The Nateland Podcast – Episode 285: “Happy Nate Year”

Released: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Nate Bargatze, Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, Dusty Slay

Overview

“Happy Nate Year” is a celebratory year-end episode, with the Nateland crew reflecting on their personal milestones, the group’s successes, and highlights in comedy and pop culture from 2025. The show blends friendly banter, fan engagement, and comedic commentary on traditions like New Year's resolutions, calendars, comedy club culture, and even fast food mishaps. The hosts discuss the trajectory of stand-up in the era of AI, recap major events for each member, and share both memories and memorable interactions from the past year.

Key Topics & Discussions

1. Reflecting on the Year – Personal & Professional Highlights

(39:00–54:00)

• Hosts’ Achievements:
  • Nate presented at the Golden Globes and hosted the Emmys.
  • Aaron’s standup special "Signature Dish" premiered; he also made his Tonight Show debut.
  • Dusty’s popularity continues to rise, starring in a Cracker Barrel commercial.
• Nateland Network Growth:
  • New stand-up specials from Graham K, Steve Rogers, Greg Warren, Mike Vecchione.
  • The "Correct Opinions" podcast joins the Nateland Network.
  • The group’s presence in films (“Breadwinner” movie with all three in cameo roles).
• Recognition:
  • Dusty on Cracker Barrel commercial: “My neighbor told me she saw too much...She said it’s the kind of thing where people could get tired of you...I moved away from that neighborhood.” (51:59 – Dusty)
  • Christian Bale recognized Dusty as his favorite stand-up comedian – a surreal moment for the crew (53:28–54:41)

“As a group, it’s very accomplished. Obviously, you’ve lifted it up quite a bit, but as a group, it’s very accomplished.”
– Dusty Slay (63:20)

2. The State of Stand-Up and Authenticity in a Digital World

(03:50–05:36)

• Nate passionately advocates for live comedy as an increasingly important, authentic experience amid the rise of AI-created content:

“With AI and technology...it’s going to be harder and harder to tell what’s real, what’s not real. Stand-up comedy, as an art form, is in a perfect spot to be one of the last authentic things you will be able to go to.”
– Nate Bargatze (04:02)

• The value of the Nateland Showcase in developing and spotlighting emerging comics is emphasized.

3. Comedy Club Culture & the Impact of Sports Schedules

(05:36–08:13)

• The crew riffs on how football and pro sports affect the ability of smaller cities to sustain comedy clubs.
• Brian: “A lot of these cities just can’t have a comedy club if college football or whatever takes a Saturday...they just can’t sustain it...” (06:29)

Memorable moment: Dusty recounts a Knoxville club closure that was so sudden an employee cried while making the open mic list (07:23–07:51).

4. Listener Comments & Community Engagement

(08:59–37:00)

• Teresa Doro thanks the show for making her days brighter; the hosts have a running joke about mispronouncing her name.
• Dusty’s Spotify Wrapped is dominated by cello music and Ninja Turtles, leading to jokes about his “age” being 68 (10:10–10:41).
• The group reflects on music listening quirks, notably Aaron’s claim that no one listens to Elvis, and the crew debates Beatles vs Elvis listenership (11:07–12:10).
• Nateland parody coloring book by Christy Cabe:
  • “I have a coloring page of Brian looking worried as he runs the 40 yard dash in jeans and a polo shirt…” (33:31)

Notable Quote:
“People are so creative, man.” – Nate Bargatze (34:53)

5. Musings on Identity, Philosophy, and Sports Fandom

(24:33–28:34)

• Listener asks: “If none of your thoughts, ideas, cells in your body are the same as 10 or 40 years ago, what makes up 'you'?”
• Brian explains the “flipbook” theory of the self, then the group equates team fandom (when lineups constantly change) to questions of identity and persistence.

