The Sage Steele Show | EP 74

Guest: Justin Nunely
Air Date: September 24, 2025
Podcast Host: Sage Steele
Episode Title: Everybody Loves Justin Nunley

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively and deeply personal conversation between Sage Steele and social media comedian/retired Air Force member Justin Nunely. Recorded in Nashville at Sage’s daughter’s condo, the episode dives into Justin’s rapid rise on TikTok, his recent retirement from the military after 20 years, family life, viral fame, internet culture, and candid views on comedy, parenting, mental health, gun laws, and the state of discourse in America. The tone is fast, unfiltered, and frequently hilarious, with plenty of honest tangents and memorable quotes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Justin Nunely’s Origin Story and Viral Rise

• Military Background: Justin just retired from the Air Force after 20 years ([14:51], [15:58]), using Skill Bridge to transition into civilian life and content creation.
• Viral Success: Started TikTok during the pandemic after realizing other viral joke-tellers lacked solid delivery ([46:16]). After being banned with 600,000 followers, he restarted from scratch and hit 3 million followers in 30 days following “listen, did you know”-style fun fact videos ([49:18]-[49:44]).
• Methodology: Pays close attention to what works and intentionally tweaks his content when jokes get flagged or misinterpreted ([50:39]-[51:44]).

“I got off live, went inside, and started posting like a crazy person … 30 days later I had 3 million followers.” – Justin ([49:39])

2. Comedy, Censors, and Authenticity

• Keeping It Real: Justin refuses to hide mistakes, including viral interview blunders, seeing them as “genius marketing” that shows authenticity ([09:58]-[10:07]).
• Navigating FCC and Internet Censorship: The duo riffs on the silliness of what language gets censored and how rules change depending on platforms and personal opinion ([03:23]-[03:49], [50:39]-[51:44]).
• Pushing Boundaries: Justin is playful about knowing exactly how far to take his jokes without truly crossing the line, dubbing it “putting my toes on the line” ([113:34]-[113:45]).

3. Life, Family, and Parenting

• Family Life: Justin shares heartwarming stories about his kids, especially a father-son trip to Buffalo for the AFC Championship Game, resulting in unforgettable memories—“his first time seeing snow… playing catch with Stefon Diggs” ([21:47]-[23:15]).
• Military Parenting: He reflects on recognizing which of his troops grew up with or without a father, and the importance of mentorship ([56:40]-[57:23]).
• Justin’s Wife as a Teacher: His wife works in pre-K (VPK) in Florida, and he talks about the challenges and rewards teachers face ([39:00]-[40:41]).

“I have taught grown men how to shave. They just never had been taught.” — Justin ([56:40])

4. Internet Culture, Trolls, and Security

• Social Media Platforms: Facebook is the best earner for creators, with Instagram and TikTok acting as traffic funnels ([45:55]-[46:16]).
• Handling Trolls: Justin doesn’t give negative comments his platform, equating it to not offering valuable advertising space for free ([89:15]-[90:04]).
• Real-World Impacts: He’s had people show up at his house, even experienced internet stalking resulting in felony charges ([93:15]-[93:33]).

“Why would you give your platform to somebody that don’t like you?” – Justin ([89:39])

5. Mental Health, Guns, and Politics

• Gun Discussion: Both agree that “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” emphasizing responsible ownership and involvement with children ([94:31]-[97:35]).
• School Shootings and Solutions: Frustration with political stalemate: “We all agree something needs to happen … but we bicker and never find a solution.” ([97:02]-[98:52])
• Mental Health: Both recognize mental health and parental involvement, not just gun access, as core to preventing tragedies ([98:52]-[100:10]).

6. Personal Lessons, Identity, and Freedom

• Post-Military Freedom: Justin enjoys being present for family milestones and is grateful not to be bound by military or corporate constraints ([77:02]-[77:16], [124:16]-[125:28]).
• Sage’s Own Transition: Sage shares her joy in controlling her own time, explaining why she hasn’t (yet) transitioned into hard news TV, prioritizing freedom and authenticity ([123:06]-[124:52]).

