The Adam Carolla Show: Bret Easton Ellis + Stacey Dash (Carolla Classics)
Date: November 22, 2025
Episode Theme:
A dynamic mashup episode from the Carolla Classics archive, highlighting lively, insightful, and candid conversations. Featuring novelist and podcast host Bret Easton Ellis, actress Stacey Dash, plus appearances by guests Quinton Aaron and David Wild. Topics range from pop culture and celebrity, to personal history, to trenchant, unfiltered takes on race, parenting, and the state of American culture—all delivered in Adam Carolla’s trademark unsparing, comedic style.
Episode Overview
This classic episode showcases Adam Carolla’s knack for sparking thought-provoking and hilarious conversations around pop culture, music, personal journeys, and societal issues. In the first half, Adam and co-hosts are joined by author Bret Easton Ellis and music journalist David Wild for a raucous look at Hall & Oates’ legacy, the evolution of celebrity, the nature of offense, and the shifting tides of American upbringing. The second segment features Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and actress/political commentator Stacey Dash for more personal and cultural reflections—especially on race, politics, and the myth of a “level playing field.” Throughout, notable moments, quotable lines, and the unfiltered, quick-witted banter that defines The Adam Carolla Show are on full display.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Pop Culture Riffs: Hall & Oates, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Musical Sins
- (02:45–14:15) The crew debates the merits and “crimes” of Hall & Oates. Adam rails on “Maneater” and “Family Man,” positing that some 80s pop songs have done more damage to culture than O.J. Simpson.
“Combined, the damage that Hall and Oates has done with those four songs is much greater worldwide than what O.J. did.” — Adam Carolla, (06:54)
- David Wild defends Hall & Oates, noting their earlier soulful work and how MTV-era output diverged from that.
- The discussion widens into which artists have the greatest disparity between great and bad songs (Billy Joel, Elton John, Bowie, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith).
"One man’s sucking is another man’s blowing." — David Wild (13:00)
2. Celebrity & Reinvention — Paul Newman and Tom Cruise's Racing Obsession
- (18:43–28:30) Adam plays a sizzle reel from his Paul Newman racing documentary, seeking Tom Cruise's participation.
- Adam shares insider anecdotes on Newman’s late-life racing career, the camaraderie of the racing world, and the difference between how celebrities were managed in decades past vs. now.
“He drove from, you know, when he was 47 to just when he died. Basically he was in his car, in his 80s, driving the car.” — Adam (26:12)
- Discussion of today's lack of “gentlemen’s agreements” with the media and the relentless, intrusive nature of celebrity journalism.
- Adam shares insider anecdotes on Newman’s late-life racing career, the camaraderie of the racing world, and the difference between how celebrities were managed in decades past vs. now.
3. The Changing Scope of Offense & Outrage
- (55:15–57:17) Bret Easton Ellis joins to discuss how the reaction to a novel like American Psycho might differ today, given how quickly outrage cycles spin and how saturated media and culture have become.
“Now, would there be a lot of talk about the violence and the pornography in it compared to what else is available? ...The problem is everything feels disposable now.”
— Bret Easton Ellis (56:57)
4. Coddling vs. Calluses: Modern Parenting, Bullying, and Resilience
- (67:21–74:38) Adam and Bret take a “pro-bullying” stance (in moderation):
- Adam uses a metaphor about calluses to argue for the psychological value of minor adversity.
- Bret describes how a lack of adversity leaves kids unable to cope with criticism or failure.
"You build up little calluses on things, and that's what nature kind of is." — Adam (68:36)
"[Bullying] taught me to be covert. It taught me what to avoid. It taught me that people are shitty, kids are cruel. And in a strange way... it really made [us] stronger." — Bret Easton Ellis (67:21) - They critique modern reliance on medication and coddling (“babying” a generation), expressing concern over the long-term effects (see also: Adderall, service dogs, antibacterial hand soap).
5. Cultural, Racial, and Political Identity with Stacey Dash (01:37:40+)
- Stacey Dash opens up about being a Black Republican, experiencing public backlash, and the pressures around identity politics.
- On her Romney endorsement:
"A lot of people told me to kill myself. I'm an Uncle Tom, an Oreo, I hate being Black, blah, blah, blah." — Stacey Dash (156:49)
- On her Romney endorsement:
- She and Adam dissect the absurdity of equating party choice or candidate support with race betrayal.
