Spiritual Perspectives on Life

Lemonour You made it weird. You with me Holes. What's happening, weirdos? I am so excited. You are here. This is Shang Wang, who is incredible I've known Chen for overver decade. He's hilarious and his new special on Netflix is called Purple and without any hy. I don't like when people say hyper withithout any exaggeration. It is one of the best specials of the past ten years. It's incredible. I've seen it twice. I absolutely loved it. Check it out, Shang Wang purple on Netflix. It's unbelievable And if you're looking for something you could maybe watch with like the whole fam Changging, purple Somehow we did it He did a special that's clean, but still interesting and brilliant. He's a brilliant writer and a brilliant performer. You need to check it out right now. I only have a couple things to plug up top. One is my book, Spells to cast on your parents. I'm holding it up right here. It's a book you read to your kids and they cast spells that make you do goofy things It's also guarded by a small black dragon named Jessse. That's all you really need to know Also my new special, well, not my new special, but my Netflix special, I'm Not For E everyveryone, is now available on YouTube for free For free. It was on Netflix for a while But now these days they lease specials, so then they release them back to the artist and we put it up on YouTube. So check that out. Also silly silly funun Boy, the special after I'm Not for everyone, is also on YouTube. So there's two If you haven't seen Netflix one, two new hours of stand upp comedy from me on youTube. com. It's website. Also, I'm on tour, go to Pethomes. comot If you're watching this the day, it comes out. I'm at Largo tonight with Shang. Shang Wang is going to be on the show. LargolA. com for tickets to that. We do it every month foollowed by Aspen Denver, Durham Charleston, Sacramento, Portland, Maine, Vancouver, San Louis Abispo, Madison, Wisconsin Seattle, Washington, Portland, San Diego, and that's it. Go to petehomes. com for all of those. In the meantime, enjoy this chat with the wonderful, the incredible. Shiang Wang. get into it Study and play! Come together on a Windows eleven PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the unreal college deal, everything you need to study and play with select Windows eleven PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft three hundred sixty five premium and a year of Xbox GamePass ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller Learn more at Windows. com slash student offer. Law Supplies last ends june thirtieth terms at aka. mS slash collllege PC whole couch. I just want to talk like you. But they only allotted me one side of the couch It's addictive. I actually think that's a pretty good compliment. Seinfeld said that, he's like, there's a certain level of success. That's when people want to talk like you because there's like there's making it, but then like real making it is people just wan to be like, Sang, how are you? Like it's fun. You know what I mean? So I've had you in my ear And then you start looking at the world like that. Yeah, yeah, I see that. You know what I mean? a new narration going on. Well, it's like a different costume. Like what if I was this brain and your brain is I think very relatable. And it's also like a really if it's okay we'll just start rolling. is that okay? Yeah It's also like a really pleasant place Like I really like where you're coming from. Yeah. And I think people really like that energy. Like I'm a big believer. It's like, yeah, there's the jokes And this is maybe going to sound stupid, but then there is the vibe. There's like, what does it look like from his brain? And I like it. Right. I mean, You know, it's a curated presentation of my brain Yeah, it's not you know, it's not the whole thing It's too much, you know, if you gota put it, you know, you got to figure it out which you want to present. but Yeah, you know, I kind of that's just that's just like kind of want to I try to bring peace and uplift people, you know? I'm trying to not make things more anxious and and I don't know hard or mean, you know? Yeah. Yeah,s there's something about minutia. It's almost like, you know what ASMR is. Yes. It's a little like ASMR, like Th about Berriryes or thinking about hotel shampoo or like just getting into the nitty gritty of life. It can be something like I hesitate to say meditative, but there is something meditative. It's grounding. Yeah. It's grounding. It's tactile. It's tactile. it's immediate.. real It's Yeahah, it's now, you know? Yeah. My friend yeah, my friend who He was he used to have this, you know, this anxiety, like kind of almost like a panic attack thing. and then his his therapist told him when he started to feel that, like start looking at water dripping down, like if you take a shower and watch the water drip down. Yeah. eachach individual be of water It just gets you into the moment when you just pit, you know, every little minor thing the ro is on this cat. Feel this. Just focus on Just focus on that. J waste a head. Yes, you know, the design and And it's consistent Yeah It's like his chair is holding you. Yeah. There something really like if I'm having like a flighty panicky moment. Yeah My Valerie will be like, my Valerie, my wife Valerie will be like Look at how many things are supporting you right nowight. You know what I mean? Like there's air in the room. Yeah gravity mayaybe you don't want to think about gravity when you're having a panic attack. like I mean, that's okay. I mean, yeah, there's a lot going Yeah's It's literally pushing you to the Eth and holding you down. Right. Like like a weighted blanket. It is. I mean, if you consider the column of atmosphere right above you going all the way up to the atmosphere, there's like several, I think pounds of ye I believe so I believe so pulling you down. Yeah. I mean, yeah, it's a lot of Yeah, I just think little things like that just help It's it's good to like be right here and it's nice to, you know, know that. I mean, that that's what makes it relatable. It's because it's Totally all around, you know. And it is sort of I don't want to make a judgment and say it's a shame, but people do tend to lose it. There's something kind of child like about what you're doing Yeah, which is like or alien like. And again, I mean that as a compliment. Yeah, yeah yeah. There's little bottles of shamp. Like you go to a hotel and they have little versions or leeaks. Yeah. L that's almost a tree. likeike that's something thing a kid In the most beautiful way, you've held, has that been a deliberate effort on your part? I think so. I mean, I think I think that's, you know It's just like fun for me to notice things, you know, payid attention to things. I mean, I think it started with Um You know photography, to certain extent photography. It is like photography, you know, because and noticing. Yeah. I took photography classes in college and that's it was all kind of around the same time. I took poetry, photography and I was doing comedy stuff. And it all kind of converged in this format you know. ex. Yeah, because ye that's kind of when I started doing photography, you know, when you first started doing any one of these things You're in that mode twenty four when you first get into it and you're excited and you're like locked in, you're constantly like framing your life through the lens of that thing, right?. And it's very similar Photography and comedy, like you're just observing things around in your life Yeah, it's like a treasure hunt. Yeah. And I don't mean money. I mean like. Right, rightight. You' looking it's like the terminor thing, you know, when you know, and it's like analyzing you're trying to see, is this a photo? Is this a joke? Is this something interesting It's funny because so Eckart Tol has come up twice now. One is he says gateway to the present is how you're feeling, like your physical body touching something. So Ekartoli is a spiritual teacher, but he just talks about the present moment a lot. And he's like, if you're feeling flighty J just focus on one thing, like the sensation of your hand on the mic. You feel that and it grounds you. Then the other thing that he said, I did a retreat with him and he was talking about like every time seeure like every time you see a window, imagine it like a picture frame Imagine it like it's framing art because that's a different lens. If you took a picture of exactly how you are right now and hung it up in a museum, peopleople would look at it E people would be like Oh wow. You know what I mean? Like so there's like a way to Instead of just going like, oh, boring reality You can look at it like a photograph, you can look at it like a piece of art. you can look at it like it's something that might have a joke. Yeah. And that's what I feel like. You tell me as a photographer, you're looking for these little How was everyone missing this? Like the pollen is coming off of this bee right now and you take a picture and you show it to everybody else.ight. Or like Van Gogh painted that chair, like one of his most famous paintings is a chair. Yeah ye ye. It's like a three dollarars chair. and that's also a Echartoi thing. The painting sold for like fifteen million or whatever, Not that it's about money, but it's like someone who sees something clearly. somethingomething boring, clearly seen is very valuable to us. And I see what you're doing in your comedy. Yeah, I guess yeah, I mean, I'm a fan of a cartola for sure. Oh really Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's just It's just fun for me. It is like a little treasure hunt Yeah Yeah. Well, if you and I went to the supermarket, with the dance. designated purpose like let's write bits would have would go into a different Like a scavenger hunt Frequency, right I mean, because well, there's there's like the hunt for things, right? And then The extra whatever is like your understanding or feeling about this thing. And that's what's I don't know, like beyond like something that looks cool is having finding like this new sense of who you are You know, You ever see something you ever look at something, I get the feeling you do. and for some reason it gives you a really unexpected emotion Like might this is gonna sound like a joke, but you look at a tide box and it just makes you feel like just the quickest flash of fear or something orr like anxiety. A t wood box? A tide box, like tide deter.. I'm just picking something totally randnder. But like you look at something, why does that make me happy, you know, orr why does that make me feel sort of sad? But sometimes I'm like, whyy did that make me just feel kind of panicked? half a second. Yeah. Is it because I have to do laundry? Is Is it such a bold orange red that's kind of, you know, usually that's like blood, like there's something in our primal. Like all I don't know. if you're paying attention now you're feeling Yeah Like even if I asked you like right now Often when I'm doing therapy, what we start with like what's present for you right now And when I start looking around my interior, just like my feelings I find almost every single one. Do you relate to that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. sometimes goo ahead. Yeah, no, I think yeah, I can relate to that. There's a lot of yeah, it's good to it's check in. check in. check in. I was feeling