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A
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. All right, I'm Mat.
B
And I'm kp. Welcome to the Nightly from Hatch, where your late night thoughts go to rest. Matt, you just did some big old travel, right? This is the trip we talked about. Exeter Torrington.
A
Yes, that's what. And you, you were, you were too thumb.
B
I was going to. I pushed it by a week because it had just been too much driving and then I kind of hadn't booked anything. So this is where my type B really pays off. It's like if I wait till the last minute to book things, I can move the date at any time. So this is good for me.
A
We went to so much prep though. We did so much work for that.
B
Well, it was good. I mean, now it's all booked. Now it's booked for the right weekend. Everything fell in, I think, where it's supposed to.
A
We'll catch up on that when it happens then. Yes, let us know.
B
How was your exit, Torrington? Did you get to do any of the. We didn't really find that that much for you. Right. But what did you end up doing?
A
If I remember rightly, there wasn't a great deal going on. I think one of the main attractions was the show that I was doing, so I went to that.
B
Good. I hope you made it there.
A
And then after that I did go to somewhere which is a favorite haunt of mine when I'm out that way, which. Do you know Clark's shoes?
B
Yes.
A
So Clark's. A lot of people just see them as like school shoes, office wear. Clark's originals are the best shoes in the world ever, period.
B
I had one pair of Clark's heels and they were so comfortable. Yeah, I mean they were great. Yeah, they're just. I mean they're kind of ugly, but it's like they were good. Just business heels. When I was working in like an office, it was like, okay, these are comfortable. Clarks is good.
A
They know what they do. They know their way around a pair of shoes.
B
They lasted forever too. Uh huh.
A
Mm. They will do. And Clark's originals are like, they're sort of offshoot of Clark's. Liam Gallagher wears a lot of Clark's originals. It's a very sort of rock and rolly shoe.
B
Yeah, I'm looking at the encyclopedia here. It's like a moccasin boat shoe esque looking thing. It's Kind of a, you know, leather. Cool shoe leather.
A
Or I've got a few sort of like corduroy suede. Yeah, they're cool shoes. But there's where they. I think it's where they actually started out. Near Glastonbury, where the old factory was, is now called Clarks Village. And it's like a retail outlet. So discount Clarks. None in my size, which is annoying.
B
That is kind of the thing with the outlets. You are like, you either want really, really ugly versions of the brand you like, or it's size 4 and below.
A
I tried to trick myself into, like, they're not that loose on my foot. That'll be all right. With a thick pair of socks on. That'll. No, no, I did the right thing and put them back.
B
You see? Okay, here's. I fell in love with a pair of shoes this week that I hadn't even heard of. Birkenstock's Renee Magri series. You know, the artist, the surrealist artist Renee Magri.
A
I don't, but I reckon. I guess I might recognize.
B
He's a. He's. I'd say one of my favorite artists. He's like surrealist. He does that. His most famous one is the guy bowler hat. And then he's got a green apple in front of his face.
A
Oh, yes.
B
You know, that one's quite popular. So Birkenstocks, which I find to be some of the most comfortable shoes, I love them. They got the cork bottoms, so your feet kind of make their way a little imprint inside. And then it has just some surrealist cool paintings on the top of these Birkenstocks. Are you seeing them in the encyclopedia?
A
I'm looking at a pair of black Birkenstocks with one eye.
B
Yes.
A
On each toe.
B
Yeah, those are kind of striking. I don't know, those might make me look like a big puppet, like an upside down puppet. So I'm not as interested.
A
I think the thing. The thing with anything like this is I think those Clarks are so cool because I understand what they are and what they represent. People who don't know what they are, you would look at them and go, what. What are they? What are you doing? I feel like that's the same here where if. If there's someone in the know, they'd go, wow, you've got the. The Renee Marguerite Birkenstocks.
B
Yeah. And I think I like a little bit of whimsy on the shoe because generally, clothes wise, I mean, you can get away. I think I've said this a million Times. But it's like you can get away with a boring black outfit if you've got a fun little shoe in the mix. And isn't that just nice if you're spending the money on a whimsical little shoe?
A
I do agree with that.
B
How nice to pep up a boring outfit. So I'm liking these ones that have the sky and the house on them particularly.
A
But yes, I do like them.
B
Actually, I don't. I've really been Cinderella ing my way through a lot of shoes lately. So I kind of just need to make a choice because I did just get. I just got some. What are they? Huaraches. That's what they're called. They're like a leather sandal with straps all on it, kind of closed toed. There is an Adidas huarache, which is like a sneaker.
