KILL TONY #764 - JELLY ROLL + THEO VON (April 14, 2026)

Episode Theme & Overview

This episode of Kill Tony brings comedy and music worlds together, featuring recurring guest comedian Theo Von and country rap superstar Jelly Roll. Filmed live from Austin’s Comedy Mothership and hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe alongside Brian Redban, the episode embodies the show’s core: up-and-coming and regular comedians each get one minute to perform stand-up for the panel, then submit to fully improvised Q&As. With Theo’s new film "Busboys" premiering and Jelly Roll fresh off a Grammy sweep, both lend sharp wit and off-the-cuff honesty as Rogues' Gallery participants pull names from the bucket. The hosts and guests deliver punchlines, unique perspectives, and roasts while exploring the stories and aspirations of on-the-rise comics.

Notable Quotes & Opening Banter

• Tony (04:46): “Two of my favorite human beings. One is one of the biggest comedians in the world. The other, one of the biggest musicians in the world… Theo Von and Jelly Roll!”
• Jelly Roll (05:42): “Longtime listener, first time caller.”
• Theo Von (04:41): “Yeah, thanks for having me. Nice to see everybody. Happy evening. Yeah, I’m excited to be here... excited about the movie coming out this week. So that's... that was something.”

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

The Panel: Theo & Jelly Roll’s Dynamic

• Theo Vaughn plugs his new movie "Busboys" and discusses the importance of supporting indie comedy films to reinvigorate theatrical comedies (05:17). “If you do more, comedians like Theo will be able to make their own movies without the big giant studios and all this crap and people in the way… Wouldn’t that be great?” (Tony, 04:57)
• Jelly Roll is celebrated for his recent Grammy wins, and it’s his first time as a panelist (not just musical guest). Candid about his roots, he bridges comedy, music, and vulnerability during Q&As and interviews.

Standout Regulars & Contestants

1. Dedrick Flynn (Comedic Regular)

   • Sharp, original minute on debt-buying and credit companies, closing with a reference to Jesus forgiving sins but never sending email receipts.
   • “If I leave a dog outside and you adopt the dog, it's not on me to feed the dog, right?” (06:53)
   • Emotional story about his friendship with singer Teddy Swims, inspiring Dedrick to keep going despite 39 attempts at the show’s bucket (10:08).
   • “If my best friend can make it, I can make it too. We drank the same water, we ate the same food.” (10:08)

2. Michael A. Keatson

   • Debuts with jokes about living in a RAV4, aging, and masturbation for prostate health (12:33).
   • Opens up about his health issues, manual labor career, homelessness, and performing stand-up despite nerve damage (16:51).
   • “I built a bed in the back [of the RAV4].” (18:15)

3. Sherry Basiji

   • Iranian-American with Midwest roots, does material about airport security and cultural differences.
   • Shares honest takes on the current unrest in Iran and the hope for freedom (24:09).
   • “This is 47 years in the making, so I’m excited for the freedom that’s about to come.” (24:25)

4. Ethan Griggs

   • “Hick-ass farmer from Cattle Mills, Texas” (29:34) with unfiltered tales of farm life, family, and buying dad porn.
   • Shares surviving a recent DWI and liking “large and black” women (36:16).

5. Charles Haycock

   • Canadian transplant; performs a tight set on autism testing and social differences, then details his “nine-year dry spell” and fascination with Amish women (42:37, 44:30).
   • Reveals running a yo-yo company and being canceled by the “woke yo-yo mob” (47:23).

