Josh Johnson: Finding Meaning in a System Built to Fracture You

Put your hands together for Josh. Johnson, >> the newest correspondent. He's an Emmy. winner. He's got millions of followers. online. Wired magazine called him the. funniest guy on the internet. And that's. a big place. >> Josh is putting out a weekly special. every single Tuesday on his YouTube. channel. >> I'm going to have to sit [music] there. listening watching the Super Bowl. halftime show to Spanish. I'm going to. have to sit there with my guacamole and. my chips in my lap listening to Spanish. >> His channel has gotten over 350 million. views. All this success has actually.

landed him a hosting spot on the Daily. Show. >> He has a dream that one [music] day he. will not be judged by the content of the. Epstein Files. >> I can't stress enough how much I'm. enjoying what I'm doing and like how. obsessed I am with comedy in general. [music]. This [music] is What Now with Trevor. Noah.

>> [music]. >> That's a Do you remember you had a gag. about that, Eugene, back in the day? >> About Dexter? >> There was a What are you looking at? [laughter]. >> Who are you doing? I'm looking at. something. >> Do you remember there was a joke you I. feel like it was you? You had a joke. about how it was something about like. attempted murder. >> Yeah. >> Ah, man. Tell me more. >> Oh man, what was it? Was I feel like the.

premise was something to the effect of. you should get like more of a punishment. for attempted murder than murder. >> because like attempted like you're not. good at what you did. It it wasn't you. >> Maybe it was me then. >> That's so funny. >> Has that ever happened to you? >> Uh yeah. I've I've definitely been like. this came to me too easy. I wonder like. is it some and then I look back in my. notebook and I wrote it and then forgot. about it. >> Yeah. Sometimes I think it's. >> Are you sure? >> Yeah.

>> H I'm going to go look and see if I ever. >> This logic is solid though. >> Yeah. >> Cuz like if somebody hit you if somebody. try to hit you in your eye, they hit you. above your eye, you get more mad cuz you. like you tried to hit me in my eye. My. one was like if we could figure out a. way to make a body disappear, more. murders would happen cuz it seems like a. body once someone is dead, >> that thing becomes very famous. >> Oh, so if we just like if it just. evaporated. >> Yes. But now a body it's very hard to. disappear.

>> Huh. >> People roll it in carpets, put it in. drums, pour acid over it, put it in dust. bins to get rid of it. >> Yeah. People will make the whole mess. bigger or they'll make the thing they. got to get rid of bigger because you put. if you put a body in an oil drum that's. a bigger thing [laughter] you got to. >> got a problem. >> Yeah. >> And it becomes heavier. >> I never thought of it like that. >> No, my squat is already bad. So then oil. drum. >> cuz you also don't think Look, if you. commit a crime of passion, you don't.

factor in you're going to be tired. So. then now you've killed somebody. >> I think first is regret. I hopefully if. you're not like a sociopath, but even. sociopaths only have so much muscle. So. then now you're like, "All right, I. gotta move the body." And it's like. trying to move a body. I imagine. like if you've ever like tried to pick. someone up, especially dead weights. >> Yeah. >> Like there's a reason they call it that. >> Yeah. There's reasons why people wake. their partners up from the couch. >> Yeah. >> Like hey, I have to go now.

>> Yo, got to go sleep. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> 100%. 100%. Because. >> yeah, [laughter]. >> there are people that think they can. pick people up because you picked. someone who was excited up for sex. >> If there was a crime that you had to. commit, what crime would you trust. yourself best to commit? >> Uh, this feels like it'll end up in a death. position. Uh, wire fraud, maybe. [laughter]. >> Look into that camera. Say that camera. [laughter].

>> Cuz here's the here's the thing about. wire fraud. Here's the thing about wire. fraud. Everybody already does it by. accident. >> Wait, what is wire fraud again in. America? >> Like there's like to me my understanding. of like wire fraud is like. misrepresenting a transaction. >> Oh yeah. And I'm pretty positive that. that's most of Vinmo. >> Like mo like most of Vinmo. >> You say like what your payment was. >> Yeah. It's like you're lying. [laughter]. It's. >> Do you write the real thing? >> Uh I try to write the real thing so I. remember the real thing. I've had to.

I've had to pay people before for like a. service like I'll pay someone and it'll. be like a studio like a music studio and. so I'll just say studio time. >> I'll say sandwich. >> That's boring. >> You got to say sandwich Josh. >> That's what makes Venmo fun. >> What crime would you perform. >> is when you who me? >> Yeah. >> I feel like crime is a performance. If I. had to pick a plan, >> if I had to pick what I think I would be. best at if it was committing a crime, >> I I think I' I I've always thought I'd.

be like a good getaway driver. >> That's what I would pick. >> So like aiding in a bedding would be. getting away. >> The get like the driver. I'll just be. the driver, you know, like the transporter, those. kinds of Yeah. I'm like I think I would. I would do that. I think I would be I. think I would be really good. I'm just. I'm just going off of the court term. like like I think you'd be like aiding. at a bedding a heist like a robbery. >> Wouldn't you just be part of it if you. if you're the driver? Is that what they. they give you less of a sentence? >> I'm positive they give you less of a. sentence cuz sometimes there are people. who have the plausible deniability of.

like especially if you're if you're just. like like criminals and we we aren't. boys. So then I get pulled in to do this. thing. I can be like, "Hey, he put a gun. in my head and say a drive. I was just. chilling." But if there's four people. that go, we did not. >> You could also just say like you were. just driving these people why. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I'm a It's an Uber. >> It's a very tough. >> I wonder if you could get away with. that. >> I wonder if you could I wonder if you. could be an Uber driver. >> who's planning to rob a bank with your. crew. >> Yeah. >> You.

wait outside a place, they jump in, you. run, and then if they catch you. >> No, but if if they like you you go like. I thought it was my fair. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I wonder if that would. >> I wouldn't want you I would get you. excused from my jury. That's what I. would do. >> That is also a thing here. >> Do you mean like people people have done. a crime and then got in an Uber and the. Uber driver was like, "Guys, I I I don't. know this person at all.". >> But why did he give you five stars? Nobody gives five stars. What crime. would you commit?

>> I think already being a comedian, you're. committing the biggest crime of them. all. >> Damn. By doing what? >> Making them believe that what you say is. real. You've thought about this. >> When did that start? By the way, >> what? Stand up. >> No, [laughter] no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm saying like when did that start? Like, you know, podcasting to radio. presenters is a crime. >> It shouldn't exist. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Cuz they're thinking this is. >> I have a boss. I got voice training. I. read. Then next thing you know, you know.

what the thing is? Which crime would you. >> on? You know me, I work for a living. It's already this in another planet, alternate universe, the cry. >> Yeah, but what I'm what I'm going back. to is the standup thing. >> Yeah. >> When did that start? I. >> I don't know how how long have you been. doing stand up, Eugene? >> Sure. Maybe. 50 years. >> Okay. >> How many years? >> Almost 17. >> 17 years. Josh, >> um I am at almost 13. >> 13 years. Yeah. So, same 17 17 maybe 18.

No, we start at the same time. So, whatever your number is must be my. number. But. >> I remember a time when like comedy was. the thing that wasn't real. >> Mhm. >> And you would say it on stage. >> Mhm. >> And then one day comedy was the thing. that was real. >> that even if it wasn't real. Does this. make sense? >> Yeah. I feel like some of that happened. with like Prior cuz he was telling us. his real life. You think it? Oh, with. Richard Prior. >> Yeah. And I think that he was telling us.

his real life and he was like giving us. like cultural takes off of it in a way. that hadn't it had been very danger. until that point. It had been very like. I have a shtick or here's like my. character on stage or even if I am. actually married I'm not talking about. my wife. I'm talking about the idea of a. wife. And Richard Prior was like no this. is this is what I do when I'm not on. stage. This is where I come from. This. is also how I actually feel when you. when you see me in the uh in the street.

and like something racist happens. This. is how I feel about it. So then. everything with Richard Prior, even if. he was embellishing now, he'd literally. have to talk about like a person flying. for you to not think he wasn't talking. about his life. because he he started talking about like. his life. Like that was that was him. And I think even if people did it, you. know, before him, he was one of the. first people to get popular doing it. So. he gets kind of like a credit for doing. it at such a high level. >> Do you remember when your comedy became.

more about the real? Cuz I cuz I I Let. me think of when I first saw your. comedy. First time I saw Josh Johnson's. comedy, I think it was around just. before when you joined the Daily Show. >> And. you you weren't you weren't surreal, but. you you were definitely doing stuff that. wasn't like real real. >> Yeah, it was like very silly. And ooh, thank good you saw. Oh, man. [laughter]. This man saw me just in time. If you had.

seen me a year ago, if you had seen me. two weeks before, we would we didn't. even know each other like this. [laughter]. >> What do you mean? What do you mean? >> Because I was like, you you start out. and you're like a version of yourself, but you're like, >> you're such a baby in the things that. you like doing and you're such a baby in. like what you what you even know works. for you. So now, if you gave me like 10. topics and you told me to write 10 jokes. off of them, or if you asked me if they. relate to 10 stories in my life, I could. find that and I could find how that. relates to an audience. If you did it.

right before you met me, maybe the day. before you met me, I'd be like, "Ah, um, I'm I'm just keep working at the grocery. store because this seems too difficult.". I don't know, man. I feel like maybe I'm. wrong, but I feel like you've always. been a I can't imagine you not being not. this version of comedian, but not this. person. this version of Josh. Like I I'm. yet I'm yet to meet a. >> good comedian. >> who I don't think I could meet as. themselves as a child. >> Oh, that's that's interesting. That's. that's very interesting. I've never like.

what was little Josh like? You know what. I mean? >> Yeah. It was it you know what it is now. to your point is that I feel like I. it took me if you want to talk about. like a journey it took me up until now. to find the place in the jigsaw where I. fit in. So it's like I've changed the. way that people change from kid to adult. but I haven't changed fully. And so like. it was me not fitting for the entirety. of my life up until. 2 years ago. And now I like everything.

that everything I know to do that's like. true to me makes sense now as opposed to. like I was a version of Oh, I cuz the. story I told you when I was in uh when I. was in college, I went to like my first. bar and I was like, "Ooh, y'all this. markup bad. Y'all know if we just buy. the bottle at the store, we could have a. we could y'all could get so much more. drunk." And so I'm not even drinking and. I'm ruining everybody's time because I'm. like, "Guys, no. Y'all saw at the store.

where this bottle was $13, but the. cocktail $13." So like, this is crazy, right? And then everyone's just holding. their Drake like, >> "Yeah." Yeah. And And now I know. >> And now I know where to do that. >> And it's like, >> "Oh, yeah. Now you got. >> Now now I've aimed it to where it's like. I'm not doing it all the time to. everyone to everything. And I've aimed. it at like, okay, this is a thing you. say for stage and not even every stage.

cuz when you do a comedy club, there'll. also be people being like, oh yeah, they. are making me buy two drinks at an. insane mark. This is what you save for. like you're doing an outdoor event. You're doing a state fair. >> It's like your inside voice and stage. voice. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> That's essentially what it is. >> 100%. Do you apply the same logic when. you think of maybe we see a comedian or. an actor then you go you know your uncle. tells the same stories and you pay him. nothing. >> you mean like about the funniest. >> you added the markup yeah you know I.

used to think that and then I started to. understand at least for me the. difference between being a comedian and. being a funny person. >> so I often tell people I'm and I mean. this genuinely I'm not the funniest. person I have known in my life ever ever. like by far by far by far. >> there are too many people in my world. where I go, man. >> Thank you, Eugene. >> I've I've seen you. You have moments. >> Thank you so much, Eugene. >> When you put on the puss booth, >> man. This is why you got to have good. friends. Thank you, man. [laughter]. Thank you so much. >> When you're also in your insecure. moments, I think you're the funniest. when you're like, "How's my afro today?".

