Madigan’s Pubcast
Comedian Kathleen Madigan opens her Pub every week to talk about everything and anything fun in her world. Light bar conversations ranging from her parents to unsolved mysteries, sports to chimpanzee documentaries.
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Tan Limes Lager from Cape May Brewing Co, which she picked up on her recent trip to Atlantic City for her show at The Borgata. TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen gives thanks to the Termites who leave notes at shows and send mail to her PO Box. She begins by thanking Termite Kathy for leaving her a gorgeous mermaid Christmas ornament at Kathleen’s Borgata show in Atlantic City. Big thanks to the Termite who sent fancy dog treats, which Mustard will love when he visits, and Termite Heather for the Shanty Bar mini Crown Royal bags. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Ruffles Jalapeno Ranch chips, which she loves because they resemble sour cream n’ onion chips (one of her favorite flavors.) She moves on to sample Whataburger’s Spicy Jalapeño Ranch, which she loves because it has a “kick at the end,” and St. Louis’s Twisted Ranch Garlic Smashed Buffalo, which she ALSO recommends adding to your pantry. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, and this week extends the court to Christine McVie (friend and bandmate of Queen Stevie Nicks) who has followed suit with other 70’s rockers and recently announced that she has sold her song catalog rights to Hipgnosis Songs Fund. Kathleen is then thrilled to advise the Termites that Queen Dolly Parton has been named to Forbes’ 2021 list of America’s Self-Made Women, clocking in at $350 million. Dolly has also announced that she has teamed up with novelist James Patterson on her first novel called “Run Rose, Run” which will hit shelves in March 2022. EL MENCHO SENDS NEWS ANCHOR INTO HIDING: As a follow up to EP31, Kathleen gives an update out of Mexico where a prominent news anchor, Azucena Uresti, has been forced into Witness Protection after El Mencho, the current leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has accused her of biased coverage of the cartel. BANKSY CONFIRMS AUTHENTICITY OF ART: As an art lover and fan of the street artist Banksy, Kathleen reads an update that new murals have been found in numerous coastal towns in the east of England. Although Banksy has not yet claimed responsibility for graffiti stencils and the larger “We’re All In The Same Boat,” locals are certain that he will reveal their authenticity soon enough. ELIZABETH HOLMES’ PSYCH EVAL: In continuing with Kathleen’s obsession with Elizabeth Holmes’ upcoming trial, she reads an article advising that Holmes is using the position that her ex-boyfriend Sunny Balwani was the puppeteer of the Theranos scandal, which Kathleen provides her own opinion around ☺ TIM TEBOW RELEASED BY JAGS: Kathleen laughs out loud reading an UPDATE that former NFL player and College Football analyst Tim Tebow has been released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after a failed experiment of allowing him to play Tight End in a single preseason game. Kathleen has an issue with Tebow bringing scripture unnecessarily into sports, comparing the biblical scripture that Tebow quotes on his face to hands of blackjack since Catholics can’t recite any specific passages from the Bible. MURDER HORNETS RETURN: As a follow-up to EP14, Kathleen updates listeners that Murder Hornets have returned to Washington state. State entomologists confirmed the first live sighting of Asian Giant Hornets, also known as a murder hornet for its ability to decimate honeybee hives.FLYING TAXI STOCK GOES PUBLIC: Kathleen is thrilled to read an announcement that flying taxi company Joby Aviation has gone public, billing itself as the “Uber of the Air” leading into the IPO. Based in Santa Cruz CA, Joby is has developed an electrically powered, low-noise flying taxi capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Kathleen plans to cash in some of her Dogecoin and move those funds to JOBY stock. NEBRASKA FAMILY DOLLAR STRIKE: Kathleen laughs and applauds a group of Family Dollar store employees in Lincoln, NE as she reads a news release that the 2 remaining employees in that store walked off the job last week after leaving a farewell note on the front door of the store that read: "We all quit. Sorry for the inconvenience." Citing poor pay, management issues, and long hours, the employees walked off the job and forced a store closure that took days to reconcile. STEVE WYNN’S 11 PICASSOS OFFERED FOR AUCTION: As the Termites know, Kathleen is an avid fan of art. She’s excited to read a release that MGM Resorts International has enlisted Sotheby’s to come to Las Vegas to auction off a cache of Pablo Picasso paintings amassed years earlier by casino magnate Steve Wynn. The 11 Picassos to be sold have long been displayed at a Picasso-themed restaurant at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and Kathleen has always really appreciated Wynn’s intent to offer access to these works to the general public. THE NRA’S TRAFFICKING SECRET: Kathleen is appalled sharing an article disclosing that in Fall 2013 an export company in Botswana prepared a shipment of animal parts for Wayne and Susan LaPierre, the head of the National Rifle Association and his wife. The list of trophies from their recent hunt included animal parts from a zebra, hyaena, a cape-buffalo, a cheetah, and multiple elephants. Susan confirmed the shipment and wrote back with a request that import paperwork should have no clear links to the LaPierre's or the NRA. Charges are pending, Termites so stay tuned….karma comes around.POLITE APES: Kathleen laughs reading a recent study announcing that apes purposefully use signals to begin and end social interactions -- behaviors not typically seen outside of humans until now, according to the journal iScience. Researchers analyzed more than 1,200 interactions with groups of zoo apes and found that they commonly exchange gazes or swap gestures to share their intentions about social interactions, such as waving hello. DISCOVERY OF THE TROJAN HORSE: Kathleen is thrilled to read an article advising that archaeologists in Turkey excavating the site of the historical city of Troy have unearthed a large wooden structure, and the measurements resemble those of the Trojan Horse. Kathleen then leads the Termites down a massive rabbit hole of whether the Trojan Horse existed.FANTASY FOOTBALL: Kathleen closes out the Pubcast discussing the recent Fantasy Football Draft that her league completed, taking Tom Brady as her top pick for quarterback (which both Lewis Black and Ron White tease her for doing). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Kathleen opens the show wearing her new Ranch dressing earrings from Termite Wendy, and drinking an Irish I Was On A Beach lager from St. Patrick’s Brewing in Colorado out of her favorite White Castle pint glass. She’s toasting to celebrate the announcement of her new forthcoming comedy Special which is scheduled to tape in Denver in February 2022 at The Paramount Theatre. TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail sent from Termites to the PO Box, and thanks Termite Vikki for the airplane socks and personal pillow. Big shoutout to the Hartford Yard Goats for the super cool t-shirt, the Biloxi Shuckers for the koozies and bottle opener (appropriate for Mama Termite ☺), and she wishes the very best of luck to the Tulsa Drillers this weekend as they transition into the Tulsa Noodlers for their series against the Wichita Wind Surge, thanking Justin and Rhonda for the Noodler’s tee and hat. Kathleen LOVES MiLB baseball and encourages listeners to support their local minor league teams. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Chuy’s Spicy Creamy Jalapeno Ranch, which she loves and recommends pouring on everything possible. She moves on to taste Lay’s Chile Mango potato chips, which are horrifyingly bad (but she anticipated that,) and finishes off with her Bud Light Icicle Seltzer, which she finds to be absolutely refreshing and she highly recommends to all Termites. