JRE #1384 – Ari Shaffir

This podcast with Joe Rogan and Ari Shaffir explores a wide range of topics, from comedy and entertainment to social commentary and personal experiences. The conversation weaves between light-hearted anecdotes and provocative discussions on taboo subjects. Underlying themes include the impact of social media, the search for meaning and purpose, and the evolution of comedy in the digital age.

Podcast Topics:

1. Comedy and Stand-Up:
   • The evolution of stand-up comedy: Ari discusses how comedy has changed with the rise of social media, noting the increased emphasis on themes and the impact of online platforms.
   • Bert Kreischer’s success: Joe and Ari discuss Bert’s unique ability to be both funny and a great promoter.
   • Ari Shaffir’s special: Ari talks about his upcoming special, featuring themes from his Jewish upbringing and the challenges of balancing comedy and personal stories.
   • The value of live stand-up: The importance of live performance is highlighted, emphasizing the difference in energy and connection compared to stand-up on TV.
2. Social Media and Its Impact:
3. The effects of screen time: Ari shares his experience with limiting his screen time and observing how others are constantly on their phones.
4. The role of algorithms: They discuss how algorithms influence content consumption and create “echo chambers” where users are only exposed to information that confirms their existing biases.
5. Instagram’s removal of likes: The potential consequences of removing likes on Instagram are discussed, including the impact on advertising and the need to address the influence of social media on self-esteem.
6. The power of online content: The podcast explores how YouTube and social media platforms have created new opportunities for comedians and entertainers to reach audiences directly, bypassing traditional gatekeepers.
7. Controversial Topics and Taboos:
8. Pornography and its impact on relationships: They discuss how the widespread availability of pornography has potentially changed the dynamics of relationships, particularly in terms of power and sexual expectations.
9. The Armenian Genocide: Ari brings up the Armenian Genocide, a sensitive topic that highlights the need for historical awareness and acknowledging the pain of marginalized groups.
10. Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic rants: They discuss Mel Gibson’s controversial anti-Semitic remarks, exploring the origins and implications of such prejudice.
11. The use of the N-word: The podcast touches on the ongoing debate around the use of the N-word, examining the complexities of race and language in a modern context.
12. Personal Stories and Experiences:
13. Ari’s experience with a friend who collects disturbing videos: Ari shares a story about a friend who would send him disturbing videos, highlighting the dark side of the internet and its potential to desensitize viewers.
14. Stan Hope’s mom’s stand-up routine: The podcast features a hilarious anecdote about Stan Hope’s mom doing stand-up on the Man Show, demonstrating how family dynamics can be a source of humor.
15. Ari’s experience with a demanding neighbor: Ari tells a funny story about a neighbor who complained about him playing pool in his apartment, illustrating the absurdity of certain situations.
16. Ari’s personal journey with sobriety: He discusses his experience with sobriety, highlighting the challenges and benefits of abstaining from alcohol and the importance of self-control.
17. The Future of Technology and Society:
18. The development of gene editing: They discuss CRISPR gene editing technology and its potential implications for human evolution, including the possibility of creating “super people” and the ethical considerations involved.
19. The rise of augmented reality: They speculate about the future of augmented reality technology, including the potential for glasses that can record everything and the implications for privacy and social interactions.
20. The impact of streaming services: The podcast explores how streaming services have revolutionized entertainment consumption, creating new opportunities for content creators and changing the dynamics of the entertainment industry.
21. The potential for robots and artificial intelligence: They discuss the possibilities of advanced robots and artificial intelligence, imagining a future where robots could become indistinguishable from humans and the potential social and ethical challenges that may arise.
22. Sports and Competition:
23. The world of professional bowling: They discuss the challenges and rewards of professional bowling, including the physical demands, the competitive landscape, and the unique subculture.
24. The brutality of Muay Thai: Ari shares his experience with Muay Thai in Myanmar, highlighting the physical intensity and the skill required for this form of combat.
25. The rise of YouTube boxing: The podcast explores the unexpected popularity of YouTube boxing, discussing the impact of social media on the sport and the potential for crossover success.
26. The culture of slap fighting: They discuss the growing popularity of slap fighting, exploring its unique rules, the physical dangers involved, and the surprising level of skill required.
27. The Importance of Connection and Community:
28. The role of comedy clubs: The podcast emphasizes the importance of comedy clubs as incubators for talent and as spaces for comedians to develop and hone their craft.
29. The influence of Mitchy’s: They discuss the legendary Mitchy’s comedy club, highlighting its impact on the development of comedy and its legacy in the industry.
30. The power of podcasting: The podcast celebrates the freedom and flexibility of podcasting, highlighting its role as a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.
31. The value of friendship and collaboration: The podcast showcases the importance of friendship and collaboration in the creative process, emphasizing the support and inspiration that comes from shared experiences.

5 Memorable Quotes:

• “You know, it’s sort of like, remember when we had to do those 15 yoga classes. Uh-huh. Like, you had to do it. So because you had to do it, you just fucking knew you were gonna do it. The wishy washiness was gone.” – Ari Shaffir on the power of commitment.
• “You know how you all love this? Well, I hate it. I shit in your mouth.” – Ari Shaffir on being a provocateur.
• “I think that’s 1 of the rare things where only Jews can talk about it. In that way, I mean, anybody could talk about anything. Right? But only Jews can talk about the Holocaust from a position of, hey, that was my family that was killed.” – Ari Shaffir on the sensitive topic of the Holocaust.
• “It’s almost like the Internet. Right? If we said, hey, we can’t allow people to communicate openly and freely. We can’t allow 1 an even distribution of all the information in the world. It’s just too much power that we’re just giving away to people. We gotta stop this.” – Joe Rogan on the potential for censorship in the digital age.
• “Guys like dice are having a great fucking time. If there’s somebody, like, 1 day he’s gonna die. I mean, I hope he dies in the middle of a prank. I don’t know if people don’t realize. That would make him happy.” – Joe Rogan on the unconventional life of Dice Clay.