Adam Carolla Show: David Alan Grier + Brian Posehn (Carolla Classics)

Date: August 17, 2025
Highlighted Episodes:

• Adam Carolla Show #1108 – Guest: David Alan Grier (w/ Dave Dameshek, Allison Rosen, Bald Brian)
• Adam Carolla Show #1111 – Guest: Brian Posehn (w/ Dr. Bruce, Allison Rosen)

Episode Overview

This "Carolla Classics" edition brings together some of the most memorable moments from the Adam Carolla Show, featuring comedian and actor David Alan Grier and standup comic Brian Posehn. The episode encapsulates everything that listeners love about Adam Carolla’s podcast—unfiltered wit, sharply observed rants, hilarious commentary on human behavior, and candid conversations about society, relationships, and the business of comedy. The tone is quintessentially Carolla: irreverent, insightful, and never afraid to wade into controversial waters, all with a comedic twist.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Universal Driver Rage and LA Traffic Realities

• Adam and crew open with a long, animated riff on LA traffic, driving etiquette, and the frustrations of dealing with oblivious or timid drivers.
• Adam relates a story about a heated moment behind the wheel, unable to curb his honking despite vowing to be more relaxed (02:23–10:27).
• "People who don't understand those basic rules of the road should not be allowed to have a license. As we've discussed many times." – Adam Carolla (08:24)
• Dave Dameshek adds, "Most people have a default setting, which is when in doubt, brake... It's the opposite of what they should have." (09:20)
• The discussion extends to selfish drivers in LA, the futility of honking, and the social psychology of gridlock.

2. Comedy, Gender, and Socialization

• Adam defends his long-held belief that men tend to be funnier than women—not because women can't be funny, but that social and biological factors (testosterone, dating rituals, defense mechanisms) lead to more men pursuing and excelling in comedy (18:01–27:32).
• "If the hot chick says number one in the comedy department… then a sense of humor will evolve because all we want to do is get laid." – Adam Carolla (19:26)
• The team debates whether women are socialized away from developing a comedic persona, or whether there's hardwired difference and evidence in behaviors like wedding speeches.
• Allison Rosen argues, "I think women are not socialized to be funny...the qualities that they are taught...have to do with being compassionate and listening..." (23:11)

3. TV Shaming and Modern Conveniences

• The crew pokes fun at home design shows that hide televisions, questioning why society developed a stigma around showing a TV in the living room (34:13–41:58).
• Adam jokes, "What happened that you're not...I completely have missed out on this." (35:00)
• They riff on the absurdity of multi-use products marketed to suggest a more active or balanced life, when most people simply never use those functions.

4. Hotel Room & Touring Comedian Stories

• David Alan Grier shares classic tales of touring life, subpar hotel rooms, and the low-key indignities of life on the road (49:03–56:17).
• Extended comedic bit about trying to order a simple wine glass in a hotel, highlighting the incompetence of hotel staff and looping customer service calls.
• Grier and Carolla riff on hotel bathroom design flaws, toiletry placement, and misadventures such as dropping phones in the toilet.

5. Shame and Decency in Modern Society

• Adam reflects on societal shifts toward narcissism and the death of manners, from gum littering to thankless drivers to public barefoot behavior (125:32–139:54).
• "Shame is the guardrail on the rain slick highway of life." – Adam Carolla, with David Alan Grier gleefully turning it into a comic refrain (92:07–93:40)
• They question whether laws or internalized shame are more effective for keeping a polite society.
• "We need to bring back a certain, no-duh, decency and dignity—which is: don't spit the gum out, not because it's illegal, but because you're a human being and you share this planet with other human beings." – Adam Carolla (135:11)

6. Comedic Personas: How Comedians Get Weird

• Carolla and Grier discuss which comedians are the oddest offstage: Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Ray Romano, Steve Martin, and others are debated for quirks and idiosyncrasies (83:02–87:21).
• "Who's the weirdest dude you ever worked with or, you know, famous person?" (85:23)
• The panel reflects on how money, success, and idle time can accentuate eccentricities.

