21-Oct-22
Here are the comprehensive summaries for each of the requested topics from the Joe Rogan podcast transcript #1886 featuring Robert Kelly:
Robert Kelly’s history with addiction and criminal behavior as a youth, including time spent in jail and juvenile detention centers:
– Kelly grew up with an abusive stepfather and turned to food and later drugs/alcohol as ways to cope with loneliness and depression as a child.
– He started getting into legal trouble as a young teenager, including robbery, breaking probation, and other charges that led to him going in and out of juvenile detention centers and jails from age 12 to 15.
– Kelly credits his time in a normalization juvenile detention program and eventually getting sober at age 15 as pivotal to turning his life around.
Robert’s discovery of comedy and improv through a talent show in college, and the early days of his comedy career:
– Kelly discovered his talent for comedy/improv when he participated in a college talent show, where he and some friends performed sketches and improv that went over very well.
– This inspired Kelly to quit college, start booking his improv group at local clubs, and fully pursue a career in comedy, despite initial challenges and pushback from other comedians.
– Kelly’s first major bombing experience came when his improv group got booked to perform at the large BCN Comedy Riot event, where they struggled on the big stage in front of a large crowd.
The challenges Robert faced as a comedian, including bombing in front of a large audience at the BCN Comedy Riot:
– Kelly’s improv group “Al & the Monkeys” got booked to perform at the prestigious BCN Comedy Riot, a major amateur comedy competition.
– However, they completely bombed their performance in front of the 14,000 person audience at the Boston Garden, with the crowd becoming increasingly hostile and throwing objects at the stage.
– This was a devastating experience for Kelly, who thought his comedy career might be over before it even started. He was humiliated and felt his confidence shaken.
Robert’s decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery to address his obesity and related health issues:
– At his peak, Kelly weighed 350 pounds, which was more than any heavyweight champion or NFL linebacker.
– He struggled with obesity and related health problems like sleep apnea for decades, trying and failing to lose the weight through willpower alone.
– After years of contemplation, Kelly ultimately decided to undergo gastric sleeve surgery as a tool to help him get control of his eating and weight-related issues.
The physical and mental changes Robert experienced after the surgery, including improvements in his mobility, confidence, and outlook on life:
– The gastric sleeve surgery dramatically reduced the size of Kelly’s stomach, which made it physically more difficult for him to overeat.
– This led to a cascade of positive changes – he lost 70 pounds, his sleep apnea went away, his mobility and flexibility improved, and aches/pains he had lived with for years disappeared.
– Kelly also reported feeling much more confident, energetic, and positive about life in general after the surgery and the weight loss.
The importance of exercise and developing healthy habits for Robert’s long-term wellbeing:
– Kelly credits regular exercise, specifically walking and weightlifting, as crucial to his continued health and weight management after the surgery.
– He found that making exercise a daily habit, even if just 30 minutes of walking, dramatically improved his mood, energy levels, and overall wellbeing.
– Kelly embraced a holistic approach of diet, exercise, and changing his relationship with food to ensure the benefits of the surgery would be lasting.
Overall Summary:
This podcast delves into Robert Kelly’s remarkable personal journey, from a troubled youth battling addiction and legal troubles, to discovering his comedic talents, to ultimately confronting and overcoming his lifelong struggle with severe obesity. The core of the discussion centers around Kelly’s decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery, the dramatic physical and mental changes he experienced as a result, and the vital importance of exercise and healthy habits in sustaining his progress long-term. Throughout the conversation, Kelly is open and reflective about the challenges he has faced, the lessons he has learned, and his determination to regain control of his health and life. The podcast provides an inspiring example of someone taking decisive action to transform their circumstances and outlook, with the support of family, community, and a commitment to self-improvement.
Memorable Quotes:
1. “I remember I went to jail and they took me downstairs to the regular prisoners and the prisoner was like, ‘Hey, little bitch,’ and I was shitting my pants.”
2. “I remember this guy at the rehab, Tom Tompkins, he came down the stairs and he was like, ‘Where’s this fucking fuck-up?’ And I was like, ‘Fuck, that’s me.'”
3. “He goes, ‘If you want to fucking live, stay here and shut the fuck up. If you want to leave, get the fuck out. But I care about you and I don’t want you to fucking die.'”
4. “I got to a point where I realized I could not teach the same way. I was not fully invested in it and it felt wrong to me because it was very important to me as a kid when I had instructors that were really good.”
5. “I started jogging, I started doing marathons… and then I got into drugs after that I found drugs in seventh grade and then I of course went to, you know, jail.”