The HoneyDew with Ryan Sickler - Ali Siddiq - HoneySiddiq

Episode Date: May 27, 2024

My HoneyDew this week is Ali Siddiq! Make sure to catch his new special "The Domino Effect 3: First Day of School" on YouTube right now! Also check out his other specials on YouTube as well as his stories on Ari Shaffir's "This Is Not Happening. Ali returns to Highlight the Lowlights of the challenges he faced as a convicted felon incarcerated in prison. We discuss how mixing violent and non-violent offenders makes for a dangerous booking process. Ali explains just how important prison workouts are, and the creative ways prisoners come up with getting their reps in. Ali also reflects on the lingering effects that prison has after regaining freedom, the role his family and loved ones played in helping him lower his guard after being released, and what it means for him to be genuinely happy with life now. SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE and watch full episodes of The Dew every toozdee! https://youtube.com/@rsickler SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON, The HoneyDew with Y’all, where I Highlight the Lowlights with Y’all! You now get audio and video of The HoneyDew a day early, ad-free at no additional cost! It’s only $5/month! Sign up for a year and get a month free! https://www.patreon.com/TheHoneyDew What’s your story?? Submit at [e-mail] CATCH ME ON TOUR https://www.ryansickler.com/tour Get Your HoneyDew Gear Today! https://shop.ryansickler.com/ Ringtones Are Available Now! https://www.apple.com/itunes/ http://ryansickler.com/ https://thehoneydewpodcast.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE CRABFEAST PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crabfeast-with-ryan-sickler-and-jay-larson/id1452403187 SPONSORS: Rocket Money -Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to https://www.RocketMoney.com/HONEYDEW Mack Weldon -Get 20% off your first order at https://www.MackWeldon.com when you use code HONEYDEW DraftKings -Download the NEW DraftKings Pick Six app now using code HONEYDEW and take on the competition with your best NBA player picks!

Miami, Florida. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to make the dates. I have some stuff I have to take care of, but when we rebook, I will let you know. The Honeydew with Ryan Sickler. Welcome back to the Honeydew y'all. We're over here doing it in the night pan studios. I am Ryan Sickler, RyanSickler.com, Ryan Sickler on all your social media. And I just want to say, like I say every episode, thank you very much.

Whatever you do to support me, whether it's the shows, the stand up, whatever it is, thank you very much. Whether you're new here, whether you've been here. I appreciate you. All right. If you want to come see me on tour and I'm in your town, I'm going through the year, y'all. So go get your tickets on my website at Ryan sickler dot com. And if you've got to have more, you've got to check out the Patreon.

It's this show, the honeydew, and it's with you all. It's five bucks a month. I've never raised it. We've been doing it for years. All right. So if you were someone, you know, with you all. It's five bucks a month. I've never raised it. We've been doing it for years. All right. So if you were someone, you know, as a story that's got to be heard, please submit it to honeydewpodcast.gmail.com. All right.

Um, that's it, man. You guys know what we do here. We highlight the low lights. I always say these are the stories behind the storytellers. I'm very excited to have this guest back on The Honeydew, ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome Ali Sadiq. Welcome back to the Honeydew. Man, thank you for having me. So everybody, this is Ali Sadiq.

You can check me out at Ali Sadiq comedy on YouTube or alisadiq.com. On all your social media, Ali Sadiq. If you're looking for my tour dates, go to Instagram or Facebook, alisadiq.com. Make sure you come out and support, and I thank you for all your support and your love and your help.

It's definitely a help to my family. It's changed my life. You coming out to support me, so thank you. Thank you for having me back on the hunting team. Anytime, dude. Man, this is a great platform. Anytime. Let's talk about your special,

because you got what part now, three? Yeah, three. Three's coming. Yeah, Domino Effect three, first day of school, about to be released on YouTube, Mother's Day, May the 12th at noon. Okay. You know, so, man, it's a ride.

The first three years of me actually being incarcerated, when I first got arrested, I ended on in two, I ended with me getting incarcerated. And now it's the process of me going through it, starting from booking and how dangerous people don't understand booking is. Can you talk about that? What do you mean by that?

Booking is dangerous, man. Why? Why? Are you just in there with everybody that can pop off at any moment? Everybody. You don't know what these people are doing. It's not a one at a time isolated thing.

And it's like, man, it's made here for a triple homicide. Oh, you're just in line with everybody. I am in here for a traffic violation. Like why am I in here with him? This is, I have a warrant in a small area that I got to pay the ticket. He has triple, this don't even match. What's this?

Okay, who's in charge of what, where people stand at in the, okay, Arson, let's call it off. You in booking. You in booking. You out there for a traffic, well, you forgot to pay a ticket. This should have worn for your rest. So they don't line you up by like minor infractions.

It's not by infractions. And then the people that need to be held back. It's not even in alphabetical order of crime. It's like, it's not in nothing. It's like a group crime. This is grouped together. I don't even understand this process. This is a... This is what scares me.

This is why I never want to be ever in prison. This is what people don't understand. This is prison. This is not jail. No, this is jail. Oh, you're just going to jail for. When you first get arrested, you gotta go to jail first. Okay.

Before you get sentenced to prison. Yes, I do know that. I thought this was you going from jail to prison. No, this is how dangerous this is. This is not even prison. Now in prison, everybody's together. You understand that. Okay, you understand. Okay.

