Whiskey Ginger with Andrew Santino - Atsuko Okatsuka

Episode Date: June 13, 2025

This week on Whiskey Ginger, Andrew Santino is joined by the one-of-a-kind Atsuko Okatsuka — comedian, actress, and viral sensation — for a wild ride through her unique upbringing, her love of awkwardness, and how she turned trauma into triumph through comedy. They talk about growing up undocumented, how her “toilet paper dance” went viral during the pandemic, her hilarious takes on Asian-American identity, and how comedy saved her life. It’s heartfelt, weird, and classic Atsuko. 🧠 Subscribe for new episodes every Friday! 🍊 Follow Santino on IG: @cheetosantino 🎙️ Check Out Atsuko's New Special: Father on Hulu! #AtsukoOkatsuka #WhiskeyGinger #AndrewSantino #ComedyPodcast #StandupComedy #AsianAmericanVoices #ToiletPaperDance #WhiskeyGingerPodcast #ComedianLife #FunnyPodcast ========================================================= Sponsor Whiskey Ginger:  https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/whiskeyginger SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS LIGHTSTRIKE HARD REFRESHER AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF 5% ALCOHOL https://drinklightstrike.com! KICKOFF GET YOUR FIRST MONTH FOR $1 https://getkikoff.com/whiskey MANDO $5 OFF YOUR ORDER WITH PROMO CODE: WHISKEY https://shopmando.com BETTER HELP 10% OFF YOUR 1ST MONTH https://betterhelp.com/whiskey ======================================= Follow Andrew Santino: https://www.instagram.com/cheetosantino/ https://twitter.com/CheetoSantino Follow Whiskey Ginger: https://www.instagram.com/whiskeygingerpodcast https://twitter.com/whiskeygingerpodcast Produced and edited by Joe Faria https://www.instagram.com/itsjoefaria Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What up, WizKidz and your fans? Welcome back to the show. If it's your first time joining the show, welcome to the show. Do me a favor. Like it, subscribe it, leave a comment down below for the Al Goh Rhythm. It means the world to me. I appreciate you guys continuing on this WizKidz journey with me. Spread the word. Tell a friend. Also, bring a friend and come see me and Bobby Lee live in London and or Dublin.

Come to both if you want to. London and Dublin, July 18th and or Dublin. Come to both if you want to London and Dublin July 18th and 19 July 1819 we're playing out there over the river through the woods in your London and your Dublin areas come see us go to Anderson tina.com or bad friends pod.com for those tickets to come see us live enough rambling let's go to the episode. In here, we pour whiskey. Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey, whiskey. You are that creature in the ginger beard. Sturdy and ginger. Like that, the ginger gene is a curse. Gingers are beautiful.

You owe me five dollars for the whiskey and seventy-five dollars for the horse. Gingers are hell no. This whiskey is excellent. Ginger. I like gingers. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Whiskey Ginger. My guess is that it is one of my favorite people on earth. I say that from my guess, but I mean once again, today it's at school, oh, Katsuka. Yay, you crushed it.

You crushed it. It sounds good, doesn't it? Yeah, did it help for me to go, it's like Irish. It's like, oh, Katsuka with an apostrophe, yeah. But it's smoother when you say it with an Asian accent. It goes, oh, Katsuka. And in Irish, it's oh, Katsuka. Yeah,rophe. But it's smoother when you say it with an Asian accent, it goes, O-Katsuka. And in Irish it's O-Katsuka. Yeah, is that how you would do it?

Yeah, Sullivan O-Katsuka. O'Malley. O'Malley O-Katsuka, yeah. O'Flanagan? O'Flanagan. This is almost like Irish, Irish Asian. Oh yeah. O'Katsuka. We're kindred spirits.

We really are. We talked about this a little bit before we started. I will say here's why. One, we push the pain down. Push it away Yeah, and we'll talk about it. We sing it We sing the pain are there a lot of pain songs growing up when you were a kid Like you wouldn't know it it could be any song it could be wrecking ball, right? My father would be singing it and you go. Oh, those are Those are sad tears. Actually, it's not him going, I came in like, you know, he's crying.

You don't cry during Wrecking Ball. I do every time. What song makes you cry? Because there's suppression, there's sadness. What song makes you cry that surprises it makes you cry? Oh, I mean, for me, it's actual sad songs. Oh, really sad songs. Do you know the song that goes like, if the world is ending, you'd come over, right?

No. You'd come over and you spend the night. It's literally about the last day on earth and it's Jillian Michaels. So like yeah it's for me it's actual sad songs. I don't get surprised. How about you? You surprise yourself? Yeah, I'll cry to a song that I thought I couldn't cry to. You know what it is? It's usually because it's nostalgia. There's a song called, this is so corny, there's a song called In the Meantime by a band called Space Hog. Oh, it's a fun song? Happy song?

It is. And then you cry. It just reminds me of a time so it makes me cry. Or Pearl Jam's Better Man. That one makes me cry every time. Wow. Pearl Jam's Better Man. Can't find a better man. Can't find a better man.

Can't find a better man. Sing it, oh my God. If my dad yelled at me, I'd go cry in my room and put on Pearl Jam, 100%. Wow, so the memories. Because when he would yell, he would yell for, my dad was, his yell was a good dad yell. Did your dad have a good yell? He never yelled, no, no.

Really? He just only, he sings and cries. So that's the closest to like, you know, hearing him kind of yell-y. You never got disciplined? I came in like a wreck. That's yell-y. That's him yelling. That's my dad. Were you just such a good kid you never got disciplined? I just, oh, well, I didn't grow up with my dad. So I already saw him. So a little different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know who you are when you, well, you know, in a version, because you're crying to these songs that are like upbeat and fun, but you know, it reminds you of your childhood, is

Chris Pratt's character in Guardians of the Galaxy. You know how he loves these songs, right? It's because he was taken from Earth. Yeah, he was removed. You're him. I am him. I wish I had Chris Pratt's bank account. I'll tell you that.

He's doing pretty well. Yeah. He's doing pretty well. Well, there can't be two, because then you'd be forgettable. That's exactly right. Wow. Yeah. There's only one Andrew Santino?

There's only one, and there only will be one. Although, however. And he's like Christian. You guys are different. Yeah, I'm not Christian. Well, I don't know. Are you? No, I don't think so.

I don't think so. Not anymore. It's not like the first thing I think of. You know, when I think of him, it's kind of the first thing now because I guess I was surprised. Did you grow up religious? Once I got to the States, yeah. I went to church. That's how they get the immigrants. Hey, you want friends, right? Do you want friends? We're like, yes. We speak your language. You don't speak English yet.

You want free food? You guys love free food. There's something about immigrants and free food, man. There's a sign outside on right here in the valley. There's a little food hut that says free food for immigrants. Yeah. Yeah. If you don't speak English, free food. Is that right? That's a trap. By the way, that is a trap. Do not go. What do you mean free food for immigrants?

That's not ice. It's definitely not ice. It's just oath keeper volunteers being like, yes, there's food, but you must go in here first. Yeah, come on in. It's like a, it's a prison cell. Come in here. Come. Sit. Stay. Yes. Click, click, click. I have the keys. That's it. But food will be here soon. Soon. Yeah. Yeah, we'll get it there soon. That is a trap of a sign. Yeah, it's pretty bad. You're telling me that's an actual sign? No, no, I made it up. No, I totally made it up. See, even the churches don't do the sign, because that would sound like a trap. No one would go. But the church... It's a word-of-mouth thing. Yeah, the church has sold... Like, a lot of times you'll go to... If you go to the islands,

right? If you go to any Pacific Island chain, a lot of times there's Mormonism. You know, the Mormons will go out there, they'll recruit. So you'll get a lot of, like, Samoans, Polynesians that are Mormon, because they go out there, because that's, like, free recruiting, because no oneons will go out there, they'll recruit. So you'll get a lot of like Samoans, Polynesians that are Mormon, because they go out there because that's like free recruiting, because no one else is going out there. What do you mean Pacific Island chain? Any islands of the Pacific, I would say, right?