>> That actually wasn't a joke, but Okay. Thank you. >> Actually, that wasn't. >> While we're on the topic of the afro, one thing I'm very jealous about with. you is that cuz this is my thing. Look, look, just between us, right? >> Yeah. I was doing I was I was doing. [laughter] I was like I was like doing I. was doing an afro for a long time and. what I was doing was like not correct. >> Like it was it was like falling off of. my head a little bit cuz it was getting. so big that the right side was bigger.

than the left side and it was just it. was my mom would tell me I look like a. spaceship. Right. [laughter]. >> And then and then Trevor goes all. natural. >> You know how bad your hair has to be for. your mom to roost in cuz moms are the. last people Do you ever see anything. wrong about you in life? And your mom. was like, >> "Hey, what's going on, spaceship boy? What's up?" If the battle star hasn't. arrived, >> I would go I would go home and my mom. would ask me what the plan was. >> This is how bad Wait. Okay. So, I. remember I remember this afro.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. But what was the So, when when you. when you uh started growing out your. hair, but you had like a plan. You were. like, "Oh, okay. I'm going to grow it. out." And you you had you were like. reasonable about it. That was what like. really clued me into what I was doing. >> No, no, no, no. I think you're being. kind. I never I never because remember. where it started. Co was like the real. the real kickoff, right? That's the jump. off. >> That's when my hair starts growing. again. >> Mhm. >> Up until then I was like you got to cut. your hair, got to cut your hair, got to. cut your hair, got to cut your hair for.

work. >> Yeah. For work and for school and for. like everyone tells you cut your hair, cut your hair, cut your There's a. certain way to look. Cut your hair, cut. your hair, cut your hair, cut your hair. Co comes, can't cut your hair, can't cut. your hair, can't cut your cut. Then. we're like deep into the pandemic. No. one's cut their hair. Then uh. restrictions started like calming down a. little bit. People were like, "All. right, maybe you can go to a barber. Maybe you can." But I was like, "I don't. know, man. Don't want to sit in a. chair." And then people are coughing on. me and now I'm in I was like, "I don't. want to risk it for a haircut. There's. no there's no haircut in my world that. is worth dying for." Okay,

>> this is how you can tell somebody has a. good face, cuz they're like there's no. haircut. [laughter]. >> Worth dying for? >> No, no, no. You don't know. >> Worth dying for when there are people. where you [laughter]. Josh is like, "Some of you should die.". [laughter]. >> No, no. I'm just saying that like this. is a person who's put together where. it's like, "Ah, it's just hair." There. are some people there hanging on by. thread who are like, "My hair, my my my. suit got to be," you know, I mean, cuz. they just know they're working with.

less. I hear you. But what I'm saying is. >> this was death we were talking about. Remember this? This is death. Yeah. No, I'm with you. >> Going to booty calls, my man. >> Yeah. And what happened to some of them? They died because of that. >> Some of them have babies. >> Okay. But some of. >> babies, >> some of them are dead. >> Those things are wild. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> So, so this is what I'm Okay. So, this. is what I'm saying is we were all on on. in this on this journey together, right? I think the difference between you and I.

was that because I was like on camera. all the time, there were more people who. felt like they couldn't just let me go. on with like like someone someone along. the lines randomly was like, "Hey man, at least get a lineup.". >> That's what someone would say. Someone. said that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Someone would be like same. things as you say to me. You' be like, "Yo, man, at least yo, come on, man. At. least, >> you know, people be like, "Look. someone's child. >> Just look like someone's child." That's. what they would say to me. Right. >> Yeah. Now, I think the only difference. between you and I is because you were.

not in front of the camera at that time. >> Sure. Sure. >> Nobody was like you weren't shaming. other people. >> You were just shaming yourself. >> Yes. >> With the spaceship box haircut. >> because it would be like I would do like. a like a virtual live show or like a. whatever. Yeah. And then people in the. chat would be like, "Hey, [laughter]. these are people who paid a dollar to. get [laughter] into the thing." And. they'd be like, "Hey, my man, like I.

know this time has been rough on. everybody. I know." Like it would it. would be like that. >> Damn Josh, you're a strong man. I would. feel so insec. you Josh and I used to. roll and we both had at some point it. looked like the theme of the tour that. we were on was unruly hair [laughter]. but Josh's hair got so big and weird. that sometimes he'd be on stage. >> and you know when the cameras like got a. shot of you. >> the background would be black.

>> but Josh's hair was so big it had three. different colors. >> the hair closest to his head was the. darkest and then it would get lighter. and lighter but because of the. background and the darkness of his hair. It looked like Josh had there was. nothing. No, it looked like there was. nothing. And on top of it, there was. like a floating He looked like he was. wearing one of those Russian hats. >> You know those furry furry hats? Yeah. >> You look like you're wearing one of. those Russian furry hats. cuz I did a. thing that was just out of pandemic that. was like um it was at the seller and.

they did a live stream slash like like. taping of it and they had extra lights. cuz they had cameras and so then those. extra lights I saw it later and I I see. what you were talking about. I was like. ah this is and it it looked like you. literally put on that hat. It was like. your thing. Yeah. >> Josh, you're on in 5 minutes. Hold on. Let me get my hat. [laughter] Yeah, because cuz then I think when when you. the first time you got a like a cut from.

how it had grown was when I was like, "Oh, life could be different. >> Life's very different.". >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> No, for you now, I mean, like life is. very, >> very life is different in every way I. can think of. It's been so much fun. watching it from my perspective because. >> I've known like multiple versions of. Josh. Mhm. >> in in how life is like responding to you. if I can put it that way. You know what. I mean? So I knew the Josh who you know. I met you you were already working at um.

you working at Jimmy Fallon show when I. met you right? >> No no I had just left. >> Okay. So you just left touring. Yeah. Yeah. But I knew you as like okay. comedians like doing things and whatever. but you were this this guy who was like. hey man I don't know what's going to. happen. I'm seeing what the world is. going to throw my way. I'm just trying. to hustle. I'm writing a joke. Doing a. thing here. And then you know then you. went through the hair phase and it was. like all right I'm still hustling and. also you see my hair and I [laughter]. don't know where this is going. Yeah I. don't know where this is going and.

>> not hair it's. >> and then Oh and then Josh went through. this pho then Josh started lifting. You. remember when you started lifting? >> Yeah the time you had nunchucks. >> Yo this man. >> yeah it was around then. Yo [laughter]. yo. [laughter]. >> this is when it's a horrible time to. meet a person cuz he met me during. nunchucks which is also just like oh. this is guy in the. >> that is one of the most random moments. to meet a human being with a chain. >> why did you have nunchucks.

>> I was like look [laughter] you can't. have you can't have a gun but people are. crazy in New York and I don't know like. we thought like a lot of people thought. it was like lowkey the end of the world. So I was like, I need something. >> and I can't get a sword. And so I'm. like, let me just have something that's. like a little bit. And then I saw the. news report cuz it was a news report. about how they had lifted there was like. a nunchuk ban in New York City. Then. when they lifted it, I was like I was.

like, "Hey, then we ride. >> and if I get good, then I at least get. it extends my safety one more arm.". [laughter]. >> Do you know what I mean? Wait, hold on. >> I could defend myself one more arms. length away. >> Just one further. >> I think if nunchucks were, cops would. have had them. >> Sure. But they do have they have. nunchucks. They have the baton. They. have the same. >> The baton is like a version of a nunchuk. for a less skilled individual. >> And you know why the baton works? Because it's like it's it's like idiot. >> You know why it works? No. Because it's.

simple. >> Let's let's let the nunchuk expert here. tell us why a baton. Would you want to. go in a fight with me if I had a baton. and then you had nunchucks? Who do you. think would win? >> Here's the thing. Here's the here's how. I'll put it. Okay. >> The baton is more practical. The nunchuk. is crazier. Would you rather fight. someone who maybe isn't skilled or would. you ma rather fight someone who you. knows bites? Cuz nunchuk is the bite. It's like I might hit you, I might hit. me. I I'm crazy. You know, >> that's why that's why there's a phrase.

called blunt instrument cuz anyone can. use it. >> What you have is nunchuk is requires a. skill set. >> Me, if I'm angry enough with a batan, you're dead. You have to know a certain. level of skill to manage nunchuk cuz. nunchucks are almost like a boomerang. cuz people never account for the fact. that you have to wait for it to come. back. [laughter]. >> And it only comes back if it doesn't hit. anything. Yeah. The go [laughter] then. it goes goes. >> Yeah. >> Then you hold Yeah. BUT NUNCHUCK IS THE. YEAH. THEN you hope better believe that.

you're going to be hoping it hits. something because it can also hit you. >> You've experienced that when nunchucks. come back. >> Are you good at nunchucks now? >> No. >> Oh damn. What a waste. [laughter]. >> Not at all. No, no, no. >> I thought you at least got to like the. arm stage. >> I got to the arm stage, but the arm. stage is half. That's a wrist away from. me. [laughter] I need to be good at the. You know what I mean? If I'm good at. this, when you really good at the Bruce. Lee stuff that somebody could still get.

very close to you like. >> Yes. But here's my thing with nunchucks. Why you going shoot? That doesn't account for you hitting. anyone. >> No, it does. It does. Because then if. you're in here, if you're in here, bow. Like Yeah. Now you can't see it. So you. don't know what direction I'm about to. swing it from under my arm. >> And let's say you hit me. Bam. And then. what happens to the nunchuk that left? >> Cuz there's two of them. I mean, there's. one that you're holding. Yeah. >> And there's one that left. That's the. one that hits me. What happens to the. part that hit me?

>> The part that hit you goes down. But now. that it's down, I can hit you in the. back of the head. >> This You see this guy was in it. >> You know what I'm loving? >> I've seen Josh with those nunchucks. >> Yeah. You he self-defensed himself more. [laughter] than he protected himself. from himself. >> 100%. >> I'm You know what I'm imagining? I'm. imagining the person who was walking. through New York City seeing you with. your spaceship pair and the nunchucks. and then they were like, "I need to go. to self-defense training cuz New York is. full of crazy people." [laughter].

>> No, cuz I'll tell you right now, the. hair saved my life because then I'm over. here practicing and I brought I bought. two practice ones. I bought one that was. like foam, but the foam one is like it's. going to break in a day. >> Like you can't. >> That's how dangerous these things are. >> You know what I mean? the foam one you. can't. So then you have to use the. wooden one cuz I was never going to buy. the metal one cuz the metal the metal. one you could [laughter] accidentally. kill somebody and now it's swinging from. your head but you're like uh uh and you. wait for them.

>> accidentally kill someone. Aren't you. starting to defend yourself. >> because okay the same way where you're. trying to defend yourself and you know. how to box and then you and then you. punch somebody on the chin, right? But. you end up knocking them out and they. fall and the way they fall they die, right? It's like that could happen. The. metal nuduck is for murder. Like like. that. That one I still don't think. should be legal. We'll be right back after this short. [music] break. This episode is presented by Whole Foods.

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Foods Market has everything you need to. make this holiday season easier and more. delicious. We're sponsored. Shop. everything you need for [music]. Thanksgiving now at Whole Foods Market. Can we go back to the episode? [music]. >> What's the What's the first fight you. were ever in as a kid? Uh. >> like the biggest like the fight you. remember. Did you ever fight? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So well fight implies.

>> a length that I made the fight continue. I was like beat up sometimes as a kid, >> but like I would I would like try to. fight back. >> Who was beating you up? >> Just other kids. Like it wasn't And it. wasn't even like. >> Were these like bullies bullies or were. these just other kids? >> Two of them were like bullies. Bullies. Okay. Yeah. But like but the thing is. it's like the same awareness that I. think a kid doesn't have of like where. their elbow is so they knock a glass. over is the awareness of like strength.

that I lacked for something I wanted to. do. >> So like like for instance there was one. time I like stood up to a bully like I. really like stood up to him and. >> Wait wait wait set set the scene. What. was their name? We all remember our. bullies names. Uh I look I won't say his name. Yeah, I. will I will say his name, but it rhymes. with uh uh uh wheat. >> Okay. Wheat. >> And so so then you know. >> been picking on me. >> So Peters,

we got we got. >> Man, you must know one. I don't know one. [laughter] anyway. >> But then um. >> how old are you? >> I have to be. maybe eight. Okay. >> Or like nine, something like that. and. and I had had enough of it, right? And I. just like and I even had like a little. speech planned if he if he like came up. on me, rolled up on me, messed with me, right? And so I said all the stuff and. then I I like reared back which he was. also surprised by like and this also I.

could tell was a big kid cuz he was more. surprised than threatened. >> He was like, "Wow, something's about to. happen. This is crazy." And then I rear. back and I punched him as hard as I. could and I managed to punch him like in. the in the chin a bit like like kind of. like like Yeah. Like. >> back jaw, right? And then he like. grabbed his face cuz also when you're a. kid and nobody's like really hit you or. hit you back, it's surprising. So, you. know, he's like, and then he walks away.

And then soon as he walks away, I'm like. like I'm like grabbing my head cuz I I. hadn't like put it together that this. would hurt. >> Yeah. No one shows I mean in the movies. they don't show you that for the most. part. Yeah. >> And look and they're not hurt. >> Like Bruce Lee never finished the fight. after everybody was down. Was like ah. like [laughter]. never happened. >> Jackie Chan did. >> Yeah. >> He was the He was the honest fighter. He. was the He's what got us closer to John. Wick. >> Yeah, >> cuz John Wick will end a fight and be.

like, "Oh, >> oh god.". >> I still don't like that he got hit by a. car and carried on. >> John Wick, >> didn't he jump a bit, >> man? I don't know. >> He jumped a bit though. >> I don't know. I You know what? I I. [clears throat] really like John Wick. The movies. The only thing. >> people like The Matrix. >> Yeah, but. >> he's the same guy. >> Yeah, but the difference there is it's. not the real world. So I'm John Wick is. hit by a vehicle. >> Mhm. >> And then he just gets up. >> But it's not the real world again. between John Wick and the Matrix.