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, announcing that queen Stevie Nicks has canceled her Fall 2021 Tour dates due to COVID-19 protocol. Tanya Tucker has canceled her August Tour dates as she continues her recovery from hip surgery, and Mama Termite wishes her well. DRUNKEN ELEPHANTS RETURN HOME: Kathleen reads an update announcing that after an 18-month-long journey, the herd of wandering elephants in China appears to be heading home. Reduced to 14 from 16 that began the trek, have made an 807-mile journey and are now moving toward a protected habitat in southwest China with help from local authorities to guide their path to keep the elephants away from populated areas. CONSEQUENCE CULTURE AND THE NXIVM CULT: As a follow-up to EP5, Kathleen reads an update that Lauren Salzman, a former high-ranking NXIVM member who testified against leader Keith Raniere, will not go to prison but only probation and community service. Kathleen states that she just doesn’t know what to do with “cult people,” and that the past year in COVID isolation should absolutely not count towards the fulfillment of Salzman’s sentence. NEW BANKSY STREET ART DISCOVERED: As an art lover and fan of the street artist Banksy, Kathleen reads an update that new murals have been found in numerous coastal towns in the east of England. Although Banksy has not yet claimed responsibility for graffiti stencils and the larger “We’re All In The Same Boat,” locals are certain that he will reveal their authenticity soon enough. ELECTRIC PERSONAL JETS CONTRACTED: Kathleen holds a dream of having a personal flying car and is thrilled that her dream could become closer to reality when she reads an announcement that 2 firms plan to build an eVOTL aircraft network across Brazil before 2025. THE DROPOUT HOLMES: Kathleen laughs as Paddles screams over another Elizabeth Holmes update. ABC News Podcast “The Dropout” is returning to follow the trial of disgraced Elizabeth Holmes. The series originally gained popularity as it outlined the massive fraud of her startup company Theranos. JERRY FALWELL JR DENIED APPEAL: Kathleen’s amusement isn’t tempered as she reads an update regarding Jerry Fallwell Jr’s latest appeal to have the charges presented by Liberty University dismissed. The lawsuit demanding at least $10 million alleges that Jerry Falwell Jr. breached fiduciary duties to the school and entered into a business conspiracy against it.PLAGUED TAHOE CHIPMUNKS: Kathleen reads an advisory from Lake Tahoe stating that many chipmunks in Lake Tahoe have tested positive for bubonic Plague. At the beginning of August 2021, the US Forest Service announced it was closing several popular sites after the disease appeared to multiply in the chipmunk population. According to the agency, plague can be spread by “squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents”, specifically by fleas that come in contact with infected animals and go on to bite humans.THAI MONKEY GANGS: Kathleen reads an article from Thailand advising that the notorious street monkey gangs in Lopburi have found themselves yet again lacking food from the tourists who feed the animals in front of a Buddhist temple. Facing yet another food shortage, hundreds of monkeys have started battling in the streets as rival gangs.THE MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE: Kathleen loves to explore museums while on the road, and as a follow up to EP52, she’s amazed that she’s never heard of The Museum of The Bible, which is supported and tied to the primary shareholders of Hobby Lobby: the Green family. WU-TANG CLAN PHARMA BRO: As the Termites are aware, Kathleen is a massive fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, and as a follow up to EP29 she reads an article announcing that the US government has sold imprisoned drug company executive Martin Shkreli's one-of-a-kind album by Wu-Tang Clan to pay off the $7.36 million he was ordered to forfeit after being convicted of fraud.HUSHPUPPI FRAUD: Kathleen laughs reading an article outlining the arrest of Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, known as "Hushpuppi” to followers. Ramos has admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud a Qatari businessman of more than $1m, as well as money laundering and cyber schemes, and has pleaded guilty to all charges. Kathleen is glad that justice has been served, but admits to also loving the moniker “Hushpuppi” (with an “i.”) THE OTHER BURNING MAN: In continuing with the strangeness of pandemic times, Kathleen reads an article announcing that the 2021 Burning Man Festival has been canceled again. However, as they did for the 2020 event, organizers are announcing a "Virtual Burning Man," which will begin on August 21. There will be no charge to participate online, although donations are encouraged to help organizers make up for the festival's two years of lost revenue.A LADY MAFIOSA DISCOVERED: Kathleen is thrilled to discover that a top Mafia boss in Italy is actually a woman, and can’t believe the details of her recent arrest in Rome. With all the money and power in the world, Maria Licciardi, otherwise known as 'The Godmother', was detained at Rome's Ciampino Airport as she checked in her luggage to board a commercial flight. Investigators claim Licciardi, from Naples, ran extortion rackets as head of the Licciardi Camorra crime syndicate clan.A RECORD SAPPHIRE CLUSTER: Kathleen closes off the Pubcast reading an article about workmen who discovered a $100M sapphire cluster while digging a well. The 2.5 million-carat cluster has been named the “Serendipity Sapphire”, and a German gemstone trader has announced that it has taken over a year to wash and certify it. Born in September, the sapphire is Kathleen’s birthstone, and she tells the story of how she found out she was actually born on a Thursday (instead of a Tuesday, as her Dad had always told her) at a gas station in Hawaii.WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” on Hulu, and “The Spanish Princess” on Starz. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Salt and Sea Ale from Flying Fish Brewing Co in Somerdale, NJ which she picked up flying home from her show at The Mirage in Las Vegas. TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail sent from Termites and has many thanks to offer to those who left gifts at the Mirage Las Vegas show. Big thanks to Termite Margie for bringing a homemade Storytime quilt, and to the Termite couple from the Bay area that Kathleen met at Starbucks who left a very cool Ranch Christmas ornament. Termite Katherine sent the “Diary of An America Exorcist” book to Kathleen’s PO Box, which she CANNOT WAIT to read, and Pacific NW Termites Nicki and Patrick “The Diesel” sent Johnny’s Seasoning Salts, which Kathleen has used on chicken and absolutely loves. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Terrapin Ridge Farms Hatch Chile Ranch from Termite Kathleen, who introduced herself as Kathleen’s “new Mexican fan in Vegas.” Kathleen then shows the Termites her new summer find: Bud Light Seltzer Frozen Icicles, which she pledges to freeze and report back how delicious they are. Grand Termite Ron White spent last week at her house and left Ranch Water hard seltzer from Texas, which Kathleen compares to seltzer that you’re forced to drink before a colonoscopy. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, reading an article disclosing that Queen Dolly Parton used royalties from Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” to support a Black community in Nashville. When Houston recorded the hit and made it a global smash, Dolly considered how she could give back: “It was a whole strip mall, and I thought this is the perfect place for me to be, considering it was Whitney, so I just thought, ‘This is great, I’m just going to be down here with her people, who are my people as well,’” Parton said. Kathleen praises Dolly’s generosity, telling listeners that she also likes to drop “Angel Bombs” whenever she has an opportunity to. Kathleen then moves on with an update on Queen Stevie, reading a recent article where her former bandmate Lindsey Buckingham mentions that if he wanted to return to Fleetwood Mac “pretty much everyone” would love to have him. Kathleen laughs that even in their seventies, iconic bands like Fleetwood Mac are having “senior band fights.” BABY HOLMES ARRIVES: In continuing with her obsession with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, Kathleen reads an UPDATE that the sociopath Holmes has had her baby boy, and the judge in her fraud case has ruled to allow for former Theranos patients to testify in the trial. VOLOCOPTER: Kathleen gives the Termites an update regarding the flight of the new experimental volocopter, and although the electrical aircraft completed a flight it only flew for 4 mins at a top speed of 18mph. NOT very Jetsons-like in Kathleen’s opinion, but it’s a start.BRITNEY SPEARS INSTAGRAM: Kathleen continues her reports on the #FreeBritney movement, reviewing the antics posted on Britney’s Instagram page and recommending that Britney watch Beau Burnham’s “White Woman Instagram” for more appropriate posting guidelines if she ever wants to be released from her ongoing conservatorship. BANDED COBRA LOOSE IN DALLAS: Kathleen is amused reading yet another article about a missing exotic snake. A venomous 6-foot long West African Banded Cobra is on the loose in Grand Prairie, TX. The cobra has been missing for over a week, and City animal services, the owner, and a private reptile removal expert have been searching for the snake without success. Authorities urge anyone seeing the snake call 911, which Kathleen doesn’t see as being an issue as she reenacts how that emergency call might go…DOMESTIC PASTA ASSAULT: Kathleen laughs out loud reading an article out of Clearwater, FL where a couple has been arrested on misdemeanor assault charges after a verbal argument turned violent. Local police allege that each shoved a plate of spaghetti in the other’s face and was still covered in pasta when police arrived. SHAKIRA TAX FRAUD: Kathleen announces that Colombian pop star Shakira could stand trial for alleged tax evasion of $17 million in Spain for alleged tax evasion in 2012, 2013, and 2014, a judge at a court near Barcelona has ruled. Shakira lived more than 200 days in Spain in each of those three years, making her liable to pay taxes in the country, however, her legal team argues that her main residence was in the Bahamas. Local Spanish media also says that she has a home in the Barcelona area with her longtime partner, FC Barcelona football defender Gerard Pique, with whom she has two children. WHERE TO SPEND THE END OF THE WORLD: In breaking news and with the COVID-19 pandemic resurging, Kathleen reads an article advising where the best place is to survive a global societal collapse. Scientists and researchers have determined that New Zealand, Iceland, the UK, Tasmania, and Ireland are the places best suited to survive a global collapse of society. A collapse could be defined by shocks, such as a severe financial crisis, the impacts of the climate crisis, destruction of nature, an even worse pandemic than Covid-19 or a combination of these, the scientists said. To assess which nations would be most resilient to such a collapse, countries were ranked according to their ability to grow food for their population, protect their borders from unwanted mass migration, and maintain an electrical grid and some manufacturing ability. Islands in temperate regions and mostly with low population densities came out on top. Kathleen announces that she hopes to spend a great deal of time in Ireland regardless of the state of society since she loves the people and firmly believes that she could survive on Guinness and potatoes. DISAPPEARING BACON: Kathleen is horrified reading an article advising that bacon my disappear in California as new pig rules take effect. In 2022, California will begin enforcing an animal welfare proposition approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2018 that requires more space for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves. National veal and egg producers are optimistic they can meet the new standards, but only 4% of hog operations now comply with the new rules. Unless the courts intervene or the state temporarily allows non-compliant meat to be sold in the state, California will lose almost all of its pork supply, much of which comes from Iowa, and pork producers will face higher costs to regain a key market. Stay tuned, Termites…ACID-SHOOTING SCORPIONS: Kathleen can’t believe that another rare creature has been found in Texas, as she reads an advisory that Whip Scorpions have been found in Big Bend National Park. Not only can these vinegaroons pinch, but they have long whip-like tails that can shoot a spray of 85% acetic acid (the main component of vinegar.)HOBBY LOBBY SEIZURE: As a follow-up to Ep46, Kathleen reads another article to fuel her hatred of Hobby Lobby’s owners, as she feels as though they don’t treat their employees with respect. Hobby Lobby reportedly purchased a rare tablet inscribed with a portion of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known works of literature. The artifact was acquired for display at the Museum of the Bible, a Washington, D.C. institution funded by the family of Hobby Lobby founder David Green. However, the DOJ has ordered the tablet’s forfeiture on the grounds that it was illegally imported into the United States and sold to Hobby Lobby under false pretenses. TASMANIAN DEVILS RETURN: Kathleen is delighted to share an announcement that seven Tasmanian devils have been born at the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia, more than 3,000 years after they died out in the country.A NOODLER’S FISH OF A LIFETIME: Kathleen loves to talk about the hillbilly “sport” of Noodling, as outlined in her bit “Noodling” from her Bothering Jesus album. She’s thrilled to read a recent article out of East Texas where Noodler Levi Bennett wrestled a 106-pound flathead catfish out of a culvert. The fish is one of the largest ever recorded to be caught by hand fishing. WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “The Spanish Princess” on Starz.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Boardwalk Blonde ale from Backshore Brewing Company in Ocean City, MD, which she picked up on her recent trip for a show in Selbyville, DE in July. TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through the mail from the PO box, thanking Termite Mindy from New Orleans for her Nunzilla, and an anonymous Termite for her “Do You Have Any Ranch?” insulated cup. Termite Heather sent a box of crazy fun beer, which Kathleen can’t wait to ice down and enjoy next week when her friend Ron White comes to stay. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich Pringles, which she thinks are delicious but won’t replace her preference for her favorite Lay’s original. She then moves on to taste Mexican Street Corn flavored Cheetos, which she also gives 2 thumbs up. Kathleen finalizes her tasting with the new Purely Balanced Tzatziki Ranch dressing from Litehouse. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, announcing that Dolly has released a new single to support the release of her new perfume, Scent From Above. Cher tweeted this week about the joy that she experienced when she got to spend an evening with her idol, Tina Turner. Tanya Tucker is successfully recovering from hip surgery, and Chaka Khan made a surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival as part of an all-star ensemble cast closing off the weekend. MORE SUBWAY TUNA TURMOIL: As a follow-up to EP26 reviewing Subway’s questionable tuna ingredients, Kathleen provides an update that in July 2021, Subway Restaurants Inc urged a federal judge in California to throw out a lawsuit accusing the chain of deceiving consumers about the content of its tuna. Subway maintains that the plaintiffs have offered no facts to support their claim that Subway’s tuna did not contain "100% sustainably caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna.” 2021 OLYMPICS: Kathleen loves the Olympics, and is thrilled to read an update from Tokyo where Pizza Hut Japan is offering a Decathlon Pizza, with 10 types of meat in celebration of the Olympic games. Kathleen provides her opinion on all of the pizzas that her sister has delivered for her kids when she visits, and then rates her favorite Summer Olympic sports – she’s a big fan of gymnastics and doesn’t understand Dressage. WHITNEY HOLOGRAM CONCERT: Kathleen is amused as she reads an announcement that the estate of Whitney Houston is presenting “An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert,” a new residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas. The