← The JTrain Podcast
The JTrain Podcast
Hardcore Christmas Traditions with Caitlin Peluffo - CHIT CHAT WEDNESDAY - The JTrain Podcast w Jared Freid
00:42:20
Loading summary
Transcript203 lines
- [00:00]
Jared Freed
Hello and welcome to J Train Podcast. This is J Train Jared Freed and it's Chit Chat Wednesday. We have Caitlin Palufo on the show. She is fantastic. Just someone that I just love seeing around the stand up game, so to speak. We have a really fun conversation about going home, being single over the holidays. I didn't know Caitlin and her family are like Christmas people. And that's when this episode gets very good. It's coming out on Christmas, so Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. But also you're going to hear like I asked her for the schedule of events from Christmas Eve through her Christmas day and me having never spent done a Christmas, it was just so interesting to know someone and see them, you know, in a professional setting. And then you go, how do you spend Christmas? And they're like, well, mom comes downstairs and rings the jingle bells and I'm like, what? You're this person. I feel like I know Kate Caitlin 30 million times better than I knew her before. And you're gonna love her if you don't know her already. And no one is funnier. She's hilarious and she's gonna be Atlanta this over the the New Year's week and the weekend leading into New Year's. So if you get a chance to see Caitlin on stage, she's a fun, fun, fun, fun show. I love watching her on stage, love hanging out with her offstage and you're gonna love her today too. So enjoy today's episode. Boom. Welcome to the new J. Hello and welcome to the J Train Podcast. Is J Train Jared Freed coming live from the West Village of Manhattan? That's right, every Wednesday is a Chit Chat Wednesday and we are sitting here on Christmas Day and you're listening to this on Christmas Day. I'm taping this on the Monday before Christmas and I'm very excited to have a fantastic comedian returning to the J Train Podcast has been on before but everyone should go follow and enjoy. If you haven't met this comedian yet yourself, I don't know why I'm making the intro. So long. Kaylin Palufo, thank you so much for coming on.
- [02:16]
Caitlin Palufo
Hello, Jared. Thank you for having me. This is so exciting.
- [02:20]
Jared Freed
Impromptu listen. I the whole point of Chit Chat Wednesday when I was like reforming that we're doing daily now. So it was like let me talk to people I like and find funny and let me do it like quick and easy like a normal conversation. And the thing you did wrong to get captured by me was to post to your instagram stories. I'm like, caitlin Palufo, she's fucking awesome. And I saw your story and I was like, respond to the story. I'm walking home now. If I can get her to do 20 minutes. We've done a podcast. Like, how great is this?
- [02:54]
Caitlin Palufo
Done it. I mean, thrilling. I mean, and it took me forever to post. I'm in the middle of the country right now with my family.
- [03:02]
Jared Freed
Where are you? What's going on? It's Monday before Christmas. We want to know everything.
- [03:07]
Caitlin Palufo
So every year, we always go to my family's quote unquote cabin. It's basically. It's near a lake, but it's in, like, a cul de sac. It's like suburbia in the country.
- [03:18]
Jared Freed
So it's like cabin community. Is that what you would call it?
- [03:21]
Caitlin Palufo
Yes, exactly. We see our neighbors, but we're on, like, an acre and a half of land, you know, lots of trees and a lake. But then we're.
- [03:28]
Jared Freed
Where is it, neighbor?
- [03:30]
Caitlin Palufo
Clear Lake. It's about three hours northeast of San Francisco.
- [03:35]
Jared Freed
Oh, so this is west coast cabin people.
- [03:38]
Caitlin Palufo
Yes, yes.
- [03:39]
Jared Freed
See, the way you described it in my head, I went straight to Ohio. I don't know why you mentioned this cabin community. I'm like, nothing sounds more Midwest than this. This sounds so not California. Cool. What is this?
- [03:53]
Caitlin Palufo
No, no, no. This. Where the hill people. This is still. It's not Napa. It's like. Yeah, it's like the redneck Napa. Okay, so, like, you go to Napa.
- [04:03]
Jared Freed
Yeah.
- [04:04]
Caitlin Palufo
Then about an hour and a half north. It's like the meth Napa. Very messy.
- [04:10]
Jared Freed
These are the areas of California that you kind of hear about from comedians on the Road. Like, oh, I'm doing this casino in Northern California. And it's like a totally red area, politically, of California. Yeah. And it is the thing where, like, we travel around. We know the country is, like, way different than what, you know, New York elitists assume we know it's way different than what, you know, country. Tulsa, Oklahoma. You know, farmer assumes we know that there's. It's a lot more in the middle. But then it's like, you. You know, California can't just be described as liberal California. Like, you couldn't. You're. You're outside of San Francisco. People like, oh, whatever's near there is eating kale. And it's like, no, no, this area is here too.
- [04:58]
Caitlin Palufo
Trust me. I just went to the Safeway. No one's eating kale. There's no kale. Everything is.
- [05:06]
Jared Freed
Who said kale? Yeah, say it too loud.
- [05:10]
Caitlin Palufo
Part of the woods. No, it is not a kale country.
- [05:13]
Jared Freed
I would say this is a Christmas with family. Now I know you. I also only bring people on chit chat Wednesday that I like. I like seeing you off stage and I like seeing you on stage. You're. You're equally great. A good hang. You're now single. And so is this the first holiday where you've come home as a single adult?
- [05:39]
Caitlin Palufo
Pretty much, yeah.