>> No, the Matrix is not the real world. >> Oh, >> what I'm saying is in John Wick. >> John Wick is the real one. >> You know what? [laughter] You know what, Josh? Let's carry on. >> So a geriatric version of Neo. >> Josh, let's carry [laughter] on. Guys. trying to. >> where instead of being led by a black. man, he's led by a dog is more. >> much more real than. >> in the Matrix. He's in cuz they they. said it wasn't. Anyway, so wait, wait. Did the Did Bully ever come back? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Different day. But. yeah, damn. And then by then.

>> So this isn't like a victory story. This. isn't like Josh Johnson. >> No. [laughter] You I won a half a battle. and I lost the next battle. Like it. wasn't even a war. It was just like I. cuz I was just an easy target too cuz I. think I'm openly like sensitive and I am. not like a big guy. So I didn't have a. big I did I never had a big frame. growing up. So even in high school the. people who picked on me was like yeah. it's like easy picking like I I look.

like I almost don't exist in my clothes. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. You're sweet um. >> poetic. >> You are you're timid in your vibe. >> Sure. Like just as Josh like as I've. always known you, you're really. considerate. You you're a perfect like. bully foder in that way. >> And it doesn't help that I was always. like read like when your head is down. for reading. You're a perfect target. [laughter] for anything. I'm like. reading. I'm like reading all the time. I'm like reading for fun. And so now I. genuinely don't know what's about to.

happen until [laughter] the book gets. slapped on my hand. And then I look up. and I'm sure any bully that saw me was. looking at me. And I was looking at them. like like just cuz I'm the shock of like. the book's on the floor. What's about to. happen? You know what I mean? So, and I. and I don't think I like carried an. awareness for defense enough. >> ever really until until maybe like I. really became an adult. Even being in. Chicago, I was like, "Look, >> apparently, you know, especially when.

you go to like some some clubs where. like on the southside and people would. either you would either know something. happened or people would say something. had just happened at some point." And so. I was like, "All right, like I'll be. fine. I'll just run." And then whatever. bullet hits me was meant for me. [snorts]. >> You were never about that life. You were. never like, "I'm going to stand up, fight, do a thing, handle it." No. >> No. Even when I tried to like roll with. other kids that were like tough, they. were even like you're too sweet for this. thing. Like you're not like a tough like.

even kids in my neighborhood be like. yeah but you're not like. >> I like that. >> You know what I mean? No I you know. >> I look I I at the time I looked back on. it as like why is everybody um so what. is it? Why why is everybody so uh like. patronizing? And now I look at it as as. if like almost and you know whatever. this is going to sound however it sounds. but it's like almost by like. some truly like divine design. Everybody.

that was in my life was put in my life. for a reason helped keep me on the right. path. Even when I wanted to do something. bad they like they like made it so it's. like I didn't even have the opportunity. like I did like like all these things. came together. Even the people who like. push me out of their life, it's like. their life went in like a horrific. direction. So, it's like they push me, they it's almost like pushing someone. out of the way of a car cuz I'm like I'm. trying to like roll with this kid or or. be like this kid and then this kid is. like, "Hey, this is like not for you.". And then and then something even ends up.

happening to that person or or or they. go down a worse path or something. So. now everything that's happened like I. can be nothing but but grateful because. like at the time I'm sure especially. when I used to this is going to sound. self-deprecating and it's not meant to. be but like the realization that I've. I've come to about myself and especially. over time is that like all of the things. about me that I like and that people. like are because I'm not like. conventionally cool. Like I'm not like a.

cool guy who is like um. >> wow I want to be like that guy the way. you want to be like James Dean. Like I'm. not that I'm not that type of guy. So if. I if I stop trying to be that type of. guy and I just like hey look I like. Rubik's cubes. I like comic books. I. like and you just you just become it's. it's things we've been taught since we. were little. The best version of. yourself. The best like the most honest. version of yourself. That's where all of. your like cool will come from because.

everyone who likes those things will be. like, "Wow, you openly like those. things." Like I'm like I'm over here. doing the Rubik's Cube when it used to. get slapped out your hand and now people. on the internet are like he did it in a. point 4 seconds. Like now it's become. Yeah. But it's like if you're like an o. if you're like an OG of that thing and. don't get me wrong, I wasn't even good. So now me watch watching me do the. Rubik's Cube was a waste of time cuz it. wasn't like I was like, "Hey Trevor, you. want to see something cool?

It'd be like, "Hey Trevor, you want to. see something cool?". [laughter]. Ah, can you mess it up again? Can can I. restart? It's like It's like that. But. then, like I said, everything in life. led me to the point, at least in the. feeling of about two years ago, where. everything fits into place. I I felt. like I fit in at different points in my. life when I lived in Chicago and started. doing comedy. I finally had the like. conduit. I finally had the vehicle for.

all these things I had ever been and. ever done and ever talked like and ever. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> And then found my people and then moved. into New York felt like. >> it did feel like a mistake for the first. like 6 months. It did like genuinely it. felt like maybe I had made a mistake. until I got hired at Fallon. But every. everyone that I was meeting I used to do. storytelling open mics, comedy open. mics. I used to do variety shows like.

all that stuff like that. >> Were you working at that time doing like. a job job as they? >> Yeah, I was like working a grocery store. >> in New York. >> Yeah. >> What type of grocery store? >> Uh the Trader Joe's variety. >> Okay. What were you doing there? What uh. >> everything like I was a cashier. I did. everything but fill orders because I was. like, "Y'all, if you make me because. they would try." Anytime you have a good. attitude and like you're on time, so. people start trying to give you more. responsibility because they're like, "This is the person that won't mess it. up." But I'm like, "Y'all, I know my. limit." And if you put me on freezer,

y'all are going to have 6,000 ice creams. and no frozen turkey. Like, I'm just I'm. telling you that right now. I don't have. that attention to detail, you know? And. so I was like cashier. Didn't want to. become a manager. Didn't want to become. an assistant manager. >> Why not? Because in my head I was like I. thought I had found and I'm glad I was. wrong because I wouldn't be here now. But I've worked at a couple grocery. stores and I've worked you know odd jobs. and stuff like that. And I found that. like. at least in most situations I can be.

happy. And so I was making enough to. live but I hadn't met any of my goals. yet. But I was still doing standup at. night. And so I was like happy like like. even in unhappiness happy. You know what. I mean? like you deal with terrible. customers or you like you're low on. money so you got to eat. Dude, I've. talked about this before, but I knew I. was broke in Chicago when they put the. door knocker thing for the pizza on. there. My roommates and I, we see it's a. deal cuz this place just opened. >> Yeah. >> It's five No, it's three pizzas for $15.

So, it's like every pizza $5, whatever. We each order a pizza. We get violently. sick. And I knew I was broke because I. was like next day I'm like I'mma eat one. more slice and [laughter] then I gotta. be done with this place. But like in the. off chance I was just sick. And then my. roommates even like what do you mean you. were just We all threw up. And I was. like yeah but look maybe this slice will. be different and then I'll throw the box.

[laughter] away but like I don't have. money to just. >> give the slice a chance man. >> Yeah. Yeah. And so I I just found that I. was happy. I was I was so happy in. Chicago literally just making ends meet. like could not even save money but I was. doing standup at night and figuring. myself out and everything. >> and I feel like now it's just a reminder. to like stay in that place even as. circumstances change. >> because now it's like.

>> okay like I'm not I'm not um um. completely broke but like what do I need. and it turns out I don't need much if I. can take care of my mom and take care of. my aunt and just take care of like. myself and my girlfriend, put on good. shows, nothing else really matters. So. that I don't really need that much money. like and so now if you don't need that. much money, you don't need. >> to do whatever whatever whatever. So now. some of that noise gets like shut out a.

little bit because like yeah sometimes. you you'll you'll be in a situation. where somebody wants you to do this. thing, somebody wants you to do this. thing and if you don't really know what. you want, you might end up doing it and. not liking it or looking back on it and. not liking it. And I'm not saying I love. everything I've ever done completely, but like the the path that the internet. and the people that I'm meeting along. the way have allowed me is to like do. things that are completely consistent. with how I feel about how my career.

should go and building a catalog that I. think will like stand alone like like. >> something that you're proud of. >> because you wanted to do it for the. reasons that you wanted to do it which. is a unique moment. to get to. >> Yeah. >> As an artist, but I think as any any. human on this planet. I was I was. thinking about it this morning. Exactly. what you're saying. I was I was in the. shower and I was going, "H, >> are you picturing me in the shower now?". So, I was in I was in the shower and.

I I had this thought genuinely where I. was going, it's hard for people to understand. And. it's hard for any of us to understand. this. because money is often times the thing. that connects you to all choice, power, um, whatever it might be. >> Mhm. >> But pursuing money is almost the worst. direction you can ever take. Right? If. you say to yourself in life, I'm going.

to pursue money, you could just take money out of an old. lady's wallet, then you've the money is. there now, >> right? Mhm. >> I think what we haven't been taught for. the most part because society doesn't. often times tell us enough is that money. especially in a well functioning society. money is a byproduct of a job well done. >> Yeah. >> You know and so if you have the luxury. of doing the thing that you love doing. and you get to do it well you'll find. that money somehow slips into your.

ether. it it it starts to come in and. that's like I say in a well functioning. society as capitalism goes extreme and. it deteriorates in its late stage. >> people now can only earn money from. certain things. >> but when I look at you I go it's it's. the perfect example like you'll tell me. if I'm wrong but I feel like this. version of Josh Johnson like the person. we know you as today you couldn't exist. the same if the internet wasn't what it.

is now. >> No, no. I think you know what I mean. I. know exactly what you mean and I think. about that a lot because I had found. some. >> um some mainstream and like legacy media. success but not enough to live the way. that I'm living or make the choices that. I make. Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Like I had done. Fallon. I had done Conan. I got like a. Comedy Central half hour. I've done the. route. Like I got New Faces for JFL. Like I did a lot of the route stuff.

you're supposed to do as like an. >> up and there's all the stations along. the way and then there's a place that. you end up for some people it's after. they do JFL New Faces. For some people. it's after they get their half hour and. for some people it's like even after. they've been on a sitcom or something. like that where now there's like there. is no more up and coming. You you've. you've come. >> Yes. >> And so what does that mean? >> Yeah. You just you can't win this new. artist anymore. Yeah, >> they give it to you one time and if you.

lose the time you're up for it, you're. also not going to you're just look I'm. new to people but I'm saying like the. ways in which an industry could. >> could could elevate a person along the. way. I had got a lot of that stuff and. then there was a gap between does he. have his own show? Is he writing a show? Is he selling shows? Is he a touring. headlining comedian? is he? And so there. was a gap there. The internet closed. that gap. The people closed that gap.

And that's why I have a bit more. confidence because one thing I'll say. about the era that we live in now versus. even 25 years ago is that the industry. used to be able to close that gap for. you. They're like, you are um this. A-list star and we're going to treat you. like this A-list star when you're. actually really young just cuz we like. as a studio believe in you. And you used. to just be signed to like one studio. And so anyway, the industry used to. close that gap. But then if industry. betrayed you, blacklisted you, you'll.

see McCarthy stuff, whatever. Once that. thing happened, you didn't have. connection to the people. So even if the. people liked you, they'd be like, "Oh, why haven't you been in a movie in. forever?" Because no one picked up my. calls and no one's calling me. But that. can never happen again because like if. you if you have connection to people and. if you've built community then you'll. always be a version of what you're doing. now especially if you're not doing it to. be number one. And the thing that we're. lucky about what makes us different from.

sports is that like there can really be. no number one. >> Yeah. >> And so it's like because there's no. number one, you can just be like your. number one. You can be like the best. you. And for some people like that like. for for plenty of people Trevor Noah is. like the goat of comedy, right? And that. and it it taps into their sensibility. Your timing is their timing of how they. think your humor. It connects with. everyone that um that follows you that.

believes that you are like the best of. all time. There's going to be a Chris. Rock is the goat. Dave Chappelle is the. goat. Like go go go go go go go go. But. because it's not a foot race, >> there is no clock. >> As long as you don't there's no clock. So as long as you don't convince. yourself that there's a clock, you can. just carry on. You know what I mean? Yeah. >> And so it's like I want to be the best. like comedic writer ever. I also know. that's not going to happen, but I know. that it will happen in someone's mind. that connects with my work and that's.

enough. And I really want it to happen. I want it to happen in the way where. everybody says it. It's not going to. happen. But like at the same time. chasing that now like money is like. >> But that's what I mean. It sounds to me. like you fell in love with the process. essentially. >> Yeah. >> Because the process the process is like. the reward. >> that will always yield a return. Right. If you fall in love with the process in. your life, >> then the outcome just becomes the bonus. at the end of it. You know, and I've. seen this with friends who like cooking.

