Brilliant Observations
Comedy
Real friends. Real funny. We swear. Like, a lot. Join us for unscripted, uncensored, and definitely unsuitable-for-work comedy conversation about relationships, marriage, friendship, sex, hope, parenting and prospering at midlife. It's like grabbing a weekly cocktail with your favorite girlfriends for a candid look at life that lifts you up as it pulls you in. From religion to porn to money, fears, our bodies, our brains, secrets, failures, food, family and finding your path, almost nothing is off-limits (except politics — gross). Longtime friends Melissa Brilliant and Amy Fugazi overshare about everything with the love and trust that only comes from a lifetime of being there for each other. So cut through the fake friends who try to glamourize all the BS masquerading as midlife. We're the bawdy, brutally honest best friends you never knew you had. And we always pick up the check. Love us? Tell your friends. Hate us? Tell your therapist.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Comedy
Description:
Real friends. Real funny. We swear. Like, a lot. Join us for unscripted, uncensored, and definitely unsuitable-for-work comedy conversation about relationships, marriage, friendship, sex, hope, parenting and prospering at midlife. It's like grabbing a weekly cocktail with your favorite girlfriends for a candid look at life that lifts you up as it pulls you in. From religion to porn to money, fears, our bodies, our brains, secrets, failures, food, family and finding your path, almost nothing is off-limits (except politics — gross). Longtime friends Melissa Brilliant and Amy Fugazi overshare about everything with the love and trust that only comes from a lifetime of being there for each other. So cut through the fake friends who try to glamourize all the BS masquerading as midlife. We're the bawdy, brutally honest best friends you never knew you had. And we always pick up the check. Love us? Tell your friends. Hate us? Tell your therapist.
Twitter:
@listenbrilliant
Language:
English
Episodes
Heated Rivalry Mental Overload
1/22/2026
It's a Heated Rivalry takeover, Dear Listener, with tales of German funk stank, ladies scooping for gold and the sexiest of date night meals, the tuna melt. Missy leads us through a game of Guess Who's In the Orange Jumpsuit Crew. And Amy recaps her Italian visit with sights, sounds and yes, truly authentic smells inspired by Ilya and Shane themselves. There's love, there's sex, there's an abundance of cheese (all kinds). Join us, won't you? Promise to make you laugh.
Duration:01:01:16
It Tastes Too Much Like It's Not Supposed To Smell
1/15/2026
Celebrity guest Jessica Kupferman discussed Heated Rivalry, Fish, and Internet Revenge Posting. Enjoy!
Duration:01:14:01
Stranger Things than Purposeful Culinary Insults
1/7/2026
Stranger Things gets stranger still as the gals recap their New Year. Amy goes on a seafood deep dive. Missy works through the perils of the mixed company New Year's Eve table. And Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen bring us all down with yet another cat butt bummer of a ball drop. (Bless em.)
Duration:01:01:06
Delusional Optimism and Cheezits
12/31/2025
Oh my gosh my golly, Dear Listener, Amy is wandering into parked cars by mistake again. Will wonders never cease? Missy regails us with visions of positivity, and reveals the suprising truth about your most toxic trait (hint: it's not butthole hair). We each select our favorite Muppet to explore in a new way, and Missy covers the world's weirdest AITA. And just like that, 2025 sees its last episode for the year.
Duration:00:59:58
Gifts, Gaffs and Belly Laughs
12/24/2025
Hapy Hanukah, Merry Christmas and a Joyous Festivus to the Rest of Us, Dear Listener. We're serving up this special silliness with just you mind. So plug in, press play and let the nonsense of the moment drift for a bit. We couldn't be prouder to share this with you. SWEAR.
Duration:01:09:33
Missy Really Did It This Time
12/18/2025
This may very well be the best episode you ever listen to in your life. No hyperbole. Complete truth. I'd love to tell you to skip right to the best part, at minute 25:20, but in all honesty the build up is pretty good, too. So here's the thing. Missy has achieved a significant life goal almost completely by accident. Is it devious? Of course. Is it fair? Not in the slightest. Is it absolutely hilarious? Dear Listener, have you met her? If only we could enjoy this without the four year penalty involved for Pennsylania's Most Favored Son. Happy Tax Season, kids!
Duration:01:11:01
The Son Saves a Life
12/11/2025
Holy Roadside Assistance, Dear Listener. MIssy's boy man does AAA one better with a serious act of skill-based chivalry. Team Brilliant recounts their annual attempt at photo magnetism. And Amy laments the unadorned sadness of Christmas in Southtown (Bah, Humbug.) Round it out with a rousing round of World's Best Donut and you've got yourself a friendship. Love you, peeps. Mean it.
