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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 with a friend, a comedian, an expert. Today I have two out of three. This is my first time meeting them. So I. I mean, it would be too quick to call as friends. Hopefully by the end, we'll be friends. And they are an amazing comedian. I would say they are an expert. And I don't want to start with any. You know, this. These are my assumptions of someone. And that's kind of like the hardest thing to hear as a comedian is what someone reads you as. Like, that's like, the toughest thing. I. You know, I have people that come up to me, you do this, like, Jewish thing. I've, like, I've never mentioned being, you know, I guess I talk about myself, and I happen to be Jewish. I would say you're an expert in pessimism. Would you take that?
B
Well, you know, I don't know about you, Jerry, but I grew up in Brooklyn in the early 1960s, and, you know, it was a little pessimistic back then. You know, I realized when I moved to Los Angeles, everybody was drinking chardonnay and running around in shorts, where in Brooklyn, we would get up every day and just yell, not another day, please, not another day. And my dad, who was a teacher, but he also, in the summer, worked with my uncle, who was a contractor. So we would be ripping down ceilings and walls. This is way before the flipping houses show. We were flipping out. This should have been called flipping out, not flipping houses and just wall. Like, just all this soot coming on me at a young age. So I did develop pessimism. I remember walk to delis covered in soot, and I go, yes, ham and cheese, please. And the guy would look at me and just shake his head like, you got to be kidding me.
A
Probably look like you were in, like, a bread line of some sort.
B
You're going.
A
You're walking in with your hands out. Ham and cheese. And you came out of like you were. You were cleaning chimney sweeps and stuff like that. As a young kid, you do find. Do you find Like, I, I, I, I have, I've watched you many times from the back of a room in Brooklyn and I'm like, I'm a huge fan. I love watching your comedy. I, I, I have this thing with you where I love watching you and I, like, I'm in awe of like, the whole act. And maybe people here, this isn't like a comedy nerd podcast, so maybe they don't know you as well. I want people to go find Eddie Pepitone. Go search out at Eddie Pep on Instagram and you have a special coming out and it's, it's out on YouTube.
B
It's called the Collapse. The Collapse through Blonde Medicine. Go to my website, eddie pepitone.com and that's the mothership for.
A
Yeah, I want everyone to go, go pause this now. The link is in this bio of wherever you're listening or watching. We're on YouTube, but go directly to Eddie Pepaton special. I mean, it's called the Collapse. I just said he's an expert in pessimism. I wasn't too far away, you know, like, I, but I started comedy in 2010 and I'm in the back, I'm like going to the creek in the cave and I'm going to like, yeah, you know, Brooklyn Rooms and Queens and, you know, and you're like the hero. Like, you're like, there are people that are like, you know, like. And I, I would, I never. And at the time, 2010, I was like, I don't know. And you got to see Eddie Pepton and I saw you do a bit about you. You like, heckling didn't bother you, but, you know, it was, oh, yes, go ahead.
B
No, I, by the way, thank you for all those really nice words. I would do this bit where I go, I get heckled a lot in. But I, I wonder what a heckler who knew me as well as I know myself would sound like. And what I do, I go, would sound something like this. And I run into the audience and I start heckling myself to a bare st. And I'm like, hey, Pepitone, how come you dream about red birds attacking your throat at night? You know, all these things that I actually do. You know, how come you, you come off as a tough guy on podcast, yet you cry in hotel rooms at three in the morning because you're alone?
A
I loved that bit so much. I remember it like it was yesterday. Yeah, you run off the stage and it's like you're in the crowd. It's like very, you know, I just love that. It was, like, absurdist, but it was, like, real. Like, you're being real. You're saying, like, I'm not, you know, like, there's a way to get me and you suck. Is it as good as I know what your dreams are?
B
All right, that's right. That's how I started to. I go, I usually get you suck, which is accurate. But I was thinking, what if someone knew me as well as I know myself, you know?
