DOPE AS USUAL PODCAST SUMMARY

Episode: "Sick Ass Foo! w/ J. Valentino"

Hosts: Thomas "YOLO" Araujo & Marty O’Neill
Guest: J. Valentino
Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode features DJ, comedian, and all-around entertainer J. Valentino. The crew dives into stories from the comedy and music world, tales from strip club DJ life, the challenges of aging and health, wild audience moments, experiences with racism, the evolution of hip hop and strip club culture, and a playful “Who Were You in the 90s?” lightning round. Throughout, the conversation blends authenticity, plenty of laughs, and candid advice with nostalgic and sometimes outrageous anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Respect for the Craft & Comedy Memories

• J. Valentino opens with heartfelt praise for the podcast, applauding the studio and the hosts' work ethic ([00:37]).
• Shares the story of his first big "bomb" on stage in Chicago, having to follow the late Ken Flores:
  • “First time I ever ate a fat one on stage, out of town, was in the Shy… had to follow a beast, come in his house, in his living room.” ([01:36])
• Discussion on the importance of comedians not being “too cool” to go over their notes, regardless of experience ([01:48]).
• Reflects on the uniqueness of Ken Flores’ laugh and presence in comedy, stating, “I want to get those big Ken Flores laughs. Cuz those laughs were electric. Different, bro.” ([02:52])

2. On Comedy Specials & Performance Authenticity

• The hosts get candid about editing comedy specials and how poorly handled crowd audio can undercut the impact of the set ([03:31]).
• J. compares Jo Koy’s investment in audience mics to the way crowd energy can make or break a special:
  • "Sometimes the laughs don't do justice… That was a dope ass joke. You mean to tell me it's gonna get that mediocre lap… the laughs should have matched that energy." ([03:48])

3. DJ Life, Strip Club Stories, and Comedy Crossovers

• Transition from DJ to comedian: J. got his start as a strip club DJ at 19, lying his way in by using a closed club as his reference ([53:16]).
• Talks about using humor to hype the crowd, that “strip club DJ” energy translating easily into standup ([15:13]).
• Reminisces about memory for club taglines: "An eighth lastes me like two months" ([16:26]).
• Strip club realities:
  • Outrageous crowd/performer requests, including fetishes ("Asian men… have a fetish of sniffing and smelling… Going to town on some girl's butt crack" [53:40])
  • Odd rituals like girls scrambling for tips (“It's like when you feed puppies… made me sad.” [61:16])
  • Economics: Strippers tip DJs; those who tip more get preference ([60:10])

4. Navigating Health, Weight, and Body Image

• All three exchange self-deprecating stories about aging, weight gain, and trying to stay healthy amid busy schedules ([06:06], [06:57]).
• Thomas jokes, “I always say the only thing I don’t have OCD is being fat,” ([06:06]).
• J. shares he’s a light, nighttime smoker and drinks little—reflects on why he gave up alcohol ([16:36], [102:56]).
• Addresses health in Latino culture, especially diabetes and the legacy of sugary diets ([83:34]).

5. Racism & Social Tensions on the Road

• The crew swap stories about being in environments where they felt out of place or outright unsafe, highlighting the reality of racism in various American towns ([29:00]-[30:21]).
• Thomas recounts a tense show in Torrance involving racial slurs and a fight breaking out in the audience ([25:45]-[27:45]).
• J. recalls walking into a bar with Latino and Black friends and receiving chilling stares: “I've never felt that before. I was like—everyone in here might fuck me up.” ([29:42])

6. AI, Social Media, and Modern Loneliness

• Brief segment on music production and the rise of AI, and how it may soon marginalize traditional music producers ([40:12]).
• They joke about technology making people more introverted and killing social interaction: “Extroverts, get a personality, bro.” ([42:59])
• Amazon and the shift away from in-person shopping: “Kids at heart—we get home, brown box, yeah!” ([44:50])

7. Dating and Relationship Advice

• J. delivers frank dating advice: "Enjoy, bro. Enjoy… 35 ready to settle down… I can't blame Kobe [for allegedly cheating]…" ([36:12]-[36:58])
• Discusses FaceTiming dates to save time and money: “I want to feel their energy. See what they're like… I'm a grown-ass 43-year-old man. I can't waste time, bro.” ([45:55]-[47:37])

8. 90s Nostalgia Lightning Round

• Rapid-fire questions about 90s pop culture preferences:
  • McDonald’s or Burger King? “McDonald's—Happy Meal toys and the play place, bro!” ([71:35])
  • Freddy Kruger or It? “Freddy all day.” ([72:06])
  • Full House or Family Matters? “Family Matters, bro.” ([73:01])
  • Tupac or Biggie? J. says, “Biggie mercs Tupac lyrically… but Tupac all day.” ([74:50]-[75:25])
  • MTV or VH1? “MTV. Easy call.” ([76:14])
  • Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey ('90s only)? “Jim, bro. Unstoppable. Too many classics.” ([76:28])
  • Pulp Fiction or Forrest Gump? “Forrest. I love Tom Hanks.” ([79:53])

