Transcript

A (0:01)

This episode is brought to you by Netflix from the creator of Homeland. Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in the new Netflix series the Beast in Me as ruthless rivals whose shared darkness will set them on a collision course with fatal consequences. The Beast in Me is a riveting psychological cat and mouse story about guilt, justice and doubt. You will not want to miss this. The Beast in Me is now playing only on Netflix.

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Welcome to Fitz Dog Radio. I'm back. My. My knee is healing. Thank you all for checking in. I had knee surgery a week ago today. I had a torn meniscus. No big deal. Gave me some painkillers. My mom calls me every single day to check on me. It is so sweet. She's such a caring, loving person. And it really is nice to know. I mean, my wife cares. Daughter. I have to remind her something. The son hasn't called, but mom is always there and I. I wish for everybody that they had a mother like mine that just. Ah, she's the best. Anyway, I've been walking around with a cane. I had to go through all my travels, cane in hand. And it's so nice. People just smile at you. They notice you. They hold doors. There's just the kindness in their eyes. And I don't want it to go away. I might, I might keep the cane. I might do like a Snoop Dogg thing where I'm just the guy with the cane, you know, Maybe I'll get braces. I don't need them. Yeah, I do. Look at that gap. Maybe I'll get braces. I'll wear a Kamala Harris T shirt. Just things that make people kind of pity you and wish that things would get better for you. I wanted. When I get a dog, I'll get a rescue. A dog. One of those dogs that needs like the wheelchair on the back legs, you know, those, those little. The Fast and the Furious dogs call them. Vin. Come on, Vince. Maybe adopt a redhead. Give him crutches that he doesn't even need. Just tell him you need these. He doesn't know. What does a kid know? You give him crutches, he uses the fucking crutches. Then people look at you like you're a hero because you got the red headed crippled kid. Can you say crippled? I don't even know. I think you can say everything now. It's kinda. It's kinda over. That whole thing is over. But I just want to be noticed. I'm 59. Just notice me. I bought a Mustang this year, you know, I pulled up to the. Pulled up to the comedy Store. And I got out my. I just had it waxed. And I know I waxed. I didn't have it waxed. I fucking waxed my own Mustang. That sounds like a euphemism. Pull up to the Comedy Store. Ollie Wong is standing out front with Bill Hader. And. And I get out of the car kinda smooth. I got Tumbling Dice by the Rolling Stones. It's pouring out of the windows. And it's not easy to get out of the Mustang. It's low to the ground. And there's an elegant way, and there's an old guy way. And I. I was elegant. I just kind of poured myself out. I walk over and she looks at me and she's like, you have a Mustang. And she looked at me like. Like she was looking at Salvador Dali painting. Like nothing made sense. Like the Matrix was in disarray. And I just looked at her like, look, look, baby, I know you love me. I know you see me as a good dad and a good husband and a sober guy. But you know what? I'm as. I'm a fucking gunslinger. You don't know me. You don't know how I was when I was young. I'm as cool as Bill Hader. You know, I'm not. Oh, it's not over. I felt over. I'm at. I took a wheelchair at lax. That felt over. Jesus. And so I, I, you know, you order it through the airline, United Airlines, and they say, you go to terminal seven, door, whatever. So I go to that door. I'm on my cane. And then you gotta pick up this phone and dial for the wheelchair person to come over. And it's just like. It's this fat old lady. She comes over with the wheelchair. It takes her 25 minutes. I'm sitting there for 25 minutes. She shows up. The TSA is right there. So we go right through TSA. And my gate was the first gate. I could have done it on my cane in four minutes. And I'm waiting for this old lady. I gave her 20 bucks. She looked like I just fucking bought her a condo and Cabo St. Lucas. She was so excited. So that made it worth it. And then I get to. I fly to Chicago. They pick me up. Thank God. They pick me up at the wheelchair on that plane. Because I don't know if you've been to o' Hare Airport. They have no qualms about asking a passenger to walk one to three miles from their gate to the curb. It's insane. So another fat old lady pushes me through that airport, throw her 20. And then I get to the hotel in Chicago. It's called, like the Chicago Athletic association or something. Nice old hotel parking. How about $89 a night? Yeah, that felt good. And then you tip the guy. I was right over by DePaul. I was in Wicker Park. My son. My son went to DePaul University. I don't know if you guys know that. You probably do. And I had some nice memories of. I used to do that. I was at the Den theater and him and his roommates and his friends would all come out to my standup show and it would be fun. And I missed him being there, but we had a full house at the Den theater. Paul Faravar. I always say his name wrong. Faravar. So funny. Did a great job featuring for me. My old college agent was there. The guy used to book me at all my colleges. Two guys, Chris and Scott and Mia were all there. And then I had to drive the next day to Wisconsin. I woke up at like, noon. My show in Wisconsin, ready for this four o' clock PM at this club. Three and a half hours to get to Appleton, Wisconsin from Chicago. Three and a half hours. It's now noon. I have a 4 o' clock show. And I gotta get the car, get some breakfast and get up there. So I was on 94 north or west or whatever. I was going 95 to 100 miles an hour for about less than 3 hours. I cut the trip down to. To 2 hours and 50 minutes. It was so much fucking fun. Got the car upgraded. I got a Dodge Charger. Fucking zipping, baby. So much fun. Made the show. Great crowd. Um, it was fun. Anyway, so came home yesterday. My flight was delayed from Wisconsin to Chicago because there was a snowstorm in Chicago. And then I went from my gates. I had to go from. You know, I landed at one gate. I had to go to the other gate for the connecting flight. I knew I had to rush, so I didn't get the wheelchair. I got my cane and I fucking ran with my cane for about 14 minutes. I get to the gate and American Airlines had closed the door. It was 10 minutes to 11 when I got there. The flight was at 11. She closed the door and wouldn't let me go. I sat there while she rebooked me for 25 minutes. I kept pointing at the plane with the bridge attached to the side of the plane going, it's still there. It's still there. And she would not let me on. So I did what I do with my mighty social media presence of 100,000 people on Twitter. I showed a little hate at American Airlines, and then they reached out to me and they said, give us your phone number, dm, follow us, and DM us your number. So I did. And then I get this WhatsApp call, which I thought was fucking weird Indian guy, and he starts telling me about how I gotta go to WhatsApp and download this app. So I see the app, I go to. I go, this sounds like a scam. And I go to download the app, and it says. It says, like, muni money, Mideast payment. And I was like, what the fu. It was a fucking scam. They saw me complaining on Twitter and they targeted me, which I deserve. I was being a fucking Karen. So anyway, I was on a painkiller the whole time. Anyway, you know what? When you take one of those painkillers, nothing can throw off your mood. You just. You just breeze through it. Easy peasy. All right, I got more to get to, but it's already 11 minutes in, and we got a great guest. Well, let me tell you, also coming this week, I'll be in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Wednesday night, Club 337. That's November 12th. I don't know when this podcast even comes out.