A
That's what I was thinking.
B
But I'm talking about the Mexican huaraches.
A
Okay. Oh, do you know you can get a chorizo and bean huarache, so maybe
B
that would have been a better investment.
A
That's a statement, isn't it?
B
That does look good. I'm looking at.
A
Is that where it came from though? Because it does look. It's the same shape, isn't it, as the shoe?
B
Yeah, I think it's. I. I mean, I could be so wrong, but I think it directly translates to like sandal. But it's like they named this food after the look of the shoe or vice versa.
A
I see. Okay.
B
So they're both just sort of. Let me look at this. I don't want to say something wrong.
A
That's all right. No one minds on this show. You say what you want.
B
It'll be the first, It'll be the first time I've ever been wrong on this show. So I don't want to start now.
A
It'll be a huge moment.
B
So. Okay. Huaraches in English are sandals. So it's like a footwear with leather straps and then it's an oblong shaped street food. The sandalwear seemed to have come first, originating in pre Columbian Mexico centuries ago. And then the food was only 1930s. Okay, well, so that's a clear answer.
A
I don't know. It's a weird thing to name a food after a shoe.
B
I bet there's other such cases. Like you get a boot of beer you can get.
A
But that is still a novelty, isn't it?
B
Yeah, that is.
A
I went. I went welly wanging once.
B
Sorry. Are you allowed to say that on the air?
A
Wanging It's a journey.
B
What is it?
A
Welly wanging with a G is. It's sort of popularized village fates and that kind of thing. You take a Wellington boot. You like a rubber boot.
B
Okay. Yeah, yeah.
A
Throw it as far as you can. The winner is the person who throws the boot the furthest.
B
Okay. Wow. Now, this is the type of sport that I like to see. Now, can you just do this? Like, could you set this up at a picnic? Could you just be like, y', all, should we do some wellywanging? Or. It's like, okay, nobody wants to do that. If you suggested it, would your friends be like, oh, it's.
A
Yeah. It's not the kind of thing you could whip out at a barbecue necessarily.
B
Right.
A
Also, if you're doing it in public, you have got to kind of be careful around because obviously throwing a welly at somebody is technically a criminal offense.
B
Wow. Yeah. Assault with a deadly welly.
A
A funny one, but you would still get in trouble.
B
I'd hate to have to get that hospital bill. I got hit with a rubber boot really hard and I have to pay a thousand dollars.
A
So embarrassing.
B
I have to ask, have you welly wunged.
A
Welly wanged? Ah, I think would be the.
B
The past.
A
Yeah, past tense.
B
Have you ever wellywung wanged?
A
I've wanged. Not for a long time.
B
Sure.
A
It was always. I don't know, I feel like in. In England, welly wang is always sort of on the periphery, particularly. I mean, maybe not so much anymore, but it was every, like, village fete or fundraiser or something in the summer. Because the thing is, the barrier to entry for wellywaging is quite low.
B
You must just have a welly.
A
You've got to have a welly and arms. That's not even necessarily.
B
I'm sure there's a way. I'm sure there's a way. Okay, is this. Well, this feels like. I like a game where it's just throw. We have, you know, bocce. I was into bocce a few summers ago. Bocce ball's a fun one. It's just you throw the little white ball and then you have different colored larger balls, and you just try and get the larger balls as close to the little ball as you can. It's that simple.
A
Okay. Like sort of like bowls.
B
But yeah, I'm sure it's probably the same. I mean, it kind of feels like ancient sports vibes where it's like, I don't know, throw something.
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
Maybe we just throw it and score it.
A
Have you ever thought about throwing a shoe at it?
B
If there's a thing people have thought about how they can throw it and score that later, it is.
A
I quite like the primitiveness of it.
B
Yeah, it's.
A
Yeah, it's a joyous thing. Wellywanging.
B
Yeah. And it reminds me that we don't need a lot to be entertained. I mean, obviously, you know, we have now VR headsets and every sort of thing to keep us entertained. But it goes. Sometimes all you have is a rain boot and a dream.
A
Exactly. Think of our ancestors. Put yourself in their shoes and then throw that shoe. Take them off and throw.
B
There it is. There it is.
A
There it is. I still can't find another sort of shoe that you could put food in.
B
Now, the boot of beer. I mean, sandals and crocs, they don't really do anything with those slippers.
