The Nightly

Matt Bragg and KP Parker wonder which surprisingly attainable life skills are still worth learning.What You’ll Hear:The Skill We Missed: Matt brings a supermarket-walk revelation to the table: why aren’t we better at throwing things? The conversation drifts into running, math, and the oddly specific talents they wish they had.Treat Books & Reading Hacks: KP reveals the truth behind her speedy reading style, while Matt shares his latest sci-fi obsession. Along the way, they compare comfort reads, ambitious books, and the joy of finding stories that pull you in.LAN Parties, Sour Candy & Energy Drinks: A nostalgic detour into gaming nights leads to dangerously sour snacks, age-restricted caffeine, and a heartfelt appreciation for people who take their jobs very seriously.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & a supermarket thought01:24 Skills we wish we had03:00 Running, math & speed reading11:50 The Last of Us and favorite games14:05 LAN party nostalgia15:30 The world’s sourest candy16:25 Energy drink age limits18:35 Good nights & the Corby trouser press

Matt Bragg opens the Pillow Fort phone lines for a listener with one very reasonable question: why would anyone choose to live near alligators?What You’ll HearCostco Confessions: Matt shares the details of his latest bulk-buy receipt, from tea bags to cat litter to the mysterious items no one remembers purchasing.Alligator Anxiety: Caller Josh wonders how people calmly coexist with giant reptiles, especially when “just chilling in the water” still involves teeth.Wildlife PR Problems: Deer have Bambi, alligators have… less helpful branding. Matt and Josh consider whether fear can be normalized.CHAPTERS00:00 Matt's Costco receipt03:48 Caller Josh joins the Pillow Fort04:35 Why live near alligators?07:24 Deer, ticks, and acceptable neighbors08:40 Alligator vs crocodile PR10:25 Josh’s Florida alligator encounter14:00 Can you tune out alligator fear?17:31 Progress toward alligator acceptance18:09 Goodnights

Josh Gondelman and guest host Ian Chillag answer life’s smallest household questions with surprisingly big philosophical energy.What You’ll HearEgg Carton Etiquette: Josh and Ian consider the proper way to remove eggs from a carton, from careful balance to full refrigerator performance art.Toilet Paper Freedom: A classic over-or-under debate becomes a gentle invitation to let go of tiny household rules that may not need ruling.The Straw Question: Caller Mo brings a deceptively simple mystery to the table: how many holes does a straw actually have? The answer may be one, two, zero, infinity, or somehow... five?!CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & greetings01:00 Listener Wendy’s egg carton question03:34 Egg patterns and refrigerator delight06:12 Toilet paper philosophy08:51 Caller Mo poses a question about straw holes10:39 The case for zero holes12:17 Milkshakes, tunnels, and perspective17:42 The infinite hole theory20:00 The answer might be five?

Josh Gondelman and Ian Chillag swap favorite zoo memories and tackle a surprisingly serious question about racing animals.What You’ll Hear:Checking In on the Animals: Ian shares stories from his old Chicago zoo route, from optimistic flamingos on gray winter days to wild dogs that seem just as curious about people as people are about them.The Case of the Massachusetts Polar Bear: A conversation about memorable zoo residents turns into a delightful meditation on polar bears, Coca-Cola ads, and the strange places animals sometimes call home.One Mile. One Animal. Who Wins?: Listener Jacob poses a deceptively tricky challenge: what’s the fastest animal you could beat in a one-mile race? Expect spirited arguments, questionable confidence, and some surprisingly strategic animal scouting.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & Ian joins The Nightly01:31 Zoo visits and animal regulars05:06: Polar bears and Coca-Cola memories09:36 Caller Jacob's animal race question13:00 Could you outrun an alligator?15:30 Gorillas, chickens, and Olympic animals21:00 Final animal race picks22:21 Goodnights and mongoose dreams

Josh Gondelman and guest host Ian Chillag open the Pillow Fort with a heroic hiccup cure and wander into the weird little magic of making art.What You’ll HearThe Hiccup Whisperer: Ian reveals the guided meditation he uses to cure hiccups. Make It Weirder: Josh and Ian talk about why the strangest details are often the most human ones, from ghost hands to thunder descriptions to the joy of letting art be specific.Little Miracles of Art: The conversation turns to books, plays, pilots, and shows that somehow made it into the world exactly as themselves. A gentle salute to all the odd, wonderful ideas that survived the notes process.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & welcoming Ian01:00 Ian’s hiccup-curing reputation02:02 The guided hiccup meditation04:14 How Ian learned the method05:13 The most specific X-Men power06:40 Big Hiccup and the cause of hiccups07:06 What kind of hand did you picture?08:38 Weirdness as individuality11:27 On the Calculation of Volume13:56 Chasing the next big TV trend15:42 Ghosts of unmade ideas16:00 Dead Pilots Society17:08 Art worth leaving the house for18:20 Oh Mary and the virtue of fun20:13 No research, better characters21:36 Goodnights

