Being A Dad and The Horrors of Social Media Promotion ft Mike Cannon - CHIT CHAT WEDNESDAY

Summary

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The JTrain Podcast: "Being A Dad and The Horrors of Social Media Promotion"

Chit Chat Wednesday with Mike Cannon
Host: Jared Freid
Guest: Mike Cannon
Date: March 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This laid-back Chit Chat Wednesday features Jared Freid and comedian Mike Cannon diving deep into parenthood, the stress (and strategies) of trips to Disney World, suburban life after Brooklyn, and the often-dystopian realities of promoting comedy in the age of social media algorithms. The episode blends candid insights on being a dad with a comedic but sharp critique of influencer culture, TikTok trends, and the emotional exhaustion of digital self-promotion. Expect laughs, moments of genuine vulnerability, and plenty of skewering of modern internet antics.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Disney World, Parenting, and Managing Expectations

[01:36 – 04:17]

• The "Disney World High" Survival Strategy:
  • Mike shares the necessity of entering Disney World with the expectation of stress and advocates for low-dose THC to maintain "vibes."
  • "It's fun if you just enter it with the expectation that it’s going to be stressful. There are so many parents that show up thinking they’re going to beat the game somehow...” (Mike, 02:15)
• Lesson Parallel to Life and Travel Delays:
  • Jared connects this attitude to travel, taking flight delays or chaos with relaxed acceptance.
  • "There's not a rattled bone in my body...just lay back into the river and let the current float me away.” (Jared, 02:45)

2. Financial Security and Stress

[03:47 – 05:11]

• Financial security as the real goal, more so than “riches,” with flexibility to weather life's disruptions.
• Both comedians empathize with people who can't be flexible due to real-world stressors, like feeding their kids after work delays.

3. Performing in the South – Louisiana Stories

[05:11 – 07:52]

• Mike talks about missing a show due to flight issues and generous bookers in smaller markets.
• Baton Rouge and Party Culture:
  • Discussion of wild atmospheres at LSU games and everywhere in Louisiana, not just New Orleans. "Baton Rouge to me had coke energy...like someone was just going to cold clock you, like at any moment.” (Jared, 05:41)

4. The Realities of Young Kids

[08:06 – 10:34]

• “Why say ‘18 months’?”
  • Mike explains the difference in child development (and perception) between 12 and 18 months. "You have to say the month, because otherwise people are like, you have the most brilliant one-year-old! No, chill out, he's almost two." (Mike, 08:18)
• The disconnect between parents and non-parents about relevant baby stats like age and weight.
• "To explain to a guy with no children how much your baby weighed...you're a complete narcissist. Up your own ass, douchebag." (Jared, 10:07)

5. Suburban Dad Life vs. Comedian Life

[13:59 – 18:40]

• Mike moved from Brooklyn back to his hometown for family reasons during the pandemic.
• Struggles with being known as "the comedian" among suburban parents, especially during awkward comedy conversations.
• On Audience Stereotypes:
  • "I’m not interested in having somebody that doesn’t really know about comedy being like, so what’s Matt Rife like? I’ve never met him..." (Mike, 16:19)
• "Everything about your dad, the minute he says [his favorite comic]. ...It's a great reveal." (Jared, 18:01)

6. Social Media, Parental Influencers, and Internet Trends

[20:03 – 22:27]

• Subtle mockery of parents in the suburbs trying to be “influencers” or trendsetters online.
• Cheeky Influence Tactics:
  • "...half, like, you know, cheekily trying to become an influencer but able to be like, I'm not really trying if it doesn't pan out. Which is the most annoying version." (Mike, 20:43)
• On POV TikToks and “Homogenization”:
  • "It's the classic, ‘I'd hook up, but I'm kidding. Unless…’ It's that exact technique.” (Mike, 21:09)
  • "It's Mad Libs for just dummies. It's the homogenization of the population...everybody's becoming a version of other people." (Mike, 21:22)

7. Viral Diagnoses and Online Authority

[22:27 – 26:43]

• Critique of TikTok doctors and therapists diagnosing public figures based on clips:
  • "...you're giving context to this as a doctor who has no access to the patient...now turned into an entire TikTok thing of like, look at our friend Akash...real therapists breaking down videos and the body language..." (Mike, 23:17)
• Monetization Over Ethics:
  • "There's more money to be a doctor who doesn't doctor but just comments on doctoring than there is to be a doctor." (Jared, 24:23)
• Expansion of this dynamic to comedy podcast analysis—where commentary, drama, and armchair detective work grow bigger than the original work.

8. The Victimhood/Viral Algorithm Grift

[26:02 – 32:45]

• Discussion on how social media incentivizes a victim/underdog narrative for virality.
  • "Trying to frame your career out of the lens of being a victim...even if you were given every opportunity." (Mike, 26:02)
• "It's a WWE trope...and that's what they're copying: ‘from the depths of hell, I've made it to this mountaintop...’" (Jared, 26:43)
• Stand-up comics encountering diminishing returns as platforms change the algorithmic game.
• Matt Rife as a case study:
  • "He talked to, like, the head of TikTok...‘We're just not pushing stand up anymore, man.’ ...Their followers mean so little..." (Mike, 30:47)

9. The Tyranny of Self-Promotion

[33:09 – 39:57]

• Old vs. New School Audience Building:
  • Story about Kevin Hart's email lists and creative hustling.
• Modern Begging:
  • Jared expresses discomfort with earnestly asking fans to preorder books or "play the special for your dog," but acknowledges the stakes: "Can we just stop the begging? Can you get me out of this crucible that I keep trying to crawl out of?" (Jared, 35:47)
• The exhaustion and blurring of fan/friend/comic boundaries in DMs.
• "I have years-long running conversations with people I've never met...midway through, I'm just like, man, you've made yourself too accessible. But also it is a nice connection..." (Mike, 37:35)

10. The Solitude of the Modern “Fan”

[41:18 – 47:04]

• Social media has led to a world for “loner nerds”—the algorithms increasingly focus on individuals consuming alone.
• "We are lifers on these apps and they know they have us...but then, you know, it’s some of the old school stuff that remains the thing..." (Mike, 33:09)
• "A world created by the guy who didn’t have any friends and hung out alone...they're gonna make a world that makes them more comfortable." (Jared, 47:04)

11. Technology, Work, and the Future

[47:15 – 48:55]

• Lampooning the "solutions" offered by tech CEOs about automation and unemployment:
  • "Everything that's been given to us as some sort of time saver has only made us more addicted to it..." (Mike, 48:18)

12. Positivity, Kids, and Family

[49:04 – 54:23]

