Why NPR Credits Don’t Work in Comedy ft Ophira Eisenberg

Summary

The JTrain Podcast

Episode: "Why NPR Credits Don’t Work in Comedy" ft. Ophira Eisenberg

Date: June 10, 2026
Host: Jared Freid
Guest: Ophira Eisenberg

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the strange disconnect between mainstream comedy club audiences and "serious" media credits like NPR, as experienced by stand-up comedian and NPR trivia show host Ophira Eisenberg. Jared Freid, known for his observational, high-energy style, and Ophira discuss why NPR credits don’t always help in the comedy world, the challenges of building an audience in the algorithm age, and the importance of real connection with fans. They also riff on city culture, food opinions, local pride, and Ophira's new special, “I Used to Be Nicer.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The NPR Credit Conundrum

• NPR as a Comedy Credit ([01:40]-[04:53])

  • Ophira explains why she often asks not to be introduced by her NPR credit at comedy shows:
    • Perception: It signals to audiences that she’s bringing “boring news” or “reasonable journalism” energy, which doesn't mesh with stand-up expectations.
    • Quote: "To do any entertainment stuff on NPR just seems like these two things are in complete contradiction." — Ophira ([01:54])
    • Even fans of the NPR trivia show are surprised she does stand-up, despite being introduced as a comedian on the radio:
      "Every single time I was on that stage for the NPR show, it'd be like, and standup comedian Ophira Eisenberg hosts the show. They were like, we know you did stand up. And then on the standup stage, they're like, NPR, no, do not match." ([04:06])

• Politics of Credits ([20:13]-[21:25])

  • NPR, like Fox News, can politicize an audience, even though NPR is intended as neutral public radio.
  • “Do you think if I was introduced as like Fox’s own Ophira Eisenberg, that would also politicize the audience?” — Ophira ([20:37])

The Challenge of Audience Memory and Comedy's "Rookie Card"

• Audiences Rarely Notice Credits or Remember Bits ([02:28]-[04:53])

  • Jared: Hosts’ intro cadence matters more than credits.
  • "They don't even clock it. I love audiences, but they don't clock anything." — Ophira ([03:14])
  • Audiences often misattribute jokes and forget which comic did what.

• Making a Real Connection — “The Rookie Card” Theory ([04:53]-[08:12])

  • Analogous to getting a bat from a spring training player and following his whole career.
  • Jared reflects on wanting fans to “pick up the rookie card” and develop curiosity beyond a single viral clip or moment.

The Algorithm Age & Fan Engagement Fatigue

• Frustration with Social Media and Surface-Level Engagement ([08:12]-[12:10])

  • Jared vents about TikTok’s superficiality—how people suggest other places to visit in his food videos, missing his jokes and the effort to promote small businesses.
    • “You don’t care about me. You don’t care about my happiness. I hate your city now.” — Jared ([10:16])
  • The challenge: Transitioning NPR trivia fans or TikTok followers to ticket buyers or comedy fans is an uphill battle.

• Personal Anecdote: Being Misnamed by a “Superfan” ([12:18])

  • Ophira: “Someone came up to me recently after a show and said, ‘I’ve been following you for years. I am such a fan, Ophelia.’ And I was like, it’s not even my name.” ([12:18])

Local Pride, Community, and City Identity

• Audience Localism (Food, Hometowns, and Defending Custard!) ([13:14]-[18:44])

  • Food is tribal; when Ophira mentions eating at non-local custard spots, audiences erupt into cheers (and arguments):
    • “It took me, like, seven minutes to get everyone back on track.” — Ophira ([13:41])
  • Jared theorizes that as national identity increases and “locality” erodes (e.g., “one nation under IKEA”), people become even more fiercely tribal about spots like Culver’s, Wawa, Buc-ee’s ([14:01]).

• City Roasting and Audience Sensitivity

  • Both comics gently roast cities and their struggles with identity (Jacksonville, Winnipeg, etc.). ([16:03]-[18:44])

NPR Culture & Comedy World Differences

• Inside NPR (“I thought I was walking into smart Burning Man… No, no, no, no, no.”) ([21:11]-[21:27])

  • Staff are Ivy League, a bit prudish, and not what Ophira expected.
  • Prudishness extends to how sex and personal topics are handled.
  • Jared jokes: "They'd use like a tote-bag shaped condom." ([21:57])

• Navigating Political, Religious, and Social Identity in Comedy ([22:30]-[26:14])

  • Ophira reflects on being Canadian and Jewish, how audiences form assumptions, and how comedy bits around Jewishness have shifted in tone due to increased public tension:
    • “Let’s just start with the baseline: Everyone hates the Jews. And then let’s talk about it.” — Ophira ([22:47])

Ophira’s Special: 'I Used to Be Nicer'

• Special Details ([26:39]-[27:54])

  • Taped at The Comedy Cellar, produced by Lewis Black, whose persona as a ranting comic didn’t emerge until later in his career.
  • Ophira praises Lewis Black’s support and production approach.
  • "He was a playwright... It was accidental that when he was experimenting, the ranting really connected with his audiences." — Ophira ([27:30])

• On Evolving Joke-Telling & Story Craft ([28:16]-[29:58])

  • Ophira and Jared discuss long-form storytelling versus short bits, and the struggle to recover when disrupted by “woke” or easily-offended crowd members.

