Transcript

Progressive Insurance Announcer (0:01)

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

Adam Carolla (0:32)

Foreign.

Matt Atchity (0:37)

Classics I'm your host, superfan Giovanni. This is the podcast we play the best moments, highlights and fans. Select the clips from all 17 years of the Adam Carolla Show. If you'd like to hear any of the full episodes or clips presented in these episodes, make sure to check out Adam Carolla's substack adamcarolla.substack.com there you'll find ad free archives of the Adam Carolla show, The Adam and Dr. Drew show, as well as the podcast Beat It Out.

Adam Carolla (0:55)

If you'd like to request a clip,

Matt Atchity (0:57)

please email us classicsomcorla.com all right, let's get to the clips coming up first we have Adam curlis show 1534 featuring Naomi Grossman, Matt Achetty, Regina Grad, and Brian Bishop from 2015.

Adam Carolla (1:11)

Matt Hatchety, everybody. Rotten Tomatoes. Good to see you, my friend.

Matt Atchity (1:14)

Aloha.

Adam Carolla (1:16)

Aloha. Boy, I don't know what's going on out there, but I was just driving back from Walnut, which is. And that's, that's every time I talk to the Catch A Contractor guys and they tell me where I need to be the following morning at 8am I go, you understand? I've spent 50 years in this area uninterrupted. I have not heard of most of the places you're sending me to. I don't know how you're consistently able to pull that off. Every once in a while you think you'd sprinkle in a Reseda or a Sherman Oaks or, or if it was a Hollywood or Westwood or something. And I'd go, yeah, I think I used to date a chick who lived in Reseda or something. But these are all places I know not of. But I took my kids with me because, you know, they're driving me nuts. They're on their spring break.

Matt Atchity (2:12)

They want to teach them to catch contractors early.

Adam Carolla (2:14)

Yeah, they want to catch contractors. They like the show. And it's sort of. There's a lot of kids that like the show because it has that sort of thing. Thematically, it's easy. You know, it's a bad guys and then the big guy with the tattoos yells at him, tell the teacher. So it's pretty easy thematically, and they Wanted to go. And so we got up early this morning and we drove out to Walnut. And then I drove straight here from Walnut. And then they hung out the whole time. And they're sweet kids and, you know, I'm one of the stars of the show, so they're not going to get yelled at too much, but they're good. I mean, I thought they. I was kind of trying to teach. I am a very strong believer in bring your kids to expose your kids to kind of, you know, this sort of one day in the classroom. I mean, even they were off. But if they were in class, one day of being on set with me the entire day and just seeing what everybody does, from makeup and hair to the sound guy to all the producers and the blood, the video guys and all that stuff is so much more valuable than. Can you ever think of a valuable day that you had in class? I mean, some better than others, but one that you couldn't have burnt off to really go be in the middle of a production?

Summary

Adam Carolla Show (Classics): Naomi Grossman + Teresa and Bryan (Carolla Classics)

Episode Date: April 11, 2026
Host: Adam Carolla
Guests: Naomi Grossman, Matt Atchity, Gina Grad, Bald Brian, Teresa Strasser (classic segment), Bryan Bishop (classic segment)

Episode Overview

This "Carolla Classics" episode revisits some of the best moments from the Adam Carolla Show's archive while featuring an appearance by Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story). Adam and the team deliver their signature blend of comedy, pop culture conversation, listener interaction, and riffing on everyday frustrations. The episode traverses topics from parenting and the entertainment industry to personal anecdotes, film criticism, pop culture, and relationships. A classic segment with Teresa Strasser and Bryan Bishop, exploring health and wedding stories, rounds out the show.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Bringing Kids to Work & Parenting Philosophy

