Transcript

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Month bill credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 device connection charge credits ended balance due to payoff earlier. Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 A new line minimum $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ooklove Speed Test Intelligence data 1H 2025 Visit t mobile.com It's Friday, October 10, 2025 from Petrifich Productions. It's the gist. I'm Mike Pesca and it's back the beloved or at least beliked possibly funny you should mention in which I Mike Pesca, the aforementioned and currently mentioning myself, self referential Mike Pesca interview a comedian about their jokes. Not so much their process of writing jokes, but maybe a little of that. Not so much their backstory, but enough of that. So you understand the orientation but the ideas behind their jokes. And today kicking off series three is what they would call it in the uk. Series three, season three we'd call it in the US is Steph Tollev. She has a special out called Filth Queen and I have to say Steph's jokes, which are visceral and engaging and perhaps depending on your orientation, off putting. I mean I'm going to warn you, we get into weird things in the body with bad smells very early on in this episode. But the reason I mention it is you might say okay Mike Is this really why Funny you should mention exists? I thought it was more to talk to comedians who are like the new philosophers and ask them about their jokes as if they were op eds. Yes, but what we have to do. See, everyone has a thesis or a theory and their thesis might not be about the Sino Russo War. Anyway, that thing ended like over 100 years ago. You know, their theories may not be a desalinization law of the Sea treaty. I mean, that would be a great comic set. Their theories might be less stated and more about bodily functions and how we relate to them. And so therefore I will tease out these theories or theses as theses. And sometimes the theses, depending on your appetite for disgusting, are a little about feces. That's fine, because on Funny you should mention it's all funny. And I'm glad they mentioned it, but I think you will enjoy this. Our inaugural comic on season two of Funny you should mention. And I should also say that I don't know if you listen on Spotify, but the way Spotify works is they want all their podcasts to also be videos, which is great if you're a Joe Rogany type show and your entire podcast is flip on the mic, flip on the camera, we'll just tape it all and then throw it up there. I'm not denigrating Rogan. I don't mean vomited up there. We'll put it up there will be unbelievably successful and remunerative. But you have to understand how the gist doesn't work like that. Right? It's a pre produced show. We do interviews where we take some time and attention to leave in the best stuff for you. So this was hurting us with Spotify or just didn't work with the Spotify player. But now with Funny you should mention this is what we do. So this introduction that you're hearing now on the Just feed, this will be the orientation for all future Funny you should mention episodes. But if you just want to follow us on Spotify, you're going to get the Spotify experience, which is the full interview, but also the full interview accompanied by a full video. That's what Spotify wants and I think that's what some portion of the listening and now viewing audience wants. But that said, and possibly, arguably too much has been said, Steph Tola, the filth queen. Funny you should mention up next, life's been a little crazy lately. Perhaps you've been hearing some of the segments on the show or just looking out the window and things. So you gotta unwind. 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Summary

The Gist: Funny You Should Mention – Steph Tolev

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Mike Pesca
Guest: Steph Tolev ("Filth Queen")
Podcast Feed: Funny You Should Mention – Series Three Premiere

Overview

In this episode, Mike Pesca kicks off the third season of his “Funny You Should Mention” comedy interview series, welcoming comedian Steph Tolev, self-styled "Filth Queen." The conversation explores the ideas behind Tolev's visceral, dirty, and personal comedy, as showcased in her new Netflix special Filth Queen. They dissect the boundary between "sex filth" and "body filth," the impact of Tolev's unique comedic voice, her Canadian roots, and how her act was shaped by a mix of upbringing, family, and years of hard work. The interplay dives into her process, her relationship with family and audience, and the realities of being a female comic in today’s climate.

