So True with Caleb Hearon - Fortune Feimster Keeps it Positive

Episode Date: May 1, 2025

Welcome back! Our guest this week is the hilarious Fortune Feimster! Fortune and Caleb talk stand up tours, chain restaurants, the concept of Walton Goggins, life coaches, and more! Join... our Patreon for an exclusive extended interview with Fortune and other bonus content! https://patreon.com/SoTruePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink  Follow Fortune! @fortunefeimsterFollow the show! @sooootruepod Follow Caleb! @calebsaysthings Produced by Chance Nichols @chanceisloud Book now at www.Booking.com ! Grab an Angry Orchard Cider today. Don’t Get Angry. Get Orchard. Please Drink Responsibly.Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at www.AuraFrames.com. Promo Code SOTRUE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/SOTRUE to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domainusing code SOTRUE.Go to www.quince.com/SOTRUEAbout Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. Â» SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1  Â» FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum  Â» FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ Â» FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum So True is a Headgum podcast, created and hosted by Caleb Hearon. The show is produced by Chance Nichols with Associate Producer Allie Kahan and Executive Producer Emma Foley. So True is engineered by Casey Donahue and engineered and edited by Nicole Lyons. Kaiti Moos is our VP of Content at Headgum. Thanks to Luke Rogers for our show art and Virginia Muller our social media manager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is a HeadGum Podcast. With a $5 meal deal with new McValue, you pick a Mcdouble or a McChicken, then get a small fry, a small drink, and a four-piece McNuggets. That's a lot of McDonald's for not a lot of money. Prices and participation may vary. Mcdouble meal $6 in some markets for a limited time only. Who I am on stage and off stage are pretty similar. Yeah, I'm not just like, you know And let's be positive and then I'm like don't look at me
Starting point is 00:00:34 Nah, that's not it for me Whoa Are you watching that show I I did watch it, yeah. You've seen all of them. I have. I have only seen a couple episodes. Yeah. I feel like I need to lock in.
Starting point is 00:00:51 Yeah, it's always good. Mike White knows what's up. Once they got Walton Goggins, I was like, it's time for me to get serious. We had him in Righteous Gemstones and that at the same time. Yeah. Going from baby Billy to Goggans is an American icon. He's a tree. I love him. Did you ever watch the shield? I didn't
Starting point is 00:01:25 Some reason when I was like 15 I got obsessed with the shield because I loved him and Michael chickless I was like I need to be and see CH pounder. These are my guys These are my guys and I truly I watched all of I should not have been watching the shield at that age Yeah, I watched all of the shield twice twice You're a shield stand I loved it. I watched the whole thing and that's when I fell in love with Walton Goggins. Yeah my guy He's great. I didn't even know he could do, it was such a serious role he was playing. And then the first time I saw him in a comedy, I guess,
Starting point is 00:01:49 was probably like season one of Righteous Gemstones. And then didn't he, I didn't watch this either, but on Sons of Anarchy, didn't he wear women's clothing or something? Am I making this up? Did he wear women's clothing on Sons of Anarchy? Guys, was this ack that led me astray I don't know. I've never seen that show in fact. I don't really know what it is
Starting point is 00:02:15 Wait can we pull it up guys don't let tick-tock have led me astray Why is he stunning See, oh, right, that's him. Why is he stunning? Why is he eating down? What the fuck? Change, go one more to the right. Put this one on the screen for the episode. Whoa.
Starting point is 00:02:30 He's eating down. Where are those boobs? Piper, yes. Piper, yes. Piper, yes. I saw it on TikTok, and I was like, I never saw the show, so I didn't experience this character you played. Yeah, he looks good as fuck.
Starting point is 00:02:43 Yeah. I like that for him So there's a lot of range there. I'm saying have you ever gotten to do male drag? Uh, I mean kind of every day just like I'm a I identify as a girl, but um, I'm all woman Yeah, but I wear I wear men's clothes because they fit me better. Now. Where are you shopping? Uh, I almost straight up went the gap but I I wear men's clothes because they fit me better. No, where you shopping? The gap Olden days now, I'm like a Vince gal. I love Vince Theory, ooh
Starting point is 00:03:17 That kind of stuff are these places you're going in person or you shopping online. I'll go to like a Neiman's or something Yeah, I'm an online shopper. I hate online shopping. I do too but I have no choice. Because something fits me. To me it's that way in stores. If I go in store and I ask them to find a piece of clothing that fits me, they couldn't tear the curtains off the wall and get them wrapped around me. They don't have no store, has anything to fit me. They're just like, oh bless your heart. Truly bless your heart. They say take your big ass to the website. Because what they also will do is some of them will carry women's plus in stores and then not carry men's.
Starting point is 00:03:49 Yeah, that's weird. Like Target and Old Navy both have, they go up to like four or five X in women's and then in men's they stop at two. And I say what's that? Probably online they carry less of a thing. So they just store it in a warehouse somewhere. I bet.
Starting point is 00:04:04 They're like these biggins like fortune will come online and find it. They know that I'll get my big ass on there and go scouring through the website because I have no choice. I'm a store refugee. I have no choice but to go to the internet and beg. There you go.
Starting point is 00:04:16 And then do big returns. Yeah. But I kind of keep it simple. I don't, as you can probably tell, go shopping a lot. I just kind of rehash the same outfit over and over again. Well, for guys like me and you, it's easy. We're doing t-shirt jeans and a wool overshirt. That's where we're living.
Starting point is 00:04:31 We're getting by on our personalities, baby. Baby! Ain't nobody looking to see what I'm wearing. You know, fortune's fun to have at dinner. Let's hang out with fortune. What blazer does fortune have on tonight? I would love to see you in a blazer. Just a casual day blazer. I love a blazer.
Starting point is 00:04:48 Are you doing a casual day blazer? I'm not rocking it during the day, but at an event. I'm rocking a blazer. You're on tour right now. I am, yeah. What's been going on on tour? How's this one stacking up to the others? It's good.
Starting point is 00:05:00 It literally just started this last weekend. It's called Taking Care of Biscuits. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes, it sure is, hon. Yeah, it literally just started this last weekend. It's called Taking Care of Biscuits. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes, it sure is, hon. Yeah, it's all new material. My last special, Crushin' It, came out
Starting point is 00:05:12 a couple months ago on Netflix. Yep. So this is the new stuff, and this will go about a year and a half. It'll be about 100 cities, 150 shows. You and, you are really, you're out there. I'm an overachiever. You're busting your ass. This is how I'm Getting myself worth. Yeah. Oh is it?
Starting point is 00:05:33 Oh, I do like myself, but I enjoy working. Yeah, it's it's not even I know it sounds so But I love to work I love to to tour and I love to do the shows. The travel's hard. The travel part's the top thing. That to me is the kicker. When it's just on stage, it's so fun. It's like, oh, I'm doing my thing. The stage part's the cake.
Starting point is 00:05:55 Yeah, that's the best part. You're basically getting paid to travel. And you're getting paid to just have fun and interact with people. You're just talking to the room and seeing how they're feeling. Yeah. And then telling your jokes. I love it, because I keep it simple. It's just me
Starting point is 00:06:06 I don't have a like I have a tour a tour person who goes to all the cities with me, and she's amazing She takes care of everything But like on the road is my wife used to tour with me a lot, but she's over it now. She's like hey This is a new for me now. You're good, right? So I'm like good flying a city, renting a car, puttering over to the stage. They're always looking for an entourage or something. And I'm like, why?
