1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Comedy Saved Me. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 2: If you're going to use drugs and alcohol, you know, 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 2: oh it makes me more creative. That's a little shit. 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 2: Shut up, you know you're just the disease of alcoholism 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 2: and drug addiction will tell you anything to keep you active. 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Comedy Saved Me, the podcast where we 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: dive deep into the healing power of laughter and the 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: stories of comics who have turned pain into punchlines. I'm 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: your host, Lynn Hoffman, and today today's guest is a 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: true legend in the world of stand up. He is 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: a comedians, comedian, a podcasting pioneer, and a man who's 12 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: wit is literally as quick as his comebacks. He's so fast, 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: I don't know how I'm going to be able to 14 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: keep up with him. You've seen him on Last Comic Standing, 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: def Comedy Jam, and Comedy Central, among others. He's the 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: co host of the brutally honest and always hilarious My 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: Wife Hates Me podcast, and he's been making audience his 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 1: laugh for over four decades. But he doesn't even look 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: it that old. But behind the razor sharp jokes and 20 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: legendary roast battles, Rich Voss has a powerful story of resilience, recovery, 21 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: and the redemptive force of comedy. And today we're going 22 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: to talk about how comedy became his lifeline, the highs 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: and loads of his journey, and what it really takes 24 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: to survive and thrive in this business. So sit back, 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: get ready to laugh, and maybe even you know, cheer 26 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: up a little bit, grab the tissues as we welcome 27 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: the one and only Rich Voss to Comedy Saved Me. 28 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: Hi, Hi you for me. I have to make a 29 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: couple of corrections on the intro s ry, let me 30 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,639 Speaker 2: get a pen. Okay, First of all, last comic Standing 31 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: was twenty five years ago. Let it go, okay, Imy 32 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: Central is the thing in the past. No one does 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: it anymore, so newer credits recently was Shart on the 34 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: Joe Rogan podcast, a regular on The Godfelt Show, as 35 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 2: a new special on Amazon called Rich Loss Anonymous doesn't 36 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: do the podcast anymore. That's done after eleven years, thank god. 37 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 2: And what else that's good for now? But last comic 38 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: I'm gonna help you because he seems so nice. Thanks, 39 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 2: get rid of Comedy Central for anybody. Okay, that's my 40 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: mailman did Comedy Central. That's almost an insult when people 41 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 2: recognize when they say Comedy Central because they're done, last 42 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: comic standing done. Don't use that for anybody, Okay, and 43 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 2: you know, I guess we're good from there. And I'm 44 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: not being mean. I'm just trying to help from the beginning. 45 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: No, but you should. I mean, first of all, Rogan huge, 46 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: and second of all, I saw you recently on Got Felt, 47 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: so I know. I mean, then that's the number one 48 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: show at late night, So you're absolutely right, and I 49 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: stand corrected. I can't believe I even left that out 50 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: to begin with. 51 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 2: I'm so sorry, Sorry you made a mistake or ever, 52 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: I just have to update my bio. It's also my mistake. 53 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: But that's all right. We're of a certain age because 54 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: I used to work on a channel that's no more 55 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: as well called VH one, So if that's still even 56 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: out there, no one even knows what that used to be. 57 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: What are you like? Thirty two thirty two years old? 58 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: No double fives? In July fifty five, Get downie here. Yeah, 59 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: didn't you do a little bit of opening Anthony for 60 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: a while? 61 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: It did it for years? Yeah, So I. 62 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: Was working in morning radio at the same time you 63 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: were no Where and building Boston and New York. 64 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: Boston. Who are the guys I doing Boston? Chuckh or 65 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: and Rich or something. 66 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: Or this is going back a bit, but it was 67 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: John Lander. 68 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 2: I did that show there. Yeah, then the other guy 69 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: went to jail and he Died's that touch on? Rich 70 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: Mark Correno? Oh yes, yes, yep from Boston. I'm a 71 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: big fan of Boston. Good. 72 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: Did I just go up in your like good check 73 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: off listed. 74 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 2: The second I saw you, you went up in my 75 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: Oh I buy you a better house? Oh? 76 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: Thanks? 77 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: Get you out into berks here? So whatever they call them, No. 78 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: I love it here, believe me. I'm I'm very happy 79 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: to be here. 80 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 2: Is that your studio down there? 81 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: Wait for people? Yeah? Do you see your name in 82 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: the big screen over there? 83 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: Yeah? But like, why do you have all those seats? 84 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: You have that many people? 