Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast - EP 270: Joe Gatto (comedian - Impractical Jokers)

Episode Date: May 14, 2024

Shawn opens the show with a tasteful response to last week's musical guest. Bayliss, the Scotty Pippin of Umphrey's McGee gets nauseous and blows chunks before a show with Andy. And Nick relates Andy's genitalia to a popular science-fiction genre. Then, on the Interview Hour we got comedian, tv personality, and all-around excellent hang, Joe Gatto, of Impractical Jokers fame! Andy and Joe get very real, very quick. Work-Life balance, parenting, and whether or not prank show groupies are a thing. Did you know the British don't speak mendacities? Chime in now with your opinion on whether the Brits are liars. Next week: Andy & Nick talk $#i! for an hour or more And guess what... now you can see a cool dog by the name of Denzel should you choose to watch this episode *exclusively* on Volume.com... now in color!  Generally speaking, we are psyched to partner up with our buddies at Volume.com! Check out their roster of upcoming live events and on-demand shows to enrich that sweet life of yours. Call, leave a message, and tell us if you think one can get addicted to mushrooms: [phone]  Check out our new album!, L'Optimist on all platforms Follow us on Instagram @worldsavingpodcast For more information on Andy Frasco, the band and/or the blog, go to: AndyFrasco.com Check out our good friends that help us unwind and sleep easy while on the road and at home: dialedingummies.com Produced by Andy Frasco, Joe Angelhow, & Chris Lorentz Audio mix by Chris Lorentz Featuring: Arno Bakker Shawn Eckels Andee Beats Avila

Now, a message from the UN. Me the wrong kind? Yeah, sure, fucking mine. That wasn't cool, as I sit here and drool. Look just the same. They're not the same. Come in small plastic bags, this wook looks like a hang. One gets you up, but now I'm just stuck. This isn't fun, it just fucking sucks. Don't let the w the woods get you high. It's probably ketamine. Before you snort that line.

It could be ketamine. I can't feel my legs, ketamine I'm on the floor super high, fuck ketamine Fuck ketamine Don't do it, man Fuck ketamine What do you have to do that's more important than this podcast? Trivia. I have my trivia thing.

No, it's not as important as this podcast. No, it's close, though. It is when I actually have the show. And we're back. Andy Frasco's World's Saved Podcast. I'm Andy Frasco. I'm Tom Brady. And he is Tom Brady. Hot from the Tom Brady roast. Nick Gerlach, how you doing? I'm surprised you weren't on that roast.

I'm not from your most. Yes, you are. You're just not Boston enough. No. Thank God, huh? I can read and stuff, so. Man, they were ripping on Tom Brady, dude. You know who killed it? Killed it the most, actually, sort of.

Like, versus their expectations. Yeah. Kind of Bill Belichick. Oh, yeah. Bill crushed it. I know. I didn't expect that, but then I was thinking, oh, yeah, he talks to, he can command a room of 80 grown men NFL players.

Of course, he can do a roast. I like when he said it's not that hard to... It's hard to coach a team, isn't it? Because I guess Brady has some soccer team that's fucking trash. Nikki Glazier crushed it. She's good. Tony Hinchcliffe. I mean,

Hinchcliffe is... How did Andrew Schultz get so big? Well, he has a huge podcast, Flagrant 2 or whatever. He kind of looks like a Nazi. He's really good at... I think he had his hair cut like that for a movie role. I don't know. He had real 1946 vibes.

He's kind of the crowd work goat right now, I think. He did a whole special, just an hour of crowd work. Really? Yeah, but I actually don't know that much about him. Our boy Bertie Kreischer killed it too. I saw that breakout he had where he was like mouthing along to the like something you would do kind of. Yeah, I love

Bert. How you doing? I'm back from tour. I just got back last night, Florida and then I did my first ever solo show with Bayless. So it was really just an acoustic show. It crushed. Two people as a just an acoustic show. It was a duo show, actually. It crushed.

Two people as a duo. It crushed. I was so nervous. You were? Yeah, because, you know, I've never done

an acoustic show. Well, I guess our podcast is kind of... Did you play piano a lot? Yeah. Except when it came to Umphrey's songs,

I'm like, I'm not going to fucking play 10-minute songs, Bayless. You can't, yeah. He's like,

it's not 10 minutes, man. It's six minutes. But I didn't realize how good of a guitar player Brendan Bayless is. Yeah, he's one of those guys. He's like Scottie Pippen. It's like he's in a band with Michael Jordan.

So you forget how good he is, but he's still one of the best. But it was great. I got to hang out. His wife came. His wife came. I hung out at their house for two days. I was basically Uncle Andy. I went to their softball game all fucking hung over his shit or softball

soccer softball oh no no that's right they love dude all his kids are super fucking athletes yeah they're like really talented athletes his dad athlete. Yeah, his dad was the top tennis coach in the country. The Lou Holtz of tennis. Yep. Oh, man. Florida was wild. It was actually cooler than I thought. Yeah, dude. I thought it was going to be real trashy. It is.

It's so funny. We were talking about that breakout in Florida. I realized, yeah, it is kind of wild dogs out there. But I was expecting no one to show up to these shows, so we did underplay venues. Oh, you did? We sold out every night.

Well, that's the point of an underplay, right? Yeah, just in case. Create demand. Yeah. It was dope. We're definitely coming back to Florida at least once a year now. At least?

It's just so far away. It's so hard to get to from Denver. There's no good flights. Oh yeah. And like I was stuck in Jacksonville for a day and a half because it sucked. I wanted to get to Chicago a little earlier. What'd you do in Jacksonville? Oh, just like watched porn in my hotel room.

So same thing you would have done in Chicago. Not at Bayless's house. There's kids in there. Yeah, right. I gotta go to bed. It's 4 p.m. I gotta shower. Uncle Andy, why is the bed

shaking? Oh my God. I'm like, don't worry about the door's locked, kid. Don't bother me. Oh, Jesus Christ. Andy's a saint. Don't you ever talk to Andy like that. It's about you, not her. I know. I fucking love Bayless and Annie. They're like the cutest fucking couple, dude.

Yeah? They still get along? Yeah, they get along. That's weird. It is weird for him being away so much. Maybe that helps. I mean, she's just like a super mom, dude. She's fucking doing everything. Three kids. Three kids and a Bayless. He's kind of a three

and a half, right? That's funny. He's kind of a three and a half. Right? It's funny. I hung out with him on Mother's Day. I hung out with his kids too. I've just been hanging out. I'm Uncle Andy now, dude. That's funny. I'm more of an Uncle Andy with the Umphrey's McGee kids than I am with my own fucking kids.

Not like I have kids, but like my sister's kids. They actually want you around their kids, I guess, is the difference. All the kids don't call me Andy. They actually want you around their kids, I guess, is the difference. And everyone, all the kids don't call me Andy. They call me Andy Frasco. I like that. Andy Frasco, will you play catch with me? I'm like, yes, kids, I will. I wonder why they call you that, because it's just your

stage name? Yeah. I mean, it's my full name. Have they seen you play music? By the way, this studio is now brought to you by volume.com. This is the volume.com Denver studio, ladies and gentlemen. Shout out to volume. We changed the logos. We did it.

We made the studio sponsored by volume.com. Yeah. I took a meeting with St. Jude Children's Hospital. That was great. Yeah. I was surprised they wanted to work with us. Yeah, it's weird. Something's got to be up with that.

No, they said we listened to your podcast. They said you are the voice of the people. Yeah, that's true. I just thought maybe it would be a little too raunchy for them. I thought so, too. I'm like, did you really listen to the podcast? She's like, oh, yeah. Yeah, we listened to all of them.

I think your questions are spot on. We didn't like the opening so much when you're talking about cum and drugs, but you're mature enough to take that out of your dialogue here pretty soon. Yeah, for sure. Speaking of that, I've been fucking, I was having fun. I've been having fun on this fucking...

You've been partying? I've been partying, but not because, like I said before, I'm managing my own band, so I'm taking meetings every week, all day, every day. Boat saw me just fucking... We were working. We were working all day. That's good.

And then I'd stop my phone calls at 7 o'clock when doors were open and became an old blue-collar musician. Meanwhile, your band's just fucking off in the green room, eating snacks, wondering when they get paid. Asking for a raise probably. I'm just kidding. Shout out to Florida. That was great. Shout out to the Peoria.

That was sensational. I didn't realize... You put your nose to the ground to fucking work all the time. You don't realize people, people are also there to hear my songs. And I was like playing slow songs. Yeah. And they're singing every fucking song.

It's better with acoustic. Yeah, it was cool. Slow songs. And Bales was like, I was like, are you sure you guys don't want to, you want to play more

on Freeze McGee songs? And he's like, no, let's showcase your tunes. I'm like, this is way easier. Let's play these. We did play R. Kelly Ignition.

I thought we were going to get canceled for it. But there... I don't know. You're not supposed to play R. Kelly. Yeah, but the song didn't do anything. The song is great. Ignition is so good. And I forgot that R. Kelly was from Chicago,

so everyone in Illinois was just going apeshit. Separate the art from the artist, I guess. And then we went and we did the very jam band thing and went into Dave Chappelle, Piss on You. Who thought of all these songs? Me and Bayless. I haven't had band practice with my band. This is the most I've ever band practiced ever.

