The Nightly

Greta Johnsen talks with caller Dave about his 1,019-day chess streak, his first wobbly zipper on a hand-sewn leather wallet, and why being merely amiable at guitar might be the whole point. What You'll Hear: Too Many Hobbies, Not Enough Time: Dave admits he's mid a whole bunch of projects at once, and he and Greta debate whether that's a wonderful problem to have or a recipe for chaos. Chess, Wor...

Matt Bragg talks with caller Hannah about her long-standing hatred of running, the truth behind getting "toned," and why strength training might be the better path to aging well. What You'll Hear: A Health Coach Who Hates Running: Hannah confesses she's spent a decade avoiding the very activity everyone assumes she loves, and explains why the step mill somehow beats it. Five Non-Negotiables for Fe...

Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Brian about his eight-year tradition of full-sleeve fake tattoo birthday parties, the glitter koi fish that started it all, and the real ink it eventually inspired. What You'll Hear: Full Sleeve Party Favors: Caller Brian explains how a whim purchase of fake tattoo sleeves turned into an annual birthday ritual. From Fake Ink To Real Ink: The gateway drug effect is...

Greta Johnsen talks with comedian Negin Farsad about becoming aggressively delightful, the science behind chatting up strangers, and why lowering your headphones might be the friendliest thing you do all day. What You'll Hear: Eight Years of Aggressive Delightfulness: Greta revisits a phrase Negin coined years ago and asks her to define it all over again, now with a kid, a pandemic, and a lot more...

Greta Johnsen talks with caller Gaby about her move from New York to San Francisco, her first-ever Bumble BFF date, and the surprisingly great case for needlepoint groups and nude-model pottery classes. What You'll Hear: Saturn Returns, and So Does Home: Greta explains the astrological wisdom behind big life changes at 28, and why moving across the country solo deserves a round of applause, not ju...

Matt Bragg talks with Caller Kaitlyn about one day having her last dog, the chihuahua who runs her household from a rug, and the joyful chaos of being outnumbered by pets. What You'll Hear: Housekeeping Over a Pint, Already: Matt confesses to a small but telling sign of getting older involving a hotel receptionist, a drinks voucher, and an embarrassingly quick decision. The Thought That Snuck Up o...

Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Neil about his fear of having the messiest house among his friends, the dishwasher he can't bring himself to unload, and why he suspects his wife already knows exactly where everyone ranks. What You'll Hear: The Stack Rank of Clean Homes: Neil calls in worried his house lands last among his friends, and Josh helps him sort real evidence from anxious guesswork. Clea...

Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Elisa about her ongoing Buffy the Vampire Slayer rewatch, the show's lessons on teamwork and humanity, and the complicated feelings that come with loving something made by a flawed creator. What You'll Hear: A Show That's Basically Shorthand: Elisa explains why her comfort rewatch of choice is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Greta admits it's the kind of favorite that...

Matt Bragg talks with Caller Rima about her spinning wheels, a headstrong ewe named Snowflake, and the slow, satisfying craft of turning fleece into yarn. What You'll Hear: An Oasis Documentary Confession: Matt admits to some post-cinema self-consciousness after realizing he and half the crowd dressed exactly alike. Meet Snowflake, the Ewe in Charge: Rima explains how her flock actually runs on ew...

Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Alice about her cursed bird puzzle, her friend's deviled-egg Jell-O shots, and the thoughtful ways good hosts take care of their guests. What You'll Hear: A Puzzle Worth Fighting For: Alice explains her method for a thousand-piece cat puzzle, then confesses to a birdwatching puzzle so brutal she basically exorcised it from her home afterward. Deviled Eggs With a Tw...

Greta Johnsen and guest Titi Shodiya wander through creeping phlox, chatty tree roots, and a birdsong app that turns every walk into a symphony. What You'll Hear: A Caller's Case Against Plant Blindness: Greta revisits a clip from caller Ben, who argues that noticing the plants around us can sharpen every one of our senses. A Guided Trip to Jordan Pond: Titi shares a preview of her new Meditations...

Matt Bragg talks with caller Susanne about her dog Bernie, who adores every poodle mix he meets and treats all other breeds like unwelcome coworkers. What You'll Hear: An Audiobook for Overthinkers: Matt shares the book that's helping him quiet his racing mind, plus a confession about how easily his thumbs wander to Reddit mid-chapter. Bernie Only Has Eyes for Poodles: Susanne breaks down her dog'...

