Episode 600 - Katie Novotny

·1 hr 9 min·5 clips

Comedian Katie Novotny joins as the hosts joke about a teammate's cat emergency and a conspicuously marked stolen bag.

The episode opens with hosts Matt Kirshen and Andy Wood joking about absent teammate Jesse Case's cat emergency. Guest Katie Novotny is introduced as a comedian and softball teammate. Katie reveals she has hip dysplasia and a torn labrum, requiring surgery with two surgeons, which leads to humorous speculation about becoming 'bionic.' The conversation shifts to the hosts' comedian softball league, which has a 'no hustle' rule to prevent injuries among comics with poor health insurance. Katie shares her lack of science background, recalling a traumatic high school biology dissection of a fetal pig and a prank called 'nuggeting' where pig hooves were hidden in backpacks. She mentions her brother is a marine biologist in Florida. The hosts discuss a science story about sperm whales headbutting each other, captured on drone footage for the first time, and learn about a whale organ called 'junk' used for shock absorption. Another story covers humans in the Andes who have evolved a genetic variant to metabolize arsenic in contaminated water. Katie talks about her comedy special on YouTube and recovery from surgery. Matt mentions his involvement in a local orchestra performing Broadway tunes. The episode concludes with plugs for Katie's special and Matt's musical events.

As heard by us

Katie Novotny helps turn comedian softball and road talk into a lively Pirates of Penzance detour.

Matt Kirshen and Andy Wood start with Jesse away at the vet for a cat health issue, then spin that absence into a loose riff involving bullet holes, a president mask, a bloodied money bag, dollar signs, and obvious swag.

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Why you'd press play

You press play for a softball connection, a Jesse-less opening, and a Pirates of Penzance tangent that happily becomes the room's main detour.

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