I had two days of band practice before we had the show. I was wondering when you learned all this shit. That explains it. It was stressing me out, this acoustic show. It sounds like it. Did you backline the keyboard? I used Joel's. I couldn't believe Joel let me use his keyboard. I was stressed out. Did you backline the keyboard? I used Joel's.

I couldn't believe Joel let me use his keyboard. Joel's super nice. He is. He came out to our Jazz Fest show, wrote a nice letter saying like, man, that show is so great. I didn't expect that out of you. It's kind of nice. It's kind of nice. He's like, I'm like, what did you expect out of me then?

You know what they expect. What you were 10 years ago. Yeah. Everyone judges me from what I did 10 years ago. That's what happens to people. It sucks. Try being in a band that broke up because of their band name 10 years ago. You don't think I get hip?

Speaking of that, I played... There he is. Oh, yeah. You went to Indiana. I played a set with the old Cosby Sweater Bros and nobody but very special people got to see it because it was private. Ooh. Because it was a wedding. People were jealous online. Really? A lot special people got to see it because it was private. Ooh, because it was a wedding. People were jealous online.

Really? A lot of people were like, do it again. I'm like, no. Hold on, you did a Cosby Sweater reunion at the wedding? Yeah,

like a half hour little thing. Did you guys play Cosby Sweater songs? Yeah. Did you call yourselves Cosby Sweater? We didn't like call ourselves anything.

It was just a private party. We just got up there. Congratulations on your marriage. We're Cosby Sweater. One, two, three. Yeah. That was fun. I got to playby sweater. One, two, three. Yeah, that was fun. I got to play it sleepy and

how's it feel playing sax again? I also finished my album last week. I'm doing a lot done. Look at you. I'm going to work on some projects. Did you miss me? I was kind of busy. So just say it.

Sure, man. The fans want to know that you missed me. They do. Yeah. They're like, where's Nick? I think they miss me. They love where's Nick? I think they miss me

They love me out there I think they miss you Refreshingly honest I saw on Instagram I was like it doesn't get Chill chill chill I was about to make fun of myself I was like All my fans

Chill chill chill It's refreshing until it's not refreshing And then it's just honesty You scared of me? You should meet my sister It's refreshing until it's not refreshing. And then it's just honesty. You scared of me? You should meet my sister. Speaking of honesty, Denver, Colorado. We have a very special announcement. Oh, yeah.

We're doing another live podcast at Ophelia's. We're running it back. We're running it back. June 19th. Which is a... It's a holiday. Jun it back. We're running it back. June, June 19th, which is a, it's a holiday. Juneteenth. Oh,

it's on Monday. It's a Wednesday. Okay. Okay. Okay. Or Thursday, but we have a great lineup. Um,

so, you know, everyone, we, when we had to reschedule it for the snow storm of the great, the great snow storm. Yeah. That was terrible.

Um, we couldn't get Sam talent or Josh Blue on it, but we have them back. We have a killer lineup for you. Actually, let's talk about it. June 19th, Ophelia's tickets are on sale now. We actually had the lineup this time. We actually had the lineup without last second.

It's really great because it's Rolling Stones and Widespread Panic weekend. Not only do we have... Mick Jagger. We got Mick Jagger on it. We have Josh Blue, amazing comedian from Denver. Legendary. He's got talent in Last Calling Standing.

We have Sam Talent, who just got off tour with Tim Dillon. Amazing comedian from Colorado. He's blowing up. He was on Joe Rogan. He's just getting huge. He has a travel show on YouTube now. It's pretty good I watched one episode It's fucking hilarious

Yeah it's really They edited it really well Nice and short And we have a couple Musical guests We have Mr. Carl Denson From the Rolling Stones

Oh my god Yes big show Oh my god And Another special guest He says he doesn't Want to be announced But we're gonna announce him

Why does he want to be announced? Because He wants to be surprised. But he's in a band called Widespread Panic. That's all I'm going to say. It's a surprise. I won't tell you which guy. You might know who. He's one of our closest friends. It's not Jimmy Herring.

It's going to be great. And then the house band, Sean Eccles World Saving House Band this year is really great. Jeremy Sulkin from Big Gigantic. Ross James from Phil Lesch's band. There's a lot of good things.

We got two sax players. Carl Denton's gonna be in the house band. One and a half sax players. And Nicholas Gerlach and of course Sean Eccles. Do not make me battle

Carl Denton. I'm gonna make you battle for 10 minutes. I'm not trying to get dunked. You are gonna get dunked on. That's alright. Like, or the people who says

I need you in my life so much that to keep me honest, keep me humble. We're going to keep you humble. I already know that he's better than me. He's in the Rolling Stones, Andy. I still have my money on you. I think,

I'm better than people think I am. I'm starting to realize. You're a damn good sax player. Yeah, but people, it's not my thing that I'm known for right now, but it's all right.

It's going to be awesome. Carl's a very good guy. He wouldn't make it competitive. We'd probably just end up making beautiful music together. Yes. And we will be streaming it live from Ophelia's on volume.com. Shout out to volume.com. We're about to launch our Patreon through volume.com here pretty soon.

We're almost there. It's not really a Patreon. It's a subscription service. It's a subscription service. It's like calling Kleenex versus tissues, right? Damn, Patreon really cornered the market there that you're calling. I know.

It's like calling... I don't know. What else is it? Tissues and Kleenex. The thing I just said. So head over June 19th. Grab your tickets. We're only doing 300 tickets. So tickets are limited.

That's not that many, guys. No. We sell it out every time in Denver. Very quickly. So get your tickets. But volume.com. Head to volume.com, guys. Also, we need you to...

Is Sam going to do the opening like what Todd Glass used to do? I think Sam is going to do 20 minutes of stand-up first. That's perfect. Oh, yeah. He's going to crush it. He's a great comedian. He's like... You can do any room in any situation, I feel like.

Because I've seen him do comedy. What's it called here? Comedy works. I saw him do the theater. I watched his special. He kind of can fit anywhere. He's just funny. So in preparation of our subscription model, we're not going to do it for a few months.

We want people to see what we're going to be giving the people first. So head to volume.com slash Andy Frasco. Click on the like page on our page. Sign up and you'll get the subscription for free. Try, but you don't have to give us your card. You don't have to give it. No, just you're going to see the content. It'll just turn off.

Yeah, and you'll see the content. You'll realize how hard we've been working on this new content. You're going to get a new episode of Nick and Andy. You're going to get Nick doing... I'm going to do coffees on Mondays where I'm going to have live streams and talk to everyone and see how their days are going. Then Nick is going to totally say, fuck that and

give you pessimism Tuesdays. Yeah, or maybe some trivia stuff. Yeah, we're going to have a lot of shit and then we're going to be putting some board mixes up there from our shows on tour from the Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Tour. We got Denzel in the building too. Come on, Denny. What's up?

We got Denzel here. Come on. Denzel, welcome to the show, bud. There he is. Nick's dog is here. Just vibing. Watch the video. Get him volume. Human Xandex. You want to see a fucking cool dog? We want it. He's large. When we do the subscription model

We want people to subscribe So we can get Denzel Goldchain Dude, he looks so good in a goldchain Oh my god, with his black fur You hear him grunting So head to volume.com Slash Andy Frasco Hit that like button

But also head to volume.com regardless There's so many good live streams I just did Beach Life Festival with Sting. And yeah, Sting's on the live stream. He has sex for 12 hours. I mean, dude, that man could fuck. Well, he says he does. Isn't it crazy that man could fuck that well?

He says he does. I believe him. I believe him too. You wouldn't say that confidently. He's like, yes, I take ecstasy and make love with my women. And I'm British. And I'm British. I have a weird lute

I don't lie, Brits don't lie I don't think British people lie We don't need to We own everything And not anymore And then next week we start the Pigeons Frasco Dogs in the Pile tour Selling out good

I think we're almost sold out in Westport, Connecticut We're almost sold out in a lot of Kalamazoo, Michigan That'll be a fun tour. There's a couple of duds so far. Kentucky, where the fuck you at? Newport, Kentucky. I don't even know where the fuck Newport is. It's Cincinnati, basically. Cincinnati? What? Let me fucking...

Or wait, am I thinking of Florence? No, it's Newport. Yeah, there's like an airport there. Yeah, yeah, it's right over there. Cincinnati? Come on, step it up. I'm always worried about Cincinnati Yeah, it's a weird market They always just like buy tickets last minute Or just don't show up

They love Taft, the president Oh yeah, why? He's from there That's why everything's named after Taft William Howard Taft So grab your tickets for the Dogs in the Pile Frasco Pigeons Tour VIP's almost sold out

What does VIP get you? You get to hang out with me Take a picture with us Frasco Pigeons tour. VIP's almost sold out. When does VIP get you? You get to hang out with me. Take a picture with us. Every band member. I'm going to go take shots with them. I think you get special edition merch. I think because I'm playing second out of three that you get to hang out with me.

