Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!-

November 1, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Guest Julia Fox revealed that she learned acting skills by working as a dominatrix, emphasizing the psychological necessity of reading clients' unspoken desires. 
  • The panel discussed the trend of Halloween decorations becoming too scary, with panelists joking about modern children's desensitization to gore due to digital media. 
  • The end of Daylight Saving Time was linked to relationship stress, while a separate news item highlighted that pet boredom is now recognized as a behavioral issue affecting animals from dogs to fish. 

Segments

Illinois Pronunciation Debate
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Ch. Reinfest Smith defended his pronunciation of ‘Illinois’ as a traditional Chicagoan style, contrasting with the host’s version.
  • Summary: Dr. Ch. Reinfest Smith, a lifelong Chicagoan, justified his pronunciation of ‘Illinois’ by stating he was bringing the ‘Illinois from Illinois’ as a rapper would. This followed listener emails questioning his pronunciation after a previous appearance on Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!. The host, Peter Sagal, used the traditional pronunciation when introducing the segment.
Listener Contestant Introduction
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Listener contestant Greg moved from Brisbane, Australia, to Northfield, Vermont, due to a relationship with a woman.
  • Summary: The first listener contestant, Greg, introduced himself as a former Brisbane resident now living in Northfield, Vermont. He shouted out his 11-year-old daughter, Margo. Greg explained that his move to Vermont was motivated by meeting a woman, a common reason for relocation.
Panelist Introductions and Game Setup
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Panelists Adam Burke, Alonzo Bodden, and Josh Gondelman shared their upcoming comedy performance dates and locations.
  • Summary: The panelists were introduced, including Adam Burke promoting his special ‘Un-American’ and upcoming shows, and Alonzo Bodden listing his dates in Atlanta and Arlington. Josh Gondelman also shared his upcoming performances in Minneapolis and Seattle. Contestant Greg was then prepared to play ‘Who’s Rhyme Fest’ for a voicemail prize.
News Quiz: Scary Decorations
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The first news quiz question addressed complaints that Halloween decorations, such as those featuring pig organs, have become too scary for modern children.
  • Summary: The first quote concerned complaints that Halloween decorations are too scary, exemplified by a house featuring dismembered bodies. Panelists joked that kids are too sophisticated due to digital media to be scared by props like pig organs. One panelist noted that the only truly scary thing now is an iPhone battery icon showing zero percent.
News Quiz: Daylight Saving Stress
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The end of Daylight Saving Time is cited as a factor that can negatively impact relationships due to stress and lost sleep.
  • Summary: The second quote warned that the clock change associated with the end of Daylight Saving Time can lead to divorce or relationship strain. Psychologists suggest that lost sleep and schedule stress contribute to breakups following the time shift. Panelists joked about cheating to avoid the extra hour spent at home with a partner.
News Quiz: Pet Boredom Evidence
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:32)
  • Key Takeaway: New evidence suggests pets, including dogs, cats, and fish, are unhappy because they are bored, leading to destructive behaviors.
  • Summary: The final quiz question focused on new evidence indicating pets are unhappy or depressed due to boredom, which can manifest as tearing up furniture. Panelists questioned how one determines a fish is bored, given their short memory span. A suggestion was made to stimulate dogs philosophically rather than just asking, ‘Who’s a good boy?’
Listener Game: Walking Innovations
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Nike is developing ‘Project Amplify,’ a powered footwear system described as an electric bike for the foot, to assist running and walking.
  • Summary: The listener game, ‘Bluff the Listener,’ focused on innovations in walking. Alonzo Bodden bluffed about conflicts between walkers and golfers on courses, while Josh Gondelman bluffed about ‘FitButt’ underwear that administers shocks for inactivity. The true story involved Nike’s ‘Project Amplify,’ a powered shoe system featuring a motor and battery.
Guest Interview: Julia Fox on Acting
Copied to clipboard!
(00:20:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Julia Fox stated that her experience as a dominatrix served as a crash course in acting due to the psychological need to read clients’ desires.
  • Summary: Julia Fox joined Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! and discussed being referenced in Charlie XCX’s song ‘360’ as being ‘So Julia,’ meaning confident and unafraid to be cringe. She detailed finding her dominatrix work via Craigslist, noting the job required intense psychological reading of clients who often could not articulate their own fetishes.
Julia Fox on Personal Style
Copied to clipboard!
(00:25:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Julia Fox claims that when she is not ‘glammed up,’ she looks like Gollum and enjoys that people now run away from her in the street.
  • Summary: Fox confirmed she wears casual clothes when not performing publicly, comparing her unglamorous look to Gollum. She noted that while her figure used to cause literal traffic accidents due to men staring, she now enjoys people running in the opposite direction when they see her casual appearance.
Game: Recut Gems Movie Edits
Copied to clipboard!
(00:27:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Hayao Miyazaki responded to American producers wanting to edit Princess Mononoke by sending them a sword with the message ’no cuts.'
  • Summary: Julia Fox played ‘Recut Gems’ for listener Heather Davis, correctly identifying that Miyazaki sent a sword to prevent edits on Princess Mononoke. She also correctly identified that Scooby-Doo was edited to secure a family-friendly rating, including CGI changes to cover cleavage. All three options regarding fan edits of Harry Potter, Batman Begins, and Star Wars were confirmed as real fan projects.
Panel Game: Lightning Fill in the Blank
Copied to clipboard!
(00:44:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Josh Gondelman won the Lightning Fill in the Blank round with a perfect score, securing the overall lead with 18 points.
  • Summary: In the final game, Josh Gondelman achieved a perfect score of 10 correct answers in the Lightning Fill in the Blank round, bringing his total score to 18 points and putting him in the lead. Alonzo Bodden scored 6 points in the round, and Adam Burke scored 5 points, ending with 13 total points.
Closing Remarks and Panelist Plans
Copied to clipboard!
(00:50:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Panelists shared their plans for the extra hour gained from the end of Daylight Saving Time, including setting stove clocks and avoiding the gym.
  • Summary: The show concluded with the panelists sharing how they would use the extra hour gained from setting clocks back. Alonzo Bodden planned to use it to delay going to the gym, while Adam Burke intended to let his iPhone sleep in. Josh Gondelman planned to spend the hour manually setting the clock on his stove.