The JTrain Podcast

Episode: “Dungeon & Dragons Energy, Vin Diesel Confidence with Shaun Murphy – CHIT CHAT WEDNESDAY”
Host: Jared Freid
Guest: Shaun Murphy
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This Chit Chat Wednesday episode of The JTrain Podcast features comedian Shaun Murphy, whose new special "Long Story Thin" has just been released. Jared and Shaun chat about the realities of stand-up, how comedians evolve, the quirks of their own personalities, and—true to the episode's title—the fine line between nerd and non-nerd culture. The conversation is packed with insightful, funny, and relatable takes on comedy, self-perception, food, fandom, and social labeling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy, Specials, and Performing for Family (00:00–08:41)

• Jared introduces Shaun Murphy, noting how watching fellow comedians’ specials is a “must” to stay current and respect the art, referencing how “every professional golfer does it that way” (03:14).
• Shaun discusses the nerves and realities of performing deeply personal material in front of one’s own or one’s partner’s family:
  • “[Recording the special] was the first time I performed in front of my fiancé's family—so they got to see the full spectrum of, you know, my dick looks like me.” (06:03; Shaun)
  • They explore "if it crushes harder than it’s weird to say in front of your family, funny always wins.” (07:42; Jared)
• The viral Jeselnik soundbite about being able to joke about anything if it's funny enough comes up, with Jared noting: “It annoyed me how viral that went, because…that’s what good comedians have been saying for years.” (08:32)

2. The Value of Watching Comedy and Evolving Onstage (04:44–05:56; 13:05–16:40)

• Shaun describes the humbling moment of seeing a fellow comic, whom he thought he had outgrown, deliver a joke strikingly similar to one of his.
• Jared raises the issue of comedians’ personas evolving with fame—how some cling to “middle class” bits and struggle to write from a new reality, referencing Ray Romano’s stories about changing plane anecdotes. (16:57)

3. Self-Image, Body, and Food Confessions (11:19–13:56; 19:09–25:28)

• Discussion of being typecast by one’s looks—Jared interacts with audience members about body image, while Shaun admits that, due to his build, he wonders if changing it would “break” his comedic persona.
• Jared openly talks about being on weight loss medication (Ozempic/WeGovi) and how it affects his love for food:
  • “When I eat a cookie, I’m not thinking of the next cookie because I’m doing a cookie now. Now I can have seven cookies because I’d just have the one, and it, like, magically feels okay.” (22:55; Jared)
• There's a spirited exchange about favorite cookies, slamming classic cookies like Chips Ahoy and Oreos:
  • “The crunchy Chips Ahoy—get it outta here. I’d rather chew on cardboard than eat that cookie.” (24:31; Jared)
• Shaun reminisces about 90s junk food ads, unlocking hilarious childhood ad memories: “You just unlocked a door in my brain.” (25:43; Shaun)

4. Sleep Patterns and Comedian Life Rhythms (19:31–22:37)

• Jared, an early riser, relates the challenge of balancing a comic’s late nights with the need to wake up early, detailing how moving to Florida changed his routine.
• Shaun contrasts his late comic hours: “This is probably the earliest I’ve ever woken up without having to catch a plane in years.” (21:00; Shaun)

5. Nerd vs. Non-Nerd Identity—The Core Game (26:26–45:47)

• The duo explore what constitutes "nerd" culture, mixing sports, comics, and fandom analysis:
  • Shaun describes his hybrid identity: “I could talk to the jocks about...Buffalo Bills defense…and the nerds about Ocarina of Time.” (30:15)
  • They agree that true nerd cred involves deep, often uselessly specific knowledge—“You have to reference something where you watch the other person’s eyes roll back into their skull.” (35:48; Jared)
• Memorable Exchange:
  • “I don’t know if I consider book nerd. Is that crazy for me to say?...I think it needs to be more specific.” (44:25; Shaun; discussing Emma Watson)
• The line blurs between perceived nerdiness, personal interests, and societal labels.

6. “Nerd or Not?” Game (36:15–45:47)

A lightning round where Jared lists celebrities, and Shaun discriminates “real nerds” from “fake” ones, using public knowledge and hype:

• Vin Diesel: “You have to be very, very nerdy to counteract that. And he loves Dungeons and Dragons so much. That tracks.” (41:08–41:21; Shaun)
• Stephen Colbert: “He’s not like a 7 out of 10 Lord of the Rings, he’s like a 12 out of 10…that's nerd to me.” (42:00; Shaun)
• Zachary Levi: “This feels like corporate nerd…here’s how I commoditized.” (42:56; Jared; 43:01; Shaun)
• Emma Watson: “If you just…read, you know, 50, 75 books last year, is that necessarily nerdy?” (45:20; Shaun)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On performing personal material:
  “If it’s funnier than it is mean, it always wins. If it crushes harder than it is weird to say in front of your family, buddy—funny always wins.”
  (07:42, Jared)

• On comedians imitating each other and humility:
  “I remember…there was this comic, in the back of my mind I kind of thought I was better than. And then I saw him do…the exact same joke—I have. Like, same parallel thinking. I was like, oh, okay. I’m like, to get way better if I humble better than this person.”
  (04:44, Shaun)

• On food and body perception:
  “You spoke my mind. You know how many guys after shows ask me where I got my shirt?...Love your shirt, like—the first thing out of his mouth.”
  (11:54, Jared)

• On balancing sports and nerd culture:
  “I could talk to the jocks…but then I could talk to the nerds about Ocarina of Time and stuff like that. And I could kind of play both sides.”
  (30:15, Shaun)

• On "corporate nerd" identity:
  “Here’s how I made money off of nerds.”
  (42:56, Jared; 42:59, Shaun)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Stand-up & Family, Cancel Culture in Comedy: 05:27–08:41
• Body image, Ozempic, and Cookie Rankings: 13:05–25:28
• Routine, Sleep, Early Risers vs. Night Owls: 19:31–22:37
• Nerd Identity & Cross-Cultural Traits: 26:26–35:48
• Buffalo, Sports Fandom & Humility: 30:49–34:58
• Nerd or Not Game & Celebrity Examples: 36:15–45:47

Final Thoughts & Plug

Jared encourages listeners to check out Shaun’s special “Long Story Thin” on Mark Normand’s YouTube channel:
“It’s joke, joke, joke, joke, joke. It is 41 minutes. It is. Sit on the couch, on your phone.” (00:49)

Shaun wraps up with:
“I hope you kill at the open mic. And I hope we both have Tates later today.” (45:54)

Listen to the episode for more rich banter and behind-the-scenes glimpse into the realities and humor of modern comedy!