Podcast Summary
Psychologist-turned-whiskey-maker creates unique spirits at Rabbit Hole Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, led by Keve Zemanian, crafts award-winning bourbon and rye whiskeys using special grains and barrel aging techniques, resulting in distinctive expressions like High Gold, Cave Hill, Bow a Boxer Grill, and Derringer.
Rabbit Hole Distillery, founded by psychologist-turned-whiskey-maker Keve Zemanian, produces unique, award-winning bourbon and rye whiskeys using original recipes and specially malted grains. Their small-batch spirits are aged in both charred and toasted barrels, resulting in distinct expressions like High Gold, Cave Hill, Bow a Boxer Grill, and Derringer, which is finished in Pedro Jimenez sherry casks. Rabbit Hole's whiskeys may not receive as much attention as larger companies, but they're making some of the best stuff in the industry. Fans of Lewis Black can check out his new special on YouTube and catch him on tour, while Westsy Digger's final shows of 2023 with Bobby Lee are available for ticket purchase on badfriendspod.com.
Unexpected challenges during live performances: Adaptability is crucial when facing unexpected disruptions during live performances, keeping the audience engaged and spirits high.
Performing live entertainment comes with unexpected challenges, such as unruly audience members or even medical emergencies. The speaker shared a story about stopping a show in Baltimore due to a fan vomiting in the front row, causing a major disruption. They also mentioned experiencing two medical emergencies during flights, one a heart attack and the other an epileptic seizure. Despite these interruptions, the performers had to adapt and continue, finding ways to lift the spirits of the audience in the face of adversity. Overall, the experience of performing live comes with its unique set of challenges, but the ability to adapt and keep the show going is essential.
Unexpected behavior during medical emergencies: During crises, prioritize collective safety and focus on the task at hand, even when faced with unexpected distractions.
During a medical emergency on a plane, people's behavior can be surprising and chaotic. Instead of following instructions and staying seated, many people disregarded the importance of collective safety and tried to get off the plane prematurely. This lack of consideration for others highlights a larger societal issue. On a lighter note, the speaker shared an experience from his comedy career where a small audience size led to a less-than-ideal performance. He compared it to a group sleep study and joked about dealing with distractions, such as a man getting a hand job during his show. Despite these challenges, the speaker found ways to adapt and focus on the task at hand. Overall, the conversation touched on the importance of collective action and the unexpected twists and turns that can come with performing in front of a live audience.
Performing Comedy in Challenging Venues: Milwaukee's Summerfest: Adapting to distractions and crowd control are crucial for comedy in challenging venues. Once the crowd is captivated, they'll return, making the effort worthwhile. Milwaukee's Summerfest taught valuable lessons in resilience.
Performing comedy in challenging venues like outdoor parks requires a strong command of the crowd and the ability to adapt to distractions. The speaker shares his experience of performing at Summerfest in Milwaukee, where he had to deal with drunk spectators on a chair lift and other distractions. However, once the crowd is captivated, they will come back year after year, making it worth the effort. The speaker also fondly recalls his connection to Milwaukee and Sobelman's Bloody Mary, which he used to enjoy with his best friend during his childhood visits. Overall, the experience of performing in Milwaukee taught the speaker valuable lessons in crowd control and resilience.
Handling disruptive audience members: Stay calm, adapt, and ensure audience enjoyment when dealing with disruptive individuals during performances.
Handling disruptive audience members is an inevitable part of performing, and creatives must adapt to ensure the show goes on. Joe Rogan and the speaker once encountered an unruly heckler at a casino show, who spent only $40 but caused significant disturbance. Rogan ended the show unexpectedly by throwing the man's cash into the audience, leaving the speaker in a difficult position to follow. The speaker learned from John Bowman, an opener, that the absence of security can lead to disruptions. In such situations, creatives can engage the heckler, distract them, or even take a break to regain control. The key is to remain calm, adapt, and ensure the audience's enjoyment.
Comedian's stage presence and delivery create combative interaction with audience: Comedian prefers larger audiences of 1500-2000 people for ideal performance experience, focusing on a specific point to avoid discomfort during shows
Comedian's stage presence and delivery, despite being loud and poignant, can evoke a sense of combative interaction from the audience. This dynamic might have led to more engagement and reactions from the crowd in the past. The comedian also shared that looking at the audience while performing can be an uncomfortable experience, leading them to focus on a specific point instead. Regarding show size preferences, the comedian mentioned that the ideal audience size for them is around 1500 to 2000 people, depending on the room's acoustics and energy.
