Loading summary
Kevin Ryan
Martin's question is, are you garbage? If you ask for a Rumpelman shot at the bar upstairs and the bartender said, we're not that kind of place.
H. Foley
Give the boys a round of applause for kicking it off with a goddamn home run.
Kevin Ryan
Rumpelman's when you're out of crack, where.
Josh Johnson
Is.
H. Foley
Rumpelmann's when you know you're not going to get hard, gang? Get your tickets for the Back on.
Kevin Ryan
The block tour@rugarbage.com second show out in San Francisco. Get your tickets for Portland, Seattle, Brea, Burlington, Vermont, Boston, Massachusetts. Low ticket warning, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia at the Met, Rochester, New York, and Toronto, Ontario. See you there.
H. Foley
Welcome to another exciting edition of Are you Garbage? The show where you find out if your favorite comedians are classy individuals or absolute trash. Now, here are your hosts, Kevin Ryan and H. Foley. Hey, everybody out there. And welcome back to everybody's favorite podcast. This is RU Garbage. Oh, yeah, it's that little show. We sit down with your favorite comedians and we find that if they grow up to be classy, yeah, they're just a big old piece of trash.
Josh Johnson
Trash, trash, trash.
H. Foley
I'm your host, H. Foley. Coming at you on a beautiful day. We're out back here at Tooties in the new edition. She just walked into a wasp nest.
Kevin Ryan
Okay?
H. Foley
She's all stung up. All right, fair enough. Mike coast is coming at you from right next to me. Extremely unamused this week. He is the CEO of Are youe Garbage? He is an international businessman, and he's my best pal in the whole wide world, and I love him. Give it up for kj. Kevin James Ryan, everybody. Let's go.
Kevin Ryan
Hey, everybody. Thanks for tuning in as always. Please make sure you rate View subscribe on itunes. Full video available on YouTube. Also full video available over there on Spotify, baby. And then obviously, the greatest website of all time, www.patreon.com. are you garbage? You go over there, you get up to a bajillion hours worth of bonus content.
H. Foley
Yes, sir. And, gang, we couldn't be more excited to have our incredibly, and I mean incredibly special guest here with us today for the first time. He is a very funny, very successful standup comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster. He's written on 51 episodes of the Tonight Show, 867 episodes of the Daily show, which he is also a correspondent. You've seen him on Hard in the City. You've seen him on Conan the Comedy Lineup this week at the Comedy Cellar. The Late Show, After Midnight, Game Change. You can hear him every week on his amazing podcast, the Josh Johnson Show. All right. He has a special out on Paramount plus called Hashtag, his YouTube page. 1.7 million subscribers. It seems like he's dropping a half hour every week.
Kevin Ryan
Every half hour.
H. Foley
And they're all over a million, two million. This kid is absolutely killing it. He's about to start the European leg of his world tour. You can get tickets@josh johnsoncomedy.com give it up for Josh Johnson, everybody. Let's go.
Josh Johnson
Thanks, man.
H. Foley
Look at you, man.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Both worlds. You got the legacy media, you got the Internet. You figured it out.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. When you say legacy media, I get nervous. Usually legacy media is followed right. By a takedown.
Kevin Ryan
It's like, yeah, you and your corporate shills, man.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. You're real popular with legacy media. And weren't you on some island?
Kevin Ryan
I got the flight manual.
H. Foley
Traditional media. Yeah, buddy. I mean, we've been talking about it for months. Congratulations.
Kevin Ryan
Fantastic.
H. Foley
You're absolutely killing it, man. You're moving some tickets. Kid does well and it's good to see. And you're heading over to Europe, man. That's fucking cool as shit.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah. So I'm going to go some places I've never been before, and that is where I get the most nervous of, like, I want to, like, capture the sensibility as quickly as possible, but when you get there and then you have to do the show right away, it becomes a bit tough where not only is it a little bit easier because I'm actually an American, but sometimes you do get the opportunity to go to a city a day ahead and go like, walk around or you meet people, you talk to people and everything. And so I'm very excited to do those shows, but those are probably like in the realm of nerves. Those are probably in those last few rungs that you get.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
You know?
Kevin Ryan
Yeah. Anytime I've ever performed overseas, I'm always like, the minutes leading up to it, I'm like, do you guys know what a supermarket is? Like? I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
What a well thought out, articulate answer. I have a feeling we are about to get somewhat of a master class in class.
Kevin Ryan
Could be. Comes always a very kids put.
H. Foley
This guy's put together.
Kevin Ryan
Put together also. I mean, you know, pull the fourth wall back a little bit. It's 12:45. You offer him a beer right away he's just like, no, I don't Dr. So I don't think. I don't think he's cut from the same cloth as you are.
H. Foley
But he said that. He's like, no, I don't drink. I was like, you start writing that Sharpie. Take us back. Give us the origin story. Where were you born?
Kevin Ryan
Where'd you grow up, kid? Correct.
H. Foley
Is that true?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana.
H. Foley
Oh, okay.
Josh Johnson
So the middle of the state, Central Louisiana.
H. Foley
No kidding.
Josh Johnson
There is a disappointing amount going on there. Is to say you're in the middle. It's. We're pretty far from New Orleans where everything is happening and what everyone knows and everything, but we are in an unfair path of the hurricanes.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
To say that, it's like, we're not in the Gulf, so it's like to still get hit the way we would get hit.
H. Foley
I've never picked up on your accent before, and I'm hearing nobody does.
Josh Johnson
That's crazy. No, no one ever does. And it's kind of even. People didn't pick up on it when I lived there.
Kevin Ryan
The hell are you from?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, like, I used to.
H. Foley
Goddamn Yankee out of here.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I used to work at restaurants, and I'd ask, you know, for people's order, and they'd be like, where are you from? And I'm like, right there.
Kevin Ryan
That's my house. My house right out the window.
Josh Johnson
And they're like, nah, no way. I'm like, yeah, no. This is just how I talk.
H. Foley
I don't trust you. Get me another waiter. What are we talking about? Like, is it swampy? Is it. What is it?
Kevin Ryan
That's all you think?
H. Foley
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
You guys got land there, or is it all mushy?
Josh Johnson
I mean, there are levees that can break.
Kevin Ryan
So I've heard on legacy media.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. There are bayous and everything. But, you know, it's interesting because we had everything that you would need for a pretty substantial city, but we just didn't have any of it to the degree that it felt like a major city, if that makes sense.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
We didn't have. And this is just. Some of this is opinion, but a lot of it is just fact. We didn't have enough people.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Okay. That's usually a crazy substantial city. We have an airport, but I think there's only six flights a day.
Kevin Ryan
That's pretty good. A lot of places don't have an airport.
Josh Johnson
A lot of places don't have an airport. Right.
Kevin Ryan
Look at six flights. Where are those flights to, though?
Josh Johnson
They're all connections. We only fly to, I think Atlanta and to North Carolina. What the fuck? So it's like you have to. Like, when I. It's like when I lived in Chicago.
Kevin Ryan
Oh.
Josh Johnson
To get there had to be impossible to get home. And then I was, like, broke in Chicago. So it's like I would save up to be able to go home to be on these two flights. And the first time I had been on a plane was leaving, like, Alexandria to move to Chicago. Yeah. So, like, when I graduated college and I decided to move to Chicago, like, start doing comedy and stuff, that was, like, the first plane ride I'd ever been on. That's nuts. So I got such a terrible headache. I was 22. Yeah.
H. Foley
Was it a normal plane or was it a smaller plane?
Josh Johnson
It's gotta be a smaller plane. I didn't know what a normal plane was.
H. Foley
There propellers on it.
Josh Johnson
There was no propeller. So it was probably a commercial plane.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
But the commercial was short.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
And so then I remember taking off and being like, wow. And I was like. And it was emotional, too, because, you know, I was, like, really leaving home. Like, I had left home for college, but I was only two hours away. I was properly leaving home and my mom was seeing me off and everything. It was kind of a movie. Yeah. And so I was just. I was like, really kind of getting cut up about it, like, as we were about to take off. And then it's my first flight. So we're like 45 degrees, and I'm like, whoa, this is the world.
H. Foley
Doesn't even make it off the Runway.
Josh Johnson
This is the highest I've ever been. The plane is.
Kevin Ryan
You're going.
Josh Johnson
My feet. The plane was not high. And I was like, whoa, this must be what a billionaire feels like. Yeah. And then. And then we get. We get about.
H. Foley
So this is space.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. We get about 45 degrees for the turret turn, and we start tipping. And I'm like, oh, yeah. Because I always thought. This is very dumb, but I always thought that when you flew, you just flew straight. Like, I thought they.
Kevin Ryan
I don't just listen. You're not wrong. I feel like they turn too much sometimes.
Josh Johnson
I thought they got on the Runway and then they pointed.
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
Josh Johnson
Where they were trying to go. And then they took off and went that way like a slingshot. So as soon as we turned, I was like, oh, we're going down. This is what happens when you leave home. It was good.
H. Foley
I should have stayed at the restaurant.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
My mom's going to watch me crash. This is bad.
H. Foley
All right, hang on. So real quick. Was the city something years ago? Like, was there industry there? And it Left, like, would you say.
Josh Johnson
That was like an Air Force base?
Kevin Ryan
It looks pretty.
H. Foley
It was an air force base size. Did you guys live in the city proper? In the suburbs of this city?
Josh Johnson
So when I was born, I. I believe we were in the. Yeah, so we were in the city proper. Like, if you even type in, like, I mean, if you. Okay, so maybe type in Alexandria, Louisiana. Sonia. Cor. Quarters. O N I A and then quarters.
H. Foley
Is that an apartment complex?
