Handsome

Pretty Little Episode #73

23 min
Jan 9, 20265 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

May Martin and Tig Notaro discuss May's new car purchase, recent driving lessons, and upcoming stand-up tour across North America. The hosts also field listener questions about cool things they can't pull off personally and preferences between Summer and Winter Olympics, with special guest Biggie Bear (a Pomeranian) making an appearance.

Insights
  • New car ownership significantly boosts confidence and independence, particularly for those learning to drive and managing anxiety through narration and self-soothing techniques
  • Personal branding through tour announcements and ticket collection creates fan engagement opportunities, with listeners tracking multiple show attendance like collecting achievements
  • Listener engagement thrives when hosts acknowledge audience participation and create parasocial connections through direct address and shared vulnerability about personal insecurities
  • Comedy touring requires intensive writing and preparation periods, with comedians balancing multiple city performances while maintaining creative output quality
Trends
Podcast hosts leveraging personal life milestones (driving, touring) as content anchors to deepen audience connectionListener call-in segments driving engagement through relatable questions about social confidence and personal style choicesStand-up comedy touring expanding to 35+ cities as standard practice for established comedians building national presenceParasocial relationships in podcasting strengthened through pet appearances and casual domestic setting discussionsAudience participation tracking (ticket collection across multiple shows) indicating growing fan loyalty metrics for comedy tours
Topics
New driver confidence building and anxiety managementStand-up comedy tour logistics and schedulingPersonal style choices and fashion confidenceOlympic sports preferences and athlete appreciationPet ownership and aging pet careCar leasing vs. ownership decisionsLos Angeles infrastructure readiness for 2028 OlympicsListener engagement through call-in segmentsFigure skating and winter sports entertainmentComedy writing and preparation processesDriving school experiences in Los AngelesCasual dating and car romance culturePomeranian health and agingTravel planning and accommodation preferencesCanadian winter sports dominance
Companies
Airbnb
Sponsor partner discussed for travel accommodation options with guest favorites badges and amenity filtering for May'...
People
May Martin
Co-host discussing new car purchase, driving lessons, upcoming 35-city North American stand-up tour starting end of F...
Tig Notaro
Co-host and comedian with upcoming stand-up shows in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Fayetteville, Litt...
Fortune Fiemster
Co-host and comedian performing stand-up tour with multiple city stops, mentioned as voice actor in Zootopia 2.
Gina Davis
Referenced as example of someone who became skilled at archery, mentioned in Olympic sports discussion context.
Quotes
"I didn't realize I like narrate as I drive to like soothe myself. So I'm, I'm going, well, I'm approaching a red light and, and behind me, it's, you know, it's, it's his problem to slow down because I'm focusing ahead and these rules are in place to keep us safe."
May MartinMid-episode
"Anyone who takes their home coffee mug out into the world, like in their car or walking around, very cool."
May MartinListener question segment
"I think you would be very good at Olympic ballroom dancing with short shorts."
Tig NotaroOlympics discussion
"After every show, someone's going, you should have done this. I mean, I'm not going to be in the audience or an Uber driver saying, yeah, you should talk about this."