- [05:41]
Jared Freed
How has that been?
- [05:42]
Caitlin Palufo
Absolutely no men in sight. And my. They hung up all the stockings. Everybody's paired off. And then there's Caitlin. Just alone singled. Caitlyn. No, no, nothing next to it.
- [05:59]
Jared Freed
How does that feel? I mean, I know, listen, I know how it generally feels, but like you were engaged and you know, with someone for a long time. So, like, how do you. Do you feel? Also? There could be excitement there too. I know it's easy to be like single. Caitlyn, look at me. Loser. But you're like, I'm getting, you know, I'm out there. I'm on apps. I haven't done that in a long time. I'm sure that's exciting too.
- [06:21]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, I mean, it is a little sad, but for the most part it's like just readjusting. That's the only reason. You're just like, it's like when you're like being sober for a month, you're like, what do I do with my hands at a party? Like, exactly how I feel right now. Like, what do I think about, what do I call it? You know, so.
- [06:40]
Jared Freed
Right.
- [06:41]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah.
- [06:42]
Jared Freed
And how's your family taking it, you being single?
- [06:45]
Caitlin Palufo
They're fine. Yeah. They're, they just want me to be happy. I'm very lucky to have a very supportive family. And I froze my eggs. So they're like, we all have kids when you're ready and that's all they care about. Just have kids.
- [06:56]
Jared Freed
Right. Wow. Well, I, I recently got into the egg discussion. I've always been like the, like the doofus bro idiot who's like, freeze your eggs. Yeah. Now you can like a guy, you know, like, that was always my running opinion. And I do, I do have that opinion somewhat. But then I, I mentioned that this came up, that I went to the doctor and I was like, I went alone to the doctor to get my heart checked and I was like, you know, I'm like having this like 39 year old moment. I'm like, man, I have no one to text about this. And I, and I started thinking of like getting your Eggs frozen. You go, oh, that is. I'm just getting like a routine heart thing. Like, I can't imagine the, the, the ups and downs of, like, I'm here to like, get eggs frozen for. For who? You know, like, you know, like, it's hopeful, but it's also sad at the same time. I. And I had so many people message me about that whole process and, like, it's totally changed my perspective on it. Like, on the egg free. Like, it is funny that your parents are more closer to me. Dude, bro, like, awesome. You'll be good. We're good. We'll get grandkids. But there's a lot more that goes with it.
- [08:02]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, first off, it's expensive, right? That is, whenever I say I have my eggs frozen, it's almost like a little, like a little brag. I'm doing well.
- [08:13]
Jared Freed
Yeah, I like that.
- [08:15]
Caitlin Palufo
Pop the collar.
- [08:16]
Jared Freed
Yes.
- [08:17]
Caitlin Palufo
What is it? 19.99. But yeah, it's like so it feels good, but at the same time it's like, like, if I'm gonna do this, I will have a child and I might have to do it alone. And that is terrifying. But it's also like, fine.
- [08:34]
Jared Freed
It is interesting that you so freeze them, but gotta use them. You're like, I'm not spending money, like, for the. For nothing. This is happening.
- [08:41]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah. Some people, some people, if it's covered by their insurance, they're like, oh, I'll freeze them and if I want kids, I'll have kids. And I'm like, no, I know I want kids. I don't have insurance. I need to freeze.
- [08:50]
Jared Freed
My money has been spent. Yeah. Yes. It is so funny. Like, again, like, everything is nuanced and we sit here on the Internet just throwing opinions out there about men and women. And it's like what you're saying is like, you know, woman without the insurance plan paying for it. Different mindset than. I work at Google. Yeah. We play ping pong in the game room with our eggs. Like, yeah. Like, yeah.
- [09:17]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah. Oh, I think I'm just going to do another round. Who cares? I'm like, I've been saving almost a thousand dollars a month to try and pay for this thing.
- [09:26]
Jared Freed
It's gonna. And that's funny that like the idea that you would look at your kid like, the kid's 10. You're like, I spent money on this. Like, it could be. It could change how you look at your children. That's interesting.
- [09:39]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah. It's literally like, oh, you were wanted real bad.
- [09:43]
Jared Freed
Right.
- [09:44]
Caitlin Palufo
I knew I Wanted you for a long time, so you better go to college. God damn it.
- [09:48]
Jared Freed
You know how much I spent on you. Yeah, that' weird. Oh, I love that. So, okay, so you're out and you've been traveling the road. I've seen you're. You're out on the road. Everyone should go watch Caitlyn. She's so funny. Such a fun show, too. I've had. I, I actually, when I was like, when I DM'd you, and I was like, what are we going to talk about? I've had a couple weeks in a row, and I want to ask you about this with. I've had just tough heckling crowd work situations. And you, you talk to the crowd, much like I do, but you're, You're. You talk to the crowd. You know, you. You put it in the act really well. And I had this interaction with these four women that. It's on YouTube now and people can go watch it. That was just in Batavia, Illinois. And I, I had. Have you ever been to that club?
- [10:40]
Caitlin Palufo
No, I don't think so.
