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Calling all Call of Duty fans, the iconic map verdansk returns to Call of Duty Warzone. Starting April 3rd, you'll be able to drop back into verdansk, experience all the chaos, and relive the thrill you've been missing. Not only will you get the classic battle royale experience we all know and love, but verdansk is back with gameplay updates and the return of verdansk era weapons. That's right. You'll experience verdansk like never before. Smoother movement, stunning visuals, and new mechanics. Whether you're dropping in solo or teaming up with your squad, it's time to come home to verdansk. So download Call of Duty warzone for free and drop into Verdansk on April 3rd. Rated imprimatur. Today's guest is a stand up comedian. She's an actress. She's an author. She just came out with her seventh book. You know her from her Chelsea lately series and just from being a force in the comedy world, her new special the feeling is out now on Netflix. I'm grateful to spend time with today's guest, Chelsea Handler.
B
Where are you from, Theo?
A
I'm from Louisiana. I'm from Louisiana, so not a lot of comedy. Well, there are. Mark Normand is a comedian out of Louisiana. I'm in a space. There's a bunch of guys.
B
Who are you with? Wme?
A
Yeah. Michael Berkowitz.
B
Oh, yeah. He's my agent too. He is?
A
Oh, wait, he said that? Yeah, I just saw him the other day. He came to a show in Pittsburgh.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
So every time Asians are scared of losing you, they show up. You notice that?
B
Yeah, for sure. That's their. That's their jam.
A
Yeah.
B
Are you thinking about leaving?
A
No, I like. I mean, Mike is charming. He does. He's done great work for me. And.
B
Have you ever been at uta? I just left UTA like six months ago for wme.
A
You did the owner of uta, Jim.
B
Jeremy Zimmer?
A
Yeah.
B
One of those guys. Yeah.
A
Yeah, Jeremy. I've known him for a few years. Jeremy's a really neat guy. Yeah, he's very. There's nobody like him.
B
That's funny. I got after the Oscar parties on the morning after I switched out of my heels into a pair of sneakers. Oscar night for the parties. I wanted to go to guy's party and I wanted to dance, and so I got a. Dougie. Come here, Doug. Come, Doug. Come, Doug. Doug. I feel like he's looking for a place to pee. Come over here.
A
Is he?
B
No.
A
He could pee by me if he Needs to.
B
They just took out. Well, hopefully he will during the interview. That'll be perfect. He sent me a text and he's like, I have your shoes from last night. I didn't see Jeremy Zimmer. I have no idea how he had my shoes. I had just left his agency. I was like, thank you very much. And he said, can I send these to an address? And I was like, just keep them. I don't really need them anymore. They were just for the night, so. That's funny. Yeah. Jeremy Zimmer is very unique.
A
He's a great speaker too. He's a great. He's able to speak and think at the same time really well. That's something that I really admire about him. What was I gonna ask you about? Oh, good to see you.
B
Thank you. Thank you.
A
You look great.
B
Have we ever seen each other before?
A
I came on your show a couple times when you had Chelsea Lately show.
B
Oh, really?
A
I was so nervous.
B
Were you?
A
Oh, yeah.
B
God, I don't even remember.
A
It's okay. Yeah.
B
So many comics were on my show that I don't even remember meeting. That's so crazy. So many people came on my show and were interviewed by me that I don't remember. So when I run into these people, I always say, hi, it's nice to meet you.
A
Yeah.
B
And they're like, you've interviewed me, like several times. And I'm like, well, it's great to see you again.
A
Do you think. Was it because. Were you drinking or was it just. Cause you were. It was just. Time was just hectic.
B
Just interviewing thousands of people. It's impossible to remember everyone. No, I typically didn't drink during my show.
A
Yeah. Would you ever, though? Because sometimes life just gets so stressful.
B
I mean, I'll drink when I'm performing on stage because that's kind of nighttime, 8:00, you know, that I don't have a problem with not, not, not wasted, but have a cocktail before I go on. Yeah, yeah, I like that. But during the daytime, it's kind of an unnecessary thing. And when you're shooting, you. When you're filming a show at three in the afternoon, really not necessary.
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get. Yeah, I think I can't remember if I even had a drink at that. I was so nervous. I remember, like, some of the lines I said I couldn't get them right and I was like. I was like immensely nervous at that time and. Yeah, but you had so many comics on that was like the Tonight show for a while. For. For Comedians. I mean, it boosted a lot of careers. It launched a lot of careers. Yeah, it felt like. Did a lot of. I mean, Michael Yeoh, Chr. Franjola. I mean, Joe Coy. Joe Coy, Fortune Feimster.
B
Ali Wong was on that show. Who else? Kevin Hart. Kevin Hart was on the roundtable before he blew up. Kevin was on the roundtable a bunch of times before he blew up. And then he was like, all right, I'm done with the roundtable. I'm a guest.
A
Yeah.
B
And I was like, who the fuck does this guy think he is? And then of course, I was like, good for you. You are a guest now, you know, but, yeah, tons of people.
A
Oh, yeah. So I mean. And I hate to, like, just miss some people's names. Ross Matthews.
B
Yeah, he was.
A
He was a big part of that show, too. I rem. Remember. Or that's kind of what. Because then he had a spin off of his own show from your show, didn't he?
B
Yeah, I produced it. The Ross Matthews show and Whitney Cummings.
A
Yeah, I love Ross.
B
A lot of people. Yeah, I just saw Ross in New York City. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
He's one of a kind. Yeah, yeah. He just, like. I don't know. I could never see him and not just feel better.
B
I feel like, yeah, he's an uplifter, for sure.
A
He's, like, infectious. But, yeah, I was so nervous. I got so nervous because I think also, like, they. You would come out and you didn't kind of. I didn't know you. And so, like, I didn't get to say hello or anything, and I was just hyper nervous. And yeah, that was. That was definitely tougher back then for me just to be in, like, those type of environments. Did you ever have a talk show that you went on early where you were just like. Or some sort of thing you went on where you're like, I can't handle this. Or were you always.
B
No, always. Yeah. I mean, diarrhea. You know what I mean? Like, you know, remember when you, like, I used to do Leno before I was like, a correspondent on Leno. I mean, I would, like, literally, I'm not even. I don't pray. And I would pray. I'd be like, just, please, let me do well. Let me do well. I'd be on my knees in the dressing room, like, can everyone get out really quick? Cause I don't want anyone to see me praying also. So I would get down on my knees and be like, please, please, please, let's. I mean, I did that up until Probably, I don't know, 10 years ago, five years ago, until I finally. I'm solid in my footing enough to know I'm gonna do a good job. When you do something for so long, you understand what the mechanics are. And even if it's a shitty situation, if you have a right attitude, it's going to be good.
A
Yeah.
B
You know what I mean?
A
Yeah, definitely. It changes. Like, now I feel more confident in a lot of situations. Some conversations I still get nervous in, but not, like, when I'm going on stage and stuff. Now I know I've just done it enough times where I can handle it. So that, yeah, some things do start to evolve. Thank God. I remember being in, like, a really little audition room when I first went in. It was over at E. They were auditioning for something, and I was like, can we open the window? I was like. And it was like kind of a little room, but it was like. And they. It was windows. They didn't let. They. So the late. The assistants over there met trying to open, like, doesn't open, and nothing was helping me. I was like, can we open the door? And it was just. It was horrible. I had some rough ones early on with. With so many comedians who tried to get on your show. Was there a lot of lobbying that happened, like, behind the scenes? Like, did comedian, like, friends, like, are people try to, like, infiltrate your space? Do you feel like to try to get those positions? Cause that was such a coveted spot to be on Chelsea lately.
B
Yeah. It's funny you say that. I don't really remember that I had such a team of people around me. It's like that those were the people. Like, you're not coming to me saying, can I come on your show? That wasn't really a thing. It was more about the bookers. Probably were dealing with that and other comedians would go to the bookers, but nobody really bothered me with that. Like, this person wants to come on, can you do me a favor? It wasn't like that. I probably didn't give off the air that that would be that welcome, you know, Like, I didn't want to deal with that shit. I was dealing with enough shit. There was enough fucking people. We were like a big fraternity party. All we did was play practical jokes on each other all day. It was one of the most unprofessional environments I've ever been a part of. And I fucking loved it, you know? So anything that would slightly annoy me at that time, I had very little tolerance for. So nobody would be jockeying with me, because I hated that. Like, when I'd put up my standup dates, I'd be like, okay, I'm doing a tour for this book or whatever. And I'd put it up on the wall. And all the comics that worked on Chelsea lately, the writers would have. First they could decide if they wanted to for me, you know, and they'd sign up on the wall like, I'm going doing Kansas city. I'm doing St. Louis. And when that happened and they would go at it and jockey for that. Like, I would. I had no. I don't like that. I don't like competitiveness. I don't like when people are like, no, I want to do this one. So, like, I think everyone knew not to fuck around with that. I don't like when people are acting like that. Gamesmanship, you know?
A
So you pick up on it probably pretty quick, I would guess.
B
And I also ignore it easily. Like, I'm not. I'm. That's not of an interest of mine. So. Yeah, but people would come on. If they didn't do well, they'd get a second chance. Maybe. Sometimes they bomb really badly, and then, you know, there's nothing you can do. And people were really nervous, and there's nothing I can do about that either. You know, like, you're either going to sink or swim. So you're. You have to kind of. When you're in that situation and you're running a show and it's your name on it, you kind of just have to. You have to understand some people. If you felt bad for every single person who didn't do well, you're not succeeding either.
A
Yeah. You'll be a therapist at that point, right? Yeah. The feeling. I watched some of the feeling I love. Like, what's one of the lines you had early in it? It was like, even at 7, I was looking for a bar. I think that's one of the lines you have in it.
B
Yes.
A
About just being young. It seemed like you were born. Like, I could relate to it so much. Like. Like, immediately. Even though in this. Some of the stories you start telling in the new special, it's like you are a adult.
