Podcast Episode Summary
The Adam Carolla Show (PodcastOne / Carolla Digital)
Episode: Sean Stone Talks RFK Jr. Documentary and Oliver Stone’s Tough Love
Date: December 10, 2025
Overview
This episode of The Adam Carolla Show features filmmaker Sean Stone (son of Oliver Stone) as the main guest. The conversation delves into Stone's new documentary on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.), themes of legacy, media manipulation, COVID-19 responses, and the dynamic—often tough—relationship Sean has had with his father, Oliver Stone. The episode is also peppered with Adam's signature wit, pop culture commentary, discussions about outrage culture, and plenty of candid, irreverent humor between Adam, co-host Alicia Krause, and recurring voice Ted Koppel.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Outrage Culture & Generational Differences
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Adam and Alicia start by dissecting a viral video where a woman claims to be "dehumanized" after being "crop dusted" (farted on) in a grocery store. Adam uses this as a launchpad to critique how minor slights and everyday inconveniences have become content for social media outrage and self-victimization (07:15–23:00).
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Memorable Quote
"We can't raise everyone grown up in bubble wrap and Purell because they have no fucking calluses. They have no ability to do anything."
— Adam Carolla [12:19] -
They joke about modern “assaults,” contrast this with genuine hardship, and riff on white-collar versus “real” problems.
“This is white people problems, right here. ...You guys are running serpentine to school, dodging gunfire. ...We got our own problems at the Albertsons.”
— Adam Carolla [21:41]
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2. Pantone Color of the Year = Race Controversy?
- The team skewers the backlash to Pantone's 2026 “white” shade as "color of the year," mocking social media users who claim it’s “problematic” in the current social climate (25:06–37:12).
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Memorable Quotes
"You're not gonna convince me that this was not an intentional move. ...Pantone just released their color of the year ...and it is severely lacking pigment. It's white. Not a good look. The optics of this? Not good. Not good."
— TikTok Commentator [32:22]"My favorite Pantone year is the year you shut the fuck up, bitch."
— Adam Carolla [35:14] -
Discussion expands to "quiet luxury," gendered empowerment & what Adam calls “professional outrage.”
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3. Podcast Awards & Hollywood's Political Cliques
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A rundown of the Golden Globes' first-ever podcast category and which big shows are (and aren’t) nominated—prompting Adam’s critique of Hollywood's ideological echo chamber and bias against dissenters (50:17–54:12).
- Highlighted Exchange
"I shouldn't be able to tell you in advance what podcasts are not gonna get nominated... I know Joe Rogan, who's arguably the most important podcast ever, is not gonna be in the six that are nominated. …That’s the way this town works."
— Adam Carolla [53:14]
- Highlighted Exchange
4. The War on Christmas (Still)
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Adam and Alicia discuss David Spade’s remarks about the trend to avoid public references to Christmas, viewing it as more evidence of unnecessary culture war skirmishes and performative tolerance (54:29–57:42).
- Memorable Quote
"I would never get involved with anyone's ritual and tell them to shut it down. I would just either participate or not participate."
— Adam Carolla [57:32]
- Memorable Quote
5. Sean Stone Interview: The RFK Jr. Documentary & Oliver Stone’s Parenting
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Sean Stone joins the show, offering insight into his documentary, his relationship with his iconic filmmaker father, and the broader themes of legacy, rebellion, and media manipulation (64:52–76:46).
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On RFK Jr. and American Political Fandom
"People that we hold up and adore and build up and then turn on and just go after... The two biggest heroes to the left were probably RFK Jr. and Elon Musk... and then they went from these are the greatest heroes... to literally physically attack..."
— Adam Carolla [65:14]"That's fascism is what I call it. There's an emotional impulsiveness to it... It feels feminine to me—that males can participate in as well."
— Adam Carolla [66:13] -
On Growing Up with Oliver Stone
"He didn't like kids, and he was pretty clear about that. ...'You're not very interesting to me until I could have a conversation with you about history.'"
— Sean Stone [68:56]"We would clash a lot on things, you know, intellectually, until I think we got to a place where, you know, he accepts I am my own man, I'm going in my own direction."
— Sean Stone [69:41] -
On the Power of Film and Cultural Impact
"We're not in a film culture anymore. ...Now, it goes in one ear, out the other."
