Adam Carolla Show — French Stewart + Jo Koy (Carolla Classics)

Release Date: December 13, 2025
Podcast Network: PodcastOne / Carolla Digital

Episode Overview

This episode of the Adam Carolla Show: Carolla Classics compiles fan-favorite segments and classic moments from the show's extensive archive, featuring Adam's signature comedic rants, insightful interviews, and off-the-cuff interactions with recurring personalities like French Stewart and Jo Koy. The main themes are Adam’s humorous takes on pop culture oddities, personal anecdotes, and playful debates with co-hosts, all wrapped in an irreverent, quick-witted tone that’s a hallmark of the podcast. The selections span various years, focusing on absurd news stories, mishaps in Adam's personal life, and comical deep-dives into showbiz and sports culture.

Key Discussion Points & Highlighted Clips

1. Media Bias & The Toobin Zoom Incident

Episode Clip: Show 2940 (November 2020)
Timestamps: 01:22–18:29

Discussion:

• Adam opens with a satirical comparison of how news outlets of different political leanings report on the Jeffrey Toobin Zoom incident.
• He notes the euphemistic language used by left-leaning outlets (“exposed himself”) versus more direct descriptions on the right-leaning side (“masturbating on a Zoom call”).
• The discussion evolves into an extended, improvised “reenactment” with Adam and co-hosts (Elliott Gould, Gina Grad) imagining Toobin running into old family friends at an airport.

Memorable Lines:

• “It’s masturbation versus exposed. If it’s on the left, it’s exposed. On the right, it’s masturbation. It’s the same story—you’re just getting a slightly different version depending on who likes you.” — Adam Carolla [03:01]
• “I was beating my meat.” — Adam (as Toobin, in the reenactment) [15:23]
• The bit spirals through a barrage of euphemisms for masturbation (“choking the chicken,” “spanking the monkey,” “jerking the gherkin”) with Adam repeatedly forced to clarify.

Notable Segment:

• [12:28] Adam: “No, I’m a little more of a stroker, I think you would call it.”
• [17:36] Adam finally breaks character: “All right, you two. I was masturbating, okay? Are you satisfied with the chicken and the gherkin and the bologna?!”

2. Male Life Expectancy & Lifestyle Observations

Episode Clip: Show 2403 (September 2018)
Timestamps: 18:43–29:33

Discussion:

• Adam jokes about perks of being a woman—notably longer average lifespan—rarely being mentioned by women when listing gender-based grievances.
• Gina Grad and Adam swap theories about “burning out” more quickly due to active lifestyles, versus the longevity of “low-mileage” people—using Adam’s father as a humorous example.
• Brief segue into Oscar rehearsal stories, with Adam questioning actors' professionalism, and guest Elliott Gould sharing tales of presenting at the Oscars.

Memorable Quotes:

• “I have a theory about that, which is — that’s a little insulting, but that’s never stopped you before.” — Gina Grad [19:14]
• "My dad’s like slippers. You put them on, but you don’t go jogging in them." — Adam Carolla [21:38]
• Elliott Gould tells of being paired to present with Isabella Adjani, and cracking a sports score while awarding the Oscar (earning a laugh from Adam):
  “So when they said, ‘the winner is,’ I announced the [NCAA] score, and they haven’t had me back since.” [25:58]

3. The “Missing Envelope” & Son’s Suspected Theft

Episode Clip: Show 2088 (June 2017)
Timestamps: 30:48–58:18

Discussion:

• Adam recounts the saga of several hundred dollars in cash going missing from his studio, with a parade of suspects including Dr. Drew’s bipolar guest, Shawn Green (ex-LA Dodger), and eventually Adam’s own son, Sonny.
• Adam and the team call Sonny on-air to grill him about the missing envelope, resulting in a deadpan but earnest parent-child negotiation laced with Adam’s comedic exasperation.

Memorable Exchanges:

• “Well, did you look on the other page, on the other place where you—the other place where you took all the other money?” — Sonny [52:02]
• “If you leave a whole stack of money on the table in front of people... he’s done the transformer robot versus the green paper stuff. Daddy brings home math very, very quickly.” — Adam Carolla [47:45]

4. Smoke Detector Rant & Everyday Frustrations

Episode Clip: Show 1444 & others
Timestamps: 59:55–74:04

Discussion:

• Adam launches into a classic rant about defective home smoke detectors that chirp incessantly, can’t have their batteries replaced, and defy logic.
• He walks through the frustrating attempts to silence them, ultimately smashing them in his sink.

