The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Episode: Mama Bears & Pregnancy Scares
Release Date: February 17, 2025
Introduction and Welcome
The episode begins with a warm and humorous greeting from hosts Sarah Colonna and Jon Ryan as they welcome listeners to the third week of their February Book Lisp. They set a cozy atmosphere, mentioning the rainy weather in Los Angeles and the comfort of recording from home.
Sarah (00:00): "Hi, I'm Sarah Colonna. And I'm John Ryan and you're listening to the Book List."
Jon (00:07): "The Book Lisp."
Patreon and Bonus Content Overview
Sarah takes a moment to highlight their Patreon page, explaining the additional content available to supporters, including video discussions, short stories, and exclusive episodes. She emphasizes the variety of content released throughout the month, ensuring that there's something for every listener.
Sarah (00:56): "If you care to join us on Patreon, you can watch the video where we sit here and discuss. It's just the podcast but with also with video."
Current Book Discussion: "New Wife" by Sue Watson
The primary focus of the episode revolves around their current book selection, The New Wife by Sue Watson. While they refrain from delving deep into the book until week four, Sarah expresses her excitement about the unexpected twists and the satisfying conclusion of the story.
Sarah (02:50): "I keep seeing all the different posts about people are finishing the book, people that hadn't. There's people that are loving it. Didn't expect twists. I definitely didn't expect the ending because, well, we discussed this in the beginning."
Jon adds that he looks forward to sharing his insights and hearing Sarah's perspectives during their full review next week.
Jon (03:09): "I want to hear what. Because we talk about it. But I don't think I've gotten all your insights."
Themes Explored: Messy Friends and Protective Moms
Transitioning from the book, the hosts discuss broader themes inspired by The New Wife, particularly focusing on "messy friends" and "protective moms." They draw parallels between the characters in the book and their personal experiences, illustrating how friendships and parental protection shape one's life.
Sarah (06:37): "Messy friends. As there were. As that was quite a theme of this book where we thought that one person was the messy friend, but really it was our. Our darling. Was it Lauren?"
Jon (07:14): "Like back to Sadie, if you're. No matter how far in you are, you know, that CD basically grew up as her almost sister, even though she wasn't her sister."
Personal Anecdotes: Sneaking Out and Parenting Styles
Sarah shares a vivid story from her teenage years about sneaking out with her friend Amy. This narrative serves to highlight different parenting approaches—specifically, the balance between leniency and discipline.
Sarah (10:16): "I remember I never snuck out because I saw her get caught sneaking out. And she did the classic pillows made to look like a body underneath."
The conversation delves into Jon's experiences with his liberal parents regarding curfews, contrasting them with Sarah's more conservative upbringing. They discuss the impact of parental trust and the importance of self-discipline in adolescence.
Jon (08:32): "My parents are pretty liberal in their, like curfews. They were just like, come home at an appropriate time."
Sarah (09:44): "If they're pretty liberal with that... You can give enough leniency where someone doesn't feel like they have to overstep or take advantage of it."
Protective Mothers: A Deep Dive
The hosts explore the concept of protective mothers, drawing from their personal lives and relating it to the characters in the book. Sarah praises Jon's mother, Georgie, for her unwavering protectiveness and affection.
Sarah (35:08): "The only one she's like. Since I've had any money. Yeah, she liked my high school girlfriend."
Jon (40:11): "And she's also, if you're hearing this, she's also like the sweetest woman in the world."
They share amusing and heartfelt stories about dealing with overprotective mothers, emphasizing the balance between safeguarding and allowing independence.
Sarah (25:48): "I had a couple parties when my parents were camping... we break into the liquor cabinet."
Jon (37:12): "It was like real Days of our Lives type stuff."
Friendships and Boundaries
Jon recounts an incident involving his friend Logan at a Seahawks game, illustrating the challenges of maintaining friendships while managing behavior under the influence. Sarah complements this with stories about hosting and dealing with friends who might push boundaries.
Jon (16:13): "We wake up, we have a couple drinks, go to the pub, we go to the game. We're drinking just all that stuff."
Sarah (19:56): "He's the kind of person, though, right, that you can just go, hey, buddy, zip it up."
They discuss the importance of setting boundaries with friends to ensure respectful and enjoyable interactions, especially in social settings.
Upcoming Book Selections and Events
Looking ahead, Sarah announces the next month's book pick, What Alice Forgot by Leanne Moriarty, expressing her enthusiasm for diving into a new genre after enjoying Sue Watson's work. They also tease their upcoming live shows in Enumclaw and Everett, encouraging listeners to attend and support their stand-up performances.
Sarah (04:00): "Next month, so March, is the What Alice Forgot by Leanne Moriarty."
Jon (49:59): "It's going to be super fun shows. Those are stand up shows in case anyone's like, I'm new here."
Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
As the episode wraps up, Jon and Sarah reflect on the complexities of friendships, marriages, and parental relationships. They emphasize the unpredictable nature of human interactions and the importance of understanding and communication.
Sarah (41:47): "When you think your friends have a certain marriage or your friend has a certain marriage and this whole other life comes out, you're just..."
Jon (48:05): "John doesn't fall in. He'll call you out."
They conclude by inviting listeners to engage with their Patreon for additional content and reminding them of the exciting discussions planned for the full book review in the following week.
Sarah (50:24): "Go watch Pickles on Demand on the MLB Network if you didn't catch it this past Saturday."
Jon (50:25): "Bye."
Both (50:29): "The book lisp."
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Jon (00:24): "It feels weird. It's raining outside right now."
- Sarah (00:36): "You can work from home and record at home in our cozy..."
- Jon (03:09): "Keep on going."
- Sarah (07:36): "Messy friends... protective moms."
- Jon (08:32): "My parents are pretty liberal in their, like curfews."
- Sarah (10:16): "I never snuck out because I saw her get caught."
- Jon (16:13): "We were drinking just all that stuff."
- Sarah (25:48): "We break into the liquor cabinet..."
- Jon (37:12): "It was like real Days of our Lives type stuff."
- Sarah (41:47): "When you think your friends have a certain marriage..."
- Jon (48:05): "John doesn't fall in. He'll call you out."
- Both (50:29): "The book lisp."
Conclusion
"Mama Bears & Pregnancy Scares" offers a blend of book discussions, personal anecdotes, and insightful conversations about friendships and family dynamics. Jon and Sarah's candid and humorous interactions provide listeners with relatable content and a deeper understanding of the themes explored in The New Wife. As they gear up for their next book review and live events, listeners are left eager for more engaging discussions in future episodes.