Main Discussion Points

1. Filth Queen: The Branding and Its Roots

Steph Tolev owns her "Filth Queen" brand, but says it’s just her being herself:

“I think dirty all the time, so I think I’m just being myself… not trying to be filthy.” (08:39)
Her comedy is built on real-life stories:

“Everything I say, all the stories on there are real.” (08:48)
The difference between 'sex filth' and 'body filth' is blurry:

“I don’t think all filth has to be sexual.” (09:35)

2. The Most Disgusting Stories—From Her Podcast “Steph Infection”

Body-related shame and absurdity connect all people:
- Tolev’s hit question for guests: the “most disgusting thing ever to happen to you.”
- Story highlight: A nurse reported a woman had hidden a raw chicken inside herself, trying to convince her husband she was pregnant.
  
  “She put a raw chicken into her to… I don’t know what… just a raw chicken.” (10:56) “I can’t believe we’re dragging Kenny Rogers into this after all this time.” (12:19)
Women tend to produce the grosser stories:

“Probably the women. Women have definitely more because… we’ve heard more horror stories. Our parents always scared us with weird things.” (12:42)
Healthcare workers have the wildest tales, e.g. Dr. Pimple Popper/Sandra Lee.

3. Real-life Ailments, Fan Diagnoses, and Eczema/Eczema/Noxzema

Tolev’s medical misadventures form a key part of her persona, and sometimes audience members have helped diagnose her conditions:

“I always have something wrong with me… that’s why it’s called Steph Infection.” (13:10)
- Audience correctly diagnosed her sun-triggered eczema:
  
  “Some girl sent me a link — it’s very specific eczema from the sun.” (17:17)

4. The Canadian Comedian Experience

Lack of industry support in Canada:

“I’m the fourth Canadian ever to have an hour special… one podcast in Canada has spoken to me. They don’t give a fuck about their comedians.” (25:55-26:14)
List of previous Canadian hour specials: Mae Martin, Sabrina Jalees, Norm Macdonald.
Contrast with American audiences and industry opportunities.
Influence of British comedy growing up: watched a lot of UK sitcoms, Kids in the Hall, SCTV.

5. Family as Comedy Material

Tolev discusses the way her family stories round out her stage persona:

“The family stories ground you as an actual person rather than this idea.” (18:29)
Parents' reactions:
- Dad angry about boob jokes, proud about “big dick” jokes.
- Mom annoyed when not featured.
- "My dad sent me as kids... he’s got the biggest dick I’ve ever seen... He came to the show in Toronto, I put it up on the big screen, and he was walking around real smug." (19:26)

6. The Bill Burr Effect and Career Breakthrough

Bill Burr’s endorsement changed everything:

“That completely changed my career… went from barely getting booked in LA to... completely changed everything.” (24:11-24:13)
Her act didn’t change, but the exposure brought new opportunities.

7. Jokes, Sketches, and Dummies: Slapstick & Physicality

Tolev’s penchant for slapstick (influence of Naked Gun, British humor).
The use of a ragged dummy in her Filth Queen special’s Boston intro (27:37–29:10).

“We looked into realistic looking dummies and they were very expensive… This one was like 60 bucks from the Halloween thing. If we need a second one…” (28:23)
Philosophy:

“I wanted to open on something so stupid and not dirty to try to get people to come in.” (29:02)
- Start broad before getting to "filth".

8. Standup, Crowdwork, and Audience Dynamics

Crowd work is both a brand and a formula necessity:
- Viral crowd work/crazy audience stories (like the mother taking OnlyFans photos for her son: 34:47)
- “I bring something out of people… they just willingly”—audiences overshare wild stories. (35:23)
- Sometimes this leads to dangerous or threatening situations (e.g., armed landlord, stalkers). Necessity of security. (37:36)
Audience reactions and the gender divide:

“Men DMing me saying, ‘I wasn’t going to watch you, I hate female comedians, but I watched you and fucking loved it.’” (31:16)
Viral crowd work can mislead about her act:

“Someone did DM me recently being like, I watched your special hesitantly because… it looks like all you do is yell at men.” (41:29)

9. LadyStache and the Sketch Roots

Duo with Allison Hogg, creative limitations in Canada.
Performed for years as LadyStache, winning festival awards but couldn’t even get into the Toronto Sketch Fest (45:22).

