TWS
📖 Episode Summary / Synopsis
In episode 617 of Tuesdays with Stories, titled "Snap, Crackle, Pop Warner", comedians Mark Normand and Joe List return after their longest break ever — a five-week recording hiatus. What follows is a high-speed breakdown of social awkwardness, travel chaos, and deeply absurd real-world commentary.
🎯 Key Themes:
- Travel Disasters: Including Mark’s baby-fueled monsoon road trip and Joe’s encounter with the “wacky crew.”
- Social Tension: A painfully awkward double date with British neighbors, Meghan Markle jokes, and more.
- Comedy Life: Austin gigs, Joe Rogan references, and bike rides gone wrong with “Sally.”
- Cultural Commentary: Thoughts on Ms Rachel, gun violence, and Lia Thomas.
⏱️ Timestamps & Highlights
- 0:00–1:50: Return from hiatus and a fan “death threat” for pre-recorded episodes.
- 1:50–6:43: Catheters, a Midtown shooting involving an AR-15, and Ms Rachel’s contradictory popcorn song.
- 6:43–10:07: Double date with Brits, Meghan Markle joke, airport terminal mix-up, and discussion on trans athletes.
- 10:07–13:41: Joe’s run-in with the “wacky crew” who reappear at his hotel and comedy gig.
- 13:41–47:13: Late-night bike ride with “Sally” through the Brooklyn Bridge after getting lost thanks to a “kook.”
- 47:13–55:08: Mark’s travel hell: a forgotten ticket, baby poop disaster, and a Cape Cod monsoon road trip.
- 55:08–1:04:10: Surgeons who love comedy, BlackRock vs. Blackstone, and Patreon plugs.
- 1:04:10–1:06:52: Closing thoughts on F1, Ari Aster’s new film Eddington, and an Australian horror flick called Dangerous Animals.
👥 People Mentioned
Below is a full list of people referenced in Episode 617 – "Snap, Crackle, Pop Warner", with context and links where available:
- Mark Normand – Co-host of the show; discusses travel chaos with his baby and wife Sarah.
- Joe List – Co-host of the show; shares cringe-inducing travel stories and social encounters.
- Sally (Geoffrey Asmus) – Joe's quirky bike-riding friend, known for refusing helmets and saying “Say more.”
- Sarah Tollemache – Joe List’s wife; appears in several travel stories.
- Mark & Sarah’s Baby – A key figure in Mark’s Cape Cod travel disaster involving poop, delays, and monsoons.
- Marty – Mark’s buddy who joins him for a train ride and a Red Sox game.
- Chris Allen – Joe’s friend obsessed with “Pearl Jam 2.”
- Chuck – Podcast producer who helps with on-the-fly research.
- Lia Thomas – Transgender swimmer discussed in the context of sports.
- Tina Turner – Referenced during a wife-swapping joke.
- Meghan Markle – Mentioned during Joe's awkward double date joke.
- Ms Rachel – Children’s YouTube creator mocked for her popcorn song + choking warning.
- Elmo, Barney, Grimace – Referenced in jokes about kids’ shows and mascots.
- Joe Rogan – Cited in discussion of Austin comedy culture and podcasting influence.
- Larry David – Mentioned while riffing on social awkwardness and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- Ari Aster – Director of Midsommar; his new film Eddington is discussed.
- Josh Brolin – Referenced via The Goonies during a bike size joke.
- Dan Cook – Mentioned for performing at the Melody Tent in Cape Cod.
- Larry & Balky – Characters from Perfect Strangers; referenced by Mark in an airport bit.
- Michael Jackson & R. Kelly – Brought up in true crime doc conversation.
- Gary Veer, Isabelle Hagen, Todd Barry, Jason Lawhead, Luis Lopez – Comics featured at Joe's “Sess” show.
- Adam Ray – Upcoming tourmate of Joe’s in Calgary.
- Jerry Seinfeld – Spotted by Joe at the casino before a show.
- The “Wacky Crew” – Overly enthusiastic flight attendants who haunt Joe from gate to hotel.
- The “Kooks” – Colorful strangers Joe runs into during a wild NYC bike ride.