B
I was born as a woman.
A
Yes.
B
Yeah. When I was born, I was pissed.
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
B
I was pissed. And I was a woman, and I felt like I was trapped in a little baby's body that was chubby and being tossed around like some sort of party favor. And I wanted to be a businesswoman. I realized right away that my family was not gonna cut It.
A
Incompetent employees.
B
Incompetent. Too many people already. There were, like, five other kids. I'm like, where are these fucking kids coming from?
A
No, union. Why?
B
Why? Yeah, unions. Yeah, exactly. I wanted to be a. I wanted to head up a union. And I just couldn't believe the lack of, like, a savings account or financial plan. And my dad seemed like he was a bit of a hot mess. My mom was sleeping a lot, and I just was like, this family's not up to stuff. Like, I had bigger ideas for myself.
A
Yes, I could relate to that so much. Like, I just felt like I was born into a place where, like, it was almost like I was born into, like, a job. Like a job position that I didn't apply for. And there was no, like, clear rules of employment on the wall. The hours were super fucking vague. You. I didn't exactly know who was in charge, but you had to be at work every day. That's kind of like how I felt. So when you were talking about that, some of the early stories you're talking about, I could just relate to that so much.
B
Yeah. My dad was also, like, I had such a mouth on me from such a young age because I really did feel like a woman. I wanted to. I was like, when am I. When do I get to get out of here? Like, where's my apartment? I want to start working. Like, I wanted to start a business. And my dad couldn't understand. He was like, what. Who is this little cunt? Like, why won't she shut the fuck up? And I mean. And he tried everything to, like, bring me down, you know, so we would butt head. Not bring me down, but keep me in my place. Like, put me in my place. Like, no girl talks like this. You're too loud. You're too abrasive and all of these things. And meanwhile, my dad was all of those things.
A
Loud.
B
Abrasive. It's like, that's where I got it from. Yeah, but. So we didn't. We did not see eye to eye for a very long time.
A
Was there. Was there moments when you were a kid that you actually did feel like a kid? Like, when you kind of look back, right? Like, because I always felt kind of like wet cement. I felt like I was always having to manage myself. There was so much going on, like, on the inside and outside. I never felt, like, super reliable in my own footing and stuff. But when you look back on your own life, was there moments where you actually felt like, okay, I was just kind of a kid there you Know, as opposed to being like, the. Like somebody who had to be on top of everything. Like, does that make any sense to you?
B
Yeah, yeah, of course. No, I definitely felt like a kid. Like, I was. You know, I was a kid. I. I had all those kid experiences, but there was always a sense of. When you're the youngest of six children, how many kids do you have in your family? Yeah, we had four, and you're the one.
A
I'm the second one.
B
Okay.
A
But it was bad. I mean, it was just. Families just wear. But. But, yeah, I know. You were the last one.
B
Yeah. And when you're the last one, you are. You absorb. First of all, you grow up in two seconds because everyone else is fucking and smoking weed, and you're hearing conversations that little children aren't supposed to hear. So you're mature right away because you're like, oh, yeah. Like, you know, I knew about anal sex when I was, like, six. I was like, God, I can't wait to try that. You know, like, you're just mature in different ways. And, you know, not that anal is a sign of maturity, but, you know, it's one sign of just knowing too much too soon.
A
It's considered a vacation in some relig.
B
Well, yeah, and for some people. But I definitely had childlike experiences, for sure. And I had. My brothers and sisters were all pretty tight, so they kind of did raise me, and they kind of brought me along with them to many, like, different things. But I was always ahead of my age group.
A
Yeah.
B
And even when I dated guys in high school, like, it was illegal. The men that I was dating, you know, they were in their 20s, and I was a teenager. Like, I could totally put them in jail for statutory rape, except I seduced all of them. You know, there's nothing I would ever do. It's like, it's my fault when people like, it's not your fault. These men should never have been with a girl that age. I'm like, you don't understand what I was like when I was fucking 16. I was, like, 45. So they didn't have a chance.
A
Like, young menopause. That's kind of crazy. That's hilarious. Do you. What was, like, a first date that you remember? Do you remember going on, like, a first date with somebody?
B
I remember going to Martha's Vineyard. I was. My parents had a summer house in Martha's Vineyard. That makes it sound like we were really wealthy. We were.
A
I heard you say them on your special day, talking about.
B
Yeah, my dad just was a Used car dealer. So I'm not even sure, you know, how he got that house, but he got it. And he. My sister and I went, oh, there was this guy, his name was Justin Chu, I believe.
A
Japanese guy?
B
No, no, American. He looked like Brad Pitt. That's what was so interesting about the whole thing. So he was at this hotel in Martha's Vineyard. And I would go there. I was like, probably 10, but passing is like 15, 16.
A
Yeah. Long 10, a tall tan.
B
Yeah, I had boobs. Everything was coming together great. And I would go to this hotel pool and just like cruise, you know, for guys. Like, at 10 years old, I was like, I gotta find a boyfriend, you know, and who are these other people that are on vacation? And this guy looked like Brad Pitt. He was so good looking. And I was, you know, flirting with him. And. Oh, no, I think maybe I was. Maybe I was 11, maybe I was 12. I don't know. I probably wasn't 10. But I was young.
A
Young.
B
Too young to be on a date, probably. And I went on a date with him and a very, you know, like, innocent date.
A
Where'd y'all go? Do you remember? Do you just go for a walk? Did you go.
B
She went out somewhere in Martha's Vineyard. Like, there was a lot of kids hanging around at night, so I'm sure we were just like walking through Main street or something with the Kennedys or something Pretty. Yeah, something pretty innocent. And then he kissed me. When I came back, he kissed me and he put his tongue in my mouth. And I had never been more repulsed in my life. My sister picked me up. My older sister Simone picked me up at the Harborview Hotel. And I got in the car and I'm like, I'm a lesbian. I can't believe how disgusting that was. I can't believe some man just put his tongue in my mouth. And she's like, everyone thinks that the first time. Like, you're gonna like that when you're older. You're just too young. And I'm like, I'll never like that. And I'm a lesbian. And she's like, well, you're not gonna like what that entails either. Like, if you didn't like a tongue in your mouth, you're certainly not gonna like a pussy in your mouth. So she wasn't wrong. I do like men. And I've continued to like them since that. But yeah, it was a. It wasn't a. Yeah. And then after that, I was very fast, you know, Like, I started having boyfriends when I was 13, 14 years old. Having sex, like when I was 14, 15 years old. And then I just went off the rails, pretty much. My teenage years were, like, pregnant, stuff like that. Like.
A
You got pregnant?
B
Yeah.
A
Oh, dang. And. Oh, wow. You did it more than once? That's all?
B
Yeah.
A
It seems like a pretty. You know, a lot for, like, a younger person. But did they. And how did you. What do you do back then if you're pregnant or you get an abortion?
B
You do know when they were legal.
A
Like cider house rules style? Or would you do.
B
No, no. My. My parents basically were like, come with us, you're getting an abortion. And I was like, what do you mean? Do they do it in any state? It was legal everywhere. Like, you know, it was Massachusetts, so I got an abortion there. I think I got one in New Jersey too. I had a couple of abortions with the same boyfriend. Each time it was the same guy. But my parents were horrified by my behavior. They were like, I was excited. The first time I got pregnant, I'm like, this is great. I'll have a baby. Hopefully it will be twins. Like, I can raise a family. I had a black boyfriend. I was like, Tyshawn. Meanwhile, he ended up going to prison for 10 years for being a drug dealer. So did he do it? Was he a drug dealer?
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah. And so I was just that kind of teenager. Really out of control, really rebellious. My brother died when I was nine. And then, like, after that period of time, I was just the. I was rebellious, like mad, angry and no outlet, you know? And so I just did anything I could to piss my parents off, especially my father. I had a. Like a specific issue with him.
A
Yeah, so do you. You said earlier that maybe you felt like. Like. Do you feel like you turned into your father, though, a little bit sometimes? Do you ever think like that?
B
No, I'm the opposite of my father.
A
Oh, you are?
B
Oh, yeah. My father was dishonest. My father was a bit of a shyster. I'm very honest. I'm very truthful. I'm very generous with money, with anything I have. I wanna help people. He was very selfish. He wouldn't give money away. He would try to cheat people for money. So he wasn't like a criminal, but he wasn't morally bound to being a good guy, you know what I mean? He was just a little. But he was also, you know, he was a family man. He loved. We were never short on love. There was neglect, but it wasn't like I felt unloved. I just was very Upset a. That my brother died. My father fell apart after that. That was really upsetting. So it was like two men in a row that just, like, ditched me. And then after that, I just. I just was filled with anger, and I didn't have any outlet. I didn't have any therapy. So I just became very rebellious. But my brothers and sisters and my mother always knew I would be okay. Like, my mom's like, just. My dad's name was Seymour. And she's like, seymour. He'd be like, something's wr. Something is wrong with her head. And my mom would be like, she's okay. She's just too smart for her own good. Like, she's a little kid. She's trapped in this little kid body, and she's like an adult. And my dad's like, but I don't. He couldn't relate, you know? And my mom would be like, she's gonna be fine. Like, you know, she's gonna grow up and shake it out. And then once I started becoming successful and really turned my, like, you know, that period was just my teenage years. And then I got my shit together as soon as I left my family. I drove across country when I was 19 and alone.
A
Or you took somebody with you.
B
Well, this is a great story in my. I picked up this guy. This is actually in my book, which I just found out is number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
A
Let's go. Congratulations. Seventh book. That's right.
B
So that's exciting. Oh, God. I know. I can't.
A
Oh, lot.