Starting point is 00:06:32 I don't, you think I want to take five people to Chili's? No. I would love to be someone who gets to go to Chili's with you. That we have to go to Chili's together. If you say, Caleb, do you want to hop on my rental in Indianapolis and go to Chili's? I'd say, yes, I sure do. Yeah, we're to go to Chili's together. If you said, Caleb, do you want to hop on my rental in Indianapolis and go to Chili's? I'd say, yes, I sure do.
Starting point is 00:06:46 Yeah, we're going to get that cheese pull with those triple dippers. Oh my god. The crowd goes wild. Yeah, baby. Killed with that one. You know I'm getting a triple dipper combo. I'm going nuts on some Southwest Acros
Starting point is 00:07:00 and the Honey Triple with Chicken Crispers. That's good stuff. It's really good. Now see, I'm, as somebody who grew up fat in Missouri, I've been on chain restaurants, Chili's, I've been a dedicated fan. Same. But now TikTok is making them famous.
Starting point is 00:07:13 I know, and it feels like everyone's discovering these places for the first time. Yeah. Like this is my life, my childhood, like everything that I know and love is what you guys are discovering for the first time. Yeah, we're just getting here, yeah. Or they're like, can you believe there's $3 margaritas
Starting point is 00:07:31 at Applebee's? I'm like, believe it, I was upselling them in high school. That's right. Yes, I believe it, come on. Yeah, we rode off in the sunset with those margaritas and not driving in the passenger seat. We had a couple of those margaritas and got behind the wheel, honey.
Starting point is 00:07:45 I was asking someone recently, and I don't know, maybe it was a live audience or something, but I didn't know that a DUI was a big deal until I got to college. Really? Because everyone. I was pretty aware of it. Everyone was not good.
Starting point is 00:07:58 Everyone where I grew up had one. Really? I feel like, yes. Oh no, they put the fear of God in us. We were not to do that. North Carolina where you're from Yeah, is like crazy strict about driving Yeah You guys have like I've had I had a friend who got pulled over for speeding in North Carolina and they were like we're the strictest in the country
Starting point is 00:08:14 They love it. I mean my mom's always like if you're when you're driving from Charlotte to Raleigh you better slow down. Yeah. Yeah, cuz they're bored. They just sit out there and wait for you I got like advice from a rental car company in Charlotte once. They were like, well, I was picking up the car. He was like, Hey man, this isn't like other places. Don't, don't speed out here. I don't know if maybe they need the money. Like that's how they're doing it over there. They're just like, y'all, y'all better round them up. Get those speeders. Better round them up. Get that money for the state. How did your podcast, Handsome, with Tig and Mae, who are so funny.
Starting point is 00:08:48 Yes, we got you to do a question, we haven't used it yet, it's coming. Well I fucked it up like four times. Poor Fortune messaged me and being like, hey, super simple, ask, do you wanna do a question for the show, here's the parameters. I missed like three of the parameters on the first one. Second one, I asked a question that everyone's asked,
Starting point is 00:09:01 like an idiot. Truly, you had to message me like five times and be like, loving the effort. Hey, Shug. Hey, Shug. It's always like, hey, Shug, this is great. One note. However, I mess it up so many times,
Starting point is 00:09:16 and it's been so long since I sent in the right one, now I was like, who knows if they'll use it. We will. Fortune might have gotten sick of me, actually. We will. How did that, I'm interested in how that came about oh Tig reached out to me and I and just wanted to do a podcast that was kind of like You know gay gay friendly
Starting point is 00:09:34 Didn't know what that okay. We're pretty gay Pretty gay My wife thinks so. Yeah. Pretty yay. Tate and I are lesbians, May's trans, little different colors of the rainbow. May's also bi, so we're checking lots of boxes. May's out there.
Starting point is 00:09:54 And we didn't know what it would be at first, and all of us were kind of like, we're busy, but also like, what if this is the greatest pot ever and we're not part of it? We didn't want to have that FOMO, I almost said POMO. Well we don't have POMO either.
Starting point is 00:10:08 Podcast of Missing Out. Or, yeah, so we just like really enjoyed each other, but didn't know each other really well. Like I had met May at the Melbourne Comedy Festival years ago, New TIG, but none of us were like in the weeds with each other as far as like daily life or knowing a lot So we thought it'd also be a cool way to get to know each other and May's in their 30s I'm in my 40s. I know it's hard to believe it is and Tigs in her 50s, so it's also a different era of like approaching any kind of topic. That's interesting.
Starting point is 00:10:45 Yeah, so the podcast is nonsense. We talk about nothing and everything and it's so silly, but we're about a year and a half in and it's got like 30 million downloads. It's like this wild thing in all of our careers that we never saw being a big thing, but we had a show at the Ryman the other night and the crowd they go nuts That is so the Ryman that's so it's really cool. Yeah, that's really freaking cool. So it's awesome We're about to do a three thousand seat theater this weekend that sold out and yeah people just like the ridiculousness of it
Starting point is 00:11:21 Yeah, I you know I like being silly I like and why else be a comedian a comedian if not to have a good time with it and make people laugh? I like pretty much any time you pop up in a wig. When I see you doing a wig, if I see Fortune's got a wig on, I turn the sound up and stop what I'm doing. I go, what's she cooking over there? I've got a bunch of characters that, because I started The Groundlings, and these characters haven't seen the light of day,
Starting point is 00:11:46 I gotta pop them out one of these days. I would love to see, honestly, if you ever, now, if you have, the first thing I want for you is a nap, because you're doing so much. Thank you. But if you get tired of- And a triple-dipper. Yeah, a nap and a triple-dipper.
Starting point is 00:11:59 I'm gonna bring a triple-dipper over to your house, tuck you into bed, and set it on one of those little bed and breakfast stands for you. That sounds amazing, Caleb. That's Valentine's Day. Yes, it is! That's Valentine's Day. But yeah, if you get a break from putting out specials all the time and touring sold-out
Starting point is 00:12:12 cities and doing all this crazy stuff with the podcast, I would love to see the Fortune Feimster one-woman show. Really? You pull out those wigs and start doing some characters. Yeah. I'd be front row, baby. I've thought about how that would work, because there are different parts of my career that haven't intertwined with each other.
Starting point is 00:12:32 And I've wondered what that would look like to do a little bit of characters and do a little bit of stand-up, do a little bit of improv, a little bit of whatever, serious stuff. I also don't mind being earnest on stage too, but I've never melded everything into one. You never know. You know that I'm such a fan of yours, and I know it's awkward to say to your face, but I just think you're so, so funny and so, so good at this. Thanks, Caleb.
Starting point is 00:12:56 Truly one of the most recent times that I was, it's like, there's just certain shows, and I'm not sure you've had a million of these, but you're watching a friend perform or somebody that you know or are friendly with or just even someone that you just kind of like from afar. And they're doing so good that you're like, oh man, it's so cool that I also do this thing and we get to be a part of this community. And when you performed at Big Slick in Kansas City and you just murdered, tore the roof off, and truly me and I was sitting with a bunch of the folks from SNL Yeah, and we were just watching like fortunes a legend I did not know what to expect
Starting point is 00:13:33 The I got to go to your neck of the woods Yes, and everyone's so lovely there. It's such a community And we did that show and I made I was like near the last of the comedians There was a band after me, but they kept being like all right, you know 12 minutes. Don't go over keep it tight Yeah, I think they were worried I was gonna just bomb Yeah, and it was it ended up being this a really magical time on stage and the audience was incredible And that's where I got to meet you, like I had seen you, but we had never really chatted and we got to really like actually have a conversation
Starting point is 00:14:10 and hang out. I'm such a fan of yours and you're so funny. Knock it off, get out of here. I swear to God, your clips pop up and it is such a treat. You're always saying something ridiculous, but it's always true. It's always like facts. Something ridiculous should have been the name of the show.
