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"From Blue Humor to Belly Laughs : Red Peters on Comedy Saved Me"
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- [00:00]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
This is an I Heart podcast.
- [00:04]
Dani Shapiro
Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Dani Shapiro and these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of Family Secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:35]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neal Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety.
- [00:51]
Lynne Hoffman
What is not norm is to allow it to prevent you from doing the thing things that you want to do, the things that you were meant to do.
- [00:59]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [01:06]
John Hope Bryant
It's Black Business Month and Money and wealth podcast with John Hope Bryant is tapping in. I'm breaking down how to build wealth, create opportunities, and move from surviving to thriving. It's time to talk about ownership, equity and everything in between. Black and brown communities have historically been lasting. Line Let me just say this AI is moving faster than civil rights legislation ever. Listen to Money and Wealth from the Black Effect podcast network on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:35]
Red Peters
Our iHeartradio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas, Vegas, September 19th and 20th, streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen, Bryan Adams, Ed Sheeran, Fade Chlorilla, Jelly Roll, John Fogarty, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Sammy Hagar, Tate McCray, the Offspring, Tim MC Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com get your tickets today AXS.com.
- [02:08]
Lynne Hoffman
So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.
- [02:12]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.
- [02:18]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Left a woman behind to drown.
- [02:21]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.
- [02:31]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [02:42]
Lynne Hoffman
Comedy saved me.
- [02:44]
Red Peters
When you have an idea, a good strong idea in the beginning. Over time, another line will pop in or another part of it. Oh, Maybe they could be doing this, but you know, a lot of times it's a fake out and, but at the same time, you know, it celebrates the human spirit like, you ain't getting shit for Christmas.
- [03:06]
Lynne Hoffman
Welcome to another episode of Comedy Saved Me. The show where we dive deep into the wild, weird and wonderful world of comedy and the people whose lives that have been shaped, shaken, and yes, sometimes even saved by laughter. I'm your host, Lynne Hoffman, and lucky me, today's guest is a true legend in the world of comedy music, Red Peters. Now, if you've ever laughed out loud at a that was just a little too outrageous for the radio, chances are Red Peters was behind it. He is known as the king of comedy music and his career began in the mid-80s when he and his writing partner Ed Grenga started recording off color double entendre songs as a way of blowing off steam from the buttoned up world of commercial music production. Red's irreverent boundary pushing songs have earned him a loyal following and two best selling comedy albums, by the way. So whether you're a longtime fan like myself, are just discovering Red's unique brand of musical mischief, get ready because this comedian will literally blow you away with a conversation that's as funny as it is fearless. Welcome Red Peters to Comedy Saved Me. I have to start off by saying I'm a huge fan. It's an honor to meet you. I started off in radio back in Boston with John Lander who introduced me to your wacky, amazing stuff and I've been a fan ever since. So welcome.
- [04:32]
Red Peters
Thank you, thank you. Yeah, I've been around a long time. Yeah, but, but no, I enjoyed you on the radio myself. So.
- [04:40]
Lynne Hoffman
You did.
- [04:41]
Red Peters
You know, I've known your name from a long time. For a long time.
- [04:45]
Lynne Hoffman
Red, you're killing me. This is so amazing. I'm so glad we got to meet. Thank you. All right, well, I want to start with you because I know you're a busy guy, so I want to get right into it. Is that all right?
- [04:57]
Red Peters
Yeah. All right, sure, I'm ready.
- [04:59]
Lynne Hoffman
Let's start off with the early days. Take us back to the beginning of Red Peters. What, what first drew you to comedy and music? Because that's an interesting combination.
- [05:10]
Red Peters
Yeah, well, I've always been into comedy, but I also had a music production company. We created music for advertising and for films and that sort of thing. And during the pressure of doing this, we would blow off steam, if you know what I mean.
- [05:34]
Lynne Hoffman
I gotta have a rim shot in here.
- [05:38]
Red Peters
After an Intense couple of weeks of recording for various corporations. We started messing around. We'd always, if we were doing a commercial, and of course we'd hear it a hundred times and in the recording studio before long, we'd change the lyrics ourselves and start marking the what they want. And that's pretty much how one day we were rehearsing for that in Boston. And my co writer, Ed Gringer and I came up with our first big hit in 1984, the you hardly Know Me song. And shortly thereafter, in around 2000, we wrote and created or created and wrote how's your whole family? So that's how it started with those two. And they hit the jukeboxes across the nation and people went wild for them. And Even back then, DJs could play them on the radio before they were, you know, either fined or told not to play it anymore. So from there we recorded our first album. I Laughed, I Cried, I Fudged my undies, I toured the us played all the morning shows for six months, eight months, and, you know, spread the word and, you know, it's still going strong to this day.
- [07:14]
Lynne Hoffman
It was so much fun. I mean, were you a fan of Weird Al, by any chance? Was that around the same time?
- [07:21]
Red Peters
Actually, I took my daughter. My first concert I took my daughter to was a Weird Al concert. Other than that, you know, I mean, I've followed him over the years. And of course Dr. Demento plays my songs and so I've heard all his material. I was more of a George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Frank Zappa, Bonzo Dog Band, the comedians I liked even like, because I watched Ed Sullivan, of course, back then was Jackie Vernon and Norm Crosby. I loved them. So, you know, whether they influenced what I do or what I did, I'm not sure, but I sure enjoyed them.
