Danny Trejo's Tattoo Is More Famous Than He Is | 2 Bears, 1 Cave

Summary

Podcast Summary: Danny Trejo's Tattoo Is More Famous Than He Is | 2 Bears, 1 Cave

Podcast Information:

• Title: 2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer
• Host/Authors: Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer, YMH Studios
• Episode: Danny Trejo's Tattoo Is More Famous Than He Is
• Release Date: November 25, 2024

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Introduction: Setting the Stage

In this engaging episode of 2 Bears, 1 Cave, hosts Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer are joined by none other than the iconic actor Danny Trejo. The conversation delves deep into Trejo’s tumultuous past, his rise in Hollywood, the significance of his famous tattoo, and the profound impact of his relationships both within and outside prison walls.

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Danny Trejo’s Journey into Hollywood

The episode kicks off with Bert introducing Danny Trejo’s authentic entry into the film industry. Trejo recounts his casting in the seminal film Runaway Train:

“I remember when they had picked somebody else and then they wanted me after I showed up. And Andre Godzillowski, the director, was trying to tell people, no, look, this is Eric Roberts. He goes to Eric's face like this. Look, face, look. And this other guy was kind of Spaniard, Spanish. He goes, yeah, look.” ([01:21])

Trejo explains how his genuine persona resonated with the film’s needs, leading him to train co-star Eric Roberts in boxing for authenticity on set.

“I started training Eric Roberts how to box for a movie called Runaway Train. And Eric, you know, well deserved. He was a movie star.” ([04:50])

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The Tattoo that Defined a Career

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Trejo’s infamous chest tattoo, which has become almost as recognizable as the man himself. Trejo shares:

“That is the most recognizable tattoo in the world. So recognizable and so funny. That was more recognizable than me.” ([46:22])

He elaborates on how the tattoo became his calling card, opening doors in Hollywood and shaping his on-screen persona.

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Life Behind Bars: Stories of Survival and Friendship

Trejo offers an unfiltered look into his life before fame, highlighting his multiple incarcerations and the influence of key individuals like Eddie Bunker:

“Eddie Bunker is awesome. He taught me how to fight, you know, taught me how to fight. And everything he gave me allowed me to succeed in the path that I took.” ([22:27])

Bunker, a fellow inmate and friend, played a pivotal role in Trejo’s life, providing strategies for survival and eventually aiding him in transitioning to a life post-prison.

Trejo discusses the harsh realities of prison life, emphasizing the importance of displaying strength and the psychological challenges inmates face:

“Prison is a very scary place, but nobody can show it, you know? And because in prison, you learn to smell any kind of weakness, any kind of fear, any kind of sorrow, you can pick it up.” ([08:33])

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Overcoming Addiction: The Road to Recovery

A heartfelt segment of the podcast delves into Trejo’s battle with addiction. He recounts his initial exposure to drugs and alcohol at a young age:

“First, I started going to AA by accident... And I. Everything happened accident. But there was a big party in our neighborhood... So we stopped, went to the tool, went to the trunk of the car to get the tools necessary to crash parties.” ([35:21])

Meeting his sponsor, Johnny Harris, was a turning point:

“That's where I met Johnny Harris, my sponsor, right? And he told me, the only thing that's gonna beat you to Quentin are the headlights on the bus.” ([39:11])

This relationship underscored the importance of community and support in his journey to sobriety.

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The Significance of Uncle Gilbert

Uncle Gilbert emerges as a central figure in Trejo’s narrative, representing both the allure of a troubled lifestyle and the mentorship that steered him:

“He taught me how to fight, you know, taught me how to fight. And everything he gave me allowed me to succeed in the path that I took... He turned me on to drugs.” ([22:27])

Despite his contributions to Trejo’s early life, Gilbert also exposed him to the pitfalls of addiction and criminal activity, illustrating the complex dynamics of familial influence.

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Building a Life Beyond the Cage

Transitioning from prison to Hollywood, Trejo emphasizes the transformative power of his SAG card and the roles that followed:

“I started going from movie to movie to movie because they were making a whole bunch of prison movies... And so I just kept working. I kept going from movie to movie to movie, and that's the way it's been my whole career.” ([06:10])

He also touches upon his work as a drug counselor, illustrating his commitment to helping others overcome the struggles he once faced.

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A Passion for Cars and Culture

Beyond his acting career, Trejo shares his love for cars, particularly lowriders, and how this passion intertwines with his cultural heritage:

“I think nine lowriders. Nine different lowriders? Yeah. I got a building right now, the most gorgeous 19. 1949 Chevy Stepside Pickup truck. Oh, wow. It's absolutely stunningly gorgeous.” ([54:32])

This segment highlights the deep-rooted connections between personal interests and cultural identity, showcasing another facet of Trejo’s multifaceted life.

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Impactful Friendships and Acts of Kindness

A poignant moment in the episode highlights Trejo’s unwavering commitment to helping others, regardless of their backgrounds:

“When I met him, I run into him in a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. And 10 years ago, he saved my son's life. Literally... He didn't have no shoes, but I got him.” ([60:29])

These stories underscore the theme that acts of kindness and support can create lasting, positive ripples in one’s life and the lives of others.

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Final Reflections: Legacy and Influence

As the conversation winds down, both hosts reflect on Trejo’s enduring legacy in film and his personal growth:

“You guys have so much. I want to go back to the History Channel show for a second... Eight episodes coming out. By the way, History Channels got my number. I love everything they do.” ([75:02])

Trejo’s influence extends beyond his film roles, impacting those around him and inspiring listeners to embrace compassion and resilience.

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Notable Quotes:

1. On Authenticity in Acting:

   “I went into and I kind of like just reminiscing, and I'm watching everybody, and they're all being stupid, but because everybody thinks prison is this, like, get out of the way. I'll kill you. It’s not, man.” ([08:33])

2. On the Power of a Single Choice:

   “I'm sorry, I thought I shut that off... It's so real this show is.” ([04:55])

3. On Overcoming Fear and Strength:

   “Prison is probably the most right now place in the world. Right now.” ([41:48])

4. On Helping Others:

   “But you do something that... I woke up today and I was like, that's going to be. My new thing is you said, I just want to help. I'm going to see what it feels like to help people.” ([63:29])

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Conclusion: A Story of Redemption and Resilience

This episode of 2 Bears, 1 Cave offers a raw and intimate glimpse into Danny Trejo’s life, illustrating his journey from the depths of addiction and prison to becoming a beloved figure in Hollywood. Through his stories, Trejo exemplifies the power of authenticity, the significance of supportive relationships, and the enduring impact of personal transformation. Listeners are left with a profound understanding of Trejo’s resilience and the meaningful legacy he continues to build.

Transcript

[Tom Segura]

Belfast. I just added a second show on March 16th, or as you say, the 16th of March at Waterfront Hall. The pre sale starts tomorrow at 10am local time with the promo code Tommy T O M M Y coming up. I'll also be in Tallahassee, Florida on November 29, New Orleans on December 7, Pensacola, December 8, Richmond, Virginia, January 10. The Late show has been added. Norfolk, Virginia, January 11, and Louisville, Kentucky, January 16 and 17. The 17th is sold out, so tickets are available for January 16. All the dates and info are at tomscagura.com tour 100%.

[Bert Kreischer]

Ladies and gentlemen, new episode of Two Bears One Cave. And finally, my partner is actually Latino. My best friend claims Latino when it's. When it seems convenient. Danny, Absolutely. He speaks Spanish. His mom's from Peru, but his dad was white. And when he speaks Spanish, it catches everyone off guard. Coming into the city, coming into Hollywood. When you got into Hollywood, because you came in, like, legit, like, your first movie was Runaway Train. And one of the reasons that you popped so hard was you were the authentic version of what they were trying to make a movie about. Like you were the real deal.