Starting point is 00:14:28 Something ridiculous. But you're always, I'm always like, you're saying the things that people are thinking, you know? Like, yes, that's it, but it's so funny. Fortunately, it gets me in trouble. Well, I can see that as well. Hey, it gets me in trouble every once in a while. Yeah, I think I first saw your stuff, cause you, what age did you move to LA? Hey, it gets me in trouble every once in a while.
Starting point is 00:14:46 I think I first saw your stuff. What age did you move to LA? I moved at 23. 23. I know you worked as an entertainment journalist for six or seven years. Did you start that right away when you got out here? No, I moved to LA kind of a life experience. I got a job as a PA, personal assistant. I at it, you know, like I'm not an organized person like I can my calendar's chaos
Starting point is 00:15:11 But I know what it means, you know But I can't like be in charge of someone else's life. So I immediately was awful at that But it got me out here. It was like that catalyst. Otherwise, I don't think I would have moved to LA I was from a tiny town like 8,000 people in North Carolina. Is it Belmont? Belmont. Nice I'm locked in I'm locked in on fortune. I know what's going on and Yeah, two years in I Was I'd always loved comedy. I watched SNL growing up, like religiously.
Starting point is 00:15:45 Didn't really follow stand-up. That wasn't my hometown. Like people just didn't like have albums or anything like that. But I had heard of the Groundlings being a place where those SNL folks went. And I was like, that seems cool. So I just started taking improv classes for fun.
Starting point is 00:16:01 Really just to make friends. And my teachers just told me like, you gotta keep going. And then, but the entertainment journalism started kinda on top of the personal assistant job. It was like a part-time job where the woman I was working for, her neighbor wrote for like the LA Daily News and she was like, I heard you can write. Do you wanna go cover movie premieres?
Starting point is 00:16:26 And as a 23 year old you're like, yeah. Oh yeah I do. Yeah, come on. And those premieres were cool back in the day. Now Hollywood's bleeding money, so there's nothing for free. But back then it was like the heyday. So it was like every party, every premiere, you'd get these giant swag bags full of all this stuff.
Starting point is 00:16:45 It was the golden era of this town. And then now they're just like, get out of here. It's a cash bar. We don't need you. Everyone's going to stream this anyway. But yeah, it was cool. I did it for like seven years I got to interview all these people and
Starting point is 00:17:08 Talk to people on the phone went to events with the award shows. I was invited to more things as a journalist Yeah, and I feel like I don't think I'm making this up But I'm recalling on a while ago memory, but I feel like the first time I ever saw you do comedy was on my TV, maybe on Chelsea Lately? Were you on Chelsea? Yeah, that was my first technical TV thing was Last Comic Standing, but that's a couple episodes. But Chelsea was my debut as far as Big Break 2011 that started.
Starting point is 00:17:44 I was a writer. I got a job as a writer first. as far as like big break, 2011 that started. Yeah. I was a writer, I got a job as a writer first and within a week she kind of looked at me like a giant baby doll of like someone she could put in outfits. Yeah. So. What you love.
Starting point is 00:17:59 I know. To be like, oh yeah, dress me up. I know, but I was like, how much are you gonna pay me? All right, fine, I was broke. because the journal the newspapers were starting to fold and the the the the whole world of News and everything was just shifting significantly. So that job was coming to an end And I had a year of just like being broke I was like, let me try to like do comedy full time. And I had no money. Um, and her job, the, the opportunity came when I, I owed my, my, uh, roommate rent.
Starting point is 00:18:33 I didn't have, I had maybe $20 in the bank. I mean, I was like, I'm about to have to go get another, you know, like I gotta go walk dogs or go to Starbucks or something, which I would have happily done whatever it took cause I love this so much that I would have done whatever job I needed to to keep it, to keep the dream alive, to keep being able to stay out here and try. And I submitted a writing packet
Starting point is 00:18:59 and by some miracle they hired me. And did you have like a team at the time? I had nothing. So you were just, truly like, I heard there was a packet opening, I'm sending one in. I might have, I did have a manager. We had been together a little bit,
Starting point is 00:19:12 and she was, I was getting a lot of nos. There was not, and agents didn't want me. I had a lot of agents telling me no. And yeah, I finally signed like a commercial agent and never got sent out, because weirdly enough products weren't trying to get this big old gal to sell their stuff. And so yeah, it was, the business was different though.
Starting point is 00:19:37 I know it wasn't that long ago, but it was 2010, 2011. Being different was not it. They did not want it If you sounded different look different a bigger person Gay all the things they know thank you They wanted this cookie cutter thing on television and Chelsea was that person that was like no I like the weirdos the different people the personalities like
Starting point is 00:20:03 She she really opened the door in that way. And once she said yes, it was off to the races. That was when everyone started to say yes. That's the tough thing is like so often even when you know it's the way to be successful is to be succeeding. It's like yeah people want to put you in things because they've seen you in things. Exactly. And so it's like God if someone would just. I know so you know I don't have like a my own would just I know. So, you know, I don't have like a my own TV show to like hire people. But, you know, like on the road or shows or clubs,
Starting point is 00:20:30 I'm always trying to find different comics that I like or think are funny. Like, hey, you want to do some spots tonight with me? It's nothing big that I can do for people, but something, you know, I would have it would have meant a lot to me coming up to have a comic put me on their show. And you try to give people opportunities that you just think are funny in hopes that they'll keep growing and get their opportunities. It's also hard because so much of the,
Starting point is 00:20:58 like if you wanna do acting or TV or film or whatever, it's like, okay, well so much of it is type. And so they have to have seen someone like you do really well and they have to have seen someone like you do really well, and they have to have seen audiences respond to someone like you. And I've, you know, it's an interesting time now because everyone since I started this stuff has been like, well you'll probably
Starting point is 00:21:14 have to make your own thing. Because you're fat and gay, and so if they want a fat guy with tattoos or whatever, they're looking for like an older guy who's gruff and straight. And if they want a gay guy they want a thin. No one is looking for me, you know? There are things I can squeeze into. We could add a podcast called Fat and Gay.
Starting point is 00:21:31 And guess what, Fortune? Whenever you're ready, it's time to lock in. Our Fat Gay Podcast would go crazy. It would go crazy. It would be like, we are unapologetically fat and gay. Anyway, I'll work on that theme song. We're unapologetically fat and gay. I'm not even able to say the word unapologetically. I'm like, unapologetically. Well that could be the bit.
