
It's week 2 of your May Book Lisp. As always, no book spoilers until week 4, so Jon & Sarah talk about topics inspired by this month's read "Beach Vibes" by Susan Mallery. The pros and cons of moving back in with family, overprotective siblings (and some who kept the cleat chasers away from Jon), posting a photo after a first date, living it up in a Motel 6, and more. Enjoy!
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Sarah Colonna
Hi, I'm Sarah Colonna.
John Ryan
And I'm John Ryan.
Sarah Colonna
And you're listening to the Book List. The Book List.
John Ryan
The Book Lisp.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, that's right. You're listening to the Book Lisp. Hello and welcome to the Book Lisp with John Ryan and Sarah Colonna. Dash Ryan. Hi.
John Ryan
Hello.
Sarah Colonna
Hello. Hi, listeners. Good. John. John, if you're guy. If you guys are watching the video of this on Patreon, you can see John's just, just really excited to be here.
John Ryan
I am just.
Sarah Colonna
I know.
John Ryan
Get into the, into the show.
Sarah Colonna
I know, I know. I'm just teasing you. That's what we do. How's it going in the kitchen?
John Ryan
It's going well. Had to turn off the tv. Cats are being calm. Looks real nice outside.
Sarah Colonna
It is really nice outside that. It was all gloomy at the beginning of the week and then all of a sudden it's just beautiful here. I mean, 82 degrees. I don't know if you guys are ready for a weather podcast this month.
John Ryan
But we might just have your weather girl hair anymore.
Sarah Colonna
I don't have my straight weather girl hair anymore. I know. People are. People aren't going to be able to take me seriously anymore. Welcome to the Book Lisp. As you know, we are reading Beach Vibes by Susan Mallory this month. John, I, I loved it. I, I really, I don't know again if I. It was coming off of something so dark that I had suggested or what, but I really enjoyed. I'm looking over, by the way, at my notes because I needed to remind myself what my June pick was, but I have it, so I really love Beach Vibes. I think it's a fun read. I think there's a lot of good stuff to break down from it when we get to that part. Week four, if you're new here, we don't talk about the book until week four. We pull topics that won't spoil the book and riff on those for the first three weeks, have some fun, and then we dive into the book. And then our June read is A Beautiful Couple by Leslie Wolf. That is my pick. I have not read it yet. It is not one that I have read yet. So going out on a limb. I'm going out on a limb. And if you're on Patreon, we do Patreon exclusive content a few times a month. The 5th, the 15th and the 25th. The 15th is always a short story. This month it is. The Answer is no by Frederick Bachmann. It's like a 50 something page. So those won't throw you behind and you can always listen to them whenever you get caught up. We have fun bonus content there. We added some stuff like last month we did the alternate ending that Lisa Jewel originally wrote for then she was gone and we talked about that quickly on Patreon. So it's super fun. And it's only $5 a month if you want to join us there. And you also have the video, like I said, of this or you can just listen to it and stay just for all the bonus Patreon exclusive content and also come see me July 18th at the Grand Theater in Salem, Oregon. It's really, I don't do a lot of summer dates, but I'm doing that one. And then I have August dates coming up. I know San Antonio. And then I know I'm at the Brad Garrett's comedy club again in Vegas in August. Those are all on saracolona.com John, you're going to travel with me to Salem, Oregon, aren't you?
John Ryan
Oh, yeah, I'll be there. I'll be in Vegas for a little bit too, I'm sure. I mean, Vegas is beautiful in August.
Sarah Colonna
I know. I was actually like just like just.
John Ryan
Put your head in the oven. And that's what it's like in Vegas in August.
Sarah Colonna
It might be really good for the club though, and for.
John Ryan
Well, I think everyone just kind of sticks inside the casinos during that time. So I think it'd be great for.
Sarah Colonna
The club at night. People are like, I can't go out there because it doesn't cool off at night in Vegas. It does not.
John Ryan
Oh, it's hot.
Sarah Colonna
It's hot.
John Ryan
Really fun though.
Sarah Colonna
John, what are. When's the Pickle season start? The Portland Pickles, our baseball team.
John Ryan
Our first regular season game is June 3rd, 3rd, 4th and 5th and we have an exhibition series on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May. The Portland Bangers, we play our very first game. This will already air. Never mind. We play our very first game Next Thursday, the 15th, first regular season game in Portland.
Sarah Colonna
I think that's a soccer team. A new soccer team.
John Ryan
Yeah, our soccer game team. Bangers fc. Portland Bangers fc. I think every game is sold out for the entire season.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, really? Already?
John Ryan
Yeah, it's completely sold out. So that's really good. So we're have to move to a bigger stadium next year. And next year we're also going have a women's team. So I have a men and a woman's team, which is very exciting. Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
Yay, us. And you and Alan didn't have enough.
John Ryan
Time to put it together this year. This is a very last minute thing. Even though we've been planning it for a long time. They didn't get our franchise tag until February. So it was very quick to put a team together in a franchise together and logos and merchandise and jerseys and a front office in three months.
Sarah Colonna
Okay, but you did it with the Bangers already, so it's pretty impressive. Yeah. So anyway guys, you know another way to support us? Rate Review Subscribe Here we are talking about. Can I talk about another book real quick?
John Ryan
Yes, please.
Sarah Colonna
I'm reading one called I have to look up the author's name because you know how I am the business trip. I think it might have been Jesse Garcia is the author. I think that it might have been a someone in our Because I always note when people post what they're reading in our group, our book listeners on Facebook. By the way, it I always see what people are reading when they're off. Either people read ahead so they have time to catch up or they have time to read another book in their downtime. And I decided, since I had already finished Beach Vibes and I haven't started A Beautiful Couple yet, I wanted to read something that was not for the podcast this month. And I started a business trip, which I believe someone in the book listener suggested. And I am almost done with it. I think it took me two and a half days.
John Ryan
Really.
Sarah Colonna
I couldn't.
John Ryan
Yeah, up late last night again.
