We Might Be Drunk – Ep 259: Daniel Sloss - Thanksgiving Treat
Date: November 24, 2025
Hosts: Sam Morril & Mark Normand
Guest: Daniel Sloss
Episode Overview
Comedians Sam Morril and Mark Normand sit down with Scottish stand-up Daniel Sloss for a booze-soaked, hilarious, and surprisingly genuine Thanksgiving episode. The three riff on comedy careers, international touring, the weirdness of American and British culture, dark humor, parenting pitfalls, drug tales, and the mechanics of the comedy world. They deliver both raucous laughs and candid takes on life, art, and family—showcasing friendship, candor, and the odd profundity that can spring up over drinks.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Thanksgiving & Being Away from Family (00:06–03:02)
- Sam and Mark welcome Daniel with Thanksgiving wishes and pour McLeod’s whisky. Conversation quickly turns wry and self-deprecating, Daniel noting gym visits keep him from "killing myself" when away from his new family.
- Quote (Daniel, 00:13): “It’s only so I don’t kill myself.”
- Daniel reflects on the challenge of being away from family, trying not to slip into old “wake up and smoke weed until 1” habits.
2. Travel & Comedy Internationally (02:55–06:16)
- Daniel is recognized as one of the most traveled comics, rivaled by Jean Marco and Jimmy Carr.
- Talks about how early YouTube comics like Russell Peters and Pablo Francisco broke European audiences.
- Daniel’s own breakout came from Conan appearances and building an international audience, but early tours were rough—expats are “vermin,” he jokes, often unappreciative of local culture.
- He recounts performing in Lithuania and discovering European audiences had seen almost all material already online.
- Quote (Sloss, 05:00): “There’s no worse person than a British expat—you’re in Singapore eating fresh noodles and they’re like, ‘Can’t get a good burger in this country.’”
3. Bombing Overseas & Cultural Comedy Barriers (06:17–08:34)
- Both Daniel and Mark share stories about bombing in Scandinavia, noting overly polite crowds and unique “internal laughers,” especially in Finland.
- Cultural stereotypes are dissected, with Mark commenting on the “saddest of Scandinavians.”
- They riff on dark Scandinavian films and the absurdity of "vampire shit" in those cultures.
4. Horror Movies, Fear, & Imagination (08:34–10:03)
- The comics share thoughts on horror movies versus real-life fear.
- Daniel admits imagination makes horror stick with him: “Put a scary movie on and I’ll think about that in bed, even though I don’t believe in ghosts.”
5. Teen Sex, Babysitter Lore, & Gender Double Standards (10:04–12:11)
- Tangent about the recurring trope of boys and babysitters veers into a discussion of double standards and legal gray areas.
- Jokes about parental responsibility, sex work, and “incel” culture are mixed with dark humor.
- Quote (Sloss, 11:10): “Not helping my son get laid. He’s got my second name. If that doesn’t do it, you don’t deserve it.”
- Lighthearted roasting of how gay culture has more positive nicknames for unattractive men (“bear” vs. “incel”).
6. Parenting, Babies & Surreal Dad Stuff (13:10–14:46)
- Daniel gives a hilariously frank warning to Mark about fathering a daughter, explaining the challenges dads face with newborns, especially when changing diapers.
- Doug Stanhope’s bit about “baby vaginas” comes up, blending comedy and personal experience.
7. Comedy Road Life, Children, and Stand-up Process (17:47–21:58)
- Daniel reflects on the impact of fatherhood on his stand-up and touring schedule, detailing how the urge to be home wars with the need to perform.
- He describes losing his performance edge after an eight-month break and the difficulty of rebuilding material and confidence.
- The trio discuss the ethics and process of repeating material, workshopping shows, and fan expectations.
- Quote (Sloss, 21:06): “When I started, I thought, never repeat jokes at a venue. Thankfully, an older comic told me, ‘That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.’”
8. Edinburgh, Weed, and British vs. American Travel Stereotypes (22:23–24:06)
- Comparison of US and UK views on travel, noting the vastness of America.
- Daniel pushes back against lazy travel stereotypes and describes the normalization of weed in Scotland.
9. Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Vegas Stories (24:06–30:44)
- The dangers of American drug culture are contrasted with the UK; Daniel hilariously recounts his Vegas bachelor party, smuggling in a comic-procured 100 grams of cocaine, and the “testing” process: “He must’ve racked up almost a full gram… 25 minutes later, we were like, that’s good enough for us.”
- The party included edibles, gambling, drinking, a helicopter tour—culminating in a coked-out roast in an MGM Grand penthouse, captured on video (that’ll never see the light).
10. Comedy Circuits – UK, Europe, US (31:01–38:20)
- Discussing communities, drug use backstage, and the differences in touring, Daniel reminisces about performing alongside idol comics like Glenn Wool and recounts “doing coke off what was supposed to be Hitler’s toilet.”
- Riffs on the oddities of traveling comics, hostile or insular audiences (Barcelona), and the surprisingly positive vibe of Portugal’s scene.
11. Bathroom Innovations & European Customs (35:19–39:12)
- Hilarious debate on bidets, Japanese toilets, foot-pedal flushers, and the “poo inspection shelf” in Austria.
- Quote (Sloss, 37:12): “If you set the angle right of your sphincter, you can have a slight enema…it’s great.”
12. Voting, Politics & Social Commentary (39:12–41:24)
- The trio comment on compulsory voting laws in Australia, the absence of buffer holidays in the UK, and the power of the “middle” vote.
