DOPE AS USUAL Podcast: "Wild Things w/ Sam Morril!"

Hosts: Marty O’Neill & Thomas Araujo
Guest: Sam Morril
Release Date: August 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features comedian Sam Morril, known for his razor-sharp wit and candid storytelling. The conversation swings from playful banter about family quirks, life on the road, and wild comedy tales, to deeper topics like neuroses, substance habits, and the search for comfort in modern life. As always, the DOPE AS USUAL crew steers the chat through a hilarious labyrinth of pop culture, sports, nostalgia, and unique perspectives on everything from rats in New York to the magic of Adam Sandler movies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opener: Family Ancestry, Siblings & Relatability

• Sam discusses his commitment to safe sex, referencing his accidental birth:

  “I see. I pretty much always wear a condom out of fear of, like, you know, I don't want to be on the road.” (00:20)

• The group shares stories of discovering unknown siblings via DNA tests and ancestry sites.
• Sam reveals he has a half-brother he’s never met in LA and muses lightheartedly about family expectations:

  "I floated it. And they like, yeah, he doesn't really want to meet you. I was like, all right." (02:16)

• Rapid-fire jokes about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “secret son” lead into riffs on family inclusion and the awkwardness of meeting estranged relatives.

  “What am I gonna do? I'm that kid who shows up, the weird looking one at the end of the photo.” (03:02, Sam)

2. Kennedy Family & Celebrity Dysfunction [03:30]

• The Kennedys' scandals are dissected with chummy ignorance and laughter, including tragic stories and rumors about genetic curses:

  “For all the privilege they have, they really get Maria Shriver… for all the wealth and influence and power. It just does not end well for any of them.” (03:36, Sam)

• Lighthearted Kennedy bashing transitions into a critique of RFK Jr.’s lifestyle and habits:

  “Why are you bench £400 in your 70s? That's not… Whatever's in your body isn't natural.” (04:58, Sam)

3. Tangible Nostalgia: Physical Media [07:30]

• Marty and Sam bond over their love for DVDs, laserdiscs, and physical albums:

  “I still buy DVDs. I like collections. I like the tangible thing.” (07:33, Sam)

• Wild anecdotes about buying “Wild Things” on laserdisc for $60 prompt hilarity about dated tech and lost formats.

4. European Adventures (Travel, Anne Frank House, and More) [09:06 – 14:54]

• Sam discusses gigs and experiences on the road in Europe, from awkward electrical outlets to failed attempts at visiting the Anne Frank House:

  “I felt like I had to go just as a Jew. My mom's like, you have to go.” (11:13, Sam)

• Hilarious story about accidentally booking a walking tour instead of a house tour, then getting support from famous Jewish celebrities.
• The hosts riff on Anne Frank, banned book controversies, and the bizarre topics of childhood education.
• Recurring theme: Making dark topics light through comedy and camaraderie.

5. Drug & Alcohol Use: Preferences, Experiences, and Comedy [15:34 – 24:33]

• Sam’s attitude toward drinking vs. weed:

  “I don't like drugs that enhance my thoughts. I like to shut everything down. I like to drink stuff to go ‘shut the fuck up and be enjoyable for a sec.’” (21:13, Sam)

• Backstage stories about comedy, substance abuse in the scene, and the challenges of moderation.
• Talk of maintaining creativity, writing new jokes, and mental blocks—plus, why drinking with nice people is the move.

6. Comedy on the Road: Performance Habits & Bombing [24:33 – 25:48]

• Marty seeks advice about performing sober vs. high:

  “You can't just rely on a drug to do your job, right?” (25:09, Sam)

• The dangers of letting substances define comedic performance, and why clarity on stage is important.

7. Childhood Nostalgia – Cartoons & Conspiracy Theories [27:20 – 32:37]

• Gushing over Adam Sandler and the comfort of old movies/albums:

  “It’s like a comfort thing because it’s our childhood.” (29:07, Sam)

• Cartoons discussed: SpongeBob, Rugrats, Saved by the Bell.
• Conspiracy theories about the meaning behind Rugrats and how nostalgia often serves as an emotional anchor:

  “Life is hard and you need stuff that just makes you feel good.” (29:21, Sam)

8. Sports: Basketball, Football, and Athletics [35:57 – 44:25]

• Favorite sports, playing styles, and generational shifts:

  “You play the way you grew up. So I play like a 90s guy: back people down, bank shots. It's efficient, fundamental.” (37:58, Sam)

• Hometown pride and feuding over which city holds the title “America’s team.”
• Peppered with sports trivia, insider tales, and admiration for Buffalo Bills fans’ dedication.

