Podcast Summary: Jeff Lewis Has Issues

Episode: Simon Rex, Jackie Schimmel, & Doug Budin: Lizards & Road Rage
Air Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Jeff Lewis (with Simon Rex, Jackie Schimmel, Doug Budin)

Episode Overview

This episode of Jeff Lewis Has Issues finds Jeff joined by actor/comedian Simon Rex, podcast host Jackie Schimmel, and regular Doug Budin. The crew dives into Simon’s quirks of living off the grid in Joshua Tree, bizarre animal encounters (including blood-shooting lizards), the economics of desert real estate, and their signature brand of playful roasting. Stories of viral rap hits, marital irritation, and over-the-top road rage round out a fast-paced and characteristically irreverent hour.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Designer Bags, Balenciaga Scandals & Hand-Me-Downs

[01:20 – 03:06]

• Jackie gifts Annie her Balenciaga bag: Jackie discusses "recycling" designer bags after the Balenciaga scandal, giving one to Annie and joking that now Annie will face the public ire instead of her.
  • “So you're giving away all your Balenciagas?” — Jeff [01:46]
  • Jokes about who’ll get egged next, the depreciation of scandal-branded bags, and bag trickle-down to Jackie’s daughter Monroe.
• Bag obsession: Monroe, Jeff’s daughter, has amassed 23 purses and "may need insurance."

2. Simon Rex: Life Off the Grid in Joshua Tree

[03:33 – 08:51]

• Living in a shipping container house: Simon bought his 450-sq ft off-grid home on five acres just before COVID.
  • "It’s 450 square feet... The house is worth a hundred thousand dollars, which is the price of a nice car. The land is more valuable.” — Simon [05:13]
  • Off-grid: has its own water well and Starlink internet.
• Desert animal encounters:
  • Rare horned lizard: “They shoot blood out of their eyes... It looks like a horror movie.” — Simon [06:50]
    • Big in Germany, can fetch up to $4,000.
  • Other critters: Rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and visiting mountain lions; uses a local “snake whisperer” when needed.
• Reflections on isolation: Simon balances city and desert life, loving the stillness and privacy despite oddities. He’s learned new skills: building a guest house, outdoor kitchen, and embracing “DIY” living.

3. Comedy Careers, Rap Hits, & Hollywood Detours

[12:06 – 16:54]

• Simon’s path: Ex-model, MTV VJ, actor, then rapper (“Dirt Nasty”). Explains his viral hit:
  • “Me and my friends would just make...joking around, rapping... And somehow it got in the hands of Interscope Records and we got signed... Next thing you know, we’re on tour with the Chili Peppers in front of 50,000 people.” — Simon [12:52]
• Art for fun pays off: Both Jackie and Simon had surprise music hits when not trying too hard.
  • “If you just have fun and do it for fun, sometimes that could happen.” — Simon [14:54]
• Comeback with Red Rocket: After the music detour, Simon was “rescued” by director Sean Baker for Red Rocket (2021):
  • “I was sitting in that shipping container wondering what I'm doing with my life...Sean Baker hits me up... And I was like, oh my god, this is fucking hilarious.” — Simon [18:54]
  • Led to further roles, including in Zoe Kravitz’s Blink Twice.

4. Indiewood DIY: Operation Taco Gary’s

[20:06 – 21:15]

• Simon’s new comedy: Conspiracy-theory inspired, co-starring Brenda Song, Jason Biggs, and others.
  • “There’s a lot to play with in that world...a conspiracy theory comedy about me and my brother...I kidnap them and shenanigans ensue.” — Simon [20:43]
  • Hits theaters February 27, streaming afterward.

5. Money & Real Estate in Joshua Tree

[27:33 – 29:28]

• Land costs: Prices are rising: “My neighbor is selling her 10 acres...like $800,000 for 10 acres, which is absurd.” — Simon [27:55]
• Building out a retreat: The group jokes about “balling out” on acreage, wellness facilities, and infinity pools—bankrolling it by selling rare lizards.
• Snakes, fences, and critter deterrents: Brief debate about effectiveness of fences, snake seasons, and whether city slickers can survive the rural lifestyle.