Starting point is 00:21:58 Yeah. We call it Big Homo. That's right. Big Homo. And all of our listeners are in the pocket of Big Homo. That's actually a pretty great title for a podcast. I think it's not a marketer, fortunately. I'll walk in on our show whenever you say the word. It's good that you're blazing your own way, because no one else is going to come up with
Starting point is 00:22:14 what you're coming up with. You got to come up with big homo. Yeah, I feel like, but then it's interesting because that was the answer for so long. You got to make your own thing, you got to make your own thing. And then you try and it's like there are less writers' rooms than ever, there are less shows getting made than ever there. No, there's really not an indie film market anymore So it's just an interesting time to be someone different trying to make your own Yeah own way, but you know you're doing the exact thing that you should be doing like having a podcast that Highlights you and your sense of humor that's doing more for you than any, like, you could get on a TV show right now, but it's like one of a gazillion TV shows
Starting point is 00:22:48 that gets lost in the shuffle. It's not what it once was, that medium. Well, especially for breaking or exposing people, more people watch this show than they do a lot of streamer shows. For sure. And I know you know that, because you've seen the numbers for your podcast.
Starting point is 00:23:04 It's like more people are watching this shit than anybody is watching network. Yeah, and people will see this and see you and be like Oh my god. I love Caleb. I love what he does. I want to put him in my show and then that you know, it's it's exact you're doing exactly the thing that you have to do now because going the way of like Studios and networks and and them giving you the breaks is just not it anymore when When and how did you get your first your first special? Well, what did that look like? Um, well, I kind of I kind of went up the pipeline of like you started with like a Comedy Central half-hour That was like always my favorites when they were doing those I truly I watched so I discovered so many comics Yeah through that well, that's cuz that's what everyone did. I mean you were you there was no stand-up
Starting point is 00:23:52 Worth their salt that didn't do like, you know some kind of Comedy Central Stand-up thing at that time So that was 2014 when I was like I started stand-up 2007 started Last time I was in 2010 started really touring 2010 11 And then 14 was the half hour So that got people a little bit more familiar with me And then I started taking stand-up a little bit more seriously, but still not in the way. I do it now
Starting point is 00:24:22 Because Mindy project was right after that and so I was like, oh, I like this sitcom life. This is good, I don't need to work on it. I was like, I don't need to be on the road. This is nice. So I kinda was a little lazy about stand up for a couple years, still doing it, but not hardcore. But I got an opportunity to do the half hour, Netflix decided to do half hours for the first time.
Starting point is 00:24:46 It was a stacked group, it was like Nate Ragazzi and Nikki Glaser, Dionne Cole, it was a really good group and so that was where I got on Netflix's radar. And then I was like, well, I've done a half hour, clearly they're gonna want an hour, and they're like, no, not right now. Come back to us in a while. But it made me work.
Starting point is 00:25:09 It made me start taking stand-up really seriously. So I got on the road and just like, it's just hardcore doing clubs. And then in 2009, it took two years to get them to like pay me any mind again. And they asked me to do a radio show for them with Tom Papa for Sirius XM. And they were like,
Starting point is 00:25:32 well, if you're gonna be talking to comics, talking about stand-up, might as well give you an hour. So that was where it all started. Well, I'm just listening to all that and thinking about this girl. I'm just thinking about this person right here. I love it when you think about girls. I'm thinking listening to all that and thinking about this girl. I'm just thinking about this person right here. I love it when you think about girls.
Starting point is 00:25:47 I'm thinking about her. Look at that pretty princess. Look at her. Wow, it looks like, just so y'all know, that is my brother, and it does look like I'm marrying my brother, which is wild with this accent. Little did she know.
Starting point is 00:26:04 That's a true wedding gown. Yeah, you look stunning. Thank you. That's the most feminine I've ever been in my entire life. It was for the debutante bull crap my mom made me do. I was so embarrassed of it and would not talk about it for years, but when I did Sweet and Salty my first hour on Netflix,
Starting point is 00:26:24 my friend was the producer of it, and she was like, you have to talk about this. And I was like... It's interesting! It's like a whole part of the country does stuff like that. I know, it's so old school. You're summin' about trying to be a lady,
Starting point is 00:26:38 learnin' manners, clearly it didn't stick. It all reminds me of Blanched Everoe. I know! Why, I'll do the Clem. Yeah. Yeah, my mom made me do it because I talked about it in my special, my family used to have money back in the day.
Starting point is 00:26:53 They were the, you know, keeping up with the Joneses type. My grandfather was a very well known contractor. Built all these schools and houses and beautiful places, but he died young and unexpectedly and my family lost all the money by the time my brothers and I came around. So I grew up broke because my dad grew up in a trailer park, my mom was a teacher, like very blue collar life. But my mom still had the good old, her good old days were the debutante days and she kept wanting to get back to that. But I'm like, we don't have the money to do that.
Starting point is 00:27:34 And then- We're not debutantes, mom. We're not debutantes. And then I'd come home and our couch would be missing so she could pay for the party. And I'd like, I'd rather have a couch. Can we get that couch back? I don't want to go to this, because you had to pay for for the party. And I was like, I'd rather have a couch. Like, can we get that couch back? I don't wanna go to this, cause you had to pay for all the events and stuff.
Starting point is 00:27:50 And I don't wanna, I'm like, we're broke. Did you ever live in a trailer, like a double wide or single wide? My dad lived in one after my parents split. So like, I didn't live there full time, but I'd go like stay with him for a night. I'm only asking because we because I also grew up very poor, and we had a shitty house for a number of years
Starting point is 00:28:10 that just sucked, and then we moved into a double wide. And I just remember, I heard people at school, kids who had nicer houses talking about how trailer park trash or whatever, and I was like, damn, that trailer was a big upgrade for us. It's a palace, baby. I had my own wing, because the way it was set up usually is there's like the master suite or whatever on one end, which was my mom, of course.
Starting point is 00:28:30 And then through the living room all the way on the other end of the trailer, I had my own bedroom and bathroom. I was like, I'm living nice. That's pretty nice. I thought it was great. We had a, our house was big because my mom bought it with what was left of her, you know, inheritance money. But it was like an old house
Starting point is 00:28:45 It was built like 1897 everything was falling apart inside of it. It was haunted for sure And like we couldn't afford to heat it and cool it So I remember friends spent the night in high school and they're like, oh my god like summertime Get me out of here. We're not coming over no more. They basically like never again I had like two fans on everyone. Everyone was just sweating. These old ass houses are, you know, even though they're big, it was just falling apart. It was like the Money Pit house.
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Starting point is 00:30:58 Aura has a great deal for Mother's Day. For a limited time, listeners can save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $35 off, plus free shipping on their best-selling Carver matte frame that's a ura frames calm promo code so true support the show by mentioning us at checkout terms and conditions apply Do you get back to North Carolina very often? Yeah? I'll go a couple times a year my family still lives Out there, so I'll go visit so I love North Carolina. I know it's nice. I'm from a really cute little town
Starting point is 00:31:28 That was very boring and kind of dead when I was growing up, but it's like Totally revitalized people love living there. It's cute. It's a really cute area. What revitalized it Do you know um I know exactly what did it they? Started selling liquor that'll do it It was a dry town when I was growing up, so you know nice restaurants like Chili's won't come in there They're not gonna. No one's gonna open a restaurant. They can't sell alcohol because that's where they make all their money. Yeah So there was just nothing Like cute or cool or anything to attract people.