Sarah Colonna
I know because I was like, I was like 80% through and I thought, okay, maybe I'll just. I know. But then I. I was like, just go to. I need to go to bed. Because then I start kind of. I don't know. I don't. A little after 11 probably. But I just started once I start drifting off and I realize I'm not paying attention to the book enough. And then that's when I closed it up. But I really like it. The twist is not what I was expecting. Well, I don't even know if I've gotten to. Well, I guess I haven't really gotten to the whole twist yet, but part of what happens gets answered in part two of the book. And. And I wasn't even expecting that. So I really like it. It may have to be a book list down the road. I'm wondering how many of our listeners have have read that one.
John Ryan
I like it.
Sarah Colonna
And then we watched a show. We're just going to talk for a second about a show, a movie we watched last night. What was it called? Ex. Territory.
John Ryan
Exteratorial.
Sarah Colonna
Exterritorial, which is a term for when you're, like, in the consulate of the United States. Right. But you're not. But you're in a different country.
John Ryan
I believe it was originally in German, right?
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, yeah.
John Ryan
It was all, like, dubbed in English, but it was a German movie. But Netflix now, it's like everything they do is, like, international.
Sarah Colonna
I know, but then I was wondering how they did that, because in the. In the movie, when they say English or German, she says English, but then.
John Ryan
You can speak in the.
Sarah Colonna
Speaking German.
John Ryan
It's really. She said in German.
Sarah Colonna
In German. In the. In the. Okay. Yeah. So in the.
John Ryan
That's what I'm guessing. I was wondering that too.
Sarah Colonna
Dubbed, right. Yes, I see. It's. So it's exterritorial. I think if I'm getting it right, doesn't matter. But it's. If you're in that. So she was in Germany and she's in the u. S. Consulate. Right.
John Ryan
Which basically means you're on u. S. Soil.
Sarah Colonna
Right. So then the Germans have no. Can't help.
John Ryan
Jurisdiction.
Sarah Colonna
Jurisdiction, yeah. The police, anyway, so I didn't know anything about it. First of all, I didn't know what that meant, as you can tell. Definition. Yeah, we watched it last night, kind of not knowing, and I liked it. I wasn't expecting it to be like, so. Action.
John Ryan
Yeah. I mean, this girl beat up 50 people in this book or in this movie?
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. I loved it.
John Ryan
Here's the one thing about this movie. She got in, like, massive fights, like popping her shoulder back into place. She had shot in the leg at one point.
Sarah Colonna
The one shoulder took a real fucking beating.
John Ryan
Two minutes later, she's, like, walking down the hallway, all normal.
Sarah Colonna
I know.
John Ryan
You just got the biggest fight anyone's ever been in their entire life. And just like, it was. It was a good movie, though, but a lot more. I had a little bit of a John Wick feel when it was so much fighting all the time.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. And nobody. No, like, nobody's even blinking twice that she's walking down, just bleeding from her whole face. And then a couple of seconds later, it's kind of cleaned up. But, yeah, she put the one show she kept, she. I mean, the. The right shoulder, I think it was. I mean, that thing took a beating. She fell from a building on it. She got in. Someone put it out of place, and then she put it back in place. That's not a spoiler. It just. There's a lot of fighting that I wasn't expecting, but I enjoyed it. I had a nice time.
John Ryan
It was.
Sarah Colonna
It was.
John Ryan
It was good. Kept me from picking up my phone.
Sarah Colonna
I know. I put my phone down and. And didn't touch it. It's my new. My new thing that I'm going to try. Yeah, I'm sticking. I know. We get distracted by it anyway, and then we, like. And then you're watching it show that it doesn't grab your interest. Then all of a sudden you start looking at your phone and then you're like, what am I doing? This is. There's too many. So much media happening.
John Ryan
Too much. You know who came out with a new book?
Sarah Colonna
No.
John Ryan
Ellen Hildebrand.
Sarah Colonna
What? I thought she returned.
John Ryan
Not. Not a novel. It's a tour guide for Nantucket Island.
Sarah Colonna
Oh.
John Ryan
All her favorite spots.
Sarah Colonna
That's.
John Ryan
I mean. Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
Talk about this after she wrote all.
John Ryan
These books talking about Nantucket for 15 years, then she's wrote a tour book. Tour guide book. Is that what you call it?
Sarah Colonna
I don't know.
John Ryan
Anyways, I have to get it, and then we have to go to Nantucket.
Sarah Colonna
I know. We really need to go to Nantucket just to.
John Ryan
I mean, like, I want to go, but it is so freaking touristy. Is there a time where it's just not all too, like. I know they say it's not very tourist in the winter, but then it's like. Then there's nothing probably really open that you want to do.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, I would. It would be fun when it's not super touristy, even though we would be tourists. But it's just nice when it's not as many tourists.
John Ryan
How far is Cape Cod from Nantucket? I'm not bad at geography.
Sarah Colonna
You're asking the wrong person.
John Ryan
Because Nantucket. Cape Cod has a really good baseball league in the summer.
Sarah Colonna
Well, let's do it. I mean, what a genius thing for her to do, though, just because she's so famous for writing things about Nantucket and then she's like, now I'm just gonna do a quick thing and probably make a ton of money just telling people where to go in Nantucket. And then everyone's gonna be cursing her this summer when they live on Nantucket and all her fans are there.
John Ryan
Yeah, exactly.
Sarah Colonna
Except no, because they'll make a bunch of. Of money at the businesses.
John Ryan
Yeah. I think place like that's packed no matter what. You're screwed no matter what. As a. As a local for half the year.
Sarah Colonna
All right, John. Speaking of authors and books and beach vibes, Susan Mallory, our. Our May read, picked by John. Tell Me what you want to talk about. That's not spoiling the book, but topics that you pulled from it.
John Ryan
I thought a fun topic that we could talk about was Janna lived with her brother and her daughter and his three kids. And Beth lived with her aunt Agatha. So I think for like most of America, this is like not a traditional living style, which I think it happens more so in the LA area just because it costs $1 billion for a one bedroom apartment.
Sarah Colonna
Right.
John Ryan
So I just wanted to talk about unusual living circumstances, whether it's weird roommates or different roommates or having to live with your family that we've both experienced in our lives.
Sarah Colonna
Okay, you start.
