Outta Pocket with RG3

Episode: Gary Owen Gets Real On The Bengals, Comedian Cancel Culture, and Interracial Relationships
Date: October 6, 2025
Guest: Gary Owen (comedian), with appearances by his fiancée Brie
Hosts: Robert Griffin III (RG3) & Grete Griffin

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode blends sports, comedy, and culture through an unfiltered, hilarious, and thoughtful conversation with comedian Gary Owen. Topics span the Cincinnati Bengals’ woes, the shifting landscape of comedy amidst cancel culture, the reality of interracial relationships, and the evolution of Gary Owen’s career from niche “white black comic” to crossover stardom. Gary is candid and lively, joined later by his fiancée Brie for personal insights and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gary’s Health Scare and Perspective on Life

• Gary recently posted about a hospital visit for chest pains, causing a stir among fans. He clarifies it was precautionary, not serious, and pokes fun at sympathy-seeking “prayer” social media posts ([01:31-03:15]).

“If you see me post from a hospital, it’s ‘cause my girl thought the EKG stickers were funny to pull off!... I didn’t want people thinking I was fishing for prayers.”
— Gary Owen (03:00)

• When asked if it was a life-changing scare, Gary says it wasn’t as deep as people think:

“There is that moment where the doctor comes in and you go: what’s he gonna say?... But then it’s all good. You’re just glad.”
— Gary Owen (03:27)

2. Cincinnati Bengals Woes & Hilarious Football Takes

• Gary, a long-suffering Bengals fan, laments Joe Burrow’s injury and backup Jake Browning’s struggles, drawing a parallel to a kicker with the “yips” who’s lost all confidence ([04:16-05:16]).

“He’s in his head right now—like a kicker with the ick.”
— Gary Owen (04:28)

• RG3 asks for Gary’s halftime motivational speech with the Bengals down 50:

“F*** it. That’s all you gotta say. At that point, what you got to lose?”
— Gary Owen (06:30)

• Wild solutions are floated: would Gary take Shedeur Sanders, Kaepernick, or—jokingly—even Kevin Hart?

“At this point…I’ll take Kaepernick, straight up, right now.”
— Gary Owen (05:22)

3. Culture: Travis Kelce, “White Black Guys,” and Race in Sports

• Discussion of Travis Kelce’s shift (from “white black guy” dating Black women with a fade, to dating Taylor Swift).

“He did like a Kid Rock on us. Right now, he’s going where the money is.”
— Gary Owen (07:33-08:05)

• Gary riffs on Ben Roethlisberger's similar trajectory, tells a funny story about unknowingly trying to get Big Ben’s girlfriend’s number in college ([08:13-09:16]).

• The age gap in dating is skewered, with RG3 bringing up Bill Belichick’s much younger girlfriend.

“What are they talking about at night? You went to high school with her aunt!”
— Gary Owen (11:17)

4. Race & Nepotism in Sports (Deion Sanders, Bronny James, etc.)

• Gary defends Deion Sanders’ style and son Shedeur’s confidence, connecting criticism to unapologetic blackness and the media’s double standards:

“I think it stems from—he’s unapologetically Black … You can’t be him, so you don’t get it.”
— Gary Owen (14:03) “Why are people mad LeBron set Bronny up for success? CEOs do it for their kids. Adam Sandler puts his kids in every movie.”
— RG3 (15:46)

5. Debating the GOAT: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron

• Gary is decisive:

“Michael Jordan. Period.”
— Gary Owen (17:55) “Not a knock on LeBron…but I’d take Shaq in his prime over LeBron in his prime. No one was stopping Shaq.”
— Gary Owen (18:03)

6. Fixing the Pro Bowl & “Race On Race” All-Star Games

• Gary jokes the Pro Bowl should just be cancelled, suggesting tongue-in-cheek the only way an “all-white vs. all-black” football all-star game could work is if Christian McCaffrey played every year ([20:46-22:12]).

7. Comedy, Race, and Cancel Culture

• The crew discusses “mixed kids” and the humor of dual identities—what their “white side” vs. “black side” would say in encounters with cops or arguments ([22:14-24:42]).

• Social media's impact on comedy: Gary acknowledges how platforms like Facebook Reels helped him cross over to white audiences after years of being embraced mostly by Black audiences ([33:28-34:47]).

• On comedian cancel culture:

“If it’s funny, it’s funny. You’re treading thin ice with blackface, but if you can nail it…that’s the key. I’m a comic, we can’t be offended.”
— Gary Owen (32:42)

“We’re taking our power back from cancel culture…fans are showing ‘you ain’t canceling us.’”
— Gary Owen (50:19)

• Advice for new comics: invest in recording your material, go places others don’t want to, find your crowd.

8. Interracial Relationships & Family Life

• Brie joins and shares the quirks of being with Gary—including his habit of wearing flip flops without pedicures ([35:24-36:50]), and the dynamics of living with her mom.
• On “earning the Black card,” Gary recounts how his “in” came from hanging out with Black colleagues in the Navy and preferring Black nightclubs—long before comedy ([44:24-46:53]).

