Podcast Summary: Good One: A Podcast About Jokes

Episode: "Vince Staples Loves Being Unlikable"

Release Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Jesse David Fox (Vulture)
Guest: Vince Staples (Rapper, Actor, Writer)

Overview

This episode of Good One features a deep, funny, and candid conversation between host Jesse David Fox and Vince Staples, centering on the second season of "The Vince Staples Show" (Netflix). They discuss Vince’s comedic influences, the making and philosophy of his show, his perspective on fame and authenticity, and the unique, often unsettling ways humor and story can intersect with social observation. Throughout, Vince’s thoughtful but often inscrutable personality shines, as does his resistance to both conventional wisdom and the expectation to be "likable".

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Vince's Comic Influences and TV Upbringing

• Chappelle’s Show as a Milestone (03:07–06:29):

  • Vince discovered Chappelle’s Show young, noting its freshness and newness in blending sketch with an unapologetically Black voice. He recalls, "I just think it felt...refreshing and new...seeing a blackface, like, kind of executing those things was interesting too."
  • He draws a contrast with other comedies: "Reno 911 was funny, but it was a show...[Chappelle’s Show’s] format was something...new to me." (03:07)

• Relationship with Dave Chappelle (05:38–06:43):

  • Has talked life, not TV, with Chappelle; Dave often "speaks in riddles" and is encouraging but keeps it human: "Someone that has that kind of mind chooses to be, you know, human. So I think humanity is very important in Dave's approach." (06:32)

• Lifelong Simpsons Love (07:20–11:56):

  • Vince grew up without cable, so Simpsons and other terrestrial TV series were central. Jesse notes cartoonish elements in Vince’s show draw from the spirit of The Simpsons. Vince values episodic, drop-in-anywhere storytelling: "You can just drop in on an episode and be entertained." (11:56)

Style and Philosophy of The Vince Staples Show

• Every Character Is "All-In":

  • Vince discusses using the show’s "lens" to bring attention to the absurdity of the world. All characters—no matter their screen time—are fully formed: "Every character is just as important as the next...I'm just kind of there." (08:32)

• Maximalism Within Limits (09:59–11:04):

  • Given more resources, the show would be even more eccentric and maximalist, "like The Simpsons where every part of the frame is filled with...ridiculous."
  • "I can't afford that many people. Yeah, but it'd be ridiculous. Yeah." (11:00)

• Nontraditional Comedy Structure and Cinematic Influences (14:26–18:49):

  • Roy Andersson (Swedish absurdist auteur) is a major influence—Vince loves moments where “things just happen,” with no need for high-concept payoff.
  • Vince: "Certain things are hard to explain. You just have to see them... composition is...congested, even though they're outside..." (15:29)
  • He opposes conventional comedy coverage and sitcom structure: "Because I don't know the rules, I'm more likely to break them." (18:25)

The Role of Perspective, Allegory, and "Unlikability"

• Perspective and Allegory as Driving Forces (17:26–23:58):
  • Vince’s show is always about point of view: "The difference between a good day and bad day is really about perspective."
  • He refuses to prioritize likability: "I'm honestly not that likable of a person. So I don't really understand, like, the need for certain things, especially when we talk about being creative." (17:29)
  • He admires the Coen Brothers for their allegorical storytelling and aims for a similar complexity: "Letting the environment be the catalyst for the humor." (20:54)

Fame, Authenticity, and Expectations

• Fame as an Allegory (27:23–30:54):

  • Vince plays with the expectations of rap and TV audiences. He rejects literal autobiography as a requirement, especially for Black artists: "The perception of celebrity...it's not a real thing, like, at all...It depends on how you carry and perceive yourself." (28:11)
  • He satirizes the expectation for a rapper to always be making music: "I do find it silly because I'm not that famous of a fucking person. And it's like, not even like, I live with myself." (30:00)

• Depicting Violence and Realism in TV vs. Music (24:31–26:12):

  • The show normalizes violence to de-glamorize it, unlike hip hop’s pressure for “realness”: "A fight can just be a fight...a death or a murder could just be a murder. Like it's not that serious." (24:31)
  • Film allows him to challenge or complicate audience perceptions more directly.