Oh, of the churches. Yeah, so the Mormons will go down there to like Samoa, right? And then they'll recruit to come back to the states and join the Church of Mormon. So you'll meet a lot of like Samoans that are Mormon. You'll meet a lot of Islanders that are Mormon because they do, they're smart. They go where people, other churches weren't going down there and they thought, we'll take it on. We'll brave the seas. And then do they go, oh, you know, we'll get you to Utah kind of thing?

They do. There's a lot of, there's actually a lot of like. We'll help you get a green card kind of thing. Oh yeah. You'll see a lot of Pacific Islanders in Salt Lake. It's kind of interesting. I would take that deal. A free green card?

Why not, dude? And also they own Coca Cola or whatever. I mean, the Mormons got it on lock. I don't know if you've ever been to Salt Lake City, but it's great. And the streets are big in case the tanks come. You know what I mean? They know what they're doing, dude. Oh my gosh. it's so interesting.

Like I used to like, well, I used, I had local openers and some of them were like, one was like, I just left the church not too long ago. So her jokes were like, so I was at Starbucks and the sizes of the cups and I was like, hey, hey, by the way, like, you know what I mean? Because it was new to her coffee, right? But I was like, oh, like that's actually like a long ago, thousands of years old, thousands in fact, very, very old drinks on earth. And also like the take of like venti tall grande.

I was like, Oh girl, girl. Hey, don't do that. Yeah. It's been a while, you know, just like talk about your former Experience like in the moment you're just something. Yeah, you felt trapped. I want to see that That's what I want to see, you know, what did you get here? By the way? When did you immigrate here? I got to the States when I was eight and that was a little before 9-eleven that's how you know, it's for me. It's pre 9-eleven. Okay, dude pleading your case It sounds like she's pleading your case. This is pre-9-11.

I wasn't, I was before all that stuff went down, man. I had nothing to do with it. Gosh, I really sound like I did it. Yeah, well, you sound like you were involved, for sure. Oh, for sure, yeah. I was eight. Because you were eight years old when you came over here.

Uh-huh, yeah, I was eight. Wonderful little cute eight-year-old. Did you have the same haircut when you were eight? Late 90s. No, I didn't always know myself. You figured it out at some point. Yes, it was long. It's just long. Middle part. What the hell is that? Yeah, the middle part. Yeah, the old school middle part. Who am I? Jennifer Aniston? Yeah,

you are, kind of. Anistan? Anistan, yeah. So yeah, middle part, long hair, glasses. And you were like, I know this isn't me, because this is how I've known you, and I haven't known you for too long, but this is how I've known you, and it's so you, it's unbelievable. And this is how I've known you. Yeah, I known you for too long but this is how I've known you and it's so you it's unbelievable and this is how I've known you yeah I never had it was my hair has always been the same way I never had long hair I never did like this never had like cool long guy did you ever try to dye it you know that's interesting I'm no longer red I never wanted to a girl I dated in college for a short amount of time yeah she was like what if what if we dye your hair? You

want to try to dye your hair? It'd be fun. Because she had just dyed her hair. And she was like, let's dye your hair. And then so we did it like a little bit of brown. And you can't really dye red hair. It's impossible. It's just another shade of red. It was just like a red brown. It was really gross. And I felt weird about it. Oh yeah? Yeah. I felt like she was trying to strip me away from who I really was. I was gonna say, she was against you.

She was. She wanted you to lose. She was like, I don't really like the way you look like this, I'd like to change you. So she tried to change me and I didn't appreciate it. Oh wow, dark brown. Well that was when we shot an episode of Dave. I did that for a role. We did a kitchen nightmare scene.

I'm trying to remember that episode. It was the season two finale. Season two finale. No, the penultimate season. The penultimate. Did you feel lost? Did you cry when that happened? A lot of people look at you so funny when they do they're like, oh my God, you with

dark hair. It looks so it doesn't look like me at all. It looks like a different guy. Yeah. Like all the whole the whole cast was like. Right. Tripping out because they couldn't believe. It looks wrong.

Like when you see someone in blackface, you're like, it doesn't even look real.. It looks wrong like when you see someone in blackface you're like it doesn't even look real. Is that how you feel when you see someone in blackface? Yeah, it's like they never look like a black guy. And how often are you seeing people in blackface? Too often, I'll say it, too often. His inkling was cancel this man. Yeah. He was like we gotta cancel this Burnett, who is he?

Yeah, he's gotta go. It's more Protestant looking. Right, that looks a little bit more I am gonna be a church and I you know, it's funny I never I did church when I was a little boy. Mm-hmm. And then as a young man great Catholic and then And then I did a lot of church what RIP the Pope RIP the Pope. Oh my gosh When this episode comes out, he'll have been dead a long time, and so they might have uncovered something about him. So R.I.P. the Pope, unless you hear

something crazy in between now and then. But Andrew, for some reason, it will still be too soon. It'll be way too soon. So that's, you know, at the time. But this pope seemed chill. He was cool with gay marriage. He was cool with experimental medicine, right? Like psychedelic research on alternative medicines. That's kind of, that's a huge leap for the church. Like, for the pope experimental medicine, right, like psychedelic research on alternative medicines. That's kind of, that's a huge leap for the church, like for the Pope to be cool with that kind of stuff. He said the thing about how he imagines that hell might be empty. Hell probably is empty. Wow, a poet, a poet too. A Pope poet. Wow, no I know, so too soon. Do you believe in the afterlife?

I guess I don't really think about it. So what is that called? Uh, yeah, uh, living in the now living present, right? So maybe I don't believe in it If you know if I if i'm not thinking about I think people who believe in it think about it They do like it's common and wonder what it is and then have an answer. Yeah, I don't have an answer me neither Yeah, I hope it's chill I don't want more work. I hope there's no work. Whatever happens. I don't want to keep working. Right. Oh yeah, because in some versions of stuff, like I guess the Bible, they talk about how you're gonna sing. If you're in heaven, you're gonna sing

forever. It's work. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm like, oh, that's very presumptuous. Not all of us are singers. Right. I'm not, I mean, I'll sing Better Man over and over for them like I did before. Sure. But I can't do that for eternity, I don't think. No, no. In fact, I was kicked out of the choir actually in the seventh grade. My uncle was the choir director too. He kicked me out. Your uncle did? I joined, I said, hey I want to be part of another community. I'm already part of a church, but I was like, it looks fun. Yeah. Weekly practice, something for me to do.

Structure. Yeah. He said, go ahead. We did a 45 minute cantata for Easter. Cantata. That's like, it's like a musical. It's like 45 minutes of you just singing. It's like a medley.

You just keep going and going and going for God. That's exhausting. So I was doing that. And just keep going and going and going for God. That's exhausting. So I was doing that and then after that I was never asked back. Because of your tone? I think he said, we could hear you. You love to sing loud and you who are not tone deaf but you know, your tone, yeah. I was an alto so I had to harmonize. That's very difficult. That's really hard. Yes.

