In short
Podcast Summary: Berlant & Novak - Episode 064: "Don't Touch the Earth"
Episode Overview
In this episode of *Berlant & Novak*, hosts Jacqueline Novak and Kate Berlant discuss their holiday experiences, including Christmas Eve traditions, celebrity encounters, and reflections on personal rituals and memories. The conversational tone combines humor with deep introspection, making for an engaging and amusing episode.
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Key Themes and Discussions
Christmas Unpacking
- Post-Holiday Reflections: Jacqueline insists on unpacking the holiday experience even past Christmas, suggesting the impact of seasonal rituals lasts longer than a single day.
- Mania of the Season: The hosts humorously discuss their manic states during festive gatherings, reflecting on how pressure to create the perfect holiday can lead to anxiety.
Celebrity Encounters
- Dining at Max and Helen’s:
- Kate shares her experience securing a highly coveted reservation at a popular diner, emphasizing the social dynamics and competitive nature of dining in LA.
- The atmosphere is painted with excitement as they recount the various celebrities they might encounter, particularly highlighting Leonardo DiCaprio's presence during their visit.
- The Appeal of Celebrity Culture:
- Discussion of DiCaprio being a figure who transcends typical celebrity status, blending admiration with a critique of how celebrities navigate public life, including their efforts to maintain privacy (e.g., wearing masks).
Personal Rituals and Memories
- Artistic Expressions:
- Kate discusses taking up watercolor painting as a way to disconnect from technology and cultivate mindfulness, leading to reflections on childhood memories triggered by artistic expression.
- Jacqueline introduces the concept of "liquid code" as a metaphor for memories flowing through one's artistic endeavors and daily life.
- Gift-Giving Rituals:
- The hosts share anecdotes about gift-giving, particularly a vintage blow mold decoration, emphasizing the layers of meaning behind seemingly simple gifts.
Humorous Anecdotes
- Bathroom Encounter with DiCaprio:
- A comedic recounting of Kate’s near encounter with Leonardo DiCaprio while waiting for the bathroom, showcasing both the absurdity and excitement of celebrity sightings.
- The hosts explore the awkwardness of urban celebrity culture and the lengths people go to in their admiration of public figures.
Future Plans and Community Building
- Looking Ahead:
- The hosts hint at future plans for the podcast, encouraging listeners to participate and prepare for new content, emphasizing community involvement.
- They invite listeners to consider subscribing to premium content for deeper engagement with the show and exclusive material.
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Key Takeaways
- Community Engagement: The episode stresses the importance of connecting with listeners and invites them to become active participants in the podcast’s community.
- Reflection on Rituals: Jacqueline and Kate lead a discussion on the significance of personal rituals, especially during holidays, and how they shape our experiences.
- Humor in Everyday Life: The blend of humor with reflections on celebrity culture and personal anecdotes showcases the hosts' unique ability to engage listeners through relatable and comedic storytelling.
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Quotes
- "Never are you so far from Paris as the moment you touch down in Paris." - Kate Berlant
- "Please don’t assume that no response means no thank you." - Jacqueline Novak
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Conclusion
This episode encapsulates the charm of *Berlant & Novak*, where humor, introspection, and cultural commentary intertwine to create an engaging listening experience. The hosts successfully draw their audience into their world, making the mundane aspects of life feel extraordinary and relatable.
For further engagement, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to premium content for exclusive access to bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes material.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOChristmas Eve Memories
0:58 to 1:59
Hear about a special Christmas Eve brunch experience in LA.
“Nurturing phantoms and courting the muse.”
Dining Experience at Max and Helen's
1:59 to 4:35
Discover the highlights of a popular diner and its menu.
“But I just want to say, on Christmas Eve, I went to the viral diner, I would say the hardest table to get right now in Los Angeles, Max and Helen's on Larchmont.”
The Anxieties of Holiday Gatherings
4:35 to 6:13
Explore the feelings of anxiety surrounding special occasions like weddings.
“I mean, you know, say, you know, the New Year's Eve.”
Celebrity Encounters and Restaurant Culture
6:13 to 8:13
Delve into the dynamics between celebrities and dining establishments.
“So much like last week with the only once you accept that you're disappointed, can the light come in?”
Nostalgia and Past Life Memories
8:13 to 14:01
Unpack the connection between memories, films, and past life experiences.
“And not the vulnerability of seeing them pedal on stage.”
Nostalgic Memories of Childhood
14:01 to 14:31
Explore heartfelt reminiscences about childhood experiences and memories.
“I would eat with my mother after school.”
The Concept of Past Life Memories
14:32 to 14:48
Discuss the idea of past life regression and personal connections to it.
“Is it time to finally have a legitimate past life memory experience this year?”
Reflections on Leonardo DiCaprio
14:49 to 15:42
Analyze the image and social presence of Leonardo DiCaprio in modern media.
“I mean, he's one of the only stars we have left.”
The Encounter with a Celebrity
15:43 to 17:47
A humorous recounting of a near encounter with Leonardo DiCaprio in a restaurant.
“Growing up Leo Dio, even though his last name is not Dio Rio, but there's something to it.”
The Bathroom Dilemma
21:40 to 28:01
Delve into the comedic anxieties surrounding a bathroom encounter with a celebrity.
“To go straight into the bathroom that you were waiting for.”
Show all 24 chapters
Christmas Eve Plans
28:01 to 28:38
The hosts discuss their plans for Christmas Eve, including surprise gifts.
“Somebody just pull up my texting behind, you know, unbeknownst to you, right?”