- [08:07]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, boy. And we sure enjoyed you. I have to know. Was there something in your life, personal, that happened early on that impacted you, sort of led you down the path of comedy?
- [08:19]
Red Peters
Yes. I went to Pinocchio School for a couple of years. I was an altar boy. I even studied to become a priest, believe it or not. Yeah, for real. And I was going to be a veterinarian when I graduated from college. But I went to Mass Art, and that's where it all congealed, so to speak.
- [08:40]
Lynne Hoffman
It all started at Mass College of Art.
- [08:43]
Red Peters
Yeah. And it was during the student strikes back then against the Vietnam War. So I was extremely rebellious, joined in all the riots and the protests and this sort of thing. So I've sort Of been maybe from my Catholic upbringing, I'm not sure, but I went all out on it, you know, not in an Antichrist type of way, but definitely took some chances. And I've been having so much fun ever since. So I would say it was my Catholic upbringing, but then also my grandfather played the piano. He lived in the same house as us for five hours a day. So maybe that influenced me.
- [09:33]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow.
- [09:35]
Red Peters
Who knows?
- [09:36]
Lynne Hoffman
That's so cool, but so rebellious. But still, you know, you were having fun, but it was definitely problem.
- [09:43]
Red Peters
Now, I tampered down the rebellious part because, you know, you could get arrested really easy these days.
- [09:49]
Lynne Hoffman
We can't have that.
- [09:51]
Red Peters
My friend, one of my friends the other day referred to me as angelic. So, yeah, now I'm angelic. Wow. But I'm still crazy, you know.
- [10:03]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, you got to be a little crazy, otherwise you're not normal.
- [10:07]
Red Peters
Yeah, I'm definitely not normal, but I love it.
- [10:10]
Lynne Hoffman
That's good. All right, so I have to know, is there a particular moment when you realized that comedy was going to be more than just sort of a hobby, that you were going to make a living at it?
- [10:20]
Red Peters
Well, I founded and produced the Comedy Cruise in Boston harbor for many years in the 80s. So I had all the greatest local and traveling comedians on the Comedy Cruise for several years. So I had that going, but I also had the music going. So at one point, I came to a juncture where I thought I had to choose between comedy or music. So I chose music, But. And I also took comedy into consideration, so they merged, and the song started flowing in the pits.
- [11:12]
Lynne Hoffman
What made you decide to blend the two? I mean, what was that moment where you realized, wait, I could do both. I could make it the same?
- [11:19]
Red Peters
Yeah, well, I really wanted to. I thought, like, okay, I'm choosing music. But I was still doing comedy and involved with the comedy scene. I couldn't just shut it out.
- [11:34]
Lynne Hoffman
Right.
- [11:36]
Red Peters
So it just naturally happened where I blended the both. And, you know, we were. We started writing some great songs at that point, and my rebel rebelliousness continued. You know, Howard Stern picked up on it, so I was a guest on his show. I premiered several of my singles on his show, and at one point, I'm not sure what it was, Somebody or he put out a call for people who might want to have shows on his network. So I sent him a one page, and like, two days later, yes, you have your own show now on the Howard channels. So I had never done any radio before. So here I am, you know, a producer of music and Creator. Next thing you know, I'm confronted. I don't know if that's the right word. I said, holy shit. Now I have. I had to produce a one hour special every two weeks.
- [12:45]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow.
- [12:45]
Red Peters
With no experience except in the studio recording and that sort of thing. So I. A buddy of mine taught me pro tools and I was on my own from that point. And you know, I've increased my chops quite a bit technically and that sort of thing. So I think I produced around 75 one hour specials on the Howard channels.
- [13:10]
Lynne Hoffman
That's a lot.
- [13:12]
Red Peters
Yeah.
- [13:13]
Lynne Hoffman
Did you ever have any resistance from. In the beginning just because of the content? And also, how were you able to write songs and. And comedy? I mean, that's like doubly putting pressure on yourself to perform.
- [13:26]
Red Peters
Yeah. It's a craft, I have to admit. Like, let's see. Let me pick a song. Well, the two Gay Irishmen.
- [13:34]
Lynne Hoffman
Okay.
- [13:34]
Red Peters
That took about three months to write because we researched names, research geography. In over three months we put that song together. Same with I Want a Poke, a Polka Dot and Ballad of a Dog Named Stains. They will all worked and worked and worked until they were perfect in our opinion. And you know, how's your whole family just flowed out? Blow me, you hardly even know me. Just flowed out. Pretty much all the songs flowed out, but some of them needed extra attention to fine tune them. So the comedy comes through at the right time and the point gets across. So it's been a lot of fun and it continues.
- [14:28]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah, you have quite the legacy. Did you expect it to take off the way that it did? I mean, even before Howard Stern, it was pretty popular.
- [14:37]
Red Peters
Yes. You know, I tr. Like I say, I traveled the morning shows after the first album and I worked with all these different DJs across the country, including Man Cow, who was number one in Chicago at the time. I went on his show a bunch of times. So then also Stern was coming into the picture. So I knew if I jumped to Stern, I was going to lose Man Cow. But I figured I'd go with Stern, so I think it was a good choice and it gave me a lot of great opportunities. It was, it was really good working with him. And Tim Sabian was very supportive of me. He was the program director. Yeah. And who I still talk to today.
- [15:26]
Lynne Hoffman
Doesn't he sell like steaks now?
