Podcast Summary
Andrew Santino's Red Rocket Tour and New Offerings: Comedian Andrew Santino is touring the US in 2020, selling tickets and merchandise on his website, offering solo episodes and Q&A sessions on Patreon, and endorsing Manscaped with a discount code
Andrew Santino is embarking on a comedy tour, the Red Rocket Tour, in 2020, with tour dates across the United States. He encourages fans to purchase tickets and merchandise on his website, andreasantino.com. Additionally, Santino is now offering solo episodes and Q&A sessions on his Patreon account. The comedian also endorsed Manscaped, a personal hygiene brand for men, and encouraged listeners to use the promo code "whiskey" for a 20% discount on their purchases. The episode was sponsored by FX's The Veil, a new international spy thriller series, and Manscaped.
Discovering Common Ground with Fortune Feimster and Blanton's Bourbon: Comedian Fortune Feimster shares her experiences growing up in the South and the influence it has had on her comedy and perspective on life. The South's focus on small towns and relaxed work-life balance sets it apart from city life and creates unique experiences and connections.
Fortune Feimster, a comedian and actress, shares a family name with the famous Kentucky bourbon brand, Blanton's. During their conversation, they discussed the similarities between North Carolina and Kentucky, and Fortune shared her experiences growing up in a small town in North Carolina. She described the South as having a unique culture with a focus on small towns, and a work-life balance that is more relaxed compared to city life. Fortune also noted that her experiences in the South have influenced her comedy and her perspective on life. Overall, their conversation highlighted the shared experiences and connections between people from different regions, and the importance of appreciating the unique aspects of different cultures.
Personal experiences and cultural norms shape downtime activities: Embrace individuality and the diverse ways people find meaning and connection in their lives
Personal experiences and cultural norms significantly influence how individuals spend their downtime. For some, work may consume their free hours, while others prioritize family and relationships. Religion can also play a role, leading individuals to reevaluate their beliefs and commitments. The speaker shared her personal journey of coming out later in life and how it impacted her decision to stop attending church. She also highlighted the unique experiences of the lesbian community in sports, particularly softball, where socializing and skill development intertwine. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the importance of embracing individuality and the diverse ways people find meaning and connection in their lives.
The importance of a loving and patient mother figure: Embrace warmth, love, kindness, and patience as essential traits for mother figures, while also allowing for discipline when necessary. Treat others with respect and kindness as a foundation for societal behavior.
The ideal mother figure is someone who embodies warmth, love, kindness, and patience, despite having the ability to discipline when necessary. This concept was emphasized by the speaker's own experiences with their mother, who was a special education teacher and displayed immense patience at work but had a different demeanor at home. The speaker also highlighted the importance of treating others with respect and kindness, which they learned from their upbringing and the influence of their Christian background. The speaker acknowledged that everyone has moments of losing patience or being less than kind, but emphasized that these basic principles should be the foundation for societal behavior. The speaker's experiences growing up in high-rise buildings in Chicago and later moving to the suburbs were also touched upon as interesting aspects of their childhood.
Childhood experiences with crime shape perspective on safety and community: Early exposure to violence and crime in a city upbringing instilled a heightened sense of awareness and the importance of positive surroundings.
Growing up in the city, the speaker learned to navigate challenges and violence at a young age, shaping her perspective on safety and community. She shared stories of witnessing crime outside her apartment building and her mother's attempts to hide the truth from her. These experiences made her curious about the energy of different places and the importance of positive surroundings. As an adult, she prioritized finding a safe, non-haunted neighborhood with good neighbors to avoid negative vibes and potential conflicts. The city upbringing instilled in her a heightened sense of awareness and the value of a supportive community.
Impact of Attitude Towards Neighbors on Living Experiences: Maintaining a positive attitude towards neighbors and creating meaningful relationships can lead to a greater sense of belonging and security in your living space.
Our attitude towards our living spaces and neighbors can significantly impact our experiences. While living in an apartment for years without knowing our neighbors might seem normal, it can lead to missed opportunities for connection and community. Neighbors who go above and beyond to help each other create a sense of belonging and security. However, in some areas like Southern California, individualism and privacy are prioritized over community engagement. It's essential to find a balance between respecting personal space and building meaningful relationships with neighbors. The Midwest culture of looking out for each other and creating a sense of community can be beneficial, even in urban areas. Ultimately, having a few trusted neighbors who look out for you and vice versa can make all the difference in creating a sense of home and belonging.