B
I didn't even go to college, so. But that just shows you, you know, what you can accomplish if you really fucking focus on something. So I went across country. My brother Glenn said, hey, I was driving across country. I was gonna move to LA to become famous, okay? And I was like, okay, it's time. I had gone to two semesters at community college. I'm like, that's enough. This is not a good use of anyone's time. Like, this is a waste of money. I don't care about this. I'm going to. I wanna go to California. So my brother Glenn called me and said. And I met a guy at a bar last night, and he's gonna drive with you across country since you're 19 and you're alone. And my dad had given me one of his used Audi Quattros. And he said, you shouldn't be driving alone, Right? And I was like, okay, that sounds reasonable. So I picked up this guy. He was like, 26 or 27. Years old. He was the same size I was. And he said, do you wanna go to Harlem? I wanna pick up a bunch of cocaine.
A
Yeah, brother, let's fucking go, bro.
B
And I was like, oh. I'm like, harlem sounds fun. A, Like, I was never allowed to go to Harlem growing up, you know, And I go on the city, I'd go to, like, clubs in the limelight. I never went to Harlem. That was supposed to be really dangerous. But of course I wanted to go to Harlem. So I was like, okay. I wasn't really into cocaine at the time. I've definitely dabbled in cocaine. But at that time in my life, I was too young. I didn't really. So I go to Harlem. I drop this guy off from outside some crack house, right? I'm sitting there. This is my first night driving across country. Pit stop in Harlem. He comes out with a bag of cocaine that was. That I've only seen, like, in movies. Like, the amount of cocaine was like something you saw in Scarface.
A
Yeah, like a movie amount.
B
Yeah, exactly. And I'm like, oh, my God. And then he just starts doing the cocaine while we're driving. And we're driving through Maryland. You know, there's three highways you can take across country. We were, I think, taking the 66, so that's the lowest, the most southerly route. So we're driving along and this guy's doing lots of cocaine off of his keys, credit card.
A
He's driving.
B
No, I'm driving. And he's in the passenger seat. And, you know, keep in mind the amount of cocaine. I was like, oh, this doesn't seem right.
A
And is he reaching over and touching on you?
B
No, no, no, nothing like that. Nothing like that. I actually suspected he was gay. It wasn't about that. He starts talking and doesn't stop talking. And I. And we're five hours into this three day road trip, and I'm like, this guy is a fucking mess. And then we're in Maryland and we're driving through, I think, D.C. and there was all this construction. And we get to Maryland and I was like, you know what? We're gonna go to, like a Howard Johnson. Let's get a room. I was broke. He was broke. I said, let's just get a room. We'll get a room with two beds. We get in the room. He's got maps, like multiple maps. This was before navigation and all that shit, right? It was like the year before all of that came out.
A
Yeah. When everybody was like, they were going to war or whatever, like Even if you're.
B
So there's maps, but more than one map. It's like, how many maps do you need to follow one highway across the country?
A
Like this fucking eight ball Magellan over here, totally putting it all together.
B
See? I said, how many maps do you have? I was like, what's up with the maps? And then I was like. And he was like pointing out national parks that we could go to. He's like, we could go here. And I was like, hey, listen, Miracle Ear, we're not fucking on vacation. I'm trying to get to California to become a celebrity. I don't have time for your fucking Yellowstone National Park. We're not going there. Like, we're not retiring. This is not our. We're not a couple. And he didn't. It's like anything I said, he couldn't hear because he was. I was so coked up. So I go to sleep, I wake up in the morning. This guy had been up all night long. He had been doing coke all night. He looked like Gary Busey. He was going on and on. And I was like, okay. I said, hold on a second. His bag was still in the car. Cause he didn't even bring it in beside. Because he wasn't going to sleep. I said, hold on, I'll be right back. I went to the parking lot, I took his suitcase out of my car, put it down in the parking lot and got in the car and drove away and drove across country by myself and left him in Maryland. And the next thing I heard was that he had to take a taxi from Maryland to New Jersey for five hours. And. And then of course, I called my brother to thank him for his great judgment and for being such an overprotective brother.
A
Yeah, yeah. To set somebody up with somebody like that, that's all geeked out, dude. I would have been fucking eating my own teeth, man.
B
Yeah. So it's really annoying to be around someone who's on cocaine when you're not on cocaine.
A
Yeah.
B
And then in Amarillo, Texas, I got pulled over by a state trooper who had a German shepherd with him, one of those drug dogs. And the dog went absolutely batshit as soon as he came close to my trunk. So the dog was jumping around, fucking going crazy. And I'm like, my God, I've got residue, I've got coke in the Sakara. I'm sure I'm gonna go to fucking Texas State Prison because of this wombat that I just dropped off in Maryland. So luckily I didn't get arrested. They didn't find any cocaine. But it was very suspicious. Like, I'm sitting there on the freeway and trucks are whizzing past me, and I'm like. And the cop's like, stand 20ft away from the car, and he's got one of those big state trooper hats on. So that was a. That was a big shit show. But it was a. It was a great example of knowing. To get rid of dead weight. You know what I mean? Like, I was like, I'm going to California. You are not gonna bring me down. Get out of my car and get out of my life.
A
Yeah. Dang. Yeah. I had one night in New York years ago. I was. Do a drive. I was a taxi driver. He gets some coke. I end up drinking, driving the taxi where I was so high. This was years ago.
B
He was. You were a taxi driver.
A
He was. He picked me up. We both started doing cocaine together. I saw Andy Cohen in the bathroom in the morning. I was going on Opie, and wasn't Opie and Jim Opie and Jim Norton the next morning. And I get in there. I was out of my brain. I get. And I'd stayed up all night. God. And I get in there, and the other guest on the show that day was Daryl Strawberry, who is sober. He'd gone through cocaine.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
And he. And I could barely even talk. And I remember I was in the bathroom there, peeing. There I am right there on the right. Just geeked out of my head.
B
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. You look so different. First of all, Daryl Strawberry. That was the 1986 Mets. All those guys were on fucking coke. All of them. Lenny Dykstra, Daryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson. All of those guys.
A
God, I was definitely. I was Spooky Wilson.
B
That is really funny.
A
I was playing third base for my own brain right there. I wasn't doing real good.
B
I can't believe that athletes would do cocaine and then be athletic. Like, talk about a recipe for a fucking heart attack.
A
And they used to do it all the time.
B
It seemed like, how do you run for balls when you're on cocaine? Like, that's.
A
I think if you practice doing it some, I think you would get good at it, probably. I think it's the.
B
Get good at it.
A
Well, it's the sporadicness of not practicing and then just doing it willy nilly. Like some guy who's playing for, like, his, like, refrigeration volley, you know, softball team or something. That's when it's bad.
B
Yeah.
A
Maybe I'm high as a Georgia pine. Oh yeah, that was that. There was that one guy that did lsd.
B
That's. That would be good for sports. I love lsd. Yeah, Yeah. I love microdosing LSD to puts a fucking pep in your step. Like if you're really, really struggling and you're having like your schedule's crazy and insane. LSD is the thing. I take LSD all the time.
A
Really?
B
I love it. I microdose.
A
What is there a type of like. So how much is a microdose of LSD? Book this.
B
I have a sheet of like 370 hits. I get all my drugs in Canada. I have a house in Whistler and drugs are legal there. And they're. It's like you don't have to worry about any fucked up shit in Canada. My friends who make that like, who put. Who I get are doctors. One's a therapist, one's a neurobiologist. They actually get the cleanest stuff. Like they get MDMA and they'll put in capsules and you'll get a microdose of like 50 milligrams of MDMA, which is awesome because that's like just being in a good mood, you know what I mean? You're not over the top, right?
A
You're not licking people and stuff. You're shaking hands and being normal and.
B
You'Re like, this is a great time. I feel like dancing. I like you. Lsd. Same thing, just an upper, like a pick me up. You know, you're not hallucinating, but you're just like up like a kind of like a psilocybin microdose. So I find that stuff to be very helpful and aiding with my schedule, you know, Like, I do a lot of talking. I'm sure you feel the same way. It's pretty much a ton of travel, a ton of talking and a ton of kind of expending energy, you know what I mean? And absorbing other people's energy.
A
Yeah.
B
So I want to be in a fucking high vibe mood.
A
Yeah. You don't realize how much it is. You don't realize. Like I would do meet and greets after shows for like years. Just go out there for just. And just do them. And it just like I had like a breakdown a couple years ago. I just was completely burnt, like, and I just kept doing it. I thought I wasn't working hard enough. That was my own take of it. I was like, oh, you're just not working hard, hard enough. But I didn't realize. I just burned myself to like the end of the bowl, you know.
B
Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Those meet and greets will get you.
A
Did you ever have a time where you got pretty burnt out? I mean, you've had a pretty. I mean, you've had an insane schedule for probably 25 years. Except for when you've taken breaks.
B
Yeah, I took a six year break after Chelsea lately. And after like I didn't do standup for six years. That was, that was the biggest break I've taken. But I was, I. I just went so hard, you know, at both ends. I was touring, I was doing my show. I was writing books just constantly. And I loved the idea that I had this amount of energy. I loved when people were like, how the fuck does she fly in Monday morning tape four shows and then go do five shows in a weekend? And I loved that adulation. Like I got addicted to like the fact that I was that strong of a horse. You know what I mean?
A
Yeah.
B
And then when, as I left Chelsea lately, I was like, I was so over just working. But then I got roped in. Not roped in. Netflix made me a really amazing offer. I thought I was gonna take a break.
A
You did a ton of episodes of that too.
B
I did, yeah. First I did documentaries. I did a documentary series. So that was kind of a break. Cause that was a lighter schedule. And then I went into that show and then that show never really, like I went back to work before I was ready to go back to work. So that show never really felt like I was in my right, you know, zone, like in my flow state. So that show was like an example of don't just fucking work because someone's offering you the job. You know what I mean? You gotta have your ducks in a row and understand when you need time off, when you don't. And without the time off, there is no creativity. I need the time off to be able to like have something to fucking say.
A
Yeah.
B
So now since I've been back to stand up after that six year break, this'll be my probably fourth, third special in like four years. And so I'm into it now. I'm back into it. Cause I do have something to say now, you know, but it's important, like when you are creative and you are like sharing for a living, like talking, you know, you. Sometimes you're out of fucking gas and the brakes are as important as the work.