• What’s Making You Happy?
  • Mike’s kids and family: "It’s the most fun I’ve ever had...It’s expanded my consciousness, ability to love, my ability to connect with people, my ability to forgive, to judge less..." (Mike, 49:10)
• Debate about whether you can be a good parent if you hate your spouse; Mike theorizes spite can make some people “step up.”
• Parenting, communication, and breaking generational cycles: "We move through frustration and don’t avoid it...We’re very open, honest, and authentic with our kids..." (Mike, 52:03)
• Mike and Jared banter about the value of parenthood and being “built” for the dad life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "It's fun if you just enter it with the expectation that it’s going to be stressful. ...take a couple milligrams of THC that you can just vibe through the entire day." (Mike, 02:15)
• "There's not a rattled bone in my body...just lay back into the river and let the current float me away." (Jared, 02:45)
• "Baton Rouge to me had coke energy. Like, it felt very dangerous. It felt like someone was just going to cold clock you, like at any moment." (Jared, 05:41)
• "You have to say the month [of a child’s age] because otherwise people are like, you have the most brilliant one-year-old! No, chill out, he's almost two." (Mike, 08:18)
• "To explain to a guy with no children how much your baby weighed...you're a complete narcissist. Up your own ass, douchebag." (Jared, 10:07)
• "I'm not interested in having somebody that doesn't really know about comedy being like, so what's Matt Rife like? I've never met him..." (Mike, 16:19)
• "Cheekily trying to become an influencer but able to say, ‘I'm not really trying if it doesn't pan out.' Which is the most annoying version." (Mike, 20:43)
• "It's Mad Libs for just dummies. ...The homogenization of the population where it's like everybody is becoming a version of other people." (Mike, 21:22)
• "There's more money to be a doctor who doesn't doctor but just comments on doctoring than there is to be a doctor." (Jared, 24:23)
• "Trying to frame your career out of the lens of being a victim, even if you were given every opportunity..." (Mike, 26:02)
• "He talked to, like, the head of TikTok...‘We're just not pushing stand up anymore, man.’...Their followers mean so little..." (Mike, 30:47)
• "Can we just stop the begging? Can you get me out of this crucible that I keep trying to crawl out of?" (Jared, 35:47)
• "I have years-long running conversations with people I've never met...man, you've made yourself too accessible. But...at least if I die, 14 people will have a very good story about how accessible and kind I was." (Mike, 37:35)
• "A world created by the guy who didn’t have any friends and hung out alone...they're gonna make a world that makes them more comfortable." (Jared, 47:04)
• "Everything that's been given to us as some sort of time saver has only made us more addicted to it..." (Mike, 48:18)
• "It's the most fun I've ever had...It’s expanded my consciousness, ability to love, my ability to connect with people, my ability to forgive, to judge less..." (Mike, 49:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:36] – Disney World “high” parenting strategies
• [02:45] – Life’s frustrations and letting go
• [05:41] – Wildness of Baton Rouge and Louisiana culture
• [08:18] – Why parents say kids’ ages in months
• [16:19] – Comedy in the suburbs and “Matt Rife” conversations
• [21:22] – TikTok/Instagram influencer culture and content Mad Libs
• [23:17] – TikTok therapists & diagnosing public figures
• [26:02] – The underdog/victim trope in online promotion
• [30:47] – Matt Rife & the meaninglessness of follower counts
• [35:47] – The “begging” of modern comedy and seeking fan support
• [37:35] – Perils and joys of fan DMs and digital accessibility
• [47:04] – “Loner nerds” and digital isolation
• [49:10] – The transformative power of fatherhood
• [52:03] – Healthy family conflict and communication

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Tone & Style Highlights

The conversation is candid and breezy but pulls no punches—wry, self-aware, and frequently meta about both comedy and the weirdness of modern life. The episode deftly oscillates between mockery of social media posturing, authentic reflections on parenting, and the real grind of being a working comic in a platform-dominated world.

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Closing Notes

• Mike Cannon’s socials and projects: @mikecannon on all platforms, plus “Fart Carnival” and “Beautiful Boys” podcasts.
• Jared Freid: Teases upcoming comedy special and book, encourages preorders and first-day views as vital acts of fan support.

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This summary captures the spirit, insights, and humor of the episode and is designed to be a useful guide—filled with the best moments, timestamps, and direct quotes for any listener considering diving in.

Transcript

[A]

Chit Chat Wednesday for you to listen to. I have a guess who will be your new boo. You're gonna love them, too. Chit Chat Wednesday. I hope you're having a good day today. I hope it's gonna be a perfect week, too. I hope you have a nice poo. It's a ch Chat Wednesday, too. Hello, and welcome to the J Train podcast. This is J Train Jared Freed coming to you live from Delray Beach, Florida. That's right, every Wednesday is a Chit Chat Wednesday where I sit down with a comedian, a friend, an expert. Today I have all three. Comedian, friend, expert in. I'll give him the expertise in going out in public High. I think he's like, maybe one of the best going out in public High guys I know. Great reputation. He's built. An okay key to the show. Original key player Mike Cannon. Thank you for coming on.

[B]

What an honor, man. I. I mean, both to be on and to be bestowed that expertise in entering the world.

[A]

Dad of two and greater. Entering the world high. That is how I introduce you.

[B]

Dude, it's the only way you get through Disney World, man. Have you done Disney World as a guy not drinking? We did it with my oldest right before my youngest was born.

[A]

So, like, get it out of the way. You're like, I don't want to do it with two. I. I'll get you done and then we'll get the second one done on his own on his 18th birthday. Once you're out of the house.

[B]

Yeah, we'll take him there at an age he couldn't possibly appreciate it, and then, you know, you'll be done with it at that point.

[A]

What was that like? Is that fun? Do you know?

[B]

What's the.

[A]

What do they call roses and thorns? What. What's the roses and thorns of taking your kid to Disney World?

[B]

It's. Here's the thing, it's fun if you just enter it with the expectation that it's going to be stressful. There's so many parents that show up thinking they're going to beat the game somehow, and then before they even enter the park, they're melting down on their children. And it's like, if you just know you're going to be waiting and it's going to be over. You know, there's just buzzers and lights and all this stuff going on. And, you know, you maybe take a couple milligrams of THC that you can kind of just vibe through the entire day.