- [10:42]
Jared Freed
Comedy Vault. It's an hour outside of Chicago, and it's like in the suburbs. And it's like, it's. It's really. They're doing everything right, you know, like, we know when you go into a club, like, the owners there, the people who work there, like, working there. And. And I got like, a lot of shit. People are like, why would you go to Batavia? You know, like everyone that lives in Chicago, like, the, the snobs who are like city people. And I'm like, the. This club, it doesn't matter where it was. It could have been on the moon. They were fucking awesome. Like, on it. Just good to. The comedians cared about the show. They don't do checks. They don't do checks until late after. That's a big thing that, That's a little inside baseball that, like, some clubs will, like, start having people pay in the middle of the show. And you're like, oh, my God. Like, I gotta, like, reserve my whole, like, you know, I have to stay confident during this, like, really bullshit, like, split attention part of the show.
- [11:36]
Caitlin Palufo
But I'm losing to Venmo right now, right? Damn it.
- [11:40]
Jared Freed
Losing badly, too. And then, like, so I had these four women in the front, and I said to them, I go, oh, you guys look like the mascots for Pottery Barn. Look at. You know, and it was just such a light jab and. But I could feel right away that they were like, we're not gonna laugh at this. We're gonna beat you, and we're gonna win this interaction. And that's when, like, crowd work and stuff, like, becomes unfun for me. And I. Do you have some, like, bad crowd work memories from the road? Is there any one that, like, sticks out that, like, really, like, haunts you?
- [12:17]
Caitlin Palufo
Well, I mean, there's. I mean, I think every single one haunts me. You know, they're the ones where I go home and I'm like, why didn't I say this? Why did I say that? Oh, my God.
- [12:26]
Jared Freed
Right, Right. You do the thing in the mirror where you're like, no, you're a loser.
- [12:30]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Just talking myself off a bridge. Just like, it's okay. You'll get them again. There's always virgins in the crowd.
- [12:39]
Jared Freed
Just.
- [12:40]
Caitlin Palufo
But, I mean, there's always, like, with women, I always feel like when you talk to a man, they try and, you know, they. They puff up their chest a little bit. You know, they try and, you know, I'm funny too, or I'm not gonna let you talk to, like, what are you do.
- [12:58]
Jared Freed
You know, it's a little bit dismissive or it's. I. Well, then you probably understand the idea, like, this idea of. Because someone having to beat you, like, they want to best you because. And again, like, the male female dynamic can't be ignored. Like, you know, when I talk to women on stage, I. I knew at its core, if I think back to that show, like, I think they were mad that I called them moms. Like, I. Because they were my. They were my age. They didn't look old, but they were, like, my age, and they were moms in the suburbs. We've taken different paths in our lives, but you could see that, that, that, that. That assessment from, you know, Johnny J. You know, Johnny cool guy from the city, you know, like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It wasn't.
- [13:41]
Caitlin Palufo
Something happened. They. They turned down Botox, and now they're really feeling insecure about it. Something like someone said something, and you're like, oh, my God, my 11s, you know, like. And so then you brought it up. They're like Pottery Barn, right?
- [13:55]
Jared Freed
I'm. I'm not. I'm forever 21, you know, like, I.
- [13:58]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, I just went to Hollister. It still fits, right?
- [14:02]
Jared Freed
And again, I'm not looking to call. Go on stage and call someone old. That's not even what my intention was. It was just to be playful and fun.
- [14:10]
Caitlin Palufo
But Pottery Barn is awesome. I love to be. Look, like, I shop at Pottery Barn. That's like, you got money, right?
- [14:16]
Jared Freed
That's how it kind of meant it. But then, you know, again, like, I. We. When we try to talk to the crowd, it gets so, like, you never know what you're gonna hit on. And you're like, just like you said, like, oh, I should have made a right when I made a left is like, a lot of, like, crowd work, you know, mistakes.
- [14:33]
Caitlin Palufo
I always feel guilty when I make fun of someone, especially younger guys. This has happened so many kids. Like, kids come to the audience. Seller. I mean, I start 21, 22.
- [14:47]
Jared Freed
Okay. Yeah, yeah.
- [14:48]
Caitlin Palufo
And these children, they're doing birthday parties now.
- [14:53]
Jared Freed
The seller really sold out. Yeah.
- [14:56]
Caitlin Palufo
But a lot of them are religious. And whenever I feel guilty, I'm not a religious person. And so sometimes they say, you know, they're religious, or they, you know, oh, you got a girlfriend? Oh, no. You know, like, I make fun of them a little bit, and then I feel guilty for making fun of their. I feel like I'm making fun of their religion.
- [15:13]
Jared Freed
Right?
- [15:14]
Caitlin Palufo
But it's like, that's the only time I'm ever, like, I shouldn't have done that, you know, Otherwise, I just, like, let it rip. But when it comes to, like, religion, I always feel a little guilty. Like, I'll. I'll even say racist shit. I don't care. It's like the kids who are like, this is how I was raised, and I'm holy wholesome, and I'm like, right?
- [15:32]
Jared Freed
And you're like, there's nothing right. I, I, I never. I, I think the misconception is, like, people have said to me, they're like, that's why you don't sit in the front. It's like, I've never had someone sit in the front and, like, been like, get ready for the front row to feel my wrath today. Like, Like, I don't. I want the front row to like me. I want the front row to be in on the joke. Like, I, I never. Like, if anything, when I say, look at the pottery boundaries, Pottery Barn, PTA moms, I'm like, I just want them to, like, be laughing at themselves. And then, you know, give it back to, you know, like, I guess give it back to me. There's a. Like, a fun. I don't know how to do that. I guess there is a power imbalance, but. Yeah, I don't know. It. It goes. I don't. It goes wrong so many times that I'm like, why am I even talking to anyone?
