Gas Station Chic w/ EJ Marcus

Summary

Podcast Summary — The Nightly: "Gas Station Chic" w/ EJ Marcus

Podcast: The Nightly by Hatch Podcasts
Episode: Gas Station Chic w/ EJ Marcus
Date: April 10, 2026

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Overview

This cozy episode of The Nightly welcomes comedian EJ Marcus for a laid-back, bedtime chat about winding down, guilty pleasures, and the unique charm of gas station fashion. Hosts KP and Josh set the tone with playful banter, games like Kiss, Marry, Kill (pop culture edition), and reflective moments about routines, the allure of impulse gas station purchases, and the joy of everyday rituals. Designed to help listeners unwind, the episode delivers both laughs and gentle reflection on the rituals that bookend our days.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Slumber Party Mood

• Hosts introduce themselves and firmly clarify they are not a romantic duo but simply "pop culture lovers."
  • “We are lovers of pop culture. We’re not canonically lovers of one another as seen in pop culture. We’re not like Ross and Rachel.” — Josh (00:50)

2. EJ Marcus's (EJ) Bedtime Routine

• EJ’s evolving nighttime practices: Noticing value in winding down rather than just conking out.
  • “Previously I didn’t put a lot of stock into, like, the idea of winding down. ... But there’s so much beauty in kind of leaning into what you do right before bed.” — EJ (02:33)
• Ritual details: Puts phone in another room for the last hour before sleep, added skincare (night cream with a purple label), but avoids hyper-structured routines.
  • “...I never really did a skincare thing. For most of my life, but lately, I’ve been washing my face at night and then doing a night cream.” — EJ (03:09)
• Striking a balance: Avoiding too-rigid routines that might ramp up anxiety rather than promote rest.
  • “It was such a rigid routine that I was kind of like, if I was telling myself to do that, I think I would get myself hyper again.” — EJ (04:20)

3. Reflections on Social Life vs. Self-Care

• Dilemma: Preferring to maximize waking (and social) time over elaborate bedtime wind-downs.
  • “I can't afford another hour. That's going into pre sleep for me.” — KP (04:54)
  • “I also feel like I have a really hard time saying no to socializing. ... So if my voice is like, either I see friends or I go home and start my nighttime routine ... that is sometimes what it necessitates is being totally, 'oh, I can’t hang out. I have to go start my nighttime routine.’” — EJ (05:15)

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Kiss, Marry, Kill: Fantasy Series Edition (06:14–12:52)

Prompt:

• Game of Thrones
• Lord of the Rings
• Dune

EJ's Choices:

• Kiss: Dune (attracted by the celeb factor, but not much personal connection)
• Kill: Game of Thrones (overwhelming and not emotionally invested)
• Marry: Lord of the Rings (“I have a lot of reverence for the space it occupies in culture.” — 08:04)

Host Banter and Reflections:

• KP reflects on being "a guy’s girl" and finds Lord of the Rings less personally compelling:
  • “I think it’s like there are a lot of guys in it and listen, I’m not trying to say nothing. They’re awesome. Listen, you guys know me. I’m a guy’s girl.” — KP (10:18)
• Josh shares the nostalgia of seeing LOTR films as a family holiday tradition and playfully notes, “Killing Game of Thrones is kind of like, oh, unexpected. That feels like a very Game of Thrones thing.” (12:32)

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Kiss, Marry, Kill: Gas Station Clothing Edition (13:04–18:49)

Prompt:

• Wolf Shirt
• Colored Polarized Sunglasses
• Trucker Hat

EJ's Passionate Response:

• Shares that their signature style is, in fact, gas station-inspired (“...everyone was dressed like they got all their clothes from the gas station.” — EJ, 13:52)
• Retired wolf shirts for being “almost too youthful” (14:39), but praises the sunglasses and trucker hats.
• Choices:
  • Kill: Wolf shirt (“Not my choice ... thrust upon me.” — 16:41)
  • Marry: Colored polarized sunglasses
  • Kiss: Trucker hat

Hosts’ Choices and Commentary:

• Key moment: All three agree to marry the gas station sunglasses.
  • “We’re going three for three on marrying the sunglasses. That is huge. They are functional, they are fun, they are fashionable.” — Josh (18:08)
• KP broadens the “wolf shirt” category to include “bear shirt ... the animal of the week,” reflecting the playful tone (17:04).
• Discussion expands to gas station keychains (“...I got my friend a lovely one that says Mama Goddess on it.” — KP, 16:09) and the odd specificity of impulse buys on road trips.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On elaborate routines:
  • “It’s like being at the office, your body’s office.” — Josh (04:41)
• On the philosophy of gas station couture:
  • “Wolf shirt is a state of mind.” — KP (17:28)
• On prioritizing experiences:
  • “When we’re 70, we’re not gonna remember the lotions we used. We’re gonna remember the art we saw.” — KP (05:42)
• On gas station sunglasses:
  • “They look good on everyone too.” — EJ (17:45)

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Closing Reflections & Goodnight Ritual (19:12–21:15)

• EJ shares a sweet bedtime tradition, inspired by their mom helping them build a catio (an outdoor patio for their cats):
  • “...Lately when we go to bed, you know, we close off the catio, bring the cats in, and so I would love to close off the catio ... good night outside world. You know, cats going for bed, closing off the patio is now how I’m gonna think about, like shutting things down for the night.” — EJ (20:03–20:26)
• Hosts end by naming EJ’s cats, Corbin and Miriam, wishing them—and listeners—a beautiful night.

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Notable Timestamps

• 01:44 — EJ Marcus joins the conversation
• 02:20 — EJ describes bedtime routine
• 06:14 — Kiss, Marry, Kill: Fantasy Series
• 13:04 — Kiss, Marry, Kill: Gas Station Clothing
• 19:46 — Goodnight ritual & “closing the catio”

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Overall Tone

The episode is friendly, gently irreverent, and high on coziness and gentle humor. The discussion is relatable, focusing on everyday pleasures, humorous musings on pop culture, and the small self-care victories that make life a little sweeter.

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If you missed this episode, you’ll walk away ready to appreciate your own bedtime ritual, maybe eyeing that pair of gas station sunglasses with new admiration—and wishing your day could end with a cheerful “closing the catio.”

Transcript

[A]

Hello.

[B]

You're about to drift into an episode of the Nightly, a podcast designed to help you unwind and relax. For the full phone free immersive light experience, visit Hatch Co. Enjoy. Hi, everybody, and good evening. I'm Josh.

[A]

And I'm kp. Welcome to the Nightly from Hatch, a slumber party for pop culture lovers.

[B]

Hi, kp.

[A]

Hi, Josh. That's us. I just wanted to connect with you in that way and let everybody know that it's true what the rumors are saying. And we are pop culture lovers. And that is us.

[B]

We are lovers of pop culture. We're not canonically lovers of one another as seen in pop culture. We're not like Ross and Rachel.

[A]

No. No. There was no will. They. Won't they. It was a won't.

[B]

It was a won't. We're colleagues. We're colleagues who love pop culture.

[A]

Who love pop culture. What have you been up to? What have you been hitting?

[B]

Oh, my gosh. It's, you know, it's been like, embarrassingly so much sports lately. Especially late at night when I'm like, I gotta turn my brain off. And recently it's been a lot of sports. What about you?

[A]

I've been thinking nonstop about our special guest.

[B]

Just 24 7.

[A]

Just 24 7. I've been thinking about him. We are joined by the wonderful and hilarious EJ Marcus. Welcome, ej.

[C]

Hi. Thanks.

[A]

I hope it's okay that I think about you this much.

[C]

Oh, I assumed so.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I haven't been thinking about you quite as much, but I could after this. I'm planning on boosting that. That ratio way up.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. Hopefully I just kind of stick in there.

[A]

Yeah, that would be really nice. Ej, thank you so much for doing this. As you well know, this podcast is all about being cozy and sleepy. And I have a lot of curiosities about your bedtime routine. Can I ask, what does it usually look like when it's time to hit the hay for you?

[C]

Yes. Well, I'm actually really trying to improve upon it.

[A]

Mm.