May MartinOlympics segment
Full Transcript
This is a Head Gum Podcast. Checking all state first could save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking that when you order a cowboy hat online, you get the right size. Big mistake. Now I'm showing up at the country western dance in a hat made for a toddler. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check all state first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with all state. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability. All state North American insurance company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. In partnership with Airbnb, let's talk a little bit about travel. Tig, as you know, I'm about to go on my first big tour around the United States. And while I'm traveling in a bus, I want to make sure I get a couple nights in a nice comfy bed that's not on wheels. So I'm going to book a couple nights stay on Airbnb. That sounds like a plan, Mae. What area are you looking? Well, I'm going to be in Florida, which I'm very excited about. And I'd love to find somewhere with a hot tub or a sauna that I can relax in. Maybe some nice nature nearby, like a big park or something. I love finding a home on Airbnb because I know I can get the place all to myself and I can read tons of reviews and make sure it's a great place. Airbnb also has guest favorites badges that show me the highest rated and most loved homes. I've just never gone wrong booking one of those. You know, I swam with sharks in Florida. Is that something you would ever try? I hadn't thought about that. But if I'm near the ocean, then who knows? Maybe I will. On the other hand, if I find a really nice place on Airbnb, I may just never want to leave. Handsome, chatting with friends on the Handsome Pod, chatting with friends on the Handsome Pod. Pretty little episode. Hello. Welcome to the Handsome Pods. Pretty little episode. I'm Fortune Fiend, sir. I'm May Martin. Hello. Hello, May. I don't know if you want to start off the bat with this, but we also have a special guest today. Oh my God, this is huge. It's Biggie Bear. It's Biggie Bear. It's Biggie Boy. Go to YouTube. Look at this angel who's back in your arms. He's the best. I haven't seen him for a little bit and we're reunited and it feels so good. What was the reunion like? He was, since it's been a minute, he kind of out of sight out of mind kind of guy. Oh no. I can't lie. No, I can't lie. I'm not going to pretend. In his heart. But he was like that when we would take him to a sitter or something. Whoever's feeding him has his heart. As soon as I got home with him, he was running around and like cupping my arm. Right. Yeah. He's back, baby. He's back and he's horny. Well I can't wait to see him hopefully soon. I know he snuggled up to me. He's the best cuddle buddy to sleep with. Yeah, he is. I bet. He's like a little but he just like snugs up against you real sweet. Yeah. And I always, people ask me about Biggie a lot and I always say, you know, he's more solid than you'd expect. His little legs, like he's, you can hug him. He's like, yeah, he's not a fragile boy. He's nine pounds but he's a sturdy boy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He is getting older though. He only has four teeth now. Oh my God. Well, is it two on top, two on the bottom? Yeah, his like little, the long pointy ones. Those are the only ones he has. Oh man, it would be bad if it was like three on top, one on the bottom. It's so weird to look into his mouth because he used to, this has only been in the last like year and a half that he's started losing all his teeth. We had to get him some pulled but I guess it's like common with Pomeranians and he's 11 or 12 now. We're not sure. Yeah. So he's older. We lose our teeth as a kid and then again, Pomeranian. But he's full of spunk. Oh, debatable. He's not dead eyes. You stop. No, he's not. I've never thought he was. There's always a twinkle. He's like Santa Claus. Take and suck it. He's not dead eyes. I have my friend Joe visiting from England and so my, I've put this bed, this sofa that is always in the background. It pulls out into a beautiful bed. And look at that. So nice to have my buddy here. Oh, that's great. So you got a full house. You got your house guests in the back. Yeah. And I got here and I saw that you have a new car. I mean, this is huge. This is, you know, on the main pod, I'm sure by now we will have talked about it. But yeah, we are currently recording like a week after I got my car and I don't even have my license yet. I, and I wasn't able to test drive it. Because my, my, I'd have someone else test drive it because, um, yeah, you need insurance, but I can drive with a, with a licensed California driver in the car. Oh, okay. So now I'm, I'm driving every day. I drove today to the reservoir, walked around. Doesn't it feel more like you have more independence? It's like such a confidence booster. I feel so much happier. I love it. Cause you were like loading groceries and I'm like, look at that. That would be such a pain in the ass in an Uber. I know. And, but I do have to, I didn't realize I like narrate as I drive to like soothe myself. So I'm, I'm going, well, I'm approaching a red light and, and behind me, it's, you know, it's, it's his problem to slow down because I'm focusing ahead and these rules are in place to keep us safe. Like I really have to, but I went on for my lesson today. I went on the highway half an hour there and then half an hour back. So I'm, I'm getting more confident. I can't wait to drive you somewhere. I love that you're starting the new year, new you, new bar, new license. Get fucking, get rid of the year of the snake. Bring on the year of the horse. It's a new year for you, baby. Yeah. I'm really into the year of the horse. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, Remora. Do we know anything about what that means? You're the year of the horse. Yeah. It's like forward motion, stability, purpose. This year was all about like shedding and the darkness and yeah. Yeah. And I guess big digs cause horses have big digs. Okay. That's, I'm reading that into it and I'm going to run. All right. Well, look at you. Getting some B. Oh my God. Well, new year, new you. Yeah. There's going to be, um, scandalous, onward and upward moments. Yeah. I can't wait. Yeah. Do you think I should put stickers on my car that say like new driver? I mean, I listen, people will have a different opinion of this and some of our handsome listeners. You know, they might have, they might have our own handsome sticker on their car. Yeah. I don't put stickers on my car usually cause I'm doing a lease. Yeah. I'm doing a lease. And, uh, I don't know how tough it is to get stickers off. That's a really good point. Yeah. That's true. Okay. My mom's old car had stickers all over the back of it. And I was like, I don't know about this. Yeah. Okay. I'm going to keep it, but it is, it's going to be my little world of my little pod. I can't wait. I'm going to like, I got to hang something from the mirror. How's it? Well, yeah, you can hang something from the mirror. It might be easier if you put a sticker on the window part that might come off easier. That's true. Baby on board or something. Baby on board. Baby's first car. Yeah. Or, um, year of the horse. I think there is a sticker that says something like new driver. Yeah. Be careful or something. Oh, but in LA that would just, that would like incite their rage. Like, get out of the way. Yeah. The amount of times I've been honked at, like when I'm in the drive, the driving school is like learner vehicle that's covered in driving school learner. Yeah. Just because I'm not going above the speed limit, people are, people are very impatient. They really are. You're going to be great. I love this for you. I'm very, very happy for this next big step. Well, I'm, I mean, by the time this comes out, hopefully I'll have my license. It's, I've really talked it up so much that I have to just say I'm getting my license. If I fail, I'm going to be really bummed, but I think you will because now you have a car in your mode and you see how nice it is to be able to do things for yourself in this way. I think it will motivate you. Yeah. I can drive people around, but one thing I cannot tolerate or will never have is any music in the car. Really? No, I can't have that. No, no, no. I cannot think of any, I don't want any noise going on. Pretty much. Yeah. I need silence. Well, you're going to, you're going to get more comfortable driving and then your next phase will be getting so comfortable that you can take someone on a date. Oh my Lord and drop them off and have that moment where the car pulls up and you stop and you're sitting, well, this is me. And I go, well, yeah, I remember, I remember back in the day in my early thirties, one of my favorite things to do would be to go on dates and smooch in the car after. Yeah. Oh, it's the best. It's the best. A car, a car smooch is really nice. I even have that feeling when a friend drops me off somewhere and they, and it's nighttime after dinner and they drop me off and the car stops outside of my house. There's like a pregnant pause and I'm like, it feels like we should kiss. Like, it's just now your friends are like, why haven't you kissed me? Yeah. If you were thinking about it, why don't you just do it? I know. Listen, should we hear what our listeners want to know and what let's say, yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. Hello, handsome. My name is Mary Anna. I'm a first time caller forever listener. I'm from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and I will see May when they're here to perform their stand up. May, I think you'll find as you know, Ottawa is better than Toronto. Recently, you guys were talking and Tig said that she walks around without a lid on her coffee and May said, isn't it super bold and cool when people dare to wander around with their kitchen mug? And I thought, oh God, I have never felt better about myself because May thinks I'm super cool. So my question is, what's something that you think is so cool and bold and confident when other people do it, but you can't pull it off for yourself? Oh, I have a list of mile long. Thank you for that question. And I do stand by that. Anyone who takes their home coffee mug out into the world, like in their car or walking around, very cool. For me, it's winking like a confident casual wink. Like, I can't pull it off at all. Can you do it? Yeah. I mean, I mean, you physically can. I can do it, but you know, my whole face moves with it. Same. Yeah. But people who are really good at a little twinkly wink that everyone else misses, you