Matt Bragg talks with caller RyanMae about her sleep coach's no-nonsense rules, a weighted eye mask, and the grocery-store alphabet game that knocks her out cold. What You'll Hear: Four Hours in a Scottish Hotel Room: Matt confesses to a rough night after a big show, an ancient piano rendition of the Titanic theme, and his ongoing grudge against dim hotel lighting. A Sleep Coach, Sheets, and a Str...

Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Ben about plant blindness, the quiet magic of birch trees, and why his 9-foot houseplant basically counts as a pet. What You'll Hear: Plant Blindness, Explained: Ben breaks down why our brains are wired to notice movement over stillness, and why that leaves so many plants quietly unseen. Birch Trees and Golden Hour Light: Greta and Ben trade favorite trees, from tow...

Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Suzanne about becoming an unexpected dog person. What You'll Hear: From Skeptic to Superfan: Greta opens with her own soft spot for dogs before Suzanne explains how she went from never wanting a dog to being completely smitten with hers. The Pandemic Puppy Named After an App: Suzanne shares the story of adopting Buzz, a COVID foster puppy named after the app Bumble,...

Josh Gondelman talks with caller Nike, a Buffalo college senior, about post-grad panic, her NHL public relations internship, and why excitement and anxiety might just be the same feeling in disguise. What You'll Hear: Advice From an Older Guy: Josh opens up about how strange it feels to give advice to younger people when the world has changed so much since he was in their shoes. The Post-Grad Scar...

Josh Gondelman talks with caller Heather about volunteering for the Bay Area's new women's tackle football team, the electric energy of game day, and the little girls she hopes will one day just ask what position they want to play. What You'll Hear: Home Team Envy: Josh opens up about growing up a die-hard New England fan and the surprising joy of claiming a brand-new hometown team as an adult. Th...

Josh Gondelman talks with comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson about her worst-ever Airbnb (black mold, no shower door, a bathroom sink built for a doll) and the four things — air purifier, slippers, a shower door that actually closes, and zero elevator noise — she now refuses to travel without. What You'll Hear: The Worst Airbnb in London: Joyelle relives the five-week London rental with black mold, s...

Matt Bragg talks with Caller Megan about a potentially jealous friend, the awkward plus-one invite to an upcoming event, and whether some friendships are worth holding onto. What You'll Hear: Old Programs and a Most Improved Trophy: Matt digs through a box of football memorabilia and reflects on the bittersweet honor of a very modest childhood award. The Friend Who Goes Quiet When You Win: Megan c...

Matt Bragg talks with Caller Sarah about the addictive chaos of 90 Day Fiancé, the psychology of marrying a stranger on camera, and her own brush with an reality TV pitch. What You'll Hear: A Boring Documentary and a TV Drought: Matt confesses he can't find a show worth watching lately, setting the stage for Sarah to swoop in with some very strong opinions. The Car Crash You Can't Look Away From:...

Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Stephanie about the time Paul McCartney praised her taste in music and the tattoo she might get to prove it happened. What You'll Hear: The Trivia Win: Back in 2007, Stephanie aced a 20-question Paul McCartney trivia contest, and Paul himself ended up vouching for her music taste on the radio the very next day. A Life Built around Live Music: From a Highline Ballroo...

Greta Johnsen talks with Caller Elsa about whether her Korean-speaking cat will understand her English-only husband, the cutest bilingual nicknames, and a plan to hire a pet psychic before the big move. What You'll Hear: A Cat Raised with Korean: Elsa worries that her cat, who's only ever heard Korean at home, might feel lost once she moves in with Elsa's English-speaking husband. Translator Dutie...

Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Corinne about her toddler's sudden baseball obsession, a kitchen spatula turned home run bat, and how to grow a family fandom without drowning in stats. What You'll Hear: A Bat Made of Spatulas: Corinne's two-year-old fell hard for baseball after one LA Dodgers game, and now every kitchen utensil in the house doubles as home run equipment. The Banana Ball Debate: C...

Josh Gondelman talks with Caller Joy about turning a spare room into an Airbnb spot and the psychology of gray floors versus a sunny yellow wall. What You'll Hear: The Pillow That Was Too Much Pillow: Josh opens with hotel rooms gone wrong, from outlets hidden in closets to pillows the size of a human torso. Seven Guests, One Percolator: Joy calls in to share how their brand-new Airbnb (built in t...

Matt Bragg sits down with cart-return crusader Sebastian Garrett Davis (aka Agent Sebastian from Cart Narcs) to unpack entitled strangers and the surprising psychology behind refusing to return a shopping cart. What You'll Hear: A Disneyland Shove Heard Round the Cul-de-Sac: Matt kicks things off with Caller Amber's tale of an unexpected shoving match with a stranger, which somehow leads straight...