Disgraceful with Grace O'Malley

Episode: Self Proclaimed Nice Guy: Pete Lee
Date: September 11, 2025
Guest: Pete Lee

Overview

In this high-energy, laugh-packed episode, Grace O’Malley welcomes stand-up comedian Pete Lee for a rollicking exploration of comedy, travel chaos, weird gigs, people-pleasing, and personal quirks. Pete auditions for “Disgraceful” co-host through insights on his Midwestern “nice guy” energy, tales of adversity on the road, and uninhibited self-mockery. Listeners are treated to outrageous audience voicemails, a deep dive into Pete’s digital footprint, and candid stories about the challenges and absurdities of the comedy world. All along, Grace and Pete’s banter keeps the episode engaging, vulnerable, and full of sharp zingers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nice Guy (and Midwestern) Energy (06:12–08:53)

• People-Pleasing & Stereotypes: Pete reflects on being labeled a “nice guy” and assumptions about his sexuality because of his non-aggressive niceness. He shares bits about boundaries, people-pleasing, and growing up in Wisconsin.
  • “I have nice guy energy if that's okay with you.” – Pete Lee (06:12)
• Serial Monogamy: Pete admits to rarely being single and describes his new commitment to a “single year,” only to discover that some women don’t want relationships either, which is a revelation for him.
  • “I thought, like, we make eye contact, we must get married.” – Pete Lee (07:30)

2. Comedy and Self-Acceptance (08:22–10:00)

• Comic Culture & Identity: Pete riffs on how “every comic is now bi” for opportunistic reasons, while insisting on just owning straightforward sensitivity.
  • “You can just be straight... you can just be a good man and not be gay.” – Pete Lee (08:53)
• Industry Frustrations: Pete discusses his quest to get Netflix’s attention and his candid (and sometimes tongue-in-cheek) strategies.
  • “When I fill out the application for that show, they—they're like, why do you want to do this show? And I go, because I want to get on Netflix, and they don’t with me.” – Pete Lee (09:32)

3. Travel Nightmares: Stand-Up on the Road (10:37–21:38)

• Worst Gig Ever Story: Pete details a harrowing journey to a cancer fundraiser gig involving sleeplessness, delayed flights, over-caffeinated drives, and showtime adversity. As he battles exhaustion and Adderall jitters, he confronts venue mishaps and an overzealous organizer who tries to cut off his set.
  • “If you book a show, don’t provide defense for the comedian. Like, don’t provide an obstacle for the comedian.” – Pete Lee (20:42)
• Comedy Taboos & Ownership: The group debates who gets to make jokes on sensitive subjects, underscoring the “if you claim it, you can say it” principle.

4. Audience Voicemails: Travel Woes and Wild Encounters (22:16–35:01)

• Blizzards & Unexpected Adoption: A listener recounts getting stranded during a Canadian blizzard and “adopting” a high schooler for days—sparking raucous speculation from Grace and Pete (23:34–30:51).
• Dangerous Dates: One call features a woman whose Bumble date in Atlanta turns threatening after he puts a loaded gun in her mouth. Pete and Grace joke darkly about “getting blocked” by near-killers (34:14–35:01).
  • “You should block him first. He almost blocked you from life.” – Pete Lee (34:47)
• Cancun Chaos: Another story involves food poisoning, lost bracelets, police bribes, and a group of friends in survival mode on spring break in Mexico—eliciting sympathetic tales of foodborne illness from both hosts (52:10–55:40).

5. Stalker Nightmare and Legal Drama (36:01–45:00)

• Pete shares a harrowing saga of being stalked by a rich, troubled man whose family uses legal connections to evade justice. He recounts court battles, restraining orders, and a sense of victory as “the universe” eventually delivers karmic retribution.
  • “I vowed vengeance… I did two of them through the courts. And then, yeah, the universe burnt down his house and they gave that guy cancer.” – Pete Lee (42:28)

6. Comic Vulnerabilities & Therapy (45:23–47:21)

• Both reflect on using humor as a coping mechanism in life and with family grief, sharing moments where only a joke could break the tension.
  • “That’s probably why we’re comedians. Like, you know, my mom’s a genius... I would always, like, make her laugh.” – Pete Lee (46:10)
• Pete affirms ongoing therapy, commending his psychiatrist for helping him accept his “good guy” nature.