Size of venue impacts comedic experience: Comedians often prefer smaller, intimate venues for stronger audience connection and greater joke impact, but larger historic venues hold significance and offer unique challenges
The size of a venue significantly impacts the comedic experience for both performers and audiences. The comedian in this discussion prefers more intimate settings with a smaller audience because he feels a stronger connection with the crowd and his jokes have a greater impact. Larger venues, like Chicago Theater, while historic and impressive, can make it harder for comedians to coalesce the audience and can dilute the comedic experience due to the distance between performer and audience. The comedian also shares an experience of performing on Jeopardy! at a large venue, DAR Constitution Hall, where the audience was older and less familiar with his material, making the performance more challenging. Ultimately, the comedian values the historic significance and hometown feel of larger venues, even if they don't provide the optimal comedic experience.
Pressure and consequences in quiz shows: Despite good intentions, breaking quiz show rules can lead to embarrassment and frustration, highlighting the importance of following rules and staying true to values.
The pressure and timing in quiz shows can be just as challenging as the actual questions. The speaker shared an experience where he buzzed in too late and gave a wrong answer, despite knowing the correct one. He also mentioned practicing with alcohol and feeling embarrassed when he was exposed on stage. The discussion also touched upon the comparison of his situation to historical cases of cheating in quiz shows. Despite his intentions being for charity, the rules were strict and inflexible, leaving him feeling frustrated and powerless. Ultimately, the speaker found the experience to be a humbling reminder of the importance of following rules and staying true to one's values. Quiz shows may seem like simple entertainment, but the pressure to perform and the consequences of breaking the rules can be significant.
Easy website creation with Squarespace and comfortable clothing from Marine Layer: Squarespace simplifies website creation for non-tech savvy individuals and businesses, while Marine Layer offers high-quality, comfortable clothing as a worthwhile investment
Squarespace provides an easy and effective solution for creating and managing websites, even for those who lack technical skills. With its simple templates, customizable options, and additional features like email campaigns and analytics, Squarespace offers a way for individuals and businesses to build and grow their online presence. Marine Layer, on the other hand, provides high-quality, soft, and long-lasting clothing, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking comfortable and stylish wardrobe essentials. The speaker's positive experiences with both companies led him to recommend them to his audience.
The pandemic's impact on memory and relationships: The pandemic highlighted the importance of cherishing meaningful relationships and creating new experiences to maintain a strong memory
The pandemic has significantly impacted our memory and the way we form and maintain relationships. The constant isolation and lack of new experiences led to fewer stories to share and remember, resulting in a noticeable gap in our memory. However, this experience also taught us the value of the relationships we cherish, as we prioritized staying in touch with those who truly mattered. Over time, we naturally let go of less significant relationships, reflecting the natural evolution of social connections. The pandemic's effect on memory and relationships serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing meaningful connections and creating new experiences.
Virtual experiences and human connection: Virtual interactions may lack empathy and tactile connection, potentially leading to disconnection from the real world and each other, despite entertainment and sales benefits.
The future of communication and interaction might involve more virtual experiences, like the one shown in Mark Zuckerberg and Lex Fridman's metaverse interaction. However, there are concerns about the potential loss of empathy and tactile connection when communicating solely in a virtual environment. The speaker expresses unease about the implications of this trend, fearing that it could lead to a disconnection from the real world and from each other. The speaker also mentions the entertainment and sales aspects of such technologies, but emphasizes the importance of empathy and the tactile sense in building meaningful connections. The speaker's experience with Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the loss of empathy in virtual interactions, which the speaker found frustrating. The speaker also mentions a hologram machine as an example of entertainment-focused virtual technology. Overall, the speaker raises valid concerns about the potential impact of virtual experiences on human connection and interaction.
Hologram concerts cannot fully replicate live performance energy: Hologram concerts offer convenience but cannot replace the unique energy exchange between performer and audience in live performances.
