Podcast Summary: "Normally Podcast: Friends, Phones & Far-Fetched Theories"
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: November 27, 2025
Hosts: Mary Katharine Ham & Carol Markowitz
Episode Overview
In this laid-back, Q&A-driven episode of "Normally," hosts Mary Katharine Ham and Carol Markowitz set aside breaking news in favor of candid conversation and audience questions. Topics range from the origins of their friendship, favorite conspiracy theories, entertainment picks, and nostalgic anecdotes, to reflections on contemporary political issues like the New York mayoral race and the debate over cell phones in schools. The hosts balance humor and insight as they dive into lighter, personal subjects, revealing their camaraderie and engaging perspectives on current events and everyday life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. How Did the Hosts Meet? – Friendships & Blogging Days
- Early 2000s Connection: The hosts met post-9/11 through the blogging community; Carol ran the blog "Alarming News," and Mary Katharine was affiliated with Hot Air.
- Bonding over NYC Events: They reminisce about their single days in New York City, their skepticism about marriage, and mutual experiences at various events.
- Memorable Prank: They pulled a stunt on a 9/11 anniversary, handing out pamphlets titled "The Truth about 9/11"—which simply recounted the official events, confounding conspiracy theorists.
“The truthers themselves would be confronted with the truth. Right. They would think we were on their side.” — Mary Katharine Ham (05:23)
2. The Podcast on YouTube – Why Not There?
- Technical/Practical Challenges: The podcast isn't on YouTube largely because neither host has the bandwidth to start yet another platform, and their current model supports them financially.
- Prior Attempts: They discuss briefly trying to upload clips to YouTube and Rumble, but found the format and promotion required didn't suit their content style.
“Unless you're posting the really catchy titles and you get the cliffhanger episodes, it just…doesn't quite work.” — Carol Markowitz (07:06)
3. Conspiracy Theories – Favorites & Guilty Pleasures
- Sun "Truther" to Clinton "Truther": Mary Katharine jokes about being a “sun truther” before it was common, and admits to believing the Clintons are up to more mischief than is public.
“My default assumption is that those two are just up to…pretty good worst. Up to the worst.” — Mary Katharine Ham (08:19)
- On distinguishing conspiracy from reality: “I'm not even sure that's a conspiracy theory.” — Carol Markowitz (08:46)
4. Casting a Biopic of Trump’s Second Administration
- Creative Cast Suggestions:
- Trump: Norm Macdonald (hypothetically, if alive)
- Rubio: Pedro Pascal
- Hegseth: Glen Powell
- Susie Wiles: Emma Thompson
- Gabbard: Gal Gadot
- Kennedy: George Clooney or (jokingly) Jerry Seinfeld
“Trump is tricky because Trump is a comedic force.” — Mary Katharine Ham (11:13)
5. Favorite Entertainment – Joy and Downtime
- Reading to Kids: Mary Katharine finds joy in reading classics (e.g., “The Secret Garden,” “Pride and Prejudice”) and admits to missing out on Tolkien.
- Fiction Recommendations: Carol recommends “Go on Pretending” by Alina Adams, publishes an annual reading list, and marvels at her daughter's voracious reading.
- Comedy Shows: Mary Katharine endorses “What We Do in the Shadows” for stress-free laughs.
- On Quoting Films: Both hosts enjoy quoting movies like "Big Lebowski,” "Monty Python," "Ricky Bobby," and "Friday.”
“They have us working in shifts.” — Carol Markowitz quoting Big Lebowski (15:36)
“Probably Monty Python and the Holy Grail was a go-to when we were kids.” — Mary Katharine Ham (15:43)
6. New York City Mayoral Politicking
- Fears over Progressive Nominee: Discussion centers on Zoran Mamandi, the new Democratic mayoral nominee, and the dangers (as they see them) of hard-left candidates.
- Deportation Question: Both hosts advise against attempts by conservatives to unseat or deport him, warning it would martyr him or backfire in a democratic process.
“When someone wins an election fair and square, you get a shot at it. You had the shot…that's not how democracy works.” — Mary Katharine Ham (21:32)
- Voting Strategy: They suggest non-socialists rally around Eric Adams, the incumbent, as the best (if not perfect) alternative, even considering his scandals.
“He’s not amazing. He’s just good enough. He’s not communist.” — Carol Markowitz (24:11)
7. The Cell Phones in Schools Debate
- Enforcement Is Key: Carol argues the real problem is lack of rule enforcement in public schools, not the devices themselves.
- On Balance: Mary Katharine supports banning phones for better behavior and focus, but recognizes removing them relieves the administration from addressing individual issues case-by-case.
“We try to keep our kids fairly screen free…their ability to problem solve is better, their desire to read books is better when they do not have access all the time.” — Mary Katharine Ham (26:36)
8. Nostalgic Anecdotes: 80s/90s School Memories
- Disciplinary Legends: Stories of intimidating wooden paddles, “legendary” teachers, and unairconditioned school buildings amuse the hosts.
- Totally Different Times: The tales elicit awe from younger generations; both reflect on how standards, comfort, and discipline have changed.
“The legend I remember was that there were holes drilled in a wooden paddle...so you can go faster.” — Mary Katharine Ham (29:16)
“My middle school did not have air conditioning in North Carolina.” — Mary Katharine Ham (29:41)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“We would see each other at various events and also hang out sometimes in New York City. Back when the two of us were just like wild single gals. Yep, yep. Skeptical about the institution of marriage.”
— Mary Katharine Ham (04:09) -
“One of the cool things that we did together was we saw the 9/11 conspiracy theories start to develop…and we did kind of a prank…”
— Carol Markowitz (04:35) -
“If I just stuck with [my YouTube channel], I would have many, many, many followers now.”
— Mary Katharine Ham (06:32) -
“I think the thing that brings me really a lot of joy…is reading to my kids.”
— Mary Katharine Ham (11:58) -
“You could just say you're not allowed to use your phones in class and that's it. But…the real issue is that public schools across the country do not enforce any of the rules.”
— Carol Markowitz (25:36) -
“We had paddles…there were paddles. So it was like we had just gotten past that. But a couple of old school teachers, they would hang on the wall…”
— Mary Katharine Ham (28:34)
Important Timestamps
- 03:25 — How the hosts met, early blogging days
- 04:35 — The 9/11 "truther" pamphlet prank
- 06:27 — Why the podcast isn't on YouTube
- 08:05 — Favorite conspiracy theories
- 09:12 — Dream casting Trump administration biopic
- 11:58 — Entertainment that brings joy, book recs
- 14:52 — Most quoted funny movie lines in their households
- 20:59 — NYC mayoral politics, Zoran Mamandi discussion
- 24:11 — Whom to vote for if you’re not a socialist in NYC
- 25:11 — Cell phones in schools debate
- 27:39 — 80s/90s school memories and tough teachers
Tone and Language
The conversation is personable, witty, and often self-deprecating, with both hosts leaning into honest takes and the “normalish” theme—where they aim for common sense rather than ideological extremes. Cultural nostalgia and parental humor abound.
Summary
This episode serves as both a breather from the usual news cycle and a revealing window into the personalities behind the mics. It’s a mix of playful banter, lived anecdotes, and practical conservative-liberal commentary on culture, parenting, and politics. For listeners craving an authentic, unvarnished take on how news intersects with real life—and a few big laughs—this installment delivers.