- [15:29]
Red Peters
Yeah, he sells a ranch. Putting together a probably a billion dollar operation of Stakes Steak. So it's kind of unusual to jump from Howard Stern to stakes, but.
- [15:44]
Lynne Hoffman
Talk about a complete 180.
- [15:46]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, who knows? Maybe I'll take a turn at some point and who knows, maybe I'll go back into the priesthood. I'm thinking about it.
- [15:55]
Lynne Hoffman
But would they let you after your career? That's the question.
- [15:58]
Red Peters
Well, they're very forgiving. I understand. So.
- [16:04]
Lynne Hoffman
So let me ask, how do you walk the line? Speaking of being edgy and stuff and potentially offensive in your songwriting, especially in today's world, It's a tough line to walk.
- [16:15]
Red Peters
Oh, there's not much I can do about what I've already created that's out there.
- [16:20]
Lynne Hoffman
True.
- [16:20]
Red Peters
But I am writing a new song right now for a new Christmas song.
- [16:24]
Lynne Hoffman
Does anyone know about it yet? Have you told anyone?
- [16:28]
Red Peters
I don't know if I've told anyone yet. I mean, I just began working on it about a week ago and I think this is going to be another, like a dog named Stains or, you know, it's going to be a lot of work to get it. To get it to the punchline. But I have some great ideas going to contain sound design, which, you know, I'm using my skills that I've developed since first starting with Pro Tools. And hopefully it's going to be very funny and it's going to be on a vinyl. Red Peter's Greatest Hits and just, you know, Late Fall probably. But that's what we're putting together right now. So that's what I'm working on. And this will be the bonus track on the. On the Greatest Hits album.
- [17:17]
Lynne Hoffman
So that's awesome. Can you give me any hint as to the song working title right now, seeing as how you always incorporate.
- [17:25]
Red Peters
If I told you the title, you'd.
- [17:27]
Lynne Hoffman
Have to kill me.
- [17:28]
Red Peters
Somebody would definitely grab it and write their own song. But I'll tell you off air after.
- [17:35]
Lynne Hoffman
Okay. Okay.
- [17:38]
Red Peters
It is. It's such a unique but direct title that even the title is hilarious.
- [17:45]
Lynne Hoffman
Let me just say that all your titles are hilarious.
- [17:51]
Red Peters
It's definitely one of the most sophomoric songs. Although that's a pretty high bar. It's so silly and stupid that I'm really psyched about it, so hopefully people will agree with me.
- [18:09]
Lynne Hoffman
Is there a bellwether, like, when you're writing it, when you get to that point where you're like, oh, yeah, that's gonna work.
- [18:17]
Red Peters
Yeah.
- [18:18]
Lynne Hoffman
What is?
- [18:18]
Red Peters
The other night when I let let the idea flow and it was like 860 words, which is way, way, way too much. I'd be like a five, six minute song. I was. When I was writing it, you know, I'd. I I was on a roll, I think Sunday night while I was writing it, I was definitely laughing to myself and thinking, oh, yeah, this is great. You know, the. You know, the. The section I was working on, like I'd have a breakthrough, and it just psyched me up to keep going. So I did a beginning, middle, and end in one sit down, like, say a two, two hour session. And then now I'm working with one of my writers, Artie Johnson, and he's going to help me punch it up and get it ready for recording. We'll probably record it sometime in late also. We'll probably record another couple of songs too, but we haven't decided on which. Which new ones yet. So I'm not sure what's going to happen with them. But to answer your question, this has no profanity in it. It's a foolish little song, Christmas song, you know, so the. It can. The foolishness continues.
- [19:50]
Lynne Hoffman
So basically when you start cracking up to yourself, you know.
- [19:53]
Red Peters
Yeah. Oh, y. Oh, it felt good. I knew I was on to something.
- [19:57]
Lynne Hoffman
You were on to something. I can't believe there's no profanity, though. That's. That's really cool.
- [20:01]
Red Peters
I know, but. No, but it's still. It'll turn people off.
- [20:04]
Lynne Hoffman
Double entendre, you mean?
- [20:07]
Red Peters
Yeah. No, no, there's no double entendre either. It's a nice little story.
- [20:11]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh.
- [20:13]
Red Peters
When it gets to. To the crescendo, that's when it turns a little.
- [20:20]
Lynne Hoffman
Takes a left turn at Albuquerque.
- [20:22]
Red Peters
Uncomfortable for some people. I think it's so funny. It's ridiculous. I've been preparing this for at least six months in preparation for the big payoff, so. But that's a conversation for another time.
- [20:41]
Lynne Hoffman
I can't wait. I would love to hear more about it when you release it, but do you like making people feel uncomfortable? Not in a negative way, but, you know, with the comedy.
- [20:51]
Red Peters
I think it's just my rebellious streak and weighing good and bad. You know, I pushed the envelope a little bit. But nowadays, like you were saying, I don't want anyone to be knock on the door and take me out of the house in handcuffs or anything like that.
- [21:11]
Lynne Hoffman
Never.
- [21:12]
Red Peters
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'd fight like a bastard, but.
- [21:16]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, my gosh.
- [21:18]
Red Peters
But no, it's. It's a trick. It's tricky now because there's so much, to use an old term, political correctness and morality and all this. I mean, underneath it all, I'm a good person. I care about people, but I like to make people laugh. I can't Help it. That's who I am, how I am. And don't think I'm going to change. So it's me from this point on.
