Public Figures Podcast Ep 289: Nateland | The In Between Episode

"Revisiting Fairy Tales, Cartoons & School"
Hosts: Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, Dusty Slay
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This special edition of the Public Figures podcast, featuring the Nateland crew (Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, and Dusty Slay), was recorded in the aftermath of a massive snowstorm in Nashville that disrupted their plans for the official launch of the new show. Due to studio and power outages, the episode takes on an informal, nostalgic vibe as the hosts reminisce on favorite fairy tales, classic cartoons, and their own school experiences.

With characteristic humor and warmth, the trio explores the oddities and lessons behind folklore, fairy tales, and animated TV series from multiple generations, then shift to personal and cultural observations on school—from back-to-school rituals and school supplies to gym class, recess, and even school pranks.

Episode Highlights

1. The Aftermath of Nashville's Snowstorm (00:38–04:20)

• Due to the "snowpocalypse," the debut of Public Figures was postponed.
• Each host recaps their current situation: Brian's in a powerless hotel with family; Aaron avoided power loss by being in California; Dusty escaped to Alabama.
  • Quote: “If I look more worried than normal, it's because we have no electricity... I'm in a hotel room with my wife, 3-year-old daughter and our yappy dog.” – Brian (01:22)
• Despite the circumstances, the hosts pivot to a "memory lane" episode, assuring listeners that the true launch will follow soon.

2. Fairy Tales and Folklore: Dissecting the Stories (04:20–23:24)

• Defining the Genres: Brian distinguishes fairy tales, fables, and folktales, with Dusty humorously doubting anything is truly invented.
  • Quote: “What do you think Lord of the Rings is based on?” – Aaron (05:50)
  • Dusty: “They kind of loosely based it on Christianity and the Bible. Were there ogres? Probably.” (05:54)
• Classic American Folktales: Paul Bunyan, John Henry (and Brian’s debunking vs Dusty’s belief).
• Famous Parables: Tortoise and the Hare, and why fairy tales so often feature a dead mom and an evil stepmother.
• The George Washington Cherry Tree Myth: Laughter over why we lie to teach “not lying.”
  • Quote: “You would lie to tell a story about not lying?” – Dusty (07:02)
• Nativity Scene Myths: Debating biblical timelines and how narrative devices shape tradition; Dusty: “Could just be three guys who happen to be there. ...Don’t call us wise.” (08:41)
• Magic Logic: Dusty reads "Flora’s Magic Flute" (10:02–13:56), hilariously picking apart its flawed internal logic:
  • “Every day had been clear and sunny...and then Flora’s music made them remember after the last rain…”
  • Prompting a whimsical discussion about art’s power versus plot holes.
• Brian’s Dark Childhood Book: Story about a perpetually rainy world, a bullied kid, and missed sunshine—“kind of a dark [story]” (14:47).

3. Cartoons: The Best Across Generations (49:39–74:00)

Segment Highlights:

• Pace Magazine’s 50 Greatest Cartoons List prompts an intergenerational showdown.
• Childhood Viewing:
  • Brian (’70s–’80s): Looney Tunes, Smurfs, Super Friends, Inspector Gadget, Speed Racer.
    • Quote: “Looney Tunes had been around since, like, the ‘30s...some of the references I didn’t get as a kid—Humphrey Bogart, Asian stereotypes...” (54:00)
  • Dusty (’80s–’90s): He-Man, GI Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Doug, Simpsons, Bobby’s World, Cliff the Cat, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers.
    • “Doug was really good...Doug Funny is his name.” (62:53)
  • Aaron (’90s–’00s): Doug, Hey Arnold (“just the freedom of these kids running around the city. No parents anywhere.” 69:11), Rocket Power, Fillmore, Recess.
• Reflections on Changing Animation Styles:
  • Kids today often find older cartoons “too violent” or “bad” animation, compared to slick, modern styles.
• Adult Cartoons Discussed:
  • King of the Hill (“number one”), Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Beavis & Butthead, South Park, Futurama, Squidbillies.

Notable Quotes:

• “My mom worked at a plant that made VHS tapes—we had the hookup.” – Dusty (52:45)
• “All these Looney Tunes were just an animal, and then somebody trying to kill it.” – Aaron (53:59)
• “As an adult...these shows are all terrible.” – Dusty (65:26)

Funniest Moments

• Dusty slams “Bugs Bunny”: “When I watch Bugs Bunny now, I think he’s kind of a prick...I actually feel sorry for Elmer Fudd.” (55:16)
• Discovery that the Simpsons shifted focus from Bart to Homer as it matured (90:31).

