Podcast Summary: Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon

Episode: Closet Purgatory and Other Life Lessons
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Adam Rippon

Overview

This episode of Intrusive Thoughts with Adam Rippon blazes through home improvement escapades, life hacks for organization, musings on water bottle superiority, and heartfelt advice on relationship crossroads. Adam’s wit, self-awareness, and digressive storytelling take center stage as he tackles listener questions ranging from “closet purgatory” to the unexpected beauty of butterflies and the trials of navigating relationship breaks. The tone is comedic, casual, and vulnerable, peppered with Adam's unique brand of humor and insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Home Improvement (00:10–20:20)

• Adam’s Solo DIY Journey:
  Adam shares a detailed, humorous account of tackling a series of home repairs and upgrades, notably uninstalling an over-the-range microwave (“so tacky”) and replacing it with a range hood all by himself.

• Microwave & Venting Woes:

  • Discovers previous improper installation of ductwork (“literally dangling like a mobile in a children's cradle”), solves it on his own, and takes pride in eliminating air gaps and making the venting “done correctly.”
  • Adam’s exaggerated complaint about the microwave’s weight:

    “The Microwave is roughly 450 kilograms. It's the heaviest. It’s so heavy. And slip. It's slick. It's slick as a fucking hog in mud...” (08:12)

  • DIY backsplash fix with a custom stainless steel piece:

    “I called the stainless steel fabricator and I’m like, okay, you gotta, you know, be real real with me. Can you do this? They’re like, yeah, of course we can do this... It’ll be $15. $15! I said, when is it ready? I’m coming by with a 20. You can keep the change.” (17:24)

  • Adam expresses joy and disbelief at the improved result:

    “I did live through the absolute surreal experience of watching something sizzling on the stove, but seeing absolutely not one…thing of smoke, a smokeless sizzle. I've never seen it in my life.” (20:00)

2. Water Bottle Rant: Yeti vs. Owala (21:00–25:55)

• Adam humorously laments the breakdown of his beloved Yeti, discovers Owala through TikTok, and describes being skeptical but ultimately swayed by its features after buying one.
• Highlights:
  • Adam’s initial skepticism and conversion:

    “I am no better than that girl who is trying to sell this to me... There's an open, like, spout here where you can glug it, but there's this other hole where like a straw is attached. So you can like choose your own adventure...” (24:15)

  • Jokes about being brainwashed:

    “I'm just repeating everything from the ad. Okay. But I don't have an affiliate link yet. I can't wait for Owala to be our first sponsor, our first corporate sponsor.” (25:44)

3. Listener Q&A – Judging Others (Text from Bev, 26:00–31:00)

• Question: What’s something that makes Adam immediately judge someone (not counting serious issues like politics)?
• Adam’s Honest List:
  • Dirty homes and messy cars (“crusty, musty dirty”)
  • The way someone treats others, especially service workers (“That completely skews my opinion of somebody. If they don't treat other people with respect…I never give anybody the benefit of the doubt with that.” 30:23)
  • Loving “Disney Adults” for their passion, believing there aren’t enough passionate people.
  • Sympathy for those who don’t like dogs ("I assume something happened. Like, you just don't not like dogs. Something happened. All right. And then you haven't unpacked it yet." 30:00)
  • Amused by a butterfly appearing outside:

    “Sorry, I'm being followed by, like, butterflies... I am highly favored.” (28:20)

• Adam’s closing reflection:

  “If somebody doesn't treat other people…with respect and give…if they're not kind to other people... I don't believe in taking it out. I believe people have outbursts…But I don't believe in...‘and I treated somebody like shit because I felt bad.’ ...You're so unevolved and awful.” (30:24–31:00)

4. Organization & ‘Closet Purgatory’ (Text from Olivia, 31:06–37:48)

• Question: Tips for purging and organizing when you love stuff, especially clothes.
• Adam’s Tips:
  • Only buys and keeps tailored, solid-color basics.
  • Everything he owns fits well and gets worn regularly.
  • Closet Purgatory trick: If unsure about a piece, put it in a designated section. If unused after a set period, donate or consign it.