Starting point is 00:32:07 And then when I was in college, they passed. They called it Liquor by the Drink. And my mom was part of the group that was trying to get it passed. My mom was like, we need alcohol. Belmont's dying. We got to get that liquor in here. And their group shuttled people from the Belmont Abbey we got we got to get that liquor in here and shoot that their group like shuttled People from the Belmont Abbey College to go vote like they were hardcore
Starting point is 00:32:30 We're getting this time all the Baptists were like this is the devil like you can't do it and it saved her I mean really changed our whole town It made all these cute little restaurants come in the Jonas Brothers their dad opened a restaurant there I think he just sold it in Belmont He's like from that area or his mom or something grow up in the area I'm not sure which of the family grandmother still lives there. Yeah, or did live there I think she might have passed but yeah they opened up the first like or no the second really cute restaurant in town and I mean
Starting point is 00:33:04 I think the Jones Brothers came and like sang there they had because it was one of those places where you would eat but there was also a stage and people would perform. She's eating at the Jonas Brothers dad's restaurant while they're in the corner like, We're at Jess! We're at Jess! That is so funny. Where is Belmont in relation to like Boone or Raleigh? It's right outside of Charlotte. Okay, got you. So we're on the other side of the airport. We're almost closer to the airport than actual
Starting point is 00:33:31 Charlotte is. Yeah. I've been through there then. Yeah. I've been through there. I love North Carolina. Anytime I get a chance to go, I just love it down there. It's nice folks, you know? Good manners. You think you'd ever move back over there? I had a house there for a minute.
Starting point is 00:33:46 In Belmont? Yeah, in Belmont, thinking I would spend a lot of time there, and I'm just so busy. I never got home. So I don't know. It's like one of those Hallmark movie thoughts of, wouldn't this be cute? Big city girl goes back home to live, and it's never like that.
Starting point is 00:34:04 Well, where's your wife from? She's from Michigan. Okay Detroit Michigan's a pretty nice place. Yeah, you were gonna do another place We got all those Great Lakes so it's pretty up there Yeah, and it's like the climate refuge when everything starts to get weird on the coast. It's gonna be there's nothing crazy there Except it gets cold, but they don't have yeah the weather stuff. And your wife's name is Jax. It's Jacqueline, but she goes by Jax. And y'all met in, did you meet at Chicago Pride?
Starting point is 00:34:30 We did, yeah. How did y'all, how did that happen? How did you guys meet? It was Pride weekend, they have this lesbian event in the parking lot. You know. You know, those lesbians. Well there's like all, no, likeians. Well there's like eight lesbian bars in the whole country left, that's it.
Starting point is 00:34:49 So we're relegated to the parking lot and it's called Backlot Bash, they do this thing every year and all the lesbians in Chicago descend upon this parking lot. Gotta be at like 3 p.m. if I know lesbians. Kayla, it is the exact same. There's one hour of the day you're getting these folks out of the house. Gotta be at like 3 p.m. If I know lesbians It is an afternoon situation
Starting point is 00:35:12 and And I knew them because I had done a show there a couple years prior and I had a show in Minneapolis night before They're like come through and I was single. I kind of why not what do I have to live for? Why not go to the lesbian parking lot and see what's there for me Single I kind of why not what do I have to live for? Just like keep fishing yeah, let's go fishing in Chicago And yeah, I met her like right away She came up with a girl that they wanted her friend wanted a picture and I'm happy to take pictures Yeah, we just started chatting and kept running into each other all night and just sort of blossomed from there.
Starting point is 00:35:49 I never thought that would be how you could meet someone. That is one of the cutest things I've ever heard. Because before her, I mean, I dated some lovely girls, but I also dated some duds and I just didn't know how to meet a quality person and I was getting kind of exasperated and I was getting kind of exasperated with dating and was kind of ready to just like take a break from it and It was always like how am I gonna meet a quality person and she just walked up
Starting point is 00:36:19 Yeah, yeah, and not only quality person, but also I'm assuming by that point Just being on the road so much and having a job that takes you away so much is like, all right, well even if I do meet someone of quality, how am I gonna build a thing? Yeah, for sure. And the first few years we were together, she was on the road with me a lot. She ended up moving to LA after a year of dating. So we were both, we were together, but on the road a ton.
Starting point is 00:36:42 And in the last couple of years, she's like, go do your thing. Yeah, she's like, I'm all good. You think the road a ton. And in the last couple years, she's like, go do your thing. O'Reilly Yeah, she's like, I'm all good. Southwick You think the road's cool and fun, and until after a while, you're like, this is enough. O'Reilly It stops being so charming, especially on those days when you're going in just in time to get to the venue, and then you wake up and
Starting point is 00:37:00 just truly straightaway leave. You were technically in Tulsa, but there's nothing to show for it. Yeah, you're lucky to go to one coffee shop and maybe one restaurant at this point. And if you're not the person who's doing the fun show on stage, it's kind of like, whoa, I'm gonna maybe stay home, you go ahead. Yeah, it's funny too, because I know so many people that live all across the country.
Starting point is 00:37:24 I don't know how, just over the years, meeting different people. Every time I'm on tour, friends reach out, like, let's hang out. You wanna hang out and see people, but you're also like, I'm so tired. I don't have the energy. But because our job is so fun,
Starting point is 00:37:40 they're kinda like, yeah, well, it's not like you're working or anything. You're just going out there and telling your ha-ha jokes, you know, like, let's go party. Well, also, you're so good at it that you do make it look effortless. So people come watch you for an hour and they're like, they're like, oh, Fortune just had a blast. It's like, well, there was a lot of work going on. Yeah, I'm still writing and memorizing and entertaining. It's not easy to like be up there, you up there for an hour with just a microphone and you're
Starting point is 00:38:07 supposed to command the attention of 3,000 people. That means you're exerting a lot of energy. Your output is crazy. And you're on a tightrope. I had a friend, we do some two-show nights on the podcast tour. And I'm on stage during the podcast shows for a little over two hours. That's a lot. It's a lot. And then we had a two show night and one of my friends was kind of like, you're really not going to go out with us?
Starting point is 00:38:31 And I was like, I'll kill you. I was like, you cannot imagine. You cannot imagine how I'm feeling right now. I want to be a good time. Yeah, I want to be a good time too, but like, good God, I'm tired. You tell them all the things you'd rather do than hang out with them. I need to sleep. I need to pack. I need to be a good time too, but like, good god, I'm tired. You tell them all the things you'd rather do than hang out with them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I need to sleep, I need to pack, I need to shower, I need... yeah.
Starting point is 00:38:50 The whole thing. You can't keep up that pace and also go out in every city. It's just impossible. It's not good. Well, I had a question I wanted to ask you, which was if you could only... okay. If you could only choose one... this is in North Carolina, real Sophie's choice for North Carolinians. If you could only choose one, Bojangles or Cookout?
Starting point is 00:39:11 I mean, I know people love Cookout. Oh my God, not it being so easy for you! Not you being like, I've got it immediately. Well, Cookout's wild because you literally get a sandwich and they're like, as your side, you can get a corn dog. Which, by the way. Or a quesadilla. My side is a quesadilla.
Starting point is 00:39:29 The side options are like, usually it's like french fries or tater tots in a cookout. It's like, did you want a ham steak? Yeah, it's like not normal, but I appreciate that they offer that up. I'm a Bojangles gal, I'm a biscuits gal, that Cajun Flav biscuit, give it to me. I know. Yeah, so I'm going Bojangles gal, I'm a Biscuits gal, that Cajun Flav biscuit, give it to me. I know.
Starting point is 00:39:45 Yeah, so I'm going, I'm going Bojangles, but I know they're diehard Cookout fans. To me, my North Carolina move is, as soon as I land, usually in the daytime, I'm going to Bojangles, and then after the show or the whatever, late at night. That's the Cookout. That's the Cookout moment.