[A]

It's a kind of a lesson for life. Like when A. When a flight gets delayed when, when, when. When there's weather patterns coming and you get delta, like, hey, you might be experiencing some weather stuff. I don't. I look at that and I just lay back into the river and I let the current float me away. Like there is not.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

A rattled bone in my body. And I. I was just in Austin and they were like this. I came off stage and this guy literally takes his phone, he puts it up to the. My face. He's like, there's a storm front that goes from Maine all the way down to Texas. I was like, who cares? What am I going to do? I. I'm a. On this flight. Yeah.

[B]

I think if you can like financially weather not getting places on time, then it's actually one of the great. It's one of the great, like, excuses to be given of like, hey, you have no control over the situation, man. The pla. What, do you fly in the plane? No, just lay back and relax and, you know, let the schedule dictate your life.

[A]

It's the underrated part. I mean, that's what. When they ask these people, you want to be rich? No. You want to be financially secure where, you know, the world can be shuffled around if I need it to be shuffled around. You know, I think that's the people dealing with the most stress. Like, if I don't get home, the kids aren't gonna eat dinner and it's because I couldn't make enough shekels to make it happen. You know? You're like, oh, that sounds horrible. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, you know, and it's. That's a large part of life for a lot of us, I suppose. But it is like, you know, even going out currently with like the government being shut down and the planes being like just all over the map. I was going out to Louisiana and I missed my first show in Baton Rouge. But it was all okay because the booker was like similar to us where he was like, hey man, you know, I've had bookers on the other end be like, well then cancel. You know, forget everything. And it's like, I can't do anything about it, man. I don't know what to tell you, but this guy was so great. JP at Lafayette Club 337. I heard it's like club. I heard it's fun, it's awesome. It's like. And they're so appreciative, cuz, you know, the smaller places in. In. See, I almost just called the state New Orleans. Wow. People do that. But it's like, that's exactly. But the smaller places are like dying.

[A]

Well, Louisiana. I've been to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When you fly to New Orleans, it's like an hour from New Orleans, right?

[B]

I think so, yeah. Or Baton Rouge is. Yeah. An hour away.

[A]

I went to Baton and then Lafayette's supposed to be okay, so I went to bat. So you did the show in Lafayette, not Baton Rouge?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, because we flew in, I got in literally as the show was supposed to start and then we would have been an hour and a half late minimum. So you just. I couldn't ask.

[A]

I went to Baton Rouge for a LSU Alabama football game. They were number one versus two. And I went because I was doing that's unreal show. And I would say Baton Rouge to me had coke energy. Like, it felt very dangerous. It felt like someone was just going to cold clock you, like at any moment.

[B]

Yeah, they're just jacked up, ready to go. That's. I mean, that's lsu, right? That's where, that's where the campuses. Yeah. So I mean, they're like, they're also year round excellence and fired up in sports and that's kind of all they got cooking, you know what I mean? So it's like, why would. They're, they're just.

[A]

Yeah, well, like you said, it's also the. And I, I think this was the case. This is the case. You know when you're drinking and you go to like Syracuse or you go to like whatever upstate town. Well, the, I guess the most applicable is where the horse races are. Where? Saratoga. When you go to Saratoga, which is a party town, you're like, out in Saratoga. I was there for a wedding. And I'm like, man, this place goes nuts. They're like, it's wild. And I'm like. And then all of a sudden it's like 1:30 and you're like, ah, we better start packing up here. And they're like, no bars are open till 4am It's New York. And you're like, oh. You're like, no, I didn't. Follow me here. You're like, wait a minute, it's a state law. That's not like a New York City law. And it's the same for New Orleans. Whenever you travel outside of New Orleans, you're like, oh, thank God we're. We've left Bourbon Street. We don't have to deal with all those crazies. And then they're like, no, the crazies are everywhere. It's the whole state. It's so. Yeah. You don't expect it.

[B]

No. And also, I, you know, I'm dumb. So I was like, I didn't realize that Mardi Gras was also a statewide thing. Like, I thought it just belonged to the city of New Orleans. And Shia Buff. I didn't realize that, you know, people in Lafayette were out there partying too, but they're like, yeah, this is. It's even bigger.

[A]

I use this podcast as an excuse to catch up with old friends. And I'm happy to see you. What's been going on? I didn't even. I. I knew you had a second kid. How. How's two kids? What is that? Like, how old is the second kid? It's.

[B]

He's 18 months. So he'll be two this. This summer.

[A]

I know this joke has been. Why. Why do you say 18 months?

[B]

What?

[A]

What. Why do you. Why are you confined? Why?

[B]

Because the vast difference, it's only. So it cuts off at 2. I don't know, the people that are, like, beyond that, that are like, oh, he's 27. It's like, just these fucking two. Like, yeah, but the difference between one and one and a half. And then even, like, just before two, you have to say the month, because otherwise people are like, you have the most brilliant one year old I've ever met in my entire life. And then you have to, like, you have to chill their expectations. And you're like, no, chill out. He's almost threw him into Jeopardy.

[A]

Come on, they're doing Kids Jeopardy this week. You're like, no, no, relax.

[B]

He's a senior in the one year old.

[A]

Yeah, I've never thought of it that way. I. I've always made fun of it, but never thought to even speak to a parent about why they keep saying it. I just. I just write them off as a total loser loony. And I'm like, get out of my face.

[B]

You're justified. Well, because like anything, we've taken it too far. You know, the parents of the people that are like, oh, my boy, he's 38 months. And it's like, shut up, he's three and a half. Or he's three or whatever, just like, deal with it. And then people get the general sense of where they're supposed to be at, life wise. But with one, like one year old, I mean, my. My son, when he turned one, he's basically still useless. Like, he's a puddle of a human being.

[A]

The biggest difference between you and I, same age. But you two kids. Me, no kids, is I Have no reference for weight of a child, Age of a child. When someone says, oh, my baby was 16 pounds when it was born, I nod. I don't even. Oh, ah, yes, yes. And they go, that is a huge. And I go, oh, that's crazy. Yeah. I don't have any like the idea that people, that's how little people think of other people. I think about that all the time. Like, like to explain to a guy with no children how much your baby weighed. You have just shown me you are a complete narcissist. Up your own ass, douchebag.

[B]

Totally. You're all. You're also kind of like violating HIPAA because you're saying you're basically, you're offering up that your wife like just demogorgon her own vagina with a 16 year old.

[A]

Well, this is another thing. I have no reference for what happens to the vagina.

[B]

Right. But, but that's what he's trying to tell you. He's trying to be like 16. I mean that I, it may have been. She may have shot a bowling ball through that thing like it's a nightmare. Or she had to go through a crazy surgery. That is also.

[A]

Well, I've never had a man tell me the way I've only had women tell me the weight of a child.

