The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna

Episode: Locked In
Release Date: September 8, 2025

Overview

In this lively, unscripted episode of The Book Lisp, married hosts Jon Ryan (NFL Super Bowl Champion) and Sarah Colonna (comedian and actress) deliver their blend of book talk and everyday banter. Midway through their month of reading The Wedding People by Alison S. Pack, Jon and Sarah focus on the perils and hilarity of homeownership, wedding customs, and vacation philosophy, all while teasing out relatable themes found in the book—no spoilers included. Fans are treated to stories from their personal lives, sharp observations on traditions, and nostalgic dives into pop culture, with frequent digressions and playful rants.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Homeowner Headaches & Reality Rants

00:54 - 10:46

• Jon’s Annoying Day: Jon vents about his "very annoying day," launching into a detailed recounting of flawed home features—from an illogical shower door ("They put it on backwards!") to problematic sliding doors and blind installations.
• Humor & Relatability: The couple jokes about responsibilities in their recently built dream home and the poor workmanship they've encountered. Sarah supports Jon’s rant while peppering in her own humorous observations.
• Quote (Sarah, 05:44): "And then to start with. And then he also was like, also I'm going to put the door in backwards, which makes no sense because even when you're like getting out, you have to pull it like towards you and then you have to get out of the way of it."
• Quote (Jon, 08:52): "You just have like two nails on a wall. Like that's not how you hang up a 50-pound mirror. Like I am like I. Everyone's mom's like I've freaking had it. Like we buy our dream house and we have all this little crap that you guys just like just kind of like hid."
• Catharsis: The segment ends with Sarah noting Jon’s improved mood post-rant and jokingly soliciting discount offers from any shower door installers among their listeners.

2. Wedding Gift Bags: Tradition, Meaning, and Merch

12:31 - 19:24

• Book Tie-In: Sarah uses a plot point in The Wedding People to jump into a discussion about their own wedding gift bags.
• Jon’s Gift Bag Mastery: Jon was in charge of assembling their wedding bags, which included custom keychains, labeled jars of candy (signifying each other's favorite candies), vodka minis, and Seahawks-themed beer koozies—a personal touch with lasting supply issues.
• Modern Trends & Social Media: The couple discusses how wedding and bachelorette merch culture has escalated, especially with requests for free products via social media, and laments the pressure on small businesses.
• Quote (Jon, 18:02): "If you want to support local, if you want to support women owned businesses, if you want to support small businesses, you don't do it by asking for free shit from that business. That's not how these businesses succeed, okay?"
• Interactive Prompt: Sarah invites listeners to share stories of the best and worst gift bags they’ve encountered, highlighting how traditions morph and budgets balloon.

3. Vacation Philosophies: Ocean Views vs. Hiking Boots

20:05 - 31:44

• Oceanside Science & Self-Care: Referencing the character 'Neck Pillow' from the book, Sarah and Jon express their love for beach vacations, describing how being near the ocean is their ultimate form of relaxation.
• Personal Anecdotes: Jon shares the story of his accidental severe sunburn on their first vacation together and jokes about the challenges of being a ginger in the sun.
• Contrast with Book Characters: They reflect on The Wedding People’s Phoebe, whose idea of vacation involved effort, hiking, and “earning” rest—very different from Sarah and Jon’s philosophy.
• Quote (Jon, 27:17): "The more mar—Marry someone that vacations like you. It's a big thing. Because if Sarah liked to go, like, backpacking and camping… you just would have to find another husband to do it with."
• Relationship Insight: The two underscore the importance of being compatible about travel styles in relationships, joking about their early discovery of shared vacation habits.

4. Nostalgia Corner: Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew & Friday Night Lights

31:46 - 44:30

• Bookish Reminiscing: Sarah fondly remembers Sweet Valley High and discusses its impact, including a formative anti-cocaine lesson. They banter about the logistics of teen fiction production and Jon’s favorite childhood sports books.
• Quote (Sarah, 35:54): "I'm not doing cocaine. It killed Regina."
• Pop Culture Weaves: The name "Lila" from The Wedding People sparks discussion of pop culture Lila’s—both from Sweet Valley High and Friday Night Lights.
• Friday Night Lights Deep Dive: Jon and Sarah praise the under-watched TV series and discuss the original book’s investigative journalism roots. Sarah delivers her comedic Tim McGraw impression.
• Quote (Sarah, 43:01): "Why can't you hold on to the ball? And then—and then he tapes his hands around the ball…"

5. Book-Related Musings and Community Call-Outs

45:08 - 46:41

• Book Themes—No Spoilers: The hosts note The Wedding People’s playful defense of reading romance novels—mirroring the podcast’s mission to support reading tastes without shame.
• Quote (Jon, 45:23): "That's right, buddy. Whatever you want to read, you read. Whatever tells you to read, you read."
• Looking Ahead: Hints at future books (including a serial killer thriller for October), and invites listeners to join Patreon for extra content and support their podcast.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Home Ownership:
  Jon (08:52): "Like that's not how you hang up a 50-pound mirror… we have all this little crap that you guys just like… just kind of like hid."
• On Vacation Preferences:
  Jon (27:17): "Marry someone that vacations like you… it's a big thing."
• On Nostalgic Book Lessons:
  Sarah (35:54): "'I'm not doing cocaine. It killed Regina.'"
• On Supporting Small Businesses:
  Jon (18:02): "If you want to support local… you don't do it by asking for free shit…"
• On Romance Novels:
  Jon (45:23): "Whatever you want to read, you read…"

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:54 – 10:46: Jon’s epic rant about new home issues
• 12:31 – 19:24: Wedding gift bags—customs, stories, and small business woes
• 20:05 – 31:44: Vacation philosophies and relationship compatibility
• 31:46 – 44:30: Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew, and Friday Night Lights nostalgia
• 45:08 – 46:41: Book reflections, the value of shameless reading, show wrap-up

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Book Lisp offers a blend of book talk and personal stories, with plenty of laughs, sharp commentary, and nostalgia. Jon and Sarah’s chemistry and humor make even their tangents feel like part of a lively book club among friends. Fans of homeownership horror stories, wedding traditions, and pop culture will find much to enjoy, all with the hosts’ signature comedic twist.