Planet Tyrus: Hotep Jesus – Hustle, Freedom & Self-Made Success
Date: October 16, 2025
Guests: Hotep Jesus (entrepreneur, author, podcaster)
Host: Tyrus (comedian, Fox News contributor, former pro wrestler)
Episode Overview
This high-energy episode of Planet Tyrus features Hotep Jesus – entrepreneur, media personality, and outspoken advocate for self-made success. The conversation flows between laughter and real talk as Tyrus and Hotep Jesus delve into American division, personal hustle, the realities of self-employment, friendship and loyalty, the pitfalls of “cancel culture,” race, politics, money, and their shared journey as Black men challenging expectations.
Together, they offer sharp insights, memorable personal stories, and straight-up honesty about navigating today’s America and building a life on your own terms.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Animal Farm as a Lens on Modern Politics
[00:00–17:57]
- Tyrus’ “Tie Rant”:
- Opens referencing Orwell’s Animal Farm to explore political division, propaganda, and manipulation in America today.
- Draws analogies between book characters (Napoleon, Squealer, Boxer) and present-day politicians/journalists.
- Emphasizes the dangers of absolutism, blind loyalty, and the virtue-signaling elite.
- Notable Quote:
- “In Animal Farm... everyone starts equal, but as things go on, it’s really about one person, that leader and his narrative.” – Tyrus [04:52]
- “We’ve all been conned to believing that our neighbors are our enemies and they’re not. We all have the same problems. Democrats and Republicans have the same problems. Are there extreme weirdos? Yes. On both sides.” – Tyrus [17:42]
- Encourages listeners to read Animal Farm or revisit it as an explanatory framework for current cultural rifts.
- Points out the shifting definition of words (e.g., “deluxe”) as a metaphor for lowered societal standards.
2. Self-Made, Unemployable, and Proud
[18:58–22:59]
-
Hotep Jesus on Hustle:
- Recaps his career wearing “many hats”—business, podcasting, entertainment, fatherhood.
- Both guests bond over histories of being fired or simply not fitting traditional employment.
- Notable Quote:
- “I am not employable. I’ve tried to get a job and I get fired. Six months later, I’m gone.” – Hotep Jesus [19:26]
- “I always got canned because I end up being smarter than my boss.” – Tyrus [19:38]
-
Why Entrepreneurship?
- Frustrations with co-workers and bosses who resist innovation (story about advocating for video over blogs in 2017).
- Deciding to “bet on yourself,” especially with a family, requires preparation and “runway”—Hotep stresses stacking up savings beforehand.
- Discussion on how schools/parents rarely teach young men to prepare for risk in this way.
- Notable Quote:
- “No one’s teaching them this in school. You were prepared.” – Tyrus [22:26]
3. Origins of Work Ethic & Drive
[25:16–27:30]
- Family Influences & Rebelling:
- Hotep’s parents and siblings: accomplished, educated, corporate careers (“all got bosses”).
- Hotep frames himself as the family rebel/entrepreneur, motivated by a constant craving for more and inability to tolerate stagnation.
- Both men discuss never being able to “smell the roses”—always chasing “what’s next.”
- Notable Quote:
- “Once I would accomplish something, I’d immediately start thinking about what I haven’t yet... you never smell the roses.” – Tyrus [27:36]
- “I can’t turn my brain off... even stagnation is detrimental to me.” – Hotep Jesus [28:11]
4. The Downside of Success: Helping Friends & the Guilt Trap
[32:47–41:20]
-
Bringing Friends Along (and Why It Fails):
- Tyrus and Hotep recount personal stories of trying to help friends/family financially or through jobs, only to experience resentment, lost friendships, or outright manipulation.
- Open about the persistent guilt associated with saying “no” and how setting boundaries is actually an act of self-respect and necessary for long-term success.
- Notable Quotes:
- “The day you say no, the friendship ended. Look back with wisdom—well, that’s a good thing, because it never was a friendship.” – Tyrus & Hotep [34:28]
- “Before, sometimes you lead with love... now it’s, I got that loving care, but I gotta be straight direct so that you know, in future, I’m going to tell you no.” – Hotep Jesus [35:08]
- “Once people know you have it, and think they can manipulate you, that relationship is never going to be good.” – Tyrus [38:52]
-
Pandemic Generosity and its Fallout:
- Hotep discusses helping out even more during the pandemic, only to discover patterns of repeated “urgent” requests that never resolve.
- “If you don’t want me to contact you anymore…”: Both men recognize the emotional manipulation that follows when they finally stop giving.
5. Keeping It Real in Politics and Commentary
[44:21–51:58]
-
Calling Balls and Strikes:
- Tyrus applauds Hotep for his intellectual honesty—refusing to toe any party line, confronting both left and right with common sense.
- Both men reflect on how straightforwardness, especially as Black men with non-conforming opinions, often gets them labeled as “radical.”
- Notable Quote:
- “Bravery always seems radical to people. When you’re ready to just speak your mind…” – Hotep Jesus [45:18]
-
Cancel Culture, Free Speech, and Government Overreach:
- Lively segment on the dangers of suppressing dissent, referencing cancel culture, virtue-signaling, and political attempts to control debate or redefine hate speech.
- Hotep facetiously claims to be both “anti-communist communist and anti-capitalist capitalist,” emphasizing his natural competitiveness but warning against letting authorities—except himself—control speech.
