Waiting For Ari with Dan Soder

Wed Apr 01 2026

Jay is all set to play the infamous tape of his early stand-up for Dan Soder and the crew but Ari Shaffir is late. To pass the time, Jay makes everyone do a dance from the movie Footloose and Dan plays a bad rap song by Pat McAfee. Once Ari arrives and the tape is played, it does not disappoint. The year is 1997 and Big Jay is on stage at an urban club for one of his first performances ever. Tune in tomorrow for part two and catch the big reveal! *To hear the full show to go www.siriusxm.com/bonfire to learn more! FOLLOW THE CREW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: @thebonfiresxm @louisjohnson @christinemevans @bigjayoakerson @robertkellylive @louwitzkee @jjbwolf

Transcript

Jay Oakerson (0:00)

For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Tremphya offers self injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphya is administered as injections under the

Robert Kelly (0:14)

skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks, followed by injections under the

Jay Oakerson (0:19)

skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can

Robert Kelly (0:22)

self inject Tremphya, proper training is required.

Jay Oakerson (0:25)

Tremphya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderate, moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver problems may occur.

Robert Kelly (0:39)

Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an

Jay Oakerson (0:44)

infection, flu like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about tremphya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit

Dan Soder (0:57)

tremphyaradio.com if you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

Robert Kelly (1:31)

And now the bonfire with Big J

Jay Oakerson (1:33)

Okerson and Robert Kelly. You are young. Hey, baby, it's you. I'm always taken back to this song's one thing for me, and I don't even know why. It's good because she had the flattest, narrowest ass in the world. But the girl in Footloose, when they go to the bar and sing this and they just do a cut of her Jordache's ass. And it's that part when it goes. Back it up, Lou. When it. When the music drops down. So much older is when they're walking out on the floor. They finally find a place where dancing's legal. Right here. Shake that.

Robert Kelly (2:16)

Oh, back. Boom, boom, pow.

Summary

The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly

Episode: Waiting For Ari with Dan Soder
Date: April 1, 2026
Guest: Dan Soder (with Ari Shafir joining mid-episode)
Location: SiriusXM’s Faction Talk, NYC

Episode Overview

The Bonfire brings together comics Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly with returning favorite Dan Soder for a riotous, inside-baseball episode that celebrates brutal self-roasting, comedy history, and the camaraderie/competition among stand-up comics. Ostensibly waiting for Ari Shafir to join, the trio kill time by riffing about awkward early stand-up sets, embarrassing old videos, comedy influences, and legendary bombing stories. The episode is highlighted by their collective deep dive into Jay’s very first set at a black comedy club in the late 1990s—a moment of both cringeworthy nostalgia and hard-earned comedic insight.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. “Ass-Shaking” Footloose Dance-Off (01:33–09:44)

Opening Bit: Jay, Bobby, and Soder start by hilariously reenacting the famous “Footloose” dance scene—each trying to outdo the others’ “ass shake.” They tease and nitpick each other’s moves with everyone on the in-studio crew eventually pressured to join in.
- Notable Quotes:
  - Jay: “I'm gonna show you what she did. Give me a taste, Bobby. Can you do it?” (02:20)
  - Dan: “I became her. I became she.” (03:41)
  - Robert: “You became her. He became she.” (03:42)
Extended riff on dance technique: The crew playfully analyzes “who nailed the move.” There's friendly trash-talk, joking about motivation, and delight in the physical spectacle.
- Soder: “Your butt's arriving. But much like Ari Shafir, your butt's arriving late.” (08:33)

2. Gas Digital Retreat & Legendary Snoring (09:44–12:23)

Stories from a comedians’ vacation: The guys recount a Gas Digital retreat where violent snoring drove one comic (Mike) to sleep outdoors.
- Robert: “He would do the horror movie snore where it would stop and you go, it's over. He died. And then, oh yeah, that's exactly...” (11:23)
- Jay: “It’s the Jason Voorhees…he’s opening his eyes at the end.” (11:28)
Friday the 13th digression: Comparing snoring to horror movie reveals, riffing on illogical horror tropes.

3. Mockery of Comedic Personas & Cringeworthy Comedy Music (12:23–24:16)

Transition to the main theme: Discussion shifts to reviewing old sets and cringing about former comedy personas—"Hollywood Bob," Dane Cook music, and cringe-cameo moments.
- Soder: “You guys never knew Hollywood Bob?” (20:28)
- Robert: “You did it. And then Dane Cook goes, I’ve got a whole pocket full of these.” (20:42)
Pat McAfee ‘Dookie’ Song Review: The hosts roast Pat McAfee’s attempt at music, drawing a parallel to comics trying to expand into other art forms.
- Jay: “Whoever let him record that should be shot in the head, execution style.” (22:12)

