Will Ferrell

Summary

Podcast Summary: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim — Will Ferrell

Host: Ego Nwodim
Guest: Will Ferrell
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Network: iHeartPodcasts / Big Money Players

---

Episode Overview

This episode of "Thanks Dad" features a heartfelt and humorous conversation between Ego Nwodim and comedy icon Will Ferrell. The focus is on their backgrounds, experiences with fathers and family, their journeys into comedy, the balancing act of chasing joy, and Will's approach to criticism, success, and parenting. The episode is rich with anecdotes from both guests' personal and professional lives, peppered with quick wit, profound advice, and a genuine rapport.

---

Key Topics & Insights

1. Connection & Common Ground

• [04:56] Both Ego and Will are tall and USC alumni, but neither studied theater:
  • Ego majored in biology ("It was never going to be my thing." — Ego, [05:57])
  • Will majored in sports information, an unusual major only briefly offered by USC ("They scrapped it after 10 years." — Will, [07:26])
• [06:16] Ego describes LA as a culture shock; anecdotes about their now-demolished dorms and making jokes as newcomers to campus.

2. Will’s Path to Comedy

• [09:02] Will explains he was an athlete in high school and wanted a stable job, inspired by his father’s struggle as a musician:
  • "I was being charmed the whole time, but I literally was like, no, I'm gonna... carry a briefcase." — Will, [14:23]
• [10:11] His first exposure to the Groundlings inspired him to pursue comedy despite initial reluctance and no theater background.
• [14:34] Will’s parents supported his comedy pursuits, but realistically. His dad’s advice:
  • "If it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you... There's so much luck involved... If you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit." — Will on his father's advice, [16:07]

3. Nurture, Nature, and Humor

• [12:41] Will's reflections on sports:
  • Jokes about his low basketball average, why kickers are "weird" in football, and being more valuable for spirit than points.
• [17:46] Both Ego and Will credit their “non-comedian” friends from youth as some of the funniest people they've met — a nod to the roots of comedy outside showbiz.

4. Comedy Training and Nerves

• [19:12] Will details the demanding sketch-writing at Groundlings, how this served as training for SNL, and his relationship to improvisation:
  • "To this day, improv is still a scary proposition." — Will, [20:13]
• Ego and Will swap stories about performing at UCB's ASSSSCAT show, including Will’s anxiety during a "space" monologue.

5. SNL, Criticism & Leaving

• [34:07] Will candidly discusses dealing with negative internet comments and reviews:
  • "Someone took the time to be that mean. It's kind of funny... I kept it on the door of my office to remind me." — Will, [35:24]
• [35:50] Deciding to leave SNL after seven seasons wasn't driven by guaranteed opportunities:
  • "I just was like, you know what? I have some momentum right now. Let's go test the waters." — Will, [36:48]
• [37:31] His zen approach to reviews and criticism:
  • "As many people that like you, there’s just gonna be just as many people who... you know." — Will, [38:33]
  • Shares a notably harsh Step Brothers review from Roger Ebert—"[The film] is literally the fall of Western civilization." [38:32]—which he regards as a badge of honor.

6. Family & Personal Life

• [46:22] Will's siblings are not in entertainment; he’s the eldest, while Ego is the youngest of four.
• [47:16] Will met his wife, Vivica, at South Coast Repertory Theatre in an acting program. Their relationship grew from friendship over several years, reuniting just as he began SNL.
• [54:30] Will and Vivica managed a long-distance relationship during his SNL years, taking advantage of the show's many breaks.

7. Parenting & Passing It On

• [58:04] His oldest son Magnus is a musician; his middle son is a USC freshman possibly interested in acting; his youngest is still in high school.
• [59:05] Will on supporting kids' dreams:
  • "If young people can just find... they'll figure out how to make a living somehow. But if they're passionate about something, it doesn't matter." — Will, [59:05]

8. Chasing the Joy vs. Doing the Right Thing

• [60:01] Ego and Will delve into balancing discipline and pleasure, using food as a metaphor. Will shares his current health kick while also advocating for moderation and enjoyment.
• [65:09] Both recount a recent visit to Ambassadors Clubhouse, a new Manhattan Indian restaurant, emphasizing the importance of enjoying life’s pleasures—without regret.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Luck and Letting Go:
  • "If it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you... there's so much luck involved... if it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit." — Will quoting his dad's advice, [16:07]
• On Criticism:
  • "Someone should drag him behind a car. Like, it was... the duality of the Internet." — Will, on harsh feedback, [35:04]
• On Enjoyment:
  • "I've had to work out just to look fat... I just got a fat face." — Will, self-deprecating humor on body image, [62:14]
• On Chasing Joy:
  • "Is there any reason not to just enjoy? I can't think of it." — Will, [61:36]
• On Parenting:
  • "Just, I'm happy if they're happy." — Will, [58:53]
• On Astrology:
  • "Cancer and Taurus — really good match. Both love the home." — Will, [57:19]
• ASSSSCAT Monologue Meltdown:
  • "I literally was like, space. Space..." — Will, joking about freezing up, [21:21]

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [04:56] — Common ground: Height & USC
• [09:02] — Will’s sports and comedy pivot
• [14:34] — Parental advice about showbiz
• [19:40] — Groundlings vs UCB improv
• [34:07], [35:24] — Handling SNL criticism and internet hate
• [36:48], [37:31] — Leaving SNL & attitudes on criticism
• [46:22], [47:16] — Family background & meeting his wife
• [58:04] — Will’s sons and creative support
• [60:01] — Eating, health, and joy
• [65:09] — The Ambassadors Clubhouse anecdote

---

Tone & Style

Ego’s tone is playful, curious, candid, and empathetic. Will is self-effacing, honest, and warm with his signature dry humor. The conversation blends profound life wisdom with offhand jokes, creating an inviting and relatable atmosphere—making this episode both insightful and laugh-out-loud funny.

---

Ideal Takeaways

• Success often involves luck, support, and enjoying the process.
• Critical feedback is inevitable and often not worth internalizing.
• “Chasing joy” — in parenting, work, or even food — is vital to a fulfilling life.
• The foundations for comedy often start outside of showbiz—with friends and family who simply make life funnier.

---

This episode is a must-listen for fans of comedy, SNL insiders, or anyone seeking perspective on navigating creative careers, criticism, and the everyday joys of life.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[B]

And, Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show. Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird.

[A]

What is this, your first date? Oh, no.

[B]

We help people customize and save on

[A]

car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird. Yeah, the bird looks out of your league. Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[B]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as

[A]

Castro 1021, and I'm Conkey, his best friend and business manager.

[B]

And we've got a new show called the 1021 podcast.

[A]

I'm taking you behind the scenes on

[B]

how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports, and with the

[A]

World cup right around the corner, we'll

[B]

be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

[A]

Listen to the 1021 podcast on the

[B]

iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's so delightfully chill and it's nice.

[A]

Did you play golf today?

[B]

I didn't.

[A]

It's only because your bracelet says golf that I was like, did you want to be a perfect day?

[B]

That's from one of our sweet crew members on the show I just finished.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That's golf centric.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And that was our working title of the show. And she made bracelets for everyone that said golf.

[A]

Oh, that's so sweet. How long do you keep things like that?

[B]

Until it falls off.

[A]

Okay. And they do inevitably fall off.

[B]

They do.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

They either break or fall off.

[A]

And then you're like, okay, I don't have to. I don't have to. Obliged. I don't have to. God. Thank God I don't do the right stupid bracelet anymore.

[B]

But I started wearing bracelets because I would. People would give me these bracelets and of people, you know, who wanted to be thought of and.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And they would see him later, and they were like, that meant so much.