kind of down on myself coming here because Apparently My maps found a better way, a better route, and I was gonna get here like a little bit more on time than, you know, And then I missed the exit to Bowry You know, I love Beaury. I love saying the word Baudry. I don't know Beaudry. Is that the one it was? Before you hit when you're coming north past onn the one hand. Before you hit the one on one, right by all that Downtown stuff Yeah. There's that one like ramp that goes third, fourth and then if you go off third, theres there's Baowry, which you have to get to by crossing like four lanes immediately. Yes. I know what you're talking about. Yeah. And alwaysic. Yeah. and I didn't realize we were doing that thing today because it didn't say that before we started and then it changed during the route And I got down to myself, but then I was like I I felt it. I was like, Yeah, you know. Yeah. Yeah, yeah And I was like, it's okay. I mean the only thing is I don't want to be late for you guys, but for me, it's like if it's a few minutes now, I try not to get, you know, I'm still alive and I'm in the car and I get to enjoy this.ight. I'm listening to the cure right now. Totally That's so right out of my own brain. It's like tempted and it's really reflexive. You're not making a choice to over analyze or make a story out of something like I missed an exit. Your brain just naturally starts going like I'm not saying your brain but like because you're a fool.?ight Right. I was like You blew it. Wh you blew it. Why does it do that? It wants it like when I love that we say don't catastrophize because I think that's like the brain's number one job is to just take stuff and be like, well, this is what they're gonna think. And we're almost exactly the same age. As I get older, I notice that that's the volume on that is turning down. Tamp it down a little. And I like that a lot. Yeah. Would you are you Well, let me ask you a better question. goo ahead. No, it's peace. I just wanted more peace in my life. Dude That's not you don't want to That became the priority. Yeah. Yeah. I totally didid you watch thedie Murphy documentary No, I haven't seen it. That's good. Yeah. I'll ruin the best party. He goes, donon't pray for success. He goes prray for peace of mind. Yeah. I was like I was like, Eddie, Eddie? I just didn't expect it. But then I wasn't surprised at the same time. Yeah, I mean, he's been just doing his own thing on his own term for a long time now, right? Yeah I feel that. Beuse he's got a lot of pressure to like come and do stand up from other people, but I kind of love that he doesn't do it. Yeah. It's I don't mean he's over. I just mean like People want Eddie Murphy to do comedy because they want to be who they were when they saw Raw. Yeah, you know mean I think he knows that R right. He's like, you think I'm going to come out on stage and you're going to be fifteen again I can't do that. Interesting. You're gonna be forty seven. Right. And you' like your body's gonna to be creaking and cracking. and like it's not it's not to save you. so I'm not gonna to do it. Yeah I mean, yeah. It's almost an impossible place. I don't know. I'd love to see it, but Yeah no I I't know man. I really worry about I those comeback things because I really feel like like I had a friend like from college, was like, oh I want to be friends. And I was like, Th about it. I was like, oh, that's really sweet. but I think we're both talking about who we were when we were in college. Th those people are dead. Yeah. They're gone. Yeah, ye. I mean, sometimes they come back. Yeah, sometometimes they do come back. and it's usually unfortunate. Sometimes they come back You that it reminds me of your toaster bet. There is like an emotion Like I would say that your standup is very emotional, not just your perspective, but evocative. Like it evokes The feeling of mortality. So like you talk about getting a really nice toaster oven. Yeah. And then you're like, this is so high quality, it might be my last toaster oven. Right. I don't wantan to do a whole bit, but I could Which one of my nieces or nephews has the charisma to represent me on antique road? Yeah ye ye with this oven. And it's so funny, but now you're thinking about dying Yeah. That's kind of what I'm talking about, like Yeah stuff. is is the whole thing. I don't mean consumerism. I mean like, Your life is shoelaces and toothpicks and wet naps. R. That's your life. Right. Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. L I like there's some artists that do like Interesting representations of life. like I saw one in I think The Was it the big museum in London? the British the big British National Museum? Yeah. Anyways, there were some artists that just basically did like one person's a couple two people's lives from beginning to end in the form of medicine pills. Oh wow. And it's just like, you know, those little things in the foil or yeah, just tablets and just You know, and it would break them down into different phases of life and what these different drugs, all the different drugs that The cocktails of, you know, along the way. Yeah But yeah, just yeah. I'm imaging it's like morphine Right, Right.ight Just tons. Yeahes. Yeah, it like kind of starts like nothing or little and then it gets, you know, big and then gets small you know, it's. I mean, maybe it gets small, I don't know it just ends someh Who knows?. But at the beginning, it's like cutie little Yeah, Mbe Fintston. Yeah, Fint That's kind of crazy. That does remind me of N not as overtly. you're not going like, this is your life. like you're gonna die or whatever. That's pretty morbid. It's just but it's just get to consider. this preciousness and you know Like different ways of looking at how limited our time is here Yeah Yeah, yeah, you consider that, I guess. Yeah, and it's on the it's on it's on the mind more. You know, we're not twenty or you know, youre. Yeah, just the idea that this is a limited run I think about this all the time. I try to go like, could I have some of that deathbed Enhusiasm. What do you mean? People let's say you skirt death likeike you were going to die and then you get a second chance. Like I was actually it's kind of sweet, I think. I was like, I'm going to see Katie. And I actually was like, o, Katie's going gonna to have everything set up 'ause I kept having that feeling. I was like, I think I'm forgetting something. Like I didn't have anything in the car. It was just me, just an idiot driving to this. know, I'm kidding, but I'm like Wait, Katie's going to set everything up And that's really sweet. I was like, it's funny whenever I see Katie, I'm just like, Hi, Katie, but if I almost died The next time I saw Katie, I'd be like, Katie. You know what I mean? Like, Oh my God, it's you. Like crying. we don't have time for this, I guess. So our lives become very like steam cleaned and regimented and ordinary And by the way, I'm excited to see you again. But like we kind of lose that stuff. So this curiosity And this attention to detail might be in the same in relationship with like an appreciation for your life. I think so, and I think so. And I think you can still have that moment. Yeah You know, you can still have your thought on your drive here, like your appreciation for Katie, like you can still have that. Yeah, you know, And you had that thought and, you know, and noticed you honored it, you know? honored it totally. Yeah. like I think yeah, partly, it's because this heightened sense of awareness of like end or just the limited run. So you want to you want to make it day, you know, make it make It's hard to say, so how do you make it count? Yeah, you know. And I think just being present and engaged as much as you can is I think that's the way. And so like these little details seem little, but they're actually like keeping you on the, you know In your experience. Yeah, in your body, in your now. you can drop anchor and just go like this I sometimes say this to crows. I get the feeling you might say similar things too. You go about it a different way, but you imbu to use that word again, I said evocative earlier, but you imbue the crowd With like, this is your life. This is it. Yeah. It's happening. Yeah, I do. There's a little bit of that. I mean, I think, I don't know, I don't have these very like clear goals and what you're doing by talking about it, but I am. Yeah. But think I think there you know, the little things is to kind of slow down life. Yeah. right so you can kind of dilate the length, the feel the sensation of time passing Um, and then And then wait, what was the other thing we' saying U the crowd, you're giving them some of that like this is your life. Yeah, ye, yeah. I mean Just remind Yeah. so so just Well slow down and laugh I sloow down and laugh and enjoy it all, but there was something else was gonna say I't know the objects. The minutia is Appreciating your life. Like appreciating Katie is appreciate. Oh, and what's happening is what's happening Is that helping? Yeah. It's like if you and I like really, you could let it go and trust it'll come back Yeah Like if you and I just go like, this is our life. Like a good date good show, a good movie. You just go, this is what I'm doing. That's why I find second screening so offensive Like if somebody's scrolling Instagram while they're watching a movie. What is this? We've confused stimulation with living. You know what I mean? It's like we've gone into into the fuse box of our nervous systems and go, if I can like feel everything that's life. And you talked about in your special like wanting to be in nature more and like having more slow hangs with your friends. and you said here earlier that you want peace. like that's because like I'm going to put this to you like one day lived authentically, like actually I don't mean like thinking about the chair, but like being here, locking on to the preciousness of these two fragile meet astronauts and we're here at the same time in outer space. L if you can really lock into your life, one day of that, is better than ten years of walking like a zombie through somebody else's life and somebody else's plan for you. That's why like the Truman show and all these things where people are like snapping out of it and just going like Ky, I love you. you know, just like figuring out that this is it. Yeah, yeah ye. arere we talking about the same? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, basically just just just just an appreciation for this Yeah. ye. Who taught you that? Who taught you to look out for that? I mean, I think, you know, I grew up parents are My parents are like Buddhists, you know, I went to Chinese school, but I also went to Chinese class. I to Chinese classes in a Buddhist like a temple setting. What age? In time? Middle school? No, this is in Houston U middle school. Okay started Yeah, started Chinese classes in elementary school, but basically like there were these ideas of like impermanence, inherent suffering when we get attached to things. And as a kid, you're like, that sounds crazy. I it makes sense, but you're like, I'm just trying to have, I'm just trying to go to the food court. I remember this, you know. When someone was like desire is the root of all suffering or whatever. I don't know if that's exactly the wording, but I was like Yeah, I want ice cream I want to serve like It doesn't make any sense. Right. Like you're like, I'll take the suffering if I get to have some ice cream. Yeah, right. And then as you get older, that starts to unfold a little bit. Absolutely. I you understand, this two sh pass, whether good or bad, everything is constantly changing like you can, you know, enjoy it in the moment Don't get attached to it. I don my daughter. we can't get her to understand because she loves stuff And I can't blame her But I'll say to her, she's only seven. I'll be like, baby stuff doesn't make you happy. And I'll go like do you I'll try and get real slick with I go. Do you remember the last thing I got you And she doesn't. But like that's a little bit unfair. like I'm really kind ofing her. She's seven. Yeah, yeah yeah. And she she doesn't take that as hurtful. I'm not like messing with her. I just like, I'm trying to go like This is a Rupert Spyr thing. Like let's say Iave you those shoes and they made you happy. It's not the shoes that made you happy. It's actually this moment where you weren't wanting anything where your true self was revealed. So you were just sort of stood naked. you weren't confused by seeking or resisting. you just had a pure moment. But it's not the shoes because if it was the shoes, every time you looked at the shoes the shoes would give you that feeling. Everything fades in appreciation. Yeah. Does that make any sense? Yeah. Yeah. So I'm trying to teach this to my daughter. But that I also go like it's not really the time, man. H's Here's a groot doll. know It's hard. It's I mean, you know, it was we're still we're still learning' trying to get get into it. I'm forty years old. I' still still like a, you know I'm talking about this all the time, but'm know I'm failing every day. Yeah, Ially ally It's just a st, you know, we're trying Yeah and but if it does feel right those make sense. You mean the giving up the looking for happiness in objects or buying stuff Yeah, you know material consumption. I mean, yeah How is success felt I mean, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that For me, it's all about opportunities to like continue doing what I love I love the craft. Yeah. And I love that people get to come out. I love that people get to enjoy it together. you know, like I love seeing I don't know, families come out. Yeah. It never was a goal you know, as a young comedian, I wasn't like, I'm ready to know, I want to see like people with their kids out. I want to see people with their parents out. That was never occuring to until it started happening. Yeah. And I was like, this is very sweet. Yeah. And I love that there's an opportunity for intergenerational family to enjoy something together equally Be you know, it's hard for that for you to find those things totally. And so And I didn't have a lot of that as a kid. and so I don't know, I just Oh, I was just talking about this like beautiful it is to see your parents liking something. And then it was really too far afield for me to be like, Iagine if we really like the same thing. But I had a moment where I listened to strategic grill locations, the M Tedburg album with my ex now ex mother in law And she was like a very conservative Christian. So it was me, my ex wife and her in a car, and I'm like trying to think of what comedy we can all listen to. And I put on Mitch Eedberurg and we and she was dying. I was like This is cool. I can't believe we both like this. Yeah. And it's like you're similar in that like You'll say like a titty. Like that's that's like You know what I mean? Yeah, It'll be, but it's just your intent is so clear. Right. I mean there's adult It's grown up. I'mown up stuff, but like it's what nobodyody's gonna to be blushing. Yeah' contr. Yeah. And so like I just, I don't know, that's really for me The success part is just having people resonate with this stuff and finding, you know, I got a message this morning from Someone I don't know, you know, apppparently he's a musician. U like a young black guy and he was telling me how much he enjoyed the special and on his mother's Day and his mom's passed. and so he just needed this these things to get him through this tough day for him. Yeah. And I I read it this morning and it was like m very touched by that. you know, and I'm just grateful. like That's that's the most meaningful stuff to me. It's like I a chance to make a livelihood. I got a chance to perform for people and I I get to continue doing it. It really seems to help people and they didn't really enjoy it. so. That's all that's the most That matters to me really. I'm just so pleased. I don't know. I'm pleased for you. I'm pleased to hear this. Like it pleases me, but I'm also like just happy that you've figured this out. Ming, I talk to a lot of people on the pod and it's not like I'm grading their answers or anything, but it can disappoint me when I'm like, and sometimes they're old. and I'm like, oh you're really thinking the next thing, the next success, the next ring of the bell is gonna fill in cliche but you're gonna fill this hole right You're going gonna feel okay about yourself. Yeah. And it's nice to see that but like cooking comes into play. you feel like someone who cooks just'. Like like I'm watching a new season of go ahead. No why? Wh we of be, F. And there's this line that is really was haunting to me where Oscar Isaac is like, we grub hub every day. And I was like And the people that created that show, I'm like that's Perfect. That's the perfect way too say these people have money And they're miserable. That's like the new way to say it. Like you can have, I used to do it when we lived here. I would order dumplings from one place and would order dessert from milk bar and have them race. We would try to like stagger it. And look, that's fun But it's not the point. Yeah. Now I'm realizing like My daughter and I two nights ago, she said I want to make tomato soup. I don't even know where she got this idea. I didn't know how to do it. We went to the store. Turns out it's three ingredients. It couldn't have been easier. And it was Shang style. We were just kind of freestyling the amounts. It was delicious. Beautiful. We ate it. I could cry. That's lovely. It was We were eating this soup like it was a treasure. orr you could have the finest tomato soup driven you from across town and that means absolutely nothing. sorry I know I'm a little scatatter. we were talking about success and gratitude, but like we're back to like your lifestyle. Yeah, no. I mean, I love that. Yeah. Yeah. I I I was, uh I was getting Boba yesterday And it was me and a bunch of friends, you know, fat like their, you know, families, the kids and everything. and And there was a bunch of orders for our delivery before us And it was a super hot day and I'd be like, yeah, it'd be nice to just be home and have all this just delivered to you. Yeah, you know. But like Life is getting out there. Go get your own Boba, you know? You know, there's a whole story. Get it, go get it, go get it. What are you afraid of? G into the world bumble around, seeee some people say hi to a strange. Bute when we were talking about touching an object, when we're feeling anxious going for a walk around the neighborhood, just remembering where you are. Yeah. You watch like the news and there's so much awful. like maybe just go check on your street Yeah You know what I mean? Yeah Like I remember the last time something bad happened. I'm not saying it's not about like plugging ears and going la, la, laa. but you walk and get coffee. And I saw Brett, the guy who works at Brew over here and I talked to him. Yeah. Like this is your life. Yeah. This life Yeah, this is life too. Right. This is life too. I could have had a delivered Right, rightight? A we saying the same thing? Yeah, yeah, you know, like there's that Kurt Vonnegat story where his wife was like Why are you buying? whyy are you going outside you leaving the house to go buy an envelope? Just get aack box a hundred or whver. And He's like, this is this is life. Yeah. goingoing out there to put your m and get an envelope. sayay hi to the neighbor'sg. you know, like I don't bro. I mean, unless you got a lot and I don't know what's going on in your life, but like, you know, like going outside, taking a walk going to the post office, you know, that's all stuff that I like to do. Yeah. I mean, you know, well go ahead. You know, there's just time for that, you know? And there has to be time to. Yeah. Well you said in your amazing and I should have said this up top, forgive me, but you're special. Ive watched it twice the whole way through, which I don't care. whyy am I telling you this? but like I never do that. I'm never like this. fire that up again.ike but I did. No, that's crazy. That's crazy. I loved it more the second time That's wild. thank you. It's unbelievable. You're so funny. And I should have said that up top. No, no. No. There's no We'll plug the hell out of it up top. but good. But yes, I appreciate that. No thank you. But like envelopes in life, what were we saying goinging out there and doing little things. Yes. Yes. Oh, yesterday, I picked up the pizza. I had a bunch of kids at my house And I volunteered to go get the pizza. And I was like in the car and just had that realization of like, could have gotten it delivered. I live in a small town too, so it's easier to go get it But I was like This is it. Like part of you goes like, I don't wantan to look for parking. and you're like, what are you talking at me? Like sometometimes that anxiety and I do mean very mild anxiety, like whereere am I going to park comes up? like your pleasure chest joke. easasy parking is. But I was like Yeah I mean, you know what? It was a little tricky to find parking, but we figured it out, yeah And I'm listening to music. I had the windows down and I saw people and I saw all different kinds of people. I saw people that looked likebe they were having an argument, like based on the way they were waled. L this is back to that alien vision where you're just visiting Yeah. Suddenly, you showed up in your own life And mushrooms and weed can be really helpful this. That feeling of like, What's that? What is? What is what do you more on that, please. What do you mean? Just like what's happening? Well is Yeah, what is this? Where are we What are these things? I'm moving through air like water, like water to a fish, air to me. and I'm swimming around And they're giving me a pizza. It's very similar to my Katie What's up Oh dude During my beautiful water to fish monologue I think we have a Yes chaa, ch. And don't edit that out. I like that. I actually firmly believe this. These are the new delicacies. An AI podcast will never have the tech come in and say your mic isn't working.. So you leave that in, please. Human. We're gonna to crave it. I do it on saage. I go like, if I can't remember what bit I want to do next or theres some weird moment. I'm like, no this is I'm giving you I'm giving you uni right now. Like this is really special. because you never get it.. If this was clipped, it would just be chunked out and every sped up and all that Starting a new business is incredibly difficult. There's so much to think about, payroll, onboarding, HR forms, tax stuff, and all that chaos while you're trying to learn, you have this sneaky feeling that you're forgetting something, which is why so many companies feel such a sense of relief when they start using Gusto. Gusto is online payroll and benefit software built for small businesses It's all in one remote friendly and easy to use. So instead of juggling payroll, direct deposit, onboarding docs, tax filing, hiring an HR across a bunch of different systems, it all lives in one place and saves people a ton of time and stress. They also have unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price, which is great, no hidden fees, no surprises. And if you ever run into some confusing HR situation You get direct access to certified HR experts, which is huge for small businesses, trying to do a lot with a lean team. It's also quick and easy to switch to Gusto. You can transfer all your existing data and get up and running fast. plus, you don't pay anything until you run your first payroll, which is incredible. So try Gusto today at gusto d. com slash weird and get three months free when you run your first payroll, that's three months of free payroll at gusto. com slash weird. one more time, gusto. com slash weird It's Julie Louie Dreyist from Wiser than Me, etcera. Just popping in with a little reality check Food waste shouldn't exist. There is no reason that our leftovers should end up in a landfill, but that's the final destination for about a third of the food we grow Our ancestors would be confused. 