The Comedy Minefield of Offensive Jokes

• Example: “Asian Dad Swaying” Bit Gone Awry ([30:07]-[31:58])

  • Jared shares getting called out mid-set by an audience member, ironically about a joke that wasn’t offensive but referenced stereotypes for comedic intent.
  • Ophira notes that social media trends often appropriate “old Asian man” park exercises, demonstrating shifting norms.

• “Weaponized Wokeness” ([31:43]-[32:48])

  • Both comics riff on audiences (“white women for justice”) taking offense on someone else’s behalf.

Mom Bits, Toxic Positivity & Cocaine Jokes

• Special Standout: Taking Down Toxic Positivity ([33:16]-[35:05])
  • Ophira’s favorite bit tackles how “manifestation” gets weaponized especially against women.
  • “It’s a little bit like, shut up. Put on your little dress and get out there. ... It’s because you didn’t manifest it, sweetie.” — Ophira ([33:16])
• Why Cocaine Jokes Are Tough ([36:12]-[38:37])
  • Ophira has a bit about why cocaine, not wine, would actually be the best drug for parenting.
  • Both note cocaine never trends—audiences recoil unless you’re in places like Tampa.
  • "People don't realize how hard it is to pull off a cocaine joke." — Jared ([36:51])

Jokes That Got Away / Craft Discussion

• The One That Never Quite Landed ([40:25]-[42:11])

  • Ophira wanted to build out a larger chunk about being temporarily disabled at airports—paralleling the experience to flying private, discovering hidden elevators and shortcuts:
    • “I just have this bit about, like, that is the closest to flying private I will ever get.” — Ophira ([41:01])
  • Regret over not fleshing it out further, and musings on social support animals versus a support chair.

• Lewis Black as Comedy Producer ([42:11]-[43:32])

  • His production company’s first special with Ophira; shifting to helping other comics as his road schedule slows.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "To do any entertainment stuff on NPR just seems like these two things are in complete contradiction." — Ophira ([01:54])
• “They don’t even clock it. ... I’m not trying to say everyone’s an idiot, but you will leave a crowd... they don’t clock anything.” — Ophira ([03:14])
• “If you have 20 places, you have no places.” — Jared, roasting Jacksonville’s lack of city core ([17:41])
• "Let's just start with the baseline: Everyone hates the Jews." — Ophira ([22:47])
• "They’d use a tote-bag shaped condom." — Jared, on NPR prudishness ([21:57])
• "That's the story of my life. Does not trend." — Ophira ([38:48])
• “Toxic positivity ... is just thrown... It's not because you're not qualified for the position ... it's because you didn't manifest it, sweetie.” — Ophira ([33:16])
• “People don’t realize how hard it is to pull off a cocaine joke.” — Jared ([36:51])

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Important Timestamps

• [01:40] – [04:53]: Why NPR credits fall flat or backfire at comedy shows
• [08:12] – [12:10]: TikTokification, superficial engagement, and frustration with fan disconnect
• [13:36] – [14:40]: Food tribalism and audience pride (the Milwaukee custard debate)
• [16:27] – [18:44]: Roasting cities, local pride, and the search for an identity
• [20:13] – [21:25]: Politicization of any major media credit, be it NPR or Fox News
• [26:39] – [27:54]: Details on Ophira’s special, taping at The Comedy Cellar, and working with Lewis Black
• [33:16] – [35:05]: Ophira’s favorite joke from the special (on toxic positivity and manifestation culture)
• [36:12] – [38:37]: Why cocaine jokes never trend and are difficult with crowds
• [40:25] – [42:11]: Joke Ophira wishes she worked out more — wheelchair airport story

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Closing

Jared encourages everyone to check out Ophira Eisenberg’s new special, I Used to Be Nicer, available on Veeps. The episode is a candid, self-aware, and laugh-heavy look at the disconnects in modern comedy, the realities of building a fanbase, and the resilience required to keep doing stand-up in strange times.

[Listen for more: The JTrain Podcast, every Monday!]

Transcript

[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 alive from Delray Beach, Florida. That's right, every Wednesday is a Chit Chat Wednesday where I sit with a comedian, a friend, an expert. Today we have all three. We have comedian, friend, an expert in being someone. And this is someone. Something I've never talked to them about. Something I an expert on being on npr, which to me is such a different world. And I want to get into that. They have a new special that is out on Veeps and we have the link in the bio, the episode. She is hilariously funny. It's called I Used to be Nicer. It is out right now. Ophira Eisenberg, thank you for coming on the show. How are you?

[B]

Ah, Jared, thank you. Great to see you. Always, always, always.

[A]

A pledge. Great to see you. I, I want to ask about npr.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Cuz every time I see you, we hang out and you're a fun hang. And then they're like. And NPR's opir iceberg. I've never thought of someone connected less to a credit.