[B]

Oh, no kidding. See, I have dudes. This is the funny thing is like, you know, my, my oldest is now playing sports and I've played sports. So I kind of.

[A]

How is that?

[B]

I understand the.

[A]

Are you crazy?

[B]

Funny to watch, man.

[A]

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[B]

I never want to yell at a ref because they're children too. Like, they are literal children. So I think any, I think any parent that does that should be like lifetime banned from sports. It's like, get out of here, man. Everybody's volunteering their time. What are you doing? But like it is interesting because, you know, I'm. I'm kind of peripherally involved in the town that I grew up in. So I'm seeing kids that I played sports against have children and I know they weren't shit in sports, but they're taking it militarily serious about their kids. And they're like seven and they're like, we're in AAU four times a week and then in the weekends we play rec and then CYO on Sundays and it's like, what do you do? You're gonna blow out this kid's Achilles by the time he's 11.

[A]

Why wait? You moved to your hometown?

[B]

So I live right, I'm from right outside.

[A]

I know that. So we.

[B]

During the pandemic. Yeah. So during the pandemic we were in Brooklyn. The bloods moved on to my front stoop. We left Brooklyn. You went to your in laws for. We went to.

[A]

Yeah. And I lived next to you guys. You guys held hands in the womb. I forgot about that. So. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, dude.

[A]

So. So you're back in your hometown where

[B]

you grew up, 10 minutes away. I'm not, like, fully. Yes, but yes, I am, because. And. And here's the thing. I've had to come full circle with this right where I've, like, I grew up, you know, like any comic or anybody, like, that is, like, kind of a weird chip on my shoulder about my hometown. Like, both appreciative for it and kind of, like trying to distance myself as if I'm somehow different from the people that are here. But then, like, as I brought my family back and as we lived here during the pandemic and as I saw my son in the space and outside of the city and, like, you know, making friends and all this stuff, it's truly an ideal place to live because of the access to both the city and to will, you know, is space.

[A]

And here's my first thought. It seems like hell on earth to be a. To be a comedian. Having to talk to people in my hometown about being a comedian.

[B]

Yeah. Doesn't come.

[A]

Doesn't come up.

[B]

Doesn't really. I mean, it does. Like, it does with people. Like my son's friends, parents. They'll, like, kind of ask me stuff and, you know, and I'll brush that away, and then we'll talk. I'm very good at shifting conversation because I'm the same way, dude. I do not. I'm not interested in having somebody that doesn't really know about comedy being like, so what's Matt Rife like? You know, I've never met him, and they're. It's immediate. Like, especially the moms. They're, like, soaking wet, and they're just like, tell me about Rife. And I'm like, he seems like a great. Yeah, dude. I'm like, he seems like a great guy I've never met.

[A]

I'm in Florida. I don't even get asked about Matt Rife. I would think that everyone here would be wearing a Matt Rife T shirt. I got. It is always wild to me, the Florida people and what their comedy thing is gonna be. You know, they really gotta let me know when it comes up here. It's like. It's a wild ride. I'm always. I. I just. I've learned to stay quiet an extra 30 seconds. That's always my.

[B]

Yeah, that's some. Don't. What a great life advice for almost anything is just give it space. Give everything sp. Because my dad, like, Even my dad. That's what's trained me for all of these conversations and not being, you know, not getting bothered by them is my dad will just be like, you know. You know, and it's who you exactly think. He's like, you know who I think's incredible? Tyler Fiser. And I'm like, of course you do. That's right in line with you. Politically. It's like, you know, it's top f. Top comment of Twitter and Reddit mixed into a routine. I completely understand why you like. Yeah, yeah, sorry. It's a shot, I suppose.

[A]

Again, you know everything about your dad. The minute he says that. You know, like, that's the thing about. That's the thing about. Here's my favorite comedian. Sometimes it's just a great reveal of, like, not, you know, like, of who they are as a person, you know, like, what the. What. What that's going on in their life. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, the amount of parents that are like, you know, who I like now didn't care for his early stuff, but Jim Brewer. And I'm like, I know exactly where you're at in terms of your algorithm.

[A]

I know where, where, where you started, where you went, where you're going. I know the whole journey.

[B]

It's like, I didn't, I didn't care for when he was a hilarious storyteller. But this 2026 anti vax run is

[A]

Angry at Getting Demoted from First Class was his most recent news story. That was his. His most recent headline was Jim Brewer Angry at being Demoted. But I gotta say, if I was demoted from first class, I don't know how I would react, but I would definitely talk about it. Definitely be a story that would be on a podcast. I do. And you know how that would be reported if I was famous as Jim Brewer had the. I, I, you know, there's. Now, it's like Anyone from the 90s that was a name like, has the ability to go viral because you go, oh, Jim Brewer's complaining about. Got demoted. Like, we're just, like, happy to know the same name. I think he's not even that famous. Famous in the sense that we know the name. And your dad, like, I brought up Alanis Morris set to my parents the other day. My mom didn't know who. She goes, should I know who that is? I go, maybe we should put you in a hospital. Like, yeah, I think you should know who that is.

[B]

That's crazy. Well, and also, is there more evidence of what we're talking about right now than the most Recent, like, Goo Goo Dolls. Mom, dad, what were you like in the 90s followed by so and I'd give up forever.

[A]

Are you in that, like, world? So you're in the suburban world that is adjacent to the city, and are you dealing with seeing, like, the parents doing trends on. On Tick Tock and. Or are they kind of like, has that quieted down? Does that exist in the parent world?

[B]

Is there's.

[A]

Is there a parent in your world that you're like, they are going for it on social media.

[B]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. There's. I mean, people that I even. This is. These are people that I don't see in my real life, but, like, people I grew up with that are like, you know, half, like, you know, cheekily trying to become an influencer but able to be like, I'm not really trying if it doesn't pan out, which is

[A]

the most annoying version. It's the classic, you know, where we're like, of course. Follow, subscribe, like, and, yeah, just look at a. Leave a shooting star and make a wish for me, you know, like,

[B]

I mean, it's the classic, like, you know, you ever. You ever joke around to a girl where it's like, you know, I'd hook up, but I'm kidding. Unless you like. It's that. It's that exact technique.

[A]

That is the technique.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I. I hate when they do pov. You're just like the awkward friend and you're like, what the. Is this a bit.

[B]

Dude?

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's.

[B]

It's refillable is what it is. It can make anybody a content creator. It's like you. It's Mad Libs for just, you know, dummies. And I guess it's. That's kind of what social media is built for, I suppose. But it's also the homogenization of the population where it's like everybody is becoming a version of other people. We're all just getting our faces carved up to look the exact same. Everybody's personality is the same. It's.

