I Took Two Ferries to Get Here w/ Alison Leiby

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Nightly – “I Took Two Ferries to Get Here” w/ Alison Leiby

Date: June 10, 2026
Hosts: Josh Gondelman & Alison Leiby
Theme: Cozy, humorous late-night conversation centering on ferries and waterway transportation in New York City, with personal anecdotes, playful banter, and summer dreams.

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Nightly is a lighthearted, bedtime-friendly discussion about boats—specifically, ferries in New York City. Guest co-host Alison Leiby joins Josh Gondelman to reminisce about ferry rides, share amusing travel stories, debate the merits of boat names, and celebrate the whimsical spirit of public transportation as only comedians can. The episode is designed as a calming, relatable nighttime listen, blending gentle social commentary with personal vignettes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Joys & Quirks of NYC Ferries

• Ferry as Preferred Transit
  • Alison declares ferries her favorite mode of public transportation, despite their infrequent schedule and unpredictability.
    • “It's finally ferry weather in New York City and that is my favorite mode of public transportation, if I could possibly use one.” (00:51, Alison)
  • The pair discuss the logistics and occasional chaos of relying on ferries instead of subways or buses.
    • “It is an untenable, like, maritime chaos machine.” (01:07, Alison)
    • “But, you know, the ferries don't come nearly as often, and they are at the whims of the sea.” (01:13, Alison)
• Vacation Vibes
  • Alison reflects on how ferry rides feel like mini-vacations, especially when commuting isn’t time-sensitive.
    • “It’s like a mini vacation... I'm having a beer on the ferry, standing on the back, just kind of enjoying the warm weather.” (03:23, Alison)
  • Josh shares that ferry commutes tend to be leisure-oriented, except for the iconic Staten Island Ferry.
    • “I associate a ferry generally with, like, a leisure commute...” (04:41, Josh)

2. Pandemic Travel Stories & NYC Moments

• COVID-Era Ferry Adventure
  • Alison narrates a convoluted journey during fall 2020, using two ferries and a long walk to avoid the subway for a Central Park comedy show.
    • "It was like a four hour sojourn... I was like, am I an American girl doll? There’s like a little dotted line map showing your travel route." (06:27, Alison)
    • “By the time I got to the show, I was just like, I’ve been on two boats today... a real Covid New York moment.” (07:11, Alison)
  • Josh jokes about the extreme length and uniqueness of such a commute.
    • “I took a ferry to a ferry to a two mile walk. That’s one of the most deranged.” (07:20, Josh)

3. The Art & Science of Being a Boat Person

• Dreaming of Nautical Careers
  • Alison and her friend considered working on the ferries during pandemic downtime.
    • “We both were like, should we work on the ferry? I started looking into what job could I have... I could do it. Not a captain, but I could be on it.” (08:44, Alison)
  • They discuss how docking a ferry might be akin to parallel parking.
    • “I was really good at parallel parking and I just feel like that skill translates.” (10:44, Alison)
    • “Do you feel like you’ve still got it with parallel parking?” (10:53, Josh)

4. Ferry Naming: Whimsy and Wisdom

• Charming Ferry Names
  • Alison shares that NYC ferries are named by second-grade classes, yielding names like “Fairy Godmother,” “Tooth Fairy,” “Friendship,” and “Lunchbox.”
    • “My favorite one is Lunchbox, which I think is a great name for a ferry.” (14:37, Alison)
• Boat Name Humor Debate
  • The hosts agree the “Boaty McBoatface” trend is overblown, especially when adults run with kids’ jokes.
    • “I have a bone to pick with clever boat namers in that I’m going to come out anti Boaty McBoatface...” (17:17, Josh)
    • “Adults need to be more discerning… Lunchbox, Friendship, Tooth Fairy–these are real.” (17:52, Alison)

5. Transport Infrastructure Wish List

• New Yorker Beach Day Fantasies
  • The two lament the lack of direct, efficient summer transport options to NYC beaches.
    • “There should just be like a direct train... that just is a straight shot.” (16:25, Alison)
    • “I agree. Like a hub. You get on and then the train just goes—whoosh—one stop. Right to the beach.” (16:35, Josh)
  • Returning home from the beach is the worst part, as carrying wet clothes and bags adds to the misery.
    • “It’s coming home, it’s coming back... you get a bag of wet stuff.” (17:02, Josh)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ferries and the river:

  • "The rivers are the roads of water, though." (04:05, Josh)
  • "Rivers really are the roads of water. We always say that." (04:10, Alison)

• On COVID-era commutes:

  • "I was like, am I an American girl doll? There’s like a little dotted line map showing your travel route." (06:49, Alison)

• On boat jobs:

  • "I'm the captain now. And it's just me and like a life vest at the ferry." (09:28, Alison)

• On ferry names:

  • "One of them is just called Friendship, and it’s my favorite one." (14:20, Alison)
  • "My favorite one is Lunchbox, which I think is a great name for a ferry." (14:37, Alison)

• Banter on modern adult humor:

  • “Adults need to be more discerning because I think this was like British Ferry or something, Right? …as a comedy writer, I'm like, cute, but not as funny as people are giving it credit for.” (17:52, Josh)
  • "Lunchbox Friendship, Tooth Fairy. Like, what kind of code are you trying to crack?" (18:39, Josh)

• Sending the show out on a cozy note:

  • “I would like to say goodnight to you, Alison. Goodnight to all the listeners, and I’d like to send a warm and cozy good night out to Lunchbox, the boat.” (19:07, Josh)
  • “And I would also say goodnight to all of the second graders who named the ferries and Friendship, which is one of my favorites.” (19:25, Alison)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:51] – Why ferries are the best (Alison's perspective)
• [03:23] – Ferries as mini-vacations and leisure commutes
• [06:27] – Pandemic-era ferry commute story (Alison)
• [08:44] – Considering working on the ferry
• [10:44] – Docking a ferry vs. parallel parking
• [14:20] – Favorite ferry names from NYC second graders
• [17:17] – Anti-Boaty McBoatface rant
• [19:07] – Heartfelt goodnights and final ferry shout-outs

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Tone & Flow

The episode maintains a sleepy, whimsical, and comedic tone, with both hosts trading stories and light jokes, ideal for nighttime listening. Their style is conversational, warm, and often self-deprecating, full of affectionate New Yorker complaints and gentle nostalgia.

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For New Listeners: Why Listen?

Whether you miss New York, crave vacation vibes, or just love gentle, witty banter about offbeat topics, this episode is a charming, relatable bedtime companion. Don't miss the delightfully named boats and the spirit of summer in the city.

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Summary by The Nightly Podcast Summarizer
(Contact: [e-mail] | More info: hatch.co)

Transcript

[A]

Audio for sleep by hatch.

[B]

Hello and good evening everyone. I'm Josh.

[A]

And I'm Alison. Welcome to the nightly from Hatch where your late night thoughts go to rest

[B]

again this summer we've got lots of cool and exciting guests coming in to co host in the pillow fort and I'm so glad to be co hosting this week with my friend Allison Leiby.

[A]

Josh, tonight I want to talk to you about boats.

[B]

I would love for that to happen

[A]

because it's finally ferry weather in New York City and that is my favorite mode of public transportation, if I could possibly use one.

[B]

How often are you able to take the ferry in your regular life?

[A]

I mean, not often because it is an untenable like maritime chaos machine. Not that like the subway runs on a schedule or anything like that, but like, or the buses like stick to their schedule. But you know, the ferries don't come nearly as often and they are at the whims of the sea.

[B]

Yeah, Poseidon.

[A]

Yeah, exactly. But I do like, I feel like if I don't have like a time, I need to be somewhere or like a thing that requires me to be like looking a certain way. Like I like, I'll walk down to the Dumbo ferry and then take it up usually to like Greenpoint or Williamsburg because those are like inaccessible to me. Sometimes via the train anyway.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

It's such a nice way to get around New York City.

[B]

Yeah. So for people that don't know, there is like a ferry system that is part of the New York public transit, as you alluded to. And it goes mostly from like Brooklyn into Manhattan. Queens to Manhattan.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then Brooklyn to Brooklyn, like you were saying. So there's like along the east river that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn and Queens.

[A]

Yeah. South Brooklyn to central Brooklyn to North Brooklyn to Queens to the Upper east side even.

[B]

We have a friend who commutes to work via ferry when the weather allows.

[A]

Yes, yes.

[B]

Our friend Robert is like a big time ferry taker.

[A]

He's a real boat guy.

[B]

Loves the sea and river.

[A]

Loves the sea. Yeah. Bodies of water. I think he's a big fan. As am I.

[B]

Same. We also have a group text. It's the two of us, Robert, Maris, my wife, and our friend Lindsay. I think it's just the five of us. That's just for talking about when we see depictions or actual lighthouses in the world.

[A]

Yes, yes. Or even just kind of like a passing reference to one I feel like is enough because you know, how often are we as, as city dwelling folk coming across lighthouses.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's just like, the time of year where I'm like, get me on a boat. I just love being on a boat.