- [21:48]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, please don't go changing. Don't go changing. No, but seriously, that. You bring up a really good point. Because if something's funny, it's just funny. It doesn't matter the content or the topic or the person or the event. If something's funny, it's funny.
- [22:07]
Red Peters
Yeah. Yeah.
- [22:08]
Lynne Hoffman
And it's not meant to hurt.
- [22:10]
Red Peters
No, it's not meant to hurt. And, you know, my songs are goofy. A lot of my songs are goofy. You just reminded me I do have a new Double Entendre song.
- [22:20]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, what's it called?
- [22:21]
Red Peters
Which maybe we'll record that one, too. It's foolish, it's funny, and I'm sure it will fake people out somewhat, but the payoff is always innocent. So just like I am now. Angelic.
- [22:39]
Lynne Hoffman
Angelic. You're hiding your wings, but I know they're back there.
- [22:43]
Red Peters
Yeah, they are. It's uncomfortable in this chair, but I'm.
- [22:48]
Lynne Hoffman
Sorry, I won't keep you much longer. But it is, really.
- [22:51]
Red Peters
Okay, keep going. Keep me as long as you want.
- [22:53]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, I love that. All right, well, let me talk to you about your creative process a little bit more. First of all, where do you find the inspiration for your outrageous songs? I'm almost a little scared to ask, especially with some of them.
- [23:06]
Red Peters
You know, they. A lot of them come from that mysterious place that, you know, where you talk to a lot of songwriters and this sort of thing in your other shows, but you just. They. At some point, they just hit you. You know, a line will hit you, and then, you know, if it's a worthy concept, you know, I begin to develop it like the new Double Entendre song I worked on for several months to get it just right. They just. It comes out of nowhere. You know, the ideas come out of nowhere. What can I tell you? Maybe. Of course, my attitude about life and my observations in life, you know, seeing people at the. At the market, you know, seeing what people look like or whatever, it could. Could come from anywhere. But it. It comes. And what can I tell you? You know, it. It's a challenge because sometimes you have an idea and it goes nowhere. And then other times, like this new Christmas song, which I've been wanting to do for actually more than a year since last Christmas, they take a lot of work and they have to soak into your brain when you have an idea, a good, strong idea in the beginning, over Time another line will pop in or another part of it. Oh, maybe they could be doing this. But you know, a lot of times it's a fake out and. But at the same time, you know, it celebrates the human spirit. Like, you ain't getting shit for Christmas. When the parents, the parents prepare for the son and daughter and their family to come to the house and then they banging at the last minute. The daughter wants to go to Hawaii and the sun's going to Myrtle beach or no, no, somewhere down there. And so the, the old man and the. In his old wife are sitting there and then they spew out, you know, with the eventual line, you ain't getting for Christmas, you can stick that fruitcake up your ass because both of them sent them fruit cakes.
- [25:30]
Lynne Hoffman
This really happen?
- [25:32]
Red Peters
No.
- [25:32]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, this is, this is great.
- [25:35]
Red Peters
Yeah. Yeah. I wanted to paint a picture how the kids were in grades and the, the parents were. Were preparing a postcard Christmas, you know, and with gifts and hanging the stockings and making sweets and bread and this sort of thing, and the kids just didn't show up. So that, that song, I. I really love that song. That one's a sleeper too, like on YouTube, you know, it's really popular there where people get on. Yeah. And they comment about it and they get in fights with themselves. Some will make a comment, some will jump in, and then the, you know, all the way down, people are fighting about you're an. And this. And, you know, it's. It's unbelievable. You know, on the other hand, a song like Holy Shit, It's Christmas with the new Christie Hamsters. Oh, what a. What a recording session that was. I think they were on something or they were drinking or whatever, but they were uncooperative. But in the end, that song turned out great. We had a lot of fun doing that one. That plays now bleeped on a lot of.
- [26:58]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, get out of here.
- [27:00]
Red Peters
Yeah. On terrestrial stations.
- [27:01]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, oh, I get that.
- [27:02]
Red Peters
Okay. Yeah, I have a bleeped version. And everywhere else it plays. You know, I think someday the word will be acceptable.
- [27:11]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah.
- [27:12]
Red Peters
You know, it's like ready almost at the press. You know, it's ready to go over into mainstream. The word.
- [27:19]
Lynne Hoffman
It's poop, for crying out loud. What is? Everybody poops. So why can't you say.
- [27:27]
Red Peters
Well, I'm looking forward to that day? Because then they'll be able to play holy shit, it's Christmas and you ain't getting shit for Christmas. And then this new song. And the new song, I think it will play everywhere.
- [27:39]
Lynne Hoffman
Awesome. Awesome.
- [27:40]
Red Peters
But we'll see. We'll be right back with more of the Comedy Saved Me podcast.
- [27:49]
Lynne Hoffman
So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.
- [27:53]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.
- [27:59]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Left a woman behind to drown.
- [28:02]
Lynne Hoffman
There's a famous headline, I think, in the New York Daily News. It's Teddy Escapes, Blonde drowns. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you the story really became about Ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will Ted become president?
- [28:16]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
Kappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control.
- [28:21]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
And he's not the only Kennedy to survive a scandal.
- [28:24]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
The Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse? Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.