[C]

I feel like I haven't really thought of it as a routine previously.

[B]

Like, oh, interesting. It was just kind of like whatever happens before you conk out.

[C]

Yeah. Kind of like I put a lot of. I previously didn't put a lot of stock into, like, the idea of winding down. I was just kind of like. Cause I think I'd been kind of fortunate in my life to be a pretty good sleeper. Like, it hasn't really necessitated that much, but there's so much beauty in kind of Leaning into what you do right before bed. And so I've been trying to, first of all, always leave my phone in, like, a different room in, like, hour leading up to bed.

[B]

Smart.

[C]

And I also have started. I never really did a skincare thing.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

For most of my life, but lately, I've been washing my face at night and then doing a night cream.

[A]

Ooh, I really have to get on this. These are all the things that everyone's like, yeah, this is sort of proven to work. And I go, textbook, but do I have to?

[B]

Yeah, right. And I do.

[C]

It's hard to be consistent.

[A]

I know. So. And you're doing a special night cream specifically. It's a night cream. Okay. This is smart.

[C]

The label is, like, purple, you know, like, it says, like, night says night on it.

[B]

Purple is one of the colors of the night. Totally.

[A]

That's really true. Navy blue, black, purple. These are real night colors.

[C]

Night time. Yep.

[A]

Ej, if your phone is in the other room an hour before bed, are you trying to hit some books? Usually. Do you read?

[B]

Great question.

[C]

I do read. I do read. Um, I mean, and this is, you know, not every night is a little different. I do want to say I'm not, like. I also try to not be, like, so rigid because I feel like. I know for some people, like, I have a friend who recently described his nighttime routine to me, and this is absolutely. Obviously, I love him. And this is no judgment at all. Of course, what he described, it was multiple hours of skin stuff and body stuff. It was just like, it was such a rigid routine that I was kind of like, if I was telling myself to do that, I think I would get myself hyper again.

[A]

So many steps. It's militaristic. It's scary.

[B]

Right? It's like being at the office, your body's office.

[A]

It also does stress me out sometimes already. How much time is spent sleeping? Listen, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I like sleeping. That's good. It's a good use of time. But I can't afford another hour. That's going into pre sleep for me.

[C]

No, exactly.

[A]

It's, you know, so I go. I like my waking time so much. I like to be really awake, and then I like to be asleep.

[B]

I also like my sleeping time because that's what I would be cutting into. I would be like, I'm doing all my awake stuff, and then, like, oh, two hours of skin care. I guess I'll sleep for four hours. Whatever.

[C]

I also feel like I have a really hard time saying no to socializing. And I feel like a lot of times socializing happens at night. So if my voice is like, either I see friends or I go home and start my nighttime routine, like, I'm just always gonna. But, like, truly, that is sometimes what it necessitates is being totally, oh, I can't hang out. I have to go start my nighttime routine.

[B]

You wanna go to this art opening? It's like, oh, sorry, I gotta start with my lotions.

[A]

When we're 70, we're not gonna remember the lotions we used. We're gonna remember the art we saw.

[B]

Nobody is on their deathbed saying, I wish I had used more hours of lotion time.

[C]

Yeah. They're on their deathbed saying, I wish I'd stayed an hour longer at that improv show that my friends were at.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was only there as a favor.

[A]

May those be my last words. Strike me down.

[B]

Now that we've got this under our belts and slathered across our T zones, let's play a little game of Kiss, Marry, Kill. It is a familiar slumber party game. We have subbed out the more intensive, you know, intimate contact to keep it PG 13. We have kept murder. That is always a part of it.

[C]

Well, murder is. It's neutral. There's not.

[A]

You know, guys, you heard it here first. E.J. marcus says murder is neutral. Write that down. Write that down.

[C]

I spam by it.

[B]

So there might be some murder involved in this first one. Because I'm going to ask you, ej, kp, and I'll answer as well.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Kiss, Marry, Kill. Fantasy series, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Dune.

[A]

This is for you. And have you seen all of these? Are you familiar with all of these or read.

[C]

I'm gonna be honest. I haven't engaged with any of.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

My goodness.