Josh Johnson
No, no, it is.
Kevin Ryan
Sounds like I got this. Does it look about Sonia quarters?
H. Foley
Is that what you grew up in? Something like that.
Josh Johnson
Yes.
Kevin Ryan
So really, it don't look great, if I'm being honest.
H. Foley
That's like Elvis's house.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. No, no, no. So. So if you zoom out. So, okay, there's a. There's a. A pretty substantial part of Alexandria, Louisiana that is like really bad off.
H. Foley
Are you from the 40s? That's crazy.
Josh Johnson
Well, that picture might be, but I swear I'm born from now. Ish.
H. Foley
That's a vampire.
Josh Johnson
No, no, there's no sinners going on.
H. Foley
Wait, was your house like that, though? Was it like an old house like that?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. So. So, okay, let me see if I can find. Okay. Okay.
H. Foley
Are you looking at these?
Kevin Ryan
Am I looking at the. Are you looking at more of the aerial view or the house?
Josh Johnson
So. So this house kind of would be something similar to when I was really.
H. Foley
Let me see.
Kevin Ryan
Gotcha. Yeah, the one we were looking at.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah.
H. Foley
Miles Davis was born.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. And so then we lived in. When my parents got back together, we lived in Pineville for a little bit.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Pineville is actually having like quite the.
Kevin Ryan
Come up now or at the time.
Josh Johnson
No, no, no, no.
H. Foley
Seven flights a day.
Josh Johnson
So Pineville is like.
Kevin Ryan
I'm so intrigued. I've never looked up someone's hometown. This is amazing.
Josh Johnson
There's a couple of things. Oh, man. You know what I should have done?
Kevin Ryan
Oh, Pineville's a little cute town.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. So Pineville's cute. Now there was a time place to call home.
Kevin Ryan
City of Pineville.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Pineville used to have just so much less going on. And so that was probably a little closer to like the sticks a little bit. Then we were only in Pineville for a little bit. And I think that's because my dad's apartment was in Pineville. When we all moved in together, we moved back. And these are all across the river from each other. So it's just a lot of carrying trash.
Kevin Ryan
Listen, your parents getting back together is a. Is always a red. Not a red flag for garbage. Across a river ain't great, if I'm being honest.
H. Foley
Didn't understand how airplanes work.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Hold on. Let's go. Let's go back.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Okay. So your mom and dad are from this town? From Alexandria?
Josh Johnson
Yes. Yes.
H. Foley
What did they do for a living?
Josh Johnson
So both teachers. So my mom.
Kevin Ryan
Teacher.
Josh Johnson
Special ed teacher.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And she. So basically she was special ed teacher up until I was like, 10 or, like, 9 or 10 or something like that.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And then she. She had to have brain surgery.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
So, you know, that was, like. That was a really scary time because they didn't give her, like, a great prognosis or anything.
H. Foley
Was it cancer?
Josh Johnson
And. Yeah, it was. It was. It was a rare type of tumor. Tumor. And then she had the surgery. Surgery was successful. But then they were like, you're not gonna walk. You're not gonna. Like, it was all this stuff. And then she managed to make a full recovery, like, walking. And, like, all of her. Like, they were like, you're gonna have trouble computing and everything. Like, you just won't be the same and stuff like that. And she. And she was. It was really a miracle. And then she transitioned, because special ed teaching is such, like, hard, strenuous work and everything. She couldn't do it after the surgery, so she transitioned to becoming a librarian. And so then, like, basically most of my late elementary, junior high, all of high school was just, like, spent at the library after school. Cause she would pick me up, but then she's still at work, so she would be picked. She'd take her lunch break late to come pick me up from school, and then we would just chill at the library till she was done.
H. Foley
No kidding. So not the school library?
Josh Johnson
Not the school library. Public library, yeah.
H. Foley
Was she a teacher, though, at the same school that you would have went to? She was in your school district. And there wasn't many.
Josh Johnson
I wasn't in special ed, so it was.
H. Foley
No, I know.
Josh Johnson
Oh. Oh, got you. Got you. I thought you met at the same school.
Kevin Ryan
Like, just thinks everybody's in special ed. Because he was.
H. Foley
I didn't mean that I met in the same school district. Was she teaching in your school district?
Josh Johnson
Like, I guess you could say the school. I guess I was. So I was so little as well that I wasn't, I guess, paying attention to what the district was. So I'm. I'm sure. I'm sure she would have been in the.
Kevin Ryan
I've also fully had such.
Josh Johnson
He's.
Kevin Ryan
He gets such. That's what makes him a great host and interviewer. He has such specific questions sometimes that, like, I've never seen someone just go, what are you talking about?
H. Foley
The dryness at which you just like.
Kevin Ryan
Oh, no, honey, I'm not. Also, he's like, you guys are like the antithesis of each other. I've never thought about what school district I was in when I was in first grade.
H. Foley
Okay, all right. Your mom's a librarian, your dad's a teacher.
Josh Johnson
Yes. Okay.
H. Foley
Brothers and sisters?
Josh Johnson
No, it's just me.
H. Foley
Just you. Wow.
Kevin Ryan
All right.
Josh Johnson
And so my dad was, like, a paraprofessional, so he was kind of in that same line of education as my mom, except he would be assisting a lot when it came to kids with special needs that went further beyond, like, just the classroom if they need help with other. Other stuff. And then he was like a volunteer slash. Worked at the Boys and Girls Club after that.
Kevin Ryan
You're cut from good cloth.
Josh Johnson
Very sweet people.
Kevin Ryan
Very sweet.
H. Foley
Where did they both go to school? Where'd they both go to college?
Josh Johnson
They both went to Gramlin University.
H. Foley
Wow.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
All right. That's pretty good. And where did you go to school?
Josh Johnson
I went to college at Centenary College of Louisiana. It's in Shreveport. It's like two hours from small school.
H. Foley
Private school.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, it's like a small Methodist school.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. So that's where I studied.
H. Foley
All right, so it's just the three. Is there extended family in the area, like, on your mom's side of your dad's side?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
You got cousins, you got grandparents? Yes, everybody's around.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, every. Everybody is around. Had cousins. Lived with my grandparents for a bit.
H. Foley
Let's get to that. When. When did your parents split up?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, so they split up when I was like. Yeah, around that time of. Of my mom's surgery and everything. Yeah.
H. Foley
So after the recovery or, like, why it was going on?
Josh Johnson
It was. Yeah, it was. It was kind of. It was kind of during and after, I suppose. And then it was definitely after that. It was, you know, like, official and stuff.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
And. And then we moved in with my grandparents, live with them.
H. Foley
You and your mom?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, my mom and I. And. And so I was basically around my mom, my aunt, my grandma, and my granddad for, you know, like. Yeah, a majority of that junior high.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
High school.
H. Foley
Was your dad still in the area?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
You see him?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, I'd still see him and everything. And then. Yeah, and then when my mom and I moved out on. On our own and everything, that was like, the rest of high school.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Okay. And then when did they get back together? Did they ever get back together?
Josh Johnson
Not. Not again. So they. Yeah, basically they were together and then I was born and then maybe when I was like two, they split up for a bit.
Kevin Ryan
Gotcha.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And then they got back together. But then when I was like, maybe it's hard. Cause it's like a two year process of like divorce. So it's hard to say. Like I just kind of call it when it's final. So by the time I'm like 12.
Kevin Ryan
This guy calls balls and strikes, dude.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, it's just like, he's like, once.
Kevin Ryan
The state gets involved, that's when. That's why I acknowledge it.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. Because.
H. Foley
Because that's still common law, wife. I'm telling you right now.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. And so by the time I was. Yeah. In like junior high and was like fully official, they never got back together after that.
H. Foley
Let's talk about ORA frames.
Kevin Ryan
Oh, shout out or frames.
H. Foley
Now you've heard us talking about aura frames for your mom, for your aunt, for your wife. What about dear old dad?
Kevin Ryan
And listen, I got to be honest with you. If listen to this show, good chance your parents are divorced. Your dad's going to need it.
H. Foley
Very nice. Keep up what's going on in the.
Kevin Ryan
Family because, you know, he's checked out.
H. Foley
But I'll tell you what, you know, it's actually, it's actually great for dad because what the dads love their grandkids doing, they want to see him in sports, playing ball. You can't make every game on a Wednesday up at Abington or wherever you got to go. But you know, if your son or daughter is posting pictures of Johnny at the game, cracking a dinger, you know, the dads love that stuff.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
H. Foley
So this Father's Day get the greatest gift in the world. Aura Frames. He could throw it right on the countertop while he's making dinner, making a stew for himself. Maybe some navy bean soup or something like that. Like, oh, look at that. Jimmy's doing good over in baseball.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah. Aura Frames was named best digital photo frame by wire. And it's easy to see why. There's unlimited storage, as you know, so you can add as many photos, videos, funny memes as you can find. And it's so simple to set up. You just plug it in and share away, baby. For the guy who swore he didn't need anything or a frame proves him wrong. Ora as a great deal for Father's Day for a limited time, listeners can save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $30 off on their best selling Carver mat frame. That's Aura. Auraframes.com promo code garbage. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.
H. Foley
Kit, we got talking about Lucy.
Kevin Ryan
Oh, Lucy. Lucy.
H. Foley
And I think it's safe to say we are officially a Lucy family over here.
Kevin Ryan
You ain't lying, Big Dog.
H. Foley
Garbage. And you know why? Because they have so many fun products.
Kevin Ryan
I got a lot. Listen, they're in it. They got a lot of good stuff.