- [16:17]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, but sometimes you have to, because I feel like with so many crowd work clips. They almost expected a little bit.
- [16:22]
Jared Freed
Right.
- [16:23]
Caitlin Palufo
Which is frustrating in its own way.
- [16:26]
Jared Freed
Right.
- [16:26]
Caitlin Palufo
It's. I literally. I only do it when I lose track of where I'm going next.
- [16:33]
Jared Freed
Right? You're doing it to breathe a little bit. Yeah. I. Again, that's another thing that people don't know. I mean, I had a guy at another show, so I have. They tape all your shows at this club. Again, I sound like. I'm like. They're like, marketing manager. I'm telling every comedian to go there. I had a great weekend. But there was a guy in the front with a. With a mohawk. So, like, mohawk. Like, whether this is right or wrong, when you see a mohawk, it's like. And he was a big guy. And I. I said, how are you tonight? Like, just, how are you? And he goes, our friend forced us to come here. And he. And I go. And I. And I don't think people know how they sound. I think we are putting. We. We are forced to hear ourselves. We're forced to, like, feel the temperature in the room. Because I go. I go, dude, you have said. I go. I've never heard someone say that they're going to the comedy club in the. In. As a negative a way, as you just said.
- [17:31]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah.
- [17:32]
Jared Freed
Like. Like, this isn't the dentist. She's not your mom. Like, forced to come. You. She forced us. I was like, sounds like you're ready to laugh. Like, right. Like.
- [17:46]
Caitlin Palufo
And he didn't want to be here.
- [17:48]
Jared Freed
Right? And we're, like, such sensitive people. Like, we. We feel that language. We. And like, my mom, my whole life, you're so sensitive. Don't take things so personally. I'm not taking that personally. I'm just saying this guy sounds like someone who doesn't want to be here. Just like you said. Like. And I said to him, and he couldn't relent. Like, I have it all on video. Like, he couldn't, like, back down from this position that we were for. I go, you don't think that sounds. I go, we were forced to be here. Sounds like, kind of passive aggressive towards me. Like, I. I don't understand what's going on. You know? Like, and. And he was just like, what? And I'm like, you got a mohawk? And you said, we were forced to be here. Are you gonna kill us all? Like, you know, like.
- [18:35]
Caitlin Palufo
It'S all. It's like the same thing where it's like, there's everybody you could be killing in the room. And you see that one face of just the crossed arms. And, and so I, I doubled down. You know, I double down. I look him right in the eye. I go in, I go in like this, Jared, I swear to God, I go. And I go, I will break you. That's what I say. It's always a man. I'll never do it to a woman. I'm like, living your. Whatever's going on, it's probably something outside of me if it's a woman. But if it's a man, I'm like, I'm gonna break you.
- [19:07]
Jared Freed
See, that's fun, too. Like, I probably goes even crazier. They're just like, that's hilarious. I did a show, I was at the Village Underground in. I'll never forget this. A Village Underground in New York City. The comedy seller sold out. And I'm having, like, I, I, I'm not just saying this. Say, I'm having the set of my life. I'm crushing. They're a hot audience. I'm like, yeah, I am the king of comedy. And there was one woman to the right who's just like, leaning on her hand like this. And she's leaning, yeah, she's doing the Thinker. She's like, hand on and, like, literally, like, squishing her cheek into her eyeball. And I stop everything. I stop, like, a million dollar set. Like, like, literally, like. And this is how crazy we are. Like, it is us, too. Like, let me just take the blame. I go, I could have just kept rocking and rolling, never pass her by, run away from her. And I literally stop. Like, it's out of a movie. I go, I go, I got, I go, stop laughing. Everyone's shut the fuck up. We are having the best. And I'm like, we are having the best time. And I look and I go, look at how miserable this miserable fuck is. And I, like, pointed her. And the audience was so hot. Like, everyone just starts laughing at how much she's not laughing, but we're laughing. And, like, right away it became, we're cool, we laugh, we're easygoing. And look at this miserable woman. And I stopped the whole set to do it. And I, I had, it was so gluttonous. Like, I had no, There was no reason for me to do it. And I got off stage, I'm like, high five. And all the comics, and I'm like, having the best. And I remember the next day, I got a DM and it was like a pay. It was a full iPhone long. And it was like, from the woman, and she's like, she goes. She goes, you like. She just called me out so hard. She's like, you. You self conscious piece of shit. Everyone laughs in different ways. I was having a fun time. You forced the whole crowd to look at me to make me. And she goes on and on about how big of an asshole I am. And I did have a moment where I'm like, oh, my God, she might be right. Like, I literally, like, I. I had a moment. I was like, fuck, she is right. People do laugh in different ways. I don't know what's going on her day. Like, I really felt bad and then I went back and listened to it and I was like, from her. It's like when the Karate Kid. Did you see those, like, when they tell the movie from the. From the bad guys perspective. And it's like the whole thing that cr. There. There was a whole thing on the Internet where Karate Kid, the movie, everyone was like, the Karate Kid is the bad guy. This guy William Zabka was just like, having a good day and then suddenly he gets challenged by this. And they, like, they ended up making the new. There's a Netflix series all based on the Karate Kid. B. It's. That's the whole premise. That's the whole premise of Cobra Kai is. They saw the. The whole premise of Cobra Kai is like, you. You didn't see it the whole time. And it was like, this is now I'm watching my own movie where I'm like, oh, I wasn't the hero. I was the fucking villain. Like, I stopped a whole show, a whole row of people to point out that this woman doesn't laugh. Good enough for me. So it's like, it does go both ways. But I guess someone could be mad at us because the power imbalance, the microphone is the power, you know, like, we literally get our voices elevated, you know, like.