Summary

Fitzdog Radio: Eddie Pepitone – Episode 1116

Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Greg Fitzsimmons
Guest: Eddie Pepitone (“The Bitter Buddha”)

Episode Overview

In this uproarious, honest, and intimate conversation, Greg Fitzsimmons welcomes comedian Eddie Pepitone, known for his raw, rage-fueled comedy and cult status among real stand-up fans. The two discuss Eddie’s winding career path, the emotional engine behind his rage-based humor, their upbringings, the nature of dark comedy, the collapse of society (and self), and the bittersweet realities of growing older as a comic. The episode oscillates between philosophical insights, raucous personal anecdotes, and observations on show business—peppered with moments of gallows humor, vulnerability, and classic New York banter. Eddie also discusses his new special, "The Collapse," and the challenge of staying true to his comedic voice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Role of Anger in Comedy

Eddie’s Anger Onstage (14:00 - 15:16):
- Eddie describes his comedic persona as one driven by “pent up hostility,” often manifesting in rage at trivial things, like road construction.
- He notes the necessity of making rage seem absurd for it to work onstage:
  
  “The key to rage as a comic is you have to make it look absurd. Because if you’re truly rageful, everybody gets uptight.” – Eddie Pepitone (15:12)
Audience Interactions & Breaking the Fourth Wall (15:16 - 16:26):
- Stories about handling noisy audience tables, economic realities of stand-up, and the difference between “you money” and “excuse me, I was in this line before you” money.

