The Nightly

Kristen Meinzer and Jacquis Neal tumble down a nostalgic rabbit hole all about soap operas. Soap Star Origins: From Michael B. Jordan to Demi Moore, they trace the surprisingly star-studded pipeline from daytime drama to Hollywood fame—and why soaps are the ultimate acting bootcamp. Packing, Planes, and Pet Peeves: A cozy detour into travel habits, suitcase strategies, and a few dream upgrades to...

Josh Gondelman and Kristen Meinzer host a cozy, wide-ranging book club chat. What You’ll Hear From TV Teens to Timeless Stories: Kristen talks about teen shows that actually feel real, and why some one-season series leave the biggest mark. A Book That Feels Like a Hug: Kristen shares a joyful read that’s equal parts funny, human, and quietly reassuring—plus a sweet story about how Josh and his wif...

KP Parker and Jacquis Neal take a ride on the pop culture time machine with dream guest, comedian Avery McClure. What You’ll Hear Read 'Til Failure: Avery shares a bedtime routine that starts with good intentions, a book, and about three pages before sleep wins. The Coziest Sleep Setup: Heated blankets, cool air, and the delicate balance of being perfectly warm where it counts. Reality TV Betrayal...

Kristen Meinzer and Wils Pelton swap current pop culture obsessions and compare notes on what’s worth the watch. What You’ll Hear: What We’re Watching: From a chaotic small-town comedy to a space mission with an unexpected companion, they unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what might surprise you. To Spoil or Not to Spoil: A gentle debate on going into movies blind, plus a few recommendations...

Josh Gondelman and Sophia Wilson Pelton revisit the movie Mean Girls from memory, with plenty of glorious detail and a few lovable detours. Memory Lane: Sophia takes on the full plot of Mean Girls from pure recall, from the Plastics to the Burn Book to one very unfortunate bus encounter. Josh jumps in with the bits that stuck, proving that some movies really do live in your brain rent-free. High S...

Sophia Wilson Pelton and Kristen Meinzer swap real-life dating stories and sort them into red, green, or beige flags. What You'll Hear: Accidental Texts & Honest Mistakes: A first-date phone mishap leads to an unexpectedly sweet reveal—plus a gentle debate on whether confidence or honesty wins in awkward moments. When Pasta Becomes a Red Flag: A dinner order triggers a dramatic emotional spiral, r...

Josh Gondelman and Matt Bragg host a cozy, space-themed Sunday pub chat. What You’ll Hear Padel, Pickleball, and Matcha Opinions: A sporty new obsession meets a very strong take on matcha and whether it’s secretly just...mud? Artemis II and Big Sky Feelings: A listener voice memo sparks a curious conversation about space travel, moon missions, and what it means to look back at Earth. Artemis II-th...

Sophia Wilson Pelton and Kristen Meinzer talk sleepless solidarity with author Allison Winn Scotch. What You'll Hear Insomnia Club: Allison shares the bedtime routine that keeps her as cozy as possible, from nightly reading to crisp cotton sheets, plus the late-night brain games she uses when sleep refuses to cooperate. Found Family After Dark: The trio digs into Allison’s new novel about four ins...

KP Parker and Josh Gondelman play a few slumber party games with EJ Marcus. What You’ll Hear Bedtime, but make it flexible: EJ shares a low-pressure nighttime routine—phone in another room, a little skincare, and the ongoing quest to wind down without turning bedtime into a second job. Kiss, Marry, Kill—fantasy edition: Dune, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones go head-to-head, with choices gui...

Sophia Wilson Pelton chats bedtime rituals and Bravo reality TV lore with Watch What Crappens hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam. What You’ll Hear Bedtime, But Make It High-Tech: From Kindle pillows to late-night Youtube videos, Ben and Ronnie share the surprisingly specific rituals that wind them down. Bravo Beginnings & Blog-Era Fame: The hosts of Watch What Crappens rewind to their early days...

Kristen Meinzer and Matt Bragg debunk a famously grim story—and replace it with something far more hopeful. What You'll Hear: Greeting Rituals, Decoded: From “alright” to “very best,” the two unpack why simple hellos and email sign-offs can feel surprisingly loaded—and how we try to sound like ourselves anyway. Debunk Bed Begins: A widely believed myth about Lord of the Flies gets a gentle takedow...

Sophia Wilson Pelton, Kristen Meinzer, and KP Parker celebrate The Nightly's 300th episode by answering some listener questions. What You'll Hear Sleepover Superlatives: From best snack curator to most likely to derail the plan entirely, the trio play a few rounds of "Most Likely To". No host is off limits! Day Jobs: The hosts share what they do outside the pillow fort, from comedy and copywriting...