H. Foley
They got the breakers, which has a little extra flavor, a little hydration, which you need when you, when you, when you. When you're doing your nicotine. You know what I mean? Talking about a hundred percent pure nicotine. Lucy breakers or nicotine pouch with a little extra surprise. As I said, each pouch holds a capsule that contained that when you prop it open, contains a little release of flavor, a little hydration. Set yourself up with a subscription and Lucy can be delivered straight to your door.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, as the big man said, it's a hundred percent pure nicotine. Always tobacco free. And that is important when you're searching for nicotine.
H. Foley
What is this, the 50s?
Kevin Ryan
I know they were nice enough to send them to us. I mean, they, they, you know, God.
H. Foley
The boys love them.
Kevin Ryan
They laced up the boys. As the big man said, it's everyone's every. Everyone in the family is. Is a Lucy's man.
H. Foley
Reminds me, I gotta take a pack home or.
Kevin Ryan
Lady, let's level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Go to Lucy Co Garbage and use the promo code garbage. You get 20% off your first order. Lucy has a 30 day refund policy. If you change your mind again, that's Lucy Co. Use a promo code garbage. You get 20% off. And here comes the fine print, guys. Lucy products are only for adults of legal age. And every order is age verified.
H. Foley
Warning.
Kevin Ryan
This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is addictive chemicals. Now back to the show.
H. Foley
Back to the show. So. But they're both still in the same hometown.
Josh Johnson
No, no. So my dad passed in 20.
H. Foley
Sorry to hear that.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, he. He passed in 2016.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And my mom and the rest of my like close family is over in Georgia now.
H. Foley
They moved to Georgia?
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Is your mom retired or is she still working?
Josh Johnson
No, she's retired.
H. Foley
Gotcha. Okay, good. Nice. Did she move with like the aunt and like everybody was in that house?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. So my, so my mom and my aunt are in Georgia and my granddad had also moved to Georgia after my grandma Passed away and yeah, he passed away a little while back, but yeah, like 20, 21. But yeah. Now my mom and my aunt are in Georgia. It's very easy to.
H. Foley
So that's home based now. When you go home, that's where you're going.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, it's a hub to a hub. So it's like I live in New York and it's finally an easy flight to see my mom.
Kevin Ryan
What a comic at heart.
H. Foley
That's crazy.
Kevin Ryan
It's a hub to a hub. That's an easy flight for.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
I just did a little crowd work, plus the website.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. You have no idea the trials it would be to get home and like, and how expensive it would be. I was like, it would be like. And this is, you know, I'm still working at the grocery store, stuff like that. This is when I'm like doing comedy, but I'm just doing open mics. It'd be like 650 to get home to a place that nobody's trying to get to.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Josh Johnson
It's like, how is it expensive to get here?
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
H. Foley
So you're out of there now? The family's out of there?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I saw some family there and I'll. I'll see them once in a while. But as far as like when you're going home? When I'm going, yeah. For holidays.
Kevin Ryan
Georgia, you touch it, you touch on a little bit. What was the first job growing up?
Josh Johnson
I worked at a restaurant. Mexican restaurant.
Kevin Ryan
A Mexican restaurant?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. When I was 16.
H. Foley
16.
Kevin Ryan
Waiting or busing tables.
Josh Johnson
So I started as a chip boy. I brought the chips and salsa. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
That's a first. That was your only responsibility?
Josh Johnson
It was my main one. Yeah. Ye.
H. Foley
Yeah, I'll be on salsa.
Josh Johnson
Cuz to be fair, at the time I was like, I was like, man, I got more potential than chips. But then give me the guacamole, boss.
H. Foley
I'm telling you, I can do it.
Josh Johnson
But then looking back and like also having to work with 16 year olds when I was even 18, I was like, I understand why they just started. Yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Try not to screw this up, Johnson.
Josh Johnson
And then I started busting tables. But like, soon after, to be fair, so it's like chips was like.
Kevin Ryan
Chips was the first like your orientation.
Josh Johnson
Orientation start? Yeah, Chips was first week. And then after a week they were like, all right, he's not like a complete.
Kevin Ryan
He's got chips a lot.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, he understands chips and dip together to the table. And then I was bussing tables that's.
Kevin Ryan
Interesting because to me, it would go bussing, then chips. Anything you're. You're. Anything with food is typically. Would be above.
Josh Johnson
But you guys are not to make bussing tables sound more difficult than it is. But I have in not, not even in one restaurant. Like in many other restaurant situations. I've watched people bus tables in a way where I was like, oh, they need him doing something else.
Kevin Ryan
He needs to be on chips.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because like, I don't know, put you.
H. Foley
On ice for a little while.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Take.
Josh Johnson
Take some care when you're stacking the plates of the cups. Yeah. I mean, I've just, I've watched. I've been at restaurants where people walk up and bust the table by sliding everything off with one arm.
Kevin Ryan
And I'm like, you've seen me bust tables before. I did. I remember the one time I put a glass in a glass that had too much liquid in it and that overflowed and this big waitress slipped on it. And I mean, it was, it was a scene in the. In the dining room.
H. Foley
How was that Mexican restaurant?
Josh Johnson
It was amazing.
H. Foley
Really?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah.
H. Foley
All right, so that's. You're doing that in high school, were you playing any sports?
Josh Johnson
None. Well, I played. I played soccer when I was a. When I was really little. And I actually talk about it on stage sometimes, about how I was part of like a sort of like community intramural. You know those things where it's like, no one believes in these kids.
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
Josh Johnson
Like these. You're. We are actually one step below Bad News Bears.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
H. Foley
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
As far as. So I. Yeah. So I was on one of those for baseball and I was on one of those for soccer and baseball. I was somehow more. Because I had asthma growing up, so soccer was never gonna be like the move, you know what I mean? Like, I couldn't outrun the condition. And then you would think baseball would be better since it's like more slower, more static, less spurts of running. And then basically I have. No, you're okay.
Kevin Ryan
You're warm for 1pm yeah.
H. Foley
Because we were speaking. Supposed to be here in three or two. I apologize.
Josh Johnson
No, you're good. You're good. So baseball was somehow worse because I'm left handed when I write and even drawing, stuff like that. And I'm not even good at drawing, but I'm just left handed.
H. Foley
Sure. So you're left handed.
Kevin Ryan
He's even criticizing himself. He's like, listen, I'm not.
Josh Johnson
But then when it comes to throwing a ball, I'm right Handed what? But because I was little, I didn't know how to communicate any of that. And so then the first day of like, T ball, they were like, which hand do you write with? That was like. That was like their question for like, what side they were going to put you on. Everything. Which made sense for every single kid but me.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
And so then they put me on the wrong side to bat the wrong side of a mitt and everything. And so then the thing that made the most sense to me as a. And I'm little, but this was still very dumb, is that if, like a ball got hit by like one of the bigger kids with coordination and it was going up in the air, it's coming at me in the outfield. Cause they made me outfield because I was trash.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
It made more sense to just go ahead and catch with my right hand and then throw it with my right hand. But because I told them that I was left handed, there's also like, they put the glove. They've just everything was messed up. And so then I would take off my glove to throw the ball and they'd be like, what are you doing? And then no one really put it together that it was like, oh, it's just everything's on the wrong side.
H. Foley
So you might have been in special ed. Switchburgh.
Josh Johnson
I was in, like special ed. Up sports. Yeah.
H. Foley
That's crazy.
Josh Johnson
My P.E. was not impressive.
H. Foley
So is that because they trained you? Like, should you have had the glove. You should have had the glove on your right hand and you should have thrown left hand. Or is that naturally. How you.
Josh Johnson
So from what I was told.
H. Foley
That's nuts.
Josh Johnson
What I was told, which was loud because I was very frustrating because I said that I write with my left hand. I should have been throwing with my left hand. Putting the, like the mitt on this hand.
Kevin Ryan
Throw with your right hand.
Josh Johnson
But I throw with my right hand. So I would try to catch it with this one, then take it off, then throw. And it was just we were losing.
H. Foley
Like a guy with one arm.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
How many. How many kids did you graduate with in elementary school?
Josh Johnson
Oh, in high school.
H. Foley
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
Geez.
H. Foley
Less than a couple hundred.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Small town.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
Way less. I mean, I think 500. Went to the whole school from. From seven. Yeah. Probably 100 people.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
H. Foley
Okay.
Kevin Ryan
And what was the name of that high school?
Josh Johnson
Holy Savior Menard. It was Catholic.
H. Foley
You went to a Catholic school?
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Very nice.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
All right, Good stuff. Uniform. The whole nine yards.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Uniform. Everything.
H. Foley
Go to get to go to church every week.
Josh Johnson
They had mass Wednesday mornings before classes started.
H. Foley
Gotcha. Yeah, gotcha. Ours was Thursday in elementary.
Kevin Ryan
What was that high school mascot?
Josh Johnson
An Eagle.
Kevin Ryan
Eagles are pretty good. What do you have over there, Dr. Lucas?
Josh Johnson
They don't have a Wikipedia.
Kevin Ryan
Really?
Josh Johnson
We do.
Kevin Ryan
We find out if the guest is notable. Alumedia Senatori, College of Louisiana. He is notable alumni.
Josh Johnson
Oh, sweet. Sweet. Oh, it's all happening.
Kevin Ryan
Take that, D ball coach.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
How were the grades? I assume good?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah, I was really good all the way up until about seventh grade. It was like, nothing could touch me. And then at, like, eighth grade, the math hit hard.
Kevin Ryan
That comes in quick.
Josh Johnson
And so the math started like there was. There was a certain pieces of logic.
H. Foley
I always thought you were a genius.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, man. I.
H. Foley
Like seventh grade. Dude, I thought you were gonna say college.