Starting point is 00:40:02 That corn dog as a side's gonna come in handy around 1 a.m. Yeah, Cookout was not near where I lived, so I didn't. That's the cookout. That's the cookout moment. Yeah. That corn dog as a side's gonna come in handy around 1 AM. Yeah. Cookout was not near where I lived, so I didn't grow up on the cookout. But it's, I think, near where I went to college. So I had a lot of late night college situations there.
Starting point is 00:40:16 I love that. Yeah. What's so true to you, Fortune? Oh, god, you know, just living life. Ha ha ha ha ha! Living, laughing, loving. Living, laughing, loving? Yeah. Oh god, you know just living life Living laughing loving Yeah, live laugh love y'all is that what you're gonna give to the people is to live laugh love Is that your edict for the I I that was the name of my last store was live laugh love But I stand by it because who don't want to live who doesn't like to
Starting point is 00:40:43 What you stop? Because who doesn't want to live? Who doesn't like to... You, stop. Live, laugh, love, we're getting there. That's right, you want to laugh and love? Yeah, so that's so true to me, is trying to stay positive. I could see you be, well you're a very positive person. I could see you being one of those little old southern ladies who has like, just a house, adorned floor to ceiling and little signs like that.
Starting point is 00:41:02 I know. Like when we're in the kitchen, you better be eating or dancing. I do, I do. Yeah. I used to like make fun of my mom for those signs and then when Jax moved in, she was like, what is this? And it was a live laugh love sign.
Starting point is 00:41:16 And I was like, that's art. Yeah. She's like, no, that's just words on a piece of wood. But they inspire me, so now what? It's wine o'clock. Sometimes it is wine o'clock. And I had a giant sign made that said gather. Like that is my decor like a home goods come on. Yeah, but no I'm just you know I'm I like to
Starting point is 00:41:39 Be positive. I like to spread positivity. I know it's I just be positive. I like to spread positivity. I know it's easy to get into the rut of things and especially with the way of the world right now and there's so much chaos everywhere. So I try to stay true to that, to like finding the light, to find what the positive thing is in a situation. I just think it helps me get through these kind of times
Starting point is 00:42:06 and that's what I try to bring to my comedy is the silly, the positive, the, you know, taking things that can be hard and, you know, like in my special sweet and salty, I talk about coming out. I do it in a really funny, silly way, but at the base of that is a sad story about someone being afraid their family
Starting point is 00:42:27 was gonna disown them. So I try to take these topics that are a little tougher, but what's the silver lining there? Yeah. I think it's also, I really appreciate that because I feel like kindness is important to me But I have no problem being a little like edgier or more like intense about my opinions or whatever Yeah, I'm like that's the thing about any group of people like there's a lot of us doing things a lot of different ways
Starting point is 00:42:54 And I like I just like that there's so many different like I could never stay as positive as you are all the time And I love it. I love seeing you on my timeline because I'm like, oh, that feels, it's so fortune and it's so nice to just feel that back towards me and to be like, it feels just like, I don't know, it feels like a form of queerness that I am tapped into sometimes, but I just love seeing it. I think the reason why I can be in the lane that I'm in
Starting point is 00:43:21 is because I'm not putting on a show. I'm not pretending to be kind. I'm not pretending to be kind. I'm not pretending to be positive. It genuinely is who I am. I wake up feeling pretty good. I mean, I'm very lucky. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to naturally see the glass half full, but for whatever reason, I was lucky enough to have that just come forward in a very genuine way.
Starting point is 00:43:49 It's your actual disposition. Yeah, it's who I am. I'm like who I am on stage and off stage are pretty similar. Yeah. I'm not just like, you know, let's be positive. And then I'm like, don't look at me. Yeah.
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Starting point is 00:44:58 Booking.com helps you find the stay that's ridiculously right for you. Like John Travolta when he said, the wickedly that's ridiculously right for you. Like John Travolta when he said the wickedly that's ridiculously right for you. Yeah. Leave that in. I like that. Find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com booking. Yeah. This podcast is sponsored by the crisp, refreshing, angry orchard. Listen guys, there's a litany of things that we shouldn't get angry about, but let's be honest. Sometimes it's hard not to be. For example, don't get angry that your beloved sports team keeps blowing leads in the fourth quarter. Don't get angry that you just stubbed your toe like the, the dang furniture has a vendetta out for you. Don't get angry when auto correct changes a word that's normal
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Starting point is 00:46:07 Grab an angry orchard cider today. Don't get angry. Get orchard. Please drink responsibly. Oh, I have, you know, several people I like in my life that are very, very funny comics, but they have a following that's like, they look to this person to get answers. And I'm like, Oh, don't ask. They do not.
Starting point is 00:46:22 I'm like, I love them, but they're not the answers. If you knew how their life was running running you would not want them telling you what to do. Absolutely I'm like hey behind closed doors that is not your person I promise. Yeah it's so funny. There's quite a few of those. There are because they're just people it's like that's the thing having a million followers on Instagram or whatever is like that doesn't qualify someone to help you run your life or to help you with politics. They're the same as you. Yeah, but that kind of goes with life coaches and therapists. I mean, God bless them. I
Starting point is 00:46:56 love their help with people, but sometimes they're messy. They're messy. Absolutely. Not all of them. Hashtag not all life coaches, but you know. But life coaches though, life coaches is a funny one because you're only a life coach when you don't want to get certification in the state you're working in. Yeah, you're like, I don't want to go to school. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:12 Like, I am a life coach. Like you can't, anyone can call themselves a life coach. That's true, they're like, I don't really want to go get a degree, but I will listen to Mel Robbins' podcast and help you in your life. I am not certified by the state, but I do have opinions. Yeah, I mean, that's essentially it.
Starting point is 00:47:31 Yeah. But like, do you ever fall down that rabbit hole in TikTok where it's all like the people try to give the therapy advice? It's like a girl in her car, like, let me tell you the four attachment style. No! And they're like, they're not, they're just regurgitating something someone else has said, but like now they're your like life coach
Starting point is 00:47:53 guru. That is so they literally just max the triple dipper in their car and now they're telling you about attachment styles that you got to go down that therapy rabbit hole and take time. One of the funniest like like things about the internet to me right now. I really try not to watch like I don't scroll much I should like look at what my friends have shared on insta stories That's really where I'm at But like one of the funniest thing is the way that everyone's trying to make their content look casual even when it's incredibly calculated
Starting point is 00:48:20 Yeah And one of the ways that plays out in videos specifically is people choosing to eat Okay, so I was just thinking about Came into my mind and then they say something that they've clearly written and planned for months Yeah, and it's like the way that eating has become like like a Signifier to the audience. I don't care that much about what I'm saying is so interesting to me You know what's interesting to me too is people are doing a lot of videos just eating They're not even giving any information. Yeah
Starting point is 00:48:48 It is like the sloppier you eat the better Yeah, where they have sauce like running on their faces and their fingers Yeah, and these people have like five million followers. Yeah, people. I'm like what why? Yeah, I don't get it, but I'm not even getting life advice while they're doing this. They're just like The same which I have that you don't yeah showing it to you on the camera Mm-hmm everyone was like yeah more of this please and we're over here trying to give them stand-up clips like fucking idiots Yeah, here we are trying to write something Truly, I was just being like, so anyone got any dating stories? Yeah. Yeah, here we are trying to write something.