Duration:01:00:26
Nipple-icious
12/3/2025
Positive vibes abound as Amy doubles down on the reality bending virtue of thinking happy thoughts. The fun continues as Amy discovers a newfound fascination with nipples this week, and Missy is, shall we say... uncomfortable. And we both look behind us with 20/20 vision to meals and moments of Thanksgiving past. All that, plus: Melissa rekindles her hatred of Oprah, welcomes a new friend to the family, and laments the good old days when both farts and smoking weed happened outside.
Duration:01:06:17
Gobble Gobble Gratitude
11/27/2025
Duration:01:06:15
Of Chairs and Ukuleles
11/19/2025
Move over, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, there's a new strummer girl coming round the Bend. Missy double checks her list of favorite dopamine hits, while Amy struggles to overcome Chairgate.
Duration:01:03:32
Celebrating Children (and Questioning Taco Bell)
11/13/2025
Oh America, must you? This week, we cover the much anticipated Mountain Dew Baja Blast Pie, aka seasonal, 8-serving colon prep. Missy attends the Bat Mitzvah of the Ages. And Amy battles unseen enemies like dead ladybugs, aerosolized jalapeno oil and straight up tap water.
Duration:01:03:55
AirB&Behaving Badly
11/6/2025
And you thought Amy was a thief. Cat Burglar takes on a whole new meaning this week, Dear Listener, as Melissa brings tales of grabby renters gone awry. All that, plus fecal transfers (tips and tricks!), Halloweeners, assholery at concerts and the new glasses finally make an appearance.
Duration:01:07:12
Secrets of a Mob Wife
10/30/2025
Duration:01:04:28
She Doth Protest Too Little
10/23/2025
Why do Incels have to ruin everything? It's a world gone mad, Dear Listener, with the Amish (of all peoples) in standing up for their rights. Amy saunters past the Costco in protest. And Missy wonders aloud how a simple reframe is all it takes to turn Failure To Launch into the new Side Hustle.
Duration:01:04:40
Oh Those Merry Marrying Men!
10/16/2025
Naming conventions, unhappy Republicans and a Coach for all Comers. All this ya whore, on today's Brilliant Observations. Do doo doo do, doooooOooooooOooo!!!
Duration:00:58:35
Robot Fight Club
10/9/2025
The first rule of Robot Fight Club is don't talk about Bad Bunny headlining the Superbowl Half Time Show (because, honestly? just shut up). Missy explores the dark side of personal Coaches for All The Things. Amy muses on the opportunities of October. And we both share a giggle about life at Camp Dog Hair.
Duration:01:12:51
Dental Dammit
10/2/2025
A tale of two dentists. Foiled again by luxurious packaging, Amy unwittingly buys geriatric floss from her once beloved brand, Cocolab (shame! shame! shame!). Melissa puts her own spin on Schrodinger's Cat with Asperger's Periodontist, aka her local tooth shop staffed by Drs. Butterfingers and Vacusuck. The story, you guys. I can't. Just play it. Trust me.
It's thooooooooorrrrrrroooooouuugggggghhhhhh.
All this ya whore, on today's Brilliant Observations.
Duration:01:07:43
He Likes To Grab All the Things
9/25/2025
What do you do when your friend asked to bring her "charmingly exhuberant" child to stay for a week or so? Listen and learn as Missy adds a new word to her vocabulary. All that, plus funeral friends, Jews in Church and surprise feedback from you, Dear Listener. Chuckle up, Buttercup!
Duration:01:06:20
Gaycation in Ibiza
9/18/2025
It's episode 420, Dear Listener, and we must be high to laugh this hard. This week, we explore the unusual topic of Straight Male Gaycationing, RFK's latest vac-attack, and everyone's favorite, the World Gone Mad. Add in a lil teenagers behaving badly, low bladder control and profoundly felt love, and you've got yourself a podcast.
Duration:01:04:25
Tennis, Horrible Mothers and Beach Magic
9/12/2025
Holy Guacamole, Dear Listener! We've been through the ringer this week, but at least we're back in action with a jaunty episode filled with homegrown shock and awe. Missy and Amy take to the sand to set Margate straight after the renters evacuate. And the world slows just a bit to gawk at unruly mothers and shocking behaviors on Netflix. We cap it all off with a rousing round of LISTENER FEEDBACK you won't want to miss.
Duration:00:53:27