6. Renovation Woes & Marriage Therapy

[34:24 – 38:33]

• Jackie’s home reno drama: Jackie's husband Andrew “wastes money” by interrupting their (expensive) architect with “dumb-ass” questions.
  • “He is so fucking comfortable saying the dumbest shit that I've ever heard anybody say publicly in front of these professionals with such careless abandon and on the clock. So every question he fucking asks, costing you money, costs about $36. I've run the numbers on it.” — Jackie [35:17]
  • Jackie invoices him on Venmo for every time he asks a “stupid” question.
• Marital advice: Jackie tells Simon “Don't do it” when he admits he's not married. Simon says he’s happy single, refusing social pressure.

7. Raccoon Sweaters, PETA Run-Ins, and Animal Ethics

[39:35 – 41:15]

• Jackie's “six raccoon sweaters”: She justifies the questionable material by believing “they don’t have to kill them.”
• PETA letter: After defending a Grammy dove-handling performance on her podcast, Jackie was “scolded” by PETA for downplaying animal rights. She lampoons their seriousness.

8. Road Rage, Market Showdowns & Car Fights

[41:16 – 43:35]

• Jackie’s latest incident: A guy honks the instant a light turns green; Jackie escalates by matching his energy and interrogates him at the next two lights.
  • “You fight crazy with crazy, and it just, like, eliminates it.” — Jackie [41:26]
  • “Where do you need to go? Like, is it urgent? Are you making something? You got a girlfriend? Then it turns green again. I'm like, it's green.” — Jackie [43:13]
• Simon’s view: “Give me half a second and I’ll go. Everyone needs to relax.” — Simon [43:35]

9. Listener Calls: Simon’s Teen Icon Status & More

[45:40 – 48:58]

• Kate, Minneapolis: “Simon Rex was a part of my awakening as a young teenage girl. You made me realize…that I liked boys.”
  • Simon grateful but self-deprecating: “I don't think they care or appreciate how much of a legend I am.” [46:16]
• Kelly, Canada: Backs up Jackie’s rant about husbands acting helpful while “clueless,” especially at parent-teacher meetings.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On viral success:

  • “The whole thing was a joke…it goes platinum. And the whole thing was a joke. It's pretty funny.” — Simon, on Dirt Nasty [13:47]

• On desert life:

  • “If anything goes down, you could survive out there.” — Simon [05:20]
  • “I could go spend time alone for a day with the snake lady.” — Simon [10:09]

• On relationships:

  • “I'm happy. I'm okay. I'm okay by myself out there. I'm okay. If I don't, I'm okay.” — Simon [38:09]

• On renovation with a spouse:

  • “He says, how is she gonna do the blueprints if they haven't moved the retaining wall yet?... She's the architect!...Every question…averages $36 to $43.” — Jackie [35:17]

• On road rage:

  • “It was 0.03 seconds. I go, this guy's honking at me...Now we're both at the red light. I'm like, by the way, where are you going? Like, why are you in such a rush? He's like, going to the market. And I'm like, oh my God, you better get there fast.” — Jackie [43:07]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:20] — Introduction, bag drama, Balenciaga scandal
• [03:33] — Simon’s Joshua Tree home, animal encounters
• [12:06] — Simon’s entertainment career and viral rap days
• [18:54] — Comeback with Red Rocket and recent projects
• [20:06] — Promoting Operation Taco Gary’s
• [27:33] — Joshua Tree real estate economics
• [34:24] — Jackie’s home renovation and marital bickering
• [39:35] — Raccoon sweaters and PETA beef
• [41:16] — Jackie’s road rage showdown
• [45:40] — Listener calls: fan confessions and marriage rants

Tone and Language

This episode is loud, brash, self-aware, and peppered with the group’s signature deadpan and sarcasm. There are frequent, affectionate put-downs, peppy bickering, and candid confessions (“Stop fucking apologizing,” “I'm just excited for McDonald's”). The humor is unapologetic and often veers into the absurd, yet everyone is in on the joke.

Conclusion

“Simon Rex, Jackie Schimmel, & Doug Budin: Lizards & Road Rage” delivers the perfect blend of Hollywood behind-the-scenes, comedic self-mockery, and unsparing personal revelations. The hosts and guests riff on everything from blood-shooting lizards and the economics of designer bag scandals to the pratfalls of marriage and the value of doing things just for the fun of it. If you want an episode where absurdity meets honesty (with a heap of therapy in between), you’ll laugh out loud—a laugh a minute, as promised.

Simon’s new comedy, Operation Taco Gary’s, is in theaters February 27th and streaming soon after.