The Nateland Podcast #288: The Nateland Finale

Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Nate Bargatze, Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, and Dusty Slay

Overview

In this bittersweet final episode of The Nateland Podcast, hosts Nate Bargatze, Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, and Dusty Slay gather in front of a live audience to celebrate the end of a five-and-a-half-year journey. The episode is a fast-paced mix of memories, inside jokes, career reflections, fan interaction, and trademark Nateland banter. They revisit favorite moments, acknowledge the crew and fans, and look ahead to the future, including announcing the launch of their new podcast "Public Figures." Emotional, hilarious, and heartfelt, the finale is a true send-off worthy of the Nateland community.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcome and Setting the Scene

• The episode opens live with guest Greg Warren introducing the hosts.
  • [01:24] Greg Warren: “This is a pretty special night … let’s welcome some pretty important people.”
• The group jokes about the oddness and pressure of doing the podcast live in front of an audience, referencing earlier live shows.

2. "Where We've Been" — Touring and Career Reflections

• Nate shares the milestone of performing comedy in all 50 states, recounting early-career stories and the humble benchmarks that fueled his work ethic.
  • [04:25] "It took, I mean, 20 years, but Montana was the final state. So now I have officially all 50."
  • [09:42] “Your goals are not, you know, Bridgestone and Madison Square Garden… it just, if I can perform in all 50 states, I’d imagine I’d be a working comedian.”
• Aaron mentions his first trip to Toronto.
• Dusty and Brian share mundane but classic on-brand updates: camping, burning sticks, and working in Texas.
  • The jeans-washing/freezing debate makes yet another appearance.
• The group reflects on how COVID shut everything down and led to the creation of the podcast.
  • [15:06] "We started July 8, 2020, was the first podcast… Harper’s [Nate’s daughter] birthday."
• Career highlights during the podcast run:
  • Nate: Three standup specials, two SNL host gigs, attendance record at Bridgestone Arena, a movie and game show on the way.
  • Aaron: First special and album, quit his day job, got married and had a baby.
  • Dusty: Joined as co-host in episode 100, two Netflix specials, more children.
  • All celebrate each other’s personal and professional growth.

3. Podcast Crew, Behind the Scenes, and Guest Stats

• The hosts thank the behind-the-scenes team: producers, Lauren, Gregory Taylor, Chris Cameron, Abigail, Tristan, and especially Nate’s wife, Laura, for her early and ongoing support.
  • [26:55] “Laura’s everything… the whole beginning was you supporting me. Thank you, Laura.” – Nate
• Stats: 50+ guests, with Greg Warren as the most frequent (15 visits), followed by Nick Novicki, John Crist, Mike Vecchione.
  • [23:58] “15’s too much… 11 was a sweet spot.” – Multiple hosts

4. Fan Comments & Community

• A large section is spent reading select comments from long-time fans in the audience.
  • [32:34] “There are so few public figures that are creating what you have, and I’m thankful to be a part of it.”
• Impact is highlighted— listeners attended dozens of shows, developed friendships, and even felt emotionally/physically supported by the podcast during tough times (e.g., recovery from surgery).
• The crew jokes with fans in person about pronunciations, road trips, and coffee sample etiquette.

5. Nateland Greatest Hits: Top 10 Moments

• A community-sourced top ten list of Nateland’s funniest moments is revealed, many with video highlights and commentary:
  1. Penguin Pronunciation
     • [63:59] “How do you say it?”
     • [66:13] (Multiple attempts by the hosts, “penguin” vs. “pang-win,” and debate about Wikipedia’s pronunciation.)
  2. Horse Divorce (“Hors d’oeuvres” mispronunciation)
     • [58:25] “I said horse divorce.”
     • [59:37] “Just see a horse in court… Why the long face?”
  3. Bear Attacks & Barry Sanders Debate
     • [55:17] “Barry Sanders could evade a grizzly.”
  4. First Base Story (Brian’s childhood baseball blunder)
     • [51:22] “I had to slide head first into first base... and I’m back right where I was with the first base coach. He’s like, what are you doing, man?”
  5. Civilian Station (“Civilization” Mix-Up)
     • [45:05] “You say civilian station... you mean civilization?” (Followed by extended laughter/meltdown)
  • Others include: Emu With a Gun, Nursing Home French Fries, Last Cross Section of America, and more.

6. The Challenges That (Mostly) Weren’t

• The hosts reminisce about weight-loss and donut-eating contests, the swimming challenge, and the running joke of Brian trying to “look like a professional soccer player.”
  • [72:20] “Most of them involved you losing weight.”
• Aaron’s golf ball throwing challenge is revisited with video ("proof of concept that it’s not totally out of the realm").
  • [77:26] “John Augustine said he’d caddy… how do you caddy for a guy throwing a ball?”