Inheritance, Family, and Grief (16:42 - 21:30)

Navigating Loss and Family Dynamics:
- Eddie discusses recently losing his father and splitting an inheritance (“Excuse me, I was in this line money.”), contrasting his experience with Greg’s anticipation of someday losing his own mother.
- The conversation pivots into sibling rivalries over inheritance, referencing Agatha Christie plots, and the practicalities of mourning versus moving on.
- Eddie jokes about unceremoniously disposing of his mother’s body (“We just dropped my mom, body and all, from a helicopter into New York Harbor. She loved the ferry.” – 20:37).

Growing Up in New York & Italian/Jewish Heritage (21:01 - 24:16)

Childhood Games and Gritty Nostalgia:
- The two reminisce about New York street games like Ringolivio and Kick the Can, and how these experiences shaped their humor and worldview.
- “This was before antidepressants. If you were on antidepressants, you would not have played that game.” – Eddie Pepitone (24:52)

Exploring Darkness & Material Boundaries (25:01 – 27:51)

The Pull Toward Dark Material:
- Eddie and Greg explore why their acts lean dark and absurd, including bits that push boundaries or are, as Eddie puts it, “related to the rage.”
- Greg praises Eddie’s unique approach:
  
  “It’s like watching Dave Attell… Why isn’t this guy—are you working against yourself?” – Greg Fitzsimmons (27:21)
Eddie on His Career Path:
- Eddie reflects on his late, circuitous evolution in stand-up, moving between primal screaming, improv, one-man shows, and finally building confidence as a stand-up:
  
  “My path has been weird, dude… I started doing standup in New York… I would throw up in the bathroom before my sets. But I knew I was, this was my thing.” – Eddie (28:20)

Societal Collapse, Civil War, and Satire (32:15 – 35:29)

Satirizing America’s Collapse:
- They riff on society’s ominous direction, envisioning a new Civil War fought only by reenactors, complete with muskets and lice:
  
  “Let’s fight it this time, but the only people allowed to fight are current Civil War reenactors... but it’s real!” – Greg Fitzsimmons (33:10)
- The pair discuss the normalization of fear and the absurdity of being desensitized to looming authoritarianism.

Life on the Road & Comic Realities (39:09 – 42:41)

The Joys and Miseries of Touring:
- Both comics compare material pleasures—a new Mustang versus a loyal, meat-stained Honda Element—and the sometimes humbling realities of working small venues:
  
  “You’re brilliant, but you’re playing Elk Lodges. Let’s be real.” – Greg Fitzsimmons (27:56)
- Eddie reframes working odd-ball dates as a way to meet true fans and “spread the Pepitone message,” showing gratitude for those who truly “get” his comedy.

Clean vs. Dark Comedy & Audience Expectations (43:03 – 57:13)

Reading a Critical Email (43:03):
- Greg shares a listener email criticizing his “X-rated topics” and urging him to do clean, “Comedy 101” material. Both comics debate the merits of clean vs. honest, cathartic comedy, referencing their own backgrounds and discomfort with sexual repression.
- Eddie contextualizes his darker material as a truthful response to life’s brutalities:
  
  “Doing clean material is a whitewashing of the brutal fucking world we live in. Yeah, it’s brutal. It’s run by insane people.” – Eddie Pepitone (56:13)

Sex, Porn, and Confessions (46:24 – 52:52)