[B]

You know, it's so funny you say that because I feel like in the comedy world it almost works against you. Like when, when I've actually asked people not to introduce me that way because I feel like it sets up like, oh, it's a, you know, a journalist about to come on stage and talk to me about the news in a very reasonable way. And, and you're right. And also I will say that, yeah, it's to do any entertainment stuff on npr. Just seems like these two things are in complete contradiction.

[A]

Well, I guess I think of, you know, my brain and I would agree sometimes. And sometimes it's getting beyond the noise in our own head. Like no one's. Maybe one person in the crowd is thinking, oh my God, boring news time with the NPR check. And that's what we think that they're thinking.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And we think. And maybe there's one person. But it all 200 people are like, they're just listening to the cadence of the intro. They're going, you know, I always think hosts, they're only as good as their cadence. Like, I don't need my Credits. I just need you to say whatever you say. And this next comic, you seen them on the toilet? Give it up for J. Freed. It doesn't matter what you say.

[B]

No, they're. They don't even clock it. I mean, they don't even, you know, listen, I love audiences, most of them, but they don't clock anything. I'm not trying to say everyone's an idiot, but you will leave a crowd. I mean, how many times has someone come up to you and said, like, I love this joke about this. And you're like, that was the guy after me.

[A]

Right, Right. And I'm happy they liked a joke. I'm happy they had a good time. And obviously. And here's the other thing. Like, if you want to be as kind to yourself and them at the same time, you go, they liked me. They liked me. They don't remember the bits they liked. They liked that bit. That, that's the bit they like the most. I'm someone they also liked. We had a good time. It. It's not, it, it. It's generally not. They didn't, you know, they, they didn't like me at all. They just like that bit and they up. It's really. They like the whole show.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, they're drinking, they're chilling out. It's not, they're not supposed to be transcribing what's going on. They're allowed, but I will say that. So people who know me for the NPR show, which was a trivia show, right? It was like, you know, clever trivia with celebrities, basically, if I were to bottle it down, people who know me from that show, like, sometimes they are in the crowd, even at the Cellar, like mixed between the tourists, or sometimes because it was a national show, they're there and they will come up to me afterwards and go, we had no idea that you did standup. And I'm like, that's hilarious. I. Every single time I was on that stage for the NPR show, it'd be like, ed, standup comedian Opir Iberg host the show. They were like, we know you did stand up. And then on the standup stage, they're like, npr, no, do not mat.

[A]

We might have died. And this is hell. This might be hell. Because we are constantly put. You have a, a rope in our hand that's slicked with oil. Like, it's like. Because to be a stand up comedian, you have to be found by people. You, people have to find you and be a little bit curious. And that's why we do this show. This is why I, someone right now is on their walk and they're listening to me introduce them to a Fear Eisenberg. And they're, and they're taking my word that you're hilarious and awesome. And I'm, and I'm telling them that please go, go to the link, watch A Fear of Special and then you be the judge. You might walk away and go, ah, not for me. Or you'll go, wow, I found my new favorite comic and I'm gonna hold on. And I used to call it the rookie card. You know, you got the rookie card. You know if when you find someone, like I'm holding on, you know, I, I remember growing up, I was in February, you know my February, we'd go to Florida, I'm sitting in Florida now. I, we would go to my grandparents house in Florida and we'd go for a week and it was like, you know, it was the Florida week, the vacation, school vacation week. And you go to Florida, stay with your grandparents, you're in an uncomfortable bed, it's kind of smells different. And also like what are you gonna do? You know, going to the beach. I love going to the beach and just staring in my, in my older age. But when you're like seven, you're like, get me off of this hot beach. This is boring. We don't even have a ball to throw. And one of the days my dad would take us to spring training. You go to spring training? And we went and the Expos. The Montreal Expos. You a Canadian are familiar with the Montreal Expos? They used to have spring training I think in West Palm or nearby. Wherever we were staying. And we went and I got, we went to the batting practice and I remember there's a guy named John vanderwaal. John Vanderwaal was, was taking BP and he comes over to all the kids looking for autographs and he hands me his bat. He hands me his, his.

[B]

Oh wow.

[A]

I am now leaving spring training with a bat and I am like ecstatic. And it says on the bat, I didn't know all these bats, it has engraved John Vanderwaal, Montreal Expos. And we have it in the garage in my parents house to this day. But I followed John Vanderwaal's career from there on out. Oh yeah, there was a curiosity. How's that guy doing? And I mean I haven't looked him up in years. I think at one point he had like the most amazing pinch hits in baseball or something. Like he had like some Weird stat. But I think about that with Stand up where? Hey, I want you to go check out Ophira now. You know, and I think of that with everything we do. When you put out a tick tock, you put out an Instagram reel and it comes up on your for you page and the hope. And I'm going into this, you know, this monologue right now because I'm so pissed. I do these videos from food. I love going for food and I have thoughts on food. I have a lot of food opinions.

[B]

I love your food opinion. I feel like that fits in because I have a lot of food opinions.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Sometimes I'm like, correct.

[A]

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[B]

So you know what I mean?