A
And then just, oh, no, I love the bit because. And I, I would watch that, and I was like, man, you're doing something that I like. I, I, it wasn't me, you know? Like, I was like, that's not how I am. I'm like. But I'm like, I love how funny this is. I get it. And I think, like, that's got to be tough when people think they're you. Like, because I would deal with your fans and people that loved you, and to me, they would always annoy me. Like, they couldn't see outside of a world where comedy could be other things and not pessimistic. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like you deal with, like, everyone deals with a version of their own fan fandom, people that like what they do. And you're like, you get it. But kinda like, do you have to deal with that? Is that tough to deal with? Like, the most pessimistic person in the world that you're like, well, I made fun of it because that's how I deal with it, you know?
B
Yeah, yeah. You know, I feel like. And I, and I talk about this in a funny way. I feel like I heal people by exploring. I say, I'm a merce maker, and what a mirth maker does is I go from city to city in this broken nation, and I heal you people. I feel like I'm the mama bird and you the baby going, eddie, our lives suck. Make us laugh. And I'm like, that's like the mama.
A
It's so, it's so funny to me because. But, like, that shows you get it in a way. Like, that's why I like you. Like, I'm like, you get in a way because, like, anyone who would call themselves a mirth maker, you're like, get out. Seriously. Like, get out of here. Like, what the is this guy talking about? But that put in the joke and, and, and in that context, I'm like, oh, man, I loved, you know, I still love watching what you're doing. I'm always curious, what is he Doing what's the joke? You know, like, I'm a. You know, now I'm the huge fan that's, like, gushing over you. I'm sorry. I'm a. I'm a big fan.
B
No, I. I love it. That's why I got into. This is for adoration, you know, Just please adore me, you know, because, you know, my parents did it. So I'm like, I'm really the one, you know, it's so funny. I always turn it like I'm really the. Who needs the audience? But I go after them and I go. A lot of times, what I do now in my sets is I always tape the set and I look down at the phone and I'm seeing how much time has go by. Time has gone by, and I'll be like, I just did 10 minutes and it was easy. I don't respect you people.
A
And they love it. They're like. They're probably like, that is.
B
That always gets the last.
A
Oh, I mean, I'm dying. Not right. I'm laughing right now. I. That is. Yeah. I just. I've watched you for, like, so many years, and, you know, it's again, like, I just made my own comedy and doing what, you know, what I do. Those rooms were always so difficult for me to walk into, just even walk into, based on my look, you know, so, like. And I was like, what the fuck? I'm not. I'm. I'm coming to you. You can't come to me. What the fuck? Like, I, I. And I think, well, that's.
B
No, I was gonna say, that's the thing about doing standup, man. It's such a challenge mentally, because I think a lot of us get into it. I don't know about you, but we want acceptance, you know, and we go up there and we're like, I don't think this audience is gonna dig me at all. And there are clubs that I've. I was correct. I'll never forget. You know, I don't know if you've ever done. Done this, Jared, but the Eden Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
A
I haven't done the Fringe Festival. I was. It was very close to doing it, and I've been told just, like, maybe another year. Just like, wait on it. Like it, like. Because I. I've heard it's tough. It's. It's a long time.
B
I feel like it totally made me bulletproof to fear. Because I'll never forget being in Scotland, and I'm about to go on for the first time, and I'm all nervous because I never performed in Europe before. I'm like, even though they speak English in Scotland, I'm like, are they gonna get me, are they gonna get any of the American references? You know, these people might kill me. They drink so much out here and they' you know, in Scotland, like the streets are filled with people just singing and weaving and drinking, you know. And I would sit on these stone steps right before no green room, just sitting on these stone steps about to go on. And you get no opener. It's 28 shows in 29 nights an hour each. My voice was gone by the end of it, but all you get for an opener is, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Eddie Pepperton. That was it, right?
A
And then it's like go and, and did you have audiences? Because like there's horror stories of people being like, yeah, I did. Yeah. Well, that's great. I mean like, because there are horror stories of people being like 28 shows and 29 nights and then they go, you know, you'd average like three people a night and you're like, oh my.