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That's mill dot com slash wiser for seventy five dollars off This summer, serve up the cookout cllassics, Oscar Meyer Hot doogs and Heinz mustard. Grill up a dog, add classic yellow mustard, or loaded Chicago style We all know it's not a cookout without Oscar Meyer and Heines Anyway, the weed and mushrooms, is that part of your life? That kind of feels like It might be in the. Yeah ye. I mean, weed is pretty regular part of my life. I take breaks every now and then. I'm due for a break. Yeah O overdue for a break. You know, your tolerance is like, it's not even effective that way anymore. So. And it's not novel. I can feelow to that hit as well And then taking the break and going back to it makes it special again. Makes it special again. You want that magic Yeah Yeah. But yeah, I think it's helpful. Mushrooms, I've had U Some lately, it's really it used to be like a fun thing now it's more like a very like quiet introspective thing. I really would need to be like A in the woods. Yeah. I'm the same way. We just had a bunch of people this wasn't that recently, but the last time I did them, it was a bunch of people at my house And everybody it was very ceremonial and beautiful when we took this little tea. I'd never done it as a tea And it was a pretty big dose. And I as soon as it kicked in, didn't make any choice, I was just like, I'm out of here. Yeah. And I went over and sat with a tree, which is a cliche, but me and that tree man friends for life. And everyone else, no judgment Everyone else was partying. They were like hanging out. They were laughing and talking and I was like It made no sense to me. I was like These things want to talk to They want to talk. You guys are here all the time. I'm never talking to this thing.. Do you know what I'm talking about? Like it has his energy and I was like and what it had to say to me was Unbelievably beautiful. And I was like, I'm I guess I am being a little judgmental because I'm glad I didn't spend it just, you know, right. shhooting the shit. Right, right? I don't know. Maybe that's not what they were. I mean, either way, you could do you could do. It's fun both ways. Fun both ways. It's hard for me to be in that mode unless I'm like already drunk and then I do mushrooms That that's a party moment but if yeah, yeah I don't know mushrooms. Yeahah, lately,ve it's much more sparing, you know, I boom very rarely, but Yeah, it's a fun. I mean, it I think it's a healthy, like thing that just like check in every year or so. Yeah, totally. look under the hood. Yeah look under the hood. like anything new? Be it will But we more manageably more, I guess more you could do it more as a routine. does kind of like when I listen to you, I was listening to your special. I watched it the first time, but I listened to it in the car I was like, I bet people this is kind of like a I was also listening to the flaming lips, and I was like, this is kind of weird music. Isn't it? Like it has that energy of like this bassline sounded amazing when I was stoned. and then you play it for me and it kind of makes me feel stoned. Yeah. I feel similar about your comedy. I'm like, it's coming from that the under the bed little like fairy town, like the where the gnomes are You know what I mean? Like appreciate the barish. You know what I mean? Like there's something Yeah. Does that feel right? I mean That feels right. That feels right. Do you think of jokes while you're stone? Um, yeah, I mean I guess so. I think for me, it's just like being present and just again, noticing when I realize like, oh, I do have certain like feelings about this thing or, you know, like R. You know Totally. Like just that toothbrush bit, like, oh, this is a little moment for me. Picking a color. That is such a good example. Like which color speaks to me and then purple being like, this is that you didn't even You're not doing bullshit makeuups. You actually have a belief. I do. a small thing these are there's I have a like kind of a thing, you know, in my mind, the purple one is special you know, bust that out in emergency. Yeah and then these are the other ones that you kind of go with depending on what you need and feel you Yeah. I mean, there's such a minor it's you, obviously, I don't put a, you know, it's a joke I do have A little silly little part of me that does care which one I picked right now Of course. Of course. but I think this is what this is kind of what I was getting at when I'm like, you look at something and it evokes a feeling in you. Yeah. I think everyone's having that experience and sometimes you need You know, an artist to kind of remind you of that. Like you are an open nerve to reality. And that is actually something I wanted to ask you. do you consider yourself like a sensitive person, like are you yeah? I think so. I would have been shocked. I mean of course you know, it's some, you know, you miss some things, but like, yeah, I think generally pretty sensitive. And do you get like overwhelmed by the world? Like if you if so much is coming in Sometimes. Yeah.. It seems like if you're cooking for your girl, I use your terms. I don't want to say girlfriend, it it's too formal. If you're cooking for your girl Yeah. I get the sense that you're trying to curate that Like I imagine a loud party or a club or something. I don't know. what overwhelms you? Like what's the situation whereere're like, oh, I'm a little bit weird Um, yeah, like like a big social thing C can be like, you know You're more comfortable. let me finish that for you or lead this into you. You're more comfortable on stage than if you were just mingling with the crowd. Right. I mean I guess it depends on what kind of crowd, you know Um Like Like I mean I mean Yeah, I mean, like like industry, I don't really care for industry and thirsty Yeah thirsty actors, thirsty players. Yes, you know. Yes. I don't like that whole ople strategizing on what you should do with your creativity next. Yeah. It's the whole scene of like people of business and networking and Faceetime and you know, I don't know you know, I'm not I'm not a really You just saying FacTime was just hard for both of us. I think it was like a hard thing to hear that. like o yeah strateg like almost like plotting. Yeah, I just am not and and that's kind of, you know, especially, you know, when you start your early part of your career in comedy maybe even later, you just need to be you need to do some of that. Yeah You know, and I did what I had to like the bare minimum I was never aggressive with any of that stuff. I always like waited too long to try Yeah, to ask or to just start, like, you know. What's something you waited too long? You know, like Likeike I started in San Francisco I was in LA for a little bit, then I was in New York two thousand nine and like I went right back to the open mics I was already, you know, at some level like, you know, working at the clubs, well, at least the ones that knew me in the bay and in California, but I went right by to open mics and I did you know, was I was like slow to like get myself out there again and like, you know established myself on the scene. Meaning if you had had more slickness, let's call it you would have gone to a club and been like, hey, I'm an established comedian. Yeah, or just been more aggressive about like trying to like peopleople know They should book me you know you don't even want to say it right now. You don't even want to say it now. You should book me. Maybe I could do well on yourself. Yeah, but you wouldn't be who you are if you were that. You know what I mean? Yeah, ye. Like if you were that guy, you'd be a different comedian. Probably. So it fits But like When you did those mics, I did the same thing, by the way. I wasn't quite established I did some MC work out of Chicago. and then when I went to New York, I went back to the mics And I thought that was kind of smart because you could do well like you'd be the' that was that your experience? Yeah'd be like, o, I'm doing well. peopleople are kind of like What the fuck is that Sort of. Oh reallyally? Sort of. You Really? Yeah. becausecause it was I mean, it was just like really like supportive, but it's just too much to do. Some, you know, you can't be had to I don't know, it was just a little too much. It was quite depressing to be honest. Performing for nobody. O yeah, I the other just being an open mic too long, too much. Yeah, you know, you got I mean, it's real And it's good to go every now and then still. and I think that's it's not a, you know, I think it's a good thing to It's necessary it's a part of our thing. U I consider the original room and open my Oh yeah, you know what? That has opened my g. Yeah. Even if it's full. And I'm not putting it down. I'm just like, I think that's good. I'll do what I think is a ten out of ten joke, it'll get a three. And I'm like, o right Do you feel that? I mean, yeah, I think that'ss that's what comedy is. Yeah. you know, that's what these reps are. Yeah. ye ye I mean, I just got a little just it was just a little dark for me the first couple of years in New York Uh I was doing I I was desperate for stage time, but I wasn't pushy about getting the good stuff. And I was just like, whatever look, you know Yeah, there were some rough times. Really? Yeah. Did' it fall into the like drinking ression Yeah Yeah, of course. I mean, not necessarily the depression part, but just the drinking you know, ' it's like moving to New York, the exciting part was like, you don't have to drive everywhere. Yeah, that's right. So It's a big enabler. Yeah. Yeah. That's when I started wearing glasses because I was like, I don't have time to take my contacts off. I' going home drunk like that. Yeah, yeah ye. Yeah, it was just, I mean, from when I say Well, yeah, the drinking was a thing, but also like it was just like I got days time at like shows that were just full of tourists that were lied to That's right. You know? You were hoodwinked. Yeah to this show. Th Yeah, these people com in and expecting to see Kevin Hart And Eddie Murphy and Luis EK. and it's just like