85 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: Well, occasionally I have had guests, but mainly when we 86 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: don't in studio. But when we don't have guests, we 87 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: like to have like little parties in here. And so 88 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: that's the game night table. Wow, we have family. 89 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: And party game night. That's you know when you're getting older, 90 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: when you have game night. Yeah, that's when you're done. 91 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: That's when you go, all right, we're stuck together. 92 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: What are we going to do? 93 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: Game night? 94 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: Well, it's that or pickle fest. 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: Well, or you can become swingers and then explore other 96 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: options around the area. I don't know. I've never done it, 97 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 2: but I just figured that's an auction. I've never done it. 98 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: All right, Well, i'll let you know if we start, 99 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: if we look into that, I will tell you. Wait, 100 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: I get a call Rich. 101 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 2: I'm kind of creepy. I shouldn't have said that. That's 102 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: all right, you know, I'm just looking out for you 103 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: and whoever. 104 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: Well you're you're I appreciate that a lot. 105 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: You need to know. What do you mean? Am I 106 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: coming off mean? I hope I'm not mean. When I 107 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 2: told you different credits. 108 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: No, because they're all relevant. I feel I'm going to 109 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: redo the intro based on what you told me, and 110 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: I'll make sure that we edit that in because it's 111 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: way better. I mean, you can't. It's obvious that you've 112 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: had an illustrious career, but it's far beyond what we mentioned. 113 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: And no, you didn't come off as mean at all. 114 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 2: I tried to. 115 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: All Right, Well, I want to ask you a question 116 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: or two or three, But I want to start, I 117 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: really do want to start off with your roots and 118 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: sort of your inspirations. What first drew you to stand 119 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: up comedy back in what was the eighties? And who 120 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: were some of your biggest influences? 121 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: What drew me because I failed at everything else? You know, 122 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: as a kid, you know, maybe nine years old in 123 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: fourth grade, I used to come home and listen to 124 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: this comedy album Von Meeterer. He did the impressions of 125 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: John Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy. The album was called First Family. 126 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 2: His career was over after the Kennedy each were assassinated. 127 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: I went from Park Avenue to park bench. I mean, 128 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: he was the hottest comic then just done. I mean 129 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: nobody wanted to, you know, hear him do impressions of 130 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 2: two people they loved that were assassinated. Right home from school, 131 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: listen to that album every day in fourth grade, nine 132 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 2: years old, and then later on in life, just realize 133 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: you're just covering the pain of your parents' divorce and 134 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: your father never being there, and you know, how do 135 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: I deal with this as a fourth grader coming home 136 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: to a cleaning lady or that my mother couldn't afford 137 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: kind of a babysitter, clean and pertect. You know, we 138 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: chased everyone away, my brother, my sister, and I because 139 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: none of them, you know, we're all just angry young 140 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: kids that we're just mean. So I come home and then, 141 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: you know, throughout life you would listen to comedy. Next 142 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: thing you know here I. 143 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: Am, well, Jed's a millionaire, you said. Next thing, you know, 144 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: I couldn't help myself. 145 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: I wish, I wish. I I'm getting clothed. If I 146 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: if I sold everything, including my sneakers, I'd get close. 147 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: But right, you know, in life you have to realize 148 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: what you know. You look at people. I look at 149 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: people in my business selling out arenas multi millionaires, you know, 150 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 2: TV specials, Netflix, Amazon, and then I have to think, 151 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: in life, I have enough. I already have enough, you know. 152 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: And once you can almost get comfortable with having enough, 153 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: whether it be family, friends, materialistic goods, sobriety, whatever you have. 154 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 2: Once you realize this enough, you don't have to fight anymore. 155 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: So I'm close to that. I'm pretty close to knowing 156 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: I have enough. Does that make sense? 157 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: Yes? Absolutely? I feel like whatever is enough, whatever your 158 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: version of enough is that should be good for you, 159 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: whatever it is, whether it's do you want to be 160 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: a billionaire or you just want to live a peaceful 161 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: life somewhere in the mountains and you know, work out 162 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 1: of a barn or in your bedroom. 163 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: In your case, my wife's bedroom is so much nicer, 164 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 2: but she has two rooms in her bedroom. 165 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: You have separate bedrooms. 166 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: Well, I come in late and snore, and we have 167 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: a big house, and it's so much easier, you know, 168 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 2: instead of her waking me up every night on your snoring. 