- [22:51]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, we. I forget. Maybe that's why I like, stand up so much. It's like I feel like I do have power. Of course, at the same time, I'm still. As soon as a joke's not working.
- [23:01]
Jared Freed
I'm like, I know, right?
- [23:03]
Caitlin Palufo
To panic. And then I change in order to make them happy. So who's really got the power?
- [23:09]
Jared Freed
Yeah, we're bullies, but we're like. But we're paper tigers. That's how a bully reacts. Like, we're not getting what I want. Well, let me beat up someone who's the least. The least able, you know, like, yeah, it's such a fucked up thing. We do. I really do think, like, Like, I've just been thinking about crowd work. I mean, like, I tell the story. I have a Patreon where I told this story about this woman who I did a joke about my parents, and she literally yelled out, my parents are dead. And I. I know. I. I said her. I go, that's a weird thing to yell at a comedy club. And she goes, do something with it.
- [23:43]
Caitlin Palufo
Oh, my God.
- [23:44]
Jared Freed
She goes, monkey, right? It was so she goes, do something with it. I like dark humor. And I was like. And so I said, I go, well, now I know why they killed themselves. They had to deal with you and the. Like, I don't want to do that joke. Like, I don't. Like, I don't. I didn't come to Des Moines to make fun of someone's dead parents. Like, you know, like, and. And we go through, like, you know, I. I've been doing this 14 years, and it's like, all of it is training for that moment, but that moment gets me nothing. You know? Like, we do train to be able to handle that, but none of us got into this to handle that.
- [24:27]
Caitlin Palufo
No, no. And it's not the goal. It's not. We're not going on stage. Like, man, I hope someone throws a bottle of whiskey at me so that I can get a hundred thousand followers. You know, like, oh, my God, Nightmare.
- [24:40]
Jared Freed
Well, now that you say that, like, so during this interaction with the Women, it's on YouTube if anyone wants to watch it, she says, you're welcome. Which is, like, the most is the something that if you really want to annoy a comedian, like, be annoying, then have the comedian make your annoying funny and then go, you're welcome. As if that's what we want. Like, it is a frustrating thing to yell at a comedian because, like, do you see how much work I'm doing up here? This isn't. This isn't fun because you yelled at me. This is fun because I made you yelling at me funny. Like, and it's like, go ahead.
- [25:16]
Caitlin Palufo
They don't realize that we've been dealing with bad crowds unironically for a decade, you know?
- [25:23]
Jared Freed
Right.
- [25:24]
Caitlin Palufo
And that has prepared us. So we're like, oh, it's another one of you, you know, so it's like, you're not special. You're yelling at me, and I have to do these. I've been preparing for you for years.
- [25:36]
Jared Freed
Years. Just ready. Getting ready. Like, sharpening a knife that I never want to use.
- [25:42]
Caitlin Palufo
I never want to use. I've been forced to use. I'm upset that I have to use it. I just want to microwave my dinner and go home, you know?
- [25:50]
Jared Freed
Right. And then you go, well, then it goes the other way because then you start doing your jokes and then someone laughs like this. And you're like, that's all you give me. And like, it's like. Like have a little energy. And it's like, it's, it's. We're.
- [26:04]
Caitlin Palufo
That took me years, too.
- [26:05]
Jared Freed
How dare you. Before we move forward, ring in the new year in comfort and style with me undies. Their stuff is seriously unmatched. From lounge pants to onesies. And of course, the underwear you already know and love. Meundies has it all. See how seamless I am, Caitlyn?
- [26:21]
Caitlin Palufo
Incredible.
- [26:21]
Jared Freed
Get an entire wardrobe that feels like you're floating on a cloud. You won't regret it. Look at. I texted you an hour ago. You didn't think I'd be running promos with you on. On the podcast, do you have me?
- [26:32]
Caitlin Palufo
So impressive.
- [26:33]
Jared Freed
Meundies is fantastic. Let me tell you why I love them. I have the lounge pants. The lounge pants are a gift that someone will have for minimum five years. You will give someone five years of comfort. That. That is, I think, an unbelievable gift. And especially these times. January, February, it's dark early, it's cold, it's horrible. There's nothing to live for right now. Get them some lounge pants. It'll be the one thing to make them happy, right?
- [27:00]
Caitlin Palufo
Get your single friend some lounge pants because boy, oh boy.
- [27:06]
Jared Freed
And write that on the couch. Write that on the card. Here are your single pants. You're welcome. They really make them feel good, though. The loungers are just great. Meundies uses super soft micromodal fabric that's breathable, stretchy, perfect for. For daily wear. Try it out for yourself. If you aren't totally sold, they'll give you your first pair of meundies for free. I'm a huge fan of meundies. It is the time of year to treat yourself. I've been ordering things online all month. Just totally gorging, spending money I don't have. So go do that with me and me and he's going to give you a deal. Knock out all your holiday gifting needs today with me undies. To get exclusive holiday deals and savings all month long, go to meundies.com feather use promo code feather that's meundies.com feather code feather. Meundies comfort from the outside. And now Kaylin Palufo. Everyone go follow Caitlin. She is on the road. She is Fantastic. You're going to love Caitlin Palufo. Couple more questions.