Memorable Quotes:

• “I literally put it in the sink and drown it. Like, I’m just going to bury it in water. I’ll treat it like a bomb or something.” — Adam Carolla [65:35]
• “There’s never been more verbiage onto something the size of a glass coaster.” — Adam [62:40]
• Elliot Gould: "Next week's 'Lord of the Jungle'..." (riffing on Adam’s mounting frustration) [67:05]

5. Old School Song Logic & the Harper Valley Rant

Episode Clip: Show 895
Timestamps: 74:16–83:38

Discussion:

• Adam deconstructs the logic of “Harper Valley PTA” song lyrics, fixating on repetitive last names that make no narrative sense and the laziness of songwriters.

Notable Moment:

• “You have a song that takes place in Harper Valley, Harper is a last name—but there’s also several thousand other last names from which to choose!” — Adam [78:12]

6. Sports, Parenting & The Anatomy of a Coaching Call

Episode Clip: Show 1444
Timestamps: 91:11–110:49

Discussion:

• Adam breaks down the infamous Royals/Giants World Series decision—should the base runner have been sent home?—using a kidnapping analogy to explain risk vs. reward.
• Dives into sports history, fan psychology, and how pivotal moments scar or immortalize players.

Memorable Quote:

• “In life, be—don’t be in between. ...If ISIS or Al Qaeda jumps you in the parking lot and says, ‘Get in the van,’ once you’re in the van, that’ll be about it. ...That was your opening.” — Adam [93:00]

7. Niche Porn, Modern Dating, and How the Internet Changed Everything

Episode Clip: Show 337 (June 2010)
Timestamps: 112:00–155:40

Discussion:

• Segment starts with classic TiVo Trivia game before launching into a deeply Carolla-ian tangent on how the proliferation of niche internet porn (from nap porn to “come on glasses” fetishes) has changed male motivation to marry, socialize, and pursue relationships.
• Doug Benson speculates—jokingly—about subgenres of porn, and Adam questions if the easy access has dulled “the eye of the tiger” in men.

Notable Quotes:

• “I think it’s a lot like double penetration. If you’re not a seasoned veteran… you can’t just wake up and have two guys in you.” — Adam Carolla [128:39]
• “I remember when porn was just porn. ...Well, I guess I gotta beat off to it.” — Adam [155:00]

Notable Quotes

• “You could never hate her as much as she hates herself.” — Adam Carolla on Teresa Strasser [124:25]
• “Daddy’s angry. I want that money back. Do you understand me?” — Adam, on-air call with his son Sonny [53:48]
• "Now if there’s not a woman napping and a sword…" — Brian Bishop [155:27], during the nap/sword niche porn riff.

Episode Structure & Flow

• Classic Clip Montage: Hosted and introduced by 'Superfan Giovanni,' the episode weaves through highlights, giving context and dates for each segment.
• Adam's Rants: Each segment is marked by Adam’s unique mix of personal storytelling, exasperation, and dry logic, often punctuated by co-host banter or deadpan reactions.
• Improv/Role-play: Multi-voice reenactments (e.g., “Jeffrey Toobin at the airport”) are a recurring comedic device.
• Call-ins and Games: On-air parenting with his son, and the classic “Totally Topical TiVo Trivia Time Tonight” trivia segment with Doug Benson and the team, showcase the show’s interactive and improvisational side.
• Cultural & Personal Reflection: Even absurd or gross-out humor is often leveraged to reflect on changing social norms, personal growth, or generational shifts in behavior and expectations.

Final Thoughts

This Carolla Classics episode is a compendium of what long-time fans love about the show—unfiltered humor, sharp observation, and a willingness to turn even the most trivial annoyance or pop culture embarrassment into a sprawling, laugh-out-loud cultural exploration. Adam’s willingness to share personal failings, embrace awkwardness, and eviscerate both himself and society ensures that even as the show barrels through the absurd, it remains rooted in the humor of being human.

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode is a crash course in Adam Carolla’s comedic worldview, delivering both nostalgia and evergreen laughs.