Duncan Trussell Family Hour

Episode 730: New Year's Eve Special

December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and philosophical New Year's Eve special, Duncan Trussell welcomes listeners into an intimate, freewheeling conversation covering the nature of time, the absurdity of calendars, his fresh perspective as a new parent after a home birth, and a deeply personal exploration of hospital versus home birth. Through anecdotes, humor, and mystical tangents, Duncan contemplates how the way we enter this world influences our views on authority, self, and society.

Main Discussion Themes

1. The Construct of Time and Calendars

• Duncan and Josh kick off with a playful debate about when New Year's Eve actually "starts," and riff on the arbitrary nature of the modern calendar.

  • Duncan references Times Square celebrations, and jokes about being in "Tartaria," a lost civilization, where New Year's is celebrated a day early.
  • He pokes fun at “Time Masters” who dictate which day is which, noting the multiplicity of calendars: Muslim (1447), Jewish (5786), Chinese (Year of the Snake), and Gregorian.

  “You can pick what year you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be 2026 if you don’t want it to be.” (02:41, Duncan)

  • Exploration of the Gregorian calendar's invention:

    • Named after Pope Gregory XIII
    • Implemented for "solar accuracy" and international business
    • Duncan humorously rails against control, “We’re going to crucify your infinite soul on the crucifix of time.” (06:08)

  • Quotes:

    “They want to chain you down to a number like your Social Security number, your Dr. Driver’s license number. These are irrelevant figures connecting to you.” (03:52, Duncan)

2. The Birth of Duncan's Fourth Child – Home Birth Experience

• Big news: Duncan announces his fourth child was born a few days before the episode.

  • Jokes about mystics celebrating worldwide and star over Austin.
  • A humorous request for less nocturnal visitation from lamas and saints: “Some of them come very late at night, and they’re all very sweet. Some can levitate...but we need sleep.” (07:39)

• Contrast between home and hospital births

  • Previous three kids were born in hospitals, despite his wife’s desire for a home birth.
  • He initially deemed home births risky: “Why would we ever do that...Let’s enjoy modern medicine.” (08:24)

  “For those of you who are breeders out there who have given birth in a hospital, you know how fucked up it is.” (08:52, Duncan)

• Details of the home birth:

  • Extensive medical check-ups beforehand ensured safety.

  • Midwife used a “membrane sweep” and castor oil for natural induction.

  • The surreal, almost “illegal” feeling of birthing outside the hospital system.

  • Quirky birth-day story: Duncan almost ends up having the baby at Lowe’s while searching for a leaf blower charger.

    “We were that close to having a baby in Lowe’s… She got in the bathtub… Within eight minutes, the baby came.” (13:59, Duncan)

  • Vivid description of sounds and feelings during the birth:

    “It’s primordial. Like, it’s something completely different from any other howl you’ve ever heard.” (16:41, Duncan) “The bathtub water…just turns red. And then there’s this beautiful baby. And everything was perfect.” (17:31, Duncan)

3. Deep Dive: Hospital Birth – System Critique and Psychological Impact

• Duncan’s Observations:

  • Standard hospital protocol involves separation of mother and baby for measurements and procedures.
  • Critique of immediate interventions: thermometers, injections, feeding drops, etc.
  • The staff, though individually kind, act with “alien precision” and “authority you would expect to see in hell from the princes of hell.” (20:27)
  • The mystical, DMT-like feeling of being present at birth: “The veil between this dimension and all other dimensions, it gets real thin…” (22:32)
  • Hospital stay as financial exploitation for both insured and uninsured parents.
  • Parents are pressured with fear, undermining instincts: “Don’t trust your instincts. Trust authority. Don’t follow your heart. Listen to what the fucking experts are saying.” (43:10)

• Notable Story:

  • When Duncan tried to leave the hospital early on a previous birth, his family was threatened with insurance non-payment and even with CPS, until the staff recognized him and abruptly changed their tone.
  • Feelings of escaping a prison, not a place of healing.