[A]

Yeah, there's this whole Taylor, Frankie Paul thing happening with the Bachelorette, and I, you know, the Bachelorette gets shelved and it gets on my algorithm because I'm a bachelor guy. I'm. I'm, you know, in the nation. In Bachelor Nation. I do. I, you know, I love the. The show and I make fun of it, but then I'm, like, learning new terms. Like, she's in, like, a domestic abuse of. There's allegations. There's all these horrific things that no one should ever want. Like, I see that subject and I'm like, ah, well, good luck. I hope everyone is okay. And can I give money to a charity? You know, like that to me that's a normal reaction.

[B]

And can I wash myself?

[A]

I feel awkward. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please no one be hurt. Find your therapy. I'm not on. I don't know what side. Tell me. And then you just see these people go out on social media and they found like, I see like these people that are like this is. And telling me what type of abuse is and I'm like. And they're all repeating like four different opinions. There's like four opinions you can choose from. And it's like shitty opinion A, the, you know, I'm a saint opinion B, I'm a saint opinion C. And then shitty opinion D. And you're like. And I'm like, how did they all learn this term overnight? Like all of a sudden, right? And they all. And I, and I'm sitting here being like, who would even jump into this water

[B]

well and think about like HIPAA violations are the amount of people that like. And I guess this kind of started with like Dr. Drew and celebrity Rehab and like publicly diagnosing people with problems. And then in turn like Dr. Drew would comment on like Britney Spears during her public manic episode. This is what's going on here. It's like this, this feels so inappropriate to. That you're giving context to this as a doctor who has no access to the patient, which now has turned into an entire TikTok thing of like, look at our friend Akash and like the Internet beating that he got. And then there's real relationship therapists coming out and discussing the videos and breaking them down and the body language and all of this stuff. And it's like you don't know these people and you're a real doctor and you're commenting and giving real true like medical, supposed medical advice based on what you're seeing.

[A]

I agree with what you're saying. But I guess if, if I'm to say like, why would they do this? The I, I would assume for some of these doctors who don't want to deal, there's more money. The, the crazy part.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is that there's more money to be a doctor who doesn't doctor but just comments on doctoring than there is to be a doctor.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So, so it's all incentive based. So that's where a lot of these videos where like, if you're not aware of the incentive, and I'm not sure how much people are aware of the incentive. Then you think this is them giving their, you know, their. Their. Their. Their just their general opinion. I'm just trying to help. I'm just trying to add to the conversation. It's like, yeah, no, no, no, no, no. You are trying to be divisive and to give an opinion that people disagree. You're leveraging, and then maybe your video will pop off and you get a following. And now you can make a hundred grand a month because between. Between the Tick Tock views, you're doing

[B]

this all celebrities that.

[A]

Yeah. To just keep diagnosing. I'm the diagnosis guy.

[B]

For real. I mean, think about, like, even the. Even the podcast commenters or the comedy pod, you know, comedy guys that are their view their videos right now, which are well done and, like, you know, cleverly put together. But it's like, those are bigger than a lot of specialists.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Right now. Like, so it's. The comment on the thing is bigger than the thing itself because people like it. We're now in this, like, Forensic Files era where, you know, everybody's a serial killer detective and everybody wants to find out who's on the Epstein files and whose private plane is flying into what airport and all this shit. So we're more interested in the detective work than we are in the actual thing. Scary.

[A]

Yeah. You want. I guess that's right.

[B]

Like, well, and it's also such a. What a time to be alive when every millionaire, you know, comedian and other like, so it's. But I notice it in our business, but it's like, it's happening all over the place. It's this, like, trying to frame your career out of the lens of being a victim and out of the lens of being an underdog. Even if you were gifted. Every. And not gifted, but given every opportunity.

[A]

No, listen.

[B]

Every opportunity that you know possibly exists from the moment you started. I mean, we know a lot of them, too, where I'm not even. I'm not talking, but just acknowledge the luck and the opportunity that you've had instead of being like, I'm a real underdog and thanks for rolling me along and blah, blah, blah.

[A]

And it's like, those are born with $10 million. That's a WWE trope. And that's what they're copying WWE. They're going, like, when you see a standup special, like, promo video, that's like. And they're like, from the depths of hell, I've made it to this mountaintop. And no one's allowing me to say my piece. And it's like, you've been a lot. You. Yeah, you've had more microphones than anyone's ever had in the history of microphones.

[B]

It's great.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Netflix said no.

[A]

Welcome to the club.

[B]

YouTube, the largest streaming.

[A]

We're all a bunch of losers. You're gonna get more no's than yeses in a successful career. But they know that motivated people trying to get people to connect. It works like, yeah, no one wants to hear this stuff. I, like, I saw a special where it was a very. I mean, Chris Rock, he's in a special going, yeah, I said it. And it's like, yeah, we know. That's what the special's for.

[B]

You've been saying it, man. That's great. We're all a fan because you've been saying it.

[A]

I don't know. Do you think we get more of. Do you think we just have to watch it all because we're trying to, like, find our audience, that we have to watch everyone else trying to find their audience, that we kind of get a front row seat to this stuff that, like, then, like, it kind of trickles down to the regular person who's just on Facebook once a day. Do you know what I mean? Like, do you think we see it?

[B]

Like, we're.

[A]

Because I think when I. When I see a video that's trying to be viral under the guise of victimhood, I'm like, who's buying this? You know? And then. But then. But we know the grift.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think we're. We're consciously tuned into it, you know? Like, I think that's obvious. Like, we're. We're looking at angles and we're dissecting things from a. Certainly from a different perspective than, I guess, people who are just consuming social media. But I think, like, it's similar to, like, how comedy got so popular through podcasts that, like, an audience member would come up to you after and be like, great.

[A]

Tag.

[B]

And you're like, how do you know the terminology? Like, what is this? You've been. You've. You're. You're now taking in too much about the art form where you're like, hey, the callback. And, oh, you.

[A]

You've ruined. It's like, well, that's why there's a.

[B]

Yeah, it's like, it's great that you're.

[A]

I mean, when I watch anyone who.

[B]

But I feel like similarly, people. People on the Internet are now, like, at the very least, they're familiar with the term algorithm. They're familiar with the fact that we kind of curate it through our own interests or at least through our own interactions with stuff. But it deepens my. You know, this is. You know me, and you've known me since I was on the conspiracy podcast, but it's like this deepens my thing of, like, we all really are living in a simulation, and it's in. It's our own simulation of our own creation because we all have our own algorithm. We're not living in the same reality as each other because we're taking in slightly different information and therefore interacting with people based on that. Slightly different. So we're kind of like Demolition man, not able to fully touch each other. And it's just like we're.

