Fitzdog Radio – Episode 1098: Adam Conover

Release Date: May 28, 2025

Hosts: Greg Fitzsimmons
Guest: Adam Conover
Podcast Description: Fitzdog Radio features honest and humorous interviews with Greg Fitzsimmons' friends and colleagues, delving deep into various topics while sharing plenty of laughs.

1. Welcoming Adam Conover

Greg Fitzsimmons kicks off the episode by expressing his excitement about having Adam Conover as a guest. Adam is widely recognized for his work on “Adam Ruins Everything,” and Greg mentions their recent collaboration in stand-up comedy.

Greg Fitzsimmons [00:09]:
"Adam, it's like Dave, who's a Dave that has a podcast? Dave Anthony, I think has a podcast. Anyway, it's like that."

2. The Evolution of Media: From TV to YouTube

The conversation delves into the shifting landscape of media consumption. Adam discusses his transition from hosting a television show on TruTV to focusing on his YouTube channel and podcast.

Adam Conover [17:24]:
"We're in this really place in the media ecosystem where companies like Viacom and Warner abandoned a whole bunch of television to YouTube. So that's where all the talent went."

Adam highlights the challenges of producing high-quality content on YouTube compared to traditional TV, noting the reduction in production budgets and support teams.

3. Impactful Exposes and Industry Criticism

Adam shares stories of his investigative work that have led to significant impacts on major corporations. Notably, he discusses his exposé on Luxottica, the eyewear giant, which prompted the company to attempt to have articles about their practices removed from major publications.

Adam Conover [37:04]:
"We did a story about how Luxottica owns almost every glasses brand... Luxottica reached out and tried to get Huffington Post to take down an article they wrote about our video."

He also mentions his miniseries “The G Word” on Netflix, which critically examines various aspects of the federal government, including the USDA and meat inspection processes.

4. The 'World' Orb Incident and Critique of Crypto

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Adam's experience with the company World and their cryptocurrency-based iris scanning device. Adam recounts how World approached him to promote their product, offering payment in cryptocurrency, which conflicted with his prior critiques of both crypto and AI.

Adam Conover [28:13]:
"They offer to scan your retina for identification and give you $40 in crypto. It felt like an attempt to fleece people, creating a database of irises under the guise of future AI security needs."

Despite initially participating, Adam quickly realized the ethical concerns and faced backlash from his audience. He ultimately refused to accept further compensation from the company, emphasizing his commitment to integrity over monetary gain.

Adam Conover [34:30]:
"I ended up not taking the money. I did a 20-minute video explaining why the project is bad and why it’s ethically problematic."

5. Comedy, Satire, and Audience Misinterpretation

The duo explores the fine line between comedy and satire, discussing how comedic personas can be misinterpreted by audiences. Adam reflects on how his character in “Adam Ruins Everything” is often taken literally, leading to misunderstandings about his true beliefs.

Adam Conover [78:44]:
"You have to accept that. And what's really cool is that Shandling saw through that... it's part of the joke that your character is annoying, but people don't realize it's satire."

Greg adds that comedians must balance pushing boundaries with maintaining audience understanding, highlighting the challenges of being both entertaining and clear in messaging.

6. Personal Struggles: ADHD and Medication

Adam opens up about his long-term battle with ADHD, discussing how medication like Adderall and Vyvanse has affected his life and career. He shares his mixed experiences with these stimulants, including the side effects and his eventual decision to manage his symptoms without reliance on medication.

Adam Conover [48:40]:
"I stopped taking Adderall in my mid to late twenties because it messed up my sleep and led to unhealthy habits like excessive drinking and smoking."

Greg contributes by sharing his own experiences with ADHD medication, emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance to maintain productivity without adverse effects.

Greg Fitzsimmons [49:43]:
"When you take the medication, if you don't have it, you're going to be completely wired. And if you do, it's almost going to calm you down. And it totally calmed me down."

7. Navigating Personal Relationships and Dating

The conversation shifts to Adam’s recent personal life changes, including ending a 15-year relationship and re-entering the dating scene through unconventional apps like Field, which caters to a more diverse and inclusive user base.

Adam Conover [59:58]:
"I'm on Field. Field is the app for weirdos... There's a lot of queer people on Field, a lot of kink, a lot of poly people."

They discuss the challenges of modern dating, the impact of long-term relationships on one’s approach to exploring new connections, and the societal pressures men face regarding sexual behavior.

8. Reflections on Comedy Personas and Audience Perception

Adam and Greg delve deeper into how comedic personas can lead to personal branding that doesn’t accurately reflect the individual’s true self. Adam shares his frustrations with audiences mistaking his satirical annoyance for genuine personality traits.

Adam Conover [78:27]:
"It's like they saw the joke happen, but they did not realize it was funny. That's how I feel about it."

Greg echoes these sentiments, noting the difficulty comedians face in ensuring their intended message is received correctly, especially in diverse and fragmented media environments.

9. Fastball Questions and Light-Hearted Moments

Towards the end of the episode, Greg and Adam engage in a rapid-fire segment called "Fastballs with Fits," where they answer spontaneous, often humorous questions about personal experiences. This segment adds a lighter balance to the in-depth conversations, showcasing both hosts' quick wit and camaraderie.

Greg Fitzsimmons:
"What's the closest you ever got to a fistfight on stage?"

Adam Conover:
"The closest I ever got was someone accusing me of being Carrie Nation during a set, which led to them being kicked out."

10. Closing Remarks and Future Endeavors

Greg wraps up the episode by promoting Adam’s new stand-up special, “Unmedicated,” available on Dropout, and his upcoming fall tour.

Adam Conover [91:53]:
"You can get it on Dropout. And I'm doing a fall tour, so go to AdamConover.net for tickets in a couple of weeks."

Greg praises Adam’s stand-up performances, highlighting the shift from his well-known television persona to a more personal and dynamic comedic style.

Greg Fitzsimmons [93:05]:
"I've seen your stand-up recently a couple of times and you're on fire. Really, really funny."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Adam Conover [17:24]:
  "We're in this really place in the media ecosystem where companies like Viacom and Warner abandoned a whole bunch of television to YouTube. So that's where all the talent went."

• Adam Conover [28:13]:
  "They offer to scan your retina for identification and give you $40 in crypto. It felt like an attempt to fleece people, creating a database of irises under the guise of future AI security needs."

• Adam Conover [78:44]:
  "You have to accept that. And what's really cool is that Shandling saw through that... it's part of the joke that your character is annoying, but people don't realize it's satire."

• Adam Conover [48:40]:
  "I stopped taking Adderall in my mid to late twenties because it messed up my sleep and led to unhealthy habits like excessive drinking and smoking."

Conclusion

This episode of Fitzdog Radio offers a candid and multifaceted conversation between Greg Fitzsimmons and Adam Conover. They explore the complexities of modern media, the ethical dilemmas in technology and cryptocurrency, the intricacies of maintaining personal integrity in public personas, and the personal struggles that shape their lives and careers. Through humor and honesty, Greg and Adam provide listeners with insightful reflections on navigating fame, authenticity, and personal growth in an ever-evolving digital landscape.