Social Cues

This week, Mere & Nikki realize they’re actually done a lot of character development for one season and discuss being patrons of the children’s arts, social synchronicities, pitching a farm to Tig Notaro, immediately walking back big, bold childhood confessions, asking questions that make you sound suspicious as hell, the mob finally, breaking arbitrary rules, and the way no one was using “it’...

This week, Mere & Nikki mull over the injustices of bowling, the shelf-life of millennial tattoos, paradoxical closeness with a massage therapist, and blurting out your crush right to their face or in a delusional love letter marked return-to-sender. Plus, horny Bowflex commercials, 90's heartthrob privilege, and a new exit strategy for the next time you overshare. Share your own "Why did I do...

This week, Mere & Nikki are joined by drag performer KIKO SOIRÉE to discuss the endless delusion of forming a crush, trauma-bonding at Church Camp, and tween (suburban) street photography. Plus, cold brew-induced spiritual ascension, beans for some reason, peeping at other drivers, how to offer a drink to guests, and the smooth recovery from forgetting if you've already met someone. Share your...

This week, Mere & Nikki talk as long as they can to analyze—yes, ANALYZE—Recess (both the show and culture), running home to look up bad words in the dictionary, overcommitting to a bit, praying for your future husband while shopping at Christian Book & Gof, whatever Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul was supposed to do, and at long last, connect the dots between Scooby Doo and Scruff McGru...

This week, Mere & Nikki are joined by stand-up comedian, writer, and actress MILLY TAMAREZ ( Go Touch Grass , The Betches Sup) to discuss being the inviter vs. the responder in a friendship, the heavy-lifting of social media, using extroversion as a survival tactic, the currency of community, that you should be able to pay your therapist in gossip, and the long-lasting impression of 8 Mile. Pl...

This week, Mere & Nikki discuss the surviving the repercussions of leaving a group chat, not having the beans to correct someone a third time, misunderstanding a new friendship assignment, the Sims, and running through the airport to tell someone you love them.  Plus, Nikki discovers the politest way to stop someone from boring you to death, Mere practices saying thank you for a free trea...

This week, Mere & Nikki are joined by author and illustrator SIOBHÁN GALLAGHER ( Full of Myself: A Graphic Memoir , In a Daze Work , The New Yorker ) to discuss the ever-present politics of using public restrooms (forever and always!), recurring dreams, unpacking an unintended neg after 16 years, and the absolute hell wrought on young girls' body image by early 2000s media—we're looking at you...

This week, Mere & Nikki discuss the social Jenga of a Margaritaville dinner table, trauma B-roll on reality TV, and the multi-dimensional relationship between humans, the moon, the sea, and the bathroom. Plus, making your Uber "quiet" in real time, the tween longing to be *~discovered~* at a mall, and figuring out what to do with your hands and mouth at the front desk/check-in of anywhere. Sha...

This week, Mere & Nikki are joined by comedian ALEX SONG-XIA (Rick & Morty, The Tonight Show, Praise Petey) to discuss the things we dare to say in doctors' offices, being perceived while working out, the unintentional life lessons of "Dharma & Greg", and the horror (or, honor?) of accidentally socially topping a prestigious chef. Plus, Mere needs help leaving a group chat, Alex discov...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki are joined by ANNA DREZEN (Praise Petey, SNL, Girls5eva) to discuss the social theatrics of a hair salon, quitting a 5k, and the quasi-horny games you make up in first grade that lead to leveling a classmate on the playground. Plus, the elementary school custom of Valentine's Day cards for everyone (for some reason), how do you cue a new friend that you want to ta...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki discuss second-degree dinners, being willing to watch a Rubik's Cube tutorial, and the ultimate "Why Did I Do That?!"... starting a podcast where they spotlight their social atrocities. Plus, sending your first unedited thoughts in a—gulp—professional email, the haunting realization that screen actors are trained to move their faces small, how to politely escape a...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki discuss the responsibility of being the "personality" in a fitness class, the guilt of running late or even just on time, waiting room banter, and asking your barista one too many questions that you accidentally become the cafe's beat reporter. Plus, airing out our dusty shame rooms—specifically on My Coke / Coke Studios—figuring out how to celebrate a winter birt...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki review the telephones scripts they learned from their parents, unlearning customer service voice, and how exhausting it is to always be the doctor's favorite. Plus, they long for the community promised by Captain Planet and the Power Rangers, and finally get to the bottom of a) how many times you're supposed to thank a waiter and b) when you should stop saying "Ha...

Welcome to Social Cues, the podcast that unravels every awkward encounter, weird internalization of culture, and haunting interaction that leaves you wondering: "Why did I do that?!" 🎙️ Hosted by Mere Fitzsimons and Nikki Palumbo, your sometimes expert guides in social faux pas. *This isn't a self-help podcast; they can't even help themselves. Artwork by Michael Wolf Music by Remmi Hosted on Acast...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki are joined by RACHEL WENITSKY (Friends Who Folk, The Tonight Show, @rachelwenitsky ) to discuss a guide to hosting the perfect holiday party (for your anxious friends), the regret of not recognizing someone "famous," and the mind-blowing realization that it could be the other person being weird. Plus, excavating memories of the classic DCOM "Wish Upon a Star," how...

On this episode, Mere & Nikki go airplane mode (again! and for a long time!), map out an exit strategy once you've made a decision that feels impossible to back out of, and share the field report of Social Cue Cards' success rate out in the wild. Plus, reading too many teen-has-cancer books that it makes you do ~something~ for attention, working up the courage to admit you're in the wrong plac...

Mere & Nikki are joined by their first ever guest SAM REECE ( @shittycraftclub ) to discuss who’s controlling the video game of your life, asking for literally anything on an airplane, artfully complaining about literal dog shit, and making Lizzie McGuire your whole personality. Plus, fearing an inevitable Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants situation, how to lie your way out of a party, the nig...

On this week's ep, Mere & Nikki discuss the social performance of haunted houses, the unintended consequences of themsplaining, and being so uncool with (and accidentally stalking) crushes. Plus, discovering gender and personality through Halloween costumes, fielding "What are you up to?" texts with zero other information, and learning how to—finally!—talk to children. Share your own "Why did...

On this ep, Mere & Nikki discuss the social panic of being called out in a yoga class, surviving small talk, and the delicate navigation required after being mistaken for an employee. Plus, America's Mom (Pink), awkward celebrity encounters, growing up in a house of mirrors, and—you guessed it!—kissing inanimate objects. Share your own "Why did I do that?!" with us or request a personalized "S...

On this ep, Mere and Nikki work through the social cues (and perils) of digging deep misunderstanding holes, having a guest in your home vs. being a guest in someone else’s, realizing your neighbors can in fact hear you, personality quizzes and their consequences, and—for some reason—asking permission to say something unplanned. Share your own "Why did I do that?!" with us at socialcuesthepod@gmai...

On this ep, Mere and Nikki discuss the social cues of MTV's Next, Room Raiders, and that whole era of impressionable reality TV, the choreography of saying goodbye (with or without grace), the wildcard of hugs, curating a personality, and answering any unanticipated questions from a barista/food worker/goddess. Share your own "Why did I do that?!" with us at socialcuesthepod@gmail.com Follow Nikki...

How do you start one of these things? Welcome to Social Cues, the podcast that unravels every awkward encounter, weird internalization of culture, and haunting interaction that leaves you wondering: "Why did I do that?!" On this very first, very perfect episode, Mere Fitzsimons and Nikki Palumbo—your overthinking, overfeeling, and oversharing hosts—discuss the social cues of the live-action Flints...