Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus & Adam Pally

Episode: That’s So Pluto (w/ Aliza Kelly)
Air Date: January 22, 2026
Podcast Network: SmartLess Media
Guest: Aliza Kelly, astrologer, author, and host

Episode Overview

In this episode, comedians and best friends Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with renowned astrologer Aliza Kelly to dive deep into their personal birth charts and explore the meaning and relevance of astrology—especially for two self-declared “straight dudes” who don’t fit astrology’s stereotypical demographic. The discussion weaves together curiosity, skepticism, and raw honesty about how astrology can intersect with wellness, mental health, identity, and relationships. Aliza walks the hosts through the basics of astrology, breaks down their “big three” (Sun, Moon, Rising signs), and highlights how the personal and the cosmic interact.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Breaking Down Stereotypes Around Astrology

• Opening Jokes and Honesty:
  • Aliza is surprised (and a little amused) to be talking about astrology with “two maybe straight men,” as astrology conversations are not typical in male-dominated circles.
    “It is not every day that I'm sitting across from two maybe straight men talking about astrology.” – Aliza Kelly [00:48]
  • Adam and Jon discuss how astrology is often gendered and dismissed by men as “girl stuff,” poking fun at themselves for being atypically open.
    “It's very gendered, astrology. I'm kind of surprised by that.” – Adam Pally [03:35]

2. Astrology as a Tool for Wellness and Self-Knowledge

• Mental and Emotional Health:
  • The hosts connect astrology’s introspective nature to broader themes of staying alive, mental health, and self-improvement.
    “If it helps you in any way... that's the point of all of this, right?” – Adam Pally [02:18]
• Internet Culture vs. Depth:
  • Aliza distinguishes between “astrology-meme culture” online and deeper therapeutic, introspective astrology.
    “Astrology loves the Internet...but there's also very deep therapeutic work that we could do from astrology too.” – Aliza Kelly [07:21]

3. Astrology 101: Birth Charts Explained

• What is a Birth Chart?
  • Birth charts are cosmic “snapshots” of the sky at the moment and place of a person’s birth, affecting lifelong patterns and themes.
    “A birth chart is a snapshot of the sky at the exact moment that you were born... Every single event also has a birth chart.” – Aliza Kelly [08:59]
  • Events, buildings, even countries can have charts—the significance is the energies and zeitgeist of the moment.
• Astrological Practice Differences:
  • Aliza explains Tropical (Western) astrology as seasonally based, differing from other traditions (like Indian astrology).
    “It’s based on the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn... the role of seasons.” – Aliza Kelly [13:48]

4. Chart Readings: Jon & Adam’s Birth Charts

• Birth Time Gaffe:
  • Both initially provided the same birth time—a clerical mix-up quickly corrected.
    “At first, you both gave me the same birth time... I was like, there is no way they're twinsies.” – Aliza Kelly [16:10]
• Big Three: Sun, Moon, Rising
  • Adam: Aquarius Sun, Sagittarius Rising, Aries Moon
    • Aquarius is the eccentric, future-thinking outsider; Sagittarius rising brings adventure and storytelling; Aries moon is fiery and reactive.
      “Sagittarius Rising are storytellers... Their whole perspective is: I gotta live life, learn everything, be on this quest for knowledge.” – Aliza Kelly [22:59] “Aquarius is the outsider... does things differently. So, you are marching to the beat of your own drum.” – Aliza Kelly [23:28] “Aries Moon is fiery. Intense. Burns fast and then it gets over things—but damage could be done.” – Aliza Kelly [30:07]
  • Jon: Pisces Sun, Pisces Rising, Capricorn Moon
    • Pisces is sensitive, existential, creative, boundary-blurring; Capricorn Moon brings structure, responsibility, and a tension with Pisces’ open-endedness.
      “Double Pisces is incredibly existential, sensitive... artistic, creative, but dreamy and can be escapist.” – Aliza Kelly [24:17] “Capricorn Moon is very strict, very serious, very responsible. Doesn't want to feel too much... So there's a push and pull.” – Aliza Kelly [25:10]
    • Jon relates to the open-wound feeling:
      “I walk around in my natural state, a bit of an open wound... feeling everybody’s everything a lot.” – John Gabris [26:34]

5. Family, Relationship, and Generation Patterns

• Both hosts explore how their signs and planetary placements relate to family patterns (“school of fish” for Jon’s Pisces-heavy family), romantic attraction (Adam’s history with Scorpios), and broader generational themes (“a lot of daddy stuff” from the era they were born).
  “Being born in 1982 is an interesting time... Reaganomics, AIDS epidemic...a lot of tension, a new era.” – Aliza Kelly [17:23]
• Aliza discusses how attraction to certain signs can signal unresolved themes from previous lives or “the past.”
  “Scorpio activates an area of your chart associated with past life... a magnetism, but often very difficult to navigate in this lifetime.” – Aliza Kelly [35:13]
• Overlaying charts (like birth with death charts) is possible and meaningful; Jon’s son being born around his mother’s death is seen as a “clearer version of the circle of life.”
  “You can look at how two people's charts relate to each other... Different people light up your chart in different ways.” – Aliza Kelly [46:51]

