Bridger Winegar

Bridger Winegar is the host of I Said No Gifts! Follow him on Twitter here, Instagram here. Follow I Said No Gifts! on Twitter here, Instagram here.

Explain I Said No Gifts in 10 words or less.
Guests bring gifts against my wishes and we discuss them. It's even colder and more lifeless than those ten words would have you believe. Absolutely bone-chilling. I do not recommend it.

What did you want to be when you were eight? 
A sweepstakes winner. I thought it was just a matter of time before the Publishers Clearing House van would pull up to my house and set me up for the rest of my life. Since then, my planning skills and grasp of reality have gotten considerably worse.

How did the show come about? There must be a story.
I wish there were a more exciting story. The idea popped into my head one night driving home from work. A few months later I was at my friend Karen's for game night and I offhandedly mentioned that if I ever did a podcast, it would be called I Said No Gifts!. To my surprise, she immediately said she wanted to produce it. Naturally I was thrilled, because I'm always willing to do a project if someone else puts in all the work and assumes all the risk. I'm glad that she had some faith in me, because if I were in her position, I certainly would not give me a podcast.

Why are gifts a good launching point for funny conversations?
They're perfect because the guest gets to bring something they're ready to discuss, and both the listener and I get to experience the surprise of whatever is in the gift bag. So far it's gone pretty well, but I'm just waiting to unwrap a ticking bomb and find myself in a hostage situation.

Which of your guests totally nailed the assignment?
Weird Al gave me a 3rd place trophy he won in high school, which feels like a priceless artifact. I got a ceramic cat from Mitra Jouhari that was so cute that I thought I was going to cry. Bowen Yang gave me some bath powders that have completely shifted the way I sit in warm water. Emma Thompson sent me some Scottish chocolate marshmallow candy, which was delightful because I'm always happy to discuss regional treats. As someone who doesn't plan on ever having a wedding, getting a beautiful waffle iron from Cole Escola really made me feel like a spoiled bride. Will Arnett gave me a Target gift card, which he thought was going to make me spend more money than I wanted, but I'm an excellent shopper and I converted it into two jugs of detergent with a few cents to spare. And Tony Hale made me a bowl out of rope which was an obvious attempt to show off how thoughtful and talented he is. Obviously, a few guests have brought terrible gifts, real garbage, but I'll let you listen and try to figure out which ones I'm talking about.

How have you changed as a host since you started the show?
I think I talk less about my cholesterol levels now.

Do you read your Apple Podcasts reviews? Any ones stand out?
Reading reviews from faceless people on the internet is a practice any mental health professional would wholeheartedly recommend, and so I do it compulsively. A review recently said, "Bridger is the mother I never had" and I'm proud to carry that mantle. Another review once said that anyone who likes my podcast should jump off a building, which I had a slightly different reaction to.

How do you prepare guests?
First, I ask them if they want a LaCroix. They frequently say no because I buy flavors that don't interest people. Recently I purchased Black Razzberry and Beach Plum, which I think are excellent. After that, I tell them we're going to have an easy, nice time. I feel like a dentist calmly explaining a minor procedure to a patient. I should get one of those lead aprons for guests to wear during recordings.

Who is your dream guest?
Martha Stewart. Martha, I know you're reading this. I'm coming for you.

Which podcast would you like to be a guest on?
One day I hope to be close enough to a crime that a podcast reaches out to me as a witness interview. I will snitch on whoever I need to if it gets me airtime.

Who do you wish had a podcast?
Garth Brooks. He posted a video to Facebook in 2014 that is still one of my favorite pieces of media. His podcast should follow the format of that video: Garth alone in a hotel room monologuing about Facebook in a voice that makes you think he could start undressing at any moment. If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend it enough.

What does your mom think of your podcast?
She's very supportive but I imagine she thinks there's too much swearing. There's not that much swearing, but any swearing is too much swearing for my mom.

Lots of comedians have podcasts. Yours is different—it’s not just a chat show, it’s completely unique. What do you think about comedians starting podcasts in general? It seems to be a big thing right now.
I wish everyone would cut it out and just let me have the spotlight for a few decades. Once I die someone else can have a podcast.

What do you think that the gifts people give you says about them?
If they're a good person or a bad person. It's very simple.

If you were going to launch another show, your budget is $1M and don’t worry about logistics or whether or not anyone would like it, what would it be?
It would be a podcast where I buy a $1M home in Palm Springs and then record from there. I would recommend songs and talk about tweaks I've made to cookie recipes. It would be absolutely excruciating.

And again, I also have a podcast idea for Garth Brooks.

Are you a podcast listener?
When the weather is nice enough for wandering around the neighborhood, or if I have a long enough commute that allows me to listen to both a podcast episode and at least twenty minutes of music. I appreciate the hour of learning a podcast can provide but then the complete emotional release provided by music played at an alarming level.

What’s a podcast you like that everyone already knows about?
This Is Actually Happening, Las Culturistas, Do You Need a Ride?, and Couples Therapy with Naomi and Andy.

What’s a podcast you like that not enough people know about?
Add to Cart is so lovely and fun. Dear Joan and Jericha is one of the filthiest things I've ever listened to. Lizzy Cooperman's In Your Hands is such an ambitious, funny experiment. Baby Mouth is always a good time.

What’s something you wish people asked you but nobody ever does?
"Bridger, when are you going to let the community do something for you?"

Bridger, when are you going to let the community do something for you?
When the time comes there will be a signal, and at that point I expect the community to act quickly and confidently.

Thanks, Bridger!