01] Luke: “I spent weeks going door to door to door selling these pepperoni sticks ... and then friggin Isla Higgins wins because her dad worked at Boeing.”
6. Word Nerd: Why “Restaurateur” Isn’t “Restauranteur” (68:05–71:25)
- Listener Max’s Etymology Call ([68:14]):
Max clarifies that “restaurateur” (person who restores) and “restaurant” (place of restoration) both derive from French, hence their divergence.- “Restorateur is someone who restores your strength with food. Restaurant is a place where you get restored. ... It’s because French is stupid.” (69:29)
- Luke’s Joke:
“Restoration Hardware is where I buy a very expensive couch I lose in a divorce.” (70:35)
7. Miscellaneous & Listener Connections (Throughout)
- Mina Kimes/Patriot TV show:
Listener tips sportswriter Mina Kimes to TBTL's McMillan Men podcast about the TV show Patriot, resulting in excited cross-fandom chatter. - Upcoming Topics Teasers:
Luke seeds future episodes: a feud with StuBot, a neighborhood POS, and more.
Notable Quotes by Timestamp
-
“He’s got a frantic nature to him. He needs to get back up at the ceiling.”
— Andrew (10:12) -
“Oh, what a feeling when your cat’s obsessed with the ceiling.”
— Luke (13:19) -
“You are providing a service that you are saying is so bad that we have to buy your better service.”
— Andrew (24:22) -
“As a person who grew up having trouble connecting with peers and had a very strong connection to stuffed animals in my life ... it’s like this toy is his everything.”
— Andrew (51:24) -
“Restorateur is someone who restores your strength with food. Restaurant is a place where you get restored ... It’s because French is stupid.”
— Listener Max (69:29) -
“Restoration Hardware is where I buy a very expensive couch I lose in a divorce.”
— Luke (70:35) -
“I spent weeks going door to door to door selling these pepperoni sticks ... and then friggin Isla Higgins wins because her dad worked at Boeing.”
— Luke (60:01)
Important Timestamps
- Bingo’s Ceiling Adventure: 03:31–14:47
- Airport Security & Politics: 17:13–22:59
- Dazzling Donor Segment: 27:31–35:15
- Listener Will: Airplane Kit/Med School: 35:15–46:10
- Punch the Monkey Discussion: 48:21–53:21
- Girl Scout Cookie/Beef Jerky Story: 54:28–62:12
- Word Nerd: Restaurateur: 68:05–71:25
Tone & Style
Conversational, wry, occasionally self-deprecating, and full of affectionate, meandering tangents. The hosts’ friendship animates the narrative, with a sense of warmth, controlled silliness, and honest reflection on modern life’s oddities.
For New Listeners…
This episode is a microcosm of TBTL’s charm: two friends riffing on their own foibles and fascinations, making the everyday epic and the epic thoroughly ordinary—while maintaining a running conversation with their community. Whether you’ve ever chased a cat, lost a school sales contest, or had opinions about cookies and airports, you’ll find something familiar here.
Power Out.