6. Astrology’s Structure and Chart Anatomy

• Chart as a Clock:
  • The birth chart is oriented like a clock, with planets and signs arrayed according to where they were relative to the earth at birth. Midday is “overhead,” and what’s “below the horizon” is under the earth.
    “You could look at it like a clock...12 o’clock is straight overhead...Six o’clock is beneath your feet.” – Aliza Kelly [33:09]
• Elements and Modalities:
  • Signs are categorized as cardinal (initiators), fixed (stabilizers), and mutable (changers), as well as earth, air, fire, water.
    “Cardinal is about initiation... Fixed keeps the lights running... Mutable is about transmutation.” – Aliza Kelly [39:27]
• Aspect Table:
  • This table charts the relationships between all planets—their angles reflect personality or life themes.
    “Every planet is in relation to all others...Venus (love), Mercury (communication), Pluto (transformation), etc.” – Aliza Kelly [43:01]

7. The Limits, Uses, and Cultural Energy of Astrology

• Hosts find comfort in the factual basis (“I was born at this time, at this place, that’s what the sky looked like”), even as interpretations vary. “In a time where everything, like, you don't know what's true and what's not, it's like I was born at this time at this place, and that's what the sky looked like.” – Jon Gabris [52:30]
• Aliza stresses astrology is about how two people are compatible, not yes/no destiny (and that astrology is a tool, not an answer). “It's not like, are you compatible, but how are you compatible?” – Aliza Kelly [47:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Skeptical, Self-Aware Humor:
  “I'm kind of informed on horoscopes just from living in Los Angeles, being friends with 40-year-old women.” – Adam Pally [01:30]
• On Sensitivity:
  “I walk around in my natural state, a bit of an open wound... can't often tell what is actually going on—mine versus the actual subtext.” – Jon Gabris [26:34]
• On Internet Astrology:
  “Astrology loves the Internet... if you're using it just to send your friend a meme, gorgeous. No notes, that's perfect. But if you're using it to try to find confidence or courage or unpack difficult things...we can do that also.” – Aliza Kelly [07:21]
• On Relationship Patterns:
  “I've only had, like, three or four girlfriends... all of them were Scorpios. That can't be a coincidence.” – Adam Pally [35:07] “Scorpio activates the area of your chart associated with past life...it’s a magnetism.” – Aliza Kelly [35:13]
• On the Meaning of Chart Overlay and Loss:
  “My first son was born very close to when [my mother] died and he's named after her...is that beautiful or did I fuck him up?” – Jon Gabris [45:26] “I don't think you see a clearer version of the circle of life than something like that.” – Adam Pally [45:40]
• Comedic Wrap:
  “Now fish follow you around.” – Adam Pally [37:52] “About anything that's gonna make sense of the way my life has turned out.” – Jon Gabris [49:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:48] – Aliza on astrology’s gender dynamics
• [08:59] – What is a birth chart?
• [16:10] – Birth time error and chart similarities
• [20:14] – Explanation of Sun, Moon, Rising
• [23:03] – Adam’s chart traits and reactions
• [24:17] – Jon’s double Pisces and Capricorn moon explained
• [26:34] – Jon on open-wound sensitivity as a Pisces
• [35:07] – Adam’s relationships with Scorpios
• [43:01] – Aspect table and Pluto’s transformation
• [45:26] – Overlaying birth and death charts in family
• [47:43] – Using astrology for compatibility
• [52:30] – Astrology’s comfort in factuality/“the sky looked like…”

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Astrology can be a playful, powerful lens for self-reflection, connection, and understanding bigger-picture patterns—even (or especially) for those who approach with skepticism.
• The show’s conversational style makes it approachable—even as Aliza Kelly brings expertise and depth, Jon and Adam’s honesty, humor, and emotional openness offer helpful modeling for listeners unfamiliar with astrology.
• Whether or not listeners “believe,” the episode makes a compelling case for using astrology as a tool for curiosity, compassion, and connection—with oneself and others.

Guest Links

• Aliza Kelly’s Podcast: Horoscope Weekly (Mondays & Wednesdays)
• Most recent book: It's All Magic
• Online: @alizakelly everywhere

“For better or worse, you are who you are. And I think that's one of the things that I'm starting to really like about this.”
— Jon Gabris [52:08]