- Singapore’s social security system is compared to the US, with a focus on mandatory savings and strict punishments for crime.
- Quote (Sloss, 39:00): “If you’ve got adult diapers, it’s time you don’t get to vote anymore.”
13. First US Comedy Experiences, Thanksgiving Memories (42:00–43:54)
- Daniel’s first US club show was at Denver Comedy Works, which led to an unexpectedly warm Thanksgiving invite from the staff, giving him a new appreciation for the holiday.
- Quote (Sloss, 43:44): “The idea of giving your thanks, pretty gay… But hearing people talk about their family and what they were grateful for, I was like, oh man, I understand this holiday.”
14. Comedy and Drinking Traditions (45:30–46:18)
- Discussion of Thanksgiving as a drinking holiday, used to buffer Christmas and cope with complex family dynamics.
- Mark talks about growing up with his mom inviting an eclectic cast to Thanksgiving: “It was always an awkward Thanksgiving, but it was fun.”
15. Best Holiday & Crying Movies (50:52–54:32)
- The comics recommend favorite Christmas and holiday films (“Klaus,” “Jingle All The Way,” “Daddy’s Home 2”), with Daniel and the hosts sharing the movies that reduce them to tears.
- Daniel is a fan of crying at movies, including “Hidden Figures” and “The Greatest Showman.”
16. Comedy Legends, Stand-up Heroes & Panel Shows (64:00–74:31)
- Extended talk about Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy’s “Raw,” and how legends like Chris Rock and Doug Stanhope approached testing new material.
- Daniel discusses UK panel shows, Jimmy Carr’s work ethic and tax scandal, and the difference between American and British comedy circuits.
17. Russell Brand Allegations (69:10–76:37)
- Daniel reveals he was the lone comedian to appear in the UK’s Russell Brand documentary. He tells of Roast Battle tapings where comics were forbidden to joke about Brand’s sexual history, years before public allegations.
- Explains Brand’s pivot from leftist, spiritual rhetoric to right-wing grifting as a survival strategy after allegations mounted.
18. Roasting the Spanish, Accents, and UK Slang (84:34–91:33)
- Daniel rants about Spanish culture and cuisine, then the guys deep dive into unique UK insults and slurs, discussing accents from Liverpool (“horrific accent!”) to Birmingham and regional slang like “Glasgow kiss” and “poof.”
- Quote (Sloss, 86:20): “Liverpool is very lucky Birmingham exists for worst accent in the UK.”
19. Podcast & Clip Culture, Liverpool’s Hot Water Club (85:02–86:03)
- Credit given to US comics for innovating with online stand-up clips; Paul Smith and the Hot Water Club in Liverpool are cited as UK trailblazers in this format.
- Daniel praises the Liverpool and Glasgow scenes, the power of viral crowd work, and the way clubs support comics.
Notable Quotes & Funniest Moments
- On British expats: “There’s no worse type of person in the world than a British expat.” (Sloss, 04:33)
- On performing in Lithuania: “Any joke you’ve done on the internet, we’ve all seen.” (Lithuanian audience member, 06:07)
- On American travel critique: “You know 40% of Americans don’t own passports? ... You know how big America is?” (Sloss, 23:18)
- On ‘testing’ party coke: “We all just watched him rail it... 25 minutes later, we were like, that’s good enough for us.” (Sloss, 26:40)
- On the function of horror movies/porn: “Horror movies: it's how fucked up your imagination is. Porn: you're like, this could happen.” (Mark/Sloss, 09:58)
- On festive excess: “Thanksgiving through the end of the year might be the most hardcore drinking part of the year.” (Sam, 45:32)
- On UK club traditions: “Comedy on State’s a great one... Epic. And I love Liverpool, it's a shame about the horrific accent.” (Sloss, 86:12)
- On UK slurs: “Poof is fun... Homophobia. The original homophobes came out with some banging slurs.” (Sloss, 88:58)
Important Segment Timestamps
- (00:06) - Thanksgiving/Intro/Drinking whisky
- (02:55–06:16) - Daniel’s comedy travels and YouTube era
- (10:04–12:11) - Babysitter double standards & incel/sex work riffs
- (13:10–14:46) - Surreal advice for new fathers; Doug Stanhope story
- (24:06–30:44) - Fentanyl, coke, and Daniel’s wild Vegas bachelor party
- (42:00–43:54) - Daniel’s first US club show; his only American Thanksgiving
- (69:10–76:37) - Daniel details involvement in Russell Brand documentary
- (84:34–91:33) - Scorching takes on Spanish culture, slurs, and regional UK slang
Daniel Sloss’s Upcoming Shows & Travels
- Touring UK and Europe (Turkey, Budapest, Vienna)
- American tour to be announced for October 2026
- Recommendations for comedians interested in India: go through DeadAnt for proper exposure
The Comedy Cellar & “Imposter Syndrome” (65:41–67:03)
Daniel expresses feeling like an imposter at the Comedy Cellar, despite support from staff and comics. Sam and Mark reassure him: “You’re funnier than half of them. Get over there.”
Final Thoughts
This episode blends the boozy, anything-goes spirit of “We Might Be Drunk” with genuinely insightful glimpses into international comedy, cultural quirks, dark humor, and the real-life pressures of family, fame, and creativity. Sloss shows his warmth and sharp edge, while Sam and Mark keep the energy playful—even when venturing into edgier territory. Essential listening for comedy nerds and those who love seeing how stand-up can break borders (and taboos) alike.