Adam recounts bringing his kids to the set of “Catch a Contractor” and argues for exposing children to real-life environments over standard classroom days, saying experiential learning has long-term benefits.
- “One day of being on set with me the entire day and seeing what everybody does...is so much more valuable than—can you ever think of a valuable day that you had in class?” (Adam Carolla, 02:00)
Discussion of children witnessing parents at work and how respect is a critical parenting component, not just friendship.
- “I really think they need to respect the shit out of you. I really do. That is a massive thing.” (Adam Carolla, 04:30)

2. LA Driving Rant & On-the-Road Etiquette

Adam describes a routine merge on the freeway that provoked an outsized angry reaction from a fellow driver, leading to a humorous but pointed rant about road rage and overreactions.
- “I just thought where's all this coming from and what's going on and how's the rest of your life working out?” (Adam Carolla, 08:30)
The team riffs on the psychology of overblown responses in traffic and the general increase in confrontational behavior.

3. Anecdotes: Poolside Mishap & Social Etiquette

Gina Grad tells the story of accidentally dropping someone’s phone in a pool before a wedding, leading to a frantic leap to retrieve it—an experience blending humiliation and empathy.
- “Dive in like an Olympian swimmer...come out like Ariel, 'I got it!'"(Gina Grad, 20:01)
Adam expands on the idea that, if you mess up after being asked a favor, ultimate responsibility lies with the requester—a "chain of events" principle.

4. Stoned vs. Drunk Self-Assessment (Sketch)

Adam and Matt Atchity act out the difference between denying drunkenness and sheepishly admitting to being stoned, highlighting the self-awareness gap between the states.
- "Are you drunk right now?" “No, I mean, I had a beer or like two, but I’m not drunk drunk…” (Adam Carolla & Matt Atchity, 24:38)

5. Caller Segment: Estranged Parent Reconnection

Caller Marissa shares her experience with a runaway mother and asks Adam if his strong views about absent fathers apply to mothers too.
Adam, the team, and Marissa discuss the added emotional weight and “against-nature” quality of maternal abandonment, empathizing with Marissa while dissecting family dysfunction.
- “When a woman abandons a child, she’s broken...When a mom is able to do it, that woman is horribly broken.” (Adam Carolla, 27:25–28:15)
Adam’s advice: “Be selfish. Get what you need out of the relationship (or lack thereof)—it’s your turn to put yourself first.” (Adam Carolla, 34:44)

6. Free Speech, Public Shaming, and Punishments

Discussion about the University of Oklahoma SAE scandal and broader thoughts on institutional vs. societal punishment for objectionable speech/actions.
- “By the time it gets to us, they’ve been punished in my mind...that guy or those guys will have some scarlet letter on them for some period of time.” (Adam Carolla, 36:40)
The team debates university accountability, pressure to act under public scrutiny, and the flaws of “apology culture.”

7. Rotten Tomatoes Game: Ed Harris Edition

Matt Atchity leads the panel through a ranking game of Ed Harris movies based on Rotten Tomatoes critic scores.
Film discussion includes The Abyss, Glengarry Glen Ross, Enemy at the Gates, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Pollock.
- “It’s a fun movie—delivered exactly what the poster promised.” (Adam, on Nat’l Treasure, 63:07)
- Notably, the team debates how politics and persona (Adam’s own, or directors like Eastwood) might impact critical reception.

8. Naomi Grossman Interview: The Groundlings and American Horror Story

Naomi talks about her journey through improv—making it to the Groundlings’ Sunday Company, but not the main troupe.
- “It’s faster to be an astronaut...Or a medical physician, probably cheaper too.” (Naomi Grossman, 72:23)
Reflections on paths to success in show business, and American Horror Story’s anthology format.
- “The roster of people who have not become Groundlings that became successful is much lengthier than that which became Groundlings.” (Naomi Grossman, 71:44)
The panel jokes about SNL one-seasoners and the unpredictability of comedy careers.