What's the one, What's the easiest one? Oh, I guess the soprano or like whoever gets the melody. Right. You have to find it with everyone else. You're doing the medley. Can't find a better man. You're doing the main. Yeah. And you have to find it. I have to be like can't find a better man or whatever. See? I wouldn't kick you out. That wasn bad at all put them together put them together ready one two three can't find a better man

Not bad. I wouldn't have kicked you out. Uncle Paul was wrong. What uncle Paul when where is he now? By the way in LA too. Oh he is. He's still in the church. I don't want him to come find us He's still choir director. He is What what was the moment you split from the church? We don't need to talk about religion more, but I want to know. Oh no, yeah, yeah. What was the moment that you said goodbye? Just because, you know, again with kindred spirits. There was church, there was singing. It is a big thing in... There was sorrow. A lot of sorrow. What is it, but there's a lot of like... This is something I talked about in Korean culture with Bobby that So, in Korean culture, with Bobby, that, if you're not a part of the church. Yeah, Bobby Flay.

Bobby Flay. Yeah, Chef Bobby Flay. Yes. You think you could beat him? Huh? Do you think you could beat him? In cooking? Well, that's what the show is, yeah.

No, I mean, I... I wanted to beat Bobby Flay so bad. Me? You, you can beat him. I think I can beat him. Yes. Yeah. You beat him, yes. I think he's not that good. Yeah, oh really? No, he's fantastic. No, no, he's fantastic. No, but Bobby Lee talked to me about

Korean culture when you're a kid. You're almost like ostracized if you don't, if you aren't going to the church. It's almost like people like look at you like, what do you mean? Whereas little white boy culture, it's like you don't go to the church, they go, you're not going to church? Oh, his parents are divorced. Okay. I mean, that's literally the fact. Like that is kind of how it goes. They go, oh, something's wrong at home.

They're not going to church. Got it, yeah. Which is, you know, kind of like- It's valid. Yeah, and that's, you know, you don't want that judgment too though. That's also, you know. Double judgment.

I don't need it from every angle. Yeah, come on now. I beat myself up enough. Are you hard on yourself as a comedian because you're a brilliant judgment. I don't need it from every angle. Yeah, come on now. I beat myself up enough. Are you hard on yourself as a comedian because you're a brilliant comedian, I do wanna say, and you have a special that's out right now on Hulu. We're both Hulu people. Hello, Hulu.

What's the name of your special? Father. Father. Speaking of fathers. Right back at church. Yeah, singing loud. Yeah, exactly. See, you knew.

Everything's connected. I could feel it. Yeah, we're not trying to talk about the church. It's just, you know. It's a part of it. It's where we sang. It's where I got kicked out. It's where I learned I was not an alto.

Come on. You're a tenor. You're a soprano. You're a... I'm everything else. You're a comedian more than anything. Thank you. Did you find comedy in the church?

Were you a goofball? I did find comedy in the church in that I found out what stand-up comedy was through during a sermon one of my like friends passed a Margaret Cho DVD to me. Oh, yeah. So good. And she was like, this is stand-up comedy, go watch it at home. Like it was contraband. She was like, don't, you know, hide it.

Yeah, yeah. Don't show it to anyone. Just you go and watch it. Okay. Like she was going to be taken. I was like, okay. They're going to find me when they do. Tell them. she was gonna be taken I was like okay Michelle They're gonna find me when they do tell them You just

Tell them I did my best Yeah totally you just go and drive us go I was like okay and so I went and watched it and I was like what what do you mean one person talks on the stage funny you know That changed your life Margaret Cho Yeah yeah Have you sat with her and talked to her about what she did for you Yes yeah yeah we're friends, yeah. It's so wild that in comedy you could do that, right?

You become friends with someone that you idolized? Oh, totally, yeah. It's very strange. She was my church, you know, after that. That is strange. I don't think about it, but sometimes it hits me that I'm like, oh yeah, like, you know, like, Swartzen and I are really good friends, and I remember, this is crazy, and I told him this when we first met.

I had his half hour on VHS that I had taped. And we used to watch it in my college dorm. I thought that was crazy. And now he's my good buddy. But it's so funny because he was one of the youngest, I think he was the youngest, Swartzen was the youngest half hour I think Comedy Central had ever given.

I think he was, I want to say he was like 19 or 20, but I remember seeing him being like, dude, he's like us. He's like our age. He was close to like our age. And I was fascinated. I was like, I, that's really, I knew I wanted to stand up, but seeing someone so young do it, I was like, yeah, that's it. That's it. We can do that. That's I can just work. You were like his age, too. Yeah. I mean, he was a couple. He was a little bit older than us. But I do remember he got the special when he was how old?

You know, what does it say? Twenty. I was just a Bo Bo Burnham. Oh, Bo, I guess. Right. And the new generation. But he never did 18. He did the company presents company presents. But I'm saying Bo never did a presents. Right. He did do a presents. He did. I was a nine. OK. Oh, wow.

How old was Bo? Eighteen wow how old was bow 18? And what was Nikki probably 20 22? He was a little bit older than us. I think yeah, but that is still you feel like oh, it's possible It's just anyone who made it feel like oh wow you know what I mean I could be a part of the world if I try if I really work in it Yeah, oh yeah, then becoming friends with them is that's what's even more. Yeah, right? I wonder five Oh, 25 okay a child still very I was 20 years old and I was watching this being like this is this guy is like Our peer dude. Yeah, I felt that felt so

So wild I wonder if that's the same with like actors. I don't think so where they go. Oh, you know, yes Not as much. No it is I see young actors talking to older actors that they're that they were impressed by and I think they do I think they I think It's the same thing with athletes. So you talk to like people that prefer professional sports. They tell them They're like dude, I grew up watching you and now I get to play with you. That's true. Yeah, that's wild Right. You're an athlete as a kid Did it was that into athletes? No, were you an athlete as a kid? You could you play sports? You seem very athletic Oh, thank you so much.

I played basketball, but it was a time where in LA, if you were a Japanese-American kid, you were in a basketball league. You had to be. Because it was like... It was a requirement. It was a thing we all knew, like, if you did, if you played long enough, you get like $2,000 towards college

or something. So we were like, we all got to do it, you know, any free money. And so I... And they were like, you all got to do it, you know, any free money. And so I and they were like, you know, Otzko is pretty tall. I was my height now when I was eight. And you stopped, you peaked at eight. My god, the growing pains, I'm five three, but at eight? Huge. Yeah, I was a giant. Yeah. So everyone was like, oh, she's got all she's way to you see how she finishes the pressure the pressure I was a forward right yeah because they were like she's five three to hear from the stands I would hear parents go I suppose I make she I suppose got the ball she's

gonna make it she's five three what a wild thing to say yeah you were a threat and I always missed I was not a baller I was not a baller not a baller no but so there was some sports that you would get put into because it was like a community thing or there was some Scholarship possibility, but otherwise or you could just cuz you were the tallest in your class. Yeah, that does happen, right? What did you find then out because comedy has become your life, right? When you become a stand-up as a professional it is kind of your whole life. Have you found a way to? Have enjoy other hobbies outside of standup? Because I will say people that don't know when we're young as standups and you're in the grind,

you kind of dedicate your entire every second of your life to do it. And then you reach a certain age, which I imagine you're there where you're like, I kind of want to have other shit too. Like I don't want to just be a standup. Like, do you have other shit too. Like I don't wanna just be a stand up. Like do you have other hobbies that you do? I'm struggling with that. I'm trying to figure that out. It's hard. I was like, oh my God, I have no interest.

I'm so pale, I don't ever see the sun. Well, that's good for you though. I don't hike. You go out there. I do go out there and I shouldn't cause I'm pale as well, but I wear like the old Asian woman hats, you know, I have the big boat hats. Good self care. Yeah, I have to I have to self-preservation

Yeah, yeah that I'm doing an awful job on with food and alcohol, but I'm trying with the other stuff So you're out there hiking I'll take a hike. I'll cook I'll take a hike. I like to cook. I like to play golf I like to take little vacate mini vacations little mini getaways, you know And when you do that, it's really just laying out and stuff, or do you go- No, no, I go do shit. I'm an active- I'm an active guy. I don't want to... Like going to the beach, I don't wanna- Just lay.