Yeah, I'm so excited. I don't have to close every night. God, I'm so fucking excited. Closing sucks, dude. A three-band show. Closing sucks on a three-band show. It makes sense to have the jam band kind of last, though. And pigeons are bigger. Let them fucking throw their party. They'll dance party after your little sad thing.

I've been internet fighting with this troll. He's calling me an addict. Am I an addict? Addicted to what? What's he saying? I don't know. He says, I'm just an addict. He's probably an addict. He's calling me an addict. Am I an addict? Addicted to what? What's he saying? I don't know. He says, I'm just an addict. He's probably an addict and he's just projecting. I hate when people take pictures next to the brand new car

they have. Oh my God, I hate shit like that. They're like, all earned. It's so corny. It's like you're leasing it, dude. Shut the fuck up. Cool, man. You're leasing a Hyundai Elantra. Sit the fuck down, dude.

Nobody earned anything in this country. It's all just scams. Some people do. But yeah, we have a great show tonight. Not the people that post about it, though. Joe Gatto. Comedian from Impractical Jokers. Legendary prank man.

He's huge I didn't realize how big he is That show's massive I never got into it That show's fucking massive They're pranksmen Although he's not on it anymore actually No he's doing

He's going solo He left But like he also like Sells out like Yeah he's doing good He sells out huge rooms He's got that draw I think he sold out

The Beacon Theater Just by himself I'm like let's go Joe Shout out. Comedians sell tickets, dude. Comedians are hot. They sell...

Comedians are hot. They're very popular, I think, because of the pandemic. But music will come back, I hope. Yeah. I mean, it's slowly coming back. We just sold out a fucking acoustic show. How many... What was the cap there? You alright, bud? We coming back. I mean, we just sold out a fucking acoustic show. How many? What was the cap there? You all right, bud? We sold 500 tickets.

Damn, dude. I couldn't believe it. And it sold out in advance. You guys had good writers for that show, I heard. Yeah, you did help us with the fucking trivia. I got a good laugh. I got a good laugh. You did have a couple of spelling errors that I fucked up on. Well, I was doing...

Oh, actually, I forgot. You can't read. I should have been better about that. I just did it real fast. What got the biggest laugh? I'm just curious. The biggest laugh was... The Joel one, maybe? No, when you said,

I just want everyone to know that me and Brandon talked before I go to bed. And that's not a question. I just want everyone to know that. Oh, yeah, exactly. I was like, damn, Nick, that was funny. I forgot about that one. And then the Ryan Stasek one killed. The one about him playing sports?

Yeah, or the one about... Who did he lose his virginity to? And then Bayless is like, himself. Bayless is funny, dude. Bayless is funny as shit. I did jam with him once. And he was impressed. He's like, you're jamming. I'm like I'm fucking jamming. Is he impressed because it's good or

because he expected so little? He expected so little of my piano playing. I'm like whatever. You never claimed to be some great piano player. I told him that too. I'm like if you're expecting I'm like Bayless threw up when he realized that I was his piano player for this kid. He threw up before the show. He did? I mean

yeah we were partying pretty hard. He threw up before the show. He did? I mean, yeah, we were partying pretty hard. He threw up? Yeah, he has like a little tummy issue. And we were just like, we were drinking, we drank like four bottles of wine and just sat in his basement and just like giggled.

Sounds like he had heartburn. Then our boy, our boy Ralphie came. I know Ralphie. I know what happens when Ralphie comes. He's a fucking man. Is he back in Chicago? No, but he just showed up to hang out when Ralphie comes. He's a fucking man. Is he back in Chicago? No, but he just showed up to hang out. I like him.

He's a good guy. Are you going to go to Humphries at Red Rocks? Yes. We should go together. I'm going to go with you. Yeah. Cool. It'll be fun. I think Julie might be working. Oh, cool. We can call her the help while we walk by. Oh, she's making. All right, guys. So next week, it's just

Nick and I. We're going to talk for an hour. We're going to talk all kinds of shit. Send in your topics. I got so much tea. Yeah, send us your topics. Text tomorrow before they even hear this. Send us your topics. Good note, this is coming out tomorrow.

I know, but we're going to... Okay, you're right. We can always record it Thursday. When we release it Thursday or whatever. When we record our episode Thursday or whatever, we'll have topics. But yeah, we have a lot to talk about. And then I'm

on tour again for a couple weeks. I'm almost done with all these tours. Yeah, the rhythm's good right now, though. We're getting stuff done, then you go, then you come back. Yeah, and you're kind of like my podcast producer now, down there with Brian. You don't like it, huh? It's okay. I'm getting used to it. Yeah, the scheduling, I gotta get under your ass about it. I just took a

minute to figure out the numbers and wherever. Yeah. It's a weird inner zoom. Doesn't interface that well. No, we're going to change it up. Marty. He said,

we're going to change it. Oh, sick. Why don't we just have Marty do it then? He is, but he hasn't, he hasn't been on the ball as much either. Well,

he's new. Yeah. And like, you know, I don't want to, I don't want to overload him. Yeah. We'll get him in on it though.

All right, guys. Enjoy Joe Gatto. And we'll catch you next week when we actually have a lot to talk to you about. Like what? Girls? Girls. And I actually haven't been hooking up with anybody.

Good. That's good. Give your tired old dick a break. It's extremely tired. Your dick is steampunk now. All right. Goodbye, goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. What's up, Joe?

How you doing, buddy? I'm good. How are you? What's the word on the street? The word is happening. What's Staten Island like? When I lived there, growing up, I think it was a little different than it is now. I'm out on Long Island now, but when I was living there, it was very neighborhood-y. It was very like you played in people's backyards. It might have been a sign of the times, too, but it was more of like people had houses

at all the boroughs. People weren't playing on the streets as much as they were in the backyards. You played on the streets, too, but you weren't playing stickball like you were in Brooklyn or anything like that. You know, so it was like more backyards, people, you know, manhunt at night. All your friends came over. I grew up in an Italian house.

My mom would have an extra plate for dinner. You know, whoever wanted to come eat. Open-door policy would come eat, you know. And I met the boys at an all-boy Catholic high school in Staten Island where I went. I went to Monsignor Farrell, which is an all-boy Catholic high school. And that's where I met the boys at an all-boy Catholic high school in Staten Island where I went. I went to Monsignor Farrell, which is an all-boy Catholic high school. And that's where I met the guys when I was freshman year, 14 years old. And I've been friends with them ever since.

Were you super religious? Like, was your family super religious? No, I wouldn't say super. I mean, just, you know, Roman Catholic, Italian, Staten Island basics. You know, I went to Catholic grammar school. And then I went to a Catholic high school. And then after that, I went to a non-religious affiliated college. And ever since then, but we, you know, we grew up with the standard,

went to church on Sundays, the big, you know, Easter, Christmas, stuff like that. And then just, I was an altar boy, you know, like all good Staten Island Italians are. So what's your relationship with guilt? Pretty, you know, it was pretty healthy for a while. But I did like, you know, I did like certain things that you got from religion. Like growing up, I definitely, and still, you know, like good moral code, I think gave you a compass.

But I don't know, like I married, my wife is Muslim, non-practicing Muslim. I'm non-practicing Catholic. So my daughter and son are just growing up with two parents that just teach them to try to be good kids, like good people, like being kind and all that. You know, so it's kind of just like an interesting thing when when you have kids you really think about like what you grew up and what you think about and it all just comes down to i think just try not to be a piece of shit human that's basically every religious thing it's like just don't be a complete piece of shit yeah more eloquently placed of course by different by different people and more eloquently said but i mean that's the basis how do you still have that uh how do you still have that uh philosophy while

working in the entertainment industry yeah that's the toughest part man i think you find like-minded individuals i think it's got a bad rap you know but there is a lot i think it happens like it all depends when you enter it for me i was 34 years old when i, you know, but there is a lot. I think it happens. Like, it all depends when you enter it. For me, I was 34 years old when I got, you know, famous on TV or whatever was around that, you know. And because it was always just a hobby on the side. And you're already the man you're going to be, the person you're going to be. You have a good foundation. Things get thrown at you and you just handle them as best you can.

I always say the best thing that ever happened was that I was going through with my best friends. Because there was no, like, you had a moral compass with your friends like your friends keeping you grounded but you also had like the thing where there was not really any jealousy like you weren't telling your best friends oh I was just on you know it's just a massive square garden to the show like they were there with you you were all experienced in the ride together so you really had like a I don't know if there's many people in the industry that had the experience that the four of us did because we were happening with like our true friends. Like it was a true just friendship on a ride, you know? So I think that, that, that definitely changes the whole experience for me. for 15 years with my best friends. It's kind of the same thing,

but you're also... We're living in a van and smelling everybody and fucking... Seeing everyone's drug problems and stuff. You never really drank or anything, right? Yeah, never been drunk, tried a drug or a cigarette

in my life. Just all natural crazy. And everybody's always thought I've been completely out of my mind. I don't think I ever needed it. It was never a barrier for entry for me. I was never... I was like, had my mind right. I always liked being able to be quick and handle. And I'm kind of like a papa bear. I wanted to make sure everybody was okay, taking care of my friends and whatnot. So that's just the way I was ingrained. And I never needed it socially. And then growing up, I didn't have the money to be thrown around on it. You didn't really like in college and whatnot.