production will begin in October 2021, and will feature the virtual image and voice of the late singer backed by a live four-piece band and background singers and dancers performing “all the hits.” NEW EXORCIST TRILOGY CONFIRMED: Kathleen is thrilled to share with the Termites that Universal is investing $400 million to film a new “Exorcist” trilogy, with Ellen Burstyn reprising her 1973 role as Chris MacNeil. Kathleen shares her own story about the first time she secretly watched The Exorcist despite her parents specifically stating that she wasn’t allowed to. MAN STALKED BY GRIZZLY: Kathleen is shocked to read an article advising that a US Coast Guard chopper rescued a man in near Nome, Alaska who claimed he had been stalked and attacked by a bear for a week. The man hid from the grizzly in a building of a remote mining camp and wrote “SOS” on the roof until he was found. THE DATING GAME KILLER: As Termites know, Kathleen is a fan of true crime and Investigation Discovery, and she’s shocked to read that a convicted serial killer that she has never heard of has died in a state hospital. Rodney James Alcala, 77, otherwise known as the “Dating Game Killer,” had been on California’s death row since his 2010 conviction for the murders of four women and a 12-year-old girl.KIDS CAMP GONE WRONG: Kathleen is amused and provides her own colorful commentary when she reads an article detailing how staffers at Camp Quinebarge—a decades-old program in New Hampshire, are trying to help the camp make its comeback after a canceled summer season last year. Campers described six days of chaos to an exclusive report to The Boston Globe, with undercooked food, staffing shortages, brawls amongst the campers, and quarantine due to illness. Kathleen mentions that when she was a kid, “going to camp” referred to setting up a tent in the back yard and inviting neighbor kids over.LETHARGIC PYTHON: In continuing with her recent stories about snakes behaving badly, Kathleen squeals describing the horror that a group of New Jersey residents must have felt when they found a wounded 10-foot python on top of the trash. A local breeder who owns an online business selling and breeding pythons was issued summonses for animal cruelty. WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “Sophie: A Murder In West Cork” on Netflix, and listening to the Chasing Ghislaine podcast on Audible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking an AceBall Lager by Hop Valley Brewing, which is the official beer of the Reno Aces baseball team. She then tells the Termites about her weekend in Reno for her first show back since the start of the pandemic and gives the “Biggest Little City” a great review as it reminds her of what Vegas used to be. She can’t wait to go back for some more exploring.TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail from the PO box, thanking Termite Anne for her Ranch bottle Christmas ornament, which she’s excited to hang on her tree. Janet from Minneapolis sent a cool and hilarious Ranch-inspired hair scrunchie, which makes Kathleen laugh when she reminds the Termites about the scrunchie theme in a Season 2 episode of one of Kathleen’s favorite shows, “Jann.” Finally, Kathleen laughs out loud when she opens a solar yard termite from Becky from Indiana, which she can’t wait to add to her yard. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, sending love and good wishes to Tanya Tucker to recover from her recent hip surgery. Cher continues to actively support the #FreeBritney movement on Twitter, and Super Queen Dolly dressed up as a vintage Playboy bunny and had her picture taken as a gift for her husband Carl’s 75th birthday. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Walden Farms Calorie Free Ranch dressing, which was a gift at Kathleen’s Reno show from a worthy Termite. She then tastes Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust seasoning, which she’s certain that her mom will love on her toast and ice cream. She finishes her tasting with Dorito’s Ketchup chips from Canada, and she and Paddles both agree that the original Taco Doritos are the best. CALIFORNIA GENDER REVEAL INDICTMENT: Kathleen reads an article from California where a couple has been criminally charged for their role in igniting last year’s destructive El Dorado wildfire after they used a pyrotechnic device during a gender-reveal party. The blaze destroyed immense property and claimed the life of a local firefighter. The Jimenez’s were indicted for 30 crimes including involuntary manslaughter and currently await their court date. BRITNEY VS JAIME LYNN SPEARS CONTINUES: As an UPDATE to Kathleen’s ongoing reporting on the #FreeBritney movement, she reads the latest sparring between Britney Spears and her younger sister, Jamie Lynn. During Britney’s conservatorship hearings, Jamie Lynn claimed she never took any of the singer’s money, but it has been revealed that the $1M Destin condo that she has laid claim to over the years doesn’t actually belong to her at all. The sisters then sparred on social media, with Kathleen providing her own commentary on sibling rivalry and “the Disney children.” THE MOST EXPENSIVE PENTHOUSE IN NYC: Kathleen laughs as she reads an article announcing that the penthouse of the residential building located at 432 Park Avenue has been listed for $169 million. The 8,225-square-foot space features six bedrooms and nine bathrooms with 360 deg views of Manhattan and Central Park. MONKEYPOX ARRIVES IN DALLAS: Kathleen squeals when reading an article advising that the rare Monkeypox virus has been detected in Dallas after a Texan returned from Nigeria and possibly spread the disease to 200 additional people on his flight home. Kathleen describes the blisters that are a symptom of Monkeypox to Shingles since her mom is always commenting on how horrific Shingles symptoms can be. Kathleen then tells the story about getting her first Shingles shot, and how she thought she would have to get one every year based on the number of signs that decorate Florida pharmacies every year. $400K LUXURY CRUISE SELLS OUT IN HOURS: Kathleen laughs when she reads an update from luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises that a newly routed around-the-world voyage aimed at wealthy travelers — cabins cost up to $399,998 for two — sold-out on in just 2.5 hours, which is the fastest that any world cruise has ever sold out, the company said. The cruise will dock on all 5 continents and will set sail in January 2024. Kathleen tells the Termites about her own cruise experiences as a part of Lewis Black’s Comedy Cruise, and one occasion when she and Lew were almost left in a port when their margarita time ran long, partially explained in her bits “Cruise Ship, Day 1” and “Cruise Ship, Day 2” from her Madigan Again album. DaVINCI’s 14 DESCENDANTS: Kathleen is thrilled to read an article announcing that 14 people currently alive and living in Italy can that they are descendants of Leonardo da Vinci, according to a study of the Renaissance genius' family tree. Researchers traced da Vinci's genealogy over nearly 700 years and 21 generations, from 1331 to the present day, beginning with da Vinci's great-great-great-grandfather Michele. Kathleen laughs as she muses what it must be like to find out that you are a part of DaVinci’s lineage if you are living a completely basic life. RARE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SOLD: Kathleen reads a news release announcing that a rare parchment engraving of the Declaration of Independence, ordered up by John Quincy Adams two centuries ago and found in the attic of an ancestral Scottish house, sold recently at Freeman’s auction house in Philadelphia at a near-record $4.4 million to an anonymous buyer.TACO BELL SHORTAGE: As Termites know, Kathleen’s favorite fast food restaurant is Taco Bell and she’s dismayed to read an article summarizing anecdotal reports on social media that Taco Bell is the latest to be impacted by supply chain issues. Basic (and necessary) items that may be temporarily unavailable have included their hot sauce, chicken, beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and even tortillas. Kathleen can’t wait to see what creations the menu fairies at Taco Bell come up with to serve in the meantime when she believes that there are less than 10 standard ingredients that make up the entire menu as it currently stands. Stay tuned…POPE FIGHT: Kathleen laughs as she reads an announcement that Pope Francis has cracked down on the spread of the old Latin Mass, reversing one of Pope Benedict XVI’s signature decisions in a major challenge to traditionalist Catholics who immediately decried it as an attack on them and the ancient liturgy. Pope Francis is a renowned revolutionary, attempting to move the Catholic Church forward to gain new membership while preserving the essence of tradition. What she finds extremely amusing is that many of the decisions being reviewed involve the methodology of his predecessor Benedict XVI, who is still alive to witness the unraveling. DEMONIC TEXTING: Kathleen laughs as she reads a recent article advising that exorcisms are on the rise since demons now haunt victims by text. American exorcist Monsignor Stephen Rossetti claims that demons are tech-savvy, and send text messages to their victims which expands their opportunity to impact victims as almost everyone has a cell phone. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Kathleen opens the show wearing a foam shark fin hat (sent by loyal Missouri Termite Shelby), and drinking a Yuengling Flight beer (which she highly recommends adding to your “Day Drinking” beer list of options.) TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail from the PO box, thanking Termite Jen from Colorado, who sent a hilarious book called “Judgmental Maps.” Kathleen then thanks Termite Laura for her custom-made Baby Shoe Madigan” bracelet, which she will wear for luck while gambling in Vegas next month, and Termite Cindy for her tiny Crown Royal bags which will help out with all of Kathleen’s “tiny organizational challenges” on the road. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Buffalo Wing Cheez-Its, which she LOVES (as she also loves regular Cheez-Its.). She then tastes Kroger’s Private Selection Fire Roasted Poblano Ranch, which she finds to be delicious but also doesn’t taste much like Ranch dressing. Kathleen finishes her tasting with Poppy’s Tangy Carolina BBQ Popcorn which was sent from Termites Jessie and her mom Marian, which Kathleen also loves since it tastes exactly like her favorite vinegar-based BBQ sauce. UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: In this week’s update from the Court, Kathleen advises listeners to check out Tanya’s Instagram, since she’s posting content from the road now that she’s on tour. Kathleen then offers an update from Cher, who is an avid supporter of the #FreeBritney movement and whose Twitter feed continues to be CARA THE PYTHON FOUND: Kathleen laughs as she reads the call logs from the Mall of Louisiana staff to Animal Control when they found out that the 12-foot Burmese Python had escaped the zoo exhibit. It turns out that the staff watched the python escape, and then when no immediate help could be offered from County animal officials they hid from the snake and it slithered from sight. Kathleen completely agrees with that reaction.GOVERNOR RAVNSBORG’S HIT AND RUN: As an UPDATE to Episode 30, Kathleen reads an article advising that South Dakota's attorney general is attempting to access any psychiatric or psychological records of the man he struck and killed along a highway, alleging in court documents that the death may have been a suicide. Investigators say Ravnsborg was distracted and swerved out of his lane as Joe Boever, 55, walked on the shoulder with a flashlight. Kathleen reminds listeners that she believes the Governor had been doing a little “drinky-drinky,” which was the reason for the cover-up, and then offers multiple reasons as to why anyone wouldn’t be carrying a flashlight on the shoulder of a road if they in fact wanted to kill themselves. ELIZABETH HOLMES TikTok FAN CLUB: When Theranos began to fall apart in 2015, hundreds of employees were laid off without warning. One former clinician was fired so suddenly that she walked out still wearing her lab coat, and as the Theranos fraud become a more mainstream subject she offered the coat for sale on the site Poshmark and a niche group of women called the “Holmies” was discovered. Kathleen is shocked at while reading the comments that the Holmies leave on TikTok, using the hashtag #GirlBoss to praise their "leader" and "queen" Elizabeth Holmes. They look up to her as an inspiration and feel as though she is brilliant in the unapologetic delivery of her strategic vision, which Kathleen reminds them MIGHT just land her in prison.DEATH OF ANOTHER BITCOIN BILLIONAIRE: In continuing with her love of cryptocurrency, Kathleen reads an article about a major bitcoin investor who suddenly died, leaving behind a cryptocurrency fortune reportedly worth more than $2 billion. Mircea Popescu, a Romanian national, drowned at the beginning of July off the coast of Costa Rica at the age of 41. Kathleen reads unconfirmed rumors swirling about the internet claim that he never shared his crypto wallet password with anyone, and his family cannot access his Bitcoin addresses. If nobody can gain access to his wallets (claimed to hold a million Bitcoins), those tokens could end up being lost forever. CATCHING A 4-POUND GOLDFISH: Kathleen laughs while reading an article out of Minnesota, where authorities are pleading with personal aquarium owners to stop releasing pet fish into waterways after several huge goldfish were pulled from a local lake. In November 2020, officials in Carver county (SW of Minneapolis) removed as many as 50,000 goldfish from local waters after oxygen levels were depreciating in local lakes, and a man caught a 4-pound goldfish while fishing.POST PANDEMIC AIRLINE ISSUES: As Kathleen heads back out onto the road, she shares stories of airport insanity that she has personally witnessed. She laughs as she reads a recent article about a woman who is duct-taped to her seat on an American Airlines flight when she tells a fellow passenger that she doesn’t want the plane to “fly up anymore.” Kathleen goes on to report that the FAA has reported an increase in the number of reports of unruly behavior on flights since May 2021, when people started traveling again when COVID travel restrictions were lifted. Kathleen advises that she’s going to start traveling with her Justin Bieber-themed duct tape in case she needs to ever be of assistance to flight crews. FACEBOOK BUILDS A VILLAGE: Termites know how Kathleen feels about Mark Zuckerberg, and she screams when she reads about plans that the company has to build an entire town called Willow Park near its headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. The development will include 1,729 apartments, a supermarket, a pharmacy, retail, as well as 1.25 million square feet of new Facebook office space housing roughly 7,000 employees. MEGALODON TEETH FOUND: In continuing with her love of sharks, Kathleen is thrilled to read an article about a man in Florida who found 2 rare megalodon teeth 3 weeks apart after Tropical Storm Elsa. DRUNK BUFFALO LEAD TO FARMER’S ARREST: Kathleen laughs out loud reading an article announcing that 3 Indian farmers were arrested for selling illegal alcohol after a herd of buffalo got drunk on their contraband moonshine. The buffalo were reported by a vet who noticed that water in the buffaloes' trough had turned a yellowish color, which was a result of the illegal liquor being hidden in their trough. MISSING PICASSO FOUND IN A BUSH: In continuing with her appreciation of the art world, Kathleen reads a news release advising that a 49-year-old builder has been arrested for the theft of Picasso's Head of a Woman, which was stolen during a raid on the Athens National Gallery in 2012. The piece of art would have been "impossible to sell or go on display" because it had a personal inscription from Picasso on the back that read, in French, "For the Greek people, a tribute by Picasso." Investigators believe that the thief had worked as an oil painter himself and had knowledge of the materials and of the gallery, and that he stole what he could get his hands on in the short window he was inside for the heist. When he learned that police were closing in on him after more than a decade of hiding the Picasso work, he moved it from a warehouse to the ravine where they were finally discovered.WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “The Flight Attendant” on HBO Max, which Kathleen put off watching forever but ended up binging the entire Season 1 in 2 nights. The lead character is played by Kaley Cuoco, who also played “Penny” on The Big Bang Theory. Kathleen tells a story about visiting Ireland with Lewis Black when a young girl in a restaurant recognized him for his role on a Big Bang Theory episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Palmetto Espresso Porter from Palmetto Brewing Company in Charleston.TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through the mail from the PO box, thanking Termites Jane in North Carolina for the Theranos mug (whoo hoo), Charlotte in Massachusetts for the Wicked Smaaaat hats, Terri in Illinois for the Kolten Wong rookie cards, and Mr. Samoji pint glass. Termite Lisa sent the coolest Dorito earrings, which Kathleen is going to wear on stage, and thanks to Tracy for the Ron White doll which will hold a prominent position on Kathleen’s Christmas tree. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Taco Bell Medium Thick N Chunky salsa, which she LOVES (as she does all things created by “the Bell.”) She then tries the limited edition Key Lime Pie KIT KAT bar, which she doesn’t love but to be fair, Kathleen doesn’t like Key Lime Pie. She finishes her tasting with the new Burger King Ch’King hand-breaded chicken sandwich, which she doesn’t recommend because she thinks it’s overly fried.UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: In this week’s update from the Court, Kathleen is thrilled to announce that Stevie Nicks has a new song released with Maroon Five, called “Remedy.”BLOCKING KIRSTIE ALLEY: Kathleen discloses that she’s blocked Kirstie Alley on Twitter after reading the latest Twitter rant from the former Cheers star, which Kathleen commented on. The notes won’t do the rant justice: just read the feed, Termites ;-) TULSA NOODLERS BASEBALL: As the Termites are aware, Kathleen is fascinated with the hillbilly sport of “Noodling,” as she references in her bit from her Bothering Jesus special on Netflix. Kathleen is excited to hear that on the weekend of August 12th-15th, the Tulsa Drillers AA baseball team will become the Tulsa Noodlers, since Noodling is massively popular AIRCAR TAKES FLIGHT: As a follow-up to past episodes, Kathleen continues her obsession with the idea of flying personal cars. She’s thrilled to read an article out of Slovakia where the prototype of an “AirCar” has completed the first-ever test flight between airports in Slovakia, taking to the skies and landing in 35 minutes. FYRE FESTIVAL PAYS OUT: Kathleen reads an update on the defunct Fyre Festival, ticket buyers to the 2017 event were promised a luxury 2-weekend Bahamas getaway, with tickets costing more than $1,200. When the fraud was discovered and lawsuits filed in US Federal court, victims were estimated to receive over $7K in a cash settlement. Instead, they will receive $281 per ticket, which Kathleen still thinks is too much for a Blink 182 concert ticket. ICELAND TESTS 4-DAY WORK WEEK: Kathleen raises her beer when reading a study from Iceland, where trials were conducted between 2015 and 2019 observing the benefits of a 4-day workweek. The results were gathered from a wide range of workplaces, with “transformative positive effects” of a shorter working week including reduced sick days and stress leave. Kathleen then provides her own commentary on the parameters that she thinks would define an optimal workweek. SNAKE SEGMENT: Yes, that’s right. Kathleen is amazed that there were enough exotic snake incidents reported. this week for an entire segment. In Raleigh, North Carolina a dangerous, venom-spitting cobra who escaped from its 21-year-old owner terrified locals for over 3 days until officials located and trapped the escaped pet. She moves on to read another piece of news involving an Albino python in Austria who bit a man’s genitals while he was on the toilet. And THEN Kathleen comments on a third article from Baton Rouge where a large Burmese python named “Cara” escaped from an exhibit in The Mall of Louisiana and is still missing after a week. Stay tuned for an UPDATE, Termites!ASIA’S EL CHAPO CAPTURED: As followers of the Pubcast know, Kathleen has kept a tight watch on the activities of El Chapo and his family and close allies. She’s excited to read a new article announcing that the Asian countries have their own drug lord equivalent to El Chapo: Tse Chi Lop, who is Chinese-born. Canadian accused of leading a multi-billion dollar drug operation known as The Company. Tse Chi Lop’s organization moved massive quantities of illegal drugs hidden in packs of tea, and he is facing extradition from The Netherlands to Australia.RADIOACTIVE PIGS IN JAPAN: Kathleen reads an article from Japan advising that wild pig-boar hybrids have started roaming around Fukushima since Japan’s 2011 nuclear disaster turned the area into a vacant wasteland. A new radioactive swine hybrid was created when wild boars that roamed the evacuated area bred with domestic pigs that escaped from farms, according to Royal Society researchers. A 112-YEAR OLD PUERTO RICAN: As a follow-up to Episode 32 discussing the world’s oldest torchbearer in Japan, Kathleen advises that a 112-year-old man in Puerto Rico has been noted as the world’s oldest living man, according to the Guinness World Records. Emilio Flores Marquez has outlived his wife of 75 years and is succeeded by his four children. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Crown Royal & Coke in a can in honor of her friend Carrottop, who loves Crown Royal. TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through the mail from the PO box, thanking Termites Cindy in Wake Forrest, NC for the Bigfoot caricature, the big box of fun from Donna in Brainerd, MN (including a salt bowl, which Kathleen LOVES) Dana from Newtown, PA for the kind gesture of Ranch money, and Edie from Florida who sent Manatee coffee and cool frisbees that Kathleen will use to play fetch with her foxes. CRYPTOCURRENCY UPDATE FROM A COMEDIAN: Kathleen reviews the current state of her cryptocurrency portfolio, telling listeners who are freaking out over the recent volatility of the crypto market to be patient. She discusses strategies for buying the dip and reminds the Termites that she is NOT a true financial advisor, but just a lady in a lawn chair practicing her act until she goes back on tour ☺ She moves on to read a news release advising that H-E-B shoppers will soon be able to obtain digital assets at more than two dozen locations in Texas. Coin Cloud, a crypto automated teller machine (ATM) provider, says 29 H-E-B stores will feature kiosks that provide access to more than 30 crypto assets.KFC CHICKEN LOG: With the Canada Day and Fourth of July holiday weekend approaching, Kathleen reminds everyone to let the “sober friends” shoot off any fireworks. She then discloses that after a great deal of searching, she has purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken scented logs, which she is EXCITED to burn while celebrating the holidays. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Panera Buttermilk Ranch, which she doesn’t like as much as Hidden Valley Ranch (she gives the Panera variety a HARD “no”) She moves on to taste Lay’s Summer BLT potato chips, which she loves (and so does her Dad.)UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: In this week’s update from the Court, Kathleen reads a thread of Cher's tweets regarding the latest update from Britney Spears’ conservatorship hearings. Cher gets mouthy via the social media platform, urging support for the singer and further fueling the #FreeBritney movement. THE DEATH OF JOHN MCAFEE: As a follow-up to Episode 4, Kathleen provides an update that U.S. technology entrepreneur John McAfee was pronounced dead in a Barcelona prison after the Spanish high court authorized his extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges. For those not familiar with McAfee, Kathleen recommends watching the Amazon documentary “Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee.” U-HAUL HAWAIIAN HONEYMOON: As a follow up to Episode 46’s discussion on the increase of rental car prices after the COVID pandemic decreased supply, Kathleen reads that U-Haul companies in Hawaii have reported that tourists have been renting their moving vehicles, which charge a low flat fee plus mileage, just to get to the beach. The article goes into specific detail about a man from Southwest Florida who rented two U-Hauls during his honeymoon trip in order to save thousands of dollars, which took him around four islands. KENTUCKY’S REDNECK RAVE: Kathleen reads a news release out of Edmonson County, KY where Blue Holler Offroad Park hosted the June 2021 “Redneck Rave” event that organizers said would feature "mud, music, and mayhem." The local sheriff told media that 14 people were arrested and another 34 were cited on criminal charges that ranged from assault and strangulation to drug and alcohol possession. Injuries reported included a man’s throat slit, a woman who was choked unconscious overuse of a blanket, and a man who was impaled by a log that pierced the floorboard of his vehicle.DRUNKEN ELEPHANTS: Kathleen laughs as she reads an article about a rogue herd of elephants in China who have been devouring crops and destroying property as they march from the south of Yunnan province to its capital city. Locals have described their erratic behavior to be like watching a group of drunks, and since the elephants are endangered, law enforcement is attempting to redirect their march away from the more populated areas rather than harm them. POLICE HELICOPTER CHASES A UFO: In her continued obsession with an alien presence, Kathleen reads another article describing a police chase in the United Kingdom where a law enforcement helicopter almost makes contact with and then chases a UFO-type flying object. A FIFTH OCEAN EXISTS: Kathleen reads an update from National Geographic cartographers who have come to the conclusion that the swift current circling Antarctica keeps the waters there distinct and worthy of their own name: the Southern Ocean.A NEW VEGAS CASINO: Kathleen LOVES Las Vegas, and although her favorite casino to stay at is The Mirage, she’s excited to read an announcement that Resorts World Las Vegas will open on the Vegas Strip in Summer 2021THE ZODIAC CODE CRACKED: As a follow-up to Episode 22 discussing the Zodiac Killer, Kathleen reads an article where a French engineer states that he has cracked the Zodiac code. If proven to be correct, his solution would not only disclose the original location of a bomb that the killer had planted during his killing spree, but also his identity. Reddit and other social media outlets supporting chatrooms attempting to solve these puzzles tore the engineer’s theories apart, so stay tuned, Termites. WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching the true-crime docuseries “Sasquatch” on Hulu, and Season 2 of “Dirty John” on Netflix which outlines the Betty Broderick murder trial.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking a Robot Crush from Aeronaut Brewing in Somerville, MA which was sent to her via the great USPS from a Worthy Termite.TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail from the PO box, thanking Termites Quinn/Stearns (aka “Dr. Quinn”) for her Robot Crush and Marshmallow Fluff (both “born” in Massachusetts), and big thanks to Max for her Dogecoin (which she vows to carry for good gambling luck in her wallet.) Also massive thanks to Creative Termite Elisa (her company’s name is Texrah Designs in Dallas) who sent Paddles a very cool Post Malone prayer candle, since Post is one of Paddles’ favorite singers.UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen announces to the Termites that she has no worthwhile updates from the Queens over the past week, but will continue her hunt for breaking news.“GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Tessemae’s Everything Bagel Ranch, which she thinks is too tangy and tastes more dill than “everything.” Next on the menu are Roulette Nacho Cheese Doritos, which she loves and can’t WAIT to offer her young nieces and nephew to watch their shock at the heat. She finishes her tasting menu telling Termites to add Texas Pete Dust Dry Seasoning on any meat they put on the grill, and that Marshmallow Fluff is delicious AND has a stickiness comparable to Gorilla Glue. TENNESSEE GETS A BUC-EE’S TRUCK STOP: As listeners know, Kathleen is a massive fan of good truck stops. She’s absolutely excited to read an article that her friend Heidi forwarded announcing that crews have broken ground on the Crossville TN Buc-ee’s travel center – the first one in Tennessee; which will be more than 53,400 square feet and offer 120 fueling positions just outside its store with thousands of snack, meal and drink options for travelers on the go.GUN-WAVING STL COUPLE UPDATE: Kathleen reads an update from her hometown of St. Louis, where Mark and Patricia McCloskey were fined and charged with a misdemeanor for pointing guns at social justice demonstrators last year.BATTLE OF THE SPACE BILLIONAIRES: Kathleen provides an update on the space race currently underway between billionaires Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and now Richard Branson. Just after Bezos announced that he would join his Blue Origin’s first crewed flight on July 20th, Branson announced plans to launch over the July 4th holiday weekend, making him the FIRST to reach space on his private Virgin Galactic craft. Stay tuned, Termites.PINK FLOYD VS FACEBOOK: Listeners who follow Kathleen know that she can’t stand Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, feeling that he is a morally bankrupt human. She’s delighted to hear that Pink Floyd star Roger Waters shares her opinion, when he recently rejected an offer from Zuckerberg for the use of his classic track Another Brick in the Wall Part II. Speaking at a recent event, Waters opened up about the financial offer from Zuckerberg, who he called “one of the most powerful idiots in the world”, revealing the Facebook boss wanted to use his 1979 song in a film to promote Instagram.ELIZABETH HOLMES MERCH SOARS: As Termites know, Kathleen is committed to seeing the end of the Theranos scandal with its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, in prison for her fraudulent activities. Holmes is facing federal wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges in connection with allegedly deceiving investors, patients, and doctors about her company’s blood-testing technology, and is facing 20 years in prison if convicted. Kathleen reports that Internet sellers are cashing in on swag despite the fraudulent undertones of the trial, cashing in before her criminal fraud trial starts in August 2021. Kathleen is absolutely committed to obtaining a “Theranos: Early Investor” coffee mug from Etsy before the trial begins, because it’s important to have goals ☺MEGHAN MARKLE’S BOOK FLOPS: Kathleen delightedly reads an article announcing that Meghan Markle’s children’s book release, “The Bench,” profoundly flopped in sales in its release week. Online reviewers dismissed the publication as a vanity project which should have been kept within the Royal family, while her sister-in-law Kate Middleton’s photography book “Hold Still” remains at the top of the bestseller list. Kathleen mentions that karma might play a part in this situation…WHAT RICH PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON: Kathleen laughs that she’s starting a new segment to the Pubcast called “What Rich People Are Spending Money On,” after weeks of reading about sales of stolen art and trips to space for auction. This week she reads a press release that shoe magnate Stuart Weitzman has sold a secret coin, his 1933 Double Eagle “Mona Lisa” of collector coins, for $18.9M. Kathleen expands on the story with her own childhood tales regarding having pride in her ownership of Silver Dollars that her grandparents had gifted to her, citing that the only people that would care about her rare coins and stamps would be her super-nerd and incredibly gifted cool friends Lorene Machado and Jackie Kashian, whom she is looking into ordering “Super Nerd” capes for on Etsy. A DEATH IN CRYPTOLAND: In continuing her obsession with cryptocurrency and her love for all things Canadian, Kathleen recommends listening to the CBC Canada podcast “A Death In Cryptoland” about the alleged death of Quadriga CEO Gerald Cotten. Cotten started Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in his twenties