169 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: You know, I understand that. 170 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 2: Well, it's not like we touched each other. So what 171 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: the fuck? 172 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, you've cited when you were growing up 173 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: classics from the Ed Sullivan Show as some of your influences. 174 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: What did you learn from some of those early legends 175 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: that you still use today in your in your act? 176 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: Can you remember, No, I remember, I remember when I 177 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 2: would watch Ed Sullivan and see like Alan King or 178 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: I can't even remember. I would stay with my father 179 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: because that was one of the nights or weekends he 180 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 2: would come home. So what I remember is that and 181 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: watching the comic. You know, but then after you get older, 182 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 2: you know he's gone, right, married or whatever, and then 183 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: you just grow up, you know, listening to prior Eddie Murphy, 184 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: those were I guess the two comics I listened to mostly, 185 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 2: as you know, probably in my twenties, you know, and 186 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 2: then I when I started a comedy, there was my favorites. 187 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 2: But I you know, I was horrible. When I started comedy, 188 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: I was still partying and getting high and doing drugs. 189 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: So I think I did that for like two years 190 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: and then went to put myself in rehab. And I've 191 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 2: been sober ever since thirty nine years, so probably my 192 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 2: first two years or three years was horrible. I was 193 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 2: just whatever, doing whatever I could to get money to 194 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 2: get high, you know. And then I get out of 195 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: rehab and when my life starts coming together at some point, 196 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 2: you know, it doesn't happen overnight. But I'm not doing 197 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 2: what I was doing. I mean, you know, I was 198 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: a wild man or a wild guy or person or 199 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: kiss nuts, you know, and comedy was a quick fix 200 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: where you'd get your money that night and you could 201 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: go out and party and get high that night, you 202 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: know what I mean. Like it was I didn't have 203 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: to wait till Friday get my paid check. Corp Saturday, Thursday. 204 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 2: You know, I do a getting on Tuesday, get paid. 205 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,719 Speaker 2: Next thing. You know, I'm in New York buying drugs. 206 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: So eventually that caught up to me and boom, and 207 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 2: now I have three daughters, three grandkids, another kid on 208 00:11:55,640 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 2: the way. There's six people on this planet because I 209 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 2: don't get higher day at a time, because I would 210 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: have never met my wife or ex wife. You know 211 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 2: how the world works, I mean how things work in 212 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 2: mysterious ways. Yeah, you know your past. You know it's 213 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 2: I guess planned out through whatever. You know, You're You're 214 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: where you are when you're supposed to be there. But 215 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 2: if I never if I was still partying, I wouldn't 216 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: have married these people, and it wouldn't be my daughters 217 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 2: or grandkids. You know what I'm saying. Absolutely, it's kind 218 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 2: of it's kind of weird. You know when when somebody 219 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: has a miscarriage or something happens, then they get pregnant 220 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 2: maybe seven months later, then you have those kids. Well, 221 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 2: those kids will never been here if that person didn't 222 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: have that miscarriage. Do you see what I'm saying. 223 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, there's definitely a higher power. 224 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 2: It would it would be a whole different whatever outcome 225 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 2: in life. So it's kind of like when you have 226 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 2: game night. 227 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: I just want to go on record that that's only 228 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: happened a couple of times with family. It just looks 229 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: nice with four chairs and yeah, I like, I'm all 230 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 1: the director's chairs, so why not. 231 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 2: Right, it looks good. 232 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: Thanks. I do believe everything happens for a reason one 233 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 1: hundred percent. And you know, I wouldn't be here if 234 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 1: my life didn't go the way that it went either, 235 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: And I never would have expected to be here talking 236 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: to you, you know, on a on a zoom, getting 237 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 1: to interview some of the most the biggest legends in 238 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: comedy and music. But obviously whatever I did to get 239 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: here got me here. So I agree with you one 240 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: hundred percent. Plus, there's there's definitely something larger than all 241 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: of us at the Helm. There's got to be, So I. 242 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 2: Agree with the biggest musician or that one your favorite 243 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: at you like, I'm sure radio you know you did 244 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: your worked with a lot of musicians. I guess yes. 245 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 2: On this podcast, have you had musicians? 246 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: Yeah? I have another podcast called Music Saved Me, so 247 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: we have musicians on and people in the music industry. 