B
God, like I would have killed myself.
A
Right? How did Eddie die? They took him out. Took him out? Yeah, he took himself out. He said, he said, this is my.
B
Final special show, right?
A
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B
You know, I had word of mouth, like, they loved. You know, they called me the shouty American. Right, Right. Because I, I shout. You know, I'm like, I don't understand you people with your different electricity converters. I have to buy electricity.
A
Do you get. Do you get annoyed at the feedback of, like, the shouting? Because, listen, as a loud, animated comedian myself, the. I get. And I try to fix it. Like, I do work on it and think about it. And I'm trying to, like, get points where I can be shouted because I do think it's fun. I'm gonna have points where I come down, I go up. I think that's how you get better. Do you think?
B
Exactly, exactly. And I wanted to tell you that I call it modulation.
A
Okay.
B
And, and, and, and I have learned to do it. When I first started stand up, I was so nervous as I was, like, 19, I was seriously, I was so nervous, I would throw up back backstage. Really? I mean, I, I really. Yeah, I really had. I'll never forget, it was a place in New York called the Eagle tavern, like, on 14th Street. I don't think it's there anymore. Of course, you know, places that opened yesterday already gone after the snowstorm, but, you know, I would throw up backstage. Go on. And I would just scream. But now, and this has happened over a period of years, I have learned how to really make it effective. And sometimes I'll even, you know, go high and then Go low. I go, do you like. And I'll say to the crowd, do you like how I'm modulating? I'll say it to them.
A
Do you like.
B
Do you like that I scream at you and then I go into the NPR voice? Yeah, do you like that?
A
You know, it is. And. And they probably love that you're acknowledging, like, this is a performance, this is something I've planned. Like, people like to know they're being taken care of. Like, you know, a thoughtful audience, you know, like, likes to know, oh, he. This was all part of the show, you know?
B
Yes. Yeah, yeah, you're right. That people like to know that they're going to be taken care of, because if they see a comic. And this is the brutal part of Stand up that separates from the boys or the ladies from the girls, man, is you have to go through those first few years where you have very little confidence unless you're a freak. And you. You. You're confident from the beginning, right?
A
And you gain confidence from the material. Like, you know, you have, like, a good arrow in your quiver. You're like, okay, I can struggle through this because I got a laugh coming. And when you start, there's no laugh coming. You're like, I got nothing.
B
Oh, that is the worst. Yeah, I remember, let's say, having to do 10 minutes when you first start. And at minute one, I was dead. And I would look at the clock going, oh, my God, I have nine minutes to go. And I'm looking for the exits, you know, like, how can I get out of here?
A
There's nothing worse than when you see the clock, and it's not what you thought it would be. Like, you. You look at the clock, you're like, I gotta be at 30. And you're like, 10 minutes? Are you fucking kidding? Like, I, like, I don't even understand. Yeah, yeah, it's. But the screaming part, dude. Like, and I like modulation. And like, when people say, like, it's like an Internet thing to be, like, you're screaming. And I get that sometimes. And I'm like. And I do get annoyed. Do you get it? Does. What's, like the. What's the response that gets you the most annoyed? Is there, like, a thing that, like, bothers you?
B
Well, if. If, like, like, when you do the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, you get reviews. Like, they take comedy seriously there. Like, you get reviews, right? And. And some of the, you know, a couple of people just describing me as the shouting man misses the point with me, in my opinion. You know, like. Like, underneath the Shoutiness for me is someone who's like, you know, really thoughtful. You know, the opposite of shouty. Right. Scared, insecure. And I'm trying to be absurd through the.
A
When you're yelling at yourself on an empty stage, for them to call it shouty is just like a total misrepresentation of what's going on there.
B
Yeah. But here's the great thing about Stand Up. So we talked about all the. And you see, I'm not as pessimistic. No, the great thing about Stand up is when you finally get past the point of being insecure and all that and you get the rewards of the laughter. Right. And having fans, like, real fans. Because I tour a lot now, and it's so great.