4. Setting the Stage: Reviewing Jay’s Earliest Stand-Up (24:16–37:44)

Context: Jay sets up the infamous first set video—early in his career, at the all-black Laugh House in Philadelphia (circa 1997–1998), filmed by his supportive friend Jamie.
- Jay: “I must have played at least a few more other black shows… From what I say, it’s not my first time, but it’s early. My tone and everything.” (26:21)
Speculation on wardrobe: Comics obsess over Jay’s look—Silver chain, big and tall urbanwear, inside-out shirt?—and what it means for “stage persona.”
- Robert: “Can I tell you right now you’re dressed a lot less urban than I thought you would be.” (33:24)
Analyzing movement and stage swagger: Play-by-play on Jay’s stage entrance—alternately credited as “scientific economy of movement” and “early-days posturing.”
- Robert: “At this point, I would tell you it’s downright scientific.” (34:26)

5. Watching and Roasting the Tape (37:44–57:52)

Breakdown of Jay’s Opening: They screen Jay’s first lines—awkward acknowledgement of the black audience, transparently seeking acceptance, and giving a “speech” about belonging.
- Jay’s actual opener: “This is primarily an all black club. I play usually all black clubs. I’m used to it. I don’t try to win you guys, I’m sorry.” (37:47)
- Robert: “This is fantastic. I’m lost in awe of your Save the Last Dance comedy set.” (40:18)
Unpacking New Comic Mistakes:
- Too many crowd greetings (“How’s everyone doing?”), oversharing nerves, trying to telegraph that he’s not pandering by mentioning what he won't do (e.g., talk about rap).
- Jay: “I start informing them that I’m white. It’s okay.” (48:56)
Reminiscing on friend support: Jay’s supportive white-girl friend Jamie is heard on tape cheering him on.
- Dan: “If you buy a Jay action figure, it comes with a supportive white girl.” (42:26)
The agony of having “rookie tape” resurface: The hosts compare the 90s (when embarrassing sets could stay buried) with the Instagram age where comics’ earliest work lives online.
- Robert: “This was found when…I don’t know, your friend’s going through a divorce or an attic fire, but they found it...Versus a lot of people that start now, their open mic is on Instagram within six hours.” (42:00)

6. Comics’ On-Stage Improv and "The DVM Way" (47:49–49:55)

Discussion of a stand-up prompt night at The Comedy Cellar: Bobby describes getting prompts like “dicks,” “bloodletting,” and “nicknames,” and embracing absurdity rather than the expected punchlines.
- Jay: “He hypnotized me:...he goes, ‘Yeah, I hate dicks...wait, do you guys think I’m talking about penis? No, no, no...I mean dicks, like guys that are assholes.’” (47:49)
- Dan: “When I was younger, I loved dicks. I was a dick. You understand? I love mean people. But now I hate dicks. Oh, I have serenity.” (48:36)

7. Ari Shafir Arrives / Final Breakdown (50:00–58:00)

Ari Joins: Ari Shafir enters, gets updated on Jay’s set, and cueing up to experience the cringe with the group.
- Robert: “He looks like they caught the Unabomber’s assistant.” (50:27)
Meta-Commentary: Jay notes he doesn’t see why anyone let him keep doing comedy after seeing his early work, emphasizing the growth and pain all comics face.
- Jay: “I don’t see what anyone saw to let me continue past this point.” (53:01)
- Group marvels at the endurance and delusion required in early stand-up careers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Nostalgia and Embarrassment:
- Jay: “If I was watching a new comic now, I mean, I guess if they said he was, like, under a year in, sure…But even under a year in, everything about it is weird.” (41:38)
On Comedy Growth:
- Dan: “That’s a meme. That’s a brain picture.” (47:48)
- Robert: “This is why I feel bad for comics starting now—because they have to put this out…the open mic is on Instagram within six hours.” (42:00)
On the Unrelenting Roasting:
- Robert to Jay (about beard): "Clearly doesn’t connect. It’s like a bridge that went out.” (57:04)
- Jay (mocking himself): “My beard didn’t connect to my mustache till four years ago.” (57:10)

Important Timestamps

Ass-Shaking “Footloose” Dance-Off: 01:33–09:44
Comic Retreat & Snoring Horror: 09:44–12:23
Comedy Persona Discussion/Mocking Dane Cook & Pat McAfee: 12:23–24:16
Prepping for the Old Set / Jay's Context & Wardrobe: 24:16–37:44
Jay’s Early Set Breakdown / Tape Roasting: 37:44–57:52
Ari Joins, More Breakdown: 50:00–58:00

Tone and Language

Style: Unfiltered, relentless, yet affectionate “ball busting” typical of comics with deep history.
Self-Deprecation: The hosts are merciless with themselves and each other, finding humor in their failures and awkward beginnings.
Deep Inside Jokes: Frequent references to comedy subculture, past bits, recurring characters, and crew members.
Meta-humor: The episode is as much about the experience of becoming a comedian as it is about the specifics of Jay's first set.

Summary for Listeners

This episode is a perfect encapsulation of The Bonfire’s appeal: hilarious, unsparing, and deeply inside the world of stand-up comedy. Through playful competition, stories of humiliation, and a shared celebration of “how far we’ve come,” Jay, Bobby, Dan (and eventually Ari) take listeners on a tour of old wounds, big laughs, and the tender realities behind the myth of the comic. The heart of the show—screening and dissecting Jay’s embarrassing rookie tape—becomes both a group therapy session and a masterclass in both humility and resilience. For comedy fans and working comics alike, it’s a hilarious ode to bombing, growth, and the joy of roasting your friends and yourself.