248 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: Any famous people a few. 249 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've had on Jelly Roll and Wainona and Pat 250 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: Monahan of Train and I just had on Oh gosh, 251 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: there's so many of them. We've probably have done well. 252 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: I don't even know how many we've done, but a lot. 253 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's been about two years, but we are 254 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: number one in the music interview category on Apple Podcasts. 255 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: So that's kind of cool. 256 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 2: Get out of here. 257 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: I say we because the incredible guy that you met 258 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: when we first started chatting, Buzz, we've been We've known 259 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: each other for pretty much thirty years. He was what 260 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: do I say, the C suite in radio in Boston, 261 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: but also came up as an on air personality in 262 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: New York. 263 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 2: I don't think his real name is Buzz. 264 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: I think it might. Well, we have to ask him 265 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: when he comes back on. Oh no, I think that's 266 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: a good radio name though. 267 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: Right I think he's on the LAMB. Might be on 268 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: the Lamb. 269 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 3: You'll be right back with more of the Comedy Saved 270 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 3: Me Podcast. Welcome back to the Comedy Saved Me Podcast. 271 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 2: Listen. 272 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: I have to talk to you about this because I 273 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: read this about you and I was like, wow, this 274 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: is kind of cool. You sort of broke some barriers 275 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: in your career, so you don't seem to give yourself 276 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: enough credit about that part of it. But back in 277 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: ninety five, you actually became the first white comedian on 278 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: the def Comedy Jam, which I watched all the time. 279 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: How did that opportunity come in and what was running 280 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: through your mind? I want to know right before you 281 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: took the stage, if you can remember, I don't know. 282 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 2: I mean, it was nerve wracking, no one's ever do 283 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 2: you know a lot of pressure. 284 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. 285 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 2: Look, I had two daughters. I had to work to 286 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 2: whatever clubs I could, whether it was typical white rooms 287 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: or urban rooms or mixed rooms, whatever it took, I did. 288 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 2: And then I did you know, some of the urban shows. 289 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: It was easy for them to pick me to do 290 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: it because they knew who I was deep bookers and 291 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 2: people running the show. But it was very, very very 292 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: nerve wracking, very scary because you know I was. They 293 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: taped five nights a week in New York, the whole 294 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 2: season a tape. You know, I was the fifth night, 295 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 2: second show, second to last, So I heard of everybody 296 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: in town doing well, not doing well. You know, people 297 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 2: that were still in town came to watch the taping. 298 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 2: That year, they had a bunch of different hosts every episode, 299 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 2: Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, My guy was Steve Harvey. They 300 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 2: had a different host so some of the hosts were 301 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 2: still in town Jamie Fox and I knew everyone. But 302 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: when there's a lot of them in the audience and 303 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 2: it's the last show, oh my god, of the tapings 304 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: all week and I'm second to last, there's a lot 305 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 2: of built up pressure, and black comics are mad that 306 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 2: I was doing it and they weren't doing it. Some 307 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 2: of them white comics were like, well, you gotta be 308 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 2: good because you're the first. It was. It was a 309 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 2: lot of pressure. It was very and then the clothes 310 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: I wore. There they go Russell Simmons, whose show it was, 311 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 2: wants you to wear his clothing line. So they got 312 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 2: me in fat Farm clothing, which is an urban clothing line, 313 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: and I walk out. I mean, I look back on it, 314 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: I mean, this is what thirty years ago. I mean 315 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,959 Speaker 2: I was, and I pandered more to the audience I 316 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 2: was working to back then, but that's what I knew 317 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 2: thirty years ago, So I mean it's kind of cool. 318 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: I mean, I've done so many weird things. You know. 319 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 2: I hosted Woodstock ninety nine, one of the stages. 320 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: You know, when it was on fire. 321 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wasn't on that stage. I was on another one, 322 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 2: a big one, the West stage. That was the East stage. 323 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 2: You know. I roasted Trump in a rows years ago, 324 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,239 Speaker 2: you know things. I did a show once outside the 325 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 2: Washington Monument. It was a stage and it was a 326 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 2: drug awareness event and Cheryl well, what's his name from 327 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 2: Arrowsmith was the lead, the main guy, Steven Tyler. He 328 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 2: wasn't doing Arrowsmith songs. He was doing like I don't know, 329 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 2: countries or whatever other songs he does. Cheryl Crow was 330 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,479 Speaker 2: on it, the spand the Fray or whatever. Yeah, and 331 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 2: like I don't know, and all these local bands, and 332 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 2: it's outside the Washington Mountain. There's fifteen thousand people, and 333 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 2: I'm hosting and on big screens, you know. So I've 334 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 2: had so many cool different things happen. You know. Two 335 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: years ago, I did the four shows on Burke Chisier's tour, 336 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 2: the Opie and Anthony tour, you know, hosting these big events, 337 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 2: you know, and and every time you still walk out 338 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: nervous as hell, I bet, you know, there's certain clubs 339 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: I get nervous at just for the first ten seconds. 