You didn't really have the money to be able to be able to be spending the money on it. And you'd have a little bit more money in your pocket. You'd have a little bit more clear ahead the next day. I just never really got into it. Yeah, I feel that. It's beautiful. Who taught you that sober life was the way to be? That was my, my dad really was like, told me, my dad, I lost my dad when I was 19. And he, he always said to me, you know, I don't have to worry about you being a good guy, a good boy, you know? And I just, for some reason, I associated that with not getting into trouble

with drugs or alcohol and whatnot. He didn't have a drinking problem or anything. My mother or anything. I just associated it with that. And then when it got to a certain point, I just didn't do it. And then I didn't need it. And then it was like a badge of honor where I was like, oh, I never had to do it. And then I was just like,

okay, it's too late. I'm not going to do it now. I have no desire to, so. Who was the main inspiration to make you love comedy? Who were your guys when you were growing up? I was a big movie guy, comedic movie guy. I would say Mel Brooks was probably my biggest. I used to watch comedies with my dad, you know, Young Frankenstein, you know, Blazing Saddles,

you know, Airplane, that kind of comedy, that kind of slapsticky kind of comedy, you know, the Zucker Brothers. It was really just like movies more than anything. And then there's some TV too, like Tim Allen. I used to watch Home Improvement, the Tim Allen show. The first standup comedy show I've ever saw was Tim Allen's. My dad showed me that, which was fun. And we bonded over that. But I always appreciated movies, comedy in the form of movies more than anything. And then I got into TV a little bit more and then when I found my career in TV, that was a big thing for me.

And now that I'm in stand-up, I really appreciate that art form too. I just love entertainment and making people laugh, whatever the medium is. So I just really enjoy it and stand-up has become like a new love for me. Yeah, what about when you're with the Tenderloins? Did you like that process

better than liking writing? Like you wrote a film, you did stand up. What's the different process between making sketch videos versus writing a year of specials, you know? I mean, comedy by, you know, there's two, there's a double edged sword. It's nice to collaborate with people, get

insight from other people. And then also, you know, when you're not out there by yourself, but then also none of your ideas die when you're doing it by yourself, you know, you get talked out of ideas or you find out they're not as funny as you thought before they even got a chance to fly. So I think that's the main difference, but I've always been collaborative. I always liked that. That was the biggest transition for me when I took standup stage by myself, because I traveled with the guys and, you know, we did our live show playing everywhere from the garden to the O2 and everywhere in between. And I'd always been on stage with other people. So when I started stand-up two years ago and I took that stage in Appleton, Wisconsin by myself,

that was like a real... It's on you for 60 minutes. Good luck. So it was kind of a different experience. So what's the approach you have when you're by yourself on stage versus with your brothers? I think, I think you find your voice pretty quickly. For me, I'm a storyteller. Even in the group shows,

I was always like a storyteller. Like I would tell a story about my life or growing up or whatever, because I've had a pretty crazy ride, you know, and it's been pretty, you know, a lot of fun, crazy things have happened along the way for me.

And I think like I became a storyteller. And then when I was on stage, I was able to give a little bit more insight on me. It was less a distraction, more of a focus on this is my personality, what makes me tick. And not necessarily preachy, but I would tell stories that gave a reflection on my thought process and like how I think, you know, like parenting with my kids. Like that's a big thing about how like I have no don't have no idea what I'm doing, but when I'm trying my best, cause I had good parents and I'm like trying to follow suit as I can, you know? Um, you know, so like this, this started stuff like that, that I wouldn't necessarily talk about with the group because that really wasn't prevalent in that dynamic. You know? So when you're by yourself,

you get into different parts of yourself, different, this thing, different things you're focusing on and talking about. Yeah. Like how do you turn on funny when you're by yourself you get into different parts of yourself different this thing different things you're focusing on and talking about yeah like how do you turn on funny when you're going through trauma like you like what about 2021 like with your wife and stuff like yeah that was tough man that was tough because like sometimes i didn't even want to get on stage you know i was just sitting back in the green room by myself being like this is my life right now like what what happened kind of deal know, you're thinking about it all, but then you get out there. I've always had the purpose. Like I've always felt like laughter heals. I always laugh about everything. I make the jokes about anything. Like everybody knows me when my parents, the tragedy of my parents dying young, you know,

and all that stuff. I like, I'll always talk about it and make fun of it. And I even used it in the show. I'd bring skeletons on and be like, Oh, my mom's here. Like the boys would always be like, oh, you know, we don't laugh. And I'd always laugh through it all. But I think for me, it was just like, I'm here to make people laugh. That's my purpose. I'm here to bring joy and spread kindness and joy.

So when I do that, I feel good. So the way to heal yourself, I guess, or to go through what you're going through is to make yourself feel good. And for me, that's how I did it. It was by making people laugh and enjoying it. Because no matter how bad you have it, I'd always remember people have it worse.

Or not that you should compare yourself, but just remember there are some things to make you go through it each day. My kids are healthy. And you think about little things that you've got that'll keep you going. So I think that was a big thing. I was a lot of pep talks.

A lot of pep talks to myself in the mirror. A lot like, all right, you got this kind of stuff. And leaning on people close in my inner circle and true friends. Yeah. I'm surprised you didn't fucking start drinking, bro. You know, I always joke with Q. I was like, wouldn't it be hysterical? I'm like, it's all over.

And I'm just ripping these cocaine benders. And I'm just drinking. And I'm like, it's all over, and I'm just ripping these cocaine benders, and I'm just drinking. I lose, I'm like 125 pounds. There he is, Cocaine Joe. There he is. Here we go. This is why he's never done it. A lot of people quit, and later in their life, Joe, you're just

getting started, baby. I flip it. I'm starting it off. I feel like I have to stop this life. I'm like, I'm just getting started, baby. Did you have anyone close in your life that kind of gave you advice through your separation? Not necessarily about the separation, but just people raising their hand, letting you know that they're there for you. I had a couple really good, my sisters, my one sister in particular, and my other sister too. They were just, I'm pretty tight with my siblings, so that helped. And they are very close to Bessie

and me and we're pretty open family. So we always had that. But then I had like some friends, even some older friends that came like out of, not out of the woodwork, but you know, it's funny because it all happens in waves, right? Like what you're going through,

people that you don't even know or you knew and they're at your age are kind of going through that kind of thing too. You know, so I had some people reach out and I just had a couple of friends that were just like, hey, I'm here for you. Let's talk, my cousin, people like that. That was good.

So yeah, it was a small troop, but a strong one. Yeah. And it's gotta be difficult to ask for help when you've been so busy and you probably haven't been there for some people earlier in your career. For sure. I'd always try to you know like i think that's another benefit of it happening later in life like you have your relationships already that are going to be strong in your life they're really solidified so when you're doing these things like you know you dip

in and out of these friendships and i really think that's a you know a guy thing too like where you could just pick up where you left off or especially with some of the guys in my life where we just like get back together and be like, hey, just, you know. And my life is pretty public. So they'd be able to follow up on me. Like they see what's happening.

You know, my life is pretty out there. So it's not like a mystery what's happening with me. You know, but like when I started the standup career, like a lot of my friends came out to support, which was really cool because it was just me, you know, which was a little different, which was fun. Even the fan base, like a lot of my friends came out to support, which was really cool because it was just me, you know, which was a little different, which was fun.

Even the fan base, like it was fans of me. It wasn't like when I was doing the show with a guy, sometimes you just felt like, okay, shut up, I'm a fan of Sal,

let him talk. Yeah. Because you're trying to tell your story. When is Mer going to go? And everybody, people just stare in a queue and you're like,

okay, we get it, you know, so, but to have people come out just to be fans of me and to grow my fan base in a different way, that's been, that's been so cool of me and to grow my fan base in a different way, that's been so cool at this point to really

connect with them in a different way. Do the other guys get jealous that your stand-up career is popping off? No, there's no jealousy there ever. Their TV career is going strong. Yeah, they see that check. They're like, all right, Joe, keep doing what you got to do, brother.

They know I got to do what I got to do out here. I'm like, what am I going to do? You know, they know that I'm a, I, you know, I'm out here.

I've always made them laugh. So I think they know I'm pretty good at it, but it was good because like Sal and Merkin, uh, Q and Merkin to see me at the beacon, um, and my beacon show, which I just did.

And it was really cool. And in a true Sal fashion, his car got in a flat and he couldn't get there in time because he leaves me the longest. I was about to go on stage. It's one of those, he does those annoying voice to, you know, when you do your voice to memo, the voice memo messages that you have to listen to, it shows up, it says nine minutes and 22 seconds. I'm like, this guy's kidding me. I'm about to take stage at the beacon. I'm like, I'm not listening to your nine minute. So I go on, I do the whole show, you know, Q and Mark come out and say hello. They were great.