Marcelli may be here for life. You know, I'm here for 15 years. I'm not going to bring up my time. There's no need to talk about that. I'm going home at some point, hopefully if I survive it, but in jail. Come on, man. They got to have a better system than this. Jail. Come on, man, you got to they got to have a better system than this. You got stopped in a park for masturbating. I don't want to be in there with you. I got stopped for a traffic in frame. You see how this doesn't even illegal right over it.

I'm not even sorting this out until later. Like, I don't get this here with these people. Y'all not even sorting us out until later. Like, I don't get this. Oh, shit. I used to write and produce on this show. It was called Jail. It was literally the booking process of jail. The show's called Jail, it's cops, but just jail. And you give me flashbacks now because I have forgotten about it.

But I now I remember like they had these wicked hoods they would put on people because they would spit. They would spit on the cops and they put these gnarly looking yeah, like beekeeper helmets on them and shit. And I used to have a shield before that. What do you mean? They used to have a shield where they would walk you behind a shield because you would spit.

So they walk you behind. You behind on the shield. So, yeah. So in prison, they still had a shield because of people throw spears at folks. But it is, I don't, okay, you worked at jail. Explain to me, have y'all, did y'all- Listen, I didn't work at jail, I worked on a show.

Oh yeah, you worked on a show. I was not anywhere, I was safe. Okay, different. Definitely different, okay. I would like to, I needed the show to go back and talk to the administration about the process of all of it. Okay. Nonviolent offenders. Why are they even in contact with violent offenders? Okay, sir. I sold cocaine. I sold cocaine. He ate three people. He ate them. Do you understand? You found carcasses and bones and leftover liver.

You found all in that man's house. You found five kilos of cocaine on me. It is not the same. You're not going to make that the same. I remember this HBO documentary where this was your point. This kid was in there for writing bad checks. That's all he did. Wrote some bad checks, but they put them in the maximum security. And when he got in there, they, it became a race thing. And they were like, cause he is a white kid, of course. And they were like, you're either rolling with us or we're fucking killing your ass.

And this poor kid, while these two dudes were beefing, of course, and they were like, you're either rolling with us or we're fucking killing your ass. And this poor kid, while these two dudes were beefing, one guy was stabbing the other one, the white guy was stabbing this Mexican dude or something, and that kid that wrote bad checks, they made him hold the dude's legs. And just by being there to do that, now he's in on this murder, because they killed that guy. And I was like, what the hell is he doing in on this murder because they killed that guy and I was like what the hell is he doing in there with them but that's why I think like they don't give a fuck try not to fuck up

because they're just going to throw you in there with the savages that's why people say we people we don't want crime is crime no it's not it's different levels to crime and what people do levels to crime and what people do, you know, like, I'm a very, like, really bougie ex con. So what do you mean? Oh, I'm very bougie. Like, I won't come bond you out just because you in jail. You know, I need to agree with your crime. It needs to be something that I would feel. Like, you know, you can't, yeah, I'm not bailing anybody. I like you, you traffic and human beings. I can't be involved in that. You know what I'm saying?

If I bail you out, it's like, I agree. Like I'm supporting it. No, I'm cool. Now you get something else and I don't, the other thing about it is, I really want to come get you because I understand that it's not, it's not,

it's not, it doesn't mean you're gonna make it out. Cause you can get killed in jail, in some places. You know, Rikers Island is a jail. It's not a prison, it's a jail. Is that right? Yeah, it's not a prison, it's a jail. Again, I'm a big fan of this stuff. I watched the documentary on Rikers Island. I will never forget.

This is the strongest looking human being I've ever seen. He's a dude that would just do pushups in his cell all day long. And I mean, every angle you could think of, handstand ones. And they had to shackle him double because he could snap a regular pair of handcuffs right off and he would do it for him. Like, pop. I'm like, get the fuck, and that's just a jail. So that guy could only be in there for a few months. He's not even in there for years.

And you fucking drink and drive and get thrown in with his ass? It's several, I know several people like that. That can, that strong, like that prison strong? Yeah. God. that can that strong like that prison strong. Yeah. And when you in there, I used to be like that. Push up from every angle.

Thousand push up a day. Thousand discipline like that. Thousand because you in you're in a place where it can pop off. And you don't necessarily have to be involved. You can just be out there. That's what this kid was. He was out there and they're like, lay on his two's legs.

You are in a race thing and they not separating you from everybody else. And you have to be physically ready. So yeah, you tie your mattress up with the sheet and make a hook and you do. I tell you, do your tri substance then. Yeah. These are prison tries right now.

500, you pull it there. And you push- ups off the bunk, feet, hands on the bunk, hands on, feet on the bunk. Yeah, every angle. He was doing every angle. Every angle. Then you do dips.

You inside, you outside, you wide. You a thousand of everything. You do that every day. Off the top of the toilet, off the sink, which is the toilet is tied to the sink. So- Were you in your best shape in jail? For sure.

No, I think I was in my best shape two years ago. Okay. When I went back to training boxing. Okay. Yeah, I was in my best shape. Now I'm going back. You know, I bought me some new own clouds. That's the most non-prison.

Now I'm telling you, I knew I lost my edge when, you know, own clouds, like I can talk about own clouds of Hokas for hours because it's my favorite shoe. And because I'm running, I'm trying to stay at, I'm 50. Yeah, that's cool. And you know, staying in shape is a must. It is. Especially being on the road. You're on the road all the time.