Honesty about Sex in Material:
- Both comics discuss how their sexual content in comedy serves as both catharsis and confession, with Eddie referencing deeply personal stories about his relationships, his mother’s mental illness, and early experiences stumbling into Manhattan sex shops.
Memorable Bit:
- Eddie: “I just like to mop sperm, you know, and it’s always been a dream of mine to mop a lot of sperm.” – (Job interview sketch described, 51:29)

The Dark Side of Showbiz & Honest Confessions (58:28 – 62:57)

Hollywood Frustrations:
- Eddie jokingly thanks Judd Apatow and Greg Garcia “for overlooking me my entire life,” poking fun at being underappreciated despite his reputation among comedy insiders.
Eating Habits on the Road:
- The impossible challenge of maintaining veganism during road gigs, and stories of moose jerky in Alaska.

Psyche & Upbringing: Two Types of People (71:52 – 73:06)

Deep Dive into Parental Impact:
- Eddie theorizes the world is made up of two types: those who were loved as children and those who were scapegoated. This lens colors both comics’ view of humanity and their material.

Comedy Clubs, Friars Club Stories & Found Family (74:00 – 80:19)

Club Culture & Personal History:
- Eddie contemplates joining clubs now that he has a little money; Greg reminisces about his father’s radio career, the Friars Club in NYC, and meeting his wife there:
  
  “The night of her initiation, she brought her friend, who is now my wife... I said, I’m gonna marry your friend someday.” – Greg Fitzsimmons (77:54)

Money Troubles, Friendship & Redemption (80:24 – 81:38)

Borrowing & Paying Back:
- Eddie admits to borrowing money in his “De Niro in Mean Streets” phase and losing friendships along the way.

The Collapse – Eddie’s New Special (83:19 – 87:18)

About “The Collapse”:
- Taped at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, directed by Steven Fine Arts, exec-produced by Patton Oswalt.
- The special parallels personal unraveling with societal collapse, blending physicality, emotional depth, and signature modulation:
  
  “A fall isn’t an event. One event. It’s a long descent into hell, Apple Watch. That’s what a fall is.” – Eddie, describing a bit from the special (84:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Comedy and Rage:

“The key to rage as a comic is you have to make it look absurd.” — Eddie Pepitone (15:12)
On Small Gigs:

“You’re brilliant, but you’re playing Elk Lodges. Let’s be real.” — Greg Fitzsimmons (27:56)
On Clean vs. Dark Material:

“Doing clean material is a whitewashing of the brutal fucking world we live in.” — Eddie Pepitone (56:13)
On Childhood and Humanity:

“There’s two types of people in the world. Those who have been loved when they were young... and those who weren’t.” — Eddie Pepitone (71:52)
On “The Collapse” Special:

“A fall isn’t one event. It’s a long descent into hell, Apple Watch.” — Eddie Pepitone, from his new special (84:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Anger as a Comedic Engine: 14:00 – 15:16
Inheriting Family and Grief: 16:42 – 21:30
Growing Up New York Italian/Jewish: 21:30 – 24:16
Material Darkness & Bizarre Acts: 25:01 – 27:51
Societal Satire & Civil War Bit: 32:15 – 35:29
Comedy Careers & Road Life: 39:09 – 42:41
Email on Clean Comedy: 43:03 – 57:13
Sex, Porn, and Onstage Confessions: 46:24 – 52:52
Hollywood, Clubs, and Friars Club: 58:28 – 80:19
Parental Impact & Humanity: 71:52 – 73:06
Promotion of New Special “The Collapse”: 83:19 – 87:18

Conclusion & Tone

This episode’s tone is equal parts vulnerable, confessional, and riotously dark. Both Greg and Eddie dissect the emotional realities of being a comedian, navigating pain and absurdity, family and failure, all without shying away from uncomfortable truths. If you love comedy that’s more than just punchlines—if you want the psychological machinery behind the humor—this is an hour-and-a-half master class.

Catch Eddie Pepitone’s new special, "The Collapse," on YouTube November 11th. For tour dates and more, check EddiePepitone.com.

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Eddie Pepitone - Episode 1116