>> Like they try to get me into cooking. because I like food. I like eating food. Mhm. >> And then they would go like, "You should. learn how to cook." And then when I. would try to learn how to cook, >> even if it came out right at the end, I. was like, "I don't like this.". >> I like eating the food. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? >> Cuz when you eat the food and you didn't. cook it, you're not sweaty. >> Yeah. That's what I'm sweaty version of. me talking about, man. >> Yeah, babe. >> I just be I just be like, "Yo, man, I. get to the end of this journey.". >> What are you guys cooking? >> But if you What do you mean? >> It makes you sweaty.

>> Oh, just process. >> You know how it is, man. If you if you. can't handle the heat, get out of the. kitchen. >> Oh, you don't sweat when you cook. >> Maybe that's why. >> What are you guys cooking? [laughter]. >> Just anything. >> Give me an example of what you made that. made you go, "Hey.". >> Okay. One one day I was trying to make a. stew. >> I've only tried it once and one time I. was trying to make a stew and it just. involved me with a pot, with water, with. ingredients, with the thing. I had to. keep I had to No, I had to keep opening. the lid to see what was bubbling. I had. to keep closing the thing. Normal part. of cooking. Yeah. And in that process,

how close were you to this lid? I I. wasn't measuring, Eugene. I wasn't. measuring my distance to the Maybe this. is why I'm not a good cook. I was. [laughter] just like opening and. closing, opening and closing. >> It would be very funny if you were later. too close and you were like, [laughter]. "Man, cooking is hot.". >> Yeah. [laughter]. No, but I but what I mean is like I. don't think there's anything wrong with. liking or not liking certain things, but. I think people take for granted. >> that the if you fall in love, if you. find a passion for the process,

then the outcome just becomes a bonus. >> And if you love the outcome, then your. your joy is always going to oscillate. between. >> good and bad. Good and bad. >> I think that point of view is a. privilege. We've had this conversation. but in another form. I'm always like. that point making that point you can. only make it from a point of privilege. So if people with a skill a rare skill a. talent like a surgeon who earns hundreds. of thousands of dollars a month can say.

you know I just like operating on people. but you're like no no no. >> I don't know what I'm going to eat. tonight. >> So you can pursue your passion. >> Yes. When you talk about money. >> No. Yes. So I'm talking about money. versus when people say no. Yes. I love. the process. And so the average person I. think this is my opinion does not have. the luxury. >> to think about their passion. >> Yes. >> But they're thinking about what am I. going to do now? What am I going to eat. now? And obviously when you tell the. story about how you grew up and when you. were eating the pizza that made you.

throw up. If someone would have walked. into that dorm room while you were. eating $5 pizza and told you just enjoy. >> just enjoy the process, not about the. money. >> Yeah, my man. >> No, that is what people said. They were. like that. Like that's. >> and what did you feel? >> No, but I'm I guess I'm I'm thinking. also one once again from privilege. It's. either privilege or experience cuz I. think saying fall in love with the. process is a thing that comes from the. experience of like if you have sometimes. it's just good advice from somebody who. did it the other way. So yes, it's from. like a point of privilege to say like.

don't worry about money and I'm not. saying don't worry about money. I'm. saying people have put me in a position. where I don't worry about money the same. way. So, and I'm also saying I'm also. saying. >> I don't necessarily I think it might be. a luxurious way of experiencing your own. mind, >> but I don't think it's an unattainable. luxury, right? And here's here's why. I'll say this. When you started comedy, if you remember your journey, it was not. paying anything. >> Comedy literally paid us. No, there. wasn't even an idea of the possibility.

When we were doing comedy in South. Africa starting out, >> the the concept of getting paid by. anyone or anything comedy. >> Yeah, we paid to do comedy. >> There wasn't even like a 20 bucks well. done. No, that came over time. Right. >> But we fell in love with the process and. I what I mean by that is. >> I don't think everything has to be. contained in one space. >> Right. >> Right. So. when you look at.

somebody who likes knitting, >> I would always I would always be. fascinated watching somebody knit. >> Mhm. >> And I'll go like, "What what are you. doing?" And they're like, "I'm. knitting." And I'm like, "Oh, are you. trying to make something?" And they go. like, "Well," sometimes they even go, "I'll see what it is. I'm just starting. with this block for now and then it will. grow into something else and it'll. become something." And then I'll decide. what I want to make. But they go, I like. knitting. Knitting is the thing that. they actually enjoy. Mhm. >> On the other side of knitting is the. garment that you've created. Do you get. what I'm saying? >> And so what I'm saying is.

>> it it it's it's it's. noisy. That's why I completely agree. with you. It's noisy. It is hard to. appreciate process. It is hard to. appreciate passion when you're hungry. >> Right. >> But it's it is those people sometimes. who are the ones that will make you the. ones who can do it in those moments. They're sometimes the the the people who. inspire me the most because they can and. they do. Like when my family was at its. worst, you my mom loved gardening, we. didn't have anything. We did like.

literally I remember nights where it's. like we're eating more pani worms cuz it. was like the cheapest thing we could. buy. It's like a dried caterpillar type. How would you Is it caterpillar? Yeah. >> That's like the only thing we could. afford for a moment. Then at some point. we couldn't even get more pani worms. All we could get was Moro. That was like. it. And this isn't like a long, it's not. years in my life, but like a few months. I just remember we couldn't afford meat. and we couldn't afford a a certain type. of protein. >> And so now we're buying like grass. essentially is how it seemed to me as a. kid [laughter]. >> because when you introduced this to me.

late in life, I'm just like this. >> Yeah. They're [snorts] eating kale and. quinoa all day. >> It's ironic, by the way, cuz I remember. the first time someone came with kale in. America and then I was like, I'm not. going back. >> I I escaped this trap. I'm not going. back to this. Oh, good. But Moro and. Kale are very I still think like, you. know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> But the thing that amazed me was she. still found joy in her processes. >> just doing something in a garden. >> going and and and and and I think like. that's that's what you're talking about. like when I listen to you there's an.

element of Josh Johnson. >> that's just like you're just like. obsessed and in love with the process. >> Yeah. >> That you're pursuing. cuz then it's like. the thing I I guess if you were to put. yourself back in different moments, right? Because don't get me wrong, I am. never I am never it's never lost on me. that like I am the exception and not the. rule. And so I even tell people I'm like. look everybody's on their own journey. I. don't want you to think that like. there's there's some aspect of if I can.

do it, you can do it. And then there's. also an aspect of if I can do it, you. can do it being weaponized to keep. people in a bad position. hate that if I. mean. >> because it's like cuz people have said. that to me who were tall. [laughter]. >> and now I'm like what do you mean dunk. and they're like look you work hard. enough [laughter] you work on your game. if I can do it you can do it swish and. then I'm like all right I believe you. and then brick brick brick brick brick. because I because I actually can't and I.

also to be fair don't love basketball. enough to like learn and fall in love. with process enough to even see if I can. Right. But now if you're talking about. if you're if you're talking about a a a. system where people can make their money. or just have like a life, there's just. >> have what they want. >> It's so much more profitable to keep. that as a carrot that you hang in front. of someone than it is to just let them. have it. Because if everyone's okay, less people are are rich, which is like. a side note thing. But the process thing.

that I'm fall in love with and that I. think is like so important is that it. started so much longer before anything. was working out. The same way that like. I've been my like the way that I've been. myself and like weird and it didn't. work for like all of life until like a. little bit of college it worked cuz a. little bit of college I'm finally. meeting people who are also kind of like. me. Then it worked in Chicago. I started. doing comedy. That's the That's the.

thing I should have been doing this. entire time. Then it worked for a little. while in New York and then like I had my. ups and downs and now it works in a big. way because I'm finally like doing. everything I think that I was meant to. do. And so the the reason I say. >> meant to do Yeah. Cuz cuz then I think. that it started in Chicago when I. started doing comedy, but I'm working at. the grocery store and I'm like working. on bits all day, but then also having. conversations all day cuz you Okay. So, you would be on register for like 2.

hours. Okay. They do a 2-hour block. So, now I'm talking to people and I'm not. necessarily like running bits by people, but I am like getting to know you get to. know your regulars. You get to watch. stuff and now it's like your. >> just Yeah. You're just you're just. feeding off of like all these. interactions that are so interesting and. especially if you decide to be. personable because I worked with plenty. of people who decided to like be. miserable in that moment. But in my. head, I'm like, "Guys, I'm here. I like. there's nowhere else I can be." And so I.

this is either a waste of my time, which. means it's a waste of my life, or it's. my life. So now I'm I'm just here. So. then let me talk to this person, ask. them how their day is. Let me like like. have you had these? Cuz I haven't had. these. I know that's bad to say cuz I. work here, but like are these good? Cuz. I'm going to get them if they And now I. become the person that's personable. enough that people got in my line. And. so now you build a a rapport with these. people. And then when I'm over here. stocking the freezer, stocking the. fridge, I'm thinking about bits or I'm. thinking about what people said to me. So now when I go up in Chicago,

everyone's like, "Oh, you don't ever. repeat or you don't." It's like cuz I'm. excited about like I'm excited about. what this thing is that happened today. or I'm excited about building on this. idea that I had last week, but now I've. rewarded it or like whatever. And so it. seems like a wealth of like, "Oh, you. must just be writing all day." And in my. head I was like, "I am, but I'm not.". like it just came from such a genuine. place. It didn't become more like proper. proper writing until Fallon because I. was a monologue writer at Fallon.

>> That's when you had to get of it. >> Now it's like 150 jokes a day or you. know like or you're just you're even. writing when I was at Fallon I was try I. was so thirsty to get a joke on. I was. writing jokes in the hope that like. Jimmy got lost in the building and then. like wandered in my office and was like. hey what how you doing? And I'm like, "Oh, I'm great. I got a whole page of. job." You know, I mean, like I'm I'm. like going crazy cuz also it's like your. first job, so you're extra. And.

>> a major job. >> Major job. Yeah. And then I got hired at. Daily Show. Like when you hired me, I. was like, "Okay, this is a chance, especially because of how collaborative. the process is. This is a chance to take. everything I've been writing, all the. ideas I'm always having, all the. conversations I have, and like hopefully. apply them in real time to whatever the. news of the day is. And then it was writing at Daily Show. which then taught me how to tell stories. better things that people had no context. for. So like watching you I was able to.

be like oh you know what like there's. this thing that happened to me that. people won't um have any frame of. reference for. >> how do I tell them about that? So when. you would talk about South Africa or. when you would talk about your travels. and you're talking to Americans who are. the perfect audience of like untraveled. people like everything is new. [laughter]. They'll be like they'll be like Malta is. it chocolate? They like they you know we. don't know cuz it's like cuz also you. you were the first person that like.

showed me how big the world was in a way. and like talking to you talking to. Celabo talking talking to all these. people showed me how how how [laughter]. well the world gets on in spite of and. sometimes without the US because growing. up here you're like this is the this is. the lie that keeps things the way they. are maybe forever is that you are taught. that the US is number one. We're number.

one because we deserve it. We're number. one on merit, but we're also number one. in everything. And so if anything is bad. here, best believe it's worse somewhere. else in the world cuz they're not even. as good as us. So if you if you are. hungry in America, imagine how hungry. you'd be in Mexico. Imagine how hung and. you could even point at other Western. countries. It's like they would do like. I had teachers that would do this where. they'd be like Australia nice and. everything, but what do they build? what. what what adventures do they have? Like. because it teaches you to have like like. being I don't even know where you learn.

it, but like being the center of. entertainment especially and. entertainment being such a strong um. like a strong conveyor of stories and. stuff like that. >> It teaches you a sort of American. excellence that probably even used to be. earned but then has slowly been slipping. away over time. And now your assumption. is that no matter how bad things get, we. could have like a civil war and you'd. still point at another country and be. like, "Well, they're having a coup." And. it's like,

>> "Yeah, but look at the 99 other. countries that are fine today on like a. regular Wednesday." Mhm. >> And so rather than teaching you out of. your supposed like excellence and number. one cuz it's also a very inconvenient. truth that like the number one title. comes from like just like a boxer who's. number one and has a team that's built. up of people from all sorts of. backgrounds with disciplines. There's a. number oneness that gets lost in that oh. yeah well we needed the scientists to. come here. We needed the engineers to. come here. We taught some of our people.

but then they went over and learned from. other people and then came back. number. one is just number one because we're. number one. And so then that keeps. people in the thing of like you'll see. we're another country, another western. country as well. So you don't even have. to worry about like communism, socialism, whatever. Another western. country will figure something out and we. still won't change because the idea of. looking at someone else as an example is. unacceptable. And so being around you. and being around people who had like a. different experience of life, being. around your opio, being around all these.

people was the first time that I was. like, not only is like the world. obviously much bigger, but like comedy. is so much bigger cuz now I like it made. me curious enough to like start watching. comedians where I just needed the. subtitles cuz I was just like I was. like, let me just like. >> Yep. Joe Opio subtitles, I'm with you. [laughter]. We're gonna get a dig in at Joe. Come. on, man. [laughter]. >> But that's but like so every I said all. that to say that like.