Starting point is 00:49:28 Yeah. And these people are just like licking their fingers. Well, it's an interesting, like I have so many friends who are, you know, I started in live comedy and then internet stuff happened afterwards. And I have so many friends who truly purely came from the internet. And a lot of them have no interest in any kind of traditional media or standup or anything because they're like, oh well, I would make,
Starting point is 00:49:51 if I do two brand deals, I make more than somebody acting on a whole season of network TV. Yeah, that's wild. So it's like I could just sit in my home for an hour and do my brand deals, why would I wanna go work on a really intense network TV show? And it's like, great, well that's the difference between income and artistry, but the lack
Starting point is 00:50:07 of interest in artistry, but then sometimes being perceived as artists. And this doesn't apply, there are so many friends I have that are purely digital native that are also artists, but there's this weird cross-section of people who it's truly just income for them, and I'm like, oh, that's really interesting. I never thought, when I was starting out in comedy, the internet wasn't really like, maybe it was like that and I didn't know it. To me, the goal was like, you wanted to get on TV
Starting point is 00:50:31 and movies. That was like money and you got to make interesting stuff and meet cool people. And that was like the thing. But so many people now, or when I do college gigs and talk to some of the college students, they just wanna be influencers. Yeah, they wanna know like what famous TikTokers you know or, yeah, they just wanna be influencers. Yeah, they wanna know what famous TikTokers you know.
Starting point is 00:50:47 Yeah. Yeah, they don't care about Jennifer Aniston or- No. George Clooney, they're like, ugh. No. They're like, Mr. Beast. True. If I am out with a very, you know,
Starting point is 00:51:00 if I have an actor friend who's been in a bunch of things, and they're really, really talented and well knownknown and we go out they mostly get left alone Yeah, if I go out with an influencer friend, it is fucking bananas I bet it's crazy the way that they get like yeah, but you know, that's just where where it's headed Yeah, the media is and so that's why I'm just like doing my thing and like if anyone comes to a show or likes a video I'm just like thank you Jesus like that I can keep you know rolling on this path that I'm on because I don't know how to change it up I don't know how to I mean it took me you know I'm still figuring out TikTok like
Starting point is 00:51:36 it's a different medium yeah I figured out the old way um the studio way and the network way and now it's kind of this new Wild Wild West but it's you know but I'm also the old way, the studio way, the network way, and now it's kind of this new Wild Wild West. But it's, you know, but I'm also the type that is the more the merrier. There's a lot of seats at the table, and there's some comics that, you know, get annoyed by people going up the ladder faster in a different way, and I'm just like,
Starting point is 00:52:00 they're funny, they're talented. They figured out a way to do it, good for them. Well, and to me, ultimately, it's like, I understand that perspective. I understand some people who have really grinded and being like, I can't sell tickets and it's really frustrating. I get the perspective, but I'm like, at the end of the day,
Starting point is 00:52:15 what you're talking about is people who captured an audience and got them to come out. And did a lot of work. It's still like, the people that are successful on these mediums, like TikTok, still have to do a ton of work. Those editing the videos and capturing the content, that stuff's hard. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:52:34 You said thank you Jesus, and I wanna ask you an earnest question, but we- About Jesus? I wanna ask about Jesus. Finally, someone- You know me. Is talking about Jesus. You know I wanna talk about Jesus, cause I grew up in Missouri,
Starting point is 00:52:43 and it's very similar to North Carolina. Oh man, Missouri, really, every time I drive through Missouri, lots of Jesus billboards. Very Jesusy, especially down in the southern part of the state. I think it's why I like North Carolina so much. Just reminds me of home. It's very mountainous and pretty and trees everywhere. What's your feeling on religion these days? I grew up Methodist, so kind of the tame version of Christianity.
Starting point is 00:53:08 I liked my church because it was, I mean, growing up in the South, you just went to church every Sunday. That's part of the life you live there. That's a huge social aspect of living in a small town. There's a church on literally every corner, it feels like. So that was just a given that you go to church. My college was Presbyterian but I liked the the followings of Being a Methodist at least the United Methodist
Starting point is 00:53:34 They have divided. I don't know if you knew that but there's a sect that's divided because of the get honestly the gay stuff is what? divided it The United Methodist are the inclusive ones, so that's where my mom still goes to that church. And it was just about being a good person. Be a good person, be good to others. There was always a nice message. So I took that from that experience.
Starting point is 00:54:00 I didn't really wanna, I don't go to church. It's not how I, I don't wanna spend my time there. I'll go don't go to church. It's not how I Necessarily I don't want to spend my time there I'll go home and go to church with my mom because she she's like just loves having someone go to church with her It's her Sunday. Yeah, and I'm good at singing hymns. I know that's right I don't want to turn all your listeners on right now but Yeah, I can sing a hymn. But yeah, I'm not a church gal, but I appreciate the things it gave me.
Starting point is 00:54:32 I feel like morals are important to me, like trying to be a good person. That's important to me, doing right by people. So I take that from my experience with Christianity, I guess. But there's so much about the church that is so complicated. Not that church, but church in general. Capital C, yeah. Especially being a gay person, you know, it's taught in some religions to hate people based on that and to that there are others that aren't welcome here. And I just don't believe in that.
Starting point is 00:55:12 I don't believe in using religion as a weapon. So I take the good to definitely leave the bad and just try to be a decent person. And that's, so I'd say spiritual more than actual, I'm not religious, more spiritual. Yeah, yeah, it's so interesting. I feel like Christians must feel similarly to kind of how I feel when people who don't know anything about Missouri talk about Missouri. You know, and they're like, oh, those redneck, idiot, kind of like I feel when people who don't know anything about Missouri talk about Missouri. Yeah, you know and they're like, oh those like redneck idiot kind of like that that vibe of tone
Starting point is 00:55:48 Yeah towards a place like Missouri in North Carolina where I'm like, oh yikes Cuz certainly certainly there are people there who would have ideas that you wouldn't like if you're a person or a good person But like there's a whole bunch of people who don't feel that way and I would say actually the overwhelming majority of people there are not Are not the things that you're worried about. Yeah're not racist or homophobic or misogynistic or whatever. But yeah the same thing with Christianity you know I feel like I grew up with around some pretty tough opinions about gay people of course. But like I don't know I just feel like most people were kind of like if you're nice if you're nice to people we don't really care what you do. Yeah, that's and I'm that's all I really that's actually by the way all I was asking for Yeah, I wasn't like you don't need to wave a rainbow flag. Yeah, I don't care what you do. I'm like, that's great
Starting point is 00:56:33 Yeah, leave me alone I'll take that every day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting cuz like I Go into when I go on tour I go everywhere And I'll get flack from people about going to certain red states. I go to all the red states. I go to all these conservative places. I don't shy away from it. And people will be like, why would you go there?
Starting point is 00:56:55 And I'm like, they need someone like me, like you more than ever. Like, they need representation there and people coming in telling other stories besides the echo chamber that's in that part of town because there are people like us. When we were young, that could have really benefited from hearing someone's story like us that we didn't have access to. Luckily, there's more access now as far as online and TV and whatnot. But I didn't come out until I was 25 because I didn't see myself represented in anything. I couldn't look at someone else's story and be like, oh wait, I feel that.