- Both advocate for voting based on character, not identity—to move past the “optics” of superficial representation.
- Candid talk on coming from nothing, learning self-reliance, and resisting the “victimhood” narrative.
"You're not where you come from. You have to at some point take responsibility for your life."
— Stacey Dash (149:04) - Critique of contemporary leadership for focusing too much on inequity and victimization rather than self-empowerment:
"Every time these guys take the podium and they explain that ... hard work's not enough because we're living under a system that... I always scream at the tv, shut up. You're screwing everyone up." — Adam (159:40)
6. Personal Stories: Upbringing, Adversity, and Triumph
- Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) describes being bullied as a child and the impact of having a supportive, fiercely protective mother.
- Both Quinton and Stacey describe growing up with absent or dysfunctional fathers, and how their mothers’ encouragement (or lack thereof) shaped them.
- Quinton: “She said, I brought you in here. I'm the only one that can kick your ass.” (131:55)
- Adam and Stacey both discuss how overcoming adversity and not being coddled built character.
7. Music, Celebrity Anecdotes & Lighter Moments
- Touches on Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam), Linda Ronstadt, and celebrity encounters.
- Retrospective laughs about being “mic’d up” on TV sets and the dangers of forgetting your wireless microphone (95:48).
- Adam’s extended riff on the design flaws and virtues of hand-washing, shampoo, and “big Pantene.”
“I never get sick. I never wash my hands. I don’t use soap. I don’t use shampoo. I don’t use anything. I fucking rinse.” — Adam (83:36)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On Pop Music Sins:
“Combined, the damage that Hall and Oates has done with those four songs is much greater worldwide than what O.J. did.”
— Adam (06:54) -
On Calluses, Bullying, and Adversity:
“You build up little calluses on things, and that's what nature kind of is... That element of growing up in a zero gravity environment. You lose muscle mass, you lose bone density.”
— Adam (68:36–69:33) -
On Disposable Culture:
"The problem with that, of course, is that then renders everything disposable. It just feels disposable."
— Bret Easton Ellis (56:57) -
On Generational Change and Upbringing:
"What happens is then when you really hit the disappointments in life that we all have... you collapse. You're not able to even handle someone criticizing you." — Bret (69:33) -
Stacey Dash on Race and Politics:
"You should be able to make a choice based on the content of someone's character, not the color of their skin. This is not 1965. We've won that battle. We should move on."
— Stacey Dash (139:18) -
Stacey Dash on Responsibility:
“You're not where you come from. You have to at some point take responsibility for your life.”
— Stacey (149:04) -
Adam on Modern Victimhood:
"Every time these guys take the podium and they explain that there's inequities... I always scream at the tv, shut up. You're screwing everyone up."
— Adam (159:40) -
Bret Easton Ellis, On Movements:
“One man’s sucking is another man’s blowing.”
— David Wild (13:00)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:45 — Hall & Oates/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and musical crimes
- 18:42 — Paul Newman racing doc & Tom Cruise anecdotes
- 53:27 — Bret Easton Ellis on Christian Bale/American Psycho/Novel culture
- 67:21 — Upbringing, bullying, resilience (Adam & Bret)
- 75:57 — Secondhand smoke, invented panics, societal lies
- 83:01 — Antibacterial soap, “big Pantene” rant, modern coddling
- 1:37:40 — Stacey Dash interview; race, politics, and personal story
Episode Tone & Style
The episode is marked by Adam Carolla’s signature blend of brash humor, storytelling, and philosophical tangents. Banter is irreverent, brutally honest, and peppered with sharp one-liners and authentic personal anecdotes. The guests follow suit—sharing forthright reflections that balance seriousness (race, adversity, cultural criticism) and comic relief (music riffs, personal embarrassments, hot takes on soap and shampoo).
For Listeners Who Haven't Heard the Episode
This Carolla Classic is an essential listen for fans of cultural criticism, celebrity, and unfiltered humor. Adam and a dynamic cast of guests strip down the big and small issues of contemporary America, music, and personal growth—with stories that are both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly insightful. Whether discussing Grammy politics, “Maneater,” or the very real effects of absent fathers and childhood bullying, the episode’s through-line is a call for resilience, personal responsibility, and honesty—served with sarcasm and wit.
Recommended for:
Fans of blunt, observational humor, pop culture obsessives, and anyone curious about the unlikely intersections between rock music, bad soap, political identity, and how to properly toughen up kids for the world.