- [28:01]
Caitlin Palufo
Shoot.
- [28:02]
Jared Freed
Do you guys do traditional Christmas stuff? What's your Christmas.
- [28:07]
Caitlin Palufo
Yes.
- [28:08]
Jared Freed
What is your thing?
- [28:09]
Caitlin Palufo
My family, we get decked out for Christmas. If you can see behind me, this is my mother.
- [28:16]
Jared Freed
You, behind you on YouTube. If you're watching on YouTube, you have a very, like, I would call it home goods looking set up behind you. It is very much that aisle at a home goods that you're like, what is the holiday island of home goods? That's the background.
- [28:35]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, exactly. I told my mother one year that I liked reindeer. And we're done. That's it.
- [28:43]
Jared Freed
That is everything I have. I got reindeer meundies, reindeer. You know, reindeer credit card reindeer. Yeah, yeah, that's it.
- [28:51]
Caitlin Palufo
Incredible. Yeah, it's.
- [28:52]
Jared Freed
Yeah, there's a lot of reindeer stuff. Reindeer pillows, reindeer throw flamethrowers. You're holding up a reindeer pillow. This is just.
- [29:00]
Caitlin Palufo
This is just the pillow for the chair. This is not for the bed. This is the chair pillow.
- [29:04]
Jared Freed
Was that a gift to you?
- [29:07]
Caitlin Palufo
Well, it's a gift to this room. This is.
- [29:09]
Jared Freed
Oh. She was like, I'm gonna make this the reindeer room. And that's your reindeer room.
- [29:12]
Caitlin Palufo
Jessica's. My sister's, I believe, is the snowman room.
- [29:16]
Jared Freed
Okay.
- [29:16]
Caitlin Palufo
And my mom and dad's is the Santa room. And then, of course, the living room is just every village and nativity scene you've ever thought could exist exists. We have two Christmas trees. Oh, excuse me. Three. One for the deck. Yes.
- [29:33]
Jared Freed
Oh. So you're like. You guys are like, Christmas family. This is, like, matching PJs.
- [29:39]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, yeah. And I. I love Christmas. I love all the bad movies. I love all the decorating. I love that stuff. And so, like, at my home, in my apartment, which I now live alone, I have a Christmas tree and I have, like, two throw pillows that are Christmas themed and like. Like a few little tchotchkes. It's nothing crazy.
- [30:01]
Jared Freed
No, everybody's decorating.
- [30:02]
Caitlin Palufo
God, that's nuts. And I was like, you don't know where I've been.
- [30:05]
Jared Freed
Well, you're dealing with comedians, too. Like, the women will do nice things in their apartments that they rent that. I'm like, what? Like, I can't believe it. Like, they'll put up. Like. I remember when people moved to the city first. Like, women, my female friends would move in together, and then they'd put up a picture framed of the roommates, and I'm like, why would you even do this? Like. Like, what are you guys, family? Like, what what do you need this for? But I. I do the tree. That's nice. That's nice that you do that. It probably feels good to walk into a home. I'm walking into some YMCA locker room here that I've created. Like, it's like, it's not smart long.
- [30:44]
Caitlin Palufo
It's wonderful. I mean, every time I open the door, I make sure I leave the Christmas tree lights on so that when I come home late at night, it's from spots. I open the door and it's just glowing and glittering, and I'm like, oh, this I'm gonna be okay.
- [30:58]
Jared Freed
This is. This is where the Judaism comes in for me. I'm like, you're leaving them on one of the. What if there's a spark? It burns down the whole place. You're spending all that money on electricity. Oh, my God, you're killing me. I. So hold on. What is. So you wake up Christmas morning. How old's your sister?
- [31:16]
Caitlin Palufo
My older. My youngest sister is 30, and my older sister is, I think 42, 43.
- [31:21]
Jared Freed
And they're all in the house too?
- [31:23]
Caitlin Palufo
No, just my younger sister. My older sister has a family of her own, and so they'll wake up and do Christmas at their house, and then we'll meet together and do Christmas dinner.
- [31:32]
Jared Freed
So you. You wake up. Because I've never done a Christmas. So you wake up on. On Christmas Day. This is where this is going to come out on Christmas. Give us the. Give us the schedule. Because I. I actually would like to know. Yeah, okay.
- [31:45]
Caitlin Palufo
Hold on to your butts. This is what we do.
- [31:48]
Jared Freed
Hold on to your candy canes.
- [31:50]
Caitlin Palufo
It starts Christmas Eve. Okay, so Christmas Eve.
- [31:52]
Jared Freed
Are you a seven fish family?
- [31:54]
Caitlin Palufo
No, no, my dad doesn't. We are Italian, but my dad does not like seafood, so.
- [31:59]
Jared Freed
Okay.
- [32:00]
Caitlin Palufo
Every year, my little sister and I, we make a different kind of. This year, we're going to do. She got a new Mexican cookbook. We're going to make some stuff. We're going to make fajitas for Christmas Eve.
- [32:10]
Jared Freed
See, this is the reason to have daughters. I. The daughters getting together to create a menu. Like, I come home, I'm like, mom, what are we eating? Like, there's no thought of, like, me creating anything. Okay.
- [32:23]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah.
- [32:24]
Jared Freed
So you're going to Mexican feast.