After it was really nice that they were there. They said some really nice stuff on and off stage. And then after, like I listened and Sal is just like, dude, and he just goes into the whole story and he's just like, wishing me all this luck. And he was like, at the same time, he's just like cursing and pissed off that he doesn't, he can't be there. It's like, well,

this whole thing, which is really, and I'm like, of course that's Sal, like that's what happens in his life, you know? Yeah, but they're super supportive and I go and support's like, well, this whole thing, which is really, and I'm like, of course, that's Sal. That's what happens in his life. Yeah, but they're super supportive and I go and support them. I popped out on a couple of their shows if we're in the same town. I popped on the Sal show

when he was in Birmingham, Alabama, and I was performing not too far away in Atlanta or something, so I was able to get there. So we support each other. What's your approach

on a work and life balance? Because I know you work so much. I do too. I'm just very fascinated on... Do you ever just take a break and stop? Do you need to work this much to feel whole? I don't know if I need to work this hard to

feel whole. I will say I have a way better handle on it now, because it's just me calling the shots. You're in charge of your own schedule. You've figured out when you need to not go to stuff. And I'm here for my kids to drop them off at school in the morning, do their homework at 3 o'clock. Even when I'm working the weekends.

It's funny because I have one job now, or even some of the side hustle stuff I'm doing, which feels like another job, but's all like on your own thing and if your kid wants you to you know you want to make your kids game or you know do something or they ask you to play you could play you know so it's it's a totally different thing or i could take my wife to lunch or you know i'll be home for dinner and stuff like that so it's just like a little different that way but i will say there's no there's no balance like it's it's an like a little different that way. But I will say there's no balance. It's an illusion. You try to put the right thing in the right spot. You got to have the sunshine on

different parts each time. And I think that's the best you can do. And the thing I found, which it was a big flaw of mine, was I wasn't present when I was there. My body was there, but I was just thinking about a million different things or in my phone, you know, reviewing whatever, or planning out a schedule, whatever, as I'm trying to do something. And it's not. So now like I focus on that. And I think that's the easiest way to get balance is if you have five minutes to spend with your kids, spend five minutes with your kid. Right. And that's it. You're with your kid. You know what I mean? So I think that's big. And that's, that's all it is that, that, that is those five minutes make that kid's day. Like, well, i'll talk

about at night you know when we were with my son i'm talking to him and we're talking about anything and and he'll just be like you know his favorite part of the day was whatever and you know we're talking about that and i was there for that part of the day you know i just really think it's about being present that's the easiest way to get balance which i think also is unattainable but to feel balanced i I would say, is to make sure you're present when you're there. Do you feel like the separation helped you have this new clear thought? A thousand percent.

A thousand percent. Yeah, a hundred percent. I was like, you know, when I came home from right before COVID, I came home from tour and I came, my five-year-old daughter at the time, I walked in the door. She came to me big hugging. She's like, daddy, i love when you come to visit and i was like oh my god right it's like hysterical and heart-wrenching at the same time right it's like oh my god and i was like wow i'm like i'm not doing something right here you know and then the world

shut down everything starts happening a lot of stuff happened in my personal life it's like okay now now what and then i'm separated and it was the first time ever in my life that I lived alone. Isn't that crazy? I always had a roommate or I was living at home with my parents. It was the first time ever and I'm at my house in my apartment down like 10 minutes from my home in this apartment by myself. And I was like, wow.

It was such a weird call. What was that? How'd you get through that, man? That's got to be tough. Depression? Yeah, I would say. I would say. I would say a touch of it. Yeah. I mean, I'm a pretty optimistic guy, and I pretty much, I try not to let myself go down.

I know I went through a lot of dark times of thinking about all of it and therapy and all that stuff. And it was just like, it's such a shift, right? It's such a shift right it's such a shift like it's it's like the car gets thrown in park from going 80 miles an hour just you know which is really really tough and you know but then you know you just i always said you know i always i felt buried under a bunch of rocks and i was like let me just move one to get a little more light in here and that's what you had to do You had to start moving one at a time and it just took me a long time to get through it. Were you ever suicidal?

No, no, no, no. I, uh, I don't think I'm built that way. I felt desperate at times.

And like, I definitely felt like career suicidal, like, duh, this is it. I could never get back to doing the way I was or feel the way I was about what I had to offer the world, you know? And then I was like, I can't let the, like, this is it. I could never get back to doing the way I was or feel the way I was about what I had to offer the world. And then I was like, I can't let the... That was a big motivator for me too. Two things, I got to pay the bills, right? So it's like, I got to get out there and

make money. I got bills to pay. But the other thing too was like, I can't let this part of me die. I can't let this part of me die. I gotta let, because that's what fuels me as far as like what I feel like my purpose is. And I enjoy it genuinely. Like selfishly, I enjoy making people, helping people get through their tough times, you know? So it's like, all right, even though I'm going through this tough time, let's go. And in the beginning, it was super therapeutic to be out there and making people laugh. And just saying, you know, I'd hear from people like at the meet and greets after my shows or when i met them or just all my dms they'd just be like you know people would be like thank you so much for still doing what you're

doing you know you're getting me through this even though you are and it just fueled the fire yeah i wonder if like and because you've been working in such a group setting your whole fucking career that if what if like if you would have started stand-up by yourself maybe you would it would have been less of a tougher time when you were finally alone in your apartment. 100%. Because I was alone in my profession, in my personal life.

Literally, that was it. It was me and my two dogs that I took. Was that the darkest time of your life, you think? To this point, probably, yeah. Yeah, I would say that. Losing my dad was kind of a tough time too. And it was dealing with loss, big loss. But my dad kind of went quick.

He got cancer and then he was gone six months later. And it was just like, it was a hell of six months. We did a lot of stuff together. How old were you? I was 19. I just turned 19. Oh shit, that young? Yeah, yeah.

So it's crazy to think about the impact. And that really what drives me as a dad too like i really i look back now and i'm like i was such not the father i should be or would have been right and like that's the biggest thing that i'm happy about this course correction was like the family that because i grew up in such a family and i'm such a family guy like i love family and i'm all about it and and just to see it fall to the way, not like to not see it fall to the wayside as bad as it was. And then just be like, oh,

and then, and then, you know, coming back and feeling happy and genuinely like, this is great again. Like that's, that's the coolest part of it for me right now. Yeah.

And that's, dude, I didn't even think of that. Like you've always had family. Like you've always had this idea of family. And then, like, you follow your dream. And, like, your other, your career, your internal life is fucking popping off. And then you forgot about the family.

Yeah. Yeah. Totally. It's got to be tough. Or it's more like you don't know how to balance both of them. Because it was such a meteoric, crazy ride that it was like, don't communicate you think like oh everything's fine you know but it's not and then you're like you know you think i mean that was the biggest thing as far as relationship goes between me anybody that you're a partner with i tell people ask me

all the time it's like oh what do you what is like some of the relationship stuff that you have and i was like hands down it's like no matter how much you care about somebody to think about somebody everybody thinks oh they know me so well. They know what I'm thinking. And it's like, no, nobody does. Unless you say it, unless you say it doesn't matter how good somebody knows you. They don't know what you're thinking. So you need to say it. And I think that was a big part of it.

It was just like, I wasn't saying what I was thinking or, you know, listening to the words that were being said and thinking that what they were like interpreting what people were saying instead of listening to what people were saying, you know, so it's just, it's just different. In our heads, we're thinking, we're supporting this family financially or whatever, we're working hard, but we forget that, oh shit,

we have to communicate with people. How could you not be happy? What are you talking about? It's like, you see this house? You see this family? You see all these fucking... Our kid just got a Prada bag. Isn't crazy like what are you crazy yeah and it wasn't even necessarily stuff it was just kind of like way of life we were able to go on vacations together

and like you know the vacation family is great of course you know and then when you're on the road so much it's like you don't want to ruin anything you're only home for you know three days so you don't want those to be bad three days so you try to make them as best you can by bottling up what's bothering you and And that doesn't help. And then eventually it just percolates. And then you have these big blowouts and they get harder to recover from. So I just think that's a

huge part of it. It's like, communication is key. And I'm like, it doesn't really sound, it just sounds so cliche, but it's cliche for a reason. You have to talk about what's bugging you. You have to listen to what people are telling you is bugging them. I'm a

Jewish slash Catholic man, and I've just always learned to suppress everything. Just fucking don't fucking talk. Just fucking marinate. Let that thing turn into a cancer. It'll kill you eventually. It'll kill you.

I think that's what's, you know, I'm glad we're finally talking about our feelings as, you know, men have hard times talking about their feelings, I think. You know, it's just like, we're supposed to be this strong fucking character in everyone's life. And we're fucking human too, you know?

Yeah, I think, yeah, I think when you get the right people in your life that care about you, they'll make you talk about it too. Like, you know, like my sisters or people like, you know, they'll make you talk about it too. Like my sisters, or like that, or even my wife is like, you know, when we made our comeback, it was like the first thing

was like, all right, I'm going to say stuff to you, and you're going to say stuff to me, and that's it. And that's what it's going to be. And it's been so much better just to live that way. It's just like how the heck are we living the other way? Yeah, it's like, damn, 40 years of not talking? I know.