Josh Johnson
No, no, no. So eighth grade. Eighth grade. The math hit hard. I was getting good grades and everything else. And then my. I didn't have trouble again. Once I understood the algebra, I was fine until senior year, they put me in AP Biology, and that was too much. And I didn't want to be in AP Biology, but I had basically the way that my classes ran. I had to basically be in the higher level of science, which I didn't even qualify for, just to make my schedule work, which is insane.
Kevin Ryan
You've been getting applied wrong the whole. Your whole life, dude.
Josh Johnson
The whole time they've been putting the glove on the wrong hand, Even with AP Biology. I told my teacher, I was like, hey, I'm really not supposed to be in here. The teacher went to the principal, was like, hey, you really not supposed to be in here. And then the principal was like a baseball glove on his foot. What to tell you. And then I even offered. I was like, look, I will come early. I will come early every day just to study for the regular science class that the rest of the seniors are taking. And then I'll just take those tests. Can I just do that?
Kevin Ryan
Wow.
Josh Johnson
And they were like, no. And I don't know if it's. Cause they didn't believe I would do it or if it was that old thinking. Like, basically, in the same way that Covid broke people's brains, it also opened up how many people were lying this entire time. Like, how many. How many places you've worked where you're like, can I work from home for this very special occasion? Like, I'm literally sick. Can I work from home? I'll still work.
Kevin Ryan
I'll throw up.
Josh Johnson
And Work. And they're like, no, it's just not sustainable. And it's like, no, it was. And then. And then I offered to, like. I literally offered to come, like, come in so they could see me in the building and just do all the reading. And so I was like, I'll do it in front of whoever and just let me take the test.
Kevin Ryan
And they were like, nah, you're better than me. I got. Dude, in eighth or ninth grade, I got put in special ed math, and I didn't belong in it. And I took it as. Keep my mouth shut and just ride this out.
H. Foley
Take the easy A.
Kevin Ryan
You know what I mean?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah. So then that was like a C class for me.
H. Foley
So that's pretty good.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
You got a grade. You gotta. You gotta curve for the ayg. I. I mean, C is.
H. Foley
I'm a.
Josh Johnson
But no, I'm like.
H. Foley
I gotta. I gotta point to my freshman year of college.
Josh Johnson
Really?
H. Foley
Yeah. And I graduated.
Kevin Ryan
He's the smartest in his family.
H. Foley
I grad. I graduated. I think third or fourth last in my high school.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, but graduated's graduated.
Kevin Ryan
Look at you now, you know?
H. Foley
I mean, no matter what, hand the gloves on, baby.
Josh Johnson
They don't put a number over your head in the picture.
H. Foley
Great logic.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
I mean, that is sound logic.
H. Foley
Okay.
Kevin Ryan
All right, I have. Well, sorry, one more. Who was the most famous person you met growing up? Was there. It could have been a local celebrity, a news guy, the pilot of the airplane, anybody that you were like, oh, my God, there's so and so. A radio.
Josh Johnson
Okay. Actually, if you. If you type in, I think it's Faith Ford, and she's an actress. And I. Yes, Ford.
Kevin Ryan
American actress.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I served her chips and salsa.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, that was. That was huge. I was like, oh, my gosh, that's wild.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, I remember her. Okay. Born Alexandria, Louisiana.
H. Foley
Look at that.
Josh Johnson
And so sweet. Was so. Was so, so nice.
Kevin Ryan
Wow.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Look at that. That's. Was she back in town seeing family or something?
Josh Johnson
I think so.
Kevin Ryan
What else do you think? Clearly, that's a cheap.
H. Foley
Maybe she heard about the chips.
Josh Johnson
Maybe.
Kevin Ryan
What was she doing in her hometown?
H. Foley
You're living. You're. So. Most of this time in high school, you're at your. You're at your grandparents, right?
Josh Johnson
A good portion. A good portion of it. And then. Yeah, I think maybe. I don't. I'm trying to be fair about. Let me see. I think it was probably in. Yeah. Like 10th grade or something.
H. Foley
We gotcha.
Kevin Ryan
What was. What were the. What was the room Arrangement at that grandparents house.
Josh Johnson
So it would have been me and my mom sharing a room and then my aunt. Aunt in a room, My grandparents in a room. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Tough.
H. Foley
You guys have dinner together and all that stuff?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, we would have dinner together and everything.
H. Foley
Who did the cooking?
Josh Johnson
My grandma did a lot of the cooking.
H. Foley
Good.
Josh Johnson
And. Yeah, phenomenal. Like, like in a, in a. In a way that's like. I don't even know how you would put this, but anybody who's had their grandparents cooking, that's from like a certain time, of course, it's like there is no recipe.
H. Foley
Yes.
Josh Johnson
It's like you were just alone in the house and then there's this soup that's like phenomenal that you. And you didn't write anything down on how to make it. So it's like, you know, towards, towards the last year of all of us living together. I think it was my mom or my aunt that asked my grandma to start like writing down a couple of these things.
H. Foley
Yeah, just home runs. Yeah. It's my Anne Marie Catherine's vegetable soup and rice pudding. It's like, it hits a nostalgic thing that you just can't.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. I don't even know what's in it because it's like you, you were sick before you ate it. Yeah. And then you eat it and then three coughs later you're healed.
H. Foley
What was the vacations like? Were you guys going anywhere? Were you doing anything? Things were tight, I assume in that period.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I mean, I. I think. Okay. So at one point my aunt had moved away.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And so when I was. I'm trying to even remember, I think I would have been like 8 years old or something like that. My aunt moved to like Mesquite, Texas or something. And I was just like heartbroken. I was like, you can't leave. What are you doing? And I'm sure that was heartbreaking. Cause she was like, we were always hanging out and stuff. Gotcha. And so I know we went to visit her I think about two times. And then she had moved back. She wasn't really gone that long in the grand scheme of things.
H. Foley
Gotcha. Gotcha. So no real vacations? Disney World, the beach?
Kevin Ryan
I don't think nothing like that.
H. Foley
What were you doing in the summers? You were just working in the summers?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, once I was 16, I was like working in the summers and when I was little, before I was working during the summer, I was just like at the library with my mom.
H. Foley
Were you reading at the library? Do you read A lot.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I would read and I do a lot of the stuff that my mom had planned at the library because she also became like the youth coordinator and everything. And so I was right around the age that it was all of a sudden, like my mom was teaching at my school because I was at the age that she was pitching the events for Gotcha.
H. Foley
So you're helping her. Good guy, man. Good guy. All right, you got that. Then you go to college. What was the social scene like in high school, Jeff? Friends and all that stuff? Pretty tight.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I mean, yeah, I made some good friends. The friends that I made in elementary school. Or like my best friend I met when I was like, four.
H. Foley
Still best friends?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah, gotcha.
H. Foley
Is he still back there?
Josh Johnson
No, no, he lives in LA now, but he actually, like, directs my specials and stuff.
H. Foley
There we go.
Kevin Ryan
So many comments.
H. Foley
Couple of small town boys made good.
Kevin Ryan
Baby do well to bring their homies along. You love to see it.
H. Foley
Get your own chips and salsa. This kid's killing it.
Josh Johnson
And then, and then basically outside of that, yeah, I did have, like a core group of friends that I'd hang out with for the most part during school, and then a couple of people who I would hang out with that went to different schools.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
But yeah, there wasn't a huge amount. There was a slight amount for these periods of time that feel longer when you're a kid, but in retrospect were like a month where you try to have a different group of friends, but then you realize that they're like out of their mind or something. Thing.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, you're like in the backseat of a car. Like, what the hell am I?
H. Foley
Any trouble? Any trouble when you were a kid? Arrested? Anything like that? No drinking, Nothing like that. No smoking, doobies? No house parties? Anything like that?
Josh Johnson
No, no. Like I, I, I went to a, a few parties, but, like, I didn't drink. And I feel like I missed, I missed out on like, that, that curve of when you're supposed to drink because I was too scared of getting caught and getting in trouble.
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
Josh Johnson
As a, as a K. And I was like, I don't know. Like, by college I had the reputation for being sober. So then people would make me the designated everything except driver. Like, I was like, not the driver. But they'd be like, oh, yeah, just walk back with Josh, he's not drunk, or like, you know, whatever. And so then I almost felt this weird responsibility, like I couldn't drink because now everyone, in fact, I was about to have my first drink. In college, it was a real thought in my head. Cause I was like, you know what? I'm 21. Maybe. Who knows? Everyone seems to be having a good time. This. This drink at least smells delicious. Because a lot of alcohol also stank. And so I was like, yeah, the.
Kevin Ryan
In my head stank real good, baby.
Josh Johnson
In my head, I was like, this stinks, so I don't know if I want. And then, like, my friend's sick the next day. It just doesn't. I don't know. And. And so the only time I really thought, like, maybe I'll have a drink, right? I was in my. Yeah, like, junior year, I turned 21. I was at my fraternity house.
H. Foley
All right, in your fraternity?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. And I was at my fraternity house. And then I'm standing outside, and I was like, yeah, you know, maybe. And then I turn around to go back inside the house. Cause I was just chilling, you know, like, taking a break to myself and everything.
H. Foley
Tornado ripped the house apart.
Josh Johnson
As I turn around, this kid fell off the roof.
Kevin Ryan
That was me.
Josh Johnson
And, like, fell off the roof in front of me so perfectly. And, like. And he gets up and, like, gets up immediately. Cause it's not like our. Like, we. The lip of our roof was not high. And so still a roof. It's still a roof.
H. Foley
It's not.
Josh Johnson
The floor gets up immediately and is like, ah. And, like, I don't know what he had. I mean, he may have broke his forearm. I have no idea. But he just got. And I was like, oh, yeah, maybe.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, maybe it's not for me.