me and a bunch of like It really is a scam. Yeah. It's a huge scam. a scam that we all sort of should apologize for, which arery. L I was in that scam too. Yeah. It's like, yeah, the greatest comedians in the world and it's actually You m. Baby Chapelses here. the shows I would never. mean he did a little stint there, but would say And then for months would be like Chappelle was here. Oh yeah. two months. twowo months ago You don't know. right then it's awful. So is that what was the heaviest part? the trickery of it I mean, just the people com in that you know, where you at the haa? This is like a What is it under the Broadway No next to the Broadway. there's this other small weird room that wasn't There wass aroaday comic C club that next there was another thing that Eastville? No, this is like up in fifty third, fifty six. Okay. like that. Okay That That's too high. I'm just kidding. Yeah. too high. It's very high. see ride my bike bike I bike there? I would bike there. Oh no. I show up super sweaty. You know, I'd been bikek there in the winter with a big puffy coat Yeah, getet hell a sweaty. Go in there, throw my coat off Just ready. And then a bunch of people who would think they're gonna go see Lucy K, Kevin Hart, you know, some. Th then theyre just this dude. they've been lied to. And this guy's moist, them moist. I'm listening And yeah, it was just rough, dude. I couldn't relate more. Yeah. Every show I wanted to open with an apology. Yeah, everyverybody's unhappy. And it was me who barked them in. Yeah. Like I lied. R. And guess what? it's actually me.. You thought it was Kevin Hart, but it's actually the dude that just handed you this flyer. Yeah. Oh man I forgot about how dirty that felt Those were rough timesmen. Then what snapped you out of it? Like I just had to leave. I said, no more of this. Yeah after certain you had a moment of clarity. Yeah, I was like, this is a nie aace time By a certain point, this is not beneficial anymore. Yeah, ye yeah I remember seeing around that time. you had short hair. Yeah, right? Yeah. Yeah. This is the right hair. I don't mean that in an industry way. This feels like you. Yeah remember that guy It just wasn't as what am I talking about your hair? saying like it didn't this seems more like you figured yourself out a little bit. I this is this isn a discovery during the pandemic. likeike I didn't You know, I tried to like, ro my hair longong like two thousand. early days of doing my standup I got to that weird period and I think Guy Brndham was in the scene at the time. you know, we were all on the scene in San Francisco and he was very supportive for like the first few months and it got to a certain moment. He he was like, Yeahah, you should cut it he made a comment that made me lose confidence. I couldn't have followed through with him And then so I thought that was my last chance. Yes. And then it came around and then I just I just canceled my appointment in march twenty twenty and then it came out like this. Yeah and then like Well, I don't want to spend too much time on it, but the outfit and the hair and everything just felt in line with the comedy. But it is part of it. I know it's like a little weird to talk about. sureure. but it's like how we look in dress is part of the art. It's like the presentation. Yeah. there is something that sort of clicked. What I was gonna say was like my memory of you in New York which is only once in a while. like I feel like our paths crossed Yeah here and every year, two year three, whatever But is this I'm going to be embarrassed if I'm wrong, but didn't you have a joke? where you go, I don't want to get married becausecause I read a statistic that said fifty percent of marriages last forever Is that you? I don't think so. I don't know. I can't I thought I were sure it was. No. Do you want it? I'm gonna to be embarrassed if it's just other Asian guy. I don't know. I don't know whose that is. I don't think I wrote that one. I only brought it up to be like, that's a great joke.eresting. It Do you like it? I like it. I like it. I like it okay. I like it okay. I don't usually go into statistics. I usually I don't know, maybe. I love statistics. I'll st that back to you You do something really brilliant specifically about stuff like statistics where like you're talking about when a kid asks a grown up something about the moon I'm like, if I told that joke The whole thing would be what the kid asks, but you actually find this really elegant way. It doesn't matter what the kid asks. You can just put it in a punchline. You can go like he asks a question about science that he's not prepared to ask or whatever. So that's funny. And you go, and now my buddy is struggling to understand the workings of the moon or whatever you say. Instead of what I would do telling that story, he comes up and goes, dad How do tides work? Because I think that would get a laugh. You're like, let's cut that. like we don't need do you know what I'm saying? Like you're cutting everything that isn't essential. Yeah, I mean I mean, they've been, you know, andd be I'm open to expanding and exploring around it, but for me, that joke was about the grown upps. Yeah, ye yeah, you know. Let's putown up spot. Yeah. Yeah yeah, kids are always funny hilarious and they' always say crazy things to us But it makes sense on some level because, you know, if we're all, you know. For me that the Yeah, because so you can I almost plug in some of those things, you know, because I did some of that in my first special where I said my nephew said that my breast smell like birds. You can always you they can they have the wildest like metaphors, you know? Yeah yeah U so for me, like ye, that's an exercise, right? to like come up with the wild thing that some kid would could say, but it's hard to beat. real stuff. Yeah, that's true. You know, so for me, I'm not in that moment, that joke is about like that moment when grownups have to like say explain something to the kids, but they're also on the spot because there's other grownups around. Y. It just gets so awkward. You kept it clean though because like what I'm seeing here is you know what are we talking about and what's extraneous? What's extraneous? likeike I might get greedy. When I say that's how I might have done the joke, I don't mean it's right. I might go like, well, saying what the kids said might funny, but you're like Actually, this is the perspective of the joke. The perspective is about my buddy. Right. Lets let's stay in line. When you're doing your stuff, Is it written out like word perfect? I don't mean to sound like I start with, you know a An idea, just a description of an idea, maybe a line or something. and then it's just like a bunch of iterations of trying it organically. Yeah, you know. Oh you start with the line and then you go up on stage with it? Yeah, I mean, I start with the idea of the joke But with knowing what the angles are, rightight? And so basically I used to write it down just immediately. This is a joke Yeah, write it down But now I try to like have the idea to, you know, whatever it is and then try it on stage as many times as I can, recording it So that it can be organic. You know, when you start writing it immediately, it's hard that's not really how you say it. The way you say it is going to come out a little bit different. Yeah. I say this all the time, but Louis says there's right brain, which is like reciting and there's left brain which is communicating. It's like actually better to let the left brain. I might be mixing that up, but let the left brain say it, then the right brain can write down what the left brain says. Instead of making the left brain say what the right brain thinks the left brain would say. Yeah. You got me, right. So I think that's exactly right. Yeah. So like I like to start with just the natural, like let it come out Yeah as many times as you can and then put it on the page and then approach it, you know, more Whatever brain that is. Yeahep And then do it again back and forth. Yep, you know Dude, you know what you have in your special is you have two openers. I going to explain what I mean, you have two great openers. The opening of the special is I'm you say I'm feeling pretty good. eating beerry. I mean I've been eating a lot of beeres. whichich I just, it really does take my breath away. like a good opener, like something that goes like What But I w to hear more and I'm laughing right? It's just like a funny like I think funny openers are so hard. Yeah, man. And you were like, I'm feeling good. I've been eating a lot of berries. That's just like absurd enough, like a little, you know what I mean? Like how's it? Oh, what? Like it's exciting and interesting. And I already when I saw you at the store I complimented, I was like, I can't believe you open with this bit about berries. And then later it's about twenty five minutes in, you go, I don't know if you can tell by my energy, but I've been cooking with shallots. I go that's an opener too T open You know what I'm saying? Like you could have opened I I tested that. Tell me. I tested that. That was I was, you know, I was talking to my friend Louis, he helped me like do some of the last minute like kind of consulting on that special. and Louis Kats. Yeah. And he was pushing for me to try to make that the opener. Really? We tried it, you know, and there were moments that it it seemed like it could work. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But we were just worried, I don't know, shalls may be a little It is more obscure. No shout. This is your twenty five minute you restart. Yeah. I actually thought was I could talk about this endlessly. I think and I'm trying to get this started, you should have a closer at fifteen, which you do. That like I think you need to close aboutbout fifteen, twenty minutes in. that's your first closer. It's a soft closer. And then you start again should have the twenty reboot. Yeah, ye. Let's get this started with comics. the twenty reboot. So you need that Yeah, I could have started with this, but Berryes is so much more relatable. Yeah. So that's kind of why we did it that way. Yeah I mean, But you're right, though, that twenty minute mark, Louis Katz also was saying that's a point where we need to like reload audence because there's something that happens there. I completely agree They're in the show Yeah. and you kind of have to snap them out of it somehow. You have to be like, don't forget I don't know. like It's not an intermission, but there needs to be a reset for some. It's a little maybe it's timed with like the linkth of a sitcom? I don't know. It could be That was one episode.. Yeah. That was one episode. Did you that reminded me Mitch Edberurg when I saw him in Chicago Obviously, you guys are sold in the same store, right? Would you agree with that? I mean, like And I'm so happy in the same way that I think Phoebe Bridgers is sold in the same story as Elliot Smith. And I'm so glad that we kind of get new Elliot songs from Phoebe Bridgers. And like not that that's not that you're doing new miche stuff, but I'm glad that somebody's carrying that perspective forward. And he had a joke where he was like, noobbody wants to give me a sitcom He's like, I'm on stage for forty five minutes every day. That's a sitcom and a half. R like very classic. What is your relationship? the first time you heard him, did it explode your