- British Neighbors – Couple featured in Joe and Sarah’s double date disaster.
📍 Places Mentioned
Here's a categorized list of all countries, states, cities, and notable venues referenced in Episode 617 – “Snap, Crackle, Pop Warner”:
🌍 Countries
🗺️ States
Includes cities or references from the episode. Each links to a general overview of the state.
- Alabama (Hattiesburg, Huntsville)
- California (Los Angeles, San Diego)
- Colorado (Denver, Boulder)
- Massachusetts (Cape Cod, Hyannis, Braintree, Sandwich, Yarmouth)
- New York (Midtown Manhattan, Lower East Side, Chinatown, Hell’s Kitchen)
- Texas (Austin, Yogurt Shop)
🏙️ Cities & Towns
- Austin, TX
- Brooklyn Bridge, NY
- Boston, MA
- Calgary, Canada
- Omaha, NE
- Halifax, Canada
- Ottawa, Canada
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Diego, CA
🏛️ Venues, Neighborhoods & Other Places
💼 Brands, Sponsors & Products Mentioned
These are the companies, services, and products mentioned or joked about in Episode 617. Where appropriate, links are included for further exploration or affiliate consideration:
- Cyber Truck – Referenced as part of a joke about ridiculous vehicles.
- Uber – Used for transportation to the airport and in other travel stories.
- Cathay Pacific – Referred to as “Cath Air”; the airline Joe flew with.
- E-bike – Mark and Sally’s controversial mode of travel (no helmets!).
- BlackRock – Jokingly described as the shadowy money controllers.
- Blackstone – Described as the company that “owns the houses.”
- AK-47 – Initially mentioned in a Midtown Manhattan shooting story.
- AR-15 – The actual rifle referenced in that same story (corrected by Joe).
- Pop Warner – Referenced comedically in the episode title and jokes about youth football.
- Patreon – Platform used for extra podcast content and member exclusives.
- Chipotle – Joe’s friend Sally was waiting there during a miscommunication.
- M&M's – Movie theater snack mentioned in a casual aside.
- Amazon – Mark mentions ordering a helmet online.
- Shopify – Sponsor plug during the episode.
- BetterHelp – Sponsor plug; an online therapy and counseling platform.
- City Bike – Joe has docking issues with this NYC bike-share service.
- Hyundai CRV – One of the cars Mark mentions jokingly.
- Nissan Sentra – Another vehicle name dropped by Mark during a comedic bit.
📅 Events & Experiences
This episode features a chaotic mix of personal stories, road tales, awkward interactions, and social commentary. Here’s a breakdown of the key events and experiences discussed:
🎙️ Podcast Context
- Longest Break Ever: Mark and Joe took a 5-week break from recording—Joe was away for 15 days.
- Pre-Recorded Episodes: Episodes during the break were pre-recorded, which drew humorous “death threats” from fans.
- Podcast Reunion: This episode marks their return to a regular recording schedule.
✈️ Joe List’s Adventures
- Australia Trip: Joe flew Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong on a brutal 24-hour flight.
- Double Date Gone Wrong: A cringe-filled evening with his British neighbors involved bad jokes and getting “blasted.”
- Clean & Jerk Class: Joe took a weightlifting class and felt humiliated by his weak lifts next to giants.
- “Sess Show” + Sally: Joe’s friend Geoffrey Asmus (aka “Sally”) showed up uninvited, took over logistics, and insisted on biking.
- Wild Bike Ride: They rode through Chinatown at 11 PM, encountering “kooks” and dodging traffic. Joe was furious.
- City Bike Meltdown: Bike docking failed repeatedly; Joe called customer service and yelled at Sally. Got home late, baby woke up early.
- Wacky Crew Flight: An annoying airline crew followed Joe from airport to hotel to his comedy show.
👶 Mark Normand’s Family Travel Fiasco
- Forgot the Wife’s Ticket: Mark forgot to book Sarah’s flight. Their whole itinerary collapsed.
- Poop Disaster at the Airport: Baby pooped on Mark’s hand at the airline desk. Essentials bag flew without them.