A
Yeah, that's been a tough thing to learn because especially when you're so self motivated and you've done a lot. You've always been like, I can do this. I'll figure it out. I'll find a way. It's really hard to start to use the brakes, you know, and use them to your own advantage.
B
Also. You're so. You want to grab everything when you can grab it, you know, it's like, oh, wait, I get this offer. I can't say no to this. This is. I'm going to be even more successful. I'm going to da da. And there's an addiction component to that. And you're like, well, wait a second. You can say no to things. Things come back around. You have to like. It takes a while to get to know what you're capable of and what you're not. And what's gonna like, deplete your energy because you know when you're pissed and you're burnt out, you're no good, you know, to anybody, especially yourself. So it's hard when we are in this business because it's like you can feel like feast or famine. You can be like, oh my God, I'm getting all these opportunities. And I've certainly had times in my life where I wasn't getting a lot of opportunities. And I'm like, well, fuck, why aren't I doing that? And it's like, well, because your attitude sucks, you know, because you didn't take good care of yourself and now you're pissed and now you're bitter. You gotta get back to being happy and magnetic and like attracting good stuff. And then you get good stuff. So it really is about like adjusting your attitude, being grateful. You have to be fucking grateful. As corny as that can seem to certain people, you have to be grateful at the opportunities that are coming your way. And you also have to be a fucking pro. Like, you know, like, you're not gonna knock me down. I'm a pro. Like, you can't get to me now because of so many years of knowing myself and understanding what my limits are and where I'm going to excel and where I'm gonna like, you know, not excel.
A
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B
No, no, no, no. I've been, you know.
A
Have you ever been interventioned or whatever?
B
No. Jane Fonda. This is a story I write about in my book, which is Jane Fonda once called me over to her house, and I had been to her birthday party, and I was out of my mind. I don't remember what drugs I was on. It could have been anything. And I was rude, I was dark. I was like, you know, insulting people. And she had given me the cold shoulder for a couple of months, and she summoned me to my house, her house, basically said, I wanna have dinner with you. And I was like, what's this? This seems a little stern, this email, but it's Jane Fonda, who I respect. And I was like, okay. And I went to her house, and she basically read me and was like, you were terrible at my party. You offended people. People were, like, not happy about what you said to them. And you were dark and moody, and why would you ever come out when you were in that kind of headspace? And I was like. Like, I was like, fuck, shit. Fuck, shit. And mortified. Mortified.
A
Oh, yeah.
B
But at the same time, I was also so grateful that she fucking took the time to be honest with me. To have a difficult. Most people don't go out of their way to have a difficult conversation with someone and tell them the truth. Like, to me, that was an example of sisterhood, you know, like, that was her being a sister. And when I was writing my book, it was like. One of the tent poles of my book is like, I want all women to be fucking sisters to each other. You know, it's like, this book is for girls and daughters and girlfriends and mothers, you know, like, to remind each other. Like, you gotta tell people the truth. You know, You've gotta be honest with people. If someone's going through a bad time and they're close to you and they're important to you. And even for me, as a woman, it doesn't matter if they're close to me. It matters that I'm a woman. You're a woman. I've got your back. I'm gonna tell you the truth. And I would do that for a stranger, so for her to do that. And I kind of, like, modeled that to me that, that. That conversation. And I. I was like, that's. That's the kind of woman I'm gonna be like, I'm gonna tell people the truth, you know, So I value that. Obviously now we're many years beyond that, and she and I are still friends. And she knows about the book because she had to sign off on it. But, yeah, like, I liked it, and I'm glad I had enough wherewithal when she was telling me about my bad behavior, that I wasn't defensive.
A
Wow.
B
I wasn't like it was this person or blame. I just took it on and said, you're absolutely right. I'm so sorry, you'll never have to speak to me again. So that was the closest thing to an intervention. But I've definitely overused drugs and alcohol at certain times in my life. But once I got the message, I dialed it back. You know, you gotta some. I don't ever want to have to give anything up. So if there's ever an issue, I reel it in, you know, if there's ever been an issue, I always am like, okay, take a month off of this. Get, Get. Get grounded again. And, you know, don't smoke cigarettes, don't smoke pot, don't drink. Whatever it is that I'm having an issue with. Yeah, yeah.
A
Did. Did you. What was the first concert that you ever went to? Do you remember going to that?
B
Jon Bon Jovi. I'm from New Jersey.
A
God, dude. My first song I ever heard, a lady took me to YMCA summer camp. Right. I don't remember if she had breasts or not, but I think she did. Right? And I remember, I bet she did have breasts. I bet she did.
B
So she sounds like she had breasts.
A
Yeah, I bet she did. And I'll say this. We got in the car and I had never had a woman drive me somewhere before. So it was my first time. Like, I think I remember it so deeply because it was like my first time going somewhere with a girl that wasn't my mom. Right.
B
And what do you mean you've never had a girl drive you? What are you, from North Korea?
A
What are you talking.
B
I just mean you had never been driven by.
A
I was a child. No woman yet. We didn't know. My mom didn't have any. Like, we didn't.
B
How old were you?
A
I was probably 9 or something, or maybe 11. It wasn't like last week or anything. Yeah, I was like 9 or 11, and she leaned over and she put my seatbelt on me, and I was like, oh, this is crazy, dude. And it was like, I think, you know, I think when you're a kid like that. And she played Johnny used to work on the Ducks.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
And I just was like, play it again, Play it again. Oh, yeah. Anyway, I just. Yeah, I've never been a Bon Jovi, but.
B
Yeah, I just remember John Bon Jovi inducted me into the Jersey hall of Fame.
A
No way, dude.
B
Yeah.
A
Who has better hair, you think? Right now, pull him up.
B
You or Jon Bon Jovi?
A
You were jbj.
B
Oh, well, his hair is different now.
A
Yeah. Yeah, his hair is different now.
B
But his face when he was younger, I mean, he's still pretty hot, but his face when he was younger was just fucking so hot. Look at him. Look how hot he is.
A
Did you try to make a move on him or. No.
B
When I went to his concert. I mean, I was 16.
A
Whenever he inducted you?
B
Oh, no, it was like a video message. It wasn't like we were together. It was during COVID Yeah. So, no. I've met him, though. I've hung out with him. He's a nice guy. He's happily married. I try not to hit on married men, you know?
A
Yeah.
B
Just out of respect for marriage.
A
I think that's important. What is? Are you still dating a lot of brothers? I see you brought a brother here today.
B
My black. This is my black lover. Am I still. No, I haven't. I haven't had a.
A
Because I know. That was a thing, you know?
B
Well, yeah.
A
Is that offensive to ask you, too? I'm sorry.
B
No, it's not offensive. I mean, I do. I like all men. It doesn't matter if they're black or brown or white or gray. I like old men. I like young men. I like black guys. I've never dated an Indian guy. That's pretty much the only thing. Area I haven't delved into. Yeah, but Asian. Jo Koy was Asian.
A
Yep.
B
I think Jo Koy. You called Jo Koy once.
A
Yes. And you gave me some advice, actually. Yeah. Yeah.
B
We were trying to figure out your poster for your Netflix special, and Jo Koy and I were in New York City, I think, and you called him.
A
Thank you.
B
Yeah.
A
You know what? I forgot about that. I remembered it before, but I forgot about it recently. But thank you for that. Yeah. I said, which one? And you said, this is the one. Because you want people to Notice it and think about it.
B
It.
A
And you were. That's the one I ended up choosing. Oh, great.
B
I love that.
A
But that's. And that's probably the same thing I was kind of thinking. I just wasn't sure. So. Thank you.
B
Oh, yeah, yeah.
A
It was nice of you.
B
Are you good friends with Jo Koy?
A
We're good buddies. I think. We're not, like, super close. We don't talk all the time, but he has. He's just always supportive. Yeah.
B
Yeah. He's a real supportive guy.
A
He's so full of supportive. And Filipinos are like that. I'm not trying to generalize Filipinos, but first of all, Filipinos are some of the last people that most people see when they're dying. Right. Because they are hospice. They work in hospice. Hospice. So a lot of times the last person you'll see when you die is a Filipino. So it's crazy. You'll have, like. Some people might be racist, but then they're just. Just gleaming into the eyes of a warm Filipino as they cross over.
B
Filipinos are very good at caretaking.
A
Oh.
B
And our hospitals are filled with them, thank God. Yeah. Yeah. But Jo Koy typically isn't the last person you see when you die. There are other Filipino. I don't want people to think that it's only Jo Koy. There are other Filipinos out there that. That you will run into.
A
Yeah.
B
Unless he starts working in a hospital.
A
She could, though. He could. He stays busy. A lot of Filipinos, too, have good names, like Sunny or Grace. You know, they.
B
Yeah, yeah.
A
They even get, like, a very happy American, like, branch of their name.
B
True, right?
A
Yeah. I would love to be Filipino. I've said this before. I think if God is willing to let me do it again or whatever, I would like to do Filipino.
B
Really?
A
Yeah. Filipino or Mexican.
B
What about. Do you like. What Is it about the food? Is it about the culture?
A
Just the joy.
B
I think the joy.
A
Sheer. Just living. Just like looking at a living Easter. Every time you see a Filipino, they're just. They're just like. It's just like. They're just seem so good on the inside. And then Mexican, I just think I'm ready for it.
B
And then I can see you being Mexican.
A
Thank you.
B
Yeah, you're welcome.
A
Yeah. And then after that, I would go black. I would probably go black after that. I'm gonna let it kind of pan out a little more. And then I would get over there and do that for sure. If they would have me. I think you almost have to like, apply.
B
Like. Like to be a Filipino or Mexican to be black.
A
They don't want everybody.
B
Oh, no, no.
A
Cat Williams is like, let's. We're a little bit particular about, you know, not particular. But don't just come over here without kind of talking to us about it first.