- [28:34]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [28:45]
Bob Crawford
American history is full of wise people.
- [28:49]
Lynne Hoffman
Walt Whitman said something like 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is those.
- [28:56]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Founding fathers were gossipy AF and they loved to cut each other down.
- [29:02]
Bob Crawford
I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American history. And I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer.
- [29:14]
Red Peters
Hamilton pauses and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption.
- [29:27]
Lynne Hoffman
My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it.
- [29:33]
Bob Crawford
Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [29:44]
Dani Shapiro
Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness, the way it has echoed and reverberated throughout your life, impacting your very legacy. Hi, I'm Dani Shapiro, and these are just a few of the profound and powerful stories I'll be mining on our 12th season of Family Secrets. With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you. Stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which family secrets almost always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [30:44]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and in session 421 of Therapy for Black Girls, I sit down with Dr. Afia and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health and the ways we heal.
- [30:57]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Because I think hair is a complex language system, right, in terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, your spiritual beliefs. But I think with social media, there's like a hyper fixation and observation of our hair, right? That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel is how our hair is styled.
- [31:19]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
We talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss session 418 with Dr. Angela Neal Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to Therapy for black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [31:45]
Host of Augusto Papa
What's up, guys? Welcome to Agusto Papa, the go to spot for everything Musica Mexicana. We're proud Mexican Americans who live and breathe this music. We started this podcast to share and discuss our views on musica Mexicana. Whether you like Peso, Pluma, Los Alres del Barranco, Ariel Camacho or Ivan Cornejo, when you get in your feels, then this podcast is for you. We deep dive into music reviews. First up, on my show last year, everything was a 10 out of 10. Fashion and lifestyle inspired by the roots of musica mexicana, the craziest controversies and cheesemans.
- [32:15]
Lynne Hoffman
I don't have nothing against Puerto, you know, and I don't think Joe Peach should be mad at me.
- [32:18]
Host of Augusto Papa
Song and artist comparisons, competition in the scene. There is competition, there is sides to this. There's special Pluma, Double P and there's J O P Street Mob. I think at the end of the day, it's business, it's all competition, and of course, our personal stories and opinions along the way. This isn't just a podcast. It's a movement for fans who live Musica Mexicana every single day. Listen to Augusto Papa as part of the Michael Tura Podcast Network on the.
- [32:42]
Red Peters
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the Comedy Saved Me podcast.
- [32:55]
Lynne Hoffman
This is what I wanted to ask you two things. First of all, this morning I was listening to a local radio station And I heard someone say asshole twice on the air. But it was funny because it was during a really funny comedy. Yeah. On the radio. And my husband and I both looked at each other, and we were like, did we just hear what we think we heard? That's great, because again, it's body part.
- [33:21]
Red Peters
I have something a little weird happening here.
- [33:24]
Lynne Hoffman
And also, let me ask you certain words.
- [33:28]
Red Peters
Yeah.
- [33:30]
Lynne Hoffman
Is that what will spark? How you can pull them apart to make them play? Like. Like, for example, dictation.
- [33:40]
Red Peters
Yeah. Yeah.
- [33:41]
Lynne Hoffman
Like, is it. Is that working?
- [33:42]
Red Peters
I'm not even sure if people know what dictation machine is anymore, but.
- [33:47]
Lynne Hoffman
No, no, I'm sorry. That was my favorite one of all. I know, because I wasn't ready for it.
- [33:56]
Red Peters
You know, Take your pants down to the cleaners today. Take your pants down. So that was one. One of my favorite lines. But of course, how's your whole family? Even when we were recording that song, I forgot if you, you know, go to the. Near the end of the song, it's. It's more explicit. And while I was writing it, I said, oh, I can't think of that line. I mean, that's that line in the song. And I knew I loved it. One of my girlfriend's friends at the time knew it. She remembered it, and she told me. And so it got to be in the song. You know, it's probably the rudest line of that song, but, you know, in some cases, I cut that one out and just have the rest on the stupid ones. How's your dick tation machine? Yeah, I'm gonna do your ass trilogical sign. You know, that sort of thing.
- [34:53]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah, it's a craft. It's definitely a craft.
- [34:57]
Red Peters
It really is a craft. They just don't come out fast, and we don't think about it. Like, when I was doing the Red Peters Comedy Music Hour on Howard, people would send in the songs, and believe me, you would not believe the songs that people sent me in. They were. Most of them were poorly recorded and so extreme it would offend everyone no matter what. And then. So I had to pick through them and find songs. Some of them were still over the top in extreme, but there was something clever about them, and they did a nice recording of them, which to me, is the bottom line. They have to sound good. You know, as. As, you know, we spend quite a bit of time polishing our songs and using the latest production techniques and make them sound as great as they can be. You know, whether we're emulating a big band or country, you know, zoom in on each one of them and make them as authentic as possible. So I'm hoping that for my new song, my new Christmas song, too.
- [36:13]
Lynne Hoffman
I'm so excited about the Christmas song because you always need new Christmas songs. Come on. You know.
- [36:18]
Red Peters
Yeah, but, you know, ones that maybe stick out a little bit more than others. Yeah. This one will. Will definitely. I think this one could be good, but we'll see. You know, I don't want to make any predictions.
