The Wayback #94 | Nic Novicki – Permanent Middle Seater

Podcast: The Wayback with Ryan Sickler
Host: Ryan Sickler
Guest: Nic Novicki
Date: October 16, 2025

Overview

In this laughter-filled episode, Ryan Sickler welcomes comedian, actor, and advocate Nic Novicki for a ride in “The Wayback.” The two reminisce about childhood memories, hilarious mishaps, growing up as a little person, and the cultural world of little people conventions. They explore Nic’s journey through sports, his wild high school party-throwing days, and his unique experiences with driving and independence, all peppered with humor and honest reflection. This episode is a celebration of family nostalgia, standing out in a crowd, and finding your place—sometimes in the middle seat.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Riding in the Wayback & Middle Seat Memories

• Nic shares his family's legendary brown station wagon with wood panels—packed for trips to Vermont and always jammed with cousins.
• Nic was always assigned the dreaded middle seat:

  “Permanent middle seat, bro.” – Nic Novicki [02:08]

• Early comedic instincts: after watching Batman as a kid, Nic wore a Batman gas mask in the car as a joke, only amusing himself.
• Memorable moment:

  “I'm like a prop comic at, like, 6. And no one's, like, finding it funny but me.” – Nic Novicki [03:15]

2. The (Literal) Fall Guy: Childhood Mishaps

• At age 6 or 7, preoccupied with heckling a mayoral candidate at school, Nic didn’t shut the car door properly. His mom unknowingly drove off, and Nic fell out, earning a concussion and an ambulance ride.
• Memorable quote:

  “So she starts driving... the door swings open. Well, I happen to have my head right at the door. I just go overboard. Boom.” – Nic Novicki [05:45]
  “Now my mom’s... following me... a seven year old little person in an ambulance. And I got my first concussion.” – Nic Novicki [06:08]

3. Sports & Umpiring

• Passionate about baseball and basketball, Nic played in Little League and at little people conventions—until the height disparity grew too dramatic.
• Conventions featured impressive athletes, including some now with the Harlem Globetrotters:

  “These guys now play for the Harlem Globetrotters. ...They could shoot NBA threes!” – Nic Novicki [09:27]

• His transition to umpire:

  “I would have to sit in between because I couldn’t stand that long. ...I just sit down where I am on the ground. I just sit down.” – Nic Novicki [10:35]
  “You can’t umpire. Go, yeah, I can... You ever hear what the Americans with Disabilities Act?” – Nic Novicki [11:04]

• Nic stands his ground (literally and figuratively), demanding his right to ump and collect his check.

4. Little People Conventions & Alpha Energy

• Descriptions of annual national meetups—a blend of reunion, sporting event, and dance party with 2,000+ participants.

  “There’d be like a dance at night... you’re looking up at people... And now I’m like, I’m 42, I’m like the old man at this dance now.” – Nic Novicki [13:19]

• The conventions had a “macho” vibe:

  “Everybody’s like, no, I’m the tough guy. ...I’m good at basketball. ...kind of alpha a little bit.” – Nic Novicki [14:05]

5. Epic High School Party

• Nic hosted a legendary party, promoted like a nightclub, with people from multiple towns and confusion for local police:

  “Cops were driving around and they could not figure out where this party was... Cars were just for blocks everywhere.” – Nic Novicki [16:37]

• After surgery and on crutches, Nic faced off with police:

  “‘Where’s your warrant?’ Like I’m on NYPD Blue.” – Nic Novicki [17:03]

6. Getting a Driver’s License & Early Driving

• Learned to drive from a little person instructor:

  “There was a little person, driver’s ed teacher. ...Not a little person to teach little people. Just happened to be a little person.” – Nic Novicki [17:59]

• Used pedal extensions, navigated the challenges, and recalls an early accident:

  “Boom. I rear end this lady... I just nailed there.” – Nic Novicki [20:42]

• On being the only little person in the area:

  “To be a little person in the only little person of the area is like, you’re the celebrity.” – Nic Novicki [19:49]

7. The Fake ID King

• Started drinking young (first: gin, never again), got a fake ID, and became “the guy” to get beer for everyone:

  “I became the guy because I’m like, look, I’m the one that can get everyone beer. ...People are usually nervous, you know, like, I’m this little person. I can’t insult them, you know...” – Nic Novicki [22:51]

• Only got caught once in college when a bouncer recognized him.

8. Family Games & Breaking Brothers’ Noses

• Created hybrid games like basketball-football with his brother, with his brother playing on knees for fairness—leading once to a broken nose.

  “I fly up into the air and he’s like, ‘Oh man. I hit him so hard.’ And then I’m now above him and then bam. I land on his head and I break his nose all over the place.” – Nic Novicki [26:35]

9. Billy Barty, Comedy, & Legacy

• Nic’s idol growing up: Billy Barty, founder of Little People of America and vaudeville legend.

  “He started Little People of America in Reno... It became, you know, Little People America.” – Nic Novicki [28:05]

• Nic hopes to portray Barty in a biopic, has worn his clothes for a photo shoot, and embodies his tradition of humor and advocacy.

10. Family, Holidays, and Cultural Differences

• Visits home frequently so his kids know his roots and family culture:

  “We’re a family of little people. We need East Coasters to be like, ‘Hey, you’re little.’ In California, people are too polite.” – Nic Novicki [28:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On family car rides:

  “Permanent middle seat, bro.” – Nic Novicki [02:08]

• On his first concussion:

  “My mom’s... following me... a seven year old little person in an ambulance. And I got my first concussion.” – Nic Novicki [06:08]

• On little people conventions:

  “...2,000 little people that will go and families. ...There’s so many memories of me going when I was a little kid, and you’re in this little dance, and ...now I’m 42. I’m like the old man at this dance now.” – Nic Novicki [13:17]

• On fake ID confidence:

  “I became the guy because I’m like, look, I’m the one that can get everyone beer. ...People are usually nervous, you know, like, I’m this little person. I can’t insult them, you know...” – Nic Novicki [22:51]

• On breaking his brother’s nose:

  “I fly up into the air ...I land on his head and I break his nose all over the place.” – Nic Novicki [26:35]

Episode Timeline & Timestamps

• [01:32] – Station wagon memories and “permanent middle seat”
• [03:28] – Falling out of the car at elementary school
• [06:30] – Sports, Little League, and becoming an umpire
• [13:07] – First little people convention details
• [15:20] – Epic high school party and the arrival of police
• [17:54] – Learning to drive, car modifications, early accidents
• [21:35] – First drinking experiences, fake ID escapades
• [25:38] – Family games, the infamous broken nose
• [27:06] – Billy Barty’s influence and legacy
• [28:55] – Family, East Coast culture, and returning home

Closing

Nic wraps with plugs for his projects, especially the Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge, and a heartfelt invitation to connect and catch his comedy. The episode closes as it began: with warm humor, real stories, and a celebration of the unique “wayback” journey.

Follow Nic: @NickNovicki
Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge: @DisabilityChall

This episode is a can’t-miss for fans of offbeat childhood antics, heart, and the wry humor of life outside the norm.