9. News & Notables

Gina’s news covers:
- Howard Stern’s future: Massive undisclosed job offer, possibly leaving SiriusXM.
- Boxing for Charity: Mitt Romney vs. Evander Holyfield; Adam jokes about the ultimate black-vs-white matchup, but laments that it won’t be a real fight. (“If anyone was a racist either side and wanted to really root for their own, this is the fight.”, 97:03)
- Comedy Central’s Justin Bieber Roast: Editing out Paul Walker jokes due to audience groans and boundaries of “roast” humor.
- Legal Marijuana Taxes in Colorado: Massive boost to education funding, but Adam is skeptical more school funding translates to better educational outcomes.
Colorful riffing about modern pornography, moving boundaries, and what today’s youth encounter online.
Adam’s “Get Out of Jail Free” idea: Every citizen entitled to one freak-out, DUI, indecent exposure, or youthful infraction—because people are human.

10. Classic Segment: Teresa Strasser & Bald Brian

Original 2009 segment revisits:
- Brian’s health update: Brain tumor treatment, navigating symptoms, and support from his wife Chrissy.
- Teresa’s pregnancy: Reflections on the length and emotional impact, especially the amplified effect of watching sad movies.
  - “I wake up and start crying, and then I cry for about 15 minutes.” (Teresa Strasser, 117:41)
- Wedding stories: Adam and Lynette miss a wedding ceremony; Adam jokes about “wearing a bra and a jockstrap”—the burdens of modern husbands.
- Listener calls cover: Boxing, favorite fights, the state of the Mini Cooper, and bogus Loveline calls.

Notable Quotes & Moments

“You want to be a parent, then at some point your kid needs to respect the shit out of you.” (Adam Carolla, 04:30)
“My first impulse is like, I want to think to myself, to anyone behind me, you have no idea what I could do to you if you provoked.” (Adam Carolla, 13:25)
“Drunk, constantly trying to drink right. But you've lost some hand-eye coordination...If you're stoned, thing would be tied in a hefty bag and taped to a mop handle and planted on the lawn 100 yards away.” (Adam Carolla, 23:02)
“When a mom is able to look at her son or daughter and just go, 'Yeah, I'm alright. For a little over a decade in between seeing you,' that woman is horribly broken.” (Adam Carolla, 28:14)
“I’ll give you one. When I’m in charge, I’ll give them one of like five or six things. Maybe shoplifting...every citizen will be born with one, get out of jail free.” (Adam Carolla, 88:06)
“I’m not saying all of them. I’m saying a percentage [of critics] might let [politics] bleed in.” (Adam Carolla, 57:49)
“It’s faster to be an astronaut…Or a medical physician, probably cheaper too.” (Naomi Grossman, 72:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |:--------|:---------| | Bringing kids to work, parenting | 01:11–06:50 | | Road rage & LA traffic rant | 07:47–10:41, 12:35–16:50 | | Pool phone rescue story | 18:09–22:52 | | Stoned vs. drunk debate/skit | 24:14–25:30 | | Estranged parent/caller Marissa | 25:55–34:45 | | Free speech & university punishments | 35:35–43:07 | | Rotten Tomatoes (Ed Harris) game | 50:37–65:16 | | Naomi Grossman interview | 71:36–76:20 | | News segment | 76:54–101:17 | | Pornography & cultural change | 101:17–102:16 | | Classic segment w/ Teresa & Bryan | 107:17–159:14 |

Tone and Language

Adam Carolla: Candid, irreverent, blending personal stories and societal commentary with humor; unfiltered, confessional, and occasionally profane.
Gina Grad: Warm, witty, detail-oriented in anecdotes and the news.
Bald Brian, Matt Atchity, and others: Supportive, joke-driven, weaving in pop culture and industry insights.
Naomi Grossman: Self-deprecating, honest, and quick-witted.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a comprehensive sample of Adam Carolla’s podcast style: off-the-cuff parenting advice, unpredictable rants, playful banter, honest discussions of uncomfortable topics, games and debates about pop culture, and a steady flow of audience interaction. The classic segment returns listeners to the show's roots, with heartfelt and humorous moments from beloved regulars.