John Ryan
I like, well, I have a ton. Oh girl, I got a ton because I was trying to play football. And then when I, when I was trying to play football in the off season when I was younger, like to go back to Canada. So I think that when I first started playing in the Canadian Football League. Now before that when I was trying to make pro football, my sister was living in Portland, Oregon. So I was like, I have to move somewhere in the off season. Like after college, my last semester college, I kind of dropped out and I wanted to live somewhere where I could kick footballs all winter and I could. Even though Portland was like, people, they're probably think it's cold. It's like compared to Canada, it's like balmy, you know?
Sarah Colonna
Right?
John Ryan
Yeah, it's like my sister, my brother in law in with them in Portland, lived in their spare room in Portland. And this is like, this was like four months after they got married. A little, A little bit. How like you moved in with your mom, with your dad and stepmom right after they got married.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, I'll make that my comparison, but go ahead.
John Ryan
So that was, I loved it. It was the first time living in the US I was 21 years old. It was the first time in my life where all I had to do was work out and play football and I just got to hang out with them or hang out by myself, whatever. But yeah, so I lived with them. Then when I was playing in the cfl, Canadian Football League, it's like, it's so weird because in Canada you don't make that much money. I think my first contract was like $39,000. So when you're away, you got to pay for like an apartment for those six months, all that. Then you got to move out and you got to move somewhere else, like if you want to move back home. So I was like, I can't get like another apartment back home. I can't afford it, so I moved in with my parents. So I lived in like my. My childhood bedroom with my parents when I was 22, 23 in the.
Sarah Colonna
That's when you were the off season for playing in Winnipeg?
John Ryan
Yeah, yeah.
Sarah Colonna
It was his first team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
John Ryan
Blue Bombers. And you know, like in college I lived with. I lived on my own for a little bit and I lived with my buddy Pete for a little bit. Like in this like slum. Slum lord type dwelling, crappy apartment. But where else did I live? I live in the most.
Sarah Colonna
But when you lived with Ryan and Erica, that's his brother in law and sister, they didn't have kids yet?
John Ryan
No, they didn't have kids yet, right? No, they didn't. Until I moved back in with them when they were living in Canada. When I was. Where was I playing? I think I was playing. No, I was playing in Seattle. But then I wanted to spend some time. I kind of split my off season that offseason between Phoenix, where I have a place at the time by myself now with. You had a place in Phoenix and then wanted to spend some time in Canada. So then I moved into their basement with all the kids. Yeah, I live in their basement during.
Sarah Colonna
Half of the off season.
John Ryan
Four of their kids and. Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
And this is when you're in Seattle with like a real contract.
John Ryan
A real contract? Yeah, yeah. Real money. But I was like, okay, dude, I don't really need an apartment or a house for two months.
Sarah Colonna
Right.
John Ryan
And then, you know, I'm gonna spend two months in Phoenix, two months there, and then the rest time my house in Seattle. So I moved into their basement.
Sarah Colonna
How'd you like that?
John Ryan
It was fine.
Sarah Colonna
How'd they like it?
John Ryan
I don't know. Wait, you said on my career, earlier on my career when I was playing, when I frozen Seattle for like two years, I spent that. That one offseason I spent all back in Canada and I lived in my brother's basement.
Sarah Colonna
There's a lot of. You're like a basement dweller.
John Ryan
Yeah, I lived in Steve and Haley's basement for one off season. Two.
Sarah Colonna
And that was in when? Before Seattle.
John Ryan
That was after my second year in Seattle.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, okay.
John Ryan
Right after I signed my first big contract.
Sarah Colonna
Is that because Ryan and Erica booted you out of their basement and so you had to go?
John Ryan
Yeah, I don't know why, but you know, I've lived like, I've lived with every family member after moving out of our original arrangements, except for Jill. I Guess. But yeah, I was having.
Sarah Colonna
What's wrong? She didn't have a basement?
John Ryan
No, I guess not. No. I think she has always been back and forth from Ottawa, so I'd never found a place to dwell in her home.
Sarah Colonna
When you. But you did mention quickly, which I don't know if a lot of people know you have to talk about. Speaking of odd living situations like in the book, but your Motel 6 living.
John Ryan
Okay, when I was. I didn't. I don't have like the traditional like career where guys like go to a big American college. If people don't know who I am now, even if they do, they probably know the stories. I didn't have a traditional where I went to freaking LSU or University of Arkansas. I didn't go to a big school then get recruited to the NFL to go to play NFL. I went to a little school in Canada. When I left there, I. Not one NFL team even knew who I was. I couldn't even get an agent. No one even wanted to represent me. And so I went to play in the cfl and I thought that was amazing. That was like one of my goals growing up to play in the cfl and I got drafted, played in the cfl. Then after I had a couple good years in the cfl, I started getting attention from the US and so when I left, how it works is if you're a free agent, like a street free agent, they call it a guy coming from Canada, they start to work guys out before the next season, you know, pretty much right after their season, like in January, February, and then they start signing guys here and there. And so I was like, okay, well I need to be ready for that. So I needed to be like punt in somewhere warm every day. I couldn't stay in Saskatchewan, you know, and try to like be ready for an NFL workout. So I this time I knew like no one in the US I think my sister had moved back. I knew no one in the US So I just packed up my car, Honda Civic. I had like one bag of clothes, one bag of footballs and a 14 inch TV and I moved into a Motel 6 in Phoenix, Arizona. 27 a night.
Sarah Colonna
27 a night.
John Ryan
27 A night.
Sarah Colonna
And how long did it was how long did you stay there?
John Ryan
Studio A few months. It was. I was planning on staying there longer, but I ended up signing an NFL contract.
Sarah Colonna
Wow, that's a good reason to get.
John Ryan
Out of there on untraditional path to the NFL. But I was so I was training there and then I whatever. I got some NFL workouts. I Signed with Green Bay. And I remember they're like, you know, we want to sign you, blah, blah. They got it all worked out when I was like flying home. And then they're like, they called me like, congratulations, your agreement, Packer. Where should we send the contract? I was like, well, the Motel 6 off of i10 in Arizona. Like, wow, that's. That's a new one. I really, I literally had my first NFL contract faxed to the front lobby of a Motel 6 in Arizona.