[B]

Like, what are you looking forward to about it?

[A]

It's like a mini vacation. And obviously, a lot of times when I'm taking the ferry, I'm taking it to go to my friend Natasha's backyard for a barbecue in Greenpoint. So it's like I'm having a beer on the ferry. I'm standing on the back, just kind of enjoying the warm weather. I don't know. If I was forced to commute via boat in the dead of winter to work, I would be, like, thrilled.

[B]

Like a crab fisher.

[A]

Yeah. Ice road. No, I was gonna say ice road. Truckers, but that's literally the opposite of a boat.

[B]

Yeah. First of all, a truck. Second of all, ice. Not the opposite of liquid water, but

[A]

not the same, but a contrast for sure. And then road.

[B]

Road, not river. The rivers are the roads of water, though.

[A]

Rivers really are the roads of water. We always say that.

[B]

Yeah,

[A]

we're always saying that.

[B]

We are always saying that.

[A]

I think it's like. But it is like a vacation.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't. Like, we live in New York where, like, we are not far from water at any given time. Wherever we are in the city for the most part, like, where you and I go especially. But, like, I don't get to see it very often. Like, you're not really, like, on it, in it, around it as often as, like, how close you are to it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If that makes sense.

[B]

And I also associate. I'm with you that I associate a ferry generally with, like, a leisure commute, like, to a place that is vacation y Or like. Yeah, you're not in a time crunch on the ferry. The exception, I guess, for me is the Staten island ferry, which goes from Manhattan to Staten island, of course. And it is the kind of, like, classic New York City travel hack for if you want to see the Statue of Liberty but don't want to pay to go there. As you can look at it from the Staten island ferry, But I used to take it every once in a while to do stand up on Staten island when I would get invited to do that.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And that was always, like, not the ferry itself, but the idea of, like, they only run every half an hour. I have to be there to serve. I don't want to be at the show an hour and a half early. So I have to, like, really time it to make sure I get on

[A]

the ferry that I want in, like, fall of 2020, when there were some outside comedy shows popping up. And I was doing an outside taping in the fall.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

And I was trying to find whatever outdoor shows. And I'm deathly afraid of heights, so I refused to do those rooftop ones where you climb up the fire escape.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

But I got booked on one in Central park and I was really uncomfortable. I wasn't comfortable on the subway. This is pre vaccination. And we were still like, what is the safest way to move about? And I was like, I can afford, like, I can, like, spring for a car home. But I didn't want to take a car each way and be like, I guess I'll spend $150 to go do 10 minutes of standup in a field like a cow at night.

[B]

Like Deborah Vance herself.

[A]

Like Deborah Vance herself if people are

[B]

current on the TV show hacks.

[A]

So I was like, okay, well, like, I mean, the ferry does go to 96th street, and like, I could take. But I had to take like two boats and walk like two miles or like three miles. I was like, it was like a four hour sojourn for me to get. Like. I was like, am I an American girl doll? Like, what if I.

[B]

There's like a little dotted line map showing your travel route.

[A]

And then like, I stopped for a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe at one point, because I was like, I need to break this up. Like, I gave myself like the whole afternoon to get up there, but it was just like, by the time I got to the show, I was just like, I've been on two boats today because I had to transfer to the one that goes to 96th. And it was just a really. I was like, this is a real Covid New York moment. Just being like, I guess I'll take two boats to the park.

[B]

That's so funny, though, because under so few circumstances would you elect to commute that way? Like, I took a ferry to A ferry to a two mile walk.

[A]

Yeah, that's one of the most deranged. I was like, I should have just gotten on the subway. What was.

[B]

It was fine to get me to do that commute. I think now in 2026, it would have to be like, okay, it's the only way to get to this small Italian island where it looks like the sunset is coming directly out of the water in front of you by some optical illusion.

[A]

Yes. And you're going for free. And the food is incredible. And it's like the white lotus, but, you know, without any dangers.

[B]

I know always a danger at those White Lotus properties.

[A]

I know a lot of danger.

[B]

I don't think I've ever been on a vacation where I felt that kind of peril.

[A]

No, the most is just like the restaurant we wanted to go to is closed.

[B]

Yeah, totally.

[A]

I also like, I think that they have the best unhinged social media of any.

[B]

They do a really good job.

[A]

Government or like municipal. Like it is like still public transportation. Like I don't know what like 27 year old is running it who's just doing a bang up job. But it's so good.

[B]

It's like a very Microsoft paint, like JPEG aesthetic, clip art. It's really fun.