[Danny Trejo]

That's kind of what the director said. I remember when they had picked somebody else and then they wanted me after I showed up. And Andre Godzillowski, the director, was trying to tell people, no, look, this is Eric Roberts. He goes to Eric's face like this. Look, face, look. And this other guy was kind of Spaniard, Spanish. He goes, yeah, look.

[Bert Kreischer]

Hey.

[Danny Trejo]

I go, is this guy clowning me or what did he say? He says adversary. It was adversary. Or, you know, like against each other, like a rock. We look like enemies, you know what I mean? So these other guys look like lovers, you know? So. So I. I ended up boxing Eric Roberts for that.

[Bert Kreischer]

I just watched that this morning, like, because I've heard so much about the lore of that story. I'm obsessed with, like, the little things in life that change your life forever. The one choice you make that. That all of a sudden, and for you, it was. You got a call from someone saying there's coke on set, right?

[Danny Trejo]

No. Well, yeah, this guy was staying clean, you know, and he called me and said, hey, there's so much blow down here, man. I'm. I got 108 days clean. Please. So I just went down to hang out with him. And unbeknownst to me that I was supposed to go down there the next day anyway as an extra. So I walked on the set and that night and to hang out with this kid And. And I run into a. A friend of mine that I was in prison with. A guy named Eddie Bunker.

[Bert Kreischer]

Eddie Bunker is fascinating. Eddie Bunker. Hold on. Remember, please tell me your stories about Eddie Bunker.

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, he's awesome.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay, keep going.

[Danny Trejo]

I apologize, but he's looking at me. He says, hey, you're Danny Trejo. Yeah. He says, what are you doing here? I said, they're gonna give me 50 bucks for acting like a convict, you know, and we laugh because we've been doing that for free for all our lives. So he says, hey, you know what? We need somebody to trained one of the actors out of box. I'm like, what's it pay? And he said, 320 a day. And I said, how bad you want this guy? Beat him. I thought I wasn't making that a week, homie, and a day. I would take two minutes to beat him up. And he said, no, no, you got to be real careful. This kid's high strong man. He might sock you. I said, Eddie, for 320 bucks, give him a stick. Are you crazy? I've been beat up for free, homie. I started training Eric Roberts how to box for a movie called Runaway Train. And Eric, you know, well deserved. He was a movie star. So movie stars have their own way of acting on the set, and sometimes it doesn't agree with the director. You know, I want to rest now and go through and everything stops. So Eric respected me, you know, so when they wanted. They wanted him, they would tell me, go get Eric. You know, I'd go get Eric and, come on, Eric, let's. Let's do this. And then we'll train because he wanted to train him.

[Bert Kreischer]

Please be Eric Roberts.

[Danny Trejo]

I. I'm sorry, I thought I shut that off.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's okay. That's okay.

[Danny Trejo]

That's how real this show is. I had, I go get Eric, and Andre comes in because I was just training him. He comes in, I'll never forget. He comes in, he goes, Russian. First American movie was Runaway Train. He goes, you be in movie, you fight Eric in movie, and you be my friend. Well, if you have a prison background, you be my friend has like a little. Wait a minute, hold on, hold on. We're not shouting together, punk. You know, I mean, I mean, it's like. I mean. And then he leans over and kisses me on both cheeks and walks away. And I'll never forget, I. I looked at Eddie. I said, eddie, I'm gonna train the kid for 320. But if I'm gonna be kissing that Old man, I want more money. He said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. That's European, you know. Okay, well, if I'm kissing him, if I would have known that old man did. He got me a SAG card.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

You know what I mean?

[Bert Kreischer]

That SAG card changes your life.

[Danny Trejo]

Took my life. And so I'd have washed his back. Let me get that front, too. I mean, you know, it's like the whole life.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

I started going from movie to movie to movie because they were making a whole bunch of prison movies. I got that big tattoo on my chest, and the directors loved it. So I didn't. My first 10 movies, I don't have a shirt on. You know, we're in prison. And it was funny. Directors would always say, danny, say something prisony. Hey, we'll kill all you punks. Oh, my God. Where did you study? Safeway, Vaughn's, all the robbers. And so it was like I just kept working. I kept going from movie to movie to movie, and that's the way it's been my whole career. 1985.

[Bert Kreischer]

1985. You got out of prison in 68.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah. No, 69. 69. I got out of prison 1969. I was a drug. I'm still a drug counselor. I work for Western Pacific MedCorp. We have a detox all over. Thirteen detoxes.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay. Can I tell you my. There's There are a few stories. I get obsessed with people. Any. Especially anyone who's had a rough background, meaning, like, the chips were against them. It didn't look like they were supposed to succeed. Nothing was going to go their way. And all of a sudden, they. They just show up in a major way. And I heard a story one time, I was talking to a friend, and he said, you know, Danny detoxed in the hole always. Really.

[Danny Trejo]

Every time I got arrested, I was hooked. So I would detox in the county jail with like, hey, shut up, bastard. Jesus. You know, that's the way you just kicked, you know, And. And you gotta remember this was 1965. 64, 63, you know, when the. I remember we got in. 65, 63. When I got arrested, got sent to joint, it was like nothing. I mean, they were sending. Sending people to the gas chamber or selling dope, you know, nobody knew. That was crazy. Think of it.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah, I want to go back to Eddie Bunker and I want to. What? What does it feel like? What does it feel like when you've been in prison? I mean, I have so many fucking questions for you. Going to prison has got to feel. It's got to give you anxiety. When you put on prison clothes again. On a movie, was there a moment of like, oh, God, that happened.

[Danny Trejo]

Actually, it was funny because when the first AD On Runaway Train hand me that blue shirt, I kind of laughed. You know what I mean? I was getting cracked up and put it on, and he said, please this time. And he told me to leave it open, my shirt off, you know, because I got that big taboo, and I left it off. And I just stood there, just. I kind of, like. Kind of like just reminiscing, and I'm watching everybody, and they're all being stupid, but. But because everybody thinks prison is this, like, get out of the way. I'll kill you. It's not, man. Prison is a very scary place, but nobody can show it, you know, it's like being with your girlfriend in a haunted house. And, you know, you're scared, but you can't show it, you know? And because in prison, you learn to smell any kind of weakness, any kind of fear, any kind of sorrow, you can pick it up. I mean, what's wrong? You ask somebody, what's wrong? I got a letter. You know, something, and so.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, you can. Oh, oh, it's so crazy. I didn't. I just realized you also have personal happening to you while you're in business.

[Danny Trejo]

Absolutely. See, that's why, like, a lot of people tell their girlfriend, hey, you know what? Cut it loose. Let it go. I can't deal with this.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, yeah, because you don't want to deal with the ups and downs. I get a letter one week, and I don't get it for three weeks. You're like, what the Are you doing?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah. You cut your wrist. Yeah. I mean, you get. I mean, I've watched people just cut their wrist because they didn't get a letter. You know, it's like, whoa, you can't depend on the outside. You are no longer on. You're. You're on an island. And people. It's. It's. Let me say this. A wife has three children. Her husband's in jail. So now for her to go visit. Now he's in San Francisco, she's in Los Angeles. She's got to get a babysitter for two days, three days, and she's got to, like, drive up, take a bus, whatever, get a hotel, sleep in the car, and go visit for a couple hours, you know? And so it's not like an easy life either way, you know? And so when I cut everybody loose, I don't write anybody or talk to anybody. And I just. You kind of like, institutionalize yourself to this is my world. While, you know, this is it. This is it. And so you start acquiring everything it takes to make you comfortable, you know, and as comfortable as you can. It's the only way to keep from going totally insane, you know, I mean, literally. And. And people think, well, I'd rather be in the hole. No, you wouldn't. Because that's where you go crazy. You know, there's nobody there. Nobody talk to nobody. You're just there all by yourself. You learn, you adapt. I used to do the wizard of Oz. I used to act the whole. Give me those children. Dorothy, the wizard of Oz, the whole thing.