[A]

And you're like, yeah, I've been trying to get my special, you know what? Years. And you liked me.

[B]

Okay, two things. Jared, please. First of all, someone came up to me recently after a show and said, I've been following you for years. I am such a fan, Ophelia. And I was like, it's not even my name. Not even my name.

[A]

Well, you would take Ophelia if they were, like, in the picture line. After the show you did in Des Moines, you're like, I don't give a fuck if you knew my name. Did you laugh? Did you buy a ticket? You had fun.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

We are. And it's weird. I say we're living in hell.

[B]

Hell.

[A]

We died and we went to hell. Because it's to us. It's so simple to us. We go and we are. Our dreams are actually not that crazy. We're not asking for a billion dollars. We're asking for living on wages we earn through comedy. Where and for you to go, that was a fun night. That was a fun night. I. I will. I would. I would bottle that was a fun night and drink it every day if I could.

[B]

I mean, most standups are just looking for someone that is not their parents to finally say they're proud of them. But right to your food thing. Food is obviously so galvanizing. And I. This is a while ago, I was in Milwaukee, and everyone's like, have the custard. Right? The custard's a big thing there. It's not ice cream. It's the custard. And I went to some place and I had the custard.

[A]

Culver's is the place, you know, the chain. But I'm sure there's other Culver's, like, places.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I went on stage at the top, and I went like, all right. I went ahead, your custard. And I went to. I don't think I went to Culver's. I went to blah, blah. And there was, like, a cheer. And then other people started chanting Culver's.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then the other people started chanting their place. And it took me, like, seven minutes to get everyone back on track.

[A]

I have a theory on this. I think. I don't know if it's gotten worse. Like, I. I. Has that gotten worse, do you think? Because I think it's gotten worse. I think the more we lose community, the more we grasp for community. So, like, the more we lose local commercials, we Lose, you know, local radio, local news, you know, this locality thing, because we are becoming, you know, one nation under ikea, you know, so.

[B]

I know. And the fact that Culver's is still independent, you know, blows everyone's mind because

[A]

you're just, you have to defend it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And you have to, you have to hold it. You have to wear your Culver's sash. And when other people say, I love ice cream, and you go, well, you've never had anything because you haven't had custard. Because I'm from the Midwest, we're looking for certain things. Like it's like Wawa and sheets and, you know, and, and, and Bucky's bookies. Bucky's, whatever. People are like, it's the best roadside thing. And it's like, if you were from Oklahoma, you'd get it. It's like, no, if I were from Oklahoma, I'd be miserable. And I don't want to be from your hometown. Like, I, I just, I, and I'm you. I think for us, you know, you moved away from home. You don't live in Edmonton anymore. You know, like Calgary, but same thing. Calgary, whatever the, You're.

[B]

It's same. It's just south of Edmonton, you're right.

[A]

And wilderness you came from. I knew it wasn't the main Canada provinces. I knew you were from an, from a gently askew Canada province.

[B]

Alberta, though, is, is the, Is like I would say if there was an America of Canada, it's Alberta, that province, because it's like the oil one and it's very conservative.

[A]

Yeah, it's the, it's the Cowboy Canada, as I've called. Called it.

[B]

It is the cowboy Canada. Oh, yeah, You've played there. I'm sure you've played there.

[A]

No, I, I've actually missed. Of all the provinces, I, the last place I went to was Winnipeg, which, and loved. I, I, I'm the only person to ever love Winnipeg. And I say that because they're all very. Everyone in Winnipeg needs therapy in like a very deep, horrific way, big time.

[B]

And they don't do it, which is.

[A]

No, no, no. They're definitely, they definitely need therapy. Yeah. I think the Winnipeg jets leaving and then coming back, they have like, that, that very much plays into their personality where they're like, like someone whose spouse left them, went out and, you know, fucked around and then, and then came back. They're like just, you know, just like, don't lose the Winnipeg jets again. You know, like they just living there to, like, they just have The Winnipeg jets thing I think plays into it. I, I, I, there's not a lot

[B]

to hang on to in Winnipeg.

[A]

I mean like you don't really on Winnipeg too. And that's why I feel bad.

[B]

Oh yeah. And it's stuck in a different, I really do feel like it's kind of 10 years behind in a beautiful way and a jarring way. But if you can hook in to what's going on there, it's great. And they do. Like I, you know when you were saying that I was in Florida or Jacksonville, right. And you're looking, you're like, I know this is not the great part of town. I, I feel like I'm always, I, it's a joke. Like I'm like, where's your Brooklyn? I always say that everywhere. Where's your little Brooklyn? Let me figure out where your cute cafe is next to your stupid cheese shop. Cuz that's where I'm going to hang.

[A]

And if there's a debate about where your Brooklyn is, you don't have a Brooklyn, you know, and that's with the Jacksonville. Not to come back to on Jacksonville with that insecure town. I would say that they kept saying you should go here. They had like 20 places I should go. If you have 20 places, you have no places. You know, like I, I don't, yeah,

[B]

you have no allegiance.