[A]

Oh, that's very sweet. And I. I have a couple bracelets. I have a couple bracelets in my closet that I don't wear. But I like the day I get

[B]

somewhere that I've still wore. These guys. When I visited Rwanda.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

These sweet guys gave me the bracelet.

[A]

That's incredible. That one's not gonna fall off.

[B]

That one's. Well, no, look, this is Perilous here. Is this going to.

[A]

Is. Oh, it's going to. It's going to snap at some point, so. Oh, well, I like that it's last. How long have you had that one?

[B]

It's going on two years.

[A]

Two years. I'm just. Okay. The germaphobe in me is thinking about the amount of dirt. As sweet as that is. The men from Rwanda who gave you the bracelet. I'm like, oh, man. Two years.

[B]

It was. And it was brand new. Brand new bracelet. It's seen some wear and tear. I know it's not the most hygienic.

[A]

That's okay, though. That's. But that's okay. If you're wearing a tux, you're still wearing the bracelet. You're not taking it off. No one's getting you to take that off or anything.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Okay. I respect it. I should do an intro for you.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah, I believe so. My next guest. The podcast episode has started. Will I do everything out of order? It's really hard for the editors. Yeah, but just so you know, you're allowed to clear your throat here. You're allowed to burp whatever other things. Because my audience understands this is totally imperfect and we're all human, and that is something. A point I really want to drive home. But my next guest. I always want to look at my next guest, you know, from. Oh, yeah, I'm gonna nail one of these intros. It's been a while for me, but okay. My next guest, you know, from Step Brothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network, it's Will Ferrell. Woot, woot. You're allowed to do that.

[B]

I cleared my throat.

[A]

You're allowed to do that.

[B]

Right out of the.

[A]

Can you guys imagine? Will Ferrell needs to clear his throat for two weeks.

[B]

We were only three minutes in and I had to clear my throat. Is that a new record? Is that the earliest?

[A]

That is the earliest someone's had to clear their throat. But you're drinking bubbles. So do you want a chamomile tea or something?

[B]

No, no. We're gonna be great.

[A]

We don't even have that here, I don't think. But we do have a chamomile tea.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He doesn't want it. He doesn't want it. They're so ready.

[B]

I know. Oh, I feel bad.

[A]

That's the best. Don't feel bad.

[B]

Should I just get one anyway?

[A]

Do you want a chamomile tea?

[B]

Let's just get it anyway.

[A]

You want a chamomile tea? It's happening. Anything can happen here. Okay, well, yes. I'm so happy to have you.

[B]

I'm so happy to be here.

[A]

It's truly a joy and a pleasure. And we have a couple things in common.

[B]

Okay. Yes.

[A]

We're both tall.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. And we both went to usc.

[B]

And that's what I thought, but I didn't know for sure. But yes.

[A]

Yes. A Trojan.

[B]

When did you graduate?

[A]

Oh, I'm not allowed to say my age. Okay, It's Hollywood, right? Sometime in the last 30 years.

[B]

Yes. Okay. But I graduated.

[A]

I graduated before you. You did. You. You gave.

[B]

Were you. Were you a theater major?

[A]

I was not. I was a biology major.

[B]

Gosh, I love that.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Because I wasn't either.

[A]

Okay, good. And I love. I do love that. I do love that you did a whole other thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What was your major?

[B]

Wait, what?

[A]

You.

[B]

What got you off track to be the world's most renowned biologist?

[A]

My personality and my. And my knowledge of biology.

[B]

It's hard.

[A]

Yes, it's. But it's. It was never going to be my thing.

[B]

Thing.

[A]

It was never going to be my thing. It was part of like. Yeah, I. I had to go study a real thing and then I could come to California. I'm from Maryland, so. Oh, yes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And was LA like. Like an. A full culture shock thing in a good way or bad way?

[A]

Both. Both. Both. I would just say full culture shock. Some good, some bad. Big time. Yep, big time. I was like, what is this place? I once made a joke in line at the cafeteria by Floor Tower, shout out to my old dorm.

[B]

Good old floor floor.

[A]

They knocked it down. Do you know that they knocked Floor Tower down?

[B]

They knocked mine down too. Trojan Hall. Good old train.

[A]

They knocked down Trojan Hall. I hadn't heard.

[B]

A horrible, ugly, three story cinder block building. They should have leveled it when I was there.

[A]

Oh, it was bad.

[B]

It was bad, dude.

[A]

I. I think I didn't even want to live in tr.

[B]

Right on Figueroa.

[A]

Oh, yeah, I know, Trojan. But they knocked it down. They knocked down both of. Yeah, what the hell is that about? That they're knocking down our buildings. But in line.

[B]

Floor, floor.

[A]

I'm in line at the cafe by floor. And I made a joke that was like, I'm Denzel Washington's niece. And one of the lunch ladies was like, really? And I was like, oh, am I at a place where I could really be Denzel Washington's niece? And I was. You could be at usc. People are related to people there. For real. Wait, but what did you study?

[B]

I was Throw it clear, number two.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I was a sports information major. Sports information, which was such a. A rigorous, intensive major that they scrapped it after 10 years. They only offered it for like 10 years. And then it's sports journalism.

[A]

Sports journalism. Why did they call it information, do you think? As opposed to journalism, which we.

[B]

Because you could become a sports information director, which is the person at a college who is basically in charge of sports media.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. You're. You're. You're the kind of chief, like an executive, like a chief marketing officer. You like, you handle all the interviews with the players and the coaches. You do all this stuff. So you could be either a sports information journal, you could be a print journal, or you could be broadcast.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So I was going to be on espn. That was my. That was my plan.

[A]

Oh, I need to ask what derailed you, but your chamomile tea has arrived. Matt, our executive producer. Matt, come and make an on camera appearance.

[B]

Hi, Matt.

[A]

He's got. He's got chamomile tea. He's got chamomile tea.

[B]

Oh, it's not even warm. Oh, no, no. I'm just saying.

[A]

No, Matt knows how to produce a podcast, but he cannot make a cup of tea.

[B]

It is. It looks amazing. I got three beverages going on here.

[A]

I love it. One of them is going to clear your throat real good. I know it. Okay, so how did you get derailed?

[B]

I. So this will be interesting to compare notes.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Because I was a big athlete, jock in high school, played sport, like sports. In fact, my wife and I were just commenting on how much we miss team sports.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Cause she played college soccer and this, that and the other. But so I played a lot of sports. I loved it. My dad and I liked being funny with my friends, but I wasn't like a. I didn't do high school theater. I didn't do any of that. I loved comedy. I was such a fan. But my dad, I grew up watching him as a struggling working musician. And I thought, not gonna do that. No way. And I thought the merging of being like a sports reporter or a sports anchor would be the best of both worlds. It would be more of a stable job.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But something I really like. And then when I was done with school, I still was like. And that's when I went to see my first show at the Groundlings.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I thought, whoa, that looks like fun. And saw they had a school and so. Yeah.

[A]

You say such disdain.

[B]

Well, only. Cause I was like, you know, Living back at home with a college degree, driving from Orange county back to la. Taking classes at the Growlings and working as a bank teller.

[A]

Well, that was noble.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That was respectable. I work at the bank.

[B]

Yeah. But I was like, okay, I'm not gonna do sports.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't wanna be a newscaster. I wanna be like Chevy Chase. I wanna pretend to be a newscaster.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So that's how I got derailed.

[A]

Luckily, it's a good thing. We're. We're all grateful. Just trust.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That we're very grateful you got derailed. You as an athlete, what was your main sport? What was your. Your. The one you were like, I'm best at this.

[B]

I was captain of the basketball team.

[A]

Okay. No.