Sophia Wilson Pelton and Jacquis Neal build the ultimate road trip survival kit, one essential at a time. What You’ll Hear A very accidental plot twist: Sophia shares how a simple Kindle mishap turned her book into a confusing (and slightly chaotic) experience. Listening vs. reading: The two swap notes on audiobooks, attention spans, and what actually helps a story stick. Snooze Pack: Road Trip Ed...

Kristen Meinzer and Matt Bragg host a cozy pub night with a quiz, a wedding dilemma, and a few unexpected facts. What You’ll Hear: A Wedding Standoff: Matt prepares for a wedding he’d rather skip, while Kristen makes a passionate case for dancing like nobody’s watching. Curious Little Facts: From Dogtanan to saintly relics, they wander through history in a way that’s equal parts enlightening and d...

KP Parker and Sophia Wilson Pelton welcome Titi Shodiya for a cozy, curiosity-filled dive into sleep science and color. What You’ll Hear: Meditations in living color: Titi shares how her background in material science shaped her approach to Hatch’s color meditations—and why noticing color can gently shift how you feel. The temperature trick for better sleep: A surprisingly simple habit—like a warm...

Kristen Meinzer and Jacquis Neal welcome Maggie Winters for a cozy, Midwest-filled night of sleep routines and playful debates. What You'll Hear: Midwest Nights & Sleep Rituals: Maggie shares her deeply committed relationship to sleep, from hot lemon water to Hatch soundscapes, and why bedtime might just be her favorite relationship. Sleepy Debate Club: Things get surprisingly heated over mult...

KP Parker and Kristen Meinzer swap birdwatching joys before diving into a very online fact-checking frenzy. What You'll Hear Birds, Apps, and Being Chosen: From city hawks to mysterious owl encounters, a simple hobby turns into a surprisingly grounding way to notice the world—and maybe feel noticed back. 'Love Story' Under a Microscope: A new FX series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette sparks deb...

Sophia Wilson Pelton and Jacquis Neal talk about what kind of content Sophia's been scrolling through this week. What You’ll Hear One Late Night, Maximum: Sophia dreams of a party girl summer with a very reasonable curfew, while Jacquis makes the case for the occasional 3 a.m. adventure. Sound Effects, But Make It Magic: The two get delightfully absorbed in the world of Foley artists and the stran...

KP Parker and Sophia Wilson Pelton host a game night with writer and comedian Garrick Bernard. What You’ll Hear Sleep Routines & Magnesium Moments: Garrick shares his fall-asleep-anywhere superpower and the nightly rituals that almost keep him there. Kiss Marry Kill: From board games to TikTok archetypes, the group makes some bold (and very relatable) choices about what stays and what absolutely m...

Josh Gondelman and Jacquis Neal settle into the comforts of home, discussing Spencer's Gifts and your NEXT karaoke song. What You’ll Hear: Home Is the Main Event: Why going out sometimes loses to your own couch, your dog, and the luxury of taking your shoes off whenever you want. Mall Lore & Mild Chaos: A nostalgic wander through Spencer’s Gifts, childhood rumors, and the strange little corner...

KP Parker and Sophia Wilson Pelton join Matt Bragg for a cozy Sunday Pub Chat about nature, animals, and the surprisingly deep question of what makes a thumb opposable. What You'll Hear: Sunday Reset Energy: What starts as a love letter to slow Sundays turns into a gentle debate about “nature bathing” versus just… going outside. Expect calm vibes, light teasing, and a rebrand of the Sunday scaries...

Josh Gondelman and Kristen Meinzer host a sleepy-style basketball debate with Carl Tart. What You'll Hear: Pre-Bed Bath Wisdom: Carl brings a genuinely elite wind-down routine to the Pillow Fort... complete with Epsom salts, music, and big spa-at-home energy. Snooze or Choose NBA Edition: The trio sorts through some very bedtime-friendly basketball questions, including cursed franchises, internati...

KP Parker and Sophia Wilson Pelton read more wild date stories and decide what’s a red flag, green flag, or something in between. What You'll Hear Tasteful Taxidermy: A first date comes with a warning—and a surprisingly charming collection. Is this quirky or quietly romantic? High Priestess Energy: A late-night confession takes a surreal turn, raising questions about timing, truth, and the mysteri...

Sophia Wilson Pelton and Jacquis Neal bring two very different fandoms to bed: WrestleMania season and Survivor. What You'll Hear The Main Event: Jacquis walks Sophia through the deliciously dramatic road to WrestleMania, from legendary heels and babyfaces to the very real appeal of wrestling as theater with body slams. It’s part soap opera, part spectacle, and apparently part contract-signing bet...

Josh Gondelman and Matt Bragg drift through a drowsy retelling of a very relaxed mutiny. What You'll Hear: Drowsy History: A slightly foggy journey through the mutiny on the HMS Bounty, where tropical paradise proves a little too convincing—and leadership gets a mixed review. Breadfruit & Bad Decisions: A royal grocery run turns into a life-or-death choice between island living and a long, sal...