    “Anytime I go through the closet again, if there’s some piece of clothing that I had put in closet purgatory… I have two days to wear that or we are donating that thing.” (33:33)

  • Collects just one “momento” per trip or event; others should be let go.
  • Keeps a labeled “mementos” box in storage for keepsakes—out of sight but not out of mind.
  • Recommends bundling collections for better display.
  • Asks Olivia to clarify what the “stuff” is (encouraging follow-up).

    “Please text the podcast back and let us know what the stuff you’re talking about is so we can give some clear guidance on this. But good luck. I hope it's seashells.” (36:52)

5. Voicemail: Relationship Crossroads (38:02–end)

• Caller: The “anxious not engaged girl” updates on relationship struggles—her boyfriend is taking space due to mental health and doubts about having children.
• Text follow-up: Confirms he even already bought the ring they picked together.
• Adam’s Response:
  • Emphasizes gratefulness that doubt surfaced before engagement—“You would much rather have your partner tell you he doesn't want to have kids before he proposes to you because you are not going to be clouded by the excitement of engagement…” (40:41)
  • Encourages self-reflection during time apart:

    "This is not a time for you to sit back and wait for him to figure it out and then you make your next move. No, this is absolutely like, the universe has presented you with an opportunity to rediscover yourself and figure out what is important to you." (49:37)

  • Shares advice from "rough around the edges" woman:

    “We come into this world alone and we leave alone. And I think that’s a beautiful thing.” (44:42)

  • Relationship mantras:
    • Partners should “only add” to your life—not fill loneliness.
    • Don’t force a relationship if big life goals don’t align.
    • Take time to imagine the life you want, “put a blank face partner on it.”
  • Hopeful conclusion:

    “Everything is an opportunity…If you come back and you guys are more connected or if you come back and realize you’re so disconnected but there’s still love there…it will be a million times less painful to see it end.” (52:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Microwave Removal Adventure

  “You just got to ride with it, right? Like, you just let the microwave kind of do its thing. You got to, girl, like, move it back a little bit. Whoa, there.” (07:15)

• On Grease and DIY

  “It’s slick as a fucking hog in mud because you’re like, whoa. It’s just like old grease all over… I don’t deserve to be covered in — the amount of grease covered is a bit dramatic.” (08:12)

• On Water Bottles

  “It is the size of… oh, God. I mean, it looks — it’s the size of a football, to be honest. But I will say far superior to the setup of the Yeti.” (24:40)

• On Judging Others

  “If I go to somebody’s place and it’s, like, fil. Dirty. And I’m not talking about, like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know people were coming over’ dirty. I’m like, crusty, musty dirty.” (29:10)

• On Memory-Keeping

  “If you like to collect stuff… I have a box in storage… it says ‘mementos.’” (36:05)

• Relationship Reflection

  “If your partner is looking at you and you’re not adding into their life, you know, what’s the point of having you there? It’s dead weight, right?” (47:50)

• Life Mantra via Cookout Lady

  “We come into this world alone and we leave alone. And I think that’s a beautiful thing.” (44:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:10 – 20:20: Home improvement and microwave/range hood saga
• 21:00 – 25:55: The Water Bottle Rant (Yeti vs. Owala)
• 26:00 – 31:00: Listener Q&A: Judging others (Bev)
• 31:06 – 37:48: Organization & Closet Purgatory (Olivia)
• 38:02 – end: Relationship advice for caller in “proposed but on pause” dilemma

Tone & Style

Adam’s typical cadence is playful, self-deprecating, and off-the-cuff, with a foundation of warmth and authenticity. The episode is conversational and digressive, often veering into asides and running jokes (like “can’t do nothing about it” and recurring butterfly visitations). Adam balances humor with genuinely insightful and practical advice, especially when listener questions turn serious.

Final Notes

This episode is a strong illustration of Adam Rippon’s unique ability to transform everyday mishaps, personal philosophies, and listener anxieties into entertaining, comforting, and practical content—“smokeless sizzle” included.