Joe Rogan Experience #1310 - Sober October 2019 Preview

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Sober October 2019 Preview: Discussions around the upcoming challenge, past experiences including extreme dehydration and a "socialist" year, and the personal struggles (PTSD, impact on home life) associated with the event.
• Stand-up Comedy & Touring: The evolution of comedians' careers from clubs to theaters, the advice from veterans like Dice Clay, and the balance between touring and other media commitments (e.g., Travel Channel).
• Morning Television & Comedian Pranks: The "lowest rung" of show business, the contrived nature of morning TV, and various anecdotes about comedians (Tom Segura's DJ Dad Mouth, Mark Norman, Tracy Morgan, Bert Kreischer) disrupting these shows.
• Early Podcasting & Media Pioneers: The inspirations for the Joe Rogan Experience, including Tom Green's expensive early podcast setup and Opie & Anthony's unadvertised SiriusXM show.
• Howard Stern's Impact on Satellite Radio: His pivotal role in the success and merger of Sirius and XM, and his unmatched influence on the platform.
• New York City's Transformation: Nostalgic recollections of a grittier, dangerous Times Square compared to its current commercialized, "Disney mall" state, alongside stories of street hustlers and taxi scams.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Bert Kreischer's severe dehydration during a past Sober October led him to drink gallons of salt water, setting off a fire alarm in a gym from his sweat.
• Leanne Kreischer publicly exposed Bert's actual drug use (or lack thereof) on a radio show, contradicting his "party animal" persona.
• Joe Rogan and Bill Burr advised Tom Segura early in his career to quit a TV show and focus solely on stand-up, which helped propel him to theater headlining.
• Comedians often find morning television appearances "the lowest rung" of show business, leading to satirical and disruptive performances like Tom Segura's DJ Dad Mouth.
• Tracy Morgan recently crashed his $2 million Bugatti in Hell's Kitchen, sparking discussion about his legendary morning TV appearance.
• Tom Green was a pioneer in early podcasting, running a sophisticated and expensive setup with a dedicated server room in his house.
• The transformation of Times Square from a seedy, dangerous area with peep shows to a heavily commercialized, "Disney mall" environment is lamented.
• An anecdote about a New York taxi driver scamming Bert, only to then let him pay "whatever you want" when confronted.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "Last year I almost killed myself... you were ping-pong purple." - *A vivid description of Bert's extreme Sober October challenge.*
• "He doesn't do mushrooms and he doesn't do cocaine, he's got high blood pressure!" - *Leanne Kreischer's candid on-air confession about Bert's true habits.*
• "Why don't you do the road?... You don't need these f***ing TV guys." - *Dice Clay's career-changing advice to young comedians.*
• "Your show's not that good, you should just stick with stand-up... you're not even doing your stand-up justice." - *Joe Rogan and Bill Burr's blunt honesty to Tom Segura.*
• "The lowest rung in all of show business is morning television." - *A common sentiment among stand-up comedians.*
• "Times Square... it is disgusting, it's New York's version of like Disneyland." - *Critique of the commercialization of a historic area.*
• "Just pay me whatever you want to pay me." - *A New York taxi driver's concession after being caught in a scam.*

Overall Themes

• Discipline and Endurance: The physical and mental challenges of Sober October serve as a metaphor for pushing personal limits.
• The Hustle of Comedy: The narrative highlights the dedication, strategic career choices, and occasional sacrifices required to succeed in stand-up.
• Authenticity vs. Image: The tension between a public persona (Bert's party image) and private reality, and the struggle to maintain authenticity in commercial media environments like morning TV.
• Evolution of Media: A reflection on the past and present states of radio and television, and the pioneering spirit that shaped independent podcasting.
• Nostalgia and Urban Change: A longing for the grittiness of old New York City and a critique of its commercialization, contrasting it with a safer but less characterful present.