Starting point is 00:57:34 I didn't know how to put what I was feeling into words. What is this that I'm experiencing where I think I'm this one thing but I don't want to admit it because it's pretty scary because these You know people are telling me it's bad, but it can't be bad, but there's no one showing you the way Yeah, and so I I like that That respond I guess it's a responsibility of of just sharing your story of like going in these places that need other people to hear a different story than the ones around them.
Starting point is 00:58:12 And just unlocking a possibility. I feel like I didn't know an openly gay adult until I was in my 20s. And the only narrative I had was either from TV, which was extremely slim and stereotypical, or from church, which was even slimmer and hateful. And so, yeah, just to know that a gay person could pay their bills and hang out with their friends,
Starting point is 00:58:34 or just be a normal person who had a happy life, that was a surprise to me. I didn't know that. Same here. I didn't know any out gay people either till I moved to LA, and that seems crazy to me, you know in hindsight But I remember watching the L word for the first time and people like oh that was so sexy I'm like, yeah, it was so sexy, but I was into the fact that they were just a bunch of lesbians were having a coffee together
Starting point is 00:59:04 When they hung out at the park? That latte they were drinking together. Just being gay, gay, gay, drinking lattes. Yeah, you just want to see normalcy. Like, their life is not that much different than anybody else's life. Yeah, they're just allowed to be happy and regular. Exactly.
Starting point is 00:59:21 It doesn't have to be some big, extravagant, like, and sometimes it is, but it doesn't always have to be literally waving a flag and being like, accept me. Sometimes it's like, no,vagant like and sometimes it is but like it doesn't always have to be like literally waving a flag I'm gonna accept me sometimes. It's like no I have to go get groceries. Yeah Just going to coffee actually sure they are or some big scary thing that it's been made out to be by the people that are Against it. Yeah, you know it's just people live in their lives Yeah, that just you know want to be happy and want to freaking have love. That's what's at the basis of it.
Starting point is 00:59:49 It's just like people that just want to love and be loved. That's no different than any straight person I know. That was a really big thing. When I was in college, I ran in different circles. I had my friends that were very conservative, fraternity, sorority life people, and then I had my friends that were, most of my friends were very artsy, creative types. And there was this, I remember this guy in town
Starting point is 01:00:15 who ran a Christian coffee shop or something. Oh, love a Christian coffee shop. A Christian coffee shop. And he was an out gay guy. Oh really? Well, it's not a good story. Oh no. He was in there converting everyone back to, it was conversion therapy.
Starting point is 01:00:30 He was an out gay guy whose thing was like, everyone praised him. All the Christians loved him because they were like, he's gay but he's chosen celibacy because he knows it's not right. And I was like, I just don't understand. You drank the coffee like, bleh. I was like, bleh. Get it out. Get it out. This is not like, blah. I was like, blah, blah. Get it out. Get it out.
Starting point is 01:00:45 This is not the L Word latte I was promised. I'm with the L Word lattes where everyone turns lesbian. Yeah, that I was like a religion based on love, like praising someone for not allowing themselves. I was like, I don't know. They were so pumped that he was denying himself. Loved it. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:01:01 They're like, they found this trick code. They're like, you can be gay and Christian and we're cool with you There's only one catch you have to be absolutely miserable You have to suppress every happy thing about yourself. Oh gosh, that's no way to live No, you know good. I imagine if we were to circle back with this guy. I think he's probably Something's probably going on. By the way, the coffee was killer. Cause ultimately that's a gay barista.
Starting point is 01:01:30 You know what I mean? Like he still, he had that gene in him. He can't hide that part of himself. You can't hide how well that latte comes out. Yeah, I mean he's still, God, he makes a mean casserole. God, I bet he does. Fortunately we have a segment for you.
Starting point is 01:01:43 This is the true or false segment. All right. Okay, now I'm gonna read you. This is the true or false segment. All right. Okay, now I'm gonna read you 15 statements. Yeah. You're gonna tell me as quickly as you can if you think what I said is true or false. Okay. If you get 10 or more correct,
Starting point is 01:01:51 we're gonna give you 50 US dollars. What? Ah! Which could change everything. Which I could buy one of those L word lattes. Exactly, correct. And only one in LA. Okay, newborn baby koalas are the size of a jelly bean.
Starting point is 01:02:04 True. That is true. Peanut butter can be converted into diamonds. False. It's true. Will Ferrell's legal first name is Willard. False. False. It's John. Jupiter is the same size as the Sun. False. False. Belmont, North Carolina was named after August Belmont, a New York banker. True. That is true. Each year the Each year the moon moves closer to the earth by four centimeters. True. False. It's moving away. A lemon contains more sugar than a strawberry. True. That is true. Peace College was originally called the Peace Street School. False. False. It was the Peace Institute. Snakes
Starting point is 01:02:35 can see with their eyes closed. True. That is true. Facebook is older than eBay. False. False. The state beverage of North Carolina is bourbon False false. It's do you know Liz no cheer. Why it's milk milk In France it's illegal for employers to send emails outside of work hours true that is true Laurel any is a certified skydiving instructor true. That's false. Oh the tiny pocket and jeans was made for pocket watches True that is true bullfrogs never sleep False it's true. How'd you do?
Starting point is 01:03:13 One of the best we've had in a while Wow I almost got the last one I changed in my mind at the last second you the 11s are really solid 12 Performance that was killer Mike a little in awe right now. I feel pretty good about myself. It's hard to think that fast. It is. And the questions are all so tricky. And honestly you have a 50-50 shot. You really do. Fortune, it's been such a treat to have you. What a treat to be on your podcast talking with you. I love to watch you. You're such
Starting point is 01:03:41 a delight. I'm such a fan as you know. Same. Is there anything you want to tell the people where they can find you get tickets, etc? Um, well, I am on this brand new tour that will go for a while tons of cities have just been Announced and a lot more cities are coming fortunefemes here comm for that stuff and online on the socials and if you like stand up I have three specials on Netflix So check those out. Crushing It, me and the latest one. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:04:07 And the Handsome Pod, if you like. And the Handsome Pod with Tig and May. Yeah. We love you. Thank you for doing it. I love you, Bed. Thanks for having me. That was a Headgum Podcast.
Starting point is 01:04:16 Hi, I'm Jessi Klein. And I'm Liz Feldman. And we're the hosts of a new Headgum Podcast called Here to Make Friends. Liz and I met in the writer's room on a little hit TV show called Dead to Me, which is a show about murder. But more importantly, it's also about two women
Starting point is 01:04:31 becoming very good friends in their 40s. Which can really happen, and it has happened to us. It's true. Because life has imitated ours. And then it imitated life. Time is a flat circle. And now. We're making a podcast that's about making friends.
Starting point is 01:04:43 And we're inviting incredible guests like Vanessa Bear. Wow, I have so much to say. Lisa Kudrow. Feelings, they're a nuisance. Nick Kroll. I just wanted to say hi. And Matt Rogers. I'm like on the verge of tears.
Starting point is 01:04:54 So good. So good to join us and hopefully become our friends in real life. Take it out of the podcast studio and into real life. Along the way, we are also going to talk about dating. Yep. Spousing. True. Parenting. Uh-huh.
Starting point is 01:05:08 Career-ing. Yeah. And why we love film, and Louisa is the greatest movie of all time. Shouldn't need to be said. No, we said it. But it's just a true thing. So please subscribe to Here to Make Friends on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts,
Starting point is 01:05:19 or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch video episodes on YouTube. New episodes every Friday.

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