[B]

No, I love this.

[A]

That's better. Actually.

[C]

No, I saw Dune two. I saw Dune two.

[A]

Not the first. You jumped right into two. Okay, well, vibes alone, you know very little about them. But vibes alone. Do you think you can still make an educated.

[B]

And a similar question. Having seen Dune 2 does put your ranking of Dune higher or lower, right? Were you like, I saw Dune 2? No, I'm out.

[A]

Yeah, right.

[C]

I think it puts it. Okay. Okay.

[B]

So is Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dune?

[C]

Okay, here's my take on this. Is that I think Lord of the Rings. I know the gist. And I also feel like the Lord of the Rings is very. I have a lot of reverence for its, like, the Space that it occupies in culture.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Oh, yeah, I agree with that.

[C]

It's like a really important text, I would say. And so. And with Dune, it was hard to tap into that same sort of emotional pull because I hadn't seen the first one. But also I. Because of just like, I was like distracted by like, it's like Timothee Chalamet, like, you know, celebs.

[A]

Huh.

[B]

Very celeb. Forward.

[C]

Yeah. So that was more like da, da, da, da, da. And then Game of Thrones. I know is a little bit. There's a lot going on.

[B]

There is a lot going on.

[A]

It is.

[C]

It's quite overwhelming and like dynamic heavy.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So all of that being said, I think that I would kiss Dune.

[B]

Kiss Dune. Okay.

[C]

Kill Game of Thrones.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And marry Lord of the Rings.

[B]

Very nice.

[A]

I think that's great. I like the way you spoke of that. I do think, yeah, Lord of the Rings does occupy. There's just a lot of respect people have for it. It's long, it's sprawling, it's good hearted. There's morals. I do. I agree with that.

[C]

It's like a whole universe. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

And I have a lot of like affection for it. My family would do like the classic Jewish Christmas thing of like we go see a big movie together. And so three years, I think in a row it was Lord of the Rings and it was always a great time. Like we've had some duds on Christmas and so Lord of the Rings, that three year period is really close to my heart.

[C]

Yeah. That's beautiful.

[A]

Okay, I'll knock mine real quick here. I'm thinking I'm going to kiss Dune because I like the space of it all. I like going to space. I like planets. So I kind of think that's a bit spicy. Makes me want to kiss it.

[B]

Yeah, I guess it's a little more sci fi than fantasy.

[A]

It's a little more sci fi, absolutely. But there's like, you know, kings and lineages, you know, there's still some fantasy there for sure. Yeah.

[C]

Fantastical.

[A]

It's fantastical. I am going to kill Lord of the Rings. And this is just. I have so much love as a concept, but it just doesn't grip me personally in a who I am type way. I think it's like there are a lot of guys in it and listen, I'm not trying to say nothing. They're awesome. Listen, you guys know me. I'm a guy's girl.

[B]

I love those little hobbit fellas, you

[A]

know that I Think girls are drama and guys are awesome.

[C]

I know. I know you do. It's been tough.

[A]

It has been tough.

[B]

And you have one female friend, and she is Liv Tyler.

[A]

Yes. But I don't think. Yeah, I think it doesn't grip me in a personal way. And then I am gonna marry Game of Thrones. There's just. I'm rewatching it lately, and I read all the books I loved. I mean, I watched it every week when it came out. I was really a fan and still am. I think the changing who the main characters are every. All the time is, like, just really cool. And you feel for them all, and they're all flawed, so I'm gonna marry that.

[C]

So should I watch it?

[A]

I honestly think you should. I know it's a lot to take in because it's eight seasons, and that feels really daunting, but I do think, like, even just the first step, you're kind of in it or you're not. So I'll say, if the first step grabs, you run with it. And if it doesn't, it's not for you. Okay. Okay.

[B]

I watched the first episode twice right around when it premiered, like, within a couple months of the premiere. And both times I was like, I wish that this did for me what it does for other people.

[A]

Okay. See? And I think that's just. That's totally it.

[C]

Yeah. Sometimes you just know.

[A]

Yes. Josh, who are you marrying here?