— Sean Stone [77:18]
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6. Assassinations, Deep State, and Media Compliance
- The RFK documentary investigates the gaps and forensic inconsistencies in the official assassination narrative—Stone and Carolla both express skepticism about official government and media accounts in general; COVID responses are used as a modern parallel to mass compliance and propaganda (78:37–102:56).
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Laws of power, creation of fear, media as a foot soldier of power, and the ease of public compliance are all dug into.
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Memorable Quote
"The media jumps in and for some reason either becomes useful idiots or they're on the payroll. ...And then they talk to the media, and then the media gets hold of the moms. ...And then they've been weaponized, and now they're gonna do all the enforcing."
— Adam Carolla [82:13] -
COVID Segment Highlights:
- Personal stories of lockdown enforcement and mask policing (especially on planes, stores like Erewhon, and hotels in Boulder).
- Adam and Sean lampoon inconsistent rules, enforcement, and the mind-control underpinnings.
“We got kicked out of a hotel in Boulder... walked through the lobby, everyone in the lobby is just sitting there, no masks... but us walking gets security on us.”
— Sean Stone [92:39]
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Discussion about the “authoritarian temptation” and how easily fear and media narratives can manipulate majorities into compliance and aggression.
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7. RFK Jr. Doc & Sean Stone’s Next Steps
- Stone describes how the documentary aims to extend beyond RFK Jr.’s campaign, instead spotlighting the continuing fight against entrenched interests and media narratives. He hopes to keep making work that tackles these themes, joking that “whatever God gives me to do” is his next project (103:26).
Timestamped Highlights
| Time | Segment/Quote | |----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:15 | Adam: “Why are we chronicling this?” (Social media victim storytelling) | | 12:19 | “We can't raise everyone grown up in bubble wrap and Purell…” — Adam | | 21:41 | “This is white people problems, right here…” — Adam | | 32:22 | "Pantone just released their color of the year ...and it is severely lacking pigment..." — TikTok Commentator | | 35:14 | “My favorite Pantone year is the year you shut the fuck up, bitch.” — Adam | | 53:14 | “I shouldn't be able to tell you in advance what podcasts are not gonna get nominated...” — Adam| | 66:13 | “That's fascism is what I call it. ...There's an emotional impulsiveness to it...” — Adam | | 68:56 | “He didn't like kids, and he was pretty clear about that…” — Sean Stone | | 77:18 | “We're not in a film culture anymore...it goes in one ear, out the other.” — Sean | | 82:13 | “The media jumps in and for some reason either becomes useful idiots or they're on the payroll…” — Adam | | 92:39 | “We got kicked out of a hotel in Boulder…” — Sean Stone | |102:26 | "A little audit of your actions would be nice about now." — Adam |
Notable Quotes
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Adam Carolla:
- "We can't raise everyone grown up in bubble wrap and Purell." [12:19]
- “My favorite Pantone year is the year you shut the fuck up, bitch.” [35:14]
- “You're not getting cast in a movie ever if you show up with a MAGA hat.” [98:20]
- "The media gets hold of the moms, and they've been weaponized... they'll be in charge." [82:13]
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Sean Stone:
- "He didn't like kids, and he was pretty clear about that...You're not very interesting to me until I could have a conversation with you about history.” [68:56]
- "We're not in a film culture anymore. ...Now, it goes in one ear, out the other." [77:18]
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Alicia Krause:
- "You're making our side look really bad, ladies. You're making our gender look bad." [33:35]
Episode Flow & Tone
The episode is irreverent, sardonic, and unfiltered. Adam’s comedic sensibility dominates, balancing rants with cultural critique. Sean Stone’s portion is thoughtful and occasionally introspective, shedding light on living up to—and chafing against—the legacy of a famous father, and his pursuit of truth in storytelling. Alicia provides sharp, often sarcastic, counterpoints, and Ted Koppel’s voice-of-God style interludes add a running gag throughout.
For Listeners
If you missed this episode, expect signature Adam Carolla Show humor, a no-holds-barred look at outrage trends, and a substantive, behind-the-scenes glimpse of American politics, conspiracy culture, and the making of a documentary from Sean Stone, all wrapped in fast-moving, irreverent banter.
Recommended if you like:
- Pop culture and media criticism
- “Inside Hollywood” stories
- Political skepticism
- Classic Carolla rants on social trends and wokeness
- Candid looks at parent-child dynamics among public figures
