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Hello. 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. Hey there. I'm Sophia.
B
Hi, I'm kp. Welcome to the Nightly from Hatch, a slumber party for pop culture lovers. Did you catch me?
A
Yeah. I watched KP try on glasses and then take them off right before we started recording.
B
Does it matter per se? Because it's sort of just coming through your hatch. Not really, but I saw Sophia was wearing some glasses and I thought, oh, I do have some right here. And then I thought, it's not right.
A
Are they prescription or blue light?
B
They are blue light.
A
Got it. Well, you know what's amazing? That hatch actually just launched a blue light alarm. And it's supposed to help, like, align your circadian rhythm each day. So maybe we should check that out. Mm.
B
Yes.
A
There was a while where I had blue light glasses and I was like trying it and then I think I. What actually needed. I needed was prescription glasses.
B
So, yeah, I was. I don't know if this is relatable, but I was the kid that like, just wanted glasses to. To sort of be different. I didn't really need them at all.
A
Of course, I did too.
B
Yeah, good, good. I go. Many of us performers kind of end up in that same spot. But yeah, I really was desperate for some glasses and would try and lie on the eye test. But they know, they know they can see right through a little 12 year old with sort of a cat's T.
A
Shirt on because they have like 10 of those kids coming in every day.
B
And then they go, oh, I can't see the board. That's why I'm like, so distracted. Yeah.
A
And my arm is broken.
B
I think, oh, my God. I got called out within an inch of my life. I sprained. I actually sprained my ankle and I had to wrap it with an ACE bandage. But was I wearing sort of like capris and skirts to make sure that everyone could see it? Yeah, of course. And I was walking around, I was a freshman. And the senior went, oh, somebody sprained their attention bone or something or like begging for attention. Yeah, I know. He really got me good. And I was like, I'm unwrapping this right now in the bathroom.
A
That's awesome. Attention bone is amazing.
B
He ate that, unfortunately.
A
Well, speaking of eating down, we're about to freaking eat in this segment that we have prepared for you guys tonight. When I try to do transition, it's like, interesting. But I'm fighting for my freaking life. So basically we're going to do an awesome segment tonight called the Nightgeist, which is, yeah, play on the word zeitgeist. And we're just going to be talking about things that have been basically blowing up our freaking feed this week. Kp, do you have anything that you want to share with the class?
B
I do. I mean, I've been taking a bit of a reality TV break and just trying to like do movies and it is sort of funny that movies sort of feel like a full meal and TV feels like snacks. So I've been on some meal mode but now it's time to get back to my bread and butter snack, which is I'm watching the New Traders that's kind of been blowing up my feed because I'm following all that.
A
It's the best show in the universe.
B
It's really good. I mean I have like game mechanics complaints that I would maybe address. Of course.
A
And let's speak on that.
B
Let's speak on that.
A
And I think as a disclaimer, KP and I have watched the three episodes that are out up until this point, but don't want to startle everyone in the night by spewing spoilers all over your.
B
Yes. So this is. If you're worried that we're going to spoil something because you're a Traitor's fan too, don't worry.
A
Rest easy.
B
Just rest. Go to sleep.
A
Just go to sleep. Just fall asleep. I mean, part of the Traitor's game is that like in a lot of ways it is often completely random.
B
Totally.
A
I'm curious to see if people figure out how to strategically play the game because up until where we stand currently, I don't feel like there's been a super clear cut way of doing that.
B
Yeah. And you have some people that really just come in and sort of strong arm the people that don't know how to play any game at all. I do think we fell in love with Dylan Efron because in his season, if I'm not mistaken, he just sort of at two thirds way through the game was like, do you guys mind if I speak and tell you how we need to be doing this? Yeah, he sort of just like strong armed his way in and made it happen. And I do think they have some of those people each season where it's like, okay, there actually is a way to get game mechanics rolling.
A
Yeah.
B
But it is a lot of guessing. It's a lot of luck.
A
It is.
B
It's like everyone getting really mad because we didn't guess right.
A
Yeah. And it's often like this thing happens, I feel like, with the people who are suspected where, like, once your name is out there, you almost have to be voted out because this thing happens where it's like, well, either you're a traitor or we think you're a traitor. So it's causing too much, like, commotion and chaos and distraction and we need to, like, eliminate the question.
B
Yeah.
A
Also it's like, because I obviously think about a lot of it often, like traitors versus Survivor. I want there to be a way for there to be, like, actual viable alliances, but we haven't really seen that happen yet. It kind of happens closer to the end. I don't know if there's a way for that to be, like, part of.