[Bert Kreischer]

Really?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Wait, where did that. Were you a big wizard of Oz?

[Danny Trejo]

Fucking kids.

[Bert Kreischer]

Were you a Wizard of Oz fan?

[Danny Trejo]

No, I just remember that movie.

[Bert Kreischer]

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[Danny Trejo]

I used to do the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the old one. Oh, she gave me Walter. And so you, like, imagine if you're a guard.

[Bert Kreischer]

He's going, what the. Is someone in there with him?

[Danny Trejo]

Guards. Guards would walk by and I'd. Did you kill my sister? Yeah, because of the wizard of Wazen. It was like that trails going nuts, you know, and so, but, but you make yourself kind of go crazy so the environment can't make you crazy. You understand? It's like, I'm doing this. They're not. And you got to be strong enough to know you're doing it.

[Bert Kreischer]

That is a really profound statement. I'm certain there's like a therapist that's hearing that going, yeah, it's called dot, dot, dot, but yeah, I know what you're talking about. Where you go, I'm not. This is so bad right now. I bet there's been that have been in war that go. I have to contain my, my surroundings.

[Danny Trejo]

Absolutely.

[Bert Kreischer]

Holy.

[Danny Trejo]

And so that's. Man, I did that for months, you know. You know, and I play a great Henry Lawton. She gave me water.

[Bert Kreischer]

How were you the first time you went to prison?

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, God. You don't go to prison. It's like in order to acclimate, you start off in juvenile hall, you're in juvenile hall, and from juvenile hall you maybe go to a camp or something. And then from there you end up in youth Authority. And then from there you end up in youth Authority. Then you end up in. So you've already like a. You know, you, this is your lifestyle. You know, people, the people that have trouble is that do something that gets them sent to prison the first time so they know absolutely nothing about the lay of the land.

[Bert Kreischer]

It's like, it's like not having gone to summer camp and then going to college.

[Danny Trejo]

Right?

[Bert Kreischer]

That's a bad analogy. That shows you how white I am. It's like not going to sleep away camp. And then all of a sudden you go to college, you're like, well, like, I never went to sleepaway camp. I'm so nervous. I miss my parents sleep away camp. I like so different. We have such a different life. I have been given every opportunity in life to succeed. And I'm obsessed with your story because there are little things I know people hear the wrong way, but I hear a certain way. Like your Uncle Gilbert.

[Danny Trejo]

Love him.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay, so I do too. And I'll tell you why I love him is like it. Tell everyone about Gilbert real quick before I start, I. Because I heard stories about your uncle and what he meant to you and who he was to everyone around you and what you saw him as. But tell everyone you don't know Gilbert.

[Danny Trejo]

First of all, it's like My grandmother had 11 children, all right? Gilbert was the last one. So basically they were out of kid. They just, you know, they're done with kids, you know. And my Uncle Rudy went to college. He was the one before Gilbert. And then Gilbert was kind of left on his own, you know? And my mom and dad. My mom and dad were perfect pictures of the American dream. If you work hard and own a Cadillac and a pickup truck with a camper, you've made it. And a house and you've got a wife that's basically an indentured servant. I don't think my mom ever left the house. She was like, we had the cleanest house in the world. You know what I mean? And I'll never forget we had plastic on our couches. And it's never. Well, I guess, you know, I don't know. People you won't sit on, but their whole thing was right there. And the one thing, I know it sounds selfish, but they never had time. They were always had their stuff. I can remember going to my mom when she was on the phone. Mom, Mom. Shut up.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Well. What? And gold talking. Wow. My dad. You talk to him. Hey, Dad. I busted with this phone. On the phone my boss.

[Bert Kreischer]

Was your dad born in Mexico?

[Danny Trejo]

No, he was born in Texas.

[Bert Kreischer]

Born in Texas. And that's. Is correct me sounds silly. Is that Chicano?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay, so that's Chicano.

[Danny Trejo]

And. And so my dad was like. Dad was tough. And now if I went to Gilbert and he was on the phone, Gilbert would go here. Oh, wait, hold on. What's up? Yeah. All right. Let me get on the phone. He always had time. No matter what he was doing.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

He'd be running somewhere. Hey, Gilbert. Yeah. Yeah. What's. God. Well, here. Jump in the car. Let's go. You know, I mean, it's Just. And so that's who I gravitated to. The guy that had time for me and the guy that had time for me had to be a drug addict and unharmed robber.

[Bert Kreischer]

A stud. He was a stud. He was a stud. Good looking dude, tough as fucking nails. Everyone respected him.

[Danny Trejo]

Taught me how to fight, you know, taught me how to fight. And everything he gave me allowed me to succeed in the path that I took. Being a drug addict, an armed robber. Penitentiary lightweight welterweight champion of every penitentiary I was in. And I was in all.

[Bert Kreischer]

And so you were in all of them? Yeah, you were actually in all of them.

[Danny Trejo]

Quentin Folsom, Soledad Vacerville, Susanville, Sierra. Those were the ones that were built when I was going.

[Bert Kreischer]

And so I was obsessed with blood in, blood out. And so I was obsessed with it. And that's when I started getting into Nor Tenos versus like. And so they started what they were doing at this time, correct me if I'm wrong, but they were trying to break up Mexican gangs in prisons. So they would take anyone who was anyone and just shuffle them around.

[Danny Trejo]

Well, it was funny because when I was doing blood in and blood out, I met a guy, Mario. Mario Castillo. Mario Castillo, yes. And we were talking and I said, hey, why don't you just come in and get your part in this movie? And he said, we can't. They were sudanos, right? And Quentin was the northern receptionist. They're all northern. And Mario was so tough that in a northeno prison, he's wearing a pair of shorts that say LA County Jail. So he's saying, I'm sure, but pushing 400 some pounds, nobody messed with him. And it was. He said, you know what? We can. We got the word from the mafia. No student can work on any prison movie because of what James almost did, you know, screwed everything up.

[Bert Kreischer]

Wait, what did James almost do?

[Danny Trejo]

Well, he did. He did a movie called American Me.

[Bert Kreischer]

And saw that one too.

[Danny Trejo]

And the problem with that is that he made the leader of the Mexican mafia. He said that he had gotten in juvenile hall, which is an outright lie.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, I remember. I remember that scene. Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Outright lie.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And. And. And then some other stuff that wasn't supposed to be told, you know, and he paid some guys that were like skid row bums that had been on inside. He paid them cigarettes and stuff on the street to tell stories about the mafia, you know, so. So he got in trouble. And so they showed that word was out. So the blood in, blood out. We use inmates you know, but none from Southern California. And. And our movie, Blood In, Blood out got a lot of acclaim, man. American Meme died because everybody knew, you know.

[Bert Kreischer]

Please be Edward James. Almost. Sure. Take it.

[Danny Trejo]

Hey, in two days, I'm killing you. Two days. So get all your stuff, insurance, all that stuff ready. I'm in a podcast right now. Very important. And two days. Okay, okay. You'll be dead.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah, I'm the guy doing it. I'm in the Russian mafia. How you doing, brother?

[Danny Trejo]

Hey, I'll call you back a little while.

[Bert Kreischer]

All right.

[Danny Trejo]

Love you, man.

[Bert Kreischer]

I love you, too.