4. The Sacredness of Birth vs. Institutionalized Medicine

• Home vs. Hospital

  • Home birth allowed for peaceful bonding and ancient rituals, with midwives providing discreet, competent care.
  • At home, Duncan felt “like we were rebelling against the demiurge or something.” (29:23)
  • Critiques common practices: LoJack ankle trackers for newborns, intrusive suctioning, clowns with lasers (joking), and the hospital’s “barbaric” ambiance.

  “No place more difficult to relax... Than a toddler rollerskating party, but somewhere in there, I’m putting delivery room in a hospital.” (35:03, Duncan)

  • Mocks “swankier” hospital birthing suites as mere overpriced hotel rooms.

5. Gendered Experience & Roles in Birth

• Masculinity and Pain (with tongue-in-cheek satire):

  • Duncan jokingly claims bogus studies show "one second of a man's existence is as painful as a woman's whole lifetime.” (09:39)

• The Father's Role:

  • In hospital births, he felt sidelined; at home, he was able to nurture his wife and participate in ritual, feeling connected to the lineage.

    “I’m not making breast milk, but this is the pre-ingredients for breast milk.” (47:16, Duncan)

  • Realization: “Nurses make you feel like a dumbass and a burden…They make the mom feel like a fifth wheel sometimes, something that’s getting in the way.” (48:13–48:30)

6. Mysticism, Karma, and Worldview

• Extended response to superchat about Karma (57:10):
  • Dives into the Bhagavad Gita’s messages about karma, duty, and detachment.
  • Reads passages about sacrifice, ego death, and non-attachment to outcomes (64:07+).
  • Applies the principle to modern parenting and life:

    “The moment I start wanting praise… it dilutes the experience.” (67:49, Duncan)

    • Encourages listeners not to dwell on past mistakes (karma), or obsess over future outcomes, but to engage fully with duty in the present.

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the calendar’s history

  “Jesus didn’t invent a calendar. Oh, what do you know? Pope Gregory in 1582.” (04:56)

• On home birth’s “illegality”

  “It feels illegal…like you’ve broken a law… there aren’t suddenly eight people you’ve never met trying to jam a rectal thermometer up your baby’s ass…” (17:35)

• On the vibe of the hospital

  “Every single one of us...more than likely were medically sodomized within a few minutes of hitting this part of time space. That’s just the hello from the demiurge.” (37:46)

• On hospital pressure and control

  "They threatened CPS on us if we fucking split." (41:12)

• On parenting and karma

  “If you can just do that and do that without thinking about your own benefit, then at least according to this, the karmic repercussions are negated.” (67:12)

• A message to expectant mothers

  “Best to all of you and to the expectant mothers out there, you can do this. That’s what I would say to Aaron before she told me to shut the fuck up.” (72:02)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–06:00 – The arbitrary nature of time; calendar conspiracies and jokes
• 07:00–17:00 – Home birth announcement, story, and mystical reflections
• 18:00–29:00 – Comparing home vs. hospital birth; critique of hospital interventions
• 35:00–39:00 – The hospital as the world’s least relaxing place, humor about delivery soundtracks and procedures
• 41:00–44:00 – The dark side of hospital policy: threats, control, and leaving with your baby
• 47:00–49:00 – The father’s role post-birth at home vs. hospital; new/ancient rituals
• 64:07–72:00 – Bhagavad Gita, karma, action without attachment, and advice for listeners

Tone and Style

Duncan Trussell is loose, intimate, humorous, and philosophical. His language is direct, at times profane, blending comedy with deep spiritual musings, and insightful social critique.

Conclusion

This New Year’s Eve special is a celebration of new life, the mysteriousness of time, and ancient wisdom refracted through modern absurdity. Duncan’s personal, poetic storytelling invites listeners to question authority, embrace the mystical, and approach birth — and all beginnings — with wonder, agency, and intentional care.

For Further Listening

• For more on mystical approaches to birth and authority, revisit Duncan’s earlier talks on spirituality and family.
• Bhagavad Gita (Swami Satchidananda or Eknath Easwaran translation) for backgrounds on karma yoga.