B
The game because you have the ultimate alliance, which is the trait, of course. Because they know about each other. Yes, I do. Here's some game mechanic fixes I would do.
A
Yes, please.
B
Firstly, could the challenges sort of mean anything at all?
A
That is a huge question. A huge, huge question is whether or not the challenges could mean anything at all.
B
So here's what they do on the mole. Perhaps you're familiar with the mole.
A
I'm familiar with the mole, but I don't know if I've watched it.
B
Okay. So the mole is similar in some ways where it is, like, there are people that are not working for the good of the team. And so what they do is the traders get extra money for throwing the challenges.
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
So then you have a little something to go on when it's voting time because you're looking then at the challenge, like, let's say it's, you know, a rowboat challenge.
A
Yeah.
B
You know, one of the people is getting extra money if they don't turn the boxes in. So then you have to be like, wait, was Dorinda just, like, totally useless because she didn't know what was happening or was she a trader? So that's an interesting element to it where it is, like, traders get a little extra money for doing bad in the challenges and that gives you something to go off.
A
Yeah, I think definitely making part of the challenge some type of hint, you know, I mean, like, something that can hint at who the traders are would be really helpful because it does often feel like the challenge is just a complete break from the show in terms of, like, anything that's happening or like. Like, even if it's not, like, meaningful in the way of, like, it could still kind of be, like, at the end of the day. You'll get all your money or whatever. But it often feels like it's just a complete break in the show of, like, any talk or understanding of, like, what's going on or strategy or whatever. And I think, yeah.
B
Like, if at some point during the challenges, the traitors had to talk to each other.
A
Yeah.
B
To decide who they're gonna kill, then.
A
That could be good.
B
So then you're like, wait, why were they talking?
A
Yeah.
B
Or like, here's my other game mechanic. AD Is in the game of Mafia, which Traitors is based off of. You have a doctor role.
A
Oh.
B
And this is one person who each night can choose to save. One person, not themselves.
A
I think I call those the angels when I play Mafia.
B
Yes. I was like, doctor, to me, doctors are angels.
A
And you know what? Say that. And to me as well. Of course.
B
Of course. But I go, okay, well, if you added, like, one extra important person.
A
Yeah.
B
As opposed to just, like, random shields, then you have somebody to root for on the good side.
A
Yeah.
B
Totally important.
A
Well, that's the hard part, too, is that, like, obviously you just, like, want to root for the traitors.
B
Yes.
A
And it's, like, really fun to root for them.
B
I do also root often for, like, who I know is a real Strathead.
A
Of course. So who are you. Who are you loving?
B
I really am loving Rob Cestronino just because I know that he can just, like, he can get us there.
A
I know.
B
Let him stay.
A
If they let him stay. It's a hard balance to strike because I always want the gamers to do well, but they also have to keep a low profile. For example, I feel like I'm really rooting for Natalie, but she's not necessarily getting a big edit. And so I'm like. I'm like, oh, does that mean that, like, something bad happens to her and she's not going to stay around long, or is she playing a smart game where she's just, like, under the radar at the beginning?
B
I think she's allowing people to be those loud shields, which is going to be really good, which is why I'm like. I feel like sometimes I hear gaming people get upset that there's housewives on the show. And I'm like, you actually can't have this show without housewives.
A
And often the housewives are, like, very shrewd and good at the game, by.
B
The way, because they are, like, all of this, like, finding out when people are lying to all of that. Like, is the show Housewives also?
A
Yeah.
B
And it's like these loud shields that get to be like, okay, yeah, Lisa, Rinna's gonna pop off, or Dorinda's gonna maybe pop off. And then we get to kind of see how that interacts with others as the gamers. I don't know. I like it.
A
I like it too. And I always think that my strategy would be to try to befriend a traitor so that they keep you in. However, the risk you run with that is that you befriend someone who you think is a traitor and it's not.
B
Yes, absolutely. Well, you kind of just have to befriend everybody. But then people start being like, oh, you're suspiciously well connected. Of course. It's a thin line. I also play these games sometimes just with buds, and I played one last week that was. The energy was so deeply rotted. I was like, this actually would be unairable if it were a TV show, because people were. I was good. And people were like, she has the nastiest energy. We need to get her out. I'm not even talking to you right now, kp. I'm not even talking to you. Walk away. I was like, oh, my God. I was like, exiled. They said I was a woman with nasty energy. I went, what?