[Danny Trejo]

It's so funny. This guy got out of prison, right? We took him under our wing.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And he's been. He stayed out, and then he got a part in a movie, but he couldn't go because it was out of state. It was the one about hot Fritos. Hot, hot Fritos.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

So the hot Cheetos is a crazy story.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah. Even. Even. It was with even Longoria. And I knew her, and she called me Danny. Can't we get him in? And. I don't know. Let me see. So we went down to his parole officer. He couldn't go out of state. He's on parole.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

We go to. Took him donuts and hey. Oh, trail. We took pictures. And then I asked, hey, look, you know what? We got a movie, man. He's a. Can he go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's take this picture. So we took a couple pictures and he went to.

[Bert Kreischer]

I can't believe I just told a guy that just got out of prison I was going to kill him. Can we edit that or just bleep me saying, I'll give you a high five?

[Danny Trejo]

But. But. So I forgot what I said.

[Bert Kreischer]

No, we were talking about Gilbert, and we were talking about going to prison.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

And. And what he did was he gave.

[Danny Trejo]

Me the tools necessary to survive.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

You know, in the path that I took or what he did. Yeah. He turned me on to drugs. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

At quite a young age. This is where people get hung up. He first. You first smoked pot when you were eight.

[Danny Trejo]

Eight.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah, eight. And heroin at 11 people.

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, my God, that's terrible. But any weed smoker has gotten a puppy loaded.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay, my sister. That's true. That's true. There's nothing better than a high puppy.

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[Danny Trejo]

You have one new voicemail. Hi. So you would be so proud of me. I'm hosting Thanksgiving for my friends and I was stressed because I really wanted it to feel just like Michigan. But then I found the same stuffing mix that you use on Instacart and I ordered instant gravy, canned cranberry. What else? Oh, I got everyone a little butter sculpture shaped like a turkey. All right, I should probably get cooking, but I miss you today. Happy Thanksgiving, Mom. Oh, and you should download Instacart. It's way easier than sending dad to the store. Download Instacart and enjoy free delivery on your first three orders. Service fees and terms apply. You know, I love dogs.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And so cats.

[Bert Kreischer]

I mean, my cat is fucking scary.

[Danny Trejo]

I happen to be. Well, I was actually bothering my grandmother inside the house. She told me to go out there with Gilbert because he had two friends and they were reading the Bible because there used to be these guys that came around and they would sell these huge red Bibles, just big with gold trim. And they were only like $88, but, you know, 10 payments for five years.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah, I know that. I remember I had buddies who sold those. They would go door to door. Northeastern Company was the name of the company. And they would sell Bibles. They sell encyclopedias. Because back in the day before the Internet, if you rolled in with encyclopedias, this is a way to get your family into a different situation. You have all the information of the world in your house. We bought those.

[Danny Trejo]

So it was funny. But so I go out there to be with Gilbert. You know what she sent me? And they were smoking weed. And all I remember hearing is, let's get him loaded. I can still hear that Earth. And that was it. You know, I got loaded and Then it was funny because people that get loaded, they were going to get loaded. People that weren't going to get loaded aren't. I don't know. I gave Timmy Sanchez weed, right? My. Our next door neighbor.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And I'm smoking weed at 10. He got sick. He started throwing up and got sick and went home, right. Never got loaded again. Didn't do no drugs. I stood there and giggled, you know. And so I went from weed, heroin. I caught my uncle shooting heroin and threatened to tell if he didn't give me some. I didn't know what it was, I just knew he was doing it. So yeah, I did that and that was it. I found it, you know, really. And I became like a full blown alcoholic because now that bug opened up, you know, and Heroin can't be 13, 12, 13 run around scoring heroin. I used to just go up to one of the connections doors and like my uncle would wait in the car like, hey, give me some heroin. Shut up. You bet. Yo, I'm. Wait, wait, can you go on, take that.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's so crazy. It's interesting you say that about people that get loaded are gonn loaded.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

My wife can't smoke weed.

[Danny Trejo]

Huh?

[Bert Kreischer]

If my wife smokes weed, she throws up immediately.

[Danny Trejo]

Exactly. I mean that's. It's just so that some people are born with the bug or whatever it is and other people aren't.

[Bert Kreischer]

Some people, it's like I watch some people drink and you're like, yo, I don't think alcohol agrees with your system. You know, like they get, they just turn into a different person.

[Danny Trejo]

It's, it's a, it's an allergy of the body coupled with an obsession of the mind. Your body's allergic to it, but your mind's obsessed with it. You know what I mean? It's like so it's like beer. It's like my dad, I had gotten sober and I would sit, me and my dad would watch. There used to be Saturday fights. Every Saturday fight we watch them on TV and he'd sit down six inclined, right? And we'd sit there and open one beer, right? And we'd be watching the fight and there's a six pack in the and 10 round fight. One beer. And then I. Dad, you want another beer? Nah. Well then why'd you buy six you. I couldn't stand to see him like stupid beer is supposed to be in the ice bar.

[Bert Kreischer]

I'm always shocked when I go to dinner with my wife and she has one glass of wine and I go, what are you just trying to stain your teeth. I was like, let's. Let's get on to one. Let's get after it. Yeah, I.

[Danny Trejo]

You know, so I've never understood. I know people that order a mixed drink and aren't done. Yeah, I smelt it. It's like, what, this? And so I don't drink like normal people.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And I don't shoot heroin. Normal people don't shoot heroin. You know what I mean? It's an obsession, an obsession of the mind.

[Bert Kreischer]

So how did you turn it off? There was. I know you've had a lot of great. I say men because I think there were men, but a lot of great men that kind of like, just gave you the right advice at the right time.

[Danny Trejo]

Well, you know what? It's like, one of the things that, like, I started going to AA by accident, all right? I. Everything happened accident. But there was a big party in our neighborhood. I was in Pacoimo, and that was the murder capital of Los Angeles in 19, when I was 1959.

[Bert Kreischer]

Pacoima is right there, right? Yeah. Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And I mean, we're killing everybody. And there's all these cars parked out in front of this house and. Hold it. This is our neighborhood. They're having a party in the murder capital of Los Angeles. They're not inviting the murderers. What the hell is going on? So we stopped, went to the tool, went to the trunk of the car to get the tools necessary to crash parties. And so we got entire iron bumper Jacks. I had.38 snub nose, a case of beer, three bottles of wine, half pint of whiskey. I was already loaded on Red Devils pills. And so we crashed. You can't knock, you just kind of bust. And the first thing we saw was a big sign that said, we care and we care about what? And all these people, they were coming up with coffee cups, you know, like, hey, you want them? And I always told my troops, don't split up. Stay together. There's 20 of us. We got them. But what the people did was, like, dividing. He had everybody in little groups of four telling them about the perils of drinking. Everybody's drunk. And this guy comes up to me and starts talking about he was alcoholic and now he don't drink. And why don't I put that stuff outside and join him? I said, hell, no. I got penitentiaries to go do food. You know what I mean? I didn't know what to say, but I left. And we all left. This guy whispered a curse to me.

[Bert Kreischer]

He said, well, Maybe I don't want to hear it.

[Danny Trejo]

No, I'm telling you, he said, danny, if you leave this meeting, you will die, go insane, or go to jail. And I thought, screw you. A stupid thing to say to a 15 year old kid. We left two weeks later. Come on out. We have the house around it. I was busted, arrested again, and gone. Juvenile hall. And so it was like a pattern, you know, I always. I've never gotten arrested sober. I've never gotten. I mean, I've. Yeah, I've never gotten arrested that I wasn't loaded on heroin.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

You know, I mean, and so it was like, is that my problem? Using was my problem. I'm the problem. Drinking and using is my medicine.

[Bert Kreischer]

Part of the thing. Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

You know what I mean?