B
I hear that. Yeah, I hear that. Did you hear them talking about black men? Is that why you're up?
A
That's kind of.
B
Is that why you're up?
A
That's kind of what he employed.
B
Yeah.
A
After having dated black men, what is. What suggestions would you offer to white men? Is there any way to, like, correlate any of that?
B
Black men in general, and this is a generalization, seem to appreciate women like me more than white men. There seems to be a disconnect between strong, powerful white men and strong, powerful white women. There feels like I'm a lot of woman. I say what I wanna say, I do what I wanna do. And that, for some reason, threatens a lot of men. There's a certain type of men that don't. Like, they think I'm too loud or I'm too brass, but I'm just acting like a man, you know, I'm not acting like anything. I'm acting like myself. And it's similar to what a man would do and. Which would be fine. And there's something about black men that like that. They think that's cute and they're turned on by my outrageousness or the fact that I don't give a fuck or that I want, you know, that I'll say the thing. And so I like that. So there doesn't feel like such an imbalance. There's definitely, like, a culture where black men kind of. It feels like they appreciate that kind of thing more. And so that's attractive, you know?
A
Yeah, yeah.
B
As a woman, you want to be desired and you want men who want to have sex with you and are, like, turned on by your strength, not emasculated by your strength. You know? Like, my strength shouldn't make you feel weak. It should make you feel strong.
A
Right.
B
That's how I think. Like, I want men to feel strong around me, not weak. Right, right.
A
Like, look at my strong woman here.
B
Yeah, Look, I'm. Look how strong I have a strong woman. That means I'm a strong man, that I'm confident that I have my ego in check. But there's a lot of men that think they want a woman like, that is outspoken and sure of herself and successful. But then when it comes down to it, they have A lot of hard time. They have a hard time with it. Because I think in my experience with men, when they realize that you don't need really anything from like, I don't need your money. I don't need your gifts. I don't want gifts. I don't want jewelry. I'm not like that. I'm not interested in that stuff.
A
Yeah. I don't wanna pretend I like something you got me.
B
Yeah. I'm not interested in, like, that kind of showiness. I don't really need anything except I want a decent, honest, good man who doesn't have a huge ego that can deal with the fact that I'm gonna be in the public eye and that I'm gonna get attention. Like, I want someone who can deal with that. So a lot of men think that they're down for that, and then when it comes down to it, they're not down.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah.
A
Dang. Yeah. That seems like a lot.
B
But do you have a girlfriend?
A
I don't have a girlfriend right now. I would like to get married. You know, next couple years, I gotta get fucking married because.
B
Really? Yeah.
A
It just gets weird, I think.
B
Gets a little weird as a comic or as a man, Just I think.
A
As when people are like, what are you still doing? What are you doing?
B
And how old are you?
A
I'm 44. So it gets weird for a couple reasons. For one, it gets weird that, well, you have neat things that have happened in your life, even if it's just like, a nice day or something. And then at the end of the day, it's just you again. Right. Which is okay. But sometimes you. It's like, oh, well, this would be cool if I had somebody to share it with. To share it with. Right. So that's one thing that I start to notice. The second thing is, is, yeah. It's like, do I want to have children? Why? And then if I do, why do I want to have children?
B
Why do you want to have children?
A
That's the best question is, yeah, why do I want to. I think I fear sometimes, like, maybe I would be missing out on some, like, another. Almost like a. Not a drug trip in a way, but another, like, level. A bit of another level, maybe. But also, like, I have a big imagination and I got a couple levels going on here. I mean, I'm. I have today. I feel like, you know, there's times I feel like a kid and an adult at the same time. So it's like, you know, maybe I got enough of that. And being an uncle is Fine. You know, I don't know, but those are kind of some things that I think about it and then, yeah, if I could take care of and help provide for kids in a, in a healthy way and give a. Give kids a good life, then do I owe that to society? Do I owe that to myself or do I owe that to them? You know, and that's stuff that I think about, I think, probably interesting.
B
Yeah, that reminds me of like I had this conversation with someone the other night. Oh, yeah. I had this shoulder infection, so I had this.
A
I'm gonna move this down just an inch.
B
Yeah, I just had this picc line in my arm where I had to get these like 24 hour infusion. Every 24 hours I had to get an infusion in my arm and I had this Filipino nurse, male nurse who was coming to my house to give me these injections. Right. And so I was in kind of a bad, bad shape for a minute.
A
And Rocky or something like that, something that's Rocky is the men, but go on. Sorry.
B
Yeah, no, I don't know if his name was Rocky, but. But he said to me on our last visit, he said, hey, I just want to let you know, you seem like a really joyful, energetic person. And I almost had a near death experience as well. I didn't even know that I had had a near death experience. I had an infection. I had to get surgery on my shoulder for this like staph infection or something that I had. And I didn't consider it a near death experience, but he said I almost had a near death experience too. And I was almost in a car accident. And I don't like when people say stuff like almost in a car accident. Either you were or you weren't. And if you weren't, don't fucking bring it up. You know, like almost is nothing. So the guy was like, oh, these.
A
Like when it's almost my birthday, like.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, or your half birthday. I honestly don't wanna hear about that. So he said these two cars were like coming close to each other and they were like careening towards each other and that they were gonna hit. And he. At the last minute, the cars, just by an act of God or providence, the cars split open and they both moved in different directions. And he goes, it didn't make any sense. And I was okay. And I'm like, so again, you were not in a car accident. But he said, because of that moment, I started to believe in divine intervention and I found Jesus. And I'm looking at this guy. I'm in my bed, in my house. Right. You know, I'm on. I've got a fucking arm. I'm a mess.
A
Yes.
B
And he said, and I feel like I never experienced. There was a level of joy that I had never experienced before I found Jesus. And to me, it seems to me like you would appreciate that level of joy. And it took me a minute to realize I was being pitched, you know, in my house about religion. And. And. And then I had to tell him, like, oh, oh, oh. I just want you to know I have already accepted that the level of joy associated with finding Jesus is something I will never experience. Like, I've already accepted that my joyful is already tapped out. This is as high as I'm gonna go. I'm not gonna break the ceiling. So. But that's in relation to you talking about children and knowing that there might be a feeling you might not experience without having them, which is something I deal with all the time. Cause I don't have children, and people are like. To go at me for that. Like, you're a woman. How could you do that? It's like, how could I do it? Because I don't think I'd be that good at it. But it's definitely something that I've learned to accept. Like, when you say that I've also accepted. Yes. I won't know that joy. There are other joys that I've experienced, but I will not know the joy of being a mother. So I can relate to what you're saying about the thought of thinking about that joy.
A
Yeah. Yeah. And there's certain things that I like, and then it's like. Yeah. Like, a lot of my life is always, always about me. I think with comedians, you get like that, you know, that's why you end up in comedy, because you're kind of the boss and the employee, you know?
B
Yeah. You're going on stage with a microphone alone, so no one else can talk except for you.
A
And no one else is responsible for it except for you. It's like, I don't want. I want to be responsible for myself. I just. I never could. I. You know, I think it goes back to just that. Being in a place where it was like, what am I doing here? I don't even have an employee id. There's no fucking hours on the wall. There's no wage. Unions. Union. I have to be here every day. This family didn't make any fucking sense. Who would put this together? Can I talk to the boss? There is no boss. Who's a superior if. But I had to. It was like, so I never wanted anything to have any like jurisdiction over me except for me. Right. But then sometimes for me, like, it starts to be like, well, how much of that is like old stuff that I had and how much of which has served me well because it helps me be self motivated and. But it's hard. It's been hard for me to like work with others. And so that's been like a learning curve. But yeah. At a certain point, does that kind of hinder me or has. Has. Have I gotten other neat joys out of the world, like getting to experience like, you know, people coming out to a big show or something like that. And, and maybe those are the joys that I'll get instead of having a family, you know, not in a bad way.
B
Yeah.
A
And just trying to gauge like, could I do it? Do I think I would do it? Well, and being honest with yourself, it's.
B
Interesting to talk about not having a boss because that's my whole career too. Like, I don't.
A
Oh yeah, you seemed.
B
I don't really appreciate being told what to do by anyone. You know, I'm also not interested in the feedback. If it's not working for you, that's fine. You don't have to pay attention to what I'm doing. It's working for me. Like I'm having a blast. So. But it's interesting when you say that because it is true when you are in this business and you are a comedian, like, if I hadn't taken the path of becoming a stand up comedian, everything starts to be created around you. Rather than you being placed in a role and you're a person in a cast, you become the epicenter of all the stories. You know, whether it's your podcast, you're writing books or you're doing standup or any of these things, it's like you're a one man show. And I think there's a lot of power in that. And it's nice to be able to also do the other thing and work with other people and play nicely. But it's much more attractive to be your own decision maker. You know, it's much more attractive to be, to be your own entity, I think.
A
Well, comedy was something that was pure to me. There was a lot I think I didn't trust in the world. I didn't trust this. I didn't know about any of that. But if comedy, comedy, if you could put an arrow through sometimes and get people to laugh, even People that didn't like you, if they were angry, people that they might have been your parents and hated you, but if you could snipe them with an arrow, if you just to get them even in all their discomfort or whatever, to get them to laugh, it felt like, oh, that's. That's the only thing that's. To me, it just felt so real, like. And nobody could cheat it. Nobody's dad could put them on stage and say, oh, I'm famous. My son is going to be great. You know, it was like, there wasn't any nepotism in it. I don't know.
B
No, I hear you.
A
I don't know. I'm not trying to, like, get in any Debbie Downership, but. Yeah, I don't know. That's kind of why I think I ended up in this place. But.
B
But it also changes, like, you know, as your career grows and evolves, and, like, you're 44. You've been doing this for, what, 20 years? More?
A
Yeah. 20.
B
Yeah. Like, things change over time, and then you start to realize, okay, there's another itch I want to scratch. There's another thing I want to do. Like, and you. Excuse me, I. Come here. Dougie, come over here. Come here, honey.
