The Pete and Sebastian Show - EP 676 – LITTLE TIPS FOR BIG TIPPERS

Release Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Pete Correale & Sebastian Maniscalco
Theme: Comedy, story-sharing, and real-life etiquette—especially around tipping, fame, and the evolving world of entertainment.

Episode Overview

This week's episode revolves around Sebastian's prep for an interview with Lionel Richie, stories about tipping etiquette (especially at high-end meals and golf outings), and deeper reflections on how fame—and the path to it—has changed thanks to social media, streaming, and AI. The duo seamlessly blend personal anecdotes, signature banter, and a comedic take on the ever-changing world, all while dispensing "little tips" (both literal and figurative) for "big tippers."

Major Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. Vegas Stories & Lionel Richie Interview Prep

Timestamps: 02:45–13:09

• Vegas Recap & Working Together: The hosts laugh about working shows together in Las Vegas, sharing their gratitude for the collaboration.

• Sebastian Preps for Lionel Richie Interview:

  • Sebastian reveals he’s interviewing Lionel Richie in Vegas and discusses reading Richie's new book.
  • They dissect the value of actually reading versus just listening to audiobooks.
    • Sebastian: “I just finished the entire book. This is the first book I think I’ve actually read front to back, maybe three years… I am able to gather my thoughts in a manner that I haven’t seen since I was 21. And I’m attributing it to the reading.” (03:53)
  • Pete asks about two key Lionel Richie topics: breaking up with the Commodores, and the unique experience of having a famous daughter.
  • Sebastian shares trivia from Richie’s life, like intentionally arriving late to interviews so his bandmates would get questions—a move that backfired.

• The Art and Meaning of Songwriting:

  • They geek out over Richie’s classic “Ballerina Girl,” written as he watched his daughter Nicole in ballet class.
    • Sebastian: “I have a deeper appreciation for lyrics and the story behind the song, which I never really put together.” (08:02)
    • Pete: “That’s what it’s supposed to do. You pull in parts of the song.” (09:13)

• Songwriting Inspiration Stories:

  • “All Night Long” inspiration allegedly came from a casual “working all night long” comment at a party.
  • Commodores band’s New York story—having their instruments stolen and buying them back on the street.
    • Sebastian: “So stories like that…they open up for the Jackson 5... I would equate it to a comedian doing open mic nights in a laundromat. So you kind of get your skin thick.” (12:21)

2. How to Interview a Legend

Timestamps: 16:15–18:44

• Notes vs. No Notes for Live Interviews:

  • Sebastian debates having the book onstage with post-it notes for passages, vs. going by memory or using a simple note card.
  • Pete ribs Sebastian about flipping through a book onstage, likening it to a librarian hunting for the right page; prefers confidence and memory.
    • Pete: “You’re gonna flip through like a librarian? ‘I remember there’s a great Walt Whitman poem in here…’ Get the fuck outta here, just go by memory!” (17:46)

• Relating to the Next Generation of Instant Fame:

  • Sebastian wants to ask Lionel about the contrast between grinding for years in music to get on TV, versus today’s “basement to stardom” stories on American Idol.
    • Sebastian: “You don’t just get to talk to you. It took me 52 years to get to talk to you, bro.” (18:44)

3. Fame, Social Media, and AI in Entertainment

Timestamps: 26:44–36:57

• Changing Pathways to Fame:

  • Pete vents about TikTok stars and social media narcissism, lamenting Dancing with the Stars’ focus on followers.
    • Pete: “I said to Jackie, what the fuck is happening? Who cares?” (28:28)

• Rise of AI & What’s Authentic Anymore?

  • Enter “Patrick,” tech/AI expert, to discuss if AI could really emulate original material—conclusion: not quite, unless you feed it massive data, but even then, authenticity’s lacking (yet).
  • They joke about AI eventually replacing them as podcast hosts by analyzing all past episodes.
    • Sebastian: “He’s actually coming up with a program that’s going to analyze everything we say, and then he’s going to start doing the podcast without us.” (31:17)
    • Pete: “If AI could already do your personality, Patrick, I’ll tell you that much, because it’s just not laying…” (31:57)

• The Future of Entertainment:

  • Sebastian asks if standup and podcasts will still be as vital in five years; Patrick asserts live performance and direct audience interaction cannot be replicated by AI (“proving you’re human will be the most valuable”).
    • Patrick: “Being live…proving that you’re human is going to be the most valuable form of entertainment.” (35:10)
    • Sebastian: “Could you imagine 25 years ago, someone saying to you, you’re really gonna flourish in 2025 because you have to prove that you’re human?” (36:06)

4. Tipping Etiquette: The Little Things Big Tippers Do

Timestamps: 38:50–55:00

• Personal Tipping Anecdotes at Group Dinners:

  • Sebastian teases Pete about “fumbling around” with cash in plain view while the meal’s still going.
    • Sebastian: “It’s all in one movement. It’s almost like he goes to get his glass of wine and money falls. Boom, right there.” (41:31)
  • Pete defends his approach, explaining he’s trying to contribute kindly without upstaging the main tipper.
    • Pete: “You can’t tell me, let’s go out, have some fun. And then every little thing I do, I’m being judged on. I won’t go out with you guys.” (44:18)
  • Anxiety when not knowing if the host tipped—Sebastian always feels pressured to “over-tip” just in case, especially factoring in fame.
    • Sebastian: “I don’t know what just happened. So I have to, like, overly compensate...” (43:52)

• Golf Outing – Tipping the Caddy:

  • Story about trying to tip Kevin the caddy after host Frank already gave him a big tip. Should you insist? Pete tries but is turned down; Sebastian believes it’s all about intent and attitude.
    • Sebastian: “If you want to go up there, the approach is the key to tipping... When people are very, like, demonstrative… I’m like, oh, thanks, man.” (54:29)

• How Much, How Often, How Hard to Insist?:

  • Pete: “If you go to give someone money and they say no, like, when do you stop trying to give them that money?” (49:19)
  • Sebastian: “I would be greatly offended if you did not accept this tip. This is a gift to you. Thank you so much for all your hard work. You deserve it.” (51:59)
  • Pete jokes, “Listen, you’re going to give a monologue like that, you got to give the guy a hundred dollar bill!” (52:47)
  • Both express frustration that tip culture has gotten “crazy,” but tough, hands-on work like that caddy gig deserves a big one.

5. Podcasting, Friendship, and Comic Etiquette

Timestamps: 38:05–55:57

• Overanalyzing Behavior:

  • Sebastian (lightheartedly) picks apart Pete’s mannerisms at dinners and on the course, Pete reacts—classic duo dynamic.
  • They cool off by reiterating it’s all in good fun.

• Cliffhanger for Next Week:

  • Sebastian teases a story about his father for the next episode, promising more behind-the-scenes family tales.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Pete (on fame today): “You used to have to slug it out all those years and now, you just make a video in your basement, and there he is...” (19:41)
• Sebastian (on tipping mindset): “I am coming back to the car with less money than I had before.” (51:58)
• Patrick (on AI): “Proving that you’re human is going to be the most valuable form of entertainment in the future.” (35:10)
• Pete (on social media): “It’s like, yeah, you want to go fishing? Let’s go fishing. Ah, no bites. Like, we tried.” (24:37)
• Sebastian (on reading Lionel’s book): “I have a deeper appreciation for lyrics and the story behind the song, which I never really put together.” (08:02)
• Pete (on group dinner tipping): “You can’t tell me, let’s go out, have some fun. And then every little thing I do, I’m being judged on.” (44:18)
• Sebastian (about Lionel Richie’s bust in ‘Hello’): “Look at this thing—it looks like a black Lou Ferrigno.” (22:15)

Memorable Moments

• The “Sinatra Move”: Sebastian’s lesson in smooth tipping: never show the money at the table; make it “all in one movement,” like old-school icons.
• Music Video Nostalgia: Both hosts laugh about the surreal 1980s videos—Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and its odd clay bust come in for particular ribbing.
• Friendship Outtakes: Pete playfully worries about being mocked on air, Sebastian assures him, “It’s all content, bro!”
• Tipping Philosophy: The debate over whether “the intent and the insistence” matter more than the dollar amount, and Pete’s fear of being judged for not pressing the tip hard enough.

Topic Timestamps

• [02:45] – Vegas intro & Lionel Richie interview preview
• [03:53] – Reading vs. audiobooks, Richie book insights
• [05:41] – Breaking up with the Commodores
• [08:23] – “Ballerina Girl” and songwriting appreciation
• [11:09] – Song inspirations, wild stories from Richie’s career
• [16:15] – How to interview: book vs. memory debate
• [18:44] – Instant fame vs. struggle in showbiz, American Idol discussion
• [26:44] – Social media celebrity, TikTok, and AI in entertainment
• [31:11] – AI podcasts and authenticity in content
• [35:10] – Livestreaming and the future of “proving you’re human”
• [38:50] – Golf outing, tipping the caddy story
• [41:25] – Tipping protocol at group dinners
• [49:19] – When to insist on a tip
• [51:58] – Tipping attitude vs. action
• [54:29] – Real-world tipping vs. “tip creep” everywhere
• [55:30] – Cliffhanger tease for next week

Tone & Style

Classic Pete & Sebastian: quick-witted, observational, and self-deprecating. Spirited debates glide seamlessly into real-life etiquette advice and hilarious stories from the world of comedy and celebrity. The rapport is friendly, ribbing, and always “for the bit”—but with a soft touch when it gets personal.

Summary Takeaway

“Little Tips for Big Tippers” isn’t just about gratuities; it’s about how you present yourself, whether you show off your cash at dinner or slip it “Sinatra style,” the difference intention makes, and the importance of authenticity—whether you’re on stage, on a podcast, or just handing a tip to a caddy on a Jersey golf course. Through jokes, relatable stories, and a touch of old-school wisdom, Pete and Sebastian dissect what it means to be generous, genuine, and human in a world that’s increasingly digital (and maybe, just a little bit artificial).

Next week: A can’t-miss story about Sebastian’s dad and more surviving-Atlantic-City tales!