[Bert Kreischer]

No, I know exactly what you mean.

[Danny Trejo]

And damn. I had to go to meetings in every institution. The damn. Frank Russo. Frank Russo, Frank Russo. And I say that because he told me never to mention his name, but he actually. I show up at this penitentiary. He's there. He shot a couple of people in front of Sun Valley Receiving Hospital. And he was there, and he came, danny, we got to go to this AA meeting. It's awesome. Blah, blah, blah. I got an AA meeting. He said, no, no, hey, hey, they got. They got cigarettes. And I said, I'm a journeyman convict. I got cartons of cigarettes. Yeah, yeah, but I know that, you know, hey, we can get coffee and cake. Come on. I got that in my cell. What the hell's wrong with you? And then he says, there's women coming up.

[Bert Kreischer]

Women to AA meetings in prison.

[Danny Trejo]

They don't have Women's Day by Sell.

[Bert Kreischer]

No, it's a no brainer.

[Danny Trejo]

I signed up for the meeting. But the problem is, when you sign up for something, you can't say, I want to go to AA to see the women. You got to say, I want to go to AA to deal with my alcohol problem. Now, once you say that, that goes in your jacket. That means everywhere you go. Oh, you have alcohol problems. So they're mandatory. Every institution I went to, I had to go to alcohol as long. And so I go to this meeting, and it was actually a pretty good meeting. That's where I met Johnny Harris, my sponsor, right? And he told me, the only thing that's gonna beat you to Quentin are the headlights on the bus. And I. Yeah, I thought it was a compliment, you know?

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And it was funny because when we pulled up to San Quentin, right? Ten years later, I see the headlights hit the wall, and I said, hey, Let me walk in front. I think everybody on that bus had heard Johnny Ayers because everybody knew what I was talking about. And. And that was it. And I went to AA all the time because I had to.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. That's interesting. When you went to AA meetings, did they do, like, I really. When I say I know nothing about prison, I just know what I saw in, like, blood in, blood out. So, like. But did they have like an Aryan AA median and a black AA meeting?

[Danny Trejo]

No, those. Those are all the same, you know, it's the. Everything else is segregated, solid, dead. It's the worst because when you're walking into Soledad, the guards are trying to keep things equal.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

They're trying to put white, black, Mexican, all, you know, spread out.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And if they send you to, like, the African Americans and you're a white guy, you better make a quick turn somewhere. You know what I mean? If you're a Mexican, same thing. It's like we segregate ourselves, you know, and.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, really?

[Danny Trejo]

And they usually don't want to make a big hassle out of it, you know, they just leave it alone. And that's what the tables all have. Four. Oh, really? And four people. And so it's. Prison is probably the most right now place in the world.

[Bert Kreischer]

The most right now.

[Danny Trejo]

Right now. It's all happening right now.

[Bert Kreischer]

If you want to be present days, go to prison.

[Danny Trejo]

That's where the term I got your back came from.

[Bert Kreischer]

Really?

[Danny Trejo]

When we're talking to each other, I got your back. You got my back. And people don't even know that. They use that all, hey, I got your back. That means. That means, like, I'll watch out. I'll watch out for you. But that's for real. I got your back. So if something's happening, I'll check this check, you know, I mean, I'll. I'll let you know, whatever it's. Because I don't know what you. And that's what I always call the right now, right now place. You know, right now you can die right now. You can almost die right now you can get away with it.

[Bert Kreischer]

Seems like I would. I feel like I would act a day late on any threats. Like, they'd be like. They'd be like, oh, I like your hat. I guess you can't wear hats in prison, but, like, can you tailor hats? They go, I like your hat. And I go, thanks. And. But then that would mean my hat's getting taken from me.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

And then I would be like, later. I have a very big head size 8. You probably maybe want to talk to someone else.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah, yeah. You can't let anything be taken from him.

[Bert Kreischer]

Hey, tell me about. Was it Ed Bunker?

[Danny Trejo]

Eddie? He was awesome.

[Bert Kreischer]

He drew out. This is like the wildest thing I ever heard. He drew out maps of how to rob places. I can't believe that's an occupation.

[Danny Trejo]

When you came out of prison, if you wanted a couple of scores, you would go to him and depending on what they were, how much he would tell you what he wants and if you were any good, you know, and New Year game. Yeah, he could. You could. He'd go with you, you know, but if you were just telling me, then you'd have to pay him, you know, but he was amazing. And most of the people that bought robberies from him got away, you know.

[Bert Kreischer]

And then how did he get involved in movies? How did he. Was he a consultant?

[Danny Trejo]

You know? Yeah, actually him and Alvin Sargent, who was Outsider. He wasn't. He was a writer, director. They wrote a screenplay called I think no Be so Fierce with Dustin Hoffman and Gary Busey. Gary Busey's first movie. And Dustin Hoffman came out of prison and went to buy a robbery that scene is in, but it's actually my uncle and me. And anyway, so Dustin Hoffman buys a prison, buys a. A robbery from him. And that's how he was famous. He went back to prison after that and then. And him and Sargent finished writing that when Eddie was in Terminal Island. I mean, Alvin Sargent would go up to Terminal island, the visiting room, and they finished writing it.

[Bert Kreischer]

Jesus. You know, and seems like such a misplaced genius.

[Danny Trejo]

And so then when it came. When it came out, it was a hit. Unbelievable movie, right? And Eddie was probably one of the most brilliant, one of the most brilliant people I knew. I mean, he was a. He was a captain's clerk. And.

[Bert Kreischer]

Wait, what's that?

[Danny Trejo]

He was. The captain in San Quentin has a clerk because the captain runs the whole institution. That's the. That's the top dog. And he basically counts on his clerk. So if a guard was like messing with my tattoo operation or my booze operation, I could pay Eddie and say, hey, can you get this guy transferred? And yeah, okay, it cost you 100, 200, whatever. It's going to cost you. Eddie when he had his stack of papers for the captain to sign, and all of a sudden, two days later, that guard was on the 6pm to 6am guard out there in the bay somewhere, you know. Wow. And he had that kind of power and he was that smart.

[Bert Kreischer]

It's Crazy. Is it? Do you think? It's wild that, like, that one tattoo that you got on your chest became like, almost like a calling card, like a thing you did in prison.

[Danny Trejo]

Hey, that is the most recognizable tattoo in the world. So recognizable and so funny. That was more recognizable than me. I mean, it was. Literally, people went to con and were talking about doing this movie with me and. Who, Who, Who? This guy. Oh, the guy with the tattoo? Yeah, dude.

[Bert Kreischer]

I mean, so many movies. It's so many movies. You see that and you. Everyone knows who it is.

[Danny Trejo]

It's funny because Harry. Harry Super Jude Ross. He. He. He hated it because it was one of his first tattoos, and so the lines are very thick.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, he's the one who drew it.

[Danny Trejo]

He's the one drew it and did it. But. But Jesus, look how jacked you are in that picture now. They've got some. So thin. They've gotten so thin. The lines have gotten so thin. The tattoos are like paintings.

[Bert Kreischer]

What are the words above it?

[Danny Trejo]

We cross out one of them. One's Danielle, my daughter. The other one was a mistake. That one's gone. We misspelled it. That one's gone. And my. I put my. My son Gilbert and Dan, you name your son Gilbert? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's badass, my boy.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's badass. Is Gilbert's son still in prison?

[Danny Trejo]

No, he's out.

[Bert Kreischer]

We fact.

[Danny Trejo]

We got him out. The governor. I talked to the governor and he's. Yeah, yeah, that's enough time. So we got him out, and then I talked to Newson and got Mario's son out. You know.

[Bert Kreischer]

Wow.

[Danny Trejo]

And how much.