I think that's one of the things that comics that want this life. And even with, and I know women think I'm being sexist when I say this, it's very hard for a comedian that's a woman to be on this road without a bunch of help. Cause it's grueling on men. So I know for facts, my shoulder has been horrible.

Not from any type of sport, not from lifting weights, not from any of that. From how many times I had to pick my bag up. My bag up. What do you mean? Just from grabbing your suitcase? My luggage up. Yeah, all up over your head.

Down, off the conveyor belt. Up, down, in the room, on the thing. Yeah. Right back up, up, down. That's why you like, damn. And you don't realize that you're tearing your damn rope say the couple. You like... You never like, man, this, man, this, You're like. You're like. You're like.

You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like.

You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like.

You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. You're like. taking that off, putting that down, stuffing that under those, snatching that back up, putting that back on, taking that back down, bringing that, like, same on. That's what we're doing all day.

And then you sit for five hours and you do it again. Yeah. And you don't realize it. And you are in a different place to where, if somebody asks you, man, what was you at yesterday? And you're like, wait, okay, today is Monday, right? Okay, cool, so Monday, okay, Sunday I got here. Sacramento, Sacramento.

I asked Kirsten, I'm like, where were we two weeks ago? And that's what I do. Omaha. I'm like, oh, we were in Omaha. I can't fucking remember anymore. It's just back to back to back. So doing the same shit, grabbing that bag and going. You know how funny that commercial was when old dudes said, you're in Detroit.

And they went back. You know how funny it was? Now, it's a phobia. Thank you. I think of that guy every time. And you're here to meet him. Before you say anything, if the audience notices,

is paying attention, that the good comics before they close out and say good night, whatever, there's a pause. And it's a gathering of, because you haven't said the city all night, you walked out. The host said, give it up for a ride. And You walked out. The host said, give it up for the city, give it up for Florida.

And you walked out. Start doing your thing. You haven't said anything about this city in an hour. And now you about to close and you like, man, where am I? Today is Friday. Today is Friday. Before I say it, my mind needs to feel like myself. Good night Portland!

I just reached, I'm knocking wood, I've never messed up the city, but just this last stop, man. I said, it was Saturday, no doubt late show. And I was like, we're here on that late Friday night show. And I heard a I heard. I was like, that's a weird, that's a weird energy. And then I guess I said something again about Friday night. And then I guess I said it again.

And somebody yelled up, it's Saturday. And I said, huh? And they said, it's Saturday. And I said, huh? And they said, it's Saturday. And I said, what have I been saying? And then the whole audience Friday. I said, how many times I say it? Some guys said four. I was like, no, I didn't say four, but I said at least a couple of times for sure. I remember what day it was.

What day it was. I've never messed up the city, man, but I, I purposely go out because of that fear. And I say, what's up Toledo? What's up Portland? What's up Seattle? I try to say, I try. Even when I say it, and then you're right though, it's another hour. It's another hour.

And I'm still unsure because I've said that a lot. I've said that same thing in Detroit. And he says, and that is like, yeah, I've said that a lot. I've said that same thing. Hey, Detroit, hey Cincinnati. You know, like, yeah. I've said that a lot. That, man. That is exactly my friend. The way my mind,

as the conditioning, as a comedian, a traveling comedian, every profession has its scars, so to speak, whether mental or physical. People who play the trumpet, they have a thing on their lip that's gonna be on there, that happens.

People who play basketball, there's gonna be some dislocated fingers. People who play football, feet and knees. Sometimes the waist. They have a certain walk. Road comedians that actually do it. And they on the road all the time. It's the scars of the road. Going vacation, you off.

But your body is not out. I don't know how to do that. I'm terrible at that. It's I can't is not off. I don't know how to do that. I'm terrible at that. I can't turn it off. It is. I can turn off the jokes. I can't turn off the energy.

It is the, it's Friday and your body is saying, you are supposed to be somewhere doing something. And it's hard not to be on a schedule on those particular days. Thursday you can manage, Wednesday, Tuesday, Monday. But when it gets to Saturday, Friday, hey man, we gotta make dinner, we gotta do this. Cause I got to do this so I can get here.

So I got to make this and I'm like, and then I realized I'm not performing. I don't have to eat at a certain time. I don't have to go to bed at a certain time. I don't have to do all the things that I'm accustomed to doing and relaxing going to the airport. I try to get my family to the airport

like it's me, late for a flight. Or I did this, I did this, this is so crazy. I'm used to flying the same airlines. So when I go to the airport, same airport, I go to Southwest. Check in. the same airport, I go to Southwest, check in.

I'm walking, some reason I'm reading the ticket, that's not my name. I go back and I say, man, this not my name. Bring over back, she said, well, your flight is now to 7 p.m., I'm like, no, my flight is at six, like in like 45 minutes. I look at my flight, I'm not on Southwest, I'm on Delta. But they still issued a US ticket for a human being. And they sent my bag down.

Oh no. So now I gotta wait for them to get my bag. And this is going through some rigging road to get back to me and it just went down the belt. I go check in at Delta and I'm in my mind like, why did I even check in Southwest? But my mind is I'm always flying Southwest when I'm coming to this airport.