While hologram concerts offer a new and convenient way for audiences to experience live performances, they cannot fully replicate the energy and interaction between performer and audience that comes from being in the same physical space. The discussion also touched upon the potential benefits for those who may not be able to attend live events due to time or accessibility constraints. However, the speakers agreed that the unique exchange of energy and pheromones between performer and audience, which aids in thought and conversation, cannot be duplicated in a holographic format. Ultimately, while hologram concerts may have their place, the passion and excitement of live performances remain unmatched.
Native American Guardians Association sues Washington Commanders for defamation: The Native American Guardians Association is suing the Washington Commanders for defamation over an allegation of a disparaging remark and seeking a name change back to 'Redskins'.
The Native American Guardians Association is suing the Washington Commanders for defamation, with the dispute arising from an allegation that a Commanders employee called the group fake. The Commanders are also being asked to change their name back to "Redskins," which has sparked controversy and debate about the appropriateness of team names that use Native American imagery. The discussion also touched on the complex history of Native American representation in sports and the potential for compromise and dialogue between different parties. It's important to note that this is a developing story and more information may come to light as the legal proceedings unfold.
Fan Passion and Complexities: Chicago fans display intense love and hate, with some fans criticizing other teams and their fans, while others face harsh criticism themselves. Human behavior and institutions, including religious ones, can be complex and involve issues like sexual misconduct.
Chicago fans, much like those in Boston, exhibit extreme passion for their sports teams, showing both intense love and hate. This was discussed in relation to a friend's experience with a Cubs fan who had previously criticized other Chicago teams due to their ownership. The fan's behavior was contrasted with that of a 100-year-old woman, who despite her age, faced harsh criticism and even calls for her death. The conversation also touched upon the topic of religious institutions and their leaders, with the speaker sharing experiences of sexual misconduct in a Catholic school and among rabbis. The extravagance of modern-day children's birthday parties was also mentioned as a stark contrast to the past. Overall, the discussion highlighted the intensity of fan loyalty and the complexities of human behavior and institutions.
Extravagant Spending vs Practical Investments: Instead of wasting resources on excessive events and private schools, invest in education and community projects for long-term benefits.
Extravagant spending on events like bar mitzvahs and private schools can be seen as a waste of resources, especially when compared to investing in one's education or helping improve communities. The speaker shares stories of over-the-top bar mitzvahs and the enormous costs of private schools in Los Angeles. They argue that instead of spending huge sums of money on these extravagances, the funds could be put towards more practical uses, such as education or community projects. The speaker also shares their personal experiences of being raised in a public school system and the value of learning to figure things out on one's own. They also express their skepticism towards private schools, sharing their own experience of being expelled from Catholic school. Overall, the speaker emphasizes the importance of prioritizing practical investments over extravagant spending.
Public schools bring diverse students together: Public schools provide valuable learning experiences by fostering diversity and offering unique lessons, despite their imperfections.
Public schools, despite their imperfections, provide a valuable learning experience by bringing together students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The speaker shares fond memories of his public education, which he believes prepared him well for the real world. He appreciates the excitement and enthusiasm of young teachers and the absence of excessive parental involvement. However, he laments the current state of the public school system, which he believes is being destroyed by those who disrupt the learning process. The speaker also mentions his father's late-in-life discovery of painting and the use of his paintings as backdrops for his productions. Overall, the speaker values the unique experiences and lessons he gained from his public education.
Lewis Black's Unexpected Passion for Painting: Renowned comedian Lewis Black discovered his love for painting late in life, drawing inspiration from his engineering background and his father's artwork.
Lewis Black, a renowned comedian, discovered his passion for painting late in life, despite having a career as a mechanical engineer. His artwork, which features hard-edged abstraction and geometric shapes, is reminiscent of his engineering background. Black plans to hold an exhibition of his father's artwork, which has inspired him, and they share a similar aesthetic. His special "Tragically I Need You" showcases his father's artwork in the background. Black expressed his excitement about creating a scarf design based on one of his paintings. The conversation touched upon an upcoming nude scene in one of his projects, which he hopes will be groundbreaking. To see Lewis Black's artwork and buy tickets for his shows, visit his website, lewisblack.com. The interview ended with the tradition of the interviewee ending the show with one word or phrase, and Black chose "Whiskey."