7. Baldness, Teen Stardom, and Tabloid Confessions

• In a thread about former teen idol Leif Garrett, they dissect the ways celebrities try to control their public image, especially when their career is built on something that fades, such as hair (101:04–104:05).
• Discussion about the morality of "tell-all" books, confessional culture, and why even the most revealing stars still have secrets.
• "That's the one thing he won't come clean about: male pattern baldness." – Adam Carolla (101:31)

8. Paula Deen, Alec Baldwin, and the Double Standard of Outrage

• A recurring theme is public outrage at celebrities over "crimes against culture" (racist remarks, slurs, misconduct), and the inconsistency in redemption and punishment (186:00–205:16).
• "Baldwin bounces back from stuff that Paula Deen would be crucified for." – Allison Rosen (193:13)
• Carolla points out the influence of talent, politics, and organizational bias in who gets cancelled and who does not; Baldwin's left-leaning politics and fame versus Deen's niche celebrity.
• The group reminisces about how language used to be, why words lose their power/context, and how intent, audience, and time have changed the scope of what's "offensive." (194:32–196:41)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On comedy defense mechanisms and male intimacy:

• "Guys are uncomfortable being intimate, so they stand back and make jokes…they bust each other's chops constantly because it's uncomfortable for two guys to go, 'Hey man, I really appreciate you.'" – Adam Carolla (26:22)

On children’s TV and ‘everyone’s special’ culture:

• "That fucking poison that those retarded animators and creators shit out...Please, please stab yourself in the eye with a fucking mechanical pencil, would you? Creators of Wawa Wubsy...You're not an artist. You cannot create." – Adam Carolla (139:34–141:47)

On food, waste, and obsessive tendencies:

• "I can't leave food on the table, like that cow gave its life for me and I can't throw it away. I have this weird thing where it's like all the energy that took to whatever...that 4 ounces of beef on there, that diesel fuel, that's sunlight, that's photosynthesis...all that to get to me, and I can't just throw it away." – Adam Carolla (178:56)

On marriage and the futility of some arguments:

• "You don't have to win the argument. You never have to win the argument. You can storm out and go, 'You just buy your own fucking vitamins, then.' And then you've won." – Adam Carolla (175:05)
• "You're gonna win all... you're gonna win because you don't have to win the argument." – Brian Posehn (174:53)

Notable Timestamps

• 02:23 – Adam’s driving/rage rant begins
• 18:01 – Comedy gender debate, wedding speech analysis
• 34:13 – "Creep of the Week": TVs and social stigma
• 49:03 – David Alan Grier’s hotel/road stories
• 92:07–93:40 – The epic "Shame is the guardrail..." riff
• 101:04 – Leif Garrett, baldness, and tabloid confessions
• 125:32 – Gum spitting, narcissism, and loss of manners
• 135:11 – Reflection on shame, decency, and social regulation
• 186:00–205:16 – Public outrage, Baldwin/Deen, double standards

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is at turns raucous, deeply funny, and oddly insightful—anchored by Carolla’s relentless logical consistency and willingness to say what others won’t, balanced by the comic sensibilities of the guests. Political correctness is lampooned, but with enough nuance to avoid simple shock humor. The show’s familiar banter and confessional honesty is present throughout, connecting everyday annoyances to wider cultural currents with humor and integrity.

For New Listeners

This episode is quintessential Carolla: outrageous but never pointless, with honest digs at the absurdities of modern life and showbiz. If you love biting, unscripted comedy and barroom-style rumination about life, society, and comedy itself, this collection of classic moments delivers.

For Further Listening

• Adam Carolla Show: Beat It Out – New show exclusively on Adam’s Substack
• Carolla Classics (Premium Only Feed) – Best-of episodes ad-free

Note:

• Ads, intros, and outros have been omitted from this summary—focus is solely on substantive, content-rich segments.
• Quotes are provided with context and timestamp where available for listeners seeking specific moments.