The Bonfire w/ Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly

Episode: “Corey’s World” with Marcie Hume

Date: December 23, 2025

Podcast Overview

In this episode, Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly dive deep into the new documentary Corey Feldman vs. The World with its director, Marcie Hume. The conversation explores celebrity culture, the complexities of Corey Feldman’s self-made universe, and the behind-the-scenes realities of chronicling one of pop culture’s most idiosyncratic figures. With Hume’s insight and the hosts’ comedic candor, the episode offers both levity and genuine reflection on fame, fandom, and the ambiguous boundary between admiration and mockery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of the Documentary and Hume’s Approach

[12:12–14:58]

• Marcie Hume shares how she became fascinated by Corey Feldman, initially through his viral Ascension Millennium video and the “Cory’s Angels” concept.
  • “There is a visceral feeling that you get in seeing Corey perform and do his thing. I’d give it a 10 out of 10.” — Marcie Hume [15:43]
• Hume started by making a TV sizzle reel, which Feldman loved, but could not sell it as a show. Persistence led to documentary access, starting at Feldman’s wedding.

2. The Paradox of Feldman's Public Persona

[13:31–19:50]

• The hosts and Hume analyze Feldman’s need for control and theatricality—directing every moment of his life, even at his wedding.
  • “He seems like he’s conducting every second of his life.” — Robert Kelly [13:31]
• The group grapples with Feldman’s sensitivity to mockery and his struggle to transition from protected 1980s/90s fame to today’s unfiltered social media landscape.
  • “He takes all the shit and soaks that in. That makes him even crazier to somehow prove people wrong.” — Kelly [24:16]
  • “I think there is a way to come together in those worlds, even though there may be no room for nuance.” — Hume [15:19]

3. Fandom & the Attraction to Feldman’s Shows

[19:08–21:35]

• Hume and the hosts distinguish between irony-driven fans, genuine supporters, and those who arrive to hate, but end up enthralled.
  • “There are true Corey fans… people that love the irony of it… and tons who come to hate and get shifted.” — Hume [20:42]
• The authentic, chaotic experience of a live Feldman show is likened to a spectrum—from touching to laugh-out-loud absurd.

4. Exploring the ‘Corey’s Angels’ Dynamic

[32:03–38:52]

• Discussion of the all-female band/joined lifestyle concept, challenges faced by the women, and the power dynamics in Feldman’s world.
  • “He’s always kind of going, ‘Now I need you to go skittiddly bitty bally white’… It’s a crazy thing.” — Oakerson [33:13]
  • Riffs on comparisons to Michael Jackson’s creative process, except Feldman’s “musicians” are often inexperienced newcomers.
• The directors (and the hosts) voice sympathy for “the Angels,” who often see the arrangement as an opportunity but quickly realize the strains.

5. Child Star Trauma and Hollywood Abuse

[40:46–43:48]

• Candid discussion about Feldman’s prolific storytelling regarding victimization in Hollywood, and the way the documentary portrays both real trauma and Feldman’s approach to that narrative.
  • “He keeps telling every detail of Corey Haim's stuff. He gives nothing about himself.” — Oakerson [41:43]
  • Hume: “That whole realm is infinitely complex… extraordinary deep emotion that none of us are ever going to understand or get to.” [42:31]

6. Fame Then vs. Now

[44:48–45:52]

• The group laughs and laments over how fame used to shelter its stars, creating an alternate reality—one Feldman seems stuck in even as culture moves on.
  • “When you have that for so long, you’ll try to find it on a smaller scale… and he was finding it with these girls.” — Kelly [44:12]

7. Documentary Technique & Narrative Decisions

[39:04–40:46; 51:43–54:00]

• Hume reflects on her role as a documentarian, capturing not just the farcical, but also the raw, fraught humanity of Feldman and those in his orbit.
  • “Every moment of it… just has all of these things in it… depth, absurdity, something funny and sad in every moment.” — Hume [40:04]
• Acknowledges selective camera presence and how her choices as editor and director shaped the audience’s understanding.

8. Favorite Moments & Revelations

[51:28–56:28]

• Hume and guests recall personal favorites from the film and production:
  • The revelatory experience of the women (“Angels”) looking back; the empowering journeys of participants like Darcy; the emergence of talent in figures like Ximena Jimenez being “a shredder.”
  • “Jimena just shreds. She’s just incredible. Still out there doing her thing.” — Hume [56:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I think you have a deep…appreciation. And so, I believe there is a way to come together in those worlds, even though there may be no room for nuance." — Marcie Hume [15:19]
• "You want to see him play guitar knowing he doesn’t know how to play the guitar." — Oakerson [20:40]
• "He just takes all the shit and soaks that in. That makes him even crazier to somehow prove people wrong." — Robert Kelly [24:16]
• “If you change anything, he’s not him.” — Oakerson [21:32]
• “Every moment of it… depth, absurdity, something funny and sad in every moment.” — Hume [40:04]

Noteworthy Episode Segments & Timestamps

• [03:46] — Introduction: Landing Marcie Hume as the episode’s main guest
• [11:20] — First impressions of the documentary; Jay and Bobby's personal reactions
• [13:31] — Feldman’s need for control at his own wedding
• [15:43] — Marcie Hume describes her emotional draw to Feldman
• [20:42] — Breakdown of Feldman’s diverse fanbase
• [21:32] — The paradox of wanting to “fix” Feldman while realizing his quirks make him unique
• [32:03] — The on-tour reality for Feldman’s “Angels”
• [40:46] — Analysis of Feldman’s Hollywood abuse disclosures
• [44:12] — Discussion of “lost” fame and building a new reality
• [56:00] — Highlights from the closing moments, focusing on transformation, talent, and growth among “the Angels”

Tone & Language

Throughout, the episode maintains The Bonfire’s signature blend of blunt, playful humor and directness, with frequent roasts and affectionate ribbing, but also moments of surprising empathy, especially in Hume’s measured insights. The show oscillates rapidly between laughter, behind-the-scenes revelations, and sharp, sometimes poignant observations about fractured fame and survival in show business.

Summary Takeaways

• Corey Feldman vs. The World is a documentary that blurs the line between mockery and fascination, holding a mirror to both Feldman and the culture that made—and continues to scrutinize—him.
• Marcie Hume’s approach gives space for both absurdity and empathy: her view is sometimes critical but never cruel.
• Feldman’s celebrity is described as equal parts performance art, psychological car crash, and a microcosm of celebrity obsession—making for a roller-coaster subject that the hosts and guest dissect with humor and curiosity.
• The stories of Feldman’s band and “Angels” serve as a potent micro-study for how charisma, hope, opportunism, and cult-of-personality culture play out on a human scale.

For those who missed it, this episode is a fascinating (and very funny) long-form conversation that peels back the layers of Corey Feldman and the documentary chronicling his “world,” all while keeping the laughs coming and asking: is this tragedy, comedy, or both?