What the fuck? And you're... That works. This is why it works. Okay, I get it. I get it. But it's so funny because you're a comedian. You're born to tell stories and interpret life. Yeah, for sure.

For sure. You see it through a lens. And then when you're the main character, it's different. Yeah, dude. It's so scary to be the main character, right? But like sometimes you have to do it in your own life. You know, sometimes we... I don't know.

I always think about this too because I'm 15 years in of my career, been doing 250 shows a year, and I wasn't man enough to fucking even try to have a relationship. Like you had the balls to actually get married and fucking have kids and shit. And the first one out of us. So it was totally different. I was living a totally different...

I had a different set of challenges. I came along with it all. And then I didn't necessarily embrace that. I tried to ignore it. And that was the problem. Yeah. And like how, and like your brother, those are your brothers fighting the good fire with you and they couldn't

even console you because they had no idea what the fuck to say. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I look back on like a lot of the decisions I made and they made sense in my mind then. And now being the person I am now, I'm like,

that did not make it like, what are you talking about? Like I was on the road for my daughter's first birthday. It's like, what are you doing? It's your daughter's first. And in my mind it was like, Hey, you know about? Like I was on the road for my daughter's first birthday. It's like, what, like, what are you doing? It's your daughter's first. And in my mind, it was like, Hey, you know, this is a huge show we're doing. I'm on the road that weekend.

Does it matter? Like, she's not going to remember. Like, that's what I'm thinking. I'm like, well, you, but you'll remember. Yeah. You're a piece of shit. I was like, what are you doing? You know, it's like stuff like that.

That's like, it just feels like different now looking at it. And I was like, okay, but you learn, right. You learn. That's the whole part of it. So now was like, okay, but you learn, right? You learn. That's the whole part of it. So now, like I know. I know what I'm doing. Like I know what would be important not only to them, but what's important to you to feel like you're doing the best that you can.

Because we evolve. You're trying to be the best version of yourself and nobody's perfect. You got to take an honest look sometimes. Like that's not the move, you know? When did it start beating you up about it? Because like when you're working so fast, you forget. That slowed me down when my daughter said that. That definitely

put a jolt in it. And then the fights got bigger with Bessie. So all that stuff, I think that just compounded. During COVID, especially being home and you're supposed to feel like you're getting tighter and feel know you're supposed to feel like you're getting tighter

you know and feel like you're getting you know you're spending time with your people and then you're just like oh now we could actually spend time and talk about

stuff that's been bugging us but you're already too programmed not to so like I think like you know it was in little waves and then it just you know

started hitting hard and hard and fast you know dude I'm amazed you didn't get into cocaine after that. What a fucking wild ride, dude.

I would have went straight to the bag, bro. Tell me about, tell me about this anti-bullying campaigns you're doing. What is this all about? I always, I had worked with a company called Pop Culture Hero Coalition and they, I met them actually at a Comic-Con.

So I was, it was our first or second Comic-Con, I think, in San Diego, which we were doing for the Jokers. And I walked by this little booth and it was just like an anti-bullying thing. And I had been bullied in high school and always wanted to get into that. And I, again, heard from fans about how I made them laugh through this bullying thing. And I realized, oh, my story is actually, that's part of my journey. So let me try to help people out and talk about that. So I was looking for a company to get involved with and I just randomly went up to this.

I'm sorry? What's your story about that? You were bullied as a kid? I was totally a geek in high school. I was on the math team. I was a math lead. I was on the bowling team. Shout out to Strikeforce, my peeps. Let's go. But yeah, so I was totally like this geeky kid up until junior year is when

i realized i could make people laugh and that was like totally a turning point for me and uh so i wasn't like you know i in the neighborhood i got picked on a bunch not really you know not much physical stuff but mostly just like made fun of and left out and things like that you know but uh you know i would definitely say i experienced it to a degree and so i was looking for somebody involved with and these people were there and they had just a little table and i walked up and i was like hi i was like you know and it's funny because the person i was talking to didn't know anything about me and i was like you know i look like just like and i'm like oh yeah i'm anti-bullying but when they tell

me about the organization and then i just got flooded like can I take a picture I'm taking all these pictures and the woman was like I'm sorry are you I'm like no I'm just on this you know I'm on this I'm just world famous woman open your eyes no I'm just kidding

I was like I'm just you know I'm just I was like I'm on this TV show and she's like oh really blah blah and she's like oh if you want you can come talk at our panel and I was like really I was like oh that'd be cool

and I was like yeah I'll come to it and I tweeted it was the next day and I tweeted I was going to it and the room was packed and they was like, really? I was like, oh, that'd be cool, and I was like, yeah, I'll come to it, and I tweeted that it was in the next day, and I tweeted I was going to it, and the room was packed, and they were like, who is this guy? Like, I didn't even know, so then I met the other woman, and she was like, oh my gosh, like, I know you. She's like, thank you so much for being with us. It was just really funny, because one lady was like a psychologist that barred it, and the other woman was like one of the celebrities involved with it, so it was really funny, and then I just had a great time doing that panel. And then I just started doing them at different Comic-Cons because we were always in that.

I enjoy Comic-Cons and I was in those different worlds and I would just always take time to do the panels and whatnot. So I butted up with that Be Kind campaign and I started wearing the Be Kind t-shirt on the show and that became kind of a hallmark for me. And yeah, they're just a great company and I've always worked with them every year. So I do New York and San Diego Comic-Cons

mostly with them or Chicago sometimes too, depending on my schedule. And I always try at least once a year to do a panel with them and all can support them. They're great. What's the worst bullying you've ever had to deal with in your life

that you still remember to this day? I think, I don't know if it was one incident, but I do remember the feeling of being alone and not accepted. And I think that was probably one of the darker times in my life too, where I was just like, I felt like I had nobody. Because I really didn't actually in that time besides my family. I didn't really have anything. And the good thing, my father and mother were close to me.

I actually have a poster hanging here that I found again online. My dad had got me a poster and it just says on it, it says attitude. You know, remember those posters that were like those inspirational posters from like the late 90s? It had like an oak tree and it said strength, be able to weather the storm, like that bullshit, right? So there was one and my dad got me one that says attitude. And it's just three fighter jets in the sunset, and it says attitude, winners surround themselves with winners, and my dad bought it for me, and he hung it on my wall. I actually found it again, it's hanging in my office, and I had that, and my dad just said to me, and he goes, it was right

before, it was like eighth grade, and I was alone, and I was doing creative writing. That was my first foray. I was a writer writer and I loved writing stories and stuff. My dad was like, you're pretty cool, don't worry about it. You just haven't found your winners yet. And I was like, it just kind of stuck with me. And that was pretty profound for my dad to be like,

he's like, don't worry. He's like, you got it. You'll be all right. You'll find your winners. And then I started high school and I met the boys. So it was pretty interesting. Isn't it crazy how once you change your mind state of how you perceive life, things start coming way so true so true i yeah perceptions is 100

the outcome is driven by your perception of events and things i i think so much i think if you're open to it and you're just evolving your mind and just trying to look at things from different ways, you'll be able to find why. I'm not an everything happens for a reason kind of guy. I'm not. But I'm definitely like, you could find a reason why this happened or you could find something to take away from this. I think a reason everything's happened is kind of just like a cop out to be like, just

go with it. Just roll with it. But it should be like, no, learn from it. And just, you know, it happened for a reason. But what's the reason? Like, you need to investigate. You got to just shift around it. It just happened for a reason.

No, what was the reason? The reason was you were a shit husband. Like, that's the reason, you idiot. Like, you know, there's a bunch of different reasons, but that's one of them, right? Let's contribute in fact, or so fix it. You know, so I think that of different reasons, but that's one of them, right? Let's contribute and factor. So fix it. You know? So I think that's, I agree with that for sure.

What about, were you with your wife through the whole process in Practical Jokers or was it more later in career? No, it started, I was a baby store salesman when it started.

I became famous in my, my career took off inside my marriage, inside my relationship. Holy shit. So you never got to experience, were there like impractical groupies? That's the spinoff show, impractical groupies. There was, yeah, like, so we started dating. I was, I met her in my old life. I was a baby

store salesman for this company called Giggle. And there was, I was their training program manager. So I would go to new stores that opened and trained their staff. And they had 12 stores. One opened in the West Coast in Corte Madera, in Bay Area of San Francisco area, so California. So that's where she was living. I went there and I was there for a couple of weeks and we met and we went on a date there. And we started dating long distance for about a year and a half. Holy shit. It was like, came to a point where I was like's like look this doesn't work for me anymore i was like either move to new

york or you're or we're done you know it's just i just she's like okay so i'll move to new york so she calls my bluff moves to new york moves in with me and murr so me murr and her live together in a 750 square foot apartment in downtown man. Yep. And then she was there when I had just filmed the pilot when she was in California. And then we got picked up for series when she moved there. About a couple months later, I had to quit. I quit my job. Oh, my God.