The Vintage Blow Mold
28:39 to 29:26
A detailed story about purchasing a vintage blow mold decoration as a gift.
“I go, I'm ready to Venmo you if you give me your Venmo name.”
Elf Mode Check-In
29:27 to 30:18
The hosts check in about their elf mode preparations and the gifting process.
“Because I'm like, fuck it, I don't need him doubting me.”
Decision-Making on the Gift
30:19 to 31:05
Discussion on whether the blow mold gift is suitable and its sentimental value.
“previous to my searching because I had to search, right?”
Elfish Concerns
31:06 to 32:04
Further deliberation on the appropriateness of the blow mold gift.
“it's like oh god not another peabody i can't take it okay no what is it what's what is it's it's seeing the word gag this is the same as the halloween costume thing it's seeing the word cat.”
Canyon Coffee Shout-Out
32:05 to 32:48
A shout-out to Canyon Coffee for their special peppermint mocha.
“and then, yeah, I know exactly the rough touch.”
Gift Coordination Updates
32:49 to 34:25
Updates on coordinating the delivery and timing of the blow mold gift.
“coffee at Echo Park for having a fucking unblued peppermint mocha.”
Candle Dreams
34:26 to 35:07
A whimsical discussion about a dream involving candles and their symbolism.
“Dressed as a candle and you and I were late for a poog live recording.”
The Candlestick Conundrum
35:08 to 36:54
A humorous dive into the complexities of choosing a candlestick.
“the fact that, and this will be subscriber only.”
Snowman History
36:55 to 37:58
A discussion about the history of snowman decorations and their styles.
“So sorry to the assistant that it's raining.”
Video Reactions
37:59 to 38:32
Reactions to receiving a cozy video related to the blow mold gift.
“So when your driver says you drive thumbs up, we never speak again.”
Exciting Gift Reveal
38:33 to 39:10
A sweet moment where hosts reveal the joy of gifting the blow mold.
“you is that nordic no honey it's not nordic that was a crazy it was a lulu and it was um yeah bedroom rug my my bed is being delivered today weeks after the fact so is this this the Lulu that we talked about.”
Book Presentation
39:11 to 40:21
Presentation of a thoughtful book gift and its significance.
“Patented an unprecedented history as well as the central field guide to more than a century of fascinating product and industrial design told through 1 ,000 design patents.”
Planning for Next Christmas
40:22 to 41:24
Discussion about planning for Christmas 2026 and its importance.
“Because it'd be like I'd do something and my dad's like, Action.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Hi guys, it's us. This is what you might call an ad, a little pre-roll in the jargon of the biz. and we're here, yeah, to annoy you with an ad that isn't the content, why? So we can remind you of the importance, the honor, the glory, the humility of joining premium, becoming a premium subscriber. When you show us with cash that you enjoy the show, we bring something to your life. Who the hell knows? We're a community here, as you know, and as you very well know, we are now, we're independent. We do this all ourselves. We are producing the show. We have no suits. We have no big, you know, the headquarters.
0:39They're gone. It's just us. We're the headquarters. So every dollar that you give us goes directly into the show. You are a producer of the show when you become a subscriber. So enjoy this episode and please go to berlantnovac.supercast.com and become a subscriber. Two best friends, both alike in dignity. Nurturing phantoms and courting the muse. The hag divines when something must die. Yes, that was Pug, but this is huge. The ego loves to seek, but never to find. It was Berlant and Novak the whole time. Oh, hi. I'm back. Hi. I went through the airport in this. Don't you love it? Silk Bows from Sajuk, a boutique in Brooklyn.
1:24Wow. During my Christmas Eve. Was it Christmas Eve the day before? Can't recall. No, it was Christmas Eve. A little last minute. Picked up a little silken bow claw for my mother and my niece like this. I have a lot. I'm bringing in a lot. I bet you do. Wait, first of all, I know that we're past the Christmas season. I know we're past it. Everyone, we're aware. But I just feel the need. No, sorry. We're going to be unpacking Christmas straight through Feb. So get ready, folks. Yeah, yeah. But I just want to say, on Christmas Eve, I went to the viral diner, I would say the hardest table to get right now in Los Angeles, Max and Helen's on Larchmont.
2:12Damn. Okay. Well, first of all. Is that kind of near me? No, probably not. Not really. Well, kind of. It's between us. It'd be actually a great meeting point for us. I like that. I was literally securing, and this is the whole thing in LA. Oh, this is, you know, eight hour wait, seven hour wait. I remember when they opened, I ran into a friend on Larchmont who said she arrived at like - You mean it's, they don't take res is what you're telling me? No res. 9 a.m. Wow. At 9 a.m. was a four hour wait. You know, it's like the joke, right? But I go, I want in. Let's just say that I was literally at a funeral securing the table.
2:45I was at a funeral. Some would call this, you know, sublimation. I was like, I secure a Christmas Eve brunch for four, 11 a.m. I'm floating I get there the meal was I know you were at brunch on Christmas Eve you know how that's when I you were out and I texted your lover and said yeah trust it yeah alright thank you got two TWSBs ready for today's notes as we go because there's a lot to discuss so TWSB eco pens I'm just breaking in because it's really important but we'll get to this in a minute I know you were at brunch in the pouring rain yes, yes, on Christmas Eve because I was wildly plotting a Christmas surprise with your lover going are you guys home?