Why would I not be flying Southwest? Train my mind is trained for certain things. And it's the scars of this business in my shoulder. My shoulder is definitely and I've switched how I put up bags because this show was terrible. And it was weird. This is a crazy business. So I know how grueling it is

and you trying to stay healthy and eating club food. If you don't have the means or you not to the level where they are sent out for you. And it's different levels to the game. And I think a part of that is being a so to speak, let me see what I would call it. Instead of just old school, being a novelist with how the steps go

based upon how I came up. As a opening comic for the host, I never went in the green room. It's not my green room. I don't house my stuff in there. Not my green room. I don't house my stuff in there. Not my green room. As a feature that did not come with the headliner. It's not my green room. So coming up under that, when you come in and host in the future, how their stuff in the green room. Asking you if they can sell their merch.

That's my favorite. And you. I got a double bag already on the floor. You mind if I sell my t-shirts? You're like, this is weird. And then, but the game has had people thinking that's how it goes. That you think you privy to the green room

because of these, these, what they call these shows where people just get everybody together and they do a show at the club and they feature everybody and everybody's in the green room. I like the clubs who, if y'all here to do a show but the green room is not accessible because it's actually for the headliners.

Headliners mean the people who sell the tickets and put their butts in the seats and all of the stuff. Have all the pressure, have all the pressure. Do all the marketing is on them. All of it. Yeah. Travel. Everything is is they fall. Those things. But you want to you want the privilege, the the perks of it, but you don't want the responsibility of it.

That's a that's a thing I struggle with in this in this business. So that's how. That's a thing I struggle with in this business. So that's how people keep the same people on the road with them. And new people don't understand it. Like even with people who have this audacity. So I understand this business. Why would you contact me on any type of social media,

DM me and ask the feature or open up? I don't know you. Never heard of you. And you're not taking any consideration of people that I do know. Why would I pick you when I is somebody else that I actually know. Cause this is not about the standup. This has something to do with your standup.

Cause it has something to do with sharing my personal space. That's what this has to do with. Man, people don't get it. I I've heard actors tell me the same thing too. Let's say a role comes down to you and Joe Blow, and you're all gonna be in Atlanta for three months. The honest to God is, who do we wanna hang out with more? Who's gonna be less of a problem?

Who's gonna be the good, you, you get the role, period. It isn't about, you know what I'm saying? Like people don't want to put up with your bullshit. Then you're not, you're not going to get it. It is that easy. It is that easy. Most people don't want to put up with bullshit. You better be undeniable.

You better be Kanye level shit to have people put up with you all that time. That's the, that's the thing. And people would accept, you don't have to be the same. I've been on the road with several people. Not the same as them. We share some things that's common. The love of the craft and maybe family, politics, whatever the situation may be. But the demeanor of Ali doesn't change. And nothing's wrong with me because I'm not on all the time

or I'm not doing this when you are doing it. Like, when you're doing that, I'm gonna roll with people, they don't take naps. They go all day, get to the show. Three o'clock, everybody, but it's sitting around on this tour, they gotta get me to sound check, out of sound check, and then back to the hotel by three, because I go to sleep every day at three o'clock.

Three to 5.30. You do that every day on the road, or you do it at home as well? On the road. Okay. Get ready for a show Every day so when I'm on the road, so I'm I'm accustomed to that. That's what's gonna happen with me They can be up all night

Yeah, but it's not on them. They not the energy is different from a club to a theater. Even with that, I have a problem with somebody that I don't know asking to do a theater with me. Have you earned that in your own right? Have you earned the club spot at your club? I don't know you. Nobody's vouching for you.

Nobody's saying, oh, this is, oh, Ali, do you know, let me introduce you. Cause they know, if I'm in Atlanta, so you don't think I know Ronnie Jordan? You don't think that I know Ronnie Perry? That's what I was gonna say, there's not only meetings you bring, you know so many of these people in different cities, Chicago, Chicago

so I know people in other cities you and Is it doesn't have a race and it doesn't have a sexuality to it. I know a lot of People so why would I pick some out of the internet that I don't know I don't have no idea about No, we did not even That what about the people who who, comedians who helped me to get to this spot, who was supporting back then, or who my friends, who I worked with, you know, not even just the ones I know,

who the ones who I got real close relationships with? That may be at the house, say, man, I come through the guest spot. Because that's what a real guest spot is, is a person who the people would know. Not some random person. Yo, y'all give it up for Mike Flemmons. Yeah. He's like, and he's like, no, he's not a guest.

He's an intruder. You know what I mean? Like. And he's like, he's not a guest, he's an intruder. I was like, I'm going to start using that when they come to the clubs. I'm like, I got an intruder here. Did you know nearly 75% of people have subscriptions they've forgotten about? Between streaming services, fitness apps and delivery services, it's never ending. Free trials start to add up when you forget to cancel them on time. So thanks to Rocket Money,

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and the one thing you said that stuck out to me was accountability. That I call them keyboard cowboys, all these loud mouth motherfuckers behind their monitors and shit, but in a system like prison or jail, you pop off like that, you better be ready to defend yourself.

You don't get to hide in your house or anonymously and all that. How do you deal with that in life and in comedy? Cause there's so much fucking hate on the internet and shit. Like, are you able to ignore it now because like prisons like that you know I'm saying this is nothing compared to that or how do you handle it or do you fire back at these people?

