Podcast Summary: The Gist

Episode Title: David Greene: "Obsession Is a Window Into the Human Soul"
Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Mike Pesca (Peach Fish Productions)
Guest: David Greene (journalist, former NPR host, podcaster of "David Greene Is Obsessed")

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Pesca invites his former NPR colleague David Greene to discuss Greene’s new podcast, "David Greene Is Obsessed." The conversation explores how personal obsessions reveal deep truths about individuals' identities, and how interviewing guests about their obsessions can foster understanding, empathy, and surprising connections. Through anecdotes both humorous and heartfelt, the episode touches on topics ranging from bathroom anxieties to sports fandom, the nuanced nature of obsession, and its relationship to memory, nostalgia, and even social taboos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Obsession as a Lens into the Human Soul

[10:25] David Greene: “Obsession is really, to me, a window into the human soul.”

• Greene explains his approach: Starting with a guest’s obsession (from opera singers obsessed with restrooms to actors obsessed with Bozo the Clown) provides a relatable jumping-off point for deeper self-inquiry.
• Discussion of David Arquette’s obsession with Bozo the Clown: This fandom connects to Arquette’s personal experiences with addiction and offers him a safe avenue to express his wild side.

2. Obsession as a Springboard into Broader Conversations

• Moving beyond the superficial:
  Mike Pesca notes the interviews transcend the object of obsession, revealing more authentic, sometimes vulnerable, sides of guests.
  • "You learn about the people's obsession, but you really do learn about the people.” ([10:07] Mike Pesca)

3. The Social Taboo of Restroom Use & Public Space Advocacy

[13:27] — Greene details his own restroom anxieties as a White House reporter, seeking privacy and comfort at the Hay Adams Hotel rather than the cramped White House facilities.

• The progression of a humorous obsession to serious advocacy:
  Opera singer Teddy (past guest) began tracking public restrooms as a quirky project, but it became a mission to help unhoused people and expose NYC's lack of public facilities ([14:29]).

• Societal discomfort with certain topics:
  Pesca points out, “We as a society are not ready to have the poo poo conversation…[but] will have the pee pee conversation.” ([17:03])

• Greene agrees, noting there’s cultural reticence about discussing certain kinds of bathroom needs—even among journalists.

Notable Quote:
“It gives us a chance to all think about what the hell we can’t let go of. But then…it gets a person asking questions about themselves. What does this obsession say about me?”
— David Greene [10:25]

4. Sports Fandom: Performative Identity vs. Genuine Obsession

[18:42-22:30] — Sports fandom as obsession, nostalgia, and identity:

• Levels of “fanaticism”:
  • Greene admits to being a die-hard Steelers fan but says he can’t recall every player’s name, which can trigger insecurity among “true obsessives.”
  • Losses affect him profoundly: “If I watch [the Steelers] lose a playoff game, I am paralyzed, angry. I become a different person." ([18:42] David Greene)
• Connection to memory, upbringing, hometown, and even parental loss.
• The myth of fan impact: Even when interviewing Steelers player Cam Heyward, Greene realizes the athletes are mostly focused on themselves and their team, not the fans:

  "...he basically said, ‘David, I hate to say this, I’m not even thinking about you at all.’ Of course, like, Jesus Christ Cam, you’re literally breaking my heart.” ([22:30] David Greene)

5. Dual Personalities in Athletes & Entertainers

[24:41] — Discussion about athletes (and musicians like Billy Corgan) who are obsessed with something completely different outside their professional pursuits.

• Example: Many basketball players love golf, not just basketball, and some don’t even pay attention to their sport outside of the job.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [10:25] David Greene: “Obsession is really, to me, a window into the human soul.”

• [13:27] David Greene (on bathroom privacy while reporting):
  “I wanted privacy. I did not want to walk out and, like, be stared at by my 20 colleagues who I would then be sitting in the White House briefing room with on television sometimes, like, having just used the restroom.”

• [14:29] David Greene (on obsession becoming advocacy):
  “[Teddy] was obsessed with the idea of...if you're walking out on the streets...where are you use the restroom. But then it became like a matter of human rights…helping people who are unhoused…and pointing out that New York City is a real problem.”

• [17:03] Mike Pesca:
  “We as a society are not ready to have the poo poo conversation... but we’ll have the pee pee conversation. It seems like human rights, but pooh pooh is just a poo too far.”

• [18:42] David Greene (on sports fandom):
  “If I watch them lose a playoff game, I am paralyzed, angry. I become a different person. I become violent. I’m using offensive language at the top of my lungs…my wife literally says, ‘you need to be in a sports bar without children…’"

• [22:30] David Greene (on athlete indifference to fans):
  “Cam [Heyward]…basically said…‘David, I hate to say this, I’m not even thinking about you at all.’ Of course…you’re literally breaking my heart.”

• [24:41] David Greene (on artists and athletes having unrelated obsessions):
  “You might have someone who’s a great basketball player, but when they’re not on the job, so to speak…maybe they want to be golfing, maybe they want to be skiing. And I think that says something about us.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [08:52] — Introduction of David Greene and discussion of his new podcast.
• [09:37] — Mike and David reminisce about NPR days and introduce the theme of exploring obsession.
• [10:25] — Obsession as a window into the soul; stories of unusual obsessions (Bozo the Clown, pizza, restrooms).
• [13:27] — Public restroom anxiety; the cultural taboo of discussing certain bathroom needs.
• [14:29] — From viral obsession to advocacy: public restrooms as a human rights concern.
• [17:03] — Commentary on social discomfort with certain taboo topics.
• [18:42] — Sports fandom, shame of not being "obsessed enough," and how obsession connects to identity and grief.
• [22:30] — Cam Heyward anecdote: fans care deeply, athletes seldom think of their fans.
• [24:41] — Dual personalities in athletes and musicians; unrelated obsessions outside their main field.

Tone & Style

The episode balances humor, self-deprecation, and empathetic inquiry. Pesca’s style is probing yet playful; Greene is candid and insightful, often turning the lens on himself as much as his subjects. The mood is thoughtful and occasionally irreverent, inviting listeners to reflect on their own peculiar passions and how those inward fixations shape their outward lives.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

• Relatability: The conversation makes it clear that everyone has obsessions, and exploring these can unlock empathy and understanding—toward ourselves and others.
• Insight: Obsessions, even those we dismiss as trivial or embarrassing, may connect to deeper layers of history, psychology, community, and identity.
• Advocacy & Empathy: What begins as a quirky topic (public restrooms!) can lead to serious insights about equity and public policy.
• Humor and Candor: Both host and guest expose their quirks, inviting the listener to do the same and find comfort in shared humanity.

Next episode preview:
Pesca teases a follow-up discussing Greene’s ultimate obsession—his decision to buy the hometown newspaper where he worked as a teen.

This summary avoids podcast advertisements, promos, and closing credits, focusing solely on the content-rich portions of the episode.