3:43anyway, but we'll get to that in a minute, the greatest thing I've ever done, we will get to that but I'll just say Max and Helen, you hear this a lot these places that get so much buzz diner nancy silverton listen oh it's nancy silverton you say and the food was worth the hype i'm here to tell you yep yep yep explosive tuna melt best waffle of my life shit remarkable pancake like really cute diner and here are you ready here it comes so christmas eve right there the four of us i actually i have i have manic videos that i will post only for the subscribers because they're they're too embarrassing to let the general public see them you mean the unlisted in the newsletter just folks premium gets a special newsletter every week with unlisted video then i was watching myself later and i was like god i'm annoying like i'm so it's like i have this mania like i secured the reservation isn't the food good we're here we made it who took it because katie was filming okay i didn't realize she was telling me like gearing up to take a bite of the waffle i thought she was like no was it because she knew she knew she was catching you being you or was it just normal filming that happened to catch i think it was just like being like yeah it was like a joke because it was like oh this is the place everyone comes to film themselves eat whatever but i was the food was so pleasurable it was the thing of like when it's happened you're there you set the scene it wasn't that i was unable to be present well of course i was unable to be present but it was like i was so outside myself looking down at myself going it's happening it's happening it's happening the brunch is here it's christmas eve and then what and then what happens to me when i'm in this manic state don't i know it i mean i've walked through paris with you i've walked through paris with you so i understand okay what it means to me in the eye of the storm you know me going of the thing you planned it's really worth talking about right no no this is the work you know never are you so absent from paris as as the moment you touched down in Paris, right?
5:38So funny. I know. I know. I mean, you know, say, you know, the New Year's Eve. So it's the surrounding. It's the, it really is a storm, right? It's an storm of obsession at the eye still. It's my obsession with the wedding day. Now, can you switch? Can you switch? Well, as a child, I was terrified. Okay. I go, I'll never, as a child, I go, I'll never be able to do that. Okay. I go, I'll be so stressed out in the same way that I would cry on my birthday, and it was the release, like we talked about, maybe it was last episode. Once you, come here, boo. Come here, boo. Boo's first appearance in an episode, dare I say?
6:14Boo. It's so cute hearing the meow. But wait, keep going, keep going. So much like last week with the only once you accept that you're disappointed, can the light come in? Okay. Oh, yeah, exactly, exactly. Right, with the lights, I gave your permission. Yeah, it's really true. When am I going to cry? On the birthday, this panic of will it be perfect? Not even perfect, this panic of what if there's something that I'm sad about on my birthday? It'd be so horrible. And I was like, I'll never be able to do a wedding. I'll never be able to survive a wedding day. I'll be praying for cancellation, which is also the only way, in a way.
6:51Can you imagine? You try to make the wedding perfect, the whole thing. You get there that night, and it's like a massive, sorry, snow day. Okay. Whatever. Right. Dream. Okay. Hurricane. And they go, the tent's down. No one's going outside. We're meeting at the local diner. Okay. And suddenly, suddenly the tiger breaks in. Life gets in. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That's the tiger breaking in. It's true. The tiger breaks in. Muddies up the temple with its paws. Okay. And then you have people going, now I want to get the, this is souvenir tiger. Now I'd like to get the hurricane to the diner wedding please can i get that package then they falsify that for years and then and then someone's left i'd like to get bride trips yeah bride trips down the aisle yeah exactly exactly get a huge laugh or whatever like well by the way if i were ever walking down an aisle i would literally be oh screaming like it's happening it's happening here we are well you also would be like right i mean i mean can you imagine the glances the wild glances i mean it's interesting though oh my managers here it's interesting yeah hi oh you know but i have seen as of you i imagine you know being at the weddings of thousands of public performers okay no but i have seen people who are very much performers and i've noticed they're present and they're not faking it okay ritual pulls them in have you seen them exactly it that's exactly humbled vulnerable well by the way that Wow, totally.
8:19And not the vulnerability of seeing them pedal on stage. No, starving for a moment. Starving for a moment and lapping it up. A substantial moment. Unselfconsciously, like a dog. Well, I went to a wedding, a very casual. Everyone says, oh, a casual wedding. I went to a truly casual wedding a couple days after Christmas. My partner's cousin. and I was blown away by the actual relaxed demeanor of the bride. The actual, like I thought it was a myth. Like, oh, you know, we'll just, she and completely were on the way to the wedding. Okay. Yeah. Oh shit. I forgot. Do you have, do you or can't have any like perfume or anything?
9:04Like, ha ha ha. Oh, um. You were on the way to the wedding. This is already in thing with the bride. Yes. same car no no no no no sorry no not the same car they're they're the bride's already there but it's like last minute like she's walking on the aisle in an hour and it's like can you bring deodorant or like this i was like the thought of like you know what i mean just that and kind of and then getting there and she's literally smiling whatever it's like whatever vibes and then the way of just the the calm the relaxation the openness to the moment like the joyful sweet kind of whatever. Like, I keep on saying whatever, not that it was inconsequential, but just like, she actually was relaxed.
9:44I couldn't, no amount of Lexapro. It was unbelievable. And I was just like, that's interesting. I have to go to the moment of the diner. So imagine me. Okay. I'm in there. I'm flying high. I keep going eight hour away. I go, I'm saying people wait eight hours for this. You know, I'm going and the food really is good. We have a booth. It's cozy. It's Christmas Eve, Jacqueline. The rain is pouring outside. Okay. Were you, were you, were you, okay, good. No, they don't have our booth, right? Okay. That's got to be our booth. That's fine. It's fine. Even if we're up there, it's fine. Walked in seated immediately.
