The Nightly

Matt Bragg talks with caller/producer Harry about the novelty song Agadoo that has hijacked his brain, Britain's long love affair with ridiculous Christmas number ones, and why America only managed to get the Cha Cha Slide to number eighty-three.

What You'll Hear:

An Earworm Named Agadoo: Harry calls in to confess a British novelty song from the '80s has taken over his every waking thought, and he wants Matt to explain exactly why this keeps happening to him.

Britain's Christmas Number One Curse: Matt and Harry trace a strange lineage from Bob the Builder to George Formby to LadBaby's sausage roll songs, debating which novelty hits actually deserve some respect.

A Charity Single Is Born: Matt hatches a plan to fight fire with fire by releasing Hatch's own deliberately terrible Christmas single, with help from anyone listening.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Christmas radio creeps in early
01:17 Caller Harry needs to vent
04:17 The Agadoo music video breaks Harry
09:00 Britain's history of novelty number ones
16:30 Plotting the ultimate charity single
17:33 Good night to Martin and Lou Vega

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Josh Gondelman and Matt Bragg trade wild hometown legends—an escaped king cobra, a backyard World War II museum, and a peek over the fence at Graceland Too—while previewing Matt's return with Notes From England.

What You'll Hear:

The Case of the Elementary School Cobra: Josh recalls the hometown legend of an illegally kept king cobra that went missing, and where it eventually turned up.

A Living Room Full of War History: Matt describes stumbling into a stranger's house-turned-WWII museum, complete with an unexploded bomb in the corner.

Climbing a Fence for Elvis: Josh recounts a detour to Graceland Too, where the welcome wasn't exactly guaranteed.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Trading hometown lore
02:24 Matt joins The Nightly
04:16 Notes From England returns
07:16 The elementary school cobra
15:39 A house turned WWII museum
18:21 Climbing a fence for Graceland Too

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Josh Gondelman talks with guest Jamie Doktor, aka Miss J, about bartending her way into her first striptease, performing eight months pregnant, and building Buffalo's longest-running burlesque troupe on instinct, whiskey, and a little bit of fate.

What You'll Hear:

Three Dollars and a Thursday Night Gap: Jamie returns to Buffalo nearly broke, takes a bartending job, and notices one empty night on the schedule just waiting to be filled with something unexpected.

Fever on the Bar Top: A borrowed song, a classy little dance, and a boss who had no idea what she was about to see become the unlikely birth of a 22-year-old burlesque troupe.

The Mom of Buffalo Burlesque: From teaching her first recital class to coaching dancers through rejection, Jamie explains how she became the person everyone, including our own caller Joy, calls Mom.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Caller Joy's burlesque confession
01:30 Welcome, Miss J!
02:49 How the Stripteasers began
09:00 Eight months pregnant and still performing
12:00 Teaching the first recital class
19:30 Advice for brand new performers

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Greta Johnsen talks with caller Kassey about a Halloweekend quandary: a cover charge and a costume line, a cozy night in by the fire, and a 7 AM flight to Puerto Rico the next morning.

What You'll Hear:

The Halloweekend Quandary: Kassey used to treat Halloween as a Thursday-to-Sunday event, but a long line in a costume now sounds less appealing than a night at home. Greta, who hasn't gone out for Halloween in decades, has some thoughts.

Which Sounds Worse?: Greta asks whether it's harder to sit on the couch wishing you were at a great party or to be at a party you'd rather leave. Kassey, a self-described big what-if person, gives it real consideration.

The Levels of Fun: Greta shares her favorite framework for deciding whether something is worth doing, from the plain kind of fun to the kind you do just for the story.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to The Nightly!
02:17 The Halloweekend dilemma
09:23 Couch FOMO or party regret?
11:31 The 7 AM flight twist
20:46 The levels of fun
21:52 Good nights!

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Matt Bragg talks with caller Kelsey about her nights as a Busch Gardens scare actor, the unwritten etiquette of jump-scaring strangers, and why she still sleeps with the lights on.

What You'll Hear:

A Newly Diagnosed Halloween Fan: Matt kicks things off by admitting he's more into Halloween than he ever realized, even though scare mazes still terrify him.

Life Inside the Haunted House: Kelsey shares what it's really like to work as a scare actor, from auditions and airbrush paint to reading a crowd before deciding who gets the jump scare.