What is that? No, I don't, me too. My mind goes wild. I wanna do something. My biggest nightmare, my biggest fear is being with my brain for too long. It's scary up there. And it's like, okay, and looking at the ocean, why don't you just jump? Just jump.

It's too tempting. Yeah, too tempting. No, no, no, no, no. Yes, keep me busy. Right, I need to be busy otherwise. Like petting an elephant or something. Love petting an elephant. I've never done it.

Really? Neither have I. Okay. Well, I mean, where would I have the opportunity? You would go to Thailand or? I would like to do that kind of exotic vacation, but also There's a few other spots. I want to hit for look I've been to

Been to Japan. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm was supposed to go to Korea bailed. Okay, you bailed I bailed They bailed the country Korea said no, thank you They're like the way you talk to your friend our friend our friend our mayor Thank you our mayor, but Japan the doors are still open. I can go back I want to go back to Japan again, and I also never been to China I also want to go to China, but that like those places I want to hit a couple more times before I venture out to the to the Thailand What is doing Japan so you like so that I walked around just like that just do that again with your arms

That's exactly what I do like hey. I'm in Japan. I'm back. What did I do? I went to, we went all over and then we went to the Okinawan islands. We went to a place called Ishigake. Wow, I've never been to Okinawa. I know, I know. Yeah, wow, wow, wow. This is what the locals don't even go down there.

So you were just, and that's where you beach it. The south, it's the Hawaii of Japan. But it was also pretty fascinating because it was culturally so very different from Tokyo and Kyoto. It was like a true, really, it was very, it felt like island people, like island culture, and they weren't Japanese.

They felt like their own subculture, you know? And they literally spoke no English, where you can get around Japan so easily. But in Ishigaki, it was tough. I had to use the Google Translate app all the time. Wow. It was just really hard. I think, you know, and it's my fault, I don't speak their language,

but so I was trying and it was really difficult because all over Tokyo, obviously, you know, English is everywhere. Uh-huh, yeah. But when you go down south, it was tough. It was really hard. So I was confused a lot. I got stuff I didn't want all the time.

But they're friendly. No, they're very nice. They try, but they also, it's like the barrier is so obvious that it's like, we speak zero English and I'm like, and I speak zero Japanese. Oh, it's so hard to. Or Okinawan is a different, don't they have a different Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

So you're like translating on Google, but then they're like, oh, we don't actually speak that kind of Japanese. Right, right. You know? Yeah. on Google, but then they're like, oh, we don't actually speak that kind of Japanese, you know? Yeah. Oh, and then just knowing the culture because I do speak Japanese, but like third grade level. And so I've been on Duolingo. And when I was back in Japan, I was like, okay, I got it down. I reviewed it for a whole week with a, you know what I mean? I'm very also lazy still. Yes. I'm like, oh, you know, I'm stubborn. So I'm like, like no I just need like a week to review it I'm fine and I took one week to review on Duolingo I

said okay my Japanese is back and then when I was there I accidentally ordered a $300 champagne when I was just trying to take get a glass yeah in Tokyo they didn't they didn't say are you sure they didn't like give you like a I should have known Andrew because I ordered the champagne at the bar the entire place the entire bar went silent. Oh right and the lady what are you doing? The bartender was like oh my god a gasp from a bartender then you know it's like never mind I don't know what that was but I take it back. Oh my god I was confused that he went to the back and he he started screaming to his staff

champagne she's getting the champagne champagne. Everyone came out oh my god ding ding ding came out, lined up and bowed. I was like, what? Wow. Yeah, I was like, oh no, for a glass? Yeah. Like it was my birthday. Right. Apparently in Japan, you don't drink glasses of champagne, you get the whole bottle. It's to celebrate something big. Oh wow. It was just like a Wednesday night, I just was like, oh I feel like a glass. And then oh my god and then they came out with the bottle they were like, please watch us as we open it. Wow. And I was like, I swear my Japanese is good now.

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Patience in Japan man they, they take their time. When you order something, it's like it comes when it's ready. Not when you want it. Yeah. Oh my god. Which is fine. Even in little Tokyo, there's a restaurant where Ryan, my husband, was joking. He's very funny. But we were waiting for just like a sashimi platter.

And Ryan was like, you know, sometimes, it had been like an hour. And he was like, you know, sometimes I had been like an hour and he was like, you know, sometimes I just want to go back there and be like because he's like, you know, this the sushi chef back there is just with the sword Just going mmm Just trying to make a perfect line. Yeah For nobody nobody's watching no one can see you but it's for him sweetie. No one can see you. Yeah, it's for him Yeah, oh ten thousand hours of practice

No one can see you. Yeah, it's for him. Yes. Oh 10,000 hours of practice Just perfect line. Oh if he fucks up starts over. That's right. We want to be like hey, sweetie We're in little Tokyo. We're not in regular. Tokyo. This is LA. No one's no what you are fine. Just give it to me I'm gonna eat it and poop it out in an hour. So hey sweetie, you're Korean you're not We're fine. No one's you don't need to prove anything to anybody No, it's fine We're fine. You don't need to prove anything to anybody. No, it's fine. But that is the culture that I respect, is they take care of everything, they do it really slow, they're methodical. You know, they hand-chip ice. I always thought that was wild. Every block of ice is blocks of ice, so they cut it off at a bar. They

cut it live. I thought that was so cool. They chunk it out live and then they shave it to fit the glass. They love high balls. They make them really slow and methodical. There's nothing really to it. It's just whiskey and either ginger beer or in soda water. Did you perform there? No, I wish. I've never performed anywhere outside of the States except for Canada. Canada. Yeah, yeah. We know her. Australia. We know her too. And we're about to do London. Bobby and I are doing London and Dublin. Yes.

Oh, Mexico. I should say Mexico too. Right. In the Gulf of America. That's where we were. Yes. Yeah, we went to Mexico. We performed down there. We went to perform in Cancun for that Just for Laughs Festival like the first year they did it. I don't think they do it anymore because there was a shooting at the resort right next door. I don't think that, I don't think I knew that. No, no, no, no, no. It was crazy. It was crazy news, right? It has to be. Yeah. It was like two resorts up the road or something. They shot. It was a it was this is the funniest part is because everyone panics. But then they even tell you they're like, Hey, dude, they're not they're not going to shoot tourists. They know where their money is. This is the cartel. They're killing another drug dealer. They're killing someone who did wrong by the resort. Yeah, but they're not going to kill

you. You know, I mean, you're a tourist tourist they don't want to hurt you like you're their money The cartel protects tourists they really do sure but like you know sometimes when you're you know when you're passionate When you're feeling passionate, and you're moving quick. I know oh innocent bystanders is a Term for a reason I gotta tell you I agree with you. That's a in the United States. Oh, don't worry, you'll be fine. Yeah, okay. Down there. Do they train really well? They really do, the cartel have extremely good training. Very good training.

Good aim? Good, great aim. Sometimes you're wearing the wrong clothes. You look like the enemy. I don't look Mexican at all, I don't think I have yet. Not yet. And I think you would definitely be good. I think there's no way they're gonna go,

does that one look like? That one definitely doesn't look like it. I feel like I look more like them than you. No. Dark hair. No, no. What are you talking, dark hair? I think you and I both do not fit in in Mexico.

