Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon
Episode: Botox, Wrong Texts & My Oscars Opinions
Release Date: March 19, 2026
Episode Overview
In this lively, freewheeling solo episode, Adam Rippon offers his signature blend of comedy, candor, and pop culture opinions. He dives into the realities of recording a solo podcast, shares behind-the-scenes details about opening a medical spa, gets unfiltered about his recent experience with Botox, and serves up sharp thoughts on influencer interviews at the Oscars. The episode also features audience interactions through text messages, each sparking off new stories and reflections.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Struggles (and Rituals) of Solo Podcasting
- Adam opens up about how challenging it is to podcast alone, describing the importance of getting in the right rhythm and the mental hurdles involved.
- “It’s a beast to just get into a rhythm of talking to yourself for an extended period of time.” (02:00)
- He reveals his method: recording several “fake” starts to get warmed up before diving in for real.
2. Kefir: “My Favorite Drink on the Planet”
- A hilarious and affectionate ode to kefir, the probiotic yogurt drink Adam claims is the best.
- “Oh, God, kefir is so good. I love it.” (05:12)
- Tangents ensue: nostalgia over old-fashioned milk deliveries, and a shout-out to Trader Joe’s strawberry kefir.
3. Audience Interactions & Wrong Number Texts
- Adam reads live texts, including one from “Lily the Hair Cuttery AI Booking Assistant”—meant for someone else.
- “Big shout out to Lily, the AI Hair Cuttery robot.” (08:45)
- He checks his checklist for the episode's (so far seemingly random) segments: kefir, AI, and more.
4. Medical Spa Update: Scrubbing Floors to Botox
- Adam is deep in the weeds prepping to open a medical spa in LA with his friend, Tamar (a nurse).
- “I’ve been on my literally hands and knees for the past few days... cleaning it, organizing it, getting it ready.” (10:10)
- He talks about setting up a perfect coffee station and his love of organization.
- Plans to create YouTube videos documenting the experience, inspired by creators like Safiya Nygaard and Emma Chamberlain.
- “I want to do one video explaining all the stuff I wish I’d known about starting a business.” (13:20)
5. The Technicalities of Opening a Med Spa
- Adam breaks down the business/legal structure: his role is management, Tamar brings the required medical credentials.
- “It’s legally set up that way so I have, like, no influence... a hard line between me and medicine. I’m a manager, so that’s the way that works.” (15:40)
6. Adam’s First Botox Experience—Letibo, Not Botox™
- Adam excitedly recounts being the very first recipient of neurotoxin (Letibo) injections at the new spa.
- “What’s exciting is it was the first injections ever done at the medical spa—on me!” (19:20)
- A clear explanation of what “Botox” really means and the differences between brands.
7. Botox, Credentials & Safety
- Responding to a listener: Adam explains why he won’t become an injector himself.
- In California, only RNs and above can inject, and there are important continuing education requirements.
- “You have to know the anatomy of the face. You have to know where the muscles are, the veins are… That’s why you need credentials.” (23:44)
- Tamar pursues advanced certifications and cadaver courses to stay updated with the latest techniques.
8. Med Spa Opening—Dress Rehearsal Vibes
- Why Adam and Tamar are inviting friends/family before opening: rehearsal is important to perfect workflow & client experience.
- “Even if you know exactly what you’re doing, you have to practice so it’s not clunky.” (30:12)
- Fun aside: Adam’s husband is getting his first ever neurotoxin injections soon!
9. St. Patrick’s Day Confusion & Social Media Lag
- Adam realizes (days late) that St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone—a comedic aside on being lost in the med spa grind.
10. Oscars & Influencers on the Red Carpet
- Deep dive into the hot topic: are influencers good red carpet interviewers?
- Referencing Jake Shane’s Variety interview, Adam analyzes why podcast skills don’t always translate to effective red carpet hosting.
- “Being a red carpet journalist... is an art. It’s a totally different beast.” (43:13)
- Compares to his own red carpet experience at the CMAs: preparation is essential, and you must know your subjects inside-out to make guests comfortable.
- “Even with a minute, you need to make [the interviewee] feel at ease, so they aren’t explaining everything to you.” (48:40)
- Praises Mary Beth Barone’s approach—researched and effortless.
11. Acting, "Will & Grace," and More
- Reads a supportive listener text about his acting—and confirms he’d love to do more.
- “Yeah, I fucking can.” (54:08) — On whether he can act well.
12. Showbiz Updates & Previews
- Teases an upcoming trip to Australia for filming and intent to record from there.
- Promises a “text message episode” next week, inviting more audience submissions.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On podcasting solo:
- “It’s a dance with the devil, right? You gotta get in the mood, get in the rhythm... you’re the one getting punched.” (02:19)
- On kefir:
- “If you don’t know what kefir is, it just most likely means you’re not, you know, a boomer from Eastern Europe.” (04:15)
- On business structure:
- “There’s a hard line between me and medicine—like, a real, legal line. I’m not trying to get anyone in trouble. And by anyone, I mean me.” (15:55)
- On not being an injector:
- “I just don’t want to draw anybody’s blood. And I know you have to do that there. I have no interest in doing that.” (27:40)
- On influencer interviewers at the Oscars:
- “You want to know why the interviews fall flat? It’s a totally different skill set. On a podcast, you have 45 minutes. On a carpet, you have 30 seconds. No time to warm up.” (52:10)
- On red carpet mistakes (“Casey Musgraves Confession”):
- “This woman comes up... she’s incredible, very famous. I could not recognize her. We had a whole conversation. And it was Casey Musgraves... That was totally on me—her hair really did it.” (61:00)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment / Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------| | Opening: Solo Podcasting Struggles | 01:09–05:45 | | Kefir Rant | 05:45–08:00 | | Listener Texts (“Hair Cuttery” AI) | 08:00–09:30 | | Medical Spa—Prepping and Launch Details | 09:30–13:40 | | YouTube Video Aspirations | 13:40–15:18 | | Med Spa Business & Legal Setup | 15:18–19:10 | | Adam Gets Letibo (Botox) Injections | 19:10–23:12 | | Who Can Inject / Safety Discussion | 23:12–28:58 | | Backup Workflow, Dress Rehearsal, Organization| 28:58–33:17 | | St. Patrick’s Day & Social Media Lag | 33:17–36:05 | | Oscars / Influencers as Red Carpet Hosts | 36:05–54:30 | | Acting, Will & Grace, Listener Texts | 54:30–58:20 | | Australia Tease & Next Episode Preview | 58:20–60:00 | | Red Carpet Fails: Casey Musgraves Anecdote | 60:00–61:25 |
Episode Highlights
- Adam’s honesty about podcasting “prep rituals” offers a peek behind the curtain for aspiring creators.
- The kefir bit—absurd, random, and utterly Adam.
- A very real, actually helpful explanation of med spa legalities and safety.
- Candid, insider take on why influencer-podcasters often struggle with red carpet interviews.
- Laugh-out-loud, self-deprecating storytelling—especially when misidentifying Casey Musgraves.
- Fluid, natural language that feels like a late-night chat with your funniest, most ambitious friend.
For New Listeners
This episode is a perfect sampler of Adam Rippon’s voice: hilarious, chaotic, reflective, and unexpectedly informative. If you’re into showbiz, reality TV, skincare, or podcasting itself, there’s something here for you—plus you’ll come away wanting to text Adam your own intrusive thought for next week.
Want to Participate?
To submit your own text or voicemail for future episodes:
Call or text the podcast hotline at 310-909-7117 (also in Adam’s Instagram bio).
End of Summary
