The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna Episode: "Charlie Bit My Podcast" Date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively, banter-filled episode of The Book Lisp, married hosts Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna riff on their pre-Europe travel chaos, share anecdotes about hangovers and handshakes, muse over the cultural phenomenon of viral fame, and dissect non-spoiler highlights from their October book pick: The Good Lie by AR Torre. The duo's comedic chemistry shines as they weave personal stories with reflections on true crime and internet notoriety, leading up to next week's deep dive book review.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pre-Trip Chaos & Packing Dynamics (00:55–04:30)

• Sarah describes Jon's ultra-organized approach to packing for their European trip, laying out each outfit by date and city, contrasting with her own disarray.
  • "I fucking thought I was organized. I mean, that was…I felt shame." (Sarah, 02:09)
• Jon extols his efficient carry-on packing technique, noting it's tougher for women.
  • "People that are bad packers drive me crazy because I got everything into a carry on." (03:07)

2. On Solo Time, Stranger Danger, and (Not) Getting Hit On (05:06–08:44)

• Sarah relates to the protagonist Gwen's "don't bother me" vibe in bars, seeing her own habits reflected in the book (The Good Lie).
  • "As a lady who goes on the road all the time…a drink after a show... I put [the phone] in my hand and I hope that nobody will talk to me while I'm using it. But they still do sometimes." (Sarah, 06:03)
• Jon summarizes his approach simply: just because you're alone doesn't mean you're lonely.
  • "If I'm at this bar by myself, it's by choice." (Jon, 07:08)
• The couple jokes about tuning each other out with AirPods on flights, and Sarah teases Jon's pre-takeoff ritual.
  • "[On planes] I usually wait till we take off. Yeah, you go right into it." (Sarah, 08:06)

3. Long-Haul Flights & Book Recommendations (09:19–12:28)

• Sarah seeks book and show recs from listeners for their upcoming 12-hour flight.
• Jon raves about his "pod" experience flying to Germany, including the infamous snack basket and complimentary pajamas.
  • "I'm telling you, if you’re prepared for it, it's very nice, relaxing, 12 hours." (Jon, 12:04)

4. [Book Segment] On Drinking, Safety, and Urban Legends (13:26–16:40)

• The duo debates a scene from The Good Lie where a man offers Gwen a B6 pill for hangovers—Sarah points out the obvious red flag.
  • "Who approaches a woman in a bar that they've never met before and says, take this, it's just B6?" (Sarah, 13:47)
• They swap stories about pill-taking and party safety, with Jon recalling a questionable football locker room experience.
  • "My buddy, who’s the kicker, comes to me and just gives me like four or five pills and he says, take these. And I took them..." (Jon, 19:21)
• Sarah shares a wild tale of a friend who found and used mystery powder at work, learning the hard way not to ingest stranger substances.

5. Bad Handshakes, Social Dynamics, and Peacocking (23:23–30:34)

• The hosts analyze a line from the book about the "firm but not too dominant" handshake.
  • "I think that’s important because I think we all know handshakes…they say a lot about people." (Sarah, 23:44)
• Jon, aware of his NFL grip, recalls a time he accidentally gave a woman too firm a handshake.
• Both riff on awkward handshake scenarios, including Jon's embarrassing bro-fumble with football legend Warren Moon.
• They discuss the social “power moves” involved in handshakes and "peacocking" as attention-seeking behavior.
  • "There's a politician out there that does that, and it's real creepy. Like, handshake that pulls you a little bit too, like, as if, like, I own you." (Jon, 28:34)

6. Rainy Nights, TV Habits & True Crime Wind-Downs (16:42–18:38)

• The couple muses on the rare LA rain and its effect on their sleep, sharing a tip to "watch something lighter after a thriller" for a restful night.

7. The Rise and (Awkward) Fall of Viral Fame (33:03–41:18)

• The pod pivots to discuss how people achieve (and exploit) fleeting internet fame, referencing cases like:
  • Antoine Dodson ("Hide your kids, hide your wife")
  • "Hawk Tuah" girl
  • "Catch me outside" girl
  • Little Tay and the dark side of OnlyFans countdowns
• Jon points out the harsh reality that only a tiny percentage of influencers make real money, and ponders the trajectories once "youthful fame" fades.
  • "What happens when they're like 30 or 35? They can't keep on being influencers forever." (Jon, 36:14)
• Sarah and Jon both express skepticism at "post every day to find freedom" social media mantras.

8. Classic Viral Video Origins: "Charlie Bit My Finger" and Local Legends (38:16–43:46)

• Jon mourns that the original viral stars earned little, using "Charlie Bit My Finger" and viral dance videos as examples—only to be corrected by Sarah, who asserts they did later get compensated.
  • "All these kids are standing on his shoulders right now so they can make their money off their freaking Tiktoks and their Insta faces..." (Jon, 38:52)
• He also hilariously relates the tale of Dick Assman, a Regina gas station manager who enjoyed a Letterman-boosted "15 minutes of fame".

9. Pranks, Voiceover Auditions & Wordplay (41:36–43:58)

• Sarah recounts a voiceover prank script based around the fake product "Dickens Cider" (“Everyone loves a hot dick and cider”), delighting in the confusion and eventual realization by unsuspecting voice actors.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Personal Space in Bars:
  “Just because I’m alone doesn’t mean I’m lonely. If I’m at this bar by myself, it’s by choice.”
  (Jon, 07:08)
• On Travel Preparedness:
  “People that are bad packers drive me crazy because I got everything into a carry on.”
  (Jon, 03:07)
• On Social Media Fame:
  “The people that are actually making money are like probably the 0.1%... But what happens when they're like 30 or 35? They can't keep on being influencers forever.”
  (Jon, 36:14)
• On Taking Substances from Strangers:
  "If you get offered something, even if they tell you it's B6... even then I wouldn't trust it."
  (Sarah, 14:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55 – Packing for Europe & trip logistics
• 05:06 – Discussion: Solo bar time & “don’t bother me” energy
• 13:26 – Book scene: Stranger offers a pill; real-life safety stories
• 23:23 – Handshakes: Social cues, dominance, memorable fails
• 33:03 – Breaking down viral fame & influencer economics
• 38:16 – Classic viral video reminiscence (“Charlie Bit My Finger”)
• 41:36 – Voiceover pranks and wordplay skits

Tone & Style

• The episode is deeply conversational, peppered with self-deprecating humor, swearing, and playful marital ribbing. Sarah’s wry cynicism and Jon’s folksy, sports-inflected observations are in full force, especially when discussing interpersonal dynamics or poking fun at pop culture moments. The candid, slightly chaotic style makes listeners feel like part of an inside joke—with earnest moments about safety and cultural commentary woven throughout.

For Listeners

• Next Week: Full, spoiler-filled review/discussion of The Good Lie by AR Torre—bring your thoughts for the Facebook group!
• Get Involved: Join their Patreon for bonus content and videos; interact in the Book Listeners Facebook group for book recs and off-the-cuff banter.
• Engagement Welcome: Share your own travel, handshake, or viral fame stories on Instagram or in the group; all book opinions welcome—no judgment.

This detailed summary should orient new and returning listeners alike, distilling the episode’s best bits, book discussion, and comedic chemistry without missing the plot.