- [36:31]
Lynne Hoffman
Do you. Do you have to be able to. This. This is confounding to me. How. I don't know if that's the right word or not. Sometimes I like to whip out big words, but. But it. Do you have to be able to laugh at yourself, number one. And number two, what would you say to someone who gets offended easily? Like, how could you help them to understand how to loosen up a bit or maybe not take it so seriously? You can't.
- [36:59]
Red Peters
You can't. No. Sometimes, like, I went to a wedding in Chicago a few weeks ago, and I got in a conversation, you know, the. The bride's father on the breakfast, you know, at the end of the thing, he was a straight guy, but he said, have you ever been to Chicago before? Oh, I said, oh, yeah, I've been a bunch of times. I was on Man Cow many times. And he went, you were on Man Cow? Because he had the number one show in Chicago for a long time. And he goes, well, what kind of songs did you do? And, oh, no.
- [37:36]
Lynne Hoffman
What do you say?
- [37:37]
Red Peters
I know. Wow.
- [37:40]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, no. What did you say?
- [37:42]
Red Peters
I'm telling you, I feel guilty in, like, why did you do that? Why did you do that? He said, well, what kind of song should we record? Well, I said, my first hit was Blow Me. You hardly even know me. And he was. He didn't react extremely, so I foolishly told him, blow Me. And my favorite. When I jerk off, I think of you.
- [38:16]
Lynne Hoffman
I know that one, too. You told him that?
- [38:20]
Red Peters
Yeah, I told him that of all.
- [38:22]
Lynne Hoffman
Of the ones that you've had, just got.
- [38:24]
Red Peters
Got married. It was. They were so wonderful, the whole family. And at the end, I revealed that to him. Oh, my God. And I felt like a real shitheel afterwards, you know.
- [38:37]
Lynne Hoffman
What was his reaction?
- [38:39]
Red Peters
It gnawed at me for, you know, a week or two, thinking, oh, Red, why did you do that? Why? You know, so I have to be very careful. So, you know, I'm not reclusive, but I'm keeping things more to myself right now until I release them to the public. So that's. Right. That's where the angelic comes in. You know, I avoid conflict and just try to be creative.
- [39:10]
Lynne Hoffman
That's really. That's a sad thing to say right now.
- [39:14]
Red Peters
It is. But, I mean, nowadays you don't know, you know, if something bad is going to happen to you or. You know what I mean? So I just have to be very careful. I remember when Greg Hill and his crew over at aaf, I had bumper stickers made and, you know, they went everything from Red Peter's Rules to Free the Sperms. And I put an S on the sperms, an S on purpose, but I had a whole bunch of them, you know, blow me. How's your hole? Of course.
- [39:55]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah, Yeah.
- [39:56]
Red Peters
I can't think of all the other ones, but LB put them all in the back of his car. He got pulled over.
- [40:04]
Lynne Hoffman
Of course he did.
- [40:05]
Red Peters
Made him peel them all off.
- [40:08]
Lynne Hoffman
What?
- [40:09]
Red Peters
Yeah.
- [40:09]
Lynne Hoffman
When did this happen? What year? What year are we talking about?
- [40:15]
Red Peters
In the 90s, I would say. No, actually, it might even have been my second album. All Blue Balls is Back came out in 2000.
- [40:24]
Lynne Hoffman
Just saying. It's funny. Come on. I played these songs for my mom. Read. You know, I mean, she's not easily offended by. But still, she finds the humor and the way that you. It's so creative. It's. It's. You're not trying to hurt anyone. You're just saying funny.
- [40:39]
Red Peters
She's trying to have fun. When I. When the Ballad of a Dog Stains came out, you know, I remember my mother, of course, Douglas, you have those filthy songs. Oh, my gosh. You know, but she was supportive. She came to all my premieres and that sort of thing, but her next door neighbor in her listened to the album and when it came to. Hold up, when it came to, you know, listening to the whole song, I think the woman was like 78 years old and she thought it was a real song. And a lot of people think it's a real song. A real sad song. Right?
- [41:26]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah.
- [41:27]
Red Peters
And she was crying at the table. She cried like, for 15 minutes.
- [41:32]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, my God.
- [41:32]
Red Peters
After hearing the poor. The story of poor Bobby and his dog stands, you know, she.
- [41:41]
Lynne Hoffman
It's like Old Yellow.
- [41:43]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah, that's. Oh, we studied what's His Face? Walter Brennan. We studied Walter Brennan closely and listen to all his songs in the orchestration. And we tried to make a tear jerker, but with a thinly veiled, you know, off color punch line. So that's probably one of the best. That's Howard Stern's favorite. It's a lot of people say, and my license plate is stains.
- [42:20]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, my God.
- [42:21]
Red Peters
A lot of people. Oh, are you. Oh, are you in the.
- [42:25]
Lynne Hoffman
Carpet cleaning business?
- [42:27]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah, whatever. I just go, oh, no, it's a tribute to my dog I once had.
- [42:36]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, that's funny. Everyone can relate to that, though. I mean, whenever. I mean, anyone who has animals, correct me if I'm wrong, but, like, you've got stains all over your house no matter what. Like it doesn't matter. So you can relate in any way to.
- [42:52]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah. Well, the line when Bobby went into the hospital, stains was back home. Oh, wait a minute now I fucked it up. Staines was back home on Bobby's bed. That was the line. You know, again, double entendre. Oh, oh, oh.
- [43:18]
Lynne Hoffman
See, it takes a second sometimes. Yeah, but that's the beauty of it.