- New Flight, Same Nightmare: Got rebooked to Logan Airport. Baby screamed through the whole flight and delay on the tarmac.
- Monsoon Uber Ride: Their Uber took 4 hours in a storm to reach Cape Cod. Everyone else was already relaxing when they arrived.
🧠 Observations & Shared Commentary
- Midtown Manhattan Shooting: They joked darkly about a shooter initially described with an AK-47, later clarified as an AR-15.
- BlackRock vs. Blackstone: Explained as “money vs. real estate” in a sarcastic finance rant.
- Ms Rachel Paradox: They mocked the Ms Rachel popcorn song for promoting snacks followed by a choking warning.
- Comedian Travel Struggles: Tales of delayed flights, sleepless nights, and unfriendly logistics.
- Performing in Austin: Joe highlighted the pressure to impress Joe Rogan and appear on “Kill Tony.”
- True Crime Satire: Referenced grim documentaries like *Leaving Neverland*, *R. Kelly*, and the Yogurt Shop Murders.
🎤 Tour & Promotions
- Upcoming Shows: Mark and Joe plug tour stops in Calgary, Las Vegas, Denver, and more.
- Patreon Promo: They urge listeners to check out bonus “solo eps.”
- Sponsor Shout-Outs: Brief promotions for Shopify and BetterHelp.
- Post-Trip Movie Watching: Mark reviews F1 (fun) and Eddington by Ari Aster (weird, but interesting).
🎬 Referenced Media & Resources
Here is a breakdown of all media—podcasts, movies, TV shows, documentaries, children's content, and books—referenced in Episode 617 of Tuesdays with Stories:
🎧 Podcasts
- Tuesdays with Stories – The main podcast hosted by Mark Normand and Joe List.
- The Joe Rogan Experience – Mentioned regarding Austin comedy and podcasting pressure.
- Kill Tony – Referenced as a benchmark for Austin comedians.
- Funbearable – Joe List’s other podcast where he talks movies and bits.
- Punch Up – Mark Normand’s platform for early content drops and show clips.
🎥 Movies
- F1 – Formula 1 racing film. Mark called it “pretty fun.”
- Eddington – New western by Ari Aster. Mark found it “kooky.”
- Citizen Kane – Used metaphorically to describe relief after chaotic travel.
- 28 Weeks Later – Mentioned as a solid horror/action film.
- The Goonies – Referenced during a bike-riding story.
- Perfect – Movie with Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta. Mentioned in a workout context joke.
- Fourth of July – Joe List’s film, mentioned in relation to his work and identity.
📺 TV Shows
- Curb Your Enthusiasm – Referenced in relation to social anxiety and awkwardness.
- Melrose Place – Something Joe attempted to watch mid-flight.
- Perfect Strangers – Mark references seeing “Larry” from the show at the airport.
- Seinfeld – Mentioned when Jerry Seinfeld is seen at the casino.
🕵️♂️ Documentaries / True Crime
- The Yogurt Shop Murders – HBO true crime series Joe recommends.
- Leaving Neverland – Michael Jackson doc referenced with dark humor.
- R. Kelly – Discussed in the context of disturbing documentaries.
🧒 Children's Media
- Ms Rachel – Criticized for popcorn song + choking warning contradiction.
- Elmo, Barney, Grimace – Used as cultural punchlines during the episode.
📚 Books / Publications
- Ms Rachel’s Emotion Book: Satirically referenced by Joe for having “shame” as a listed emotion—“great thumbnail for porn,” he jokes.
🔍 Search Triggers & Internet Curiosities
These are the terms and questions that listeners might be inspired to Google after hearing the stories, jokes, or references made during this episode:
- “Pop Warner”
- “Ms Rachel Popcorn Song”
- “Cath Air Hong Kong” or “Cathay Pacific”
- “Midtown Manhattan AK-47 shooting”
- “Is BlackRock a bank?” or “BlackRock vs. Blackstone”
- “Is Blackstone a real estate business?”
- “Is there a movie called Eddington?”
- “Who is Ari Aster?”
- “Comedian Sally”
- “Yogurt Shop Murders Austin Texas”