>> it's not No, no. It's like it's not lost. on me that not only have I been. incredibly fortunate, I've been given a. lot of opportunities. And then even. within those opportunities, I was like. put in the right place at the right time. to have the right experience to make. what I'm doing now possible. And that's. the part, you see, that's the part where. whenever you get great advice about. pursuing your passion, no one ever says at the end, that's the. long way of saying. >> do the thing that you can when you can.

Then someone might select you to be the. person that can and ends up becoming the. person that will. And also what I. realized was when you were telling your. story because I worked in retail for a. long time and I realized I had the most. amount of fun doing comedy when I was in. retail before I knew it was comedy. >> There was no pressure. You had to. refresh your jokes. Yeah. There's. someone coming in in and out all the. time, but they've seen you so many times. and you you can't say the same thing to. them. And there you are now at Fallon. Now you're doing this thing for a living. and they've said to you, you don't have. to worry about the money now. Just just.

do this thing. And then all of a sudden. becomes difficult. And I thought there. was a phase where comedy was making fun. of people that are doing their best to. try and survive. You know, they would be. telling people like, "Hey, imagine have. you you guys coming back from work? Hey, work. How's work?" "Oo, every day. traffic." And I'm like, "Yo, when did we. get here?". >> Mhm. >> Like I started hating the way I was. doing some comedy cuz I would and I'd. realize it was all about for me. personally, it was about fitting in. because even in retail when you're. working there, you realize that you're. not fitting in here. that when you get.

out, you're like, "How shitty was that. job?" But it came with how people. measure success maybe, you know? >> Yeah. Yeah. And it also just comes from. a place of like this is how you're. supposed to feel. Yes. >> And it's like if you keep falling for. how you're supposed to feel, I mean. that's that's very convenient for. someone. You'll keep buying what you're. supposed to buy. You'll keep you'll keep. voting for who you're supposed to vote. for. You'll keep and then you you just. have to it there's a level of. curiousness that I understand that when. you're hungry cuz I've been hungry. When.

you're hungry, you're thinking about. hungry. So, you're not thinking about. some of this like hoy stuff. And it. doesn't make you a bad person. It. doesn't make you a dumb person. It. doesn't make you less than. It's just. literally that's what that's why it's so. convenient and so important to keep to. keep you. like not just down, but like to keep a. controlled I I started working on this. bit a long time ago and I did not like. finish it in a way that's like worth it. Maybe I'll get there one day. But I'm. like, you don't get paid to do your job.

You get paid not to riot. They pay you. just before riot. >> Yes. >> If they paid if they paid you any less, you'd riot. And they know that. So. they're like because you got to. remember, especially in the US, we did. have slavery. >> And they've slowly been trying to get. back as like as soon as they lost it, they were like that was some good stuff. That's crazy. It's like it's like having. antimandium in the uh in in Black. Panther. Yeah. And so it's like imagine. they took all of it away. You got to use. regular metal now. And you're like, "Guys, I'm getting shot." Like this is.

[laughter] this is getting through, right? So now, so now I'm I'm coming. from a place of like I understand that. even even if we're not even going to get. like conspiratorial with it, right? M. >> even in the way that we say left and. right works as a function to keep us at. the the tugof-war and the and the middle. of the rope in the middle because the. fact that like there it can't be lost on. us that like somehow everyone as in one.

person is a full representative of the. right and every one person just one. person is a full representative of the. left. Mhm. >> So based on algorithms after something. happens something something uh what what. whatever whatever you want to picture. you are by algorithm and by who you've. chosen to follow either served contempt. or compassion. >> Yeah. >> And you are served contempt or. compassion as in that is the way it is. This is your window into the internet. And your window isn't wrong but it's not. the full picture. So then you'll say.

everyone on the left is doing this. Everyone on the right is doing this. And. then someone who argues with you, they. saw a different mix. They saw a. different cocktail of compassion and. contempt. So now they are being like, "No, that's not happening. This is. what's happening." Both are happening. Everyone is everything. You can have. Qanon or Blue and or whatever. And I'm. not making like false equivalencies. I'm. just saying that like we're all capable. of of like everything. That's what makes. a person a person. And so I think that. keeping you there keeps you broke.

keeping you there keeps you like, you. know, complying without realizing you're. complying or like and so when someone. especially is trying to like follow a. passion and someone says don't. necessarily worry about the the money, you're going to be worried about. something cuz now that I'm not worried. about the money, I worry about the. quality. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. There's always going to be. something that you want to do. So, so. like so that that is a thing that like. pops out at me where I'm like I don't. know when I'll be like. >> because you don't like your body tells.

you when you get old. You're not you. don't say a number and go I'm old now. You get out of bed and you pop like I'm. not used to popping. And that's what. quality does. >> There we go. Let's go back to complying. You said. >> say the thing you said again about. complying. We don't we're trying to. resist to comply. No, it's just what. keeps you complying is that like it's. very easy if like if Trevor wants. something, right? And what he and what. he wants is the the last slice of pizza, right? >> It's very easy for him to get that last.

slice of pizza that we could all three. have if he keeps us distracted fighting. about the pizza. >> Me now I'm looking at you, you're. looking at me, and he's eating, >> right? Mhm. >> And I feel like that's how a larger. portion of every political game and. every uh like socioeconomic game works. And I think that by me being, you know, left and you being right and us arguing. and only focusing on each other, you. forget that like we were initially. fighting over the pizza. And now where's. the pizza? It's gone. Well, it's gone.

cuz it's your fault. No, it's your. fault. You know, I think I think society. made. >> that argument very easy for politicians. and people who run countries after co. cuz we got to see what class really is. >> Yeah. >> It happened in real time. Uh rich people. did not die in droves. >> cuz we also saw Madai in that bathtub. and I was like that's going to. radicalize somebody. >> Yeah. Some countries and. >> Madonna being in that bathtub. >> and then her being like oh we're all. going through it and I'm like not the.

bathtub. Oh man, [laughter]. >> that's guys, if I I need you I need I'm. telling you right now, if we're ever. having a global crisis and I post a. video in a bathtub talking about how we. all struggling, I need you to call me. Yeah, there were a lot of people who are. out of touch in that moment. >> Yeah, but but I'm saying that in a grand. scale, that's what you were experiencing. as inequality and someone having to look. at the other side and go, I'm stuck. here. Yeah, I'll even pitch you this.

>> Take take uh like any sort of like. Hollywood example, acting, comedy, whatever, right? >> This is this is also how it happens. >> I'm not speaking to the merits of. anyone's talent. I'm just saying what. I've noticed is that there will be a. certain amount of positions. There'll be. like the DEI positions, right? And you. could also tell that the DI positions. mass people get DEI. This is the thing. that tells people like this is how many. we're going to do. [snorts]. >> It's like it's the quota.

>> Yeah. It's like this will be the quota. So, I don't even know why you get mad at. DI because they've already basically. said we'll only get 20. So, like you. won't have to worry about them taking. your job. Maybe you, but like as a large. swath of the industry, we're going to. let 20 in. Right. So now people are mad. at these like DEI jobs, jobs only. established to try to like find some. sort of base, all the stuff, all the. stuff we already know. But then people. are mad at them. These people now feel. like they have to prove themselves. They're mad at the, you know, the other. people coming at them, everything.

Meanwhile, there is no quota and there. is no um there is no number that is. capped for the amount of like legacy. kids that get into the right colleges or. nepo babies that get the job or. whatever. And it's like it's like that. thing obviously some some people are. waking up to that fact and being like, "Oh yeah, why are there only 20 spots. for anybody? Forget. >> D." Yeah. Right. Right. Right. >> And it's like that but that's also part. of the game. >> But that's what a quotota does. A quota.

exposes how many spots are no longer. available to those it was available to. before. >> That's true. That's true. Actually, >> now you can pontify it. You can count. Oh, 20 people used to be there. Now. they're not anymore because these people. are there. Quotas are never about if the. person can do their job or not. Because. I'll tell you this much, people who are. put in because of affirmative action. will never outnumber the people that. were there already. It will never be 50/50. Will never be. 50. You were here legacy 50, you are. new. We're just putting you in. cuz then. you could measure how did the quality of.

work drop since the new people came in. But if you put 20% in and the other 80%. they stop performing their duties. because they're disgruntled by the. people that they feel like they don't. deserve to be there, then that's when. the quality of work drops. Then you can. always blame it on the new guy. >> Sure. Sure. >> You know, you know what I love listening. to this? Like these are always the. moments when somebody like walks into a. room and there's comedians talking and. then I'll always hear them say, "I thought you guys told more jokes.".

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> No, no, no. I've always wondered. I was. just listening to you guys now and I was. like, it's it's really interesting to me. how comedians, no matter where they are. in the world, will always get into the. Is it the anomalies? Is it the. inconsistencies? Is it the Do you know. what I'm saying? Maybe I No, I was just. listening to this now and I was going. it's it's funny how. >> because comedy Let's think of it this. way because comedy is like the icing on.

a cake. It's sweet. >> It's generally very delicious. It's it's. easy to consume it. People often think. that the raw ingredient for it is also. that in that way. And I know sugarcane. is, please don't get me wrong, >> but I'm just saying I'm watching this. right now and no, no, forgive me. It. made me wonder. It's like. >> I wonder if like you get into comedy. because you're seeing an inconsistent. world or if part of comedy helps you. process the inconsistency of the world.

>> Maybe. I mean, I imagine it's like if. you if you're a singer, right, and. you're like, I can do something real. weird with my throat. >> Yeah. >> I can do something real weird with my. voice. And then you do it to drums and. people are like, I think I'd pay to see. that. It's like it's like you fall into. the thing. >> No, but I mean the thinking of it like. >> Okay, let me ask you this question. When. when was the first time in your life. when you can remember. thinking this didn't make this doesn't. make sense? >> Uh, okay. So,

[clears throat] you know how. this is two moments that stick out to. me. Uh, you know how the dentist gives. you a lollipop? Yeah, you see there you. go. >> And I was like, "Hey, my man, >> my man, what you doing? What you you. trying to catch me slipping? I didn't. have any cavities and now you giving me. sugar. This is crazy.". >> How old were you when you had the stalk? >> Uh. maybe 10. I don't know. Like Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. But that's But you see what I.

mean? It's like something like that. What was your what was the first what. was the first thing you can remember. thinking this does not make sense? I think it was when I was watching my. grandfather and my parents watching the. news and believing all of it. >> You wait. You were watching them watch. the news? >> Yes. And they were believing all of it. Because in my head I was like this this. what they're saying here didn't happen. here. [laughter]. >> Wait what? >> Wherever this happened whatever they. were saying in the news they were like. in so in where I was like yeah where we. are.

>> everything is fine. >> So Oh so you were going. >> Yeah. So it was burning on TV. Okay. at. that place and I'm sure by now they've. extinguished the fire cuz the 7:00 news. dark outside [laughter]. >> but when they shot a news. was out. >> why we why are we worried about the. emotions as if it's happening outside. and if it's happening now then I'd watch. them getting emotionally invested at. 7:00 about so bad out there. >> that's fascinating so you you were. thrown by the fact. >> I mean it's you see it's extremely.

logical as well. >> because you're going it's not burning. outside. >> Mhm. M. >> It's not even It's not even The sun is. not even out anymore. >> Yeah. It's daytime in the news, >> but it's not It's night time now. >> Yes. And everyone who was supposed to do. their job did it. >> The fire trucks were there. The cameras. were there. The reporter filed a story. >> And so you were. >> put on a jacket. Yeah. >> In fact, in fact, in my head, I was. like, the reporter that reported on the. story is also home watching the news. Now, >> you know what's so funny about this is. that it's the third level of the thing. I thought you were just going to say,

why are they believing everything? Because people lie sometimes. That's. just even much more of a child thing. >> You're like, you're like, "No, no. The. car that was on fire has clearly been. extinguished by now that long ago. Insurance has been contacted. The. [laughter] claim is being processed. Now. we're just waiting for opening hours for. tomorrow. So, you can look at another. car if you really want one." But I would. watch the real emotion h and my parents. being invested on them. Yo, there's bad. out there. And I'm like, no, it's great. in here. We're watching these people.

our car is not burning. >> And that's when you so your brain at. that point is just going, "This doesn't. make sense.". >> Yes. And also because I think when I. started exploring comedy, I realized. that's what people are doing. They're. reacting to something that I say that's. not real. I say things and then they're. like, "Yeah, Ned." Then I'm like, "Yeah." And I think that's why maybe we. see comedians unable to uh fight. extremism. uh when people are being. extreme about their views and ideas and. rallying people and filling up arenas. and domes and people are just coming to.