and is reported to have died while honeymooning in India at the age of 30. The alleged death set off a cataclysmic chain of events that would leave approx 76,000 people out of a quarter of a billion dollars and a trail of conspiracy theories around whether he is dead or alive. KENTUCKY TEE-BALL GAME BRAWL: Kathleen takes another sip of beer and laughs out loud reading an article surrounding a tee-ball championship game in Kentucky that erupted into a brawl when parents began fighting after a spectator ran onto the field, leaving the young players in tears amid the chaos.Witnesses told local media that a spectator ran onto the field, prompting the umpire to end the game and the scheduled trophy and medal presentation ceremony to be canceled. The incident began when the opposing coaches got into an argument over a call when the fan ran on the field. Other spectators said the man took off his shirt and began cursing and shoving people.RENTAL CAR PRICES SOAR: An avid traveler and a big supporter of the rental car industry (especially her hometown based Enterprise Rental Car), Kathleen is amazed when reading an article advising US travelers that US rental car prices could double by August amidst a nationwide shortage of cars. The skyrocketing prices come as demand for rental cars outstrips supply, when in a desperate move to survive pandemic lockdowns that halted global travel last year, many rental companies sold off their fleets for cash. Now Americans are ready to travel again, car rental services have been hard-pressed to rebuild their fleets with limited new vehicle inventory. Kathleen advises traveling Termites to secure their rental cars now to avoid disappointment. WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching Season 1 of “Dirty John” on Netflix, which she thinks Connie Britton absolutely crushes in, and listen to the podcast “A Death in Cryptoland” 6-part podcast wherever you get podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Kathleen opens the show drinking Banff Springs Tunnel 30 Anniversary Lager from Grizzly Paw Brewing Company in Banff, Alberta (one of Kathleen’s favorite places to visit.)UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: In an update on her Queens, Kathleen reports the latest bombshell that Lindsey Buckingham’s latest wife has filed for divorce, which makes her ask Cardboard Stevie what her thoughts are on the developments. Kathleen tells Paddles that she doesn’t think that any of the Queens in her Court would put up with Lindsey’s bullsh!t, so anticipates that he will remain single for a while. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Frank’s Red Hot Goldfish, which she can’t wait to trick her nieces and nephew with the heat. She LOVES her next tasting sauce: Ortega Taco Ranch Taco Sauce, which she vows to take with her to eat Mexican food with her friends Mark and Nicole after the Pubcast is finished. She finishes off this week’s tasting menu with Chewy Chips Ahoy with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, in which she’s overcome with the sweetness and vows to give to her mom. She wraps her tasting segment discussing her recent day drinking shenanigans with her friends Raelyn and JB, and Raelyn asking their bartender “Do You Have Any Ranch?” to go with her well-timed fries after a few beers. BRITNEY SPEARS CONSERVATORSHIP DEVELOPMENTS: Kathleen is intrigued with the Britney Spears conservatorship drama, and UPDATES her Termites that Britney recently went on a bizarre rant on social media, referring to herself as a "motherf***ing snake" (referring to her iconic MTV Music Awards performance with a Burmese python). The 39-year-old wore a snakeskin bodysuit in her recent Instagram post, which comes as she prepares to speak out against her father, Jamie Spears, in court amid her conservatorship legal battle. Back in April 2021, Britney asked a judge to permanently end her father’s control over her $60M fortune and personal life.JEFF BESOS SPACE AUCTION: As a follow-up to Ep44, Kathleen reads an article updating the progress of Jeff Besos’s initial space flight aboard his New Shepard rocket. The richest man in the world is auctioned off a seat on its upcoming first crewed spaceflight in June 2021 for $28 million.The winning bidder will fly to the edge of space with the Amazon founder and his brother Mark on July 20th. Blue Origin advised that New Shepard’s first passenger flight will carry four people, including both Bezos brothers, the auction winner and a fourth person to be announced later.INVASION OF THE SUPER TERMITES: All of Kathleen’s Termites know that she has a fondness for all things “Termite,” and she laughs as she reads an article out of Israel advising of a “Super Termite” invasion in June 2021. This species has been coined as of the most destructive pests in the world, will eat anything containing cellulose, such as wood, paper, or cardboard, and has also been known to devour copper and lead sheets, plaster, asphalt foam insulation boards, plastics, and even underground power lines.THE AUCTION OF AN INVISIBLE SCULPTURE: Kathleen finishes her beer and laughs at the absurdity of an article detailing the recent auction of an invisible sculpture. Italian artist Salvatore Garau just sold an invisible sculpture for $18,000 USD and the work, titled Io Sono or "I Am," doesn't exist except in the artist's imagination. According to the artist, the sculpture doesn't not exist per se, rather it exists in a vacuum, Newsweek reports. "The vacuum is nothing more than a space full of energy," Garau explained. "And even if we empty it and there is nothing left, according to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, that 'nothing' has a weight. Therefore, it has an energy that is condensed and transformed into particles, that is, into us." Ummmm, ok. Kathleen moves on to tell the termites her own story of “selling something invisible “ to her grade school nuns when she and her dad crafted an oversized vodka display bottle and an egg to demonstrate the power of vacuum energy. Yes Termites, Mama Termite attempted to demonstrate advanced science to nuns. MYSTERIOUS CANADIAN BRAIN DISEASE: Kathleen reads an article about a mysterious disease impacting a small area in Eastern Canada where 48 people have been struck with a baffling mix of symptoms including insomnia, impaired motor function, and hallucinations such as visions of the dead. Conspiracy theories blamed the illness on everything from cellphone towers to vaccine complications. These are some plots of a mystery that has stumped the medical establishment, attracted the attention of top neurologists, and scared residents of New Brunswick, a province of 770,000. In the past 6 years, dozens have fallen ill from the disease, and 6 people have died.ST LOUIS’S VEILED PROPHET BALL: Kathleen reads an article about St. Louis’s Veiled Prophet ball, as it has been in the news lately when actress Ellie Kemper was discovered to have been named the ball’s “Queen of Love and Beauty” when she was 19 years of age. Inspired by the Mardi Gras krewes of New Orleans and a character in a then-popular poem, the Veiled Prophet organization was established in response to major labor strikes that shut down the city — and the threat of Black and white workers uniting. The entire process of choosing the “queen” every summer was originally suffused with elaborate ritual: A person would be chosen by a secret board of local elites to anonymously play the role of the Veiled Prophet. The Veiled Prophet would choose a Queen of Love and Beauty from among the elite ball attendees (of course, invitation list to be kept strictly confidential as well) with whom he would dance a “Royal Quadrille” before presenting her with an expensive keepsake such as a tiara or pearls. Often these gifts were so expensive that they became family heirlooms. The ball would be accompanied by a just-as-spectacular parade and fair. In October of 1878, civic elites in St. Louis organized the first parade, which attracted more than 50,000 spectators. Kathleen provides her own commentary around attending the parade with her friends, which she says one of the highlights was that you could bring your own cooler of beer.WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “Hacks” on HBO Max. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.