That's gotta test you. I'm real subtle with it when I've had misunderstandings with people I call them, cause it's not real. Online misunderstanding. Oh, online, online, I don't generally read those comments cause I already know what that is. You trying to get me aroused with something, I'm not saying that you puppeteer my feelings,

because you behind the keyboard saying whatever, but when it comes to people who saying something like out your mouth, and you saying that you were recording something or you saying it on record, you put it on record, okay, I'm not a real own, I'm not the dude that's gonna, say if I get into it with somebody

and I'm talking loud with them, I'm not into it with them, playing with them people. This is us, we just jousting back and forth. A real beef is you talking crazy and me not responding until I see you. You just don't say anything and then when you show up it's on. That's a good move.

It's no, I'm not finna jockey back and forth with you. Yeah, yeah. Because now something happened to you. I'm first person you gonna accuse. Man, I never said anything to that man what you talking about? So when this on, and I don't let the audience puppeteer me. Oh, you better not say nothing to that man.

I don't listen to that. Cause if I listen to that, I don't listen to that. Cause if I listen to that, I let people pay attention later. When somebody say, oh, he said this X, Y, and Z. And then somebody say, hey, you know the scenes that he said that since then. Man, what you mean? Just know, he ran into him.

And it's amazing how much bigger somebody appears when you see them face to face. What the energy of it. And sometimes people understand that. You know that you don't have enough people over there with you. Because I'm. I'm not, none of that's for now, for now. I'm not even weighing, they're not even a factor. Because I'm way past what you think.

If they try to protect you, I look at them as a, in a certain way. Like, are you serious? You finna put yourself on the line for somebody that did something wrong? Okay, cool. I'm gonna show you why you shouldn't have did that. And this is an example before I get to you.

You understand what I'm doing in front of you? When I get to you, it's gonna be 10 times, because you don't understand what type of energy that's coming with this, because I guarantee you this, you started this with me. 50 years old to this day, I've never, it's nobody in this world can say I ever started to fight with them.

Even the people who I've had fights with, they were like, I started. Cause they know they did. I'm five, seven, 150 pounds most times. I don't go around starting fights with people. I'm not going to say nothing insulting to you. Yeah. That's not, that's not my thing.

Six years of prison, nobody will ever say Ali Siddique started a fight. You did, you did all six? Yeah, on the 15th. Phew. And they would never say he started a fight. You seen him fight before? Yeah.

He didn't start it though. I'm more, people don't understand, it's levels to anger and levels to things. Like, I'm more offended that you're bothering me than anything. And what, and then now it's another level of, what made you think that you could bother me? Like what was I doing that made you think

that you could bother me? And then it's another level of anger. Man, I'm finna show you why you shouldn't have never thought. Or when you think again, anybody that you even see that's my size, you would think about this three times before you even say it. Man, I'm finna punish you so crazy. And then it's another level of,

because you said that shit out your mouth, everybody around had heard it, I'm finna show them why you shouldn't think that you can say it. It's not an example just for you, it's for them too. And this is, like, I'm, man, I'm, I'm, bro, you playing. And in my mind, in my, my, my whole mind says that, man, I'm on like,

bro, do you understand, man, what's about to happen to you, bro, for playing with me? Like this shit crazy. I'm like, yo, bro, you tripping with yourself. Because you don't, you don't understand, you don't understand because you don't understand really being at war. You don't understand physical combat. You don't understand going to all means to hurt. If you don't get that, your mind is programmed for a fight.

I am way past this with you. Right, this is, I am trying to put you in critical condition where you are on a slow drip. It's like, I am, like you are tripping. And it's the, once again, the mental scars Like I am, like you are tripping. And it's the, once again, the mental scars of being in a place where you don't tolerate no type of disrespect because of, hey man, do you understand consequences?

So let me ask you this then, how long after you get out of prison, do you start to let that go a little bit? You fade in and out. Yeah. You fade in. It's, what would I say, it's sort of one, it's an individual thing. First five years, I'm going to speak for myself, first five years I'm on one still.

I'm heightened. Real quick, did you keep doing your pushups and shit? Yeah. Okay, you know what's funny? I swear to you, this made me have a flashback. I'm with my brother. This you keep doing your pushups and shit? Yeah. Okay. You know, what's funny? I'm not, I swear to you. It's made me have a flashback. I'm with my brother. This is just a few years ago. I'm in Delaware.

We pointed his gas station. We're picking up some crabs and there's this dude that gets out of his car and he just starts doing pushups right on the parking pile on it. And my brother goes, he just got out. I said, he sure as fuck did. He wasn't giving them up. I swear to God, he was built like he was prison ripped. And I was like, he sure did just get out.

He was just out there just doing them. So you did for a little while, huh? Did them for a long while. And you still doing that many and stuff? Yeah, still doing that many. In the morning, you start breaking them up. So how do you let the anger and the, how do you let your guard down coming out?

Kids. Kids. And then you get, they start growing up and it turns back on because now you're thinking of all the bad people that you met in there. Man. That, and you see the danger in certain things. You had no kids at the time you were in prison? No.

Okay, so now you're running the filter through as a father these same people you were in there with and what they do to kids. And it's not even those people that you... It's like the isolated... When you see child molesters and you see them, you see people who do way, like man, your mind is, man, I sold drugs. This dude here, man, and you see the level. And do you know that that's what they are

because they announced that coming in or everybody just knows? You find out. You find out. As public or at least you guys You find out. You find out. As public or at least public, or you guys all just know. We find out. Got it. We know what you in there for

because people wanna know who they sharing the sale with and you not gonna, and it's a code. You're not gonna share a sale with a certain type of person. Hey bro, you gotta get outta here. Oh, nah, nah, it's ways to get out of here. Is you can go get a request, you can refuse to house, you know what I'm saying? Or I can help you out with that.