A
Help.
B
Help.
A
I mean, yeah, it would be. That is so funny. It would legit be so hard to tell. Like, unless, like, obviously, sometimes, as we know, like, the traitors really go crazy and are like. And also the faithfuls. But I feel like last season Danielle was acting absolutely bonkers.
B
Yes.
A
But then I also felt like last season people legit were like, I trust her implicitly. And I was like, she is being insane. She's being insane.
B
Well, there's a chaos agent to it where you go that is just kind of their chaotic. And maybe that's helpful. There's double bluffs, triple bluffs, where you're like, well, if they were actually bad, they wouldn't. They surely wouldn't be acting this crazy, would they? And you're like, no, they would. They would, they would, they would. And they have to. What is your just, like, general pop culture feeling on Rob R. From Love Island?
A
Yeah. The way I feel about Rob R. Is that, like, I really. He really pissed me the F off on Love Island. A lot of my friends who I would say maybe are more romantically or even sexually attracted to men than I myself find myself being really, like, have a. Have soft spot for him in their heart, despite his nastiness. However, I do think that he could be generally good at the Game because he is so, like, weird and off putting and people know that. That I think that's a good, like, he has an advantage in that he's like, quiet and a bit strange.
B
He is a bit strange though.
A
I guess I'm also like, I don't know how many people know that on the show. I don't know if people actually, like, know him. But what are your feelings towards him?
B
Okay. So I didn't watch his season of Love island, but I've seen clips, of course.
A
Yeah.
B
I do find his energy very interesting. The aloofness that he like, kind of the definition of like, nonchalant. I know, it is so interesting.
A
It really is.
B
And I don't think it's an act.
A
I don't think so.
B
I think he just like, is like that. Which is so. I can imagine that like trying to date this man is like hell on earth because he's just like, yeah, whatever. I know I haven't seen the show, but I'm like, he doesn't give an inch emotionally, does he?
A
No. And I. I don't know. Part of me does think it's an act just because I'm like, how could that not be an act?
B
He's so unfazed.
A
A man that is like, mysterious is gonna make me, like, violent. I'm like, you don't understand how mad I am at you.
B
And it seemed like it did like the Love island clips. I was like, these girls are getting temperature risen. Because he's just kind of like super straight faced. Here's what I'll say. Unfortunately, do I find him to be one of our nation's hottest.
A
Yeah.
B
And listen, I'm willing to atone for whatever I need to atone for when I say that he really is. He's something special. But I think he's a really interesting choice for this show.
A
Yeah.
B
Because I think this straight faceness for a game like this, when a lot of other people get really emotional and indignant is a cool choice.
A
I agree. I think it was a smart choice to bring him on because I think he could be good at the game. People have said that they felt like he was playing Big Brother on Love Island.
B
That is really interesting.
A
The thing about him on Love island was that he was like completely loveless and like nothing. He legit was like, they're just like talking to girls and like really knew that he was not going to find the one. But he like stayed around for a long time basically because, like, people liked him. So I could see it maybe in that way.
B
That's Big Brother. Yeah.
A
It didn't seem to me that he was there with completely unpure intentions. It's just that by the end he was. I think he was in a position where people liked him, so he was going to stick around, but he knew that he wasn't gonna find the person. And he had this whole thing where he thought he found the girl that he loved and then they sent her home. But then she was actually really cringy on social media, so that didn't actually quite pan out once he got off the island.
B
Great. It's so funny how these are kind of archetypes because I'm like, I didn't watch his season, but I watched this one and I go, kind of could be an exact storyline from this season.
A
That's what I was gonna say is that with this last season of Love Island, I feel like the people were extremely unpure of heart. And I don't feel that way about Robb. Like, I don't feel like he was there for like just clout or something. Whereas I felt like people on this past season of Love island were like, truly there with like the most evil intentions of all time. Yeah, yeah. But now I'm like find myself in a place of like, kind of like shipping him.
B
And Mora, she's like an interesting little character to me. I don't. I don't know her at all.
A
Oh, my God. I.
B
Was she on his season?
A
No, no, no, no, no.
B
Oh, okay, okay, okay.
A
She was on basically like the equivalent of the UK versions season that Rob was on, if that makes sense. Like the breakout season from uk, but it was a long time ago.
B
She's really funny to me.
A
When I think of like a bombshell, it's like Maura, she came in and like turned everyone's head and was like. She introduced myself and I think many Americans to the term fanny flutters, which is amazing.
