The Joe Rogan Experience #2415 – Adam Ray

Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Joe Rogan
Guest: Adam Ray (comedian, actor, impressionist)

Episode Overview

This episode features comedian and impressionist Adam Ray, with Joe Rogan, Brian Redban, and Jamie at the table. The conversation is loose, freewheeling, and filled with stories from stand-up comedy, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, playful character work, and observations on fame, culture, and technology. Adam Ray shares his experiences with impressions (notably Dr. Phil and Tony Hinchcliffe), the realities of working on stage and touring, and riffs on everything from professional wrestling training to modern absurdities like viral trends and reality TV.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Adam Ray's Impressions and Comedy Characters

• Dr. Phil & Tony Hinchcliffe Impressions:
  • Adam recounts his Netflix special where he interviewed Dr. Phil — while dressed as Dr. Phil himself ([00:45]-[02:26]).
  • The dynamic of doing an unscripted show dressed as the person you’re interviewing:

    “It’s a wild thing to do an unscripted show with somebody you have no rapport with.” — Adam Ray ([01:13])

  • Tony Hinchcliffe’s support for Adam’s impression and the camaraderie within the comedy community.
• Character Creation & Makeup:
  • Insider look at the transformation process for impressions, involving prosthetics and wardrobe. Woody Harrelson’s reaction to Tony impression, which Adam riffs into a Johnny Depp idea ([05:41], [06:13]-[06:25]).
  • Improv brainstorming on “Johnny Depp as Tony” and what that would look like on stage, complete with props and running gags ([06:31]-[07:15]).

2. The Comedy Grind and Artistic Delusion

• Starting Out:
  • Adam explains the 'delusion' necessary for young comics, referencing early open mics, bombing at a frat party, and learning to absorb tough crowds ([86:41]-[87:42]).
  • Importance of living a “life worth writing about” and not chasing shortcuts through viral clips alone.
• Social Media and Comedy Today:
  • Discussion on the “crowd work clip” phenomenon; how comics can be propelled too quickly into the spotlight before they're ready. The tension between capturing viral success and building craft ([87:47]-[88:21]).

  • “You don’t necessarily want people watching you the first year… maybe not even in the first three!” — Adam Ray ([88:19])

3. The Lottery, Luck, and the American Dream

• Lottery Mechanics and Psychology:
  • Long, comedic breakdown of how jackpots work, odds, payout options, and why so many winners lose it all ([13:16]-[26:00]).
  • Math on Powerball, annuity vs. lump sum, taxes, and government profits.
  • Consistently skeptical, irreverent tone about the fairness of the system:

    "You sold 111 million tickets for one winner? … That’s bananas." — Brian Redban ([17:53])

• Hypothetical Lottery Spending:
  • Imagining lives changed by a huge win, and why the fantasy is so alluring. Adam and Joe riff about what they’d do if they won — Jeff Bezos-style rocket rides, grills, wasting it all, and why Rogan says winning would be “bad for him” ([26:00]-[27:28]).

4. Physical Transformations and Bodybuilding

• Steroids in Sports:
  • Debate on whether steroid use should be allowed in baseball and sports ([62:37]-[63:36]).
  • Joe:

    “Make it legal. Make it mandatory. I want every baseball player to be roided out of his mind.” ([63:21])

• Bodybuilding & Discipline:
  • Admiration and confusion about the motivation behind extreme bodybuilding and the dedication required ([59:23]-[61:12]).
  • Adam asks if people would take a “lottery pill” to magically get in shape.

5. Pop Culture: Movies, TV, and Reality

• Movies from the 80s:
  • Nostalgic dive into “Weird Science,” “Soul Man,” and the era’s bizarre or problematic premises ([49:01]-[54:35]).
• Reality TV's Evolution:
  • Judgment and amusement at modern reality dating shows like “The Golden Bachelor” and “MILF Manor" ([122:30]-[127:39]).

  • “Why isn’t there just Anal Island at this point?” — Adam Ray ([125:27])

6. Drug Stories & Modern Trends

• Adderall and “Performance Enhancers” for Comedy:
  • Adam’s first time trying Adderall and what it felt like ([101:02]-[102:20]).
  • Joe compares the allure of drugs like Adderall (and crack, humorously) to the temptations of shortcuts and “superpowers."
• Fitness Tech and VR:
  • Extended riff on VR gaming equipment, omnidirectional treadmills, and whether VR exercise will ever appeal to the masses ([94:00]-[97:48]).

7. Empathy, Religion, and Sociopaths

• Religious Encounters:
  • Stories of excessive proselytizing — from childhood summer camp conversion attempts to aggressive fan pushes after shows ([111:04]-[117:54]).
• Religion’s Value:
  • Noting that, at its best, religion provides societal scaffolding for ethics, but “kooks” can give it a bad name ([119:18]-[121:00]).
• Sociopathy in Society:
  • Speculating on the number of sociopaths (“real monsters”) among us and whether it’s nature or nurture ([132:21]-[134:16]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Self-Awareness & Comedy:
  • "Laughing at yourself is such a man... being self-deprecating, you know, within context. Obviously if someone's just being mean, there's a difference." — Adam Ray ([02:27])
• On Starting in Standup:
  • “You need the delusion to start… You’re going to have to suck at the beginning. It’s just with everything you do…” — Joe Rogan ([86:44])
• On Steroids & Baseball:
  • “Make it legal. Make it mandatory. I want every baseball player to be roided out of his mind.” — Joe Rogan ([63:21])
• On Proselytizers:
  • “She said, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know where you’re going when you die?’ I go, to be honest, no, I’m rocking out to my favorite Phil Collins song, hoping the plane reroutes itself and we actually live.” — Adam Ray ([117:44])
• On Reality TV's Absurdity:
  • “Why isn’t there just Anal Island at this point? … Even Love Island, that’s a lot…” — Adam Ray ([125:27])

Noteworthy Timestamps

• Adam’s Dr. Phil Impression Story: [00:45]–[02:26]
• Tony Hinchcliffe Impression, Woody Harrelson on “Depp as Tony”: [05:41], [06:13]–[06:25]
• Lottery odds, payout math, and philosophical riffing: [13:16]–[26:00] (with notable multi-speaker laughter)
• Bodybuilding discipline & would-you-take-the-pill thought experiment: [59:23]–[61:12]
• Comedy “delusion” & learning curve: [86:41]–[87:42]
• Debate about virality vs. craft for new comics: [87:47]–[88:21]
• “Golden Bachelor” and reality TV escalation: [122:49]–[127:39]

Tone and Interactions

The episode is a rapid-fire, joke-heavy, conversational ping pong between friends and comedians. Joe, Adam, and Brian circle back frequently to the absurdities of modern life, the grind of stand-up, and the deeper human need for connection, using real-life stories and sharp impressions to keep the laughs and insights coming.

Their camaraderie and comic instincts create a space where ideas riff freely, from mock business pitches (“Anal Island!”) to heartfelt exchanges about empathy and perseverance in the entertainment business.

Final Notes for Listeners

• Adam Ray’s vivid stories and willingness to poke fun at himself (and everyone else in the comedy/entertainment bubble) make the episode engaging whether or not you’re familiar with his characters.
• For aspiring comedians or comedy fans, there are particularly useful nuggets on what it takes to “make it,” and how the scene has changed.
• Deep dives into the lottery, bodybuilding, tech, and pop culture all serve as springboards for larger discussions about American dreams, discipline, and the lure of shortcuts.

For more of Adam Ray:

• Theatre tour dates and special: adamraycomedy.com
• YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok: @adamraycomedy

For more JRE:

• joerogan.com
• Podcasts available on Spotify and YouTube