[A]

Right. There's just no, there's no center part of town. And I stayed at the Jacksonville Marriott. If the Jacksonville Marriott is not downtown, there's no downtown like of any hotel.

[B]

Oh my God. It's got the name of the city, right? No other things? No the name of the hotel.

[A]

And literally it's off the highway. And I'm like, I guess I'll go to Le Petit Paris. And then I was like, you're in the wrong place. I'm like, well I showed you a great bakery. Yeah, well, yeah.

[B]

You're like, this really is little France. Thanks for taking me.

[A]

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[B]

Yes.

[A]

I, I the, in my mind, when I think of NPR and it's hard to be brought on stage with a credit like that because I would think it gets politicized. Right. Do you think like. Oh, yeah, it makes people angry, which is weird. It's like, supposed to be this public radio. We don't, we're just talking about any, we have no, I don't know. We have no skin in the game. We're not making money here.

[B]

Yeah. Do you think if I was introduced as like Fox's own Ophira Eisenberg, that would also politicize the audience?

[A]

Of course.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. FOX knew, you know her from Fox News or you know her from npr. I think it's the same effect.

[B]

Yeah. Cnn, probably people would just be like, confused a little bit.

[A]

Cnn, I think it would, it would. You CNN would smoke out, like the most horrific person. Like, if you're like mad at cnn, you're like, really up.

[B]

Right? Right. You're probably watching a lot of History Channel.

[A]

Right?

[B]

I get you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, but in, in the NPR thing, I will say, like the, when I was working there, I did. Everyone there was super smart. Most of them are, are very Ivy League.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Educated. You know, it's not really like, I thought I was walking into, like, smart Burning man people who got into journalism and. No, no, no, no, no, no.

[A]

Well, because I would always go whenever you were referenced to NPR and then like, someone would know you from npr. I'd be like, wait a minute, Opira is cool. What the. Like, this is crazy.

[B]

But I will Tell you, they were pretty prudish. Like, I know people there had to have had sex, some of them had children from having sex with someone. But it was not obvious.

[A]

No, no, it's not obvious. They'd use like a tote bag shaped condom. Like it'd just be like, that's how

[B]

they got writing said that said like NPR nerd.

[A]

Right. Who would you rather sit next to on a plane? Person with a tote that says NPR nerd or person with a blue line American flag hat that has the blue line on it? The, the, I'm really into the police person. Which one would you rather sit next to? So.

[B]

Oh, I will be honest with you. And this does not make me proud because I, you know, as a Canadian, most people are like, so you're just leftist. Because I think most of our politics just seem to Americans to be.

[A]

But you're also Jewish and they, they seem to not like us right now. So tough spot.

[B]

You know what? Every time someone says this, these people also hate the Jews. I'm like, let's just start with the baseline. Everyone hates the Jews. And then let's talk about it.

[A]

Yeah, the Jewish, the Jewish conversation has gone in a direction I didn't see it going. I, I, you know, I was, I was wrong. I used to have a bit where I, it was, I hated when Jews said they weren't white. And I, and I, it still would annoy me if someone was like trying to play up the, the victimhood of being Jewish. I, I just don't like that. And again, that's, that's a, that's a smell test, not a, that's more art than science. Like, it's hard to tell. So when someone's being performative and, and I'd say, I know Jews are white because if, like, and the whole bit was like, if the cab, if I cut off a cab, they'd be like that guy with eyebrows. Like, like, they wouldn't be like, it would. That Jew. You know, like, they wouldn't know what to.

[B]

I could tell. I could tell.

[A]

Right. So, you know, and, and go ahead.

[B]

It's, I have this bit too. It actually, I'm not going to tell it because it's on the special and you can go enjoy it. But it's just about like, I've never met a Catholic that's like, well, I'm this kind of Catholic, not this kind of Catholic, but as you know, with the Jews, like the Orthodox Jews do not like me. They don't like me at all.

[A]

I think they're starting to take you in. I think now. I think now they're looking for numbers and they're starting to. I think now you might be included. You know, they might. I mean, sky contact with you. Now, look, this hair.

[B]

This hair does represent. Look Orthodox Jew, right?

[A]

They might think you're. In a way that's okay. They. If you're watching on YouTube, you can

[B]

see this is the standard issue.

[A]

I. Well, I, you know, now I'm afraid I'm like, now, that bit. I don't think I would do it today because I'm like, I don't want to, like, divide the group. I, you know, because I'm like, I do feel the change of the. The joke would just be different now. I wouldn't think that way. I wouldn't be as calm about it. And I do have this thing of, like, if I ever went out and was like, yeah, it feels like people really, like, are doing this thing where they're, like, using a side door to be mean to Jews. Like, that's kind of how it feels right now. They're using other issues to work their way in. And maybe they're not claiming anti Semitism. I don't think they're going, I wake up in the morning hating Jews. But they're waking up with a bias. And it seemingly. They. They found their way to a bias. And we're accepting that pretty quickly. And then someone, like, plays my bit. Whoa, here we go. This is. You didn't. And you're like, man, you really did exactly what I just said. You really were, like, really energized to find a way to, like, with me, you know, Like.

