Podcast Summary: "Passive Aggressive Gratitude"

Unsupervised with Syd & TP (Dear Media) — Episode 18
Release Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively, unscripted episode, best friends and former WNBA teammates Syd Colson and Theresa Plaisance (TP) dive into everything from holiday gratitude and self-care horror stories to fiercely competitive family game nights and an in-depth discussion of a true crime documentary. The duo keeps to their signature chaotic, hilarious style, frequently veering off-topic but always circling back to warmth, wit, and genuine insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Thanksgiving Gratitude

• Virtual Handshake for Listeners ("Babysitters")
  • The episode opens with Syd and TP brainstorming a signature (scissor-motion) handshake for fans and reflecting on their holiday breaks, emphasizing the importance of gratitude—even for odd things like leftovers ([00:00]-[01:16]).
  • Quote:

    "What we're gonna do is we're just gonna find a way to be grateful for everything in this episode today." – TP ([01:09])

2. Self-Care Horror Stories: Nails, Brows, & Beyond

• Syd’s Pedicure Adventures
  • Syd regales listeners with tales of finally getting a pedicure post-surgery, her "genetically thick toenails," and the challenges of finding a salon well-equipped for her needs ([02:05]-[05:43]).
  • Quote:

    "I gotta make sure a place uses electric tools. Don’t try to just use a regular nail file." – Syd ([04:25])

  • Shout-out to her pedicurist, Selena:

    "Shout out to Selena. She did my pedicure." – Syd ([05:43])

• Eyebrow Trauma: Wax vs. Threading
  • TP and Syd swap eyebrow-grooming horror stories—waxing-induced tears for TP, a threading disaster that left Syd with painfully thin, tan-lined 90s brows and a lingering desire to sue ([06:03]-[12:02]).
  • Quote:

    "If you did my eyebrows that day in 2011, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. She ripped so much hair off my eyebrows." – Syd ([10:43])

  • Discussion on unsolicited beauty "upsells" and the awkwardness of being offered a mustache removal.

3. Family Game Night Escapades & “Sibling Telepathy”

• TP outlines her competitive family’s holiday game night with Cranium and debates the validity of "sibling telepathy" ([16:43]-[19:00]).

  • Quote:

    "The Williams say that there’s, like, sibling telepathy. That’s why they were so great." – TP ([17:53])

  • Syd contends “inside jokes” and shared history create similar connections for best friends and partners, lamenting that "a lot of people have boring friends" and only gossip.

• Iconic Game Night Moment

  • A memorable example: Syd helped her teammate guess “hamster” using a deeply personal hint, prompting debates over fairness and inside references ([22:49]-[24:38]).
    • Quote:

      "Sid looked at Maddie and said, and I quote, 'You used to have one of these.'" – TP ([23:09])

  • They discuss the fine line between playful competition and exclusive hints that frustrate others.

• Broader Gratitude Reflections

  • The two reflect on gratitude for unique connections, personal growth, and "running your own race" ([25:17]-[27:49]).
    • Quote:

      "I’m grateful for rejecting the spirit of conformity because I know who I am and I know who I want to be. So I’m going to run my own race." – Syd ([26:22])

4. Holiday Mishaps & Customer Service Kudos

• Losing Cards & Cash

  • TP shares a story about frantically retrieving her lost credit card after a bar hop, praising the hotel staff’s above-and-beyond effort ([29:03]-[35:32]).
    • Quote:

      "I’ve lost my wallet overseas, I think one time it was stolen… Four times." – TP ([31:22])

  • Syd recounts childhood memories of losing holiday cash at the mall and the relief of learning from past mistakes.

• Holiday Decorations & “Black Santa” Quest

  • After some playful debate, the two set no real “too early” start for Christmas decor, reflecting on holiday traditions and Syd’s appreciation for simple vs. extravagant styles ([36:00]-[39:59]).
    • TP’s quest for a Black Santa at Marshalls leads to an unintentional (but hilarious) rivalry with another shopper.
    • Quote:

      "Black Santas are scarce out there, which we can get into that another time." – TP ([37:43])

5. True Crime Deep Dive: "The Carman Family Murders" (Netflix)

• Spoilers & Hot Takes

  • The duo analyzes the documentary, revolving around suspicion of Nathan Carman (autistic, 19 at time of events) in the deaths of his grandfather and mother ([44:53]-[62:30]).
  • They highlight the challenges of neurodivergence in criminal investigations, the ambiguity of "odd" behavior as evidence, and lingering doubts despite circumstantial clues.
    • Quote:

      "I think that the way that they did this, they…almost villainized the fact that he had autism… He didn’t do these crimes because he had autism. He did these crimes as an individual." – TP ([61:49])

• Key Questions Raised

  • The role of inside knowledge, emotional affect in neurodivergent individuals, and the limits of forensic certainty.
    • Syd:

      "There were a lot of weird things… The mom’s sisters never forgave Nathan because they believed he killed the grandpa." ([51:17])

    • TP:

      "You have all this information, you have a gut feeling, but you can’t pin it in any kind of way." ([60:55])

6. DM of the Week: “TP’s Stranger Things Twin”

• Listener Maggie writes in, claiming TP looks exactly like a young girl on Stranger Things, complete with photo proof ([63:09]-[64:48]).
  • TP jokes about her many lookalikes and the sometimes risky nature of “you look like…” comparisons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Threading vs. Waxing:

  "I was crying. I was sobbing. Crying unintentionally. And I walked out of there with bloodshot eyes, red eyebrow, eyelids. I looked like I just went through the worst day of my life." – TP ([08:42])

• Inside Jokes in Games:

  "We talk. I don’t know how else to say… You come to realize a lot of people have boring friends." – Syd ([19:00])

• Holiday Spirit:

  "It’s never too early to have a spirit of cheer and giving in love. So I guess I don’t even understand the question." – Syd ([37:22])

• On Christmas Decor Levels:

  "I like a wreath on my door. I like Aretha Franklin, like, cheery—damn, you like that one?" – Syd ([41:07])

• On “Running Your Own Race”:

  "Don’t look in the rear view mirror. There’s a reason it’s called the rear view mirror. It’s behind you. Leave it there. And why do you think it’s smaller than your front windshield?" – Syd ([27:49])

Important Timestamps

• Gratitude Opener & Holiday Vibes: [00:00]-[01:16]
• Self-Care Stories (Nails & Brows): [02:05]-[14:28]
• Holiday Game Night & Sibling Telepathy: [16:43]-[24:38]
• Reflections on Gratitude & Non-Conformity: [25:17]-[28:36]
• Credit Card Mishaps/Customer Service Story: [29:03]-[35:32]
• TP’s Black Santa Hunt: [37:43]-[39:59]
• True Crime Documentary Discussion: [44:53]-[62:30]
• Listener DM: "Stranger Things" Twin: [63:09]-[64:48]

Episode Tone

• Playful & Candid: Frequent banter, inside jokes, and roasted storytelling.
• Unfiltered: Both hosts are open about their quirks, family antics, and opinions.
• Supportive: Underlying warmth in their friendship and advice to listeners.
• Critical (when needed): Especially regarding true crime subjects and how neurodivergence is discussed in the media.

Summary

Syd and TP’s trademark blend of humor, candid reflection, and genuine rapport crafts an episode that roams from gratitude to game night feuds, awkward spa trips, and a serious exploration of true crime. Their “in-real-life text thread” style keeps everything fresh, relatable, and memorable—whether you’re in it for the laughs, the advice, or the hot takes on Netflix docs.