[B]

I think I have to echo EJ's got priorities. I'm gonna kiss Dune. I read the first Dune book.

[A]

Oh, wow. That's a big one.

[B]

A long time ago. And I was like, cool, that's enough Dune for me. I wasn't like, I gotta read the other. Whatever, five or seven of these that I think get progressively, like, zanier and weirder. Definitely. Yeah. I'm gonna marry Lord of the Rings because it's already kind of in the family, which is not, I guess, how you choose someone to marry. But, I mean, it already feels like family. And I think killing Game of Thrones is kind of like, oh, unexpected. Like, that feels like a very Game of Thrones thing.

[A]

I think, like, they would like that

[B]

Game of Thrones if you killed. It would be like, game recognize game. And of course, Thrones Recognize Thrones.

[C]

Wow. That's such a fun way to think of this whole exercise is sort of

[A]

like, give them what they want.

[C]

Give them what they want. Yeah. Speak their language, so to speak.

[B]

Give them what they want. Kp, do you have a kiss? Marry, kill.

[A]

I do. I'm Gonna get kind of. We're gonna have to think outside the box on this one. Okay. This is Kiss, Marry, Kill. And the theme is gas station clothing. Sort of gas station articles of clothing you might come across. So this is a Kiss, Marry, Kill wolf shirt, colored polarized sunglasses, and then a trucker hat.

[C]

Wow. Wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. This is tough, Bold.

[A]

I think all I, yeah, I, I, this comes to mind because I, I've often found some kind of good stuff at gas stations along the highway. There's like, interesting stuff there. So what are you thinking, ej?

[C]

Well, so a couple of years ago, I had a birthday party where I told everyone to dress up like me.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

And it was really revealing. A big takeaway was that everyone was dressed like they got all their clothes from the gas station.

[A]

Wow. And you hadn't realized that before? Wow.

[C]

Yeah, I don't think I would have. It was just funny because it's like, you know how people talk about, like, your SIM outfit, like, what you're wearing? Like, that was kind of. I was like, oh, my God. That it was. Everyone was in shorts. And I often am wearing those kind. I have sunglasses that I got from a gas station that I love and a trucker hat. And I actually, the wolf shirt, I have retired just because often people do think I am a lot younger than I am. I did feel like that put me like, over the edge in a, in a way.

[A]

Sure. Yeah.

[B]

Too. Almost too youthful.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. That took me from like, oh, like 20, you know, to like sub 18 maybe. But I do love wolf shirts. Anyway, all of that being said, this is like, impossible for me to choose.

[A]

Wow. I didn't know I was hitting something that was passionate to you. This is really good.

[B]

It's also so funny to me that the first one, you were like, know nothing about this. This is not something I engage with. And then gas station clothing, you're like, this is my life.

[A]

I can't bear to part with any of them.

[B]

Even as a game. Choosing Kill would be like watching one of my own family members perish.

[C]

That's what it makes you think. It makes you think about a lot of. Because I do like, yeah, I go into a gas station or like a 711 and I'm like, I have to stop myself from buying an item because there's great stuff. But especially. Okay, this is the last thing I'll say, and then I'll actually insert.

[B]

Take your time.

[C]

Especially when you're somewhere. Like when you're on a road trip and you're in like a A city or like a state that you're not usually in. And so there's like a fun hat, you know, that says exactly, you know, weed, California. Like, come on.

[A]

Absolutely. Well, and aside, I'm. I love the clothing. I really do have to hold myself back. But I really love the keychains. If I can start an open conversation about that too.

[B]

Please do.

[A]

Because there's a lot of keychain advancements that I just haven't even known were happening. There's, like flashing lights on them. Now I got my friend a lovely one that says Mama Goddess on it. And I go, it's so interesting that you used to not be able to find your own name. And now, even if you're a mama goddess, there is something for you at that.

[B]

This is actually gonna be huge for my friend who can never find her name. And her name is, of course, Mama Goddess.

[A]

Absolutely. She's gonna love this. You just gotta go to the loves in Fresno, California.

[B]

I'm on it.

[A]

Okay. Wolf shirt. Well, since you've retired the wolf shirt, perhaps. I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but perhaps it's not gonna make the cut, but up to you.

