DOPE AS USUAL Podcast
Episode: These Are Jokes!
Hosts: Thomas Araujo (Thomas/Dopa) & Marty O'Neill
Date: September 2, 2025
Episode Overview
In this off-the-rails and unapologetically unfiltered episode, Thomas and Marty return to their signature free-form style, riffing on everything from current events and pop culture controversies to dark comedy, weed community drama, and their personal lives. The hosts—liberated by a lack of concern for YouTube restrictions—lean fully into taboo topics, offensive jokes, and brutally honest perspectives. The episode’s theme: nothing is sacred, and above all, these are jokes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Social Media Outrage & Political Death (00:28–04:00)
- Commentary on Outrage Culture: Thomas is triggered by seeing people celebrate a (false) report of the President’s death online. He questions the inhumanity of wishing death even on disliked public figures.
- Quote: “Don’t care what your political beliefs are… What is wrong with people? ... It’s still a human being.” — Thomas (00:40)
- Marty notes that extreme language online has become the "baseline" for how people comment about public figures and politics (02:12).
2. Movie Tangents, Matilda & Memory (04:00–06:45)
- The group jumps to a riff on Matilda, highlighting its dark humor and illogical happy ending.
- Thomas displays a "Rain Man" memory for random details and launches into a confused tangent about movies like Assassin’s Creed and Troy, joking about “blonde Romans.”
3. Alternate Lives & Personal Paths (07:00–09:40)
- Both hosts reflect on how their lives could have turned out differently without weed or key relationships.
- Quote: “If I never started smoking… I’d be one of those meticulous ass people, like American Psycho without the financial background.” — Thomas (07:39)
- Marty acknowledges a relationship saved his life from a dark path; Thomas jokes about “being math student of the year” before drugs altered his focus.
4. Weird Animal Stories & Backyard Zoos (10:01–13:45)
- Marty recounts filming at Matt Lawrence's home zoo with giant tortoises and a “black Komodo dragon” named Monster.
- Hilarity ensues discussing force-feeding dead mice to snakes:
- “Why do people… they should be sitting there watching, going, I hope you kill that snake.” — Thomas (12:24)
5. Dinosaur Riffs, Fighting a T-Rex & Dino Nuggets (14:10–16:57)
- Hilarious speculation about fighting a T-Rex, its comically small arms, and how “it’s just a big chicken.”
- “There’s a reason why there’s dino nuggets, nobody.” — Thomas (15:20)
- Proposes “solving world hunger” via cooked T-Rex—a wildly inappropriate riff.
6. Middle East Conflict & Social Apathy (17:05–22:47)
- Both admit their ignorance, but Thomas attempts to break down the Israel–Palestine conflict satirically (“it’s like the Dwight Schrute bug spray scene in The Office”).
- Acknowledges his Jewish heritage and discomfort with the way all sides act.
- “My family’s Jewish. Even I’m embarrassed.” — Thomas (18:08)
- Jokes about how endlessly people post missing posters, and how deeply rooted hatred is.
7. Jewish Stereotypes & Family Stories (21:56–23:39)
- Thomas’s mother sends him “every racist Jewish joke she knows” on request for a Miami improv set.
- “Why are Jewish people’s noses so big? Because air is free.” (21:58)
- Discussion on whether Jewishness is a race or a religion and riffing on Hanukkah memories.
8. Return of the Trump Death Rumor & Political Absurdity (24:13–29:01)
- Recap of online rumor-mongering about Trump’s death.
- Marty draws parallels between running the country and The Office episode where Dwight cuts the office budget to the bone.
- Thomas expresses apathy: he can’t control politics or tariffs, “so why stress?”
9. Online Arguments & Weed Community Drama (35:44–43:00)
- Thomas vents about arguing with trolls and self-proclaimed cannabis experts online, using methodical logic only to be insulted at the end.
- “At the end, they’re like, well you’re just fat. I’m like, all right, that’s it. Waste of my time.” — Thomas (36:01)
- Details on THCA accusations, “sprayed weed,” and general gatekeeping in the weed scene.
10. Comedy & Offensiveness: Just Jokes? (43:00–58:40)
- The hosts discuss the state of online/offline comedy, dark humor, and when to push or pull back.
- Story: Thomas recalls a white woman at a comedy show confronting him about offensive jokes in David Lucas’s set—prompting rants about “if you ever feel the need to complain at a comedy show, go f*ck yourself… unless the comedian comes up and chokes you, shut up.” (54:55)
- Multiple riffs on racial and trans stereotypes: stereotypes about Chinese, black, Mexican, and white people, school shootings, and trans politics—deliberately pushing boundaries, repeatedly saying, “these are just jokes.”
11. Standup Highlights & Confidence (58:40–59:51)
- Thomas reflects on finding confidence as a standup within 20 shows, booking Hollywood shows, sweating less on stage, and loving crowd interaction.