7. Superfan Q&A (Live)

• Fans are invited on stage for rapid-fire questions:
  • [83:49] Theme Park Attractions: “If you each had a ride, what would it be?”
    • Brian: The “break fast” roller coaster.
    • Aaron: "Guy who guesses your weight."
    • Dusty: Indoors, ‘truth about the world’ exhibit or a fake moon landing.
    • Nate: Gondola ride, or Penguin/Civilian Station Sodas.
  • [88:45] Meeting Neighbor Felix: Felix, the real-life neighbor and in-joke legend, finally waves to the crowd.
  • [90:33] What Surprised You Most?
    • Nate: “This right here tonight… the idea of it, during COVID… you guys coming here for this, that’s the stuff I could not have imagined.”
  • [97:45] Greatest Cross Section of America:
    • Brian: “Cemetery.”
    • Group: gas stations, Bucky’s, theme parks, Disney World—all riffing classic Nateland.

8. Sentiment, Goodbyes, and Looking Ahead

• Nate expresses deep gratitude, reflects on the trust built with the audience, and shares his commitment to making “entertainment for the whole family.”
  • [103:57] “The biggest thing I want is just to not break that trust… I want you to sit with your family and watch.”
  • [109:06] “If you want to do something crazy, you got to be obsessed with it… no one really cares (about your success/failure), but you gotta care.”
• Brian announces the new podcast title for the remaining hosts: Public Figures (with montage of Dusty’s catchphrase).
  • [113:02] Aaron: “We’re excited, so stick with us. And that’s what we are, professional comedians—public figures.”

9. Memorable Farewell

• The crew gifts Nate a “podcast yearbook” signed by everyone present.
  • [113:31] “A little book here… just a little history of the podcast.”
  • [113:46] Nate: “Oh, that’s unbelievable. Oh, man. Thank you. Thank you very much. That is… this is the most thoughtful thing ever. And we, honestly, as we always say it, I truly, truly love you. And we can’t thank you enough for listening to these past five years.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Nate:

  • [09:42] “If I can perform in all 50 states… I’d be a working comedian.”
  • [15:06] “We started July 8, 2020, was the first podcast… Harper’s birthday.”
  • [26:55] “Laura’s everything. I couldn’t do any of this [without her].”
  • [46:46] "I feel like an alien talking to dumb because people make fun of what I say…"
  • [89:29] "Felix is now CEO of Nateland for me."
  • [103:57] "I want you to sit with your family and watch TV and eat dinner and it'd be a game show ... I want you to see, when you see Nateland, you can know what it is and you're not going to have to worry ... I'm not making it for kids, but I don't want your kids [to] have to run out of the room."
  • [109:06] "If you want to do something crazy, you got to be obsessed with it ... just care for yourself and you keep doing it, and then you can do really whatever you want to do."

• Brian:

  • [51:22] "I had to slide head first into first base... and I'm back right where I was with the first base coach. He's like, what are you doing, man?"
  • [98:00] "Cemetery." (on the “greatest cross section of America”)
  • [113:31] "A little book here—just a little history of the podcast."

• Aaron:

  • [12:22] “I’ve done two [countries], but shout out to Canada!”
  • [49:10] “I don’t know if you could tell from the clip, but that wasn’t the healthiest point in my life.”
  • [113:02] “We’re excited, so stick with us. And that’s what we are, professional comedians—public figures.”

• Dusty:

  • [13:04] “If you wash [jeans], they’re ruined, everybody.”
  • [33:39] “It is kind of like an ice cream sample, though. I feel like we’ve had this debate.”
  • [85:38] “I’d like one that holds people’s eyes open, and then I just make them watch videos of what’s really going on out here.”
  • [93:34] “What surprises me the most is how what I think of as just regular ideas and thoughts they all think are so crazy.”

Key Timestamps

• Opening and introductions (live): [01:24] - [04:16]
• Touring stories and milestone reflection: [04:25] - [11:00]
• Podcast origin story and pandemic impact: [15:06] - [16:45]
• Career milestones recounted: [16:53] - [19:46]
• Recognition of the podcast crew: [26:55] - [28:50]
• Guest statistics and behind-the-scenes stories: [22:15] - [24:00]
• Fan comments and impact stories: [31:23] - [41:24]
• Top 10 podcast moments/countdown: [43:43] - [70:10]
• Discussion of challenges, personal growth: [72:07] - [83:00]
• Superfan Q&A/lively audience participation: [83:05] - [102:19]
• Farewell, future plans, and sentiment: [103:57] - [115:00]
• Public Figures podcast announcement: [110:07] - [113:02]
• Gift presentation to Nate: [113:31]
• Emotional closing gratitude: [113:46] - [115:00]

Tone and Style

The conversation weaves between hilarious tangents, self-deprecating banter, and genuine emotion. There are wildly silly debates, heartfelt acknowledgements of how much the show/community meant, and an authentic small-town, grounded warmth that’s always defined Nateland.

For Listeners New & Old

This finale provides all the reasons Nateland became so beloved: a celebration of ordinary life, inside jokes elevated to high comedy, community built across the country, and proof that clean, clever, heartfelt entertainment can find a home in the modern world. As Nate, Brian, Aaron, and Dusty close one chapter, they invite fans to follow them into the next with "Public Figures," ensuring the spirit of Nateland will go on.

For future updates:

• Look for Nate’s new game show (Feb 25, ABC), movie (March 13), and upcoming stand-up tour.
• Subscribe to "Public Figures" for more weekly comedy from Brian, Aaron, and Dusty.

“We can’t thank you enough for listening these past five years. Thank you.” – Nate ([113:46])