[C]

I think. I think you're exactly right. I think I will kill the wolf shirt. As devastating as that is and really not my choice. You know what I mean? Thrust upon me, actually. And I'm going to marry the sunglasses. And I'm going to kiss the hat.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Really good.

[B]

Good choices. Strong choices.

[A]

I think I'm going to expand. I know I did this, but I'm already breaking my own rules. Wolf shirt is going to mean, you know, like, bear shirt. Whatever the animal of the week is

[B]

in that the wolf could also be. The wolf could also be a bear.

[A]

Yeah, the wolf can be a bear. The wolf can be a coyote.

[C]

Fish, sometimes.

[A]

Fish.

[B]

Wow, that's right.

[C]

Beautiful. Salmon.

[A]

I would love a salmon, a trout.

[B]

Just a mountain range in the name of a city.

[A]

Yes. Shirts can be anything. Wolf shirt is a state of mind.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I am going to marry the. I am also gonna marry the colored polarized sunglasses. I think they're so. There's just something about them. They really command a room.

[C]

They look good on everyone too.

[A]

They really do. I mean, I have a face that does not lend well to a lot of sunglasses. I have to be really particular and colored, polarized. It's just so crazy. It might work.

[B]

Beautiful.

[A]

That's how I feel. So I'm gonna marry that. I am gonna kiss the trucker hat night. Even though I said the wolf shirt can be anything right now. It'll be dead, you know, it'll kill it. I agree with ej.

[B]

Okay, I guess it's my turn. And I will say we're going three for three on marrying the sunglasses. That is huge. They are functional, they are fun, they are fashionable. Those bright colored sunglasses all day long. Except for night. Second, I'm gonna flip though the next two on you. I am going to because as we've kind of discussed, I don't have a lot of hair going on up top. And the trucker hat with kind of the porous back and top is no good. That's like a mesh that I'm worried gets too much sun right on the scalp. So I'm gonna kill trucker hat and I'm gonna lil kiss wolf shirt.

[A]

I love that. I think that makes a ton of sense.

[B]

This was so amazing. I feel like we really got deep with it. We really were thoughtful with it. And we're almost done for the night. But before we wrap, ej, is there anything our listeners should be checking out that you've been working on?

[C]

I perform really regularly in la. I do comedy and so you can check me out. I'll be posting about it on my Instagram. Ej, having fun.

[B]

Excellent. Thank you so much. And listeners, if you're in the LA area, go see EJ having fun in person. And ej, one last thing before we turn in, we like to ask our guests to send a special good night to someone or something out there in the world. Feel free to set a scene, get comfy, and just say goodnight to anyone that you'd like to send off to dreamland in the right way.

[C]

Amazing. Well, specifically, I recently. So my mom's a woodworker and she came to visit recently and she helped my partner and I build a wooden catio for our cats.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

Right off of our bedroom window.

[A]

That is really cool.

[C]

Of course, I don't want to brag right before bed, but. But I. So lately when we go to bed, you know, we close off the catio, bring the cats in, and so I would love to close off the catio, you know, and I would love to say good night outside world. You know, cats going for bed, closing

[B]

off the patio is now how I'm gonna think about, like shutting things down for the night.

[A]

Eh, we can't do that. We're closing off the catio tonight.

[C]

Exactly. Like, we really like, like to make a sort of production of it, of being like, you know, it's really bedtime. Cause the catio's closed. Closed for business.

[B]

Last call, kitties.

[A]

You have to get a little sign. A little closed sign.

[C]

Oh, that would be so cute.

[A]

That'd be really cute. Thank you so much. E. Can we say goodnight to your cats, specifically? Can we name them?

[C]

Yeah. Their names are Corbin and Miriam.

[A]

Corbin and Miriam, you specifically deserve to have a beautiful night. Not on the catio. And I think I will have a beautiful night, too, because I've talked to you both and I'll talk to you next time. Good night, ej and good night, Josh.

[B]

Good night, kp. Good night, ej.

[C]

Good night, kp. Good night, Josh.

[B]

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