Ambition, Process, and Creative Freedom

• Process vs. Grand Plan (60:42–64:27):

  • Vince works quickly but mostly waits on others; never specifically aspired to music or tv. "I've never, like, not...I'm gonna be a musician. I was never a thought of mine." (60:42)
  • He knows he isn't driven by imitation or traditional ambition: "I just kind of like what I like and I don't like what I don't like." (62:47)

• Authenticity and Artistic Experimentation (70:50–71:51):

  • Vince underscores that he’s interested in being creative, not just autobiographical: "If I had something better to talk about than myself, I promise you, I would." (70:50)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Not Caring About Rules:

  • "Because I don't know [the rules], I'm more likely to break them." — Vince Staples (18:25)

• On Not Caring What People Think:

  • "If you take things personal, you can't be around me. Because if I was speaking about you, I wouldn't talk to you. You can have the show. I don't care." — Vince Staples (46:35/00:55)

• On Allegory and Perspective:

  • "Everyone has the ability to be right or wrong...I try to make sure we have as many perspectives as possible." — Vince Staples (17:29)

• On Family, Funerals, and Absurdity:

  • "Funerals are ridiculous...they were always like kind of a fiasco." — Vince Staples (51:34)

• On Stand-Up:

  • "Oh, I hear it all the time [to do standup], but I don't ever do that...that's not something you can just pick up and be like, I do that." — Vince Staples (56:57)

• Kanye Moment:

  • "Kanye west sat next to me once and was like, 'I like the sprite commercial,' and didn't say anything else." (79:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Chappelle’s Show & Comedic DNA: 03:07–06:43
• Simpsons Influence & Episodic TV: 07:20–11:56
• Vince’s Approach to TV Characters: 08:32–09:29
• Maximalism & Cartoons: 11:00–11:04
• Roy Andersson and Style: 14:26–16:58
• Allegory, Coens, Perspective: 17:26–23:58
• Fame as Allegory, Celebrity Satire: 27:23–30:54
• On Violence and TV vs. Music: 24:31–26:21
• Use of Genre in Season Two: 26:21
• Script Process & Pushing Boundaries: 35:51–49:16
• Death, Family, and Funeral Humor: 51:26–52:14
• Stand-Up, Storytelling, and Comedy Worldview: 56:45–58:49
• Artistic Ambition and Authenticity: 62:47–71:51
• Comedy and Evil: 80:22–80:35
• Knock-Knock Jokes and Joke Appreciation: 79:28–79:40
• Kanye West Encounter: 79:55–80:12

Memorable Moments

• Absurdist Humility: Vince continually refuses to take himself or his work too seriously, yet his analysis of art and culture is slyly incisive and thoughtful throughout.
• Family Funeral as Theme Park: Vince describes his family funerals as feeling like "Chuck E. Cheese...a theme park," showing his knack for finding comedy in the bleakest things (52:06).
• Literal vs. Surreal: Vince delights in using the surreal to transcend audience expectations of Black artists, especially regarding autobiography. He won’t explain references ("I never explain anything. I'm like, I never will. That's the fun part." — 27:23)
• Bombing and Advice: Admits he doesn’t really bomb ("I don't think I've ever bombed..."), and doesn’t take advice ("I stray from it")—emphasizing his independent outlook (80:38, 83:06).

Tone

The tone is disarmingly honest, witty, and a little rebellious. Vince is thoughtful, occasionally sardonic, and profoundly uninterested in conventional measures of appeal or success. Jesse, as interviewer, serves as an enthusiastic and clever foil, drawing out both insight and humor.

Final Thought

Vince Staples’ career and work on "The Vince Staples Show" are animated by a restless creativity, an unwillingness to cater to expectation, and a belief in the comedy and chaos of everyday life. Whether discussing high or low culture, funerals or famous people, rap music or fine art, Vince’s perspective is both deeply serious and not serious at all—making for an episode that’s as unpredictable and rewarding as his show itself.

For fans of unconventional TV, artistic process, and honest meditations on comedy, Blackness, and fame, this episode is a must-listen.