Podcast Summary: "It’s All in the Presentation"

The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In their December episode, married hosts Jon Ryan (NFL Super Bowl Champion) and Sarah Colonna (Comedian & Actress) dive into Lisa Unger’s "Christmas Presents," a psychological thriller with a holiday twist. The episode oscillates between hilarious banter, personal holiday traditions, reflections on gift-giving, and the unique quirks of book culture—especially when a book’s protagonist is a true crime podcaster.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Book of the Month: "Christmas Presents" by Lisa Unger

• Synopsis: Sarah introduces the novel—centered on a true crime podcaster investigating a cold case in a small town, involving missing girls and questions about a past conviction.
  • [01:04] Sarah: “I like that we have a podcast and are doing a book about a podcaster searching through a true crime.”
  • [01:40] Focus on unsolved mysteries and the podcasting angle.
• Jon read the book in advance and shares that he liked it (“I read it a month ago.” [01:00]).

2. Podcast and Patreon Community Updates

• Announcements about upcoming book pick (to be posted in their Facebook group and on Instagram).
• Patreon plug for exclusive short stories and bonus content.
• Sarah mentions upcoming stand-up and live events, with Jon joining for most Washington dates ([03:00–04:00]).

3. Christmas Traditions: Belief in Santa & Family Stories

• Discussion about when and how they stopped believing in Santa.
  • Both learned the truth around age 8 ([06:33] Jon: “Yeah, yeah. Until like I think right around like second grade…”).
  • Sarah and Jon discuss sibling dynamics and keeping the secret for younger siblings.
  • Jon recounts how the loss of belief in Santa wasn’t as heartbreaking as learning pro wrestling (WWF) wasn’t real ([09:31] Jon: “...more upsetting than Santa, honestly.”).
• Reflection on parents’ approaches to Santa and whether it’s “lying” to kids ([11:30] Jon: “Some lies are for the best of everyone’s interest.”).
  • [11:57] Sarah, joking: “If your kid grows up mad at you that you let them believe in Santa Claus, then you’ve got the ball on a lot of other things.”

4. The Art (and Psychology) of Gift Wrapping

• In "Christmas Presents," the protagonist owns an indie bookstore and is deeply invested in wrapping gifts beautifully—a theme that leads to a candid conversation between the hosts about their own approaches.
  • [14:16] Sarah: “She takes a lot of pride in wrapping... she says these days, some people just throw it in a bag... is she talking about me?”
  • Jon is a meticulous wrapper and explains techniques ([15:04] Jon: “You want a crisp edge...if you do it properly, you only need three pieces of tape...”).
  • Sarah admits to “wrapping like a five year old” ([16:03]), leading to a humorous contrast in their personalities.
  • Jon numbers Sarah's gifts to control the unwrapping order (“I label them in the order that I want you to unwrap them” [18:24]).

5. Christmas Shopping, Gifting, and Rituals

• Both share stories about how online shopping has changed their habits ([19:33] Jon: “Online, obviously. I’m not going to leave the house”).
• Traditions of giving cash bonuses to bartenders and staff, linking to Jon’s experiences with gifting support staff during his NFL career.
  • Stress, competition, and expectations in professional sports around holiday gifting ([24:22] Jon: “There’s so much pressure to give gifts to all the support staff…”).
  • Stories of extravagant gifts (e.g., Russell Wilson gifting first-class tickets to every teammate [25:04]) and "gift inflation" pressures.

6. Gift Culture and the NFL

• Anecdotes about NFL perks and free stuff, from headphones to plane charters, and how companies target athletes for exposure ([27:16–31:28]).
• Jon reminisces about his Nike endorsement: “I have not bought a pair of running shoes in 21 years…” [30:12].

7. Meeting “Famous but Unknown” People: Author Recognition & “Author Mystique”

• The book’s plot features a bookstore owner not recognizing a famous podcaster-author, prompting a broader discussion:
  • The modern rarity of recognizing authors’ faces due to digital media ([34:12] Sarah: “You don’t really think about what the author looks like as much anymore...”).
  • The phenomenon of picturing what an author ‘should’ look like and being surprised: "For some reason when you read a book, you almost picture in your head what the author is...You just naturally do." [35:51] – Jon.
  • The parallels to how NFL players can be unrecognized out of uniform.

8. Social Media: Connection, Validation, and Addiction

• The novel and Sarah both reflect on the “you’re never alone” feeling of digital connection ([38:33] Sarah: “That’s the nice thing about social media. You’re never alone, even when you are.”).
  • Sarah juggles multiple social accounts for her comedy, book club, handbags, and even her cats.
  • Jon’s minimal social media use ([40:23] Jon: "This is what I do: I don't have the app on my phone. Every once in a while I download it to put something up...If I ever catch myself just scrolling, I immediately erase the app…").
  • They relate social media’s meaningful upside: Sarah and Jon originally met thanks to Twitter ([42:36] Jon).

9. Surprising "Face Reveals": Assumptions vs. Reality

• Jon recounts being misidentified by fans (including someone assuming, based solely on his NFL job, that he was Black [44:08], or underestimated in stature compared to NFL teammates).
• Sarah gets told she’s unexpectedly petite by show attendees.
• They note how helmets and off-camera roles obscure identity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On believing in Santa:
  • Jon [09:31]: "More upsetting to me that WWF was not real... than when I found out Santa wasn't real."
• On gift wrapping:
  • Jon [15:36]: "If you do it properly, you only need three pieces of tape to wrap a package."
  • Sarah [16:03]: "I wrap like a five-year-old."
• On Christmas traditions and family:
  • Sarah [12:40]: "My mom and my stepdad still do that... I'd go and I'd go... I'd get up when they went to bed and I'd go stuff their stockings."
• On Jon’s precise gifting style:
  • Jon [18:24]: "I label them in the order that I want you to unwrap them in... I want Christmas morning to be a fireworks show."
• On social media:
  • Sarah [39:07]: "Why do I do that? Why do I do that?" (about managing multiple accounts)
  • Jon [40:56]: "It just makes you feel, like, gross after, to be honest. I just don't like it."
  • Jon [42:36]: "Social media is how I met my wife, basically."
• On being unrecognized off the field:
  • Jon [45:07]: "I've been standing on a sideline next to 350-pound men for 19 years...So in their head, I'm small."
  • Jon [44:08]: "I thought Jon Ryan was black." (Bartender, seeing his ID)

Key Timestamps

• 00:41–01:54: Book intro and synopsis
• 06:33–11:47: Santa Claus discussion and holiday traditions
• 14:16–19:22: Wrapping gifts and personal rituals
• 21:27–25:33: Professional sports, support staff gifts, and Russell Wilson’s generosity
• 27:16–31:37: NFL perks, endorsements, and swag stories
• 34:11–36:35: Author recognition and mental images vs. reality
• 38:33–40:56: Social media’s pros and cons, and Jon’s digital minimalism
• 44:08–45:29: Being misidentified by fans; public perceptions of athletes

Closing Notes

• Jon will announce his January book pick on social media.
• Christmas liquor advent calendar kicks off December 1 on their Instagram—"Buckle up, buttercup." ([41:59])
• Jon and Sarah’s blend of warmth, humor, and playful discord make the episode an entertaining mix of book club, marital banter, and nostalgic holiday cheer.

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