The Nightly

Josh Gondelman talks with food retail consultant Jonathan Raduns about zucchini blossoms, garlic scape pesto, and the density test for picking the perfect watermelon.What You'll HearFrom Farm Kid to Food Retail Whisperer: Jonathan traces his path from selling produce on his family's farm in Western New York to starting his own consulting company twelve years ago, all in the name of making grocery stores feel less like warehouses and more like places worth lingering in.The Zucchini Blossoms and the Garlic Scape Pesto: Josh gets the story behind one of Jonathan's favorite projects, a one-day event built around a mystery ingredient and a local farm that turned an ordinary produce aisle into a full-blown event.Grocery Stores as Community, One Staff Pick at a Time: From Trader Joe's staff pick stickers to the quiet art of small talk in the checkout line, Jonathan explains what actually makes a store feel like part of the neighborhood.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & welcome Jonathan!01:08 How Jonathan got into food retail consulting03:16 The zucchini blossoms & garlic scape pesto story04:59 What grocery stores get right that farms don't08:14 The design details shoppers never notice14:19 The secret to picking a good watermelon

KP Parker and Matt Bragg reunite after KP's first trip to Ireland, with strong opinions about breakfast food, beige biscuits, and horses wandering the streets of Los Angeles.What You'll HearA Block of Beige and a Pint of Something Dark: KP brings back her hottest takes from Ireland: Weetabix in yogurt, Guinness as a nutritional smoothie, and the discovery of a foil-wrapped mint biscuit that may have ruined American snacks forever.The Cliffs Were Beautiful: A quick tour through KP's Irish itinerary — coastal landscapes, locked castles, a 1916 walking tour, and the kind of pub hopping that makes you want to go back with friends instead of family.Midnight Horses, Mechanical Bulls, and a Very Confused Matt: KP once rode a horse on a main street in LA at midnight, for free, with no explanation. Matt does not know what a bucking bronco is. Neither subject gets fully resolved.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & hello from KP's jet lag01:00 First WhatsApp from Ireland: Weetabix03:30 The full Irish breakfast problem04:44 KP tries her first Guinness06:10 Candy haul: Wispa, mystery mint biscuits & more08:33 Irish wildlife: horses, sheep, and a very helpful dog13:00 Mechanical bulls, bucking broncos, and a lesson in livestock15:13 What KP actually did in Ireland: cliffs, castles & pints18:20 Goodnights

Josh Gondelman flies solo tonight and fields a call about love, Iceland, and the horror-slash-honor of being naked in front of your girlfriend's dad.What You'll HearUncle life, unlocked: Josh reports back from a weekend babysitting his best friend's five-year-old, and reaches a conclusion: the uncle life may be the whole life.A confession and a crisis: Caller Andi shares big romantic news, then drops the real issue — introducing her new boyfriend to Iceland's beloved, and extremely nude, bathhouse culture.A two-pronged, pants-optional plan: Josh and Andi build a strategy for easing her boyfriend into the family swim, one staggered arrival and one barefoot hangout at a time.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro + the uncle life is calling02:46 Caller Andi joins the show04:00 The big news: Andi's in love!04:15 The question: how to be nude with the in-laws?04:39 Icelandic bathing culture, explained05:44 The dilemma: meeting dad in the buff06:44 A "new and nude" relationship07:35 Priming the pump for the big reveal09:29 Josh's two-pronged plan12:24 The nude test run13:11 Andi maps out the meeting15:51 Goodnights and sign-off

Amanda Montell talks with caller Janine about closet space and wardrobe habits.What You'll HearSleepy time toothpaste, a product that doesn't exist yet: Amanda pitches an idea she's held onto for years—a toothpaste line in bedtime flavors like chamomile and lavender, meant to avoid the alertness that comes with mint before bed.The closet space contradiction: Janine describes living in a 100-year-old house with minimal closet space and rotating her wardrobe by season. She feels she owns too many clothes and not enough at once, and struggles to part with sentimental pieces like concert T-shirts.Clothing swaps, thrift shops, and a rule for keeping clothes: Amanda describes hosting clothing swap brunches and her personal rule for what stays in her closet—she keeps only what she can picture owning. Both discuss rental subscriptions, thrift shopping, and borrowing shoes from friends instead of buying new.Tiny Jewelry Life and the pieces that matter: Janine explains her preference for small, minimal jewelry. The two compare heirloom pieces—Amanda's grandmother's garnet ring, repurposed as an engagement ring, and Janine's engagement band, set with diamonds from her husband's grandmother's watch.**CHAPTERS**00:00 Intro & greetings03:00 Janine calls in from New York05:23 Capsule wardrobes and minimalism08:10 Impulse buying and feeling like you have nothing to wear10:55 Tiny Jewelry Life philosophy14:52 Amanda's wildfire evacuation story17:07 Passing shoes on instead of donating

