The Nateland Podcast

Episode 274: "Art" featuring Nick Thune

Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Nate Bargatze (absent), Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, Dusty Slay
Guest: Nick Thune
Studio: Nateland Studios, Nashville, TN

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively and humorous roundtable exploring the topic of art, hosted by the regular Nateland crew alongside special guest, comedian and artist Nick Thune. The group dives into everything from painting and the definition of art, to personal stories about creating and appreciating various forms of art—including stand-up comedy itself. Along the way, they share anecdotes, discuss the intersection of humor and art, and reflect on notable artistic achievements and oddities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weekend Catch-ups & Tour Updates

• The episode opens with the hosts sharing updates from recent stand-up gigs, hiking adventures, and personal milestones.
• Nick Thune discusses being on the road with Nate and recent art showcases.
  • "I got into a car accident last week...my car's totaled." (09:01) Nick shares a harrowing but ultimately safe T-bone accident story right outside his house.
• Brian Bates comedically boasts about selling out a smaller Cleveland room after Nate performed at a big arena.
• Dusty Slay discusses winning "Best Comedian" in the Nashville Scene, sparking playful ribbing among the hosts about critics' vs. audience picks.
  • "You're not the people's favorite and you've always been that way. You've always been establishment and not people." – Aaron (26:59)

2. Nick Thune’s Comedy and Art Career

• Nick talks about becoming a paid regular at the Comedy Store—a major career accomplishment after 20 years of persistence.
  • "It feels like a family...the camaraderie is great." (15:50)
• Discusses his appearance on the new Office spinoff "The Paper" and HBO’s "Florida Man," describing the experience of acting out real Florida stories in a "Drunk History" style (17:43).
• Nick reveals how he started painting only because he "couldn't afford art" for his house, eventually being recognized and exhibited in galleries (68:12).

3. What is Art? Defining the Subject

• The hosts debate what qualifies as art: is standup comedy an art form? Where is the line drawn between art and entertainment?
  • "I don't think all standup comedy is art, but there is art in standup comedy." – Dusty (65:37)
• Quick rundown of the Western tradition’s three classical branches: painting, sculpture, and architecture, with other media (theater, film, music) in a broader definition (66:02).

4. Inside Nick Thune’s Creative Process

• Nick shares visuals of his work—mostly abstract and multi-layered pieces—sometimes including words covered up or left exposed, echoing how stand-up material evolves.
  • "The most fun thing I’ve learned about it is, who cares? Cover it again...None of it lasts. None of it matters. Then you might have something." (69:32)
• On learning to draw: "I never thought I’d learn how to draw...but I’ve gotten really into architectural drawing and, like, dimensional drawing of things." (70:06)

5. Childhood, Cartoons, and Artistic Practice

• The crew reminisces about childhood drawing—recreating comic strips, Family Circus, Peanuts, and more (73:23).
• Brian brings in his daughter’s painting, sparking a playful "critique" and a discussion of Picasso's quote on trying to draw with the freedom of a child (77:05).
• On skill vs. practice: "You’re made to believe you have to be naturally talented, but you can just learn to be better at things." – Dusty (70:33)

6. Art in Society, Value, and ‘High vs. Bad’ Art

• Do the greatest artists live only in the past? Nick and the hosts discuss how value in art is often about "scarcity and death," and the arbitrary nature of fame and worth (83:14).
• The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) is highlighted, poking fun at art and taste (92:02).

7. AI, Technology, and the Future of Art

• Cautious optimism about AI-generated art: Nick tried AI joke-writing, but "it was a worse joke" than his own (89:01).
  • "AI is going to be its own art. The art of AI is knowing what to tell it." – Nick (90:05)
• The group touches on AI’s impact on careers like police sketch artist and poster creation and wonders whether people will always prefer human-made art.

8. Conspiracy Theories & Odd Art Stories

• Exploration of art world oddities and conspiracies:
  • Mona Lisa: Was she da Vinci’s self-portrait? (100:33)
  • Murals at the Denver airport: New World Order conspiracies, “Blucifer,” and buried secrets (102:44).
  • The infamous botched “Behold the Man” fresco restoration that led to a tourism boom (97:42).