[A]

Yeah. Everything's really overcrowded with a lot of graphics and they tackle trends really well. They know which TikTok and, and Instagram trends are like, for them. I Also, in 2020, when we weren't working on anything and Natasha, my friend who's a pastry chef, was also not working. We both were like, should we work on the ferry? I started looking into what job could I have. We're both like, I'm a boat person. I grew up with boats, so I'm just like, I could do it. Not a captain, but I could be on it.

[B]

You could be a captain.

[A]

I think that would take some training.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean like, not now, but like you, you have it in you.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. I can't just walk out and be like, let me drive the ship.

[B]

I'm the captain now. As they say.

[A]

I'm the captain. Yes, I'm the captain now. And it's just me and like a life vest at the ferry.

[B]

I wonder what kind of ferry certification because especially like the, the trips I bet are very easy and routine for the most part. But when you're at sea, you want someone prepared for like, oh, it's a little choppy, you know.

[A]

Yeah. Weird stuff happens on the East River. Like there's like that jet ski parade that happens and there's always like somewhat like there's lots of people who also don't know what they're doing that end up traveling up and down the East River. Like I feel like it would be more like, you know, it's the other drivers that are, that are the danger, not me. That's right, not me. I think the ferry's probably pretty easy to drive. I think I could dock it.

[B]

Do you think you could dock it like today?

[A]

I think if you gave me a weekend.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I could figure it out.

[B]

God, I wish there was a Way that we could settle this bed.

[A]

I know. Call Zoran.

[B]

Can you? Yeah. Miram. Daddy, will you let Alison drive the ferry for a week so she learns how to park to see if we can settle a bet?

[A]

You'd be like, no, absolutely. Absolutely not. And you guys have to move.

[B]

You can't live in this city anymore.

[A]

Cause I was really good at parallel parking and I just feel like that skill translates.

[B]

You said was really good at parallel parking. I know you don't.

[A]

Oh, I just don't have a car anymore.

[B]

But do you feel like you've still got it with parallel parking?

[A]

I think I still got it. I haven't done it in a minute. Cause I haven't driven in a couple of years where I've needed to then parallel park in the city. But when I was growing up, when I was going to rowing practice every day, it was in downtown Annapolis and we had to park on the street and we had to parallel park. It was like there was no parking lot. So like I parallel parked every single day for four years. Gabe Bragg, again, I know, was really good at it. Could get into the tiniest little spots.

[B]

Rowing. Totally. Different kind of boat we're talking now.

[A]

Yes, different kind of boat, but also a boat.

[B]

Also a boat. No one would say that it's not a boat. You know what ferry that I always found kind of charming. So Toronto, Canada, Ontario, has one of my favorite cities. I know, it's so good. I love Toronto. They have two airports. Pearson Airport, which is about 30 miles outside the city, I believe. And then Billy Bishop Airport, which is like in the city, but like on its own little tiny island of airports. And then they now have a walkway underneath the body of water. So it's like a five minute walk.

[A]

Yeah, it's like a little bay or something.

[B]

Yeah. But it used to be the only way to get from the airport to the city proper or the mainland, you know, was a ferry. So you'd have to. You would fly in and then you would have to go from plane to boat, to car.

[A]

Car or subway. Yeah.

[B]

And then to unicycle and then skateboard.

[A]

Donkey.

[B]

Donkey piggyback ride.

[A]

I really wanted, when I was in Toronto to take. They do like, there's like a. Not ferry, but a boat like tour of that kind of like body of water, like up and down. And I really wanted to do it, but I was just like afraid because I had shows that night and I was like, what if it goes out to sea? There was like another, you know, like there were like many Sessions you could say yes to. So I was like, I could easily have gone and come back. But I just like, something about it stressed me out with shows.

[B]

I know what you mean. I feel like when there's a show, I always try to pad it out a little more because it's like, even if you're like, oh, there were a couple hours of delays and I went right to the comedy club or the theater or whatever from my excursion. You're dressed strong. You can feel like, oh, my face is still all sunscreen.

[A]

Y Right? Yeah. Or even just like, I don't know. When somebody flies you to another city to do comedy, they're not like, hey, go on a boat all day. First what they want. They're like, could you just be professional and come to the show correctly?

[B]

Don't come in with just off a boat energy. People see it coming.

[A]

Yeah. You know what I think I'd be good at?

[B]

What's that?

[A]

Is naming boats. Ooh. Because for those who don't know, in New York City, one of the public school second grade classes names the fairies, and they all have really good names.

[B]

Like, what are the good names?