10:17Wild. You knew what you had? Okay. Oh yeah. Well, I walk in and I go, and they go, here's the booth. Of course, reservation was 11. We arrive 11 at one. Okay. And our guests, the two people we were getting, we're already there. I go, this is respect. Okay. Respect the reservation. I've been saying this for years. Respect the reservation. The 15 minute grace period is only for emergencies. You mean if you didn't book it, but you're the sort of guest of it? Both. And booking. Oh, respect the restaurant. Yeah, yeah. Respect the reservation. Yeah. So imagine me, Jacqueline, in this moment of mania, Christmas Eve, you can imagine it, right?
10:49Guess who's in the diner? Guess who's at the next, who's a couple booths over? Are you sitting down? And I want everyone, I want every hag to imagine. And then here it comes. I want to remember, because I wonder if I can call it up. It felt significant. Give it to me. No, I want to say, I want to say. No, yeah.
11:11Leonardo DiCaprio. No, no, no. I want everyone to imagine who would be. And I go, are you kidding me? And then the general manager who's kind enough to get me in, shout out, protecting her privacy. I don't know why. She goes, oh, yeah. Because she's talking about like people are coming. And of course, celebrities constantly are coming and kind of get a table. And she's going, I'm so sorry. Like, no. And she was saying, she's like, I really tried. Oh, she used an industry term for me. It made me so horny. She goes, I don't like to move the book. Oh, hell yeah. She said that. I go, and I said this to her and I meant it.
11:45Can I shadow you? Can I shadow you? I want to shadow her for an afternoon. She goes, I don't like to move the book. And she name dropped a couple of big celebs. She goes, I didn't move the book for them. I go, people, people, local. See, that's a good way. Community members want to come into the diner. I'm not going to move the book for a start. That's a way to jargon lever. this is a new idea I have, okay? Jargon lever a celebrity, okay? Into saying, this isn't your world, right? So the second she says, you know, I'm sorry, I can't move the book for you, okay? The Leonardo, the et cetera, right?
12:20Well, no, no, no. Little something in there. No, no, she might've moved it for Leo. I'm just saying. Little something in the celebrity's heart, I argue, okay? Yeah, yeah. Because I'm not on. I'm just a person. Well, yes, and also. Sorry. Sorry. No, no, no. That's true. Okay. And I want to explore that. Okay. But they go, oh, I'm not on my ground. Okay. I don't know the jargon here. You see what I'm saying? Now they'll learn it quick. Okay. But sorry. I want to do a crucial clarification. She would never say move the book to the person. She was saying that to me like offhanded. Like I don't like to move the book.
12:52Oh, you're backstage? No. You don't know that she wouldn't say it. She doesn't say it. How do you know? She said it to you. I'll ask her. She doesn't. No, no, no, no. Dare I say you're a public personality. No, no, no. Because we're talking shop. We're talking shop. I was dying. I was going, I was going, who's trying to get in? I was going, how long the wait? I was getting - You went into your shop talk. But she goes, but she said that Leo, it was a classic thing where Leo's - I'm just saying she could use a jargon lever in a pinch on them. Okay, okay. And the jargon lever, yeah, okay. Scoops them up and puts them into a new reality.
13:23Interesting idea. Never forget the jargon lever because we're going to bring that up again. And by we, I mean me. You'll have forgotten. No, no. i'll push three on the third time knock on the door of the temple of kate's memory by the way i'm doing a new year we're in january what it's changing a new year i'm jumping all over the place but just just the relationship to the phone it's really changing and i found that and i've been reading i repeat i've been reading i repeat i've been reading and a new year's and memories are coming back childhood memories jacklyn like my brain is opening it's blooming emerging through the pen.
13:57I was driving and I was literally I was like fucking Proust. I was like remembering the Florentine cookies I would eat with my mother after school. These memories, that bakery, the clothes and the way it was and the wooden bar that would wrap around the S curve of the windows on Montana Avenue. I was like, I was going back. Memories were coming. Last night we're watching TV. Sorry, not TV. I want to be clear. Not TV. Movies. Movies. I'm back on movies. I'm watching To Die For. I pause the movie. I go, Murphy. I knew a dog named Murphy. Kirby. I knew a dog named Kirby. small and brown, memories are coming, flooding back with the phone going away.
14:30Miss life or previous? I know. Who knows? Is it time to finally have a legitimate past life memory experience this year? By the way, we had someone reach out to us who does past life regression. Oh, my God. And if you're listening now and you're that person, please reach out again. Again, knock on the door of this temple as many times as needed. never assume no response means no thank you means we haven't read it it's the chaos no so wait leonardo dicaprio call him oh yeah i've thought about this several i can imagine he's he's a he's a spirit he's a phantom he's a ghost he's a statue an idea it was like what yeah what isn't he what isn't he?
15:17I mean, he's one of the only stars we have left. And by the way, I haven't enjoyed seeing him debasing himself doing. I have not enjoyed seeing him. I don't like to see him in my feed. Before Christmas, I was scrolling. I see him in the feed, the bitter feed. I was like, get Leo. No. I go, you're the only one that doesn't do this. Yeah, don't touch the earth. Exactly. Fire your PR team. They're telling you, we need you in the feed. They go, social is, they go they go leo it's a new world social and uh now i do think i think you know there's also a trust in leo he can do no wrong i couldn't believe it it felt like it felt like watching your parents have sex or something it was like except without the like it was like seeing him speak in the crass like leo don't come here i know we do it we dirty our feet okay in the podcast world is kind of a satirical performance art piece.