- Notable Exchange:
- Tyrus: “Do not want me as president. A lot of people I fired, they’re getting a visit from the IRS.” [51:58]
- Hotep: “If I was in charge, there would be no drag queen story hour. If you say something I don’t like, I’m throwing you in a gulag.” [51:18]
6. On Masculinity, Sex, and Double Standards
[55:12–57:31]
- Parenting Perspectives:
- Tyrus discusses holding all his children to the same standards, regardless of sexual orientation—emphasizes boundaries over labels.
- Hotep: “If anybody needs sexual control, it’s definitely the man. Most people put the sexual control on the women.”
- Aging and Male Sexuality:
- Tongue-in-cheek advice about the realities of sex drive across decades and Hotep plugging his supplement line for vitality.
7. Current Events: Israel, Antisemitism, and Conspiracy Theories
[57:37–63:09]
- Criticizing Israel vs. Antisemitism:
- Hotep urges that criticism must be grounded in sense, not anti-Jewish sentiment—denounces online trends preferring Chinese censorship (re: TikTok) over Jewish ownership.
- Tyrus highlights absurdity of anti-Israel conspiracy theories, especially post-attack narratives (e.g., October 7th “inside job”).
- Quote: “You would rather… someone on your side opened the door than knowing the enemy could kick it in.” – Tyrus [60:03]
- Black American Perspective on Middle East:
- Hotep relates his support for Israel (historically) to the Arab role in African slavery—reminds listeners that “nobody’s innocent.”
- Conversation highlights the importance of historical literacy before forming political opinions.
8. Big Picture: History, Slavery, and Looking Beyond the Surface
[63:09–69:38]
- Historical Amnesia:
- Both note how current mainstream narratives on Israel/Palestine, Ukraine/Russia, and reparations often disregard deeper historical context.
- “Go back… a thousand years:” Hotep and Tyrus urge looking well beyond immediate causes or the last few decades to understand the real origins of conflict.
- Notable Quotes:
- “People always want to go back 10 years. Have you ever tried going back a thousand years?” – Hotep Jesus [67:31]
- “Africa is the beginning and end all of everything… that is civilization.” – Tyrus [63:38]
9. Reparations: A Satirical Solution
[69:38–73:38]
- Who Owes What?
- Hotep jokingly claims, “Dems must pay” for failed leadership in Black communities, proposing tax credits or refunds instead of traditional reparations.
- Both laugh about dreaming of a “reparations card” that exempts them from taxes.
- Serious undertone: focus less on cash payments and more on opportunity and accountability from elected officials.
10. Personal Integrity, Hustle, and Inspiration
[73:38–74:06]
- Hard Work and Character Above Popularity:
- Tyrus closes by commending Hotep as an exemplar of reinvention, discipline, and legacy-building—even when it makes you unpopular.
- Key takeaway: Living by hard work, integrity, and common sense might be lonely, but it leaves a lasting legacy for others to follow.
- Quote:
- “Integrity lasts after you’re gone. Accountability lasts after you’re gone... you become inspiration to the next young brother or whomever that decides that integrity, hard work are the things I want to live my life by.” – Tyrus [73:22]
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- “We’ve all been conned to believing that our neighbors are our enemies and they’re not. We all have the same problems.” – Tyrus [17:42]
- “I am not employable. I’ve tried to get a job and I get fired.” – Hotep Jesus [19:26]
- “Bravery always seems radical to people. When you’re ready to just speak your mind…” – Hotep Jesus [45:18]
- “If I was in charge, there would be no drag queen story hour... you say something I don’t like, I’m throwing you in a gulag.” – Hotep Jesus [51:18]
- “Once you do it once, then it comes back around.” – Tyrus, on giving money to friends [38:14]
- “People always want to go back 10 years. Have you ever tried going back a thousand years?” – Hotep Jesus [67:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–17:57 – Tyrus’ Animal Farm monologue and worldview
- 17:57–22:59 – Hotep Jesus joins; “unemployable” ethos, early struggles
- 23:00–27:30 – Work ethic, family backgrounds, rebellion, chasing more
- 32:47–41:20 – Friendship, helping others, guilt, setting boundaries
- 44:21–51:58 – Real talk on politics, common sense, “cancel culture”
- 55:12–57:31 – Masculinity, sex, and responsibility
- 57:37–63:09 – Israel/Palestine, Antisemitism, TikTok, historical memory
- 63:09–69:38 – World history, race, ancestral ties, the deep roots of conflict
- 69:38–73:38 – Reparations (with humor), what real justice looks like
- 73:38–end – Closing thoughts on legacy, character, and directness
Tone & Character
- Planet Tyrus keeps a conversational, often comedic and blunt style.
- The dialogue is unfiltered but insightful, packed with lived anecdotes and pop culture.
- Both Tyrus and Hotep Jesus are direct, sometimes irreverent, always focused on authenticity and “calling it like it is.”
Final Thought
For listeners seeking a refreshingly honest, witty, and multidimensional take on culture, politics, and personal success, this episode is a must.
Whether it’s strategies for betting on yourself, hard-won truths about money and friends, or unapologetic opinions about the state of America, Tyrus and Hotep Jesus bring wisdom, humor, and a dose of realness to every minute.