The JTrain Podcast

Episode: Who Will Be Performing At The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?!? – POP CULTURE THURSDAY

Host: Jared Freid
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This Patreon episode of The JTrain Podcast, hosted by Jared Freid, is more of a laid-back "Coffee with JTrain" session—an informal solo episode where Jared recaps his week in Delray Beach, Florida. Rather than focusing exclusively on pop culture or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (despite the episode's title), the conversation turns personal: Jared reflects on adapting to life and comedy workflow in Florida, the eccentricities and energy of Delray during the holiday "on season," and his evolving relationship with being recognized in public. Through stories about local diners, awkward interactions, and the unique challenges of performing for friends and family in his hometown, Jared delivers his signature blend of observational humor and self-aware storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Adjusting to Life and Work in Florida

• Jared talks about how moving to Delray Beach has impacted his work as a comedian:
  • He’s used to the “New York” routine of writing, performing, and re-listening to sets nightly, but in Florida, that changes (“You can't just say it's the same same. I have to make changes, which is listening to sets and rewriting...” – 08:45).
  • The transition leaves him both “a little anxious” and open to growth, reminding himself that “any change is stressful. Any change is good. Any change is growth” (10:10).

Discovering Delray’s Local Flavor

• Jared highlights his affection for Delray and shares a heart-warming story about Sandy’s, a local diner:
  • Sandy’s is a quintessential Florida establishment with a “warm hug of a feeling,” which he finds both comforting and nostalgic (15:40).
  • He enjoys the connectedness of the diner—staff introduce themselves and are “all over me in the nicest possible way” (18:15).
  • There’s a running gag about his parents’ concern over his weight based on his food videos, and their exasperation about how much he talks about Sandy’s—“Enough about Sandy’s!” (22:00).

The Perks and Pitfalls of Recognition

• A recurring theme is Jared’s nuanced feelings about being recognized:
  • For him, it’s a source of validation but also occasional discomfort: “It is all versions of the emotional spectrum. It is wonderful. It is a compliment. I feel a lot of value… But I don’t like…[that] some people think when you get recognized, it is feeding an ego…” (28:25).
  • He distinguishes between “fame” and doing the work. Recognition wasn’t the goal—creating funny things and making a living from them was. Yet, “having to have a following is kind of the toughest part of what I do, because it’s not real” (31:21).
  • Jared recounts funny and awkward recent run-ins: from being called “Toast Boy” at the gym to a young woman overreacting when realizing he’s the guy from a podcast she listens to (33:00–38:52).

Delray’s Social Dynamics & Dating Scene

• He explores the types of people who inhabit Delray, especially during the busy “on season”:
  • Families in “the most self-deluded phase” (with college- or high-school-aged kids) flood the area and have “main character syndrome,” especially evident at places like Newark Airport (39:40).
• Jared shares details of his dating life:
  • He describes a recent date at Data, a local spot, and advocates for sharing appetizers (“a more fun date…get all the appetizers, little taste of everything”; 46:15).
  • Candid reviews of restaurant items and service highlight the differing energy of Delray in peak season, plus the weary attitudes of hospitality staff after dealing with waves of visiting families.

The Comedy of Recognition: Three Types of Fan Encounters

• Jared relates several bar stories:
  • “You’re kind of funny” girl: A woman from a speed dating event offers backhanded compliments and venting about short men (63:00).
  • The son of his mother’s ex-husband: In a small town twist, a man introduces himself with, “My dad is your mom’s ex-husband” (65:45). Jared declines the offer to hang together, joking that’s not his scene.
  • Tipsy fans at the bar: He sits by two drunk women—one searches him on Instagram (but doesn’t follow), and the other bluntly asks, “Are you sad? Comedians are sad people, they say…” (references to the “sad clown” narrative; 68:00).
  • “The Nicest Fan Ever”: After these awkward exchanges, a woman politely asks for a selfie and thanks him for his work, serving as a palate cleanser for the night (71:10).

The Stress of Performing Comedy for Family and Locals

• Jared delves into the anxiety of putting on a show in Fort Lauderdale, for friends and family:
  • The agony of comp lists, with his dad and mom arguing over which family friends will (or won’t) enjoy the show: “If I had a video of my dad giving me the list of names he needs comps for, it would be the most viral video ever made… My mom’s going, ‘She’s not going to like the show!’” (75:40).
  • “You need to move them…I need these people in the back. I need these people who are the most judgemental…” (77:25).
  • Jared admits: “It’s not people you don’t know. I’m never worried about people I don’t know… It’s the people you know that are looking at you going, ‘Is this the act? I guess that’s funny, whatever.’” (78:02).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the difficulty of changing comedic routines:
  “Any change is stressful. Any change is good. Any change is growth and all those things. Again, I’m a self-help teacher.” (10:10)

• On Sandy’s Diner:
  “Sandy’s… all of it just has this warm hug of a feeling.” (15:40)
  “When I walked in, it was as if a new character in a sitcom walked in. They all introduced themselves…” (18:15)
  “My mom’s response to that is as if I’m like, you gotta check out the bacon stuffed pork at my new favorite restaurant. That’s not what I’m saying.” (22:00)

• On being recognized:
  “It is all versions of the emotional spectrum. It is wonderful. It is a compliment… But I don’t like…some people think when you get recognized, it’s feeding an ego…” (28:25)
  “Recognition wasn’t the plan. Having a following is the toughest part because it’s not real.” (31:21)

• On the intensity of Delray family types:
  “You are the star of your movie… The more compared to LaGuardia and JFK, there are more families with college and high school age kids [at Newark Airport], and they move as if, get the fuck out of my way. No one else exists in the world.” (39:40)

• Three-tiered structure of awkward fan encounters:

  • “Is that your opening line from the dating event? It’s not going well here.” (63:45)
  • “My dad is your mom’s ex-husband.” (65:45)
  • “Are you sad?... Comedians are real sad people. And I’m like, I’d like to think that I am a happy person, but…” (68:40)

• On the unique struggle of performing for family:
  “It’s the people you know that are looking at you going, ‘Is this the act? Is this what he’s doing? I guess that’s funny…whatever.’” (78:02)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 08:45 – Adapting comedy routines to Florida lifestyle
• 15:40 – Discovery and love of Sandy’s diner
• 28:25 – The highs and lows of public recognition
• 33:00–38:52 – Toast Boy & awkward gym and family recognition stories
• 39:40 – The “main character” syndrome of Delray families & Newark Airport
• 46:15 – Eating appetizers on dates, reviewing Data restaurant
• 63:00 – “You’re kind of funny” girl from speed dating event
• 65:45 – Encounter with the son of his mom’s ex-husband
• 68:00–71:10 – Drunk “Are you sad?” bar fan, then “the nicest fan ever”
• 75:40 – Fort Lauderdale show anxiety & family “comp” drama
• 78:02 – The unique stress of performing for people you know

Conclusion

This episode is more a comedic, observational diary entry than a pop culture deep-dive, but the signature Jared Freid blend of self-deprecating humor, social commentary, and candid storytelling makes for a relatable and engaging listen—especially for anyone navigating transitional periods, small town quirks, or the awkwardness of public attention. The jokes are real, the moments are cringe and sweet in turn, and the Thanksgiving homecoming is equal parts stressful and hilarious.

Note:
This summary excludes ad reads, Patreon plugs, and other non-content segments for clarity and focus on the main storytelling and humor.