[A]

That's why there's so much talk to Mike. So much like, I knew I was going to be having fun with this, this conversation. I knew we'd get to Demolition man realities that barely touch at some point. We know. It is. I mean, I. It is. It's frustrating and funny at the same time. Like, what people come in contact with, what they don't, what my parents see, what my friends see. And I think if you, you know, the comedy stuff gets frustrating because it's just all day long, you know, you kind of, like, witness it and it's. I don't know, man. It's.

[B]

I know. It's also. Part of. It is kind of the thing that I've gotten lately is that it's more of a lottery than ever in the sense that, like, there is no consistent algorithm. It's constantly changing. Even Matt Rife was on, like, Club Shay. Shay just. I'm our guy today, but I'm a Rife head. But you're right. I thought it was an interesting. He was like, he talked to, like, the head of Tick Tock or whatever or some Tick Tock rep that was like telling him, yeah, we're just not pushing stand up anymore, man. And he's like, but I've accumulated 20 million followers that have intentionally signed up to my feed to get my content. And they're just like, yeah, you know, I don't know what to tell you. They're gonna have to go to your profile to see it because we're not just. We're just not going to show it to them. So if the. If the fact that, like, followers mean so little, that a guy with 20 million can't get his video in front of people, then it should kind of let us all take our Hands off the wheel a little bit and be like, all right, you know, that's fine. Like, this is what it is. And I'll try to connect in a different way.

[A]

To win on TikTok used to be do the same thing every day and just beat the drum and you'll stay on that algorithm. And it's. That's nice to hear someone who just, like, throws shit up and is like, like been doing, you know, like, if you just do your thing, it all comes back to you and you don't work again. Lay in the river, let the current take you away. It's kind of how you have to do is. But I do. I've always called it a penny and a wishing well. And if, like, Tik Tok is like, hey, we want people on the app longer and we don't want, like, Matt Rife will be on as long as he's going to be on no matter what. Like, I kind of don't blame them. They're like, no, we need more people doing face to the camera where they're hoping to get out of their accounting job. Like, they want. They want a Rife too. They want to be on their tour too. You know, the accountant who's funny about accounting. So they're gonna, like, spread the wealth, you know, like it.

[B]

Where. Where's that guy playing?

[A]

Yeah, he'll be there. He's on after Mozzarella Joe or whatever the fuck that guy's name is. Yeah.

[B]

Jersey's Funniest account.

[A]

Jersey's Funniest account. We're gonna get you the Jersey Tick Tock Trio. The Mozzarella Joe, Vinnie the account.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

And the Dentist. I don't know. It's. It's crazy enough that it's gonna happen.

[B]

Yeah. Also great point. I didn't consider that, like, we are lifers on these apps and they know they have us because our, you know, our business relies on it. But then, you know, it's some of the old school stuff that remains. Remains the thing. It's like you do a really great job of maintaining connection to your audience, whether that's through social media, email, Twitter, whatever. It might be. Like, you're constantly just blasting out on All In. You know, you're buck shotting on every app, trying to get your people and it's going to work. But, you know, it's like that old email list. Everybody heard the stories of Kevin Hart bringing his buddies to his early gigs and having, like, one of those umpire clickers that can count the heads. So he was in charge of the bonus structure, you know, so the club would be like, oh, actually, we only had 125. He's like, as a matter of fact, my boy Tiny D over there clicked 400 times. So we're going to. Going to cash in on the bonus. And then he would have his other friend, Tiny C, come around with a piece of paper, and that guy would get every email in the entire place. And he amassed hundreds of thousands of millions of emails over time.

[A]

And that's how he made Tiny D ironically huge dick. Tiny C also ironically huge. So both. No, you know, that's. That's something I. You know, I have a special coming out, and I'm like. And I got this book coming out, and, like, I'm doing shows, and I get to the end of the show and I make a plea.

[B]

Like.

[A]

And I feel a little weird for it, but I'm like, I have people in this room who have. Who are having a good time. I can feel it in the air.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I say to them, I say, hey, the book's coming out. I. I don't know if you want to help me or not. You're. If you've had a fun time tonight and you go, I want to support this guy, buy it in pre sale. Because that might put me on the New York Times bestseller list and change my life. You could be a part of that. And then I tell a story about my dad. When he. When I told him, I was like, you know, I could be a New York Times bestseller, he went. He, like, joked. He scoffed so hard I thought he was gonna die. Like, he died. I kept imagining if he died from a scoff, like, just from the idea of my success would kill him.

[B]

It's also just so. It's like your parents dream achieved in a way they couldn't have possibly imagined.

[A]

So it can't go that way. So it just can't. Yeah. And I say, so if you want to, like, fuck with my dad, buy it in pre order. Like, that's like my going spiel.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then I say with a special. I'm like, can you just turn it on and play it for the dog? It only helps me if you watch it in the first hour. So, like, you know, like. And I'm like, let me just level with you. Like, if you don't watch in the first hour, I'm gonna be begging you again in two years to do something else. Can we just stop the begging? Can you get me out of this. This crucible that I keep trying to crawl out of

[B]

every once in a while. I do a similar thing online where I'm like, guys, I'm getting close to recording another hour. I'm so tired of the same 150 to 200,000 people watching it, telling me it's the most underrated work of all time and I should be way bigger. And then none of you ever tell your friends.

[A]

Sometimes I think I like, so, like,

[B]

please, for the love.

[A]

I do think I'm in hell because I think I've like made every wrong decision by like 1/8. Like, I, I had. I've done just well enough to be in it. But I remember when I first started doing social media stuff, someone was like, you got to respond to, to every dm, every message. It's the only way to go. And now instead of people commenting on my thing because I've responded so much, I'll get messages like, this was so funny from like someone. And I'm like, can you like put that on the thing? Like this, like, coming directly to me is actually, is actually bad in two ways. Not only is it not helping the video go viral, it's also wasting my time with a. You know. And again, I want to thank the person.

[B]

Yeah, it's very kind of you, but we are not really friends. Look, we kind of are.

[A]

I, I like you. I'm sure we would be hanging out if I lived in. Yes, you know, Des Moines, you know, like, yes, 100%.

[B]

You would be my best friend in Des Moines. That's how I feel about a lot of my. Because I'm in the same thing where all interaction. I mean, I have years long running conversations with people. I've never met you same. I've never met them. And, and midway through, I'm just like, man, you've made yourself too accessible. But also it is a nice connection that, you know, at least if I die, 14 people will have a very good story about how, how accessible and kind.