know, I think when I do it without thinking, I can do a proper one. But like when I start thinking about it, I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was good. That one. Then also people who like instead of passing you something, throw it. Like throw the keys or like throw you an apple. But it's cool because it assumes that you're going to, you're cool enough to catch it. And it's just confident. I'm thinking about Aladdin really in Aladdin. You're not confident enough to throw anything at someone. I would never presume that they would catch it. And yeah, no. Or yeah. I've seen a lot of women wearing like really baggy jeans and pants lately. Yeah. I don't know that I can pull that off. I think you can, but I know what you mean. It feels feels like I'm already bigger built. So like to then add a bunch of extra fabric just seems like too much. And people they're so wide. The pants people are wearing now, but that is cool. Like you'll see Paul. It was cool. A lot of people. Yeah. I don't think I can pull it all. I think you could like wide jeans and then a tighter T tighter T. I can't rock a tighter T. That's where I want the loose extra fabric is in the T. Okay. Then then yeah, a structured pant. Yeah. I like a structured pant and also with my gams. Why am I going to not, you know, highlight those? Come on. Exactly. Yeah. Trying to think if there's anything else that's I'm sure there's a lot of things where I'm like, oh, that's so cool, but I can never do it. You know what I could never do, but I don't think it's cool vaping. I just can't, I know that because I, I still smoke occasionally and I know I shouldn't and everyone's like, why don't you try vaping? I just can't, I can't do it. It's too big cloud. Now is it as a dick? I don't really know the science behind all of it. Is it as addictive as smoking? Plus got nicotine in it. Yeah. Right. I think it just is meant to not have like the tar and stuff and it doesn't smell bad after, but we're going to find out that it's evil. Yeah. I have no desire to vape, but I don't have any desire to smoke either. No, but you often like will mime a cigarette. I like to pretend that I'm an old fashioned broad. Yeah. From the broad way. In New York City, smoking a cigarette. Timothy, did you get the alterations done? Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee. Yeah. You know, that kind of thing. I do love that. It suits you. But that was a good question. Yeah, that was a good thing. Mariana, I'll see you in the day. That was a good thing. That was a good thing. I'll see you in Ottawa, Mariana. Let's hear Mariana's answer. Well, my answer is for me, it's jumpsuits. A one piece outfit, some kind of onesie that's super classy or super professional. On a good day, I'm like five foot tall and I really can't pull those off. I feel just absolutely ridiculous. But I think women in particular or non binary folks who wear something like that are just the coolest. I agree. I think it's I think I could get into overalls. I think in a kind of like farm boy fetch me that picture and then I could be like the farm boy. Yeah. Yeah. I could see that. A one piece is very cool. Yeah, for sure. I cannot pull that off. Should we hear one more? Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. Hi, handsome pod. This is Kate from Connecticut. And my question is, do you prefer the summer or winter Olympics seen as the winter Olympics are coming up soon? And further, is there an Olympic sport that you could see each other really excelling at? Great question. I love the Olympics. I do. I love it. I am more of a summer gal, though. I get very excited about it. I watch the opening ceremony. I'm super into it. I feel very into like rooting the teams on. Winter Olympics, I do. I will watch some of them because I want to support these athletes. They work so hard to get to this point. But I'm not a winter sport gal. Yeah. I'm more of the summer. I love the like, I love to watch gymnastics. I love to watch swimming, which is weird because I don't watch any of this any other time. Yeah. I'll watch track and field. I will watch soccer, tennis. I love it. There's so many good things. Yeah. I agree. I'm a summer guy, but I don't really watch it. But I do. I love the opening ceremonies like the one in England where the Queen Matt James Bond, that was great. Yeah. And I like to I like like kayaking and things that Canada's good at. I like and then winter sports. I don't know. I get so those skiers doing the flips. It's so insane. Yeah. I don't know. I imagine your your country of Canada does very well in the winter sports. That's like where they shine, right? Do we Thomas? Yeah. Canada is always in the top like three or so countries in the winter Olympics. Yeah. That's a wintery. Have a big winters. Big winters. I should get into it then because it's I mean, I'm still recovering from the the World Series and I'd like to see Canada win something. So maybe some skiing. Yeah. I think you would be very good fortune at Olympic. Uh, is there some I'm trying to think about your games and is there something like, you know how dressage with horses where they kind of trot and prank. Oh, my God. And if you were just trotting and prancing with your I could trot and prance. I was thinking I would be a ballroom dancer with short shorts. That is that yeah. Olympics. Got to