Sarah Colonna
I mean, I bet, I bet there weren't a lot of NFL contracts coming through the Motel 6 in Arizona.
John Ryan
No, but there was.
Sarah Colonna
There were a lot of contracts, but they were, they were more of a handshake deal and a. And a little slip under the mat kind of thing.
John Ryan
Well, it was also, we live a Motel 6 and it's a Motel 6 studio. So it's one of those like kind of long term living.
Sarah Colonna
Oh.
John Ryan
So there's a lot of like, even more shady characters. So it was a lot of like just divorced men were living in that building.
Sarah Colonna
Is the Motel 6 studio long term living where you're going to put me when things start to go downhill health wise for me?
John Ryan
Trust me, I've done it once. I'm not going to do it to anyone else.
Sarah Colonna
I appreciate that.
John Ryan
That was my Motel 6 story.
Sarah Colonna
Well, when you said that you brought a, bought a, brought a TV. Did you bring your own TV to the Motel 6?
John Ryan
I did, I think because I had like at the big. At the time it was like Motel 6, they had a TV, but I had one of those like 14 inch TVs with a DVD player in the side of it, like built in. So if I want to watch my DVDs, I had to have my own TV.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, yeah.
John Ryan
So I brought my own TV. But literally that was all that was like. Yeah, that was all I own was like a bag of clothes. This friggin. What year would have been 2002 Honda Civic, three footballs and a 14 inch TV. That's like my whole possession. All my possessions right there.
Sarah Colonna
Well, it worked out.
John Ryan
Mm. So can no longer fit in a Honda Civic.
Sarah Colonna
No, that's good. My moving in with family members Post when you think you're supposed to would be after I graduated college. And some of you know a little bit about this. But I. When I moved out to California, my dad was living in Yorba Linda at the time, which is in Orange County. He lived all over Orange county, but him and my stepmom, who is still my stepmom, and they got married in 95. They basically. I graduated college and moved in with them. I had not lived with my dad since I was 5 years old. And I had visited him and would see him every summer and sometimes spring break and a couple times, like Christmas time, after Christmas, whatever. But I had not lived with him since I was a child. So I said, hey, I'm moving to California to pursue acting, writing, stand up, blah, blah, blah. And I kind of need a place to stay for a little bit while I. Because I was in college, so I can't. I mean, I was. I had a job in college, but it's hard to save money because I.
John Ryan
Was moving, especially moving out West. Like, even back then, like rent in la, it's always been crazy. Like, like, I think I see some people, like people from like the Midwest or middle of Canada where it's not quite as expensive, but they look at people like, well, you're 40 or 50 and still have a roommate. I'm like, they're like, yeah, like, if you live in la, if you live in New York, a lot of people, that's the only way they can possibly live in that city is by still having a roommate.
Sarah Colonna
Right.
John Ryan
So expensive. So when you're 19 or 21, what you were trying to move out there? It's like you have to save up and find a roommate. And it's not easy.
Sarah Colonna
No, it's not. But I also, like, I also wouldn't have known where to go. And they were living in Orange county and I ultimately needed to live closer to Los Angeles. And so. And actually, no, they got married in 96 because I. I'm pretty sure because I moved because I graduated in 96 and I moved. Basically. They. And they got married in May and I moved in with them in end of June.
John Ryan
Honeymoon's over.
Sarah Colonna
Baby honeymoon. Yeah, my stepmom is. Is the best, but I'm sure she was like, what I did. I have two grown children. You have two grown children? We got married, you know, in our 40s, and now we got one of them moving back in with us.
John Ryan
You know, I know your dad would have loved it, like to have another drinking buddy, to have someone go karaoke with. I mean, so I, I think they probably loved it.
Sarah Colonna
My dad did. And I think my stepmom grew to love. She, she. No, she was awesome about it, to be honest. They were both very. They've both handled, you know, because there was like my. One of my stepsister or my stepsister had a little health issue at one moment. Not little I mean, she had a health issue at one moment. She had to stay with them for a while. And it was. I mean, both of them are just like, yeah, of course. No, they were very good about each other's children and treating us like they were. We were their own. But yeah, I would. I think I was there for eight months. And it was just when I first got there, I was kind of depressed. So I would just like drink after work. I would. I was working at this bar called Hoff's Bar and Grill. And then I go to TJ Friday so far. Yeah.
John Ryan
Little bar shifts and beers.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. We go over to TGI Fridays and drink at the bar because it was right next door. And then go home and I, you know, I'd probably. I'm sure I would sleep in. I'm sure there was just. I'm sure some of it was like, oh, Jesus Christ, what have we gotten ourselves into? But they didn't have to do it. They didn't have to put up with it for too long. But I didn't have any friends, so I would hang out with my dad.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
Like, I would go in from after.
John Ryan
You, like, leave college and you go like to the real world, especially you move away. Like, I did like to play football. You go from having like a million friends to having like a few new friends. Like, I went from having like good friends that I've known forever to like having like, you know, football friends come and go real quick. They kind of feel like you have no real friends. It's weird. Which. You know what you're describing too.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. You know, I didn't know anyone, so I. And then. So I would hang out with my dad on the weekends. Like he would go out to karaoke and I would go with him as best friend Joe and my stepmom and Joe's wife. And that was who I'd hang with. And I would try to keep up with them drinking wise. And that was a mistake. But. But then also though you do end up. Because that's the good thing when you move to another city. The one good thing about working at bars and restaurants when you're that age is that's everyone becomes friends. Not everyone but you. That you make friends at these places because you're all working your shifts together. Everyone wants to go have a beer after your shift's over, drink after your shifts over whatever. So everyone. You. You end up making friends. I had some pretty good friends in Orange county for a while. Not sure where they are now.
John Ryan
Was there like a pre Arranged thing like I'm going to be here for eight months, then leave or end it.
Sarah Colonna
I didn't want to be there more than a year.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
But. And so I would just shove all my tips. I mean I didn't have to pay any rent obviously so I was be able to just save my money. And then when my friend Sarah Tilly, who is one of my best friends, John knows and I'm sure you guys have heard her name mentioned if you listen to Are you my podcast. She loves when she gets mentioned.