[Bert Kreischer]

How much have prisons, like, okay, in another very white guy analogy, when you look at gymnasiums, from, like, when Arnold was working out and Gold's Gym to where gymnasiums are today, they've grown so much. They've got polar plunges and IV drips, and they've got deprivation tanks. Compared to where they started, how much have prisons grown?

[Danny Trejo]

They took most of the weights out of what. Yeah, out of prisons. Well, the problem was that the police, the guys would, you know, guys would be up there five, six years, lift their weights, and all of a sudden come out on the streets. They're monsters.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

You know, and a lot of the. A lot of the police started to, wait a minute, you guys are breeding monsters. And so they took the weights out. So now all the guys are coming. They're coming out. Still rip, but push up. Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Push ups, push ups. Air squats. Yeah, I do. I do the. I do the Prison burpee, where you do it and then you.

[Danny Trejo]

It's funny, I used to see guys doing squats with guys on their shoulders. Yeah. So it was, you know, everything. You adapt to everything. You know what I mean? And so a lot of the weights are probably at the guards houses.

[Bert Kreischer]

Do you think you're in such good shape right now because you've worked out your whole life?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Because you're. You're. Are you 80?

[Danny Trejo]

80?

[Bert Kreischer]

You do not. My dad's not 80. And they. The hurricane down in Florida. And I was like. I was like, I think you should come out to la. He said, why? I said, well, didn't mom fall on the ground the other day? And you just left her there to sleep? And he was like, yeah, that's. Yeah. And I was like, well, if you guys can't get off the ground, maybe we should get you out of where a hurricane's coming. But you're in fantastic shape.

[Danny Trejo]

I still work out, I still walk, and I still do whatever I can. I have to. Yeah, I, you know, like, I'll sleep for like four hours and then I'll wake up and then I might go lift some weights, come back to bed, sleep some more, then wake up. I don't know. Weird. But I'm staying in shape. I'm still staying in shape, still staying weight. About 180.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. When was the last time you thought about drugs or alcohol? Like, in an honest way, you're like, God, it would be good to have a glass of wine.

[Danny Trejo]

No, I'm not really. It doesn't really hit me like that. I'll be working on the yard, working a sweat or something. And you think about why. Sir? La cerveza. But a beer on a hot day will give you a headache. So you drink another one, you know. Okay, so now that's two. And then when you got two, it's.

[Bert Kreischer]

Like, all right, what are we doing here today anyway?

[Danny Trejo]

You know, you got a buzz going on, so. I don't. It doesn't. It doesn't. I don't know how to say it. That's not my taste anymore. And I hate not being in control. And it's funny.

[Bert Kreischer]

Police.

[Danny Trejo]

Nomad. I'll be speeding. They'll stop me. Trey, what the hell you doing going so fast? I'm in a hurry. God. I was on the freeway on the 170 and I'm in the diamond Lane and I'm jamming to the restaurant, right? And 65 Buick Riviera. 85. Damn. Wow. Pulled over. What the hell you got in this? You know, that's when we started talking. He said, get out of the diamond link, because I was.

[Bert Kreischer]

By yourself?

[Danny Trejo]

By myself.

[Bert Kreischer]

I do that sometimes. When the cop pulls up, I just go like this.

[Danny Trejo]

And he says, stay out of the diamond lane. Okay.

[Bert Kreischer]

Is that your thing? You like cars, don't you?

[Danny Trejo]

I love cars.

[Bert Kreischer]

Really?

[Danny Trejo]

It's funny. I got a 1936 Dodge, and I love that. My grandfather.

[Bert Kreischer]

You can pull these up on the screen. I'd love to see any of these.

[Danny Trejo]

My grandfather had a 1936 Dodge, and it didn't have. It didn't have a clock. And so my uncle Gilbert used to deal weed. And that's the second one, the black one up there on top. Oh, wow. And the. Oh, wow. And the.

[Bert Kreischer]

It's like a Peaky Blinders car.

[Danny Trejo]

And we would drive. He would. My grandfather would sleep for two hours during the day, so we'd steal the car. And my uncle had a big bowl and it had sensemia in it, right?

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And I'd listen to the radio. I would count the songs. So. Because the clock didn't.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

So it would be like the time. We got two hours. So I. And pull up to a house. Two joints. Three joints. And. And we just keep driving till you. Hour and a half, and we go back home.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, wow.

[Danny Trejo]

And so. But that's why I got a 36 Dodge, too.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's great. We. I love. Can I tell you my favorite thing that Mexican men it seemed to own is the whistle. It's like my buddy. My. My buddy Felipe does it all the time.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

And it's. And is. I always wonder, are there different whistles for different things or is it one whistle?

[Danny Trejo]

There's a. That means danger. Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

What's the whistle? If you see, like, a beautiful chick and you're trying to tell your friend.

[Danny Trejo]

We had a parrot that did that.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's so fucking badass.

[Danny Trejo]

So that's my car right there.

[Bert Kreischer]

That's. That's your actual car?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, that's beautiful. How many cars do you have?

[Danny Trejo]

I think nine lowriders. Nine different lowriders? Yeah. I got a building right now, the most gorgeous 19. 1949 Chevy Stepside Pickup truck. Oh, wow. It's absolutely stunningly gorgeous.

[Bert Kreischer]

19. Oh, my gosh.

[Danny Trejo]

The black one. The black one right there. Yeah. F5 window. It's beautiful.

[Bert Kreischer]

Car cultures. I feel like it's. I feel like it's predominantly an LA thing.

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

I feel like anyone else that's into their car culture was big in, like, Indiana in the 50s where they'd drag race and stuff. But every culture in LA is into a car, a different type of car.

[Danny Trejo]

And like your Southern California states, you know, like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, you know, they have the best weather. So, you know, the cars, the paint jobs and stuff, and they're. God, I love them.

[Bert Kreischer]

Well, if I remember songs and cars together, I can go like. I remember the first time I heard nwa. We were in my Volkswagen Fox. We were smoking Marlboro Reds and they put on NWA and I was 16 years old and it blew my mind. Give me a time in a car with a song where you go. Where you can almost transport back into that moment.

[Danny Trejo]

I can remember a song by Bob Dylan. You used to run around in the town, didn't you?

[Bert Kreischer]

Didn't you? Oh, I just heard that. Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And. And it was funny because it was a long song. And when it first came out, they used to play it back to back two or three times, and you would be like, shooting heroin and you'd be like, nodding and you'd wake up and the song will still be on, you know. Damn.

[Bert Kreischer]

Did you.

[Danny Trejo]

I remember that. And it was like, you know, just go back. There's so many songs that you just.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. Were you the same age as Richie Valens?

[Danny Trejo]

No, he's a lower me. I think he was two years older.

[Bert Kreischer]

Two years older. You guys went to the same high school, didn't you?

[Danny Trejo]

Junior high.

[Bert Kreischer]

Junior high.

[Danny Trejo]

Performance. Junior.

[Bert Kreischer]

Do you remember when Richie Valance came out? I don't know what it is about Mexican culture that I'm obsessed with, but all those movies came out when, in a time where not much representation of. Of Mexican culture was shown. And so there's, like, weird things that I'm obsessed with. The Zoot Suit Riots and. And, like. Because they were all parts of movies that I saw. But, man, Richie Valens, I. I was obsessed with him because he was the one guy dating the white chick that was authentically Mexican dumb.

[Danny Trejo]

And I went to. I got kicked out of San Fernando High School. They sent me to Monroe High School, and I had to take a ceramics class. I took a ceramics class. And she was the first one to say hello to me. Really? She's really a sweetheart. Hi, Danny. I knew Richie, right? We started talking, blah, blah, blah. And I had to do this. What is it? A project. Ceramics.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And. And here, we'll just do this. And we did a wine glass and rocks, and. And we put it in a kill. And it's a beautiful wine. I still wish I had it And. And that was it. And I passed the class.

