Episode Overview

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode: 01-23-26 - JB Smoove - Stand Up Live - In Studio
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: John Holmberg, with Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Guest: JB Smoove (comedian, actor, best known as Leon Black from Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Main Theme:
A lively, often hilarious in-studio conversation with JB Smoove about travel, life after Curb Your Enthusiasm, comedic business ventures, personal style, unique jobs, and hygiene habits—delivered in JB’s signature playful, charismatic style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Warm Arizona & The Birthday World Tour

• JB Smoove expresses admiration for Arizona’s winter weather, contrasting it with his travels.
  • “It's my first time in a long time coming out here when it wasn't 120. Yeah, this is like beautiful.” (01:35)
• JB recounts his extensive "birthday tour," with trips to Deer Valley, Cabo, and Aspen, celebrating his 60th birthday.
  • “I am still going right now... I get back on another plane and go someplace else.” (03:30)
• JB discusses his global travel experiences:
  • “I've been to Bali, Ghana, Australia, London... almost everywhere.” (03:54)
  • Tokyo remains on his bucket list.

Memorable Moments & Show Highlights

Travel & Memorable Connections

• JB shares his philosophy of leaving an impression everywhere he goes:
  • “When I get there, I leave things there, you know what I mean?... You want to go places when you do play, when you go places like that, people got to remember you.” (04:48)

Curb Your Enthusiasm & The Leon Black Legacy

• JB discusses being associated with Leon Black and the desire for more Leon stories.
  • “Sometimes you get, you get stuck in places like that sometimes... Or they feel like you can't do anything else but that character.” (06:12)
• On future roles and projects: He’s focused on developing his own avenues beyond acting, including business ventures.

JB Smoove's Business Mindset & Creative Agency

• JB has ventured into running his own production and ad agency.
  • “We started our own production company. We started our own ad agency... I've been a spokesperson so many times... for numerous products.” (06:50)
• The agency is comedy-centric, matching comedians with brands.
  • “It's called First Darren. First Darren. And it's a comedy based ad agency.” (19:38)
• The challenge: Many brands want JB himself, so he’s deliberate about representing brands that fit his lifestyle and sensibility.
  • “I gotta pick and choose the ones that I know fit my sensibility... my wide range of things.” (20:55)

Unique Jobs & Sales Background

• JB shares stories from his early sales days:
  • Sold fire extinguishers door-to-door—by scaring people into buying:
    • “My job was to scare the hell out of you... You gotta scare the hell out of people. You scare the hell out of them so you can scare the money into you.” (08:39, 09:18, 09:47)
  • Also worked at a perfumery at age 15, where he learned to craft fragrances. (11:06+)

Hilarious Hygiene Tangents: Vabbing, “Fudging,” and Shower Debates

• The panel gets into a raucous discussion about “vabbing” (women using their own vaginal scent as perfume) as a trending topic.
  • JB supports the primal, animalistic angle:
    • “Of course you are attracted. You are attracted to the scent, the pheromone. The pheromones of the vab.” (12:33)
  • Compares the irresistibility of certain scents to bacon:
    • “Bacon has a unique smell. Just the only two things you can put on your neck and attract a man. And I'm a vegan talking this.” (13:02)
• The segment escalates to the concept of “fudging” and personal cleanliness/hygiene.
  • Holmberg is proud of his shower routine:
    • “I have a pristine ass. I wash my ass. I keep it clean. And I get yelled at by people... you got to take a shower every time...” (17:20)
  • JB co-signs the double-rag method and exfoliating gloves for cleanliness.
    • “Double rags. He knows the double rags. Two rags. That's pretty cool, too.” (17:37)

Style, Fashion, and Bringing Back Class

• On restoring men’s fashion and personal style, JB muses about a revival of class and the 1940s look.
  • “I do think there's something there about especially men. Looking good, man. Yeah. And carrying this torch to bring back style.” (22:57)
• Advises on building outfits, color palettes, and making strong first impressions:
  • “They look at your feet first... They make sure the shoes is popping. Everything's built around the shoes. Then they work the way up.” (24:23)
  • “Always tell people... you're going to an interview. Put something. Wear something that can start the convo.” (24:44)
• JB’s practical style advice:
  • “Once you know your color, your tone, and your color palette, everything else is easy. Like, I know browns is my thing.” (27:09)
  • “You better off buying a size smaller. And force your posture. You're supposed to be like a cardboard cutout.” (29:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Interactions

• On being remembered:
  “People got to remember you even if your ass don’t remember them.” — JB Smoove (05:04)

• On primal attraction:
  “We nothing but animals with clothes on. That’s what we are. All we are is fashionable animals.” — JB Smoove (13:59)

• On vabbing and bacon:
  “Just the only two things you can put on your neck and attract a man… you put the vags on your neck, you put the bacon grease on your neck.” — JB Smoove (13:07)

• On freshness and hygiene:
  “Double rags. He knows the double rags. Two rags.” — JB Smoove (17:37)

• On style:
  “Once you know your color, your tone, and your color palette, everything else is easy.” — JB Smoove (27:09)

• On inspiration:
  “Let me help you become me.” — JB Smoove (30:51)
  “It ain't too late for you. Do whatever it is you're supposed to do.” — JB Smoove (31:03)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:35 – JB Smoove on Arizona winter vs. birthday tour travel
• 03:54 – Places JB has traveled; where’s next
• 05:04 – On making a memorable impression
• 06:12 – Life beyond Leon Black/Curb Your Enthusiasm
• 06:50 – Building his own ad agency and production company
• 08:39 – Selling fire extinguishers door-to-door
• 11:06 – Working at a perfumery at age 15
• 12:24 – “Vabbing” and attracting with scent
• 13:07 – Comparing vabbing and bacon as pheromones
• 17:20 – Hygiene: showering and keeping clean
• 19:38 – The origin of the “First Darren” ad agency
• 22:57 – Men’s fashion, style, and reviving class
• 24:44 – Advice for dressing for interviews
• 27:09 – Knowing your colors and building an outfit
• 29:05 – On proper suit fit and posture
• 30:51 – JB’s closing, humorous inspirational message

Quick-Reference: JB’s Style & Life Advice

• Be memorable: “People got to remember you even if your ass don’t remember them.” (05:04)
• Know your strengths: “Once you know your color, your tone, and your color palette, everything else is easy.” (27:09)
• Keep it simple & clean: “Keep it simple. Stupid.” (17:20)
• Never too late to evolve: “It ain't too late for you. Do whatever it is you're supposed to do.” (31:03)

Summary

This vibrant, laughter-filled episode captures JB Smoove’s perspective on travel, business, personal branding, and self-care—each colored with his comedic instinct. From tales of worldwide adventures, poignant observations about being typecast, revelations about entrepreneurial pursuits, to hilarious explorations of hygiene and style, JB offers both inspiration and laugh-out-loud moments. Fans of Curb, comedy, or just great conversation will find something to enjoy and remember.