John Ryan
She's.
Sarah Colonna
She moved out and she and I started. She was staying in kind of like Newport beach area I think at the time. And then she and I ended up getting splitting a one bedroom apartment. Hollywood. We found a one bedroom apartment and we got a trundle bed. My dad gave us a trundle bed and we slept on it like Lucy and Desi.
John Ryan
Yeah. I mean people don't realize how tough it is. Like you guys have to like you have to share a bed.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah.
John Ryan
It's not like you know you have like a. You're sharing an apartment. Oh, we have to share one bedroom. No, we're sharing a bed.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. Trundle bed, one bedroom, tiny bathroom. And Sarah Tilly was a good. She was a fun roommate but she. And she's a very neat person. Like you know her, she's like super type A. But back then. Whatever. I don't know what it was but she fucking loved to open a drawer and leave it open.
John Ryan
Oh, drive me crazy.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, she would just. And. And we had. Our apartment was kind of. It was like the. The bathroom and bedroom were in the back and then there was the kitchen and the kitchen kind of also had. I guess that's where the storage sort of was too. Like almost like a built in dresser chest kind of thing like in the wall. And so we had our clothes in there and she would open it and just like get something out and leave it and I go running into them all the time. It's really annoying. But that other than that I haven't lived with family members after moving out of like after moving out of my mom and yeah my stepdad's. When I was in college I never. I never went like back and forth. I think I lived with them for maybe the first semester of college and then. And that was it. But then yeah I moved in with my dad at 21 just for a while.
John Ryan
I think my. Mine are some. I think back now it's kind of funny because like I was moving in back in with family. Not because, like, I needed to. Not that I even wanted to. I was already successful. It was just like out of like, what's the word?
Sarah Colonna
Convenience.
John Ryan
Convenience.
Sarah Colonna
Well, you.
John Ryan
Long term. It was very short term.
Sarah Colonna
Well, you kind of get that idea with Beth in this book. Right. That she doesn't necessarily need to live with her Aunt Agatha.
John Ryan
Yeah. She like, owns like, the popular sandwich place in Malibu. I think she kind of likes being with Agatha because she has like, funny stories, like about hooking up with guys and stuff.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. And she's got. She's coming out for divorce. I mean, of course, it's mentioned many times that Malibu is not cheap, but also they're not living in the sprawling mansions that we know about in Malibu. It's funny because I. Every time since we. John and I have been to Malibu many times, and we talked about this with Evelyn Hugo. Right. When they talk about certain places in the book that make you think of Los Angeles. But they sure. In this book they do go on a date at Moon Shadows.
John Ryan
I know.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah.
John Ryan
RIP.
Sarah Colonna
All right.
John Ryan
One of the coolest restaurants right on the ocean. And it burned down. And it was like. It was a landmark. Right? Like, it's.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, yeah, it was. It was. I mean, it's such a shame. It was. I don't. It had been there for a very long time, was very popular. It's comes up as permanently closed when you Google it now. Because it did. It burned down in those terrible fires. I don't know if there are trying to rebuild it or I don't know. But yeah, I could. That one part of the book, when they're talking about it, I just like picturing her first date right when they walk in, I'm like, oh, I know where they're sitting at the bar. I know where they're going. Oh, and they got a table right by the window. And that's where my mom. Because my mom and stepdad always wanted to go to Moon Shadows when we were. When they were in town. So it's such a cool place.
John Ryan
They talk about Santinez too.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. Santa Inez. They talk about that Santa Ines is a wine country. And our friend has a beautiful ranch there that we got to stay. It has a few houses on the property. We got to stay there once during COVID And they just have the coolest. And Sandy. And they talk about this issue. They stay at that hotel that we stayed at.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
Santa Inez Inn. These aren't spoilers of the book, really. They're just.
John Ryan
We have to go back We. We stayed there, like towards. I mean, what you can. Like towards it was. Things were open, but not really. So they had like this, like this awesome, like wine and cheese happy hour with wine. Like in the, in the big, like room at the bottom, whatever you want to call it, not like a ballroom, but almost like a.
Sarah Colonna
Like a lobby room. But like a lobby room.
John Ryan
But then when we were there, it was like everything was like pre wrapped. It looked all sad, like wine and cheese hour with wine. They'd be like, here's your wine. It's like wrapped in plastic. This is. I think it's a lot cooler when it's not Covid.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, they were still doing the like, small 30% capacity and we can't really serve this and that. And the restaurant's not fully open, but it's a really neat little place. Like I say little, it's. I don't mean it's pretty. It's like a. It's an inn. It's not huge, but it's a really quaint place. And they definitely bring that up in the book as well. What else did you want to talk about, John?
John Ryan
Well, I want to talk about, without giving too much away, what happens when friends date and would you feel differently about friends that potentially dated a sibling? Like, you know, you have a friend, you're like, oh, he's a good guy, blah, blah. Then he's like, I'm gonna date your sister. Like, I'm gonna kill you, you know, like what? Like, would you feel different? Like, I started thinking about this, I'm like, oh, this guy's a really good guy, blah, blah. But if he's like, I'm dating his sister, I'd be like, oh, I don't know. Because, I mean, we don't want to give too much away from the book. This actually happens pretty early on, like only a quarter of the way through. But this comes up in the book where I can't give too much more away, right?
Sarah Colonna
No, but I mean, I think it's kind of obvious from the. The. The constant saying what a good guy, one guy is, that there's something lurking. Right. I feel like there's. I feel like it's kind of given away early on. I sort of.
John Ryan
I agree.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, that was coming pretty quick. That's all I'll say. But it seemed. Seemed a little glaringly obvious where that was going, in my opinion.
John Ryan
But have you had a situation where you had two friends that you were friends with and all of a sudden they started dating and I felt some type of way as a. Kids say.