Stereotypes and Identity: Complex and Nuanced: Stereotypes can be based on truths but not always accurate. They influence behaviors and can be embraced, challenged, or found humorous, highlighting the complexity of identity.
Stereotypes, while not always accurate, can be based on truths to some extent. The speaker in this conversation mentioned a few stereotypes about lesbians, such as their love for camping and their preference for not wearing makeup. She identified with some of these stereotypes, like being a tomboy and not being handy, but not others, like the "puss thing" or the dislike for men. The conversation also touched on how societal norms influence behaviors, such as the early introduction of makeup to young girls. The speaker expressed her discomfort with some stereotypes and found humor in others, highlighting the complex and nuanced nature of identity and stereotypes.
Speaker's Positive Experiences with Men: Speaker values relationships with family, especially her father, and strives to support them financially and emotionally
Despite societal stereotypes, the speaker's personal experiences and relationships with men, including gay men, have been positive. She is an open-minded and loving person who gets along with most people, including her brothers and parents. Her parents come from a working-class background and have faced financial struggles, and she tries to help them with gifts and financial assistance when she can. The speaker's father has held various blue-collar jobs throughout his life, and she has a close relationship with him despite their different backgrounds. Overall, the speaker values her relationships with family and strives to support them in meaningful ways.
Understanding individual preferences: People value practicality and personal preferences over extravagant gifts. Understanding individual limitations and preferences is crucial for genuine happiness and appreciation.
Despite having the financial means to buy expensive gifts for loved ones, some people choose to prioritize practicality and personal preferences over extravagance. The speaker in this conversation shares his experience of wanting to buy his mother a car, but acknowledges her preference for driving her old car until it's no longer safe. He also mentions his parents' reluctance to adopt new technology, which led to frustration and confusion when he bought them an iMac. These anecdotes illustrate the importance of understanding individual preferences and limitations, rather than assuming that more expensive gifts equate to greater happiness or appreciation. Additionally, the speaker's experiences highlight the significance of safety and practicality, as well as the challenges of adapting to new technology.
Navigating Family Expectations During the Holidays: The holiday season can be challenging for grown adults who must balance family traditions and their own desires, while also dealing with financial pressures and the importance of making older generations happy.
Traditions and family expectations can make the holiday season challenging for grown adults who have established their own lives. The speaker in this conversation expressed frustration with having to split their holidays between their family's traditions and their own desires. They also mentioned the financial burden of buying expensive gifts as a way to hold power in relationships. However, they acknowledged the importance of family, particularly for older generations, and the desire to make them happy during the holidays. The conversation also touched on the idea of creating new traditions and escaping to warmer climates as a way to break free from the old patterns. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities and tensions that can arise during the holiday season as adults navigate their relationships with their families and their own desires.
Longing for the comforts of home: No matter where we go, the comfort of family and familiarity is important. Balancing career opportunities with the desire for home comforts is a common challenge.
No matter how much we travel or how far we go, there's always something comforting about returning home to be with family and experience the familiar. The speaker shares her experience of touring for months and longing for the simple pleasures of home. She reflects on the importance of family and the sacrifices we make for our careers. The speaker also shares her nostalgic feelings about her small hometown and how it has changed over the years. Despite the challenges of living in a big city like LA, she acknowledges the convenience it offers and the opportunities it brings. Ultimately, she expresses her desire to find a balance between the comfort of home and the excitement of new experiences.
Discovering Passions in Nashville and LA: Moving to new places and trying new things, like improv classes, can lead to discovering unexpected passions and changing the course of one's life.
Nashville holds a special place in the speaker's heart for its southern charm and central location, which led him to explore new opportunities in comedy. When he first moved to LA to work as a personal assistant, he struggled to make friends and felt isolated. However, taking improv classes at The Groundlings changed everything, leading him to discover his passion for acting and eventually stand-up comedy. This journey began in 2005, and by 2007, he had moved to LA and started performing stand-up. The speaker's experiences highlight the importance of perseverance and the power of discovering one's passions, even in the face of challenges. Nashville's influence and the opportunities he found in improv comedy ultimately shaped his life and career.
A friend's invitation to an improv group started a comedian's career: A pivotal moment in a comedian's career was starting in an improv group through a friend's invitation, leading to dedication, classes, comedy store performances, regular paid gigs, and a Netflix special.