A
Winklepicker's one of my favorite shoes.
B
Winklepig.
A
Winkle pickers are pointy shoes. Not to a hilarious degree, but, like, wearably pointy. They're sort of like a work shoe that just comes to a single point. And they were pretty popular in, I want to say, like, the 1950s. It was like quite a Teddy Boy thing in the uk, but they're still popular in some places.
B
Oh, those are cool.
A
That could sit you in a winklepick, I reckon.
B
Yeah. Speaking of interesting shoes, these are a favorite of mine. If you haven't heard of Mexican pointy boots, I think you're gonna like this. This is some cowboys in Mexico. They have some pointy, pointy boots. And I'm talking pointy up to the shoulders.
A
Oh. I mean, that's like. That's extreme winkle picking, isn't it?
B
Exactly. It looks like a winkle. It's like a cowboy boot. But then the toe. Some of the toes, you can go all the way up. Kind of loops as tall as your shoulders.
A
Yeah. I can see a picture here of a fella in a very natty white hat, white jacket, white trousers.
B
Yes. He's awesome.
A
And he's like. He's skiing. He's got the front of his shoes in his hands.
B
These are very cool. Yeah. Well, I have my own desert things that I was trying to figure out this week also. And maybe with the talk of cowboy boots, you can help me decide what is some fun things to do, because I still have this Tucson trip coming up, to be honest, and there's still one or two elements that I'm deciding between.
A
Okay. Last time we spoke about that, the top thing that I think you have to go to is the miniatures.
B
Yes, Miniatures is on the list. Miniatures is happening.
A
Great. As long as that's locked in. Definitely.
B
Miniatures is locked in. I think there is. Now the big question is, like, I've looked and there's a lot of ATV rentals.
A
Quad bikes.
B
Yeah, yeah. Like side by sides and dirt bikes and ATVs. And it does seem really quite fun. But then I think after driving all the way to get somewhere. Isn't an ATV just sort of more driving or is it so different? Because it's like a different part of the brain. What do you think?
A
It depends how you drive normally, I suppose. How reckless are you?
B
I'm not rolling the car much.
A
In that case,
B
I'm not rolling the car much. I'm not sort of putting some big dust in the air. That's not usually what's going on.
A
You normally stick to the actual asphalt roads.
B
If all goes well. Yeah. Parking, that's a different story. I'm usually hitting some curbs on that. That's fine though.
A
That's fine.
B
I'm going off road.
A
I reckon that's different enough. So what's it against specifically if you drop the atv, what's the other option?
B
Well, I was thinking just sort of like a beautiful thrifting day, you know. That's my favorite thing in the world.
A
But that is your. Speaking of which, before we move on with that.
B
Yeah.
A
What is the update with the mammoth amount of chess boards. That you bought from the Goodwill auction?
B
Yes, the chessboard saga has finished. For those of you that don't remember, I had a really horrible brief addiction to Goodwill auction website. And I was bidding on five different chessboards for my boyfriend's birthday. He only needs one. So it was a really stressful week for me. But we have great news, folks. I only had to buy two.
A
That is a real result.
B
I only had to buy two. Two chess boards. They made it to me. The one that I was like, okay, this one is a good simple chessboard. This is. You can see the pieces. Easy. They're not so vintage you can use them all. That one worked perfect. Already used it. Played a game of chess. I lost, but it's broken. Then it's missing one pawn. Isn't that a bummer?
A
That's a real bummer.
B
But I think at the library they have free 3D printers.
A
Wow.
B
I'm picturing I can go to the library. I'm sure they already have a file for just a classic sized pawn. And print that right Out.
A
What a time to be alive.
B
I know. I've never used one. I'm very, you know, not tech savvy, so I haven't found a need in my head for a 3D printed item, but this seems like a perfect start to that.
A
This is the perfect scenario. Yeah. Is there. So there's no recourse on Goodwill's end for this. Was it mentioned in the listing at all?
B
No, but it came a bunch of other games, so I don't think they were even checking them. And the other games were. And I think I said this. A Pop Tart card game. Did I say this?
A
Yes, the Pop Tart card game.
B
I opened that one up. That was sealed. So that's a brand new game. I opened that one up. Would you believe it's the most complicated game I've ever read? I don't think anyone buying a Pop Tarts game was ready for multiple booklet. Like, this was like 13 pages of instructions for this game.