I think you and I stand up. We should do a show. Speak for yourself. Santino and Otz go go to Mexico. Yeah, which one? Yeah, who's more Mexican? Who do you want on your on your team what was this did you find it this resort was that in December of 21 I don't know yeah it might

be cancun it just says gunfight they were the shooters arrived on jet skis oh wow if you're gonna do it do it do it do it like the old school like an 80s movie they wanted to make the news I mean and and they kind of did I guess I didn't hear about this so that's why the festival doesn't happen. That's not why I think it was financially. It didn't work for them It was also it was wild you had to like book a ticket to go to a resort big investment Yeah for them it was crazy right and to fly us all out to Cancun. I was like this is insane But that was fun. I'm sure it was awesome sagura was down There's a bunch of people that went down there to perform so it was fun

The only bummer was Bobby relapse. That was probably the biggest bummer about that entire trip. Bobby had a little relapse and then we had to send him away to rehab again. Damn, come on Cancun. Come on Cancun. It's definitely not Cancun's fault. That was Bobby's fault.

But the idea, it just sounds so lush. It's like, yeah. I mean, I quit smoking cigarettes and stuff and it's like, oh, in an environment like that. It's so hard. You wanna do it. How long did you smoke for? Oh, 18 years, you know, I quit smoking cigarettes and stuff and like it's like oh in an environment like that You want to do it? How long did you smoke for? Oh 18 years? Yeah Wow You don't have smokers skin at all though as you're lucky a lot of people that smoke for that long that you could see it on Their face. Yeah, I wonder if it's cuz you know 18 years as in like I started at 18 Yeah, I don't know. Does that no, I don't think it matters. I think 20 years of smoking is

Does that? No, I don't think it matters. I think 20 years of smoking is 20 years of smoking. You'll get it. Either way. I think at some point, two decades is a long time. I love to smoke. No smokey for me. I still do try sometimes to... It's hard.

To do it? Well, I like nicotine. Sure. Yeah. So it's really hard to not have it, especially with coffee. I think it's like the two greatest... I mean, it's a super drug. You go to any AA meeting and they all have cigarettes and coffee because it's like the two greatest. I mean, it's a super drug. You go to any AA meeting and they all have cigarettes and coffee because it's like the perfect blend

of legal drugs. Yeah, during the daytime it's what you can enjoy. I mean, yeah. And then at night too, it's nice to just calm down with one cigarette. And just have one at night. Oh, come on. Yeah, so.

Did your husband smoke too? Yeah, so before we were together, he was smoking two packs a day. then two packs a day is that's legit He had quit before you know sometimes people tell you that oh two packs a day sometimes three and you go wait You do the math and you're like oh you were smoking every five minutes you had to have at least How would you change smoking all day? Yeah, you'd have to smoke every couple of minutes to make that happen So he was champion. He was ranked. He was world ranked in smoking. Oh, and then he had quit before we met.

And then there I was a smoker and he didn't pick it up. Really? He's that good. A better person than me. No, no chance. No, no, no. I bet him he's a great guy, but you're still great. So it's not a competition. You're right. But you're you're number one in my book.

Oh my God. With strength, with inner strength, with inner inner strength and outer strength. You are very strong. You've been going to the gym a lot more. Probably you, you more than me because we were talking about the things, staying busy on vacation right? Yeah. So you're talking, you already sound more physically like you're doing the hikes. You're going to tiny towns where you don't speak the language. That's right. Very adventurous. I like getting lost. Were you maybe like the first white person they'd seen in a while? Certainly the first white person with red hair.

Certainly that was a shock. I mean everywhere I went they stared. Who did you go with? Your family. I went with my entire family. Yeah. I don't have a family. Just a wife.

But I didn't go with my family. We don't have kids. Yeah. I just just funny to I sometimes will say that my family Mm-hmm, but it's like well, I don't have a fee. We don't have kids you would do as of kids Sometimes family is one person. I think it is very much like that but when you say that to people they immediately assume oh you must have children so it is this weird moment of like Yeah, my family and they're like how many kids you like we don't have any where that's where the family. Yeah. Yeah Yeah, like you don't have kids, right? No, and we're very like, how many kids? You're like, we don't have any. We're the family. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, you don't have kids, right?

No, no, and we're very like not going to. Not gonna happen. Yeah. Good. Good for you. Yeah. And I say good for you only because people usually go, see, I feel it the other way. Cause we say, yeah, we're not gonna have kids.

And people go, why not? Don't you have kids? And they pry in a way where it's like, I don't know, man, I don't feel like sharing it with you. I don't feel like it's your business that my life It's weird. It is strange people put the thumb on you when you especially if you're in your 40s They're like, oh, yeah, you don't want kids, huh? Right, right sick Are you dying? Yes, you're dying. You know that you're gonna die soon. Who did you kill? Who did you murder? Yeah

Yeah, you're on the run Yeah, cuz you know saying no, we're not gonna have kids means there's just more reasons than yes, we, yeah, because, you know, saying no, we're not going to have kids means there's just more reasons than, yes, we had kids. Right. It's like also, yeah, it's like, yeah, exactly. In fact, Ryan just got a vasectomy. Did he? Yeah.

Do you have any photos? Oh, of this procedure? Yes. Of a post? Yeah, we'll post some right here. We'll put them in the middle here of some vasectomy photos. They tape your penis to your stomach for the procedure. They have to. For a guy for a welfare of dick as big as his, for sure.

And then they shave it. What? We were confused. Well, they shave his balls. Also, the other stuff. We were like, afterwards, we were like, wait, they should tell us everything they're going to do because now we're playing detective. Why did they shave his belly? We were like, why did they? And not a good job too. So it's just like kind of random.

They just did it fast, like they were mad or something. And then they were like, we're done. And then he's like, oh, I'm just bald in random spots. They didn't even do a good job. Why do they shave my belly? We had to take a while to figure it out. And then we read on it and then we're like, oh, okay. They tape your penis to your stomach. So you to take a while to figure it out and then we read on it and then we're like, oh, okay, they tape your penis to your stomach. Yeah. So you look like a dog.

Yeah. They want your penis up. You look, that's how dogs are, right? Right. That's my favorite. Yeah. The belly, put the, put it up on the belly, but it makes sense though. They don't want the wiener getting in the way. Yes, of course. Yeah. So yes, but the shaving, you know, it was just like, he had a couple of procedures done actually, so it took a longer time to heal. But we're glad we did it. Wait, he had multiple? He had one more. There was like an injury so that they had to, they were like, let's do two in a row.

A penis injury? It's actually sack, sack injury. Oh, sack injury. You guys need to slow down. Whatever you're doing in the bedroom, take it easy, dude. We had no idea. You're beating up this guy's sack? What are you doing? We had no idea. Hitting it like a speed bag? Apparently this is from the past.

Oh, from someone else. Someone else did this to him. I think someone else. Interesting. That's a conversation, huh? Who did this to your nuts? You know when you get older, all your past injuries come back, right, to you. When it's cold.

I feel my back. I hurt. Everything hurts. My teeth hurt. From your athlete days? From my athletic days. No, just getting, getting out of a car hurts sometimes. Yeah. We're just, it's just, the body's done.

And did you know, most times it's because it was from like, oh, oh, your shoulders hurt this way because you might not remember, but when you were 10, you know what I mean? Yeah, 100%. Your brother pushed you off of a, yeah. Right, and you don't remember because you blacked out. Right. Right.

And you started drinking when you were in your teens and that yeah help to forget everything oh the good old days that's different that's when the Irish family and the Asian family differ we smart we start later yeah with a drinking but when you guys go you go hard Japanese go crazy hard yeah one of the hardest drinking countries I've ever seen. They act like they're not allergic. I'm not. You don't get red. Yes. Yeah me and my dad We don't have it in our genes. For people that don't know there is there is a gene Yeah That Asians will get very very red in their in their face and sometimes on your neck and your body almost break out a little

Bit in hives from alcohol because you're allergic to it. Yeah, totally. Well, that's the body saying, we don't, this is not good. This is not good. Let's stop. Hey, hey. Let's cut it out. And we're like, no, I came in like a wrecking ball. But yeah, it doesn't hit me. So yeah. But do you still enjoy having a couple of cocktails or do you slow down a little bit? Oh, no. Yeah. I drink pretty much every night. You do?

