Unsupervised with Syd & TP

Episode: Hands Off: Us and Our Hand Towels
Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: Syd Colson & Theresa Plaisance (TP)
Network: Dear Media

Episode Overview

Syd Colson and Theresa Plaisance (TP), best friends and former teammates, bring their trademark off-the-rails, irreverent comedic energy to another episode of “Unsupervised.” This episode covers everything from their unfiltered opinions on recent ICE raids in Minnesota, the realities of living together during a snowstorm, hilariously specific roommate etiquette debates, personal reflections on activism and privilege, to why no one should ever use someone else’s hand towel—an unexpectedly passionate topic for the duo. Listeners can expect their classic blend of social commentary, wild tangents, vulnerable moments, and rapid-fire banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reconnecting, Gratitude, and Emotional Health

[00:00–03:21]

• Syd and TP open with gratitude for their “babysitters” (fans), especially after Syd’s recent personal story.
• Emotional support and vulnerability: Syd thanks TP and listeners for support, getting visibly emotional.
  • Quote: “Your words have meant so much. And also, if anybody can relate to what I’m going through… I empathize with you.” – Syd [00:34]
• The two reflect on how their friendship has remained strong despite distance, launching a TV show, and now podcasting together again.

2. Snowstorm Stories, Quarantine Vibes, and the Birth of “Furfits”

[03:21–13:01]

• Nashville snowstorm forced the duo into an accidental quarantine, leading to laughs and cabin fever.
  • Quote: “We were like, where did [the snow] come from? At Christmas, for us in Houston, it was 70 degrees!” – TP [06:37]
• Pet antics: TP’s dog Pyre “giving up” in the snow as a metaphor for the end of the world.
• Strong opinions on improper Christmas-weather attire—wishing for sweater weather.
• The “furfit” origin story: Syd’s “fur and fitted hat” look becomes a running joke and self-made trend.
  • Quote: “If you see anybody come out with a furfit and try to name it something else – this is gonna be timestamped!” – Syd [03:45]

3. Community Giving & Systemic Frustrations

[13:01–17:59]

• Syd and TP recall volunteering for AU’s Community Day, helping those with hygiene insecurity.
• Harsh critique of SNAP not covering hygiene products, particularly for women.
  • Quote: “SNAP benefits don’t cover any hygiene-based products…which is insane.” – TP [13:30]
• The absurdity of citizens being forced to choose between food and hygiene, and how broken public support systems are.
  • Quote: “Why is there a category that I can’t get stuff? I can only eat? If you’re in need, you’re in need. I need everything.” – Syd [13:38]

4. About Original Ideas, Bluetooth, and “You Snooze, You Lose”

[15:46–17:59]

• Tangents about ringback tones, early Bluetooth innovations, and the pain of thinking you had an original idea only to learn it already exists.
  • Quote: “If you have an idea that you don’t act on, I feel like somebody else in the universe gets that.” – Syd [16:06]
• Syd’s “group phone speaker” idea as a proto-Bluetooth lament.

5. Deep Dive: ICE Raids, Systemic Racism, and Outrage

[20:05–46:20]

• The duo launches into a passionate, candid discussion about recent ICE raids in Minnesota, systemic injustice, and America’s moral failures.
  • Syd: “ICE is… the biggest group of losers you can find in the world. These were all guys that grew up being jealous that they didn’t fit in… and built up a bunch of rage toward everybody that was just happy being themselves.” [21:39]
  • TP: “They're not just losers; a lot of them are criminals… pedophiles, rapists, murderers… bottom of the barrel.” [22:04]
• They criticize Democrats’ performative responses and the futility of pure nonviolence when facing escalating state violence.
• Breakdown of white supremacy’s impact and the trickle-down effects of racism in America.
  • Syd: “…People don’t realize that white supremacy works in a sinister and evil way because it trickles down into everything. The propaganda in the media, the beliefs that you start to have about people you’re not even around. It’s an illness.” [33:29]
• The exhaustion Black communities feel from leading social justice movements and the need for others to pick up the fight.
  • “Black women have been seeing this. Black and brown communities have been living under a fascist state.” – Syd [31:51]
• Call to meaningful action: Email/phone campaigns, supporting trusted organizers, and participating in economic protest.

