The Nightly from Hatch Podcasts

Episode: Is Garlic Self-Cleaning? Plus Curling Trivia w/ Jo Firestone
Date: February 8, 2026
Host(s): Matt & Josh
Special Guest: Jo Firestone (comedian, writer, actor)

Episode Overview

A delightfully cozy and whimsical late-night conversation designed to help listeners wind down. This episode features the hilarious Jo Firestone joining Matt and Josh in the "Hatch pillow fort" for a meandering chat about sleep routines, the curious properties of garlic (is it self-cleaning?), the invention of the term "anti grombolio," and a riotous curling trivia quiz. Unwinding is the name of the game, with plenty of playful banter and pop culture tangents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jo’s Nighttime Routine & Audiobooks

(00:57–03:12)

• Jo shares her sleep strategy: listening to audiobooks in bed until she falls asleep, inevitably missing large parts of the plot.
  • Jo: “I fall asleep for some of it. Miss a lot of plots.” (01:21)
  • The book she currently listens to is The Perfect Marriage ("but perfect is crossed out, so I don't know what it's called" (02:13)), finding herself lost in its mysteries because of missed sections.
• She notes the unique 3 am bathroom trip as "a really special time for me and my body." (01:37)
• The group jokes about audiobooks needing "Previously on…" recaps for sleepy listeners.
  • Matt: "I suppose every book is a whodunit if you sleep enough through it." (03:12)
• Josh reveals that Hatch’s own “Hatch Classics” audiobooks offer recaps at the start of each segment (03:43).

Memorable Moment:

• On sleep-missing plot points:
  • Jo: “If I rewind, I'm gonna sleep through the same part.” (02:57)

2. Kitchen Gadgets & The "Anti Grombolio” Debate

(04:14–13:31)

• Matt vents about garlic presses: "I actually think the garlic press is a huge step back in terms of the evolution of man. They're really hard to clean." (05:02–05:10)
• The group wonders: If nothing but garlic goes through it, and garlic is considered clean, does it even need washing?
• Jo attempts to recall a term for garlic’s supposed powers, inventing the nonsense word "anti grombolio," leading to an extended comedic riff:
  • Jo: "Garlic’s one of those things that anti grill grombolio." (05:21)
• They try to deduce the real word (antimicrobial, antithrombotic), but Jo persists: “Garlic self-cleans. That’s what I thought … like an oven.” (07:27–07:44)
• The group applies the concept of "anti grombolio" to hair (not washing, self-cleaning oils), ovens, noses (“You never have to… be told to brush your nose.” (09:28)), and more, spinning a whole pseudo-science.
• The “anti grombolio” theme becomes an inside joke and a listener challenge:
  • Josh: “If you have any kind of feedback about the word anti grombolio … we won’t tell Joe that part, but if it would help me and Matt to feel validated…” (13:16–13:31)

Notable Quotes:

• Matt: “From now on, I’m just gonna assume that everything is anti grombolio.” (08:02)
• Jo: “Every guest has the right to make a little mess, and you guys gotta mop it up.” (08:31)
• Josh: “We really like always write into us with any kind of sleep related inquiries, feedback, but especially about what is or isn’t anti grombolio.” (13:40)

3. Curling Trivia Showdown

(14:09–20:18)

Setup

• Matt proposes a special quiz in honor of the Winter Olympics: Curling! All agree that their knowledge is sketchy at best.
  • Jo: “So right now I’m thinking it’s bobsled. But then I thought, well, that would be called bobsled. … And I’m back to kind of zero.” (14:51)
• Matt describes curling basics (“slide a 40 pound granite stone down the ice to a big bullseye” (15:19)).

Trivia Questions (with Answers & Reactions)

• Q1: How old is the oldest curling stone ever found?
  • Guesses range from 300 to 15,000 years. Answer: Year 1511 (so ~500 years old).
  • Jo: “I’m gonna say 15,000. 15,000 for me.” (Then graciously cedes the point) (16:28–17:04)
• Q2: What do they call the bullseye-shaped target at each end of a curling sheet?
  • Guesses: “the hoodie,” “the pad,” “the target” — Correct answer: "the house".
  • Josh: “Of course.” (17:45)
• Q3: What is the action of sliding a stone towards the target called?
  • Guesses: “curling,” “hurling,” “sweeping” — Answer: "throwing". (Curling is technically the spin to make it curve.)
• Q4: What is broomstacking?
  • Wild guesses: a team huddle, a protest maneuver, multi-person sweeping.
  • Answer: Drinking together after the game.
  • Matt: “That is nice. And with that, I think it’s about time we all went broomstacking.” (20:13)

Notable Moment:

• Jo: “Can you imagine the atmosphere of this pub after all these questions? Brutal.” (19:00)

4. Wind-Down, Plugs, and Goodnight Messages

(20:18–end)

• Jo plugs her audiobook:
  • Jo: “I have an audiobook called Murder on Sex Island and you could miss all kinds of information if you go to sleep to that.” (20:36)
• Josh jokes about her sequel, “Sex on Murder Island,” (“Are all the words in the book the same, just in a different order?” (21:01)).
• Final tradition: Jo says goodnight to producer Harry, who prepared the merciless trivia (“they were demoralizing, and I just don't understand why they were so hard.” (21:19)).

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Jo: “Every guest has the right to make a little mess, and you guys gotta mop it up. That’s the rule.” (08:31)
• Matt: “From now on, I’m just gonna assume that everything is anti grombolio.” (08:02)
• Jo: “You never have to to be told to brush your nose.” (09:28)
• Josh: “We really like always write into us with ... what is or isn’t anti grombolio and in fact whether that’s a thing at all.” (13:40)
• Matt: “That is nice. And with that, I think it’s about time we all went broomstacking.” (20:13)

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|---------------| | Jo’s Sleep Routine Chat | 00:57–03:12 | | Audiobook Recaps & Hatch Classics | 03:23–04:11 | | Garlic Press, "Self-Cleaning" Concept | 04:14–07:00 | | “Anti Grombolio” Wordplay | 07:03–13:31 | | Curling Trivia Contest | 14:09–20:18 | | Goodnight Messages & Wrap-up | 20:18–end |

Tone & Style

Playful, witty, and conversational—this episode oozes late-night, sleepover vibes, heavy on gentle humor and silly improvisation. Listeners are drawn in for a light-hearted, cozy escape, with moments of nostalgia and camaraderie.

For Listeners

• Don't forget to write in about "anti grombolio," your sleep routines, or any feedback: thenightly@hatch.co
• Consider checking out Hatch Classics or Jo Firestone's audiobook Murder on Sex Island for your own bedtime listening.