brain Yeah, I mean, did abbssolutely. I was just playing with the idea of doing stand upp. This is college And my roommates introduced me and' like they were like, there's this guy on there's a Con Central spepecial you should check out And it just it just changed because for when I was when I first started doing comedy, I didn't grow up on this stuff. So I didn't even have any childhood dreams about doing this stuff. you know, L I was just dab, likeike I said, I was in college trying to figure things out, taking these different classes and businessus stuff, right? Business stuff, but you know, the photography, all the poetry and everything. So I was just like trying to figure out all sides Yeah Which way are we gonna to go? R Business and postry. I mean, I got the business degree, but I went this other route, you know. It was Um What were talking about Mitch U Yeah So when I heard so my idea of standup at that time was very like minimal. And I knew Chris Rock, I knew Chris Tucker, and I've seen some of the Daf comomedy Jem commercials. That's it And I've seen, you know, most that's figured it out from commercial.. You b We have cable. so I saw some things here and there.be maybe like some late night monologues, but I didn't really understand what this was. U, but so when I when I started dabbling in stand upp in college, I was just doing impressions of like Chris Rocker, you know, or Adam Caroller, some some some comedians at the time that I had just heard and But it wasn't shorter Joe. Well, you don't even you I also want to step that out and say, you're different from Mitch. Like Mitch is doing shorter stuff. you have longer chunks and you your own guy, but like When you were starting, it didn't even have any of the flavor that you have now. No, I mean, you know, when I was starting twenty plus years ago you know, that we all had those Sounda likes every show. open might had either a Natel, a Hbburg. Agan A Regan? I was the reggan.. I was just doing reggan. Yeah, so sorry. Yeah. yeah, I was definitely more just a headburg fan, you know, and That was we are almost exactly the same age. L you would when Hedberurg came out Be he figured something out. Yeah. He was like, there are jokes that aren't funny unless you say them a certain way. Right. Nobody was really Maybe Stephen Wright was kind of doing that. Yeah. like Hedberg was really like, Yeah, could make some goofy. I say this with respect Frozen banana later, I want a regular bana later is goofy. Yeah. It I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying that is some silly. It's so silly. And then he was like, but if I say something silly like a cool guy. Yeah. there's another joke. Right. You thought I was going to be talking about, I don't know, my van or like classic rock and I'm talking about bananas. like You know what I mean? There's another joke at play. Sorry I didn't mean interrupt. No, I mean for me just seeing there's the delivery, right? And then there's just like this idea that you can do comedy based on these really small random things in your head. Yes. And I never had that was that was like the biggest thing for me becausecause before that I thought I had to just be somebody else or be like different person or me to tell stories where you're the winner, you know what I mean? like so I punched the guy in the face, open the door. It's the mayor. like you have to win. And when I read sign language, that was my miche moment where I was like, this guy's doing jokes about U hotel soap being small, I like to pretend it's regular soap and my muscles are huge. I'm like, It's my brain. Right. It blew me away. Yeah. I didn't. And he was the biggest comedian in the world. He still is. Seinfeld. Oh yeah yeah, yeahah. So and Mitch is the same thing. It's like, I'm gonna to do it A joke about rice I like rice when I'm in the mood for a thousand of something.ight. I'm like I'm sorry. Th then what does he say? Then he talks about his dick? Nope, That's the joke. Yeah, right? Yeah ye, yeah. ye. Yeah. so I just that just changed. It just gave me a new idea of what this could be and like maybe I could do it. Maybe I don't have to be somebody else. Right There was a space for your kind of humor. Yeah But was Oh, you watch the presents or Yeah, which he doesn't do well No, I mean, he did well for us, but right with the crowd. It worked eventually. I mean, he gave up He gave up a sat down, he just did the joke straight, like sitting down. Yeah. It's a classic. But it worked. It's a classic. Yeah. The set we're talking about as much as first half hour, right? I believe so. And it's just not clicking No, he was eating it. was He was bombing on his half hour, which by the way, you and I both did presents. Yeah. You could totally bomb a presents. Yeah. You're just it's like a showcase. You're just like they're watching more than you.. You're not nobody know not a single fan is there. It's just an audience And if you're not, ready for what Mitch Hedberg is doing and they weren't. He sat down and just said the jokes. Yeah And crestfallen. Crestfallen Sabs. And here we are still talking about it. Yeah, it was a great. I mean as being great great As being great. Yeah Yeah, was the audience just wasn't in the room. Yeah. L like we were the audience. Yeah, yeah, yeah ye. You know when you do a taping which is always such a nerve wracing thing for us because That's a record recording, which which we never ever do. Yeah So like I always say, I mean, my idea is like don't worry about that stuff because we't we're not used to that stuff. So let's just focus on the people. right? But if the people suck, then focus on the c Go to the people on the other side later. G wherever they'll have you. Yeah, ye. Did you feel that on Purple because that's one of the things I really admired was When I'm watching a special, I actually don't really like tapingcial. I don't think any of us really love taping a special because it's something that's already high pressure. And then it's like, and guess what? We're gonna to chisel this into stone and that'll be your special. So you can get in your head We seemed really Calm. I mean, As much as I could, you know But yeah, I mean, I was trying to get there, like in preparation for it. You mean running justust running it Yeah, reps and just getting it super, super tight and just being like super confident and happy about it. Yeah, you know, Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's still hard, man. It still wasn't my best performance, I feel like. Really? Yeah Well That's crazy. ye. See I think because when you see it, you remember how you felt in certain moments. cororrect me if I'm wrong, but when I watch my own special, I'll be like that was awful. And Val will be like, She's really agghast is the other. She's like, are you watching what I'm like are you hearing the? And that's probably how I feel about you. Yeah. I think I think yes, I think I think you're right. I think a lot of it because like You know, after you tape it, there's still like a little bit of touring left Oh yeah, and you improve it and you feel like that sounds better. It feels better. Bro. There's a special ing to when you perfect something. It's funny, you and I both have a joke. You don't talk about cold showers, but I love that thing about getting in the shower and turning on the water. So I had this line It wasn't on my special, but I hurt my neck. And it was because I took a cold shower and I like kind of twisted my neck. and then I filmed the special and I just said I took a cold shower. And then later I went, I was taking a cold shower because I accidentally listened to a podcast, which which was such a better line for me. L that's such a thing at that time that every podcaster was talking about like cold exposure and it wasn't on the special. And I always remember those lines I'm like, I have one now. I think I just filmed a spepecialally. I had this whole chunk on AI. and then lately I've been riffing on how The robot costume for kids that won't be cool Like that like wearing the boxes and going beoo like robots don't sound like that. likeike that's robotoice. You're doing robot voice, you're doing robot face. I go, that's our hobo Like remember when you when I were kids you could dress up as a hobo Robot is the new hobo. So that whole thing heart isn't in The special unless we tape it again. I don't know. Why not , because we already filmed it Oh we already fil it. I don't know. Yeahah. I'm kind of going like we might shoot it again. I don't know. L I'm trying to shoot more shows on the cheap cheap side of things then put it all on P put it onto Lper smart. Yeah. I don't know. things are so much easier to film When you finally find your thing, you want the whole world to know about that thing. So you use a thing called Canva to make it an even bigger and better thing. Whether you want to create flyers for that thing, make presentations for that thing, or design merch for that thing. You can do anything. so people can see your thing, feel your thing, love your thing. The next thing you know, it's a thing. Canva, the thing that makes anything a thing You can't reason with the sun. Tust us, we've tried. This summer, it's time to put that angry ball of fire on mute. Columbia's omnihade technology is engineered to protect you from the sun's harsh rays that can burn and damage your skin. The sun is relentless, but so is our gear. Level up your summer at Columbia dot com to spend more time outside and less time slathering on aloe lotion You're welcome, Columbia, Engineered for whatever. But anyway, what were you were saying You were saying something and I started talking about oh bits that you improved. You toured after you did this. I mean I think you're right. sometometimes it's just a feeling inside. It might look the same Yeah on the outside. Yeah, you know, But yeah, I knew going in, there wass going to be twenty afterwards And I wanted it to try to get it to the point where When we shot it, I would It would be very hard to find anything better I don't But I still find it's small little just a performance things here and there. Yeah, ye yeah. ye. That's so funny. Yeah. What is the sound you make when you're getting away from the ghost It's like a ya or something. Oh yeah. A yah A. There's so much And I hope you can hear this. I think it's a great compliment. There's so much that you're showing us that we know, but we don't know, we know Like that berries are precious is a good example. and that when you skirt out of a room, you go, ye. I loved that little tuck Yeah. shhoes off, but you have to go back in the house but you do hot fl my daughter calls it hot floor is lava. The floor is lava. The floor is hot lava That's sort of stuff that like You know that, but you forgot that it's like when you see someone do an impression and you're like, I didn't know that's what that person sounded like. That's kind of what you're doing for reality. I guess so. I guess so. You're going like, you didn't know Like I've never stepped out that berries are expensive and kids don't appreciate them. R. Everyone knows that. Yeah. Everyone knows that. People with kids, people who don't have kids. Yeah. O blueberry is probably twenty five cent They're so expensive. They're so expensive. It's way too expensive to give a ch. know. That's why we made shark bites Give them some bullshit. Yeah, yeah. G get the goldfish out there Fill her up. It wasn't filler. cut it. cut it. Cut it with the little goldfish. It C can't be pure berries, dude. Gldfish is just like feed. Yeah. It's just like the t go to the trorough and they' full. because you're like, you can't give the good stuff to these kids. Yeah. You gott to mix it up. My daughter eats sand at the beach. You don't need to give her berries. She's good with sand. like sand is so Unpleasant. canan there be something worse Ouchy? It's gonna break your teeth. It's so tiny, but it's such an immense impact. And did you know a lot of it is bones It's like little bones of like tiny little creatures. No. Yeah Bro, give it a goog Also, respect on the tab bit because I have so many tabs over. Yeah. That's another you're back on that. I mean, it went down, you know It's like having a clean desk. Yeah. I'll clean my desk like once a year and it feels so good And then like, likeike you have this in the bed, everyce a while, my computer will restart, although it opens That is great. That's a great example of like There's also like a It can be lonely. lifeife can be lonely, obviously. And then you see someone talking about like the feeling of all the tabs and then your thing reboots and it opens all the tabs and can't do all the like a YouTube starts playing and all that stuff. And you go like, oh, that's my experience. and suddenly you don't feel as alone in the world. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I think so. That's definitely what I get from Yeah. Yeah Yeah. I love her. No, donon't you say sorry, I'm really doing my best. I'm so excited to have you on the show. so I'm trying to not talk too much, but I am excited to tell you all the. Gful to be here, man. I love love. I mentioned this and we we're almost out of time uh, because I have to pick my daughter up, but I mentioned this to you at the store. You thank your ancestors in the special thingss And I just thought that was really beautiful. Yeah. And I mentioned very briefly that I've been trying to have more appreciation for where I came from. And I hope this wasn't czy when I said I was like, your success is their success. Like it's like There you are the vessel in which this line is Eiencing it. I know literally they're not experiencing it, we could say There's something about it. It's like you are them. Yeah, we're just kind of part of this lineage. Yes, just spilling forward and I'm kind of you know I'm just in the middle of this thing. Yeah, you know. But continuing forward every sandwich they had, every bus they rode, every job they had all led to this it's impossible to consider just how many things had to happen for it to be you then to find stand upp, then to succeed at it And then like If your' great grandfather know what you're doing or if my I won't even say great if my grandfather could know what I'm doing. and'd be like What? It feels reallyally real and good to hold that in my awareness to go like My grandfather is with me doing this. Y grandmother Yeah. I think that's healthy. I think it's good to like I think it's, you know, I think we have a tendency to cut all that off That's what I'm saying Yeah. And it's not good. You know. It's not good. Why would we do it? We have this idea that everything is in the future and everything is technology and these other things that are gonna to help and teach us Yeah All that wisdom and all the experience that, you know, our parents are grandparents and everybody before There's so much we could, yes, learn from them We are the same and I are the same. My therapist deserves a lot of this credit. We do a type of therapy where really kind of talking to different parts of yourself. and a lot of that has to do with hearing from what feels like your ancestors like something that they want you to know. I don't mean like psychic stuff. I just mean like you're going in and going like I feel like there's this I'm carrying this thing forward or it needs to be recognized or it wants to be acknowledged And it just feels so So good Yeah and is out When you thanked your ancestors, is that what you're talking about? To a certain extent, I mean, you know that term, you can like something like be your ancestors's wildest dreams. Yeah I mean, love that It's sort of like that. I just feel like it's crazy to I mean, I don't know them really. I know my parents and I'm trying to get to know them better All my grandparents have passed You know, S my grandma. I tried to like, I mean, I was she was probably the one of my mom's I was closest to It was limited, you know, based on how much time we had together and language barriers. But she was She seem like an awesome person. I wish I had more time with her, but Yeah, I I I tried to get to know her and I try to consider, you know, all the lives that came beforefore Yeah U, You know, this the struggles that they've endured. And how those struggles, that's when I cheered to you was I was like We really can get so lost in thinking that what we're experiencing has never been experienced before. And even AI. Like I've gone into some really actually nice YouTube I wouldn't even call them wormholes, just kind of finding some good content where it was like When the printing press came out The parallels between that and social media are crazy. And everybody thought this was the end of this and it was the end of truth. That's what they said. because anybody could print one hundred fifty flyers that say Martians have landed. And people would believe it. Disinformation is not new. And there's this deep warm comfort and going like This is what we do this is what human beings do.. Overwhelming change floods in And guess what If you look back to what you're saying, instead of always just looking guessing the future, which is always wrong Look to the past. that's been established and go where have we done these sorts of things before R Yeah and also where we came from and how did they deal with it?ike Yeah And what can we learn from that? Yeah, yeah. I just think it's great. yeah, I think it's good to step back, see the bigger picture. See what's um the h historical context of things, but I mean, yes, I agree. I think it's ye. So in that in that that thank you. I just wanted to shout them out. recognize that. you know, I think it would be cool if they could see. Yeah, you know. Yeahep. That's what I was kind of getting on. I guess that is kind of trippy or maybe hippy, but I was like your seeing is their seeing. Yeah. Like it's like, I don't know, man. You could even make a scientific argument for that. It's just like it's this things You know, the house, this house, we've had to replace so many things and by the end you've replaced every board, but it's still the same house.. That's kind of like you. It's like we've torn down these people, but we put the house, it's the same blueprint and it's like I don't know. I think they are literal way Eiencing it somehow. I can't really explain it. there with us somehow, you know Yeah Um Yeah, I don't know. I tell my parents I thank them H, you know I tell them my success is your success. Yeah, that's a beautiful thing to share. Yeah. And even the stuff that was like a little bit goofy or not ideal, like that was that's part of it too. L we were figuring it out. Yeah, ye. That thing I am getting more of that thing where I'm like, o, man, my parents were just people too. I've always rolled my eyes at that. And I'm like, no Damn it. Yeah. That's true. I mean, it's crazy to think like My dad was a poor farm boy, dude. Wow, you know? First generation immigrant, right? Yeah. crazy. They moved here. I was born in Taiwan. You know, and to go from that to this? Yeah Yeah quite a journey, man. Is that totally? My mom is a first generation Lithuanian immigrant. She left when she was seven. And so I had some of that. When I say outsider thing, I felt like an American. I felt like Bart Simpson. I don't know how you felt. I was like just kind of like clicked with it. I was like, oh, I get it like a rascal be a rascal and eat pizza. Yeah. Like a ninja turtle too. I felt like Like I resonated with all of that stuff. maybe I don't know if everybody does. But did you feel that outsider thing did that help you kind of develop Like an observant eye, do you think? I believe. So yeah, man. Yeahah, I think there was definitely a lot of like sense of awareness that we're in hot white people. Yeah, you know, Yeah yeah. that was pretty early on. I think I caught one of that in Aeson. This Houston. Houston, sorry. Yeah. Aome. So I think pretty early on I had that feeling of like Yeah, just stepping back and stepping out of like observing the bigger picture, like right. We enter this room. What's the dynamics in here? Right, right. Yeah. And it's funny because like nowadays even shoes off That is like likeike an Asian, East Asian thing. I don't I don't think we think of it now. so many people do shoes off. Yeah. But at that time it might have even even that would have been weird. likeike come to my house just say you know, they're going to ask you to take your right, right. Did your parents put out slippers though Um, we had some slippers. seeee I had a joke about it. I was like about shoes off and I was like, I'm anti shoes off. It's actually our bits are similar because you talk about having some semblance of control in an uncertain world. And my argument is like there is no control. You're going to die. justust keep your shoes on. like stop. you're deuting yourself. But if I were to add something because every once in a while, I noticed that the bit was kind of like it could seem like anti Asian culture obviously I didn't worry about it too much, but I was like, yes, but we didn't do the full thing cororrect me if I'm wrong, but The tradition is take your shoes off, but we have slippers. peopleople get cold feet. Generally, ye, right? Yes,. So we only did the first part. Right, right.ike we fucked it up. Yeah. That was I get cold feet. So now I'm walking around leaving wet sweaty footprints on your linoleum, and I'm gonna leave early 'cause my feet are cold. so anyway, I'm glad I got confirmation. Yeah. idedally you would have some nice house slippers Yes, yes. Thank you What Okaykay, so in closing. Uh, that's a dumb thing to say But we've talked about it. We're talking about it a little bit with your ancestors too some spiritual worldview that you have and maybe not every day, but maybe just right now, like We are in outer space. We are in these temporary things. We're talking about our ancestors, We're talking about some sort of connection. And I'm not looking for like an eloquent You don't have to like persuade anybody. I'm just wondering Do you have any spiritual center or perspective I don't know A little bit, a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. I I feel like yeah, I mean, I guess this's a spiritual thing, you know, between I mean, I think we've been the whole idea of living life, I think is a spiritual thing. The whole idea of like it's a one shot deal and you enjoy as pure you can be as present as you can. Like that's being I think that's spiritual. It abolutely spiritual. Beause what you what are you settling into? You could say you're settling into your heart Yeah or the moment I think these are all synonyms for spirit. Right. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I I I think so. I think I' a spiritual person. I think in the Buddhist tradition someomewhat. I mean, I just like I like the ideas of Buddhism, right? Like the impermanence thing Everything's constantly changing, attachment's going to lead you to suffering Yeah I don't know. I like to say we got three noble trruths. And the fourth one. This was four things There's more to it. No, I don't know it either. So don't feel like This is like when a kid asks you about the moon. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, whyy do you like Buddhism? You want a drag. You're like, you're very good at comedy. Can you explain Buddhism? like in your life, when we talk about Aart Tole, like you dabble in like reading that sort of stuff or watching YouTubes or what? Yeah. I listened to that podcast between him and Oprah. Yeah years ago. I love that I love those ideas I mean, they're all very helpful to me, you know. It's one where he talks about Somebody ased about eating French fries. They're asking about like how you can use presents to stop overeating. And he's like, you just take the potato. He keeps calling the French friry the potato. You just take the potato and you eat the potato. and then you go, maybe I'll have another potato. And I'm like, Oh, so you don't struggle with food hu? I even call a potato it my help That's good. Do want more potatoes? Yeah Spl potatoes Fries have such good PR. Yeah. S potatoes. F and blow it down. Give me that thin potato. Start sexy? No. You wantanna go Halves these on some potato? Yeah, slow it. Not really. Oh, that's true Okay, so some of that stuff. I'm with you. I have no notes for what it's worth. I'm just like being in your life. They just yeah, and being your life. Being in here like know who you are, learn who you are, engage with yourself Play it out. play it out, be present, engage with your environment, engage with people. and share it. I mean, like when I ask you about success, you're talking about sharing it with people and the privilege of sharing it with people and watching people enjoying it. Yeah. That's holy to me. I think connecting with people Really recognize that whole idea of Sander I don't know. You know know this idea, Sander like I don't know I think someone made up this word, but it's the idea of like like everybody has This whole universe inside them. Everybody you see passing on the street, driving on the, you know, like They have The same breatthh and depth of dreams and hopes and aspirations and suffering and all the things that, you know we think make us a complete person E individual. they all have that too. And like, you know, it's just a form of empathy I guess, comppassion. Beautiful. I didn't know there was a word for that. I do that because I'll have like some reflexive thought that is just totally uncaring and unkind. I'll be like, for. I go They're the whole thing. The phenomenon of awareness that I have is the same phenomenon of awareness that they have. We're sharing the same miracle. And I'm like, look at your dumb fucking hat. I'm like, whoops, it's okay. R. And I just kind of lost sight of the sounder. Yeah, yeah.. I didn't know that. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't know. I think that that's spiritual for it is. Paying attention believing that people are Yeah, human beings. That's right. and having some There's like, There's a quote that's like, be careful how you treat people because everyone's carrying some unseen burden. L we're all carrying some We're all complicated and confused. Yeah you wake up to pee at three in the morning or whatever and you're like You get a glimpse at what your mind is churning over and're like Oh my b, you poor baby, like right. That's everybody. Yeah. Everybody. Yeah, I think it's important to be be kind. I don't know what were talking about? Be kind. Do you think when you die it's over I think so Yeah Yeah Yeah, Nice, Bro. Suddenly we're smoking to j it. Yeah.. It's a big one. I know. Yeah, ye yeah. So do Shang while you can. Yeah, do whatever. Do your thing. Enjoy your life. helpelp other people, you know. But also I really do think you're a great example of being authentic. sorry if I've given you too many compliments, but like in a generation that's like I gota pe, please. I know we're trying to wand I was try I was trying to hold it to w it down. No never hold itry Leave this in leeave this in. this is uni. Okay Bum. I have a compliment for you But you know what's interesting? I'm going gonna push back on your it's over when we die, think because it's interesting to consider that another way to ask that is, does non being exist? Is it possible to not be Where were you before you came here? That's what I'm saying is can you be born and die Because if if there is such if when we die, it's over. That means that somethingomet, this awareness, this emerged from nothing, like it had to have come from Nothing And that is the thing that In my opinion, spirituality tries to address is like So there's an Ect tooi where he goes Death isn't the opposite of life. The opposite of death is birth Life has no opposite Meaning there's is and in that is, like a screen Things like birth and death and appearing and disappearing appear, but the fundamental isness of reality can't come and go. And that's what you might call God. This is a weird thing to push back on, by the way.. I'd be like, I take issue with your promise. But next time you do mushrooms be like When you say when we're saying, do you think when you die it's over I'm actually asking, do you think non being exists And then I'm like, how could I guess becauseuse like if you unplug a TV, right? we're like, well now the TV is off. but really everything that made the odness of that TV didn't go anywhere, just kind of scattered. You know what I'm saying? It lost its shape. There's something in the Daoe Ching where they're like, when you break a vase, the air that was in the vase It doesn't reunite with the air around it. It was never separate from it It's kind of what death is. you break a vase and there's no more shape to that vase, it's been dispersed but really There was only ever one empty space. Is this too weird? No Anyway, I just thought it was you peed right after that question. so I was like, Yeah, uh oh, I had time to think about it. No No, Yeah, I don't know I mean, that all make sense what you said Yeah, it's hard for me to even explain it and talk about it. so I don't feel like you need to have some It's just like, If there is if we go away, then what we are came out of nothing. Well, yeah, what are we? Well, that's the other that's the alternative, right? I mean, maybe we came from We came from Maybe we came from whatood is here already. That's right So what you're saying we just kind of go back to what is here already? Yes. If Yeah. if you think of If life is This This Again, the screen is a good thing. like things appear and disappear. and we know that like our thoughts, like our thoughts emerge, have an existence and then they vanish back into what they emerged out of. So the question is what is it that they're emerging out of? and what are they receding into? They rise and they set in the same knowing field that you essentially are. We tell that knowing field your shhang You were born in Taiwan, you moved to Houston, you are a comedian. But if you don't tell yourself that story If you just sit quietly, you see that you're still, you're more like the space in the vase. You're like empty space. And that empty space. So the idea the story of Shang can go away. This is where people might be like Petzs out of his mind. But that dies can go way the story can end. Sure. But what the story emerged on, we can go to the metaphor of the screen somebody dies on a movie screen, nothing happens to the screen. Somebody dies in the movie, the screen remains. So spirituality is asking like What is the essential nature of reality And and you are that What you actually are, in your essence, what can't be removed is this knowing space like presence. And that's Buddhism. That's luminous emptiness. So it's nothing, but it's this knowing nothing And in that knowing nothing, appearances come and go, this two shall pass. you said that too and don't hold on to anything too. It's just like fireworks in the sky But when the fireworks end, the sky is still there Let's do some ketabine. That sounds cool. That sounds cool. I mean, I want to kind of go back to the Sunder thing. I mean, in terms of like, I mean, basically what we're talking about is recognizing life. Yes That's right. That's right. recognizing life. And I think We need to go beyond individuals in the street to like life. Big life, life, right? Life is all of these things, right. And it's all equally mean probably every peace is equally important. know. And I think that's very important for us to like get back to this idea of like us not being separate from life Bro All that stuff is super valuable and important and necessary. And you're not like a visitor in life. You are life. No. You're the thing. Yeah. I always talk about, you know, in old cartoons they put the cell, theyd paint the character on a clear piece of paper called a cell and they put it on the background. That's how we think we are We're like visiting reality Mhm. You are reality. Right, right, right. Yeah. There's no there's no break. We conceptualize a break between you and me, but really it's more like characters in a movie. looking for the screen and you can't you can't find it, but You're both on it. R. And that's life. That's interesting. That's how baked into it you are. Yeah. Alan Watts has a lining, You don't come into this world, you come out of this world. You emerge it Right Like a leak Shang Wangew spectcial. The weirdest plug. It weirdest plug. It's weird. I've never had somebody pee during the Godds section. It gave me a weird a second to be like, I wonder if Shang would like this if that would be interesting to you. But life having no opposite death and birth, but life is the only continuous thing. I mean, it's continuing. It is continuing with or without us this thing is sp Tumbling forward. That's it, you know, But the river and your ancestors weren't in you'. but the river remains. Yeah. Yes Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go back to the river. That's it. Rupert Spyre would say you're like a whirlpool in a river. so you have an apparent separate shape and expression. And when that whirlpool ends, you just disperse back into the river, but the river is the constant And we could call that reality or we could call that God or we could call that love or we could call it life. Yeah. But you're in it. Yeah. I'm glad we talked about it. I'm glad we stepped this out. I'm down with that. I am almost out of time. What was the compliment? Oh, I was going to say you are a real example of authenticity, meaning You you're doing this Your comedy is like very like you're checking in, like check in with yourself. like are you okay? Like there's a lot of love in it. There's a lot of self love and self care. And that is not necessarily, it's finding a moment. I'm not saying you're a moment. I'm just saying like you found your audience But when you were starting like, You know, I love Dan Cook. I'm not putting him down. There was a time when it was like, that's comedy. Yeah And then you're up there going like appreciate the berry. You know what I mean? L You never were like, oh, I think I should chase a trend or be something that I'm not. Yeah. I mean, you find that.