Josh Johnson
And then. And then I moved to Chicago and I was like, too broke to, like, a new thing.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Kevin Ryan
Also, if you're on the fence about drinking, you go to Chicago and see those drunks.
H. Foley
It's like, yeah, that makes sense.
Kevin Ryan
Falling off roofs every day, warm weather hits gang, and suddenly everyone is juggling vacations, visitors, zero. Routine Hydro brings everyone back. That structure, you can get quick, efficient work, and it keeps you feeling grounded no matter what the calendar looks like, baby. The good folks over at Hydro have been nice enough to send us a machine. And I gotta tell you, it's a secret weapon for a full body workout. And as you know, Kippy's getting into shape. It hits, like, 80%, 86% of your muscles. You got your arms, your legs, your core, all of it, and knock it out in 20 minutes. Super efficient and actually works. Whether you're training hard or just trying to stay active, hydro really meets where you're at. It's low impact Easy on a joint. Even a big man can do it. But you still get the perfect mix of strength and cardio. You never get bored. Hydro's got tons of workouts, actual Olympians. That they're filmed in these gorgeous outdoor spots all over the world makes it easy to stay engaged and motivated. And if you're on the fence, there's free shipping. A 30 day risk trial Hydro offers a full year warranty. So honestly, there's no pressure. Just try it and see how it feels. Skip the gym. Not to work out. Stay on track with Hydro for a limited time, go to hydro.com and use the code go garbage to save up to 475 off your hydro pro rower during Hydro's memorial day sale. That's Hydro H Y-R-O-W.com code garbage to save up to $475. Hydro.com code garbage do it.
Josh Johnson
If you've heard that sound from Babel before, I bet you do. Babel is the science backed language learning app that actually works with quick 10 minute lessons. Handcrafted by over 200 language experts, Babbel gets you on your way to speaking a new language in just a few weeks with over 16 million subscriptions sold and a 20 day money back guarantee. Just start speaking another language with Babbel right now. Up to 55% off your Babbel subscription at babbel.com Spotify podcast spelled B A B P E L.com Spotify podcast rules and restrictions may apply.
H. Foley
What was the first concert you went.
Josh Johnson
To was a Ben Folds concert.
Kevin Ryan
What?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, it was a Ben Folds concert as part of orientation in college. Yeah.
H. Foley
And you didn't get on a plane until you were 24?
Josh Johnson
22.
H. Foley
22, yeah, yeah. When did you get your passport?
Josh Johnson
I got my passport when I was probably like 25.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, I think I, I think I specifically.
H. Foley
Were you going somewhere?
Josh Johnson
I got my passport because I was gonna go to JFL Montreal.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
All right.
Josh Johnson
So that was like, that was when I was like, oh, I have to get the, the year when I, I, I think I auditioned for JFL like two, three times or something like that. And the first year it was like such a long shot cuz even me getting an audition was late and so I didn't even bother because I was like, all right, maybe we'll, you know, we'll see. And then I didn't get it. Anyway.
H. Foley
Did you end up eventually going, did you do jfl?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, I thought so.
H. Foley
All right. It's just an all around good guy.
Kevin Ryan
What?
H. Foley
Crazy.
Kevin Ryan
What was your first call?
Josh Johnson
Oh, I can't drive.
Kevin Ryan
I had. I. I felt that way.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I can't drive at all. No, he.
Kevin Ryan
You know, he just don't. Yeah, Yeah, I could feel that in your bones.
H. Foley
He's got the glove on his right hand.
Kevin Ryan
He's driving in a back seat.
Josh Johnson
Dude, I cannot drive. I. I would say kill so many people. Yeah. No, no, no, no.
H. Foley
You never got your license?
Josh Johnson
My. My driving test was such a disaster that the dude made me stop.
Kevin Ryan
No shit. How old were you?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I was. I was 16.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
I may have taken it, I think. Yeah, I took it. What? One more time. And then I was like, guys, I'm good. I, like, just.
Kevin Ryan
This ain't for me. This. And drink it.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I moved to Chicago so I could take the train.
Kevin Ryan
Really?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. So I was like, they have a good public transit system in Louisiana. I had to run.
Kevin Ryan
I know. You could also walk. You'd have to run everywhere.
Josh Johnson
Well, no, I had. I had to run because I was not like an early riser. I wasn't like a morning person. So I would run to the restaurant, and the restaurant was like, three miles from my house. What, you were walking to work? Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Like, that's like parolee type.
H. Foley
There goes that Johnson kid again.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, he's late again.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Those chips wait for nobody, I'll tell you that.
Josh Johnson
Because I don't know if you. Yeah, I don't. I don't know if y' all had this, but we had it to where the. We had the service road, we had the highway, and then we had the.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, we don't have real service roads up here.
Josh Johnson
And basically, I. You. If you. Depending on where you were going, you had to run in and out of the ditches.
Kevin Ryan
No.
Josh Johnson
Oh, okay.
H. Foley
That's what you're doing.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, It's. I mean, if you got across. Yeah, there's no. There's. Admittedly, I went from a place where I couldn't drive, but was. Was almost exclusively a driving city, of course, to a place where I could walk.
H. Foley
So you were walking to work three miles a day or running to work three miles a day?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, and it wasn't every day because once the family who owned the restaurant found out that I was like. Like running to work, they. They would offer me rides.
Kevin Ryan
Dude, running to work is crazy.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
You're that kid, the guy. You're the guy that they buy the car for. And it's out in the. With the big.
Josh Johnson
And he's Going, I can't drive. I can't drive. No, no, no, don't it.
Kevin Ryan
Do.
Josh Johnson
Do this. Don't do this. You'll kill everyone who are all gonna die.
H. Foley
Dodge Neon with a big bow on it.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
And he's gone. Ah, no.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Jesus, dude.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Oh, man. This is a. This is a strange mix. Okay, this is crazy.
Kevin Ryan
Growing up, at any point, did your family keep the batteries in the refrigerator?
Josh Johnson
Are we talking, like an Alzheimer's situation?
Kevin Ryan
It keeps it working. Urban legend that it keeps them working. Working an old wivestyle that it keeps them fresher.
Josh Johnson
No, no, no. But I remember a neighbor that I had tried to explain to me how to forge stamps.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
I mean, well, I mean, back then, they got to be, what, $0.29?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. But he was like, no, that's like.
Kevin Ryan
Making a fake quarter. What's the first of.
H. Foley
I don't know what one has to do with the other, but I like where this is going.
Josh Johnson
Well, no, I just. I. I'm. I'm saying I was living in proximity to people who were probably putting their batteries in the fridge.
Kevin Ryan
He moves quick up there.
Josh Johnson
I'm.
Kevin Ryan
It's good.
H. Foley
He goes, that answers your question.
Kevin Ryan
But if the guy is trying to teach me how to forge stamp, he's for sure keeping his batteries.
Josh Johnson
I'm clearly not in the best situation. Yeah, yeah. Because he was like, no, all you got to do, like, everybody. And he was really doing letters.
Kevin Ryan
Are you mailing that? That's going to make it, you know, like one.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. But he was like. He was like, no, not like he was, you know, he was in that entrepreneurial mindset.
H. Foley
Guy's a hustler. I don't know.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
It is startup going.
Josh Johnson
It is insane that, that the people, like when you look at whether it's like an Elon Musk or a Sam Altman or something like that, it's crazy that the most. The richest people have the same ideas.
Kevin Ryan
Mentality. Yeah.
Josh Johnson
As the brokest people you've ever met. Cause so many of the things that I hear come out of their mouths, especially, like a lot of the technocrats and stuff like that of a better world or a future towards AI or something like that. Is everything that I heard my pothead friends say in college that are truly doing nothing right now.
H. Foley
This can support stamps.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. And so my thing is to tell me another kid, because it was a kid.
H. Foley
I thought it was an old man.
Josh Johnson
No, no, it's another kid that lived next to me that was like, hey, you Know, a lot of people buy stamps of the post office like some suckers.
Kevin Ryan
Not me.
Josh Johnson
All you gotta is put where you wanted to go as the return address.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
So he was just mailing wrong.
H. Foley
Oh, my God, that's fun.
Josh Johnson
And it was getting to where.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, it's the same kidding things. If you jump out of the plane and run the other way, you'll be all right.
H. Foley
That's funny. All right, let's talk about now a little bit. Things are going extremely well.
Josh Johnson
No, thanks, man.
Kevin Ryan
Can I borrow 500?
H. Foley
Have you always been smart with money? Have you always been a saver?
Josh Johnson
I've always been scared with money. So, yeah, I guess. I guess that's like the same thing.
H. Foley
All right, so when you. When you started getting, you know, when you're doing the Daily show, when, you know, the tickets start going, you're doing very well. Was there a silly purchase? Is anything. Did you splurge on anything you look.
Kevin Ryan
Do you splurge? I didn't need that. It could have been a.
H. Foley
Or you keep it all. Keep it all in the bank and live modestly.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I mean, I try to, like, live modestly. Like, I don't really buy that much stuff. I like, like, everything that I buy is pretty cheap, luckily.
H. Foley
Okay, like, what's the apartment situation now?
Josh Johnson
I. I'm moved into a place with. With my girlfriend. We've been living together for a long time. Moved into a new place. So that's probably the first big, like, different thing that I've done.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
But I guess that first, like, paycheck, like when I got the pay for my special, like that first one that I did, I saved as much of it as I could, and then I like, used the rest to pay off my mom's house. And so then that was. But it's. But it's. But it's better because it's like, we get.
Kevin Ryan
He's got to take care of you. You say, start taking lessons from him. What the are you doing?
H. Foley
Jesus.
Josh Johnson
But it's better because it's like, then she doesn't have to worry about, you know, more than me.