A
So they really thought people were gonna commit to this. I'm gonna spend a weekend playing the Pop Tart card game.
B
Real game lovers. Real in the weeds. Strategic game lovers were gonna be like, now, did you see the one on Pop Tarts, though? We need to get that one for our game night. And I love games and I think I follow them quite well. I was lost. I was really lost. There's four different types of cards. So there's like, okay, there was Pop Tarts, obviously, of course, but then there was sort of the toasters. There's different types of toasters, so I assumed those would come into play refrigerators. And then there was like metal foil cards. I know. And then it took like the whole table to set up. I didn't even get to the playing part because I was like, okay, that's enough. I need to put my foot down. But it took up like half the table. It's like you had to have 12 decks going at once.
A
So did you. Is that. Is that it now for the Pop Tart game? Have you got rid of it? Or is it something that you think you might get the feeling for down the line?
B
I think there would be some fun in me documenting how difficult it is for me to learn this. There could be just some fun for my personal enjoyment.
A
Could you do it like. Like patience? Could you play the Pop Tart game on your own?
B
Yes, yes, I think so.
A
We could just see your slow descent into complete insanity if you just film it all.
B
That's what I'm thinking is I'm really gonna try My hardest. I get locked in a room for 24 hours and all I can do is play Pop Tart game.
A
Perfect.
B
Yeah. And eat pop Tarts. That's my only sustenance.
A
Yes. Yeah, of course.
B
That could be good.
A
Yeah.
B
So that was another one of the games, and then it had another chessboard. So this was the second chessboard that came with. It was a vintage carrying case, one that I think you looked at. It had a dragon on the.
A
That was my favorite one, wasn't it? I think. Yeah.
B
So I had that one. And it's very cool. It looks really delightful. It's definitely old. Like, the pieces are sort of barely holding on. So it needs just a little tlc. I honestly just need to kind of wash it a little bit with some dish soap and get it. Get it ready for playing because as of now, it almost feels too fragile to play.
A
Yes, I can imagine.
B
And that's no fun, but that's great.
A
That's really in the spirit of goodwill thrifting, isn't it? You get it.
B
Yes.
A
Clean it up.
B
And I've been off the site all week, so I want to say thank you to any listeners that intervened and outbid me on chess boards. You did me a huge favor if you did that. I hope you enjoy the chessboard because I have no room for it. I hope you are playing that marble chessboard that turned out to be $64, because I really. I really was not going to have a good time if I had to be on the hook for that.
A
No, you really, for those listeners that did get involved with that, you have done a massive favor there to kp. And she is seemingly in recovery now.
B
Yeah, I'm shaking. My hand is shaky from being away from Goodwill auction site this week.
A
These chess sets. Because it wasn't for you. This was for your boyfriend. These chess sets.
B
Correct. And he liked it.
A
He did like it.
B
He did like it. Yes. He really enjoyed it. He's now kept one at my house and one at his. So that way we have a chess set wherever we go.
A
Excellent. Who's got custody of the Pop Tart game?
B
I currently do. And it's weird. I've been putting it out to the trash can and it keeps coming back right next to my pillow every night. It's haunted. I love that there's some sort of cosmic connection between me and this game now where I must figure it out. This is the thing where it's like. Well, also, and this is a tangent. I feel as if card deck building games have been getting Very repopular. Or maybe I'm just hearing more about it, but I feel like a lot of my friends are playing these Pokemon games again. Or Yu Gi. Oh. Or the Gathering.
A
Pokemon is bizarrely huge now.
B
Yeah, it's huge again. I mean it's always at this high level of popularity. But I'm seeing some of my friends are getting into these deck building games again that they haven't been into since they were, you know, maybe in high school. But anyone, if you're thinking about getting into Magic the Gathering again, may I encourage you to do Pop Tart game instead?
A
Yes. Yeah. And you might not think much of it now, but you wait. Because in 30 years time there will only be two decks of these left because nobody bought them initially. They'll be worth a fortune.
B
Pop Tart Con. I'm going to do conventions. You can dress as your favorite Pop tart.
A
Yeah. Or toaster or piece of foil. Whichever you're into.
B
If we could get a few people dressed as a piece of foil, that would really round out the convention. Surprisingly, it's not as popular as blueberry and strawberry Pop Tart. Nobody wants to be a piece of foil.
A
I'll come as the foil.
B
Thank you. It's nice. It's a big silver outfit that's striking.
A
Yeah, yeah. Like a. Like a marathon runner.