“I guess to analogize it with this body question, I would say in college sports, the soul is the university, and then there’s no soul for a professional team.”
– Brian Bates (27:35)

6. Dress Codes and Church Culture

(28:35–29:47)

• Debate: “Is it okay to dress down at church?”
• Consensus: No need to wear a suit, but “collar is a good place to start.”
• Dusty: “Everybody has a collared shirt. Goodwill sells collared shirts.” (29:30)

7. Holiday Traditions, Calendars, and New Year's Musings

(36:24–73:47)

• Dusty explains Sukkot, the week-long “Feast of Tabernacles,” and his plans to celebrate with listeners (36:44–38:07).
• Aaron professes his love for New Year's reflection and “In Memoriam” TV segments.
• Deep-dive into Gregorian vs. Julian calendar and accuracy across centuries (64:45–67:42).
• Fun fact: By the year 4909, the Gregorian calendar will be one day ahead of the solar year.
• The crew explores radical calendar proposals (the 13-month “International Fixed Calendar”).

8. Pop Culture & Sports of 2025: Lightning Round

(73:47–78:58)

• Recap: 2025’s major sports winners, movies, music, and TV:
  • Super Bowl: Eagles
  • College football: Georgia
  • NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder
  • World Series: Dodgers
  • Masters: Rory McIlroy
  • Most streamed show: “Bluey”
  • Top songs: “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
  • Top movie franchises: Minecraft, Lilo & Stitch, Superman, Jurassic World

9. Predictions and Announcements for 2026

(86:07–89:14)

• Aaron’s bold predictions:
  • Nate will win a Grammy for “Your Friend.”
  • The “Breadwinner” movie will be a huge box office hit.
  • Dusty will plant 50 oak trees and start playing bigger theaters.
• Big reveal:
  • Brian will tape his own special next year, confirmed live on air.

“Bates is taping his special this year...We weren’t going to say it...But in the moment, you...The plan...We already...We’re going to tape your special.”
– Nate Bargatze (88:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If things go wrong on Date Land, you’ll end up on Date Line.”
  – Aaron Weber, on Nateland dating app ideas (31:34)
• (On church dress codes) “Denzel Washington said in ‘Remember the Titans’ – if you don’t have a suit, borrow one from your old man. If you don’t have an old man, find a bum, trade him for his. But find a suit.”
  – Brian Bates (29:57)
• “People are kids. People are kids.”
  – Dusty Slay on adult coloring books (34:49)
• “We help you with taxes on our game show! You walk with what we tell you you’re going to walk!”
  – Nate on the "Greatest Average American" game show (44:04)
• “[ChatGPT] knocks it out of the park sometimes.”
  – Brian, after an AI-generated answer (68:43)
• “You don’t get lucky like that all the time.”
  – Nate, on getting a burger with no patty at McDonald’s (79:55)
• “Best comedian: you’re for the people, he’s for the media.”
  – Brian & Dusty on Nashville Scene poll results (61:31)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:50 – 05:36: State of Stand-Up & Authenticity
• 05:36 – 08:13: Comedy Club Culture & Sports
• 08:59 – 37:00: Listener Comments, Community Engagement, Coloring Book Segment
• 24:33 – 28:34: Philosophy of Self & Team Fandom
• 28:35 – 29:47: Dress at Church Debate
• 36:24 – 73:47: Holiday Traditions, Calendars, New Year’s
• 73:47 – 78:58: 2025 Sports & Pop Culture Recap
• 86:07 – 89:14: Predictions for 2026 & Special Announcement

Final Thoughts

The “Happy Nate Year” episode is a heartfelt, light-hearted recap of an explosive year for both the Nateland podcast and its hosts. Boasting humility, camaraderie, and a strong connection with fans, this episode is a testament to the show’s blend of small-town sensibility and big-league achievement. With plans for new specials, films, and continued comedy growth, the Nateland crew enters 2026 full of ambition and gratitude:

“We’ve associated ourselves with some people doing big things...As a group, it’s very accomplished.”
– Dusty Slay (63:20)

Happy New Year from Nateland!