Kevin Ryan
You're thinking about other people, not yourself.
H. Foley
I got coke and a big screen tv.
Josh Johnson
But yeah, I just don't really. I'm not into that much stuff that.
H. Foley
You'Re listening, Guy Sharp.
Josh Johnson
But. But it's like, you know, I. I will probably one day. My hope is to have like a real, like, classic library of comic books. Like, I don't. I don't necessarily splurge on the ones that are like novelty. The old, like the old first issue Spider man stuff I don't really buy, but I buy a lot of like Ed Brubaker. Like, Ed Brubaker is my favorite.
Kevin Ryan
Like, what's that cost?
H. Foley
This is the sweetest thing I've ever heard, by the way.
Kevin Ryan
What's like, inexpensive? I don't know, you're. I'm.
Josh Johnson
If you get the omnibus, like if you get the full story, then it's probably like 50 bucks. Bucks.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, it might, might run you. If it's like, if it's like a DC Marvel thing, I'll probably run you 80, but yeah.
H. Foley
You got cash? Get him. What are you doing? Yeah, what's the apartment? Did you buy it? Did you. Are you renting it?
Josh Johnson
Oh, no, I'm just renting.
H. Foley
You're renting?
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
H. Foley
All right. In the city?
Josh Johnson
No, no, I'm in Brooklyn.
H. Foley
You're in Brooklyn?
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
All right. Okay. He's sharp, man. He's a good guy.
Kevin Ryan
You are going to cause an existential crisis.
H. Foley
You're just a better human being than I am. It' easy. That's why I love you though.
Kevin Ryan
What, what's like if you go out, you know, say it's your lady's birthday or so, and you're like gonna take her out to dinner, do you like a nice dinner or you go when you splurge in there at all or. No, just kind of something a little more reserved?
Josh Johnson
No, no, I mean, if I, I like, I like the idea of like an experience for, for her, like a nice dinner for her or something like that. For me, maybe, maybe food is where I splurge a little bit because I try to, I try to like, eat well.
Kevin Ryan
You're talking to two people.
H. Foley
Goddamn common ground. You try to eat well?
Josh Johnson
Well, yeah, yeah. Like good, like, like, like healthy.
Kevin Ryan
Oh, yeah, that's another thing. We'll get into another episode.
Josh Johnson
But yeah, sometimes you'll, you know, like, like, if you go to like a good example is like Katsunori, you know, the, the hand roll place. It's like. Yeah, if you, if you go there, that is depending on how much you end up eating. That is expensive. But yeah, that'll probably like, you know, that's like 50 bucks.
H. Foley
But normally you eat pretty well. You keep, keep it tight at the house.
Josh Johnson
I. Yeah, I try to as best I can. Yeah.
H. Foley
Are you working out? You're working out.
Kevin Ryan
You just dropped a fifty dollar dinner and you're like, yeah, that'll breakfast.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, or if it's like, if it's someone's birthday, that's when I'll, like, really splurge. Like so. So for instance, like. Like I had the shows in London.
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
Josh Johnson
And they fell on my girlfriend's birthday.
Kevin Ryan
Beautiful.
Josh Johnson
And so she came and she came to London and everything. And then we had a big dinner with. That came out very nice. So like every. You know, everybody came and that was really special. So I took care of that.
H. Foley
What'd you drop on dinner?
Kevin Ryan
Two grand.
H. Foley
Three grand?
Josh Johnson
I think it was 75. That would have been great if it had been £50. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, at the. I. I don't know what the conversion is, but at the end of the. At the end of the dinner for Everybody was like 9:32 or something like that.
Kevin Ryan
932.
Josh Johnson
932 pounds?
Kevin Ryan
Yeah. So probably 15, something like that.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Around there.
H. Foley
That's not. This kid's killing it.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
H. Foley
We gotta get some of this cake. This is crazy.
Kevin Ryan
Okay. Huh.
H. Foley
What about in the apartment?
Kevin Ryan
Hold on.
H. Foley
Sorry.
Kevin Ryan
What about a vacation? Will you treat. You're working hard, you're flying all over to all over the. Korea, all over the world.
H. Foley
You and the lady go down to the islands or go to the beach.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, I mean, take the G train all the way to the end.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I will. I'll take, like a vacation. If my. If my girlfriend wants to go somewhere, then I'm like, happy to go there and everything. But I don't really.
Kevin Ryan
You're not chomping it to. Bit to.
Josh Johnson
No, no. I don't really take vacations in that way.
H. Foley
Where would she. Where have you taken her? Where would she. Where does she want to go?
Josh Johnson
Like after London, we went to Spain. Beautiful.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
San Sebastian for like, three, three, four nights.
H. Foley
All right. You're taking care of all this. You got her?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
What does she do?
Josh Johnson
So she works at a media company and she's like, publisher for the media company she helps launch.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Like, brand deals and stuff.
H. Foley
And where did you guys meet? You guys meet here?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, we met here.
H. Foley
Okay. And you've been dating for a while?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Beautiful.
H. Foley
All right.
Kevin Ryan
I was gonna ask you if you ever owned a switchblade, but I don't think. Yeah.
H. Foley
What about in the apartment? Did you sprint? Did you splurge on, like a sectional or the tv? Are you a gamer? Do you play video games?
Josh Johnson
I play video games, but not. I'm not great at it. I. I really am just like, getting the VR stuff. I'm into the VR. So I will buy, like, I have an Oculus 2, but I haven't bought the new one yet. So I'm, like, saving up to buy the. The new one and then saving up.
Kevin Ryan
What are you talking about?
H. Foley
Saving What? You haven't posted a video on YouTube that did under 2 million in, like, the last eight months?
Kevin Ryan
He's trying to rap his. This is like the. Again, polar opposites. This is a guy who spent every dollar he's ever made.
H. Foley
£900. What are you doing?
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
What'd you say?
Josh Johnson
Ask him how much he spent on Yankees tickets. Yeah, no, I. So I bought my aunt a house. Oh, my gosh.
Kevin Ryan
He's just making you look bad.
Josh Johnson
Why. Why did it make you feel bad?
H. Foley
Because you're awesome.
Kevin Ryan
He just. Business manager yesterday to get paid early because he needs the money.
H. Foley
All right, so he put my business.
Josh Johnson
But, yeah. So I'm just like. Yeah, I'm trying to be.
H. Foley
So you bought your aunt, the one that moved to Mesquite.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
So you bought her house.
Kevin Ryan
She's in Georgia. They're all in Georgia.
Josh Johnson
They're in Georgia.
H. Foley
Are they near each other?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, they're close. Yeah.
H. Foley
So you bought. So you paid off your mom's house in Georgia, and you bought your. A house in Georgia.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
And they're chilling, and that's your. That's your tight immediate family. Family.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Yeah.
H. Foley
I mean, dude, you're. That's the. That's unbelievable. Oh, you know that, right? That's the sweetest thing I've ever very.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. I mean, do you own the house.
H. Foley
Or does she own the house?
Josh Johnson
I own the house. Yeah. Yeah.
H. Foley
All right. There we go.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
So you own some property. So you. So you have. Man, you have spent the money that you're making, but just in a very good way and smart way way.
Josh Johnson
Oh, I hope so. Yeah, that. That's the. That's the. The point.
Kevin Ryan
Somebody splurging said $50 comic books, and I don't think he's. I don't even think he's really like. Yeah.
H. Foley
$900 dinner. How many people were at that dinner?
Josh Johnson
Maybe it was ten. Ten?
H. Foley
Yeah, it's like 60 bucks ahead. I thought you were going to say nine grand.
Kevin Ryan
Not. That's not that math either, but that's pretty easy to divide by. Dan, you say, I think. I think we're getting to the root of your problem. $4 million. That's like $10.
H. Foley
All right, let's go into the house a little bit. Some garbage things.
Josh Johnson
Okay.
H. Foley
See if we can Find a little dirt under these fingernails. Are you peeing in the shower?
Josh Johnson
No. No, no, no.
Kevin Ryan
You brush your teeth in the shower?
Josh Johnson
Nah. Then you got spit on your feet.
H. Foley
Huh.
Kevin Ryan
Never heard that logic.
H. Foley
Are you using a bar soap or using body wash?
Josh Johnson
I use the body wash. Yeah.
H. Foley
And do you use it hand on skin or do you have like a loofer or something?
Josh Johnson
So we have both, so. Yeah. Sometimes it depends. It's like if I'm. If I'm chilling, if I don't have to, like be anywhere.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Then sometimes just like regular washcloth, you know, and then if it's like, I'm in a rush, it's the.
H. Foley
It's the loofah. Are you flossing every day?
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Yeah. Brush your teeth in the morning, end at night?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
No kidding. You read before you go to bed?
Josh Johnson
Bed, I try to, but yeah, I don't really get to it often.
H. Foley
Are you on your phone when you go to bed?
Josh Johnson
I'm usually on my phone, like. But I'll. I guess. I guess I am reading, but I'm. But I'm reading on my phone, which is not the same energy. Like it. It actually keeps you awake.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, but the blue light again.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
King size bed. Queen size bed.
Josh Johnson
So. Yeah, we had a queen for a long time and now we have a king.
H. Foley
Nice.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
Letting your hair down a little bit.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
How do you, what do you sleep in? Like boxers? Your pajamas?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. Sweats. I sleep in my pajamas.
H. Foley
Yeah, you wear pajamas?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. I got my like sweatpants on that I would work out in. They like double up.
H. Foley
It's like actual pajamas.
Josh Johnson
No, not like a onesie. Not like, not like a.
Kevin Ryan
You two being from a different planet.