And I was the first one to quit my job. And then I was all in. And then she was with me ever since. So she saw, you know, she was like, she never wanted to be like, this wasn't her kind of life. It wasn't like, she wasn't like that kind of, you know, thing. So it was like, she kind of got thrown into it too and had to be forced into like the, she's really a pretty big introvert and like keep to herself kind of small circle kind of person, you know? So this, this life is a little different for somebody like that, you know? So there's definitely growing on her, you know, on her, her on her her take two and you know part she could have done better too we

talk about it honestly like there's there's ways we both could have communicated better or been there for each other and supported each other in different ways and you know so that that was that was another piece of the a piece of the puzzle i think that we didn't necessarily navigate that and it's got to be hard because fucking she watched you start becoming more distant and didn't say anything until it just exploded. Yeah. And physically distant. Like, you know, not just like, Hey, it's like, Hey, I'm going to be on the road.

You know, there was one time where I saw the boys for 32 days in a row. That's insane. Oh my God. 32 days in a row. Like that was more than I saw her. Like I saw them 32 days in a row. Like that's nuts. You know, that's not, that's not a row. Like that was more than I saw her. Like I saw them 32 days in a row. Like that's nuts. You know, that's not a way.

I mean, look, it's part of the reason why the success of the show and why my career is what it is. I mean, I worked fucking hard. I did what I had to do for it, you know, but it came at a cost. So, you know, you do what you have to do, quote unquote, but what happens gets done. It happens for a reason. People don't realize the sacrifice it takes

and how much effort it needs to make it in the entertainment industry. Oh, yeah. Especially at the level we did. To do 10 years of, well, for me, to do 10 seasons, that's a decade of my life,

which is crazy. And I'm still going. Now at my own pace a little bit more and getting into different things that I like and really want to go with it now that I have time and bandwidth, you know, that's a big thing too.

It's like you get fulfilled on a different level. Now it's like, this is things that have been hanging out there as I'm getting older and stuff I wanted to do, you know? Yeah. It's fucking amazing. Joe,

you're a real motherfucker, man. I tried, I tried. Thank you. No, it's for real. Like,

um, you know, I think about impractical jokers and how much it's, it's affected my life of just like when I'm having a shitty, I put it on to make me feel good about myself. Has there ever been a moment where you, a joke went too far and it really fucked with the psyche of the person? I will say there's definitely some damaged goods walking around the streets of

Manhattan. Uh, no, not really. Like, you know, we always, that was a good thing about our improv background because when we were doing something, I would love to see like a compilation of us turning on a dime

because there was a lot of times when we were like on paper, like, this is great. This is gonna be great. And then we were liking, like people would be getting mad or people, it would be like not working. And we'd be like, why is this not working? And we just realized, oh, cause we're not the butt of the joke. Like we're not the one being made felt bad or looking dumb or whatever it is. And that was a big part of it for a lot of it. It was like, okay, what can we do here? And in the middle, we would just literally stop down and give us a minute. We'd tell Pete McBride,

the guy running the show, give us a second, Pete. We'd sit in a room. We'd talk for 15, 20 minutes. And then we'd go back out and boom, we'd have it. But sometimes we'd be like, ah, this is going to be great. And then we'd go like, no. You're out there and it feels wrong you're like no this is not you know this is not right so like that was kind of that was kind of the thing so i i think that was a big part of it like we made people feel bad we weren't doing right but then again

the other side of that is you're filming in new york city and some people just aren't in for your bullshit and you're going up to a guy and you're like hey i'm gonna take this guy's hat and put it on he's like get the fuck away from me. That kind of thing happens too. My personal worst one ever, and I think it's definitely up there with the top five of the show, was when I was stealing baseballs from the kids at City Field and telling them that they could buy the signed baseballs on eBay. And the mother went nuts on me because I told her to give me her child. She was holding her kid.

She's like, I want to get a baseball. I was like, oh, give me a kid. I'll get you one. And she gave me her child. It's a two-year-old and I'm holding it. Take a ball. I'm like, oh, I'm not going to give it back to the kid and I won't give her the ball. And she goes, flips down.

I'm like, you just gave me your child. I'm like, what do you have on me? You made a bad decision. And she just was not having it. So that was probably one of the worst I think on record for I think all of us would say that's one of the worst Reactions

That is fucking amazing Joe That's fucked up As I think about that I think your improv Your improv studies when you're a kid Definitely help with that Because if you didn't have that You would have just kept going And then it would be funny because you're a kid definitely help with that. Cause if you didn't have that, you want to just kept going.

And then it'd be funny. Cause you're talking about anti-bullying and you're just bullying all these fucking new. Yeah. These people, you know, we didn't get for it at the end. I handed out lots of baseballs to kids.

We came from record that one woman, like got to meet Noah Syndergaard. I think it gave her like tickets, like three more games that season, which was funny. But, um, she did her like signed Jersey.

We were like, they really took care of it. But in the moment, yeah, because that was a big thing too. Like in the moment, even with your friends like we, I used to hear in the beginning a lot like Mark gets picked on, you guys bully him. I'm like, no, he knows what he's doing. It's for a TV show. He's in. He's part of it. Like you can't bully

somebody that's like, yeah, I'll get a paycheck for doing this for my life. Like he knows, like he knows what's up. You know, so it's not like that. And at the end of the day, we're friends and people always ask, oh, what was the line? What would you do? We wouldn't do. The line is, they're your friends. At the end of the day, we're each other's friend. So I know stuff that Sal would really hate and be mad about. I'm not

going to do that to him. I'm not going to punish him with that. I'm going to punish him with what he'll do funny because it's a comedy show. I'm not going to make people do things that at the end of the day, it's a hidden camera comedy show. We did a very well hidden camera comedy show with your friends. And it was more friendship on display than anything else.

I remember the moment when we really figured that out. I was in charge of doing the edits and stuff, too. So one episode we had done, we were working in a shoe store. And we went out and the turns were okay. But in the back, when we filmed the BTS, you know, when we're watching the monitor, we film everything. the turns were okay but in the back when we filmed the bts you know when we're watching the monitor we film everything we film you know the cameras are just rolling and it was a conversation that started where um murr asked to borrow sal's chapstick and sal was like no you can't borrow my child murr's like what are you talking about

and they got into this conversation and Sal's stance and debate, so indignant about how disgusting it is to put it on Murray's lips. And Murray being like, I sip from your cup sometimes. And Sal being like, what? You sip from my, and it's this funny thing. And I was like, you know what?

Fuck, we're going to put this in the cut. We put it in the cut and we sent it into the network, right? And inevitably network notes come back. And they're like, hey, blah, blah, blah. This is great, great. And they're like, oh, this conversation is really funny, but we're not sure it fits.

So I said to them, I remember having the call and I was like, hey, blah, blah, blah, this is great, great. And they're like, oh, this conversation is really funny, but we're not sure it fits. So I said to them, I remember having the call and I was like, look, I said, I'll send you everything else and I need you to be objective. Everything I took out of the challenge. Tell me if any of it is funnier than this and I'll be more than happy to take it out. If not, give me this, let me try it. Sure. They look at everything. Nothing's as funny. They said, all right, fine, keep it. We keep it. And from that moment that moment we heard about oh my god these guys are so funny together oh they're you know they're real friends and you could see that it was like a peak and then we were like all right we gotta we gotta really dig into this this is what this show is about it's about our friendship so we started doing these walk-in talks which we called interstitials and i don't know if you remember like season two or three we would walk around the park and just pick a topic and talk in between

challenges and we would just have a conversation. It was kind of like a podcast. Yeah, exactly. And we would just have like a quick combo. And they were always funny. And they always shed more light onto our personalities and our dynamic. Started putting them in. Started putting them in.

Before you know it, five challenges in an episode became three challenges in an episode because we started putting a lot of those conversations in. Then it became two challenges in an episode because we would really let them breathe and we'd really just lean into it, you know? Yeah. So I think that's really, really what the show became was because we leaned into the friendship. Yeah, and like, yeah, as the years went on, it was more about the friendship and laughing together.

And I think that's what people related with it. 100%. I think that speaks, it's perfectly exemplified in the success of the show dinner party. So during COVID we couldn't film, but we knew we wanted to, we still need to be in people's homes to make people laugh and we need to keep going.

And how are we going to do this? One night we had decided we hadn't seen each other. So we decided to have dinner over, over, uh, zoom. And we were hysterical, having fun laughing.

And Q was just like, I think it was Q or it was one of us in Q. I think it was Q. And he was like, he's like, this is funny. He's like, we should, we should record this and release it. And we're like, and we were all like, this it was Q or it was one of us in Q I think it was Q and he was like he's like this is funny he's like we should we should record this and release it and we're

like and we were all like this is a show let's pitch it so we pitched it to Drew and we said this is the show we should have what's the show called dinner party where the four of us gonna have dinner and fuck with each other have dinner and be in our own homes cook it pick a dinner to cook and just talk and they're like what it's gonna be funny don't worry and then it literally was just us having conversations and people watched it and it was very highly rated. It was one of our favorite things we've ever done. I think all of us would have done more seasons of it if we could have. And it was just awesome. And, you know, and it was like, I think people were so invested that it completely translated right to that. Like it was a parallel, people watched it as much or more

than Jokers, you knowokers. And if they weren't invested in our friendship, if it was all about the pranks, they wouldn't have watched that. Is it easier to convince the network about new projects as the success continues with Impractical Jokers, or is it always still pulling teeth

to get a fucking show greenlit? It's always pulling teeth. I think Jokers itself was always untouched there was a lot of regime changes but it was always untouched because nobody wanted to come in and find it's like just fucking leave it then shut up nobody wants to come in and be like that's gonna be bad it's like shut the fuck shut up you know so a lot of that was that was happening but a lot of it was they became very protective of the brand because they didn't want people to be like stray from it or they want us not to be able to focus as much on it. So, you know, instead of leaning in and being like, what else you got?