Yeah. And this is the thing, so you gonna find out who you in there with. And you not gonna stay with somebody that's not clean. That's another, that's another. Is that right? You get a choice for that?

Or you just fuck them up and make sure they know? This is understanding. Is that right? Hey man, keep a clean cell around here my boy. Give a damn how you was raised, all that other, man, whatever. And what's a clean cell mean? Make your bed, you do all that? Floor stay clean, toilet stay clean.

Everything stay good, stuff stay in order. Yeah, keep your locker clean, keep your stuff. Your shit's here, my shit's there, keep it in order. Yeah, keep this in order, man. And that's regulated by you guys. Yeah, that's regulated by us. That's not a... Have you seen this new show on documentary? I think it's called unlocked and it's a prison.

I can't remember where it's on right now, but the guys unlock and all the cells. And they're all like, what? And he's like, I'm going to try this. We're going to try it. We're going to let everybody out. And the minute you bring contraband in or you fight or whatever, it's over. And he's trying to let them house as a community and not be locked up.

They're still locked up, you know, in whatever you call that, the quad. It's like the dorm. Yeah, the dorm. But they're letting them open. Do you think when you were there, that's something that would have been successful? They did that for the sex offenders.

They had an open sale policy. What's that mean? They sales was open like that. They was housing they sales for the sex offenders. We would have to either be- Why are they not locked up? So people would get in and out of there? Shit, help me understand it.

Really? It's not so- Why they was treating them like they was patients. Yeah, I'm thinking they left it open so people could go, you know, take care of it. They kept them totally away from us. And with an open cell. Get the fuck out of here. That's real. They treated them like they was patients.

Wow. Not inmates, like patients. Yeah. Wow. And so when you're on the block, depending on the part of the prison, either you locked up in the cell or you in the day room. It's not open cell parts where everybody's just roaming around. You know? And if you were on a block like that,

say if you're on M, seven building, A part, A section, C part, all the doors are open. But because you in a community block where you got, A section, C part, all the doors are open, but cause you in a community block where you got, you can go from A, B and C section, but your door, you gotta keep your door closed or you have to keep in there and they tell you to pop your door, but you can be out. But just having an open, open role, nah.

Too dangerous for that. Did you find it hard at first getting out like to sleep? Did you get used to the the noises and the things in there? And then when when it's dead silent, is it hard? You know, it's crazy. It doesn't matter. To this day. What restroom I walk into.

I have to turn the water on because I need to hear noise. To pee? Either or. Really? Either or? Yeah. So, wait, all right. So, what happens when you go in to take a shit in a public restroom? I don't.

Oh, you never do? Then you're talking about when you go't. Oh, you never do? Then you're talking about when you go to your home, you do this. Or you don't shit in public, you piss in public places? Yeah, but the thing is, it's noise. It's people coming in and out. Well, they could also turn the water off. That's where I was going with it.

No, but even if I don't need the water there because it's already noise. You just need noise. I just need noise. I got you. So if it's silent, the thing you'll do is turn need the water there because it's already noise. It's like that. I see, you just need noise. I just need noise. I got you, so if it's silent, the thing you'll do is turn on the water. Yeah.

Got it, okay. Just so there's some kind of noise. Yep. And then you'll use the bathroom, even if you're just taking a leak. If I was in a public restroom, right? Yeah. And nobody's in there.

Yeah. And you can lock it where they can't get in. Yeah, and nobody's there. Does that scare you? And the water is one of them hand things. Oh yeah, I forgot about that, the sensor, is anything in that. You throw something under there, what do you do?

So, this is how you know how bad this is. I just keep flushing the toilet. You just keep reaching back. That's why your shoulder's fucked up. That's why your rotator comes off. Come on and reach back plus. No, I need no. Shhhhhh.

Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Shhhhhh. Do you uh, No, I need no. Do you do you sleep with a fan or any kind of white noise? No, that you can do TV. All right. So but is the volume on you still? Yeah, yeah, the volume is on order. And that's what you fall asleep to. That's and the light doesn't bother you.

How dark is it in prison? Like when you're there, there's gotta be like security lights and shit out here. Do you really get dark in there? It depends. Can you get eye, will they let you do the eye mask and shit? Eye mask, you can put your shirt over your face

or your elbow. Your elbow. Yeah. Sleep like a construction worker. Put your work hat over your- Lean it down, yeah. Man, you can be in a place where it's like this. No, the light.

This bright. This bright. Oh, it dark, it lights out and still is bright? Yeah, it lights out this bright. No, that's ridiculous. No, you can't, no, you don't understand. How you sleep like that? It's like a hospital room in here.

I'm telling you, this is, you, you. Man, it is, I don't think people understand how uncomfortable some of these places can be. I had no idea it was like this bright for lights out. And then they had, say, imagine that being dim. Oh, but this is the dim. So when it's really on, like this is like dim on dim. And then they really light it up.

Oh, I see that in daytime, they light it up even more. When it's daytime, it's really lit up. You're like, man, this is crazy. And then they really light up. Oh, I see, in daytime they light up even more. You light them, and this is crazy. And you in a dormitory. So then you in a dormitory that you like trust these, then they lights out, then the lights are darker than this. Depending on what's going on. In closed custody, like this.

