Ira Glass

Okay, so it can be any form. It just has to reach the other person before their pinch and punch reaches you. That's right. They first started playing this game when Bridie was really little. She can't really remember ever not playing it. It was just one of the many games they played.

Brynn traveled a lot for work when Bridie was young, and the games were a way for them to stay connected while he was gone. But pinch and punch, this is the game that stuck. It kept going. For years. It really leveled up when Bridie was in secondary school.

Brynn traveled a lot for work when Bridie was young, and the games were a way for them to stay connected while he was gone. But pinch and punch, this is the game that stuck. It kept going. For years. It really leveled up when Bridie was in secondary school.

These days, now that Bridie's grown up and moved out, most of the pinches and punches are low-key. A phone call, a text. Sometimes Bryn or Bridie will try to disguise the sentence in an email sent to the whole family. Bridie says her dad has learned to not open anything from her that's sent just to him on the first of the month.

These days, now that Bridie's grown up and moved out, most of the pinches and punches are low-key. A phone call, a text. Sometimes Bryn or Bridie will try to disguise the sentence in an email sent to the whole family. Bridie says her dad has learned to not open anything from her that's sent just to him on the first of the month.

So month in and month out, Brynn and Bridie are living in this very specific type of loop, where in order for them to stay in the loop, they have to keep changing it, inventing new ways to win. Once, a few years ago, Bridie had to get jaw surgery on the first of the month.

So month in and month out, Brynn and Bridie are living in this very specific type of loop, where in order for them to stay in the loop, they have to keep changing it, inventing new ways to win. Once, a few years ago, Bridie had to get jaw surgery on the first of the month.

Her dad was her next of kin, and so she mocked up a fake medical form for her dad to sign and convinced the nurse to tuck her fake form in with the rest. Bridie proudly won that month. That was kind of a famous win for her, actually. Because while Bridie wins more often, her dad's wins tend to be more memorable. His have more flair.

Her dad was her next of kin, and so she mocked up a fake medical form for her dad to sign and convinced the nurse to tuck her fake form in with the rest. Bridie proudly won that month. That was kind of a famous win for her, actually. Because while Bridie wins more often, her dad's wins tend to be more memorable. His have more flair.

Like once he convinced Bridie's best friend to interrupt her own wedding to deliver a pinch and punch. He even got Bridie while she was on live radio. The family is from New Zealand, but Bridie lives and works in Sydney, where she was a guest on this weekly local radio show. And Bryn conspired with the host to get her on air.

Like once he convinced Bridie's best friend to interrupt her own wedding to deliver a pinch and punch. He even got Bridie while she was on live radio. The family is from New Zealand, but Bridie lives and works in Sydney, where she was a guest on this weekly local radio show. And Bryn conspired with the host to get her on air.

Over time, the rules have evolved. No middle-of-the-night calls. You have to respect time zones. Also, the game is formally suspended on New Year's Eve, since Bridie and Brynn would hijack the countdown for their game and, according to Bridie's mom, kept, quote, ruining the holiday. Bridie says her dad escalated the game to a whole new level in 2019.

Over time, the rules have evolved. No middle-of-the-night calls. You have to respect time zones. Also, the game is formally suspended on New Year's Eve, since Bridie and Brynn would hijack the countdown for their game and, according to Bridie's mom, kept, quote, ruining the holiday. Bridie says her dad escalated the game to a whole new level in 2019.

She was flying home to New Zealand for her cousin Jeremy's 30th birthday party. The flight was on May 1st, very early in the morning.

She was flying home to New Zealand for her cousin Jeremy's 30th birthday party. The flight was on May 1st, very early in the morning.

The flight attendant tells her she's getting bumped up to premium economy and brings her to her new seat.

The flight attendant tells her she's getting bumped up to premium economy and brings her to her new seat.

She spent the rest of the flight thinking about how she would get him back. Luckily for Bridie, Air New Zealand is apparently extremely into pranks and offered to help. So together, they made a fake Father's Day-themed ad for the airline. Air New Zealand actually got real pilots and flight attendants to appear in this short video, which Bridie wrote. And then she got her mom to show it to her dad.

She spent the rest of the flight thinking about how she would get him back. Luckily for Bridie, Air New Zealand is apparently extremely into pranks and offered to help. So together, they made a fake Father's Day-themed ad for the airline. Air New Zealand actually got real pilots and flight attendants to appear in this short video, which Bridie wrote. And then she got her mom to show it to her dad.

It's Father's Day in New Zealand, and we want to say thanks to all the amazing dads out there.