16:12Okay. Leo, stay away, Leo. Stay away, Leo. Now also, fair enough, Leo. You know what I always called him? Leo Dio. Have you ever heard this? Oh, I like that. I've never heard that. Growing up Leo Dio, even though his last name is not Dio Rio, but there's something to it. Leo Dio. Decap. Leo Dio Decaprio. Been too good for too long. Am I right? it's unbelievable too good for too long who's that good from from childhood on god damn yeah no no it's unbelievable but you can imagine the so she goes leo's here yeah oh my she said it oh christ in heaven yeah the the the manager said it from the back well because i was i was i was like i was like what stars we got what stars we got you know i'm being kind of loud almost where are you no to my face in the booth she's standing next to the booth so she did it on the floor no no and she doesn't do it like this she actually she wasn't like guess what right we were talking about this and moving the books and i go that's amazing and and she goes i don't want the book she goes i mean you know just now we don't have to campfire walked up and i go well i go okay well i go excuse me what huh huh he's here he's right over there did you whip or did you stay calm i immediately go i just want to take you whip i stayed completely calm you kept her gaze going if he's here he's not leaving the next two seconds she was so calm so professional so whatever that i almost like it was like i couldn't believe what she was telling me i was like wait here right now she's like yeah and i was like oh so i go i need a look i'm not gonna here's what i'm gonna do i go give me the exact placement of him in the room got it i get up to do to go to the bathroom he's in i get up to do my big looking oh his girlfriends are at the table without him he's not there.
17:59You go, guess I'm going to find him in line at the bathroom. Holy shit. Two bathrooms. I walk up to the bathroom area. One door opens, a man walks out, not Leo. You go. I hear water in the other bathroom. I go, that's Leo.
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19:56Hi, it's us again, breaking in with an ad. We're here to encourage you and beg you to become a paid subscriber to the show. When you pay$10 a month to listen to this show, you're going to get a bonus episode every month. These are full video episodes that you can queue up and watch on your little Spotify TV situation app, or you can straight up listen to your preferred way. And that's a real episode, guys. Okay. And sometimes it's a realer episode. Sometimes it's realer because we go, well, this isn't for general public. We can really go deep. We can tell secrets. We can kind of say things we wouldn't necessarily say on the public feed.
20:34Yeah. We go, this is bonuses behind a pay. Well, these people care. These people love and trust. So we love and trust them. That's what$10 a month gets you. Or a hundred a year if you'd pay yearly. There are things even recently. Remember, I remember I was getting a little personal recently on an episode. I go, okay, well, this is definitely a bonus. Because I go, this is subscribers only. I can't have this floating around. Sometimes we're recording, you know, what we'd call a regular episode. Yeah, and we go, uh-oh, this is going to have to go behind the$100 a year or$10 a month paywall. Because no way this can go out for the free feeders.
21:07Okay, these people have got one foot in. I just cannot overemphasize that the bonus episodes. I mean, if you're not getting those, are you really a listener of the show? I mean, that's one fifth. That's one fifth of the show that you're not getting. So anyway, we'll let you go with that. But go to berlantnovac.supercast.com or any of the links in the various places where the links exist.
21:38I go, that's Leo, baby. And I go, I'm going to wait. Okay, this is, this is, imagine this. imagine because you almost could have started the story matt you know when you're in a hallway okay waiting for the bathroom and you know there's someone in this one and you're waiting for it wait a second though wait sorry i got distracted realizing something are you standing there with an open bathroom that's now empty that you could enter and a closed bathroom that he's in yes no no this is borderline stock one of the train thought experiments okay because you know i mean And this is like, what do you do?
22:13Right? This is what you do. It is upon you, technically, right? To go straight into the bathroom that you were waiting for. Of course. Now, I'm assuming no one was behind you, obviously. No one was behind me. Because imagine this. Do you go, oh, you go ahead. I'm waiting for somebody. I'm waiting for a friend. No. So here's what I do. This is so embarrassing to admit it. You tie your shoe. I take out my phone and I begin to do a fake phone call. Like, I'm not going to go to the bathroom yet because I'm on a phone call. Because I go, why else? I go I go it's raining outside I gotta take this work call why else am I in this hallway why else would I be waiting here with the open bathroom so I'm hearing water I'm hearing something I go uh-huh okay yeah well you know if you go if you you know it's in my email but you heard water and you go did you go like were you like what's he doing in there he would wash his hands that long or like were you kind of like yeah yeah I was just like and then and then I'm kind of like let's fucking go come on so i'll tell you what happened wait a second wait a second sorry talk about slow it down slow it down okay because i just want to live in this yeah so many questions along the way right i go i go yeah now you there were two bathrooms in a hall right and he's not at the table that's all you know right it's all i know how did you know it was his table pouring rain outside you know the girlfriend because i see his and you know who she is like okay so she's a famous model.
23:36Yeah, yeah. I just mean, so you go, he's here. Oh, there's his girlfriend. Okay. And you go, now you didn't do a quick look through the windows. Okay. It's pouring rain out. Right. There's no business being out there. So you're only assuming that he's in there. Yes, exactly. Now it's a pretty good assumption, but technically. I don't know. Technically, I don't know. We don't know. It's an assumption. The whole place in case he was talking to someone looming over another table. Yes, it's tiny. The diner's tiny. He was not, I mean, no. You're like, he's in there. He's in there. He's in there. All right.