A
Yeah.
B
To meet people who really get me, really at me, and really get my comedy. And I gotta say, you know, pessimism in these days is actually right on the money. Right. Everything that's going on.
A
You know, I was gonna ask you about that. Do you. Do you look at, like, the times, you know, like the times right now? Pessimist. Like, are you, like. Like, is there, like, a little element of, like, this is an Eddie Pepitone time? Like. Like when. Like, the. You know, like when. Right. Like when, like, the dot com boom is happening, you're like, I should just go away for a couple years and then, like, the crash happens. Are you, like, it's Pepitone time? Do you have that?
B
Yeah. Oh, well, I got reviewed once in the Boston Globe, and the guy, he's a great report. He's. I loved him because he loved me. But he said, Eddie Pepitone's time is. Is here, and all it took was a collapse of society.
A
I mean, you. It's funny that, like, it's like these, like, ruthless businessmen would be like, oh, you know, they're like, oh, there's oil in the water. Okay. All right. Our sanitation system is really gonna make some money. Like, it is funny to think that you're like, oh, man, you know, the ice is shooting people. Here we go. Pepitone hour. Like, it is a little weird, right?
B
Oh, yeah. That's still a really hard thing to navigate. Like, the brutality these days with the kind of shootings. Like, how do you make that funny? And it's like, you just have to be, you know, just very honest, you know? You know, speaking about my comedy not going over well during good times, I once. There was a Hawaii comedy festival on Maui.
A
Yeah. I can't. I see you doing. I see you getting the back of the room at the Hawaii Comedy Festival, like, crying and the front of the room, like, being like, what the fuck, man? We're on vacation.
B
Like, exactly. And. And do you know Kyle Kanah?
A
Of course. A big fan of his, too. I don't know him, but I. I'm familiar with his work.
B
He's a great comic. So Kyle whispers to me, let's see how you're up. Apocalyptical goes over here in Maui. And he was right because I went up there and people were like. So I tried to say things like, you people and your purple sunsets, you know, oh, you. You all complain, like, oh, it wasn't purple enough, the sunset. Oh, I got some left, right?
A
I'm telling you. Like, well, Kyle Kanane, I actually repeat advice I heard from him, or I heard it was repeated advice. It wasn't. It was his. I guess he had given it to someone else. And then I heard, and I was like, that's a great piece of advice. Well, he was like, I guess he might have said, maybe he didn't, you know, now maybe. So they said that. He said that, you know, stand up is what you get to do. That's the prize. You get to do standup if you do all the other. And I do believe in that. Doing a podcast, like, none of our. Our dream wasn't to get on zoom and chit, chat about comedy. We want to go on stage, we want to do the show. We want people to love the bits and relate to the bits. Just like you said. When I have someone come up to me after a show and get it, I feel that there's like a weird, you know, chemistry going on. It's not weird.
B
It's great. Yeah, it's like, it's just like, you know, because we all want to feel like, we all want to feel like we have a purpose, right? It's so rare because people go to these jobs, right? They go to these horrible jobs and they. They're like, they feel like, oh, what the hell am I doing with my life? Stand up. You. You can directly get this incredible validation, right? You know, that you.
A
That someone's speaking the words that you had in your head. Like, that's.
B
Yeah.
A
Do you. I mean, do you. What do you think of the. The, like, the stand up boon? Like, what do you think of, like, what's gone on with, like, the amount of stand that's out there? Like, is. What do you think? We are sponsored by every plate. You're already juggling too much this year. Every plate is here to help out. Every plate Gets you restaurant level meals every week, all in the comfort of your own home. With affordable meal kits that simplify your daily routine. Every plate offers tons of flexibility and a great rotation of amazing meals. And I'm a huge fan of a meal kit because you want to eat better, you want to eat more creatively and you want to eat healthier, which a lot of time has to do with portion control. And every plate is going to get you creativity, portion control and it's going to get you better meals. And I just think that's wonderful. Every plate and you're going to like save money. Weirdly you'd think like, well, I'm ordering out. You're not. It's going to send you all the ingredients, you're going to get the right amounts so you're not going to be overspending and wasting food. Every plate and now has their biggest menu yet, with options like crispy buffalo ranch chicken, caramelized onion smash burgers. You'll also spend less on every plate meals than you would on normal groceries or at a restaurant. This is a win. Try every plate and get $2.99 per meal on your first box plus 10% off for a month. Go to everyplate.com podcast. Use code Jtrain299 to claim your offer. That's code Jtrain299@every plat.com podcast to get 2.99 per meal on your first Box 10% off for a month. Ditch the dinner time dilemmas with every plate.