340 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 3: You know. 341 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: Well, once you know that you've got them in the 342 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: palm of your hand and they're they're laughing, does that 343 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: sort of take all of that away, and and then you're. 344 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 2: Sort of you come out and get a lap. You know. 345 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: I'm hosting in a couple of weeks we do this 346 00:19:56,359 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: benefit for Patrise O'Neill's family. This is the twelfth year 347 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 2: I'm hosting it. I host it every year, Billy Burgh 348 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,479 Speaker 2: closes it. And every year I walk out going, oh, 349 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 2: I got to do something different in the last twelve years, 350 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: and it's nerve wracking. And then you walk out and 351 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 2: you go, oh shit, I've already done this eleven times. 352 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 2: I mean, but in your head, I was going, oh, 353 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 2: this is the one I fall apart on or you know, 354 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: I don't know, yeah, you know it's and if you 355 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 2: say you walk out totally a nightmare, everybody forgets the 356 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: other eleven shows you did great at. 357 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: Right, because you're only as good as your last show, so. 358 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 2: We remember that one. Yep, every year I walk out 359 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 2: with such anxiety, you know, and whatever, Wow, it always 360 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 2: walks out. Everything always works out. 361 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: But I always thought that about comedians. You know, with musicians, 362 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: it's easy. You know, everyone knows the songs, they're ready 363 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: to sing along, you've got them right at the beginning. 364 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: But comedians, you have to reinvent yourself almost every single 365 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: time you take the stage, unless it's you know, an 366 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 1: audience of people that listen to your comedy album and 367 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: they know what word for word. 368 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, they don't want to see you know. You go 369 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: to see the Rolling Stones, you know, you want to hear. 370 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 2: Gimme shelter, you want to hear, you know, whatever I 371 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 2: say to their own stones. That's how old I am. 372 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 2: Who would you go with the Rolling Stones? Are the Beatles? 373 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: If you have to pick. 374 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 1: If I had to pick, oh gosh, well I've seen 375 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: the Stones, so I have to go with the Beatles. 376 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 2: Okay, you saw the Stones. 377 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: The Voodoo Lounge kickoff at Foxboro Stadium. I think it 378 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: was like somewhere in the nineties. 379 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 2: Oh that's good. You saw them when they were they 380 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 2: could walk. 381 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, So listen. You've been a mainstay in comedy for, 382 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: like I hate to say it, forty years. 383 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 384 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: How do you keep your material fresh and relevant? Because 385 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: the world is changing exponentially faster than you know, even 386 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: just ten years ago. 387 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: Well, I mean you try to keep writing stuff, like 388 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 2: you know coming up when I mean, I am seven albums? 389 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: Do I need an A an eighth album? Do I 390 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 2: just coast? Do I do the best of? And I 391 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 2: could do an hour or show of just crowd work 392 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,640 Speaker 2: without doing material if I wanted to, So I add stuff. 393 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 2: He had stuff, And I mean, I'm working on an 394 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 2: eighth shorter album of crowd work. Like my wife fifteen 395 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 2: years ago said, oh, you got to do a crowd 396 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 2: work DVD or CD. I got that's too easy. Now 397 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 2: everybody's making careers out of doing crowd work on which 398 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 2: I was doing for twenty twenty five years. And I'm 399 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 2: not saying I'm the best. There's very, very great crowd 400 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 2: work comics, you know, Big Jay and Bobby Kelly, Bonnie 401 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,199 Speaker 2: mccarthe a lot of them, David all like tons of 402 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: good CrowdWork comics. So I'll put out that with like 403 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: clips maybe, And I don't know, I don't know. I 404 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 2: mean I've been doing this forever. 405 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: What's your what's your process for new material? I mean, like, 406 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: how do you know when a bit is definitely when 407 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: you go, oh, yeah, I'm doing that one. That's going 408 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: to be honest stage. 409 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 2: I don't know until I do it. 410 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 1: Do you test any about out, like on your family 411 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: or friends. 412 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 2: No, I don't have friends. 413 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: Oh okay, that's smart. 