Josh Gondelman and Ian Chillag swap sleep grievances, bedtime quirks, and surprisingly delightful tales from history’s strangest exits.What You’ll Hear:Sleep Red Flags After Dark: A listener’s list of bedtime grievances sparks a conversation about falling asleep to TV, wearing socks to bed, shared pillows, and the little habits that make a sleep routine uniquely yours.The Chaperone Pillow: Ian shares the saga of the pregnancy pillow that stood between him and a good cuddle, plus a few unexpectedly charming sleep traditions from his childhood.A Brief History of Bizarre Departures: From philosophers who allegedly laughed themselves to death to playwrights, turtles, and very long beards, Josh and Ian take a curious stroll through some of history’s most unusual endings.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & welcome Ian Chillag01:36 Brie's sleep grievances begin06:13 Sleep red flags and pillow debates09:00 The heated sleeping rock10:22 Pregnancy pillows and the chaperone12:00 Goodnight to Brie's fiancé13:00 The List of Unusual Deaths14:00 Death by laughter16:05 The beard purse tragedy17:36 Aeschylus and the turtle18:30 Birds, Shakespeare, and protective hats19:23 Sophocles and other strange endings21:00 Good nights all around

KP Parker and Matt Bragg investigate a bear costume insurance scam and weigh their chances in a surprisingly intense bed rot competition.What You’ll HearThe Bear Necessities: A trio of luxury car owners tried to blame a very suspicious “bear” for thousands of dollars in damage. The evidence is memorable, the execution is questionable, and the wildlife expert’s verdict is delightfully straightforward.Bed Rot for Big Money: A new competition asks contestants to stay in bed as long as possible for a six-figure prize. KP and Matt dig into the rules, the celebrity cast, and whether either of them could last more than a few days.Dream Challenges: From beds on wheels to playground inhaler envy, the conversation drifts into the wonderfully strange ways people imagine making everyday life a little more comfortable.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & greetings00:40 The bear costume insurance scam05:32 Could KP improve the fraud scheme?06:34 The $100,000 Bed Rot Challenge13:35 How long could they actually stay in bed?17:00 Crutches, braces, glasses, and inhalers18:00 Goodnights & sign-off

KP Parker and Matt Bragg sniff out whether pets are secretly the best matchmakers.What You’ll HearPuppy Love Logic: KP shares what it’s like hosting a dating show where strangers meet the dog before the human. Some pups charm instantly, and some bring a little more chaos to the set.Claudia Climbs Higher: Matt gives an update on his cat’s first outdoor adventures, including the classic problem of getting stuck in a tree and deciding the solution is even more tree.Crow Economy 101: KP explains the delicate art of befriending crows for shiny objects, shrimp-based diplomacy, and possibly building a small feathered crime syndicate.CHAPTERS00:00 Amish country hats and social media-free living02:24 KP’s dog dating show04:55 Revisiting Turb the turtle and Claudia the cat06:39 Claudia gets stuck in a tree09:06 Setting boundaries with outdoor cats10:20 Why cats bring you “gifts”11:04 Training crows for shiny objects14:01 Crows doing jokes15:44 Interviewing dogs on set18:15 Do dogs match their owners?19:24 Shop cats and store pets21:13 Winding down

Josh Gondelman opens the phone lines and chats with a listener about decluttering, childhood mementos, and the surprisingly emotional art of deciding what stays and what goes.What You’ll Hear:The Memory Box Dilemma: A listener shares the challenge of sorting through years of keepsakes—from old concert tickets and school IDs to T-shirts that hold more memories than practical value.The Things We Can’t Quite Toss: Josh and Jason explore why certain objects become time capsules, and how a single item can bring an entire chapter of life rushing back.Concerts Worth the Splurge: From Kelly Clarkson and Kacey Musgraves to Beyoncé and the Sphere, the conversation turns to unforgettable live shows and what makes a big-ticket concert feel truly worth it.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & a surprisingly grumpy New Yorker06:20 Meet Jason from Brooklyn08:41 The challenge of decluttering childhood memories10:00 Old IDs, permits, and wallet keepsakes12:43 T-shirts that are impossible to throw away14:26 Concert tickets and memory lane16:00 The cost of seeing your favorite artists live19:13 Dream concerts at the Sphere20:20 Goodnight Kelly Clarkson and Kacey Musgraves