B
Oh, God. Yeah.
A
And she was just like so funny and just legit iconic and amazing. And now because of her a list status on Love island, she does the after show stuff. So I think that's how she and Rob know each other is like, I'm sure just from the greater Love island cinematic universe. But I think also she would do post show interviews with people and stuff.
B
Like that and see her seeing him in the castle was an example where I was like, Rob is such on a different planet because she went up to him and she was like, oh my gosh. Hi. I didn't expect you here. Oh my God, this is so Crazy Love Island. And he's like, yeah, cool.
A
I know.
B
I was like, this is hell. It's hell to get this man to like sort of engage. But I think that's really perfect because you see a person like Michael Rapoport, for example, getting really emotional and really indignant at anything and really defensive and then you go, that is such a big target on that person. Just in this game.
A
It's so crazy to me to like come in with such a nasty energy about you.
B
Him yelling shame a bunch of times when they like sort of put a coffin in his thing. I was like, okay, he's a really interesting character.
A
Yeah, I know. And I guess it is kind of like what you were saying earlier raised these questions of are you just playing a really high level game of being a chaos agent or are you. What to me seems more likely. Oftentimes it's like you really just can't help yourself, which, like, respect and it might keep you in.
B
Yeah. When you're in the game, you have to be like, is this person just, even if they're good, adding so much chaos that it's not worth it? Or is it like, ah, this is a great shield for me to be able to actually do some gameplay because everybody's looking at Michael.
A
Yeah.
B
So he's an interesting character. And then, yeah, you have super emotional Michael Rappaport and then you have like, completely devoid of emotions. Rob R. And like, trying to get everybody on the same page is really interesting. I also love Tiffany. She's playing a really under the radar game. But I, like, watched her Big Brother season and I think she's really smart.
A
Okay.
B
I think she was on the challenge a few times too. She's just really smart and really good at, like, making connections.
A
I feel like I haven't been tapped into Tiffany's game because I didn't know who she was. But I'm excited to see where she takes us.
B
Yeah.
A
I have legit been loving Ron Funches.
B
Ron is really sweetie, isn't he?
A
I know.
B
Yeah. He's just really something.
A
He is. The edit he is getting is scaring me, but I do really root for him. And he is extremely pure of heart, in my opinion.
B
And I love that he's obsessed with Donna Kelce. He's like, I can't.
A
I know. He's like, that's my queen.
B
He's obsessed with Donna Kelce because I guess him and Travis did some show together or something. That's what Donna Kelce said. And so he refuses to even shoot any blanks her direction. Even though Donna Kelsey is proving to be perhaps a little useless at strategy games. With love in my heart, I'm sure she's amazing at so many other things, but she's proving to be a little bit like, yeah, I don't know. I haven't talked to anybody.
A
Yeah, it's like. Okay, so the whole point is that you do have to talk to people, but no worries. I'll be in with you later. Okay. Well, I think we've said it all.
B
I know I'm excited to be watching. I'm excited to hopefully break this down a few more times for the Hatch audience.
A
I know there's a lot to say. This has made me, obviously wish that there was a new episode that I could watch right now. But it will come eventually. And in the meantime, I guess I'll just. I guess I'll just sleep until the new episode comes out.
B
I think I'm gonna do the same and I will talk to you next time. Good night, Sophia.
A
Good night, KP.
B
Sam.
A
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Podcast Summary: The Nightly – “How We’d Improve The Traitors” (January 15, 2026)
In this cozy, late-night chat, hosts Sophia and KP unwind in the “Hatch Pillow Fort” to dissect the new season of the reality competition show The Traitors. Delivered with warmth, affection, and an eye for both gaming mechanics and cast drama, the duo discusses what makes the show so addictive—and how they’d tweak the format to make it even better. The conversation is part slumber party gossip, part pop culture critique, and offers a light, playful take ideal for pop culture lovers winding down at night.
This episode of The Nightly is warm, inviting, and satisfyingly nerdy about reality TV. Sophia and KP blend affectionate roasting of contestants with thoughtful suggestions for how to tweak the format, making listeners feel like they’re in on a late-night group chat. Pop culture references, witty asides, and a dash of chaos keep it fun and accessible—perfect for winding down or catching up on all things The Traitors.
Recommendation:
If you enjoy thoughtful, funny, and low-key discussions about reality TV game mechanics, cast archetypes, and all things pop culture, this episode is a perfect, bedtime-friendly listen.