414 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 2: Actually no, I just you know, either comes from ad 415 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 2: libbing on stage. I go, that would be a good thing, 416 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 2: you know. Yeah, well, I will do something. I write 417 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 2: down two words on my phone and I try it. 418 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 2: You know, it just comes along. I mean I forget 419 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: a lot. I got tons of I got seven, I 420 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 2: got forty years a crap. 421 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: Where do you keep it all? 422 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,199 Speaker 2: I try to keep it here, But I mean I forget. 423 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 2: I forget, you know, dumb things. And I for the 424 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: other day, I forgot my wife's phone them. I couldn't 425 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 2: think of her phone number. Has that ever happened to you? 426 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 2: Or you can't think of a phone number? 427 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: Okay, that's either a brain fart, a senior moment, or 428 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: your rolodex is just too full and you couldn't find 429 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: the the right Yeah, but that has happened to me 430 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 1: a lot lately. 431 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 2: Oh, it's happened to you, Joe. 432 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: Oh all the time. I can't think of people's names 433 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: that I've spoken for fifty years. 434 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 2: That's the worst. I won't I won't look sumped it 435 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 2: up until I figure it out. I'm not going to 436 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 2: let it win. 437 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: Oh, I don't even have Alexa. See nothing answered. I 438 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: don't have any of the robots I want. The only 439 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: thing I like them for is timers, you know, when 440 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: I'm making eggs. Yeah, But other than that, I don't 441 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: want to know the answers like that. I want to 442 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: figure it out. 443 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 2: We're still having babies me. Yeah, you said making eggs. 444 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: Oh no, not those kind of eggs. Oh, you know what. 445 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 2: I don't look hell, what easier life is. You come 446 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: down to your studio, you and the other couples do 447 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 2: what you guys do. I don't know. It's none of 448 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 2: my business. When the lights go off up in the 449 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: birch hears or whatever. 450 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: I want to delve a little bit into something that 451 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 1: you brought up earlier when we were talking about your 452 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: personal journey and your journey through recovery. You've been really open, 453 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: obviously about your recovery, and you've been sober since eighty seven, 454 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: which I want to say congratulations, because I do know 455 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: that sobriety has a shelf life of typically five years, 456 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: so to go as long as you have is an 457 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: incredible show of willpower and stamina and obviously worked hard. 458 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 2: Well, it's not really willpower surrendering, right. I never heard 459 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 2: us statistic five years. I heard one out of thirty three, 460 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 2: make it. I didn't know it was a five year run. 461 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: I learned that about my dad. He was a Green Beret, 462 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: so he had a lot of issues with PTSD and 463 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: it led to some alcohol and drug abuse. But later 464 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: on in my life he kept it together until we 465 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: all moved out and went to college. So I remember 466 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: someone telling me that I had such a higher I 467 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: don't know. My ideals about my dad went up like 468 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: exponentially when I realized how strong and he was to 469 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: make it so long sober. 470 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 2: Wow, that's cool. So yeah, yeah, No, I'm addicted to 471 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 2: anything that makes me feel good, instant gratification. One bird 472 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 2: feeder outside my window when I drank coffee made me 473 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 2: feel relaxed. Now I have five bird feeders outside my window. 474 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: Very cool, because I thought it would make me feel 475 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 2: five times as good as the one bird feeder. Did 476 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 2: you know it's just a mentally insane. 477 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: I love that any hummingbird feeders out. 478 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: There, I don't know. I just buy bird feeders. Whoever 479 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 2: comes can eat. 480 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, because the bird, the hummingbird, you have to 481 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 1: put like sugar water in it. It's a little different 482 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: than the other. 483 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 2: I'll go buy one of those today. 484 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: How has sobriety shaped your comedy in your life? 485 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 2: Well, I mean there's bits I do about where I was, 486 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: where I'm at. It's it's shaped my whole life. I mean, 487 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 2: it's given me a life. How can you can't have 488 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,919 Speaker 2: a life being addicted to it? I was doing to 489 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 2: Being addicted to anything will interfere with anybody's life. So 490 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 2: how's it giving me a life? I like I said, 491 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 2: I have three daughters, a wife, an ex wife, I 492 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 2: get along with grandkids and one on the way. You know, 493 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 2: I'm a giganic house looking at my in ground pool. 494 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 2: That's all the materialistic should I have. I listen, I 495 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 2: hit the bottom liners, I'd be dead. I was on 496 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 2: the path I was going, I'd be in jail or dead. 497 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 2: So it's the life has given me was not being dead. 498 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: Did you ever worry about losing your edge when you 499 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 1: got sober to do comedy? 