B
I, I hate it. You know, I hate it because I, I wish I was the only one. Maybe me and Kanane.
A
Right.
B
And James Adomi and a few other people. No, I mean, it is what it is. But you know, I feel like to be good, to be really good live is the goal. A lot of comics, you know, there's this whole thing, comics, it's become a social media thing. Right, right, right. A lot of comics doing this crowd work clips that isn't really. That's part of stand up sometimes, but it's not the art form. And I don't think there's really any shortcut. So I think again that stand up will naturally cull harse all the people who are really kind of mediocre. And I'll tell you what I hate. When mediocre people, in my opinion, get incredible popularity. It really depresses me because I'm like, because I'm like. I don't know if it's me being like elitist or superior, but I like, look at some people who. Who get so much popularity, I'm like, jesus Christ. People are stupid.
A
The depress. The depressing part is like, is it just that the audience for good standup is way smaller than the audiences? You know, that's the depressing part. It's not that they have an audience as much as it's like, like, oh, maybe there's no audience for me, you know, like, because I, I, you know, I do. I have that. Where I'm like, why am I. I did. You know, I taped a special where the whole thing was one story, and I'm like, man, this is the opposite story. Yeah. And I connected bits to the story, and I'm like, this is the opposite of what's going on right now. Like, right now it's crowd work clips and get me the out of here scroll. And I'm like, I don't know. I like doing it, but I. I do think, like, it goes back to the Canadian advice, if it's even his. Like, like, that's why I do this stuff. You know, I hope that this stuff's entertaining to like, keep the, you know, the. The. The wind in the. In the sales of the other stuff I love doing, you know, not that I don't love this, but, like, you know, that's kind of the hard. You have to kind of be reasonable, I guess.
B
Yeah. Well, I have a podcast. It's called Apocalypse soon, and I do it with the great comic Kevin Tinkin. And I also. I'm not crazy about having to do.
A
But do you, like, you get. I'm sure you get that you do.
B
Four times a week.
A
Is that true? I do this. So this is daily. And then I do another podcast. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, Monday through Friday, if people pay for the Patreon, you can pay for the Patreon. Look at now I'm shilling, you know, now. Patreon.com Jared Freed. Five bucks. You gotta do well. I think there's, like, a decision to be made. This is always what got me annoyed with your fans. Like, I. If I'm to be honest, they like, you know, the idea, like, you're making fun of the shill. And I. I'm like, I love what you're.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
You make fun of the show better than anyone does. Like, but not this level. Not this level.
B
I make fun of the show. Like John Hamm, who doesn't need money, or here's the best one. How about Steve Martin and Martin Short shilling for Wells Fargo, one of the worst corporations ever. You. They don't need money. That's my point.
A
You wonder what lifestyle they're after. Like, I actually wonder what the goal is. Like, what are they missing out on? Which grandkid can't go to college? Like, they all can go to college twice and have a BMW. So. And listen, I, I do consider myself a capitalist, but I, I do have some reason. I, I mean, like, I do understand what you're saying, and, like, I have this thing where I, I, I don't see eye to eye with the billionaire who needs to start another business. Like, I don't, I don't really understand that, but they, they have, they're after something else.
B
Yeah, I mean, look at what's going on.
A
I wanted to play a game with you before we go, but I want everyone to go follow Eddie Pepitone at, at Eddie Pep and go check out the special. It's on YouTube right now. I want you to go watch it, Enjoy it. I have.
