Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #650 — Jake Paul (April 5, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively and unruly conversation, Theo Von sits down with Jake Paul: professional boxer, content creator, entrepreneur, and provocateur. The two riff on everything from modern parenting woes and pop culture, to psychedelic therapy, media skepticism, family, business, and even Jake’s much-memed political aspirations. With trademark humor, irreverence, and surprising moments of sincerity, the episode swings between jokes and deeper discourse about identity, fame, healing, and ambition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. On Parenting, "Idiocracy," and Society

• Opening Banter about Parenting: Launching into the conversation, Theo and Jake riff on how easy it is for "anyone to have kids" these days, poking fun at society’s lack of standards.
  • [02:38] Jake: “There should be like a certificate...you gotta pass the IQ test honestly or some shit like that.”
  • [02:50] Jake and Theo reference the film "Idiocracy," comparing its dystopian scenario to current reality.
  • [03:07] Jake draws parallels between the fictional Brondo drink and real-world energy drinks like Prime.
  • [03:54] Both jokingly endorse Celsius, revealing they're both partners.

2. Comedy, Cancel Culture, and Making Fun of Everything

• Drewski’s Skit and Edgy Comedy: The conversation shifts to Drew Ski's controversial comedy videos, race, and the question of boundaries in humor.
  • [11:35] Jake: "All the Republicans being mad about this shit is like a L for Republicans, because this is fucking hilarious...this is what comedy is."
  • [12:57] Jake: “We should fucking make fun of each other. And I don't see in color. I see in truth and comedy.”
  • [14:09] Theo and Jake satirically reference political figures who’ve worn blackface, highlighting media double standards.

3. Vulnerability, Sobriety & Healing

• Addiction & Fame Trap: Both open up about personal struggles with addiction, self-worth, and healing.
  • [25:14] Jake: “Especially when I was younger…just going through a really rough time…suicidal, lost a lot of money and had terrible people around me.”
  • [26:58] Jake: “L.A. just becomes a dead end …you become looped into that system and will end up unhappy and most likely addicted to a bunch of shit.”
  • [27:56] Theo: “That energy overall in society is starting to change...the depth of value to it isn’t…It’s a kiddie pool, you know?”

4. Fame, Media Portrayal, and Litigation

• The Problem with Gossip and Judgment: Discussion on disconnect between public perception and actual life, especially how false reporting and rumors affect celebrities.
  • [32:36] Jake: “There needs to be some form of punishment for invalid commentary…that’s why I started suing people.”
  • [39:10] Jake: “If I saw me as another young and up-and-coming male, I would like, have jealousy of myself...It's human nature.”

5. Support, Family, & Self Love

• On Publicly Supporting His Fiancée at the Olympics:
  • [41:19] Jake (on his fiancée winning gold): “It's the greatest moment I've ever witnessed as a human...just witnessing greatness at the highest level.”
• Relationship with His Mom and Family Dynamics:
  • [69:41] Jake talks about his mother becoming more of a protector as he and Logan became famous.
  • [71:03] Jake “She was built for this and she's ready for the fire, which is gangster. And I was like, that's my mom.”

6. Psychedelics and Healing Trauma

• Ayahuasca, Mushrooms, & Brain Health:
  • [78:33] Jake: “After doing ayahuasca, I...talk to the items in my house to give them better energy.”
  • [81:33] Jake: “The biggest one for me was self love…putting the mirror up…how come you don’t love yourself sometimes.”
  • [89:59] Jake shares a powerful story of his father recovering cognitive functions after an ayahuasca ceremony: “During this experience his spirit came back to him, and…since that day he's just been normal again.”
• Critique of Pharma & Advocacy for Psychedelics:
  • [87:43] Jake: "It's wild you could just get a double Moscow Mule, but you can't do something that's actually good for you...so, what are we doing as a society?”

