The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna

Episode: The Thought Still Counts

Date: January 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna dive into themes inspired by their current book club pick, Summer Island by Kristin Hannah. Much of the discussion centers around nostalgia, the importance and evolution of handwritten gestures like thank you cards and Christmas cards, reflections on the radio industry (especially in Seattle), and breaking down the myth that "making it" in Hollywood—or life—needs to happen before 30. The hosts bring personal anecdotes, humor, and warmth to a conversation that weaves between pop culture nostalgia, the woes and joys of Christmas take-downs, and societal pressures around age and achievement.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Post-Holiday Letdown & Domestic Updates

• Putting Away Christmas: Jon reflects on the sadness of packing up decorations, sharing his excitement over new storage solutions but also noting the emotional weight.
  • “It’s been a rough week putting away Christmas stuff. Thank God I got my new storage unit.” — Jon [00:44]
• Cat Stories: The cats miss their favorite spot under the Christmas tree, a running lighthearted motif.

2. Upcoming Gigs & Life on the Road

• Sarah shares a detailed run of her February stand-up dates and jokes about being "two ships passing in the night" with Jon as their busy schedules keep them apart.
  • “I'm on a casino tour...I can't just live in hotels. I'll lose it.” — Sarah [04:41]

3. About the Book & Seattle as Setting

• Current Read: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah (Jon’s pick); discussion about why Seattle features so prominently in books and movies.
  • “Seattle’s a very romantic city...always kind of gray and drizzly, you always feel like curling up.” — Jon [07:25]
  • Connection to authors: Kristin Hannah spent her childhood in the Pacific Northwest [08:36]
• Noticing the book’s age: Realization it’s 25 years old based on references to landlines and absence of cell phones.
  • “No spoilers, but I was like, well, there’s a lot of landlines in this book...” — Sarah [09:25]

4. The Endurance & Evolution of Local Radio

• Sarah and Jon reminisce about radio’s golden years, especially in Seattle, mentioning local figures and how the radio landscape has changed post-COVID.
  • “The radio scene is still like really big there, or maybe just because the music scene is so huge in Seattle…” — Jon [11:35]
  • Sarah shares fondness for going in for morning radio, despite the early hours.

5. The Power (and Quirkiness) of Handwritten Cards

• Inspired by the book, discussion turns to the lost art of thank you and holiday cards, including stories from their own lives.
  • “I was doing that for a while...I think I finally quit doing It. Someone was just like, just forget it. It just goes in the garbage, which I know is true, but it’s the thought.” — Sarah [16:18]
  • Notable anecdote: Seahawks GM John Schneider writing handwritten letters to all 90 players. Both Jon and Sarah agree such gestures matter.
    • “He could have had his receptionist just print something...but he handwritten for all 90 guys.” — Jon [17:07]
  • Admission to sometimes trashing cards, but valuing the intent.

Notable Quotes:

• “I wonder if greeting cards are going to go away.” — Jon [23:05]
• “People in their 20s can't even sign their own names anymore. They don't learn how to write in school...” — Jon [23:35]
• Sprawling discussion follows about the end (or not) of cursive and whether signatures will survive.

6. The Christmas Card Tradition

• Personal Traditions: The couple reminisces about years of silly Christmas cards—including favorites and missed years—and the culture around sending/receiving.
  • “We like to make a little pouty face and send a silly card out and then put a nice photo on the back.” — Sarah [20:21]
  • “The guys in the kitchen...hung up all our Christmas cards all year round.” — Jon [20:37]

7. Age, Achievement, and the Hollywood Myth

• "Make it by 30" Myth: A recurring theme from the book is the anxiety over hitting career milestones by 30.
  • “Everyone knows if you don’t make it by 30, you’re toast. And I get that mentality because I had that mentality, but it’s not true.” — Sarah [33:41]
  • Sarah shares stories from her own career, emphasizing later-in-life breakthroughs both for herself and others, like Catherine Lanasa.
  • Pop culture reference: The repeated myth from Sex and the City that you’re “more likely to be struck by lightning than married in your 30s”—Jon accidentally says "Terry" for "Carrie" Bradshaw.
    • “Very, very normal to get married in your 30s this day and age.” — Jon [35:29]

8. Pressure, Parents, and Perseverance

• The hosts talk candidly about family pressure (or, in their case, the absence of it) regarding marriage and career, appreciating the support systems that let them persist.
  • “Even when I was, I was just depressed...A few days later, I get just a card in the mail, basically saying, don’t give up, don’t come home… you’re super talented.” — Sarah [41:42]
  • “It takes 15 years to be an overnight success.” — Jon [43:31]
  • Jon reveals his mom’s naïveté about the NFL (and Sarah about acting in Hollywood), which they both now cherish as a form of unconditional support.

Memorable & Funny Moments

• On Handwritten Notes:
  • “I know some celebrities who have an assistant sign things for them...but that’s cool.” — Sarah [17:21]
• Jon, on young people and signatures:
  • “They turn to cavemen just on the wall, John.” — Jon [25:25]
• Riffing on Greeting Cards:
  • Sarah introduces "Maxine" greeting cards for a laugh ("The only instant messaging I do is with my middle finger.”) [28:53–29:00]
• Card from Financial Advisor:
  • "Just a picture of a freaking teddy bear with a bow tie and inside it says...Ray." — Jon [27:36]
• Misnaming Carrie Bradshaw as “Terry Bradshaw,” the football player—then riffing about it [35:01–36:10]
• Jon, on being the grouchy old man:
  • "I don't mean to sound like the old guy on the stoop, drinking PBR, yelling at the neighborhood kids, but that's what I’ve become." — Jon [25:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Post-Christmas Blues & Cat Stories: [00:44–03:15]
• Sarah’s Stand-Up Dates & Life on the Road: [04:41–05:11]
• Seattle as a Romantic/Book Setting: [07:22–08:58]
• Radio: Then and Now: [09:57–14:22]
• Handwritten Cards/Thoughtfulness: [16:17–19:23]
• Christmas Card Traditions: [20:12–21:46]
• Cursive, Signatures & Gen Z: [23:05–26:44]
• Maxine Greeting Card Bit: [28:44–29:16]
• Myths Around "Making It" by 30 & Pop Culture: [33:41–35:29]
• Parental Pressure and Perseverance: [39:15–41:42]
• Overnight Success & Family Support: [43:15–44:34]

Overall Tone

Conversational, self-deprecating, affectionate, with the comedic banter characteristic of both Jon and Sarah. The episode skillfully weaves together the themes of nostalgia, shifting traditions, and the realities behind creative careers, using humor and personal storytelling to ground broader cultural observations.

Final Notes

• Upcoming reads: February’s book: Look Closer by David Ellis; Patreon short story: The Body by Daniel Hurst.
• Get involved: Join their Patreon, Facebook group, and follow on Instagram.
• Standout signoff:
  • “Happy Monday. Or whenever you listen to this listeners, we appreciate you.” — Sarah [46:07]