9. Drugs, Sobriety, and Addiction Culture

• Long exchange on the dangers of hard drugs, especially crack/speed: "Don't smoke crack" ([101:45]).
• J. details the moment his brother physically intervened after J. tried speed at 15: "That’s love… now looking back as a 43-year-old man, I was like, that's love" ([101:33]).
• On quitting alcohol: “It’s always free, you know, Yola gets it... But is it cool? I just couldn’t anymore, bro... Now I’m more confident than ever sober on stage.” ([103:06]-[104:49])

10. Working Out, Manhood, and Male Insecurity

• They poke fun at Joe Rogan's comments on masculinity and physical benchmarks: “If you can't do 50 pushups as a man, you're not a man.”
• Discussion veers into how working out becomes a priority for testosterone and confidence: “At 43, I like to work out for that T, bro. Testosterone” ([66:20], [67:44]).

11. Audience/Comedy Club Mayhem

• J. recalls the wildest things he's seen on stage, including fights between comedians and audience members and even one of his friends being choked out during a bar set:
  • "My buddy got choked out, but I didn't get close enough. He talked about it, too, he’s like, yeah, some fool choked me out. I passed out. I woke up well rested, bro!" ([24:25]-[24:40])

12. Culture, Clothes, and Growing Up Mexican-American

• J. and Thomas geek out on iconic brands of their youth—Echo, Diamond, Shawn John—tying memory to culture and class ([34:27]-[35:18]).
• Hip hop, sampling, and DJ technique—J. stresses his love for classic funk and the DJ’s respect for craft vs. modern trends ([12:42]-[13:56]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• J. Valentino on Following Ken Flores in Chicago:

  "First time I ever ate a fat one on stage, out of town, was in the Shy… had to follow a beast, come in his house, in his living room." ([01:36])

• On Bombing & Growth in Comedy:

  “I’m happy to say that I bombed that way in Chicago.” ([02:36])

• On Comedy Special Editing:

  “Sometimes the laughs don't do justice… the decibels were right here on the laps. The joke was right here.” ([04:03])

• On Strip Club DJ Life:

  “An eighth lasts me like two months… I’m a little bowl smoker, bro. Four hits and I'm good for the night.” ([16:26])

• On Quitting Alcohol:

  “I have an addictive personality… alcohol’s a progressive drug… what got me drunk last week wasn’t getting me drunk this week… Now I’m more confident than ever sober on stage.” ([102:56]-[104:49])

• On Racism On The Road:

  “I've never felt that before. I was like—everyone in here might fuck me up.” ([29:42])

• On DJ Tips in the Club:

  “The girls with natural bodies still get love... I like a girl that I could take to a parent teacher conference, Yola.” ([60:10]-[60:15])

• On Dating in the Social Media Era:

  “I FaceTime them… I want to see their energy. I want to see them without makeup. If they're cool, if they're funny because I'm in a time meet them. I'm a grown-ass 43-year-old man. I can't waste time, bro.” ([45:55]-[47:37])

• Funniest Fetish Discovered as Strip Club DJ:

  “I see this Asian man just going to town on some girl's butt crack… then lifting her arm going [sniffs]… Another guy liked getting kicked in the balls…” ([53:14]-[54:51])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & Giving Flowers to the Hosts – [00:37]
• First Bomb Story in Chicago – [01:36]
• Ken Flores, Comedy Special Editing – [03:31]-[04:22]
• On Health/Weight Struggles – [06:06]-[07:08]
• Comedy, DJing & Strip Club Stories – [12:22]-[16:26]
• Dangerous Moments in Comedy/Bar Shows – [22:39]-[27:45]
• Experiencing Racism in Small Towns – [29:00]-[30:21]
• Music AI & Technology Changing Culture – [40:05]-[42:23]
• Dating/Aging/Dating Advice – [36:08]-[47:41]
• 'Who Were You in the 90s?' Lightning Round – [71:03]-[83:26]
• Sobriety, Addiction, Drugs – [102:25]-[104:49]

Conclusion / Final Thoughts

The episode is a freewheeling, hilarious, and unfiltered deep-dive into the intertwined worlds of comedy, music, and Latinx culture—with moments of true vulnerability and honesty about addiction, struggle, and growth. J. Valentino thrives in the grey areas between stand-up and DJ work, and the crew’s chemistry keeps the momentum both entertaining and thoughtful. Whether it's advice on dating, surviving disastrous gigs, or health and wellness as you age, the episode offers a mix of nostalgia, outrageous stories, and motivating takeaways, always with a “dope as usual” vibe.