It was more like, okay, let's, how do we, how do we keep this train running? So I think that was part of it. But misery index opened it up for us a little bit. You know, that was the TV show, the game show we did with Jamila. That was on TBS. That did a, because it showed us in a different light. We still were the same thing. We're just friends messing around and talking, you know,

but it showed us in a different light where we were like able to be like, this is just us being people and not necessarily messing with the public. Like you could get us just talking. Have you ever pissed anything that they're like, fuck no, Joe? We had this one punishment that was called Bus to Tampa, which we pitched every season. It was always in the first packet every season.

We handcuffed somebody, the loser of an episode, to the bus to go down to Tampa. They had to take the whole thing. They had to take the 27-hour bus ride handcuffed, and then when it ends, they're like they have to take the whole thing they have to take the 27 hour bus ride handcuffed and then when it ends they're in tampa and they never would let us do it i was like oh man that would be a fun one yeah that was one that we'd never let us do um but some of the stuff like they just we had an idea and it was just like it's gonna be funny trust us and they would go

with the ride like when i was a massage chair there was a punishment where they made me a massage chair and in the beginning of every season for six weeks was pre-pro, where we just sat down in the writer's room. We're like, all right, what the hell are we going to do this season? Let's talk about everything. How are we going to change?

What are we going to do? And we're just sitting there. And I remember going, what if I was a massage chair? And we all busted out laughing. I think, oh, what happens? I said, no, like, you know, one of those massage chairs,

like people sitting on me and I have to be a chair and massage them. And I'm like, I'm just going to be like, go, go, go, go and sit there. And they're like, and we're all hysterical laughing. I'm like, write it up. So the writers write it up in the back and it says massage chair. We make Joe a massage chair. That was it. And we sent it in. Right. So like we get the notes back, a phone call comes in and it's Simi and he's like, Hey is this one i go yeah i'm a massage chair and he goes okay i said yeah that's it i said i'm just in a mall and i'm a massage chair and he goes but what happens i said i gotta massage people's massage chair and he goes okay

well like trust us let us do it he said okay he'll do it he just let us do it on that and it was one of the funniest ones we've done we're were just so dumb. We were trying to fool people that I was a massage chair and the art department did such a great job building this fake massage chair. Will Faxon came up huge with it. It was just really funny. So they gave us that leeway too. So it went both ways

I think. Were you ever getting slack with jackass going on earlier in the career? And you had your impractical joke show. Was there any kind of controversy with MTV saying, hey, what the fuck? Or any of that stuff? Or no, because it was your own style show.

Our own style. MTV wanted to buy our show. Our bidding war was between MTV and TruTV before we started. So the show went into the two of them. MTV wanted it as a strip show, meaning five days a week recast with people. And it would be like a competition show. Five days a week it would go. They would just pay us for the idea, not us.

And TruTV was like, we want you guys. We'll make you the face of this network and pick up Tru to their word. But at that time, TruTV was Court TV. At 5 o'clock it started doing original content. And we were on between two towing shows, Lizard Lick Towing and South Beach Tow. And we were in the middle. This comedy show.

Right. It was insanity. We were like, what the hell? And it just caught fire and was like, wow. And True TV, if you watch the evolution of it, has become like a comedy channel. Yeah. You were the pioneers of comedy for True TV,

which is fucking amazing. 100%. And then they just built, they changed their whole thing about second season in, third season in, they changed everything. Got rid of everything they were all programming, which was just like some trashy reality stuff. Was there a moment like you opened your mailbox

and saw the syndication money and you're like, oh shit, this is working? No, basic cable. I don't have syndication money. Oh, really? Basic cable? No? Basic cable reality. Yeah, yeah. Hold on. Explain that to me. Why is Basic Cable not residual money? No, it's because it's

considered a reality show. Oh, fuck that! Yeah, it's Basic. I get it for the movie, which is good. So the movie streams and we get a couple dollars there. But that's nothing crazy. But I still have to work for that so it's funny because we say that all the time i say i'm a basic cable internet sensei

basic cable international celebrity um but yeah yeah it's it's it's cool you know so mtv was never and we were always trying to be our own thing like jackass is their own thing we could never be jackass and they could never be us i don't think i think it was totally it was two different things and you know two different things and two different vibes and completely different fan bases and there's a little bit of crossover, but for the most part, I think we were more family-friendly than Jackass was. We were more of a co-viewing show.

Yeah. Man, what a fucking career, Joe. And you're still going, baby. Let's fucking go. I'm just warming up, baby. I'm just warming up. Let's do it. Let's go. You know what I think about? I got two more questions. I just thought about this. You're going through your separation during COVID, right? 2021.

You make a dinner show, dinner party show. And it's like dinners are like, feel like it's about family and stuff. No, I was home. It didn't happen to laugh to that. Okay. I was like, damn, this motherfucker's sad as fuck during this. I would have just been depressed in the dark just eating cereal. In a bathrobe with scruff like, just

shut up. Joe, keep fucking rocking, bro. I'm a big fan of you and your work ethic is so inspiring. Just keep doing it, man. Do it all. Keep rocking. I got one last question. I'll let you go. When it's all said and done,

what do you want to be remembered by? That's a very good question. I was always very aware of legacy growing up and what I was going to be, family and all that. I laugh about this now because my kids, there's so much of me. I wish I had this much of my father. With the 10 years of TV,

with my Two Cool Moms podcast, with the 10 years of tv with my two cool moms podcast you know with the hours i have that you know um that they just hear my advice and with words of wisdom like all my writing and stuff like there's just so much of me my kids have that so they have that i would love for them to be just to interpret like just how to be like good i think it lives on through your kids. Just had to be, just, just be somebody that's remembered of being a good person. Like I remember my dad, like it was like one of those things where nobody said a bad thing about it.

Like no one had a bad thing to say. And you hear that about it. But like, that was for true. Like there was so many people at his funeral. Everybody was like, oh, he's such a good guy and blah,

blah, blah. And I think that's an important imprint was that like he touched his world. He didn't necessarily touch the whole world, but he touched his world. And I think that's important to remember that the size of the world is your world, you know? So my world's got a little bit bigger because I've been on TV and, you know, doing all this stuff. But like, I try to remember that, like I, you know, my interactions with fans and I try to be as best as I could be. Sometimes I have an off moment, but for the most part, I try to be pretty cordial and nice

and make it memorable. But I think that for the most part, I want to be somebody that's remembered of being kind to people. Yeah. Are your kids sick of you now that you're making extra effort to go hang out with them?

No, it's funny. It's funny because it's not, it doesn't feel like extra effort. It feels like the right amount now. Does that make sense? It feels like I feel like the right amount of present you know i feel like they'll go and do their thing and then they'll come like daddy i also somebody said this to me your kids only ask you to play with you for so long and the first time they don't want to play

with you really hurt so say yes to can they play so i'll drop everything myself like we play yeah and i'll spend five minutes playing with them you know because like there going to be a time when they're not going to want to play with you anymore. And that's going to sting. So I try to take all that to the bank. Especially as an older parent. How old are your kids? Yeah. So my kids are eight and six. They'll be nine and seven this year. Yeah. And I'm

47. So who knows how much time we're going to left here. Yeah. You got three more years. I'm going to make those memories. Keep working, Pop. Let's go. Let's go, Dad. I love it. All right, Joe. Go do your thing.

I know you're busy. Thanks for being on the show. I'll be rooting you on, brother. Thank you, bro. I appreciate this. This is really nice. Thanks so much. It was nice to talk to you.

Cheers, bro. Have a great one. Later, bro. Bye. Later. You tuned in to the World's Health Podcast with Andy Fresco. Thank you for listening to this episode. Produced by Andy Fresco. Thank you for listening to this episode. Produced by Andy Fresco, Joe Angelo and Chris Lawrence.

We need you to help us save the world and spread the word. Please subscribe, rate the show, give us those crazy stars. iTunes, Spotify, wherever you're picking this shit up. Follow us on Instagram at World's Health Podcast for more info and updates. Fresco's blogs and tour dates you'll find at andyfrescott.com. And check our socials to see what's up next. Might be a video dance party, a showcase concert, that crazy shit show, or whatever springs to Andy's wicked brain.

And after a year of keeping clean and playing safe, the band is back on tour. We thank our brand new talent book on mara davis we thank this week's guest our co-host and all the fringy frenzies that help make this show great thank you all and thank you for listening be your best be safe and we will be back next week no animals were harmed in the making of this podcast as far as we know any similarity instructional knowledge facts or fake is purely coincidental