Sarah Colonna
Well, I guess they. So. Well, when Sarah Tilly started dating Chris Frangiola. This is like, ancient history. But my friend Sarah Tilly and dated one of my now also best friends, Chris Frangola, years and years ago when we were all working at a restaurant. But that was like the early 2000s net, and. But he wasn't my friend yet. She was. But then I became good friends with him because we worked together and because he was dating Sarah. So he was over all the time. But then when they broke up and they kind of were off and on here and there for a little bit. But when they broke up, I was sort of like, do I. Because I was her friend first and I wondered, like, does that mean I don't get to be friends with Chris anymore? Because I really love both of them and. But he didn't care and she didn't care. So she never. No, neither of them ever gave me any sort of, like, ultimatum or grief. And neither of them acted weird when I would hang out with the other. And if anyone probably had the. Not the right to, but could have, it could have been Sarah who would have been like, well, you know, he was my boyfriend, you guys. I mean, I know you guys are buddies, but, like. But she never did that. She didn't care. Luckily.
John Ryan
Luckily. Because that would have been really weird because now, 25 years later, you're all still friends.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. And they're still friends. I mean, their kids, you know, know each other. Yeah. Like, everyone. Everyone's good. He, you know, she gets along well with his wife, he gets along with her husband. I mean, that's all, you know, we're all grown up now. That was forever ago.
John Ryan
I can think of it like, more like in high school because, I mean, you went to a smaller high school. I graduated with, like, 120 or something. That it wasn't a massive school, but it was like, when you're a smaller high school, you have. There's kind of like, you know, 30 people that kind of always hang out together. They always date each other.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah, There was like.
John Ryan
Oh, there was like, weekly friends breaking up within the friends group. You know what I mean? Like, it happened, like, all the time. And he's like, it's not like, oh, you have to split the whole friendship group up. It's just like you just kept on rolling on with it, you know? But it happened every week, every month.
Sarah Colonna
Well, for you, though, so because you were closer in. You're closer in age to your sisters.
John Ryan
Yes.
Sarah Colonna
I mean, close. How Far apart. Are you guys.
John Ryan
Jill exactly two years older and Erica's exactly four years older. We're all like within a week of birthdays.
Sarah Colonna
So at one point. Well, especially with Jill, you're in the same high school, right? How does it. Because in Canada. Yeah, she was in Canada, they say grade 12.
John Ryan
She was in grade 12 when I was in grade nine. So we only went to high school together for one year. And then my brother and I went to high school together for two years.
Sarah Colonna
Okay, but you don't have. Well, did Steve, did your brother ever date any of your female friends?
John Ryan
No, there's no mingling amongst siblings and friends. It was like I'm friends. I was always, always been friends with my sister. Well, both my sister's husbands, but Ryan, Erica's husband, I've known him since I was in like sixth grade. But he was like, you know, I was in sixth grade, he was in like 11th grade. So we weren't friends. But I all like, I knew him. And they started, they started dating like three or a couple years after high school, and then they're still married 30 years later.
Sarah Colonna
They're a good couple.
John Ryan
So I've always known him. But.
Sarah Colonna
But you didn't have any of your friends, didn't try to creep on any of your sisters. Do you think it's because they were scared of you? Because, I mean, both your sisters are beautiful, both your sisters are smart, both of them are funny.
John Ryan
But I also think because, because I am two years older than my sister, but we were three years apart in school because she was. You know, women, females usually start school early for late birthdays.
Sarah Colonna
Like you.
John Ryan
My sisters were at an end of November birthday, so I started late. So Even though we're two years apart, we're three years apart in school. So like a ninth grader trying to go after a 12th grader just seemed like an impossible dream at the time, you know, I mean, right. That was part of it. Just like that. One extra year of the, the distance between us and great. I think it made a difference that no one tried to go after my sisters.
Sarah Colonna
But then you were in sports, you're in athletics, so you probably knew a bunch of the older guys too, right?
John Ryan
Yeah, once they went, yeah. And then like, you know, like college. But yeah, no, no one, no one tried that with me.
Sarah Colonna
I feel like it was because they were scared of you.
John Ryan
Possibly.
Sarah Colonna
But you weren't like scary guy, but you weren't very gripped in high school, were you? Weren't you smaller? Didn't you say?
John Ryan
Yeah, I Was smaller.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. So maybe they weren't scared of you.
John Ryan
Well, look at me now.
Sarah Colonna
Maybe they were scared of your sisters.
John Ryan
Yeah, I don't know, but I was where my last topic, my sisters were like, as I got older and my mother, when I grew up with like a strong mother and two older sisters, they're very overprotective. Overprotective of the people I dated?
Sarah Colonna
Yes.
John Ryan
Like we've talked about how my mom was. My dad was always like, whatever, he'll figure it out. What? Let him, let him do his thing. He'll figure it out.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. Like, no, because in the book, you, you definitely are dealing with at least one overprotective brother.
John Ryan
Yes.
Sarah Colonna
When something happens, the one brother becomes a little too overprotective, in my opinion. But we'll discuss that in two weeks at the end. In two weeks time. But yeah, it's funny because I don't, I. Because I just have one older sister and she's definitely not overprotective. And I mean in high school, so we were three years apart. And I remember, yeah, it's kind of the same thing. It was like I, the people that she hung with were, you know, I was in ninth grade and so. And she was in 12th and that was two. Yeah. So we were only in the same high school for one year too. Same thing. And so you don't. When I was in 8th grade and she was in 11th, I remember people that she would date and I'd hear about it and I know who they were because whatever they, you know, you know, it was a small school. I graduated 75 people. So it's like, yeah, you would hear of all the, you knew who all this older kids were too. But there was never really any. I mean, I guess we hung out with some. It's funny, it seems like we almost started running in the same crowds like later. Like now she's friends with people that I was friends with in high school because she still lives there and is in and sees those people around and their kids go to school together.
John Ryan
The age gaps get smaller in a way. Like when you're like, when you're like in ninth grade and you're like, what, how old are you ninth grade? Fourteen. You look at like 17, 18 year olds. Like those are like grown adults almost. In 12th grade, like those are like, so they're like so far above you and now you're like, if I meet someone and I'll be like, oh, we can't be friends, we're three years apart. Like it's like, it's not like that the age gap, like, get smaller in terms of. It totally doesn't matter. I mean, yeah, three of my best. Four of my best friends are all 60, 61 now.
Sarah Colonna
John loves an older friend. He really does.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
And an older wife.