Is there anything you learned in prison that you're like, man, this really carries over seamlessly into regular life? I don't know if that's a good sound, Stu, but did you learn how to tie knots? Did you learn how to make something that you still eat? You know anything like that? Man, what do I make?

I've made everything that I've eaten in prison, but it doesn't taste the same. Which tastes better? Prison because of the circumstances. You appreciate it. Because where you ate it at, it's like, because you have access to all the tools,

so you can make something, and now it's 100%, but in prison, it tastes better when it's not 100, like say Roman noodles, right? Say noodles, right? So I can never get the noodles where they're still cooked, but still hard in the free society because I can't get that, I can't make that temperature where the water is almost there, but not really there.

You got that al dente prison water? Yeah, it's like you can't do that. It's too hot on the outside. Because when you do a hot pot, you gotta pour it in something and then put it over something and then put that, you gotta try to trap the heat. So it doesn't stay hot that long.

It's just a weird thing that you, and the cheese, I tried to make pancakes and peanut butter one time. I don't know what they put in that peanut butter, but even when I warmed it up, and warmed it up and it was smooth, and I put it on there with the syrup, it just did not taste the same. Like I was like, ah, miss.

Prison pancakes are good. Peanut butter prison pancakes. Yep, peanut butter, you can get it with, the peanut butter is a certain mix they have and they put it on your plate and it's in the syrup. But you can't really do it in the freezer side. I've tried to make all of it. Just don't taste the same. And I don't wanna taste it again.

I'm cool. How old were you when you were in? 19. Were you already driving before that? Yeah. You were, just for a couple of years then. I just wondered if you'd learned how to drive when you got out.

I started driving at 13, 14. Been driving my mom's car, sneaking out, doing all my own car, you know, been driving. Where would you go? How old were you? It's 14 and just teal it. What was it? What was her car?

She had a Toyota Corolla. And where would you just joy ride? Yeah, where she sleep. Go everywhere. Everywhere. Yeah, everywhere we going. She sleep. Is this in Houston? Yeah.

Yeah. We drive everywhere. I've been driving for a long time. I taught my daughter how to drive. She was eight. I'm teaching my daughter how to drive. She's nine now. Yeah.

And I let her drive all the way down through the garage and everything. I'm like, you know, hit the brakes, pull in. She's like, that's a Tesla. I'm like, pull in next to it. She's doing pretty good. Man, I... When I taught Jayden how to drive, I taught her how to drive on Ford Expedition. That was the first truck she drove.

They was making this neighborhood, it was a new neighborhood, and they had put all the streets down first. That's a big ass truck too, yeah. They put all the streets down first. Stop signs and everything before they start building the houses. So we go over there and I'm like, hey, got in the passenger side, put in the driver's seat,

scoop the chair up. I'm like, hey, just listen to what I'm saying. You're going to drive all the way through this thing. You can't run into nothing. You can't Rick. So take your time. We're going to the first, the first couple of whip flashes. Good Lord. And then, then it got smooth after that. Then she, he throws speed and she stopped and then, you know, it took about four hours and then she had it down. And then I would just let her drive it all the time.

So now she's very good. She's 25 now. So. Damn. You got a 25 year old. How many kids? Eight. Eight kids.

I know you, here's what I want to ask you too. Do you think, I know your upbringing obviously with your dad was so different. Then you actually go to prison, you serve time, you get out. This is the other thing too, I see a lot of people, they'll shit on Joey Diaz or whatever in comedy. These people want to come at these social justice warriors, but I'm like, look, these are men that serve their time.

All y'all talk about is another chance, another chance. Then these guys come out, served their time. There's a lot of these dudes in comedy that should be in prison would never make it in prison. Haven't served any fucking time. Don't do shit. Do you think actually going putting the time in and coming out now has made you a better person, a better father, a better man or where do you stand on that? I think it's you know for me personally I was a decent person

but this has made me more that has made me more like stand on it type person. Sometimes I'm not a go along with the crowd person. I think that gave me that ruggedness of, I mean, stand alone. Cause everything you've ever accomplished, you've really stood on it because you was in a place where you actually had to stand on it. Like it was no, you in prison. stood on it because you was in a place where you actually had to stand on it.

Like it was no, you, you in prison with, there's no calling anybody. There's no help. No one's got to stand on what you say that you own. And you got, you, I don't think people understand that you got to stand on it. You got to stand on it a lot of times, especially if you get transferred or you go to another block or people gotta know where you at with it. And whatever adversity you face,

no way class is what we used to say. No man, ain't got no way class is what we used to say. No way class. Man, I'm not intimidated by nothing. Like you wanna do it, let's do it. And then you say things to people like, man, you don't wanna do nothing because if you did, you wouldn't be talking.

Don't waste my, and you- I said, I'll tell my daughter all the time, people that wanna do, they just do it. They don't sit and talk about it and bump gums about it and shit, they just go do it. And then next thing you know, it's like, you did that? Like yeah, I already went and did it. You say something crazy to me,

I just haul off and hit you. I don't have time to play with you. Yeah. You can't threaten me. Are you crazy? And then- That was my favorite. Richard probably used to have that bit

where he would talk about the dudes that were gonna fight and he'd go, push me, man, push me. And then he'd hear him go, push me again. He knew the dude was pushing. He said the other guy was just like, hey man, just right on him like that. Like that's the dude right there.