24:05I've got him. I'm cornered. I got him cornered. So fucking mosquito, bitch. Okay. Sorry. Me flying in. She's not a freak. She's Emmy nominated. Okay. So you call me and get me on the phone and FaceTime. She's not a freak. She's Emmy nominated. She's not some freak. I get you on FaceTime. What year were you nominated for an Emmy? Was that the same year as the Critics Choice? I am on the phone. I'm on the fake phone. He's taken time. I go, I'm waiting. Sorry. I'm waiting. And then I go, Kate. And are you doing talking or only listening on the fake phone at this? Talking both. I'm talking to talking to.
24:38And how are you afraid the screen's going to light up? What are you doing about that? A little bit. I have a concealed. I mean, again, it's a small hallway. I feel like I'm good. And then I go, Kate, I go, you got to give it up. I'm not waiting this long. I go, it's too much. So I go, okay, well, talk to you later. Bye. and I go into the bathroom. I pee. I go, you're funny. And then I come out and this was hard to swallow. I go, Kate, you're going to get a look when you go back to the table. Relax. He's gone. She's gone. Go back. So this was a classic case of going to use the restroom before we leave.
25:12The point is I come out, they're fucking gone and I am crestfallen. But then I sit down and I go, you know what? This is the greater poetry of the story. you know by the way i've seen him in the flesh before okay um we were in the same film for christ sake okay but but there's very few people there's very few people that hold that power and i would say i mean i i'd be very excited to see nicole kidman like there's a like but those celebs but But she's, it's Leo. You know, it's, anyway, the point is he's gone. I'm fine. We have the meal. Unbelievable generosity. They give us four Max and Helen hats.
25:59Wow. We'll have the picture for the subscribers. Slash I might post it to my personal gram. And I get a mug. I get a Max and Helen's mug. It was a fabulous breakfast. We're in and out. By the way, they're fast. The food's coming out fast. Point is, we go next door to the bookstore. Naomi says to me, he's here. No. What? He was in the bookstore next door. Yeah. So I got my look. What bookstore? He's got the classic. He needs a new hat. It's right next to Max and Holland. Oh, dark hat? I'm not sure what it's called. Classic. And the COVID mask. Poor thing. Breathe, Leah. We need you to breathe. Well, it's working.
26:40He's working. He's working. He's got to protect. No, he's not. Oh. You mean because he can't get a movie made in his town? No, it's the COVID. And I understand the mask was really protective in a lot of circumstances. I go, Christmas Eve, you're out. Larchmont, honey, it's quiet here. Come on, take your mask off, Leo. See, that's funny, though, Kate, because who are you telling? You're telling yourself. What? Am I right? Telling myself what? You had decided in your rules, magic rules, magical thinking, okay? Yeah. Okay, Christmas Eve, Larchmont, I'm not wearing a mask out there. Okay, Kate, because you're afraid of sickness a lot, you might wear a mask.
27:15No, no, no, no. He's not wearing it for sickness. he's wearing it for anonymity. You can't be serious. Oh, 100%, sweetheart. He's always wearing that thing. It's anonymity. And I understand. He doesn't want - COVID mask for anonymity? He doesn't want people to take his pictures. He's doing it constantly as paparazzi protection. Mask and COVID. I mean, everyone, this is what the stars are doing. No, this is hysterical. Because at this point, is it not a flag? Like the hat used to be, the hat and glasses. Totally. Something's up. Yeah, totally, totally. Okay, wait, hold on. The status symbol. I don't want to push this agenda.
27:49What agenda? I want to tell the story of what you just sent. Okay, great. Because it was occurring while you were at brunch on Christmas Eve. Yeah, yeah. Okay, go, go. Okay. Now, you don't know. I mean, you might think this isn't a story, okay? But I think it's cozy to hear about, okay? Somebody just pull up my texting behind, you know, unbeknownst to you, right? The time. Yeah. I think. Yeah, totally. So it's Wednesday, 12, 15 p.m. Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve. Okay. And I've already texted you. Leo's here. Leo's here. I was texting you. Right. Oh yeah. I think so. Oh yeah. I had to. Because like I find it quite exciting.
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28:26So I go, I want to surprise Kate. I'm in New York City. I get on my phone. So cute. Okay. I'm searching. I'm looking. Okay. And I go, here's me on Facebook marketplace to someone named Jackson. greetings I'm curious if this is available if I wanted to Venmo or Zelle and have an Uber messenger pick it up wow unbelievable Jackson just let me know when you're ready to call the Uber and I can have my assistant meet them at the storage unit aka him meet them at the storage unit to put it in the back of the car I go okay great The Uber usually comes moments after I call, so maybe they should go there now, the assistant, right?
29:16I go, I'm ready to Venmo you if you give me your Venmo name. And yeah, I'm going for it, Venmoing up front with no guarantees, okay? You said that? No, I'm telling you that this is the Christmas risk, okay? Because I'm like, fuck it, I don't need him doubting me. He's like, don't call the Uber until my assistant's there with the decoration. Okay, fine, I'll tell you guys. The decoration. It's a blow mold. Okay. It's a vintage, okay, blow mold. And I thought about it. Okay. I thought about a few things. One, this is my thing. Am I pushing it on Kate? Well, it's cute. That's sort of some of the fun of it is like, she's not getting this for herself.
30:01You know what I mean? Whatever, right? The whole thing. Then she also would have a snowman. However, I was concerned because, let me see. I think there was an earlier check-in in elf mode where I sent to Naomi. Are you ready? Are you ready? I'm ready. I'm ready. So this was previous, previous to my searching because I had to search, right? Okay. Damn, this is the day before. Okay. Are you with Kate? I'm going to ask an elf cue. Naomi says, please proceed elfishly. I'm with her, but you can't see my phone. This is so cute. Okay. I go, I noticed a snowman out front, meaning of your house, right?