12. ChatGPT Lawsuit & AI Philosophy (47:15–51:01)
- Marty brings up a lawsuit: parents suing ChatGPT after their teen allegedly received harmful advice leading to suicide.
- “You let a computer tell you to murk yourself, dog?” — Thomas (48:28)
- Philosophical debate on AI responsibility, therapy, and the future misuse of AI in mental health.
13. Pop Culture Roundup—Young Thug, Chris Brown, Paul Rodriguez
-Young Thug: Brief, dismissive coverage of his legal controversy—“Just a bunch of millionaire beef. I’d rather watch two construction workers fight after work.” (64:33)
- Chris Brown: Wry acknowledgment of his reputation and the cyclical nature of celebrity scandal and public response.
- Paul Rodriguez: Recap of the comedian’s repeated legal and substance issues, with jokes about George Lopez’s “grandma” hair and Doc Brown from Back to the Future.
14. Merch Drop Announcements & Flower Mill Praise (69:46–75:17)
- Thomas details the success of recent Push Trees drops (bongs, new shirts).
- Strong endorsement for Flower Mill (herb mill), including story about OT rejecting his own grinder for the Flower Mill.
15. Rants on Protesters, Meet-and-Greets, and Random Life Observations (85:48–95:21)
- Thomas and Marty riff on anti-abortion protesters, fantasizing about spraying them with Super Soakers and derailing their days.
- Reluctance to charge fans for meet-and-greets, discomfort monetizing all fan interaction.
- Personal stories about Thomas’s mother’s quirks and family interactions.
16. Comedy as Catharsis & Sign-off (101:04–end)
- The hosts reiterate that the world is getting “too soft,” but stress that their boundary-pushing is always in the service of comedy.
- Thomas riffing on future career aspirations and celebrating soon turning 36 (“the age of exponential skyrocketing growth, like all Twilight Zone characters”).
- Final reminders about new merch, gratitude to fans, and the reassurance: “These are just jokes.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Content | |-----------|---------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Thomas | “Don’t care what your political beliefs are… It’s still a human being.” | | 15:20 | Thomas | “There’s a reason why there’s dino nuggets, nobody.” | | 18:08 | Thomas | “My family’s Jewish. Even I’m embarrassed.” (re: Israel/Palestine) | | 21:58 | Thomas's Mom | “Why are Jewish people’s noses so big? Because air is free.” | | 36:01 | Thomas | “At the end, they’re like, well you’re just fat. ... Waste of my time.” | | 54:55 | Thomas | “If you ever feel the need to complain at a comedy show, go f*ck yourself and walk out of the building. Nobody cares.” | | 48:28 | Thomas | “You let a computer tell you to murk yourself, dog? ... What if it said, go out and get buff?” (On ChatGPT lawsuit) | | 95:56 | Marty | “I realized I want to get Judge Judy on the show. That’d be sick, though.” | | 99:42 | Thomas | “I wish I had Rain Man powers to remember to get up and work out. That’s what I wish I had.” |
Key Timestamps: Important Segments
- 00:28–04:00: Outrage about the (rumored) president's death, Internet toxicity
- 10:01–13:45: Marty’s animal filming story (Komodo dragon, tortoises)
- 14:10–16:57: Dinosaur fight riff and T-Rex “chicken” analogies
- 17:05–22:47: Middle East conflict—satirical, dark commentary
- 24:13–29:01: Trump death rumor, political apathy segment
- 35:44–43:00: Twitter arguments and weed community gatekeeping
- 43:00–54:55: Comedy, offense, and policing jokes at live shows
- 47:15–51:01: ChatGPT suicide lawsuit, AI dangers
- 58:40–59:51: Thomas’s reflections on building stage confidence
- 69:46–75:17: Push Trees/Flower Mill merch drop hype
- 85:48–95:21: Protester rants, meet-and-greet discomfort, family tales
- 101:04–end: Comedic philosophy, “these are jokes” closure, and sign-off
Episode Tone & Style
- Unfiltered, brash, and hilarious: The hosts tackle topics most wouldn’t dare touch, oscillating between dark comedy, wild tangents, and genuine insight.
- Purposefully offensive and self-aware: They openly recognize when they're crossing lines, repeating “these are just jokes.”
- Nostalgic and personal: Movie references abound, and personal stories ground even the wildest riffs.
- Weed culture meets stand-up: Much of the humor and community drama is rooted in their backgrounds as cannabis entrepreneurs and comedians.
Summary
"These Are Jokes!" is almost a manifesto for unfiltered podcasting: Thomas and Marty drop all pretense, mix political satire, over-the-top randomness, self-deprecation, and social commentary, all anchored in their love of comedy and cannabis. For fans, it’s a return to the show’s roots—a blend of offensive hilarity, behind-the-scenes life, and a reminder, above all, that “these are just jokes.”