Right off the top, man. Let's get it jumping. We ain't got time for all that make believe. Push me again. Used to make me laugh so hard. All that talk to do push me in. And then people who, it was always the classic when somebody be bumping and the other person

not saying nothing person not saying nothing and not saying nothing with a cache of, man, I don't even care what you're saying. And then the next thing you hear, hey man, go on home before I get mad. And somebody should know right there and he'd be like this, hey man, you better go on over there before that man get mad.

He'd have told you, he'd have told you. You've been talking for 20 minutes. That man be like this, hey man, you better go over there before that man get mad. He'd have told you, he'd have told you. You've been talking for 20 minutes. That man been like this. And then you get close to him, you talking, that man say, hey man, not even looking at you, hey man, going on before I get mad. Hey man, going on, whenever you get hurt, man, that man gonna do something to you.

And sometimes it'll happen to them. Sometimes it'll do to really understand, it ain't going on. And some things don't have to be even said. So it's a, it's a different, it's on and off. I'm a way happier person now. I mean, I've known you now for a few years every time I see you seem genuinely happy. I Love the path you walk. I like seeing you do your own thing out there. You're definitely different. I love it I try to feel the same like I like that. I say Boba Fett like I

You know, whatever I got allegiance to the check. I'm just out here to get that check. I'll see y'all later. Man, I'm genuinely happy. Yeah. Like without, oh, this is, man, I'm, people, I mean, hide everything on me. You don't know for real or you just asking for fake? Cause if you don't know for real,

you can't be no jealous type person. Cause sometimes I had to dumb it down for people who I know like really don't wanna know. Wow, man, you know, it's cool out here. But really for people who I know generally wanna know, oh man, shit, man, this is, man. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. I'm really happy.

Happier than I ever been in my life, man. I'm with you. Like, man. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life, man. I'm with you. Like, man, I'm so good, bro. Like, I'm so good that when I even hear about beefs or people ask me, what's the state of comedy? Man, the state of comedy is solid. Comedy has rolled on without Pryor, Carlin, Robbo. It's gonna keep rolling right on without all of us and all the next ones and all those two.

It's just fine. And being a protector is craft like Domino effect three. It was just about me. I'm not talking about nobody, but me not throwing nobody under the bus, not trying to cause no controversy. I'm just, I'm finishing up the series. I'm focused on a series and not just, I need some shock value to get my ticket sales up.

Man, these specials I'm doing are high price commercials, basically, to get people in the seats. And I'm telling different stories when I get them now on in these theater shows. When I go back to the club, I'm gonna be doing different songs, I'm gonna be getting ready for something else.

So it's, I'm just happy to be on the road and generally be in front of people who not coming to see you by mistake. Yeah, your fans are coming to see you. Not just a room full of people. What's going on at the comedy club or the theater? Different level. 100%. And if you can't be happy at that level, you literally walking out every night to people who bought tickets to come and see you, not by mistake.

There's not- They got babysitters, whatever it took. I say it all the time. They came out of their way, they paid for parking some of them. They come to see you, get there early, had their drink minimums, their food, the whole, they're there to see you. There's not just coming out and,

we don't know what we're seeing with this. No, your people. Not a check drop. I'm not over your meal. You actually come into place to, hey man, who you came to see? Hey man, I came to see Ali's Deek, man. What you expecting?

Him to be him. We came to see him do what he do. Can't, you can't, the life of coming from being in the streets and awkward parenting and making mistakes. parenting and making mistakes and then being in awkward positions in his business to being in the best position. Like literally you in the best position, you own everything that you are doing and you own yourself on a tour and you, people coming to see, like you just having a great time.

And this is the, this is all the hard work from being a opener, being a feature, being in the clubs, paper and rooms, and then selling tickets and learning to be a, I don't like the word star, celebrity or influence. I don't like any of those terminology, but I don't have a better word. But learning to be a class act on this road

and solving the unseen problems and not putting band-aids on things, actually sewing up wounds and being a supportive ear for your employees and being motivating for the people who are doing your merch and the people who are doing your camera and your publicity and balancing your time with your family and getting your own quiet time. This is a, it's a lot to being the person

and making these decisions on where you gonna play and your routing and your catering and sound check. And can't, you know, it's just so many things that go into being a bigger act. And you appreciate when you when you do clubs and you're getting ready for something else, well, man, I remember not having to worry about anything outside of counting the room. The theaters, you don't have to count the room,

you know what that is. It's the whole ticket chart out there. Yeah, there is, everybody can see it. Everybody can see it. Everybody can see it. Ha ha ha. Man, thank you for coming on and doing this for real. Plug everything again. Plug it all.

Domino Effect 3, May the 12th comes out. Then after that, Domino Effect 4 will be out. Go on to Ali Sadiq, that's with the I-S-I-D-D-I-Q on YouTube, on Ali Sadiq Comedy on YouTube. And then, you know, quite naturally, the website, AliSadiq.com. Make sure y'all look at tour dates, check out the specials, go back and watch the old specials.

Man, thank y'all, man. Thank you, for real. It was a great time, always. Pleasure, man. Always. As always, RyanS, always. Pleasure, man. Always. As always, RyanSickler.com on social media. Come see me on tour. My tickets are on my website at RyanSickler.com.

Talk to y'all next week. You