30:41Is it a plastic, quote, blow mold? I was going to get you guys. By the way, it's a John Darien for Target. And it seems like it's more like a ceramic or something. It's very small. It's very small. Yeah. Yeah. I go, I was going to get you guys a vintage blow mold like mine as a gag. First of all, me soft playing it as a gag. like oh okay oh god i could cry just might all right so cute it's like oh god not another peabody i can't take it okay no what is it what's what is it's it's seeing the word gag this is the same as the halloween costume thing it's seeing the word cat. It's a lesson. My desire to please you.
31:28You know what I mean? Yeah. It's so cute. Okay. So anyway, I go, even though it's not her style, et cetera, I go, but I saw a snowman lit up out there. So now I'm questioning it. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Naomi, OMG, ha ha ha. It's not exactly a blow mold. I'll try to find out where she got it. It's kind of rough to the touch. I'm like, oh yeah. I go, I think I'm still safe to get her my style. Of course. Naomi, yes, you probably are. I go, because it's just a whole different thing. It is. It's like hardly RF. I'm like, it's a whole different thing. Yeah. Okay. So then, and then, yeah, I know exactly the rough touch.
32:08I go, I know exactly the rough touch. Sorry, I'm really laughing about hardly RF. No, it's literally hardly RF. Okay. I go, all right, I'm sticking with it. Are you ready? No, this is derangement of like, this is like you. Okay, ready? I go, this is to Naomi. Okay. Okay. All right. I'm sticking with it. And I don't care if you guys, all caps, don't display it next year. So sweet. Oh my God. Okay, so like it's fine. You know what I mean? Like you don't like it. Naomi. Oh, it'll be displayed. I'm sure of it. Okay. Then come some pictures of you locking in peppermint. Okay. Yeah. Locked in peppermint mocha.
32:44Okay. Anyway, the next day, 1215. By the way, by the way, shout out, shout out, shout out to Canyon coffee at Echo Park for having a fucking unblued peppermint mocha. Unbluedable. Continue. Wednesday, 1215. You guys home or elsewhere? Right now, I mean. I'm having, quote, no, I'm having star something dropped off. Okay? Literally after the previous day asking you about the blow mold, but now it's turned into gift mode. So it's like now I'm retracting. It's happening. Yeah. Okay. I hear, oh my God, we're at Max and Helen's on Larchmont. We'll grab it later. there is a safe place to put it and then you know just made eye contact with leonardo decaféry so okay somebody in the household naomi got it so the blessings will rain forth yes you know i'm going so i'm saying there's a safe place by the shoe rack if possible to avoid pouring rain i'm like oh my god it's raining because i'm in i'm in new york i forgot all about this okay i'm giving like responses to the leo stuff but i'm also like so locked in because i'm talking to jackson over on a marketplace okay and i hear heading home now we'll be back in 15 thank god that was a little bit later so he said so then back jackson he said he can be there in 20 minutes i'll text you when he gets there and you can call the uber then i go great it asks for the last four digits of your phone to confirm on venmo oh i can pay without never mind paid okay and he goes you can put in this address i go great and then i go woohoo it's a merry blow mold christmas okay to jackson unbelievable and what he's saying it's a merry blow mold christmas okay i i like i wanted him in on the joy he said okay he's there but it's gonna take him a few minutes to get it out so wait until i give you the green light to call the uber okay and then i also have a teddy bear blow mold and a christmas candle blow mold if you're interested in either of those okay now i'm thinking i am interested in the candle christmas candle but i don't well jacqueline jacqueline here's what's crazy i don't yeah the big one i had a dream i had a dream that i was a candle.
34:44Dressed as a candle and you and I were late for a poog live recording. No. I was dressed as a candle. I was dressed as a candle. I want to dress as a candle. That would be amazing for us. Two candles? So, yes. That's us. I have to break in with something. I have to break in with something. I know what you're going to break in with. About the candles. I have to break in with something. No, no, you don't know. The candle. So listen, the dream in which I was dressed as a candle came from the fact that, and this will be subscriber only. So as you know, I'm trying to change my life, no phone, whatever, reading.
35:15I did some quick, gentle watercoloring the other day as a way to just do anything except be on my fucking phone and be a loser. And what did I freaking watercolor? I'm looking around. There on my table are two candlesticks. I watercolored these candlesticks. And then two nights later, dreamt I was dressed as a candlestick. The third mention has just occurred. You've been visited now by the ghosts of candle, past, present, and future. And? Notably, I was gifted a small watercolor set and small watercolor journal. No. By my brother's family this Christmas. Oh, probably the same. This was on. Is it watercolor January?
35:54Jack and I sitting down? Christmas Day was when I was watercoloring. No, no, no, no, no. Not Christmas Day. No, no. Christmas. The day after Christmas, I was watercoloring. That's pretty wild. I think so, too. Did you get a picture of the candlestick blow mold? Just curious. Well, I have it. it's somewhere in his feed. I'd actually already seen it. I didn't want to say to him, I saw it and I already said no to him. Yeah, I've seen that. I passed over it. No, but I was trying to remember and I didn't want to back out because I was in the message with him. Like back out of the, find his listing again.
36:25I didn't want to say, does it say Noel on it? Because I don't really understand what Noel means. Noel. Yeah. I mean, I love it. I know it in the songs. I love it. But something about it, just saying Noel on it without me really understanding the reference. Feels odd. Feels off to me. Okay. Maybe one year I'll go for it. But yeah, it feels false. So I'm like, I didn't want to go, does it have Noel? And he'd go, yeah. And me go, well, then I won't be getting it. You know what I mean? So I go, tempting, but I think just the one this year. Okay. So courteous. Like I might be back next year. Okay. I go, I'm not in town.