[A]

I had a meltdown once about that. I was in Australia and I'm doing shows in Australia, which is like the great. Like, it's again, like someone could poke a hole in everything I'm saying right now. Being like, you're complaining you were in Australia doing shows. I'm in Australia, I'm doing shows. It was great. And then I'm. But I'm like, hey. I'm like, hey, Adelaide, I'm coming. It's a 4pm show. Like, it's like, it's not easy. Like, I listen in a world. It's not easy. World. I should not have anyone in Adelaide who knows about my show. There's. There's people in Adelaide watching this on YouTube right now. And I think that's the coolest thing in the world. And I remember 100. I got a DM or something that was like, oh man, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to make it. Are you gonna be here a few days? Like, And I'm like. And I, I like, scrolled up. I have like, grabbed, like, can we like, get. And I scrolled up and we had like years of messages. And I'm like, listen, you don't have to come to the show. Like, like, like, that's, that's not even, like, why I'm upset. I'm messaging with them and they're on a couch seven feet from me in Adelaide. I'm across the universe. This is another planet. And I'm like. And I remember writing back to them and I was like, listen, I. We don't have to interact anymore. I, I like, had a meltdown. I like, a total meltdown. They ended up coming to the show with their dad. And like, I felt so bad about even saying anything. Like, I was like. And I'm like, thanking the dad who obviously, like, yeah, this like, comedian, like, really like, begged me to come here, you know, Like, I'm like, I felt like the biggest loser.

[B]

You're correct. And also correct, like, both things because I, I've done the same thing. That person didn't even come out after I shamed them. So I suppose I should feel worse. But it was like years of like, promoting and, and reaching out and doing all this stuff and being kind and, you know, me thinking I have this like, guaranteed ticket in.

[A]

And here's the other thing to kind of like push back at you because I don't think we think of these people as a ticket sold. Like, I don't think that's not why.

[B]

No.

[A]

Started talking with them genuinely. It probably started with them saying, this was funny. And you going, thank you. Like, whatever. It was 100 over the years responding. You go, thank you, thank you. Oh my God. Haha. Lol, react, Remoji and all that. And then you get to the thing that you're like, oh, this is what it was all for. I started an Instagram account to have someone come to a show when I'm in town maybe, or not, and I don't have to know about it. And they're messaging you going, oh man, sorry, I can't make it like, you're not my cousin. Like I, and you go, right? I thought at the very least this was a fan. If I can't count on this person coming to the show, then who would ever come to my show? This is kind of the thinking that

[B]

that's tickets sold sounded very cold and capitalistic

[A]

way. But it's not that.

[B]

Yes, no, it's a fan, more or less. And what I, you know, you, you've reached this, this very enviable position also where you get to perform for your fans a lot. And I, you know, by market, by market I'm here and I'm there and I have bigger places than I do other places. So sometimes I'm performing for two of my fans in a room of 200 and sometimes I'm performing for 100 of my fans in a room of like 75. You know, it just, it, it depends. So, so when I, what I am looking for with my connection to my audience is then for them. And this is again, this is the narcissism and the ego of the comedian, I suppose. But is, is if I'm trying to build something, I'm hoping my audience is in it with me and trying to build it with me. And therefore when I come to the town, you're a part of the fan and you're a part of the thing and you come. Whereas like, yeah, tickets sold sounded like.

[A]

No, I, I, I, I hear you.

[B]

It, it's more vibe, right?

[A]

No, I hear you. And that's why, you know, I've always said from the beginning, like, you know, we work on stand up not, you know, and that's the problem with like the tick tock virality of it all is like, you know, there's a lot of people that go to a show because they're like, I don't think I can trust my this. You know, maybe they go to a show, they bring friends and they go, the friends are like, what the is this? And you're like, well, I like watching their, you know, their jersey accountant stuff on tick Tock. And then they go, well, the show sucked, dude. And they're like, yeah, I thought he was really good on tick. I love his accountant stuff and I'm an accountant. So now a lot of people come on their own because they're like, it's my thing and I'm gonna enjoy my thing. And I, you know, and I go, nice. And you're like, well, how do we tell people that we've been training in a dungeon for years to try and be good enough so that these Viral things will have us, you know, have your friends love it too. You know, like, how do we tell someone? Like, when someone comes to me and is like, oh, and I have tickets for this other person in two months, and I know that they're not a comedian. Like, I know that they don't do it. You. It's the hardest thing in the world for me to go, oh, have fun. Like, I. I don't. I want to look at them and grab them by the lapels and go, don't go to that show. You're wasting your money. But you can't do that.

[B]

Yeah, you're a silly. You're a silly consumer.

[A]

Well, because they do have a personal relationship person. It'll be good for them. I hope they don't bring friends.

[B]

Right. Well, but that. Yeah, I know. I waffle with this because, you know, I also have a podcast with Sagalo called Fart Carnival, and that's very difficult for people to tell their friends they listen to.

[A]

How did I not know about Fart Carnival?

[B]

I don't know, buddy. It's. It's. It's hot in these streets.

[A]

Why would you name it Fart Carnival?

[B]

Because we just thought that everything was being taken too seriously and podcasting, like, so, you know, and podcasting was a fun way for us to be funny with no pressure and to advertise.

[A]

Pursuit of. Of podcasts was here. Come hang with the hang, you know?

[B]

Yes. And that's what we're trying to bring back, where it's like, hey, man, like, Sagolo and I are. And. And you are as well. But I'm just saying, from our perspective as a show, like, we're. We're like, stand up is the main thing. You know what I mean? And we're trying to keep the main thing. The main thing. So what we're doing is we're making the. The podcast a hang and something you want to be a part of. But that's also goes to your social media thing, where it's like, oh, I didn't like the show. And it's like, yeah, the show isn't the thing for us. The clip is the business card to get you to come to the main thing for them. The main thing is what gets you to come to how they make money. Right?

[A]

I mean, well, if you're. If you're watching someone who does crowd work, not to bring it back to Matt Rife, but if you're watching someone who puts out crowd work exclusively and you go to the show and they're doing crowd Work exclusively. You're now at the commercial taping for them to sell tickets for the next show. Yeah. So, yeah, you know, I've had that

[B]

realization on stage where I've. I've said to the crowd, I was like, isn't it weird that you guys are, like, the third most important audience to watch what I'm currently doing? Third, like, the live. Yeah. Like, you guys in this room right now matter less than the eventual clip that will then get. Like. It was just, like, a weird thought that I had, and I wasn't trying to diminish them. I was just saying, isn't that crazy that this will live on for much longer online and have a greater tail and reach that will inevitably, you know, hopefully result in something. What's currently happening?