When the Scaring Stops Being Fun: Matt and Kelsey talk through the etiquette of scaring strangers, the nights she had to psych herself up, and whether being a pro made her any less of an easy scare herself.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Matt's surprising Halloween confession
01:46 Kelsey the scare actor checks in
05:44 Has a scare ever turned violent
10:33 Getting spooked while scaring others
13:56 The night she couldn't fake it
21:39 Good nights

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Josh Gondelman talks with caller Joy about her ever-expanding costume room, the night she cried during her very first burlesque class, and the train conductor hat she's still trying to justify buying.

What You'll Hear:

A Costume Room Comes to Life: Josh checks in on Joy's Airbnb before she shares what's happening in the costume-and-aerial-arts room she's been building at home.

From Six-Week Class to Burlesque Regular: Joy traces her path from a nervous, tearful first performance fifteen years ago to a confident, ever-changing stage persona built entirely on bravery over technique.

Train Conductor Hats and Cat Songs: Between a Medieval Times birthday and a mysterious group of "elderly" costumed strangers in Canada, Joy explains how a good prop always finds its purpose eventually.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Josh's Oasis costume and Ninja Turtle dance confessions
02:47 Welcome back, caller Joy!
06:05 A costume closet takes shape
09:42 Burlesque, aerial arts, and a pole in the spare room
14:00 The cat costume that started it all
18:07 The bravery it takes to perform

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Greta Johnsen talks with caller Sahar about trading hustle mode for five-minute walks, kitchen squats, and the radical idea that rest doesn't have to be earned.

What You'll Hear:

Squats While the Coffee Brews: Sahar explains how she finds movement in tiny pockets of her day, proving that five minutes can count just as much as a full workout.

The Season of Being Less Useful: Greta brings up a favorite new book about stepping back from micromanaging everything, and Sahar explains why it rings so true for her.

Rest You Don't Have to Earn: Together they trade ideas on how to give yourself permission to just sit, stare out the window, and let the dishwasher wait.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to The Nightly
01:22 Hello, caller Sahar
02:30 A season of intentional living
08:23 The joy of being a little less useful
16:10 Permission to rest without earning it
22:39 Good night to a laziness accountability coach

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Matt Bragg and Deanna Ortiz trade notes on the Kelly Clarkson & Brooklyn shop showdown, the new seasons of It's Crime For Bed, and the strange legend of the Pez Outlaw.

What You'll Hear:

A Herb Garden Crime Scene: Matt confesses to a drone mishap that left his girlfriend's herbs in ruins, and the flimsy cover story he's still trying to sell her on.

The Bird That Cost $15 Million: Deanna breaks down the baffling, headline-grabbing saga of Kelly Clarkson, a Brooklyn toy store, and one very expensive mechanical bird.

The Pez Dispenser Heist of the '90s: A smuggler who gave himself the nickname Pez Outlaw turns out to have run one of the strangest resale operations in collector history.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Matt's drone destroys the herb garden
02:04 Deanna joins to talk Crime for Bed
03:59 The Kelly Clarkson bird saga begins
12:27 The legend of the Pez Outlaw
17:37 Good night, Pez Outlaw and Kelly Clarkson

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Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Sarah about embracing daylight saving time, finding the clear umbrella that changed her rainy days, and feeding peanuts to a flock of blue jays.

What You'll Hear:

Sweater Weather Math: Josh opens with his yearly scramble to wear every cardigan and light jacket before the Northeast's brief, beautiful autumn disappears.

Springing Forward, On Purpose: Sarah explains how moving from sunny California to the Pacific Northwest flipped her feelings about daylight saving time.

Peanuts, Umbrellas, and Baby Blue Jays: From a life-changing clear umbrella to a backyard full of peanut-hoarding birds, Sarah shares the small rituals that keep her feeling tuned in to the seasons.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Josh's case for sweater weather
02:31 Welcome, caller Sarah!
05:00 Falling back, springing forward, and chasing daylight
09:17 The umbrella that changed everything
16:14 Baby blue jays and the peanut economy
23:11 Good nights

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Greta Johnsen talks with writer Fern Watt about the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade and why dogs make the best icebreakers with strangers.

What You'll Hear:

A Parade Grown Too Big for the Park: Greta learns how a scrappy dog run tradition outgrew its space to become the 36th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.

Gumshoe and the Odyssey: Fern walks through some of this year's most gloriously absurd costumes, proving New Yorkers will go to any lengths for their dogs.

Named After a Dog, Apparently: Greta and Fern realize they both carry names more commonly found on a leash, and talk about what dogs teach us about loving, and losing, well.