B
It's called the Collapse.
A
The Collapse. Okay. And I have a. I have a. I like to do this. This is the way I like to get to know people. I'm going to email you this menu right now. I like to go. I see you do all these videos from the gym. I didn't expect that. I.
B
Nobody does.
A
You do what? What, What?
B
You know, that is.
A
Why do you do the gym video.
B
That you email it? Should I look at my email?
A
I'm. I just sent it. Hold on. I'm in the middle of sending it. This is great. Podcasting me. Sending it while we're taping. I meant to send it before when I sent you the email with the invite. Okay. So I just sent it to you.
B
You're not scamming me, are you? Like, I'll click on it.
A
Yeah, click on it. And then I have your whole bank account. So then you're done. What, what started the gym videos?
B
You.
A
You're in the gym all the time. I didn't expect.
B
No, I'm not. But I'm in the gym when I'm. Here's the thing. I'm a guy who doesn't look great. I got a trainer just to help me get to the gym. Like, for me, it's expensive to get a trainer, but for me, it gets me there. And so I thought if I film myself and he films me, you know, I get filmed in the gym. You need someone to film you. So my trainer films me. He puts me through. Okay, I just got the invite. The trainer puts me through all these things and I film them. And I just did it as a goof at first, like, you know, like a superhero who can't do anything. But it has inspired people because they're like, if this guy. They're like, I think the attitude is, if this guy can get to the gym, then I can. And it's, like, been really nice.
A
It's really nice that you do that for people. But there's got to be a little bit, like, I would hate to be someone's inspiration. Like, I'm like, I'm okay. You don't need to. Like, I. That's not like my. My. Like, it's like. It's like when someone does, oh, I saw you do stand up. I thought I could do that, you know, Like, I don't want to be that for someone.
B
Well, I had another comic, I had another comic who I really respect, email me privately and go, dude, I gotta say, and this might sound corny, but you got my ass back in the gym. And I was in a depression. And I love it.
A
Good. I love that.
B
I mean, you're probably healthier.
A
Well, in the turkey scramble. Well, I want to. I like sitting here. I wanted to go with you to Fit Foods Cafe, which is my favorite, like, healthy food spot here in Florida. And I like to look at a menu.
B
Florida.
A
I'm in Delray Beach. I'm sitting here by the beach. I. I got out of New York. I was like, I'm gonna see if I can do it from Florida. I mean, you want to talk about things Eddie Pepitone would make fun of. I mean, there is. Every street corner is just wildly optimistic, people who have no idea what, you know, what's going on in the world.
B
Yeah, it's icy. We just got, as you know, we just got slammed with a snowstorm and ice. By the way, I live in la, where people, you know, a lot of them are a little overly optimistic. Where it's 70. A lot of it. It's 70 over there now. And here I am. I flew into a historic storm. That's what I do. I'm like, if there's a historic storm coming, let me get in.
A
I'll be there.
B
So, okay, so let's.
A
Here's how I want to meet you. You and I go to Fit Foods Cafe. I gave you. I sent you the menu. We are going to get breakfast at Fit Foods. Okay. Or actually, we're going to get two appetizers, and then you're going to get something to eat, and I'm going to get something to eat. You get to Order the appetizers and then give me your order. I know what I'm getting. I'll give my order.
B
We're going to get two appetizers.
A
Two appetizers. What are you getting? There's a zucchini cheese bite. Quinoa cheese sticks. I'm gonna get stuffed avocado. Okay. Okay.
B
I'm gonna go. And this is kind of my craziness. I'm gonna go. I go again. It's like modulation, screaming. And then.
A
Nice.
B
I gotta go because I'm Italian. Meatballs and ricotta.
A
Okay.
B
And then. And then I wanna balance that with the stuffed avocado. Love it.
A
I. I would be in on that. I like that. Those are two. That is the yin and the yang of the order. I like that you pronounced it ricota at a Fit Foods Cafe. To pronounce it correctly there like that. There is no more place where you call it ricotta and be. And no one would call you out.