[A]

Fairy godmother.

[B]

Fairy godmother's good.

[A]

Tooth fairy.

[B]

Tooth fairy. Okay. I see a pattern emerging. I like it.

[A]

One of them is just called Friendship, and it's my favorite one.

[B]

That's good. That's named after the Paul Rudd Tim Robinson movie.

[A]

Yes. Yes. Second graders love that movie. They like an unsettling vibe.

[B]

I feel like a second grader. That movie is like, you gotta keep your eye on that weird kid.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. And then my favorite one is Lunchbox, which I think is a great name for a ferry.

[B]

Good boat name.

[A]

And it's, like, very fun when you're waiting for the ferry and it comes and then you're like, which one am I getting on?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's always, like, exciting because then there's a handful of others. Like, there's some like East River Rocket. There's a couple others that are like, just don't stick in my brain as easily. But all great names.

[B]

Lunchbox is so good.

[A]

But, like, as a ferry enthusiast, I would say I was like, I'm always taking it by myself, too. I'm never, like, with a group. I'm always just, like, alone, waiting to get on a boat, which is my essence. But it's always like, other people with groups. And once it came and I was just like, lunchbox. I'm so excited to know what to no one. It's like a family of four behind me. Like, what's happening now?

[B]

Is she what? Maris and I have to take the ferry soon because I did a favor for a friend and he, as a thank you gift, got us a spa day at a spa that is only accessible via ferry, which feels very luxurious and I'm very excited for it.

[A]

Yeah, I do love the idea of just like hopping on the ferry to go do something like fun and luxurious. I've taken it out to the rock to the beach a few times, but it's a little bit more of a thing because there's just the one. Like everybody's going to that one.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Versus I'm like, oh, I'm going from this stop to this stop in the middle of the afternoon like a maniac.

[B]

Yeah, but going to the beach, right? Well, Wills and I have talked about this on the nightly before for sure. About how although New York City is a beach town, they and I are both anti commute to the beach.

[A]

There should just be like a direct train that goes from like Penn Station and one that goes from like Barclays or something like that. That just like is a straight shot.

[B]

Yeah, I agree. Like a hub. You get on and then the train just goes whoosh, one stop. Right to the beach.

[A]

Yeah. And it's like 25 minutes. Like, that is something that like, maybe selfishly, because we live in areas that would be accessible to those major hubs, but like, I just feel like it would be so much better than like, you know, 50 stops on the A or whatever it is. And then it's just like coming back. Getting there is not too bad.

[B]

It's coming home, it's coming back. I don't mind. Right. I don't mind going to the beach, but it's just like you got like either your wet or you get a bag of wet stuff.

[A]

Yeah. You got a bag of wet.

[B]

Wet bag.

[A]

Wearing a wet.

[B]

Wait, going back one step in the conversation, we were talking about good fairy names. I think those all the ones you brought up, named by the children of New York City. Tremendous. I have a bone to pick with clever boat namers in that I'm going to come out anti Boaty McBoatface.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

But that was originally children too, right?

[B]

That was children too.

[A]

Yeah. I don't mind that children were like, we like this.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

But adults need to be like, that's not funny.

[B]

Yes. Adults need to be more discerning because I think this was like British Ferry or something, Right. It was in the UK and they. It was like children came up with a variety of names and then adults voted on what this ship would be named, and they ended up with Bodie McBoatface. It was like a big viral story. And as a comedy writer, I'm like, cute, but not as funny as people are giving it credit for.

[A]

Right? Like, if it was just like, the children voted and they were like, they picked this. Yes. That would be very different than adults being like, this is so funny. We gotta go with Boaty McBoatface. Come on. Like, no. Lunchbox Friendship, tooth Fairy. Like, you know, these are real.

[B]

Lunchbox Friendship, Tooth Fairy. Like, what kind of code are you trying to crack? This has really got me looking forward to a summer of taking the ferry at any opportunity I have.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I also, when I go to sleep tonight, I am going to, like, really close my eyes and think about that, like, gentle rocking river wave feeling.

[A]

It is very womb, like.

[B]

Yeah. So before we go tonight, I would like to say goodnight to you, Alison. Goodnight to all the listeners, and I'd like to send a warm and cozy good night out to Lunchbox. The boat shout out to Lunchbox. I hope you sleep well.

[A]

And I'll say goodnight to you, Josh. And I would also say goodnight to all of the second graders who named the fairies and Friendship, which is one of my favorites.

[B]

Keep up the good work, second graders. And keep up the good work, boats. To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch Co. You can also follow us at Hatch Podcasts.