Joy, a Podcast — California Coffee Time
Host: Craig Ferguson
Date: October 14, 2025
Episode Overview
In this solo episode, Craig Ferguson broadcasts from Los Angeles, offering wry observations, personal anecdotes, and responses to listener emails. Without a guest, Craig leans into an intimate, conversational format, riffing on topics ranging from accidental public blunders to airport robots, the state of joy, passive aggression, and his affection for trucks (and maybe a classic GTO). The tone is trademark Ferguson: candid, self-effacing, sharp, and deeply human.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Setting the Scene & Podcast Format
- Craig describes his surroundings in vivid detail, emphasizing the cosiness of an L.A. setting: stars and stripes pillow, Doors poster, mock “mandelier,” and fake succulents.
- Addresses the absence of a guest. "Today, the guest on the podcast again is you. Welcome to our chats." [03:20]
- Notes that solo episodes foster a sense of intimacy with listeners.
2. On Foot-in-Mouth Moments & Public Embarrassment
- Listener Jess B. from Celebration, Florida, asks about spectacular moments of putting his foot in his mouth.
- Craig muses:
“I’ve kind of made my career out of putting my foot in my mouth so exquisitely that it caused spectacular embarrassment or consequences.” [09:15]
- Reflects on the modern world’s penchant for surveillance and shaming:
“We are all stool pigeons, every single one of us. We've got our little phones at the ready. And then the minute you see someone behaving slightly off center...there's always at least half a dozen people there to record it and get it onto the internet so we, the great mass of us, can judge people.” [11:30]
- Shares a recent airport altercation, using it to illustrate humility and accountability.
3. Aging, Irritability & Airports in the AI Era
- Neil Power from Ottawa asks if Craig has noticed things that affect him more with age.
- “Hunger makes me grumpier. I never used to get ‘hangry’ in the way that I get now.” [16:55]
- Humorous observation on airport lounges and their not-quite-helpful cleaning robots:
“But they had a robot. They had a robot bussing the tables….it comes over…and then it passive aggressively stands there until you put your empty plates and cups on it. So you actually have to do it.” [20:10]
- Moves to a broader rumination on AI:
“What I'm concerned about is not AI becoming smarter than us and taking over the planet. I'm worried about AI becoming passive aggressive, which clearly it is.” [21:00]
- Mocks the techno-optimism of Silicon Valley:
“Every billboard you see in San Francisco is for AI…It’s always, ‘In the AI Era, you need—’ and then some product you rub on your phone or something.” [23:05]
4. Driverless Cars, AI & the Role of Assholes
- Marvels at Waymo robotaxis in California:
“They have Waymo taxi cabs. ...You order it, but there's no driver. The driver is a ghost. It's an AI driver.” [24:45]
- Wonders what human quirks (e.g., getting unsolicited opinions from cab drivers) will be lost, and jokes:
“If there's a robot taxi driver, where am I going to get my racist opinions from?...But the AI robot learned how to be passive aggressive, so I think probably the Waymo taxicabs will learn how to be assholes.” [25:55]
5. The “White Whale” Guest Question
- Freddie B. asks who Craig’s “white whale” guest is.
- Craig reveals he doesn’t think in those terms anymore:
“After all this time...I don't think of myself as someone who interviews people.” [27:35]
- Playful riff on literally interviewing a whale leads to a story from Shark Week, where he heard whales underwater—
“I think one of those whales called me an asshole.” [29:00]
6. Internet Culture & Taking Turns at Being an Asshole
- Rebuts the myth that everyone online is awful:
"Most people are actually really nice, I find. I find that in life as well." [30:30]
- But we all take turns being "the asshole":
“You're not an asshole all the time. You're just an asshole sometimes. It's situation dependent for most people… Sometimes I behave well and sometimes I could do better.” [31:00]
7. Listener Requests and Internet Attention Spans
- Reads Patrick Myers’ appreciation for episodes with Shirley Manson.
- Reminisces about having Shirley on early in the podcast run.
- Escalates in a mock-passive-aggressive moment about recurring listener requests:
"If I went on...and said, ‘Great time last night in Atlanta!’...someone will say, ‘When are you next coming to Atlanta?’" [33:15]
- Comments on the overwhelming, scattershot nature of internet communication.
8. Personal Evolution and Setting Boundaries
- J. Morgan Harter asks where Craig has evolved most.
- Craig muses:
“I try not to. I really, I dread saying this because I feel like it's tempting fate, but I don't get as angry as I used to get. I feel like I don't anyway… I try and separate myself from things that irritate me. And that's up to and including people." [36:25]
- Emphasizes the importance of honesty and boundaries:
“I think I'm a little better at setting boundaries for myself and saying politely and with respect to people, No, I'd rather not do that. Rather than going ahead and doing a thing like… getting married. Rather than going ahead and doing it, just not doing it.” [37:10]
9. Cars, Trucks, and a Bit of Americana
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Kosh N. asks about Craig's vehicles.
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Craig is unapologetically fond of his Dodge Ram 1500:
“I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 litre Hemi Bighorn because I'm a gosh darned American…I love that truck.” [39:10]
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Teases a mysterious new TV project featuring said truck.
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Talks about his old Indian Scout motorcycle and future plans to buy a 1968 Pontiac GTO:
“I haven't owned it yet, but I'm gonna buy it because there's a car for sale and I'm not gonna tell you where it's for sale, because it's for sale right now and I want to buy it.” [43:40]
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Lightheartedly debates the merits of putting horns on the truck while questioning the “green” cred of electric vehicles.
10. Classic Craig: Self-Deprecation and Closer
- Wraps up with warmth and humor, promising more road adventures in the future and possibly a Texas podcast—with cow horns.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
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On getting older:
"Everything affects you more as you get older. Hunger affects you more. I never used to get hangry in the way that I get now." [16:55] -
On the state of internet shaming:
"We are all stool pigeons, every single one of us…The minute you see someone behaving slightly off center…get it onto the internet so…we can judge people." [11:30] -
On passive aggressive AI:
"I'm worried about AI becoming passive aggressive, which clearly it is. And we don't need AI for passive aggression. We have Scottish mothers for passive aggression." [21:05] -
On humility and personal flaws:
"I'm willing to be the villain of the story in my life. And I think if I'm going to be preachy for a second, I think we should all try and be that a little more." [13:30] -
On whether he’s evolved:
"I think I'm a little better at setting boundaries for myself and saying politely and with respect to people, No, I'd rather not do that." [37:10]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:15 — Introduction, setting, format explanation
- 09:15 — Listener question: greatest foot-in-mouth moment
- 16:55 — On aging, irritability, and “hangriness”
- 20:10 — Airport lounge robots and the rise of passive-aggressive AI
- 24:45 — Waymo robotaxi musings
- 27:35 — “White whale” guest: not chasing after big interviews
- 29:00 — Whale anecdotes from Shark Week
- 30:30 — Everyone takes turns being the asshole
- 33:15 — Social media feedback and attention spans
- 36:25 — Personal growth, boundaries, and anger management
- 39:10 — Craig’s truck love and current “mystery” project
- 43:40 — Dreaming of the 1968 Pontiac GTO
Tone and Style
Craig Ferguson’s delivery is warm, rambling, often self-mocking, and sharply observant. The episode gently invites reflection on humility, aging, and joy, while layering in jokes and stories that make even the mundane feel absurdly worth pondering.
For Listeners
If you missed the episode, expect signature Craig: candidly endearing solo storytelling, glimpses of world-weariness, honest self-reflection, and a kind invitation to share in the absurdity (and modest joys) of modern life.