4. Back to School: Supplies, Rituals & Memories (96:12–151:00)

Key Segments:

• School Calendar Debates: Year-round vs. traditional long summer breaks.
• Practical Learning: Dusty argues for more life-skills education—paying bills, basic cooking, sewing—vs. calculus:
  • “I don’t even know what calculus is.” (98:55)
• School Trajectories & Culture:
  • Brian: One rural school K-8, then big high school; surprised by how grown-up senior girls seemed.
  • Dusty: Multiple schools during re-zoning in Alabama, recounts long commutes and reuniting with early classmates.
  • Aaron: Catholic school from K through college; discusses the challenge moving mid-high school.
• Popularity & Personality:
  • Discussing "cool" vs. "popular", being well-liked but not class clowns, and comedy origins.

School Nostalgia:

• Dress codes, uniforms, and peer pressure over brands (“Tommy Hilfiger was the thing...I prayed not to get things from Walmart.” – Dusty, 114:50).
• Pencil wars, paper football, “thump” games, pencil mustaches, and using the old wall-mounted pencil sharpener.
• “Did you ever leave the doctor's office and feel like you got nothing from it? ...They usually just tell me to drink more water.” – Aaron (17:17)

Iconic School Supplies:

• Mechanical pencils, eraser extensions, Trapper Keepers (with Dusty lamenting he didn’t bring his), overhead projectors.
• Farewell to the number two pencil: “SAT will be all digital next year...that’s the last time you needed to use one.” – Brian (132:16–132:22)
• Memories of buses, school lunches, lunchboxes—special mentions for GI Joe, He-Man, and Dukes of Hazard lunchboxes.

5. School Hijinks, Fear, and Senior Year Memories

• “Did you ever do number two at school?”: Unanimous grade-school bathroom avoidance; Aaron admits high school changed everything.
• Senior pranks, like filling city fountains with laundry detergent (“The nextdoor app people were not happy.” – Brian 152:31).
• Cheating in Spanish class and the perils of being unprepared for finals (133:44–134:14).
• Lucid dreams about forgotten locker combinations, yearbook nostalgia unlocking long-buried memories.

6. Reflections on Religion and Cultural Touchstones

• Discussing "The Chosen" TV series and issues with biblical artistic license.
  • “They humanize [Jesus] so much, I’m like, did Jesus really hit his thumb hammering?” – Brian (113:22)
• The role of Mary and Ruth in biblical and school naming traditions.
• Closing with the idea that, just like in fairy tales, real school memories “don't always line up, but you remember thanks to art, music, and friends.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Fairy Tales Logic:
  • “My whole problem...these fairies were like, ‘it’s never rained before,’ but the moment Flora played the flute, they’re like ‘oh, we remember the last rain.’” – Dusty (13:10)
• On Growing Up & School:
  • “You have to wait four years to run this place.” – Aaron, on senior year confidence (126:56)
• On Life Lessons:
  • “You know, maybe learning would have become something important to me...learning a language opens different parts of your mind.” – Dusty (135:11)

Memorable Moments

• Dusty’s “trailer park” cartoon pitch: Shows actual animation for an unrealized Hulu series based on his childhood (86:21).
• Nostalgic school supply props: Dusty almost brings in his original middle school Trapper Keeper, describes it in detail (128:50).
• Air travel mishaps: Aaron’s story about sitting next to the “worst smelling person ever” on a plane; Dusty’s about the airport groaner who misses his flight (153:42–155:24).

Clever Callbacks and Jokes

• “If you’re into a girl and want to see her again, leave some stuff over there so you can call and go, ‘I left my phone charger...do you want to hook up while I’m here? My ego needs charging.’” – Dusty, channeling Cinderella (46:05)
• “Who cares, you can do whatever in a cartoon.” – Aaron (54:17)
• “This has been a great podcast. A bit of a Cinderella story, this podcast.” – Dusty (155:48)

Structure (With Time References)

• 00:38–04:20: Nashville snowstorm, launch delay, checking in with the hosts.
• 04:20–23:24: Fairy tales, logic, parables dissected.
• 49:39–74:00: Cartoon deep-dives, kids’ programming across eras.
• 96:12–151:00: Back-to-school nostalgia, classroom habits, supplies, milestone memories.
• 151:00–156:06: Pencil battles, school games, reflection, and sign-off.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a warm, funny, and deeply nostalgic journey through American boyhood, brimming with observations about the stories we absorb, the shows we revere, and the odd, formative rituals of school life. It’s also a testament to the adaptability of podcasting: the snowstorm sent the hosts back to foundational memories, and in doing so, they deliver comfort, laughs, and insight for listeners across generations.