CHAPTERS:
00:25 A zombie dress leads to an unexpected dog tangent
01:24 Welcome, Fern Watt!
03:41 Thousands of dogs, surprisingly calm chaos
09:13 Pre-registration and an inbox full of inspiration
21:31 Good nights!

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Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Nicole about Halloween costume-making for her daughter, from a papier-mâché submarine to this year's sparkly, spandex-heavy Boo.

What You'll Hear:

From Dolly Parton to Boo: Nicole walks Greta through her daughter's costume history, including a full Dolly Parton era complete with bedazzled boots and street performances.

The Papier-Mâché Deep Dive: The two trade notes on wheat paste, balloons, and cardboard structures, proving that craft chaos is half the fun of Halloween.

Two-Headed Freaks and Hobo Ghosts: Nicole and Greta swap stories of strange childhood costumes, from a Styrofoam head stuffed in a jacket to a very confusing hobo ghost.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Halloween Week continues!
01:20 The costume countdown
02:45 Remembering Dolly Parton
05:39 Papier-mâché technique talk
11:34 Dream family costumes, Totoro style
21:24 Goodnights!

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Matt Bragg talks with caller Mike about father-daughter Halloween costume pairings, the economics of trick-or-treating candy, and the surprisingly spooky history of turnip jack-o'-lanterns.

What You'll Hear:

A Very Expensive Feather: Matt kicks things off with a frantic vet trip, a questionable hairball, and a bill steep enough to rival a nice dinner out.

Eevee, Ash, and the Art of the Pairing: Mike shares how he and his seven-year-old daughter plan their matching Halloween costumes months in advance, from Wolverine and X-23 to a very cozy Pokémon duo.

The Original, Unsettling Jack-o'-Lantern: Before pumpkins took over, people carved something far creepier, and Matt can't quite get over it.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Matt's bloated black cat and Halloween chaos
02:03 Welcome, caller Mike!
03:17 Eevee, Ash, and family costume themes
09:47 Planning months ahead for costume pairings
15:53 Pumpkin carving memories and turnip jack-o'-lanterns
18:14 Good nights

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Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Tim about his elaborate October movie marathon, from Witchy Wednesday to Sequel Saturday, and the campy gems most people have never heard of.

What You'll Hear:

A Calendar Built for Spooky Season: Tim explains the themed structure he's refined since the COVID days, complete with alliterative names like Macabre Monday and Fleshy Friday.

The Deep Cuts Worth Digging Up: From a forgotten 1989 camp classic to the kitschy gimmicks of director William Castle, Tim shares the recommendations most of his friends had never heard of.

When a Classic Doesn't Quite Fit: Josh and Tim debate whether beloved horror films like The Shining and Psycho belong in an October lineup at all.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Josh's spotty horror movie education
02:36 Welcome, Caller Tim!
03:18 How Tim's October movie calendar began
07:25 A tour through this year'd themes
14:50 Underrated gems and campy favorites
23:28 Goodnights!

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Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Lauren about turning her wedding dress into a zombie bride costume and planning a Dracula-themed murder mystery for her husband's Halloween birthday.

What You'll Hear:

Zombie Bride and Groom, COVID Edition: Lauren tells Greta about the Halloween she and her new husband decided to reuse their wedding attire.

Six Years, Two Daughters, One Dress: Looking back at those photos now, Lauren reflects on how much simpler Halloween costumes used to be before toddlers entered the picture.

Dracula Turns 500: With her husband born on Halloween, Lauren shares plans for the ambitious murder mystery party she's throwing.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to The Nightly
01:15 Caller Lauren joins us!
02:00 The zombie bride and groom plan
05:00 Looking back six years later
11:21 Planning a Dracula murder mystery
18:25 Goodnight Lucy & Marcy!

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Matt Bragg talks with caller Alex about her Halloween wedding, two guests in hyper-realistic pigeon heads, and the great debate over what percentage dead is appropriately spooky.

What You'll Hear:

The 30% Dead Rule: Matt lays out his personal Halloween philosophy, which involves a strict minimum level of decomposition for any costume to count.

An Aspen Tree Walks Down the Aisle: Alex describes her Halloween wedding's surprisingly elegant nature theme, plus the eight-foot talking jack-o'-lantern that now guards her front yard.

Planning a Spooky First Anniversary: The two try to invent a Halloween-themed version of the traditional paper anniversary, with mixed results.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome back, caller Alex
01:07 The Halloween wedding reveal
03:18 The 30% dead costume rule
05:00 Two guests in pigeon heads
07:05 The eight-foot jack-o'-lantern from Target
13:28 Planning a spooky anniversary

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Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Kathryn from Wichita, Kansas about her neighborhood's over-the-top Halloween traditions, from giant skeletons and fog machines to buses full of trick-or-treaters pouring in from out of town.