- [43:22]
Red Peters
The dog is named staines. So just imagine if the dog was out in the yard and it was time to come in. What would you yell?
- [43:32]
Lynne Hoffman
Stains, get in here. Hey.
- [43:36]
Red Peters
You wouldn't say, come, stains.
- [43:40]
Lynne Hoffman
I was letting you do that. Sorry.
- [43:45]
Red Peters
Come change. Come change.
- [43:48]
Lynne Hoffman
Right. I swear, I was thinking to myself when I was going to talk to you today, I'm like, how am I going to do this? It's got to be also interesting on your side of things to not to be the interviewee and talk about this stuff with people because it is funny, but it's dirty and funny and.
- [44:12]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah.
- [44:13]
Lynne Hoffman
You know, so. And I thought, oh, he's such a lovely man, you know, I wonder how am I going to look him in the face? And he's telling me about it.
- [44:20]
Red Peters
Yeah, yeah. You know, basically, again, going back to the word angelic, but you know, the angels on this shoulder and the devil's on this shoulder. Yep. And we'll see who wins.
- [44:34]
Lynne Hoffman
I have a feeling I know who's going to win there. Red, I have just a couple of more quick questions for you before I let you go. Is there a particular song or a moment throughout your career that you feel that you're most proud of?
- [44:51]
Red Peters
Well, I have my favorite songs, so I really can't pin. I'm trying to think of what that would be. A moment. Yeah, maybe, you know, I mean, performing for like 15, 20,000 people singing blow me. That was good. I think that was in new Orleans. New Orleans at some bikie convention or something. I don't know.
- [45:18]
Lynne Hoffman
That must have been amazing.
- [45:21]
Red Peters
Yeah. And. And I sang the best I could. Holy shit, It's Christmas at Rick d's Christmas party. On the Sony on the Sony lot. There must have been 15, 20,000 people there. But that was fun too. Probably that the high point was Howard Stern, you know, liking the songs. And that gave me a big boost and I got to do a lot of things when I was working with him. So, you know, I don't know. There's so many, you know.
- [45:56]
Lynne Hoffman
No, that's a good one. That, I mean, that opens doors for sure. You know, it leads to another question though. This is all difficult for people, you know, when you're putting stuff out there, when you're writing songs, write a book, write a song, write a movie, whatever it is, you're putting it out there to be judged. So it's not an easy thing. And a lot of people that I know who are creative are very delicate minded. So, you know, it's hard to hear criticism and stuff. And I would just be curious to know what you would advise someone who is embarking on a journey into comedy or even music, whatever it is, in a creative way. You know, how they'll be able to get past that considering that Howard Stern took a liking to your stuff. And then now all of a sudden, millions and millions of people know who read Peters is. So what would you say to somebody coming up through the ranks, how they would keep forging ahead?
- [46:55]
Red Peters
I mean, I saw people on the comedy cruise that were just starting out and I had everyone on there. I don't want to listen to names, but you can imagine the 80s in Boston.
- [47:06]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah.
- [47:07]
Red Peters
A lot. You know, Brian Kiley, Jonathan Katz, you know, Craig Shoemaker, Steven Wright. Yeah.
- [47:15]
Lynne Hoffman
Dennis Leary.
- [47:16]
Red Peters
Yeah. And you know, we had a lot of comedians, so, you know, sometimes they would bomb and you know, I, I can't even imagine that. I did a little stand up and luckily it went over.
- [47:32]
Lynne Hoffman
Luckily.
- [47:33]
Red Peters
Yeah, luckily it went over because I'm thin skinned. But I would say just follow your heart in your brain and just keep writing. It's important to keep writing and develop your skills, develop your on stage Persona. There'll be good days and there'll be a lot of bad days and you're gonna feel like sometimes, but you just keep pushing ahead. Some people can make their way through it and others can't, but you just have to repetitive on the stage saying the same jokes. Sometimes the jokes go over big in one show and then the next day you do another show and nothing works. So it's stand up is tough. I kind of. That's one of the reasons why I went with my strong suit. The music.
- [48:38]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah.
- [48:39]
Red Peters
In the comedy. Because I, I don't think I could take being out on stage and using one of my best lines or whatever, and the people sit there, you know, and no. No reaction. You know, it would be worse than me telling the. The bride's.
- [48:59]
Lynne Hoffman
Your faith what you do for a living. Oh, my gosh, I love that you still find it funny. It's hysterical.
- [49:06]
Red Peters
It wasn't funny, though. The next day when I woke up, I went, no, you didn't. And I was. Guilt. I felt guilt for maybe 10 days, two weeks.
- [49:18]
Lynne Hoffman
Wow.
- [49:19]
Red Peters
Yeah, it's a tough racket. I'm telling you.
- [49:23]
Lynne Hoffman
It is. And racket's a good word. Let me ask, what's the most surprising reaction you've ever gotten from a fan or critic? Do you have one that you always think of when you're going through your mind?
- [49:37]
Red Peters
Oh, in general, people are very nice in. You know, they're complimentary. But I remember one time in. Somewhere in the Midwest, I was doing a. I did the radio show, and that night I did a short concert at this club, and at one point someone slipped me a note, and it said, oh, Red, I enjoyed you so much tonight. My husband's name was Red, and he passed away not too long ago. And seeing you today just. I just felt so great, and I appreciate you so much. And I. I kept that little note for years and years. And then in my latest move, I live on Cape Cod now, I was going through some notes, and I found that note, and I looked at it, and I recognized the handwriting.