[B]

My senior year, no big deal. With averaging 1.2 points a game. So that's pretty. That means just a lot of court time, a lot of tough defense.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

A lot of. Lot of spirit.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We're counting on me to score. Okay. So. And then I. I was a kicker on the football team.

[A]

I just. My friend this morning said to me about kickers.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because we were talking about Kim Zolciak from Real Housewives of Atlanta because we were watching some show and somebody mentioned Kim Sozia. It's a very long winded way of saying. She told me that, like, Kim was married to a kicker. And my friend says to me today, she go, kickers. That's like the bottom of the. That's it is that kickers are weird. Okay. Tell me more. Because I don't know anything about sports.

[B]

Only because kickers only. It's either you go in there, you don't get. You never get hurt. You don't have to do all the hard things that the football regular guys have to do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you go in there and you kick this ball and it's either glory or you miss it and they hate you, or they love you, or they love you, but you're still an outcast regardless.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Because even if you win the game with the last second kick, they're like, no way. That was great. But.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You still didn't even get your uniform dirty.

[A]

Okay, so we had 1.2 points.

[B]

Yeah, but I was. But I was funny with my teeth. So I was kind of, like, in the mix, though. And then I played baseball, too. Anyway, I just.

[A]

You loved sports.

[B]

I love sports.

[A]

You loved sports. And 1.2 points. I just want to reiterate.

[B]

Yeah. That's not a lot. That's terrible.

[A]

At first, I was like, in high school, is it on a. Is it on a curve of some sort of. No, that's just the.

[B]

That means that's the average. So sometimes lower, so sometimes zero.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Most of the time zero, and then other times, maybe five points a game.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But I was, like, the sixth. I was the first guy off the bench, and I was, like, always talking the guys up.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Spirit. A lot of spirit. You said as much. You said, though, that you didn't want to be like your dad, the traveling musician. That was tough. What were you observing that was so tough about it?

[B]

I was just seeing the. Yeah. The instability of what he was doing that he would have long stretches of. Of, you know, he might work at a nightclub for a year, and then all of a sudden he'd. He'd be like, well, I'm switching jobs. I'm like, oh. And now he's like, oh, did you not like that place anymore? He's like, no. They just said, we're good. We're getting a new piano player.

[A]

Like, yeah.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That's hard. But at the same time, I would. I loved watching him play, and I loved. He played on and off with the righteous brothers for 25 years. And so I'd see him do shows in Vegas and on the road, and that was, like, so cool. So I. I was being charmed the whole time and, you know, but. But I. I literally was like, no, I'm gonna. I don't know what my job's gonna be, but I'm gonna carry a briefcase.

[A]

I wanted to be. Yes, exactly.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did. Was he supportive of your interest in comedy once you exhibited that?

[B]

He. He was actually.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

He. He was. No, he. Both my parents were. Were encouraging, but they weren't. I wouldn't say they were like, you can do anything. Yeah, you're so funny. They were more like when they finally saw, you know, I kind of had to explain this place called the Groundlings, and I started doing a little bit of stand up comedy and had. Did you. Have you done. Did you do stand up a lot?

[A]

No, Right before I got on snl, I had done like an open mic. I did one because I was like, oh, that'll be fun to dabble in this summer. So, like, June of that year.

[B]

But I. So I tried my hand at that, which I was like, oh, no. Sketch comedy is the way to go.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Safety in numbers.

[A]

Okay. Okay. Yeah.

[B]

And. And so they. They would come and sit, and they were like, wait, you're pretty funny.

[A]

Not laughing, but just, okay, I see it.

[B]

And. And. But my dad gave me. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with him one day and I was like, so I'm gonna move back up to la. And Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the Groundlings, I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place they come look for up and coming talent, blah, blah, blah. What are your. What's kind of. What would you say to that? He's like. He said, if it. If it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you. Which is really sweet.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He goes, but there's so much luck involved. And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. He gave. Yes.

[A]

Oh, that's great.

[B]

So it's like, if you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah. It would not be right.

[A]

It wouldn't be that.

[B]

There's a lot of luck. But he said, so just know that it's like, it's a bit of a crapshoot, but it's not your fault. So just keep trying it and see what happens. So now, some people would take that. Some people might react and go, you don't believe in me. For me, it took the pressure. I was like, this is probably not gonna happen.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm just gonna go have fun. And I can always be a substitute school teacher. Not a knock on substitute school. Does anyone teach substitute school?

[A]

And here, substitute teachers, they could be.

[B]

They're great. They're a vital cog in the wood.

[A]

Important.

[B]

Yes, important.

[A]

I had one tell me to be serious and did that, you know.

[B]

Well, you tried to be. You tried to study biology.

[A]

I did. I tried because of him. I don't remember his name, but he was like, little girl, be serious. Because we. Were you always.

[B]

So were you always the cut up? You were always the cut up?

[A]

I was often, but no. I went to high school and middle school with some of the funniest people who are not comedians. Some might be substitute teachers now. Some might be working for ups.

[B]

I had some of the funniest friends.

[A]

Yes, same. Yeah.

[B]

And I was a very conscientious class clown.

[A]

Conscientious one.

[B]

I would push it to the limit if the teacher was like, hey, watch It. I'd be like, you got it.

[A]

Yeah, not a problem. And I'm a good kid now. Yeah. I mean, it's. I think it's interesting, though, when people are like, you work with all the funniest people. And I'm like, gosh, I wish you had known Aaron from my high school, though.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, these people are really funny. I do work with some of the funniest people, but. Oh, there's some people you don't even know that aren't doing comedy right now.

[B]

100. Yeah, no, we would. I had a group of friends, we would go to a party, a high school party. We maybe would have a beer, I don't know. But it wasn't about that. We literally would go and just start messing with people and we just start taking, like, here's a for instance that made us laugh. We'd go into the freezer of whoever kid's house who's throwing the party and just start taking all the frozen food out and just piling it up and started microwaving the stuff. And then drunk kids be like, what are you doing? We're like. And then we just make up stories of like, oh, so and so told me to just start microwaving frozen food. Just bizarre stuff.

[A]

You were improvisers.

[B]

To make ourselves laugh.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. Yeah. The trend continued.

[A]

Did you actually do improv, by the way, Because Groundlings is largely sketch. Right.

[B]

It's large. Yeah. And that was more the focus of. Especially. Especially when I was. When you're part of the Sunday show at the Groundlings, which is that, you know, the B team, before you make it to the main stage, you're writing three to four sketches a week and you're. It's just like a. Which was such a good training ground for snl.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

To not have to rely on, as, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Writers to cast you. You could at least. Well, at least I can figure out. Just figure something out for myself. Yeah. It's almost the reverse of ucb, where UCB used improv to generate characters in sky. And maybe you'd bolster it with writing later. This was the opposite. So I didn't really improvise until after I got on the main stage. And to this day, that's still a scary proposition.

[A]

Oh, improv for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel like you'd be great at it.

[B]

I. I love doing it, like, on camera, but. But when I watch, like, when they reop. When I did ask out with you guys.

[A]

Yes. I remember now.

[B]

You were so incredible.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Holy Crap. I was just watching you guys going, damn, they're good.

[A]

I mean, but we used your source material, your stories.

[B]

But.

[A]

And your anecdotes.

[B]

But when I was doing the monologue. So for your watchers and listeners.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

There's this show at ucb.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And you have someone who step. You step out and you just. The audience yells a subject, and you have to just create a monologue.

[A]

Yes. And it should be true.

[B]

And it should be true. And someone yelled. I don't know if you remember this.

[A]

Yelled space. Now that you're saying. And I do remember, actually, too. Space.

[B]

What? I was like, this is gonna be easy. I'm just gonna.