listen to them and social media, we can. say anything. We can fight that because. we're essentially doing the same thing. but we're doing it on a happy side. We. galvanizing people to come into a room. to laugh. But there on the other end of. it, it has never been like it is now. where you find in the other side of. things, the same arena. >> Oh, that's that's two weeks from now. >> I would agree with that actually. >> Someone who's going we are getting the. guns, we are going to fight. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's a there's a there's a. different type. It's a man that's an. interesting thought. There is like a. [snorts].

it feels like at least. more and more places in the world have. an economy or there's like a a circuit. around anger and hatred in a way that it. didn't exist for a long time. >> Troublem thanks to standup has become. performative. So if you look at all the. rallies of all people stirring up what. we call trouble, they also have a stage. by the way and now they don't have paper. anymore in their hand and they tell. jokes. >> They mess play music a little bit, mess. around and get people worked up. Some.

tell the same jokes. >> I mean they do it they work it like a. set. You remember back in the day and I. mean he still sort of does it now but. not as much. I feel like now he's like. retired. Trump used to work out bits. >> Yeah. >> On the campaign trail. Yeah. >> So, he would say something and then he'd. go, "I used to say that and it didn't. work. I used to say it didn't work. Now. it works." The one that he had was um. I'm trying it. I think it was Crooked. Hillary. >> or one of those. But he had a previous. version. >> Yeah. Crooked Hillary. >> And he had it and he had a version and.

it was like it didn't hit. >> but he found the one. >> and then he found like a switch and he. changed it. But he said which was. interesting to me. He said. >> Mhm. >> at a rally. I used to say it like this. and people didn't respond. Now I say it. like this and they do respond. >> Yes. But standup was the original. research and development of how to. become extreme in an idea. When people. say okay there's no paper just a. microphone just stage just give me a. group of people don't sit down even. [clears throat] just stand up let's do. this thing because music did not have.

the same impact as now when you have a. singular person trying to convince a. horde of people to take action. But the. action now is the other way around. It's. no longer just go. action to happiness. >> Yes. Because also standup did a lot to. remind people how great their lives are. But this form of extremism which is. performative as well is doing a lot to. remind people how shitty their lives. are. Where else we would make fun of a. of someone who has a normal 9 to5 job. These people are saying why do you have. a normal 9 to5 job? Don't press.

anything. We've got more what now after. this. >> [music]. >> It's amazing how powerful it is when you. switch it. I you know it's funny. I I I. [music]. you know because you you you are in a. moment right now um that that's amazing. and it's new and it's it's it's. obviously being looked at from so many. different places, you know. So like it's. Josh Johnson, the magazines look at you, the the entertainment industry looks at.

you and then people often phone me and. they go, "What do you think of what Josh. is doing?" And they all have a different. lens through which they wish to see it. You know, what do you think it means for. the entertainment industry? What do you. think it means for comedy? What do you. think it means for. >> And I remember once I was trying to. think of this for myself and I went, one. of the things you're doing with your. standup, like the sets that you're doing. now every single week on YouTube. is in a crazy way. It's like you're also. just like establishing a bit of reality.

I don't know if you've noticed that. And. I don't know if you're doing it on. purpose. >> I mean, some people say that. What I'm. trying to do is be like this thing like. what we have become. >> I think is a problem. >> Mhm. >> Like as comedians and what we mean to. people and what we and and and how we. like. >> structure our careers around that thing. I think that people are playing games. right now that are going to going to.

bite them eventually where you play with. people who are struggling. You play with. people who are like based on like even. no fault of their own but a a a systemic. level they are mentally unstable. You. play with people whose only hope is. something that is like you know in the. ether as a conspiracy. You play with all. that you make your money and then you. think you go home. But especially if. you're chasing money, especially if you. like money and especially if you can't. stay at home, you keep doing it and you. keep doing it and you keep doing it and.

then you you become a different thing to. them than you can ever get back. Do you. know what I mean? Oh wow. >> And so so like I think if I stay as as. much of a standup as I can and obviously. sometimes I talk about politics, but my. thing is that I talk about everything. So the people who think that I talk. about one thing, I can tell what videos. they've watched. I've been told by. people that I only talk about black. culture. Then I've been told by other. people I only talk about Trump. Then. I've been told about from other people. that I I do like regular jokes again.

Then I am told by people that they're. like, "I love your stories. I love this. story." Whatever. And it's like I I. don't think and this is I'm not upset. about it or whatever, but I don't think. that people are fitting into the picture. that I am trying to and as a result. talking about everything. >> Yeah. But you see this is this is I do. get upset about it not just on your. behalf. >> but on society's behalf. >> Mhm. >> One of the best things I ever learned. was from a friend who was a computer.

scientist and he taught me about a. concept known as the second system. effect. And he said whenever you're. programming. one of the things you learn as a coder. is when you change one aspect [snorts]. you might think you're fixing one thing. You don't realize the second system. effect that is created by that. You've. created a second system and the effect. of that is something that you may not. have been aware of. You know, >> I think of that with algorithms.

>> We used to live in a world where. the broadcast was decided by a few and. it went to the many. >> So one news network 100 million people. would watch it. one journalist, 50. million people would know them. You. know, one newspaper could define a whole. country's trajectory. And then over time that that started. diminishing like their their power. started going down. But what also.

started happening is it started. diffusing. So there'd be more. newspapers, more news agencies, more. television shows, more movies. So. there's more who have less power. More. who have less power. This is a good. thing because reality shouldn't be. defined by one person or one small. group. But then we get to the point of the. algorithm and the algorithm does this on. steroids. >> It becomes. super super super tuned.

to getting as few people as possible or. rather as many people as possible an. opportunity to talk to as many people as. possible. and you you like cut down. where the message goes from and who it. goes to. It's like everywhere. It's. diffused. You know what I mean? It's. like everyone can say it to everyone. everywhere. But then what it also does. is it says, "I'm just going to give you. this slice of the reality." You know. what I mean? So now Josh Johnson's out. there trying to be the full human being.

who is Josh Johnson. >> Mhm. >> The algorithm goes, "I noticed, Trevor, that you really liked Josh Johnson's. stories about hair. I'm just going to. give you all of his hair stuff. Just you. and you and him." afro. That's all I'm. giving you. >> And then it goes, Eugene, I noticed you. you like the thing when Josh Johnson was. talking about working in a grocery. store. I'm just going to give you his. retail stuff. >> And now you extrapolate this into. politics and views on the world. >> And what's crazy and terrifying to me is. that there's a person out there who only.

knows one slither of Josh Johnson. And as you said, they either have. contempt or compassion for that person. or that side of you, >> right? And I go, if as we get to the. second system effect of everything going. to everyone in the most perfect way, you. don't have one big broadcast. You have a. billion small broadcasts. >> But those billion small broadcasts are. only your world now. >> And where before you had to share a. world where a car was burning for. everyone, your family is watching the.

news. Now you watch the news. You watch. the news. You watch. Everyone in the. house is watching different news, but. they're all living in the same house. >> Yeah. And I I I genuinely the reason I'm. upset about it is not like anger. I'm. like I'm almost terrified because I go. what does what does that do to us when. we don't see the full complexity of each. other? Like you and I talk about this. all the time. I go I. >> I want to live in a world where more. people see friends disagree. >> because we make it seem like people. disagree because they don't live in the. same world. You know, like when you.

walked in today, we were watching videos. on the internet about mediums and. psychics and all of that stuff. And I. said to you as my friend, I was like, "Hey, man, I don't believe this, >> but there's also something here that I. don't get. >> There's something I don't get, and I'm. not I'm not going to say it's not real, but I'm letting you know my current. position is I don't believe this." And. then you're going, "I do believe this.". And let me tell you why. And we're. sharing this. We. >> But we don't exist on, you know, like. opposite ends of anything. Mhm. >> There are some parts of you that are far. away from me and there are some parts of.

you that I can't separate from my own. skin. We are the same in that way. >> And that that's a big thing that worries. me as I go imagine if somebody like Josh. Johnson who in my opinion is one of the. kindest, most caring, most considerate. people. Imagine if they could slice you. into slithers of an idea. What are they. doing to the rest of everyone in a. society? Do you know what I mean? >> Sure. And also through the structure of. like what keeps you on, they follow. behavior. So because they follow. behavior, we assume that everyone always. wants to be agreed with. Some people.

actually, and the algorithms have. already figured this out cuz it happens. to me. It's like some people through. being curious about what other people. think are served nothing but. bad. Like I would just say bad stuff. that happened to my Twitter. So then. it's like it's like. >> I it it then makes me feel like oh. everyone's so angry and hateful and. every and then then this okay no one no. one's on board with this idea I talked.

about this idea with friends I did this. idea at a show right cool. >> I was like guys they found now it's it's. like it's like a they finished a study. that half the internet is bots isn't. that great and everybody's like why. would that be great I'm like guys. there's way less Nazis than we thought. [laughter] there like just imagine if. you thought there was a room with 100. Nazis in it and it's two two still bad. but two's not 100 and then then one of. my friends was saying but yeah isn't it. horrible though that somebody would go. to the trouble of engineering the the.

troll farm to make us think there's more. Nazis yes that's still not as bad as 100. actual Nazi if you had if you had a. hundred a hundred uh cakes at your door. that say the N word or two Nazis, you'd. be way less scared than if there were a. hundred Nazis at your door with two. cakes. >> Yeah, with two cakes. >> Yeah, we got to keep the cakes. >> We got to keep the cakes. But like the. fact that this bot problem is actually. so big. It both means that like to me at.

least, I could be wrong. >> I like this. No, I like this view. I'm. actually on board with this actually. It's it's an optimistic way of looking. at it. >> It also means that the companies also. like are artificially propping. themselves up. We think that they are. like the full um purveyors might be the. right word, but that they are the full. end all beall of human connection now. And they and that would that would be um. advantageous for us to believe that. because they we would then go to them. for the communication. >> Yeah.

>> First of all, everyone forgets outside. if you if you guys if the fact that. people even in New York people talk. about New York, most people are so much. more polite than any internet comment. section would ever have you believe. >> Yes. People bump into me, they. apologize, people. >> cuz you're carrying nunchucks, of. course. >> Yeah, 100%. Let the hair get frizzy. [laughter]. But like, but I just find that that. thing clued me in that, okay, now I. already try to take a beat. I already I.

already to my detriment don't get angry. enough about bad things happening in. real time, even when they happen to me. Sometimes someone's rude to me and then. they walk away and then I'm like, >> actually, that wasn't okay. Right? I. already try to take a step back as my. like personal. >> now I take a second step back especially. when I'm online because I'm like is this. person real now that sort of like. >> that sort of thing could drive a person. crazy but to me because I'm also being.

served so much like hateful stuff and. because hateful stuff is more engaging. than love it does then make me go okay. what's the likelihood that people. spreading love are bots and people. spreading hater bots. This is a hateful. thing that I see and it also isn't like. original. This is how I feel like I'm. getting good at picking out the bots. because then when something racist. happens and they're like they're like we. should get him fired for his job and. then they're like probably doesn't have. a job to fire from. And then the next. three people are like probably doesn't.

have a job to fire from. Probably. doesn't have a job to fire from. I'm. like I maybe this is like one angry. person. >> multiple. Yeah. >> And maybe no racist people. Who knows? Cuz the comments are racist. the other. person's just angry. They're like, "We. should get him fired from his job. This. is insane." Right? And so now it's like. it changed my like outlook on the world. in a way that might be naive and it. might be a little bit like um. um wishful thinking,

>> but it still is like information that. I'm basing my. >> No, I think it's I think it's the right. way to see it actually. It's like. finding, you know, we've had a lot of. conversations on the podcast with with. different I mean, everyone from, you. know, doctors who are here to talk about. how to how to find the best in your. kids. We talk to world leaders. We one. of the common threads I find is like. finding the hope, you know, >> and what you're saying ties back into. that is finding you you have to find. that thing. You got to find You were.

hopeful enough to eat the second slice. of pizza. >> And desperate. Fourth. Yeah. Fourth. >> The three were the night before. >> I like this. [laughter]. >> What type of pizza was it, by the way? >> It was just pepperoni pizza. There's no. reason for this. >> Can you Can you eat pepper pepperoni. pizza today? >> Yes, because Okay, I've been poisoned. many times. But there are certain types. of. >> This man said it like a badge of that's. how Josh like I have been poisoned many. times. There was a time in my life where. if food was 250, I would eat it no.

matter what. That was the most. adventurous I've ever been. Now, when I. actually go places and someone's like, "Oh, try this as a delicacy, but it look. a little bit like like squid guts," I'm. like, "I think I'm okay." But if you if. it had been 250 in 2014 in Chicago, I'd. be like, "Hey, bottoms up, right?". >> And so the the time I got poisoned at. the Chinese place, it took me years and. years and years to eat Chinese again. >> Huh. Because everything about the. feeling, everything about the smell, everything about the violent whatever.