- [50:39]
Lynne Hoffman
Who was it?
- [50:39]
Red Peters
It was my manager. And I was, like, so proud of myself. And I'm going, wow. I'm really. I'm really helping people, you know, get along in life.
- [50:52]
Lynne Hoffman
How many years went by? How many years.
- [50:56]
Red Peters
That son of a bitch. All these years, I've felt so good about that show. And it was. It was a fake note.
- [51:04]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, my. Did you call him?
- [51:06]
Red Peters
Oh, of course.
- [51:07]
Lynne Hoffman
Oh, that's hysterical.
- [51:10]
Red Peters
Wow. Wow. Wow. Yeah, I would. You know, these things pop out. I remember that. That was so funny.
- [51:19]
Lynne Hoffman
Whenever you say things now, I'm thinking, like, whenever you say, like when things pop out or sue for me, I don't know what happened. Something happened to me. But you know that line, that's what she said. Well, I do it all the time, and sometimes I get in trouble for it. So I feel like I'm Red Peters at that moment, you know, just slips out.
- [51:38]
Red Peters
So you say what you say. That's what she said.
- [51:41]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah. If someone says something, like they're talking about a poll or, you know, and I Can't. I can't help myself. And sometimes it gets me in trouble.
- [51:49]
Red Peters
I know mine. We were joking around. One of the musicians and co writers was living on the north shore somewhere, and the land would. Landlord. A woman would come in and go, you know, you people. You know, you people. She started. So then we started saying you people as a, as a joke. But actually it's like semi hurtful to some people when you say that.
- [52:17]
Lynne Hoffman
Really?
- [52:18]
Red Peters
You know. Yeah. When you say, you know, you people, all you do is cry about things or you're ruining the world or whatever, you know. Oh, I see what you're using the term you people. It's condescending. But we thought it was very funny and now it's part of our regular vocabulary. Yeah, you know, we, we use it all the time. But. But at. At risk because you could insult somebody or make somebody feel uncomfortable. So it's, it's. It's a. It's tough.
- [52:50]
Lynne Hoffman
Don't let that crap ever stop you because you bring so much joy to so many people and you bring so much laughter to so many people. And if. And if people don't know who you are.
- [53:02]
Red Peters
Thank you very much.
- [53:03]
Lynne Hoffman
As a person at least, my goal today was to make sure that they know that you're a really sweet, generous, kind, normal.
- [53:13]
Red Peters
Yeah. And I think that's not normal. Yeah. I think that some people think, oh, he must be a pig.
- [53:19]
Lynne Hoffman
No, you're just funny.
- [53:20]
Red Peters
Whatever, you know, and I'm me. And this is how I am in real life. I'm mellow. I used to have, you know, not an angry side, but when I was younger, I'd be more willing to get in a fight with somebody. But now as an older person, I. I can be myself. You know, people come up to me and they're expecting to go, hey, red. And they'll say something really off color or use terms that even I wouldn't use, you know, and then they're shocked that I'm just this mellow person, like a regular person.
- [54:01]
Lynne Hoffman
How do you want to be remembered?
- [54:03]
Red Peters
I just want people to enjoy my songs forever, you know, long after I'm gone. And there was a lot of new people. A lot of people today don't know me. You know, the. The younger people, when they, when they start hearing the stuff, they love it. So the. Our goal this year and moving forward is going to be to reintroduce me to a younger audience. And, you know, hopefully it will inspire more. More great songs.
- [54:37]
Lynne Hoffman
Well, I hope it does. I know it will. And I'M so grateful for your time today and to finally get to meet the man behind all the hysterical laughter that got me through the last 30 years of my life.
- [54:50]
Red Peters
It's very nice to meet you.
- [54:52]
Lynne Hoffman
Yeah. And likewise. And let's talk, you know, Christmas.
- [54:56]
Red Peters
Oh, yeah. Thank you very much.
- [55:00]
Dani Shapiro
Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Dani Shapiro, and these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of Family Secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [55:30]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neal Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety.
- [55:46]
Lynne Hoffman
What is not normal is to allow it to prevent you from doing the things that you want to do, the things that you were meant to do.
- [55:54]
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [56:01]
John Hope Bryant
It's Black Business Month and Money and wealth podcast with John Hope Bryant is tapping in. I'm breaking down how to build wealth, create opportunities, and move from surviving to thriving. It's time to talk about ownership, equity, and everything in between. Black and brown communities have historically been last in line. Let me just say this AI is moving faster than civil rights legislation ever did. Listen to Money and Wealth from the Black Effect podcast network on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [56:32]
Lynne Hoffman
So what happened at Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.
- [56:35]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.
- [56:41]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Left a woman behind to drown.
- [56:44]
Narrator of United States of Kennedy
Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.
- [56:54]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [57:04]
Bob Crawford
I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.
- [57:13]
Red Peters
Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?
- [57:15]
Co-narrator of United States of Kennedy
Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?
- [57:18]
Bob Crawford
And I find the answers.
- [57:19]
Red Peters
I'm so glad you asked me this question.
- [57:21]
Lynne Hoffman
This is such a ridiculous story.
- [57:24]
Bob Crawford
You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [57:34]
Lynne Hoffman
This is an iHeart podcast.