A
It's so funny. We have had two dogs in here today, both chows. I used to live with a chow in Arizona for a bit.
B
It's so funny that. Yeah. What color was that other chow?
A
Oh, this was a Chinese guy was a roommate, or it was a guy who was already living in the room when I got there.
B
No, the one that came today. What color was that?
A
Oh, that one was brown. Light brown?
B
Yeah. You're a big black baby. They said when I got this chow, they're like, I called the chow rescue. One of my dogs was going downhill, so I was like, it's time to regroup and, you know, buckle up so that when this dog dies, I have a new dog and. Oh, is that the dog that was here?
A
Yep.
B
Oh, that's a chow mix, right?
A
Yeah, that's a chow main, I think it's called or something.
B
A chow Maine. Look at that little baby in the middle.
A
That's Hasan pika right there, dude. Fascinating guy. Kaya. That's that dog's name. It's its birthday today, too.
B
Happy birthday to that dog, then. I don't remember what we were talking about.
A
That's okay. Yeah. Do you think, oh, there's one more question I had about, like, how comedians feel and stuff. Do you think, like, it's Hard for comedians to be like. Like, accept. Like, I have a tough time sometimes accepting compliments from people. Did you ever feel like that?
B
Yeah, totally.
A
Do you have any insight, like, on what that kind of is or have you?
B
I think comedians are really insecure by nature. You know what I mean? Why else would we have to get on stage with microphones, you know, alone? Like, what's that about? Most people who are secure don't feel the need. So I think we're insecure by nature. And I think it's our job to kind of hone that insecurity into something more dynamic. Right. Because that's how it begins. So I think when it's. When you're insecure like, that you're uncomfortable with any sort of adulation. You want it, but you don't necessarily want to hear it to your face. You like to read it. Like, I love to read a review of my book. I'd rather that than someone tell me how much it meant to them. Do you know what I mean? So I have that same thing. I get slightly uncomfortable when I get too much adulation in person. It's like, okay, when is this gonna end? Like, thank you so much. And I want to be sincere and present. But I also sometimes check out. But it doesn't make any sense. Cause that's what we're all here for is adulation. We all want the attention. So I think I just. Now I have this thing where, like, it's not about you. It's about listening to that person. It's about giving time to the person whose life that you impacted, who has something nice to say to you. Because think about how hard it is for that person to come up. Like, I would never come up to a celebrity and be like, I saw you in, you know, whatever movie, and you changed my life. Like, I wouldn't even bother that person. So when you think about what it takes for someone to say those things to you when they're not creepy and they're not weird and they're not, like, you know, threatening in any way.
A
And they're not wet, too. People are wet.
B
That scares you. You want to give them the time. And so I think about it that way so that I'm a little bit more gracious than, you know.
A
Yeah. Than just being still stuck in yourself. Even if you're getting adulation, it's still about, well, how do I feel about adulation? It's almost like an ego trap in a weird way, kind of like. Because even though I'm getting it, like, it's like. It's nice to get adulation from somebody or somebody saying thank you or something. And then I'm wondering, oh, well, it makes me feel uncomfortable, like, at that point, who gives a fuck, really, how it makes you feel kind of like, yeah, you can exactly have your boundaries and stuff.
B
Right.
A
But imagine. Yeah. If you. Somebody must really care if they went over to say something or they wanted to share that.
B
Yeah. And it's really not. Yeah. You have to. Like, I feel like there's a responsibility once you become a public person, you know? Like, I love the stuff that Chapel Roan is saying about, like, leave me alone. You don't have the right to touch me. It's all true. You don't. You don't have that. I mean. And if it bothers you, it bothers you. I don't give a shit. You know, if people come up to me in a restaurant, I give a. If people come up to me when I'm at. I give it. If someone waves. If they're rude and they wave over, like, come over here. Like, when I'm sitting out down to dinner with friends or family and some fucking jackass, it's like, hey, Chelsea, come over here. It's like, what? No, You. Some Italian or something coming over to you. Yeah. I don't even know you. But when people are really sweet about it. Yeah. Like, I do. I do feel a sense of responsibility also to be. I want people to feel good after they see me. You know what I mean? So it's not so much a struggle. I totally get what you're saying, but I think it's not a struggle so much as a. Let them say their piece and let them say something nice. They're gonna feel great after they say it. Like, oh, wow, I did it. You know, So I tried to just think about them.
A
Yeah. Yeah. No, it's just a good. It's a good reminder. It's a good reminder of that. That. So the feeling. You're special. It's like, I only watched, like, 32 minutes of it, but what is the feeling kind of like. Or do I have to wait to the end to get to know what it is?
B
Well, if you didn't see what the feeling was, then you didn't see the whole.
A
Oh, the feeling is about. I mean, a lot of the feeling is so. That I've seen. So far, it seems to be feminine. Feminine masturbation.
B
Well, feminal masturbation.
A
You know.
B
Is that a new word, feminal? It's about. About childhood Masturbation. When.
A
Okay, sorry.
B
We used to call it the feeling. When we would rub. We would rub up against, like, swing set poles and corners of walls. We would use furniture, ladles. We were really into masturbating, me and a group of my girlfriends when we were nine and discovered our pikachus. So we would. And it wasn't like. It wasn't like adult masturbation. You're not actually touching anything directly. You're basically rubbing your hands over material. Like, the thicker the material, the better the traction. So it's like, you know, jeans, burlap. A thick corduroy burlap would be a great option. A corner of a wall, you want something that is gonna give you the traction you need. And then. But how carried away I got as a child once I found out about the feeling and about a fucking clitoris, how I went bonkers with it. And I was masturbating in school, getting the feeling, rubbing pencils. I mean, whatever. I could get rulers. I mean, I had anything I could. I would just. Just overdo it.
A
Just rub it against your body.
B
The feeling.
A
Can I say that we're talking about.
B
Yeah, yeah, you can say that. Of course I'm the one talking about it.
A
Okay.
B
And it. Yeah, it was. So that's where the feeling comes from. Just basically childhood exploration.
A
The part with the ladle took. I was like, what is happening here? Yeah, there's a lot of, like, there's a lot of use of masturbation to get through time of moments. Maybe, like, when people masturbate like Thanksgiving dinner.
B
I was like, this is gonna suck. I'm fucking nine. No one is coming to me for my global opinions or world affairs. No one gives a shit about my. You know, like, I'm here with my family. They suck. I already established that they sucked. So I took a ladle and brought it to my Thanksgiving dinner. And then I got carried away. And the next thing I know, I was dripping, sweating like a rapist at my family dinner and my mom asking me to stop. And that. That's something that I needed to do in the privacy of my own room. But up until that point, no one had called me out because I grew up at a time where no one was gonna say, hey, stop jerking off, you fucking pervert.
A
Oh, people weren't saying that then.
B
No, no one was saying it. So I thought no one even knew what I was doing.
A
Oh, it's so cool.
B
So that's why I'd be like. I'd see a book and I'd be Like, rubbing up against. You know, like, while I would be talking to my father, I'd put, like, my ass behind an ottoman and think I was disguising it.
A
Are you there, pussy? It's me.
B
Are you there, pussy? It's me, Chelsea. And my family was just basically totally aware, but also disgusted and horrified, so that they didn't even say anything until it became unmanageable.
A
Oh, yeah. If you see a child rubbing up on something. Well, I guess if you have six other children, who gives a fuck what the last one's doing Most of the time, probably.
B
Yeah.
A
But, yeah, I think it's hard to approach them even probably. You know, maybe now you could text them. Them and say, you know, get your.
B
Hand out of your pants.
A
Yeah. Or calm it down. We're at a Pizza Hut.
B
Yeah. I mean, my. I used to masturbate so much as a kid that my calves would be sore because I would be face down on the carpet rubbing my Pikachu over my denim jeans, and then my calves would kick out and would be flexing, you know, and so I would have. I would have. I mean, I had very, very strong calves growing up.
A
Wow. Dude, that's bonkers, man. Yeah. But jerking off was fun, wasn't it? And I love how in the special you call it jerking off. I hadn't heard a woman refer to it as that before.
B
Really?
A
Yep. I'd never heard of a woman say jerking off before.
B
Oh, okay.
A
Yeah, it was just kind of.
B
Yeah. Well, yeah, we. Yeah, I guess it was jerking off because you are climaxing. Technically, it is a. You know, and it's the same thing as when you're an adult. You know, when you, like, climax as an adult, you're like. You're kind of grossed out. Like, stop it. So. Get off of me. Get away from me. And then, like, you know, you give it, like, two, three minutes and you're ready to go again. You're like, oh, come back here. You know, get me that wall.
A
Damn. I'm not a go. Yeah, I'm a. I'm more of like. You know, a lot of people are up by the front lines with the machine guns or whatever. I'm the cannon that comes in in the back. It shoots once and that's it. Yeah. And then you're wrapped, and then it's like, you know, neat, down for repair or whatever. Like, that's me.
B
So two. So how long do. I mean, I've had. How long can you have sex for?
A
Oh, I don't know about that.
B
5 minutes, 10 minutes. 1 minute.
A
Let me think about the first one.
B
Well, the. The first time, I mean.
A
No, I mean five minutes. I'm saying. Let me. Yeah, just don't.
B
Minutes.
A
Yeah. Don't put me.
B
Listen, I don't think most people want to have sex for longer than.
A
That's my thing. If anybody's having sex for four, who the are you? You're some kind of like, mega. You're some kind of like a cyborg, like, who's like, Italians or whoever's fucking for that long. It's like. That's crazy to me. I want to get back to work.
B
I. Well, yeah, I like fooling around. I like men. I like lots of different men. But I also don't want to get. For like, 45. Like, I had a girlfriend who said to me, this guy fucked me for 45 minutes. And I went like, I don't want to get fucked for 45 minutes.
A
Minutes.
B
I really don't want that. And I don't mean that for the.
A
Ladies in the back.