Yeah. Not till blackout, but like, yeah. But you don't like it, like we talked about on this show, sometimes we have a cocktail, but you won't drink during the day at all. Nighttime is the right time for you. Yeah, yeah. Daytime, I get sleepy. I'm a sleepy baby. Can't do it. Sleepy girl, yeah. Little sleepy baby girl. I'll slow down, but nighttime, it's, I don't know what it is.

I'm sure there's a disorder or something. I don't only nighttime. Do I have energy to keep going? Oh, that's smart Well, I like to think it's because we work and live at night. We're night people. Yeah, you know our jobs exist at night So we turn our what is that called your circadian rhythm changes? Thank you so much. Yeah, doctor You're welcome. Yeah, your circadian rhythm is different because you have lived a life for the past. How many years how long you been stand up? I guess like 15 16. You see what I mean? Like for 15 years you've changed your body's behavior to go I have to turn on at 8 to 10 p.m. or even after till midnight and then I have to shut down. So your body naturally is like well we got to change the way we pattern the chemical release in this

person's machine. Yeah. They're working while you're while you're sleeping they're working. They're trying to flush out that thing. But as comedians age too and they're like, oh, I'm actually waking up early now too, or they get sober or something, right? It's a real fight. Well, you have to go back to being a human at some point. That's why I asked about the hobbies. It's like, have you grown up now in comedy and life where you're like, if I don't do this other thing, I don't feel good as a comedian anymore? Yeah. Yeah. Right. I need to figure out a hobby. We've got to get that for you like I have if I don't do this other thing I don't feel good as a comedian anymore yeah yeah I know right I need to figure out I gotta get that for you I was on like daytime

TV in London and we were talking about hobbies and so the producer story producer was like hey Atsuko you were fun jewelry can you bring all your jewelry to the show so I just had all this jewelry I have like food jewelry Right now my nails are like shrimp, for example. I do love that. The shrimps are so cool. I'm like very like 12 when it comes to like, you know, jewelry, like it's food jewelry. I have like Ritz cracker earrings, things like that.

Those are cool. So I bring those in, I look insane, right? I'm holding them in my hands, loose, and everyone's talking about their interests. They cut to me, Atsuko, what are you, and Atsuko, what are you? And Atsuko, we understand as a hobby you collect jewelry. And I was like, I feel like I've been forced

into talking about this actually, because I have no interest. This is what happens. So now I'm the jewelry girl. I love jewelry. You know what I mean? So I was like, because everyone else was like, oh, I golf or I knit. I fish or I knit or yeah, I like to hike or I like to run

Yeah, you like to do none of this you like to collect stuff you like to you like to buy art and wear it Yeah, but that doesn't take up enough time. But let's keep the let's you we can why don't you start making your own art? Then once you make jewelry. Yeah, I'll try to be someone else I've tried sweetie sweetie. I've tried. It's hard huh? I tried planting lettuce and then I was like hold on my husband stopped me he said wait wait this is not your interest. Right. And I was like you're right this is I got inspired looking at someone else's Instagram. Yes you try to be someone else. Oh yeah. Well you're you. It's fine. You're unmistakably you. Thank you. Yeah, who cares? Father? Watch father. Now on Hulu. Perfect transition. Father, doctor, husband. Is it about your dad? I talk about my dad a

little bit. Yeah. But also, you know, a lot of my fans call me mother. Yes. And but moms have it together. So I'm more like. Some of them? Yeah. Some people's moms are not together. For sure. Yes. And mine. And I'm so sorry to hear that. But his parents are chaos. We have that in common. Yeah. Except you turned out a lot better. Is that right? Yeah. I don't know. My mom has has schizophrenia and so she wild too. She's wild. Schizophrenia is interesting, huh? When did she discover she was schizophrenic? When was it diagnosed at a certain point in your childhood? More diagnosed in my 20s. Oh, not when you were a kid. But you felt it as a kid, huh? As a kid, I was like, I didn't know what was wrong with her. I thought,

I was like, is it a Taiwanese thing? Right, could be. My right my grandma also was like oh she's just hungry she's hungry all the time we got a feeder hurry put put bread in her mouth she you know whenever she'd be acting up or being paranoid hearing things look at the look in the vents for microphones you know she would do that yeah she Oh, sweetie, she's just hungry. And I'm like, really? Because she just ate. Right. She's eating right now while she's talking about the microphones.

Yeah, I was like, I didn't have other moms to compare her to. I just knew all my friends' moms were not like that. Right. Yeah. So schizophrenia, she was diagnosed in your 20s. Did it make your relationship stronger or more complex? I think that, oh gosh, maybe, well at that time, by my 20s I was like trying to find a family

outside of my family. So I ran off with a boyfriend, you know, when I was 17 I left. Smart. Because I was like, oh, know this this is too much this You know, we were living in a garage My uncle's garage and a garage is not enough space to hold schizophrenia and a bitch going through puberty I said, oh, maybe one of those things, you know what you need space. Yeah, you had an eating disorder

You cannot be we barely we had like one toilet that we had to share We were sleeping on top of each other Wow So I was like, okay, I gotta go. So I was stoked to find a boyfriend. And where'd you guys run off to? Santa Clarita, California. Not that far. But it's the suburbs away from West LA where I was.

Where you were from, right? Yeah, just far enough where it was like, you know, I was suddenly living with that boyfriend and his dad. Oh wow, not in a garage. Not in a garage. I was like, what, this is the life. And yeah, I didn't know anyone would ever, they made the show Santa Clarita Diet. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. And a lot of things shoot out there. What's her, what's that? I'm sure you've shot up there. I've seen that show, I like that show. Isn't it, is it Drew Barrymore? Yeah, what's wrong with me? Yeah, Drew Barrymore.

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at BetterHelp.com slash whiskey. That's BetterHelp.com, betterH-E-L-P.com slash whiskey. Ginger, I like gingers. I like that. Oh, and Skylar, Skylar Gazomdo. Ooh. This guy, he's funny. I like that show. Oh, it's Skylar, Skylar Gazando. Ooh, I've actually never seen that show. Just stop for the first two. No, I do like that kid.

He was the kid from Family Vacation, right? Yeah, he's in Reads and Righteous Jumps. Right, right, right. I've actually never seen Santa Clara de Daya. That's pretty good. Yeah? Yeah, I mean, it was a good show. I don't remember any shows I watched anymore. I remember if I liked them or not.

Like if you're like, give me like the story arcs for Breaking Bad, I'd be like, I don't remember, but I liked it a lot. Sure, sure, sure. But we kinda know, like at least, you know, there was drugs and cartels. Drugs, car wash, yeah, laundromats. You know what I mean?

Like that's kinda how I remember things anymore because I've seen so much shit. Yeah, yeah. You know, like you watch so much shit that you're like, I don't know, I liked it. Like Barry. I loved Barry. People are like, you really like Barry? I was like, yeah, I loved Barry. And then they're like, what was your favorite? Like, what was your favorite part? It's like, it was good. It's because the way we watch TV now, it's all binged. Yeah, just binge binge. We don't sit with shit. But I will tell you the show that I'm in love with. Huh. The best show in television, probably history.

What is it? What is it? Love on the Spectrum. Oh my god, same! Are you kidding? Oh my god. Hatsko, yes! I would like to... James, I'm like, oh, we're doing impressions. See you again! James.

Yeah. Okay, that's James you knocked out. How about this one? How about, Hatsko, I've been so... We love Connor. Love Connor. We love Connor. Waiting for you.

