Podcast Summary: The Book Lisp

Episode: The Joke is Not on You
Hosts: Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Date: January 19, 2026
Book of the Month: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

Overview

In this episode, Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna, the married duo behind The Book Lisp, dive into themes from their January book pick, Summer Island by Kristin Hannah. Although the full book review is slated for next week, this episode revolves around the intersection of comedy, personal growth, career struggles, and finding calm—both within the book and their own lives. Their witty banter and anecdotal style set the stage for a lighthearted yet insightful conversation about stand-up comedy, creative ambition, personal relationships, and favorite places of solace.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hilarious Personal Banter and Odd Friendships

• The show opens with playful teasing about married life and Jon's strange ability to make friends in unlikely places, like the storage facility manager, Glenn, and Mark at the cigar bar who claims to have toured with Stevie Nicks.
• Memorable Story: Mark monopolized a two-hour conversation with Jon before nonchalantly calling him "Jack"—“Two hours of stories about him, not one question about me... ‘Okay, Jack, have a good day’ and walked away.” (03:00)

Book & Patreon Updates

• Sarah shares upcoming live shows and plugs their Patreon, where they explore short stories by new authors.
  • “I have learned that the short stories are a great way to learn new authors I haven’t read before.” (06:24)
• Book of the month: Summer Island focuses on the relationship between an estranged radio personality mother and her aspiring stand-up comedian daughter.
  • “The daughter’s trying to be a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles… the mom is a very famous radio personality in Seattle.” (08:14)

The Realities of Comedy and Creative Careers

• The hosts candidly discuss the near-impossible odds of making it in both stand-up comedy and football.
  • Jon: “If there was two jobs I would say do not get into, it'd probably be radio and standup comedy.” (08:40)
  • Sarah: “You got to believe you’re going to be the exception.” (09:22)
• Parallel struggles between their own journeys in comedy and football, noting the importance of passion over practicality.

Places of Calm & Personal Reflections

• Inspired by the book’s setting, Jon and Sarah discuss their own calming places:
  • Jon: Feels a sense of relief returning to Canada, especially during stressful NFL years and immigration worries. (10:45–11:47)
  • Sarah: Finds peace at the beach, especially in Mexico, tying the tranquility of the setting to family vacations and special life events. (11:56–13:44)
• Cultural quips about flat vs. mountainous landscapes and regional humor.
  • “You can watch your dog run away for three days.” (14:50)
  • Sarah jokes it would be funnier as “watch your wife run away for three days.” (16:11)

Reflections on Stand-Up, Acting, and Getting in Your Own Way

• Sarah passionately unpacks the book’s subplot about Ruby, the would-be comic sabotaging her own sitcom opportunity:
  • “Of course, you want the dream job...but if you put me on a sitcom and it’s cheesy as f...I gotta tell you, I don’t care.” (19:35)
  • “For her to...it tells you a little bit about her...she gets in her own way all the time.” (20:01)
• Explores the differences between taking opportunities for career advancement and sticking rigidly to personal standards.

The Pressure and Legacy of Late Night Stand-Up

• They detail what it meant, historically and emotionally, to land a late-night talk show standup spot—what used to be a “make or break” moment.
  • Sarah: “When it’s so quick and succinct...that’s it, you get these two or three minutes and that’s it...I can’t tell you how hard it is...” (22:35)
  • Jon: “The added pressure to be like, at the end of this, am I gonna get called over? The pressure of that would just be awful.” (25:28)
• Sarah recounts industry shifts—from the Carson era through Leno and Fallon—where these appearances launched sitcoms and how the path has changed.
  • “Everyone was getting a development deal...It was like that. And I'll be honest, I miss it.” (28:20–33:00)

Rants and Realities: Who Gets to be a Comedian?

• Sarah and Jon discuss misconceptions about who is—or isn’t—“naturally” funny, and the unglamorous grind of the craft.
  • On being “on” all the time: “I know I kill it on stage...I don’t need to yuck it up...It’s not my job.” (38:21)
  • Jon's annoyance at armchair comedians: “Telling jokes in the locker room to the boys doesn’t translate on stage.” (42:21)
  • The irritating phenomenon of people demanding comics “tell a joke.”
    • Jon: “I’m not a fucking puppet, you little Bastard.” (44:10)

Experiences with Gender in Comedy

• Sarah and Mary Raczinski dealt with a host so surprised to see two female comedians he treated it as a novelty act:
  • “He introduced us as if...they just earned the right to vote. Now they get to come on stage!” (45:34)

Jon’s Brief Stint in Stand-Up

• Jon shares anecdotes about “opening” for Sarah at Pacific Northwest shows—he’s happy to retire undefeated in front of friendly crowds, but doesn’t want to do traditional club gigs.
  • “I've probably done it for you about 15 times now. But also never do it again. It’s awful.” (48:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mark at the cigar bar:
  • “Two hours of stories about him, not one question about me...‘Okay, Jack, have a good day’ and walked away.” (03:00)
• Sarah on sitcom opportunities:
  • “If you put me on a sitcom and it’s cheesy as f...I gotta tell you, I don’t care.” (19:35)
• Jon on making it:
  • “Telling jokes in the locker room to the boys doesn’t translate on stage.” (42:21)
• Sarah on what changes in comedy:
  • “Everyone was getting a development deal...she has a development deal with Fox. All of a sudden you’re like, what?” (33:00)
• On the “tell me a joke” trope:
  • Jon: “I’m not a fucking puppet, you little Bastard.” (44:10)
  • Sarah: “Give me $45. This isn’t fucking free.” (44:13)
• Sarah, on stand-up persona:
  • “I know I kill it on stage...I don't need to yuck it up...I'm an incredible standup comedian...My job is to make everyone in the audience laugh...when I'm not on stage, it's not my job.” (38:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:00] — Mark’s cigar bar/Stevie Nicks story
• [06:24] — Patreon & short story recommendations
• [08:14] — Introduction to Summer Island book discussion
• [10:45] — Jon on Canada as his “calming place”
• [11:56] — Sarah on beaches and Mexico as sources of calm
• [19:35] — On blowing a sitcom opportunity and creative self-sabotage
• [22:35] — The pressure of late-night TV stand-up spots
• [25:28] — Carson’s “called over to the couch” rite of passage
• [28:20–33:00] — Boom/bust cycles of sitcoms built around comics
• [38:21] — The real stand-up persona vs. being “on” offstage
• [42:21] — The annoyance of non-comics “trying out” comedy
• [44:10–44:22] — “Tell me a joke” rant
• [45:34] — Comedy gender double-standards anecdote
• [48:12] — Jon’s comedy “retirement” and stage fright

Tone & Style

The episode is filled with witty back-and-forth, self-deprecating humor, affectionate teasing, and candid rants. Sarah’s comic timing and insight into the entertainment industry dominate the discussion, while Jon matches her with dry wit and everyman observations. Both are honest about the grind behind comedy and football, and the personal vulnerability needed for both.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a lively, insider’s look at the realities (and misconceptions) of stand-up comedy, the fleeting nature of career “breaks,” and how even performing couples find new facets of each other through creative work. For book lovers interested in the crossover between fiction and real-life narratives—and for anyone who thinks comics are just “on” all the time—The Book Lisp delivers laughs, revelations, and relatable moments in equal measure.

Next Week:
Full review of Summer Island by Kristin Hannah. Upcoming book: Look Closer by David Ellis.
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