Podcast Summary

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode: 11-21-25 - Langston Kerman - Desert Ridge Improv - In Studio
Date: November 21, 2025
Guest: Langston Kerman (Comedian, Actor, Writer)

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes comedian Langston Kerman in studio ahead of his shows at the Desert Ridge Improv. The conversation is a playful and candid tour through Kerman’s unique name, poetic beginnings, married life, parenting, career pivots, and comedic philosophy. The hosts, especially John Holmberg, engage in banter about jobs, masculinity, sports fandom, and reveal the inner world of both comedy and domestic life with Kerman’s distinctive wit.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Langston Kerman’s Name & Early Aspirations

• [01:27] The distinctive name "Langston Kerman" sparks conversation about the expectations set by having a marquee-ready name.
  • “You walk in the door, Langston Kerman, and people are like, he means business.” – John Holmberg
• Originally planned to be a poet—holds an MFA in poetry.
  • “I got an MFA in poetry. I really wasted a lot of time and money.” – Langston Kerman [02:07]
• The group jokes about the impracticality and financial futility of graduate degrees in poetry.

2. From Poetry to Stand-up Comedy

• Kerman moved from poetry to stand-up partly due to its success in attracting attention (and romantic interest) after basketball.
  • “Look, man, I still had to figure out a way to get girls. One of my skills wasn’t working, so I tried another one and it worked.” – Langston Kerman [03:14]
• Jokes about the “spirited” (aka “crazy”) women drawn to poetry, and the archetype of "man buns and coffee shop dudes."
• Acknowledges stand-up as a more fruitful pursuit:
  • “Has only worked in my favor. The wealth, the fame, the success!” [04:04]

3. Comedy Career Realities: In-studio vs. Phone Interviews

• The show compares past guests’ behaviors as careers rise (citing Joe Coy), discussing the humility and hustle in comedy.
• Holmberg insists only less-famous comedians have to "show up in the morning," with more established ones only calling when promoting tickets.
  • “Once you hit a certain level of success… I only wake up this early because they pay me.” – John Holmberg [04:37]

4. Unique Names, Parenting, and Domestic Life

• Kerman shares his kids have unique names: Kensington and Atlas.
• Compares “regular names” (John, Brett, etc.) to “Toyota Corolla” level names, while his are “Maybachs.”
  • “If you got a Maybach, you can’t take that to Jiffy Lube.” – Langston Kerman [06:23]
• Married, father of two, and was teaching high school English and poetry prior to comedy success.

5. Teaching Experience & Student Memories

• Taught high school English and poetry; did not want to be seen as "the fun teacher" at age 23 for sake of control.
• “I was 23, so I couldn’t afford to be fun with them. I needed to be like a man.” – Langston Kerman [07:23]
• Discusses the satisfaction (and dark humor) in seeing former difficult students meet real-life consequences.

6. Household Roles & Marriage Dynamics

• Kerman is the house cleaner, wife does the “handy” work around the house—a “progressive” arrangement.
  • “She uses the hammer, I hold the picture… In that way, we are progressive.” [12:13]
• Admits he doesn't cook (“I refuse”), in exchange for cleaning.
  • "So my offer is, I will clean. You just gotta feed me." – Langston Kerman [15:26]

7. Wife’s Career and Comedy’s Place in Society

• Wife is a lawyer specializing in non-profit law ("mostly just hiding money for rich people").
  • “Everybody immediately realizes my job is stupid and her job is important.” – Langston Kerman [15:48]
• The group jokes about the dismissiveness people have toward comedy and radio jobs, especially regarding survival skills if “apocalypse” came, compared to practical professions.

8. On AI, the Future of Professions, and Comedy as Cynicism

• Discusses how AI threatens law but not comedy (“You will continue being valuable when AI makes your wife's job obsolete.” – John Holmberg [17:51])
• Kerman speculates that soon, differentiating factors among professionals might be whose AI is better rather than the person themselves.

9. Sports Fandom, Loyalty, and Ownership

• Kerman is cynical about team loyalty—he’s a Warriors fan since early Curry/Thompson days, but admits he’ll bail when they leave.
  • “What am I here for? Envy. We're all falsely loyal for no reason to sports.” – Langston Kerman [22:30]
• Jokes about fans cheering “for laundry,” quoting Chael Sonnen (UFC).
  • “You’ll cheer for anything. After a while, you just have to realize you’re cheering for the jersey. You're just cheering for laundry.” – Chael Sonnen (quoted) [23:41]

10. Final Words of Wisdom

• Kerman closes with humorous but practical advice:
  • “Go out there, be brave, and never stand still on an escalator.” – Langston Kerman [24:20]
  • Advocates for always moving on escalators/people movers, condemning those who block the way.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Poetry Degrees:
  “I got an MFA in poetry. I really wasted a lot of time and money.” – Langston Kerman [02:07]

• On Attracting Women:
  “Look, man, I still had to figure out a way to get girls. One of my skills wasn’t working, so I tried another one and it worked.” – Langston Kerman [03:14]

• On Domestic Roles:
  “She uses the hammer, I hold the picture…In that way, we are progressive.” – Langston Kerman [12:13]

• On Career Dismissiveness:
  “Everybody immediately realizes my job is stupid and her job is important.” – Langston Kerman [15:48]

• On Bringing Out Emotions:
  “I don’t think you’re living a full life if you’re not bringing rage out of other people.” – Langston Kerman [13:00]

• On Sports Fandom:
  “After a while, you just have to realize you’re cheering for the jersey. You're just cheering for laundry.” – Chael Sonnen (quoted by Holmberg) [23:41]

• Final Words of Wisdom:
  “Go out there, be brave, and never stand still on an escalator.” – Langston Kerman [24:20]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:27 — Name talk, poetry background
• 03:14 — Transition from basketball failure to poetry and stand-up
• 06:05 — Unique baby names and the "Maybach" analogy
• 07:01 — High school teaching days
• 12:13 — Household/relationship roles
• 13:00 — Philosophy on life: eliciting emotion
• 15:37 — Wife’s career, societal perception of their jobs
• 17:51 — Future value of comedians vs. lawyers in AI era
• 22:30 — Sports loyalty, “rooting for laundry”
• 24:20 — Langston’s closing life advice

Tone & Style

• Language & Banter: Irreverent, self-deprecating, quick-witted, honest.
• Chemistry: Langston’s dry, clever humor is a perfect match for Holmberg’s sarcastic, probing style. The conversation is relaxed, playful, and interspersed with philosophical observations delivered through jokes.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a witty, insightful journey with Langston Kerman as he reveals the quirks and contradictions of building a creative life, the realities of stand-up, the nuances of modern marriage, and the futility (and fun!) of sports loyalty. With razor-sharp jokes and a disarmingly genuine demeanor, Langston leaves both comedic and real-life nuggets—plus advice we can all use on escalators.

Catch Langston Kerman live at Desert Ridge Improv — and remember: “Keep moving. Life’s too short to stand still.”