B
I don't know any women that do, so I don't know what that's about. I mean, like, talk about your pussy. Like, not being able to handle a situation that's too much.
A
Yeah, that's like the Daytona 500. It's like, how much is that, like, a good year. Pussy. So I just don't want to. Yeah, it's like, I just get. I kind of honestly get bored. I get bored.
B
You almost said it. So I'm just going to finish it for you.
A
What does that mean? Is that bad?
B
Means that you haven't had the right pussy yet, I don't think. But it doesn't mean that you're. You're gonna last longer. It's okay not to last. Five minutes is not a big deal. That's. That's fine. Yeah, it's a big deal. But some guys like to go again and again and again. Like I would. Someone stated.
A
Is that cooler? That's crazy.
B
Well, it's kind of nice to be able to get a. It's kind of nice as a woman to have a guy. That's because that means they're just. You. You interpret that as they're so attracted to you that they can just get it. Get hard every five minutes. And while that can also seem like onerous, you're like, oh, I don't have the capacity. First of all, your vagina needs to retract after sex. Like, it has to recover really well. Yeah, I mean, it's open and then it's closed. So it kind of has to. You know, there's a healing process.
A
Yeah. Good.
B
Especially if you have a really big penis.
A
Good. Okay.
B
So that's for your listeners.
A
Yeah. I think a lot of people are wondering. Yeah. What's an appropriate amount of time? Because you also, it's like you hear these people, like, let's all night or whatever. And you're like, ghetto. Do not even knock on my door if we're all night. I don't want anybody at my house doing anything all night. I don't want anybody even being awake in my house all night. Yeah.
B
I mean, it's, it's. I've had sex with men that. Where it's a one nighter thing and you have sex a bunch of times in one night. And that's fun, but that's like a one night stand. That's not like what you're gonna do with your husband.
A
Right.
B
Like, unless you're taking ecstasy.
A
Yeah.
B
And then you have sex and it never ends. And then you could, you could fall asleep during sex, wake back up and be like, is this still fucking happening? Like, are we still having sex? I mean, God, when is this going to be overcome already?
A
That's a Catholic sleepover right there, I think they call it.
B
But girls are always trying to make guys come before they're ready to come anyway.
A
Oh, girls are trying to do that.
B
Yeah. Like most women are trying to get it over with because five minutes is plenty of time.
A
Yeah. It's a good.
B
So like a lot of guys, you know, you're like, you know, you're, you're just saying things to make them come so that it's over.
A
Yeah.
B
And you're lying, basically. You know, like, you're so hot. This feels so good. I can't take it. Yeah. Now somewhere come all over my face. And then they try to come on your face. You're like, actually, I didn't mean that. Come on. The drapes, you know, like, I wasn't serious about coming on my face. So.
A
Come on. This complex.
B
I was just telling you to come.
A
So I was at a girl's place one time and she had a plant that guys would come on. And it was, it was doing pretty well. I don't know if it was a pearl. What? How small is a pear plant? Bring up a small one real quick. I'm trying. I think it was pear.
B
Wow.
A
But it's kind of cool.
B
And so everyone would just her. And then come in the plants.
A
I get. And I. Maybe once a year. I mean, people. I don't know if people are doing it monthly or how long.
B
Once a year. It only needed to get come once a year. The plants.
A
I. I mean, I have no clue what. It's also like supplement schedule was. But I do know that. Yeah. Young pair. Oh, no, it's something smaller as an indoors house plant, but. So that's not it. I can't remember. But yeah, it is fascinating the amount of time that there's. I think there is some miscommunication there about how long people want it to go on.
B
Yeah, yeah, there's a definite misfire. It's not fair to men, too, because men, first of all, you don't have to have a huge penis. Nobody cares about that. I mean, you don't want like a Vienna sausage. That's disappointing and it sucks.
A
But do they have those really?
B
Yeah. I've had sex with guys with little tiny penises. That's happened to me a couple times, actually.
A
And what do you do in that instance? Do you. It's almost like a delicacy or not a delicacy. It's like a.
B
No, it's the opposite of a delicacy. You want it to be over and you want them to go away. I've had sex with somebody who I didn't even know we were having sex. And he came and I was like, oh, my God, I can't believe how small your penis is. You know, obviously I wasn't gonna have sex with that person again, but men's penises don't need to be huge. They just need to be hard. That's great. When a guy gets hard and that's fun. And it's a decent size. It doesn't have to be massive. And it does. And, and, and it can be like. And it doesn't have to go on forever.
A
So.
B
Yes, men who are listening. I'm sure there are all tons of men listening. So you. I hope that assuages the male ego a little bit.
A
Yeah, yeah, that's. That's exactly what we need to hear.
B
This is coming from a woman who's had sex with lots of men.
A
Yeah. Did you keep tabs of the amount of men that you slept with? You think of.
B
I mean, I ran out of, you know, that I don't have time for that anymore because that's a long list.
A
Did you ever. Did you ever do, like, a little gift basket or some celebrities, like, if you. You make love to somebody, you give them a little gift or something?
B
No, I don't. I mean, unless we're talking about STDs. I have never given a real gift to someone. Now I don't have. I don't. I haven't given a gift. No, I haven't. I haven't had sex with a lot of celebrities either. I mean, I know you're saying I'm the celebrity, but still, like, I also like regular guys. You know, it's two celebrities together can be a little bit of a hot mess.
A
Was it harder to date and stuff once you became, once you had fame in your life, popularity in your life?
B
It's not hard, but men are definitely like, you know, a little bit scared, turned off, intimidated, emasculated. That kind of vibe around me.
A
Cause it's hard to practice with somebody that's in because there's not as many people that are popular. So it's hard to practice. It's like you don't get that world as much, you know?
B
Yeah, I like, I've. I've been on lots of like, situations. I've been in lots of situations with men that were not celebrities or that were where we would be out or we'd be flirting for a while and then we'd go home and they couldn't perform. Like that's happened to me a lot to the point where I was like, what is wrong with me? And then you realize that's happens to a lot of guys. Like, there's a lot of like performance anxiety. And I know that because I've dated men who've had that, you know, so it's like that's a real thing. So like women also can't take that personally. It's not about that, but it is worth like being honest about it. Like, sorry, you know, I barely know you. Or I'm a little like, this is our first time. Like it's good to kind of communicate, communicate that stuff so that everyone doesn't feel like, weird.
A
Yeah.
B
You know, because then you have like an ick feeling right then.
A
It's just this weird thing. Nobody ever said anything. Yeah. And these days a lot of stuff's so common that it's like everybody's talked about everything now. So it's like I think having certain conversations are a lot more the norm than even than they were like 20 years ago. You know, I remember get. I could, couldn't get an erection at some girl's place and it was like 3:30 in the morning or something and I told her I had to go to swim practice or whatever. And it was early swim practice was at like 5 or whatever. And she's like, for what team? Whatever. I was, like, 28. I was. Couldn't answer or whatever. Yeah. You know, just a bad idea. I have to go to swim team or whatever.
B
Oh, you told her that you had to go to swim team practice early.
A
My coach gets pissed. Like, what swim team are you on?
B
Oh, yeah. You didn't know because you weren't on one.
A
I wasn't in school or whatever, you know?
B
Yeah.
A
So just sometimes you say, like, that I got to get home to let my dog out. As a good.
B
When I once left a guy's house once, I felt his penis and realized it wasn't going to work. I once told a guy that I had to get my Invisalign out of my car, that I wouldn't be able to sleep without my Invisalign. And, you know, then I left and never came back. And so I've done things like that, too, to get out of a bad situation.
A
Yeah.
B
Or a situation that's not going to be fruitful.
A
Right. And not only just for you, but for them also. It's like, why create. Why spend more time creating something that's just going to be uncomfortable? You know?
B
That's true. But I'm sure when you. You get left in the dust, like, we all. I mean, everyone experienced that at some point. It does not. That does not feel good.
A
Yeah.
B
If someone comes, you take a chick back to your house, and she leaves right as you get naked. That can't feel good. You know what I mean? I was on a date with this guy in London once, and I like London.
A
Don't you?
B
I love London. It's my favorite. And I was on this date with this guy in London, and we had a great date. I had been talking to him, like, on Raya or one of those apps before I went out there. And he was hot. And we went. We had a great dinner. And I was like, oh, this is going great. I'm like, do you want some mushrooms? And he had talked about mushrooms, so I thought we were both into it. And he's like, yeah, I would love some. And we get back to my house, and we get back to my hotel, and he's just dripping sweating. And I'm like, are you? And he just looked like he was about to throw up. And he's like, I think I'm gonna throw up. And I'm like, oh, my God. Are you. He's like, I'm fucking flying. And I was like, oh, my God. I felt like Bill Cosby, you know, Like, I drugged this Man. And I go, oh, my God. And then he had to take a walk outside. I go, yeah, go take a walk. And I'm texting, go take a walk. I go, go take a walk. He needed fresh air. I go, go take a walk. And he came back, like, 20 minutes later. He's like, I'm sorry, but I have to go home. Like, I'm. I'm fucking hallucinating. And I'm sitting there on shrooms, too, but I'm fine. And I'm like, oh, my God. I just drugged my date. Like, and. And I was telling my girlfriends the next day, and they're like, why would you ever give mushrooms to someone after you fucking went out to dinner? Like, that is not exotic or, like, erotic or anything. It's like, that's a party drug to fudgeing. Laugh like, it's not seductive. And you fudgeing made the guy sick to his stomach. And I was like, yeah, no more drugs on first dates, you know? No more.
A
Yeah, mushrooms are crazy, dude. I remember taking them one time, and some girls like, let me see. She didn't even want to make out. Or she's like, let me see your weird dick or whatever. And I was like. Because I guess, like, she was really getting the swirls, you know? She's like, let me see. Weird dick. I was like, all right. You know? But. Yeah, that. That can be kind of a. Just a tough idea. And then. Yeah, it's just weird to touch somebody and hug somebody and then. Yeah, like, that can be. But it is fun to sit around and laugh or something on some mushroom. That's. That's a lot of fun.