Now it it got to a point for a year. Anytime I pass like any sort of Sichuan. place, I was I was like I could feel it. Man, I'm so hungry now. You just got me. hungry. [laughter]. >> You just said Sichuan food, I started. thinking of pig trotters. Are you in. Eugene? [laughter]. >> I don't even think you understand. You. just Oh man. Sorry. Your pain. Tell us. about your pain again. [laughter] But. it's just it's I never drank in my life, but it's the closest. >> Wait, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. >> No. What? Whoa. What?

>> Can't just I thought you knew. You can't. just drop bombs like that in. >> in your life. I knew you don't drink. >> No. No. I never drank. >> You have never consumed alcohol. >> No. No. >> Nothing. Even in church. Nothing. >> No. No. We didn't go to that type of. church. >> Church. >> Some There's some churches that give you. blood of Jesus and it's wine. >> Yeah. Some are wine. We had We had. Welches. >> Oh, the the grape juice. Grape juice. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. never consume not we're not talking. about never drunk never consumed. alcohol. Um is there a reason for this?

>> Uh yeah it it so initially I was. definitely before I was like of age too. scared to get in trouble. >> Okay cool. >> Then I was like not um. then then I really went to this. transition where I became known as like. the sober guy. Okay. Like I that would. be the guy who like walks you back to. your dorm whatever. Yeah. >> Then I was broke. >> So then I was broke. But then this is. also what made me useless though is that. I [laughter] can't drive. So then I.

couldn't be the designated driver. I. would just be in the car with the. designated driver and everybody. [laughter] else sitting in the back. sick. And I'm like, "Y'all y'all pay too. much for this." You [laughter] know what. I mean? So then um then I moved to. Chicago. >> Yeah. That story. Can I just say that. story takes on a whole new complexity of. annoying. It's one [laughter] thing for. somebody to be hanging out with you at a. party, drinking with you, being like, "Have you guys noticed how much we pay. for this alcohol? We could be paying way. less." No. Sober Josh is just standing.

there pointing at your drink, being. like, "You could have saved $50. You. could have saved $25. You could have. saved $17. All right. All right. Shotgun. Shotgun. [laughter]. This is so wild." And then when I moved. to Chicago, I didn't have money to. afford to like a new thing. And then. after I moved to New York, I felt like. even though I was still in like my. mid20s, I felt like I had missed a. little bit of the boat and that if I.

were to find out cuz the the way you. find your drink and the way you find out. how much you can drink is through trial. and error. And the errors get less and. less cute the older you get. >> This is true. >> And so now I'm like, "Ah, yeah, I missed. it because now also So there's no like. curiosity even that makes you and I'm. I'm not advocating for it by the way. I'm I'm intrigued by this. >> The other reason was that I was like I. don't think I can do anything like smoke. or or drink or any of that. Um. especially like it it was like a focus.

thing as well cuz I was like I want to. be able to take care of my mom, take. care of my aunt, and like you know just. like. >> make sure that they're good, right? cuz. like and and especially after like my. dad passed and everything and so then. anything like that just seemed like um a. potential distraction and just from the. outside looking in I had never seen. anyone be their best self drunk even the. happy drunks there were some people that. are like oh he's so fun when he's drunk. and I'm like y'all know he's like fun.

regular right. >> you got to ask him the right questions. and so. >> how how old were you when your dad. passed. >> um 26 I I think 26. I could have been. 25. >> Did you feel like that um because I'm. I'm listening to you and it sounds like. to me it jolted you into like a. different type of manhood or. responsibility than than you felt. before. >> Yeah. Especially because I was I was now. going to like. hopefully live longer than my dad. >> Damn. And so now it's like I already had.

what felt crazy to me is that I my dad. pretty much if I have the math right I. was the age my. dad was when he had me when he died. >> So if I'm like 25 26 I'm pretty sure he. had me at 25 26. So just as I was like. gaining an appreciation for what my dad. must have been going through and have a. kid, I like lose my dad. >> And so these are conversations I never. end up getting to have with him of like,

hey, just so you know, like I get I get. I get you a little bit more now. I know. what I can't know what it was like to be. a baby with me. I can't know what it was. like to have like annoying cries that. are like eh, >> you know what I mean? >> Cuz I'm inquisitive. I like I can't go. back in time and like really get it, but. I'm starting to get it cuz I can't. imagine having to like deal with you. what you and my mom dealt with when you. were um my age me being this now. Then.

losing my dad, I was like, "Oh yeah, like anybody can go." So now I make sure. or at least do my best to like I'm still. not perfect at it, but like everyone. that I love, I let them know all the. time and I don't worry about being. embarrassed because it's like I I. told my dad I loved him the last time. and and wasn't feeling sure that he. heard me. You know what I mean? And I. had the opportunity to tell my dad that. I loved him plenty of times before he.

got sick. >> And so it's like I never want to waste. that again on anybody. And like I've. lost people since then and got to feel. at least somewhat. better because every time I'm not saying. this like to to freak you out, but it's. like every time I leave someone I'm like. they could die. I could die. So like I'm. I'm sorry. >> Don't put that juju on me. >> But I'll tell you I love you all the. time. You know I love you too, but don't. put that juju on me. >> No 100%. Look, [laughter].

>> we're going to live forever. That's. literally why I say it all the time. I. say every time I'll be People will be. like, "Are you are you hurt? I'm live. forever." When I fall, people are like, "Oo, that looked bad. I'm gonna live. forever." It explains a lot of your like. I don't know, man. You you've always had. um a beautiful appreciative. Like we. used to come back from shows and you. would look at me and you'd be like, "Hey. man, thank you for that." And I was.

like, "Okay." And that's why I'm shocked. that you don't drink because I genuinely. thought some of those times [laughter] I. I don't mean this in a shitty way. I. swear on my. >> I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with. you. >> You had the sincerity of a slightly. inebriated person. >> And I also stopped talking and I. realized I did the same thing to Colin. Kaepernick. When I met Colin Kaepernick, I was like, "Hey man, you and me." Yeah. And that's what you do. So Josh will. Josh will look at you, say something, [laughter]. not finish a sentence, but his in his. intonation will make it seem like.

something was coming. So he'll look at. me be like, "Hey man, I just wanted to. say thank you.". [laughter]. Then I'll be like, "Oh, uh, for what?". You know? [laughter]. >> Do you know? No, I do know. >> No. And and then like it's I mean I've. known you for years now, but back then I. was just like oh man. I was like my. man's you know he's had a few. >> it's been a night. It's been a journey. and I appreciate him still. And.

>> so so. I mean it must be I can only imagine. what it must be like for your mom though. seeing this cuz there's no mom who. doesn't enjoy. seeing their child. fly. Especially when you quit the. grocery store. Especially where you're. [laughter] like you're like, "Mom, I. think I got this." And she's like, "Are. you sure?" Like, cuz it's not my mom. never like she my mom is very. supportive. Believed in me, all the.

things, but any mom is going to be. especially any black mom is going to be. pragmatic. >> Yeah. I mean, if your mom supports you. going into comedy, you I don't know if. you've got a great mom. I'm going to be. honest. [laughter]. >> Your mom should support you doing comedy. as like a side. But if your mom go Yeah. If you go, "Mom, I'm quitting my job to. do comedy." And your mom's like, "Good. for you." I don't know if your mom. actually likes you. I'm going to be. honest. Most moms, all moms should just. be like, >> "Do that for fun." And I told my mom. that I got the job at Tonight's Show. And she she was even still like, "Um,

okay." And that's enough money to. >> like like she like she was still like. and this is this is good. You can. survive. You'll be taking care of. yourself. And so it's like even for. something that she knows because I. watched the Tonight Show with Johnny. Giant Carson when I was little like I. don't I don't even remember some of this. stuff and she will tell it to me that. she's like you would you cried you cried. so hard. I think I was like late to. school when when it when they announced. on like the Today show that Johnny.

Carson wasn't going or whatever morning. show. Yeah. I watched Johnny Carson. I. loved Johnny Carson so much and so I. like cried and I'm like I don't remember. this at all. And she's like, "Yeah, you. were like four or whatever." Like, like. I was like little and I don't even know. if it was the announcement so much as me. finding out, but it was like it was just. it Johnny Carson and Big Bird got like. tear me up, right? [laughter]. And so, so then I think that for her. seeing me do well and especially seeing.

what we've built like like we have a. real community of people who come to the. show like to laugh, take a break and. like people really take care of each. other and everything and people are like. um you know obviously like internet's. internet so there's going to be like. mean comments whatever but for the most. part like people are like. >> um so kind they they they're very kind. towards me and they're kind towards each. other and it's like everything. I'm. hopefully making everything that would. make her, you know, happy when she sees.

it. And she's seen it a few times now. and now she's seen it a couple times as. my show. And so then she sees like what. I'm doing. And so even though she'll. still whatever if I if I swear I. >> Bro, when I tell you I don't even like. curse like that. >> I don't even cur but if I let anything. slip, she's like, "I heard that uh that. b- word. You think that that's. >> banana? >> Yeah. I mean, like, yeah, [laughter]. it'll be like it any cursing is just. like is is like um uh she clocks it,

right? >> Right. >> And but I think that now for her seeing. that I'm doing well, see, I'm okay. And. like once again, I just I can take care. of her. I can take care of my aunt and. like they can ask me for things and it's. not a huge deal cuz that's been like the. dream. Like people would say like even. when people said I was like good at. comedy, I'd be like I'm not good at. comedy till like my mom is taken care. of. That's beautiful. Because then it's. like now now you've now you've reached.

some sort of goal, right? Like now. you're like cuz funny is like this is. the the thing about like the hubris. behind comedy sometimes I think even. gets comedians trapped in I think why so. many comedians leaned into politics in. the way of wanting to be attached and. not just wanting to comment cuz wanting. to comment is like what we're supposed. to do. Being attached is like now you're. entering a weird now you're like a. mouthpiece. >> when you're like in with them in with. them. >> You got to be very careful cuz now. you're talking about your friend. >> cuz you have to know them.

>> Yeah. No, but that's that's actually. true. >> You're talking about your friend and now. you can't tell the truth. >> Now you can't tell the truth cuz you're. like, "No, I was there and he didn't he. didn't mean it that way that it came. out." So, I know it's ridiculous. But. >> the funny thing is they're not your. friend. >> They're not your friend. >> That's the thing I think a lot of people. don't realize in these situations. It's. like you'll cozy up to a politician, >> right? They'll cozy up to you, >> but they're not your friend unless they. are, but they most of the time they're. not. But you you're so you're so. enjoying the proximity to power. Yeah.

That you're quick to go like they're my. friend. >> and it's like they're your friend. It's. like yeah I love them. They're cool. They're this. They're that. >> And then when the power does something. that you don't agree with people like. why is your friend doing this? Now. you're like I mean they're not my. friend. I don't like Yeah. Exactly. I. don't like know them like that. I mean. but it's like but you told us you. vouched for them and you said they were. great. I'll even tell you this right. now. you if you want a politician to be. your friend, you got to find a powerless. politician. That person being genuine.

[laughter] That person, the person who's. like, "Y'all, they block me. I can't. like like a alderman, city council, they. probably your friend. They like your. friend." Yeah. Yeah. But like once you. get to um uh high up, once you get to. prime minister, once you get to like. president, once you get to people with. like real power and a stake and an image. that they use to like catapult them to. the next thing, you got to be very. careful because look. >> look uh what's his name? I'm sure Rodney. Dangerfield was friends with Reagan or.

who like you know I mean like might have. been buddies, you know. So then he does. whatever um I don't think it was White. House correspondence dinner back then, but he does whatever roasting thing and. then like the president at the time's. eating it up. It's like they might be. friends. And then you also have to. factor in like celebrity to it too of. like maybe this president just that's. what's happening with the with the. fighters now. Like now these fighters. will go to a country and hang out with. like the country's dictator. >> and then they'll be like friends. And. then the fighter gets back to the US.

He's like, "Hey, you know he skins. people, right?" It's like, "What?". [laughter]. He just wanted to take the picture and. go like that. Like like that's that's. why I went. It's like, "Why would you. go?" "Well, he paid me $100,000." It's. like, "Oh, yeah. You didn't you didn't. check." So So when you So when you're. building this world of yours, what are you what are you building. towards and what are you trying to build. away from? >> I think I think the and I' I've said. this before and I'll I'll keep saying it. on stage. just like I think the the when.

when your life is over, when everything. is done, the only real measure of a man. is like what you build and what you. break. And so it's like I'd like to um. build up a lot of like goodwill things. that I think that people still have in. them, but they just don't exist as much. just for free in the ether. And I'd like. to like break some ideas that people. have of each other, even though that's. going to be hard because like you said, it's like the the the algorithm doesn't. aid in those things. The same way you.

think you can use a politician and. they're using you. I think algorithms. work the same way where you're like, "No, I've gamed it cuz I'm always nice.". And it's like, >> well, you first of all, no one is always. nice. >> And sometimes you're willing to be nasty. about someone who's being nasty or. sometimes you have a very human moment. Yeah.