10. Performance Physicality and Background

Often squats and uses physicality to heighten stories. (55:33–55:36)
Scottish dancing background: “helped with performing in front of large groups.” (56:34)
Family’s Bulgarian heritage is only a minor influence; mainly appropriated Scottish culture for dance.

11. Dealing with Critics, Hate & Internet Trolls

Online hate, especially targeting her appearance:

“I have sparked something with men. They hate me so badly. I don’t think other female comics get hate this bad. I don’t know what it is.” (68:58)
Copes with humor and the unwavering support of her family (“my dad finds me funnier than anybody else”).

12. Non-Stage Life & Golden Retriever Love

Would run a golden retriever rescue if not for comedy.
Stories about adopting and naming her dog Susan, and how that played in bits.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On body-related comedy:

“I'm impulse by it. The only reason I started this podcast is because I always have something wrong with me.” — Tolev (13:10)
On women’s gross-out stories vs. men’s:

“Women have definitely more because… our parents always scared us with weird things…” — Tolev (12:42)
On using real life for comedy:

“I wish I was the kind of comedian who could make up punchlines. Everything just really happened.” — Tolev (20:35)
About Canadian comedy’s lack of support:

“They don’t give a fuck about their comedians.” — Tolev (26:14)
On her “overnight” success:

“That completely changed my career… That went from me doing, like, C clubs… to completely changed everything.” — Tolev (24:11–24:13)
Discussing male audience reaction:

“Men DMing me saying, ‘I wasn’t going to watch you, I hate female comedians. But I watched you and I fucking loved it.’” — Tolev (31:16)
On why she still opens with a broad, non-filthy joke:

“I wanted to open on something so stupid and not dirty, to try to get people to come in.” — Tolev (29:02)

Timestamps for Major Segments

[08:31] – Introduction of Steph Tolev as “Filth Queen”
[10:02] – Disgusting stories from her podcast (raw chicken anecdote)
[12:42] – Why women have grosser stories
[13:21] – The origins and impact of “Steph Infection”
[18:29] – Family stories and grounding her act
[24:11] – The Bill Burr breakthrough
[27:37] – The dummy-in-Boston special segment
[31:16] – Male audiences and DMs about “female comedians”
[34:47] – Mother takes photos for son’s OnlyFans—wild audience stories
[37:36] – When crowd work gets dangerous (armed landlord, security)
[45:22] – Struggles of Canadian sketch comedy with LadyStache
[55:33] – The signature squat and performance physicality
[56:34] – Scottish/Bulgarian cultural influence
[68:58] – Dealing with online critics and hate
[69:29] – Naming her dog Susan, its comedic effect

Tone and Approach

Candid, self-deprecating, and unapologetic: Both host and guest are quick-witted, with Tolev not shying away from vulnerability or taboo.
Insightful about comedy, with meta-commentary on craft, industry, and audience: Pauses to examine philosophical questions about realness, collaboration, and audience projections.
Darkly playful: The discussions of “filth” blend gross-out humor, serious reflection, and open-hearted storytelling.

Further Highlights

Physical Comedy:
Tolev loves prop and slapstick humor (motivated her over-the-top special’s opening).
Crowdwork’s Double-Edged Sword:
Clips go viral, but can misrepresent her as just roasting men.
Family Influence:
Her parents’ wild sense of humor set the tone for her act—the “blow-up doll at the party” childhood anecdote exemplifies this.
Canadian Comedy's Discontent:
Frustration with Canadian gatekeeping, juxtaposed with pride in being part of a small group who broke through.

Conclusion

Funny You Should Mention: Steph Tolev is a deep-dive into the mind of a comic who refuses boundaries on stage or off. Listeners will enjoy the mix of raunch, heart, and sharp observation, with plenty of laughs—and a surprising reminder of both the dangers and the joys of total candor on stage.

Specials and Podcasts:
Filth Queen (Netflix)
Steph Infection (podcast)