What You'll Hear:

A Childhood of Tinfoil and Felt: Josh remembers his mom's scrappy homemade costumes, from a cardboard robot to a Where's Waldo win that made him the talk of the block.

Halloween Town, USA: Caller Kathryn describes her Wichita neighborhood's wild Halloween scene, complete with bussed-in trick-or-treaters, police blockades, and even a lost kids' station.

The Great Candy Count: Kathryn breaks down exactly how many Costco bags it takes to survive an evening of nonstop doorbell rings, and why fun size is the only way to go.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Josh's homemade Halloween costumes as a kid
03:20 Welcome, caller Kathryn!
04:07 A Hocus Pocus-level Halloween block party
09:00 The candy situation
14:40 A friend's legendary synchronized light show
20:12 How to politely sit Halloween out

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Greta Johnsen catches up with friend, book critic and crafter Liberty Hardy about the art of bedazzling.

What You'll Hear:

A Bedazzled Bucket Begins It All: Liberty traces her sparkly obsession back to a cracked drag-show confetti bucket that sat in her house for years before it sparked a whole new hobby.

Eighteen Hours, One Neon Dog: Liberty walks through the surprisingly long, strangely meditative process of bedazzling a portrait of Greta's dog Buffy, gem by tiny gem.

Permission to Have a Useless Hobby: At 50 years old, Liberty reflects on learning to relax, make things just for fun, and let herself waste time wisely.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The inspiration for this week's Sunday Edition
01:40 Say hello to bedazzler, Liberty!
02:24 How a cracked confetti bucket started it all
06:05 The 18-hour sparkle marathon
16:16 Permission to have a useless hobby
19:52 Goodnight, Buffy!

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Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Abbie about giving herself permission to waste time, falling for hobbies she's bad at, and the bedazzled dog portrait that proves a gift doesn't have to be useful to be perfect.

What You'll Hear:

The Myth of Earned Downtime: Greta and Abbie dig into why rest keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, and what happens when you stop waiting to deserve it.

Bad at Tennis, Great for the Brain: Being genuinely bad at a hobby turns out to be strangely good for you, whether it's pottery, knitting, or a tennis racket nobody should trust you with.

A Bedazzled Portrait of Buffy: A surprise package in the mail becomes the gold standard for thoughtful gifts, rhinestones and all.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Rethinking productivity and friction
01:38 Welcome, Caller Abbie!
04:37 Why downtime shouldn't have to be earned
08:00 The joy of being bad at a hobby
12:50 A bedazzled portrait of Buffy the dog
23:01 Good nights

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Matt Bragg talks with caller Alejandro about the upright bass, from its car-shopping logistics and toddler-inflicted scratches to its secret role in rock and roll history.

What You'll Hear:

Oasis Ticket Grumbling: Matt kicks off the night a little salty about missing out on Oasis tickets, though a consolation trip to Vegas softens the blow considerably.

Meet the Doghouse, the Bull Fiddle: Alejandro introduces his instrument of choice, the upright bass, and explains why nobody actually starts out wanting to play it.

A Life Built Around a Giant Instrument: From buying cars that fit the bass to patching it up after run-ins with his kids, Alejandro walks through what it really takes to live with something nearly seven feet tall.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Oasis tickets and a consolation trip to Vegas
02:14 Alejandro joins the show
03:34 The upright bass's many names
07:04 Car shopping for a seven-foot instrument
10:00 Scratches, scuffs, and battle scars
14:11 Falling for the sound before the instrument
18:53 Good night to the upright bass community

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Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Heather about her elaborate Oscars-night food pun contest, from a falafel crime scene to a rotisserie chicken nun.

What You'll Hear:

Anatomy of a Falafel: Heather recalls the deconstructed hummus crime scene that launched her into competitive food-pun hosting, sumac blood pooling and all.

The Fruitalist Takes Brutalism to the Fruit Bowl: Watermelon staircases, grape waterfalls, and a very opinionated take on architecture carved entirely out of produce.

A Low-Stakes Kind of Hosting: Heather explains how a weekly movie night with no pressure and one reliable invitation became the backbone of her little New York community.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Missing packed house parties
02:22 Heather calls in!
04:07 Anatomy of a Falafel
08:02 The Fruitalist
13:24 Frank-n-Dine arrives
17:26 The secret to a steady Friday movie night
21:56 Good nights!

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