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Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Falling in love with an octopus, a dog, and Sally Field

Aug 8, 2026 · 48 min · 24 segments

This week, legendary actor Sally Field joins us to talk about working with an octopus, or not, and introduces the world to her dog, Dashiell Hammett. Plus, panelists Tom Bodett, Shantira Jackson, and…

This week, legendary actor Sally Field joins us to talk about working with an octopus, or not, and introduces the world to her dog, Dashiell Hammett. Plus, panelists Tom Bodett, Shantira Jackson, and Paula Poundstone crash a rocket on the moon. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes, the chance to be a contestant in those bonus episodes(!), and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

This week, legendary actor Sally Field joins us to talk about working with an octopus, or not, and introduces the world to her dog, Dashiell Hammett. Plus, panelists Tom Bodett, Shantira Jackson, and…

Top entities: Sally Field×25 Peter Sagal×18 Tom Bodett×21 Fresh Air×5 Paula Poundstone×20

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Peter SagalHostPaula PoundstonePanelistSally FieldGuestAlzo SladeHostTom BodettPanelistShantira JacksonPanelist

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasLeans leftPopularityTop Podcasttop 1%Audience≈562k followers

Welcome to Wait Wait0:00 – 1:07

0:00

[upbeat music] From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me!, the NPR news quiz.

0:10

I'm your judge and scorekeeper, classically trained by Judge Judy herself.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:15

[laughs]

0:16

I'm Alzo Slade, and here's your host at the Studebaker Theatre at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:22

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:22

Thank you, Alzo.

Peter SagalHost

0:23

Oh, thank you, everybody.

Peter SagalHost

0:26

Wow.

Peter SagalHost

0:29

Wow, thank you.

Peter SagalHost

0:30

Yes, it is exciting.

Peter SagalHost

0:31

I'm ...

Peter SagalHost

0:32

We have a great show for you today.

Peter SagalHost

0:33

Later on, we are gonna be joined by the legendary actor Sally Field.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:37

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:38

Yes.

Peter SagalHost

0:41

Herself.

Peter SagalHost

0:42

Uh, she was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:48

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:49

We have some fans.

Peter SagalHost

0:50

Okay.

Peter SagalHost

0:51

This is a movie where she co-stars with an octopus.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:55

[laughs]

Peter SagalHost

0:56

Sadly, the Emmys snubbed the octopus.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:59

[laughs]

Paula PoundstonePanelist

1:01

[laughs]

Peter SagalHost

1:01

We promise to recognize your work, so pick up your phone and give us a call.

Peter SagalHost

1:04

The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT.

Peter SagalHost

1:05

That's 1-888-924-8924.

