Podcast Summary

The JTrain Podcast

Episode: How Kris Jenner Changed Michael Yo’s Career — CHIT CHAT WEDNESDAY
Host: Jared Freid
Guest: Michael Yo
Release Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and nostalgic episode, Jared Freid welcomes comedian and TV personality Michael Yo for a Chit Chat Wednesday that covers Michael’s unique journey through Hollywood, his behind-the-scenes experiences with E! Network, and the pivotal influence of Kris Jenner on his career. The conversation also pivots to the explosion of reality television, the enduring success of the Kardashians, and Michael’s new food show highlighting extreme and unusual dining experiences. The episode concludes with a fun dining recommendation game that showcases both hosts’ love for food, comedy, and pop culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Michael Yo’s Hollywood Roots and E! Network Days

• Michael’s Start in Entertainment: Michael recalls arriving in LA and landing at E! during a boom period when pop culture and celebrity coverage were "as high as it's ever been" (04:33).
• E! as a “College Vibe”: The creative, party-like era at E! is highlighted: "Ted Harbert created almost like a college vibe at E." — Michael Yo (04:48).
• Launching New Stars: The conversation touches on how E! brought together future stars like Ryan Seacrest, Snoop Dogg, and the rising Kardashian family.
• Viewer Relationship: Jared reflects on E!’s role as pop culture background comfort:
  “Let me take the wheel... That was kind of E! for me... I know what I’m getting here. This could be a fun, just like this podcast.” — Jared Freid (05:40).

2. The Kardashians: From Afterthoughts to Icons

• Reality TV’s Evolution: The hosts discuss the rise of reality TV and how the Kardashians were initially seen as a “side world” or lesser part of Hollywood (07:40).
• Women as Audience Leaders: Michael notes how reality shows like The Bachelor and Kardashians connect with women, even as they get "eye rolls" from others (08:15).
• Kardashians’ Unique Talent:
  “How many thousands of reality shows have started and ended and theirs is still going? It takes talent... That’s a talent, whether you like to admit it or not.” — Michael Yo (08:58).

3. Kris Jenner’s Pivotal Role in Michael Yo’s Career

• Origin of the Kardashian Show: Michael reveals how Lindsay Lohan dropping out led to the Kardashians’ reality show getting greenlit by Ryan Seacrest (15:29).
• Chris Jenner’s Loyalty and Influence:
  “Chris said to my face, if this show is a hit, I will get you on it because you treated my family so well... And she came through.” — Michael Yo (18:24)
• Impactful Moments: Michael shares that he was included in multiple Kardashian spin-offs and their family events, highlighting Kris’s follow-through and loyalty.

4. Chelsea Handler & The Power of Loyalty in Comedy

• Chelsea Handler’s Support: Michael credits both Kris Jenner and Chelsea Handler for their real-life loyalty:
  "Chelsea... if I have a show, I got you. And she did. And I was on Chelsea Lately for seven years." — Michael Yo (20:28)
• Chelsea Lately as “American Idol for Comics”:
  “She changed lives... She was the American Idol for comedians. Half the writers on that show retired from standup.” — Michael Yo (23:38)

5. The New Food Adventure: “1000 Ways To Dine”

• Show Concept: Michael describes his new series, which explores “unique and unusual dining experiences where food is just one part of the overall experience” (25:49).
• Extreme Examples: Dining 30 feet underwater in a submarine, eating in a bulb suspended from a cliff, blindfolded sensory dining, and authentic home-cooked Italian meals.
• Michael’s Preferences:
  • Declines dangerous or gimmicky experiences (“I do not want to be trapped in a submarine if something goes wrong eating dinner.” — Michael Yo 27:10)
  • Loves authentic and communal experiences: “You go to Italy and a person opens up their house to ten people... So that was the coolest.” — Michael Yo (28:50)

6. Food Recommendation Game: “Would You Recommend” (Starts ~29:59)

Memorable Scenarios and Responses

• Great Coffee Place, Out of the Way
  • Michael: “Yes, 100%. Because at a great coffee place, once you get there, you can chill with that person for hours.” (30:17)
• Great Vibe but Okay Food
  • Michael: “No, no. Vibes don’t matter... Even though my show is about the vibe.” (31:41)
  • Jared: “I already know, bad.” (32:28)
• Chef Talks for 20 Minutes
  • Michael: "I love it. I love talking to a chef." (32:53)
  • Jared: “I wrote this thinking I would hate it, but... I do have questions for the chef!” (32:58)
• Best Pizza in Arkansas
  • Michael: “I would not go to Arkansas for a pizza... If you want to go to a good Walmart 100. That’s where Walmart started.” (34:33)
  • Jared and Michael reminisce about best pizza spots in NYC, with Jared’s picks including Joe’s, Series, and Village Square Pizza. Michael praises Detroit-style pizza.

7. Life Updates & Closing

• Michael promotes his upcoming Gramercy Theatre show in NYC (24:50, 25:14).
• Casual discussion about life in Delray Beach, Florida, and comedy scenes in different cities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Kardashians’ Success:
  “Whether you like to admit it or not, that’s a talent... It’s talent to a certain degree, it’s luck to a certain. But that’s in any industry.” — Michael Yo (09:58)
• On Reality TV’s Legitimacy:
  “The reason people poo-poo it is we don’t know what to call it.” — Jared Freid (09:27)
• On Kris Jenner:
  “If this is a hit, I got you. I want to put you on the show... And she really accepted me.” — Michael Yo (18:24, 18:57)
• On Chelsea Handler’s Loyalty:
  "She was the American Idol for comedians... She gave so many people an opportunity to do comedy." — Michael Yo (21:59, 23:38)
• On Extreme Dining:
  “I do not want to be trapped in a submarine if something goes wrong eating dinner.” — Michael Yo (27:10)
• On Pizza Recommendations:
  “If it’s Italy, if it’s New York, no story needed. Anywhere else I need a tale.” — Jared Freid (35:25) “Don’t you think when these great chefs make pizza it loses? Like it’s not supposed to be great chefs making pizza. It’s supposed to be mom and pop, like real.” — Michael Yo (36:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• E! Hollywood Memories & Celebrity Parties — 04:33–07:27
• How the Kardashians Got Their Start — 15:29–16:53
• Kris Jenner’s Game-changing Support — 18:24–19:55
• Chelsea Handler’s Impact on Comics — 20:28–23:38
• Michael’s New Food Show & Extreme Dining Stories — 25:49–28:50
• Dining Recommendation Game (Would You Recommend?) — 29:59–34:12
• Pizza in America & NYC Fav Spots — 35:25–38:17

Overall Tone and Takeaways

This episode is an energetic mix of entertainment industry nostalgia, candid advice on navigating show business, and playful camaraderie around food and comedy. Both host and guest share genuine admiration for the loyal and transformational figures in their careers—especially the unsung support from Kris Jenner and Chelsea Handler. The dining game at the end brings humor and relatability while drawing out each comedian’s personal preferences for what truly makes a memorable meal.

Fans of inside-Hollywood stories, food adventures, and pop culture commentary will find this episode engaging, insightful, and sprinkled with laugh-out-loud moments.