[A]

Can I get a chamomile tea, please? No, I'm just. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Okay.

[B]

Was totally blanking.

[A]

I remember you. I remember, but I feel like you were putting so much pressure on yourself.

[B]

I was like, did you feel the

[A]

need to be funny in your.

[B]

I just. But it wasn't even. I knew. It was like, this doesn't have to be funny. It can just be a story. I literally was like, space. Space.

[A]

Do you remember what you ended up telling us with the story?

[B]

I think I remember something about watching one of the space missions as a kid that took place on my birthday. July 16th.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then July 16th, everyone.

[A]

And by the way, when you said that, I'm not gonna lie, I did clock. And I thought, we'll have to shoot a text or something. Put it in the phone. And I also was like, my agen agent's birthday is July 16th. Okay. Will Ferrell and my agent. Yes. And she shares a birthday with her father.

[B]

Okay. And I shared a birthday with my grandmother.

[A]

This is spooky. What's going on here?

[B]

And my oldest son shares a birthday, March 7th, with his grandmother.

[A]

Well, my birthday's March 10th. And what does that mean for any of this?

[B]

March 10th.

[A]

Surely you've got a relative.

[B]

You know what? March 10th. No.

[A]

Y' all know what March 10th is? The day I was born.

[B]

The day you were born.

[A]

But space.

[B]

Your birthday.

[A]

On your birthday.

[B]

And then for the second monologue, I think I called back my birthday again.

[A]

July 16th.

[B]

Which I think I also share with the crown princess of Sweden. And I think I might have told a story of how I tried to send her a $20 gift card to IKEA.

[A]

I think this sounds new and familiar at the same time, somehow.

[B]

And I tried to have my assistant call their office, and I. And. And they did not the Swedish royal family did not understand the humor in me sending a $20 gift card to the princess. Crown Princess of Sweden.

[A]

Okay, different kind of senses of humor.

[B]

But maybe she'll watch this and know where that $20 gift card came from.

[A]

You think she's watching my podcast? Potential. I know for a fact.

[B]

I assure you, I know for a fact she's watching. Have you checked your numbers in Sweden?

[A]

I haven't checked my Swedish number. Hey, Matt, can we pull up my gigantic.

[B]

My Swedish wouldn't be able to walk around in public in Stockholm. Oh, my God.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, this is good to know. I should go there to feel something.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's.

[B]

It's Abba, it's Skarsgard.

[A]

And it's Egga.

[B]

And it's Egga. Those are top three.

[A]

Those are the top three in Stockholm. This is huge.

[B]

I got it.

[A]

I'm gonna get over there when I'm trying to feel something.

[B]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[A]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date? Oh, no.

[B]

We help people customize and save on

[A]

car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird. Yeah, the bird looks out of your league. Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[B]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[A]

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

[B]

It's the Enhanced Games.

[A]

Some call it grotesque, others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all. Embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

[B]

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on £10. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the iHeartRadio app,

[A]

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Iris Palmer and my new podcast is called Against All Odds. And that's exactly what the show is about. Doing whatever it take. Be thoughts. Get ready to hear from some of your favorite entrepreneurs and entertainers as they share stories about defying expectations, overcoming barriers, and breaking generational patterns. I'm talking to people like award winning actress, producer and director, Eva Longoria. I think I had, like, $200 in

[B]

my savings account, and my mom goes,

[A]

what are you going to do? And I was like, I'll figure it out. We had a one bedroom apartment for like $400 a month, and we all could not afford. Like, I was like, how am I gonna make $100 a month? I'm opening up like I've never before. For those of you who think you know me from what you've seen on social media, get ready to see a whole new side of me. Listen to Against All Odds with Iris Palmer as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already

[B]

know there's a lot to break down. Portia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a

[A]

Marri, holding K. Michelle back from fighting.

[B]

Drew Pinky has financial issues.

[A]

I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's gonna be interesting.

[B]

On the podcast Reality with the King,

[A]

I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments

[B]

from your favorite reality shows, including the

[A]

Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances,

[B]

and the tea everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television,

[A]

I'm not just watching it.

[B]

I understand the game.

[A]

As somebody who creates shows, I'll even

[B]

say this at the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the king on the iHeartRadio

[A]

app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Well, I gotta ask, though. You were trying to explain the Groundlings to your parents, right? Which is a hard thing to explain to anyone who's not doing comedy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Cause I. What the Groundlings are. Is. Are the Groundlings is. Is.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I know what the Groundlings is, but I know a lot of people might say to their friends or their parents, will, frell. You know, will frell. So he went there. That's what I'm going to go do. Who were you citing to your parents, if anyone?

[B]

I was citing.

[A]

Where did you have anyone to.

[B]

I was citing. I was citing the fact that I knew a lot of people from SNL had come there, but like a Lorraine Newman from the original SNL cast, Conan o' Brien did growling stuff. Pee Wee Herman. Oh, and other people.

[A]

And other people. That's okay.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

That was a great list.

[B]

No, no, there was. There's there's so many more. But then subsequently, as we started, started taking classes, and then there was just an incredible group of people there between Chris Kattan, Sherry o', Terry, Kristen Wiig, Maya, the list. So Lisa Tutro. Yep. Lisa. Oh, and that's. Thank you. So my senior year at usc. Yeah, I go there to watch A show for the first time, Lisa Kudrow is on stage prior to kind of that character she'd play on Friends that got. Not friends. The character she played on Mad about yout.

[A]

Okay, okay.

[B]

That she was like this waitress, this dinghy waitress that then got her the friends thing. But I was like, this woman's incredible. Holy crap, she's good. There were great people like Patrick Bristow, Mike McDonald, Tim Bagley. Yeah. Kathy Griffin. So. And it was just this powerhouse of people. And I actually get called up on stage in an audience participation thing where they wanted people to be in. So I got picked on and thrown into, like an improv thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I didn't say a word. I was. So you froze?

[A]

Yeah, I was like.

[B]

But it wasn't enough to scare me off.

[A]

Yeah. Do you get nervous still anymore?

[B]

Yes, but not. Yeah, a little bit. A little bit of nerves, but not terrible.

[A]

What kind of stuff makes you nervous?

[B]

Well, like when you're about to step on Stage at the iHeart Podcast Awards and you're in a full speed skating skin tight bodysuit.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

To tell. To do a bit about how you were cut from the Olympic speed skating team.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

To very little laughter. There was a smattering.

[A]

Were you getting nervous during.

[B]

No, I was just like, oh, here we go. You could have just stepped out there in a suit and a tie. Because I even commented because you, of course, looked beautiful, lovely. And I'm like, you think I'd get it by now. I don't need to like. But then you were like. You sweetly were like, I wish I was wearing that.

[A]

I kind of did. I couldn't pull it off.

[B]

I get to hide behind a crazy costume.

[A]

And then I. Yeah, but. But also.

[B]

But, yeah. So there's a little pang of nerves there. But then once I step out, I just start laughing going. You're like, this is ridiculous.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, it was.

[A]

And that's the fun of it. That's the fun. But, like, have you ever heard. I don't. I might, but I'm sorry.

[B]

I get. But I don't get nervous so much in performance as I do meeting people.

[A]

Ooh.

[B]

Either like athletes. Big time athletes that I've, like, watched, or like, people in music.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. Things like that. I don't know. Do you feel that way?

[A]

I. So I don't. I'm trying to. I do get people in biology, but when I'm meeting scientists. Okay. I know. You know, I would be nervous.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And Starstruck to meet Dr. Fauci.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I would I was Dr. Anthony Fauci.

[B]

God love him.

[A]

I God love him. Not everyone loves him, but I love Fauci.