B
Absolutely. Yeah. Shock blanket. Well, that has been my, my game saga. So it's a. It's a game summer. We're all supposed to have fun and. Welly. Welly wank. Welly wang.
A
It's the G. Gotta remember the G. It's a huge difference.
B
Welly Wang Wang. That's game night. Ready to go.
A
And on that subject, while we wind down, I think I'd like to just say a massive good night to the Wellywanging community.
B
Yeah.
A
The wellywanging season is about to really kick into high gear what with the weather turning. So rest up and yeah, get ready to wang with a G. I'd like
B
to say good night to. You know, I think he gets enough good nights. But I'm gonna say goodnight to Liam Gallagher for these interesting Clarks shoes that he made a collaboration with. I didn't really know that these would work but I trust his judgment and I like that you like them and it's nice to learn something new. So thank you Liam and have a really good night. Nice and good night to you Matt. I'll talk to you next time.
A
Night KP.
B
Sam.
A
Sa. To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch Co. You can also follow us at Hatch Podcasts.
May 11, 2026
Hosts: Matt Bragg & KP Parker
Producer: Hatch Podcasts
In this cozy, meandering bedtime chat, Matt and KP dive into the world of quirky footwear, the joys of thrift shopping, and the simple pleasures of games that require little more than creativity—and sometimes, a rubber boot. The show’s signature blend of humor and gentle banter is on full display, as the hosts swap travel stories, debate whimsical shoes, recount a chessboard thrifting saga, and untangle the rules of the unexpectedly daunting Pop-Tart card game. All roads, naturally, lead back to a celebration of low-fi fun, from “welly wanging” at village fêtes to considering the merits of shoes as conversation pieces.
KP’s Type B Planning:
Matt’s Exeter/Torrington Adventure:
“Clarks Originals are the best shoes in the world ever, period.” — Matt (02:00)
Comfort vs. Style:
“I like a little bit of whimsy on the shoe because… you can get away with a boring black outfit if you’ve got a fun little shoe in the mix.” — KP (04:47)
Shoe Vocabulary and History:
Pointy Shoe Culture:
Origins & Mechanics:
“The barrier to entry for welly wanging is quite low. You must just have a welly—and arms.” — Matt (08:44)
Games That Just Involve Throwing Something:
KP compares the delightfully primitive fun of welly wanging to other simple games like bocce/bowls.
Humorous riffing on potential injuries and criminal liabilities:
“Throwing a welly at somebody is technically a criminal offense.” — Matt (07:46)
KP: “It reminds me that we don’t need a lot to be entertained… sometimes all you have is a rain boot and a dream.” (09:39)
Goodwill Auction Addiction:
“That’s really in the spirit of goodwill thrifting, isn’t it? You get it, clean it up.” — Matt (17:30)
Missing Pieces & Modern Solutions:
“What a time to be alive.” — Matt (14:17)
Surprisingly Complicated Gameplay:
“Would you believe it’s the most complicated game I’ve ever read? …It took like the whole table to set up. I didn’t even get to the playing part.” — KP (14:51–15:57)
Potential for Pop-Tart Game Conventions:
“If we could get a few people dressed as a piece of foil, that would really round out the convention.” — KP (19:46)
Deck-building Card Games Revival:
“Think of our ancestors. Put yourself in their shoes and then throw that shoe. Take them off and throw.” (09:50)
“It’s a joyous thing. Wellywanging. And it reminds me that we don’t need a lot to be entertained… sometimes all you have is a rain boot and a dream.” (09:39)
“There was Pop Tarts, obviously… but then there was sort of the toasters, different types of toasters… refrigerators. And then there was like metal foil cards… I was lost. I was really lost.” (15:12)
“And on that subject, while we wind down, I think I’d like to just say a massive good night to the Wellywanging community… get ready to wang with a G.” — Matt (20:33)
The episode retains The Nightly’s softly comic, meandering, late-night feel, mixing gentle jokes, playful tangents, and the bittersweet humor of gentle failure (broken chess pieces, convoluted card games). Matt’s dry British humor plays off KP’s warm, self-aware whimsy, making even the most absurd details (welly wanging, monster chess sets, haunted Pop-Tart games) cozy and relatable.
If you missed the episode: expect a warm, inviting late-night mood, playful banter about shoes and sleepover games, and the comforting reminder that you don’t need much to turn ordinary objects—or even setbacks—into the spark for an evening’s laughter.