[B]

Yeah. And just to take it in whatever way you decide to take it, rather than listening to the joke. I know. And then I just go, if we had the lasers, you would all be dead. Do you not understand?

[A]

Well, that's the. This is also the problem. The, you know, Jews have these space lasers. We kind of. Everyone goes, well, that's not happening. And you go, well, this other thing is kind of happening. You know, how about the more real version where people are, like, being like, you know, videotaped in the streets. What's your opinion on the Middle East? And you're like, oh, sorry, I haven't put together my dissertation this week.

[B]

You know, like, I know standard everyday people. I'm calling them standard. Like, we come out of a box, but let's be honest.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Being asked any world event questions, like, they know anything outside of, you know, their little box is just. Unless you, especially in the Middle East. Oh my God. Let's start with the Bible. Let's just go to the Old Testament

[A]

and review and let's talk.

[B]

You.

[A]

Let's talk about the special. I want everyone to go watch. I used to be nicer. You taped it at the seller.

[B]

It looked like I did tape it at the Cellar. Lewis Black, who I actually met in my NPR world, produced it.

[A]

Lewis Black produced it?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's very cool.

[B]

Put the whole thing together.

[A]

I'm a Lewis Black fan.

[B]

Yeah, he's kind of amazing.

[A]

I've heard so Lewis Black, the way I've heard, he's like the nicest guy.

[B]

So nice.

[A]

And he's, I've heard he's like very reasonable and calm and like. Oh yeah, like a good hang. And I, I, you know, you see the Persona on stage and he had like a moment. It's nice to see that like Lewis Black, like, I think didn't he become famous kind of later in life? Wasn't that kind of.

[B]

Yeah, he was a playwright actually. That's where he started his artistic career as a playwright. And then, you know, had and, and some. Somewhat an. An actor and he sort of figured out this stand up thing. But it was accidental that when he was experimenting that the ranting really connected with his audiences and he just decided to double down on that Persona.

[A]

It's, it's a swim with the current philosophy. There's a lot of people, there's a lot of me, myself, if I was to scream at myself, just swim with. I have that thought every day, like, why not do what you do, stop trying other things, you know, when do you stop though? Because, you know, the, the confidence thing comes in, you go, well, what I do, will it even produce? Does it even make anything, you know, like.

[B]

Yeah. And you are stuck in this world where you have to please an audience and sometimes your job, you know, depends on it. So you're just like, how do I tailor me to you? When it's like the best would be like, how do I get you on board with what I do? But what. May I just pay you a compliment? One thing I love about watching you is that like, I like it when comics do longer stories because I like that feeling of like cracking your head open and showing on stage and taking us right into a scene. And I feel like you are like mastering that and doing. I just see more and more of it way too. And I know sometimes in a 15 minute set you don't really get to

[A]

spread your, your wings, work on it's. A, you know, I've been. And then, you know, the hardest part about a longer story I've been. I just did Jacksonville, bringing up the place that she'll never be mentioned again. I have this. I had this woman and this guy get angry in the middle of my show and it turned it like, literally they're yelling at me on stage. She's saying that she's going to tell Joe Coy that I did an Asian joke, which I didn't even do. Like, I was like. And I go, how do you know? Joke.

[B]

Does she have a direct line line to Joe?

[A]

She said it was his cut. Her cousin. It was an unbelievable thing. But like, it's funny to have this big argument and I'm trying to make fun of her while also trying to get them out of the room. And there's 40 people there. And then I have to go, well, so my dad thinks I'm overweight.

[B]

The segue.

[A]

How do I go back? You know, I can't just go. I have to go back to the story. It's like, it's horrifying. I'm like, so where was I?

[B]

It's so true. You're like, how do I switch gears at this one? I love that you found the one ultra woke person in Jacksonville.

[A]

I think she was looking for the joke. Can you tell me if it's offensive? I mean, this is the start of every offensive ever. I say that my, my health, it's all about my dad offering me his Ozempic and how offended I was. And then I say, I say, now, I never thought of myself as medically fat. Like, I've always been like, you know, I don't think I was prescription fat. And I was like, I thought, like, I go, my health goals are so small. Like, I really don't want abs. I just want the body of an older Asian man. Like, I just want that like T shirt body and look and they, and when they work out, they only sway in the park. And I'm like, that looks like a fun workout. So I'm talking about how I don't think that's really.

[B]

I don't think so. And also, if you are on TikTok or Instagram, you know that right now that workout you're talking about, the swaying in the park is the number one thing that is like massive right now. Oh my God. It's all, basically all the things that we've definitely seen in New York in all parks, whereas women and men and they're doing these big arm flailing Is now a routine that is being bandied about all over the place.

[A]

I talk about how I could never do it. It wouldn't look good. Like, I.

[B]

It does look ridiculous.

[A]

It looks. I mean, it looks ridiculous on anyone who's not Asian and older. Like, I think you have to age into it. Well, that was the joke. That was the bit that, like, really set her. I think she was.

[B]

Come on now.

[A]

She was weaponizing. She was trying to get people on her side, and then someone in the front was like, come on, it's a comedy club. I was like, don't do that. I was like, no, no. Like it was racist.