9. Rapid Fire Fun

• Comedian Football Draft:

  • QB: Kevin Hart ("work ethic, leader, process scenes instantly") – (27:31-28:15)
  • RB: Bill Burr ("he’d be snapping on people")
  • WRs: Cat Williams, plus others ("pre-madonna, I want the ball!")
  • O-line: Shane Gillis, Sebastian
  • Coach: Dave Chappelle ("Just sucks you right in. I’d believe him.")
  • Kicker: Theo Von ("Just come in, hit a zinger, and out")
  • Pass rushers: Joe Rogan, Joey Diaz

• Comedy & Family:

  • Earth’s best joke to aliens: “Difference between Black and white churches”
  • Who should play Gary in a movie: Steve Martin (“or young Woody Harrelson”)
  • Spirit animal: Dolphin

10. Comedy’s Toughest Moments & Cancel Culture Backlash

• Gary shares about being “gonged” at a gay LA club early in his career—a humbling but funny story ([39:17-42:54]).
• On backlash for Black women jokes and internet trolling:

“Never met these people in real life. I’m never at H-E-B and get those comments. I don’t know where these people are.”
— Gary Owen (43:20-43:48)

11. The Women’s Game & The “Villain” Narrative

• On Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark:

“Race does have something to do with it. Caitlin Clark’s not as big as she is if she’s Black. Tiger Woods isn’t as big as he is if he’s white.”
— Gary Owen (63:43-65:11)

• Gary and Robert agree: Caitlin Clark is the main engine of WNBA’s current popularity.

“She’s getting you guys first class private jets. It’s because of her. Don’t get it twisted. Nobody else.”
— Gary Owen (57:34-58:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• [06:30] — Halftime Bengals: “F*** it. That’s all you gotta say.” (Gary Owen)
• [07:33] — “He did kind of like a Kid Rock on us...he's going where the money is right now.” (Gary Owen on Travis Kelce)
• [14:03] — “He’s unapologetically Black…You can’t be him, so you don’t get it.” (Gary Owen on Deion Sanders hate)
• [15:46] — “Why do you think they take it out on Dion and LeBron, but not on business people?” (RG3)
• [17:55] — “Michael Jordan. Period.” (Gary Owen on the GOAT)
• [18:03] — “Shaq in his prime over LeBron in his prime. No one was stopping Shaq.” (Gary Owen)
• [32:42] — “If it’s funny, it’s funny. You’re treading on thin ice…” (Gary Owen on blackface/skits)
• [35:31] — “He loves to wear flip flops without pedicures all the time, and those are his favorite shoes.” (Brie on Gary’s quirks)
• [39:29] — The gay club story: “I got gonged at a gay club. That was my worst night…” (Gary Owen)
• [43:20] — “I've never met these (internet trolls) in real life.” (Gary Owen)
• [63:43] — “Caitlin Clark is not as big as she is if she’s Black... Tiger Woods is not as big as he is if he's white.” (Gary Owen)
• [62:22] — “She’s getting the dollars, she’s bringing the viewers. I watch for her…Angel Reese—the best thing she did was do this at the game, made her the villain…good storytelling.” (Gary Owen)
• [72:08] — On falling in love after divorce: “It’s just a feeling. When you’re away, you just want to be back with them...that’s when I knew.” (Gary Owen)

12. Closing Thoughts

• Gary’s reflections on personal growth, remaining authentic as a comic, and appreciating family in the “little moments.”

“Being older and having the kids at my age—you appreciate it more. When I see ‘em just run around…I’m like, oh, this is life.”
— Gary Owen (71:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Gary’s Hospital Story & Social Media | 01:31-03:15 | | Bengals’ Sadness & “F*** it” Speech | 04:16-06:30 | | Travis Kelce’s Identity Shift | 07:09-08:13 | | Ben Roethlisberger Story | 08:13-09:16 | | Deion Sanders Criticism/Race in Sports | 13:47-15:02 | | GOAT Debate (MJ/LeBron/Shaq) | 17:50-18:44 | | Pro Bowl Fix & Racial All-Star Game Idea | 20:46-22:12 | | Social Media’s Role in Comedy | 33:28-34:47 | | Cancel Culture and Comedy Freedom | 50:14-51:19 | | Interracial Relationship Quirks, Gary+Brie | 35:24-36:50 | | Crowd Work & Viral Comedy | 48:47-51:31 | | Women’s Basketball—Villain Narrative | 62:22-65:11 | | Falling in Love After Divorce, With Brie | 72:08-74:16 |

Tone

Upbeat, unfiltered, and constantly humorous—even when messages get serious, the tone remains playful and actionable, reflecting Gary’s signature blend of directness and inclusivity. RG3 and Grete lean into Gary’s comedic improvisation, contributing to an easygoing, lively atmosphere.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened…

You’ll leave this episode with fresh laughs, a new appreciation for how modern comedy and sports intersect with race and culture, and a real sense of Gary Owen’s journey—from “America’s favorite white black comedian” to crossover viral stardom, all while navigating love, parenthood, and an ever-evolving comic landscape.

The episode is loaded with stories, real talk, and more than a little “outta pocket” humor—highly recommended for sports fans, comedy lovers, and anyone curious about the intersections of identity, fame, and family.