500 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 2: First of all, I was only doing comedy for like 501 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 2: two years when I was active, So I stunk no 502 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 2: matter what, whether I was doing it or not. I mean, 503 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 2: how good was I at two or three years? Okay, 504 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 2: if you're going to use drugs an alcohol you know, 505 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 2: oh it makes me more creative. That's bullshit. Shut up. 506 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 2: You know you're you're just the disease of alcoholism and 507 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 2: drug addiction will tell you anything to keep you active. 508 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 2: I'm better in bed, I'm more creative, you know, I'm stronger. 509 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 2: It's all bullshit. You're either a social drinker or an alcoholic. 510 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 2: Just once you cross that fine line, there's no turning back. 511 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: So if you're saying your edge just because you drink 512 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 2: or get high, that's ridiculous. It's like over overweight comics 513 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 2: don't want to lose weight becausehifter actors talk about being 514 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 2: fat a lot of them. So you're going to have 515 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: a heart attack. You're going to die just so you 516 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: could tell a joker too, you know, you know it's uh. 517 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 2: You can't use your your addiction is because you are 518 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 2: an addict, or you're an alcoholic, or you're an overeater, 519 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 2: or you're an underreater, or you're a gambler. You know, 520 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 2: whatever you are can be. Listen. I gambled too much, 521 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 2: you know my main you know, Listen, I'm addicted. I 522 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 2: buy shit on Amazon. I don't need. I'm not perfect. 523 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 2: I'm not getting high a day at a time. But 524 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: believe me, I have a lot of shit to work 525 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 2: on in life, and I'm old. 526 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: You'll still be working on it the rest of your life. 527 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 2: Probably, yeah, yeah, yeah, unless I hope that. 528 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: Do you remember a time when making people laugh helped 529 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: you through a particularly tough time in your life. 530 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 2: I'm not making it laths, just going to work. You know, 531 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 2: there's times I had major anxiety in life where it 532 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 2: was bad. When I was twenty one, I wasn't a comic. 533 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 2: When when I was forty it was really bad. Luckily 534 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 2: I got through through it with a good therapist. I 535 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 2: kept working because I was ready to go. I got 536 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 2: to I got to stop this. You know, everything passes. 537 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 2: It all passes, good times, bad times, it all. You 538 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: look at a heart monitor goes up and down. You're alive, 539 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 2: straight across your dead. Everything passes, anxiety, king clouds, feeling good, 540 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 2: feeling shitty. Try not to react in those moments. You know, 541 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 2: and just accept them. It's easier for me to say, 542 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 2: but a lot of times I do it. A lot 543 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 2: of times I don't. I try not to get mad 544 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 2: at traffic. It's out of my control. I guess I 545 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 2: have no tolerance or patients with my wife. If she, 546 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 2: you know, didn't bug me so much, things would be great. 547 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, Well that was great advice. I was 548 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: going to tell you up until that part, you've worked 549 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: on a lot of things, and you've worked with a 550 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: lot of legends, and you've also mentored up and coming comedians. 551 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: What do you think is the most important lesson that 552 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: young comedians need to learn today? If you could pick one. 553 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: Be funny, that'd. 554 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: Be kind of important. 555 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 2: Well that it doesn't have to be important now. Now 556 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 2: was important is how many followers you have on Instagram chicktok. 557 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 2: Half of them aren't funny, but they're selling out clubs. 558 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 2: And you know, it's a different world. It has nothing 559 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 2: to do with quality now, it's quantity. And you know 560 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 2: older comms going this is crazy this person's headline and 561 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 2: they stink, and most of them do. But clubs have 562 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 2: to keep their doors open. But they got to draw. 563 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 2: There's a fine line between comedy club or YouTube club, right, 564 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,720 Speaker 2: you know there's a fun line. So what you know, 565 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 2: it's a quick fix that you keep these clubs keep 566 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 2: bringing in these TikTok or internet sensations. I know a 567 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 2: club these whole line says internet sensation. Internet. It's a 568 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 2: quick fix and it never works. It'll come back to 569 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 2: want you Talent always exceeds bullshit. You know, if you 570 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: have those members and the talent, well you're really lucky. 