37:05So sorry to the assistant that it's raining. Like I didn't realize what I was getting, you know. And then he goes, sorry, it's going to take a couple minutes. Somebody blocked the storage unit of the car and we're having to maneuver around it in the rain to get stuff out of the unit. Unbelievable. And I go, not wanting this to happen, but try to keep things. I go, I'm sorry. If it becomes impossible and you want to back out, I understand. Okay. He's ready. You can call the Uber. Then I send him the info of the Uber. me panicking what year do you think the snowman is from or decade okay what'd he say obviously it's coming he goes 70s or 80s or something i go hey from my knowledge i think it's 60s sweetie but we'll talk about that later okay not 80s because back in the day they did these they did snowmen with cheeks with cheekbones that has completely fallen away and i've always been confused by it.
38:01Okay. So when your driver says you drive thumbs up, we never speak again. Okay. And then I get the coziest video from Kate. You can't hear that, right? Kind of. But anyway, it's like, I'm so pumped. This is what I'm good at. Okay. Like when I got Chris the tux and me that gown within an hour. Do you remember? That was amazing. Jacqueline novak day of the of the emmys no day the oscars shows up fully decked yeah i'm really good like that right who isn't you know speed um wait what is that new rug that's come through that i sent you is that nordic no honey it's not nordic that was a crazy it was a lulu and it was um yeah bedroom rug my my bed is being delivered today weeks after the fact so is this this the Lulu that we talked about.
38:52It was in last week's email to premium subscribers. Was it Lulu? Yeah. It's an action too. Oh, look, the Kohlrog from CB2 is on Marketplace. My addiction to Marketplace remains. The point is the blow mold and subscribers will get access to the video that I sent Jacqueline upon arriving with the blow mold. It's very, very sweet. Anyway, it was very special and you gave me a book that not that this was some we're not in some you know gift oh what did I get you this your thing but it just so no no that you thought of me can I show the book of course please it's a perfect book for you look at this look at that look at that thickness look how huge it is this is a really primo how do you say it again fight and fade in you know You know these books.
39:42Yeah. Patented an unprecedented history as well as the central field guide to more than a century of fascinating product and industrial design told through 1 ,000 design patents. God. God, it electrifies me. I mean, if that's not a Jacqueline Novak. I open to any page, I'm electrified. God, I have so many, so many ideas. Wait, I'm forgetting about your old nickname, not Speedy Jack. My dad called me Action Jackson. Action Jackson. Yeah, yeah, Action Jackson. And then Action. You should call me Action. It's really cozy. Action is so fucking cool. I got to get into calling you Action. I got to get into that.
40:26Because it'd be like I'd do something and my dad's like, Action. I love it. Go, Action, go. Or something. I love it so much. And then I just want to say this to the listener, to everyone. Get your snow boots on early because I know it's January, but Jacqueline and I are going to break open the doors. This Christmas 2026 is going to be crazy for the hags. The road, okay? Your road may begin later in the year. Ours begins now. We're paving the road so you can walk in. I need everyone to set aside a hag fund now for tickets to the show and just start planning now is all I can say. Start checking in.
41:09Start warning family. Hey, I might not be coming to town as early because I'm going to book it to Chicago for whatever. But anyway, get ready for that. This is going to be a – yeah, we're planning Christmas now. There's just a lot. There's a lot. God, this year is going to be big for the podcast. It's going to be huge. You're just saying that. No, no, no, guys. It's actually unspeakable.
41:37and just stay the course, folks. Stay the course. Stay the course. Stay the course. And by the way, by stay the course, some of you, you know, I said to Kate recently, I'll tell the listener. I'll beg them. Right? I'll go, upgrade. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Guys, guys, guys, guys. I know. Okay. Just do it for me. Okay. Yeah. No, no. We're going to be making, and subscribers are going to get more and more this year. Again, we've already teased private videos, things that I'm too embarrassed to, that I looked at once and go, I can't even look at this again. It's so embarrassing. You're going to have access to that material.
42:19Okay. Keep watching the space of the newsletter, because this is where there's going to be these tiers where your premium, right now premium gets the newsletter every week with the unlisted video, et cetera, et cetera. There might be a wider newsletter okay for the non-premium but what are they going to get not the same shit do you understand whatever the point is there's going to be liquid code unfolding there's going to be wildness the people are going to go just just premium we we thank you we honor you and by the way premium you're going to get product corner which you're about to go to where i'm going to talk about a couple things that i'm really fucking into right now i i want to tease a new product ritual that i'm really into and a new lipstick a new brand new to trying this brand serious obsessed with the lipsticks paid out of pocket see you in product corner see you because i've got a bucket of things here okay love you all right love you
43:28Thank you.
From the publisher
At the dawn of the new year, Christmas needs unpacking. Jacqueline's voice breaks in elf mode and Kate secures a coveted table. Armed with two pens and a watercolor set, ritual pulls them in. Boo the Cat announces himself and the tiger breaks in, starving for a moment. A storage unit gets unlocked as liquid code unfolds. A rare sighting of a bride at ease. Never so far from Paris as the moment she lands. Please don’t assume that no response means no thank you. Soft-playing gifts as gags, never moving the book, and faking a phone call. A childhood friend's dog resurfaces while reading—this life or previous?
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