[B]

No, no, no. Yeah. It's not. Like, this is a safe space.

[A]

No, I'm not looking for safe space. I. I just.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did you laugh? You had time with it.

[B]

Was she Asian?

[A]

I think she was of eight. Yeah, she's Joe Coy's cousin, so she's.

[B]

Yeah. Doesn't have.

[A]

You know, I think.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think he's Filipino.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

We forget Asia is like half the world.

[B]

Like, I know. Oh, no, it's true. And. But sometimes, you know, whatever. People can have their opinions, I guess. Wrong or right. What am I gonna say? But I do Eve. As a white woman. As a white woman, I'm not racist. A lot of. A lot of people are like, oh, the white women are the worst. But I do not like. And it is a stereotype where the white women take the side of whatever culture or. Or marginalized people. They decide that, you know, they are going to be the. The new voice for. I'm a little bit like, it's.

[A]

It's. Well, it's the easy route to be morally superior to someone. Yeah, that's the Right.

[B]

Still holding my level.

[A]

Right. Yeah. Well, what's. Yeah, what's your. What is. It's called I used to be nicer. That's a special Ophira Isberg everyone. Go follow. Well, I. I like to ask these guys these questions about the special joke you like the most. What's the bit you like the most? You don't have to do it, but give me the premise. What did. What's the bit you love the most?

[B]

So I really like taking down toxic positivity because I feel like that something is just. That's just thrown. And it's thrown on women so much. Like, it's a little bit like, shut up. Put on your little dress and get out there. And just remember, it's not. It's not because you're not qualified for the position. And it's not because of the patri Patriarchy. It's because you didn't manifest it. Sweetie, I, you know, I am front

[A]

row seat for a woman's world a lot with what I do. And sometimes I see, like, I just saw this thing. Hillary Duff was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated. Hillary Duff is categorically like, she's actually like, she's cartoonishly. She's what we describe as a beautiful woman. Like, like, she's societally like that is blonde hair, blue eyed, buxom woman. Like, I, you know, like, if she's Jessica Rabbit, like, there's no. And she was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, and it was all about her opting for a one piece. I wouldn't even have noticed. Like, honestly, the only person that would have noticed she's in a one piece is someone who wanted to buy the one piece because they liked it so much on Hillary Duff. But I was like, I was like, there's. And then she starts going, I had kids and I got four kids, so I want to wear a 1B. And I'm like, this is her selling. This is her selling. When I hear the toxic positivity and manifesting, I'm like, they're trying to make money off of you. Like, yes. You know, like, there's no. Hillary Duff isn't wearing a one piece, you know, to represent her people. Her. Her four children having people.

[B]

No, she's selling one piece.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

She's just. They're like, more material, more money. Do you understand me? But.

[A]

And I'm sitting here as a boner having man being like, I love a woman in a one piece. Like, what are you talking about? Why don't make me the evil guy who's like, where's the two piece? On the front of my swimsuit issue. Like, that's what they're kind of insinuating, that there's this group out there angry that she's in a one piece.

[B]

And it is totally the capitalization, and I would say corporatization. I'm making up that word of positivity that I despise and I'm suspicious of. And I feel like it comes a lot at parents, it comes a lot at moms. Make it through another day. And I also. There's a bit which I really liked talking about, which is about all the different ways moms are coping. And if I could pick away, it would be cocaine. Like, that is the. What you need if you were to pick any drug to parent. Well, that's your drug.

[A]

Cocaine is the toughest drug to talk about on stage, don't you think? Yes.

[B]

Because people look at you like, what are you. It's so funny because when I put, I pair it with parenting and then I go through all the ways that it would make a mom's life better. And, and I, I try to make fun of like, the fact that, like, you know what? We're allowed Chardonnay. Any woman passed out in her Lululemon, you know, holding a stuffy of her child on the couch at 4pm with a glass of Chardonnay. We're like, oh, it's so cute. Mommy had a juice box. And we're like, that's fine. But what, I can't do a line and send my kid to school, like on time in good sho to go.

[A]

I, I think you're take People don't realize how hard it is to pull off a cocaine joke. I, I don't think they do.

[B]

Look at me. I have to sell the crap out of it.

[A]

I, I can tell. Like, I, I know it. There's only one town in America that's ever cheered for a cocaine joke, and it was Tampa Bay, Florida.

[B]

That's oh, I could see that. Maybe Miami.

[A]

No Miami. No, I, I just maybe not my crowd Miami. But I, I just, I, Tampa's young too. Like, so they don't really, I think coke people connected to like, like, I especially what you're talking about. You're like a mom should do more coke and not white wine. I, I, I love that. I, I think that's hilarious. I, I just think no one talks about that drug. I, I, I don't even think you're like, it would never favorable. It doesn't do well on the Internet. Like, there's no maybe that's like Molly even, which is basically, you know, Ivy League coke. You know, if you think about it, right? Like, yeah, the only person that's ever offered me what's that?

[B]

I love Ivy League coke. That is so.

