Podcast Summary: The Nightly – “Young, Fit, Hot Curlers” with John Cullen

Podcast: The Nightly by Hatch Podcasts
Episode Date: February 19, 2026
Guests: John Cullen (comedian, podcaster, and semi-professional curler)
Hosts: Matt (“A”) and Josh (“B”)

Overview

This relaxed, conversational episode of The Nightly welcomes comedian and curler John Cullen into the Hatch Pillow Fort for a deep dive into the world of curling—just as the Winter Olympics take center stage. The hosts, self-proclaimed curling novices, bring John in for a wide-ranging, cozy, and often hilarious discussion on everything from the embedded culture of curling in Canada to Olympic drama, sports equipment scandals, and what separates weekend warriors from elite athletes. Perfect bedtime listening for pop culture fans and the curling curious alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Curling? Olympic Storylines and Stakes

• Olympic Hype and Pressure
  • Rachel Homan, Canadian skip, is highlighted as having had the "two best curling seasons a team has ever had" but struggles to clinch Olympic success.
    • “She is playing better than we've ever seen a curling team play before. She is the favorite. However, she has this kind of Olympics sort of cloud maybe hanging over her head…” (John, 03:15)
  • On the men’s side, the field is tightly packed: Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Italy are all contenders.
    • “If any of them won the gold, it would not be super surprising.” (John, 04:20)
  • The Olympics changed the game by bringing funding, global attention, and professionalization:
    • "Curling didn't become a full medal sport in the Olympics until 1998…it revolutionized the whole sport." (John, 04:57)

2. Curling in Canadian Culture vs. Elsewhere

• England vs. Canada: Curling is embedded into Canadian life, but not so much for England (despite Scotland’s rich history).
  • “The sort of prevailing wisdom is that there's about 1.5 to 1.6 million registered curlers in the world, and 1 million of those are in Canada." (John, 07:27)
• Personal journey: John started with hockey (“my dad thought I was going to make the NHL”) but switched to curling at age 12 through school.
  • “In curling, no one ever hits you. So, that's awesome.” (John, 08:19)
  • Even so, his dad was not thrilled: “Definitely when I was younger, I'm sure he wasn't going bragging about his son being a curler.” (John, 09:00)

3. Longevity & Lifestyle of Elite Curlers

• Curling careers often last into the 40s, some into their 50s. Physical demands exist, but it’s more “lifelong” than most sports.
  • "Right now…Canada’s oldest Olympian is also a curler. He's 44. The average age of the Canadian team is 41." (John, 09:43)
• Future: With rising professionalization, burnout and younger retirements may become more common.

4. What Makes Curling “Elite?” – Skills, Fitness, and the Beer Myth

• Top-level curling is physically demanding, especially for sweepers.
  • “Top level curlers are very, very, very good at sweeping…they can really, really manipulate the rock.” (John, 12:49)
• The stereotype of “beer and cigarettes” is outdated.
  • “…And then 2026 rolls around and the Olympics start and they go, oh, no. Right. Curlers are, like, young and fit and hot. I forgot about that part of it.” (John, 13:20)
• Strategic difference: At the rec level, it’s more about trying your best; at the top, it’s about precision.
  • “That's the thing you can really notice…how many shots are being made.” (John, 14:18)

5. Terminology Mishaps & Curling Communication

• Don’t call it a “puck” or a “ball”—it’s a rock or stone.
  • “The two main things people call it that you…that is wrong… One is puck... People do just call it a ball.” (John, 15:18)
• The community takes missteps in stride:
  • “I feel like we're fairly, as curlers, I feel like we're fairly forgiving of that.” (John, 15:51)

6. Sweeping Controversy: The Broomgate Scandal

• John plugs his podcast Broomgate, about a curling equipment scandal when new broom technology made sweeping too powerful.
  • “I made a podcast called Broomgate…where essentially, a new company came out with a new broom, and everybody sort of universally thought this broom is too good.” (John, 18:09)
• Balance debate: The ideal is “about 80% shooting, 20% sweeping,” but tech advances are shifting this balance.
  • “…With the equipment we have right now and what we know about sweeping techniques, right now, we're probably closer to, like, 60/40.” (John, 19:25)
• Regulation: Broom fabric and foam are standardized for competition but not for rec play.
  • "It's like Formula One, where everyone has to use the same tires." (John, 21:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Curlers are, like, young and fit and hot. I forgot about that part of it.” (John Cullen, 13:20)
• "In curling, no one ever hits you. So, that's awesome." (John Cullen, 08:19)
• "It is definitely not a puck. And people do just call it a ball. They're like, that's just a ball." (John Cullen, 15:18)
• "We want the game to be about, like, an average shot...about 80% shooting, so you have to make a really good throw, and then 20% sweeping." (John Cullen, 19:30)
• "Your calm and gentle expertise in the face of our rank amateurism has soothed me perfectly into bed." (Josh, 24:34)

Important Timestamps

• [02:34] – Olympic curling drama: Rachel Homan’s story
• [04:57] – The Olympics’ impact on curling as a global sport
• [07:27] – The scale of curling popularity in Canada vs. the world
• [09:43] – Curling career lifespan and evolving professionalization
• [12:49] – The physical and technical demands of elite curling
• [13:20] – Debunking old stereotypes: “young and fit and hot”
• [15:18] – Most common rookie terminology mistakes
• [18:09] – Broomgate: The curling equipment scandal
• [19:25] – Modern curling: Striking the right balance between throwing and sweeping
• [21:02] – Standardizing curlers’ equipment
• [22:01] – John plugs: Broomgate podcast and his new book Curling Chronicles of the Roaring Game
• [24:09] – John’s signature goodnight: “I hope you have a good sleep and I will see you tomorrow/in the morning.”

Recommendations, Plugs, and Sign-Off

• John Cullen’s podcast: Broomgate — a true curling scandal story for fans and non-fans alike.
• John’s book: Curling Chronicles of the Roaring Game (now out in the US, ebook, and soon as an audiobook, read by the author.)
• John closes with a custom goodnight:
  • “Good night everyone. I hope you have a good sleep and I will see you tomorrow. Good night everyone. I hope you have a good sleep. I'll see you in the morning.” ([24:10])

Tone & Atmosphere

Laid-back, funny, welcoming, and gently informative—the hosts (Matt & Josh) play up their beginner status, while John Cullen is affable, unpretentious, and encourages fans new and old to appreciate curling in all its evolving, quirky glory.