Podcast Title: Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil
Episode: Jay Jurden and Michael Cruz Kane
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Hosts/Guests:
- Host: Jameela Jamil
- Guests: Michael Cruz Kane (Comedian, Actor, Emmy-Nominated Writer) and Jay Jurden (Actor, Writer, Comedian)
Introduction and Welcome (02:05 – 02:44)
Jameela Jamil opens the episode with her signature humor, introducing Wrong Turns as a space where guests share their most embarrassing and humiliating stories without seeking redemption or silver linings. Today’s guests are:
- Michael Cruz Kane: Recognized for his work on Severance, Billy on the Street, and as a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
- Jay Jurden: An actor, writer, and comedian with performances on HBO, Comedy Central, and contributions to The New Yorker.
Notable Quote:
"Wrong Turns: where dignity goes to die." — Jameela Jamil [02:05]
Friendly Teasing and Banter (02:35 – 04:17)
The hosts engage in playful banter, humorously correcting each other's accolades and appearance. Michael jokes about losing Emmys and faces good-natured ribbing about his shoes, leading to light-hearted exchanges that set a relaxed and humorous tone.
Notable Quote:
"Michael Cruz Kane: I have in fact lost a few Emmys." — Michael Cruz Kane [02:35]
Personal Anecdotes and Humorous Mishaps (03:23 – 09:23)
Michael and Jay share personal stories highlighting awkward and embarrassing moments:
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Michael’s Eczema Struggles (10:17 – 12:31):
Michael discusses his battle with severe eczema, humorously describing his extensive use of lotions and his experience with Dupixent. He recounts an incident at Starbucks where a staff member misunderstood his condition, leading to an amusing yet humiliating encounter.Notable Quote:
"I have literally insane eczema so absolutely reach out. Fucking dupixent." — Michael Cruz Kane [10:17] -
Jameela’s Fear of Strong Flavors (06:44 – 08:53):
Jameela shares her aversion to strong flavors and sauces, describing the humorous consequences of accidentally consuming spicy chili sauce, including burning herself in uncomfortable places.Notable Quote:
"I'll demolish on fucking Hot Ones." — Jameela Jamil [08:10] -
Imaginary Show Concepts (09:10 – 09:43):
The trio humorously brainstorms a twisted version of the Hot Ones show, imagining increasingly absurd and embarrassing challenges.
Embarrassing Stories: Michael’s Cheese Incident (14:46 – 18:59)
Michael Cruz Kane recounts a particularly mortifying experience involving overeating cheese, leading to severe physical reactions:
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The Incident: After consuming two and a half pounds of aged cheese, Michael experiences sudden blindness and debilitating headaches. In his attempt to help a fellow student, he ends up being involuntarily covered in vomit.
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Medical Explanation: A doctor explains that excessive tyramine from the cheese triggered his body’s inflammatory response, causing his eyes to shut off temporarily.
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Humorous Reflection: Michael humorously reflects on the absurdity of the situation, dubbing it "cheese blindness" and sharing the awkward aftermath of the event.
Notable Quote:
"I have literally insane eczema so absolutely reach out. Fucking dupixent." — Michael Cruz Kane [10:17]
"Cheese blindness is what that means. I ate so much cheese, I'm not kidding. I went blind. I could not see at all." — Michael Cruz Kane [15:45]
Young Love and Awkward Encounters (38:11 – 46:25)
Jay Jurden shares his adolescent adventures, detailing awkward and embarrassing moments from high school relationships:
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Making Out Disruptions (38:22 – 42:46):
Jay describes intimate moments with his high school girlfriend being interrupted by her grandmother’s unexpected knock, leading to hilarious social anxiety and embarrassment.Notable Quote:
"And then grandma knocked on the door and she's like mortified." — J. Jordan [23:53] -
Teen Parties and Peer Pressure (43:02 – 46:25):
Jay recounts participating in a truth-or-dare game where he was dared to masturbate in exchange for seeing girls’ breasts. His honest and humorous narration highlights the cringe-worthy nature of teenage experiments and peer pressure.Notable Quote:
"So I went into the bathroom at this party, I jerked off into a tissue at the thought of boobs." — J. Jordan [44:08]
Reflection and Shared Experiences (46:25 – 50:25)
The conversation transitions to reflections on their shared embarrassing experiences, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding among the hosts and guests.
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Mutual Embarrassment: J. Jordan and Michael bond over their similar humiliating experiences, emphasizing that everyone has their own awkward moments.
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Supportive Banter: Jameela fosters a supportive environment, ensuring that the guests feel comfortable sharing their stories without judgment.
Notable Quote:
"We are revoking, thinking. Oh, no, you're right. You are under six feet and then continue to go on to thrive like your fucking LeBron is." — Jameela Jamil [49:46]
Conclusion and Contact Information (50:06 – 51:01)
Jameela Jamil wraps up the episode by thanking Michael and Jay for their candid and humorous storytelling. She encourages listeners to share their own "wrong turns" via voice memos sent to PersonalDisasterStories@gmail.com for potential inclusion in future episodes.
Final Thoughts:
The episode underscores the theme that everyone has their own series of embarrassment and misfortunes, creating a relatable and humorous space for listeners to commiserate and laugh together.
Notable Quote:
"Wrong Turns was created and produced by me, Jameela Jamil, and Stuart Bailey. And thank you to our launch producer, Eve Bishop, our editor, Shannon Joy Rogers, and consulting producer, Colin Anderson." — Jameela Jamil [50:14]
Key Takeaways
- Relatability: Guests share universally embarrassing moments, fostering a sense of shared humanity.
- Humor in Humiliation: The episode highlights the importance of finding humor in personal misfortunes.
- Supportive Community: Wrong Turns serves as a platform for listeners to connect over their own stories of mishaps and failures.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- "Wrong Turns: where dignity goes to die." — Jameela Jamil [02:05]
- "I have literally insane eczema so absolutely reach out. Fucking dupixent." — Michael Cruz Kane [10:17]
- "I'll demolish on fucking Hot Ones." — Jameela Jamil [08:10]
- "Cheese blindness is what that means. I ate so much cheese, I'm not kidding. I went blind. I could not see at all." — Michael Cruz Kane [15:45]
- "We are revoking, thinking. Oh, no, you're right. You are under six feet and then continue to go on to thrive like your fucking LeBron is." — Jameela Jamil [49:46]
Conclusion
This episode of Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil offers a blend of humor, vulnerability, and camaraderie as guests Michael Cruz Kane and Jay Jurden share their most embarrassing and awkward stories. The lively interactions and candid revelations create an engaging and relatable listening experience, embodying the show's ethos of embracing life's misfortunes with laughter and solidarity.