9. Lighthearted Listener Mail & Banter

• Multiple rounds of reading and riffing on listener comments:
  • The perils of accessible restroom stalls, regional sandwich name disputes, the “real” inventor of flight (Brazil’s Santos Dumont!), and prank calling dorms in college.
  • "If people stopped gardening, we wouldn’t have any food!" – Dusty (19:54)
  • "I got hit t-boned and...the worst part was, it was right in front of my house and my son was upstairs and I was going to get him a cinnamon roll." – Nick (09:27)

10. Bob Ross and Art for Joy

• Praise for Bob Ross as a positive, process-focused teacher whose advice translates beyond painting:
  • "The show was called The Joy of Painting...It was about just like finding joy in doing it." – Brian (98:32)
  • Bob Ross originals now fetch high prices—$32,000 to $850,000 (99:26).
• Philosophical asides about the value and joy of the act of making ("You just gotta enjoy yourself in your life." – Dusty, 99:05).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On standup comedy as art:
  "I don't think all standup comedy is art, but there is art in standup comedy." – Dusty (65:37)

• On the pain and freedom of art:
  "Who cares? Cover it again...None of it lasts. None of it matters. Then you might have something." – Nick (69:32)

• On the Nashville Scene award debate:
  "You're not the people's favorite and you've always been that way. You've always been establishment and not people." – Aaron (26:59)

• On childhood creativity:
  "It takes you ten years to learn how to draw, and the rest of your life to learn how to draw like a kid." – Attributed to Picasso (77:05, paraphrased by Nick)

• On AI jokes:
  "I wanted to see what it wrote. And it was a worse joke...just a very obvious take. Like what an audience member would say." – Nick (89:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:19 | Weekend catch-up, hiking stories | | 04:07 | Nateland showcase & upcoming tour updates | | 08:56 | Nick Thune returning, car accident story | | 13:26 | Helix mattress sponsor banter | | 14:42 | Nick becomes a Comedy Store paid regular (career reflection) | | 15:53 | Crowd work, taping his special | | 17:44 | Appearances on "The Paper," HBO's "Florida Man" | | 65:06 | Defining "art," classical & broader meanings | | 67:33 | Nick’s art: process, showing works, selling paintings | | 73:23 | Sunday comics, childhood cartoon drawing | | 77:01 | Picasso quote, child’s painting as art | | 83:14 | Are the greatest artists all from the past? | | 88:18 | AI/technology in art & comedy | | 95:37 | Police sketch art & courtroom drawing | | 97:42 | Botched art restoration generates tourism | | 98:07 | Bob Ross, process vs. product | | 100:33 | Mona Lisa conspiracies, Denver Airport Murals | | 102:56 | Banksy; Charleston graffiti spots | | 106:07 | Show plugs, where to see everyone live |

The Nateland Tone

Through it all, the conversation is warm, self-deprecating, and full of dry, observational humor. The hosts riff with each other, calling back old bits, and never shy from poking fun at themselves, standup comedy, or "the establishment." Nick Thune's easy rapport allows deeper dives into the overlap of comedy and visual art, with practical encouragement for listeners interested in creative pursuits.

Closing Announcements

• Where to see each host live is covered around 106:07.
• Nick Thune’s art and comedy are promoted, including his YouTube special "Born Young."
• Brian’s upcoming charity show for Prader-Willi Syndrome at Zanies, Nashville is highlighted (32:57).

For New Listeners

This episode is a great showcase of Nateland’s signature mix of curiosity, wit, and humility—offering behind-the-scenes comedy stories, earnest advice for aspiring artists, and plenty of offbeat facts. Whether you care about fine art or just want to laugh, you’ll walk away entertained and maybe a little inspired to start your own creative project—no matter your skill level.

"Come see our art. Won an award locally here in Nashville. Some people say it's just the newspaper picking it, but either way, I got picked." – Dusty (107:41)