Adam Carolla Show – Carolla Classics: Jake Steinfeld + Chuck Zito (March 29, 2026)
Episode Summary & Highlights

Main Theme / Episode Overview

This episode of Carolla Classics features two standout segments from earlier episodes: a lively interview with fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld (“Body by Jake”) and an engaging sit-down with actor, stuntman, and former Hells Angel Chuck Zito. The show delivers Adam’s signature blend of rants, comedic observations, and candid celebrity conversations, with fellow regulars Allison Rosen, Bald Brian (Brian Bishop), and Dave Dameshek adding to the banter. Themes in this “classic” episode include modern travel woes, the evolution of American entitlement, the pitfalls of airline food (“goat cheese on pizza?”), locker-room style storytelling, and in-depth looks at the fascinating histories and personal journeys of the guests.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Adam’s Airline Rants: Travel, Food, and Entitlement

• Airline Food Grievances
  Adam launches into a signature rant about in-flight meal options, especially United’s decision to serve goat cheese pizza and cold beef salad:

  • "Nobody wants goat cheese on their fucking pizza. United Airlines, you fucking retards. Jesus goddamn Christ." (09:44)
  • Adam, Dave, and Allison riff on the absurdity of “California cuisine” at 35,000 feet, questioning why classic pizza toppings are replaced by outlier options.

• Entitlement and First-Class Perks
  Carolla details his frustration with coach passengers using first-class bathrooms, lamenting the erosion of travel etiquette:

  • "There is an entitlement issue that’s going on in this country that shows itself in ways you guys don’t think amount to a hill of beans." (27:40)
  • He compares it to access in luxury boxes at sporting events and mourns declining standards post-9/11.

• Movie & Plane Anecdotes
  Adam recounts a humorous clash with a fellow passenger who poked him for stretching during “The Lucky One”, leading to riffs about boldness versus politeness:

  • “I want to create a super narcissist ultimate entitled baby!” (22:54)

2. Jake Steinfeld: Perseverance, Fitness, and Showbiz

• From Stuttering Kid to “Body by Jake”
  Jake shares his deeply personal journey: overcoming a stutter and weight issues to become a fitness icon.
  • “Not only did the weights build my body, but it built my confidence.” (46:26)
• Hollywood Tales & The Village People Story
  Jake tells the hilarious story of being recruited to be “the Macho Man” on stage with the Village People, only to realize, mid-show, that the audience was entirely male:
  • “[...] they’re all guys. And there’s my mom and my dad and my little baby sister looking at me like this.” (56:07)
• Major League Lacrosse
  Adam expresses surprise that Jake founded the league, leading to discussion of lacrosse’s origins and growth.
  • “It actually is America’s oldest game.” – Jake (44:27)
• Personal Training for the Stars
  Jake reminisces about training Harrison Ford, Spielberg, and Bette Midler—emphasizing that “they ain't no different than you or me. The only difference is they had a dream and never took no for an answer.” (58:47)

3. Chuck Zito: Life in the Fast Lane

• Hell’s Angels History & Exit Chuck explains how he joined and left the infamous motorcycle club, providing factual background:
  • “It started in San Bernardino, March 17, 1948. Then the second charter started in San Francisco in 1954…” (143:47)
• Bodyguarding Celebrities
  Zito recounts protecting stars like Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rourke, Stallone, and Charlie Sheen—often hired to keep them “in line.”
  • “They hired me to get them in line…Your health means more to me than the paycheck you’re paying me.” (154:48)
• Notable Encounters
  Dramatic recount of recovering a stolen Hell’s Angels jacket and dealing with dangerous situations using martial arts skills.
  • “...I wrapped his leather jacket around my arm and I just came...I hit him with a crescent kick that took the knife out of his hand and proceeded to pummel him.” (140:12)

4. Comedy, Pop Culture, and Social Commentary

• Masculinity & Friendship in Celebrity Circles
  Adam and Jake discuss the “testosterone thing” among actors and their attraction to real tough guys.
  • “It borders on homoerotic…every comedian who is funny secretly wants to be a rock star…and all the tough-guy actors want to hang out with real tough guys.” (147:59)
• “Creep of the Week” & Product Grievances
  Dave and Adam lampoon the marketing of conditioner, mocking the “man’s” ploys to push unnecessary products.
  • “Conditioner: Does anyone need conditioner? Does conditioner actually have any value?” – Adam (127:18)
• Unfiltered Talk on Social Niches & Lifestyle Choices
  The crew debates the downside of “pothead” and “surfer” lifestyles, noting their tendency to dominate identity at the cost of ambition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Adam on Airline Food:
  “Just make a good pizza...Nobody wants goat cheese on their fucking pizza.” – Adam Carolla (09:44)
• Jake on Grit and Fitness:
  “Not only did the weights build my body, but it built my confidence.” – Jake Steinfeld (46:26)
• On First-Class Entitlement:
  “There is an entitlement issue going on...It is what we’ve become.” – Adam Carolla (27:40)
• Jake’s Village People Show:
  “They're all guys. And there’s my mom and my dad and my little baby sister looking at me.” – Jake Steinfeld (56:07)
• Chuck Zito on Real-Life Violence:
  “I hit him with a crescent kick that took the knife out of his hand and proceeded to pummel him.” – Chuck Zito (140:12)
• On Boldness in Public:
  “I want to create a super narcissist ultimate entitled baby!” – Adam Carolla (22:54)
• On Celebrity Bodyguarding:
  “They hired me to get them in line. Your health means more to me than the paycheck you’re paying me.” – Chuck Zito (154:48)

Segment Timestamps Guide

• Airline Rant & Goat Cheese Pizza: 03:56 – 12:27
• Movie/Cabin Etiquette Anecdote: 17:24 – 24:35
• Entitlement in Travel (Bathrooms): 27:28 – 33:27
• Jake Steinfeld Interview - Background, Village People: 40:37 – 57:59
• Training Celebrities, Life Lessons: 58:02 – 61:26
• Chuck Zito Interview - Beginnings, Hells Angels: 137:41 – 147:59
• Bodyguarding Stories & Hollywood: 147:59 – 154:48

Additional Highlights

• Running Gags:

  • The phrase “dumpadilly” for bathroom disasters, still used by show regulars.
  • Recurring jabs at airline announcements, pizza snobbery, and “conditioning” products.

• Memorable News Bits:

  • Allison delivers zingers on Michael Jackson and Neil Armstrong:
    “Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. Michael Jackson has sex with children.” (70:54)

• Sponsor Reads with Personality:
  Adam and Jake Steinfeld humorously compare and critique ad reads, with Jake jokingly offering to improve Adam’s delivery. (62:41, 63:54)

Tone & Style

The episode is vintage Carolla: irreverent, fast-paced, and unwilling to shy away from “politically incorrect” territory. The crew’s camaraderie, quick-witted riffs, and comfort with the guests create an atmosphere as suitable for insightful memoir as for barroom confession. Jake Steinfeld’s motivational energy and Chuck Zito’s authenticity as a real-life tough guy both shine, while Adam’s grievances and cultural observations fuel the show’s comedic backbone.

For listeners new and old, this episode is a quintessential mix of sharp social commentary, inspiring life stories, and comedy—forged in classic Carolla style.