be. Probably not. Yeah. I love watching figure skating, though. I will say figure skating is fun. Oh, my God. I like a floor routine and gymnastics with the with the ribbons. Yes, I like to do that. Yeah, I could see you curling. Thank you. You're welcome. I'll take it. I if there was like an Olympic sport for like apologizing for not being able to come to something that would be me. Yeah. Curling I would like or yeah, I there's a documentary that my friend made that a documentary comedy series called I have nothing that's in Canada. It's on Crave and it's on Peacock everywhere else. And it's about her trying to choreograph an Olympic level Paris figure skating routine, but she's never skated or danced. And it's her crazy dream and I'm in it. And it's I really recommend it if you like winter sports. Yeah. LA is going to be hosting the Olympics. I know. And was it 27? 2028. But you know, every city that hosts it freaks out because they're never ready for it. No, there's no public transport in this city. Yeah. And then every and then everyone shits on that city. Yeah. During the Olympics, like they really did like to print. Well, we just had Paris and everyone was like, oh, these these the housing is awful. The food's so bad. I know. And I just learned to drive and I'm going to be on the roads during the Olympics here. They got a lot of work to do to get ready. They're still I mean, they've been doing things trying to like get things prepared already, but yeah, I feel like they're behind. We got a lot of work to do to get ready for those Olympics. We got to start training in our top dancing, prancing and curling. We have to get ready for the Oscars and the Olympics. Surely will be featured in the opening ceremony. I'll be shocked. Run through the city with the torch, the Olympic torch, right? How good would that be? Or like descendant on wires into the stadium? I mean, I will say that they have to do some sort of like Hollywood stunt person type. Yeah. Oh, it'll be some crazy. It's got to be electric, you know. Yeah. We need pyrotechnics. We need Katy Perry. We need all of it. We need Katy Perry. We definitely must have Katy Perry. Yeah. I think I take that back. I just intrude. Maybe they'll still be together by then. Yeah, who knows? I'm rooting for it. And then and and he'll be holding a sign that says your legacy will be great. Yeah. And she'll bring it in confidently and throw it out. Well, I think it's I think it's fun. I love all these. I love all these athletes from all over the world who've trained their booties off. And this is their time. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. I think it's fun. with the bow and arrow. Archery? I think, archery. I would love archery. Really? You think you'd be good? I think, didn't Gina Davis become an archerist? Is that the word? Yeah. I think I could do decent, but it would take a lot of practice. You know, it's crazy. We watched the Olympics, and we're like, God, I respect. I could never do that. Comedy is so different. After every show, someone's going, you should have done this. I mean, I'm not going to be in the audience or an Uber driver saying, yeah, you should talk about this. I feel like everyone thinks, I'll do it. Right. That sounds bitter. Well, that's a, let's hear Kate's answer. My answer is I prefer the Winter Olympics slightly because I love snow and the skiing and figure skating and all that is so impressive. And I really think Fortune and Tig would be pretty good at water polo considering all the treading you've got. I think May might have an innate Canadian ability to excel at ice hockey or curling. Anyway, I'm really excited this spring. I'm going to see May on tour. It'll be my first ever comedy show. Tig, your Connecticut show was sold out. I shouldn't be surprised. And Fortune just saw Zootopia 2. You crushed it. Love the pod. Keep it handsome. Thank you, Kate. Keep it handsome, Kate. Well, it's always a treat to chat with you, my friend. You too, pal. You're lovely listeners. Yeah, I love that both those people said they were coming to my tour show. That's so amazing. I know. Are you excited for it? You getting pumped for this tour? I am and I'm writing feverishly. Yeah, I am getting pumped. I really like when people online tag us and that they've bought a ticket to all three of our shows. That's so interesting. And they're doing it like I checked off the trifecta. Like we're Pokemon they're collecting and I really like that. It is nice that the people support us so much. Yeah, what do you got coming up? I'm just doing some stand up right now. I got I'm in Atlanta tonight. Don't want to show there. And then coming up have Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, a bunch of shows. Fayetteville, Arkansas, Little Rock, San Diego, Oklahoma City. What about you? I'm just gearing up for my tour, which starts end of February. So check out Maymartin.net and I'm going to 35 cities in North America. And that's my main vibe right now. So check that out. I love it. And I guess. Awesome. Other than that, all that remains is to keep it. Brilliant. Handsome is hosted by me, Maymartin, Tignotaro and Fortune Fiemster. The show is produced, recorded and edited by Thomas Willett. Email us at handsomepod at gmail.com. And please follow us on social media at HandsomePod. What a podcast. That was a hate gum podcast.