H. Foley
Dude, I pictured him with like, he would put on like the. The pajama shirt, the pajama pants.
Kevin Ryan
He's not splurging for pajamas.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, no, no. Pajamas for me is just a short sleeve shirt and the sweatpants.
H. Foley
Gotcha.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
Are you a slippers man?
Josh Johnson
No, actually I want to be, but I. I think my feet sweat.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
So it's like I can't. I can't get it the way that I want to get. Like, I've. I've tried twice and I've ruined two pairs of slippers.
H. Foley
Are you sleeping on your side or back?
Josh Johnson
I try so hard to sleep on my back, but I turn.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
Are you hugging a pillow? You got one between your legs, one head. How many pillows are you operating with?
Josh Johnson
Is that, Is that like a Normal thing that people hug the pillow?
Kevin Ryan
Yeah.
Josh Johnson
Really?
Kevin Ryan
You don't hug. You're not. You're not spooning a pillow at all?
Josh Johnson
No. Wait, what?
H. Foley
It's getting bulletproof.
Kevin Ryan
I know.
Josh Johnson
Is that. That. That y' all aren't messing with me. That's.
Kevin Ryan
I mean, between your legs is for.
Josh Johnson
Like, a back problem.
Kevin Ryan
Pregnant women and larger guys.
H. Foley
Heavier gentlemen. So when you sleep on your side, you have one pillow. You have one pillow behind your head and you sleep on your side.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
H. Foley
Did you have a ceiling fan? Is there a fan going?
Josh Johnson
No, no ceiling fan.
H. Foley
You fall asleep with the TV on?
Josh Johnson
No, not anymore. Like I did when I was a kid.
Kevin Ryan
Sure.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
Keep that. Keeps the scaries out.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
You cooking at the house?
Josh Johnson
I can't cook well, so I. So I have. I have a couple things I can make, and then that's about it.
Kevin Ryan
What do you. What can you make?
Josh Johnson
You feel? I. I do some, like, nice omelets and everything. Stuff that's, like, not that difficult. I'll do, like, a special little taco mix and everything. Like, cook up the ground beef and season it pretty well. And then it's like, very simple stuff, literally enough to keep you alive on the regular.
H. Foley
Is that what you're doing, or do you guys order in?
Josh Johnson
No. So in the move, I've had to order more just because I'm not around as much. So it's like I'm touring on the weekend, and then I have daily show during the week, of course. And then I get home and. Yeah, there's not. There's not always enough time.
H. Foley
So what would be a typical dinner for you and the Mrs. Right? You guys would. She'd get home from work, you guys would order dinner. What would you normally get?
Josh Johnson
There is a phenomenal place in. In Brooklyn called warud.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And it is like a Asian Mexican fusion place. And so they have tacos there, like grilled shrimp or chicken mole, but they might have. Have. They might have it spiced in a way that you wouldn't find, like, traditional Mexican place. They also have these like. Like ramen bowls that are. I don't even know what you would. Would call it exactly, but yeah, they have these, like, salmon bowls and everything, so I get that a lot.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
I get that.
H. Foley
Ramen.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Especially once I get back into town. Like, if I just flew back in and everything. I don't really have the energy to cook, so.
H. Foley
Gotcha. You're doing smoothies during the day?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah. I'll try to either do a juice or a Smoothie. But mostly try to drink a lot of water.
H. Foley
Drink a lot of water. You don't really eat breakfast and stuff like that.
Josh Johnson
I was, for a while, For a while I was very good about like kick starting the meals and everything because I was just like, I was on like a real mission to be like a certain, I don't know, like a certain weight and a certain level of strength that I lost before the, like right before the pandemic.
H. Foley
Okay.
Josh Johnson
So in 2019 was probably like the biggest I've ever been and I was the fittest I had ever been.
H. Foley
Huh.
Josh Johnson
And I was like doing really well in the, in the gym and I felt really good and I kept up with it as best as I could into Covid. But then by not having access to a gym, it just all started to be like calisthenics, which is fine, but. And, and then once things actually took off, I exercise calisthenics.
H. Foley
I haven't heard intentions.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
I mean, you try to keep up with. You bite your fingernails.
Josh Johnson
No, no, no.
H. Foley
Do you get manicures?
Josh Johnson
No. Does it look like I.
H. Foley
No, they're just.
Josh Johnson
Oh, no, I just. I didn't know if it was a question or. Because you looked at my fingers right before, so I was like, that's like. That felt like you were gonna. I wonder if he's gonna lie to me. Do you get manicures? Like you were looking right at my hands? No, I don't. I don't.
H. Foley
I gotta just click clip them.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, I just clip them, throw them out.
H. Foley
You don't throw them behind the couch or anything like that?
Josh Johnson
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
H. Foley
This guy's good.
Kevin Ryan
They're all the happiest guys.
Josh Johnson
Even if I throw it behind the couch, I still live there. Like, they're going to come to roost one day.
Kevin Ryan
Sure. And they do. Your wife will find them. Now let's go back to you. You're ordering that takeout. You get the tacos season differently. That gets delivered or picked up, whatever. You get back to the house that's in the container. Are you putting that on a plate and eating it? Are you eating it out of the container it came in?
Josh Johnson
Oh, that's a great question. So it is a. It depends on what I order. So sometimes when you order something, like, let's say there's a place. I'm trying to remember what their, what their name is because they. Because they're phenomenal. There's another place in Brooklyn with like an agnolotti that's really good.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
And I've tried to put. Put it in a bowl and you know, get, get all the sauce out and everything like that. And it is just not the same.
Kevin Ryan
Doesn't hit the same.
Josh Johnson
It's not. It's not even when it's hot, even when I get it immediately. And that's the first thing that I do. Not even putting it in the microwave or anything. I'm like, I'm gonna eat it like this.
H. Foley
That's a very interesting point.
Josh Johnson
It does not. There's some things, and it's probably because we're eating out of black plastic that isn't meant to go in the human body. But there are some things where, where if you have a specific sauce or like a roux that something is sitting in it's getting.
Kevin Ryan
Ruse.
Josh Johnson
It's not, it's not gonna.
Kevin Ryan
It needs to be in that order, that order of operation.
Josh Johnson
It needs to be in the order it was dropped in right after it was.
Kevin Ryan
I completely agree.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
This guy's all fucking classic. I got nothing to say. I got no other.
H. Foley
And that was walking in both worlds. That appeals to my trashy fat guy nature, what you're saying. But it's also very thought out.
Kevin Ryan
Correct?
H. Foley
Correct.
Kevin Ryan
And he said rue. You would have said gravy or something. I mean, the kids. Kid is all class.
Josh Johnson
I mean, if we're trying to find some, some trash, I can. Okay, let me see the. What can you type in? Okay, actually, no, no, I'll type it in. Because if it's, if it's too hard, if it's too hard to find, then I don't.
H. Foley
Murdered six people.
Kevin Ryan
Just picture of a bunch of bodies. Oh yeah, this was me, by the way.
H. Foley
I mean, listen, are you a cologne guy? Use cologne?
Josh Johnson
No, no, I don't really go for it that much.
H. Foley
Jewelry, chains, anything like that. You like a watch?
Josh Johnson
I'm pretty robable, so I've let. I've let the jewelry go. I. I tried to wear a chain for a little bit. Edit, Edit.
Kevin Ryan
What kind of sneaks you got on Only Cloud or On Clouds or whatever?
Josh Johnson
Yeah, the. On Clouds. They're very comfortable, sensible.
Kevin Ryan
What kind of jeans?
Josh Johnson
Jeans? I think these are leaf Levi's.
Kevin Ryan
Guy's got Levi's Sharp. The patented hoodie. What's the hoodie? What's the. You know.
Josh Johnson
You know what's crazy about the.
Kevin Ryan
You spend the money on the hoodie. That's a little bit of your trademark. It's, you know, you're very known.
Josh Johnson
A lot of these are gifts now. Like. Yeah, people get me like hoodies for my birthday. Yeah. I mean, sometimes fans get me hoodies, but like.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, that people know you're a hoodie guy to go. What's. What's Josh gonna like? Boom.
H. Foley
Hoodie guy.
Kevin Ryan
Hey, you with a nice hoodie.
Josh Johnson
Okay, so just to give you an indication of what the stay is like, like in, in Alexandria, there's a place called the Greenbrier Motel.
Kevin Ryan
Okay.
Josh Johnson
Right.
Kevin Ryan
And this is where you would stay.
Josh Johnson
No, I wouldn't stay here, but a lot of people have and some of my friends live there for a little bit or like, at least friends. I was like, you know, you're trying.
H. Foley
To find something garbage about you that's not about you from your hometown, which we just.
Kevin Ryan
Oh, that's not great though.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. A lot of fridges outside.
Kevin Ryan
A lot of outdoor fridges that needs a new roof. Dr. Pepper mission doctor.
H. Foley
This has nothing to do with him. This is the humble beginning.
Kevin Ryan
This is the humble beginning.
H. Foley
This is the close you could get to something. Trashy is a bad hotel in the small town that you grew up in. I mean, and got out of and bought your mom and your aunt a house in Georgia.
Josh Johnson
But if, but if you. But if you go to the exterior photos, I think there's a dog on the roof. I think there's one there. Where?
Kevin Ryan
Oh, there is. There's a dog on the roof.
Josh Johnson
So that dog loved being on the roof. I don't know whose dog that was, but that dog would be on the roof.
Kevin Ryan
Listen, not a good. Came from humble beginnings. Not a great area.
H. Foley
Yeah. That doesn't matter.
Kevin Ryan
You got out. You're. You're doing. I mean, you walked to work. He ran to work.