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Sally FieldPersonAmerican actress
100%25 mentions
Peter SagalPersonAmerican humorist and writer
99%18 mentions
Tom BodettPersonAmerican author and voice actor
98%21 mentions
Fresh AirRadio SeriesBooks podcast
97%5 mentions
Paula PoundstonePersonAmerican comedian and author
96%20 mentions
MexicoCountryCountry in North America
95%8 mentions
ChicagoCityCity in Illinois
95%7 mentions
Alzo SladePersonActor
94%30 mentions
WBEZRadio StationRadio station
93%4 mentions
Chipotle Mexican GrillRestaurantRestaurant company
92%6 mentions
The New York TimesPeriodicalNewspaper
91%5 mentions
Shantira JacksonPersonWriter
90%9 mentions
OdooSoftware ApplicationSoftware
90%10 mentions
Abdul El-SayedPersonPolitician
89%3 mentions
The Flying NunTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
88%5 mentions
VermontAdministrative AreaUS state
87%9 mentions
Emmy AwardsEntityAward
86%8 mentions
Jeff RossPersonAmerican comedian and actor
86%6 mentions
Remarkably Bright CreaturesMovie2026 film
85%6 mentions
VirginiaAdministrative AreaUS state
84%4 mentions
NetflixEntityTelevision broadcaster
83%5 mentions
Terry GrossPersonAmerican journalist and host
82%5 mentions
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.CompanyAerospace company
81%4 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
81%4 mentions
Amazon MusicSoftware Application
80%5 mentions
TalentiBrand
79%6 mentions
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!Radio SeriesComedy podcast
78%5 mentions
IllinoisAdministrative AreaUS state
77%3 mentions
IranCountryCountry in the Middle East
76%4 mentions
The OdysseyMovie2026 film
76%3 mentions
Fine Arts BuildingLandmarkArt center in Chicago, Illinois
75%1 mention
MichiganAdministrative AreaUS state
74%4 mentions
National Public RadioCompanyRadio network
73%30 mentions
Pulse-code modulationEntityFormat
72%1 mention
Democratic PartyOrganizationPolitical party
71%3 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
71%2 mentions
Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipSports OrganizationCompany
69%2 mentions
Mitch McConnellPersonUnited States Senator
69%1 mention
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
68%9 mentions
United States SenateOrganizationGoverning body
67%2 mentions
Spider-ManEntityMarvel Universe character
67%2 mentions
RussiaCountryCountry
66%2 mentions
Emma ChoiPersonAuthor
65%2 mentions
Pizza HutRestaurantRestaurant chain
64%1 mention
Noah KahanPersonAmerican singer-songwriter
63%3 mentions
The Rocky Horror Picture ShowMovie1975 film
62%4 mentions
DetroitCityCity in Michigan
62%6 mentions
The Washington PostPeriodicalAmerican newspaper
61%1 mention
Olivia RodrigoPersonSinger-songwriter
60%2 mentions
The NPR Politics PodcastEntityPolitics podcast
59%2 mentions

Culinary TrendsSociety > Culture > Food Culture > Fast Food
Rocket TechnologyScience > Aerospace > Space Exploration > NASA
AerospaceScience
Society
NASAScience > Aerospace > Space Exploration
CultureSociety
Aerospace EngineeringEducation > Higher Education > Engineering
Fast FoodSociety > Culture > Food Culture
Student LifeEducation > Higher Education > Engineering > Aerospace Engineering
EngineeringEducation > Higher Education
Space ExplorationScience > Aerospace
Quiz ShowsEntertainment > Television
Talk ShowsMedia > Television
Food CultureSociety > Culture
Current EventsEntertainment > Television > Quiz Shows
Guest AppearancesMedia > Television > Talk Shows
HumorEntertainment > Television > Quiz Shows > Current Events
ComedyMedia > Television > Talk Shows > Guest Appearances
Education
Entertainment
Science
Media
TelevisionMedia
TelevisionEntertainment
Higher EducationEducation

Welcome to Wait Wait0:00 – 1:07

0:00

[upbeat music] From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me!, the NPR news quiz.

0:10

I'm your judge and scorekeeper, classically trained by Judge Judy herself.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:15

[laughs]

0:16

I'm Alzo Slade, and here's your host at the Studebaker Theatre at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Peter Sagal.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:22

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:22

Thank you, Alzo.

Peter SagalHost

0:23

Oh, thank you, everybody.

Peter SagalHost

0:26

Wow.

Peter SagalHost

0:29

Wow, thank you.

Peter SagalHost

0:30

Yes, it is exciting.

Peter SagalHost

0:31

I'm ...

Peter SagalHost

0:32

We have a great show for you today.

Peter SagalHost

0:33

Later on, we are gonna be joined by the legendary actor Sally Field.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:37

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:38

Yes.

Peter SagalHost

0:41

Herself.

Peter SagalHost

0:42

Uh, she was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:48

[cheering]

Peter SagalHost

0:49

We have some fans.

Peter SagalHost

0:50

Okay.

Peter SagalHost

0:51

This is a movie where she co-stars with an octopus.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:55

[laughs]

Peter SagalHost

0:56

Sadly, the Emmys snubbed the octopus.

U

UnknownUnknown

0:59

[laughs]

Paula PoundstonePanelist

1:01

[laughs]

Peter SagalHost

1:01

We promise to recognize your work, so pick up your phone and give us a call.

Peter SagalHost

1:04

The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT.

Peter SagalHost

1:05

That's 1-888-924-8924.