Are You Garbage? Comedy Podcast
Episode: Robby Hoffman!
Released: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Kevin Ryan & H. Foley
Guest: Robby Hoffman

Episode Overview

In this lively and hilarious episode, comedians Kevin Ryan and H. Foley put the brilliant Robby Hoffman to the "garbage" test. Robby, an Emmy-nominated stand-up, writer, and actor, walks the boys through her uniquely chaotic upbringing, her Jewish Orthodox roots, and her rise from poverty in Montreal to success in Hollywood. The episode delivers raw family stories, tales of hustling, sharp wit, and plenty of classic Are You Garbage? hijinks as they determine: is Robby “classy” or straight-up “garbage”?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Robby's Upbringing: Poverty, Family, and Montreal

• Large Family Roots: Robby describes growing up in a family of 10 siblings (five brothers, four sisters) with a single mother, moving from New York to Montreal to escape their father.
  • "My parents had 10 kids by the age of 30." (03:45)
• Poverty & Ingenuity: Robby recounts their struggles living in cramped quarters, rescued by her great Uncle Eddie who took in all 11 of them.
  • “Uncle Eddie took us in. Took in 11 people on a moment's notice.” (10:21)
• Household Chaos: Roaches, mice, and improvising bedrooms out of every available space were the norm, but so was a sense of family and humor.
• Maternal Inspiration: Her mother, a brilliant (and hearing-impaired) guitarist and educator, kept the family afloat and inspired the kids to be self-reliant and ambitious.
  • "My mother is maybe the smartest person I've ever met... we had books lining every wall." (07:56, 08:09)

School, Religion, and Social Status

• Kosher & Orthodox Upbringing: The family strictly observed kosher and lived as Orthodox Jews – denied childhood indulgences like McDonald's.
  • "We were kosher. We were religious. Orthodox family. Still no McNuggets." (23:26)
• Attending a “Rich School” on Subsidy: Robby, often ashamed of her poverty, attended a wealthy school through a government program.
• Language Skills: Attending school in Montreal, she became fluent in French by law.

Early Jobs & First Tastes of Independence

• First Job: McDonald’s at age 17-18 (after giving up kashrut), triggering a lifelong admiration for the chain’s taste and consistency.
  • “Taste wise, you cannot deny that McDonald's is the best restaurant in the world.” (22:38)
• Young Adulthood: Robby and her siblings cycled through each other's apartments as their first crash pads, learning adult life on the fly.

Family Self-Reliance and Achievement

• Mother Leading by Example: Robby’s mom secretly took one night class a week for 12 years while raising 10 kids, eventually graduating college the same year as Robby.
  • “Twelve years later, class by class... she was graduating. We couldn't believe it.” (28:25)
• Siblings’ Success: The family, once “feral, religious, Amish looking kids," all grew into successful adults: real estate, tech sales, security, construction, accounting, social work, and Robby in entertainment.
• Pride in Grit:
  • "From nothing to something to everything." – advice from Robby’s brother Shmiely (34:27)

Comedy, Success, and Staying Grounded

• Start in Stand-up: Cut her teeth in Montreal, then Toronto, before breaking out in the U.S. via The Chris Gethard Show and acting opportunities.
• Honest Appraisal of Work: Robby takes pride in only backing projects she truly believes are great.
• Emmy Nomination & Family Support: Humorous tale of attending the Emmys with her sister, both convinced of an inevitable win, then losing the award and making a scene before presenting anyway:
  • “I said, my circumstance has changed.” (40:34)
  • “My sister's like, 'We’re out.' We ended up being the talk of the town. Let me be a sore loser for 10 minutes, then I’ll come back.” (43:47)

Financial Wisdom, Cars, and “Value”