[B]

I still have a T shirt. You have a Fauci T shirt in Fauci We Trust.

[A]

I need to get.

[B]

Remember when he. He was a hero. Yeah. Remember when he saved us from ourselves?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I'm sorry. Despite what you believe, he really did save us.

[A]

Well, that's what I feel. Despite what you believe as well. And I'm with. I'm just so with you on that. And I thought, what a br. Man who is really trying his best. And when he resigned, I was like, job well done, my good and faithful servant.

[B]

Right, right.

[A]

I was like, you gotta be tired. What an experience you just had. What an experience. His family was getting death threats. That was crazy. That was.

[B]

He probably took two hour naps every

[A]

day for a year, and that was it.

[B]

And that.

[A]

That was all his sleep.

[B]

Walk the dog. Oh, he's up around the clock.

[A]

He was up around the clock and just taking two hour naps. The poor, poor man. I'm like, well done, Fauci. I gotta get it in. Fauci we Trust shirt. I like that.

[B]

That's funny. So you beat? Yeah.

[A]

I would be nervous to meet him. I met Bill Nye at snl. But, like, sometimes meeting people at SNL is a little like, oh, there's that person. So you don't even have a chance to get nervous necessarily. You, like, look up and you're like, I'm sorry, that human is here.

[B]

That's what I always tell people. It was. It's such. That place is so unique in many ways. But you didn't have time to get nervous because here was the super famous person who was thrown into your world, and they were like. They were like, looking for a life preserver and then this common ground. And by the end of the week, you were like, what's up? How are you?

[A]

Yeah. Hugging on stage.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Always asking, hey, did you get much sleep last night? You asked the host that on Saturday morning. So standard question. Did you get a lot of sleep? Varying answers, but I remember one host saying to me, it's my second season. I remember one host just wanting to thank them for doing my sketch, and they were like, sorry if I was weird. I was so nervous and I just wanted you guys to like me. And I was like, you just won 15 Emmys two weeks ago. And I really was like, you are worried about us liking you. You're a star, darling.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Like, what are you it then that Was fascinating, I think, in that. That was just a pivotal moment for me because I was like, oh, they come in here and they're coming on our territory and are like, we want you to leave this thing.

[B]

That seems so. After you've been there for a while. Just seems like no big deal. But it's a huge. To step into that environment.

[A]

Yeah. How did you know when it was time to leave?

[B]

So much hate on the Internet?

[A]

Are you being serious? I was gonna say

[B]

I did have a really good lesson in. When I looked online my first year, my first season on the show, I looked on one of those dumb lists that who knows makes up.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And they were like, ranking the cast in order. And someone had sent me a thing, and it was really favorable. And I was like, oh, that's so nice. And then I was like, oh, let's look. Let's search some other stuff up. And then the next thing I pulled up was like, I hate him. Someone should drag him behind a car. Like, it was like, oh, the duality of the Internet.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I never looked again.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, you've been so disciplined as to not.

[B]

And I had horrible personal reviews of my first show. Very first show.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was like, most annoying newcomer.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

And. But I. And so I was like, oh, I have a decision here. I could really take it to heart, or I could just laugh at it. So I just kept it on the door of my office as. Just like, to remind me, like, look, just have fun. As many people that like you. There's just gonna be just as many people who. You know. But anyway, what was the point of my story?

[A]

I. I'm just. I'm hanging on your every word. But it was like, when.

[B]

When did I decide to leave? I don't know. I don't. I just. I was on for seven seasons, and it was just something was. It was kind of like, okay, I think this is a good. Good time.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

And I. But it's not like. It's not like I had this pile of scripts waiting for me. I had shot Old School, but that wasn't. That was being pushed, which is never a good sign.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

They were holding on to the movie, which is like, okay. And then the only other thing we were working on was we were developing this script that needed some work about a guy raised by elves on the North Pole. And so that was the only other thing that was even a possibility.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so it wasn't. I just was like, you know what? I have some momentum right now. Let's go test the waters.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And Lauren tried to convince me to stay.

[A]

Did it almost work?

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay. Yeah.

[B]

He sweetly tried to come in, and I was like, I think I should just. You may be right. But I'm gonna. I'm gonna try.

[A]

You gotta go see. I think it worked out.

[B]

I'm really happy.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So far. So far, so good.

[A]

Yeah, it worked out. But you seem to have also really good perspective. Even when you talk about the critique and putting that on the door of your office and just kind of laughing at it. How do you. How?

[B]

I don't know. I just like. It kind of. It kind of takes the power away from someone coming out. I just end up laughing, going, God, someone took the time to be that mean. It's kind of funny. And I remember. I remember reading a review by Roger Ebert for Stepbrothers, which is so delicious. It was like, please do not watch this movie. Do not rent it on dvd. Do not tell your friends about it. That this. This. A film like this is. Is horrible for filmmakers, for the film industry in general. It's the literally the fall of Western civilization. It's mindless and terrible. But we'd gotten enough fun reviews to balance it out that it was just like. Yes, it was just like a badge of honor.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So does. Has any review ever hit you but felt like a gut punch to you?

[B]

Honestly, there's been times where someone has with all the best intentions. I used to have a publicist who'd be like, you should read the so and so review on the thing. It's pretty good. What they neglected to say was the first paragraph was how much they've hated me in everything I've done.

[A]

Oh, perfect.

[B]

And this was really surprising.

[A]

He actually does have talent.

[B]

Okay. And then I once read a review of 40 year old Virginia. I saw that. And because Steve Carell, when we were making Anchorman, was talking about the premise he had of this idea of a guy who's still a virgin. I'm like, oh, Steve, that's hilarious. Anyway, Steve goes off, he makes the movie. I see there's a review of. Of it. And I'm like, oh, I want to read. And I'm. And it. Once again, it started with how much this reviewer hated me and that. And that Steve Carell who. Who showed up in Anchorman. And. And so I was. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised. However, like, this weird. This is, again, guilt by association.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But Steve is actually amazing performer and actor, and this movie is phenomenal. And I was like, wait, A minute. How did this happen? So. Yeah. So I've learned to just stay away.

[A]

Yeah. Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Grain of salt.

[B]

Are you able to stay away?

[A]

I am, just because it's like, it's too risky. Keenan once told me all the thought, all the opinions and stuff, really early on, he's like, noise. It's noise. And I was like, wow. You guys just have sort of like. I think the part of me that wants to be like a good student and it's resonating in the past has been like, I want to. You want to know what people are thinking. But I sort. I love the notion of just.

[B]

I know you kind of do. You want to kind of know what's out there and.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And then you're. You're quickly. Quickly burned.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then you just don't let it though. You like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Put it on a door and go. This is funny.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

Did you. Were you a person who had, like, goals growing up, like, proper. I've written out my goals. No, not your thing.

[B]

I didn't. I. What? Yeah. Like the five year plan?

[A]

Yeah. No, none of that. No, you just followed the fun.

[B]

I just. Yeah, I just kind of. The one thing that I did, I guess it wasn't a goal, but it was a. It was a feeling that I decided to remember and follow was in high school. Once again, back to. I didn't do theater. I didn't do any of this stuff yet. Loved making my friends laugh. Loved coming to school with a lunch pail as a Senior, as an 18 year old young man for no reason, like a Peanuts lunch pail.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then just sit and eat my lunch out of a lunch pail just to make or come in a weird outfit or.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

One. One year buddies, we started. I don't know if your high school were big into clubs, but they had club day.

[A]

No.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we decided to start our own club called the Reptile Club.

[A]

Say more, please.

[B]

And everyone got a reptile nickname and a laminated card.

[A]

And were there actually reptiles involved?

[B]

No, there were no reptiles.