[Bert Kreischer]

It's crazy to think that that kid, who was probably so lost at the time, would turn into you. Put. Will you pull up Danny's movies for a second? And I want to talk about Trejo's tacos. So. So your tacos. This is going to sound, once again, like, the whitest thing in the world. My sister nannied for the guy who you partnered with to make those tacos. And. And he. I think he was a business partner of yours. Who's that Indian dude?

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, Ash.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Are you kidding?

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. Isn't that crazy?

[Danny Trejo]

God.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. So we used to. Sidebar. We used to get Trejo's tacos all the time for parties because we hit up. My sister would hit up Ash's wife. I forgot her name.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah, Beautiful.

[Bert Kreischer]

Beautiful. And they got a divorce.

[Danny Trejo]

Are they getting a divorce? Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, really? She's on the market, guys. She is beautiful. Indian women. I slept on Indian women. I never hooked up with an Indian woman. I wish I had.

[Danny Trejo]

I don't. It doesn't matter. It's not them, it's us. That's. That's what my fourth wife finally said. It's not us, it's you.

[Bert Kreischer]

I gotta tell you, if anyone's gonna watch one movie out of all these, in my opinion, and I'm telling you, this is the thing, I want you to walk away with this podcast if you're having a rough day right now and we have a lot of kids that are just, like, trying to figure their way through life. Maybe I'm not the best shepherd, but Inmate Number One is such an amazing movie about a man whose journey was not supposed to be that journey, but it turned out to be. If you think you're down on your luck and you think. But it doesn't happen for guys like me, it really wasn't supposed to happen for Danny. It really was not supposed to happen for Danny. But you did something that. I swear to God, I woke up today and I was like, that's going to be. My new thing is you said, I just want to help. I'm going to see what it feels like to help people. And when you help people in just the littlest way, you were talking about, the very first person you helped was an old lady who you were helping her dig her trash cans in, and she thought she was getting robbed.

[Danny Trejo]

Shut up. I got attracted to that. And, you know, God pays us back. I mean, like I said Mario Castillo when I talked to him in Quentin, and eight years later, after, you know, after I met him, I run into him in a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I don't know if I told you, but I run into him in a Narcotics anonymous meeting. And 10 years ago, he saved my son's life. Literally. My son was dying in a hotel room with friends. My son, he's got the key to my safe, you know, so I'm in Germany, and he's got money, and you got money, you got drugs, you got friends around you. And so, I mean, he's literally dying. And Misko, who was a friend of my son's who grew up with me like his dad, and. And he calls me, he says, man, Gilbert's dying, Holmes. He's got out that door. So I called Mario, and Mario, don't worry, I'll find him. I'll find him. Okay? I'm ready to split. I'm going to leave this production. I don't care about the money. And then about six hours later, he calls me and says, I got him. Don't worry, I got him. Yeah, he's here. Yeah, he don't got no shoes, but I got him. And. And it was funny because the two guards that were guarding this crack house, right?

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

I didn't know, but I knew one of them knew me, and one of them said, who was that crazy guy? He came up and said, don't move. I'll kill both of you and walk, right? And Mario, if you look at Chicano gangster in the dictionary, got his picture. Okay. Don't mess. And he's not like that big. He's a tank. And then I got home three days later. We took him to a friend of mine's recovery house, Rene. And it was Rim of the World up in Lake Arrowhead. And I remember as we went through the clouds, my son goes, well, all plans of escape are out, and he's got 10 years clean.

[Bert Kreischer]

Wow.

[Danny Trejo]

He's in the DGA right now. He's a director. He's leaving for Japan tomorrow to direct some big music video.

[Bert Kreischer]

Oh, wow.

[Danny Trejo]

Don't tell me they know. God, homie, he'll pay you back. Maybe not in your own time, but he will pay you back.

[Bert Kreischer]

I think that was the most applicable thing I got from that movie was by you helping people. People started helping you, and the world started working for you. And I just was like, you know, in everything we're going through in this world right now, so many people are about me. How do I get it for me?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

And as opposed to, how do I just help the average person? So if you're listening, you're a little lost. Maybe take, maybe just help. Go get an old lady her shopping cart at the store, just something. Or if you see a shopping cart sitting in the middle, don't get outraged. And yeah, you move it over and do a solid. Now, out of all these movies, what was your. If you go, hey, at Danny's funeral, we're going to play three movies and these are his movies. The funeral is going to be, it's going to be a five hour funeral.

[Danny Trejo]

I would say Spy Kids.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Fuck yes.

[Bert Kreischer]

Fucking. I keep looking into the room. How great was Heat? I know you were in it, so you can't really say, but that movie was, we would, that was the first round sound I ever. My buddy had it and we would go and we watch Heat in surround sound.

[Danny Trejo]

Oh my God, that movie. I did Heat with Robert Dairo and we became friends. He loved my kid. He loved Gilbert. He think Gilbert was a genius.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Cuz we went to dinner with Robert De Niro, Gilbert, my daughter and me, we went to dinner with Robert De Niro. When we were doing Despete and Robert asked me, Danny, do you know this French director that did something. Blah, blah, blah, French. I'm gonna watch a friend. And I started to say something and gibberish. Oh, you know what? I love him. They started talking. They spent the rest of the night talking about the idea of moving. Me and my daughter played with our food, but they became really good friends. And Robert De Niro gave my son the key to Texas University because he donated all his memorabilia there. And so my son got to go in there and check it all out. My son's got his phone number and, and what a crazy cast. Unbelievable.

[Bert Kreischer]

Val Kilmer.

[Danny Trejo]

Well, I did Heat and, and me and De Niro kind of made friends, you know, and, and then when we asked him to do much. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah. I mean, I, I keep going back. My favorite character, other than you in that movie is like the outlier characters are the, are the better than De Niro and Pacino in my like, like. And I always say, like Val Kilmer's character in that. So underrated. Oh, it's such a, it's such a.

[Danny Trejo]

He's got. You know what? Well, I was so upset that he didn't win an Oscar for Tombstone. Tombstone, One of the best westerns ever.

[Bert Kreischer]

If it comes on, I watch from where I turned it on. I watched the rest of the movie.

[Danny Trejo]

Absolutely.

[Bert Kreischer]

If I, if, if I ever see Toomes, probably one of the most quoted movies in my opinion of our generation, the Godfather, Goodfellas, very quotable. I mean, I quote American Me and Blood In, Blood out are two fucking movies that I was obsessed with as a kid. But fucking goddamn tombstone, that was unbelievable. I'm your huckleberry. That's like, oh, what a great.

[Danny Trejo]

I did a. I did a film recently, just came out, it's called Seven Cemeteries about zombies and stuff. And then we've got. Right now, we've got.

[Bert Kreischer]

Unearth Unearthed on History Channel.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Eight episodes coming out. By the way, History Channels got my number. I love everything they do them. Everything they do is so good. And I love the. I watched the first episode and it is phenomenal. But I know all those dudes. I used to work on Travel Channel with those guys. William Shatner, William Shatter. I'm gonna. I gotta. I'm. It's not a podcast if I don't tell you a story about me, William Shatner. One time I took a general meeting with him, been.

[Danny Trejo]

Oh, I met with him. I met with him in a podcast and was like, wow. I was like, starstruck.

[Bert Kreischer]

He said to me, he goes. He said, there's a scene in the movie where my character cries. And he goes, can. In William Shatner's way, he goes, can you cry? And I said, I think so. I said, kind of silly, because if I cry, I feel stupid, so I start giggling at myself. And he just switch switches in his seat and he goes, I'd love to see that. And I went, like, right now? And he goes, yeah. And so I started crying on a couch with William Shatner and laughing and crying and laughing. And he just was, like, staring at me and he just kept me going forever. And he's like, fascinating.