7. Digital Footprint & Comic Confessions (Disgraceful Receipts) (61:36–83:02)

• Photo & Tweet Roast: Grace presents Pete with older photos and tweets, prompting stories about headshots, lost jackets, ill-advised texts, and virally dumb social media posts.
  • “My beard smells like pancakes.” – Pete Lee, reading his own tweet (76:08)
• Merch Mishaps: Pete shares the accidental creation of gay “Circle House” shirts and how the LGBTQ+ community embraced his merch.
• Snuggle Storm Origin: Pete’s brush with a “sexy” older woman at Myrtle Beach who inspired the name for his brand.
  • "She literally goes, 'don’t be a ... get in there.'” – Pete Lee (82:48)

8. Shout Outs, Sober Resolutions, and Industry Satire (83:43–91:28)

• Pete energetically promotes his tour, social accounts, and “Snuggle Storm” merch, before toggling between rapid-fire and reluctant shout outs—ranging from Liquid Death to White Air Force Ones.
• The two discuss the weird expectations re: drinking on stage in comedy and how they balance authenticity and performance energy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On People Pleasing & Kindness:
  “Most people consider the imperfections that, like, are a turn on.” – Pete Lee (03:50)
• Comic Industry Realities:
  “The homophobe is always the victim of the joke and not the gay person. That's the way it should be.” – Pete Lee (57:19)
• On Audience Shot Buying and Show Interruptions:
  “You stepped on my third punchline on the way to the big one.” – Pete Lee (19:25)
• On vulnerable, therapy-heavy upbringing:
  “You got to stop trying to make your mom laugh, but, like, do it for a skill like this.” – Pete Lee (46:43)
• When Confronting Stalker’s Family:
  “What do you… you don’t know who you’re messing with. I go, it’s the law, dude.” – Pete Lee (41:00)
• On embracing self-acceptance/comic style:
  “By the way, I accept everything about myself.” – Pete Lee (51:02)
• Fan favorite line from “Snuggle Storm” origin:
  “She literally goes, 'don’t be a ... get in there.'” – Pete Lee (82:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Midwestern “Nice Guy” Discussion: 06:12–08:53
• Netflix & Comic Identity Riffs: 09:32–10:00
• Pete’s Worst Road Gig Story: 10:37–21:38
• Audience Travel Voicemail 1 (Blizzard): 22:16–31:04
• Audience Voicemail 2 (Gun Date in Atlanta): 33:07–35:01
• Stalker Saga & Legal Drama: 36:01–45:00
• Comic Self-Therapy & Family Grief: 45:23–47:21
• Photo/Tweet Roast (Disgraceful Receipts): 61:36–83:02
• Snuggle Storm origin story: 80:21–83:02
• Shout Outs & Closing: 83:43–91:28

Tone & Style

The episode is irreverent, punchy, and full of sharp, dry wit. Grace’s rapid-fire questions and self-deprecating humor harmonize with Pete’s easygoing Midwestern charm, making the show both intimate and riotously funny. Both aren’t afraid to play with dark comedy or to pivot from laughter to genuine vulnerability and back.

For New Listeners

If you’ve ever wondered what the grind of stand-up looks like behind the curtain and want a blend of chaotic storytelling, earnest self-reflection, and fearless joke-telling, this episode encapsulates it all. Pete Lee proves why he’s more than just a “nice guy”—he’s a resilient, sincerely witty comic who embraces life’s weirdness and finds the joke in every disaster.

Shout Outs

• Pete Lee Tour & Merch: PeteLee.net, SnuggleStorm.com
• Follow Pete: @peatleepeatleepeatlee
• Follow Grace O’Malley: Tour dates & socials announced at top of episode

If you enjoy stand-up world inside jokes, tales of mishap, and honest, joyful comic camaraderie—this is must-listen.