- [32:28]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, we make a Mexican feast this year. Last year was Italian. Before that, it was something else.
- [32:33]
Jared Freed
But it would be hilarious if you guys decorated it, made it real. Like, real kooky. Like, we did a Jewish one. You know, like. Like, grab your dreidels on your Way into your Christmas Eve Jew night. Yeah, that'd be funny.
- [32:49]
Caitlin Palufo
It's all vodkas. Yeah, we'll do it. But then we, you know, we'll have some wine, we'll watch some Christmas movies, and then we all go to bed. And when we wake up, my mom wakes up everybody with jingle bells. So she'll go from room to room with bells, and she'll.
- [33:05]
Jared Freed
Have you talked about this on stage? You're an adult. This is crazy. There's, like, I'm waking up on Christmas, like, in my apartment, like, hungover, and Kaitlyn Palufo is gonna get a ding. A ding. A ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. From. From a sweet mom. Like, we are living two different planets. Okay.
- [33:28]
Caitlin Palufo
Yes. And she. And so we go. We have Christmas pajamas. We all wear Christmas pajamas. We wake up, we go, and we sit down. We make coffee. Everybody gets coffee. And then we go around one by one. And when we open presents, everybody gets a turn and we go around. Youngest to oldest.
- [33:45]
Jared Freed
Do people know this about you?
- [33:47]
Caitlin Palufo
Really?
- [33:48]
Jared Freed
Like, do I? Do I. Am I friends with people who do that? Like, do I know more than just you? This is like, I can't believe it's going on. Like, but I, I, I, I'm like, I'm. I'm warmed and also, like, shocked at the same, like, go. Keep going.
- [34:04]
Caitlin Palufo
This is totally wholesome.
- [34:05]
Jared Freed
This is the most wholesome thing I've ever heard in my entire life.
- [34:09]
Caitlin Palufo
So at the end, we all do stockings. We have to do the stockings at the same time, you know? And then we usually throw on the Christmas Day parade. And.
- [34:16]
Jared Freed
Yeah.
- [34:17]
Caitlin Palufo
And then my dad will make steak and eggs every morning. We make steak and eggs every Christmas morning. And then after that, we clean up, and then we get ready, and then Sarah and the kids come over. My older sister and her children and husband come over. And then we do a gift exchange again around Robin. Then we make dinner together. And then we usually play games. We play, like, a family game. Like, one time we did tarot card readings. That was a disaster.
- [34:42]
Jared Freed
Everybody.
- [34:43]
Caitlin Palufo
Everybody's dying. Yeah. It was like, oh, this was a huge.
- [34:47]
Jared Freed
Have fun at your last Christmas together. Yeah. This is crazy. Well, hold on. I. So I talk a lot about my family on stage. I talk about, like, hot. And it is hard for me to envision, like, bringing someone into my family with dating. Now you're dating. Like, you know, this is very nice and sweet, but, like, you have to, like, you can't just bring anyone to this event. This is.
- [35:14]
Caitlin Palufo
I don't think I Never brought my ex. He always spent Christmas with his family, even when we were engaged.
- [35:21]
Jared Freed
Never.
- [35:22]
Caitlin Palufo
Never. I did have a different ex who came, but he wasn't very close with his family, and so he came for a couple years.
- [35:29]
Jared Freed
That made it easier to bring him because he didn't have his own thing. Yeah, but so exactly. I remember I was dating someone, and it was the moment that I felt like not an adult. And I. And you said that your fiance didn't come. Like, I remember I was dating someone. They were like, what's our Thanksgiving plan? And I was like, our. I was like. And I reacted. I reacted as if I was a junior in college. I was like, well, it's fall break, and I'm gonna go home to my parents and play video games. Like, And I think back to that. I was like, wow, I was such not an adult in that scenario. Like, do you worry about that? Like, I, like, yeah.
- [36:09]
Caitlin Palufo
I mean, I think it was.
- [36:11]
Jared Freed
You're doing it, you know, you're doing this as an adult, I'm sure it's so much fun. But, like, it does suck. I agree with you. Like, it sucks to be like, the party's gotta end. We, you know, steak and eggs. I gotta have this other person here who might be like, I don't eat eggs. You know, like, I don't want to deal with that. I want this. I want steak and eggs to go until we die.
- [36:30]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, well, I mean, we'll still have steak and eggs.
- [36:33]
Jared Freed
Well, I'm just saying you might meet someone who goes, well, what about my house on Christmas? You know, I know.
- [36:38]
Caitlin Palufo
That's the thing. I wasn't my ex, the one that didn't come to Christmas. Like, my family, the day after Christmas, my extended family, we all get together. There's like 30 of us, we all get together and we do a big. We do socks and ornament, white elephant, you know, so we do a fun exchange. And, and, and like, my family does Christmas. His family barely did. They have, like, a tree and that's it. And it was just him and his parents, and that was it. And I was like, well, I'm not giving up my Christmas to Cody. Your Christmas.
- [37:13]
Jared Freed
I, I, there's no way you can.
- [37:16]
Caitlin Palufo
Come to my Christmas. I'm not going to your Christmas.
- [37:19]
Jared Freed
As little as I relate to your mom playing Jingle Bells over the wind chime in the morning, I highly relate to your to, like, I don't want to give up my. How comfortable I am with my family to go to this, you know, this unknown, scary, like, what if I'm sitting there and I'm depressed? Like, yeah. You know, I don't hear my own thoughts when Mom's playing Jingle Bells on the harp, like, you know, like.