Amanda Montell hosts The Nightly this week and takes a call from Chris in Evanston, Illinois, who has some nighttime visitors he can't quite identify.What You'll HearA very good neighborhood mystery: Amanda opens with a story about an unfamiliar Bengal cat that turned up in her yard, and the low-stakes debate over who gets to keep him.Something's living in the attic: Chris has been hearing rustling at night from an unfinished corner of his attic, and he's torn on whether to call it in.Raccoons, squirrels, or something friendlier: Amanda and Chris work through the likely suspects, plus a detour into ghosts, and land on the idea that a "haunting" isn't always a bad thing.CHAPTERS00:00 Amanda opens the show and shares a stray cat story03:49 Chris calls in from Evanston, Illinois04:21 Noises in the attic10:53 A question about ghosts15:17 Other wildlife in the neighborhood

Amanda Montell and caller Katie celebrate the small moments of connection that can happen in the grocery store, from friendly checkout conversations to the surprising comfort of a familiar neighborhood market.What You’ll HearThe Checkout Line as Community: Katie shares how quick chats with grocery store cashiers—especially at Trader Joe’s—have become bright spots in her week, filled with kindness, recommendations, and genuine human connection.A Love Letter to Grocery Stores: Amanda and Katie compare favorite stores, swap stories about memorable customer service, and reflect on why simple acts of friendliness can leave a lasting impression.A Shared Taste of Home: An unexpected discovery that they both grew up near Baltimore leads to a nostalgic conversation about beloved local grocery stores, Utz chips, Old Bay, and the foods that instantly transport us back home.CHAPTERS00:00 Amanda's late-night YouTube rabbit hole06:06 Trader Joe's acts of kindness08:03 Cashiers, self-checkout, and community11:18 Discovering a shared Baltimore connection13:00 Grocery store nostalgia and hometown favorites

Amanda Montell and caller Matt unpack the surprisingly blurry line between belonging and blind devotion, reflecting on a high school show choir that sometimes felt a little... cultish.What You’ll HearThe Charisma Factor: Matt revisits the magnetic show choir director who inspired fierce loyalty, unforgettable performances, and a few lingering questions about leadership and influence.Rituals, Rivalries, and Red Flags: From pre-show traditions to intense competition and an "us versus them" mindset, Amanda explores how ordinary groups can take on surprisingly cult-like dynamics.Finding Community Without Losing Yourself: Together they consider why close-knit groups can shape us for the better—and how to recognize the difference between healthy belonging and unhealthy control.CHAPTERS00:00 Amanda's sleep simplicity journey03:00 Was high school show choir a cult?09:48 Rituals that built belonging12:35 Competition and us versus them16:41 Amanda's cult rating

In this Sunday Edition of The Nightly, Josh Gondelman welcomes mascot designer Tom Sapp into the pillow fort for a behind-the-scenes look at the surprising art, strategy, and heart behind the characters we cheer for.What You'll HearFrom Sketchbook to Stadium: Tom shares how a career in advertising unexpectedly led him to designing iconic mascots for sports teams, schools, hospitals, and beyond—and why every great mascot starts with understanding the people it's meant to delight.More Than a Costume: From Rocky the Mountain Lion's lightning-bolt tail to comforting characters for children's hospitals, Tom explains how storytelling, thoughtful design, and unforgettable performers work together to create characters that people truly believe in.Why Kids Know Best: Josh and Tom explore the surprisingly emotional side of mascot design, why honest audience reactions matter, and the creative freedom that comes from letting ideas wander before they take shape.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & welcoming Tom Sapp!01:19 How Tom's career in mascot design began05:06 Designing characters with purpose08:00 The origin story of Rocky the Mountain Lion12:00 Building mascot backstories & creative process14:15 Designing for children's hospitals17:08 Testing ideas with real audiences18:47 The magic of seeing mascots come alive21:00 The challenge of designing for brands and products22:39 Ending with some advice for creatives24:14 Goodnights

Josh Gondelman and Matt Bragg swap vacation stories, travel quirks, and the bittersweet feeling of being so right.What You'll HearThe world's shortest victory lap: Matt wins a disagreement over a glass coffee cup...but it was probably not for the best. It's a triumph that comes with a broom.A tour of Benidorm: Matt introduces Josh to England's favorite seaside escape in Spain, where belly-busting breakfasts, poolside beers, and familiar pubs create a vacation destination unlike any other.Places that feel strangely familiar: From movie locations and famous song lyrics to grumpy train announcements and vacation nostalgia, they explore why some places feel iconic long before you ever visit.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & greetings00:30 Matt's coffee cup disaster03:40 Plastic cups, microplastics & Bovril07:40 Pool beers and vacation mode08:45 Why Benidorm is basically England in Spain12:30 Movie locations and famous landmarks14:45 Songs that make places feel familiar17:15 Vacation expectations vs. real life19:05 Public transit personalities & customer service21:10 Good nights