B
Yes, yes. I'm very. You know, I want to. I want. I'm going to Italy. I'm going to Italy, by the way, with my sister and her husband to see the Winter Olympics. To see ice hockey in Milan.
A
Really?
B
We're leaving February 10th. Yes. I love ice hockey. And we're. We're treating ourselves. We're making. We're going to Milan and it's going to be wild.
A
Are you a Rangers fan?
B
Yes.
A
Yes.
B
Oh, yeah. Are you?
A
No. I kind of fell out of hockey.
B
Panthers are great.
A
I've heard. I want to go a game. I like the logo I use. I'm from Boston and I. I remember being very young, being a Bruins fan. Bruins and I. For some reason, the Bruins. Being in Boston and trying to be a Bruins fan, it's almost that. That acceptance thing you're talking about. Like, I never felt that fandom wanted me in, like, because you had to start hockey. Well, in Boston, you got to start hockey at, like, three months old. Like, if you don't start hockey at three months and if you don't play there, like, football is more like, who wants to play? Like, anyone can throw the ball. Any hockey. You got to put on skates. You got to be at the rink. You gotta. That is a. You gotta learn.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
So I never felt like I was, like, on the inside and I fell out of hockey. It became my fourth thing that I. We used to go to BU hockey games because Jews would cheer for BU hockey and everyone else cheer for bc. So we go to, like, the bean pot. And that was like a Part of my childhood. But hockey, kind of like, I was always more into football.
B
But you. To root for hockey, you didn't have to play.
A
It did, you know, But I get.
B
I played a little.
A
I think in that area, it was like, you either play or you're out. Like, I don't know. I never felt included in that world.
B
Well, Boston sports fans are intense. Intense.
A
Very intense, even to the point. Because I left for college and then I, I, you know what? You leave at 18, it's. You have to really work on keeping up with your local sports team. You know, that's miles away.
B
And then, well, now you could do it pretty easily with the apps, with the abs, if you have the bread.
A
I. Right. And I then moved to New York and I remember being like. And people in Boston used to be like, is it hard to wear a Red Sox hat there? And I'm like, like, it's Manhattan. Like, what do you like? It was such a lack of understanding of who goes to New York and what. And then I went to Staten Island. I remember I went on stage with a Red Sox hat in Staten Island. They were like, get off the stage. And I'm like, oh, these are those people.
B
Yes, Staten island, which is. I moved. My dad moved this there. He thought it was the country. And we moved from Brooklyn. We moved to Staten Island. And, you know, those are the people who don't read. And, you know, they'll kill you for a Red Sox hat.
A
Right, right, right. Eddie Pepitone. I want everyone to go follow at Eddie Pep on Instagram. The link to his special called the Collapse is on.
B
On YouTube.
A
YouTube right now. We're gonna link to it. Go watch it. Enjoy it. This was such a pleasure. Thank you for coming on and talking comedy and chit chatting with me. It was. It was great to finally meet you. Everyone go follow. I'm Jared Friedman.
B
Great to meet you.
A
A pleasure. Back.
Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Jared Freid
Guest: Eddie Pepitone
On this "Chit Chat Wednesday," host Jared Freid sits down (virtually) with veteran comedian Eddie Pepitone for the first time. They cover a wide range of topics including pessimism in comedy, performing at challenging venues, the realities (and annoyances) of standup fandom, and why Eddie’s gym videos have unexpectedly inspired others. The conversation is candid, self-deprecating, and full of laughs, making it both honest and engaging for comedy fans and newcomers alike.
The conversation is candid, comedic, and full of mutual respect. Jared combines curious fandom with self-effacing humor; Eddie layers observational jokes with honest insight. The tone floats between light roasting, existential rumination, and warmth—making for engaging listening throughout.
Where to find more:
Final thought: This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the realities of standup, self-doubt versus validation, and the joy of finding comedy (and a bit of fitness!) in the face of it all.