[A]

Well, I think the proper mix is probably 10% crowd work, 90% show, and in 10% would even be pushing it, you know, and if you're at a show that's 90% crowd work, 10% show, then I really think that you're at someone's, like, production meeting to get more tickets sold, like, and.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's crazy, but I. I do think we have a world that was created by loner nerds, and it's for. A world that is for loner nerds. Like, if. If so. Because what you're saying is the most important person is the person watching alone on their phone. And that's right.

[B]

I know.

[A]

In a world created by the guy who didn't have any friends and hung out alone. So the. Yeah, so, like, why would we be surprised? They're gonna make a world that makes them more comfortable.

[B]

I know.

[A]

You know, Zuckerberg and Altman, you know, you see them, like, respond to AI and you're like, you.

[B]

Like, when.

[A]

When they get asked, I don't know why, like, the media doesn't really go the next step when they're like, hey, well, people will adjust. And you're like, okay, so for the 10 years that the person who got a college education, you know, needs to figure it out by your account, like, that they'll adjust to whatever the new economy is. How many of those people do you think, like, gets into heroin and starts, you know, and. And is out in the street, you know, toothless and. And begging for money. What about those people? And they never get asked about that.

[B]

Well, they're like, they will, right? They're just like, they will die.

[A]

Coldness that they're like. And then you go, well, what do we need more? Like, I even, you know, like, you know, they're like, well, you'll have time to do one of the things I'll have time to do what? I don't want to do anything else.

[B]

I want to work.

[A]

I want to, I want to feel fulfilled.

[B]

And also. No, we won't. Yeah, no, we won't. Everything that's been given to us as some sort of time saver has only made us more addicted to it. Like any technology, all this social media was supposed to be like, you know, job, resources, all that stuff. All it does is, is bring, is make us on the hook to being more responsive than ever. So we have no life. We're supposed to be on call. We're all, you know, we're all basically veterinarians waiting for the phone to ring at any moment just to be brought into our office. Oh my God.

[A]

An oscillat is. Needs a. Needs an ocelot. That's my son's favorite.

[B]

That's unbelievable.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What a poll.

[A]

I don't know why came to my mind. It was the first thing I thought of. What's making you happy?

[B]

They are badass.

[A]

We'll end on a more positive note not to bring everyone down.

[B]

My kids far and away.

[A]

Is it fun?

[B]

You like my kids and my family? Like, it's the best dude. It's the most fun I've ever had. And also just like being a dad.

[A]

Is it worth it? Fully trash or treasure dad. That's a fun podcast game Roser Thorn.

[B]

I think it's only worth it if you want to do it. Like if you're, if you don't want to do it, don't I want to. I think there's enough parents out there that didn't want to do it.

[A]

No. I'm like, I want to see what the next episode of my sitcoms like.

[B]

Yeah, I mean that's. Here's the thing. Oftentimes when you do that, you will find the depth. Like the depth will come along because if you want, you know, for me, I was always, deep down I knew I wanted kids, but I was kind of, you know, living that comedian, very self centered. I don't, I don't want anything to infringe upon my pursuit of yucks. Horseshit. And then when I had it, it expanded me beyond who I have ever been. It's made me, it's expanded my consciousness. Ability to love, my ability to connect with people, my ability to forgive, to judge less. Like all of these things. And I don't know if that's across the board for everybody. I think that I Got lucky that it turned out to be the right thing for me to do. But I've also had friends where like, I would have put my money on them being good dads and they really not like they just give you a

[A]

chicken or egg kind of scenario. This is a, let me give you kind of like a, a, you know, cut the baby in half type of debate. Can someone be a good parent if they hate their spouse? Because you seem to have a wonderful relationship with your spouse that's actually familial. Again, as I said, you held hands in the womb. You guys met when you were like in diapers, which is crazy. But do you think that like, is it like head of the snake if this is happy up top, everything else is kind of like gravy on it? Or can someone truly hate the person they made the kids with and then also be a good parent and hate in the fun way? I think that dangerous way. Hey, in the, in the. We're divorced.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

I just can't stand that person anymore.

[B]

Yeah. So I think that could possibly work. So for me, a lot of the, A lot of the good changes I've made in my life have been like, bet you can't like, kind of vibe, you know, like I'm, I'm such a, I'm such an and very thick headed and difficult to get through that. A lot of me bettering myself has been in the face of not bettering myself. Like, it's just like, it's pure spine driven. So I think if I were to divorce, you know, if something happened with my wife and I, I think I'd probably be an incredible father just to prove to her that I, that she's wrong.

[A]

Really healthy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

But for us, I mean, it is, I'm, I'm lucky, I'm extremely lucky in the sense that like, we've really figured out a great way to communicate. We're true team players. We, we move through frustration and don't avoid it. It's like. And, and we also are very open, honest and authentic with our kids where it's like, you know, I'm not exposing them to things that they're not ready to be exposed to. But when we're having conflict and we're talking it out, I like to see them work through it and also finish the conflict because my parents would just start screaming at each other, go behind closed doors, smash it, scream, and then come out 40 minutes later and be like, what? That never happened.

[A]

Well, I, I, at least you lived and learned, you know, like There that, you know, that's a good thing. Mike Cannon, everyone go follow Mike on social media. All the info in the bio, this episode at Mike Canon and the the Queef Carnival is the podcast, the Circus, the diarrhea, whatever you're calling your podcast.

[B]

And Beautiful Boys with Andy.

[A]

Beautiful boys. Yeah, I gotta. Come on. I, we, I've been missing because I've been out of town, but I'm, I'm in.

[B]

Yeah, well, we want to talk. We want to. It's a dad podcast, so we talk a lot about parenting. And now, you know, Andy's entering a different part of his life, and I'm in a, you know, I'm in my part. And then it'll be cool to have you on because I want to. I like talking about this stuff and the difference between, you know, having kids, not having kids, the choice that goes behind it. Because I don't, I don't fault anybody for not listen, I, I, I, but I, but I do fault some people for wrongly doing it.

[A]

I'd like to do it. I, I, I, I have no fear of it. Weirdly, I think it would be. I, I think I was built to be a dad. I think I was built to be. Yeah, I wasn't built to be, you know, like, like, you know, a loner. You know, like, I got too much of a stomach to. I got too many titties to be a lone guy. I can't wear a leather jacket in my 50s. All right, Mike Cannon, chit chat. I appreciate you, bro. Go for follow back next week.

[B]

Boom.