>> Is that. you watch reality TV and now we know. enough to know these people have been. coached or these people are being. produced to be the most entertained. version of themselves. Sometimes the. most entertained version of themselves. is the worst version of themselves. And. now algorithms and platforms are doing. all of that to us. We are not we are not. our worst moment. We we are also not our. like like marriage proposal. No one is. as cute as as sweet as as nasty as as. whatever. Even if you put a bunch of.

that stuff out, no one is one thing, right? Whatever it is, good or bad. And. so I think that now you could look at. every person. We literally call them. channels. You have a YouTube channel. You have a Instagram page. You have you. have a book about you being written. You. have a TV show about you being produced. And those things work the same way. Even. if you're like, "Well, no, I control it. cuz it's mine." You don't control who it. goes out to and how it goes out. And. then I one thing that I've noticed is. like the favorite things that people say.

they're the favorite that I've done are. >> never the thing that not only never the. thing I think it would be, never the. thing that is the most popular. Hm. The. one of the one of the favorite favorite. favorite like videos I've had that. people have ever put out I mean that. I've ever put out that people come to me. about is this one that I did that I just. did like on a whim just to put it out. for fun. It wasn't even a Tuesday video. I was like I think it was extra like a. Thursday video. >> Yeah. And I was like, there's a the it's.

called the priest in the pickle. And. it's just a time in my life where I had. a conversation with a priest and a guy. who was like a like a a. pickle/picklejuice thief. And it's like. that thing is for a lot of people. Some. people say you talk about Trump, you. talk about black culture, you talk about. talk about talk about, but if we talk. about favorite, for whatever reason, that thing peers through. I think. anything that I put out that people. connect to is hopefully and I think by.

virtue of what people tell me is the. thing where I'm being hopefully like the. most human. And so I'm not interested in. being right. I'm not interested in being. like. um into bringing the country into like. whatever political form. I just like. want to remind everybody that like at. least in this aspect and to real world. consequence, you are being produced. So. whatever you watch, whatever you do, take it with a grain of salt. Could this. be a bot?

>> Also, am I being served something. because of how I'm feeling. >> the same way that like if you if you're. if you're with your girl and your girl. knows what that you're upset and she. also knows what you're upset about, she's going to bring you a different. thing. So sometimes it's like you just. had a bad day. I'll make you a little something. Or if. someone did something to you, hey, we. need to talk cuz I can tell you it. >> Algorithms are serving you the same way. We do not give we give AI and AI that. doesn't even exist yet all the credit of. intelligence and manipulation that we.

should be giving the algorithms that. already serve us. And so I just like. hopefully even in being manipulated by. it, even in even in serving the machine. to hopefully like serve the people, some. good can come out of that. But like. there's so much more that I need to do. Like I think I should just be like. writing a lot of this down and and. making it making it like. >> hopefully a book cuz then a book is like. harder to. >> you only saw the snippet of the book.

>> Yeah, that's true. That's true. People. don't clip books. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, and even when. you do, it's like, >> "All right, that's boring.". >> Like, even when somebody tries to like. clip like, "Uh, >> it does. It doesn't hit the same. >> It doesn't hit the It hits the Even when. it's like a slam dunk, >> it does not hit the same. >> It's like, all right, >> you got to read it in your head.". >> Yeah. >> It's not the same. >> Yeah. And then now I said it. >> You see, that's the most annoying thing. I don't know if you've seen that, but. like that is a real phenomenon that's. happening. somebody finally reads. anything and they go, it's like when.

someone repeats your idea back to you. cuz they weren't listening but they were. listening enough to for it to go in. >> and then they say it. >> and then they say it. That's what people. do. You should do that with reading but. people do it with reading like they're. the expert. [laughter]. >> Like actually now that I think about it, my whole eighth grade science book was. really my idea. I don't even know why. you teach in the class like that. Like. that's the hub. Like that's the crazy. attitude that people have now and it's. why people are like yeah don't trust. experts sometimes cuz it's like well I.

also am well read about this. It's like. you're not welllabbed about it. You. haven't clocked the hours. You know what. I mean? >> Only when you speak to comics do you. realize that one we're privileged in. more ways than we can ever imagine. And. I think right now we're living in a. world where we've overordered from the. menu and now we don't know what to eat. first. Cuz I think [laughter] I think of. social media. I'm like, you know, you. can erase all the apps and just leave. the one that you like to communicate. with people. And also, it's social. media, not interactive media.

>> Mhm. >> If you're not using it to socialize with. people that you want to socialize with, you're the one opening up the door for. people that you don't want in your life. >> Yeah. Now, it socializes you. >> Yes. But I also think the more time you. have in your hands, the more you earn, the more time we have, and this this. debate has been going around since the. beginning of time. Well, it was big with. fast food. Remember when people would. say, "Yeah, you eating junk food. You're. eating unhealthy." Then people like, "Maybe I like it. >> and maybe that's all I can afford.". >> Yeah. >> And it's also the same with what people. call trash television.

>> Yeah. You're not wrong. People just want. to Yeah. They just want to watch that. They just when if you feel like, you. know, that Kim Kardashian doesn't look. like that all the time. That's good for. you. But they just want to watch. They. want to watch shows about marriages not. working out because theirs is probably. not working out as well. So they don't. want to feel alone. But I also feel like. the people I feel the same about sport. organized sports the same way some. people feel about social media and the. comments and the bots and reality. television because if all sports was.

real why is it that when match fixing. happens it's a scandal. >> what sport like what match for what. sport. >> we had a case in South Africa where it. was a huge one South African cricket. team. >> pul is real say that statement again. >> so here on in reality television you and. I can always say it's overproduced. There's some acting going on over there. So, but for someone else, it's it's. reality. Kim Kardashian looks like that. all the time. >> People who love sports, organized. sports. Think those people show up at.

that time. They get paid this much at. 8:00. They want to play for 90 minutes, right? And it's real. The tackle was. real. The goal was the dive was real. until match fixing happens. >> and then someone realizes that that. match that they spoke about with their. friends with such conviction. >> two years ago, all of that. >> Yeah. Someone was paid to take a dive or. to pretend that they were hurt. >> Mhm. >> So if in that reality we go real. organized sports is real. >> Yeah. >> Same way someone feels about reality. television.

>> It is their reality. >> It is their reality. >> I think the diff the I'll just pitch you. this. I do think the difference though. is that even in a fixed match, nobody. like flies like like this. All the all. the all the stuff that would happen in a. match [laughter] still happen. There are. people There are people who literally. get. >> There are people who literally get. pissed off and just. >> said nobody flies. >> Yeah, cuz like if you were like, "Oh, sports isn't real the way reality TV is. real.". >> No, we compared the Kardashians and a. soccer match. >> Yes. Exactly. So So with the.

Kardashians, right, there's a there's a. chance that Kim's not even that mad at. Khloe, but she's now been produced to. almost come to blows with her sister, which is not like real because it's not. based off a real conflict and it's not. something that would have happened if we. weren't looking. Yes. >> Everything that happens, even in a fixed. match, even if you just paid the ref, they still shot the ball, they still. kicked the ball, they still did the. stuff. So, it's like, yes, it's still to. me, it's just as real because whether. someone takes a dive or not is like it.

almost doesn't factor into the equation. cuz you also don't know who's like if. the keeper's girlfriend broke up with. him and now he's like distracted so he's. not playing at his best. It's like it's. still all the stuff that was going to. happen still happen in a way that in. reality TV you can tell sometimes they. pick the sweetest people and then they. get them to yell things that they would. like they mess with your mind to the. point and I think that with sports is at. least like no he was always going to try. to kick it in. He just tried less cuz.

like somebody paid him. I think what I'm. what I'm hearing you both say, funny. enough, I know we're going to have to. wrap up soon anyway, but like I don't. think you're saying something too. different. >> And I think you know what it is? It's. it's choreograph. No, but more than. that, it's it's it's just it goes back. to the question I asked you about like. your first experience as a young child. doing what you sort of now do as a. stand-up comedian. And it's the challenge that we all face. in the world.

You have to watch the people around you. watch the news. >> and you have to deal with the paradox of. what they're experiencing versus the. reality that's actually outside. >> Mhm. >> Right. You have to find a way to bridge. that divide. And then on the other side. in a similar world, it's like go to the. dentist. Go to the dentist, but also ask. yourself why they gave you a lollipop. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that you.

did it. You brought it all to hope. That's very that that I feel like is. what we should all do. >> Josh Johnson, this was dope, man. >> This was great, man. I miss you. >> I miss you, too. I I don't miss you as. much as you miss me cuz I see you all. the time on the internet, which is great. for me. >> Oh, >> but it's bad because then I don't get to. hang out with you like this. >> Yeah. Yeah. We can hang out anytime I'm. in town. >> Yeah. That's never. >> No. No, it's not. >> That's a traveling comedian's way of. saying [laughter] like, "See a sucker.". No, >> we can hang out anytime I'm around.

[laughter]. >> I'm here 4 days. >> I I still need to go to a UFC match with. you. That's all I want. I still say this. is the This is the channel that the. world deserves. >> Josh Johnson commentating on UFC. >> This man single-handedly got me into. UFC. >> And I've I have never enjoyed a match as. much as I have when when he You should. Have you ever tried doing one of those. like um second screen type things? >> Oh, no. No, I haven't. >> I mean, maybe don't cuz you love UFC. I. don't want to spoil the thing that you. love, but. >> let me tell you something, man.

>> The. >> especially in 2020, man. >> Let me let me tell you something. >> This guy UFC, >> you don't even understand. >> I would have never met. >> Josh would make me think I know. >> UFC. >> By the time the fight starts, I would be. like, "Kabib, ho, let me tell you about. Kabib. You don't even understand, man.". Oh, so here's the thing you got to. understand about Dagastani wrestling, right? So you see the Distani technique. and I'll be like, "Where did this come. from?". >> And then Josh is just there in the. corner like, "Yeah, [laughter].

>> yeah.". >> No, I'm You got to do it. You ready? >> No, dude. I'm telling you, especially in. 2020, that was a good time to get in. because because there were no crowds, you got to see what like a fight was. like because you could hear them. No, you could hear them. >> You could hear them. So, not only could. you hear them, you could hear when they. were surprised about what was happening. I'll never forget when Kevin Holland. fought and I don't remember who grabbed. him. Somebody grabbed him and he went. like he's not on mic. The cameras are. over the cage. So the cameras pick him. up going, "Oh, you strong.".

[laughter]. Like as a But you're like, "This is a. professional elite fighter." Do you. remember the other one? Wait, there was. another one that we you showed me. Oh, man. It was It was similar to this. Someone turns to their corner in the. fight during It was the same time. There's like no crowd and he like turns. and he's like, "I I don't know what to. do." Like in the middle of the fight. >> Yeah. He's like in the middle of a. fight. He's like he's like, "Hey, hey, like y'all y'all s like he was it was so. good." And then the other one that we we. were laughing we were like crying about.

is this cuz heavyweight fights are also. like these are the biggest most. dangerous men in the world. But they're. also scared of each other. >> Yes. >> So it's like now a big man now. They're. like that's a big guy. And remember when. we were in the car and we we had missed. the actual fight because we were like. traveling for it and it was in I think. uh Abu Dhabi so it was a different time. and everything and anyway the. heavyweight dude kicked uh like did like. whatever uh kicked like oblique kick. >> and the other guy went ah ah and then he.

[laughter] started walking away. >> He just walked away. like he was like I'm going home. Even. the ref is like like the ref starts. running to try to stop it cuz you like. you know you got to intelligently defend. yourself and everything but even the ref. was like what is he doing and then the. dude like hit him once and then he you. know like but he was still holding his. side and you would never hear the like. ah like and now because of co they've. actually brought back a lot more like. ringside coach corner like they had some.

of it before but now they're bringing. they're bringing it more in. I'm telling. you, Josh, you got to do it, man. >> Josh Johnson, UFC commentator and. part-time nunchuk user. >> Ow. Ow. >> He works walks the streets at night. His. [music] afro casting a menacing. silhouette. Hello. Who is that? Hello. Hello. Ow. Are you the guy from the grocery.

store? Josh Johnson is none. Chuck, [laughter]. [music]. thank you so much for watching the. episode. If you enjoyed it, pass it on. to a friend. If you didn't enjoy it, pass it on to your friend still. Let. them suffer for a change. And don't. forget to engage with us in the. comments. Uh if you want to suggest a. guest, maybe there's questions you want, maybe there's [music] ideas that you. have, you can chat to us. We will read. through the comments and we'll get into.

it. Either way, I appreciate you taking. the time. Thank you for hanging out with. us on What Now? [music] And remember, we. do this for you, so we would like to. hear from you. Till next time, thank. you.