[A]

Very good.

[B]

Very good. But we had one meeting and we showed a film strip on like the Komodo Dragon and we held a Reptile Club dance.

[A]

Who went to that?

[B]

We had like. We had like 200 kids show up for the Reptile Club dance.

[A]

How many kids were at your high school? A thousand?

[B]

More. Eight. Eight. Almost two.

[A]

Two thousand.

[B]

Yeah. My graduating class was like 500.

[A]

Okay. So 10 of the student body showed up to reptile. Yeah. Okay. I'll take It. Okay. It's fine.

[B]

So anyway, I was always doing almost Andy Kaufman performance art stuff.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And a buddy of mine, my friend Bart, our other friend Steve, was the student body president and he was trying to sell. There was a campaign to sell senior class T shirts to raise money for whatever the gift the senior class was going to give the school. Always leave behind.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A brand new marquee or. Or something. And. But the T shirts weren't selling, so he was like, can you. You know, there's always like one day a week, morning announcements, like between first and second period. Do you guys think you could think of like a, like, almost like a radio campaign to sell these? So Bart and I started writing these sketches. They were radio sketches. We were doing like character voices. We were doing. We were making fun of students and teachers and it became this big hit and. But I remember sitting there crafting what was like a paragraph, and I thought what felt like 20 minutes to me. I looked and it was midnight and I'd started at like 8 o' clock that night.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

And I thought, oh, that didn't feel like work.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I should remember that. Writing this little piece of comedy.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And rewriting and so not a goal, per se. But remember that. That, you know, that I was like, I should hang on to that. And still too afraid to admit that I think I want to do comedy. But I still was like, I. I held on to that little exercise.

[A]

How long did it take you to tell your. So telling your parents was one thing, but telling like, friends, I want to do comedy? And did that feel scary at all?

[B]

No, because I just was like, you know, kind of like, you know, a little bit in my own world. And then, you know, as you check in with people, like, what are you. What are you up to? I'm taking classes at this thing. It was too hard to explain.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

So. And then as I, as I started performing more and I could invite people to shows, then it became a thing where like, oh, this is what you've been. Been kind of working on the last couple years.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I had a lot of friends who were like, oh, yeah, doesn't surprise me.

[A]

Yeah, suits you. Makes sense. We were waiting for you to. We always knew you were a comedian.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So did. Where do you fall in the sibling lineup? Do you have siblings?

[B]

I have a younger brother.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then a. A much younger sister. Yeah.

[A]

You're the oldest.

[B]

I'm the oldest.

[A]

I feel like it's often the youngest who goes off and does.

[B]

Goes, are you The. Where are you?

[A]

I'm the youngest.

[B]

Of how many?

[A]

Four.

[B]

You're the baby.

[A]

I'm the baby. And you gotta love me, you know?

[B]

So you were fighting for a tent. You were like.

[A]

Yeah. And no one care. And they're significantly. Now, it's not a significant. My oldest brother is eight years older than I am, and so. And then my brother closest in age to me is five years older than I am. So they, like, were. I was just like a little pest.

[B]

You're like a little pip. Sweet. Yeah. Run around.

[A]

My oldest brother's, like, in high school. I'm in elementary school. No one. And I was entertaining myself, but, yeah, I got to do whatever. So it's just interesting because I feel like oftentimes the story for people is I was the youngest and I'm the one who went off and did the acting thing and the comedy thing. Yeah. Are your siblings in entertainment at all?

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Not at all.

[B]

No. No.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

No.

[A]

And your wife loves sports as well.

[B]

But I don't want to talk about my wife.

[A]

Cut this part. Cut this part.

[B]

I know. I'm not gonna. We're not gonna go there. See, that was good acting, right? Wasn't that good?

[A]

Give this man enough.

[B]

But comedians are good actors.

[A]

That's what we're trying to give actors. Give comedians.

[B]

I mean, people in Sweden know that about you, but I know I gotta get.

[A]

I gotta get home. Get home.

[B]

Do some Ibsen. He's Norwegian, but bit some bits.

[A]

$20 gift cards, IKEA. The meatballs.

[B]

The meat.

[A]

The meatballs.

[B]

Meatballs.

[A]

Oh, people don't talk about the Swedish meatballs enough. They're good.

[B]

Yes. My wife.

[A]

How did you meet Viva?

[B]

I met Viva in an acting program.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Down at. There's a theater down in. In Costa.

[A]

You said that like you were pissed at me. I met Vivica in an acting.

[B]

Acting program. No. I don't know why I had that emphasis.

[A]

I loved it.

[B]

I think it was more my discovery of that revelation.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

There's a place. South Coast Repertory Theater.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Down there. If you've ever been to South Coast Plaza.

[A]

I have been to the mall. I've been to the mall.

[B]

It's a fabulous mall.

[A]

That's a gorgeous.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They. We've got a Revive malls.

[B]

Yep. I know.

[A]

Did you hang out at the mall when you were growing up?

[B]

Loved it.

[A]

Me too. On a Friday night to get. Just dropped off at the mall, I would just go.

[B]

My brother and I would take public transit, go to the mall and just. Were you even buying stuff there's another great one in Newport beach called Fashion Island.

[A]

I've been to Fashion island as well.

[B]

Isn't that a great one too?

[A]

That's beautiful.

[B]

Open air.

[A]

Stunning.

[B]

Stunning.

[A]

That's a good mall. Okay. Sorry. Vivica, you. South Coast Repertory.

[B]

So South Coast Repertory is a really great Tony award winning regional theater company. And they have. Which I grew up going to see shows. My mom would occasionally be a docent there and I know she forced us to see like Chekhov, like 10 years old, watching the Seagull, going, okay, I think I follow it.

[A]

Yeah, you're so cultured.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I know. So cultured. And. And yeah, after post my graduate years, which is kind of. You know what? My mom was very progressive in the sense of here. I graduated from college, I moved back home. She's like, no sweat. Let's just treat this like graduate school. And you just need a job to pay for like gas money. Otherwise I'm not gonna charge you rent.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

So I started taking the classes, the Groundlings. But she also gets me a scene study class as a Christmas present at this South Coast Repertory because they had a. They also taught classes and I. I loved it. I'd never had just done basic scene study class. Yeah, I signed up for the next one. And then I started talking to the teacher. She's like, you should do the professional conservatory program in the summer. It's like a ten week mini, like drama school, like five days a week. Voice movement, script analysis, scene work, all this stuff. And she's like, they need. They always need guys. In other words, you're not that good.

[A]

No, this is a.

[B]

So I go, but how do you audition? Like, you just need to do like a classical piece and a. So I memorized like a Shakespearean sonnet. I did a sonnet and then I did a scene from. Oh, gosh, what was that play? They made it into a movie with Rob Lowe and Jim Belushi. Is it called About Last Night?

[A]

No, Matt's Googling.

[B]

What was that?

[A]

What doesn't Matt do about Last Night? Good memory.

[B]

Okay, and is that also the name of the play or is I would have never. Something with Chicago in the title? Yeah, the title of the play is Sexual Perversity. Yes, Sexual Perversity. And there's a really famous monologue. So I did that. And so I got into the program and then I. I saw this beautiful woman who seemed really stuck up after type doing like voice vocal warmups.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

In the hallway.

[A]

Okay. Like red leather, yellow. Le leather, Red leather, yellow Leather.

[B]

She must be a piece of work. Meanwhile, she's looking back at me like, who's this weirdo frat guy who wears his hat backwards?

[A]

Were you in a frat?

[B]

I was.

[A]

What frat were you in?

[B]

Delt. Delta T. Delta.

[A]

Sounds made up. Delta T. Delta T. Delta TA Delta. Delta T. Del. I'm like, what?