“I love having control of my life fully for the first time ever… It’s freedom. And I didn’t know this existed.” – Sage ([124:16])

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Justin on His Signature Format:
  • “Listen, did you know that the typical cumulus cloud weighs over a million pounds?” ([48:10])
• On Parenting:
  • “There’s a healthy fear. And you know what? She’s gonna be a better parent than I was.” — Sage on her daughter ([55:31])
• On Trolls:
  • “If you feed the trolls, they…” — Justin ([89:05])
• Sage on Handling Public Backlash:
  • “It used to bother me… now I laugh, because… when you throw it back at them—they cancel their account.” ([91:45]-[92:44])
• On Military Career:
  • “I don’t know why I joined the military. Don’t know why I stayed in as long as I did, but I did.” — Justin ([77:09])
• On Social Change and Political Frustration:
  • “We’ve been fighting over this for how long? Ever since Columbine. Come on now.” — Justin ([101:12])

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic / Section | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Opening banter and Southern “Listen, did you know…” | 00:00 - 01:11 | | Cussing and censorship in broadcasting | 02:08 - 04:28 | | Viral TikTok journey, signature style explained | 46:02 - 49:44 | | Parenting, military stories, and fatherhood | 14:51 - 23:15 | | Meeting at NASCAR, misidentifying Sage’s husband | 23:49 - 24:41 | | Hair dye jokes, aging, and self-care | 25:05 - 27:19 | | On content platforms: Facebook, TikTok, Instagram | 45:55 - 46:16 | | Handling viral mistakes and authenticity | 09:58 - 10:07 | | Social media trolls, security issues, stalkers | 89:15 - 93:33 | | Guns, safety, political gridlock | 94:10 - 101:12 | | TikTok, free speech, First Amendment | 102:02 - 105:27 | | Discovering tattoos & piercings in the family | 116:26 - 119:13 | | Justin’s business ventures and new TV project | 119:25 - 121:23 | | Sage’s reflections on freedom after ESPN | 123:06 - 125:28 | | Wrapping up, fundraising for good causes | 126:05 - 126:46 | | Episode close and signature Justin send-off | 127:34 - 127:38 |

Additional Highlights

Family Drop-In & Multi-Generational Banter ([53:13]-[56:44])

• Sage’s daughter Quinn joins impromptu, sparking banter about parenting, generational differences, and personal responsibility.
• Discussion includes tattoo regrets, piercings, and even the economics of “feet pics,” with humor about modern hustle culture.

Quirky Tangents

• Coffee habits: Whole lesson on frothing, cinnamon use, and the “pain” of scalding hot coffee ([52:34]-[53:13]).
• Weaponized autism: Running joke/serious thread about hyper-focused energy and the creativity at work in Justin’s life ([66:33]-[67:19]).
• BDSM & Innuendo: Justin playfully trolls Sage and her daughter on the true meaning of BDSM, sparking laughter and faux-incredulity ([67:36]-[69:07]).
• Guns and Safety: Honest, practical talk about raising kids around firearms, stressing education and respect over fear ([95:55]-[96:30]).

On Overcoming Setbacks

• Justin’s perseverance after being banned from TikTok and having to rebuild his platform from scratch, fueled by internet trolls ([49:17]-[49:44]).

Wrap Up: Giving Back

• Highlights include Justin’s charity work, raising tens of thousands for amputees and a lung transplant for a woman, underscoring his belief in helping regardless of background or politics ([126:09]-[126:46]).

Episode Tone and Style

• Energetic, unfiltered, and improvisational—the conversation jumps rapidly between deep topics and comic relief, often veering into playful roast territory or heartfelt sincerity.
• Authentic and vulnerable, with both Sage and Justin sharing personal struggles, joys, and lessons learned.
• Southern warmth meets sharp wit, a trademark of both Justin’s viral persona and Sage’s relatable hosting style.

Conclusion

This episode is an unvarnished, genuinely funny, and moving exploration of contemporary American life. Through laughter and real talk, Sage and Justin model what it means to engage with humility, humor, and heart—even when tackling serious issues like parenthood, gun safety, and freedom of speech. The message throughout is clear: authenticity, resilience, and empathy are more powerful—and viral—than any internet fad.

For fans of comedy, personal growth, and honest social commentary, this is an essential listen. Even if you never set foot on TikTok, you’ll come away with a better understanding of modern digital culture and the hearts behind the viral videos.