John Ryan
Oh, God.
Sarah Colonna
But you really love an older friend. When we went to Phoenix one time, he was like, oh, we're gonna go meet my buddies by the hot tub. And we go down there. And I was like, are we in a retirement community? But in the best way. And then we went out with them, and there was so much fun. But it was really. I was like, I'm the youngest friend by.
John Ryan
She thinks you go down the hot tub, see a bunch of hot NFL guys, and it's a bunch of guys with AARP cards.
Sarah Colonna
They're way more fun to hang out with.
John Ryan
Totally.
Sarah Colonna
But, yeah, but you do have. You have protective mother and sister type siblings.
John Ryan
They got really protective once I started playing pro football and had a little success and had a little money. They got really protective. Like, they thought that everyone. Especially because when I played in Green Bay, you have to realize the city of Green Bay is fantastic, but it's a hundred thousand people, right? So there's a lot of women in that town, which, like, getting themselves a Green Bay packer is like the ultimate trophy, right? And I remember, like, kind of going, horny bitches.
Sarah Colonna
Horny Green Bay bitches.
John Ryan
I remember going on dates and stuff. I remember my sister Erica saying to me, she goes, because I wish they stalked me, my sisters. She's like, john, I think you'll know that you can have potentially have a serious relationship with. With someone when after the first date, they don't post a picture of you guys on Facebook, I'm like, that's a really good point.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, wait, you would go on a first date and they'd post a photo.
John Ryan
Oh, yeah, but it was like, for. In these girls agreement, it was like a trophy. It was like, just get your teeth into a NFL player.
Sarah Colonna
But, like. But who posts on a first date? First of all, who asks to take a photo with someone on a first date? Even if. I know, I understand that you're on the packers, but you're supposed to act like you're on a first date, not out with a celebrity, right?
John Ryan
Yeah, it was. It was a different place. I remember a guy, one of my friends on the team, he. He said to me one thing. The last three dates I've been on, unbeknownst to me, were with married women.
Sarah Colonna
Wait, why?
John Ryan
It was yes, it was insanity there because it was just like, Green Bay packers are the biggest thing in the world in Green Bay, Wisconsin beyond. Like, it's like rock star status almost.
Sarah Colonna
I'm assuming those ladies weren't posting photos on their Facebook page. No, I don't date. Maybe on the private page with the Green Bay packers, but. No, but that is a new level of insane to me that on a first date, not only would you ask someone to take a photo with you, but that you would post it as if you were like, ran into them at a bar and were like, oh, look at me with John Ryan. And really you're like, you want to date with them? And then we wouldn't. You. Did they tag you?
John Ryan
Oh, I don't think so. This is like my sister stalking. Because one time I went on a date with this girl and I was like, it wasn't like after like a couple of days, I wasn't into it. And then my, my sister found this out. Like the next Friday she posted a picture. I forget how Facebook work. I don't do it anymore. She had a guy that was a picture of him, real good looking guy, being like, oh my God, we had the best time this day. I can't wait to see you again. Blah, blah, blah. It was a. He had one follower and it was her. It was like it was like a fake profiler. A fake profile that she made up, trying to make me jealous.
Sarah Colonna
I'm like, oh my God.
John Ryan
Yeah, like he had one follower and it was her.
Sarah Colonna
Like, she's not even good at it.
John Ryan
No. Like it was like the worst catfish ever.
Sarah Colonna
Oh, that's really funny.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
But I love that your sisters were. Yeah, they were overprotective or protective. I mean, that explains why they basically, I think when we. The first time I met them, when I came to Canada with you, we were. It was. Was it during your golf tournament that you used to have. John used to host a golf tournament. Charity golf tournament. And Covid kind of put that to rest, I guess. But I remember your sisters. We were, we were at the. That hotel that had the bar downstairs.
John Ryan
Yeah, yeah, the Renaissance.
Sarah Colonna
Renaissance. And we were all there hanging out and then your sisters basically were like, let's go have a cocktail together by ourselves, the three of us. I was like, oh, no, they don't talk like that.
John Ryan
But yes, go ahead.
Sarah Colonna
I know. Yeah, that's just how I feel. Like when someone ask you to be shaken down, going to be as a shakedown. And they're both much taller than me, so they could be scary if they want it to be, but they're so not. Eric, if Erica has wondering, she can't feel her face. So I'm not scared of her. She. Because she had a cocktail in her, so I knew I could take her. But, yeah, they took me basically, and just wanted a little alone time with me to check me out. I think I got the thumbs up pretty quickly.
John Ryan
You did, though. I think also one of the big things they were like, don't. It's like, stop dating girls that are like. This might sound insulting. I don't. Don't. Stop thinking girls are, like, trying to get out. Girls that are just trying to get out of Green Bay that have nothing really going on for them. That was back then. But I think when I met you, they were like, oh, she's like, very successful. You got. You kind of feel like like equals in a way.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. Or maybe not even try. The girls trying to get out, though, I mean, they could have been wanting to see. It's not. I mean, it sounds more like they were just trying to get their claws in it. And a Packer.
John Ryan
Sure.
Sarah Colonna
And then in Seattle, there was a couple trying to get their paws and just in a. In a Seahawk. Right. I mean, that would be.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
They didn't put it on Facebook. I guess after one date. They're a little more savvy than that. Those. Those Seahawk chasers. But I'm sure, luckily I was with.
John Ryan
You for the last 10 years of my career was not crazy.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah.
John Ryan
Yeah. My last 10 years, there's 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Nine years. Last nine years of my career. We're together.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah.
John Ryan
It's crazy. When we met, I was like, oh, I have, like, a couple years left. I wish he could have been. I wish you would. Like, it wouldn't have worked, but if. I wish you could have been more known more of my career. And then I ended up playing nine more years. So you got to see it all.
Sarah Colonna
Yeah. I think you. You weren't even sure you get to be in Seattle as long as you were or end up in Seattle as long as you were. And then you were. But. But yeah, I think overprotective as a sibling. I think it's great. You should be. You should be looking out for each other. And I mean, I said in the book that I. In this. In Beach Vibes that there's one moment where I think it's a little too overprotective, but we'll break that down later. But.