[B]

You caught me.

[A]

Okay, all right. No, okay. It's real.

[B]

It's real.

[A]

Okay, Sorry, but continue. Paint the pictures.

[B]

Wait, were you in a sorority?

[A]

No, but I thought about lying. I thought about being like, I was Trident out. Delta Gamma.

[B]

But I feel like you would, like, run a sorority, like, with your personality and your.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Didn't it people my freshman year at sc, like, doing Rush? I believe it is. I was like, I don't understand. I don't understand this, but God bless the sororities and the fraternities. And I said it because I don't want those communities to come for me. Okay, so. So you were in a frat. Okay. But frat guy hat turned backwards. Okay.

[B]

And then I knew I had another friend. Our. Our mutual friend Sarah was like, oh. And I was in the different. There was two groups, the red group and the blue group.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And Vivica and Sarah in the red group.

[A]

I was in the lower Republican. Okay.

[B]

Super Republican. Anyway, Sarah's like, I met that tall blonde girl. She's actually really nice. And I'm like, okay. Anyway. That. We later became friends, dated, and we've been married for 25 years.

[A]

Incredible.

[B]

But we met there, and then it was like, re. Such a strong connection that it kind of scared us off. So for five years, we were just friends, really, and kind of said hi to each other here and there, checked in on each other, but we're just literally, like, dated other people this. And then we circled back to each other.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You spun the block, as the youth say.

[B]

Okay. I. You know, that was my goal. I was driving over here. I'm like, I'm gonna spin the block.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm gonna make sure I spin the block.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, so I spun the block.

[A]

You did spin the block. You already did it. You spun the block over 25 years ago when you and Vivica started dating officially. How did you take it from Friend Zone?

[B]

Because. Well, we. We went. We, like, were dating and went. It went from friend zone to not to. It went from 0 to 60 right away.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

So while we were in the program. While you were in the program, we were like. We were an item.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But then it kind of fizzled.

[A]

Did you do something wrong?

[B]

I didn't.

[A]

The guys always do something wrong.

[B]

She kind of had the foresight to break up because we talk about it now, because she was like, we were too young. Were we gonna get married? No. We were, like, 22 and 23.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And she was like. It was just too. Like, we were too young.

[A]

So you guys were not together when you were at snl? You were.

[B]

Just started again.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

When I started in 95.

[A]

And how was that? Did she move to New York with you?

[B]

Nope.

[A]

You did long distance?

[B]

Yeah, we did long distance.

[A]

Tell me what it was like for you.

[B]

It was totally fine because I went back to LA every summer.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

She would come out. We'd go back and forth because, you know that schedule. There's so many breaks.

[A]

There's so many breaks, and we just

[B]

were, like, made it work even.

[A]

You don't. You didn't feel the, like, weight of the stress of the job? No, no. You're just an easygoing guy. What's your sign? July 16th. We know. So wait, don't tell me.

[B]

I'm not gonna.

[A]

I don't know my. I love to ask everyone their sign. I should. We should change the name of the podcast to what's your sign?

[B]

Because I. Pisces.

[A]

I'm a Pisces. You, my friend, I'm gonna say you're a Leo.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

Damn it. That's the end of July. Okay, stand by. Okay, okay, okay. No, no, no. Stand by. It's coming to me. June. Gemini. You're a Gemini. If you're not a Gemini and you're not a Leo, what could you be a crab from Maryland. Okay. Because that's where I'm from. Okay. For the listeners. Will is gesturing for the viewers. Lucky you. Okay.

[B]

Lateral movement.

[A]

Lateral move. No. Libra's October. I'm just gonna go through them all. I'm sorry.

[B]

Hard outer shell.

[A]

Cancer.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Ah. Okay.

[B]

Soft inside.

[A]

Ooey gooey.

[B]

Ooey gooey. But, like, crunchy, crunchy outside kind of approach. Approach things laterally at times.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Very loyal.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And. But. But if I have to use my pinchers, I'm not afraid to use my pinchers.

[A]

You use your pinchers?

[B]

I have.

[A]

You've used your pinchers.

[B]

Did that spin the block, too?

[A]

That did not spin the block, unfortunately. I don't know how to put this, but. No, no, that didn't spin the block.

[B]

That was not.

[A]

That wasn't spinning the block. That wasn't. That wasn't quite. It wasn't Not. But it wasn't it either. Okay.

[B]

So.

[A]

But you're so, like, chill and easygoing and I'm wondering, how is Vivica like this also?

[B]

She is. And she's a Taurus.

[A]

Oh, Cancer.

[B]

Taurus. Really good match.

[A]

Okay. Are you into. You're into astrology?

[B]

I kind of love it. I'm not super in, but I was like the kid. I discovered the horoscope in the paper and I loved reading the horoscope. A day late.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

To be like, I did find a lucky coin on the street. You know, whatever.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I did have a satisfying meal a minute. That's way too general.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Viv's not so much. But I. I kind of. I kind of think it's fun.

[A]

It's. It's fun. That's what I say. That's what I say all the time. But now I know what cancer is because I didn't have that in my mind.

[B]

Cancer and Tor both love the home.

[A]

So you're a bit of a homebody.

[B]

Totally. Can be.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, love just hanging out. But I like to take a good trip. I'm. I honestly. Get out.

[A]

Freaking a. He likes to say. Freaking a. Like to take.

[B]

Don't give me that look.

[A]

I say that you did it.

[B]

I'm not a Shut in.

[A]

I didn't say that.

[B]

You.

[A]

I think it's fine that you met Vivan Acting school. I think it's good. And I believe you that you like to take a. A good trip. I'm not wielding any accusations your way. This is just my face. This is just my face. Don't read into it. Even though I'm an actor and I'm supposed to be giving. Are your kids in the biz?

[B]

My oldest son is a musician and he's. Yeah. Magnus Farah. He's.

[A]

He's a good name. Damn.

[B]

He's got music out there right now. I'm plugging Magnus.

[A]

Plug Plug shamelessly. Dad.

[B]

Very talented singer. He. Yeah. So he's. He's trying to do his thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then my middle son is a freshman at USC and he's into possibly doing some acting stuff.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then my youngest boy is still in high school.

[A]

Got it. South coast repertory bound. Bound.

[B]

You never know.

[A]

Hard to say.

[B]

Hard to say.

[A]

But you go with the flow, so it kind of doesn't matter.

[B]

It doesn't matter because you'll have the. But I'm just. Just. I'm happy if they're happy. Whatever.

[A]

Parents say that. But did you. Do you feel you understood that expression until you had your kids, or, like, you've kind of always.

[B]

Probably not fully. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I kind of don't. I run across some parents who are like, huh, they want to study philosophy, but how do you make money doing that? I'm like, let them do philosophy. If they. If it. If it's. I think there's so much mental angst out there right now. If young people can just find, like, they'll figure out how to, you know, make a living somehow. But if they're. If they're passionate about something, it doesn't matter.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I think so. I've seen friends go to, like, medical school and be absolutely miserable, but it's, like, the thing their parent wanted them

[B]

to do, and they just. They thought, I'll just. It'll get better because I'll find out

[A]

at some point and they'll have the stability. And I'm like, I definitely think chasing the joy is the way.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Is the. Is truly the way I'm gonna. This is a perfect segue to a segment I like to call. That's nice, but what about me?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I just check in with my guests to be like. And how does that hit you? Aggressively or. Yeah. Well, no. Well, just to the point of chasing the joy. Honestly, I was earlier saying to somebody I. I met with Hannah, who we may work with soon. Yes, That's. We. Okay. I just had coffee with Hannah, and I was saying we were trying to decide in the pastry case if I should get anything, if I should just stick to the matcha. I was like, I'm trying to be. I'm trying to be healthy and be conscientious about how much carbs I consume. I just decided this, like, two and a half weeks ago. It's not for me. I like eating.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I'm like, chase the joy. Right. That's okay.