6. On Allies and “Late Arrivals” to Social Justice

[41:19–42:11]

• TP and Syd urge listeners not to gatekeep activism: “Let people listen and support... but people who are joining late, don’t come in trying to tell people what the fuck to do either.” – Syd [41:46]
• A demand to listen to Black women: “Start believing what Black women say… Black women might be psychic. Start listening.” – Syd [42:11]

7. Roommate Etiquette Game: “House Rules”

[47:41–61:04]

• The hosts play a game, debating which roommate behaviors are acceptable.
  • Bathroom etiquette: No going number two in someone else’s bathroom if you can make it to your own. [50:28]
    • “If you have the number two and you’re not… If I’m at somebody’s house, hey, nature calls.” – TP [50:48]
  • Shared chores: Quick consensus on dishwashing, trash, and laundry fairness.
  • Food and product sharing:
    • Condiments—okay if agreed.
    • Groceries—ask first.
    • “If I buy a bag of apples, I’m not expecting you to eat a damn apple if we didn’t have a conversation…” – Syd [53:00]
  • Stealing snacks: Tales of beef jerky trickery and finders-keepers shenanigans.
  • Towels/hand towels: The titular “hands off!”—never use someone else’s towel. The only exception is emergencies, otherwise “touching my towel… that would be crazy.” [59:57]
  • Thermostat wars: Heated debate on proper household temperature.
    • “Anyone who sleeps with the heater on, what are you doing?” – TP [62:35]
    • “So you want me to walk around… with a bunch of clothes on when I could just turn up the thermostat?” – Syd [64:38]
  • Shout-outs to Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross for saving Black women’s hair in the WNBA Bubble.
    • “[Pattern] gave us so much hair product… I used it past that date. I can’t use it all in six months, five years.” – TP [54:42]

8. Wrapping Up: Stay Recharged, Stay Involved

[66:14–end]

• Syd and TP remind listeners to balance fighting injustice with self-care.
  • “You can’t just be at a constant state of like, on 10, on 10, on 10. It’s not good for your body… Don’t lose hope.” – Syd [66:42]
• They encourage acts of kindness, vigilance, and readiness for future episodes together: “Throw kindness around like confetti.” [68:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Sometimes I’m just like, this girl is hilarious. And I get to have shows with you.” – Syd [04:44]
• “If you see anybody come out with a furfit and try to name it something else, this is gonna be timestamped!” – Syd (on pioneering fashion slang) [03:45]
• “ICE is… the biggest group of losers… and built up a bunch of rage toward everybody that was just happy living their life being themselves.” – Syd [21:39]
• “If you believe in angels on earth, you have to believe the opposite exists. I can’t just believe in up without believing in down.” – Syd [26:44]
• “Start believing what black women say. Because every time we get in a bind in this country… black women might be psychic. Start listening.” – Syd [42:11]
• “Touching my towel… that would be crazy.” – TP (on hand towel boundaries) [59:57]
• “If y’all are unsatisfied with that, that’s on you.” – TP on the episode’s whirlwind journey [66:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:34]: Syd thanks listeners, shares vulnerable gratitude
• [03:21]: Snowstorm, furfit story, and friendship hilarity
• [13:01]: Hygiene insecurity discussion and SNAP critique
• [21:39]: Rant against ICE and systemic hate
• [31:51]: Black communities and the ongoing burden of activism
• [41:19]: On “late to the party” allies and gatekeeping
• [47:41]: Roommate etiquette game begins
• [54:42]: Shout-out to Tracee Ellis Ross's Pattern products
• [62:35]: Thermostat debate, classic Syd vs. TP
• [66:42]: On recharging and hope in activism

Tone & Language

The episode is a seamless blend of hilarity and seriousness, with unfiltered, bold takes on politics and society interspersed with running jokes, playful mockery, and warm camaraderie. Syd and TP remain true to their “unsupervised” ethos, switching from intense societal critique to laughing about meatballs or towels with little warning—mirroring the energy of a late-night group chat as promised.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

Expect laughs, moments of vulnerability, biting political critique, and a highly relatable rundown of the best (and worst) roommate habits. This is an episode at turns fun, cathartic, and galvanizing—delivering both laughter and a call for solidarity and kindness.