B
Yeah. Mushrooms aren't a very sexual drug, so, like, you. That. You know, that was stupid.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah.
A
But sometimes. Sometimes having a. Like, enjoying time with somebody's nice, too, and not feeling the pressure, like, you got to, like.
B
You gotta have sex. Yeah, you gotta have sex. Exactly. So that's the. That's the problem with that, too. Especially on a night where you're. You know. Yeah, it's better to do that with someone you've gotten to know a little bit, rather than, like, a first excursion.
A
Yeah. Did you. I had one more question. Oh. Did you ever meet Bill Cosby?
B
I did meet Bill Cosby before he was.
A
Before he got.
B
That's in the special. The part that you didn't see.
A
Oh, it is, Is.
B
It really is. Yes. And I. Yes. He.
A
What was it like whenever you met him?
B
Was disappointed, really. But he. Yeah, he was an asshole. He was an asshole. Cause there Was a guy opening for me and we were in Atlantic City and he basically went off on the first of all. I showed up to his hotel room at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The casino manager said, hey, Bill Cosby wants to meet you. Cuz he was gonna rape me. And I didn't know that at the time. I didn't know about Bill Cosby. This was before all of that came out.
A
Cause he would do afternoon rapes or whatever.
B
Yeah, he would have women come up to his hotel room, give him Rohypnol and then fucking and they would be out of it. But I showed up with my security guard and my opener, who was a man, Chris Frangiola. And he and I walked into the room and when Bill Cosby realized I had two guys with me, his mood just was like, fuck off. And he basically read the guy telling him he was never gonna amount to anything. Opening for me as a comedian, opening for a woman. And I'm like, this doesn't seem like he's in a good mood or like we should take this shit. And then later I found out, you know, everything broke. And we found out Bill Cosby was drugging hundreds of women. He would come, summon them to his hotel room, give them like some barbiturate.
A
Or the same pattern that happened with you, Rohypnol. Wow.
B
But he never gave that to me and my sister after that happened. She was like, well, now we know why Bill Cosby was such an asshole that day. And I was like, little does Bill Cosby know that that roofie wouldn't have put a fucking dent in me.
A
The unrivable.
B
That's right.
A
What about Michael Jackson? I'm just trying to think. I ask everybody.
B
I saw Macaulay Culkin the other night and I wish I could have heard what he was saying to me because he was thanking me for something. And I don't remember ever interacting with Macaulay Culkin. But he kept going on and on and saying, thank you so much, Chelsea. Thank you so much. And it was so loud at the party that I don't know what he said.
A
Was it Oscar's party?
B
Yeah, it was like Gaio series after party. But I was wondering if it had anything to do with Michael Jackson. And I'm like, I wonder if I forgot that I did something about Michael Jackson. I probably did. I probably did a whole thing about Michael Jackson at some point. But I don't know, was Michael Jackson raping kids or was he a kid wanting to hang out with other kids? It's very murky. Like, I don't wanna give him any credit, but it's like he didn't seem like somebody was having sex with anybody. He seemed like somebody who was like stunted. You know what I mean? Like. Like a little kid.
A
Oh, I. I don't think that, that. I think that was definitely part of his psychology, that he was just like. Yeah. Like a seven year old that was. Grew up and got super famous and also had sexuality going on inside him at the same time. I don't know how all that comes out. And maybe some of it was criminal, maybe some it wasn't, I don't know. But no, I'm just curious as to who, like, who gets to run across certain people, like in celebrity circles and stuff, you know? But I'm trying to think of anything else. Is there anything else that you wanted to talk about specifically Chelsea?
B
I don't think so. I think we're good.
A
Yeah. Yeah, I think we're good too.
B
I think you can tell. Oh, you know, I'll tell your male listeners to. If you want your daughter. Oh, he loves you. Look at that.
A
Oh, that's nice of him.
B
If you want to get a good gift for your girlfriends, wives or daughters, get. I'll have what she's having. That's my book that's just debuted at number one. I'm happy about that. My special is called the Feeling. It's on Netflix. Netflix. And yeah, those are my two projects right now.
A
Yeah. Congratulations. And. Yeah, just thanks for coming and spending time with us today. Yeah, it's just, it's you. You get it done and it's impressive to witness and it's. It's just. Yeah. I feel lucky that you came and spent time with us today. So thank you. Thank you very much.
B
Thank you. Thanks, Theo.
A
You bet. Now I'm And I feel I'm falling like these leaves I must be cornerstone oh but when I reach that ground.
B
I'll share this peace of mind I.
A
Found I can feel it in my bones but it's gonna take.
Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von – Episode E570 Featuring Chelsea Handler
Introduction
In Episode E570 of This Past Weekend hosted by Theo Von, the spotlight shines brightly on Chelsea Handler, a multifaceted stand-up comedian, actress, and bestselling author. Released on March 25, 2025, this episode delves deep into Chelsea's personal and professional journey, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into her life, struggles, and triumphs. The conversation traverses a wide range of topics, from Chelsea's early days in comedy to her reflections on fame, relationships, and personal growth.
1. Career Beginnings and Rise in Comedy
Chelsea Handler reminisces about her initial foray into the comedy world, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she experienced. She shares anecdotes from her time on the Chelsea Lately show, emphasizing how it served as a launchpad for numerous comedians who later became household names.
[03:50] Chelsea: "It's like the Tonight Show for a while. It boosted a lot of careers. It launched a lot of careers."
2. Experiences on Chelsea Lately
Theo and Chelsea discuss the dynamic environment of Chelsea Lately, describing it as a "big fraternity party" filled with practical jokes and a lack of professionalism. Chelsea elaborates on the competitive nature behind the scenes and her approach to maintaining a harmonious atmosphere.
[08:01] Chelsea: "We were like a big fraternity party. All we did was play practical jokes on each other all day."
3. Personal Struggles and Rebellious Youth
Chelsea opens up about her tumultuous teenage years, marked by rebellion and personal loss. She recounts the death of her brother Glenn when she was nine, which led to strained relationships with her father and a descent into rebellious behavior.
[16:39] Chelsea: "I was rebellious, like mad, angry and no outlet, you know?"
4. The Netflix Special: The Feeling
The conversation shifts to Chelsea's latest project, her Netflix special titled The Feeling. She provides insights into the inspiration behind the special, sharing personal stories and humorous takes on her past.
[09:58] Theo: "I could relate to that so much."
[09:59] Chelsea: "When I was born, I was pissed..."
5. Substance Use and Its Impact
Chelsea candidly discusses her past experiences with drugs and alcohol, detailing how they influenced her life and career. She shares stories about her road trips, encounters with substance-using individuals, and the eventual realization to steer clear of destructive habits.
[22:43] Chelsea: "I'm gonna California. You are not gonna bring me down. Get out of my car and get out of my life."
[27:04] Theo: "I've had a good experience with drugs over the years."
[36:22] Chelsea: "I took a ladle and brought it to my Thanksgiving dinner... my mom asking me to stop."
6. Navigating Fame and Relationships
The duo delves into the complexities of maintaining personal relationships amidst fame. Chelsea shares her experiences with dating, the challenges of connecting with men, and her preference for authenticity over superficial connections.
[44:48] Chelsea: "Black men in general, and this is a generalization, seem to appreciate women like me more than white men."
[46:08] Chelsea: "I want men to feel strong around me, not weak."
7. Comedian Insecurities and Acceptance
Chelsea and Theo explore the inherent insecurities that comedians often grapple with. Chelsea reflects on her discomfort with receiving compliments and the delicate balance between seeking validation and maintaining humility.
[56:38] Chelsea: "I think comedians are really insecure by nature... it's what we're all here for is adulation."
[58:08] Theo: "It's a good reminder that the Feeling."
8. Reflections on Family and Personal Growth
Towards the end of the episode, Chelsea reflects on her relationship with her family, particularly her parents, and how these relationships shaped her into the resilient woman she is today. She emphasizes the importance of sisterhood and honesty among women.
[37:54] Chelsea: "I have to be a truthful, generous woman... I'm going to tell people the truth."
9. Conclusion and Gratitude
As the episode wraps up, Theo commends Chelsea for her candidness and the compelling nature of her stories. Chelsea expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences and highlights her ongoing projects, including her bestselling book and Netflix special.
[78:39] Chelsea: "I'm happy about that. My special is called The Feeling. It's on Netflix."
[78:54] Theo: "Thank you very much."
Key Takeaways
Resilience Through Adversity: Chelsea's journey underscores the importance of overcoming personal tragedies and using them as catalysts for growth.
Authenticity in Relationships: Her insights highlight the value of genuine connections over superficial interactions, especially in the public eye.
Navigating Fame: Chelsea provides a nuanced perspective on the challenges and rewards of maintaining one's identity amidst fame and success.
Mental Health and Substance Use: The conversation sheds light on the impact of substance use on personal and professional lives, emphasizing the necessity of self-awareness and control.
Empowerment and Sisterhood: Chelsea advocates for honest and supportive relationships among women, promoting a sense of community and empowerment.
Notable Quotes
"Comedians are really insecure by nature. You know what I mean?" — Chelsea Handler [56:38]
"I want men to feel strong around me, not weak." — Chelsea Handler [46:08]
"It's like the Tonight Show for a while. It boosted a lot of careers." — Chelsea Handler [03:50]
"You gotta have your ducks in a row and understand when you need time off and when you don't." — Chelsea Handler [29:26]
Final Thoughts
This episode of This Past Weekend offers a profound and entertaining exploration of Chelsea Handler's life. Theo Von skillfully navigates the conversation, allowing Chelsea to share her vulnerabilities and victories alike. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of Chelsea's enduring spirit, her commitment to authenticity, and her relentless pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to Chelsea's work, this episode provides valuable insights into the making of one of comedy's most resilient and genuine voices.