- [37:51]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah. I mean, he told me about their Christmas. They just. They opened one present each, and then they sat on the couch and watched tv. And I was like.
- [37:59]
Jared Freed
You were like, no, I'm not doing that.
- [38:01]
Caitlin Palufo
Are you insane?
- [38:02]
Jared Freed
No, you're inside a snow globe. Why? But I. Like, my parents, like, we, like, we go on vacation with the. Like, they're, like, looking to do stuff. Like, if I met. This is the thing. Like, I can't. At 39, I'm making this about me. But, like, I. I do think at 39, I'm like, who am I to even say, like, what family? Like. Like to be choosy of families. But, like, you do have these moments, and it's like, how important is that in the moment? It's important. But, like, if I was madly in love with someone, I guess I would. We'd figure it out. That's the. That's the reality.
- [38:38]
Caitlin Palufo
That's the thing. It was like, maybe that was the sign that I never had this burning desire to be with that person on Christmas. I won't be with my family, you know?
- [38:47]
Jared Freed
Well, then I wonder, like, who has that. Who's that madly in love to, like, maybe be at a house they're not uncomfortable, not totally comfortable at? And I'm like, maybe. I mean, my little issue.
- [38:58]
Caitlin Palufo
My little. My little sister brought her boyfriend for the first year, and they're excited. Yeah, and they're excited, and they're excited. And so it's like, oh, they're really in love.
- [39:10]
Jared Freed
Right? Do you like him?
- [39:13]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah, he's great. Yeah.
- [39:15]
Jared Freed
You have to say that on camera. But I.
- [39:17]
Caitlin Palufo
No, no, no, no. My little sister's a weirdo, and he matches her weird. And so it's like two little weird puzzle pieces. It's great.
- [39:25]
Jared Freed
Love it.
- [39:26]
Caitlin Palufo
I'm very. I'm thrilled that they found each other.
- [39:28]
Jared Freed
Well, I don't want to keep you too long. I interrupted the.
- [39:31]
Caitlin Palufo
You got it.
- [39:32]
Jared Freed
Sweetest holiday ever.
- [39:34]
Caitlin Palufo
Well, would you. I have a question for you. Now you're Jewish, do you guys celebrate Christmas at all?
- [39:40]
Jared Freed
No, we.
- [39:42]
Caitlin Palufo
So if you went with, like, a. If you got a Christian girlfriend or whatever, celebrate Christmas, would you go to Christmas with her family?
- [39:50]
Jared Freed
See, this is the thing. This is where I get, like. This is where I'm being difficult. Like, I love Christmas because I do nothing. Like, I have Chinese food. I sit there like an otter with, like, wontons on my tummy while I watch the tv. Like, it is, like, the greatest excuse to do nothing. And I don't know, like, I love that as much as I love, you know, whatever I do with my family.
- [40:13]
Caitlin Palufo
Have you ever had the jingle bells wake you up in the morning? Have you ever had that?
- [40:17]
Jared Freed
You do make it sound actually fun, but, like, I, I don't know if I want to be taught about Christmas at 39. Like, I don't know. Like, this is, like, this is where I start to, like, see that. Like, I'm a miserable fuck, you know?
- [40:34]
Caitlin Palufo
Like, I think if you fell in love with the girl who loved Christmas, right, then it would be. I think you would. I would want to see her happy.
- [40:43]
Jared Freed
You know, my whole life has been talking shit and then eventually going, it's actually not so bad. Like, I. That's my whole life. That's. My whole life is talk, shit, get bit. And. Yeah, no, I, that's the thing. Even, like, when I was in college, I remember I would be like, you know, my whole hot take was like, Christmas, who cares? Give a shit, you know, whatever. And then as I've aged, I'm like, oh, I love this time of year. Like, I really do. Like, and. But then, I don't know, I, I, I, I don't know so much of it. I'm like, when I hear your story, it sounds so foreign to me.
- [41:19]
Caitlin Palufo
Like, my mom, My mom would be thrilled, absolutely thrilled if I brought home a Jewish boy. Because she would be like, then all the Christmases are with us.
- [41:30]
Jared Freed
Right, Right, Right, right, right, right. It is selfish, but it's also like, yeah, you get a Christmas newbie. You get to see, like, it's like seeing a toddler open their presents for the first time. It's like, I'd be the toddler. Like, whoa. You know?
- [41:45]
Caitlin Palufo
Exactly.
- [41:46]
Jared Freed
Listen, everyone. Go follow. Go follow Kaitlyn Palufo. She's so funny. You're on the road. Where are your road dates? Let people know.
- [41:53]
Caitlin Palufo
I mean, I'm literally on the 27th through 29th. I'm at the Helium in Atlanta, so come see me.
- [41:58]
Jared Freed
Helium Atlanta?
- [41:59]
Caitlin Palufo
Yeah.
- [42:00]
Jared Freed
That's a new club.
- [42:01]
Caitlin Palufo
Brand new club.
- [42:03]
Jared Freed
That's great. Heliums are really great clubs. If you're in Atlanta, we have Atlanta. People go see Caitlin. That's the perfect time of year to go, get away from your family. If you're stuck at home, maybe you're home for the holidays. At Caitlin Palufo, I'm Jared Freed. We're here every Wednesday with a chitchat Wednesday. We'll be back tomorrow with Pop Culture Thursday. Boom.