[Danny Trejo]

He's unbelievable. You know what's so funny is, like, my son did a movie, right? He did a movie with me, me and him, and it was called From a Son. And in it, he dies. He overdoses. And I'm his father. I go into his hell looking for him. I don't know. He's dead, right?

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And I run into his little girlfriend and I threaten her life. Show me where he's at and he's dead. Show me. You know, we're walking to his body and I'm supposed to cry and. Right. Well, I. You know, I can do like John Wayne. Okay, Pilgrim. My son's showing me baby pictures all week, you know. Hey, dad, look what I found, man. And this is my. Oh, my daughter.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And so when the scene we're out in the middle of the damn desert. It's freezing cold. She's taking me to his body. And my line is, did you kill my son? And she screamed, no, I loved him. He was my only friend. And she bust crying. I started crying. But now, wait, this wasn't like a manly cry, okay? No, this was like muckles, you know? You know how you're trying to.

[Bert Kreischer]

I'm familiar. I'm familiar.

[Danny Trejo]

I couldn't stop, man. I. God, I cried for every time I wanted to cry in my life. And so finally, when he said, cut, the whole corps was crying, everybody. And he comes, nice acting, Dad. I go, you little bitch. I finally figured out what he did. And God, man, it's like, that's going to con right now, that his movie.

[Bert Kreischer]

Is it really?

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah. Yeah. So that's.

[Bert Kreischer]

You guys. You have so much. I want to go back to the History Channel show for a second. What episodes? What are the episodes? There's eight episodes. Do you know all the episodes?

[Danny Trejo]

No, I just know they're humble. I've seen some of them and they were amazing.

[Bert Kreischer]

Were you.

[Danny Trejo]

I like history. Anyway.

[Bert Kreischer]

I remember love history. And by the way, History Channel, if you're listening more shows like this, Mike, I don't need to see people making knives. I want this.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah, my. My. My teacher, Mrs. Finley, right? She was like. She was like, crazy about the Navajo Indians or I forget. But she was also obsessed with. What do you call it? The Amazon River. And that's got such a history. I mean, you know, this. This is before time. And she had these dead piranha fish in a big jar. And I always used to, like, get bread and put on the top of the jar. Might get hungry and. But she always talked about this river and this, and I would always disrupt. And I hated the fact that I'm studying the damn Amazon river in the fourth grade. Come on. I'm never getting out of lady. And we got a la river here. Tell us about that one. 50 years later, I'm doing a movie called Anaconda.

[Bert Kreischer]

God dang it all.

[Danny Trejo]

Your damn Amazon river.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah, you're on the Amazon River.

[Danny Trejo]

Ice Cube, J.

[Bert Kreischer]

Lo, J.

[Danny Trejo]

Lo, Jon Voight, who I know. Eric Stoltz. All these guys are asking questions. That crazy lady gave me the answer. I knew the answers. Hey, how come those are all. Oh, that's due to the rise and fall Cube. Ice Cube goes, I didn't know all that shit, Danny. I thought you were a gangster. I lied. I said, you know, I read a lot when I was in prison. Come On. I'm going to tell Ice Cube. Oh, my fourth grade teacher, Mitchell. Shit, I love that.

[Bert Kreischer]

One day at lunch, Ice Cube leaned over to JLo, is like. He knows a lot about the Amazon I was obsessed with when I was a kid. You know, you're. You are older than me. You're my father's age, but we're of the same generation when we didn't have the Internet the way it was. So all you have were books and. And the few books we have were, like, on the Bermuda Triangle and, like. And like Atlantis and everything about this series is stuff that I'm fascinated with. Especially this first. The first episode I saw, it's all about. I just watched this. I just listened to this podcast about the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and it was lost for years. And in 1960, this guy went sponge diving off the coast of Egypt or wherever it is, and he uncovered the stones. And that first episode, they uncover stones and they're in a straight row. And that feeling of being an explorer. I kept thinking, if being an archaeologist was just a little easier, I would have loved to do it.

[Danny Trejo]

Yeah.

[Bert Kreischer]

Like, those first three years, we got to be exhausting where you're learning you don't care about. I just want to go do the digging and then grab the lady and get in the plane.

[Danny Trejo]

God, I was. It was so funny because we were in Texas and they were building this building there, and then they found some bones. Right. And the contractor was, like, so mad.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

Because that. It stops everything. They gotta be. Until the dinosaurs and stuff. And I love that. I. That's the one thing I think I ever got a good grade in was, like, history, you know, and just knowing stuff, it's. It's. But it's so funny. It's like. Like the stuff that's really, really interesting. You just really don't need to know. Math isn't interesting, but you really need to know.

[Bert Kreischer]

I said to someone the other day, he said, the Lighthouse of Alexandria. And I went, I've never met someone I could talk to about with this. I was like, all the stuff you're supposed to know. I don't know any of that shit. I only know the crazy, stupid shit. But. All right, I'm gonna get you out of here. Congratulations on the series Unearthly. Is there anything else we need to cover the 10th?

[Danny Trejo]

We have eight episodes, Mysteries.

[Bert Kreischer]

Okay, I'll cover it. Congratulations on the new series Mysteries Under Earth with Danny Trejo. Eight episodes on the History Channel, premiering December 6th. And last, but finally, not least, what is the third movie they play at your funeral. And I'm hoping it's what I think.

[Danny Trejo]

What is what?

[Bert Kreischer]

The third. The three movies they want to play at your funeral. We've got Spy Kids, we've got Heat. And by the way, you are covering everyone at the funeral. My kids are happy. I knew it. I fucking knew it.

[Danny Trejo]

Better have that one.

[Bert Kreischer]

The fucking. I get the girl.

[Danny Trejo]

It's so funny. I love do that. People say, God, I thought you were taller. Well, I was tall enough to kiss Jessica Alba. Oh, yeah, that's. She's awesome. She was just so unbelievable. Professional. It's like crazy. It's like. And. And I don't know how to say it. It's like. Selma Hayek. Same thing. Tell my beautiful lady, right? And she's. When. When we were doing From Dust to Dawn, they had hired all these strippers from. From different clubs to. To. To work because they got like, you know, be naked.

[Bert Kreischer]

Yeah.

[Danny Trejo]

And Selma was like, so almost crying. I. What the hell's wrong with you? These women are so beautiful.

[Bert Kreischer]

Bitch, what the hell?

[Danny Trejo]

But. No but. See, but it's like, it doesn't matter, you know? It doesn't matter. It's like how we feel, you know, about ourselves, you know, And God, I said, yeah, two minutes, they'll all be brushing your hair. Two minutes, they're all like, oh, she's so. How do you say it? Humble. Yeah, humble. And I. I bet it. I can be so beautiful and humble, you know?

[Bert Kreischer]

God, if I was that beautiful, I don't know if I'd leave a mirror. I definitely wouldn't have clothes on. I'd spend a lot of time naked in front of the mirror. Brother, this has been an absolute honor. Thank you so much for taking the time.

[Danny Trejo]

Thank you.

[Bert Kreischer]

I'm such a fan. I am such a. Such a fan. And I'm more of. I mean, I'm more fan of just the Man. The work is amazing, but the Man. You're a legend. Just an absolute legend.

[Danny Trejo]

Did you hear that?

[Bert Kreischer]

Thank you, brother. One goes topless while the other wears a shirt. Tom tells stories, inverts the machine. There's not a chance in hell that they'll keep clean. Here's what we call two bears. One cave.