9. Stand-up Journeys: Sam & Mark Normand’s Relationship [59:50 – 66:24]

• Sam describes his long friendship with Mark Normand, highlighting their early days of writing jokes at coffee shops:

  “You find you're your best self with those people because you're just willing to kind of take a weird chance and be very you.” (60:55, Sam)

• Anecdotes on touring, honing their craft in obscurity, and the evolution into more public recognition.
• The importance of real friendship in podcasting and creative work, as opposed to forced showbiz partnerships.

10. Podcasting, Hollywood, and the Future of Content [67:12 – 69:24]

• Why genuine chemistry is everything in entertainment; critique of phony celebrity podcasts.
• Reflections on authenticity, self-awareness, and why humor that doesn't take itself too seriously is most lasting.

11. Deep-Dive Movie Talk: Comfort Films, Dramas, and Film Critique [106:31 – 117:55]

• Extended, passionate exchange about favorite movies, from 1940s noir to 90s comedies and Tarantino classics:

  “I love old movies. I love when a script lasts, like, the test of time. That’s why I love Double Indemnity or Out of the Past from, like, the 40s. Because I'm like, oh, these were just so good that they're still good.” (113:53, Sam)

• Marty and Sam swap movie recommendations, discuss the comfort of rewatchables, and praise the detailed characterizations of classic cinema.
• Movies mentioned: Pulp Fiction, Dumb and Dumber, South Park, The Whale, Boogie Nights, Mean Streets, Something Wild, The Player, Groundhog Day, Kramer vs Kramer, and many more.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Sibling Discoveries & Family

• “Could you imagine having a friend you don’t like that much? But it's like he’s attached to me for long life.” (00:48, Marty)
• “They raised him and he turned out shitty. And then he didn’t raise me and I turned out all right.” (02:43, Sam)

On Travel & European Hangups

• “All those damn outlets just… Can we just get the same outlets? Do I sound like an American privileged prick?” (09:12, Sam)

On Drinking Rituals in Comedy

• “I like like social drugs. I don’t like to drug my… I mean it's really just caffeine and booze for me” (21:49, Sam)
• “You can't just rely on a drug to do your job, right?” (25:09, Sam)

On Performing and Bombing

• “I've been too drunk on stage before… I could have had a couple less drinks usually.” (25:25, Sam)

On Pop Culture & Nostalgia

• “It’s like a comfort thing because it’s our childhood.” (29:01, Sam)
• “Life is hard and you need stuff that just… makes you feel good.” (29:21, Sam)

On New York Rats

• “The mice are, like, apologetic and scared. The rats will just, like, run by and you’re like, dude, what the hell? They think they own the city.” (51:32, Sam)

On Comedy Partnership

• “Your friendships are… weirdest thing about getting older is… the group kind of… tightens a little bit and you hold on to the people who… are good friends and you’re close to.” (65:46, Sam)
• “People can tell if you’re not really friends… You’re like a child of divorce… this is terrible.” (67:12, Sam)

On Movie Comforts

• “Movies have never let me down. They’ve always been there.” (119:49, Marty)
• “When you see people put that kind of work into it and build a beautiful world that we want to fucking live in, it’s the best, right?” (119:53, Sam)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Family and siblings talk: [00:20 – 04:00]
• Kennedy family/Ted Kennedy: [03:30 – 04:30]
• Comedy and substance use: [15:34 – 21:41]
• Onstage drug/alcohol rituals: [24:33 – 25:54]
• Physical media nostalgia: [07:33 – 08:30]
• Europe & Anne Frank House: [11:03 – 13:42]
• Nostalgia, Sandler & Cartoons: [27:20 – 32:37]
• Sports & Buffalo Fans: [35:57 – 44:25]
• Podcasting/Mark Normand: [59:50 – 66:24]
• Movie Rankings & Favorites: [106:31 – 117:55]

Closing – Tour Dates & Plugs

• Sam Morril’s “Eras” Tour:
  — Chicago Theater: October 4th
  — Carnegie Hall: December 4th
  — Major European cities: Barcelona, Milan, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Liverpool, Berlin
  — Oklahoma City (Bricktown Comedy Club) this weekend

• Find Dates & Tickets:
  samuel.com (Official Site Recommended)

• Podcast:
  "We Might Be Drunk" with Mark Normand. Latest episode out with Greg Fitzsimmons ([128:56]).

This episode is a dense, irreverent, and comedic deep-dive into the minds of three friends who thrive on turning real life and random pop culture into a lively, thoroughly entertaining conversation. Whether it’s the finer points of old-world cinema or a rat running across a New York apartment, everything is on the table — and nothing is too sacred to get roasted.