7. Business, Boxing, and Competition

• MVP Promotions & Disrupting Boxing:
  • [95:34] Jake explains how his startup approach disrupted boxing promotion — “We operate as a startup...fighter first…we instantly took over and resonated with fighters.”
• Critique of UFC’s Business Model:
  • [98:48] Jake: “You don't not pay your fighters...they forgot their heart as a company.”
  • [101:36] Jake: “The NFL pays their athletes 50% of the revenue…in the UFC, it’s [down to] 15%, by the way, down to 10%…”

8. MMA, Competition, and the Business of Fighting

• Crossover Fights and Rivalry:
  • [110:01] Jake: “If he [Nate Diaz] beats Perry, then me versus Nate is probably the number one thing on the list, like, above Tommy Fury, above Francis Ngannou, above KSI.”
  • [107:53] Jake (on Nate Diaz): “This guy was easy work. Lightest puncher I’ve ever fought.”
• Women in Boxing/MMA:
  • [114:05] Jake: “We're proponents for women...I genuinely believe women's boxing is so entertaining...we have all the best women signed to us for boxing.”

9. Politics & Aspirations

• Presidential/Jokey Political Chatter:
  • [54:44] Jake: “If I'm the best person to do it and can actually win, then, like, I might need to do it…will dabble in that if it makes sense.”
  • [56:20] Jake: “Signing up for the hardest job in the world…not only your life but everyone you’re affiliated with.”
  • [64:24] Jake: “If I ran for office, I’d also be super down to have an AR-15…I'm down to die, bro.”

10. Family, Sibling Rivalry, and Joy

• Logan Paul as a New Dad:
  • [121:16] Jake: “Yeah, he’s a loser now. Logan, bro, you go to bed at 10pm...But honestly, bro, I'm so happy for him. He's amazing and a great dad.”

Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-------------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:38 | Jake | "There should be like a certificate...you gotta pass the IQ test honestly or some shit like that." | | 11:35 | Jake | "All the Republicans being mad about this shit is like a L for Republicans, because this is hilarious."| | 25:14 | Jake | "I was just going through a rough time...suicidal, lost a lot of money and had terrible people around."| | 32:36 | Jake | "There needs to be some form of punishment for invalid commentary on anything. That’s why I started suing people."| | 41:19 | Jake | "It's the greatest moment I've ever witnessed as a human...just witnessing greatness at the highest level."| | 81:33 | Jake | "The biggest one for me was self love...just like putting the mirror up...how come you don't love yourself sometimes."| | 89:59 | Jake | "During this experience, his [my dad's] spirit came back to him...since that day he’s just been normal again."| | 98:48 | Jake | "Just look at what [Dana White’s] doing. You don't not pay your fighters, bro. They forgot their heart as a company."| | 101:36 | Jake | "The NFL pays their athletes 50% of the revenue...In the UFC, it’s [down to] 15%, by the way, down to 10%..."| | 117:46 | Jake | "Life became unrelatable, so it's easy to become hateable. I live in truth, so my views are undebatable." (from his poem)|

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Parenting/Idiocracy/Energy Drinks: 01:54 – 05:00
• Comedy Boundaries, Blackface, Cancel Culture: 10:19 – 16:29
• Addiction, Sobriety, Self-Work: 24:34 – 29:44
• Fame, Gossip, and Lawsuits: 30:23 – 40:41
• Fiancée’s Olympic Win: 41:12 – 44:23
• Mother's Influence and Family: 69:41 – 74:18
• Psychedelics, Healing, and Brain Health: 78:07 – 93:10
• Disrupting Boxing/Business of Combat Sports: 95:34 – 101:15
• MMA Promotions, Contracts & Future: 101:36 – 116:22
• Presidential Ambitions/Politics Riff: 53:00 – 57:56
• Jake’s Poem & Reflection on Persona: 117:14 – 119:53
• Family, Sibling Rivalry and Children: 121:16 – 124:54

Tone & Memorable Moments

• The conversation is unpredictable, flipping between razor-sharp satire and candid introspection.
• Standout: Jake reading his self-written, tongue-in-cheek poem about the public’s perception of him. [117:46]
• Running gags: Repeated references to blackface, animal/human comparisons, and over-the-top polling one-liners.
• Heartfelt: Jake’s emotional reaction to his niece saying his name for the first time, and his openness about mental health and recovering self-esteem.
• Theo’s trademark surreal jokes and Southern phrasing keep the energy offbeat and unique to the “This Past Weekend” style.

Final Thoughts

This episode, emblematic of Theo Von’s show, walks the line between comedy and genuine conversation. Jake Paul, often a polarizing public figure, opens up on fame, trauma, love, and ambition while trading philosophical and hilarious barbs with Theo. The result is an intoxicating mix of irreverence, vulnerability, absurdity, and social commentary—a must-listen for both fans and the curious.