Starting in an improv group led by a funny discovery at an improv show was a pivotal moment for this comedian's career. She was too nervous to ask him directly, so she asked a friend to extend an invitation on her behalf. This comedian's journey involved deep dedication to her craft, taking classes, and performing at comedy stores. Her hard work paid off, leading to regular paid performances and eventually, a Netflix special. The autobiographical nature of her hour-long special, "Sweet and Salty," allowed her to share her personal stories and voice with a wider audience. Her mother, who loves being the center of attention and is often mentioned in her sets, is a big supporter.
Comedian's joke offends Elizabeth Smart's father: Comedians should be mindful of their audience and consider the potential impact of their jokes to avoid unintended offense.
Comedy, while meant to bring joy and laughter, can sometimes unintentionally offend or upset individuals with sensitive experiences. In this discussion, a comedian shared an experience where a joke about not getting kidnapped as a child offended Elizabeth Smart's father, who was in the audience. The comedian acknowledged the mistake and understood the offense, emphasizing that comedy often makes light of uncomfortable situations, not to mock the experiences themselves but the reactions around them. The incident served as a reminder for the comedian and others to be mindful of their audience and the potential impact of their jokes.
Finding humor in difficult situations: Laughter and reminiscing help cope with pain and grief. Humor can be found in unexpected places and brings us closer to others.
Humor can be found in unexpected places, even in difficult or tragic situations. The speaker shares a personal story about growing up in a family that coped with hardships by making light of them. This coping mechanism was passed down through generations and was particularly evident during Irish funerals, where mourners would gather to drink, tell stories, and celebrate the life of the deceased. The speaker emphasizes the importance of laughter and reminiscing in dealing with pain and grief, and the idea that it's essential to balance sadness with happiness. The speaker also reflects on their own experiences, including their attempts to audition for Saturday Night Live and memories of their father's tough-love approach to raising them. Ultimately, the speaker's message is that finding humor in life's challenges can help us get through difficult times and bring us closer to those around us.
Finding Solace and Connection Through Sports: Sports provided a sense of belonging and camaraderie for an individual facing discrimination, leading to lifelong friendships and even a romantic relationship.
Despite facing discrimination and being underestimated due to his appearance, this individual found solace and camaraderie through sports, particularly basketball. He continued to play soccer and even joined a league despite getting older, cherishing the sense of teamwork and friendship. The memories of these experiences, including post-game gatherings at local bars, remain dear to him. His love story began at a Chicago Pride event, where he met his partner, who had also moved from Michigan for work. Their shared background and mutual friends made their connection easier, leading to a lasting relationship. Ultimately, sports and the connections made through them played a significant role in shaping his personal experiences and relationships.
Making Sacrifices for Relationships: As people age, they prioritize relationships and may make sacrifices to maintain them. These sacrifices can lead to new opportunities and deeper connections.
People prioritize what's important in their lives as they get older, and sometimes that means making sacrifices. Juwon's friend gave up her fulfilling teaching job and moved to support him, but she found joy in a new career in stand-up comedy. Although Juwon wondered if he had disrupted her life, she assured him it was okay. Both Juwon and his friend value their relationship and the bond they share, whether it's in Chicago or California. The food, camaraderie, and shared experiences create a unique connection in each place. However, the winter in Chicago is a challenge, but one that builds a sense of community. Despite the difficulties, Juwon dreams of moving back, and his friend might join him someday. Ultimately, life's sacrifices create opportunities for growth and deeper relationships.
Brooks Wheeland's Upcoming Tour and Netflix Special: Iowa native Brooks Wheeland is touring in Orlando, Tampa, Irvine, and Aspen, with a bigger tour coming in spring. His Netflix special airs January 21, 2023. Fans can expect mostly new material and humor about whiskey, ginger, and food groups like sweet and salty.
Brooks Wheeland, an Iowa native with Chicago connections, is currently on tour and will be performing at various improv venues in Orlando, Tampa, Irvine, and Aspen. He's planning a bigger tour for the spring with mostly new material. In the meantime, fans can watch his Netflix special on January 21, 2023. Wheeland ended the conversation by asking listeners to finish the episode by saying a phrase directly into the camera. He also shared some of his favorite food groups - sweet and salty. The conversation was filled with humor and references to whiskey and ginger. Overall, it's clear that Brooks Wheeland is a talented comedian with an upcoming tour and a new Netflix special that fans won't want to miss.