• Car Hustle:
  • First car: 1983 Toyota Corolla bought for $3,600 ($5,500 asking, cash talks!), later sold for $6,000+ as a classic.
  • Gradually upgraded, ultimately to her “grail”: a Porsche 911, bought used with money made from flipping earlier vehicles. Maintains no car payments, seeking value and appreciation.
  • “If you buy things that appreciate, that hold their value, what am I gonna spend 30 grand on a Kia that's worth 2 grand next year?” (55:41)
• Frugal but Thoughtful Spending:
  • First big check advice: “Take a little off the top and treat yourself.” Robby bought a ‘91 Rolex Air King for $3,600, tying purchases to meaningful dates and family memories. (59:20-60:15)
  • All clothing thrifted or bought secondhand.
  • “Everything I own is pre-owned and holds value to some extent.” (62:50)
• Montreal Hustle Tips: If you’re poor, look for free activities for the kids: fire stations, SPCA, pet the animals – anything to pass the time.
• Introducing Wife to Thrift Life: A Prada cardigan story: “Now she’s all about pre-owned.” (67:43)

Trashy or Classy?

• Despite driving a Porsche and winning awards, Robby settles the debate:
  • “Are you garbage?”
  • “Yeah, no, I am... Jewish trash, the best kind.” (69:21-69:54)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Crypto/Astrology:

  • “Crypto is the male version of astrology. It’s a lot to do with minerals and numerology.” (00:50, Robby)

• On Uncle Eddie’s Virtue:

  • “Not a pervert. You have an uncle with a lot of kids…and I respect…If you are a man near a child and you don’t do that sort of thing, good for you. Gold star.” (11:09, Robby)

• On McDonald’s:

  • “Taste wise, you cannot deny that McDonald's is the best restaurant in the world.” (22:38, Robby)

• On Her Mother's Perseverance:

  • “12 years later, 12 years class by class, once a week…she was graduating. We couldn't...it was just something that I think we soaked up. Slow and steady wins the race.” (28:25, Robby)

• On Emmy Nominations:

  • “We already think we win it. The arrogance is crazy… I lose, it happens like that. My sister’s like, ‘We don’t need this.’” (37:44, 39:44, Robby)
  • “I said, my circumstance has changed.” (40:34, Robby)

• On Buying Used:

  • “If you buy things that appreciate, that hold their value, what am I gonna spend 30 grand on a Kia that's worth 2 grand next year?” (55:41, Robby)
  • “Everything I own is pre-owned and holds value to some extent.” (62:50, Robby)

• On Thrift and Humility:

  • “I may only have four sweaters, but they're folded.” (64:40, Robby)
  • “Slow and steady wins the race, baby. After 10 years, you have four nice sweaters instead of 30.” (65:00, Robby)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• [03:39] – Robby’s childhood: moving from NY to Montreal with her mother and ten siblings
• [07:35] – French-language laws in Montreal, mother’s jobs, poverty details
• [10:21] – Saved by Uncle Eddie: family rescue story
• [14:32] – Free “vacation” activities for large poor families
• [22:23] – Early jobs: McDonald’s, work ethic, and the “first nugget”
• [27:49] – Mother’s secret: graduating college after 12 years of night school
• [29:56] – "Where are they now?" The successful siblings rundown
• [34:27] – “From nothing to something to everything” – family mantra
• [37:26] – Emmy nomination, family reaction, day-of Emmys story
• [43:47] – “Let me be a sore loser for 10 minutes, then I’ll come back.”
• [45:41] – The car saga: Corolla to Porsche 911
• [59:20] – Big payday, Rolex, importance of thoughtful rewards
• [62:50] – Thrift-fashion, used clothes, and teaching her wife the way
• [67:43] – The Prada sweater story

Tone & Takeaways

Robby’s stories crackle with wit, honesty, and self-deprecation, poking fun at poverty without losing appreciation for what her mother and family gave her. The episode moves from riotous and raucous to surprisingly heartfelt, shining a light on generational struggle, hustle, talent, and gratitude.

Final verdict: Robby is, by her own admission, “garbage” – but the best possible kind: resourceful, loyal, honest, and funny as hell.

Callouts

• Robby’s Special: Wake Up – now on Netflix
• Podcast Plugs: Robby’s “Too Far” (Patreon only); her wife Gabby’s “Long Winded”
• Upcoming Tour: Check Robby’s Instagram for dates

“Welcome to the family.” (69:55, H. Foley)