Monday Morning Podcast – December 16, 2025

Episode: "the Patriots, Rob Reiner, Judgmental Friends"

Overview

In this episode, Bill Burr delivers his signature mix of rants and reflections, touching on sports (particularly the Patriots’ season), American culture, mental health, true crime obsession, and personal stories about family, Disneyland, and maintaining friendships. He also shares listener emails about success and envy, and discusses the influence of narcissists in society and politics, offering candid advice while keeping his humor sharp and relatable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Growth and Avoiding Anger

• Bill’s New Approach: Bill opens the show by sharing personal progress in managing his temper. He’s kept it in check for two weeks, using breathing, journaling, and self-reflection.
  • Notable quote:

    "Two weeks. I haven’t lost my temper... I have a journal. I wake up, I do my breathing, I write down what I’m feeling." (00:00)

• He encourages listeners, especially those who identify as angry, that there is a way out:

  "You can get out of it. I don’t know, took me for fucking ever." (09:56)

2. Patriots, NFL Week, and Sports Outlook

• Recap and Reactions:
  • Bill discusses the recent loss to the Bills and the Patriots' season, expressing optimism about the team's future.

    "I was watching the Patriots go up 21-nothing against the Buffalo Bills, only to watch the halftime adjustment shut us down in the second half." (01:01)

  • He praises players like Henderson and Stevenson and anticipates a bright future for the team.

    "I actually think that we are in... two to three years... why the hell couldn't we win another one?" (03:18)

• Sports Fandom Commentary:
  • Bill jokes about the universal hatred for successful Boston fans.

    "Fans is not what... I get it though. It’s how human beings are. They don’t like seeing success unless it’s happening to them." (03:45)

3. True Crime, Dark Weekends, and Human Nature

• Documentary Watching:
  • Bill discusses watching a true crime documentary about Mickey and Trudy Thompson and the disturbing nature of such stories.
  • Jokes about SNL sketches and wives’ affinity for watching unsettling crime stories before bed.

    "Light-hearted things that women like to watch before bed." (05:31)

• Commentary on Narcissism and Society:
  • Bill reflects on the prevalence of narcissism, especially in politics, and people's unwillingness to recognize mental instability in leaders they support.

    "The mental illness that we have had for the last nine years running this country is really astounding." (06:12) "How you politicize [a tragedy] and then make it like these people died because they weren’t fans of you as a leader is... one of the most narcissistic things ever." (07:04)

4. Disneyland and Parenting Stories

• Dad Moments:
  • Bill recounts a trip taking his kid to Disneyland, highlighting his changed mindset and ability to enjoy the day without losing his temper:

    "One of my favorite days as a dad... There was so much that normally would have, like, pissed me off, and I was able to just glide through it." (09:41, 10:06)

  • Funny Story: Critiques a pizza place near Space Mountain:

    "It was like the pizza topping version of peanut butter and jelly in the same jar." (11:14)

• Roller Coaster Reflections:
  • He overcomes his fear on Space Mountain by practicing breathing techniques, turning previous anxiety into enjoyment.

    "As we were going down the first big drop, I just inhaled into my diaphragm and my stomach didn’t drop at all." (13:18)

5. Listener Feedback and Life Advice

• Selling a Business & Losing Friends:

  • Reads a listener email about success, jealousy among friends, and the aftermath of selling a business.
  • Echoes the experience, noting success often reveals who your real friends are.

    "You want to find out if you have friends or not? Be successful... that’s how it goes down." (38:57)

  • Offers advice on how to address gossip calmly rather than confrontationally.

    "If you keep your cool, you don’t drop any F bombs… let them explain themselves and then you can enjoy watching them squirm." (44:54)

• Projection and Self-Growth:

  • Acknowledges his own past jealousy and projection as a young comedian.

    "I have been on both sides of this... I was envious and jealous of a couple of comedians, and I hated that feeling." (47:30)

6. Pop Culture and Rob Reiner Tribute

• Condolences and Praise:
  • Tributes the recently deceased (presumably) Michelle Reiner and lauds Rob Reiner’s enduring impact in entertainment:

    "Rob Reiner, just an absolute juggernaut of a talent... [his] acting... he was so naturally funny." (22:03)

• Natural Born Killers & Tarantino Trivia:
  • Discusses the backstory of "Natural Born Killers" and "True Romance," acknowledging Tarantino’s disdain for what became of his original script.
• Random Act of Kindness:
  • Expresses gratitude to the band "Explosions in the Sky" for buying him and his wife breakfast anonymously.

    "They just did it and left like fucking James Bond style. Beyond cool." (35:45)

7. Observations on Society, Technology and Safety

• Influencer vs. Narcissist:
  • Explores the differences between influencers who strategize for attention and narcissists who are naturally self-centered.

    "Influencers have to strategize... a narcissist is just natural. They just know how to bring the fucking thing around to themselves." (21:25)

• Tech Skepticism:
  • Rants about delayed technological rollouts (motorcycle airbags) and distrust of wireless signals near the brain.
• Media Critique:
  • Critiques news media for publicizing names and faces of mass shooters, motivated by profit.

8. Historical Musings & Listener Education

• Ancient Rome Court Spectators:
  • Responds to a listener's insight about courtrooms as entertainment in ancient Rome.
• Nero’s Artist Ambitions:
  • Reads about Emperor Nero’s ostensible desire to be an artist/performer and the social stigma attached.

    "There was a thing back then where if you were an actor, you were not allowed to run for political office..." (55:17)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mental Health & Change:

  "Me not being angry is like, I’m two weeks in. I’m like that person that joins a gym January 1st... and then by February, I’m fucking back to eating cheeseburgers. But I can’t go back." (16:16)

• On Narcissistic Politicians:

  "What does somebody have to do to be deemed not mentally stable enough to run a nation?" (08:31)

• On Parenting:

  “I had a blast standing in lines, eating the shitty food...there was so much that normally would’ve pissed me off and I was able to just glide through it.” (10:16)

• On Friends & Success:

  "If you want to find out if you have friends, be successful." (38:57)

• Pizza at Disneyland:

  "It was like two people who didn’t know how to cook came together." (10:59)

• Explosions in the Sky's kindness:

  "They did it and left like James Bond style. Beyond cool." (35:49)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Personal growth & Anger management tips: 00:00–01:00
• Patriots recap & NFL talk: 01:01–04:00, 56:25–57:37
• True crime & human nature: 04:04–08:00
• Disneyland trip & parenting reflections: 09:33–16:21
• Listener advice on friendship & business success: 36:28–48:48
• Political/rhetorical frustration & society: 06:49–09:16, 21:10–23:59
• Tribute to Rob Reiner: 22:03–24:27
• Natural Born Killers / Tarantino: 31:31–34:39
• Explosions in the Sky random act: 35:38–36:16
• Courtroom spectators, Roman history: 49:13–55:38

Tone & Style

Stay true to Burr’s comedic, blunt, yet introspective tone throughout: candid, irreverent, and self-deprecating, with biting observations about human behavior and society.

Final Thoughts

Bill wraps up the episode reinforced by a sense of hope and self-determination, a deep appreciation for family moments, and rooted in the reality that success, personal growth, and honesty often come with their own sets of challenges—but they’re worth pursuing. The show concludes with a look ahead at comedy gigs and hopes for the Patriots, showing the classic blend of Burr’s personal and public passions.

For listeners and new fans alike, this episode serves as both a relatable diary of personal change and a sharp commentary on contemporary culture—all delivered with Bill’s trademark wit.