6. Lil Mozzarella (Internet Personality)

   • Debuts with rapid-fire NY Italian-American humor, shifting accents and riffing on cultural stereotypes (50:00).
   • “If you don’t speak Italian, all you need to know how to do is say this: What do you want to do? How you doing? I don’t want no problems.” (54:50)

Candid & Impactful Interviews

• Luke Robinson: Tells of walking thousands of miles (including Austin to Boston) after losing dogs to cancer, using the platform for canine cancer awareness. “I’ve lost three dogs to cancer. I’ve walked 4,200 miles.” (80:44)
• Gabriel Adam: New to Austin and comedy, delivers dark, bold humor about relationships, drugs, and sex addiction groups—the first Austin woman in the audience is invited to kiss him onstage (116:54).
  • “I signed up for Sex Addicts Anonymous recently just to kind of see if I could meet somebody there. That was—it was a terrible idea.” (114:45)
  • Theo: “For doing it a month and a half, you have a really, really clever brain.” (118:33)
• Anthony Martin: Former Austin property manager, describes the trauma of discovering a decomposed body in an apartment, handling the aftermath with dark humor and candor (103:06–104:57).

Signature Crowd Work & Panel Banter

• Ongoing roast dynamics: E.g. Jelly Roll and Tony exchange and recall old roast jokes (“Jelly Roll is Lizzo for rednecks.” [92:00]), Theo and guests joke about panel chemistry, dating, weight loss, and American oddities.
• Touches on the evolving comedy/music scenes in Austin, comics moving for opportunity, and the persistence required to break through.
• Spontaneous advice and encouragement for newer comics (“You got to let that shit go, don’t it? I don’t duck no smoke.” – Dedrick Flynn, 08:43).

Closing: Headliner Set & Goodbyes

Ari Matti (Estonian Assassin) - [121:02]

• Delivers a killer three-minute set skewering U.S. draft expansion, military service policies in Estonia, and contrasts American and Estonian special forces with dark, subversive humor.
• “In Estonia we don’t have any limits. We have compulsory military service... wheelchair people, we send them. Oh yeah. We put a grenade in your lap.” (121:32)
• Banters with Theo and Jelly about weight loss, pills, and the culture shock of American life (Nike outlets, Miami, and racism as “the final test” of citizenship, 128:15).

Final Remarks

• Theo, Jelly, Tony, and Redban shout out their teams, tour dates, and encourage the audience to see “Busboys” and upcoming shows at The Greek and MSG.
• Theo: “Thank you guys so much... What a dude. So cool. I love you too, man. Thank you. I needed this today…” (130:52)
• Jelly Roll: “Thanks for letting me be one of the musicians to get to sit on the panel… Tony, I love you, congratulations on what you built.” (131:02)

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• Panel intros, plugs, & movie announcement — 04:46–05:26
• Dedrick Flynn‘s set + emotional backstory — 06:51–11:10
• First contestant, Michael A. Keatson — 12:33–18:54
• Sherry Basiji, current events & Iranian perspective — 22:19–28:44
• Ethan Griggs, Texas farm life & DWI story — 29:34–37:37
• Charles Haycock on autism & Amish crush, yo-yo company — 41:14–48:49
• Lil Mozzarella, New York humor & audience banter — 50:00–61:19
• Luke Robinson, dog cancer and cross-country walks — 78:59–84:49
• Gabriel Adam, bold energy and live audience kiss bit — 109:00–118:26
• Ari Matti headliner set + panel closing — 121:02–130:01
• Final host/guest goodbyes — 130:36–131:32

Memorable Moments

• Dedrick Flynn and Jelly roll bond over their roots (“If my best friend can make it, I can make it too.” – Dedrick, 10:08)
• Jelly Roll’s candid reflections on his nickname's origin and weight loss journey (“I did it the old-fashioned way with God, work, and ate a bunch.” — 125:09)
• Kill Tony “first kiss” segment for Gabriel Adam
• Ari Matti’s wild Estonian-American culture set, capped by “That’s how you get your citizenship. That’s the final test. You have to be racist.” (129:42)
• Unfiltered, supportive, and always pushing for real comedy and stories

Tone & Atmosphere
Comedic, raucous, unflinchingly honest, and at times emotionally raw. The mix of professional comics, amateurs, and celebrity guests delivers a high-energy, unpredictable vibe that remains deeply supportive of comedic craft and journey.

For Listeners:
You’ll miss ad reads, but not much else. This episode is a buffet of fresh material, real stories, and top-tier panel banter, exemplifying why Kill Tony holds its place as the #1 live podcast in the world.