John Ryan
Yeah.
Sarah Colonna
But also I could see. I don't know, I could see both sides, but a little of me if I was like, all right, let's grow up a little bit on this one.
John Ryan
Well, there's a lot to talk about when we get to this finale.
Sarah Colonna
I know it's so hard to bite my tongue in the weeks leading up, but at least we get to talk about things coming out of that come off of the book and like we just did, and it'll. It wets my whistle. Tides me over.
John Ryan
Good to hear, baby.
Sarah Colonna
Are you all done?
John Ryan
I'm all done. I got it all out for this week.
Sarah Colonna
Got it all out. Well, that was fun. Thank you, guys for listening. Don't forget, your June read is a beautiful couple by Leslie Wolf. If you're on Patreon, your short story this month is the Answer is no by Frederick Bachman. Go join patreon. It's only $5 a month and there's a bunch of content already there waiting for you. You can catch up on it. We do some really fun on the 5th and the 25th. We just talked about nonsense. Sometimes books come up, sometimes they don't. So there's just lots, lots out there. And the best way you can support us for free is to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast, because podcasts are free. And if you rate for rate us, then we go up in the ranks and, you know, things like that. It's helpful. Join the Book List spinners follow at the Book List on Instagram and we will see you next week.
John Ryan
Bye.
Sarah Colonna
Bye. The book List, the book lisp. The book List.
John Ryan
The book lisp.
Sarah Colonna
The book lisp.
The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Episode: UPDATED: The Motel 6 & Cringey Date Pics
Release Date: May 13, 2025
The episode kicks off with Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna warmly welcoming listeners to The Book Lisp. They engage in light-hearted banter about their current environments. Sarah mentions the sudden shift to beautiful weather, exclaiming, “I don't have my straight weather girl hair anymore. I know. People aren’t going to be able to take me seriously anymore” (00:51). Jon shares his delight in the peacefulness at home, noting, “Cats are being calm” (00:45).
Jon and Sarah delve into their current read, Beach Vibes by Susan Mallory, though they reserve in-depth discussion until week four to avoid spoilers. Sarah expresses her enjoyment of the book, stating, “I really enjoyed Beach Vibes. I think it’s a fun read” (01:06). Jon highlights the structure of their book club, explaining, “Week four, if you’re new here, we don’t talk about the book until week four” (01:17).
Looking ahead, Sarah reveals their June read, A Beautiful Couple by Leslie Wolf, and hints at not having read it yet. She also promotes their Patreon-exclusive content, including short stories and bonus material. She mentions, “It’s only $5 a month if you want to join us there” (02:40).
Jon transitions to discussing his new soccer team, Portland Bangers FC. He proudly announces, “Every game is sold out for the entire season” (04:31), and shares plans for expanding to a larger stadium and introducing a women’s team next year. The enthusiasm is palpable as he describes, “It was very quick to put a team together in a franchise” (04:47).
Sarah shares her progress on another book she’s reading, possibly A Business Trip by Jesse Garcia, mentioning, “I am almost done with it. I think it took me two and a half days” (06:14). She reflects on the unexpected twists in the story, adding, “The twist is not what I was expecting” (06:37).
The hosts review the German film Exterritorial. Sarah admits, “I didn’t know anything about it... but I liked it” (07:02). They discuss intense action scenes, with Jon noting, “She just got the biggest fight anyone’s ever been in their entire life” (08:35). Sarah appreciates the relentless action, saying, “I put my phone down and didn’t touch it” (09:33).
Jon shares his unique journey from playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL) to signing an NFL contract. He recounts living in a Motel 6 in Phoenix to stay ready for NFL workouts, stating, “I moved into a Motel 6 in Phoenix, Arizona. $27 a night” (18:05). Sarah relates with her own experience of moving in with her parents post-college to pursue her dreams in California. She reminisces, “We slept on a trundle bed like Lucy and Desi” (26:11).
The conversation shifts to the complexities of friendships when friends start dating. Sarah recounts, “Sarah Tilly and dated one of my now also best friends, Chris Frangiola” (32:13), highlighting the seamless transition back to friendship post-breakup. They discuss the impact of relationships on existing friendships, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and understanding.
Jon and Sarah delve into the theme of overprotective siblings as depicted in Beach Vibes. Jon shares anecdotes about his sisters' protectiveness over his dating life, stating, “They got really protective” (39:46). Sarah compares it to her own experience, noting, “I have one older sister and she’s definitely not overprotective” (35:25). They explore the balance between sibling protection and personal independence.
As the episode wraps up, Jon and Sarah remind listeners of their June read, A Beautiful Couple by Leslie Wolf, and promote their Patreon for exclusive content like short stories. Sarah encourages listeners to support the podcast by rating, reviewing, and subscribing, saying, “The best way you can support us for free is to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast” (46:12). They bid farewell with laughter, reiterating the podcast’s name amusingly, “The book lisp” (47:14).
Sarah Colonna: “I don't have my straight weather girl hair anymore. I know. People aren’t going to be able to take me seriously anymore.” (00:51)
Jon Ryan: “Cats are being calm.” (00:45)
Sarah Colonna: “I really enjoyed Beach Vibes. I think it’s a fun read.” (01:06)
Jon Ryan: “Every game is sold out for the entire season.” (04:31)
Sarah Colonna: “I am almost done with it. I think it took me two and a half days.” (06:14)
Jon Ryan: “She just got the biggest fight anyone’s ever been in their entire life.” (08:35)
Sarah Colonna: “I put my phone down and didn’t touch it.” (09:33)
Jon Ryan: “I moved into a Motel 6 in Phoenix, Arizona. $27 a night.” (18:05)
Sarah Colonna: “We slept on a trundle bed like Lucy and Desi.” (26:11)
Jon Ryan: “They got really protective.” (39:46)
Sarah Colonna: “The best way you can support us for free is to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast.” (46:12)
The Book Lisp continues to blend engaging book discussions with personal anecdotes, creating a relatable and entertaining experience for listeners. Whether you're a fan of romance or psychological thrillers, Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna offer insightful and humorous perspectives that enrich your reading experience.