[A]

Well, the only person that's ever offered me Molly is like a really smart Indian guy.

[B]

Like, it's always like, you want the Yale one or do you want to go Brown? You're like, brown isn't. Brown's not Ivy League.

[A]

Not Ivy League. Come on. Providence. Yeah, no, I, yeah, I, it is so it's just interesting me because it's like, it's like you're taking a chance that isn't getting the credit, I think in a special to talk about cocaine because it is and it's a drug that I, I think is just a lot as you know. I would love to see the numbers alcohol consumptions down. I would assume same for cocaine.

[B]

Yeah. Because those things go hand in hand.

[A]

They go hand in hand. You can't have one without peanut butter and jelly of a great night out. Okay, let's. I got one more question before we go. Everyone go check out a Fear is Special at Opira Eisenberg.

[B]

By the way, when you said that doesn't trend, I'm like, that's the story of my life. Does not trend.

[A]

Great name for a special. Does not trend.

[B]

Does not trend.

[A]

It's a great name for a special. Well, it's just interesting, you know, I was watching. You know what gets eyes on the Internet. What doesn't?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, I get chat. Every time I post a. A bit where I mentioned GLP1. It gets, it gets flagged because they think I'm trying to sell drug. Yeah. So I can't even put that in like a title or anything. Like. And I'm like, it's crazy. We, you know, when you. We're entering in this world and I don't mean to sound like, you know, again, this podcast might make me sound like a right wing nut job, but like, Tick Tock is a Chinese product. I mean, like, we are. The idea that there's like, I'm a creator. Oh, you're a creator on an app where you're not allowed to say certain words because you might not be able to like, find viewers. Like, you know, yeah, what is that? What are we doing here? You know, you're not Banksy. You know, you're not an artist. Like, it's like, I don't know, what's the joke you wish you worked on more? I, I like this question for specials because we all have a joke. You tape it, you go, that could have been. And it's kind of like one of the. It's like it's kind of a comedian's version of hell too. Where it's like, maybe it was never going to get better, but you had to like, I have that. Where I'm like, it was Jared, let it go.

[B]

And I should have let it go. And it's in there. And we. I did edit it. I got it edited down a little bit, but. And I love this thing. It was just about a little story about how I broke my foot last summer and I still went out and did all these gigs, but now I had a little thing on my foot and a cane. It was Ridiculous. Oh, so dumb. And so. But when I went. When I was traveling because I couldn't really walk. Those airports and we travel so much, so travel is horrible. And all of a sudden I'm needing the wheelchair. I've got all these special things. And it opened my eyes to what travel could be. And so I just have this bit about, like, that is the closest to flying private I will ever get. And wheel through the airport, wheeled through. There's elevators I've never seen before, passageways where people are walking by with hors d'. Oeuvres. You know, like just this entire experience. They're so nice. You. Security does not happen. Like, you just kind of like, wave and walk right through.

[A]

You're like, princess, die. You just.

[B]

Yeah. So I didn't work on it enough because I feel like it could have. I could have built this whole world about. Around it. And I kept it very. In reality. And now I. Yeah. So. And. And I just, you know, and I was saying to a friend, I'm keeping my note. I'm gonna do this forever. And they were like, you can't lie about it. And I was trying to find this thing about, like, everyone at the airport is trying to figure out a way to buck the system with a different need. Like, that's why we have emotional support roosters and all this. Like, why can't I just say, why can't I have a emotional support chair? Like, why can't I. I think there should be.

[A]

I was going to tell you, Lewis Black lived in my. Or I think I lived in a building where we had the door. So my brother and I lived on the Upper east, and we had this doorman who was like this total character. And he was friends with Lewis Black because he was the doorman at his building as well.

[B]

Oh, I believe that.

[A]

And he was like. And this guy was like, not stop talking about how much he loved Lewis Black. That was the. That was the thing I was thinking about before.

[B]

Yep. No, he's very.

[A]

And he produced the special.

[B]

He produced the special. It's the first one that his production company has produced. I think they have their eye on producing more. And it sort of goes hand in hand with, like, Lewis is. Lewis is someone that toured 367 days a year for the last, I don't know, 20 years. And, you know, he's a little. He's not married. Not married. He's got a dog now. But he's, like, looking at his touring schedule. They have a tour bus. Like, it's a whole thing really about, like, changing. Changing modes a little bit and maybe breaking down the, like, just halfing it. He's. He's playing with what the schedule will be. He still love live performing, but that might be a little bit much. And now he has a dog. And so the idea was like, maybe we use this production company and all this knowledge that we have.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To produce other comics.

[A]

Love that. Love that.

[B]

So there you go. Well, I'm their guinea pig.

[A]

We need Ophira to have people watch the special. She's hilarious. Everyone, go, go, go. It is called I Used to Be Nicer. It is on Veeps, which is the Live Nation platform, but you can go check out. The link is in the bio this episode, wherever you're listening, if you're watching on YouTube. Thank you so much for coming on.

[B]

Thanks, man. You're the best.

[A]

Always a pleasure talking to you. Chitchat Wednesday, every Wednesday, back next week. Boom.