571 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 2: But I think talent should become first. Clubs used to 572 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 2: fill their rooms because they had great shows. Now they're 573 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 2: trying to fill their rooms because you know, someone knows 574 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 2: how to wash a car with their teeth. I don't 575 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 2: fucking know. 576 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: Whatever, It's true, No, you're you're right. It's a very 577 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: interesting time that we're all living through right now. It's crazy, 578 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: and I suspect it's going to get even crazier in 579 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: the next three to five years with the whole AI 580 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: thing and things that are going to happen that we 581 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: just can't even comprehend. But with your hindsight of all 582 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: of these decades of doing this, you're able to see 583 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 1: these patterns and things that you know, a lot of 584 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 1: people don't have the opportunity to the up and comers, 585 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: and they would be very grateful for someone like you 586 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: to give them good advice. And I you know, you 587 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: kind of talk like my dad, did, you know, just 588 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: very matter of fact to the point. If you want 589 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: to be a comedian, be funny, I mean, what else 590 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: is there? But we'll be honest, yeah, authenticity, Yeah, I 591 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: mean what else? 592 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 2: I mean? Should you want to be a juggler? Know 593 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 2: how to juggle? 594 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 1: Are there any moments backstage are on the road that 595 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: you had all of these years that stand out especially, 596 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: you know, that were formative for you or hilarious that 597 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: no one would ever know and that you want to 598 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: spill the beans on with me. 599 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 2: I was working Reno during like the It was I 600 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 2: think a porn convention. I was making out with two 601 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 2: girls at once backstage and they were all they were 602 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:00,120 Speaker 2: both tends and it was a dream come true. 603 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: Oh my god, Oh my god. I don't know that 604 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: I could imagine that would stand out. 605 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 2: Obviously, I don't remember it. I don't think that happened. 606 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 2: I think I just made that up. I don't know 607 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 2: when I've had so many fun times backstage on we 608 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 2: did our tour, Creeps with Kids, Me, Bobby Kelly, Jim Florentinea, 609 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 2: Ron Bennington. We had some funny moments backstage, and just 610 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 2: been years and years of fun moments, and there's also 611 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 2: been moments of you know, like, what am I doing here? 612 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 2: You know? Why am I at this place? You know? 613 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I understand it. 614 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 2: You got to pay your bills. 615 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: Your recent special, Rich Boss Anonymous. Yeah, it was filmed 616 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 1: at Narcotics Anonymous at a convention. What was unique about 617 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:53,359 Speaker 1: that performance? 618 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,439 Speaker 2: Well, no one's ever done that. Obviously I didn't show 619 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,480 Speaker 2: the audience because it was a twelve step convention. Well, 620 00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 2: my backdrop is so cool, the beginning, the editing. My 621 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 2: wife did the intro directed it. It's so cool. It's 622 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 2: I mean, I taped it a while ago, but we 623 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 2: just put it up. But no one's ever done it 624 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,799 Speaker 2: what I did, you know, And it's it's pretty cool. 625 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,160 Speaker 2: I talk about Ricy, you know, I talk about some recovery, 626 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:25,720 Speaker 2: some you know, regular stuff, and it's it's just cool. 627 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 2: It looks it shot very well. Amazon Rich for was Anonymous. 628 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,879 Speaker 2: You know. The guy that introed me, who did the 629 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 2: warm up, you know, went on to warm up, was 630 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:42,239 Speaker 2: Tim Dillon, who is a major star now what he was. 631 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 2: He was the warm up act and he's the one 632 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 2: who introduced You could hear his voice. But he's so funny, 633 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,800 Speaker 2: so funny. It's so weird. I've seen people just explode 634 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:56,839 Speaker 2: in this business. Explode. 635 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:57,800 Speaker 1: It's pretty amazing. 636 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 2: I have longevity and respect from my peers, and I've 637 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 2: always done well. But I've seen comics They're like, what 638 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 2: the hell? 639 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: What are some new specials and projects and goals that 640 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:13,280 Speaker 1: you want to hit before you hit the checkout counter? 641 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:14,399 Speaker 1: Coming up? 642 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 2: For Rich Voss, I guess one of my goals is, 643 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 2: you know, gay night at your house? 644 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 1: Okay, You're welcome anytime. 645 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 2: So I'm driving to that area. What's a goal to 646 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,320 Speaker 2: or a gaiety on the golf course? I've done it before, 647 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,720 Speaker 2: shoot the seventies. Get my game back if I sound 648 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 2: out of it, because I'm exhausted from traveling. But I 649 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 2: just was very exciting. You could tell that I was 650 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 2: very excited. 651 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:44,840 Speaker 1: I could see it. 652 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 2: You had great questions. 653 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: Well, thanks, I appreciate it, Rich Rich Boss, thank you 654 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:56,759 Speaker 1: for joining me on comedy saved me and thanks for 655 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 1: your sage, advice and wisdom. And I would you wish 656 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:01,960 Speaker 1: you nothing about the best in the future, and if 657 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 1: you ever want to come to game Night anytime, come 658 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 1: on bye. I'll leave a light on for you. 659 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 2: Okay, Red Roofs, thank you for having me.