I like when he has to stumble through when he'll go It's been so long since I've seen you. Oh, I love Connor. Connor of the old world of the old world That's how I found out what old world meant. Falcon Ridge That's what my my my home will be called Who are you most like who who do you connect to? Who are you most like? Who do you connect to on the show? That's really interesting. I'll tell you who I absolutely love. Yes, Cal, yes, I know so much. Yes, I love you so much. I love you. Oh, yes, you look good. You look good. You do look good. Yes.

Tanner. He's like a cheerleader. He's a cheerleader, always very positive. He's also very aware of his feelings. What I find so interesting, I said this the other night to my wife, I was like, it's funny to see how truthful they are to their actual feelings and how when we date people, we play the game and you do the thing and whatever you like. At like one of the first dates we ever went on was to Pinkberry.

She like, my wife liked Pinkberry. I fucking hate Pinkberry. And I was like, oh, I love Pinkberry. I fucking hate it. I know. But the beauty of the autistic kids is they will literally go, I don't like, I don't like Pinkberry and I was like, oh, I love Pinkberry. I fucking hate it. I know. But the beauty of the autistic kids is they will literally go, I don't like, I don't like Pinkberry.

Right. And it's great. It's like we should all be have the balls to be like, I don't want to have that, but I'll go with you. Yeah. If that's okay. But why do we eat it to lie to play Kate? Because we want to be normal.

And there are these- But how ironic is it that they're more normal by telling the truth. We're actually becoming, we're being abnormal by lying about what we really like and dislike. And they're being more normal, quote unquote, or honest, to go, I don't want to watch that, and they just say it instead of like, I'll go to the movie and sit through it. So then it's about them going, these are my boundaries, and then how do I fit into the world that has rules, right?

Yeah, we need to do that. And so it's like, okay, so if I can't be quiet at a library, then I'm not a library person. And that's okay. Yes. And I read at home. And so I think about this all the time with my mom too. When the pandemic happened and we all got locked down, we were all down and depressed. My mom was thriving.

She was thriving. She was like, what are you? Because she doesn't leave the house. She has paranoia. She has no friends. You know, she hasn't worked a job. She has tremors. She gets seizures.

It's just hard for her. And so when she found out we were all locked down, it was all like, finally she had a community. It was like, I've been locked down. I've been inside. You mean we're all experiencing inside right now? You know what I mean? She felt normal.

And it's about that, where it's like, oh yeah. And my mom's paranoia, she's not wrong. Well, the microphones in the vents probably are wrong. The government, I have to be like, no mom, the government isn't listening to our conversations. She's right. Yeah, she is. Our phones, be careful, you know, they kind of know.

But to overcompensate, I have to tell her she's wrong and crazy, so that she would just act normal. But she's right. She is. She's like, you know, the vaccine has killed people. You know, there was like a nurse. And I have to be the insane person being like, just so that she would get the shot. I have to be like, you know why that nurse died, mom?

Because she was a weak person. And you know what you are? You're not weak. You're very strong. I'm saying insane things about this poor woman who did die from the vaccine. But like, and she's not wrong, you know? I have to tell her things like that. But's not wrong, you know, I have to

tell her things like that. But again, like, you know, she's the first one in our family, for example, who was like, the church is all BS. It's just an excuse to this and that and take your money. And we're like, she's insane, right? Like, she's the she was right. She was right. What other what other grand ideas did she have that that you see as you grow older? You're like, that was actually pretty true too. Oh gosh, you know, oh well, this is very like, it's like Taiwan politics. But one of her big paranoia is that China, from the beginning, that China was going to want Taiwan back. And she called it. Yeah.

She's more of like a, what do they call them, like a soothsayer. Oh my gosh, yeah, a witch. She sees into the future. But we have to always, you know, and I've stopped doing that, like watching Love on the Spectrum, for example. I'm like, yeah, you just got to like, why was I trying to like water her down when she's right and, you know, just let her be who she is. But we just need to, it's about figuring out how she can live in the world.

How do you position her? Yeah. Yeah, to win. Yeah. And the more people realize what's going on the more it's normalized It's easier, right? Cuz right don't you think if you saw an autistic person out in the bound the world you could identify easier than before I work with one now. We have a whole studio filled with them

I mean literally our entire staff is autistic and I mean that it's and we're remarkable It's actually a requirement when you fill out an application Well, you start going, hey, I think actually all my friends are after watching the show too. And I go, I am too. I know a lot of people like this. I'm like, I am Tanner. Yeah, yeah.

Who do you identify with? Oh, I really- Are you an Abby? Are you a- I identify with Tanner a lot. Oh, you like Tanner, okay. I'm cheerleader energy, actually. You are, yeah, you are very upbeat.

I like being like, yes, I am. I don't want anyone to feel like an outsider or like feel like, you know, you're a freak. You're a people pleaser. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Yeah. And so I'm very like that. Yeah. I'm going to try to guess which one you are.

Yeah. I don't know. I think I'm probably closest to like, probably Connor. Yeah. You're like a Connor Tanner. is to like, probably Conor. I would- Yeah, you're like a Conor or Tanner. Yeah, like a Conor, Tanner, a combination. Tanner is like your outward when you're like hanging out, when you're hosting a podcast, right?

You have to be a yes and person. Totally, totally, totally. Yeah, yeah, yes you do, yes you do. Let's go, yeah, I do. See, and I feel it. But when I'm at home, that's the way I like things. I am that way. When I'm at home, I like things the way I like it. But when I'm at home, that's the way I like things. I am that way. When I'm at home, I like things the way I like them.

I got it from my dad too. What is it called? OCD. Yeah, I have that. Mine's pretty bad. Yeah? Yeah, it's pretty bad. I need to have a particular grasp on how things are laid out and how things, the way things look.

It's a little strange. Just organized. I like it to be put away. Structured. I like it to be put away. Yeah, I don't know why I like it so much. I need structure. I think it's just because I grew up with it,

so it makes me feel like things are okay. Yeah. Even if they're totally fucking not. I didn't grow up with that. Any structure. Yeah. Yeah, you grew up with a... So I thrive in chaos. You like chaos. Mm-hmm. But you still have your life so much together. I've had to learn to do that because too many like failed things. Too many failed attempts at things. Yeah, too many being late to

things, too many you know maybe losing a job or something. Because you were on time here first of all. Oh my gosh. And your career is very, very good. So obviously you're putting in a lot of effort to like make things happen. Right, right. You're not a lazy person. When it comes to like certain things, like stand up, yeah. But then, you know, like my keys will still sometimes be in like a pile of, like amongst the pile of clothes.

But I'll know where it is because chaos. Yeah, chaos. My husband has ADD, dyslexia. He can only see one out of one eye. And so he needs things to be organized. Is he blind in one eye? He is, yeah. What happened?

From my injury, eye injury. So his nutsack and his eye, I'm gonna put this together over how he was injured and who did this to him. Yes, yes. Was he in the filming of the Jackass, the original Jackass one? I feel like. Get kicked in the nuts and blinded by Steve-O? Then maybe we'd have. Yeah, yes. Was he in the filming of the Jackass, the original Jackass 1? I feel like.

Get kicked in the nuts and blinded by Steve-O? Then maybe we'd have. Yeah, dude. Then maybe we'd have like residuals or something. Yeah, something would be coming in. To pay for these. Yeah. Precisions. What happened to his eye, if you care to share?

A light bulb, a light bulb exploded and then one of the glass pieces like landed in the eye. Just exploded, is this Final Destination? Remember Spencer's like. Gifts. Gifts. Oh, loved a good pieces landed in the eye. Just exploded. Is this Final Destination? Remember Spencer's? Gifts? Gifts. Oh, loved the good Spencer's in the mall. But they sell wild things that maybe aren't always like...