H. Foley
Ran to work. You don't. You. You're not drinking. You. You were, you were good to your friends. Designated walker. All right. They can't drive the left handed glove thing.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, that is.
H. Foley
I'll give you that.
Josh Johnson
That's a real motor skills issue.
Kevin Ryan
Where we were a few, A few personal decisions away around junior high or high school.
H. Foley
Right.
Kevin Ryan
That would have went the other way.
Josh Johnson
Yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
You know what I mean? Listen, you were in the setting.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
To be chasing that dog on a roof.
Josh Johnson
But yeah.
Kevin Ryan
You're not. You're not at the Greenbrier hard working, responsible.
H. Foley
You're good with your money. You're not biting your nails. You're not peeing in the shower.
Kevin Ryan
Smart kid.
H. Foley
Yeah, yeah.
Kevin Ryan
All class, man.
H. Foley
Do you do any fast food at all? Will you have Mickey D's or Wendy's or anything like that?
Kevin Ryan
That.
H. Foley
Nah you don't put that in the body.
Josh Johnson
Well, it just. I, I want to because everyone looks like that. It's literally like drinking. Everyone looks like they're having so much fun and I fall off a roof.
H. Foley
In front of you with a Big Mac in my hand.
Josh Johnson
But it's just like. I don't know. I guess the way I put it is that I don't, I don't do a lot of what I do out of like trying to be a better person. I just don't like the inconvenience of what it's going to feel like later.
Kevin Ryan
Smart.
Josh Johnson
That makes sense. He's like so fucking like. I used to eat chick fil A fries.
H. Foley
Sure.
Josh Johnson
But then I was like this. I feel sick.
Kevin Ryan
You feel bad?
Josh Johnson
I think they changed the oil. Cuz when I was little it didn't matter.
Kevin Ryan
Sure. Yeah. It's also.
Josh Johnson
But I was also a kid. Yeah.
Kevin Ryan
It's an age thing. You bounce back as a kid.
Josh Johnson
And then with drinking. My friends who drink, I'm. I'm envious of. Because I'm just very aware when I'm not having fun at a party. Like everyone else is like chatting and I'm. And dancing. I'm. And I'm like. You really feel like dancing? This place sucks.
Kevin Ryan
Sure. But the real sad part is when you're drunk and you're also not having fun at the party and you're like, this is. You're in a dark, dark spot when that happens, man.
H. Foley
This doesn't happen often, my friend. 100% class.
Kevin Ryan
All class, man.
Josh Johnson
Oh, really?
Kevin Ryan
Love to see it.
Josh Johnson
Oh, thanks, thanks.
H. Foley
Unbelievable.
Josh Johnson
Yeah.
H. Foley
You're about to head over to Europe. You got your European tour going. JoshJohnsonComedy.com the YouTube is killing it.
Josh Johnson
Oh, thanks, man.
H. Foley
You're on the road. Anything else you want to focus out there tonight you got coming up.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. So this tour is the Flowers Tour and called it the Flowers Tour. Not just because every place has their own designated or distinct flower. Like some states, some cities and stuff like that. But the tour is as best as possible being built around different forms of volunteer work and everything. And so we'll try to get people to come out to the.
H. Foley
Get out of here. Shut up.
Kevin Ryan
But like, sorry, yeah, I apologize for my jealousy. His dirtbag friend.
Josh Johnson
But, but basically we'll, we'll do our best in. In each city that has somebody who can come out to the show to have like a booth there so that people know what's already happening. Because like a lot of, A lot of like what Goodwill projects and like. And like, community efforts look like. It seems like so insurmountable because people think that they're gonna have to start the entire thing. And it's like, you have a life to live, so you can't necessarily start an entire or, like, community project. But most of them are already happening.
Kevin Ryan
And so you're just bringing light to. Yeah, yeah, I'll just come here.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Come to the show and. Yeah. Like, give out information or people can. Can donate there at the show. So it's already there, you know.
Kevin Ryan
The hell are you doing?
H. Foley
Just keep bringing me drugs at the show. He might be one of the best guy I ever met that.
Josh Johnson
I don't. I don't. I don't know about that.
Kevin Ryan
He doesn't get out much. I mean, I don't want to take away the credit it.
H. Foley
But that's a beautiful name of the tour, the Flowers Tour. Man, look at giving back. This guy's awesome.
Josh Johnson
But it is. Yeah, it's. It's been really fun. So I'm very thankful to everybody who comes out and everything. Yeah, we try to do meet and greets after the show, but sometimes it's.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, you can't do it size wise. Yeah.
Josh Johnson
Yeah. Sometimes it's size. Sometimes it's like venue curfew and stuff like that.
H. Foley
And so doing big shows, baby.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah. It's great to see.
H. Foley
You're doing great. You're killing it. We're so proud of you. So happy for you. We love you. Like I said, we talk about you often, man.
Josh Johnson
I appreciate y' all.
H. Foley
Yeah. Josh Johnson, everybody. The absolute man. I love it. We love you, Kippy.
Kevin Ryan
What do you got for him, guys? We're on the road right now as well. Fall and winter dates@rugarbage.com. tickets are moving quick, and then due to the routing, we can't add second show, so get them while they're hot. You know what I mean, gang?
H. Foley
We love you, Josh. We love you.
Kevin Ryan
Yeah, man, I appreciate you too.
Podcast Summary: "Are You Garbage? Comedy Podcast" – Episode Featuring Josh Johnson
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Hosts: Kevin Ryan & H. Foley
Guest: Josh Johnson, Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Podcaster
In this episode of "Are You Garbage? Comedy Podcast," hosts Kevin Ryan and H. Foley welcome their special guest, Josh Johnson—a multifaceted talent in the comedy world. Josh boasts an impressive resume, including writing for 51 episodes of "The Tonight Show" and 867 episodes of "The Daily Show," where he also serves as a correspondent. Additionally, Josh hosts "The Josh Johnson Show" podcast and has a popular YouTube presence with 1.7 million subscribers. The hosts highlight Josh's upcoming European tour, the "Flowers Tour," emphasizing his growing influence and dedication to community service.
Notable Quote:
H. Foley [02:04]: "He is a very funny, very successful standup comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster."
Josh Johnson grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana, navigating a challenging environment away from the bustling hub of New Orleans. His parents were both educators—his mother a special education teacher who later became a librarian following a successful brain surgery, and his father a paraprofessional assisting children with special needs. Josh was an only child, and after his parents' separation during his childhood, he lived with his grandparents alongside his mother and aunt.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [05:12]: "I grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana. There is a disappointing amount going on there."
Josh attended Holy Savior Menard Catholic High School, where he excelled academically until the seventh grade. In eighth grade, he faced significant challenges in math, largely due to administrative errors related to his handedness—he writes with his left hand but throws with his right. This mix-up led to his placement in special education math classes, despite his capability. Josh attempted to enroll in AP Biology in his senior year but was denied, highlighting systemic issues within the educational system.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [28:57]: "Once I understood the algebra, I was fine until senior year, they put me in AP Biology, and that was too much."
At sixteen, Josh landed his first job at a Mexican restaurant, starting as a chip boy before advancing to bussing tables. Due to his inability to drive—a result of a disastrous driving test at sixteen—he often walked or ran three miles to work. This lack of a driver's license also influenced his cautious nature, including his decision to abstain from alcohol, earning him the reputation of being the designated sober friend.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [21:06]: "I have to run to work, and they eventually offered me rides when they realized I was running daily."
Josh's career in comedy is marked by significant contributions to prominent shows and his successful stand-up routines. He has been featured on platforms like "Conan the Comedy Lineup" and "The Late Show," and he actively engages with his audience through social media and his podcast. His dedication to comedy is further exemplified by his thoughtful approach to his tours, particularly the "Flowers Tour," which intertwines performances with volunteer work, aiming to inspire community involvement.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [68:33]: "This tour is built around different forms of volunteer work, encouraging people to engage with their communities."
Josh resides in Brooklyn with his girlfriend, emphasizing a modest lifestyle despite his growing success. He prioritizes saving and wise investments, such as paying off his mother's house and purchasing property for his family in Georgia. Josh avoids unnecessary expenditures, focusing instead on meaningful investments and maintaining financial stability.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [48:32]: "I tried to live modestly. Everything I buy is pretty cheap, luckily."
Health and wellness are integral to Josh's daily routine. He maintains a balanced diet, often opting for smoothies and healthy meals, and prioritizes hydration. His fitness regimen includes calisthenics, especially during the pandemic when gym access was restricted. Despite a busy schedule with touring and podcasting, Josh ensures he remains active and health-conscious.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [60:35]: "I try to drink a lot of water and do smoothies during the day to stay healthy."
Looking ahead, Josh plans to continue expanding his comedy career while maintaining his commitment to community service. The "Flowers Tour" is a testament to his dedication to blending entertainment with meaningful volunteer work, aiming to make a positive impact in each city he visits. Josh emphasizes the importance of supporting existing community projects rather than starting anew, making it easier for attendees to contribute effectively.
Notable Quote:
Josh Johnson [69:02]: "We try to bring light to existing community efforts, making it easier for people to get involved."
The episode concludes with hosts Kevin Ryan and H. Foley expressing their admiration and support for Josh Johnson. They highlight his humility, financial responsibility, and commitment to both his craft and community, solidifying his image as a "garbage" comedian with class and substance.
Notable Quote:
H. Foley [70:50]: "You're about to head over to Europe. You got your European tour going. JoshJohnsonComedy.com the YouTube is killing it."
This episode offers an insightful look into Josh Johnson's life, showcasing his journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a notable figure in the comedy scene. His blend of humor, responsibility, and community spirit provides a well-rounded portrait of a comedian who embodies both trashy humor and classy character.