[B]

When it comes to food, you look fantastic.

[A]

Well, thank you. But there's, like, being mindful about. There's things that my body legitimately can't digest. Well. Struggles to digest. But I'm like. But I feel such joy when I.

[B]

From a pastry.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

From a almond croissant.

[A]

An almond croissant. A raspberry croissant.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

A buttermilk scone.

[B]

A pain au chocolat.

[A]

A pain au chocolat.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't. A macaron. I don't. You know, a.

[B]

Half a. Half a banana bread. Half a loaf of banana bread.

[A]

Zucchini bread. Will.

[B]

Done.

[A]

Excuse me. Done. I. So I think you're on Board. So I guess the question has been answered in that it's like, just enjoy. Right. Right. No. Okay.

[B]

No, no. I was. I was trying to think of. Is. Is there any reason not to just enjoy? I can't think of it.

[A]

Find one.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I was. I was like. I. I've been curious about different personality types.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And like, what is it to be a person who's like, I eat super healthily.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I'm. I'm structured.

[B]

Like, this is weird because I'm in a stretch right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Where I'm eating very healthy. I'm trying to eat really healthy.

[A]

I knew you were the person to ask. It's like, I knew cosmically. Okay. Tell me what this is. Tell me.

[B]

Just because my wife was on this really health. And she. I saw how it was. Literally, she was in just a better, like, every. It changed everything thing.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I was like, should I try that, too? And so. Yeah. I'm doing this whole little kick right now. Now, understand, I've. You're looking at someone who's. I've, like. I've had to work out just to look fat. Like everyone who meets me. I've had a whole career of people going, you've lost weight. I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just look fat. I don't have good angles. I swear that everyone who comes up to me is like, you've lost weight. I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just got a fat face. So I've always. I love fitness. I love going to the gym. I love. I've run three marathons in my life a long time ago.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

But. So I don't mind it. So, yeah.

[A]

It's making you feel better. I think that's why I was curious about. I'm like, what are the people who are, like, more structured about their eating.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. And are more mindful and, like, Viva's on this kick. Right. It makes her feel better. I'm like, is this gonna make me feel better? But then I'm like, I want my snacks.

[B]

I don't know. There's a balance. Right. It's such a lame answer, but yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Is that really what you believe?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Okay.

[B]

I'm not just saying it.

[A]

I'll take it. I'm so disappointed by.

[B]

Stop now.

[A]

I guess this is the end. There's a. I gu.

[B]

We even put this podcast out.

[A]

Let's can this one.

[B]

I feel like I ruined it. I didn't have anything. Really super insightful.

[A]

I think you Said lots of good things. I think you said lots of good things. I think people are going to enjoy this.

[B]

We were just in New York this past week.

[A]

Yes, I was like. We were. No, no, I actually was, though. So why did I freeze up? When did you get back to la? Yeah, Yesterday.

[B]

Okay. Yeah, we were there Monday through Friday.

[A]

Okay. Wow. What were you. Okay.

[B]

Have you ever. Have you been to this Indian restaurant in midtown called Ambassadors Clubhouse?

[A]

Will get out of here. Have I been. No. You know what? I'm obsessed with gymkhana in. In London.

[B]

London.

[A]

Because I'm gonna tell you, I asked Michael Che for a food recommendation. This is just the silliest thing, because I love food. And Michael Che goes. And I was like, unlikely source. I'm gonna ask Michael Che where I should eat in London because this guy doesn't care about anything. I love him. He doesn' there, but he goes. But it ended up being so many people.

[B]

Place is phenomenal.

[A]

It's incredible. So I took. I have so many foodie friends who gave me all kinds of extensive lists. And Michael Chain is like. I went there. I haven't stopped thinking about it. That team has opened up Ambassadors Clubhouse in New York City. I was trying to go last week.

[B]

So we went with. With friends.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And. And we took the boys and. Because they're very. Thank God, adventurous eaters and love, you know. But I allowed myself to go off my. It was so good. I had everything. I ate everything.

[A]

And it was good.

[B]

It was delicious.

[A]

And you have no regrets about it?

[B]

No regrets.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. But I think maybe, maybe.

[B]

I mean, did I purge in the bathroom after. Yes.

[A]

The normal way.

[B]

The normal way.

[A]

Flat side. Yep. Not that side.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

To be clear.

[B]

To be clear.

[A]

All right. You gotta make sure out the. The bottom side.

[B]

If you're watching.

[A]

If you're watching, you can see. If you're not watching, we're pointing at our butts. Okay.

[B]

But no, I. I was like, I'm not. I'm not staying on the plan tonight.

[A]

Imagine you go to Ambassadors, the Ambassador's clubhouse, and you stay on the plan.

[B]

I have one chickpea.

[A]

Get him out of here.

[B]

Get him out.

[A]

I would, I would. If I went to dinner with some

[B]

cartoon st. By the Scrub.

[A]

Yes. Get out of here. Yeah, I. I'm. I don't. I'm not. I don't believe in that.

[B]

That's interesting. So you know your. You know your food places, which is

[A]

why I'm like, why would I ever try to pretend to be a Girl who's like, and this morning I ate. I don't. I don't even. I don't really love breakfast. So I'm like, what? Last week, number of friends got calls from me being like, what is everyone eating? And they're like, what's the nature of the question? I go, how many times can a girl eat. Eat eggs in the morning? I said, what do you. And I'm pulling friends. I said it to a friend on Saturday. He goes, ego, you asked me this on Wednesday. And I was like, sorry, I forgot I already talked to you about this.

[B]

What are people eating?

[A]

Cuz I'm like, what's everybody eating? I just every once in a while go through this, like, what is everyone eating? I don't want to eat eggs if I have to eat another piece of salmon again. And I love salmon, but how many times in a week can one eat salmon?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, but I'm privileged.

[B]

Yes. Yeah, we're privileged

[A]

salmon.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And Will, I think this is a perfect place to get me out of here and get you out of here.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Before I say something bad. Oh.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I'm just kidding. No. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. This has been a pleasure.

[B]

Oh, my God, this is so fun.

[A]

Thanks, Will. Appreciate you Think Stat is a production of Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and I Heart Pilot podcast. I'm your host, AO Wodom. Our producer is Kevin Bartelt, and our executive producer is Matt Apodaka.

[B]

Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021.

[A]

And I'm Conkey, his best friend and business manager.

[B]

And we've got a new show called the 1021 podcast.

[A]

I'm taking you behind the scenes on

[B]

how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports, and with the

[A]

World cup right around the corner, we'll

[B]

be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

[A]

Listen to the 1021 podcast on the

[B]

iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

The story I told myself can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility, possibility of connection this mental health awareness month. Tune into the podcast Deeply well with Debbie Brown. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you. To hear more. Listen to Deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano and on my new podcast, Ho From a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Psych. I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help From a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you you get your podcast. How much you weigh, Wanda? Right now about 130. I'm at 183. We should race. No, I want to leave here with my original hit on the podcast, the Matchup With Aaliyah.

[B]

I pair prominent female athletes with unexpected guests.

[A]

On a recent episode, I sat down

[B]

with Undisputed boxing champ Clarissa Shields and comedian Wanda Sykes to talk about Wanda's new movie Undercard, the Art of Trash Talk and what it really means to be ladylike.

[A]

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search the

[B]

Matchup with Aaliyah and listen now.

[A]

Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner

[B]

of iHeart Women's Sports Network.

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.