Okay, so like lava lamps? Loved. They get really hot. Should they? Sure do. There's a light. There's a big light heating up that lava. And that burst. Yeah, it's dangerous. You gotta be careful. I've never heard that in the history of lava lamps.

We used to leave mine on for like hours and hours and hours and hours. I think it was the other lava lamp or like a, what is it called? Like a dark lamp? I'll ask him. Like a black light? Black light, maybe.

Those get hot too. I mean, if you leave anything on long enough, it's gonna get hot, I guess, right? And then something about moisture, maybe it was like a piece of like like water gone on it something like that it sounds like something else happened to him and he just told you that story to be like yeah it was a lava lamp I guess yeah one of those things but it exploded across the room and blind it says lava lamps can

explode although it's not a common occurrence they're pressurized and excessive heat can cause the glass to shatter. It's usually- Ironic because heat and pressure are exactly what makes the lava move. Yeah, it says leaving it on too long, placing it on a location that's already hot, or like it says placing it on a hot stove top, but who would do that? I remember my mom said to me, she was like, why do you like that stupid lava lamp so much? And I was like, I really enjoy the- This is your Connor.

Mom! I like it. Yeah. the... This is your Connor. Mom! I like it! Because I've smoked weed today! That's why, because I would get stoned and sit in my room and I'd like the colors, you know? Yeah, no one can take your joy. Nobody can take... Well, a lot of people are trying, I'll tell you that, including him and a bunch of other

people that are a part of my life right now are taking my joy. You let him talk to you like this and you, this is a free, right? You do this for free, is that? No, he gets paid. Let me tell you something. Where were you at 25 again? Were you living in a garage at 25? No, no.

I was in Santa Clarita, California. With that guy? Yes. So this guy lives alone at 25 years old. So I've supported this young man. I've given him the world. He's my son. I treat him as such.

I even say that he's checking into a hotel tonight. And when I call, I say, my son's going to check in before I get there. Oh, yes. I refer to him as such. I even say that he's checking into a hotel tonight And when I call I say my son's gonna check in before I get there. Oh, yeah, I heard him as my son I've actually I asked for his blessing from his father because I don't have any kids I feel like I have to raise a few people around me sure Bobby being one of them as a 52 year old man Yes, that's very very he's my oldest son. Yeah, you know we have chosen family and this is it This is my chosen family. This is your chosen and stand-up and your husband are your chosen family Yes, yeah, and yeah, and you're two-for-two there man. You're a great stand-up and you got a cool husband. So I think you win the war. Wow. It's almost over for you. It's you're done. This is a war. This competition.

I think life is a war. Well life is war, right? Life is life is life is a war of attrition. It's how can you keep going during all the bullshit? Yeah, we're really resilient as humans. Well, you're much more than I am for sure Yeah, I'm gonna break down any minute now. Oh, but considering, you know pollen alone can take us down. It's happening right now We just kept figuring it out. Oh, oh Allergy pills, you know what I mean? Right? We've we've we've managed to kind of duck and dive all the things that want to kill us Right sober January, you know, like with a spiritual stuff stones rocks Whatever you carry to make you feel better and what do you carry to make you feel better? Oh, I do have a rock in my backpack you do. Yeah, I have a little stone that my dad gave me as well

I travel I always do live show when I do live shows. I have it on me Are we twin? Did you know about this my stone? No, my dad gave me a stone and I keep it in my pocket Particularly when I do tapings I take it on the road for me But if I do any sort of taping whatsoever, I keep the stone in my pocket. But it's small enough it doesn't show. It is extremely tiny. You would never even see it. And it's very flat. It's like a lake stone, you know, like a skipping stone. Okay, okay. It's smooth.

It's very smooth. Yeah, because if it was sharp, you'd see it sometimes in your performance. Right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd nudge up against it. Right, right, right. What's in the bag, by the way? I have to know. Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. Tell'd nudge up against it. Right, right, right. What's in the bag, by the way? I have to know. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Tell me what's in the bag. It is, it is Fun Tea from Taiwan.

Tea from Taiwan! Yeah, it's tea bags. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, And each of them is an animal. It's an animal, speaking of animals and petting, you know, an elephant one day for you and me. Is that a, okay, so it goes, it's a panda, then is that a platypus?

What is that below a panda? I feel like that's actually a crane, which is you know, a very Asian bird. Okay, then a monkey and then a deer and then a bear itself. This is the best part about Asian stuff is that it's allowed to be as fun as it should be. Yeah, and this is for adults. Whereas in America, we make adult shit look like an adult stuff. Like tea in the States, boring. They don't do this for this. Immediately the assumption is it's for kids.

In Taiwan, it's for adults. Yeah. It's just being your true self. We're always trying to be back to our childlike self. You know, everything, if you think about all the adult stuff is very childlike golf is a childlike idea It's a sports little game. It's a stupid little game. It's a childlike idea Oh, how do I like, you know, just chill with friends and like kind of like call it a sport We need a lot of land a lot of land a lot of land

That's like a childlike idea and play outside all day. Yeah hours. Yeah, what will rich people do to show their rich? Lot of land a lot of land we need Yeah, what will rich people do to show they're rich? A lot of land. A lot of land. We need land, you know? We need to own it. We need to take it from whoever had it and own it. Yeah, it's like, oh, you know, to make something look adult, you're supposed to take away all the color in something.

That's a very childlike way to think that's what being an adult is like. Without color? You know? Just, yes this this minimal gray design is T right boring yeah straightforward but how I mean while yeah meanwhile it's like the party's here dude tonight I'm gonna have myself a panda when I get home please I might actually have it I might have a monkey you and your wife get going go which animal are you yeah which character and

loves love on spectrum are you well she character in Love on Spectrum are you? Well, she's the deer for sure. She is? She's a deer, soft, sweet, subtle, very powerful and yet just subtle and soft to the eye. And I'm closer to the platypus because it's as ugly as you thought it was going to be. Your wife's more like a David from Love on the Spectrum maybe? Yes. David is very sweet.

That's exactly right. Very sweet, very like Karen. Like when you do something sweet. Like maybe she's very... Thank you Abby! Yeah. Yeah, he's very polite. God, if you haven't seen the show by the way, and this episode will have come out when it's all over.

I've seen all the episodes of this season and I can't wait for another one. It's the only kind of content Netflix should be making. It's the feel good, you know, everyone wants love and you see it in the show and you see honesty and there is a song on the show this season That it will shake your world stays with me. Oh, it'll shake your world Listen, I appreciate you coming over to our show. I thank you for the tea pack. It's been enlightening and wonderful as usual I want my friends and family and people and loved ones and Whiskey Ginger fans, please go watch her special. It's available right now on Hulu, the same platform that I'll be on later in the year.

Ours will also be available. It's also available on Disney Plus. Disney Plus because of the package, right? So everyone around the world can watch. Watch Father right now and spread the word. Tell everybody else about it. Let this Hulu train keep rolling because we want to find other outlets to have comedy appear all over the world Thank you for being here. You look amazing

I just realized we're both wearing the same kind of tonal shirt like it's the same kind of cream and then you're orange And I'm orange up here, so we actually kind of oddly match yeah We end the show the same way you look into that camera your single And you say one word or one phrase to end the episode. Some people do a word. Some people do a phrase of wisdom. But whenever you're ready. Yes. Orange in here, we pour with creature in the ginger. St Sturdy and ginger. Like vampires, the ginger gene is a curse. Gingers are beautiful.

You owe me $5 for the whiskey and $75 for the horse. Gingers are hell no. This whiskey is excellent. Ginger. I like gingers.